Chapter 10

Once we arrived at my flat, M removed her auburn wig and ran her fingers through her short white hair. This made her look just like I had remembered. I was tempted to pull her into an embrace but she was too busy looking around the flat. Considering that I had basically told her she had to move in until we made more concrete plans, I suppose that was natural. I was busy enjoying watching her move around and look at things. I was enjoying just being alone in the same room as her.

However, whenever I came close to her she seemed to shy away a little. I know that when I did look at her she looked away and blushed.

"M...I will not jump you until you are comfortable with all this...I promise."

"It's just that this is so new...fast...but I suppose you always did move fast with a target in your sights."

"I will admit my impatience but I respect you and want you fully involved with this once we begin. It will take time for you to be use to me touching you in an intimate manor. I understand this. You've been a widow for years and married a long time before that."

"Thank you James. Just that you understanding what I'm going through, alleviates my trepidation."

I poured us each a drink and we sat and enjoy being beside each other again after so long. It wasn't long until the knock sounded.

Tanner arrived with Eve at my flat around 21:00. Eve squealed in delight hugging M to her and crying.

I cornered Tanner in the hall as Eve dominated Olivia for the moment.

"You and I need to have a little chat!" I said threateningly through clenched teeth, while grabbing him by the shoulders. Tanner looked downcast and sad rather than try to explain himself.

"I know."

"Not what I expected." I said to him honestly.

"No and do what you will Bond. I've been expecting this...between us...if M's whereabouts were ever finally known to you."

"007 release him now!" I heard M say in that no nonsense tone of hers. I released Tanner and brushed his jacket sleeves with my hands smiling suddenly. Bill looked at me apprehensively as if to be expecting more. He was expecting a punch at least but M...she would kill me for hurting Tanner.

M gave Bill and hug.

"How long has it been since you two have seen each other?" I asked wondering how they managed the past year.

"Months now. Christmas...I came by Q's...Boothroyd's with some gifts." Tanner said.

Now it was Eve's turn to swat Tanner on the arm. "I can't believe you of all people managed to keep this from us Bill!"

M laughed. "It was only on the pain of my own very real death, that M and I managed to make him see reason. He had to grieve me and remain out of contact for many months before it was safe for the occasional call."

We all found seats and I mixed a few drinks, handing one to each. "What I want to know is how this all went down so suddenly. I remember you being distracted after the abduction and having your evening dinner with Mallory. As we already discussed that meeting was to finalize your arrangements." I said as way of explanation to Eve.

"Yes and Bill was at my flat making sure everything was out and then he rushed back to work to meet you. We went over the final plan by burner mobiles with Mallory and Tanner. Ordering you away...that was the hardest thing to do."

"The explosion was timed so that I could be at work late and seen by witnesses when the security alert happened at M's flat. Mallory was in a car the next street over and picked M up after she walked through the house one last time and then triggered the timer after leaving out the back." Tanner added.

"Mallory took me to his flat where he had made up his spare room for me."

"I'm sure that was comfortable. How did Mallory handle suddenly having a flatmate?" Eve asked with raised eyebrows.

"Well he had several suitcases of my clothing and even supplied me with this wig and a new alias of his recently deceased aunt Margaret."

"And Margaret escaped his flat eventually and hit the local pubs." I said with a knowing smirk.

"Oh...Mallory...M mentioned that...your amorous gentleman that insisted on bringing you home." Tanner said. Eve began to chuckle as M turned pink in embarrassment again.

"Now that Blofeld's entire network is down will you be rejoining the living M?" Eve asked excitedly. "Will you become M again or has Mallory got the job?

"No the PM was sworn to secrecy as long as I remained retired. He did guess that I have been filtering information to M about Spectre over the last year but with all the proceeds of crime the government has been getting as a result, he was more than happy to ignore what the double O programme was doing for once."

"Where will you live M?" Eve asked.

"It's Olivia Mansfield dear. Two Ms is as confusing as dealing with there being two Qs."

"Olivia...that will take time to get use too. You are staying here? With James?" Eve said.

"I feel confident that M will be joining me in the Bahamas soon. I just hope that she will consent to marrying me first." I said, shocking Tanner. Eve just smiled as if she already knew the reason from long ago.

"What! Are you...indeed?" Tanner said with a smile. "I knew it would be harder for you with her faked death than anyone and I hated seeing you almost kill yourself to get those members of Spectre. Knowing that they were on a list that you didn't even know was provided by M herself. Honestly James, it was not easy to keep from you."

"Yes...I was living it all the while you were…"

"We have to try and leave that in the past James." M said as she touched my arm gently.

"I know." I said with a frown. "I will let you make it up to me." I said as she smirked at me. "You will marry me won't you?"

"I don't want to answer that yet. I had honestly never thought to ever marry again. I was married to Nigel for over 40 years and that was all I thought I would ever have." M said to us with a sad smile and my heart plummeted but M placed her hand back on my arm and said something to give me hope. "I've had a year to consider what you said to me that day...and I will admit that I always treated you differently than the others. I suppose you wormed your way into my old heart."

"You are not old to me and I can't imagine letting you out of my sight again. With or without a ring."

"This is amazing!" Eve said excitedly. "Please say that you won't run away. Just say that we can be there if you ever decide too?"

"Of course you can." M said. I can feel myself smile broadly that she is considering a life with me. I will not crumble should she not wish to actually marry. Living in sin is good too.

Everything was turning up roses but then Tanner's mobile buzzed. Tanner looked at his mobile. "I think we need to focus on this instead. Blofeld escaped!"

"WHAT!" The rest of us said in unison.

I stood quickly and turned out all the lights in the flat and drew the drapes, peeking out on the street beneath us.

"Tanner take M...go to base and keep her there in her...M's hidden room. He will be after us and on his way. Eve...I have a job for you." I handed the wig that was on the table to M and she pulled it on, her hands shaking nervously. I grabbed them in mine and pulled them to my chest.

"Bond...I should stay…"

"No M. You need to be away from me...he wants me dead and you...well, he will want you to see it. And I have no doubt that he will then take you...I saw it in his eyes that day. He wanted to take you away from me. He wanted the affection the two of us had. Blofeld wanted everything that he thought I had with you. That is what this has always been about...me and what I've taken from him and what he can take from me."

"I don't want to leave you again." M said standing beside me holding my arm. I pulled her into a sudden kiss not wanting to let go and not caring that there was an audience. Hating that this was the first I'd managed to actually kiss her since we'd been reunited.

All I'd managed at the old man's flat was a short kiss on her neck and forehead as I drank up her scent. I don't want to leave her now but I needed to kill Franz more. I can't let him near her again.

I turned to Tanner. "Smuggle her in, don't let anyone see her. The wig will help and just stick to the...she's Mallory's aunty story. Go...go now Bill." I gave her arm to Bill and looked him in the eyes trying to convey the importance of this mission. "Not like with Silva, during that hearing where you ignored Q's warnings Tanner. Take her now and make sure she is safe."

Bill swallowed hard and nodded as he pulled M out the door with him, all the while on the phone with Mallory. "The tower of London has been rebuilt and is on its way home."

I turned to look at a worried expectant Moneypenny. "Eve...we have work to do."

To be continued...