every step of the way // tom holland

butterfly

After realizing that you had a growing bump, everything felt so much more real to you. It was scary, but so exciting. You knew it wouldn't be long until you could feel the baby move, and you waited anxiously for it to happen. Tom was excited too, and the two of you were always side by side, waiting for something, anything, to happen.

Both your mom and Tom's mom had laughed at the two of you, saying that it was like watching paint dry; it wasn't going to happen if you kept staring and staring. However, Tom was going to be leaving fairly soon to start filming the new Spider-Man movie, and he didn't want to miss out on anything, so you were hoping it would happen sooner rather than later.

One evening, you were home alone while Tom was at a meeting. For you, being pregnant meant feeling tired and lazy all of the time. There were several nights where you'd fall asleep early on the couch or in bed with the TV on. If Tom was home, he'd tiptoe around, trying to avoid waking you. So, when Tom arrived home, he'd expected to find you asleep somewhere in the house. Instead, he found you laying on the couch, a blanket pulled over your body as you watched the TV.

You weren't really paying that much attention to the show, and you heard Tom's feet hitting the floor before you saw him. "Hey, Tom!" you called from your spot on the couch.

Tom's eyebrows raised in surprise and he gave you a smile, "Hey, Y/N/N. I expected you to be asleep by now."

A sigh fell from your lips as you shook your head in response, "No, I feel kind of weird. I can't sleep."

Instantly, you could see the lines of worry etch themselves into Tom's face. "Y/N, what's wrong? Is everything okay? Why didn't you call me?"

You gave a small smile at his concern and shook your head, your hand rubbing over your tummy slowly. "No, no, I'm okay, Tom. I just keep getting this weird, almost fluttery feeling in my stomach. It only happens every so often, I'm sure it's nothing. It just feels weird, and I can't sleep."

"Y/N..." Tom started, an excited glimmer in his eyes, "that's probably the baby moving finally."

Your eyes widened at the realization and you gasped, pressing your hand to the bump gently, "God, I'm dumb. Of course. Guess I just thought it'd be more obvious."

Tom laughed as he took a seat next to you on the couch, "You're not dumb, love." Tom's hand came down and rested against your knee, "I'm guessing I won't be able to feel it yet?"

You bit your lip and shook your head slowly. "I can barely feel it myself, so I doubt it. I'm sorry, Tommy."

He gave you a half smile and moved his hand to the small bump. "Don't apologize, silly. It won't be long now."

-

Tom was right. With each day, the movement from the baby was getting more and more obvious. It was as if your baby was doing gymnastics inside of you. You were slowly getting used to the fluttery feeling, and the feeling of small movements. You'd taken to calling your baby 'butterfly' because of the feelings you got when they moved around. It filled you with happiness every time you felt it; it was a reminder of the end result.

A few weeks later, only days before Tom was to leave for filming, the two of you found yourself lying on the couch together, a movie playing on the TV. Per usual, your eyes were heavy as you tried to fight off the sleep. Tom was tired, too, from getting everything ready before he had to leave. He had a lot to do, and he felt like he had to do even more because he was leaving you for a while.

Suddenly, there was a stronger, more pronounced movement from your baby, causing you to grunt and press your hand to your stomach where you'd felt it. Tom's eyes flew open at your noise and looked at you in concern, "Are you okay?" Without saying anything, you reached for Tom's hand, setting his warm palm against your tummy where you'd felt the kick. You let your eyes close and you breathed out slowly, waiting for it to happen again.

After a few minutes of nothing happening, you let out a groan, "C'mon, butterfly. Your daddy wants to feel you kick."

Tom's heart skipped a beat in his chest as he listened to you speak to your baby, and a warm smile spread across his face. His fingertips traveled over your bump slowly before resting it in the spot you'd originally set it in. "Please, little love," his voice was soft and his eyes were concentrated on his hand.

As Tom spoke, you could feel the fluttery movement again, followed by another more obvious kick to the place where Tom's hand was. Tom's eyes widened when he felt it, and his smile was the sun as his gaze met yours. You couldn't help but copy his expression, your smile matching his.

"Oh, wow," he breathed out, "that's amazing."

You nodded and were about to speak when there was another kick to the same place. You gave Tom a grin, setting your hand near his, "Seems as though our little butterfly likes the sound of your voice, Tommy."

His fingertips brushed over your skin lightly and he let out a hum, "Be gentle, little love. Don't want to hurt your mummy."