Ithaca
In the Odyssey, the gods visit Odysseus and his family in his home at Ithaca, sometimes disguised as human beings.
Sophia awakens when the light outside gets bright enough to signal true daytime. She smoothes her dark blonde hair and rubs her uncomfortable neck, which is tense because Bond's shoulder is stiff as a board. Better than nothing, though. He looks over at her, and she smiles. "Thanks," she says simply.
"No problem," her father answers, and silence descends again until a man comes through to check tickets. He grins at both Bonds.
"Nice to see families doing things together," he says. Sophia detects an imperceptible movement by her father, and she reasons that he's put himself in position to defend them if the man's comment means anything more sinister than it seems to indicate. Apparently it doesn't, and he moves on to the rest of the train.
"We'll be in Edinburgh in half an hour," Bond says after a while.
"I've always wanted to go there," Sophia answers. "Not like this, of course."
"Why Scotland?" he asks, sounding a little incredulous at her enthusiasm.
"So much literature and history. I love reading about it." Bond laughs softly at her enthusiasm, and Sophia turns to look at him again, wondering if he's mocking her.
"I forgot you didn't know," he says. "You're Scottish."
"What?" Sophia grips her armrest, feeling jumbled.
"I mean, I'm Scottish," her father continues, "so you're half Scottish. I don't know what your mother was. Just English, I guess."
"Where did you grow up?" Sophia asks curiously, but she instantly sees something close off in her father's eyes.
"We're not going to have share about your childhood time, unless you'd like to go first" he says flatly. Sophia isn't really surprised. He's obviously not the kind of person who loves to talk about himself. At the same time, she starts to feel a quiet determination to find out about her father's life in Scotland one way or the other. He hasn't encountered it yet, but there's a reason all her teachers in primary school used to write stubborn on her reports.
Bond is relieved when the train reaches Waverley Station in Edinburgh. Thugs and torture he can deal with—personal questions, not so much. He calls Q as soon as he and Sophia get off the train, putting in his earpiece so that he can have one hand free and hold his daughter's with the other. She gives him a weird look.
"Just humor me," he says tersely. "Fullbright could have people anywhere, and I don't want even the ghost of a chance of us getting separated."
"Romantic," says Sophia, her tone matching his usual sarcastic edge. She shakes her head, but she doesn't pull away.
"007, you've arrived," says Q, sounding as if he's in some kind of Zen-like state of calm.
"Obviously," Bond answers.
"The taxi rank is beside Platform 11," the Quartermaster instructs. "I've been watching security footage from the station for several hours, and I haven't detected signs of suspicious activity."
"Good," says Bond. Nevertheless, his eyes scan every inch of the building as he leads his daughter toward Platform 11. Privately, he regrets the time it will take to deposit Sophia at a hotel before he can proceed, but he understands the necessity. "Where's our accommodation?" he asks.
"The Aonach Mor Guesthouse," Q answers. "The owner's wife is a government scientist. They've accommodated MI6 lots of times. They know to expect you."
To Bond's relief, the taxi line is short, and he hails one quickly, though he keeps his hand on the gun hidden under his waistband in case the taxi driver proves to be more than a coincidence. Sophia gets in next to him, and he's suddenly struck with the absurdity of the situation—James Bond in the back of a minuscule Scottish taxi with his adult daughter. Her eyes are on the road outside, and she doesn't look at him.
"Once Sophia's taken care of, go to the address I'm sending to your phone," says Q. "It's another hotel, a bigger one. They have a peacock."
"Delightful," says Bond. "Do you want me to bring it home for you?"
"I just want you to be prepared for the circumstances," The Quartermaster answers, a trifle testily. "According to the embedded message, Fullbright is holding the girl somewhere on the premises."
"Specific," Bond snorts.
"It's not a large hotel," Q retorts.
"Fine."
When the taxi arrives in front of a small house on an ordinary street, Bond is surprised. He leans forward and repeats the address to the taxi driver. "You're in the right place," Q says in his ear. "It's a bed and breakfast." Bond pays for the taxi and helps his daughter out onto the curb.
"I know you usually like things a little more glamorous," Q continues, sounding a little bit defensive.
"A little," Bond sniggers.
"This is far less conspicuous than the two of you rolling up at some five-star paradise." Bond concedes the point and leads the way into the vestibule of the Aonach Mor.
A/N: Shoutout to the Aonach Mor, which is a wonderful place to stay if you're visiting Edinburgh. The hotel with the peacock is about a ten minute walk away.