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Chapter 4.

Megan gasped, and slid out of Q's embrace as gently as she could.

"Looks like you two are having a good morning." James said with a smirk.

"Good morning, Uncle James." She smiled as blush flushed into her cheeks.

"Morning, Megan." He set the grocery bags on the counter and wrapped her in a hug.

"Did you sleep alright?" He asked.

She nodded and pulled the teabag from her mug. After taking a sip she asked, "Did you?"

"Better than usual." He smiled.

"Can I help with breakfast?" Megan asked, rising up from the bar stool.

"Yes please, I need to get washed up. Morning Q." The agent addressed his Quartermaster.

"Good morning, 007." Q said, not looking up from his computer.

James looked at Megan curiously. "Have you been crying?"

The girl rubbed at her eyes self consciously. "We were...ummm...talking about Mom." She cleared her throat.

Her uncle nodded understandingly and patted her shoulder before going into the back hall. She moved to the bags and began to look through what he bought. Her stomach grumbled, demanding food. She unwrapped a pack of sausage began frying it up. Soon the house was filled with the aroma of blueberry muffins, sausage, and scrambled eggs.

"I need to have you cook more often." James said as they ate.

"Mom made sure I could cook." She smiled. "I won't ever be as good as her, but at least it's a start."

"Very well done." Q chimed in, looking up from his plate.

"Thank you." She smiled.

He gave a short nod in reply.

"The boys will clean up." James said with a smile. "I'm sure you would like to get a shower and get settled."

"That sounds divine." She sighed.

James and Q quickly reached for dirty plates and glasses. Megan stood and moved to the living room to sort through her clothes. She had packed in a hurry, and everything was a mess. Finally deciding on a white baby doll top and dark wash jeans, she headed to the bathroom.

"You'll find everything you need in there, sweetheart." James called from that kitchen.

"Thank you!" She replied, a grin spreading across her face. Sweetheart. Was this what it was like to have a dad? Her memories of her father were faded and few. She remembers him singing "You Are My Sunshine" to her before she went to sleep or the way he said her name. But that was it.

Megan groaned as she stepped into the shower; her back was still in knots from the plane ride. She pressed her lips together, aching to burst into song. No, her days of singing were over. She had to think about life now, focus on finishing school and getting a job. She had planned to study music after high school, but now she didn't know what would happen. Tears threatened to surface but she refused to cry. She had already done enough crying.

She relished that comfort of the shower but figured she couldn't spend all day there. She dressed and padded out in her bare feet, her damp curls falling down her back. Her uncle smiled as she came into the living room.

"Looks like you enjoyed yourself."

She blushed sheepishly "Sorry. Bath's are therapeutic for me. I won't be so long next time."

He chuckled. "I understand. Don't worry about it."

Megan hurried by Q's side, who was washing dishes at the sink.

She grinned. "Here, let me help." She took a wet glass and began to dry them.

"Thank you." He beaming smile shot butterflies through her middle.

"Of course." She looked away, but she could feel him still looking at her. Smiling to herself, she set the glass on it's self.

"Uncle James?" She called as she worked.

"Yes, dear?" He replied from his seat on the sofa.

"Did you have anything planned for today?" She asked.

"Not that I know of. Did you have something in mind?" He replied.

"No, no. I just wondered." Megan shook her head.

"I could take you shopping if you like. I think you'll need a larger wardrobe." Said James.

"But...I don't want to spend your money!" She turned in his direction.

"But I want you to!" He assured her.

"You're sure? I'm pretty sure you don't want to spend your afternoon with a teenager dragging you around boutiques." She smirked.

"I will go willingly. Think of it as bonding time." He smiled.

"I'd like that a lot." As she spoke, Q took a plate from her hand.

"Go sit with your uncle. Have some time with him." He smiled gently.

"Q, please. I'll finish this up", She gestured to the sink full of dishes. "I'm sure you have work to do." She took the plate back.

"You don't mind?" His questioning blue eyes found her's.

"Not at all." She patted his arm and he sat behind her on the island while she worked at the sink. Unconsciously, she hummed softly to herself.

"You have a very pretty voice, Megan." Q said quitely.

His words brought her back. "I'm sorry?"

"Your singing voice is beautiful. You should sing more often." She could hear the smile in his tone.

"Thank you." She replied softly, feeling blush crept into her cheeks. "I planned on studying music in college."

"You don't want to anymore?" He inquired.

"I'd...like too still. I just don't know how things will go now that there have been some...changes...in my life." Megan felt a lump in her throat.

"Stick with it." Q encouraged. "Everything will turn out just fine in the end."

"I appreciate that, Q. Thank you."

After the mess was clean James decided it was time to venture out. Q packed up this laptop swiftly and shook her uncle's hand.

"Always pleasure to have you Q." He said firmly.

"Thank you 007." The Quartermaster turned to Megan. "Lovely to see you again, Megan. Thank you so much."

Megan reached out to hug him without a moment's hesitation. "No, thank you. You've already helped me out so much. It means a lot."

Q returned the embrace and held her close. "It's what I do. I'm here for you at anytime. James has my number if you ever want to talk."

She held him tight. "Thank you. That means the world."

"I know it does." He released her all too soon.

James was smirking as he closed the door behind his friend.

"What's that all about?" She playfully punched his arm.

"Nothing." He chuckled.

"Mmmhmmm." She said sarcastically. "Sure."

"He's so awkward!" He laughed.

"Hey! What he said meant a lot to me." She folded her arms defensively.

"I know it did. He's clearly in love with you."

"He...is?"

"And you definitely fancy him." He sat on the sofa to tie his shoes.

She bit back a sheepish smile. Her uncle watched her reaction and began to chuckled.

"I can help it! I have a thing for nerdy guys. And British guys. But it's more than that." She flung herself beside him. "He was so sweet to me this morning. I just started bawling on him about Mom and was so good about it. He shared his experiences with me and just held me while I cried. I could tell he cared. And that made me really happy.

"I know it did. I was just teasing. But, I don't think I'm ready for a nephew-in-law." He snickered again.

"You are one silly man, ya know that?" She watched James as she shook her head.

"I've been called worse." Was the reply.

Shopping hadn't been as dreadful as Megan thought. Much to her surprise, her uncle had great taste in woman's fashion. She noticed as they shopped that he was very put together. The light blue dress shirt paired with dark wash jeans and brown boots he wore made her proud to be on his arm. The looks from women did not go unnoticed either. Every female they passed looked ready to drop when they laid eyes on James.

"Is it always like this?" She hissed him his ear.

"Haven't the foggiest idea what you mean." He replied.

"Oh, I don't know, the women that look like they want to throw their panties at you when you walk by." She laughed.

He chuckled. "I wouldn't go that far.'

"Look around ya Bond, these girls are dropping like flies."

He squeezed her hand. "They're just jealous of the girl I'm with."

"I hope you don't mean me." She answered.

"Who else?"

Megan shook off that comment as they reached the car. Her feet ached from walking so long. They had shopped all afternoon and had lunch at a cute Italian restaurant. She looked through her purchases and they drove home. She had acquired 3 new pairs of jeans, 5 blouses, and pair of shoes, and party dress. James has insisted on the dress; she had no clue where she's wear it.

When the pair stepped through the apartment door, Megan gasped. All her possessions had been thrown around the room. Her battered suitcase was at their feet. The sofa was upturned and television knocked from the wall. Vases and pictures sat broken and smashed on the tile floor. The bookshelf had fallen, and it's contents were spilled . She turned to James for answers, but he was one step ahead of her. His cell phone pressed to his ear, his expression was stone cold.

"M. It's Bond. We've been ransacked." He voice was like ice. "Bring Q." He put his arm around Megan, whose body was numb with fear.

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