Chapter Text
Tessa and Scott have both had extremely successful award season runs in the past. Separately, and for various different films, they have won Oscars, SAG Awards, Golden Globes, BAFTAs, etc. Combine that with having also been nominated numerous times over the years (and not winning), it’s safe to say they both have loads of experience with how Hollywood awards seasons are supposed to unfold.
But it still takes them both completely by surprise, at how dominant a season they are having with Latch.
Tessa had been worried there would be some form of snootiness against two young actors like her and Scott delving into the business side of Hollywood for the first time, while Scott had been more concerned that the commercial box office success of Latch would create a backlash amongst the elitish artistic sensibility of the Oscar voters. If Tessa really allowed her over analytical mind to go wild, she could easily think up a dozen reasons why Latch might not do so well in these award ceremonies.
Yet somehow, despite all their worries, they and Latch kept picking up awards left and right throughout the season!
It got to the point where Tessa became paranoid that the bottom was going to fall out from under them. Scott was the more optimistic of the two, but he had his doubts as well. After all, there’s been plenty of movies tipped as favourites who have lost momentum during the lead up to the Oscars. She and Scott can both easily cite several examples of films that entered the Academy Awards with numerous nominations and walked away from the ceremony with nothing.
And so, now just as she’s being dressed for the Academy Awards, Tessa freely admits to herself that she would be extremely disappointed if this were to happen with Latch.
There’s been times in the past where she knew she wouldn’t win. One recent example, was her best actress nomination for Pride and Prejudice. The movie had been adapted to the screen quite a few times before and she knew that would count against her performance. Honestly, she had been grateful to just get a nomination that year.
But there have been other times when she thought she or Scott had a decent shot that just didn’t materialise on the night. Like Scott in 5 Women. Tessa was still upset he only got the SAG award for that. He definitely deserved an Oscar for that movie.
So this year with Latch, Tessa and Scott had very realistic expectations. They were hoping for the best. But was prepared to be blindsided by the political machinations that were the backbone of Hollywood.
“Are you nervous for tonight?” Marie-France asks Tessa as their respective stylists flit around them making last minute alterations.
Since that very first Oscar ceremony with Scott and Patch for Dark Eyes over a decade ago, the group had always arranged to share the same hotel suite to get dressed and ready for the awards. It was so much easier to endure the entire lengthy preparation process when you were seated next to a friend. As for Scott, Patch, Eric and Luis, it was so easy for men to just wear their tuxedos or suits, that they were currently relaxing in the front room watching some baseball match together.
[Note: Patch doesn’t have a film in contention this year, but he and Marie-France were regular attendees of the ceremony, just like Tessa and Scott. Eric was a first time nominee (and attendee) for his original score in Latch, and so Luis was attending as his plus-one. Amongst the group, Luis was definitely the one most excited for the Oscars tonight. Tessa tried to warn him it was mostly going to be long and boring, but Luis didn’t seem to take any of her warnings in.]
“You don’t have to be.” Marie-France continues. “I know there’s been some talk about that movie with Guillaume Cizeron slipping in for the win. But that’s just the French director Didler trying to mount a last minute campaign for his film. Latch is clearly the better movie. Everyone I’ve talked to in the industry seems to think so! I saw all of Patrice’s votes for the Oscar ballot by the way. They all went to you and Latch, and you know he’s not the type to play favourites at all!”
Tessa has to fight a grin at that piece of information. Dear old Patch. The story goes that he didn’t even vote for his own movie Dark Eyes for Best Picture because he personally didn’t think it was the best film that year.
“I don’t know why, but I’m suddenly really calm about the whole thing despite being jittery all morning” Tessa shrugs. “Scott and I are really certain we have an excellent film, and we executed it the best we could. There’s nothing we can do now… and I’m just happy it’s all going to be over so Scott and I can fly off to Thailand for a nice long break.”
“Oh so you finally decided on Thailand?”
“Yes!” Tessa exclaims excitedly. “I’ve travelled so often with Scott before, first with Into the Mystic and later for other films and other reasons. But we’ve never been there before. Despite our mutual love for Thai cuisine. Our trips to Asia for work have typically been Japan and Korea. Maybe China too. And after Eric and Luis visited last year and raved about the food and the relaxing massages, Scott and I decided it was perfect.”
“It’s good to get a holiday in before you both have to shoot your next movies. Scott’s heading up to Vancouver right? And you to Chicago?”
Tessa nods in response.
“I also notice you are disappearing halfway round the world immediately after you plan on debuting that shiny new accessory to the press and public!” Marie-France grins widely as she nods at the engagement ring Tessa is wearing.
Tessa blushes. “We managed to hide it from them for about a month now. Especially since we weren’t sure if it might affect the voting race somehow. But now that all the votes are in, it doesn't matter anymore. And by tomorrow, we will be off on the plane!”
“Very smart. I better warn Patrice then that we are going to be questioned quite a lot today and in the coming weeks.” Marie-France laughs. Her head thrown back in amusement at the lengths Tessa and Scott will go to avoid the press when it comes to their private lives. It was clever of the young couple to drop the unavoidable engagement announcement today amidst the chaos and massive coverage for the Oscars, and then immediately disappear from North America the day after. Leaving Suzanne to field the bombardment of queries.
“Who’s going to question us?” Patrice Lauzon asks as he enters the room. He’s followed by the three other guys, indicating clearly that the baseball match is over and it’s time for them to leave.
Scott lets out a long exaggerated whistle upon catching sight of the two women in their dresses. “Wait who, are these two lovely ladies?” He’s not focused on Marie-France though. Instead he’s giving Tessa’s green gown a very appreciative once over, and Tessa feels flushed as Scott throws her a raised eyebrow and suggestive wink that is far from subtle.
Marie-France laughs again and swats him on the head, when Scott bends down to give Tessa a quick kiss. “I was referencing to the world when they realise Tessa and Scott are engaged and have flown off. They will probably think you eloped!”
“Ooh… why haven’t we discussed eloping before?” Scott exclaims jokingly. “It would solve most of our problems!”
“Except our mothers would kill us?” Tessa replies in amusement. “Also since we want to hold it in Ilderton at our new house, I think it would be a little difficult to ignore their opinions altogether.”
The whole group laughs. It’s well known amongst those familiar with the engagement, that both Kate Virtue and Alma Moir had been beyond ecstatic about the proposal. And that both mothers have provided plenty of well-meaning suggestions to Tessa about the ceremony. Tessa loves them both dearly, but the holiday is also meant to be a vacation away from their enthusiasm.
She has no doubt when she meets Alma later either at the red carpet or in the theatre itself (the Moirs almost always get ready at their house in the Hills, which means they will take forever to reach the Dolby Theatre), Alma will share with her more thoughts about the wedding decor. Jordan had visited Kate in London two weeks ago, and told Tessa that their mother and Alma have almost daily discussions about the wedding.
Tessa totally blames Scott for not having siblings, and Jordan for not getting married first and taking off some of the heat from her.
=====
They say that the Oscars is the biggest night in Hollywood. And it really is true.
Even if Tessa and Scott have been attending the ceremony almost every year for over a decade, the night is always big. The biggest stars suddenly appear out of the woodwork. The biggest dresses and biggest personalities... Everyone just wants to make their presence known on the red carpet and during the ceremony tonight.
And on the biggest night of the year for the industry, Tessa and Scott win. Big.
Like overwhelmingly big.
Latch sweeps all the major categories, including Best Original Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director and Best Picture, and picks up a few from other categories like Best Film Editing as well as Best Original Score for Eric.
Honestly, it’s beyond Tessa’s wildest dreams. Especially considering the very pragmatic mindset she and Scott had gone into the ceremony just a few hours ago. Every time Latch or one of their names is called out, Tessa can’t help the little squeal of joy that escapes her lips.
It’s an embarrassment of riches and midway through the show, Eric informs them both that a meme has already started going viral of the various Oscars being tucked under her and Scott’s seats. And how like rabbits, the number of statuettes have kept multiplying through the night.
[Note: As she and Scott were seated right in the center of the first row, it was probably pretty easy for eagle-eyed viewers at home to spot and count those gleaming statuettes.]
By the end of the night, she and Scott can barely carry all of their statuettes to the engraving table.
And their speeches... their speeches probably got more and more incoherent as the night went by and the presenters kept calling their names. Especially when they win back-to-back awards at the end of the night for Best Director, Best Actress, Best Actor and then Best Picture.
While they had prepared speeches for each category (Tessa had made sure of this), they hadn’t expected to win so many awards, and so hadn’t realised until it was too late that all their drafts were variations of the same speech! They were after all thanking many of the same people! Hence it soon became essential for both Tessa and Scott to be more off-the-cuff and in the moment up on the stage. Tessa shudders when trying to recall what might have come stuttering out of her mouth each time she stood in front of that microphone.
She’s not certain but in all the excitement, she thinks she might have uttered the words “love of my life” in reference to Scott in one of the speeches, and “soulmate” in another.
The plan had been to only make minimal reference to their engagement on the red carpet this evening. And here she is gushing about how much she’s in love with her “business partner” on stage in front of everyone! Her only consolation is that Scott is probably even worse at the not gushing thing.
Amidst the sincere professional thanks he enthusiastically gives to the people who worked with them on the film, and the various jokes he throws in that causes the audience to roar with laughter, he went on to mention how “everyone should have a Tessa”, and how he wouldn’t have written Latch if it wasn’t for her. She’s also pretty sure he slipped up a few more times during the press lineup backstage, because she distinctly heard him exclaim something about how she “keeps him alive”.
[Note: A week later, while Tessa is sipping mai tais on a Thai beach and speaking with Jordan over the phone, her big sister reassures her that no one is mocking what complete saps they were on stage. Instead, the press had all been focused on how gorgeous they both looked, how much they and Latch deserved the clean sweep of awards that night, and how utterly sweet they both were to each other all night. Jordan very conveniently doesn't mention how the tabloids are going nuts at how their biggest story is currently tucked safely away at some unknown resort in Thailand.]
So anyway it’s a very jubilant group that troops into the Governors Ball to officially celebrate their wins at the Oscar after-party. Luis immediately makes a beeline for those edible chocolate statuettes that he’s heard so much over the years. Eric finds himself in conversation with his idol Hans Zimmer, and spends most of the night talking music with his fellow composers in attendance. While Patch, Marie-France and Scott’s parents disperse into the crowd to talk with their old friends about the room.
Tessa and Scott have no need to search out old and new friends though. Everyone seems to be seeking them out instead. First, to congratulate them about Latch and their numerous awards they’ve won that night, and then to congratulate them about the engagement.
All that worry about the press? It’s nothing compared to the curiosity of their fellow celebrities. Some seem genuinely happy for them, but others appear to be angling for gossip or even an invite! And so, Tessa and Scott find themselves quickly escaping onto the dancefloor.
“This feels like deja vu.” Scott says as they sway slowly together, all wrapped up in each other’s embrace. He nuzzles deeper into the crook of her neck and presses a firm kiss to her collarbone. “We just need the band to play The Way You Look Tonight and I’ll feel like I’m seventeen again. Just realising that my best friend is the prettiest girl in the world.”
His eyes flutter close for a moment. And he breathes in deeply, as if lost in the memory of yesteryear. “Do you know how much turmoil you and that white gown really threw me into?”
“I remember that night pretty well too.” Tessa whispers into his ear. “I remember you looking so handsome. Humming that tune and then singing those lyrics to me.” She tiptoes so that she can give him a soft, loving kiss. “In fact, I was harbouring my own little secret that night as well. Because that night was wonderful and I had to deal with this pesky unrequited crush I had on my best friend, I recall wishing with all my heart that you meant every word of that song you were singing to me...”
Scott laughs ruefully. “I wish I could go back and provide those two kids with some encouraging words. But no matter what, here we are… how many years later, in the exact same place… and everything is perfect. I can’t really imagine another great day like this. Except the day when you walk down that wedding aisle and say I do, to a lifetime with me. ”
He leans down to give her another long, sweet, adoring kiss. Uncaring who might be watching.
Heat pooled in her stomach and her heart does another flip inside her chest as she finds herself sinking even further into his embrace. At the back of her mind, Tessa wonders fleetingly if she will still be swooning over Scott and his kisses in fifty years time. And then she smiles as she nestles her head against his chest. Even when they are old and grey, and watching Jeopardy together in their backyard in Ilderton or walking down the streets of New York, her heart will always belong to Scott.
Scott starts humming and then singing under his breath. Completely ignoring the song playing in the background by the band at the party.
But it doesn’t matter. They are in their own little bubble now. Shielded from the attention of the rest of the world, as they dance and float in each other’s arms.
Some day, when I'm awfully low
When the world is cold
I will feel a glow just thinking of you
And the way you look tonight
You're lovely, with your smile so warm
And your cheeks so soft
There is nothing for me but to love you
And the way you look tonight
With each word your tenderness grows
Tearing my fears apart
And that laugh that wrinkles your nose
Touches my foolish heart
Lovely, never, ever change
Keep that breathless charm
Won't you please arrange it?
'Cause I love you
Just the way you look tonight
With each word your tenderness grows
Tearing my fears apart
And that laugh that wrinkles your nose
Touches my foolish heart
You're lovely don't you ever change
Keep that breathless charm
Won't you please arrange it
'Cause I love you
Just the way you look tonight
Tonight
=====
Two Years Later
Tessa is late. She’s almost never late. That’s been Scott’s role their whole lives. While she is the punctual one, tsk-ing loudly as he gives her that boyish sheepish grin of his. With that bad track record of his, you would think the man would give her a little leeway when she’s the one running behind schedule.
But that’s not the case here. She checks her phone again and sees the last message he left her: Where are you? I miss you! The text message is accompanied by several forlorn looking emojis.
Given how Scott rarely uses emoticons unless he’s in a particularly dramatic mood, their presence definitely highlights how much he’s missed her during his recent five week shoot in Croatia. Since their wedding seven months ago, Tessa and Scott have become similar to those clingy newlyweds who hate being apart from one another. They get teased about it often from their friends but Tessa can acknowledge its veracity.
She can already envision the pout that’s on Scott’s face right now upon reaching their apartment from the airport and discovering she isn’t there. Because it mirrors the one on her own face when she realised her appointment was running late and that she’ll have to deal with rush hour traffic on the way home..
Her reply: Had an appointment which ran late. I’m on my way... was met with a: Please hurry. I miss you. ”
And then her I’m just two blocks away , is greeted with another rare emoji from Scott. The undeniable heart eyes one. Her heart flutters just a little more.
Tessa speeds up to as brisk a walk she can manage in her heels. She’s missed Scott terribly these past few weeks. And she’s just so happy he’s returned.
*
“Tessa! Tessa! Nice outfit today! Is that from your fall collection?”
“Rumour is you are going to do Broadway next. Maybe even collaborate on something with Scott? Are you ready to do eight shows a week?”
“Tessa! Are you happy that Scott is home?”
She ignores the paparazzi waiting outside their apartment building. Even before their engagement became public, there’s always been one or two milling about across the street. However since she and Scott have returned to New York from their honeymoon, the crowd of paparazzi has definitely swelled further. It seems just a photo or two of them leaving their apartments or buying groceries is a big deal for those pesky tabloids. Tessa will never understand why she and Scott are so fascinating to them, when clearly they lead such boring lives.
[Note: People magazine naming them their “Sexiest Couple Alive” probably didn't help either.]
Thankfully, Scott and her have managed to carve out little breaks here and there to retreat to Ilderton whenever they needed to escape the attention they garner in New York. In some ways it really is a little creepy how the paps know their schedule so well as to realise Scott would be back in town today. To be fair though, everyone knows he just finished filming the much anticipated final installment of the Justice League franchise, and would likely be flying back post haste to his beloved wife.
She hurries into the building and after a quick smile and greeting to the concierge at the lobby, she’s in the lift and rummaging rapidly for her keys in her capacious handbag.
Tessa’s barely turned her key in the lock, when it is flung open and Scott pulls her swiftly into their apartment. Through adroit and nimble fingers, she finds he’s already tugged off her coat and is making good headway with the rest of her clothes. He gathers her up in his arms, presses his body against her as he kisses her deeply and ravenously like there is no tomorrow.
And the next thing she knows, she’s in bed with her husband, making up for lost time.
They have five weeks to make up for.
Just because they may have gotten used to such long separations due to their respective work, doesn't mean they have to like it. And nothing beats a good homecoming and reunion.
It’s over an hour later when Tessa feels like she’s finally sated. Like she’s drunk her fill of Scott. And she can just lie in his arms, relaxed, and relishing the touch of his bare skin against hers. He’s still pressing slow hungry kisses down her neck though, and she giggles at how he’s still going strong after completely wearing her out.
“What’s so funny?” Scott asks as he spoons her from behind and nuzzles the back of her ear.
“I’m just so happy.” Tessa exhales with a wide smile. “And kinda exhausted. As much as I want to go another round with you, I think it’s time we took a proper break.” They had chatted and caught up amidst their rounds of sex, but now she really wants to laze around in bed with her husband and fully bask in his presence. His sweaty, tousled, wide-eyed gorgeous presence.
“You need your rest too. I know how long your flight was.” She whispers softly.
Ignoring those lusty hazel eyes gazing back at her, she can tell he’s a little frayed around the edges. She knows the shoot for his last movie had been intense. The studio wanted this final installment to go out with a big bang and so Scott had been in the trenches night and day without a day off during the entire shoot.
No matter how crazy it got though, he always tried to call, message or FaceTime her every day. And she could see then how tired he was getting as the shoot went on. Now that he’s home and their desire for one another is (mostly) satisfied, it’s important that he rests.
“Alright then.” Scott grumbles. “I guess a nap would do us both good. But you can’t blame me for being unable to keep my hands off you. You’re just so gorgeous and glowy, and I feel utterly deprived.”
He makes an adorable snuffling noise, before pulling her in for a cuddle. “I guess we both can rest together,” he mumbles against the crook of her neck. “How’s that stomach bug by the way? You’ve been complaining about it the last week or so. I assume you’re feeling better?”
Tessa’s body freezes for a second. The memory of her momentous doctor’s appointment this afternoon flooding back into her mind. She had been busy the last few weeks and so hadn’t suspected that her continuing nausea was anything more than a case of a bad bug. It was only yesterday that she realised what it could mean (her cycle was always erratic so the lack of her menses hadn’t been much of a signal). After peeing on about three pregnancy tests this morning, she had hurriedly scheduled a doctor’s appointment in the afternoon to further confirm her suspicions. Which was why she wasn’t able to meet him at the apartment when he arrived.
All the way home, she had wondered about how she was going to break the happy news to Scott. She had thought about doing something cute. Like designing a movie poster announcing the newest production from FunnyFace featuring Tessa and Scott, and starring a new unknown talent.
But as she looks down at Scott’s dark head which is currently burrowing into her side, she knows she won’t be able to wait another day to set things up. She only lasted this long, because she had been genuinely distracted by their reunion.
“The doctor gave me something to help. But it’s not going to go completely away for awhile.”
“What?” Scott exclaims in indignation as he sits up on their bed to look at her properly. “What kind of dodgy medicine is this!? Are you ok?”
“Yes, I’m fine. It’s just a typical side effect. I’ll have random bouts of nausea for a few more weeks, and hopefully it’ll go away in the second trimester.”
Tessa knows exactly when the words “second trimester” registers in Scott’s brain. His eyes widen, and the biggest smile she’s ever seen dawns on his face.
“Baby? Are we having a baby?!” He stutters excitedly.
She nods vigorously. “I took a few tests this morning and I just came back from the doctor who confirmed it. I’m so sorry, but they were able to slot me in at the last minute and I couldn’t wait to find out to be sure.”
Scott doesn’t seem to mind that she went to the doctor without him. His gaze drops reverently at her bare (and still flat) abdomen, and his fingers cradle her stomach like it’s the holy grail. “No wonder you’ve looked even more beautiful tonight. I thought it was just the whole separation thing, but you’re carrying our baby!”
He gently kisses her stomach then, and then reaches up to kiss her slowly and sweetly. Leaving one palm tenderly caressing her midriff.
Tessa can’t help the laugh-sob that bubbles up in her throat as Scott keeps mumbling how much he loves and adores her. How much he loves and adores them. She and Scott had talked about kids previously, but hadn’t exactly been planning for them just yet. They were still young with busy careers and she always thought that kids would come later.
But now that a bundle of joy has landed in their laps, Tessa can’t help the swell of happiness overwhelming her.
Tessa knows this is yet another night, in the extraordinary life she’s shared with Scott, that she will never forget.
She won’t forget the wetness glimmering in Scott’s eyes as he proclaims how ecstatic he is. She won’t forget the long chat they have about baby Moir, everything from possible names to future school options, to how the grandparents are going to spoil him or her rotten.
And she definitely will not forget the joy and bliss coursing between her and Scott, as they contemplate not only their shared journey to getting to this moment. But the wondrous future they have created together.
She thinks back to that night when ten year old Tessa was introduced to the fun and boisterous twelve year old Moir boy back in Ilderton.
Who would have thought they would find themselves here, married, living happily ever after, with a baby on the way…
And who knows what else their future will bring...
*****