Peace

"Where the BLOODY HELL are you ?" The voice at the other end of the line hissed at her. She blanched and held the phone away from her ear, wincing."I'm here. I'm just coming back from the loo." She tried to explain " I got nervous!"" Jesus Jamie, I've been here for 15 minutes looking for you. " Luke's voice relaxed, "are you ok?"" I'm VERY nervous" she said with a smile.

As she turned the corner she saw him standing in the auditorium, looking around him. She waved and hung up. Happier now he saw she was actually there, he hugged her , kissing her cheek. "You look lovely, he'll be putty in your hands. " she blushed as he continued "I just spoke to him, he's about 10 mins away in a taxi. I have to disappear but just sit in your seat, don't react when he comes in, no matter how anyone else does. His seat is next to you, of course, but he may not see you if he's keeping his head down. Hiding in plain sight, he wont expect you to be there. Just let it play out. If all else fails, drop your program at his feet" he winked " works every time" she groaned and laughed " you're so cheesy Luke. But I do love you for doing this " she hugged him again and he pulled away laughing " don't let Tom hear you say you love me. I'll be out a job! Now go - shoo - shoo, before it all goes belly up".

Carefully she made her way to her seat in the back row of the stalls and sat down. She twisted slightly in her seat so she was kind of facing away from where he would, most likely, come in. Now to wait. Her stomach was doing somersaults and she had sweaty palms. She only hoped her face didn't reflect how sick she now felt, that would not be attractive to anyone. As she studied her phone, there were murmurs from the people around her. She caught "it's him." and "isn't he tall in real life!" as well as the occasional "Yeah, well I read this morning..." It took all her willpower not to jump up and run to him. She couldn't in these damn boots anyway she thought with a grimace. She was aware that the row was beginning to bob up and down as someone made their way along. Place by place he drew nearer until finally he was there, next to her. Standing over her. He didn't sit down, instead she heard his voice, his wonderful cultured, sexy voice.

"Ehehe I'm, ahem, I'm sorry miss. I think you might have the wrong seat that one is taken. I'm waiting for a friend to join me. I really am sorry." he sounded so contrite and embarrassed and she could barely contain herself. Before she turned, she began to speak.

Oh I don't know, I really do think this is my seat"

"No miss, sorry, I really am, but that seat belongs to..." as she stood up grinning and turning to him fully, his voice died " Jamie?" a mere whisper. His eyes lit up and his smile would have illuminated the whole theatre. "Is it really you? How ? Who? LUKE!!" suddenly the penny dropped.

"Hello darling, I've missed you." she said and he knew, instantly she still loved him. All the pain and sorrow left him replaced with an overwhelming joy. He gathered her into his arms and kissed her, not caring about the crowd who saw them, who photographed them and who gasped at the kiss. It really was like something out of a romantic novel.

As she tightened her arms around him, she whispered "I don't really want to see the play now, do you?" unable to speak, he shook his head and apologising all the way, they exited the row and the theatre. Outside there was a couple who were standing looking at the playbill in the window. Tom turned to them and to their utter amazement said "we have a couple of tickets we're not using now - go on, enjoy! Any issues tell them Tom sent you!" he handed over his ticket and Jamie quickly followed suit. The couple thanked them profusely and ran in, unable to quite comprehend what had just happened.

"Think you got another couple of devotees there" Jamie nudged him as they headed for a taxi and he laughed sheepishly.

The took a taxi back to her hotel, Tom was more than a little surprised at where she was staying but actually glad. Hotels of this standard were, by their very nature, the epitome of discretion. As the cab drew up, Jim was on duty. He opened the door and Jamie got out.

"Back so soon Miss Jamie, everything ok?" he said surprised to see her.

"Yes Jim, everything is very much ok" she smiled.

Tom got out behind her and without so much as a blink or a pause Jim tipped his hat saying "Evening Mr Hiddleston, lovely night isn't it. Welcome to The Savoy sir" You'd have thought it was the most natural thing in the world for her to be bringing a Hollywood star home with her. No-one stopped them, of course, when she walked directly through the foyer to the lifts. Natasha looked up, smiled broadly and marked Do Not Disturb against Jamie's room. No-one was going to spoil this for her.

She opened the door to her suite, her hands shaking so much she dropped the card. Tom instantly knelt to pick it up, then took her hand and led her inside. He closed the door behind them with a soft click. Silence. In silence, they walked hand in hand to the living room and sat on the sofa. In silence, he looked at her and tears ran down his cheeks. In silence he leant over and kissed her very softly then pulled back.

"thank you" he eventually said and she shook her head slowly

"no Tom, thank YOU" she touched his cheek, wiping the tears away, somehow an even more intimate gesture than kissing him. "you fought for me when I couldn't fight for myself. I was too weak to fight for you and for that I am truly sorry" she looked at him, barely able to believe he was there.

"Love is not a weakness Jamie" he said quietly, taking her hand. She giggled and he looked at her quizzically , head on one side "Funny?" his brows furrowed.

"You're not the first person that's said that to me this week" she replied "but I think I know who he stole it from"

"He?" His face took on a mock stern-ness "you were talking to a HE?" she put a hand to her mouth in mock terror, playing along

"Please don't be angry with him, I love him , he's my bestest friend EVER!" she said in a little voice

"He cannot be your bestest friend!" said Tom sternly and jealously "He's MY bestest friend" and they collapsed on the sofa laughing "because after all" he added " he brought me you!"

For a moment, they looked at each other, studying every curve, every line, every detail of each others faces as if memorising them. She leaned over, her mouth millimetres away from his. She could feel his breath on her lips. It was the most sensual thing she had ever felt. They didn't kiss, they just sat for a moment, the agony of their closeness heightening the fire building between them. Jamie thought she was going to pass out.

"I-I-need to lie down" she murmured gripping his arms

"yes darling, but not yet" was the hoarse reply. Tom stood up the turned and swooped her up into his arms, carrying her through to the bedroom. He set her down on the edge of the bed and switched on the side lights creating a cosy glow. It was dark outside now, only the street lamps and the lights from across the Thames illuminating them. Almost as dark as the last night they had spent together. Fishing in his pocket, he pulled out his phone and opened an App. Suddenly music filled the room, her music.

"You remembered" she said, sliding off the bed to stand in front of him.

"I will remember that night forever darling" he said, sliding a hand round her waist and pulling her close. They started to move to the music, she leaned her head on his chest, feeling his warmth, smelling his aftershave. It was almost like the time in between had never happened.

As the music stopped, she looked up at him with a serious face. "Tom, can I ask you something?"

"Yes darling" he looked at her, worried by her change of expression. "Anything, we have no secrets"

"Would you have gone through with it, you know, actually married her?" she spoke softly, barely above a whisper. The question had tormented her, she needed to know. Even if it was the answer she dreaded. For a moment, he looked at her, eyes full of sadness. She started to shake a little, maybe she had overstepped the mark. He stroked her cheek softly. Then he smiled.

"No darling, I wouldn't. Even when I thought that I would never marry you I couldn't have married her. It just wasn't going to happen."

She looked up at him, feeling every last doubt and fear disappear. Then it struck her, he'd been thinking about marrying her. Her eyes widened in shock and he laughed.

"yes love, I said the M-word!" he kissed her forehead " please don't tell me after all we've been through, you ever thought that was in doubt?" he picked her up in his arms and carried her over to the bed. Laying her down , he went on " I will marry you my Little Mermaid, I promise, and you will have the wedding of your dreams, big - small - whatever you want. But for now I just want to love you. Let me love you?" he looked down at her and she smiled, extending her hand to him.

"Love me Tom, love me now and always."