OK, this is my first ever CHERUB fic, and I really hope that you enjoy it!

Disclaimer: I do not own CHERUB. And even if I did, I wouldn't tell you, what with it being a top secret society and everything...

Zara looked at the two scared, vulnerable children sitting in front of her. She really hated having to do this; having to tell them that all they had known was a lie. She looked over at her colleague for help, but he seemed to be holding back tears. She knew that she had to tell them somehow.

"This is CHERUB," she started, positively. "We are a unit of MI5, where all our agents are aged between 10 and 17. We work where adults would be no use; if a terrorist were to let anyone loose in their house, it would be their kids' friends. The criminals never suspect that, maybe, one of these kids has placed tracking devices on their car, and listening devices throughout the house, and has taken all the numbers from their address book. This is why kids come in useful; adults never suspect them.

"It wasn't long ago that no one had any idea what CHERUB stood for. However, a few years ago, Mr Adams here," she indicated to her colleague, who forced a smile, but his eyes remained filled with sadness, "discovered a briefcase belonging to our founder, Mr Charles Henderson. The briefcase contained a letter, referring to Espionage Research Unit B. After much investigation, we found that the history of Espionage Research Unit B correlated with the history of CHERUB – and, indeed, if you look at the initials of CHERUB, you can easily see that it stands for Charles Henderson's Espionage Research Unit B. Although… James wasn't the only one to make this joyous discovery. You see… his sister, Lauren was on that particular adventure – I shall call it that, as it wasn't authorised by anyone."

At this, one of the two children, the elder, about 11 years of age, spoke for only the second time since entering her office. "Mum was called Lauren," she said.

Zara nodded; hopefully, Gwen would work it out before she had to break the news to her – and she was not finished working things out…

"Mum's maiden name was Adams," she said. Then, she turned to Mr Adams. "Have you always worked here?" she asked him.

"Well… yes," James replied, shocked at the bluntness of the question.

"And this is top secret," Gwen continued. "So… that's why we never met you." Gwen's eyes filled with sadness. "I thought you looked familiar."

Zara was impressed – Gwen definitely had the makings of an agent.

"And that's why my middle name is James!" the younger, Greg, added.

James could not control it any more; he burst into tears, and flung his arms around the two children, who hugged him back.

"I miss your mum," he whispered. "She was the most precious thing in the world to me."

"We miss her too," Gwen sniffed, obviously near to tears. "But… I'm not cross at her for not telling us about you, or CHERUB, or anything, because she couldn't."

"Would you like James to show you round?" Zara said, tactfully. After all, she thought, this was an office, not a 'join me on the couch' show.

* * *

"So… what's your job here, Mr Adams?" Gwen asked. Greg had not said much – he was only eight, and although he was generally very loud and excitable, ever since their mum's death he had been shy and secretive.

"I started out teaching maths," Mr Adams said. "But I've just become a full mission controller. My wife is one of the karate instructors. Oh, and-" he paused, thinking to himself. "Most of the kids who I teach maths to call me Mr Adams, but the kids who I send on missions call me James. When we're as family, you can call me Uncle James, or just James. Obviously, if I have you for maths then you'll call me Mr Adams when we're doing work-related things, but just James usually."

James drove the golf buggy round to the dojo. "This is the dojo. It was a present from the Japanese a couple of years before I started, after an agent brought down an entire terrorist group, if I remember correctly. We'll just be going in here; I talked to Zara yesterday, Gwen, and she says that you will be taking the entrance exam tomorrow, but you still have to wear the orange T-shirt today."

"Don't I have to take an exam?" Greg asked.

"Oh, yes. But yours will be lots shorter than Gwen's, so you're taking yours this afternoon."

They entered the dojo, as an instructor, a Chinese woman of around James's age came up to them. "Hello, James," she smiled, before giving him a quick kiss on the cheek, and laughing when she saw Greg's screwed up face of disgust.

"This is Kerry, my wife," James introduced them. "You don't want to get on the wrong side of her," he whispered in an undertone.

Gwen and Greg giggled, as Kerry slapped James on the arm playfully. "But when we were kids, you only remembered that after you'd cheated on me…" she laughed. "Anyway… I don't know who these charming relatives of yours are. Am I going to be introduced?"

"This is Gwen and Greg. I'm sure you can work out which one's which."

"Gosh, your sister had sentimentality to rival Harry Potter's," Kerry said, smiling. James personally thought that this was a bit rich coming from Kerry, as she had insisted that all of their kids were to be named after their friends from their CHERUB days.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Greg asked.

"Well… Gwen is named after your grandmother, who died when your mother was nine, and Greg after your mother's ex, Greg Rathbone, known as Rat, who died in his final mission."

"I'd be rather worried if that wasn't his final mission," Gwen said, making them all laugh.

"We'd better be going, Kerry; some of the kids over there are getting rather violent. It's what happens when you get black-belt seven year olds."

They said goodbye to Kerry, and got back into the golf buggy.

"Where are we going?" Gwen asked, as James drove the buggy back towards the main building.

"I'm going to get my car, then go back to my house, and pick my kids up on the way. Zara said you two could stay at mine tonight, if you want."

Gwen and Greg both agreed enthusiastically to this, and they all signed out, before climbing into James' car, a practical Zafira. After about twenty minutes drive, they pulled up at a large house.

"Is this your house?" Greg asked.

"No," replied James. "My mate Kyle lives here; he works from home, so he looks after my kids when me and Kerry are both working, during the holidays, because usually they stay on campus, in the junior block. He doesn't have any kids, so he loves looking after them, although he's thinking of adoption. I've got to leave you two here, because you're wearing CHERUB uniform, but I'll only be a tick."

James rang the doorbell, and a tall, dark-haired man answered the door.

"Hi, Dan," James said. "I thought you were at work?"

"I took the day off; I had no meetings, so I thought I might as well," replied Dan. "How's the weapons business coming on?"

"It's good, getting better as I've just been promoted. Is Kyle in? I left the kids with him this morning, because Kerry had to go out too, to teach combat training."

"Yeah, he's in. Do you want to come in, have a cup of tea or something?"

"That would be lovely, but I've got my niece and nephew in the car and they're eager to get back. Ah, Kyle, my man, there you are!"

Kyle had just appeared at the door.

"Hey, James, we weren't expecting you back 'til this evening," he said. "How are you?"

"Fine, thanks, Kyle." Usually, James and Kyle would talk about how James was getting on at work, but they could not with Dan around, who was still blissfully oblivious to his partner and friend's history as secret agents.

James was suddenly bowled over by three children, who came running at him out of nowhere.

"Daddy!" the elder of the trio cried.

"Hey, Brucey boy, how are you?" James laughed, hugging his son.

"Did Zara show you Auntie Lauren's kids?" he asked.

James steered his children in the direction of the car, aware that they were getting dangerously close to revealing something that they should not.

"Thanks a lot," he called back to Kyle, who had his arm round Dan's waist.

"Any time," Kyle called back, smiling.

James put up one of the boot seats in his car, and then strapped his twin daughters, Gabrielle and Amy in. He climbed into the driver's seat (after booting Greg out of it – it seems that all small boys around the world will always do this), and started the engine. He waved goodbye to Kyle, before heading off home.

The noise level in the car had increased drastically since three extra children had been added. Bruce was around the same age as Greg, so they were discussing things like Star Wars and football, which seemed to be universally appreciated by all boys. Gwen, like all girls, had gone all gooey over the little ones, making noises like 'whosa goochy goochy goo, den?'. James had resigned himself to accepting that all girls acted like this around small children ever since his second mission, aged twelve.

When they arrived at James' house, Bruce ran ahead and demanded the keys, while Gwen came up the drive, clutching Amy and Gabrielle's hands. They entered the house, and Bruce dragged Greg upstairs, which was soon followed by the sound every parent feared; the sound of Lego being tipped all over the floor. Gabrielle and Amy, who were not as small as Gwen wanted them to be, were showing off the various games consoles that littered the lounge floor. James was thankful for the distractions (although he knew that he would not be when it was he who had to tidy the Lego), and started to cook the only thing he knew how to; microwave meals. He pulled two large lasagnes out of the oven, and popped them in the oven, to warm up.

He sat back, reflecting. On second thoughts, he did know how to make something more than microwave meals; he still knew how to cook pigeons and squirrels, from his CHERUB days. Somehow, he did not think the kids would really appreciate that.

***

Four Months Later

James' eyes filled with tears that he tried his best to suppress, as he watched the newly qualified agents step towards the main building, all proudly bearing grey CHERUB t-shirts. Gwen had her arm in a sling, but was still grinning from ear to ear, as James and Greg pulled her into a big hug.

"Your mum would be so proud of you," James whispered, giving up on trying not to cry, but shooting warning glances at any young agents who might want to tell their friends about this.

"She is," Gwen answered, feeling the happiest she had been since before her mother's death.

Please review! Flames are fine, as long as you explain how I can improve...