This has been a long while in the making! I got a bit stuck with the writing but I have the next chapter in my head so it should be a quick(ish) update. Thank you to all of those who are sticking with this story; I hope you enjoy this.

A visit from the Pleasures

"Mr Pleasure. It's good to meet you," Ben Daniels said, his voice filled with genuine warmth. "Alex has told me good things about you."

"You're Ben Daniels?" Edward Pleasure asked, although he already knew the answer. Alex had described Ben very accurately on the phone; he had told him only to go with someone fully matching Ben's description, and had also given him a code phrase he was meant to use and a response Ben was meant to use back (but Edward doubted that was necessary). "Sabina's just waiting for her luggage – I only travelled with hand luggage but apparently she needed at least fifteen different outfits."

"You're supposed to ask me what the weather's like in London," Ben pointed out with a small smile. "And I'm meant to say it's raining but there's still hope for the sun," He laughed gently. "Alex is a little paranoid. But even he appreciates that our phones are bugged and so any security is cursive. At least we can talk here because it's so noisy."

"Bugged by MI6?"

"We're fairly sure it's only MI6. And if they intercepted you with the code phrase it was all over any way. We can't make a move against them in the open, not yet. How much has Alex told you? He was a little vague. He didn't even tell me how he made the line secure," Ben said, slightly exasperated.

"He called my neighbour and said he couldn't get through to me because there was a problem with my phone line. He asked if my neighbour would mind passing the phone over my fence, because it was important. When the neighbour obliged and I got handed the phone, Alex gave me the number for a burner phone and asked me to call him back on a payphone. When I did, he told me about his situation, and what he's aiming to achieve. Then he asked me to get Sabina to call him back on his house phone from our house phone to say we were arranging a trip. Then we should come over," Edward summarised briefly.

"Alright. Remember, we can't discuss this in the house. It's bugged. Does Sabina know?" Ben responded, satisfied. Alex really was truly remarkable. Despite his hatred of the shadowed world he had been dragged into, it was clear that he blended right into the shadows. His uncle's training and the subsequent mission experience that had been forced on him had made him strong.

"No. She just thinks we're visiting Alex. It's better that way," Edwards said with a small sigh.

"Need to know is better," Ben agreed. He was about to say something else, but before he could Sabina appeared, her luggage in tow.

"Hi," She said with a big smile, her tone friendly.

"I'm Ben Daniels, Alex's sort of guardian."

"It's good to meet you, Alex's sort of guardian," Sabina said lightly, taking in Ben's appearance. He was tall and muscular; the bruises that still showed added to the air of danger he exuded. While there was anger in his eyes, there was also kindness in them; and an air of vulnerability. She liked him immediately.

"Shall we go to the car?" Ben asked. "Would you like some help with your luggage?"

"I'm fine, thanks though," Sabina responded. Ben looked injured, and she didn't want him to hurt himself assisting her when she was perfectly capable.

They reached the car and drove back in silence. Sabina was tired from the flight and Edward was wary of unseen bugs that were no doubt listening in. It wasn't a long journey from Heathrow back to Chelsea, and it wasn't an uncomfortable or awkward silence for that duration. When they arrived at the house Ben unlocked the door and they stepped into the hallway. Sabina left her luggage by the stairs – Alex had offered his house for the start of their stay but she didn't know which room she would be in. Then the three of them went into the kitchen.

It was warm and there was a pack of biscuits on the table. Ben made tea and the three of them sat down at the kitchen table together.

"Alex should be back from school any minute," Ben said, seemingly relaxed. Edward knew that couldn't be the case when they were being watched while they were in the house. He wondered how Ben and Alex were so effective at pretending all the time.

"How is he?" Sabina asked.

"It's hard to know with Alex," Ben said honestly. "But he's definitely been better."

"How do you know each other?" She asked, "And how come you've become his guardian suddenly?"

"Jack has gone back to America to stay with her parents. She's been away from home for a long time. Alex knew she would have to go home someday," Ben said, ignoring the first question. Sabina noticed, but before she could probe further they were interrupted by the jangling of keys in the front door. They heard it open and slam and a few seconds later Alex was in the kitchen.

"Alex," Sabina said warmly, and got up to hug him. He flinched slightly, almost unnoticeably, at the sudden contact, but then he recovered himself and returned the hug.

"How was your flight?" Alex asked.

"Long," Sabina sighed. "But there was a cute air steward who made it okay."

"It's good to see you, Alex," Edward said. "Thank you for letting us stay tonight. Those airport hotels aren't very welcoming really. And it isn't nice to go for a long drive right after the flight."

"Its fine," Alex replied. "Are you driving down to Wales tomorrow?"

"Yes, I have to rent a car."

"Where in Wales are you heading for your story?" Alex asked.

"South. I'm writing a story about a man there who's starting a new charity to help veterans with psychological problems," Edward replied. It was the cover for the trip. He knew what he had to say next. "Why don't you come with us Alex? You're welcome as well Ben, of course."

"I do have a half term break from school," Alex said, as though he was considering it carefully (although he had been the one who had chosen Wales for them all to visit). "What do you think Ben?"

"I've not seen much of Wales" Ben said. "It might be good to get some fresh air."

"Alright," Alex said. "We could use a break."

That night the four of them ate takeaway Chinese and talked about meaningless things, before heading for an early bed. The next morning the rental car was delivered. It was larger than Ben's car, so would be more comfortable for the five of them. Edward drove while Sabina, Ben and Alex all slept in the back. Alex and Ben both slept more easily in cars – the motion was calming somehow. Plus Alex knew if he woke up the fact that he was in a car would let him realise more quickly that he wasn't back in that place. Despite that he still slept lightly. Sabina was jetlagged so she slept like a log.

When they arrived Edward woke Alex up. He did it gently but Alex still jumped and his breathing hitched.

"We're here," Edward said. "This is the house we rented." They all sleepily moved out of the car and brought their luggage in. It was spacious and painted in pale colours, with large windows that let lots of light in. It was an isolated house, the nearest village a few miles away; most importantly it wasn't bugged. Alex knew he wasn't a high enough priority target for all his associates to be tracked, and MI6 wasn't so worried about him that they would follow him to Wales. As long as he continued to play ball with them he could have some breathing room.

Alex took his case up to the twin room he was sharing with Ben. Sabina and Edward both had their own rooms. Alex didn't mind sharing – neither he nor Ben slept much anyway. The room had a large window that faced the garden, with a large tree next to it. He could hear the birds singing and the soft hum of nature. It was surreal how peaceful the room felt; perhaps he'd be sleeping after all.

This house was where he was going to tell Edward Pleasure everything. Then the journalist was going to write his story. They would collect evidence to prove what had happened, and then they would publish it. Then nobody would be able to use Alex ever again.

Importantly, Wales was also where the Brecon Beacons was. It was where Alex had trained with the SAS in the last weeks of his childhood. It was the first stop for evidence.

But first Alex would have to tell Edward the whole thing, from start to finish, completely openly. Alex had never told anybody a lot of the things he would have to share. So perhaps, despite the room, he wouldn't be sleeping at all.

Please leave me a review letting me know what you think, the support really is helpful because I quite often get stuck on this story!