Author's note

A Sybil x Tom Rock the Valentine AU fic. Dedicating this to everyone in our lovely fandom to thank you for all your support over the last year since I joined Tumblr!

I hate Valentine's Day

Sybil opened one eye and immediately regretted it - Christ, it's so bright in here! Oh my head...

She opened the other eye and worked out why the sun was streaming into her room - she wasn't actually in her room. She half sat up and saw she was in her underwear, covered by a duvet in a blue and white check cover she didn't recognise.

Where the bloody hell am I?

Getting up, she found a white robe on a hook behind the door. She put it on and went through the door to find herself in a spacious, bright living room.

"Umm, hello?"

No answer. She smelt the blessed aroma of fresh coffee, so she followed her nose towards the kitchen. There, she learned she was not alone...

"Hello."

He was tall enough that she had to look up to see his face. His Henley t-shirt, worn with striped pajama bottoms, defined his well muscled shoulders and chest, while his fair hair, messed up from sleep, was falling into his eyes, eyes so blue they hurt. Wow, he is hot - what a sight to wake up to!

"How are you doing, Sybil?" His lips curved in a smile.

"Sorry, umm, this must sound really stupid, but I have no idea who you are or why I'm here..." Her hands moved in an uncertain gesture, pushing her fringe back from her face.

"We met last night at the Rose & Crown. Don't you remember?"

The name of Sybil's favourite local pub started a chime in her mind. "I think so - how did we meet again?"

"You tripped and fell into my lap and spilled a tray of tequila shots all over me."

"Oh God, how embarrassing! I'm so sorry..." Again she made that uncertain gesture with her hands as she got a flashback…

Sitting at a table with Anna and Gwen and a few other people, drinking way too much, gesticulating wildly, pontificating loudly about God knows what, going to the bar to get more drinks and then...

"Tom, it's Tom."

"Sorry again, Tom. God, I feel awful - is there anything that needs drycleaning?"

"Don't worry about it, Sybil - it's all in the machine, it'll be fine. No harm, no foul."

That smile again - this time, a small electric shock danced its way down her spine and she couldn't help smiling back.

"And then you said something about how much you hated Valentine's Day. A guy called Larry, I think, got a bit of a serve?"

"Oh shit. Sorry, yes, we were all out for an anti-Valentine's drink or six so I could rain abuse on my ex, basically - long story. Short version is he cheated on me and I found out, and he dumped me to be with her."

"What an idiot." Sybil wasn't sure if that was what he said - it was almost under his breath.

"Want some coffee?" Tom reached for the stovetop percolator.

"I'd give my right arm for a cup."

"No need to go that far. Milk and sugar?"

"No thanks - black is good."

Pouring coffee into a Manchester United mug, he handed it to her. Their fingertips touched as she took it - perhaps for longer than was strictly necessary.

Without asking, he shook out a couple of Nurofen from the bottle on the counter - "Just in case". She sipped her coffee and swallowed the Nurofen.

"Tom, this is an awful thing to have to ask, but - I'm at your place, in my underwear..."

"No, Sybil - nothing happened, don't worry. When a woman throws up and then passes out, it's not really on the agenda."

She closed her eyes in mortification - Oh my God! How much did I have to drink last night?

"After I put you to bed, I slept on the couch. I just took off your shoes, you must have taken your clothes off yourself during the night."

"I threw up? Really?"

"Yes, but don't worry - it happens to the best of us. Hope your hair is OK."

"My hair?"

"I held it back for you."

Larry would never have done that for me in a million years...

She took another sip of coffee. "Would it be OK if I took a quick shower? My mouth feels like the bottom of a canary's cage."

"Sure - help yourself. Towels are in the cupboard in the hall - and I can see you already found a robe." His eyes twinkled at her in a way that sent butterflies fluttering through her stomach.

Five minutes later, Sybil was back, her hair wet and dripping over the shoulders of the borrowed robe. Tom had moved into the living room by then - he had taken their coffee mugs to the table by the window, and was reading the paper.

"Anything interesting?"

"Hi - feeling better?"

"Thanks - much better. Hope you don't mind - I'm still wearing your robe, I couldn't seem to find my clothes anywhere."

"S'OK. I'm just looking to see if my article made the front page."

"Your article? Are you a journalist?" Another chime in her mind - The Guardian, home affairs desk or maybe justice?

"Yes! Found it. Wait till I show my mother - this is my first front page."

"Tom, that's brilliant - congratulations."

He handed the paper over to her. She scanned it and, sure enough, there was his byline - Tom Branson.

"I like the photo - very serious looking."

"Yeah, you have to get suited up for it, which is funny as I never wear a suit to work, and they don't let you smile either."

"That's a shame..." She picked up her coffee mug again in both hands, cradling it, and he grinned at her as he realised what she meant.

"Tom, I have to ask - how did I get here?"

"After we had been talking for a bit, you realised you had lost your wallet. You couldn't find your friends, so I brought you back here to lend you a tenner to get home, as I didn't have any more cash on me. When you came in... well, the rest is history. But the main thing is, you're OK."

She slurped down the rest of her coffee, feeling awkward and fluttery - Gutted I already blew it with this guy - not just gorgeous but really sweet, too...

"I should probably get out of your hair… I'm sure you've got things to do."

"No hurry, really. I was just going to make a bacon sandwich - want one?"

"Actually, that would be brilliant. With lots of brown sauce, please."

"Brown sauce? Ah, that's so wrong - bacon sandwiches should only be eaten with ketchup."

"Are we really going to have a debate about our condiment philosophies?" They exchanged smiles - Is he flirting with me?

"You stay put, Sybil - it'll only take a minute."

He went back into the kitchen - soon, an appetising aroma was filtering through the flat and Sybil surprised herself by feeling hungry.

"There you go." Tom put a plate in front of her. She immediately picked up the sandwich and took a bite.

"This is fantastic - thank you so much!" Her voice was slightly muffled through the large mouthful she was chewing.

"You're welcome - I don't often have guests for breakfast, so I thought I'd push the boat out."

They ate and talked - about life, the universe and everything. They laughed more than their fair share, and their eyes met with increasing frequency, leaving her breathless by the last time. Am I imagining this? I haven't felt this much chemistry with a guy since - I don't know when... maybe never?

He went back to the kitchen to make a second cup of coffee for them, and when he came back he set them both down in front of his place.

She stood up and walked over to him, then stopped. He looked up at her, flashing that smile again - "Anything wrong, Sybil?"

"I don't suppose..."

He turned his chair towards her and reached out his hand - "Come here to me - you weren't so shy last night..."

She took it and he pulled her into his lap. They looked at each other -

"It wasn't anything like this last night, was it?"

"Sybil, last night was amazing, because I met you. Don't worry about the rest of it."

"Oh, Tom..."

Their eyes locked. Sybil put her hand on Tom's stubbly cheek and stroked down to his chin before letting it come to rest on his throat. She felt his arm tighten around her back, while his other hand ran up her thigh to her waist and settled there. Leaning down to him, she cupped the back of his head as their lips met...

Their kiss was gentle at first, but it soon deepened and she heard herself moan as his tongue slid into her mouth. She closed her eyes and sank further into his lap, savouring the trembly, excited feelings running all through her...

After several minutes, their lips parted. She slowly opened her eyes and she saw he was smiling as widely as she was.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Sybil."

"Same to you, Tom - Can I take you out for lunch, or something, to say thank you?"

"That's be great."

"Could you lend me that tenner to pay for it?"

He pulled her into another kiss, more intense and even longer than the last one. Once they finally broke apart, breath ragged, he didn't move away, running his mouth along her jaw and kissing down her throat to her collarbone. From his racing heart beneath her fingers, she could tell that he was feeling the same way she was...

Feeling daring, she pushed his robe off her shoulders, letting it fall to her waist. His eyes widened as he realised she wasn't wearing anything underneath.

"Sybil, have you any idea how gorgeous you are? I wanted to kiss you as soon as I saw you last night."

"I have a better idea - let's dial out for lunch."

"Yes, OK, later on, much later, mmmm..." he murmured against her breasts...

Ohhhh - maybe Valentine's Day isn't so bad after all!

A/N -

Thanks to angiemagz for the awesome manip that accompanied this story on Tumblr - you'll probably recognise the original image from the last scene of Silver Linings Playbook. I've wanted to write something like this fic ever since I read chapter 129 of Love's Journey... so thanks also to Yankee Countess for her inspiration.

I tend to write a lot of one-shot ficlets for our lovely couple, and some people have been kind enough to suggest I collect them here. I decided to create two collections for these stories - you might have already come across my M-rated story collection, called "Tonight or Tomorrow" - well, here's its T-rated counterpart, which I have named "I'd Wait Forever". I will gradually bring over the backset of short one-off fics I've posted on Tumblr, to bring them all together in these collections.

Erin go Bragh! will continue as the main place for my period/canon era short fics (non-M rated), so this new collection will be mainly modern, and I may perhaps throw in a few other time periods - past and future - if I get inspired!

Thanks as always for your support of my writing! Would love to know what you think. :)