Life after the cure; a Thomesa fanfic❤️

Chapter 5

He dreamt he was eight years old again, so was Teresa. (A part of the present-day Thomas knew it wasn't just a dream but based on an actual memory)

It was a couple of hours into midnight and he had wanted to surprise her on her birthday. So after all the WICKED staff had gone to bed, Thomas had slipped out of his room. He had tiptoed across the hall to Teresa's and after knocking couple of times, she answered. She opened her door, still in her pyjamas, rubbing her eyes, heavy with sleep.
"Thomas, what are you-" she had barely got out when he grabbed her wrist and said, "I've got a surprise for you, now shhh don't make too much noise or my entire plan will go to waste". He didn't explain further.

Knowing Thomas and seeing him this excited only made her more curious as to what he had up his sleeve. But she didn't say anything, just let him drag her along the sterile white corridors, till they reached an old door. After their many night endeavors with Thomas and their friends, Teresa knew this door led to the rooftop.

" wait, Tom, where are you taking me"?, she half whispered, a smile across her face even though she was starting to form an idea of what might be happening.

"Shut up, silly", he whisper-yelled yanking at her brown pigtails. She often wore her hair like that and the boys loved pulling them. She secretly liked it when Thomas did that even though she always told him it annoyed her. However, it truly did annoy her when Minho did it and she had told him so. But not when Thomas did it. Never.

Slowly they climbed up the steep round stairs and finally felt a cold breeze on their face. The rooftop was dimly lit from the lights of the last city. Teresa's thoughts however, were interrupted when Thomas started dancing and sang out " happy eighth birthday" in his high pitched little voice. Then he clapped his hands in excitement like the goofy eight year old he was. This made Teresa smile too, as she looked at what he'd arranged.

There was a simple cloth spread out on the ground, laid with all her favourite foods. It had deviled eggs (she loved those) ,pizza, muffins etc. In the center was a small frosted pink cake, lit with candles. Teresa's mouth fell open in shock as she looked at her best friend and said, "you... did... is this for me?" She stammered out. Thomas simply nodded, smiling. "Just thought I'd give you a little birthday surprise."

"Oh Tom, this is...." she was speechless and could only smile at his effort. "Hey come on, let's eat you can hug me later"he said and skipped towards the little picnic he'd set up. After cutting a slice, she held it in her hand, and offered him. Thomas started blushing like crazy at this and looked around to make sure no one was watching them before he ate the slice from her hands. This just made Teresa giggle and made Thomas more embarrassed but also happy in a weird way that he got to give his friend a surprise birthday, even if it meant he had to sneak in the kitchens at night, bribe Frypan to bake her a nice cake, all the while he and Newt kept guard outside. All of the trouble had been completely worth it, worth seeing that smile on her face.

After they were done eating, both of them laid down on the sheet he'd bought along and stared up at the grey black sky. Out of nowhere, Thomas blurted out "So, did you like it? The whole surprise thing? Like I mean I know I woke you up in the middle of the night, the food probably wasn't that great either, Frypan probably burnt the cake too and it--

Before he could say another word, Teresa leaned over and softly kissed him on his chubby baby cheek. That shocked him into silence. Before he could say anything, she smiled her lovely smile, with one tooth missing in the front, which made her look super cute, he thought.

" Tom it was an amazing surprise, it couldn't have been better, in any way", she whispered in his ear, sending shivers down his spine. "Thank you, she said and remind me to thank the boys too tomorrow I know they must have helped you out with this." She gave him a quick peck on the cheek again, to which he pretended to squirm uncomfortably at.

"Look, he told her. If Newt or Minho ever find out about this--
" they'd never stop teasing you, I know, she said with a smirk. That's why I'm doing it, dummy you're really cute when you act all uncomfortable."

This started a whole argument between them, where he told her to stop acting all 'lovey-dovey' with him since she wasn't his girlfriend and he never wanted one. They argued back and forth for a while which was nothing new, it was an old part of their friendship until both ran out of insults to say to each other.

After few minutes of silence, however, Teresa grew serious and looked at him. "Fine, okay Tom, I may not be your girlfriend but you have to promise me something. Think of it as a birthday present you're giving me.
She took a deep breath and said, promise me you'll always be my friend, that you'll always be with me and never leave me alone. Promise?"

Thomas swallowed nervously. Everything that she was making him promise on her eighth birthday was something he intended to do anyway. He always wanted to be her friend and to be by her side no matter what happened, no matter what the future held. She was one of the greatest friends he'd ever had along with Newt and Minho. But it was a different thing with Teresa. He loved seeing her happy, and he loved seeing her smile or laugh and he'd do anything to make that happen, even make a promise like this, just to make her happy. So without hesitating, he replied "yes, I promise."

That did not entirely satisfy her, because she then held out her tiny little pinky finger. She raised her eyebrows at him and said "pinky promise?" So he hooked his pinky finger around hers and said "yes, pinky promise".

This was enough for her as she withdrew her hand and said to him with a mischievous look on her face,
" you know Tom, if you ever break a pinky promise, I've heard you get turned into a cockroach."
"Really, that's true?" Thomas asked her, his mouth wide open and eyes round with childish naivety.
"No dummy, I was just pulling your foot", Teresa responded, laughing uncontrollably at his shocked face.....to which he couldn't help but laugh too..........

*****************

The dream faded away and Thomas woke up, now in his bed in Paradise. As he slowly sat up, the remnants of the dream still flashing in his mind and the image of an eight year old Teresa and him laughing with childish innocence at each other, a heavy sadness tugged at his heart.

It was then he realized that his eyes were damp, and single tear had escaped while he was dreaming.

A/N:- how was the chapter shippers? Vote if you liked, leave your comments.

This was a dream flashback that Thomas was having. The next chapter picks up right after and it is set in the present tense.