This Is Love

It had been a long press-day and I'd just arrived at my
hotel to check in.

I pulled my shoes off, the heels starting to hurt my feet
and the dress was starting to feel uncomfortable, as well.
I couldn't wait to pull on my Vans and change into
my comfortable clothes.

"Hello miss, how may I help you?"
the man at the front desk asked me.

I loved all the English accents, I was glad to be in
London. It was a beautiful city and the manner of things
was quite different to my hometown of LA.

"Hi, I've booked a room here. My agent told me it was
one of the suites on the third floor."
I told the man who had 'Charles' on his name tag.

"Your name, miss?"
Charles asked.

"Woodland. Oh, wait. He would've booked it under
McCarson."
I remembered, still new in the whole celebrity scene.

I wasn't even sure if I was supposed to be looked at as a
celebrity, having just gotten my big break in Captain America:
The Winter Soldier.

"There is no Woodland here, miss. McCarson is also missing
from this list. Are you sure you have a room in The Langham?"
he asked while trying the names again.

I felt a knot forming in my stomach.

"I'm sure, sir. My agent booked a room for me, on the third
floor of the Langham Hotel. I can show you an email I received
about a week ago if you need to see any confirmation."
I said, pulling my phone out of my bag and searching
through my emails.
"He sent me a copy of the details when he booked the room..
It must be here some.. Ah, here it is."

I showed Charles the email and his eyebrows turned into
a big frown.

"Suite 308.. Let me look into this. Can you spare me a moment,
miss?"
Charles asked and when I nodded he took a slight bow and
started typing on his computer.

I felt pretty stupid, just standing there so I decided to
play a game on my phone, to keep myself busy.

After about 5 minutes, Charles was done.
"Miss? I'm terribly sorry but the room was double booked
and the person who booked it as well has already taken
the room. I'm very sorry about the incovenience."

I shrugged.
"It's fine, I don't really have to have a suite. Any room will do."

"That's the thing, miss. Because of the event this evening, all
our rooms are booked. We are completely full and I have no rooms
available at this moment."
Charles said, looking guilty.

The knot in my stomach was growing rapidly.

"But.. My agent booked the room weeks ago, how
can it be double booked?"
I asked, agitated.

"Two reservations made at the same time, alot of personnel
and sometimes these things happen, regretfully. I'm very sorry
I cannot be of any more help, miss."
Charles said, with his hands out, asking for my forgiveness.

"I know it's probably not your fault so I hope you won't take
this personally but this is a real shitty situation you just got
me in. I'm not from here, I have nowhere to go and I don't
know anyone in London. You don't have a cleaning room I can
sleep in or a spare couch?"
I asked, nervously.

If they told me to leave I was really screwed because I had no
idea where to go next.

"I'm sorry miss. The next hotel is 5 blocks down, slightly
less expensive but the service is quite good. I am happy
to ask one of our staff to help you carry your suitcases
anywhere you like."
he said, offering me his help.

I sighed.
"Fine, if that's all you can do. Can I just try and reach someone
first before I go off, going God knows where?"

"Of course, Miss."
I heard Charles say and I walked outside, rain pouring down.
I couldn't care less because the way it looked like now, I'd
be in the rain for a long time.

I tried to call my agent, I tried to call everyone I knew who
could maybe, possibly help me out but most of them were at
the afterparty I'd decided to skip.

"Shit. Shit shit shit!"
I muttered, still bare feeted and kicked a puddle
of water.

I tried my agent again but there was no answer for the third time
and I just sat down on the steps and put my head in my hands.

I heard a cardoor slam and heard some footsteps coming my
way. I looked up, not expecting to find anyone I knew but
I was surprised to find a familliar face looking at me.

"Stella?"
Sebastian asked, confused.

"Oh, thank God! I've literally tried to call everyone I know,
hoping that someone would show up and now you're here!"
I said, with a hopeful smile.

"Why, what's wrong?"
Sebastian asked, concerned.

"They double booked my room and every goddamn room in the
hotel is booked. I have nowhere to go and I have no idea
where I am. I'm so glad you're here."
I said as I stood up and flung my arms around his neck.
"Next time, I'm going to the damn afterparty."

His warm hands were on the small of my back before
I released him.
He laughed and grabbed my hand.

"Come with me."
he said and walked inside with me, towards the front desk.

"I want to add another person to my room."
Sebastian said as he pulled his jacket off and
placed it on my shoulders.

I muttered a thanks and inhaled his scent, before appreciating
the warmth that came off it.

"Of course, sir. What room, please?"
Charles asked, looking relieved I had found a solution.

"312."
Sebastian said.

Everything was arranged quite quick and before I knew it,
I was in room 312 and my suitcases were being brought up,
as well.

"I have never felt this lucky. I was about to give up and grab
a taxi back to the event to see if anyone was still there."
I said, as I placed Sebastian's jacket on a chair and I started
to shiver.

"Well, you wouldn't have found anyone. Everyone is off to pubs
and whatnot, celebrating the release of the movie. You should
go and take a shower, get warm."
Sebastian said, a little concerned.

"I will, I just need my dry clothes here, I can't get back
in this dress. It's literally soaking, I'm dripping on the
carpet as we speak."
I replied as I looked down and saw that there was a slightly
darker spot on the carpet where the water was dripping
off my dress.

"You didn't feel like going to the pubs?"
I asked, trying to get my mind off of the cold I felt.

"Nah, we have to get up early tomorrow and fly off to
Berlin so I was about to get a good night sleep."
he said while he shrugged.

"Good thinking."
I smiled at him before I heard a knock.

"I have suitcases for miss McCannon?!"
we heard someone say.

I quickly opened the door.
"I'm McCannon, thank you!"

I let the guy bring them in and didn't wait for him to
go, I just zipped the suitcase open I needed.
I grabbed my sleeping clothes and some underwear.

"I'll be in the shower!"
I said before walking off to the bathroom.

As I was taking my clothes off and I allowed the water
to get warm, I just knew that it would hurt. I was so cold that
it would take me a while to get warm again.

I scrunched my face when I stepped under the shower, it felt
boiling hot for a few minutes but after that, it started to feel
quite comfortable and nice.

When I was done washing and rinsing myself I grabbed a towel
and dried myself off before grabbing my clothes and pulling
them on. I brought boy shorts with me and a tanktop so I
would be quite comfortable.

When I walked out, Sebastian had put on some jogging
pants and a tshirt as he flipped through the channels.

When he heard the door open, he looked my way and
chuckled.

"You really like the Captain, huh?"
he asked with a smile.

"I bought this when the first movie came out. It's one
of my favourites and I considered not taking it.
But then I couldn't."
I said with a smile, also.

My tanktop had the shield of Captain America on it but
I'd bought that when the first movie had come out. I thought
that movie was pretty awesome and then the Avengers came
out and I was even more of a fan.

"They should make a shirt with a metal arm. I'd totally
wear it. I could be like you, sort of."
I said, as I sat down on the bed but crawling under the
blankets as well.

"You can't really be for both sides, though. Can you?"
Sebastian asked, while looking at the tv.

"Sure I can. Bucky's a good guy but he's been brainwashed.
It's all pretty sad. Plus, I like bad guys in movies better.
Well, in the Marvel Universe I do."
I replied with a shrug.

"Really?"
Sebastian asked as he sat up and turned towards me
after shutting the tv down.

"Yeah, really."
I said, with a smile.

"Why? I mean, Loki for example is just looking for destruction
of Thor and his whole entire planet just for the hell of it."
Sebastian said, looking me dead in the eyes.

"Well, hey he was never one of them, was he? No matter what
he did, he knew that Odin never loved him like he loved Thor
and when he found out he'd been lied to for so long, he got
angry. Sure, he could've handled it differently but he's
in pain. Thor isn't his real brother, he doesn't have
a real mother and father and on top of that, he's a different
race than any of them. I'd be pissed for sure."
I replied.

"You wouldn't kill innocent people, though."
he stated.

"No, of course not. I'd just go off and live somewhere
else, I think. Maybe I'd hit someone first but if I'd hit
Thor, he wouldn't really feel it. Being a demi God and
everything. Odin shouldn't have brought him home
all those years ago and then none of it would've happened."
I ended my feelings on Loki.

"So what about me? What about the Winter Soldier?"
Sebastian asked, with a glint in his eyes, interested.

"Well, I love Bucky. He's a great guy, isn't he? Very handsome.
That scene where you get electricity in your brain was sad, though.
It was not a fun thing to watch even though it's fake. And you know,
the fact that Steve isn't fighting Bucky in the end says alot and then
you getting him out of the water. I'm so excited to see where
this is going. But yeah, Bucky's story is sad but he'll be okay.
He's not really a bad guy. So that makes him different."
I explained my feelings on Bucky this time.

Sebastian smiled before speaking.
"You seem to have given it alot of thought."

"I get caught up in things I really like. Badass badguys is one
of those things."
I replied before stretching myself out.
"I am completely beat. Between all the press, the dress
and the shoes.. I think the cold did it."

"You held up pretty good. The first time in a movie of this
magnitude can be overwhelming."
he said.

"I didn't think it would be this overwhelming, to be honest.
You and Chris have the most press to do and you seem to be
okay. I suck ass at this stuff."
I replied, drawing circles on the bed with my fingers.

"It takes some getting used to but you'll be fine. And if you
think it's too much, just find me and I'll help you through it
on any red carpet if you want me to."
Sebastian said and I looked up at him.

"Thanks."
I sent him a thankful smile before laying
down on the pillow.

"You're welcome, it's no problem."
Sebastian replied as he still sat up.
"You know, we've seen alot of each other and I still say
I don't know much about you."

"Well, I guess there isn't alot to tell but what do you want
to know?"
I asked, looking at him.

"Where are you from?"
he asked, while turning his body towards me, putting
his legs over each other.

"I grew up in Holland but moved here about six years ago
when I was 18. By myself."
I told him.

"You're Dutch?"
he asked, with a surprised look on his face.

"Yes, sir. I believe that makes us both Europeans, huh?"
I said with a smile.

"Yeah, it does. I never knew, you don't have an accent at
all."
he mumbled, amazed.

"Neither do you and you've lived in several countries
before coming here."
I chuckled at his frowned eyebrows.
"I looked some stuff up about you on Wikipedia and all
that. I already did when I saw you in the first movie. You
were familliar and then bam! I knew. You were the bad guy in
The Covenant. I love that movie."
I answered his unasked question.

"Oh wow, really?"
he asked with a smile.

"Yeah. And I was addicted to Gossip Girl for a while
and bam. Carter Baizen. I'd seen you in more stuff
then I knew before I met you a year ago."
I said, while looking at the ceiling.

"You were? I don't take you for a Gossip Girl fan, for
some reason."
he replied.

"You don't? Why not?"
I asked, curious.

"I don't know. It's too.. What's the right word.."
he mumbled.

"Girly?"
I asked with a chuckle.

"Yes! No offense."
he added, quickly.

"None taken. It is pretty girly and I was bored halfway
through season 3. Or was it 4? I never saw it end, anyway."
I said with a yawn.
"I did see you come and go. You were a fun character.
You have a knack for playing bad guys. And badasses."

"I don't know how that happened, though."
he replied with a shrug.

"I wanna play someone like that one day. It'd be
so fun."
I said, as another yawn escaped me.

"You should sleep, Stella. You're tired."
he said, with a small frown.

"You're worrying about me?"
I asked, as I rubbed my eyes.

"Well.. Yeah. You were caught in the cold for a while
and you were really tired. I don't want you to collapse while
we're off to Berlin. Or on the red carpet, where ever."
he added, as he stood up and grabbed a blanket from the closet.

He grabbed the pillow from the bed and threw it on
the couch.

"What are you doing?"
I asked, confused.

"Sleeping on the couch."
he said, blanket spread out as he got under them.

"What for?"
I wanted to know.

"Well, I didn't think you'd be comfortable, sleeping in the same
bed as me so I figured I'd take the couch."
he said.

"Are you nuts? If anything, I should be on the couch instead of you.
Get over here and get your ass in this bed. If you feel
uncomfortable because of a girlfriend or anything, I can take the
couch."
I said, as I sat up to move over to the couch.

"Stay put, please? You're finally warm. I'm not uncomfortable
sharing a bed, I didn't want you to think anything."
he said, before grabbing his pillow and the blanket and
throwing them on the bed.
"And I don't have a girlfriend."

He got under the covers and sighed.
"This is indeed better than a couch. Thanks."

"Oh shove it, thank you for sharing a room with me."
I said as I turned on my side, facing him.
"How come you don't have a girlfriend?"

He turned his head towards me before shrugging.
"How come you don't have a boyfriend?"

"My ex wasn't fond of me kissing other men on screen,
saw it as cheating. So I broke up with him because this
is what I want to do and love. He had to go."
I answered.

"That's shit. How long has it been?"
he asked, as he turned on his side, facing me, too.

"Around the time that filming for Winter Soldier began.
I remember the first few weeks as very depressing even though
I'd never had more fun in my life."
I replied, as I studied Sebastian's face.

He really was handsome.

"Break ups can do that to you. You okay now, though.
Right?"
he asked, concerned again.

I smiled and nodded.
"I'm having the time of my life."

"That's good."
he said, smiling also.

I rolled over, so I was staring at the ceiling again.
"I really wouldn't have known what to do if you
hadn't showed up and allowed me to share a room
with you."

"Forget about it, it's what anyone would do."
Sebastian replied, still facing me.

"That's not true, though. I don't think everyone is as
sweet as you are."
I chuckled at the little 'hmph' he made.
"It's true, you were a complete sweetheart on set. I was
there, you know. I made long days watching everyone
act and kick ass. I had half as many scenes as you guys, maybe
even less but I was there, all the time. Watching Chris, watching
Scarlett and Samuel L. Jackson. I can't believe I met him, still.
And then when you came.. You have a different kind of attitude
or something, I don't know how to explain. It was fun watching
you do your thing with the Winter Soldier."

"I'm glad you liked it."
he mumbled, as he yawned.

"I'm keeping you up, I'm sorry. Sleep, we'll see enough of each
other to talk more if we want."
I said and faced him again, turning on my side.

"I'll sure want to."
he mumbled a bit, his eyes closed.

I felt a blush on my cheeks before I heard his breath turn
steady and heavy.

"Me, too."
I whispered with a smile before closing my eyes and falling asleep
soon after.

------

I heard a phone ring and I groaned.
My face was pressed against something or someone and
it took me a while to figure out that it wasn't just my face.

Somewhere in the night, I'd crawled over to Sebastian and had
wrapped an arm around his waist. My entire body was against him
and my eyes shot open at the realization and my heart sped up
a bit.

I rolled on my back and stretched myself out before sitting up.

"Goodmorning."
Sebastian said, as he wiped his eyes and yawned.
"Had a good sleep?"

I nodded.
"Yeah, I had a great sleep. Sorry about the whole sleeping
thing, though. Hope it wasn't uncomfortable through the
night."
I said, with a slight blush.

"Nah, it was nice."
he just said as he sat up before getting out of bed.

"I'm gonna take a quick shower and then it's time to go,
we have to get over to Heathrow."
Sebastian said, as he was searching through his suitcase
for something to wear.

"It's 6:30? Are you serious?"
I asked, as I'd checked the clock.

"Yeah. Ungodly hours, I know."
he mumbled before walking off to the shower.
"Be back in a bit."

"Yeah, ofcourse."
I said and got out of bed and dressed when he'd shut the
door.

I brushed my hair quickly, leaving it down, like I did most
of the time. I applied a little bit of make up and then
grabbed the things I'd worn during the night and stuffed
them back in my suitcase. I was pretty much done with looking
presentable when Sebastian came back, his hair in disarray.

I caught myself staring at him but managed to look away before
he could notice.

I grabbed my toothbrush and some toothpaste and made
my way to the bathroom to brush my teeth quickly
before we had to leave.

"Can I use your toothpaste?"
I heard Sebastian ask.

"Mhm, course"
I managed to choke out and held it up for him to grab.

We were done soon enough and made our way downstairs,
checking out and getting a cab towards Heathrow.

I yawned and stretched myself out somewhat as we
sat in the cab.
"I slept like a baby but I'm not really a morning person."

"Same here, this is way too early. I was pretty comfortable
in bed."
he said what made my cheeks burn again.

Arriving at Heathrow, we did everything we had to do to
get on the plane and within an hour we were on it,
waiting for our next destination. We didn't have seats next to
each other, so we were forced to say our goodbyes.

"Well, this is me."
I said, as I looked at my ticket.

"Well, see you after the flight."
Sebastian said and wanted to walk off.

"Sebastian?"
I stopped him, by putting a hand on his arm.
"I have a feeling you saved me from myself last night
because I was feeling real shitty. You turned my evening
around because of what you did. Thank you."

I kissed his cheek and smiled at him.

"You're welcome. I'll see you in Berlin."
he said, with a sparkle in his eyes.

"You sure will."
I said and sat down as he walked away.