No One's POV

"Mmm. I love their food." Nora hums contently, placing another bite into her mouth.

"You say that every time we come here." Mycroft points out as he bites into his own food.

"Well, because it's true. And we don't come here often enough." Nora tells her husband, taking another bite and sipping on her wine.

"So, how is work today? Start any wars? End any?" Nora asks, a playful smile on her lips.

"I thought you were still angry at me?" Mycroft looks at Nora a bit confused; he was unaccustomed to being confused, everyone was so simple and easy to read, but Nora often left him confused, it helped that she was an MI6 agent and played many roles in her job, but it was more than that, she kept him on his toes. Also, she told him once that if he tried to ever deduct her like the first time he did in his office or the first year of their marriage, she'd shoot him; he took that threat seriously, because she had shot him, just to prove a point.

"I thought about it… You're still sleeping on the couch if that's what you're asking. At least until you lift the security clearance. But, I'm not above talking to you. Asking about work… Or a free lunch." Nora sasses, smiling behind her wine glass.

Mycroft studies his wife for another moment before huffing a slight laugh.

"You're not lifting the security clearance, are you?"

"It's for your safety, Firebird."

"Safety, my ass." Nora mutters with an eye roll. "Now you've just gone from OCD to paranoid, My." She huffs a little.

"I think you should retire." Mycroft finally tells his wife after another long moment of silence; he had been contemplating it ever since they stepped into his private car from the Diogenes Club.

"Excuse you?" Nora drops her fork and pauses from taking a sip from her glass. "Did I hear you right? You want me to- to retire!?" Her voice tone rises at the end telling Mycroft he should have immediately retracted his statement the moment he said it... Or, not said it at all.

"Yes." Mycroft answers evenly.

"Alright, now I know you're paranoid." Nora tells her husband. "And this- this is all just because your crazy, psycho sister took me! You're letting fear control you! I deal with dangerous situations all the time. I have a team behind me. Or, I have back up… And you knew all this when you married me. It didn't stop you or bother you then! No- just no! I know I'm not some young kid straight from the Academy, but I'm not that old. I'm several years younger than you, need I remind you, Alexander Mycroft Chad Holmes! And certainly have a few years left."

"Let's be reasonable, Nora-"

"Yes, let's, Mycroft… No, I'm not retiring." Nora glares at her husband. "The only possible way I'd be retiring right now, is if I was pregnant. And you were the one that didn't want children. In fact, you were explicit about that, as I remember correctly. I might not have a perfect memory like you, but I do remember that."

"Firebird-" Mycroft tries to appease his clearly very angry wife, even using her nickname he had given her, Firebird, while he couldn't use her code name in public, Firebird was similar enough.

"No, I think I'm done here. I'm going to take a taxi to my flat. Don't bother coming after me." Nora stands up and places her napkin on the table; she had kept her flat she had when she was single, it was one of the ways they had kept her a secret.

"I'm sor-" Mycroft goes to apologize as he stands with his wife.

"No you're not." Nora cuts him off yet again. "Don't apologize when I know you're not, Mycroft. You meant every word you said. You never say anything you don't mean... I'm going to leave now."

"Take my car at least. It will make me feel better that you're safe. Please."

"Fine." Nora accepts. "Thank you."

Mycroft simply nods and watches his wife stalk out of the restaurant.