Chapter 1 Another Christmas

Continuation my story Hidden Gifts

Note: Twelve months have past since the Christmas party where James Bond was her bodyguard and Nigel was kidnapped by Chester King.

The snow created a vacuum of silence and it was fitting in perfectly with her mood. M stood looking at the cold stone now affixed to the ground where her love laid in his eternal slumber. It would be Christmas time and the first one since his passing.

The emptiness and cold silence was appropriate for the void in her hart that Nigel Mansfield had left behind. Her son Ryan stood to one side of her and Judi to the other, silent in reflection. Their companionship was but a bitter reminder of what she had lost and what she had given up in her time as head of MI6.

It had always amazed M, how things could change in just an instant. Nigel's heart attack had done that. It just seemed surreal that it happened to her this time and not one of the marks she sent her agents after. None of that mattered to her more than the fact that the man she loved resided in the cold ground.

The children had insisted on the marker. The stone engraved with his name. "Nigel Edward Mansfield." M whispered as if remembering the first time he said it to her. He had such a handsome and kind face. Tall with warm chestnut curls and that always seemed to be reflected in his eyes. Those warm Hazel eyes that Ryan had inherited, as well as his looks. The children were a match set to the parents who had made them from their love.

A love that had been tried and tested. Years and years of professional stresses and absenteeism, that made her feel guilty remorse and her children bitter disappointment. Regret is unprofessional. M had always believed this in her professional life, and yet in her personal life it was entirely a different issue.

Ryan put his arm around her shoulder. M came out of her doldrums when someone cleared his throat behind them.

The three of them turned to see Chester King standing in the snow with a bouquet of flowers.

"I am sorry to intrude Olivia, Ryan, Judith. I so sorry that I missed the service. I've been out of county on and off for two months. Please accept these for yourself, or my dear friend Nigel's grave.

Chester King moved forward looking directly at Olivia while handing the flowers to Judy. He grasped her hands in his and leaned down to kiss her cheek.

"We need to talk." King whispered in her ear.

"Thank you for coming at all Chester. How did you know where we were?" M asked with an arched eyebrow.

"I popped by the flat thinking you may be home, as it is a weekend. I came directly from the airport." Chester gestured back towards the driver standing outside the car waiting for his return. It was behind the one M had arrived in with her children.

There were men in the peripheral that had earpieces in and standing guard but not too close that her children made any remarks.

He must have called the office and Moneypenny told him. M would have to lecture Moneypenny about allowing Chester King to flirt out information about her whereabouts.

"Come with us Chester, we are about to go to Murano, Judi loves Italian."

"I would be honoured."

"Ryan, Judi you will go with my driver. Chester and I need to speak of something."

Judi frowned. "Fine mother, Chester it will be a wonderful diversion having you with us. We often need a buffer to stop the arguing."

Chester smiled, as he realised much of that was the truth. Chester guided M into the back of his car and told the driver the restaurant.

Once the two of them settled M began the questions. "What do you mean by tracking me down like that Chester? I've had a tough enough time with the children asking about the private medical facility I had Nigel rushed too after his heart attack."

"You were there?"

"Yes."

"I'm so sorry dear."

"Why because I actually witnessed the death of my husband and for once was not sitting at a desk?"

"Yes, well it sounds bad but it is often better to be spared the memory of witnessing someone you love die."

"I know, but I think I need and deserve the memory. I think seeing it made me face my greatest fear and that can only make me stronger in the long run."

"Yes that is true. The reason I needrd to speak with you is because I need help. I told you, last year that I was working on something that may require your assistance. And possibly one of your agent's. I wanted Bond but perhaps it is best you don't use him for this."

"Why not?"

"Olivia that man is in love with you, I could see it last year at the University Christmas party. And here we are a year later and I bet nothing has changed. I'm still just as smitten with you as years ago, so how could he not be?"

"Enough Arthur. What is this mission and in what capacity do you need me and my agent?"

"I need you to marry me."

"What!"

"I need a wife to play a role and I thought you could bring Bond as your son, but I don't think that is wise so maybe 005. Stuart Thomas or another perhaps?"

"Before you choose one of my men and drag me to the alter for marriage what is this mission and why me?"

"I'm going to steal painting."

"You're what!"

"Picasso's La Pastorale it was taken May 2010 from Paris and I know where it is. Unfortunately it is in the hands of a wealthy Russian that I have business dealings with. I cannot make it seem like I am involved and I need a distraction. I know you speak fluent Russian and you will be an excellent distraction as Harry Hart and one of your agent's takes the paintings and gets it out of the country."

"How on the earth does me acting as your wife make enough of a distraction to allow for that?"

"The Russian in question is Anton Sokolov."

"Anton...what in bloody hell is he doing still alive!"

"I thought you would be intrigued by that."

"I would have sent Bond to kill him long ago if I had known he lived. What name is he using?"

"None of his aliases but it is my hope that him seeing my gorgeous bride Olivia, he will be knocked off guard enough to ignore the fact our sons are stealing the painting back."

"Anton will not remember me. I only met him for a short time during questioning after observing him and his brother Alexi to make sure that they were not saying anything of importance in Russian while they were detained for questioning."

"Yes but in that time...I think Agent Gregory Fleming said that Anton was, and I quote: 'So shocked by my young assistant's looks that he could barely concentrate.' He called you ангел which if I'm not mistaken means angel."

M looked down at her feet and blushed at the memory from long ago. "His brother explained that it was because I resembled his wife who died in childbirth. Nothing more that a coincidence and I don't think he will even remember me let alone as old as we are now. He went on to murder and destroy women and children in his attacks in Eastern Europe. I think they then named him the butcher of Belgrade, both him and his brother were evil men. How on earth is he still alive?"

"I was introduced a year and a half ago, looking for art and collectables. Portraying myself as a wealthy man who cared nothing for legalities. I shared a few drinks with him and he slipped his real name and boasted of his art and the thefts."

"We had thought that the CIA had taken care of him long ago."

"He and his brother deal with antiquities and stolen art. They have connections in the underground in Turkey and moved much of the missing antiquities from Baghdad."

"You want to bring him down or just liberate that one piece of work?"

"That is the proof I need to assemble a team to take down the network. I have a team looking at the connections in Turkey as we speak but if you and I can knock him off guard…"

"How do we get out after?"

"The theft will occur after you and I leave on the Orient Express in Vienna where he is living. We will just pop in for a visit before we go. He invited me the last time I saw him and I told him I would be coming to Europe on holiday with my wife next and he insisted that you come for dinner also."

"So now you have to come up with a wife. You said last year that there was as job that you wanted my help with, you waited a year?"

"Yes, I have been creating a profile with the help of Merlin. You and I have been married 10 years. Your agent will be your son and Harry will be mine and they are there to escort us to the train for our anniversary."

"This is a weak premiss. How do you expect this to work?"

Chester pulled a book from the pocket on the back of the driver's seat and handed her a photo album. M opened it to show carefully crafted pictures of the two of them from the 1960s to last years Christmas party and them dancing.

"How will this be explained? Images of us when we were young and we only got married 10 years ago?"

"Nigel my dear. One of the three of us from back then...your first husband. It is always better to remain close to the truth in some matters."

M's eyebrows rose. "Yes, of course it is." They pulled up to the restaurant and Chester held the door for her. "What are we to tell my real children?"

"I have asked you out. Tactless, yes I know but it is not worth waiting around at our time of life. I will say that you declined and we will laugh about it."

"Why tell them anything at all?"

"Because my dear, I am laying the groundwork to ask you out for real and I want them to begin thinking of me in fondly. That way your children will eventually accept me as step-father. I insist on paying for the meal also. That coupled with enough wine should smooth any admonishments and bitterness."

"Chester! You will do no such thing!"

"Why my dear? Are you currently involved?"

"No...I'm recently widowed as you well know!"

"You and Bond?"

"What!"

"He is not your lover?"

"My god! What on earth gave you that idea?"

"Bond did, just by the way he was watching you dance at that Christmas party last year my dear."

To be continued...