New year, new chapter!
Also, thank you for all the reviews! Thank you to IKhandoZatman, Izwick, call-me-harley, and CharitinaX for all of the reviews. I hope you all enjoy this chapter, but I really should warn you first...this chapter is almost 12,000 words long...
So anyway, I hope you enjoy a really long chapter this week. If we make it to 100, I'll publish the new spinoff story about Q's past life. Also, I added a small surprise in this chapter too (though I'm sure most of you figured it out).
The point of these things is to remind us that there's no going back. There's only a way forward.
-Michelle Yeoh
(December 17, 2014- 3:04 AM)
Onega, Russia
The small, double prop-engined plane touched down roughly in the local airport of Onega, causing Q to flinch as his hands intertwined with Alexa's. Alexa, whose eyes showed that she was faraway in her own thoughts, squeezed Q's hand absentmindedly as she stared out the window towards the darkened sky. The clouds drew a haze over the moonlight city, as if a prelude to the uncertainty of the moments to come.
"Alexa," Q said suddenly after recovering from the initial panic of the landing process.
"Hmm? What?" she blinked as she turned to look at him.
"Don't fret so much. We'll be alright," he reassured her.
"I hope so," she sighed as she climbed out of the plane with him. "I just can't help but feel anxious. I don't know what for, really, but the feeling is there."
She suddenly let go as she hopped out of the plane, thanking the pilot as needed. Q pondered her words as they grabbed their luggage from the plane and loaded into a car that they had requested. As he began to drive down the darkened roads leading out of Onega, a burst of words popped out of his mouth unexpectedly.
"It's likely because you're coming back to your childhood home," he said softly. Q realized the implications of his words and saw that she would obviously be emotionally unstable, and it was only right to keep her from falling apart. She turned to look at him and bit her lip before nodding.
"Partially, I suppose. I haven't been back since I was taken away, and I don't know what it'll take to bring myself through that door again," she sighed. "Maybe you can help me."
"I'm your source of support. Isn't that what I'm supposed to do since you're my girlfriend?" Q chuckled as he began to follow the directions on his cellphone towards Kodino.
"I suppose. In turn, I'll support you, is that right?" she said.
"Right indeed," he said as he sped down a darkened highway. She bent her elbow and placed it on the side of the car before stifling a quiet yawn. Alexa's eyes drifted over to Q, and she smiled gently at him.
"I suppose I don't say it too often, but I really am lucky to have you," she said softly as she glanced over at him.
"What are you going on about now?" he said, sounding amused.
"I mean, not just any man would willingly head off into Russia towards danger just to be with me," she said. "Certainly not normal protocol."
"I suppose that makes me an abnormal man," he said. "Not of the ordinary sort in the least."
"No, that makes you an extraordinary man," she laughed quietly, sounding drowsy. "My extraordinary man."
Her words caused Q to chuckle as he drove down the local highway. "You're getting sleepy, love. Take a nap; we'll be there in two hours or so." Q said.
"No," she grumbled. "What if you get drowsy while you drive?"
"I'll be fine," he reassured her. "I managed to sleep on the way here anyway, so I have enough energy. You, on the other hand, didn't sleep a wink."
"Not really. I'm too busy fretting over what's yet to come, I suppose," she sighed.
"Which is exactly why you need to catch up on your sleep," Q chided gently. "Go take a nap. We'll be there in a few hours."
"If you say so," Alexa said, leaning into the seat. "If you want me to take over, just wake me up."
"I'll slam on the brakes to let you know," he replied dryly. She let out a brief laugh and shook her head before bending towards the window to catch a glimpse of the frozen forest outside. Her eyes watched the flickering shadow of their vehicle being cast against the trees in a mesmerizing up and down pattern before her eyes slowly drifted shut into a deep sleep.
At about 6:21 AM, the car halted to a stop, and Alexa moved forward with more than the usual amount of force. She awoke, looking startled and looked around at her surroundings. It was quiet, and she glanced over questioningly at Q.
"Where are we now?" she wondered aloud.
"Take a look," he said, staring at the house lighted by the dawning sun in the treetops above them. The morning brought new, yet dim light, but she still saw the features of the house as clearly as she could. Her eyes shifted focus, and she could not help but let out a soft gasp. It was different from looking at it in pictures, and the feelings that arose from looking at her old home caused her heart to tighten in her chest.
"Kodino," Alexa said with an unreadable expression on her face. "It's just like how I left it."
Thinking about the murders that had occurred here left a rather disconcerting afterthought in Q's mind, and he shoved his hands in his pockets. "Let's hope not," Q muttered to himself as he strode up the steps. He paused momentarily after seeing that she did not follow him and turned to face her.
"Are you coming?" he said.
"I...think so," she said, looking dazed. He walked back to her and gently wrapped his fingers around hers.
"Are you afraid?" Q asked.
"...Yes," she sighed, looking down at her shoes. "It's ridiculous, I know, but I can't help but be afraid."
"It's not ridiculous. Trust me on that one," he scoffed, squeezing her hand gently. She smiled softly at his gesture before looking back up at the house.
"Alright. It's now or never, I suppose," she said as she started forward. The weathered wooden stairs creaked under her boots as she strode towards the front door, and she stood with Q as she inserted her key into the lock. Her eyes shone with hesitance when she looked up at him, and his hand rested atop hers. Together, they turned the doorknob to open the musty wooden door.
"Welcome home," he said as he led her inside. She stood briefly in the front foyer before venturing into the living room on her left. As she remained fixed at the foot of the rug, she stared quietly as her surroundings, unable to speak as she stared at the remains of her childhood home.
Despite being uninhabited for years, the house was relatively well preserved, as if everything she had left behind when she was four was still in the same general area. There was a spacious living room to the left of the foyer and a kitchen to the right. The living room was covered in light brown wallpaper with small dark green fleur-de-lis marks decorating it. A chipped stone fireplace sat boarded up and unused, and three stockings decorated the mantle. In the corner beside the sofa, which was covered in plastic sheeting and a white cloth, was an artificial Christmas tree laden with wrapped presents that had been left unopened for almost twenty-four years.
As Alexa looked at the presents on the floor, a wave of nostalgia and sadness flooded through her veins. "Everything is just as I left it that night," she said, her voice sounding small and far-away.
"The tree, the stockings, the presents...they're all still here, and we never had the chance to open them all together," Alexa continued, with a small and rueful smile spreading across her face. Her smile was filled with a bittersweet emotion which Q did not see on her often. He squeezed her hand gently and proceeded on his own to inspect the rest of the room.
On the wall above the fireplace was an assortment of dusty photographs. Q blew the dust off the glass to find a photograph of Alexa. In the photograph, a younger Alexa stood next to a dark-haired woman in a faded blue dress. The two were smiling in the photograph, and his eyes softened as he noticed the similarities between Alexa and her mother. They had the same vivacious smile, and it seemed that the tall blonde-haired man in the picture could not help but join in their displays of joy. As his eyes drifted towards the man in the picture, it was clear that he was Alexa's father, given the way his eyes looked almost the same as hers.
He set the photograph back down with a faint smile on his lips and walked back to Alexa, who had proceeded hesitantly through the dining room in front of them and back into the foyer.
"I can't find the circuit box around here," she said as she stood at the base of the wooden staircase.
"Maybe it's in the kitchen," he said. Her eyes flashed with fear, and he quickly realized that was where her parents had died.
"Alexa, if you don't want to do this-" Q began. She cut him off with a shake of her head.
"No, I'll be fine. I have to face it eventually, don't I?" she said, smiling wanly at him. He let out a sigh and took her by the hand, squeezing her hand gently. Alexa glanced back up at him and found herself smiling at his support as she led him into the kitchen.
The kitchen, despite being darkened by the slightly closed curtains, was still a bright shade of yellow. Alexa stepped apprehensively on the linoleum floors and looked around for the circuit box. She did not dare to look at the darkened corner near the window, for that was the same spot her parents had met their end.
Alexa squinted in the darkness and caught a glimpse of a large grey box on the wall. Without hesitation, she flipped it open and attempted to turn on the switches. They merely flipped from side to side without any effect, which caused her to sigh in frustration.
"Great. Got a lighter, Q?" she sighed.
"I don't smoke," he said as he rummaged through the cabinets. "Before you ask, my phone's in the car, so that's out."
"Damn. There must be a box of matches here somewhere," she said as she went through the drawer in front of her. As she pored over stacks of nearly arranged cutlery, she heard a noise from behind her.
"Found one," Q said as he reached for a box on the top shelf, labelled "for blackouts". He shook an old flashlight gently, but it did not turn on. Without hesitation, he moved to a stack of candles and lit his before lighting one for Alexa. She did not take her candle and stood motionlessly, staring at the wall. Her sudden display of emotion caught him off guard, and he put a hand on her shoulder.
"What? What is it?" he said.
"My parents died right there," she said, her hands shaking as she pointed at the corner of the kitchen. Q blinked in surprise and tilted his head.
"They never mentioned this spot in any of the reports I read," he said.
"They didn't realize that it was here, but I remember it with my own eyes. It was here," she insisted. There did not seem to be any trace that indicated that her parents had met their demise at that particular spot, but it seemed that she knew exactly where to look.
Alexa threw open the curtains to let the morning light. She bent down near the floor and stared at the browned line that was barely visible on the edge of the floor and the cabinet. There was a small splash of browned liquid that had stained the wood near the cabinet's base, and Q immediately realized that this was her parent's blood that had seeped into the wood. She pushed aside the various containers that covered the counter, which Q figured to be untouched for 24 years. Sure enough, the containers were a distraction to cover the truth hidden on the tiled counter. Behind them was a clean hole in the cracked marble tile that was the size of a bullet hole. It had pierced the tile with some effort, and it came to rest in the wooden beam underneath the drywall.
As Q stood behind her, he caught a glimpse of dull, rusted metal in the wall and knew that this was the same bullet that had killed her mother all those years ago. Alexa stumbled back upon finding the bullet and crumpled to the floor. He placed the candle in a holder on the table and crouched down.
"Alexa," he said softly, sitting down next to her. Tears shone in her eyes and she began to cry as he pulled her into his arms.
"The police never did notice. No one did. It was left here untouched, hidden under their noses," she whispered, tears streaming down her face. "Why didn't they see it? Did they care enough to look? Is that all it was, just another unsolved case?"
"Everyone in town looked for you, but sometimes the answers are in front of us and we're too blinded by pain, anger, or any other emotion to see them," he said softly. She visibly flinched away from his touch, but he willed himself to wrap his arms around her. He could feel her shaking against him, and he smoothed her hair gently as he clung to her.
With time, she slowly began to regain her composure, and her shaky breaths had been replaced with longer, calmer breaths. He listened to her soft sighs and wiped tears away from her cheeks.
"Seeing you cry is neither something I'll never get used to, nor something I'll ever enjoy," he sighed quietly, squeezing her gently.
"I'm sorry for being so emotional. I thought it would be fine for me to come back here. God, I was wrong," she sniffled, wiping her tears away.
"You'll be alright," Q replied, kissing her gently on the forehead. She leant her head against his chest and stared forlornly at the wall, hearing nothing but the sound of their breaths and the beating of his heart. It was an unexpected moment that she found comfort in, which she used to calm herself down. Her fingers drifted gently onto his shirt before she sat up.
"Thank you," she said quietly.
"For what?" Q said, looking puzzled.
"For comforting me, of course. If I had been alone here when I found the bullet and the bloodstain, I would still be curled in a ball on the floor in tears," she chuckled softly.
"Isn't comforting you what I'm supposed to do?" he chided gently, squeezing her waist.
"You're free to do whatever you like," she replied. "It's just nice when you console me, though. I appreciate your support."
"It's my pleasure. Just as long as you're relatively happy," he said, helping her up. "Are you ready?"
"I guess so. I can't wait to sleep until noon," she sighed as she stood up. "I bet you're tired too, aren't you?"
"Only a little. I've been through worse," he replied.
"Q, you haven't slept in 22 hours. You didn't sleep on the way here through the plane, and you were up since 6 AM yesterday," she replied. "You have to be exhausted."
"I'm fine, I promise," he insisted.
"No, you're not. I'll make you sleep, if it's the last thing I do," Alexa said as she stepped outside with him. They grabbed their bags out of the back of the car, and they headed back into the house. Alexa shut the door behind her and headed upstairs to the guest bedroom. Q headed out to check on something in the basement, leaving Alexa for five minutes or so by herself.
The guest bedroom walls were a faded shade of blue and a door to the hallway bathroom sat in the corner. A bed and closet sat near the window, which showed a view of the tree outside. Alexa threw the bag onto the floor and dusted off the mirror before changing clothes. As she began changing into different clothes, Q left the room without warning. She didn't notice, and continued to slip on a pair of sweatpants. As she grabbed a spare shirt, she felt a pair of arms wrap around her waist and let out a startled yelp.
"Glad to see that I can still scare you," Q teased.
"You didn't scare me," she grumbled as she slipped a shirt over her head. "Your hands are just cold."
"You know how the saying goes. Cold hands, warm heart," he replied. "Rather unexpected, really, when it's coming from me."
"Nonsense. You are a warm-hearted man, even if you don't look like it," she replied as she handed him a set of clothes. "Are the pipes any good?"
"The water pump and the water heater are both electrically powered, so everything's dead. However, we could go into town for water. I checked the pipes near the laundry closet downstairs, but they're not really that rusted. Does someone keep an eye on this place?" he asked.
"My grandmother said that she left the house in the care of Leo, my father's best friend. I suppose he kept an eye on the house to some extent," she said. "That explains why everything's wrapped in plastic. At least it keeps everything usable."
"Point taken. Aside from the musty smell everything will have, it'll still be ok," Q said as he took the white cover off the bed. He unwrapped the plastic sheeting off the bed and surely enough, the sheets were perfectly alright, save for the musty smell on the fabric. Q slipped on his clothes and settled into the bed, wrapping his arms around her. She pulled up the covers to her chin, coughing slightly at the dated scent of the sheets, and she nestled herself into him.
"Why didn't you wake me earlier?" she asked, shifting as she leant against him. "You must be exhausted from driving that long."
"Alexa, love, it was only 3 hours," he said with a roll of his eyes. "I've been known to stay awake for 48 hours for several occasions."
"For what?" Alexa replied, looking surprised.
"We had a security breach a while ago during the Raoul Silva incident. I spent 48 full hours cleaning the network up. When you left for Buenos Aires, I didn't sleep until I got you back," he said.
"Jeez. Even I don't stay up for such long hours. Did you ever stay up longer than 48 hours?" she said curiously.
"Once, yes," he said. "Do you remember the thesis paper for the honors program in uni?"
"For Cambridge? Yeah, I remember that," she said.
"How long did it take you to finish?" he asked.
"Couple weeks, I believe. It was tedious," she said. "What about you?"
"Well, I put it off, and I stayed up for four days straight, working on my paper. It took me one day to finish research and three to write it," he said. Alexa fell silent and could only stare at him incredulously.
"And you still passed?"
"I got my Master's degree, didn't I?" Q said, looking unfazed. She rolled her eyes good-naturedly and leant into him once more.
"I don't know how I ever came in second to a genius like you," she sighed.
"Well, you're intelligent in your own way. Aside from that, you have combat skills that I'm certain surpass 007's," he said. "You could be the Quartermaster if you really wanted to."
"Are you kidding?" Alexa laughed. "I could never do it. I've seen everything you do, and I would never be able to handle it all."
"Oh, come now. It's not that hard," Q sighed.
"To you, it might not be. I've seen what you do, and it only gives me more respect for your job. It looks exhausting as hell to me," she mumbled as she burrowed under the covers. "I'll leave that job to my extraordinary man."
"Alright, alright. Get some rest, extraordinary girl," he chuckled, smoothing her hair back. Q could see her smile slightly, and she made herself comfortable in the bed.
It was quiet for several moments before a question burst forth from her lips. She had been longing to ask it for a little while now, but her emotions inhibited her from doing so. In such a sleepy state, she let go of her reservations and tilted her head up to look at him.
"Q," she said softly.
"What?"
"Being with you without living in fear of the strife from the world around us...is it possible?" she asked softly. "I mean, I'm an agent, after all. There'll always be something coming to kill us."
"Death is the hazard that all of us bear in the land of the living, but that never stopped us from carrying on. Just always remember, Alexa: you're possible with me," he said softly, with underlying strength in his voice. "If not, I'm willing to die trying to make that so because I know you would do the same for me."
His words caused her heart to quicken, and she smiled at the thought of what he was willing to do for her. "Alright, then," she said, seemingly invigorated by his words. "But remember, you won't die. Not on my watch. That's a promise, alright?"
"I know it's a promise you'll keep," he chuckled, smoothing her hair back to kiss her gently on the forehead. "Just don't do it recklessly."
"Come on, I'll be fine," she said playfully, rolling her eyes.
"If you say so," he said teasingly, sounding unconvinced.
"Oh, just go to sleep," she laughed as she pushed him in the shoulder. He merely chuckled and held her closer to him, until her eyes closed softly and she drifted off to sleep.
(Kodino- 3:12 PM)
Q's eyes slowly opened as he felt the woman in his arms shifting uncomfortably. Alexa broke away from him as she tossed and turned, and he drifted away, thinking that she just needed space to herself. His eyes fell shut once again and for several minutes, the only movements were Alexa's whenever she shifted in her sleep. These intervals of movement because spaced closer together more and more as time passed and after drifting back to a light sleep, Q was awakened by her growing sounds of fear.
He shot up in bed and immediately looked at the figure next to him, who was shifting in bed. "N-no!" she said, her voice nearing a shout as her movements became frenzied. Q's eyes flashed with alarm, and he turned towards her. She was vulnerable now, and he had to be strong to bring her back to reality. He placed his hand on her shoulder and shook her.
"Alexa, wake up. You're just dreaming!" he said firmly. His touch seemed to jolt her awake, and she shot up, letting out a startled scream.
For a moment, he couldn't speak and neither could she. There were tears in her eyes, and she put her hand on her mouth to suppress the sob in her chest. "Oh, god, I'm s-sorry," she choked out, trying to calm down.
"Don't apologize. Just come here," he sighed, sounding relieved. He held her tightly, and she let out a shaky sigh against him. "You remembered that night again, didn't you?"
She nodded and shifted uncomfortably in his arms. "It's worse when I'm really here. It's like it's not a dream anymore, like I'm living through it again," Alexa said.
She fell silent for a long moment, almost as if she didn't seem comfortable with showing this side of her to him. Alexa had been taught long ago to suppress fear, but she could not control it this time. It was an unexpected event that she reacted to without conscious thought, and she hated how volatile it made her feel. "I'm so sorry. I'm almost thirty, yet this place still terrifies me," Alexa confessed.
"To be fair, it has reason to. Have you ever seen a survivor of an event look back on the crime scene without an emotional reaction?" he replied.
"I guess you have a point," she said. "I never really recovered properly from everything, I suppose."
He ran his fingers through her hair before tilting her head up slightly to meet his eyes. "What happened here left a deep mark on you, but don't ever be sorry or hesitant to show your fear, alright?" he said.
"Am I doing that?" she said, blinking in surprise.
"It seems like it. I won't ridicule you for it, believe me, because all people (even me) fear something. The less you suppress it, the faster you'll heal," Q said gently. "And remember, it will pass. What matters is that you're alive to carry on your parents' memory today."
She nodded numbly in response, and he wiped away the tears off her cheeks. The tension in her eyes slowly began to dissipate, and she felt his lips touch her forehead. "Come on," he said, straightening up. He smoothed back her hair and looked down at her. "I know what'll make you feel a little better."
"What?" she replied.
"Food, obviously. I reckon you're starving," he said. "We can't cook here, so we need to make a visit."
"To Samoded? That's the only town closest here where we could get supplies."
"Yeah, I suppose. The new pass going through to the town will take us thirty minutes to cover, at least. I'll grab some ingredients, and anything else we might need," he said.
"Okay. Good idea," she said, straightening up to stare out at the afternoon sun. Without warning, she swung her legs off the bed and tossed a sweater over her head. "Let's visit Leo too."
"Will he recognize you?" Q said, pulling on a heavier coat.
"Probably. I looked more like my mum, and I'm sure he'll recognize me. If not, there were only two known copies made of this key, so I'll show it to him," she replied. Q nodded and led her downstairs, holding he by the hand as they passed the kitchen.
Alexa looked briefly at the kitchen, and she stiffened at the sight of the stained wood. She felt panic creep into her chest until she realized that Q was right. The most important thing was that she was alive to carry on her parents' memory. She had to be strong, even if it meant facing the site that had left a blackened mark on her memories. Though it would not be easy, she knew that with time (and the help of Q), she could finally let the pain go.
"Ready?" Q asked, raising an eyebrow as he stood in the doorway.
"Yeah," she said, giving him a small smile as she walked through the foyer. He took her smile as confirmation that she was alright for now and gladly led her outside. It was a small gesture, he realized while driving, but it was enough for him. With a little time and his help, she would be emotionally stable and ready to face the dangers ahead of them.
After returning from Samoded at five with their supplies, Alexa left Q at the house and drove down a dirt road towards a home she had not seen in years. She recalled that Leo lived on the outskirts of town in a blue house and was looking around to find it. It was getting dark, but at last she found her way to his doorstep.
Alexa parked the car next to the tree in his front yard and walked to the front door. It was relatively quiet, save for the barking of Leo's dog in the distance. She strode up the steps, ignoring the noise, and knocked on his door.
She heard the barking grow in volume as she stood on the doorstep and waited patiently for the owner of the house to arrive. Within seconds, the door opened, and she stared at the older man before her.
Leonid Novikov was an older gentleman, yet he was not as fragile as most older men seemed. His eyes were a hard shade of blue, and his brown hair was peppered with grey hairs. He had weathered skin and a rather beaten expression, as if he had seen the cruelty of the world in his youth. It was as if nothing could surprise him anymore, but he seemed taken aback by Alexa's presence.
"Hi," Alexa said somewhat shyly, waving at him. His brows furrowed as he stared at her, but he could not immediately place her identity.
"Good afternoon. Need something?" he said, stepping outside to greet her.
"Yes, actually. I need your help-" she began.
"Fair enough. Are you lost, or are you just a newcomer in town?" he said, looking confused. "You seem familiar, though I just can't place why."
"Not me. I lived in this town a long time ago, Uncle Leo. Perhaps you knew me," Alexa said, smiling slightly. She waited patiently for him to understand who she was and was met with a blank and vaguely wary stare. In fairness, she didn't blame his hesitance and clueless look, and she decided to make it clearer to him.
Alexa pulled a photograph out of her wallet and set it in her hand, along with her key. His eyes widened as he saw the figures in the photo and the key and stepped back.
"Is it really you, Alexa?" he wondered aloud as he stared at her like she was a ghost.
"I'm real, Uncle Leo. Don't be afraid," Alexa laughed. He let out a small cry and wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tightly.
"Bozhe moi. I never thought I would see you again. You look just like your mother," he began, his voice sounding small and awestruck. "Where have you been all these years?"
"It's a long story. Mind if I come in?" she asked. He hastily led her inside, urging her to sit at his kitchen table. Leo prepared two cups of coffee for each of them and sat down.
"You should have stopped by sometime. I would love to catch up with your parents, tell stories from the good old days," he said. "How are they, by the way?"
"Gone. They both died a long time ago," Alexa said softly. Leo's demeanor changed at this sudden news, and he let out a sigh.
"My condolences. You should have told me," he said quietly, his mood dampened by the news of his dead best friend.
"I couldn't, because there were complications," she replied.
"Like what?"
Alexa shifted slightly, taking a long sip of her coffee. The aroma of the strong black blend seemed to invigorate her and caused her to focus on the matter at hand. "Do you remember the track program? I was about four when I took the test," she said.
"I remember. It was a little bit before you left, wasn't it?" he said.
"Yes, and I left because of it. They said that I had qualified for an elite school, and mum and dad were happy about it until the soldiers showed up at our home," she said. "The elite school was a lie, and I had been accepted into Operation Chetiri, a program designated to create...you know, KGB-like soldiers."
"Like spies?" Leo said hesitantly.
"Yes. It was the Union's last attempt to stay in power, and each child that qualified was taken away from their parents. They killed mum and dad in the kitchen and took me away from the house to train me how to be what they wanted me to be," she replied.
Leo seemed surprised by the news, and he let out a sigh. "I had a feeling there was something fishy about your disappearance. They made us drop the case, no matter how hard your grandmother pushed to have it solved," he muttered.
"They?" Alexa echoed blankly, looking puzzled.
"You never heard? Your grandmother fought for a decent investigation, and the case went all the way up to the MVD," he said, taking a sip of coffee.
"The Ministry of Internal Affairs? Really?" Alexa said, looking surprised.
"Your grandmother and I took the case up with the regional Militsiya and to the Militsiya general," he said. "He took it up with the MVD, but they dropped it after two months, leaving everyone without an explanation as to why they dropped the case."
"What happened to you and grandmother?" she asked.
"I was fine, but your grandmother," he said, "realized there was something strange happening that involved the government, and you know what she's like. Even when she was my schoolteacher when your father and I were in school, she was always hot-blooded. She wanted to fight the system's bureaucracy and corruption and keep your memory alive, but they would never pass up a chance to kill her to keep their dealings secret. These are the people that almost killed her once, after all."
Alexa's eyes flashed with alarm, and she stared at Leo. "Are you kidding me? She never told me this!" she said.
"I'm afraid not. She was driving back from Onega after returning from a teacher's conference in Belgium in March of 1991. Tatiana left the airport and saw two cars following her every move. She tried to ward them off on the road just outside of Kodino, but she didn't make it home," he said. "They drove her off the road, into the river. Most of the truck she had was broken, and she made it out the shattered windshield. Her arm was broken, and she was bleeding, but she walked to my home for treatment."
"You treated her? Even after she walked into your house unexpectedly?" she said.
"Of course. It was what I did before," he shrugged.
"I didn't know that. Tell me more, Uncle Leo," she said, looking expectantly at him.
"I would be happy to. You never did get the chance to learn more about your parents," he smiled. "Well, your father and I were neighbors here in town. He was an only child like me, and he lived with his uncle. His parents were entrepreneurs that never visited. In turn, he always came over when he was lonely (which is, to say, a lot)."
"We were like brothers, really, and he helped keep me from being a hooligan," Leo chuckled. "Your mother and grandmother lived on the other edge of town, and we all went to school together here. Your grandmother was the maths teacher, and he fell in love with her daughter."
"When we graduated, we were all going different ways. Your mother was going to study journalism in Moscow and I was headed off to study medicine in Arkhangelsk. Your father wanted to be a doctor, but his parents wanted him to study economics. I believe he got in a spat with them, and his uncle helped him stay at Arkhangelsk with me. Later on, we were recruited as military doctors while your mother became a journalist for the Moscow Paper. That's why I was able to treat your grandmother. Never refuse an injured comrade is what they taught us, after all," he said.
"Oh, I see," Alexa said, looking down at her coffee. Her eyes drifted towards him, and she leant her head against her hand. "So, what happened to grandmother after she was treated?"
"Naturally, she was terrified. She couldn't stop crying or saying that she didn't want to disappear too. When she calmed down, we looked at all the options and decided that it was too dangerous to stay," he said. "Despite all the danger, though, she always believed your family was alive out there somewhere. We both did, so I helped her leave town."
"It was easy, really, since everyone thought she disappeared when they found her car in the river," Leo explained. "While they were investigating her disappearance, it was stated in her will that I was entrusted her assets. I sold her house and stored away her belongings, save for the ones she wanted sent to her. I agreed to take care of your house and kept it functional, in the hopes that you would be back again someday. I wired all of her money to an old friend of mine, and she went to France to pick up her funds and start her new life. From them on, she became Tatiana Grazinsky and left Tatiana Kazanovich behind."
"And for almost twenty two years, she was left not knowing what happened to me," Alexa said softly, staring down at the table.
"Until she found you," he said, sipping his coffee. "How did she do that?"
"Well, I left the program on my own by making them believe I was dead and went to London to start my own life. I got my degrees from university and worked with a computer security company for several years. I switched agencies later, but I still worked in computer security," she said vaguely. "While I was working, I met my boyfriend, and we were happy until the administrators of the program found me again. They forced my hand, and I had to make my boyfriend believe I was dead to keep him safe."
"Faking your death not once, but twice? That's not a good thing for your emotional state," he sighed.
"It probably isn't, but it's all I had," she mumbled. "Anyway, I was declared dead for the next nine months until my grandmother came to see Sherlock Holmes. She put him on the case, and he solved it and found me. I'm working now to eliminate Operation Chetiri."
"Is that why you're in Kodino?" he asked. "Are you running from them?"
"In a way, yes. I'm staying at my old house," Alexa said.
"There? You came back there, even after what happened?"
"I had to face it eventually," she said. "Anyway, I'm staying in there with my boyfriend, but nothing really works."
"I might be able to help with that. There's a local switch that I have to turn on to receive power. It should work, since I've been making the payments each month," he said, standing up.
"If it wouldn't trouble you, this would be perfect," Alexa smiled as she followed him.
"Trouble me?" he chuckled. "I don't want you sitting in the dark for the rest of your time here. Might as well make things comfortable for you, since you're alive."
She led him out to the front door, where he put on his coat and walked out. He climbed into her car without saying much, and she switched on the ignition without thinking much of it. Alexa's car sparked to life, and she drove onto the dirt path towards the main road.
It was quiet, as she drove, until he turned to her and spoke up unexpectedly. "Alexandra," he said quietly.
"Hmm? Yes, Uncle Leo?" she said.
"This program you were with...it trained you to kill people, didn't it? Is that why no one wanted us to know?" he asked.
"Yeah," Alexa said softly, looking uncomfortable with his statement. "They trained a batch of children like the KGB, so they didn't want anyone to know."
"Ah. It's a good thing you ran away from that life," Leo sighed. "Even when I was a young military doctor, I saw what those men did out there. They were the hollowed-eyed soldiers who never could escape their superiors' expectation of inflicting death upon others, even as they ran from eminent danger each day."
His words resonated with her, and she realized that this had never changed. She was still running, cheating death as she went and also inflicting death on others due to her agreement as a 00-agent. For the time being, she chose to acknowledge his words with a quiet hum and drove up the darkening road towards her home.
It was quiet as she stopped near the clearing, and she got out to take Leo inside. Alexa unlocked the door in a simple, swift motion and glanced over at Q, who stood in the kitchen that was illuminated by candles. He held a box in his hand and turned to look as she came in.
"Hi, Q. I'm home," she said as she kissed him on the cheek.
"It went well, I presume?" he said, setting the box on the counter.
"I brought Uncle Leo, didn't I?" she shrugged. Her eyes flickered to the man behind her, and she stepped to the side. "Speaking of which, I really should introduce you two. Uncle Leo, this is my boyfriend. Q, this is Leonid Novikov, my father's best friend."
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Q said politely.
"The pleasure is mine. Please, call me Leo," he said, smiling slightly as he shook Q's hand. "I'm glad to see that someone's been keeping an eye on her all this time."
"Someone has to keep her from getting into trouble," Q said, with a twinkle in his eye.
"She always had a devious streak as a child. I'm glad to see that some things never change," Leo laughed as Q joined in. Alexa pouted comically in response and fought back a smile as Q's expression changed again.
"Oh, I'm only joking, love," he reassured her. "No day is ever dull with you around."
"Great to hear," she laughed. "Sounds like you caught on quickly."
"I'd rather not end up sleeping down here tonight," he muttered, returning to the tool box on the ground. Leo's eyes watched him for a moment before his gaze drifted up at the circuit box above Q.
"Ah, that's right. You needed electricity, didn't you?" Leo said, snapping back to attention. He headed over to the circuit box and with a screwdriver, he pried open to bottom panel. Underneath was a thick switch that he flipped on, causing a faint buzz to resonate throughout the house. Leo moved towards the lightswitch on his left to turn it on, and after a few moments and uncertain flickers, a soft yellow light filled the room.
"It's a bit dim. Will that be an issue?" he said.
"No, this is fine," Alexa reassured him.
"Alright. The water heater should be running now as well. The system's probably like mine, which runs on well water. It won't be too clear because there might be a little rust in the pipes, but it seems like you've thought of that," he said, eyeing several bottles of drinking water. "Will you two be fine here, then?"
"It'll be alright," she said, smiling slightly. "Thank you, Uncle Leo."
"It's my pleasure, Alexa," he said as he headed to the door. She followed him outside to her car and drove him home in silence, her mind drifting towards a million different thoughts. As she pulled up to his home, he slipped his coat on and a pair of gloves and gave her a small smile.
"It was a pleasant surprise, seeing you again. I really didn't know if you were still out there," he said.
"Well, I thank you for waiting. I didn't know if anyone would keep this place up and running," she said as she handed him his gloves.
"It was worth the wait," he said, smiling gently at her as he opened the door. "You'd better promise that you'll stay safe.
"Of course. Why would you say that?"
"I don't know what dangers you face in this world today, and I just want you to be careful, so that neither I nor your grandmother will be left waiting to know if you're alive ever again," he said softly. She became quiet and nodded in understanding.
"I promise," she said. "I won't leave you to wait anymore."
"Good," Leo sighed in relief. "You know where I'll be—just here in Kodino. Tell your grandmother to give me a call one of these days."
"I'll let her know. Goodbye, Uncle Leo!" she called as she waved at him. He waved goodbye in response, and she watched as he left the car.
She turned back and drove home to prepare for the days ahead. It was quiet as she walked into the kitchen and found Q testing out the water from the sink. Steam swirled around the warm water in the bowl, and she decided to leave him be for the time being.
Alexa headed upstairs and tossed bag of toiletries on the bed before heading into the bathroom to shower. The pipes shook slightly as she turned them on, but they quickly began to heat up. She stood quietly underneath the warm flurry of water before drying off and heading downstairs.
She padded into the kitchen and shared at quiet dinner with Q. As they ate, he quickly noticed that she was maintaining a careful demeanour around the spot where her parents died. It did not seem to affect her much, or at least she did not want it to.
As he climbed into bed that evening, he wished to ask her about how she felt, but he stopped himself. She was preparing herself for the turmoil that they could face ahead, and it was better to leave her to her own thoughts. For now, it would be best to support her as she remained here.
(December 18, 2013- 10:26 AM)
Alexa woke up to the familiar scent of coffee floating through the house. She started up immediately and felt around for a presence next to her. Alexa stared up at the ceiling and figured that Q was downstairs preparing for the day.
She stared at the clock on her phone and wondered how she had slept through the night without interruption. The nightmares had not plagued her tonight, and she wondered why. Nevertheless, she chose to take it as a good thing and headed downstairs to meet Q.
The scent grew stronger as she stood at the top of the staircase. She strode downstairs and greeted Q as she took a seat at the kitchen table, which was covered in various papers.
"Morning," he said, kissing her on the cheek as he set down a cup of coffee in front of her.
"Morning. How long have you been up?" she asked.
"Not long. I just started breakfast," he said as a pot of soup bubbled behind him. "I had a bit of time, so I connected my computer via satellite signal and triangulated Pavlenko's location. He's still in Moscow, but there doesn't seem to be anything obstructing his schedule so far."
"Great," Alexa said as she took a sip of her coffee. He took a seat across from her and examined the papers on the table for a moment before shifting his gaze to her.
"So, what do you have in mind?" he asked. Alexa pulled out a large sheet from under her coffee of the base's blueprints.
"The Bolshoye base is shaped like a large rectangle, with a small courtyard in the centre. It's situated in between the forest and a lake. Guards patrol the fence and gated entrance, but there's a shipment of supplies that will be coming in tomorrow. The plan is to intercept the truck as it leaves the warehouse in Yemtsa at 3 PM. That's the last delivery of the day, so we'll tell them that we outsourced from Savinsky. The trucks are left there overnight, so we can grab it and take the supplies. It takes at least 2 hours to traverse the mountain road, so we can get there when it's dark."
"When we reach the gate and they flag us through," she continued, pointing on the map, "we'll head in through the back entrance, which leads directly to their storage room. Through the storage room is a hallway, with one camera monitoring the junction at the end. You'll take a left at the junction towards the end door that holds the monitor room, where you can alert me if any other guards come running."
"I'm supposed to leave you alone in a building with at least 40 guards on the premises?" Q said, raising an eyebrow.
"It'll be fine," she said breezily. "Just listen to the rest of the plan."
"While you're there, I'll head down this hall and take a right towards the staircase on the east side of the base. This will put me near the dormitories. From there, I can advance to the west side of the base. There's a fork in the road where I'll monitor and corner Pavlenko," she said. Alexa watched carefully for Q's reaction, and she could tell that he did not like the idea of leaving her to fight 40 soldiers.
"Look, can't I follow you up-" he began.
"Just stay and monitor me down there, in case we have any trouble," Alexa protested. "We need all of the guards eliminated."
"And what about the children too? What happens to them?" Q said, folding his arms across his chest.
"Well, how long has it been since they were put in the program?" Alexa said. She watched as he typed away at his computer until he found his answer.
"Not long. The information from your drive shows that the Agency bribed the head of the National Committee of Education to distribute an experimental aptitude test that every school took supposedly for research purposes. Over 60 children qualified, but they took only the top 20 scorers. From Pavlenko's emails, he decided that instead of killing the parents this time, they would make it seem like the twenty new recruits disappeared. The children, usually aged from 5-7, have been held and transferred to different warehouses around the country, before finally being delivered here two weeks before we arrived in Russia," he said.
"Okay," Alexa sighed, pressing a hand to her temples. "M wouldn't want us to keep them alive, but it's only been a month since they've disappeared and a few weeks since they began."
"Is that civil disobedience I sense?" Q said, raising an eyebrow.
"In a way. We can't just leave them to die, especially when they have a chance to go back home," Alexa muttered. "Even if we leave them to die and kill Pavlenko, the public still won't know about the program and the whole damned game might start all over again, just with new players."
"And the children? What would happen to them after this all blows over if we were to help them?" he replied.
"We would return them home to their parents. They would tell everyone of the program they were forced into, and sanctions would be made to deter anyone from doing this again," she said.
"And what of you? People will come for payback, Alexa, once they know the whole story and that you were the original assassin that they sent to kill people," Q protested. "This could all blow up, if we don't handle this consideration carefully."
"Come now, it's nothing we can't work through, is it?" Alexa said, sipping her coffee.
"I know. I'm just voicing my concern now," he sighed. She could see that he was worried not only for her well-being, but also for the safety of their future together. Alexa decided to calm his fears and lightened the mood by placing her hand on his.
"Well, you are deft at tying up these loose ends, so dazzle a girl with your brilliance, Mr. Holmes," Alexa said cheekily. "What's your plan?"
"Right, then," he said as a small smile remained on his lips. "So if we do get these children and their parents tell the media what happened, MI6 would have to take credit for the mission. No other country or organization could possibly explain the entire process we went through to catch the Agency."
"Alright, but what happens if they ask us how we did it?" she said. "Do we say what really happened, or change the truth?"
"We have to lie a bit, so that you'll stay safe," he said. "We'll have to tell them that we were researching the videos and who sent them, and we found a certain group associated to the dead victims. Information and inquiries were able to lead us to a "former worker" in the Operation Chetiri scheme."
"Ah!" Alexa said, her eyes lighting up. "I see what you mean. The former worker will have given you the scoop before going into protective custody, is that right?"
"Exactly. We'll feed them decommissioned information about the program, that the first batch of candidates ended with you and Peter. This next bit depends on your choice: if you want Peter to be the one to be tied to those videos of not," Q said.
Alexa was silent for a moment, before she shook her head. "Those aren't his crimes to answer for. Pin them on me," she said. "Besides, I'm marked on those files as deceased anyway, so they can't come after me anymore."
"Okay," he nodded. "It's one way we could explain this, but this way will keep you safe. People in Kodino will finally know what happened to you, if we succeed in tricking the world into believing us."
"Global manipulation? How devious," Alexa smirked.
"Too much?" he replied, raising an eyebrow.
"Not at all. I like it," she said, setting down her cup.
"I'll warn you, though- You will have to abandon Alexandra Nikolova for a new identity, though," he said.
"That's alright. It's nothing new. Maybe I was never really meant to keep that name after all, especially with everything that's been happening," she said softly.
"That's okay. I've already got a new surname for you," he mumbled as he stood up.
"What?" Alexa said, not hearing what he said.
"Nothing," Q called as he poured them two bowls of soup.
"Ok..." Alexa said distractedly as she looked at the papers in her hands. "What might happen after all of this?"
"Everyone will know about the program, and they should make sanctions so no one ever does it again. I'm sure some may petition for Pavlenko to answer for Operation Chetiri, but it's impossible. It would never go to the International Criminal Court," Q said.
"I hate to say it, but that's true. Even though Pavlenko was the head of an organization that broke 7 of the 16 crimes against humanity listed in the Rome Statute, the court still can't do anything because the operation took place in Russia, which hasn't ratified the Rome Statute," Alexa said.
"Right. If the Russian government doesn't make a trial, the court can legally strike, but only if Russia accepts the court's jurisdiction. Even so, the operation took place in 1989, long before the statute was even put into effect," Q replied as he set a bowl in front of her.
"Thanks," Alexa said as she picked up the spoon. "We'll just have to kill Pavlenko, then."
"You weren't intending on letting him live anyway, were you?"
"Nope," Alexa said firmly. "Not with everything that he's done. He'll end up like the others before him."
"Good," Q said, before taking a sip of his tea once more.
"Is it really?" Alexa said dryly.
"Not to them out there," Q said. "But when you're in the MI6, and you know that man could threaten the people's security, he has to go."
Alexa merely shrugged, knowing that this was the stark reality of the world of espionage- cause trouble, and you will answer for it. This was something she was prepared to make known to Pavlenko, in the same harsh way she had been taught years ago.
The remainder of that day was spent in preparation for the mission tomorrow. Q's equipment (mainly their weapons) had been tested by making a makeshift shooting range in the pasture. As Alexa cleaned and loaded her weapons, Q had connected to the security server on the base and installed tracers that he could activate remotely so they could enter the building undetected.
Alexa was quiet for the majority of the day, except for when she needed something from Q. She had been lost in her own thoughts and was mentally preparing herself for the bloodshed that could surely arise in the future. In her silence, she made a quiet promise to herself to help the young children in the base get out safely and return them home. She had known the feeling of being stolen away from the warmth of her family's love long ago, and it left a pain that she did not wish any child to undergo anymore.
Q noticed her silence and took it gratefully to retreat into his own thoughts. He had a subject that he wished to speak to her about, but he had no idea how to approach the topic. For one, he was in an area that was psychologically and emotionally traumatizing for her to be in, and there was no real way for him to lead into his desired subject. It was a matter that troubled him, but he knew that he had to speak to her about it before the mission.
That evening, Q sat in the living room with a stack of photo albums in his lap. He had already prepared for bed and had encountered a few old pictures. Q flipped through old photographs of Alexa's youth and found himself chuckling at a picture of her gleefully running barefoot around her father's clinic with a stethoscope.
"What are you laughing at?" Alexa called as she stepped into the room from the kitchen.
"These. You were endearing as a child," he said. She took the spot next to him and a smile lit up her face as she thumbed through a blue photo album.
"I remember a little bit of this one," she smiled. "Our adventure to the Black Sea, we called it. I was afraid to go near the water until mum brought me in."
"What about this one?" Q said, pointing at another photograph of a young Alexa sitting on the steps of a white house with her grandmother, father, and mother. She held a basket and was grinning widely in a faded yellow dress.
"That was Easter Day. We always celebrated it with dinner at Grandmother's house after doing the egg roll in town," she chuckled.
"What?" Q said, looking curiously at her.
"You know, you roll red eggs down a grassy hill," she said, looking confused.
"We hunt for them, not push them down a hill," he chuckled.
"Same difference. Still has to do with eggs," she said breezily. He nodded as she leant against him and flipped the page.
"You seemed so happy," he said. "It was your first time doing it, I assume?"
"It was. We were all so happy then," she said softly. "What a nice little life we had."
"We'll make a nice life of our own, hmm?" he said quietly.
"Sure," she yawned, not fully acknowledging what he had said. Alexa stood up, stretching slightly.
"It's early, but I'll head off to bed. We have a lot to do tomorrow," she said.
"Alright. I'll put these back," he said as he watched her go. He spent a few minutes downstairs, but found himself stopping to look outside before she went upstairs. Before long, he became lost in his thoughts and stood staring out the window in the living room, his gaze faraway from the snowflakes falling outside.
He shifted slightly but did not flinch as he felt Alexa's arms wrap around his waist. His body felt warm against hers, and his faint aroma of Earl Grey tea was more familiar and comforting than any scent she had known. Q turned his gaze away from the window and shifted his body to face hers. His fingers laced together to hold her in his arms and he smoothed her hair back.
"Why the cuddling? You've had me around all day," he teased.
"It's nothing. I'm just enjoying a quiet moment, that's all," she said, rolling her eyes with a small smile on her lips. "You coming?"
"Soon. I'll enjoy it while it lasts," Q said in response, kissing her on the forehead. She could feel his grip around her tighten slightly, and she let out a sigh as she leant against him.
"Q," she said, looking up at him. He did not respond and continued to look at the frozen world outside the window.
"Look at me," she said softly. His eyes drifted to hers, and he looked at her with a questioning looking his eyes.
"Yes?"
"Don't say that. We'll be fine out there," she chided gently as she smiled at him. He could not return her smile and retreated into silence, a sign that seemed to trouble her.
"But really, what if we're not? What if I lose you out there, or if you lose me?" he asked suddenly.
"You won't lose me, and I won't lose you. I won't let that happen, because you said it yourself. I'm possible with you," she said softly. He let out a quiet, contemplative hum before shifting uncomfortably against her.
"Alexa," he said softly, with a note of hesitance in his voice.
"Hmm? What?" she asked, turning her head slightly to look at him.
"There's something that I've been meaning to ask you," Q said, his eyes not meeting hers. She looked at him with a hint of worry in her eyes and wondered what was bothering him.
"Well, go on. What is it?" she said curiously. He did not seem to acknowledge her words and continued mumbling quietly.
"I mean, I've been thinking about it for the past few months, really, but the timing's never been great to ask. Your grandmother made me think of it again, and I reckon now is a better time than never-" he said nervously, fiddling with his fingers.
Alexa let out a chuckle and put a hand on his cheek. "Come now, what's made you so nervous? It's endearing, but it only makes me wonder what you're going to ask me," she said. He was silent for a moment before he let out a soft sigh.
"I suppose I should say it," Q said. "What sort of work do you do, Alexa?"
The question took her by surprise, and she wondered why he could be so nervous about such a thing. "Erm...well, you know that! I'm an MI6 agent," she said.
"Right. And what occupational hazard do you deal with most?"
"Death, naturally. Look, Q, I don't understand. Why are you-" she began. He quieted her and placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Just listen, alright? I'll explain it as I go," he said. She bit her lip and finally nodded, waiting for his explanation.
"Alexa, you face the possibility of death each time you leave for a mission, and I always worry while you're away. The only way I can ease that worry is by telling myself that you have something worth fighting for and more to come home to than an empty house," he said.
"Okay, go on," she said, sounding slightly confused.
"But those are just words, and I don't know if you feel that you have something that keeps you going and motivated to stay alive," he said.
"Oh, that's not true-" she began.
"For the time being, I've assumed this to be true," he said. She blinked and stared at him before letting out a sigh.
"And what do you plan to do about this?" Alexa said.
"I'd like to give you a better reason for you to avoid death," he said softly, before bending down and kneeling on one knee. She stared at him, looking bewildered, before her eyes flashed with recognition. His dubious errand, his question about her finger measurements, his mother's excitement all led to one thing, and she mentally berated herself for being so oblivious to the truth.
"Hang on, are you..." she began, her voice trailing off. He merely responded with a hopeful look that caused her to gasp sharply. "Holy shit, you're serious?"
"I haven't even done anything," he exclaimed in mock-protest, with a roll of his eyes.
"W-well...do it, then!" she stuttered, unable to find the right words to say. He shifted slightly and looked back up at her.
"Alexa, in the past year and thirteen weeks that I've known you, you've become one of the most important people in my life, and you are the only one who I'm willing to entrust my heart to. Very few people have found a place in my heart, but you're one of the only exceptions. You are gorgeous, intelligent, and the loveliest woman I've ever had the pleasure of knowing, and I've never been more afraid of losing anyone than I have been with you. So, I got you this," he said, pulling a small box out of his pocket. Q opened it to reveal a small diamond ring with a subtle silver band.
Alexa was unable to speak and felt tears filling her eyes. He had chosen her, despite the things she had done and the trouble she could lead him into. She couldn't believe that he was doing this, but she didn't mind that he was doing it either. "You're serious? Me?" she squeaked.
"Of course," he scoffed. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"Well, I just...I mean, I don't know what to think," Alexa confessed. "Are you sure? We've only been dating for a little while, and I've dragged you into a lot of trouble-"
"I don't care how socially inappropriate it is to marry a girl after only dating for a few months. I love you, and that's all that matters," he promised.
"And now? Really?" she said incredulously.
"Why I wanted to ask was because we both run the risk of death while we're here, and in the scenario that we both die, we might as well die with you knowing that you are this important to me. With this ring also comes a promise, that we'll both do our best to stay alive so that we can actually get married," he said. Q paused for a moment before looking up at her once more.
"Look, I know this is far from the ideal proposal. There are no flowers, no traditional candlelit dinner, or any of that. I'm even proposing to you in the place that traumatized you, for God's sake," he said, looking sheepishly at her. "The timing is terrible, but it's all I have, and I apologize for that."
"Q, you don't have to apologize for a good thing," Alexa said, laughing slightly despite her current emotional state. "Just ask me formally, and it'll be good enough for me."
"Alright, well...Alexandra Nikolova, will you marry me?" he said hesitantly. Her eyes were bright with joy and she nodded for the time being, unable to speak.
"Yes!" Alexa finally said, tears shining in her eyes. His eyes showed a look of relief, and he let out a sigh.
"That's wonderful. Thank you," he said, giving her the brightest smile she had ever seen on his face. He slipped the ring onto her finger and squeezed her hand gently. As he stood up, she wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his chest.
"No, thank you. I love you," she said, her voice muffled. Q squeezed her gently and looked at her.
"Come on, why are you hiding? No need to be shy," he chuckled, smoothing her hair back.
"I'm just happy, that's all," she said as she looked up at him. Her cheeks were a light shade of pink, and she gave him a grin. "Mind if I kiss you?"
"You're my fiancée now, so by all means, go ahead," Q smirked.
She gladly wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him in to press her lips deeply against his. Q made no attempt at protesting and returned her kiss with equal fervor, happy that she had accepted his love. His grip around her waist tightened as he deepened their kiss, finding the faint taste of her cherry lip balm nothing short of exquisite. She let out a noise of surprise as she felt him pick her up and could not help but laugh as he twirled her around.
"I think you've made me the happiest woman alive, Q," she said breathlessly. "Thank you."
"I believe I should thank you for doing the same," he said, unable to keep the smile off his lips. As he led her upstairs, she stole a quick kiss before looking up at him once more.
"I can't believe I didn't notice, though," she said. "Everything was there: your errand, that question you asked me about my fingers, your excited mother...how could I be so oblivious to all of it?"
"I don't know. Maybe my powers of deduction didn't rub off on you after all," he teased, opening the door to the room.
"This was once, though," Alexa said offhandedly as she climbed into bed.
"Still counts," he chided gently as he wrapped his arms around her as they settled into bed. "Now, go to sleep. We have a long day tomorrow."
"I know, but I can't," she grumbled. "I'm too excited to sleep now, thanks to you."
"Just try, at least," he said. She let out a huff and nestled herself into him.
"Fine, fine. Good night, Q," she said with a smile on her face. "I love you."
"Good night, Alexa. I love you," he mumbled, kissing her on the forehead. "And I always will, no matter what happens tomorrow."
"What do you mean?"
"I'll most likely watch you kill someone at some point tomorrow, or possibly learn something unsavory about you tomorrow. I'm just saying I'll still love you, even if that happens. I promise," he said softly.
"Good to know. No matter what, I'll do the best I can to make sure we have the chance to make a nice little life of our own too," she said. "I promise on that."
"I know you'll keep it," he said, before his lips touched hers for the last time that night. In the air was a hope that they never said to each other, but always acknowledged before either one of them headed off to danger. Each kiss, no matter how sweet, always held an ounce of trepidation with it. The couple retreated silently into their own thoughts, with each one fearing the same thing—they hoped that this kiss would not be one of their last.
For those of you who guessed it, you're right! They're getting married! (If they don't die first, of course...)
Well, what do you think? Will they beat Pavlenko? Will they stop Operation Chetiri for good? Tell me your thoughts and stay tuned to find out in the next chapter of Agent Chetiri!