7 August 2007 Four PM

The month in between the royal dinner and the next meeting had been a busy one. Many things to do, and Mycroft had been short on sleep most weeks, barely having a day to rest in the meantime. Not that he needed the rest. In between foreign riots and other elections, not to mention the new prime minister's frequent need to consult him, Mycroft had been swamped with things to do and plan.

Which wasn't necessarily a bad thing, and he'd pushed aside his date and subsequent kiss with Naomi aside for work instead. It was how he'd gone through his life. Effectively turning off all compromising emotion. Well, almost all, Sherlock did seem to be the exception. It worked best this way, and he wasn't about to change.

One thing he would admit to feeling, when he allowed himself to think about it, was confused. He was unsure of how it would change things. Was a kiss going to be a new normal between them? That hadn't been his intention at all…not that it was completely unwelcome. It was just odd. Not something he'd ever meant to bring into his life, he'd set any and all thought about emotional attachment aside for the purpose of work.

However, it wasn't going to be the normal emotional attachment he avoided, she was an angel. A timeless being he saw but once a month. Not a woman to wed, or spend copious amounts of time with. She was rare congenial company, it was fitting he'd appreciate that.

He was out of his depth, and speculating far more than he would have liked. There was no reason to, it could have just been a one time thing. It seemed appropriate for the setting they'd been in.

He dismissed all his thoughts when the usual flutter accompanied Naomi's arrival, and then smiled politely at his guest. "Hello, Naomi."

"Good afternoon, Mycroft." Naomi replied with her own polite smile. She was back to the usual wear, hair in a neat bun. But he did noticed the necklace that she still wore, the circular diamond resting on the crisp white dress shirt. He wasn't sure how he felt about that, but dismissed it as well.

"Chess today?" Mycroft asked, fairly certain he was beginning to understand her usual routine with these visits. He appreciated an organized routine.

"I would like that yes, I'll set up the board." Naomi smiled again and then vanished, letting him finish their tea as she got the chess board set up.

When Mycroft walked into the sitting room with the tea tray, everything was ready. However, he didn't speak until he was handing her a tea cup and saucer and settling into his own chair. "Tea for you."

Naomi took the tea, leaning forward to take the first turn. "I'd like to thank you for inviting me along last month. The dinner was quite enjoyable." She said.

"I'm glad." Mycroft replied, setting his tea aside to take his own turn. "I found your company quite stimulating."

"Is this an annual event?"

"It happens on occasion, various times throughout the year, I don't attend them all."

"Perhaps next time I can join you again, even if it is not on our usual day." Naomi asked, glancing up from the board to meet his eyes. "If you'd like."

Mycroft hesitated, but gave a short nod, saying as non-eagerly as possible. "I wouldn't mind if you'd like to accompany me again."

She smiled, pausing briefly before asking, "What of the physical interaction we engaged in?"

He blinked a couple times, using the moment to think through an appropriate answer. "While…unexpected, it wasn't disagreeable. It's not something I've experienced in quite some time." He paused, studying her for a moment before staring down at the board to take his turn. "And you? I didn't realize that was something angels usually did."

This time Naomi hesitated, reaching a delicate hand to move her bishop. "It isn't, not for most. For me, it's a…curiosity, I suppose. And an experience to share, that I've do on occasion. It's not a necessity, and I don't let it be a weakness for me."

"A curiosity." He repeated and nodded once. "Understandable." He paused again. "Did you want to engage in that curiosity again, or was it a single event?"

Naomi smiled again. "Only if you wish, I do not wish to push you towards something you do not want or are not interested in."

Mycroft cleared his throat, as he took a moment to form his words. "I…do not think I would be opposed. I am not disinterested. I'd be willing, if you'd like to try again at another time, of course."

"That is good to hear. We can indulge in that experience again whenever you like."

Mycroft smiled amiably, pausing as he looked her over again. "We must seem very small to you." He commented, changing the subject slightly.

Her smile was soft, again. "I would say yes, humans do seem very small. But there are times when humans are simply… astounding, admirable, surprising, among other things. I respect that. That's why I'm here with you. See…I believe you and I are very similar."

Mycroft sat back in his seat, crossing one leg over the other and folding his hands in his lap. "Are we?"

"Ambitious, driven, preferring to work behind the scenes, dealing in information and protection of a greater group of individuals." Naomi listed off. "Similar."

"I believe you deal on a…much more encompassing field, and for a longer amount of time than I have, or will." Mycroft reasoned.

"Perhaps, but there is still things to learn. When one does something for so long, sometimes the art form is lost." She said, leaning back in her chair as well after she took her turn. "So I've enjoyed our discussion of your work."

"I do believe you're a bit less forthcoming about your work than I am about mine." Mycroft replied, taking his turn as well. He was losing already, not a surprise.

"Another thing we also have in common is the issue of doing whatever it takes to get a job done." Naomi said. "Some situations are not always as…pleasant to hear about."

"That doesn't mean we should not discuss them." Mycroft countered. "I'm not here to judge you, I do believe I said I trust you, that won't change unless you give me a reason to alter my belief. I'm simply curious."

"Perhaps at a later date." She replied. "I have thousands and thousands of years of experience, it's simply impossible to describe every aspect of my position."

"I look forward to it."

"Good." Naomi said, turning her attention back to the board as she took her next turn, stealing on his pieces. "I do believe you are losing again."

Mycroft gave her a bit of a look, raised brow and dubious expression, "I do believe you are correct. Hardly the first time though."

"No, it's not. I've found I enjoy this game. The strategy of it. Despite the pointless nature, it does occupy thought and time."

"It is strategy, and you learn very quickly, it seems. I do appreciate the challenging nature your competition brings. Every game is a learning experience."

"For both of us." Naomi said with a pleasant look.

Eventually though, the game was over and the tea was gone. The game had progressed to it's finish, Naomi winning in a quick cornering of his king with her queen and a knight. Their conversation was light, focusing on the more intricate parts of chess strategy. After all was said and done, she uncrossed her legs and stood up. "I believe our time is over for today, thank you for the game."

Mycroft stood as well, buttoning his tan suit coat and stepping around the table that held the board. He'd go over it later to learn for next time. Hands went to his sides. "You're welcome, until next time then?"

"Yes, I think we'll travel again next month." Naomi said with a smile, tilting her head slightly as she looked him over. "Is that aright with you?"

"Yes, of course…" He paused, debating whether or not he should ask, but after a moment continued, "I wonder if we might engage in that activity again. Right now. Compare to the last time, of course. Study the differences in location and attitude." He said, as professionally as possible. He wasn't exactly sure why, but he did want to kiss her again. He'd think on that later.

"If you wish, we may." She stepped closer to him, just an inch shorter than he was with her heels on, but she didn't initiate contact.

That left him the one to do it, and Mycroft was still out of practice initiating this sort of contact. He shifted closer, hesitating before he cupped her face with both hands and leaned down to kiss her.

He felt her hands brace against his chest almost immediately, and he committed the experience to memory in the seconds he held contact before breaking the kiss. It was soft, chaste, but felt like standing on the edge of a cavern looking out on a mysterious expanse. He'd think about that later as well. He took a breath in and opened his eyes again, meeting her blue ones. He let her go a moment later. "Invigorating, as the last time." He said simply. "Thank you."

"I'm glad it was satisfactory." Naomi replied, taking a quick second to smooth down his suit coat with one of her hands. She didn't step away, simply gave him another soft smile. "Good night, Mycroft."

And without waiting for a response, she was gone, vanishing into the air as she usually did. Mycroft felt a stir of the air and he put his hands in the pockets of his trousers. "Good night, Naomi," he said, to the angel who wasn't there.

A/N: Hello! Just a quick note. I am going to be traveling very shortly, so I'm not sure there will be an update in a couple weeks at least, but who knows. Also, if anyone has any prompts/ideas that you think would be fun to read, drop me a review or PM and I'll see what I can do. Thanks for reading! ~Grace