For GreenVelvetCurtains, RebaForever15 and Prosper the XVIII hope you like it.
James and M returned to London both agreeing that is was best to keep their wedding plans a secret, at least for the time being, from everyone except Mallory who insisted on being told what decision they had arrived at in Dover so he could plan accordingly.
As M settled down to work at her desk, James came bursting into her office with a rather large binder under his arm.
"Good morning beautiful" he said as he leaned across the desk and gave her a quick kiss
"James, what the hell do you think you're doing" she said looking around nervously "Someone could see you."
"Don't worry, Eve's gone to get a coffee and Tanner is down the hall in the copy room having some sort of argument with the Xerox machine" he said with a grin
"All the same, you have to restrain yourself while you're in this office, at least until this is public knowledge" she said sternly
"Alright" he said backing away from her desk
"So what have you got there?" she asked pointing to the binder under his arm
"Why don't you join me on the sofa and find out" he replied smugly as he went to sit on the sofa
As M sat next to him she couldn't help but laugh as he was protecting his binder as though it were made of solid gold.
"So what have you got there?" she asked curiously
"Well, since you are so busy I thought I would help out by coming up with some preliminary plans for the wedding" he said proudly as he handed her the binder
"Why James, I didn't know that wedding planning was one of your many talents" she said with a grin as she began thumbing through the pages.
"I just thought it would be a good idea to get a start on this as I have heard how complicated planning a wedding can be" he said looking over her shoulder
"I thought we agreed on a small informal ceremony?" she said quietly as she began to look at some of the ideas he had written down
"We did. Look I didn't really expect the whole white wedding, big church affair since I know you've already done that and to be honest I think we're both a little old for that sort of thing, but we should at least consider inviting a few close friends and your family, so it stands to reason that there will be a little planning involved here" he said almost defensively
"Yes of course, but…." She started to say before she was interrupted
"You haven't changed your mind have you?" he asked sounding a bit worried
"No of course not" she said gently squeezing his hand "Please continue"
"There are still lots of things to be decided like where for instance and when, that's a big one, and who to have as our witnesses and who to invite" he replied
"Well as for witness' I am planning to ask my daughter Joanna. That was an easy choice, even though you have never met her she is going to love you. You however only have two choices for a witness I'm afraid" she said looking at him with a very sober expression on her face
"Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't it usually up to the groom to choose who he wants to be his witness, or best man, or whatever they call it?" asked James with a rather puzzled look on his face
"Under ordinary circumstances I would agree with you, but this is not an ordinary wedding and due to security concerns, you have two choices. You can either ask Mallory or you can ask my son to stand up with you as your witness. It is the same security issue that is also going to prevent us from inviting any guest's at least to the ceremony." she said watching his face closely for any sign of the argument that was sure to follow her statement
"Why the hell would I ask Mallory, I can't stand him and I don't even know your son! And what do you mean we can't invite anyone. Whoever heard of a wedding with no guests?" he said with more than a little resentment in his tone
"James, like I said before due to security issues…"
"Since when is a wedding a matter of national security?" said James nearly irate at this point
"Since you decided to marry me!" she said, her own irritation beginning to show in her tone
"I don't see what the big deal is. We go, we say our I DO's and were done. See no security risk"
"The I do isn't the problem it's what comes before that is the problem" she replied doing her best to maintain her composure
"I see" he said angrily
"No. You don't see. When you get married you are required to have vows. Vows that happen to include your full, legal name" she said flatly as she searched his face for any sign of comprehension of what she was trying to say. "Since my full legal name is not public knowledge, unless we can give all our guests top security clearance, which by the way is impossible, we simply cannot invite anyone. Aside from my children and you, Mallory is the only other person who actually knows my name."
"So let me get this straight. We can have a wedding, but we can't invite anyone and you can have your daughter, who I have not met, be your maid of honor and I either get Mallory, whom I can't stand or your son whom I don't know as my best man" Said James sharply
"James, There is something I need to tell you" said M as she put the binder down and took his hand.
"Oh great, you mean there's more?' he said sarcastically
"James, do be serious"
"You're right. Sorry. Please continue"
"While it is true that you have not met my daughter Joanna, You actually have met my son."
"What! When? Oh God, don't tell me he's an agent"
"No but you're close" she said hesitantly
"Well if he's not an agent then who is he?" asked James as he tried to remember everyone he had ever come into contact with that was remotely connected to M.
"Didn't it ever strike you as odd that Q would have known to trace my home phone instead of my cell phone when you were trying to find me?' she asked quietly "Especially since that number is only located in my private file and only those with top security clearance have access to that file, present company excluded of course"
"I just assumed he was being thorough" replied James pausing for a second as the realization of what she said began to sink in. "You mean to tell me that that little annoying twerp is your son!" exclaimed James as he suddenly stood up
"Yes" she said defensively "he's my son Paul"
"Why didn't you tell me? The next thing I know you'll be telling me that Mallory is your brother I suppose!" he replied angrily
"James"
"So what else don't I know about you" he hissed
"James please let me explain"
"No. I think I've heard enough for now" he said angrily as he stormed out of her office, nearly knocking over Eve in the process
"James, wait" shouted M frantically as she followed after him, but she was too late as he was already halfway down the stairs by the time she got to Eve's office
"What on earth is going on" asked Eve clearly concerned as she looked at M
"Nothing" replied M with tears in her eyes "We were just planning our wedding"