Promises You Can't Keep (A Tom Hiddleston/Lee Pace Fan Fic)

Part 1 ~ Chapter 16

  
Mallory's POV

I arrive at the hospital and wait outside for Sophie. I'd texted her earlier to confirm today's birthing class but I'd received no response. It's not that unusual - her brood keeps her busy, not the least of which is Ben. I've worked with him long enough to know he's just an overgrown five year old.

As I look at my phone for a text, I have time to think about Lee. In fact, that's all I'd thought about in the week since our dinner. That is, him... or Tom.

I'd been so sure from the beginning that I was doing the right thing by not telling him that this baby is his. I was making it easier on both of us, I'd told myself. Now I'm unsure. I suppose it doesn't help that I feel as if I've been kicked in the gut by Lee's admission. Logically, I can understand why he's still trying to sort through his feelings for Paloma. And he didn't call off our relationship entirely. He still texts me daily to check on my well-being, but he is a doctor, after all. I guess it's just having one man who doesn't want children and another who does but not most likely with me can really mess with a girl's ego.

"Looks like it's just me and you, Squirt," I say to my unborn baby as I rub my swollen belly.

"I'm here," I hear a familiar voice from behind me. I whirl around at the sound of Tom's voice, losing my balance. That's one thing they don't tell you about being pregnant - your center of gravity is thrown way off. Tom grabs me to keep me from falling, pulling me against him.

"What are you doing here?" I ask, pushing against his chest as I right myself. He continues to hold me firmly, looking down at me with concern on his face. When I look up at him, I stop my struggles.

He looks tired. Not tired as in sleepy. No, it's more as if he's carrying some deep sorrow that's getting the best of him. It makes my heart ache to see him like this, but we've drifted so far apart that I neither know why he feels this way nor what to do about it. I do the only thing I know to do. Instead of continuing to push against him, I pull him toward me into a hug.

"Hello, old friend," I whisper in his ear. He squats down slightly so we're closer in height while he turns is face toward my cheek. "Hello to you, too," he says, and I giggle as his whiskers brush against my cheek, tickling. I pull back slightly to look into his eyes. I still see sorrow there, but he gives me a small smile just the same.

"This is new," I say, running my hand across his beard. He shrugs before releasing me to take my hand and lead me through the hospital doors. "I'm trying a new look," he says as I look up at him. His hair is longer too, allowing it to curl softly at his neck. I've never seen Tom like this. He looks almost unkept, but I can tell by his scent and his slightly damp hair that he's recently showered. No, this is something else. It's as if he's figuring something out, and changing his look is one way he's trying to discern what to do.

"You couldn't just buy a new pair of ugly grey shoes?" I finally ask.

He looks at me with a mock scowl. "You've always liked my grey shoes," he says, and I look down to see that he's wearing the offending items.

"I lied," I say, and I hear a quick bark of laughter from him.

Just before we arrive at the sign-in desk for class, I tug on his hand to stop him.

"I know I'm repeating myself, but why are you here?" Tom rubs the back of his neck before responding.

"Sophie was tied up, so she asked if I'd like to take her place," he says, and I see a small impish smile cross his lips.

"And you said yes? Aren't you a glutton for punishment," I say as I sign in. I smile at the desk clerk, who is looking from me to Tom. I know she recognizes him, but he must not care since he's here with me. As I turn to look at him once again, I see he's giving me the once over. It suddenly makes me uncomfortable, knowing this is not the same body that he enjoyed several months ago.