Juggling (Book Two)

Photographs

Emmeline Rose squirms as Benedict attempts to put into the baby carrier which is strapped around Tom’s chest. At her age this is the best way to be transported, especially around a busy city like London. Finally she gives in and allows to be placed inside the bundle on fabric so that she is facing Tom, this is one of the many ways the pair are making sure that she will be warm. Alongside, a thick ‘pram suit’ as the shop had called it, mittens (a gift from Lauren) and a woolly hat. “Darling, could you make sure that it is tied sufficiently. I don’t want her to fall out or something.” Tom frets before kissing his daughter gently on her forehead.

“Yes of course.” Benedict smiles, “But you need to stop panicking TW, everything will be fine.” He checks the baby carrier’s structure for about the millionth time. Today the family are going out Christmas shopping and facing the crowds. It is quite a cold day in mid-December so they are all wrapped up warm. They are both wearing jeans and their sneakers, Ben has on a knitted jumper underneath his thick, warm coat whereas Tom is wearing a navy hoody underneath a jacket as he has the baby to keep him warm. The baby stuff such as nappies, wet wipes and milk bottles are in a brown rucksack which Benedict is carrying quite happily as Tom is carrying the small child. “Ready?” Ben asks while opening the front door.

“Yes.” Tom replies reluctantly, his boyfriend knows why he is nervous as there will be fans and people will recognise them. They all walk out of the door and climb down the stairs to the lobby where there is a taxi waiting at the entrance. They had decided last night that it would be best to get a taxi into the centre and back as parking the car would be a nightmare, especially at this time of year. They clamber into the black cab and Tom sits in an awkward position due to the baby carrier attached to him but he has suddenly calmed down. He is now looking forward to being outside the apartment and spending time with his family.

About twenty minutes later they arrive in the midst of the Christmas rush. Women are rushing around in sheer panic with their unenthusiastic partner in tow, the teenagers are charging around with their mates just pleased to be out of school and the street sellers from the market are rubbing their freezing cold hands together hoping to catch some spreading warmth from their palms to their fingers. Benedict pays the cab driver and assists Tom out of the vehicle. Emmeline attempts to twist her head around to match sounds with the kerfuffle but fails as the straps on the baby carrier are quite constricting. “Where do you want to go first?” Tom asks his partner with glee.

“Maybe inside the shopping the centre as we don’t want little one to get cold do we?” Tom nods cheerfully in response and together they stride hand in hand towards the large, glass centre. To conceal themselves from the crowds the best they can, before they left the flat, Benedict put on his thick-rimmed glasses and a flat cap. Tom on the other hand is wearing a black, winter hat.

In the shopping centre, many people notice them and a couple have to do a double take but everyone leaves them alone. This surprises the pair but they are very glad. In fact, by lunchtime they have bought plenty of gifts and some more Christmas decorations.

\~.~.~.~.~/

Benedict scrolls through his sixth article that he has found on the internet about yesterday’s shopping trip and indeed about Emmeline Rose:

{

A CELEBRITY CHRISTMAS SHOPPING TRIP

Actors Tom Hiddleston and Benedict Cumberbatch seen on a Christmas shopping trip with new addition to the family, Emmeline Rose.

A couple of months ago it was revealed on ‘The Graham Norton Show’ that Hiddleston’s daughter was going to be living with the two stars from the start of the festive period. After having a bumpy relationship with ex-girlfriend Vanessa (mother of the child) the Marvel came out as gay and started to have a relationship with Cumberbatch. This allegedly caused all sorts of agro for the stars as the ex would not leave them be. It later turned out that she had a child, Emmeline Rose, who is now in Hiddleston’s care as the mother is in prison due to many offences.

Yesterday was the first time since an incident a couple of months ago that Hiddleston, Cumberbatch and the child have all been seen together. The group were not pestered by fans as it was obvious that this was a family day out; Hiddleston was very much playing the role of the mother as he was carrying the infant in a baby carrier on his front.

It was a heart-warming sight to all that saw them at the time but a couple of shot were taken of the family which have been put in a slideshow below. Please view and prepare for the heart-warming.

}

Ben scoffs at the colloquialism of the article but cannot help but smile when he sees the images of them as a family. He decides to save them on his laptop’s hard drive as currently he does not have any pictures of them all together. This sparks an idea in his head and he quickly rises and rushes into the bedroom where Tom is quietly tuning his guitar. “I’ve had an idea!” Benedict exclaims before Tom shushes him and signals that the baby is asleep. “Oops.” He comments.

“What idea?” Tom asks as he puts his guitar back in its case, half-tuned.

“Well there are no photographs of us three altogether...apart from the ones the press have taken.” Tom grunts at the last part, “We could ask one of the girls to take some photos of us today and the best one we could have printed and put it on the wall.”

“That’s such a great idea!” He laughs which is followed by him being shushed by Benedict patronisingly, “Yeah, we actually need to talk about the whole paparazzi thing. We either need to get some sort of court order to stop images of Emmeline being printed-”

“Like what Martin and Amanda did with their kids.”

“Exactly.” Tom agrees, “Or we need to be all upfront about it.”

“The last one sure would be easier…” Ben trails deep in thought.

\~.~.~.~.~/

Later on that day the photographs had been taken. Lauren kindly offered to take the photos because she owns a professional camera. Benedict wore a pair of dark jeans and some grey socks with his favourite navy blue shirt over the top. He styled his hair into a slight quiff to look presentable but still quite casual. Tom, on the other hand, wore a pair of black chinos with his favourite sky blue shirt and some red stripy socks. Emmeline Rose looked adorable in a carnation pink Babygro, little booties and a hat to keep her bare head warm. It was decided after they took the photographs of them sitting on the sofa that they liked three of them so decided to get them printed on one canvas. The first image is all three of them looking at the camera, smiling (well Emmeline Rose giggling) but in quite a casual position. They looked comfortable. The second was similar but Tom’s head was turn to the right looking at Benedict and the third was both adults looking down at the small bundle of joy between them.

After putting little one to bed, Tom and Benedict are now laying on the sofa. Tom is reclined back onto Ben where they just sit in a pleasurable silence until a thought pops into the taller man’s head. “Ben darling, if we are going to let the press and that take photos of Emmeline and if we are going to be upfront about the whole situation then shall I make one of the images we took today my cover image on twitter?”

“That sounds like a good idea my love.” He kisses the back of Tom’s head lovingly as his boyfriend fumbles around with his phone. He decides to make image one his cover photo.

Twitter:

Tom Hiddleston (@twhiddleston): Having an amazing festive season with the two people I love the most in this world. This photo, along with the others, was taken by my amazing friend Lauren x (IMAGE)

…..

Robert Downey Jr (@RobertDowneyJr): That is the complete opposite to what my family photo which we took today looks like. You look calmer than us Downey’s.

Ian McKellen (@IanMcKellen): Your child is going to have a bright future :)

Chloe Bennet (@ChloeBennet4): Aww she has your eyes! <3 

A/N: Hope you enjoyed this part :) this was meant to be quite a nice, feel-sy part and I hoped that I have achieved that. Happy New Year guys! Let's hope that 2015 is going to be a good one. I have exams in January (-__-) so updates are going to be slow from now on I am afraid :(