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

Chapter Thirteen

Ann took a couple long deep breaths as she watched Sage place her lunch on the edge of her desk and proceed to cross her arms over her chest as if she were angry with her. "Sage, this is Tom. Tom, this is my friend Sage."

"I know who he is Ann. Most of the world knows who he is," she retorted with a smirk on her face, "I want to know why he's sitting in your office."

"Do you remember me talking to you about someone that helped me through the incident in California?" Ann asked as she fiddled with her hands.

Sage nodded. "You said that someone helped you and sheltered you away from that dickish ex of yours, pardon my language."

Tom chuckled as he sat back in his seat. "None taken."

Ann smiled over at him, then looked back at Sage. "That person was Tom." She watched as her friend registered what she'd said, then looked between them both again. The wheels were visibly turning in Sage's head and Ann hoped that she wouldn't suddenly blurt out something inappropriate.

"Can I... can I sit down?" Sage asked.

This prompted Tom to quickly give up his current seat and sit in the one beside it, afraid that the woman may keel over due to the look on her face. He watched as Sage sat down and took a few deep breaths. "Are you alright?" he asked.

Sage nodded. "I'll be alright... it's not every day that you hear your friend's knight in shining armor is a movie star."

"I'm just a man," Tom countered, "I couldn't let her be hurt by who she was with, so I did what I thought was best. We've become friends since then."

"Well, thank you for taking care of my friend," Sage answered with a small smile.

That went better than expected, Ann thought as she grinned at Sage, then at Tom, who quickly smiled back at her once he noticed. Then she noticed a glint in Sage's eyes. Please don't voice what you're thinking! She voiced inwardly to herself.

"Only friends though?" Sage boldly questioned.

"Sage!" Ann quickly scolded, noting that Tom had quickly formed a blush across his cheeks and cleared his throat.

"What?" she asked with a laugh. "It's just a question."

Tom quickly recovered, although he could still feel the heat on his face. "We're just friends. I am thankful for her letting me visit for an interview for the magazine."

Ann didn't know why but a bit of her spirit fell at the words he'd spoken. She smiled and nodded though anyhow. "The interview turned out to be really good. I cannot wait to put it in the magazine. Everyone in the area will wonder how I got a hold of you."

Sage smirked as she discreetly looked in between the two of them. "That sounds amazing, I can't wait to read it. Are you going to take any photos to go along with it?"

"I thought about it," Ann shrugged, "I'd like to take them myself though if I do."

"Have you thought of a location?" Sage asked, and Ann shook her head. "What about the pool at my place? I'd let you have the space you need to yourselves and the flowers and greenery look amazing right now."

Ann thought about it for a moment as she chewed on the tip of the pen that she held. "Would it be weird to do a whole shoot?" she thought aloud.

"I'm up for anything you want to throw at me," Tom said, voicing his own opinion.

"You could do a mini shoot," Sage added.

Ann leaned forward and looked at the calendar on her computer. "When would I do this though? Tom leaves on Friday."