Will he Love me ? (A Tom Hiddleston/Benedict Cumberbatch story)

"I hope you will be happy Ben, someday when you image don't get in your way"

*India POV*
"India darling, I am so happy you came". Penelope gets up to greet me, when I walk into the cafe the next day.
I take a deep breath, I want to try and be open, it would be better if I could get along with her. "Hi Penelope, nice to see you again".
I sit down after giving her a hug and a waitress comes over taking our order, I order a sandwich and Penelope a salad. "Uh I envy you that you can eat white bread and still look that skinny and gorgeous, I totally blote up".
"Well I kind of get a lot of exercise through my work, so I don't put on weight easily, might come when I get older". I say with a shrug.
Penelope starts talking, asking me a lot of questions about my work, life and mom, and I answer, but try not to give anything she can use against mom.
But I start to relax, it is nice to talk to someone around my own age and she seems to genuinely wants to become friends.
"So Benedict Cumberbatch is your godfather ? That is kind of cool, I mean he is really sexy right ?" She says with a wink, about an hour into our conversation.
I blush slightly, wondering if her relationship with my father have given her trouble, I mean they have a 26 years age difference, a lot more than me and Ben. "Yeah he is cute".
"Uhh you are blushing India, do you like him ?" She looks at me, and I involuntary look away, I shouldn't tell her, but she might actually understand me.
I breathe in deeply, okay she wants to be friends, let her prove herself. "Can you keep this quiet Penelope ? It is very important no one hears about it".
"Of curse India, you can totally trust me, my lips are sealed, nothing you tell me will leave this room". She say, clutching my hand on the table, smiling at me.
I take one last breath, looking at her. "Ben and me are dating, but it is a secret, my mom is not a fan of the idea and he have to find out how we break it best to the puplic".
"Oh how romantic, have you been seeing each other for a long time ?" She asks me, she looks very excited.
I take a sip of my coffee, I really hope I won't regret this. "Well we have been in love for about a year, since I visited him in London, we kept in contact and started dating about 7 weeks ago".
"You are such a lucky girl, he is very handsome and he is totally romantic too right ?" She asks me, looking genuinely happy for me.
I can't help smiling, it is such a relief to be able to talk to someone, to have a real girl talk. "Oh he is just so amazing, you wouldn't believe what he does".
"Relax sweetie, you mom will accept it in time, I mean she might have a slight problem with men dating younger women, but now when she got a hot younger man herself she migth get a little less uptight about age". She says winking.
I just smile, I really hope my mom can accept our relationship, I mean soon Ben will be going back to London and then keeping it secret will be even harder, with us staying in contact.

Next morning
*Ben POV*
"What the hell Ben , I thought I told you to call that of right away and then you sneak around behind my back all this time". Karon is yelling as soon as I pick up the phone.
I try to make out what she is so upset about, I am not really awake yet. "What is the problem Karon, what is it that I have done ?"
"Don't play stupid with me Ben, the cat is out the bag, someone talked and it is all over the internet and in every tabloid that you are dating a 20 year old girl". She says and I feel my heart sink.
Oh shit this is so bad, so very bad, I know Tom haven't talked and I most definately haven't, so it has to be India who has said something to someone. "How bad is it Karon ?"
"Honestly Ben, it is really bad, the press is ripping you apart and your fans are in shock, we need to do damage control right now or it could kill you". She says honestly.
I feel empty inside right now, how could she be that stupid as to tell someone ? Probably some girlfriend, I had told her it was essential it didn't get out before we had a game plan, that it would ruin everything, I don't really have a choice now and it is killing me.
"I get it done Karon, see what you can do to kill the rumours, there is no proof out there, so we should be able to snuff it out, say that it is a misunderstanding". I say, before hanging up, now for waking India and tell her what happened.
This wont be easy, but right now I have no choice and I have to pack away my feelings, and can't let them get in my way, I need to protect myself, protect my image and career.
"India wake up baby, you need to get up and get dressed, we need to talk". I tell her softly, making sure not to touch her.

*India POV*
"What is it Ben ?" I walk into the living-room of his hotel suite and sit down on the couch, I can feel that something is very wrong, Ben has closed down totally, I can see that rigth away, oh this is bad.
He sigsh and look at me, his voice very serious, without the normal love or laugther laced in it. "Who have you told about us India ?"
"Oh God I told Penelope, I needed so badly to talk to someone who understood me, I thought I could trust her". I feel my heart sink, she sold me out.
Ben runs a hand thrugh his hair, a short look of pain flashes across his face. "Well you couldn't, it is everywhere and I got Karon on damage control, saying it is just a misunderstanding, you and me are only family friends, nothing more".
"No Ben please, I love you, I am so sorry, I didn't mean to, please don't break it of". I am reaching for him, I can't handle this.
He shakes his head and swallow. "I have no choice India, you better leave now, and I can't see you again while I am here, take care okay ?"
"I hope you will be happy Ben, someday when you image don't get in your way". I say, running out the room, I just need to get away from him.