Chapter 2

"Olivia, earth to Olivia?"

"Yes?"

"Where did you go? Because I know you weren't standing here sparing with me. I could have killed you! Pay attention, put your guard up like I taught you."

"Emma why do I need to know hand to hand combat when I'm no longer even M?"

"Because I said so and you will do what I say while you stay under my roof young lady."

Emma Peel and Olivia Mansfield, former M of MI6 dissolved into laughter for a few moments and then Emma pressed her attack on Olivia. "Young...that will be the days long past now."

"Well you are younger than I."

"Not by much." Olivia panted while putting her guard back up.

Olivia dodged her blows and countered for a moment. Emma as usual had the upper hand and twisted her wrist enough to make her fall to her knees on the padded mat.

"Uncle! Uncle! Christ you alway have to make me pay for any attack. It makes me want to just stick to defence."

"I know you too well deary. You can never resist not attacking. It's not in your nature. You cannot, help but lash out and that is good. No one would ever expect it of you. See; I told you buying workout clothes was not ridiculous at our age. Women are into yoga and working out even in their sixties."

"Yes well I'm sadly behind on that. Other than walking for exercise I've never had the time for much."

"And we have been changing that gradually now haven't we. Admit it you feel better and stronger now."

"I'll admit it! If you would just give me a day to recover."

"No there is no time like the present and it's not like we have much else to do. You still won't tell me what really happened that made you retire and don't you dare tell me it was voluntary. You and I both know that Olivia Mansfield never left a job undone. And don't you dare use the official secrets act an excuse. It has nothing to do with what you can tell me; of all people."

"Well it does and why don't we go to town so that I can test my disguise? I would like to go to the library and maybe a pub? I'll buy."

"Classic avoidance. Give it a rest Olivia. You cannot fool me. I've been a scientist, agent and an assassin for the same Queen for even longer than you. We have known each other since school and then university. You were at my wedding and I at yours."

"We were adversaries at school. You were handed everything and it alway fell easily into your lovely lap. I had to work bloody hard for the place I earned."

"I was mainly concerned with chemistry and you were law, history, politics and analytics and even though in differing fields; I respected you. I couldn't help that I had more charm than you. It was a result of my upbringing." Emma shrugged as she took a sip of water.

"Charm, is that what you call it? Arrogance; more like it!" Olivia said pointing at a deep bruise on her forearm. "Then you joined the rogue group of the avengers rather than a politically supported entity, just like others in our university class." Olivia hung a towel around her neck as she took her bottle of water from the table.

"Although, we have not always been really close, it was mainly because distance was needed between our opposing departments. Much like our mutual adversary who has a family dynasty and a love of the lore surrounding the Knights of the round table." Emma smiled as the two of them left the home gym in the basement of Emma's grand home.

"Did you and he ever?" Emma asked curious.

"Me no! Never. He was a good friend of my husband's. You?"

"Good lord no! Chester King was far too full of himself but he did have an awful crush on you. On the topic of men…"

"Don't. And he did not!"

"Why not? And yes he bloody well did want you. Only Nigel kept him from accomplishing what he truly desired. I kept my distance when he was around but could still see it from afar."

"Why? I can't imagine you were intimidated by Chester King."

"No, I wasn't. The problem was if daddy had ever caught whiff of me being anywhere near him there would have been an arranged marriage within the year."

"I see. So rich and powerful families all intermarry and you weren't interested."

"God no and nor was he when all he could do was drool over his best friend's girl. No; I want to know about the one that changed you. The one that made you arrive at my front door."

"He's dead so why bring up old hurts. And it is definitely not Chester, he was a blow hard and we always butted heads."

"I wasn't going to ask about your dead husband. As for Chester; you know there is still life after widowhood and you had a lot in common. I know you like to wear your widowhood like a shield but really Olivia…"

"Damn it Emma! If you try to set me up with Chester King I will end you."

"Not him, specifically but what about whoever it is you miss most from your old life?"

"Emma...I can't. "

Emma looked at Olivia with a brow raised in question. "That bad was it? You were in love?"

"It's not like that."

"You miss someone, I can tell and it's not just your children. That is a different far away look that you get when you are staring at old photographs from a happier time."

"I do miss them...I feel like I was never close to them as adults, I never had enough time. And there is something about never being able to see them again, that hurts me deeply. I had letters sent that I constructed carefully during my convalescence to try to explain everything."

"How well did that go over?"

"It alleviated me of some of my guilt but did nothing of my regrets."

"I daresay, your stubborn children likely felt a great deal more remorse, upon finding out who and what you were after all these years."

"Perhaps, but that was not what I wanted for them. I wanted them safe and happy and they had a good man who raised them. That was all I could have hoped for. What I will miss most is the grandchildren growing up. Never get to help guide them but in my death, maybe they might see a different path."

"True. One day one may actually replace you as M. If for no other reason to achieve high enough clearance to dig up the files on their old gran and see what you got up to all those years ago. Curiosity is a great motivator."

"It is, but I doubt my children would ever allow them to show interest in what got me killed."

"With full honours upon faked death!"

"What good is having the title (GCMG) God Calls Me God when you can no longer wield that particular sword for anything good. Did you get a title beyond whatever you already had?"

"They called me lady Peel, even if I didn't officially have a title. No; our division was not sanctioned much like your old flame King Arthur."

"I told you, not my old flame!"

"Methinks you doth protest too much."

"Oh really? Well you always had a thing for older men. When your husband returned and you left your lover Steed, how long did it take to realize that you never really loved Mr. Peel?"

Emma looked shocked at the attack but she supposed that she really shouldn't be considering the woman retaliating from her questioning. "You had warned me that he had been compromised but John...he didn't see it."

"Steed only let you go; forced you to go back to him, because he loved you. The two of them had been good friends in their youth much like Nigel and Chester." Olivia explained, "now do you understand why it would never work between Chester and I?"

"Perhaps, but by the time I returned he had moved on with his new partner and then Steed took ill."

"I remember. Steed was a good agent, and had always cooperated well with MI5 at the time." Olivia said with a smile. "He wasn't bad to look at either."

"Olivia!" Emma smacked her arm in response to her quip. "I'm not allowed to ask you about the mystery man you fell in love with! And he obviously had a lot to do with why you are no longer the head of MI6, faked your own death to either escape him or knowing you motivate the bloke and sitting in my kitchen after all these years."

"Come on Emma anyone with senses could tell the two of you were lovers." Olivia said with a smile.

"It wasn't like that…"

"Emma."

"My relationship with Steed...was not..."

"Emma Peel! Remember who you're talking with."

"Fine! Only you were not fooled from the beginning. Many felt that I was still desperately searching for Mr. Peel." Emma rolled her eyes. If it was not like me and Steed; then what was it like?" Emma pulled the cleaned grapes out of the refrigerator as they sat on stools at her kitchen counter.

"I was old enough to be his mother."

"Do tell...this sounds better and better...spill."

"Nothing like that. I could never...he would never...but he was my favourite."

"How do you know he would never? Did he flirt? Did he use his agent's charm on you? Did he do everything in his power to be your best agent because he thought you were like a mother to him? I know your predilection for orphans in the service, so were you filling the mummy roll or is that what you thought you were to him but there was just a little bit of something more? Did you not even get to try?"

"I'm going to shower and then we will go into town to the library and a pub."

"Then you will tell me everything I want to know Olivia?"

"I doubt that but you can ask all you want."

"Fantastic! A challenge. I will gage your answers carefully to see how much this man meant to you."

Olivia rolled her eyes and headed upstairs of the grand home Emma Peel owned and went to her spare room. It was a nice room on the east side of the house with a lovely view of gardens and farmer's fields as well as a wooded area.

The room was decorated more classically than the common rooms of the house which were more modern chic with more than a passing hint of their 1960's youth in the style. The large bed was done in blues and silver much like the paint and the rest of the decor.

Olivia herself had always deferred to the neutral in decorating but this room worked with a splash of colour. It was tranquil and Olivia owed Emma an explanation for all her help after so long. The two of them hadn't even corresponding more than once a year, just to see if the other was still alive and not spilling state secrets. There had always been a modicum of professional jealousy between the two of them, she openly admits that. Olivia had always hoped that Emma would jointly operate under the more official MI6 umbrella on occasion but Emma was a free spirit and would not.

The problem was that not even Olivia could define what this internal longing for...for someone too young for her yet...they were close. After all he went through to save her...she failed him. Much like she had failed Tiago in China. The brass could tell her she did what she should have all they wanted but she didn't ever sleep well again with the knowledge that she had one of theirs killed for a slip up that did benefit them. The information he gave her on the Chinese security network was used and that is where the guilt got her.

After years, it became the background noise in Olivia's thoughts. A low droning noise that amplified only when similar situations arose. Many traitors to the crown had been dealt with severely using a 00 agent to take them out of the picture but as M, she had never let an agent go down for anything small. It had to be only for the greatest good of the British public.

Olivia's moral compass had been tested on many occasions as M, but once she surrounded herself with those she could trust, then things were easier.


Emma and Olivia were driving to town in the old jaguar, that Emma had insisted she drive for the practice. The town was not large so it did not concern her much but the looks they were getting did.

This was a test of her ability to commit to her roll as a typical woman in her 60's and not the former head of a government department. It was all about acting a role and not allowing anyone to see the real her...if she even knew what or who she was anymore.

Olivia was once a mother and wife and now she was neither. She once had a high pressure important job and now that was gone. She once had friends...she still did but only Emma Peel and three others knew of her survival beyond the doctors, who were not aware of who she was let alone what she did.

"I got a call from the PM yesterday afternoon wondering how you were faring as a rehabilitated M Olivia." Emma said as they sat in a booth of the pub.

"You what?" Olivia asked shocked.

"You didn't realize that she and I spoke? Well once in awhile I provide insight into something from an ancient perspective and have even done some short missions of surveillance off the record."

"I'm shocked that you do and how did she know I was with you?"

"The new M called and told her I would guess. You didn't think that I would volunteer that information did you? I would never give your location away to anyone. I told the busybody that you are doing fine and that you would rather die than give up your secrets."

"I'm sure she was glad to hear that. So I have you to thank for not being assassinated by one of my former agents or yours."

"Well at least they would never farm the job out to the Americans."

"No we do like to take care of our own back garden." Olivia got up and went to the bar to collect their pints as a roundy group of younger men appeared to go around the other side to shoot pool or something.

One of them came up to Olivia. "Hello luv. Is that your classic Jag out there?"

"My friends." Olivia said as she glanced back at Emma in the corner watching the interaction with interest.

"Well I would love to take a ride in a car like that!"

Olivia just shrugged and took the pints ignoring the man and his friends who were looking at her as if gaging her value. She came to sit beside Emma rather than across from her to watch the room better. "Why did you talk to the handsome young one more?"

"All he asked about was your car and I hate discussing cars. They are a mode of transport, so what?"

"Perhaps you should have used it as a test of your ability to flirt."

"What! He couldn't be older than 30 and he was damn well only interested in your car."

"I know that, you know that but you would accomplish two things by doing so."

"What would I do but embarrass myself?"

"You would make his day and test your acting abilities."

"I don't see how having an old woman flirt with you would make your day."

"Olivia watch and learn." With that Emma got up and sauntered over to the bar. She leaned in and spoke with the barkeep ordering them something to eat. She signalled for Olivia to follow so she did.

Emma walked over to the pool area round the corner as the barkeep arrived to join her with a tray of pints for the lads playing pool.

The four men looked up and smiled as Emma centred in on the one who spoke with Olivia.

"My friend said that you were interested in the old girl?"

The boy flushed at Emma's double entendre as M stayed back and observed. "Yes well...she is beautiful. A 65 I guessed?"

"Yes and I wish I could say I looked as good at 65." Emma flirted outrageously and she was practically purring.

"You two ladies are beyond well kept if you are even that age. I'm John and this is James, Bill and Nigel."

Olivia tried not to blanch at the names as he said them. They all said hello and smiled politely as they took a pint and raised them in salute to the two of them.

"Well she can only effectively and comfortably seat two or I would take you all for a ride."

"It's a date." John said as he winked at them both. "We can leave my mates behind and one of you lovely ladies can sit in my lap."

Emma laughed heartily as Olivia pondered what to do as a reaction. She realized that Emma was expecting something beyond her normal icy demeanor in this situation.

"I will let you drive then Em as I think he looks like he has a comfortable lap." Olivia managed with a twinkle and a smile.

They all found that humourous as the other men protested about being left behind. "I tell you what, we will finish our meal and then take turns driving you lovely boys around the block in my classic car." Emma suggested.

"Sounds brilliant!" The one named Nigel said.

Olivia was far from comfortable about the entire thing but let out the breath she was holding and smiled. The rest of the afternoon was making small talk with James, Bill and Nigel while shooting pool and waiting for Emma to return with John.

Olivia was becoming competitive with her handsome partner James as they beat the others in the first game. Emma returned laughing with John as she tossed the keys to Olivia and said, "who's next?"

"I'll go." James said. The two of them exited the pub and climbed in the car. Olivia started her up and pulled away. "What do you do James?"

"I'm a police trainee. Do you mind if I ask you a personal question Olivia?"

"Olivia panicked internally for a moment. "No, not at all."

"Are you and Emma a couple?"

"What! No, just old friends." Olivia had never really consider that it might appear just that. In a way that was better and explanation to what the two of the really are or were.

"Good."

Now Olivia blushed in her confusion. "Good why exactly? Would you have an issue with that if we were?"

"No...not at all...please don't misunderstand me but I was wondering if you were single?"

"Single? Well yes. I'm a widow actually."

"I thought you might be. The next part is kind of strange but would you give me your number and would you mind if I gave it to my dad? He is a widower and very lonely and I just thought that you and he might hit it off."

"Oh...well...I...I'm not really very good at these sort of things...yet."

"I'm sorry. I noticed that you were not as flirty as your friend and you are very attractive but I'm in a relationship already not that I wouldn't find an evening with you to be charming…"

"Oh my no! I didn't think that either...I'm sorry but I think we have a few crossed wires on this James."

"Oh...no problem. I know that many of my mates, especially John, love mature women."

"I can see that but is that more about what that woman can supply him?"

"Yes a bit of that I think too but fun mostly. No strings is fun for them and it's nothing serious the age gap doesn't really bother any of us."

"How old are you?"

"I'm 29 as are the rest of them. We all went to school together."

"I see and yes that is far too young for a woman in her 60's"

"I don't believe that! Age is just a number but I know of some blokes that stick to women recently divorced in their 40's. Cougars the call them."

"I had heard that but misunderstanding aside do you think people separated by that many years can really establish a relationship?"

"I do actually. My mum was 20 years older than my dad. That is why he is a widower now but they had many lovely years together. She had me much later in life and called me her miracle."

"I bet you were. I will consider exchanging numbers and perhaps we will run into you at the pub again."

James smiled broadly as they stopped back at the pub. He was a handsome man...not as handsome as...well...his eyes were blue but not the blue she's been searching for. Yet he was still an attractive young man and no doubt his father would look somewhat similar..

"I will tell my father all about you and if you are interested I will bring him Friday evening back here. You and Emma can both come because my uncle James is single also."

"So many James'." Olivia chuckled as she shook her head.

"A family name." James smiled. He really was a handsome young man, younger than her son...she needed to get her head out of the clouds. She would let Emma take the others for a ride. James match making for her was enough stress for one day. Her body ached and her mind was in turmoil as usual.

James bought her a gin and tonic as she waited for Emma to come back and collect her. She accepted James' mobile number and promised that they would return around dinner time on Friday.


"So... tell me about James?"

"What about James?" Olivia said quickly and defensively.

"That is not exactly the reaction I was expecting from you." Emma said perplexed. "I think this may be far more complex than that."

"Oh...well he wants me to come to the pub Friday night to meet his widowed father and uncle James."

"Yay, one for each of us! Too bad that the younger James didn't want to play?" Emma said with a smirk. Olivia smacked her arm. "I hope the senior men of his family are just as attractive."

"I don't think…"

"What is it about this James that has you so upset...uncomfortable? You are practically wringing your hands. I was not going to force you into anything."

"Stop! Enough, let's just forget all this and have some tea."

"Alright." Emma tossed up her hands in surrender and puts the kettle on.

"I'm sorry for overreacting. I...I…"

"This is not about Nigel is it?" Emma poured the tea.

"No!"

"James...his name...you were shocked when I said James just now. The agent...that is or was his name wasn't it?"

Olivia just sighed and took a sip of the tea, her shoulders sagging in defeat. By the light in Emma's eyes she knew that she had figured it out. Olivia didn't even have to verbalize it.

How could Olivia even describe the conflicting emotions that were going through her head when Emma asked her about James.

They had started the day with Emma's threats to find out about the man who was the reason that she was here and officially dead. When she said his name flippantly like that it was not the charming young man who drove with her in the Jag this afternoon.

No; it was another James completely. Her James, her 007, agent provocateur and the man whose blue eyes bored into her soul as she laid dying in his arms. His family home crumbling ruin, destroyed by explosion and as he tried everything, he lost everything merely to save her. She was not worth it. Olivia was not worthy of her husband or children either.

M was an embarrassment to the British government in the end. Silva saw to that. Olivia griped her tea cup like she could physically kill that bastard again. This time with her own hands. She was almost strong enough to do it now. If only she had been then. Too many years sitting complacently behind that bloody desk!

"I think I would like some training shooting."

Emma looked suddenly surprised. "Really?"

"Yes; I'm a crap shot and since you are training me for hand to hand combat for some reason, I might as well learn to properly shoot a bloody gun."

"Did that have some thing to do with your death."

Olivia simply nodded and Emma left well enough alone. The pieces of the puzzle were filling in gradually and eventually Olivia would unload the rest of what had happened that night in Scotland.

To be continued...