So sorry this chapter took so long. I was just so busy. But I'm happy with the way this one came out. So much cute Hiddles stuff. I swear is it possible to be in love with a character in your story, even if he's bsed on someone in real life lol cause wow I just am so happy that it's coming out the way it is. I'm trying to portray him as how I see him and as accurately as I can. I hope I'm doing a good job. Tell me what you think about this chapter and the others. :) Next one should be up soon. It'll be Echo's turn again.

Chapter 6

Hot Chocolate

"I have to say the way they made those frost giants is remarkable," Kate says awe prevalent in her voice, "I admit though I do not envy the people who have to sit there for hours getting that make-up done." She leans back on the bench acutely aware of Tom sitting next to her. He laughs and looks at her as he says, "I admire their patience, a great deal. I know I have to spend quite some time getting my leather and armor on. It is no easy task, especially for the ones who have to do the make-up and dress the actors. I appreciate what they do."

She looks at him modestly as she says, "You know what I admire?" He gives her a questioning look.

"How humble you are," she smiles.

"Oh, bless you for saying that, Kate," he says looking at her sincerely, "You are very kind." She blushes slightly and looks out into the distance to avoid his gaze, watching people walking and conversing, as she says, "Well I've made it a habit to be kind and patient with whoever I work with because, honestly, I know how it feels when people are rude and pressure you. It's not fun that's for sure." She thinks back to the times at her waitressing job and how she had more days than not filled with people rushing her and complaining, and those who were just plain rude to her. She did her best to be as kind and accommodating as she could for her customers but that wasn't always enough, people were still rude. On more than one occasion she wished she'd quit.

"What are you thinking about?" Tom asks, interrupting her thoughts, after he noticed she had gone quiet.

"Oh, um," she regains her composure and looks at him, "Just about my waitressing job I have between films and shows. I deal with rude people on a daily basis there. Of course there are those kind people you get now and then, but it wears on you at times, you know."

Tom's brows furrow in concern as he says, "You mustn't let it bother you. There's no doubt in my mind you are a wonderful waitress." She smiles and looks down fidgeting with the sleeves of her pull-over sweater as she says, "You're sweet. Thank you." He places his hand on hers and it makes her heart skip a beat, "Look at me sweetheart." She complies as her heart beats faster, making it hard to breathe. No one's ever made her feel like this before, it's a little unnerving, yet enticing. Even on set she's so aware of him and how easy it is to work with him. She's completely comfortable with him.

"Don't you ever let anyone make you feel like you are not good enough," he says, his gaze serious, "You are an extraordinary woman, and I am truly happy to have met you. Know that your life is yours to live and as long as you are following your dreams, that is what is important." She watches him for a moment, unsure of what to say. She then smiles and takes his hand, squeezing it, "You are a good man Tom, with a loving heart. Never change. No matter what happens, promise me you'll never change." He smiles and squeezes her hand back, "I promise."

Kate looks out towards a group of people laughing over a conversation they were having. She recognizes one of them as Jessica. All eyes seem to be on her as the group continues to walk. Kate is happy knowing Jess was able to come a bit out of her shell. She looks at Tom as she asks, "Want to go for a walk?"

"I would love to," he says smiling at her. She smiles back as they get up from the bench and start walking. They pass different people, some who recognize them from the set and wave. They both smile and wave back.

"Want to play a game?" Kate asks smiling as she looks out as they pass trailers and bustling people.

"Sure," he says.

"It's called curious questions. I ask you something about yourself, and you answer, and then vice-versa," she turns to him and eyes him curiously wondering if he'd be willing to answer questions about himself. He smiles at her and says, "Sounds quite fun. You can ask first."

"Okay then, let's start simple, what's your favorite color?" she asks him. He's quiet for a moment and then says, "It's a tie between gray and blue. I'm unable to choose." He chuckles lightly and looks to her as he asks, "What about yours?"

"Well, I'm a bit conflicted as well between red and blue, but I think I'd definitely lean more towards blue," she says, "You can ask a different question, since you said the same one as me."

"Hmmm, how about your favorite film?" he asks, watching her. She smiles big and looks at him with a 'Are you serious?' look.

"That is so going to be impossible for me to answer," she chuckles lightly, "I'm a movie fanatic. I collect them honestly. Ooh this is going to be hard, let me think." Amused by what she said he waits patiently while she thinks. She glances up at the sky as they continue to walk and thinks back, replaying images of the movies in her collection. She remembers one that she watches often that never seems to get old. It always entertains her no matter how many times she watches it.

"So I think this could be my favorite. Pride and Prejudice the 2005 version with Kiera Knightly and Matthew McFayden," it brings a smile to her face as she thinks about the movie, "I guess it has to do a lot with the romance and that time period. I've always been fascinated with that time. The courting and the balls, even the clothing I thought was cute. Not saying I would like to wear dresses all the time, but I guess, I admit, I like dressing up from time to time. I've always wanted to go to a ball and the dancing seemed like so much fun."

He continues to smile as he watches her, genuinely interested in everything she says.

"Oh, ugh, "she groans, "Now I'm rambling." He laughs at that and then says, "Oh no, darling, it's fine. I'm rather interested." She blushes when she hears him call her "darling."

"There is something very captivating about that time. Jane Austen herself was very gifted in portraying love, emotion, longing, and much more. She also knew how to add humor very intricately to make them quite entertaining stories," he says continuing.

"She really was a wonderful writer," she says, "She portrayed love in such a beautiful and powerful way, even if they were tragic loves. It's not so much like that these days. This is embarrassing to admit.." She pauses unsure of whether or not to continue.

"Go on," he says watching her closely. She looks to him and sees that he is patiently waiting to hear what's next.

"It's like this. Romance, the pursuit of love, isn't portrayed the way it once was, like how Jane did it. I mean I read often and most of the time it's the same thing. Guy and girl meet. They get to know each other. They like each other. Kiss and whatnot then get together. Some crazy event happens, especially if it's a fantasy novel and then there's a happy ending 9 times out of 10. Some writers can write it well and it entertains me but that's not the way life is. What happens next after they get their happily ever after, if that's even what it is, I mean come on, they may not even stay together if it was real life. Okay so now I'm reading way too much into it and I'm so rambling," she takes a deep breath and glances at him to see if he's bothered or annoyed, he isn't in the slightest, so she continues, "What I mean to say is I want the whole thing you know. I want to have that person who makes me feel like no other, most of all makes me feel alive. Because for a long time in my life I hadn't and even now it still lingers. Someone I can laugh with and share everything with. And here's the embarrassing part, I've kinda always fantasized about, you know, going to a ball. Masquerade has always been appealing: the mystery, the seduction, the search for your partner, and so on. And now I am done cause I just ramble beyond what rambling even is, so I'll shut up now."

He laughs again and takes her hand stopping them from walking, "Kate, I am not whatsoever bothered by your so-called rambling. I'm actually quite fond of it. You can talk as much as you like. Besides it means I will get to know you more. And to respond to everything you've said I know you'll be given that. You deserve everything you want and so much more."

She smiles and squeezes his hand. Her hand tingles in his. She wonders if he feels it too. She's curious.

Why do simple things like this, feel so completely different with him? she asks herself, And why can't I seem shut up? She laughs silently to herself.

"Thank you, Tom, but you know what if I want to get to know you more?" she asks as she gestures for them to keep walking, he complies, "I mean, I won't be able to if I don't stop talking." She gives him a teasing grin.

"Well, I suppose we need to continue our game then," he eyes her mischievously, urging her to continue the game.

She laughs and says, "Oh, well then, where were we? Movies. Oh yes. I told you mine, so, what's yours?"

"Hmmm, that's a difficult one for me as well; I'm also an avid collector," he glances her way and she chuckles, shaking her head.

"I would have to say though, that it would be the movie Heat directed by Michael Mann, with Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro as the leads."

Kate bites her lip realizing that she actually hasn't seen that movie. Almost as if he's able to read her mind he says, "We can watch it sometime if you want, or I could let you borrow it?"

"I'd like that," she says, looking over at him, "To watch it together sometime, I mean."

He smiles at her words, "Did you want to ask me another question?"

Kate thinks for a moment before she responds, "Are you happy?"

He's quiet and she worries if it's too uncomfortable a question to have asked. He takes a deep breath and then says, "I believe I'm content with the way things are. I feel there is always more to come down the road and more chances to find happiness. Life has a way of trying to keep it from you, but so long as you keep moving forward and keep doing what's important then you will have it. I am happy, but there are always going to be more ways to be even happier." He gives her a soft smile and she gets a bit lost in her thoughts as she replays what he said in her head. She's eager to know more about him, about what makes him smile and laugh, and even what makes him angry or hurt. She wants to share with him the good and bad of her life so far and for him to do the same with her. She realizes then that she does have feelings for him. This she must keep to herself though for she fears of what he would think if he knew. She wants to get to know him more before she pursues anything.

He's curious about what she's thinking about and wants to ask her about it. A cold breeze blows harshly and Kate shivers slightly and pulls her sweater tighter around her. His concern changes from her thoughts to the fact she is cold.

"Here," he says taking his black leather jacket off as they stop walking for a moment, "It is chilly out today, much more so than usual." She shakes her head as she says, "No, Tom, really I'm fine. I don't want you getting cold, or even worse sick, cause of me."

He gives her a sweet 'Are you serious?' look, "Darling, I'm perfectly fine. This'll warm you up a bit. Please, I insist. I don't want you to get sick either." She glares at him, but she can't help a smile forming on her face. Inside she's actually quite ecstatic he's giving her his jacket to wear. She just doesn't want him to know that. She bet's it smells like him and whatever cologne he wears. She takes it trying to feign stubbornness as she says, "Fine, but now we should get inside somewhere. I don't want to be responsible for getting you sick. I'd feel bad."

She puts it on as he laughs. It's warm and it smells like him a mixture of chocolate and a woodsy smell with hints of citrus. It's quite the odd combination but it mixes well. She's all giddy inside thinking about how good it smells. She does everything she can to keep her composure.

"So, whose trailer should we go too?" she asks him, "Thank you, by the way, for letting me wear your jacket."

"You're very welcome," he says smiling, "And it's up to you. I don't mind either way."

"How about yours then?" she asks. He nods and says, "Sure." He slips his arm around her waist and pulls her close, "To keep you a little warmer." Her heart is pounding again as she slips her arm around his waist as they start walking. She tries to keep herself from blushing so much. She worries he'll notice. He either doesn't mind or doesn't notice as she takes a glance up at him.

He seems happy, she thinks, If he is, then so am I.

They make their way to his trailer. He moves away from her to open the door and she feels the emptiness hit her immediately from the lack of his embrace. He gestures for her to step inside and she does. She's suddenly hit with a familiar woodsy smell like from his jacket once she's inside. She looks around and notices an unlit candle on the dining table. He follows her gaze to the table and says, "I'm very fond of candles and there many different scents. Right now, I'm going through a "forest" phase, if that's what you might call it." He laughs and she can't help but laugh a little herself.

"Well that's interesting," she says, never tired of the never-ending surprises she has about him.

"It's got a hint of citrus in it as well," he says walking over and picking up the candle checking the label.

She looks around the trailer as she takes everything in. The design is similar to hers but he has quite a lot of different things scattered around. There's a quilt laid neatly on the couch with a plethora of different colors on it. They blend in a way that shows a beautiful scene of a forest: birds hidden in the trees, sunlight peering out all over. He notices her looking at it and says, "My mother made it for me. I seem to travel more lately and it's nice to keep something from my home with me."

"She's really good, I mean this is beautiful the way it's done," she proclaims. He smiles at her as he says, "Thank you. She'd be happy to hear that."

Her eyes stray from the quilt as she continues to look around. It's put together quite well.

He must like to keep things neat, she thinks. She notices a stack of DVD's and books next to each other on a table next to the couch. She moves to them and leans down to take a look. She recognizes some movies she's seen including, Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls. She laughs silently to herself remembering that movie. She always sees the movie Heat which he mentioned earlier. The books are a bit unfamiliar to her. She notices they seem to be quite a few different philosophy books.

"I'm quite fascinated in things like that," he says, "Reading different things about our world and humanity. It's interesting."

"They really can be," she says straightening up to look at him, "I don't read them often but they can really make you think about your life and the universe. They have a knack for changing my perspective on things sometimes." She smiles as he says, "Yes, they like to do that." She laughs at that.

"Take a seat," he says, looking to the couch, "And why not get something to warm us both up, do you like hot chocolate?"

"Sure," she says as she sits down. It's warmer in the trailer so she takes the coat and he sweater off. She places them both on her lap not wanting to let go of the coat completely, just yet.

"Chocolate, I admit, is one of my favorite foods," he says, chuckling as he gets some pots from a cupboard above the stove as well as some bowls, "I can't help it. It's very good." She laughs as she says, "It really is SO good. And there are just so many different types you can choose from. It's definitely one of my favorites too."

"Well then, I hope you'll like the hot chocolate I'm making," he opens the fridge and takes out milk and what looks like bars of chocolate. She's curious as to why he's got all those things out. She's never seen that being the way to make it. She remembers her sister making it a lot, it being her favorite drink, and using a powdered mix. She gets up from the couch and walks over to him wanting to see what he's doing.

"Why do you need all these things?" she asks, "Don't you use like a powder or something to make it?" He glances over at her as he smiles and says, "This way is homemade and trust me darling it tastes much better."

She watches him as he takes out a knife and cuts the chocolate into small pieces. He does it so fluently she realizes he must do it often. He pours the milk in the pot and begins to heat it on the stove. The chocolate pieces end up in a bowl. Once the milk is heated enough he pours a little into the bowl to melt the chocolate.

"Want to help?" he asks, noticing how patiently she was watching. She smiles and nods. He gives her a spoon and says, "Help me mix the chocolate and milk together so it blends." She complies as she begins stirring the chocolate and milk. He's watching her intently with a kind smile. He adds more milk as she continues to stir. A chocolate smell begins to fill her nose and she wonders if this is why he has a scent of chocolate to him.

He adds the last bit of milk and she stirs it until he says, "Good, I think it's done. Thank you very much for your help darling." She smiles as she says, "My pleasure." He pours the now hot chocolate into a mug for both of them. He hands one to her as he says, "Just be careful, it's a bit hot." She nods as she takes it and heads back to sit on the couch, "Thank you."

"You're welcome, I was happy to do it," he says smiling as he heads over to sit next to her on the couch, "Besides it's not often I get to make my homemade hot chocolate for someone."

They sit there and sip there hot chocolate and talk about different things from movies, to funny stories long into the late hours of the night.