Never Stop . . . Never Stop Fighting (A Tom Hiddleston Fanfiction)

Chapter Ten

Two long months. It took two long months, but Tom smiled as he stepped out into the Charlotte Douglas International Airport. He checked his phone as he waited for his luggage to come around the conveyor belt, pulling the ball cap he wore further down on his head, trying to hide his face from passers by.

Seeing that he had one missed text from Ann, he quickly answered her back and let her know that he was at the airport and would hopefully be arriving soon to the address she had provided him the day before.

Tom soon walked outside the airport, luggage in hand. He hailed a taxi and climbed inside the backseat, quickly giving the driver the address from his phone. As the driver eased into traffic Tom leaned back against the seat and let out a sigh. Even though it had only been two months he felt a tingle of anticipation as the taxi sped toward his destination.

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Ann scurried around her house as she tidied it up as best as she could. She knew it was small, but she didn't want her home to be anything less than clean when Tom arrived. Let's see, the kitchen is clean, my laundry is put away and I just swept and mopped the floors, she thought. She looked over her living room one last time and decided to fold her throw blanket and lay it over the back of the couch when she heard a knock on her front door.

She gulped as she removed the chain lock, then unlocked the deadbolt and doorknob before slowly pulling the door open. A tall frame and bright blue eyes were there to greet her. "Hi Tom, it's nice to see you."

"It's lovely to see you again," Tom replied, watching as Ann backed up to let him inside her home. He made a quick glance around the living room as she shut the door, sighing to himself at the homey feel the room gave off. When Ann came back to his full view once more, he couldn't help but grin at her. "You look a lot better."

"I feel a lot better," she answered. "Would you like anything to drink? I have water, or I could make tea?" She suggested.

"Tea sounds lovely," Tom replied as he unbuttoned his coat and removed it from his shoulders, only to hang it on the rack behind the front door.

Ann nodded. "Tea it is then." She walked into the kitchen and grabbed a pot from the cabinet before she filled it with water from the tap. "How was your flight?" She asked curiously, upon hearing Toms footsteps as he came into the kitchen.

"It was reasonable," he replied, "The airport wasn't too crowded, which was nice."

"That's good to hear." Ann turned and smiled at him before she placed the pot on the stove. "What kind of tea would you like? I have peppermint, regular Lipton, and I think I have a black breakfast tea."

Tom grinned as he leaned against the kitchen counter. "Black tea preferably, but you can fix what you like."

"I normally have Earl Grey but I just ran out last night," Ann replied. She looked up into the open cabinet where she kept her tea and sighed as it sat on the top shelf.

I need to buy a step ladder, she thought as she strained to reach the packet, only to gasp as she felt a sudden heat and firmness against her back.

Tom reached over her and easily grabbed the pack of tea bags, then placed them gently on the counter top. "Why would a short little thing like you keep things on the top shelf?" He asked quietly.

Ann felt a blush flame across her cheeks as she refused to meet his eyes. "I ran out of room where I normally keep it. I just tossed it up there one morning after I came back from the store."

"Well it's a good thing that I'm here then. Now I can reach anything that you cannot," he replied, a small smirk present on his face.

Ann giggled. "I guess so." She opened the small box and pulled out two packets before she placed the box at the back of the counter. "So... about the interview that I'll be doing. Are you able to talk about the new film at all or no?"