Tom grabbed Nicki's arm and pulled her back into the position they were in before, he could tell that she was panicking and that her walls were straight back up. Tom put his fingers under her chin and gently lifted her head to face him; he looked straight into her eyes and noticed she was starting to cry. 'Nicki, what's wrong?' Nicki shook her head and pushed his hand off her and burrowed her head into his shoulder. Tom could feel his shirt becoming wet and could tell Nicki was back to crying again, but this time it was obviously for a whole different reason.
'Nicki, look at me' Tom tried to lift her head. 'Look at me!' Nicki kept shaking her head and wouldn't look up. 'I'm so sorry!' she kept mumbling into his shoulder. 'Nicki, why are you sorry?' this caused her to shake even more and shake her head. 'Nicki, please' she mumbled something unintelligible into his shirt. 'Nicki I can't understand you, your mumbling' Nicki moved slightly away from his shoulder. 'I'm sorry I kissed you, I've ruined everything' Tom gently pulled Nicki to him, kissing the top of her head and cuddled her into his body. 'Nicki, you haven't ruined anything. I wanted to do that' Nicki looked up at Tom in shock, tears still streaming down her face. Tom leant down and gently kissed her. 'See' he whispered against her mouth. He pressed his lips harder to Nicki's, when they pulled away for air Tom smiled at Nicki who burrowed her head into his shoulder. 'Shouldn't we call Josh down now for dinner' Nicki whispered into his chest. Tom let out a throaty laugh and shouted for his son. Nicki tried to pull away from him when she heard Josh bounding, but Tom just pulled her back to him.
Nicki started blushing red, and burrowed her head into Tom's chest. Josh came storming through the living room door, 'oh, am I interrupting something' he points towards the stairs 'I could go back up there if it's more convenient' he leant forwards towards the pizza box that he knew was peperoni and just as he went to grab it he heard Nicki's small voice telling him to stay. Tom smiled and pulled her closer to him. Tom looked down at Nicki who still hadn't looked up since Josh had entered the room, who would have thought the big, strong army woman was actually shy, nervous and self-conscious. Tom started rubbing her shoulder, while he and Josh casually chatted. Josh was scoffing down the pizza only stopping for small periods to take sips of diet Cola. Nicki slowly started to look up but stayed resting against Tom's side, he felt her moving and looked down at her and smiled. 'Feel like some pizza?' Nicki nodded and sat up slowly avoiding Josh's eyes. Josh smirked at his dad, who would have thought that his dad and Miss Boston finally getting it on would end up like this. Nicki never seemed the type to be shy. Tom leant forward and opened the last two pizza boxes and offered Nicki a slice of vegetarian pizza, Nicki smiled and took it off him. They ate in a pleasant silence, when they had finished Josh gathered the empty boxes and walked out to the bin. Tom looked over at Nicki, she looked exhausted. 'Nicki, would you like to stay the night?' Nicki looked up at him; she looked like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming car. 'No, No, No, not for…you know that. Just to sleep in the spare room.' Nicki seemed to relax but not much, she still looked edgy. 'Nicki, seriously I'm not going to jump you in your sleep or whatever it is your thinking.' Tom saw Nicki flinch, he had only just managed to get her to feel comfortable and one comment made without thinking, seemed to have put him right back to square one.
Nicki saw Tom's face drop, she felt terrible. He was only trying to be nice to her, and she did feel really tired. She shuffled up the sofa towards Tom who was looking awkwardly down at his hands. Why did they make each other feel this way, so out of character and worried about stepping on each other's toes where they weren't wanted? She gently grasped his hands in hers and lifted them to her mouth placing a kiss on each fist. 'I'm sorry Tom, of course I'd like to stay. I feel too tired to make it home and I'd feel terrible dragging you out at…' she looked at his clock resting on the mantel piece above the fire, which was burning away merrily at the side of them 'Jesus, I didn't notice the time.' This made Tom look up 1:30am, no wonder Josh had disappeared after placing the boxes in the bin. He turned his hand over in hers, and gently kissed the side of her head, 'Come on I'll show you to the spare room.'
He slowly lead Nicki up the stairs and through to the room opposite the bathroom and next to his, Chlo's old room. The room was painted white, with white curtains and white bedspread, the bed, wardrobe and the bedside tables were a very light oak. Nicki walked in and sat down on the double bed. She looked down at her hands 'Thank you, Tom' she whispered Tom walked over to her and sat down next to her. 'Nicki what's wrong?' Nicki shook her head and kept looking down at her hands, 'How about you get some rest, and we'll speak in the morning? Hey' Nicki nodded but as Tom went to stand she pulled him back down 'Please stay with me' she whispered, not looking up. After a couple of minutes of Tom not talking, not even moving. Nicki slumped a bit, 'It doesn't matter Tom. Just go to bed' Nicki stood up, moved to the other side of the bed and kicked off her pants, and curled up under the duvet. She heard rustling, but stayed facing the wall. She felt the bed dip and then felt Tom's arm curl securely around her waist. She turned slightly around so she could look at Tom. 'Thank you' she whispered and kissed him, turning back towards the wall, she closed her eyes and fell into a peaceful sleep. Tom following not far behind.