The large Christmas tree towered in the corner of the ballroom while men in suits paraded around, each trying to out macho the next. Meanwhile, the women chatted over by the dessert buffet, comparing outfits and trading bits of gossip. All too rich for their own good and none of them ever had anything interesting to say unless it involved trying to one up the next person.

M stood sullenly by the podium that had been moved to the corner of the room. She hated events like this. She took a large swig of punch (which she'd very generously spiked) and gazed out onto the sea of her colleagues swarming the room, all sickeningly cheery.

"Evening, Mrs. Grinch."

She rolled her eyes. "Bond, what do you want?"

He quietly slipped out from behind her and moved to her side, just enough to be in her line of sight without having to turn to look at him.

"I wanted to see why you were standing over here in the corner instead of out there having a good time."

"Why do you care? Shouldn't you be seducing one of the secretaries?"

He smirked. "How do know I haven't already?"

She rolled her eyes again. "Typical."

She felt his hand on her lower back and tensed. "Come on, M. Really. What's the matter? It's Christmas. Where's that holiday cheer?" He nudged her shoulder. "Hey, if I can manage a smile for a couple of hours…"

"That's because you don't have to spend that time listening to the PM drone on and on about finances. It's supposed to be a party for goodness sake. And at Christmas, no less. You'd think he could lay off for one bloody day."

She took an especially large swig of punch as another suit approached her.

"Save me," she murmured.

"Ah, M. How lovely to see you! Looking radiant as ever."

Bond stepped aside as the man immediately pulled her into an embrace that clearly wasn't expected nor welcomed. He stifled a giggle. He knew M hated hugs and false niceties.

She pulled back, taking a deep breath before forcing a smile to grace her lips. "Mr. Burns. I see you made it to the festivies this year. And I believe I spotted your wife earlier, didn't I?"

"Yes. Irene's over there somewhere. Chatting away with the girls. You know how it is."

M simply nodded. "Indeed. It is nice to see everyone together." Her eyes darted over the man's shoulder. "Oh. I am sorry to have to leave you, but it appears I'm needed elsewhere." She smiled and echoed his words. "You know how it is. Excuse me."

She swept around him and moved swiftly through the crowd of people before he even had a chance to respond.

Being fairly demure in stature she was able to lose him amongst the other guests before making her way to the opposite side of the room, where Bond had migrated to wait for her.

"Thank you."

He chuckled lightly. "Don't mention it."

She choked down the rest of her drink and made her way back to the table for more.

"With respect, ma'am, shouldn't you slow those down a bit?"

She filled her glass generously, discretely pulling the flask from her purse and tipping some brandy in before putting it back with a masterful slight of hand.

"Nonsense. I plan to be as drunk as possible before they start-"

She was cut off by a voice over the microphone from the bandstand.

"Pardon me, everyone. I've been asked to direct all Six employees to the Churchill meeting room for the annual gift exchange."

M groaned. "Oh, bloody hell. Here it comes."

"C'mon. It'll be fun. Besides, I'm quite looking forward to your reaction to my gift."

"It's meant to be a secret, Bond. You aren't supposed to tell the person you bought for."

"Oh I wasn't assigned you."

She frowned. "Then why-"

"Because I wanted to do something special for you, damnit. Is that so wrong?"

"Yes." She lowered her voice. "We've discussed this."

"Mallory's on your arse, I know. But you work damn hard for this department and you deserve a little something every once in a while."

She snorted. "In case it slipped your memory, you already give me a little something every once in a while."

Bond pursed his lips and glared at her. "Very funny. I mean apart from that."

"Alright, fine. But it better be good…Mr. Bond," she smirked and made her way to the meeting room with the others.

He followed her out, a smirk playing across his own lips. "Oh, believe me. It will be."

She stared down at the box for just a moment longer, two teardrop diamond earrings twinkled up at her. She sighed and closed the lid before placing the box in her purse.

"Some gift, ma'am." Eve nudged M's arm with a smile. "A secret admirer, perhaps?"

M snorted. "That would make the headlines." "Don't. You're the most powerful woman in Britain, and, if I may, you're still quite a catch. I'm sure there are plenty of suits here who'd love to have you on their arm."

She chuckled. "I'm not so sure about that, but you're kind to say so."

"I'm only telling the truth, ma'am."

M smiled. "It's a party, Eve. You don't have to call me ma'am. Not this evening."

"Sorry, ma- …M."

M chuckled. "Better. And since we're on the subject of secret admirers… have you spoken to Bill yet?"

Eve looked thoroughly confused. "Sorry?"

"You can't honestly tell me you haven't noticed." Eve's expression didn't change. M rolled her eyes. "Mr. Tanner does not frequent my office for the sparkling conversation."

"But he's never…" she glanced over her shoulder. Bill was busy talking to James about something or other. Eve hurriedly turned around to look at M.

"Well he's not going to walk about with mistletoe hovering above his head, is he? Some men need a push to say what they really feel. And apparently, some women do, too." She gave Eve a small nudge in Tanner's direction.

"Ma-" she cleared her throat. "M... Isn't this against protocol?"

"Bugger protocol. It's Christmas." She sipped her drink. "Besides, if I have to sit and watch Tanner fawn over you for one more day, I'll scream."

Eve looked at her boss, shocked that she was actually encouraging this type of sentimentality, especially given the hard time she was getting from Mallory. She wondered just how much champagne the older woman had that evening.

"I trust you two can keep your personal lives separate from the office."

"Yes, ma'am. Of course. But…"

M let slide her slip in formality. "Well then. Go on!"

She bit her lip to stife her giggle as Eve stumbled away from her and nervously cut into the conversation with Bill and James.

She then watched James excuse himself to make his way back over to her.

"So do you think those two will finally get it together?" he whispered.

She smiled. "One can but hope."

"Took them long enough."

"To be fair, we didn't exactly get off the smoothest start."

He raised an eyebrow. "And whose fault was that?"

"Yes, but that was different and you know it."

"I know. I know. I just hate that he's constantly hounding you as if you haven't got enough shit to deal with trying to keep the bloody country safe."

"Well, he does have a point." James raised his eyebrow again. "It is unprofessional. But as I always say, so is regret. I'm not getting any younger. I don't have the luxury of putting things off and waiting for the 'right time'. If this job has taught me anything, it's that tomorrow isn't guaranteed. You don't necessarily plan for things like this. But you have to take what you can get while you've got it."

James gave a half smile. "I just wish we didn't have to hide it."

Her eyes fell on his face with a look of disbelief. "What?"

"I mean it. I hate having to sneak around. I hate that I can't take you in my arms and kiss you whenever I want. I hate having to hide what we have."

She gulped. "And what exactly might that be?"

"Come on, M. I think we both know this goes beyond casual fucking. I don't know when or how or even… hell, I'm not even sure what to call it, but we've got something between us. Something that's not gonna go away overnight, no matter what Mallory says or thinks."

She took another sip of her drink, trying to look anywhere but at him.

"Personally, I'm all for giving us a shot. I mean, you said yourself. You have to take what you can get while you've got it. Right now we've got each other. We make each other happy. We both know what the job involves and we know how to bend the rules to get around it."

She cut him a look and he held his hands up.

"Alright. So some of us bend the rules a little bit more than others." She snorted. "My point is, we've got a good thing going. We don't have to put any labels on it, we can just let it be whatever it is. We've made it this far. I think we should see where it takes us."

She sighed. "I don't know, James. We both know things run a lot more smoothly when emotions are left out of it."

"I think it's a little late for that." She looked up at him. "We wouldn't be risking all this if it were only about sex."

She sighed again. "True."

She mulled it over in her head for a few more seconds before meeting his eyes.

"We have to be very careful. And nothing changes in the office. I'm still your boss."

He tried and failed to hide the grin spreading across his face. "Of course."

"And James."

"Yeah?"

"If you hurt me, I will not hesitate to end you. Am I clear?"

He looked taken aback for a second. His reputation was no secret, certainly, but she had to know by now that he could never hurt her, of all people. Or maybe that's what frightened her. She didn't know that. Not for sure. He decided then and there that he would do everything in his power to make her see. He had to let her know that he was worth the chance- that their relationship was worth the chance. He'd prove it to her somehow.

"Am I clear, Bond? "

He gave a short nod. "Crystal."

"You two look very serious over here." Eve made her way back over. "What's he done now?"

Bond gave her a lopsided grin, "What makes you think I did something?"

Eve pursed her lips. "Because she only gets that look in her eye when you've screwed up."

"Well, madam, I will have you know that I am perfectly innocent… in this case."

"We've just had a small discussion about valuable assets and wasted time."

Eve nodded. "I see. Well, I hope James here has learned his lesson. In the meantime, we're moving back into the main room, if you two want to come, or… if you've not quite finished…"

"We'll be there in a few moments." M smiled. "Now, go… mingle."

"Yes, ma'am." Eve paused. "Oh… by the way. You should probably know that you're..."

"Yes?"

"You two are sort of… erm..." Eve pointed at the ceiling above their heads.

They both looked up at the same time to see a small sprig of green dangling from the ceiling.

Bond smiled. "So?"

"So what ?"

"It is tradition."

M scoffed.

Before she had a chance to come back with a witty retort…

Her eyes went wide as she felt Bond's lips on her cheek. It didn't go unnoticed that he lingered for just a split second longer than necessary.

He pulled back, smirking. "It would be a shame to break tradition… ma'am."

Eve put a hand to her mouth, coughing lightly in a failed attempt to disguise her giggle.

"Does that count, or shall I try again?" Bond looked at Eve.

M cut him a look and Eve nodded quickly, knowing a peck on the cheek was as good as she was going to get. Though considering the people involved, it was downright scandalous in her book.

"Definitely counts." Eve gave a slight bow of her head. "Ma'am. Bond."

"Go. Mingle. Keep Tanner away from the champagne."

The young woman blushes slightly. "Yes, ma'am," she murmured. "You're welcome to rejoin us in the ballroom if you'd like. I think the band is about to start playing again." She ran off to the main ballroom again while M and Bond lingered behind.

"It appears we've been summoned."

M checked her handbag once more to make sure she'd gotten everything with her name on it.

There were a couple of things she didn't particularly care for, but she figured she'd keep them and think on it and if she really didn't have any use for them, she could always re-gift.

"Wait. This gift of yours. Where is it?"

"Eager are we?" he smirked.

"Well now you've built it up, I can only wonder what it could possibly be that's so special you went out of your way to get it."

"I don't mind going out of the way for you. You know that."

She looked up at him and saw nothing but sincerity in his eyes. If this was his attempt at getting their relationship going, he was making a good start.

"Yes. I know."

"Good. And as for your gift, you'll have it before you know it." M raised an eyebrow at this, her curiosity peaked even more. Bond chuckled. "Come on."

He put a hand on her back and led her out of the small room and back into the loud, music filled ballroom.