Claire and Jocelyn had carefully dressed her in a wool sweater and shawl, something comfortable enough for her shoulder but still keeping her warm in the biting wind. Jocelyn had assisted her into a golf cart parked in the garage of the mansion and took to the driver's seat, Rufus perched between the two. Claire wrapped her shawl tighter around her shoulders as they exited the garage and turned to follow the path leading in front of the main house, Claire noticed the recruits running in formation in the distance and was happy to see Eggsy leading them. His attention turned towards the cart and she held back a smile as he purposefully led them back to the main house. Jocelyn turned the wheel to circle around to the back.

"What's going on between you two?" Jocelyn asked with a wink and a smile.

Claire blushed and bowed her head to avoid eye contact as she answered. "I don't even know the answer to that question." She watched s Jocelyn drove pass the rose gardens and began to follow the fence line towards the back of the property. "There may not be anything."

Jocelyn giggled to herself as she maneuvered the cart into the foliage, finding a pathway leading into the tree line. "Galahad wouldn't have risked his job for you over nothing."

Claire's head whipped to the right as she stared at her. "What?"

Jocelyn nodded. "The night before he went to Arthur and Ector, demanding that they bring Statesman onto the mission. They fought for hours until Arthur finally gave in." Claire looked down to floor of the cart as Jocelyn continued. "We had to keep it from you in order for the mission to go as planned. We knew Mason would come for you first."

Claire looked ahead of them and found a small creek carving its way through the forest and she listened to the water rushing by. "Statesman was there the whole time?"

Jocelyn nodded. "Galahad knew he couldn't take on all of Jordan's men. There was no way he was going to chance following you back here."

Claire wasn't sure whether she should be angry or impressed with Eggsy. He'd gone against everyone all because he was putting the fate of the mission and Claire first. He'd found a way. The more she thought about it she couldn't be angry with him. He'd risked losing everything to save what was important to her and that was getting Mason. He allowed her to follow through with the mission on her own terms, but developed a contingence plan incase all else failed. And it had, just like he knew it would.

Claire laughed to herself as she placed her hand against the other woman's shoulder. "Thank you."

Jocelyn smiled back at her. "Don't mention it."

The two remained silent the rest of the trip across the grounds, Jocelyn spoke a few times about the history of the property and told her about the reconstruction after Poppy's attack against Kingsman. Claire was impressed that they had been able to rebuild the house and the tailor shop in such a short amount of time, considering. She made her way back to the main house, wheeling the cart to the back terrace where the recruits were lined.

The two women silently approached and stood at a distance as Eggsy spoke to them all. Claire assumed he hadn't known they were there as he spoke. "Ya know, when I was being recruited for Kingsman by Arthur he told me about how all of this," he motioned to the mansion and grounds, "came about. Our founders came into a shit load of money and he said 'They decided to channel that wealth and influence for the greater good. They developed an independent international intelligence agency operating at the highest level of discretion. Without the politics and bureaucracy that undermine the intelligence of government-run spy organizations. A suit is the modern gentleman's armor. And the Kingsman agents are the new knights.'" Eggsy stood at attention before them. "So, I've got one question for you lot. Are you ready to suit up?"

The five young men standing in front of him cheered as Harry exited the back door of the mansion. He looked to the girls standing at the base of the hill watching silently and gave them a nod. Eggsy turned his head in confusion until he saw them, he looked to Claire before giving her a wink and turning back to the group of men.

Harry stepped forward to speak. "Now, before we move any further I want to speak these words of wisdom that I expect you all to live by. 'There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.' As Kingsman agents you are to uphold these words and remember them. Understood?" The man answered with unanimous approval. "You all will meet with Ector tomorrow morning for your fittings. Dismissed."

The group broke apart, taking their dogs with them. The girls approached as Harry leaned in to whisper into Eggsy's ear and he nodded in return. As they stepped onto the terrace Jocelyn excused herself into the main house. Claire watched her go before turning to face to two men.

"You look rather well, Miss Henry." Harry said.

She nodded and glanced down to the sling poking out from under her shawl. "I think I'll survive." She looked between the two with a serious expression as she thought of what to say next. Her mind went blank, but her mouth found its voice as she spoke again. "Thank you. Jocelyn explained everything to me and I just want to express my gratitude toward you both."

Harry placed his hand against Eggsy's back. "You have Eggsy to thank, not me. If it weren't for his stubbornness I believe both of our organizations would be down a tech specialist." Claire looked to the ground. "I'll leave you two alone then." Harry made his way back into the house, leaving them alone for the first time.

Claire stood there, feeling the tension between them intensify with each passing second. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other as she stared down at Rufus who watched them expectantly. She had no idea how to speak to him in that moment. The last time they had a serious conversation he had walked out and left them both filled with anger and frustration. Where did they stand now?

Eggsy broke the silence as he gestured to the field beyond the terrace. "Care for a walk?"

She spotted a pathway weaving along the grounds and into the tree line, most likely making its way to the creek nestled into the forest. She nodded and turned to follow along side him, Rufus taking lead in front and sniffing along the pathway. She clutched the shawl and pulled the neck of the wool sweater higher to cover her exposed skin; she was doing this more out of nervous habit than to fight the chilly weather. The walked in silence for several yards until she could no longer take it.

"Thank you. I should have listened to you to begin with." Eggsy said nothing as they walked side by side further down the path way leading to the tree line. "Harry was right. Ector and I would probably be dead if it wasn't for you."

Eggsy shook his head in disagreement. "I don't think so. You handled yourself without an issue."

Claire looked at him out of the corner of her eye. She was always amazed with how he could lift her spirits so effortlessly, but he was still mistaken. She had failed by allowing Mason's words to get the better of her. If she had just kept her cool Tequila would not be lying in the recovery room right now. If it hadn't been for Eggsy going behind her back she could very well be in the bed next to Tequila. "As an agent I still failed. I let my emotions get the best of me and if it hadn't of been for Harry and Ector being there none of it would have ended the way it did."

Eggsy stopped walking and turned towards her, she stopped a half step ahead of him. "You're not getting it. A mission's success is not graded on whether or not everything goes according to plan, Claire. The plan changed, but the only way I could be sure you did your best was to let you take control. Not everyone is given the same mission."

"So, what was yours? Why did you go against Harry? Against my wish?"

"Because data lies, Claire. You said Jordan would never step foot in London and look where he wound up. What was I supposed to do?"

"The same thing I told you to do! I needed this and you still went behind my back."

Eggsy stepped closer to her and whispered. "The plan was to never remove you from the mission, Claire. Statesman came as reinforcements after Jordan arrived. Do you really think Champ wanted you to go to that ball?" She gaped at him. "He wanted you removed from the assignment. I replaced Ector in hopes that he would allow you to stay."

Claire's heart fluttered as it all made sense to her. Here she was thinking that Eggsy's act had been out of selfish behavior, but in reality, it wasn't. He understood the importance this all was for her. If stepping in and taking her wrath was what it took to allow her to have the satisfaction of bringing Mason down then he would do it – and he did. They had promised one another to remain partners throughout the entire mission; watching each other's back and keeping their trust in one another. He had kept his promise all this time. She felt the butterflies swarm inside her stomach as her heart filled with the most sincerest of emotions.

She wanted to laugh out loud as she realized that this entire time the two of them had heard countless warnings to keep their emotions at bay. They thought they had succeeded in doing so, but she knew that their success had circulated around their feelings towards one another. They were loyal to the end and it showed now as the truth behind his actions came to light. He chose to put his job and the mission in jeopardy all to satisfy her urge for revenge against the man who single handedly tried to ruin everything important in her life. He'd taken the father she never knew, her surviving family member and threatened the only thing that remained dear to her. He had made it personal, not her.

Claire looked to Eggsy and wordlessly closed the gap between them and placed her hand against his chest and whispered. "Thank you."

Eggsy place his hands in the dip of her waist as he bowed his head to rest against hers and smiled. "Don't mention it, love."

Claire looked into the playfulness of his gaze and smiled. Her legs became jelly as she fisted the lapel of his double breasted pea coat and pulled him closer to her. She smiled coyly as heat flushed her body scarlet and her heart quivered against her chest. The silence was blissful as she stared into him, her core coming alive as the green pools filled with emerald and their combined breathing slowed. She glanced down at his lips, Eggsy catching the action and taking her by surprise as he dipped down and captured her into a kiss. Her head whirled and she moaned into his mouth as his arms wrapped around her waist, bringing her further into his embrace.

Claire was sure that he felt her heart beating erratically as she pressed her hand against his chest to steady herself. Every emotion she had ever felt towards this man was being transpired within this kiss and it was absolutely glorious – longing, frustration, pride, and curiosity all raveled into one. With every emotion reeling through her she felt bold and brazen as she parted her lips, begging for more. The world became a dizzy array as their tender kiss became a veracious dance or pleasure and passion that both fought to win. She felt Eggsy grin against her lips and she knew then that she had been willingly baited into him. Her hand found the back of his neck as she brought him back against her lips as she demanded his attention once more.

Eggsy chuckled as his hands found her jawline and held her as he placed smaller kisses against her lips. She stared up at him as cold air filled her lungs, she shivered as she placed her head against his chest and sighed in relief. As Eggsy held her there he mind began to wonder over the possibilities of what was to come. She wanted this man more than anything now and longed for his desire for her, his arms around her and everything else a woman needed from a man. She nuzzled her cheek into his chest and inhaled the sweet aroma of his cologne as she watched Rufus sniff through a patch of grass. As she watched him she realized something – she would be leaving now.

Claire's body froze as she watched Rufus scurry across the pathway. Eggsy felt her tense and looked down to her. "What is it?"

Her eyes met his, "What happens now?"

Eggsy brushed one of her stray curls from her face as he spoke. "We'll figure it out."