Just an old Hiddleston dream from 2012 that I pulled out of my vault and rewrote.
The sound of the bustling London café was relaxing to me as I sat at one of the outside tables enjoying the warm weather. I was also sipping my green tea and watching the people around the plaza while I silently pondered what I was going to write for my next piano composition.
Three weeks ago I had arrived in London so that I could attend the music school of my dreams; London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Never in my wildest dreams had I ever thought to step foot in that school, not until I’d won a music competition that came with a full-ride scholarship.
Now I was trying to work on a composition for class.
I was just bringing my tea cup up to my lips to take a sip of my tea when I felt the air behind me shift as if someone were going to touch me. I had always been sensitive to such things.
When a big, warm hand gently touched my shoulder, I startled, spilling my tea half on me and half on my mostly blank sheet music.
I let out a small grunt of frustration just as the guy who’d touched me startled himself. He quickly spoke, his voice soft and thick with well-pronounced words in a rich British accent. “I am so sorry.”
He quickly pulled out a handkerchief and attempted to wipe up the spilled tea on my lap with gentle pats. I kept my hands raised and was surprised at his attempts to dry the tea. All I could see was his wide shoulders and shaggy light brown curls tinted with subtle red.
I gently touched his shoulder to get his attention. “I’m ok, you don’t have to keep trying to wipe up the tea. I’ll survive.”
His hands stilled for a moment before he gave a nod and stood to his full height. “Of course. I’m so sorry.”
I turned slightly on the chair and stood, finally looking up at the man who’d startled me and then tried to help me. “It’s o…kay…”
No more words escaped my lips; they couldn’t. Standing in front of me was one of the most handsome men in the world - Thomas William Hiddleston. He was wearing black dress slacks, a sexy, tiny black leather and silver belt, a soft blue dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and a black and white pinstriped vest accompanied by a calm blue tie that matched his mystical blue eyes.
Those mystical blue eyes were staring down at me while a shy smile crinkled the edges of his lips.
And I was just standing there staring at him like I’d been bashed over the head with Mjolnir about fifty million times.
“Ma’am, I am dreadfully sorry for making such a mess and scaring you. It wasn’t my intention.”
I swallowed roughly and ran my hands down the back of my skirt, making myself a little more presentable, even though the front of my skirt was soaked and sticking to my legs. All I could do was blink up at him for a few seconds while I tried to figure out what to say.
I gave a quick shake of my head when I realized I was still rudely staring at him. “Oh my Loki. Oh Gods. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to stare. I… I just…” I finally looked down at the ground, hiding my blush behind my bangs. “It’s alright. It’s not like I can’t rewrite the sheet music, and my skirt won’t take long to dry.”
Thomas let out a small hum before bringing his hand up and extending it out to me. “I don’t mind a beautiful lady such as yourself staring at me. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss…”
I slowly peeked up at him through my bangs and watched as he arched his brows while gently smiling at me. It took me a few seconds to realize he was asking me my name. I stopped looking at him through my bangs and met his eyes as I gently took his hand; it was warm and soft, his long fingers wrapping around my hand gently squeezing. “ALEYDA!”
I practically screamed it at him in my nervousness. I took a slow, deep breath as he chuckled and tried again. “My name is Aleyda. Aleyda Tommins.”
His smile grew and he slowly pulled my hand upwards as he leaned his tall body down to place a soft, warm kiss against the top of my knuckles. His whiskers tickled against my skin and I felt butterflies flutter around my tummy as my knees nearly gave out.
When he pulled away and straightened up, his smile and the corners of his eyes crinkled with joy as he continued to hold my hand. “It’s a pleasure meeting you, Aleyda Tommins. My name is Thomas William Hiddleston. You can call me Tom if you like.”
I enjoyed every word coming from his lips, adoring his British accent. His words were so well pronounced and he spoke with full confidence. My heart felt like it was trying to beat its way out of my chest.
I licked my lips as I tried to compose myself. “Would you…” I stopped for a moment, unsure if I should ask my question. But I really wanted to, so I did. I refused to look away from the direct eye contact he was giving me with those beautiful mystic blue eyes of his. “Would you mind if I called you Thomas? I…” I blushed again and finally looked away. “I’ve always liked your full name.”
He gave a small laugh, his smile growing bigger as he ducked his head slightly, his cheeks tinging a barely-there pink. I adored that bashfulness so much. “So you know me then?”
I gave a small shake of my head. “I know of you, not necessarily know you personally. This is… this is the first time I’ve had the privilege of meeting you.”
His voice tinkled out in that adorable EHEHEHE laugh. “Well then, Aleyda; I would be honoured if you called me Thomas.” He slowly released my hand that he’d been holding and beckoned towards the table and my empty tea cup. “Would you mind if I bought you another cup of tea? I am sorry that I frightened you.”
I blinked up at him in silence for a few seconds before shaking my head again, turning back to the table. I absently brushed the tip of my fingers over the lip of the cup. “Sure… I wouldn’t mind another cup of tea.”
“And would you mind if I sat with you and had a cup of tea myself?”
I quickly turned around, nearly knocking my chair over as I nodded vigorously. “Yes! I mean… yes, of course you can join me. I wouldn’t mind some company. I just got out of class about half an hour ago so I was just relaxing and thinking.”
He moved behind me and pulled out my chair, waiting for me to take a seat. When I tucked my skirt against the back of my knees and lowered myself against the wire mesh of the chair, he pushed it closer to the table before walking over to the one opposite me and pulling it closer and also sitting down.
He waved to one of the waiter and when the waiter came over he ordered a cup of cool green tea and a cup of earl grey with a splash of milk.
When the waiter left to fill the order, Thomas turned his attention back to me. I’d been staring the whole time so I quickly looked down at the table and absently poked at my pen sitting beside my wet sheet music.
“So you’re going to school? Which one?”
I continued to poke at my pen, fighting the urge to look up at him because I didn’t want to seem rude. “Guildhall.”
He sat his hands on the table and I reverted my attention to them as he absently ran his fingers back and forth against his palms. “What are you studying.”
“Classical composition, piano, and I’m taking voice lessons. I… I want to become a modern opera singer.”
Thomas shifted in his chair and leaned forward, drawing my attention back up to his eyes. “Opera?”
I slowly nodded. “Yah… opera.”
The joy in his voice surprised me. “I think that’s wonderful! My mum worked with opera singers and actors for the longest time. She was a director at a theater. I think you two would hit it off right nicely.” He reached out and grabbed the hand that was poking at my pen; his mystical blue eyes searched for something in mine.
My blush deepened to a dark crimson and I thanked the gods above when the waiter appeared with our tea; but even after the waiter had set the tea down and left, Thomas still didn’t let go of my hand.
I tried to gently pull it away but his grip tightened slightly to prevent escape. I struggled to find something to say. “The… the tea… I can’t drink it while you’re holding my hand.”
My heart jumped into my throat as he scooted out of his chair and knelt down in front of me, now taking my other hand into his, pulling them forward to press against his chest; I could feel his heart racing just as fast as mine was. “I know this is sudden, Aleyda, and I know this may sound a bit creepy, but I’ve been observing you sitting here for the past couple of weeks studying your textbooks and writing your music and it took me this long to get the nerve up to come and talk to you. Grant it, I scared the daylights out of you, and I apologize again, but please… would you do me the honour of coming home with me and meeting my mum?”
I felt my heart stop in my chest and my tummy hit my feet as I stared down into those mesmerizing blue, seeking, earnest eyes. “I…” I choked on my words and gave a small cough before trying again. “This is so sudden. Why… why would you want me to meet your mum? You don’t even know me.”
He gave a small, bashful smile. “But I want to get to know you, Aleyda. That’s why I’m asking. I want…” He gave a small sigh of frustration and let one of my hands go so that he could run his hand through his curly brown and red hair.
He looked up at me, that bashful look still present, and then reached up to gently cup my face between his hands. He scooted forward on his knees and pulled my face forwards until his lips gently touched mine.
I went to pull away but his hands slid up along my shoulders and into my hair, fisting gently to hold me in place for a few more seconds. Then he pulled away, his face as red as mine.
I rapidly blinked down at him as he sat back on his heels; I slowly reached up to touch my lips, still feeling as if he were kissing me. I opened my mouth to say something but only a small squeak came out.
He looked down at his hands that were fisted against his thighs before he spoke. It was a mere whisper, only loud enough for me to hear. “I’m sorry, Aleyda. I shouldn’t have done that.”
I blinked down at him for a few more seconds before slowly reaching out and cupping his chin, lifting his face upwards so that I could look into his eyes. My tummy was doing flip-flops and my heart was beating out of my chest, but I ignored it all as I leaned forward and pressed my own gently kiss against his lips before pulling back with an embarrassed smile. “I’d love to go meet your mum.”
I watched as his eyes brightened and his smile grew huge once more until I thought it was going to split his face. He quickly scooted backwards and stood, pulling me up with him so fast that I had to steady myself by grabbing the front of his vest.
He placed his hands against my hips to help steady me. “Gather your stuff and I’ll go pay for the tea. I’ll bring the car around and then we can go visit my mum.”
He turned and went to walk away before stopping and quickly taking his steps back, wrapping one arm around my waist and pulling me roughly against him as he leaned down and kissed me again.
I was just as startled as the first time, but I was able to respond this time. I half attempted to giggle as his whiskers tickled against my skin.
When he finally released my lips and pulled away, we both had to suck in a deep breath of air. He still somehow managed to smile down at me. “Thank you.”
This time when he let me go he didn’t turn back, instead he headed into the café to pay for the tea.
I quickly grabbed up my sheet music, my pen, and my textbooks, shoving them all into my messenger bag. By the time I was ready a polished black car pulled up and the window rolled down. Thomas smiled out as me as I walked over.
I opened the door and slid in, the leather letting out a soft whisper as my legs brushed against it. I closed the door and pulled my seatbelt on.
We both didn’t say anything as we pulled away from the curb and into traffic. Thomas drove in silence for a short bit, heading a little way out of town.
Finally he turned off the road into a driveway that led to a nice little house with a garden in the front full of all kinds of beautiful, colourful flowers.
Just as I stepped out and closed the car door, the front door of the house opened and a very beautiful, elegant older woman with short white hair came out to stand on the sidewalk.
Thomas closed his door and walked around the front of the car, holding his hand out to me. I quickly took it and allowed him to pull me towards the house and his waiting mum.
When we stopped in front of her, he let my hand go and walked the rest of the way forward until he could wrap his long arms around his mother. He pressed a gentle kiss against her forehead before turning back to smile brightly at me.
His mum did the same, smiling at me. She seemed to be a couple inches taller than me, coming up a little above Thomas’ chin while I only reached the bottom of his chin. She was truly beautiful and I could see where he got his eyes, his smile, and those sharp cheekbones.
His mum patted Thomas’ tummy and spoke. “Is this the lovely young lady you’ve been talking about, Thomas? She really is beautiful.”
I felt my cheeks start to burn as it turned red again so I lowered my face and hid behind my bangs again. I did a sort of awkward curtsy. “Mrs. Hiddleston, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Thomas’ mum gave a light laugh and pulled away from him. She walked forward until she was standing in front of me and grabbed my shoulder with one hand and reached up with the other to gently move my bangs back away from my face so that she could look at me clearly.
She spoke again and I could tell she had the same well-pronounced British accent as her handsome son. “Please, dearie, call me Diana. It’s a pleasure to finally meet the young lady that my son has been raving about since the first time he saw her at a café studying music a few weeks ago.”
I looked over at Thomas as he silently bounced on the balls of his feet, his smile bright and childlike. I smiled back just as brightly and felt the emotions I felt for him grow even more.
I turned my smile to his mum. “The pleasure is all mine, Diana. You brought your sun up to be a wonderful man.” I slowly held my hand out to her awkwardly because she still hand her hand on my shoulder. “I’m Aleyda. Aleyda Tommins.”
Diana gave a soft laugh and instead of shaking my hand she pulled me into a surprisingly strong hug. I was shocked at first but then I slowly wrapped my arms around her waist, hugging her back.
Diana’s voice was like beautiful music and the words she spoke next made my heart dance with joy. “Welcome to the family, Aleyda.”
