A/N: This is my first Hiddlesworth AU fic! Please be kind :) Inspiration drawn from Cecelia Ahern's If You Could See Me Now.

What do you do when the world abandons you? You continue holding your head up high. You pick yourself up and dust yourself off. You mind your own business. You shut yourself away because let's face it, the world thinks you're a waste of space anyways. Life isn't easy when everyone has turned their back to you.

Does it get lonely? Does it get frustrating?

Of course it fucking does.

But you've got to live still. Life isn't a bed of roses and suicide ain't going be the answer. Perhaps this time, you just have to find something worth living for.

Chris turned the stove on as he placed a pan on it. He cracked an egg into the pancake batter and patiently stirred the mixture. Grabbing a stick of butter from his left, he tossed it into the heated pan. It sizzled and spattered as he worked the batter. He lifted the whisk to check the consistency of the batter before pouring some into the pan. Wiping off the bead of perspiration trailing down his face, Chris shouted, "Alex! Time to get up! I made pancakes!"

He shouted for his son again and proceeded to bang a long stick that he has always kept in the kitchen against the ceiling. "Wake up!"

It worked. Chris could hear rustling above his head and slight footsteps on the upper floor.

"Brush your teeth before you come down!"

Within 15 minutes Chris made 10 pancakes neatly stacked into a golden tower. He washed up, tied his dirty blonde hair in a bun and realised Alex still wasn't down. Throwing the washcloth into the sink, he bounded up the stairs. He checked Alex's room and found it empty. He approached the closed bathroom door knocked on it gently.

"Alex? You in there?"

Silence.

Chris clicked his tongue before trying the door. As he threw the door open, he caught sight of Alex snoozing on the toilet with his pants halfway down his legs.

"Alex? Wake up," he said, ruffling his son's hair. Alex whimpered as he rubbed his eyes.

"Come on buddy. Finish up. Come down quick before the pancakes grow cold okay?" Chris said gently before pulling away, leaving the bathroom.

If this was a year ago, Chris would have yelled and made a big deal out of it. He would have banged the door, toss Alex into the tub and turn on the cold water just to punish him for being tardy. But that was a year ago and everything has changed within these 12 months.

It has been a year since Coraline died. 12 months without a woman in a house. Chris had to pick himself up and learn not only to be a mother to Alex but to take care of himself. He was so used to Coraline taking care of him that her sudden departure made him realise how pampered he was – how much they have taken her for granted. He learnt to be much more patient and gentler. He learnt to be more giving and reasonable.

He wanted to leave this old house but something held him back. Was it fear? He wasn't entirely sure. But one thing that he was sure of was that he didn't want Alex to grow up in somewhere unfamiliar - in a place where he can't feel his mom's presence. He wanted the best for his son even if it kills him and so they stayed.

Alex shuffled into the kitchen with his frayed jeans and light blue cotton shirt. He flicked his eyes to Chris who was busy devouring his own stack of pancakes. He sat down, picked up his utensils and began to eat.

"Dad, I'm going to play outside okay?" Alex wiped his mouth onto the sleeves of his shirt. He pushed back his plate painted with remnants of butter and maple syrup before disappearing through the back door.

"Don't play too far! You know I can't see you in that cornfield!" Chris shouted even though he knew that it would fall onto deaf ears.

Like every other morning after breakfast, Chris would go around the house to pick up the dirty clothes. When Coraline was around she made sure everyone dropped theirs into the laundry basket in the bathroom. But ever since the rats had chewed into it, Chris hadn't found the time to find its replacement after throwing it out.

The washer beeped chirpily as Chris dumped everything in. He poured the detergent in, checked the setting and closed it. The machine whirred and hummed while Chris searched for his work boots. His feet slid into them before he grabbed the rifle placed high on the shelf above the fireplace.

The farm was the only thing left from his family. He inherited it after his parents died a few years before he married Coraline. Chris placed the rifle on his shoulder casually as he swept his gaze across the cornfield. From the corner of his eye he could make out Alex skipping into the cornfield.

Chris wished he was able to leave this forsaken town and farm behind but alas farming was his only skill. It was the only way he knew how to provide for Alex and himself. And of course there's the house.

Today was no different from yesterday. He checked the irrigation pipes to make sure they weren't bent or spoiled. It wasn't harvesting period yet and it won't be for the next few weeks.

Chris could hear Alex giggling and running around although he was nowhere in sight. He had never been protective but ever since Coraline's death, his protective instincts heightened.

"Alex! Don't go too far!"

"Yes Dad!" Alex replied, his voice distant.

Chris knew he had to let the boy play by himself. No point trying to shield him so much when it will hinder the boy's development. Heading towards the barn, he started to pick up an axe and some uncut firewood. He was about to head out when he noticed an oil leak in one of the tractors. Chris groaned, dropped the wood and the axe and searched for his tools.

Tom grumbled. He hated being lost. Who wouldn't? The sense of uneasiness started to creep up his neck causing him to feel jumpy and agitated. The road ahead of him was long and winding. He cursed silently at the scorching sun. His shoes were starting to get uncomfortable and sticky.

As much as he appreciates nature, he could never understand why people live so far away from each other here in Alma, Nebraska. He had been in Nebraska for the past few years now and although he wanted to visit other places, he's still stuck here. He was needed here.

You see, Tom was no ordinary man with an ordinary occupation. Rather, he was quite extraordinary. His job was to help people. Specifically help lonely beings to feel less lonely and befriend them. Thereafter he has to ensure that the friends he makes make other friends. And that is when his purpose is fulfilled. The cycle goes on and after each cycle, he will wander off till he finds someone who is in need of a friend.

Tom landed in Nebraska 3 years ago when his friend, Dylan moved here to Nebraska from Arkansas. He thought with the change of atmosphere and surroundings, Dylan would need more of him.

But alas he was wrong.

Within a week, Dylan made other friends in school and Tom was forgotten and became invisible again. So he wandered off and found Troy. Troy was only ten years old then and was bullied badly. Tom stayed by Troy's side for almost a year before the poor boy was sent for psychiatric evaluation because his parents thought he was going 'mental' for talking to himself. And then Troy began to forget about him too. He missed Troy terribly.

Tom tried to befriend girls but they were mostly wary and prefer the same gender.

"Tom!" a voice called out. Tom whirled. He grinned, baring his teeth as he waved.

"Alice! You're here too!" He usually doesn't meet his fellow colleagues when they are 'on the field'.

"Yes, yes. Wow, this is so strange, seeing each other outside of the headquarters!" Alice said. She shrugged and patted the back of her neck. The sun wasn't kind on her as well it seems. She had her favourite light yellow dress on, coupled with a pair of black ballet flats.

"Your case was closed?" Tom asked. It was the only explanation why she was wandering about like he does.

Alice nodded and shifted her weight to another foot. "Yeah. Little Suzy found a new playmate when her mom got her into a new school… Then she stopped seeing me."

Tom patted her shoulder in response, he felt her pain. Losing a friend was never easy - especially if they have snitched themselves into your hearts. And the worst thing for them was when their friends stopped seeing them. They literally become invisible and it's time for them to move on.

Alice half-smiled. "I hope we find new friends Tom."

"I hope we do. No point drifting around this town with no friends. Ruby wouldn't be happy."

Ruby was their overall in charge. The 'big boss' you might say. Every week during their meetings in Pudemaerd (the headquarters), everyone would have to report on their cases to Ruby and she would determine how much time is left with the case. Most of the time Ruby is accurate but there are cases where she's not. But most of these cases were children and it only takes about 3-5 months till they're closed. Adult cases were often gauged by the proximity of their livelihood since most of them were old.

Alice shrugged. "I'll see you back in Pudemaerd soon?" Tom nodded and waved her goodbye.

Tom had been walking for an hour now. All he could see was acres and acres of corn ahead of him. Despite being in Nebraska for three years, he had never ventured out to a cornfield before. All of his friends mostly played inside and were not allowed to go into the fields. Suddenly feeling curious and excited (but a teeny bit afraid), he started to deviate from the road. He didn't know what to expect but the probability of him experiencing something new made him uncontrollably excited.

The further he walked, the more confused he became. The cornfield he ventured into didn't seem to end. Tom stopped, bending down with his hands on his knees. He was covered in perspiration from head to toe and felt sticky all over. Tom was beginning to regret his decision when someone tugged his pants from behind. He immediately turned and found himself looking down at a boy about the age of 7.

"Are you lost?" the boy asked, eyeing Tom curiously.

Tom shrugged and wiped a bead of perspiration from his brow. "Well, where am I?"

"You're in my father's cornfield."

"Of course I am…" Tom muttered to himself. And then he realised. The boy can see him! He has found another case!

"What's your name?" Tom asked, crouching down.

"Alex. Alex Hemsworth." He fidgeted with his toy aeroplane in one hand as he continued to watch Tom warily.

"Hi Alex!" Tom greeted him cheerfully. He stretched before sitting down, cross-legged on the floor.

"Judging from the stare that you are now giving me, I believe your parents must have told you not to talk to strangers," Tom lamented. He hated this part of his job. The first step when making friends is always awkward and scary. And most of the time, the children would hesitate. But they will always relent. They needed him.

Alex shrugged. Tom pointed to Alex's toy aeroplane. "I love aeroplanes! What is it called?"

Tom could see Alex letting his guard down. "His name is Arrow!" Alex replied. He sat in front of Tom and began to talk about his favourite toys.

The leaking tractor was fixed 2 hours ago. Chris placed a foot on the pedestal that was used to hack wood. Bracing himself, he proceeded to hack down a piece of firewood. He scrutinised the pile of firewood to his right and decided that it was enough for tonight. His stomach growled as he dropped the axe and began to collect the firewood into his arms. The day was darkening and he realised Alex wasn't back at the house.

Where is he? Why is he not back yet?

Dropping the wood onto the porch, Chris decided to find Alex. Worst thoughts began to fleet through his mind and Chris began to grow uneasy.

"Alex! Come on buddy! It's sun down! Come back home!" he bellowed. There was no reply but he could hear his son's giggle. He walked further in and Alex's giggles became louder.

"Alex!" Chris called, his voice almost pleading. Alex immediately stopped laughing. He turned and grinned. It has been such a long time since his smiled reached up to his eyes. His smile warmed Chris' heart.

"Dad! Meet my new friend To –" Alex's brows furrowed when he found that no one was there. "But… but he was just here a moment ago!"

"Who was here a moment ago?" Chris asked defensively, momentarily forgetting Alex's smile.

"My friend, Tom! He was telling me a joke when you came!"

Chris scanned the field and saw nothing. If there was someone hiding in between the stalks, he would have spotted him. But there was nothing. Immediately feeling violated, he snatched Alex's toys and hauled his son up.

"I don't want you to play here anymore. It's dangerous! And what did I tell you about talking to strangers?!"

Alex frowned and his eyes began to water as Chris prodded him to move along. But at the corner of Alex's eyes, he could see a pair of blue eyes twinkling at him behind the cornstalks.