Loki greeted everyone and we were ushered inside, where he quickly got dragged out into the garden by the children and for the next half hour we watched as twelve little people sat mesmerised. He deferred to Matt as they all talked excitedly and I watched as my nephew glowed with pride, sitting up taller with a huge smile on his face. Then someone suggested a game and suddenly there were bodies running everywhere, screaming and laughing.

                          
"He's a good man." Abby said at my side.

                          
"Yes." Was all I could reply, my heart full.

                          
"Great with kids."

                          
"Abbs." I warned.

                          
She raised her hands in the air, "Just saying."

                          
There was silence between us for a full minute before she said, "Heard you went dancing the other night. Ronnie Scott's."

                          
I turned an accusing look on her. "You're discussing my love life with Davey now?" Davey was the only one I had told about Monday night.

                          
"I was in his shop yesterday, he happened to mention it."

                          
"Hmmm."

                          
Ronnie Scott's jazz club in Soho was a mecca for the international jazz community. We'd been fortunate enough to show up at one of their renowned funk soul jam sessions and had an amazing night listening and dancing to world class musicians until the wee small hours. I hadn't danced with such abandon in a long time, but with Tom's admiring blue gaze on me and his arms to support me, I had let go of any inhibitions and allowed the music to guide my body wherever it willed. By the time we left I was exhausted but euphoric.

                          
"Did he stay over?"

                          
"Abigail Louise Sullivan!" I pretended to be outraged but Abby wasn't fooled.

                          
"Don't Abigail me, Kate, I've known you since you were ten years old. I've seen how you two look at one another, and  the little face sucking incident on my front porch just now."

                          
"Abby!"

                          
"Mummy could I please have a drink of water?" I was never more thankful for an interruption and while Abby got water for Molly I quickly escaped into the garden, only to find Loki buried under a mound of small bodies attempting to sound ferocious while the kids giggled helplessly. Seriously? Could he be more adorable?

                          
Knowing that Tom had to get back to rehearsals and would need to change out of his Loki regalia, I told the children that Ironman and the other Avengers needed Loki's help with an important matter and they reluctantly clambered off him. Once on his feet again, Loki came to a crouch beside Matt to thank him for letting him join in his birthday celebration.

                          
"That's okay Loki." He patted Loki's shoulder. "You're not going to kiss Aunty Kate again though, are you?"

                          
I made a choking sound and avoided Tom's gaze. "Not right now, no." I couldn't tell from the sound of his voice if he were laughing or choking as I was.

                          
Abby allowed all the children to thank Loki and gave her own thanks before adding, "Perhaps Pepper would show you to the door?" with a pointed glare at me while she shepherded the kids into the dining room.

                          
"Tom, thank you so much, it was so sweet of you. Matt's in absolute Heaven." Aware of a possible audience and mindful of Matt's instructions, I kept my hands off him – a fact I think he realised, judging by the small smirk tilting the corners of his mouth.

                          
"It was my pleasure Kate, really." He leaned in close and whispered in my ear, "Shall I kiss you goodbye?"

                          
"Behave yourself!" I pushed his chest playfully, blushing and laughing.

                          
"I am  the God of Mischief!" he laughed back before catching my hand and kissing the palm while his eyes pinned mine with a look that made my breath hitch. "Have dinner with me tomorrow? I'll cook."

                          
I simply nodded in response and once again he curled my fingers over my palm and smiled as he walked to his car, while I was left to re-join the party and face Abby's questions.

                          
—-

                          
Over the next two weeks we saw each other as often as our busy schedules allowed, usually in the evening after I had finished work and Tom was done with rehearsals. Mostly we spent the time at my flat or his, but one night he invited me to dinner with a group of his friends. I was relieved to find Benedict and Sophie among the guests and quickly relaxed with Tom's other friends as well, finding them as easy going as he was and happy to include me in their fun. Benedict insisted I call him Ben and reminded me about appearing on Geek Games and I jokingly said, "Right, I'll just call Robert Downey Jnr and arrange it!"

                          
"What's that?" asked Tom, appearing beside me with a curious look on his face. When Ben explained, Tom took out his phone and made a call.

                          
"Robert? It's Tom. What's your schedule like?"

                          
I couldn't believe my ears; Tom was ringing RDJ! He chatted for a moment then handed his phone to Ben, who continued to talk Robert into the idea of appearing together on the show. When the phone was thrust into my hands Robert said something along the lines of 'love to do it', 'have your people call my people' but I was a bit shell-shocked and didn't take it in very well. I gave the phone back to Tom to say his goodbyes and when he hung up I looked at him, still stunned.

                          
"Am I imagining this or did both Sherlocks just agree to appear on our show?"

                          
Tom chuckled, "They did, love."

                          
"Holy shit!" Which got a laugh from everyone.

                          
At the end of the second week Tom's play opened and he was no longer free in the evening, so we would occasionally meet for coffee or lunch during the day. We seemed to have reached a tacit agreement to take our relationship slowly and although some of our make out sessions got a little hot and heavy, neither of us pushed it further. Luckily news of us dating hadn't yet hit the media and for a while I was walking around in a bubble of pure happiness.