Mirena stared at the phone sitting on the coffee table in front of her for what seemed like hours. She promised herself that if Mags called again, she would pick it up and talk to her. The problem was since she had made that promise to herself, the phone had rung exactly six times and exactly six times she failed to pick it up.
"Bloody hell, Rena." Mirena turned towards Deckard who was watching the entire thing unfold from the kitchen.
"What? It's...complicated." Deckard rolled his eyes and brought her a mug of French press, placing a kiss to the side of her head.
"I know. I know, love." He said with apologetic eyes that turned cold almost as quick as they came to rest on his face.
"But if you don't call her now, I'm gonna ship you off to her front door." He said aggressively before heading upstairs to his office space. Mirena flipped his back off as he went and shook her head. She glanced at the phone again and groaned before reaching for it. She didn't have enough time to hang up or regret her decision because Magdalene Shaw picked up on the first ring.
"Why is it so fuckin' bloody hard to pick up a phone?"
"Lovely to hear your voice too, Mags." Mirena said unenthusiastically, grabbing her mug and heading out on the balcony.
"Now, 'was this I 'ear about you and Owen?"
"We're getting a divorce," Mirena said, matter-of-fact and ready to roll with the punches.
"For the love...Are you tryna kill your poor mother-in-law in prison? Eh?"
"No, Maggie, I'm not- Wait. What? Prison?" Mirena choked, setting her mug down on the patio table.
"Maggie...How did you get a phone in prison?" She inquired, turning her back to the railing and leaning up against it.
"Don't you want to know what it is I did, ducky?" Mirena chuckled, crossing her arms and looking up at the greying sky.
"No thanks. I rather like plausible deniability. Does Deck know?" She asked, grabbing the mug and heading inside as the sky became darker.
"No, he doesn't But that's what you're for right? Least you could do after tearing my boys apart."
"Maggie, that isn't fair," Mirena said, padding up the steps to Deckard's bedroom.
"I 'fink it's more than fair. I have a hard enough time with Hattie talking to the family, I didn't need my boys fighting too."
"Well, if it makes you feel any better, I think they're gonna be fine. It's just me Owen is mad at." She said, looking through the blinds down at the bustling city.
"Good thing you'll have a change of pace soon. You all need a break from one another." Mirena frowned at the sound of Magdalene's voice.
"What are you talking about?"
"The move. To London." She said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Mirena's jaw tightened as she tried to process what was happening.
"What?"
"Oh..Decks didn't mention it yet? He's making a move back to London. Within the monf' I 'fink he said." Mirena pinched the bridge of her nose and tried her best to relax before she had to speak to the man down the hall.
"Probably just forgot. Like how you forgot to mention you're in prison." She mumbled, poking her head down the hall to make sure he was staying put in his office.
"But don't worry, I'll make sure he knows. Goodbye Maggie."
"Mirena," The sound of her name halted her finger hovering over the end call button and prompted her to put the phone back to her ear.
"Yes?"
"I love you." Mirena rolled her eyes and stifled a frustrated growl as she battled with herself. It was like pulling teeth.
"I love you too, mom." She said through gritted teeth before ending the call and letting out a loud, frustrated groan. The sound of Deckard chuckling in the other room set her emotions aflame.
"I take it you spoke with my mother, then?" He smirked, not tearing his eyes away from the computer screen. Mirena leaned in the doorway, tongue in cheek.
"I did. We had a lovely conversation actually," She said. Deckard turned in his chair, not liking her tone. Judging by it, something had happened or he had done something wrong.
"You say that but it really sounds like you don't mean it."
"Oh no, it was lovely. She asked me how I was doing, told me you're planning on moving back to London and...hmm what was that last thing..oh, that's right, she's currently incarcerated." Deckard shook his head to process her words and raised his hand, signaling her to stop.
"Wait, how did she manage a cellphone in prison?" Mirena reached down for the boot that sat near the door and hurdled it towards Deckard, who caught it.
"That's your first reaction!? Not, hmm, maybe I should have told Mirena about moving before she made my brother sign divorce papers?" She asked incredulously before she rubbed her face with her hands. Deckard stood, crossing his arms over his broad chest and looking down at Mirena pointedly.
"Was that all it was going to take? A change of scenery was going to make you leave again?" Mirena scoffed and placed her hands on her hips, taking a step forward in a power stance.
"Don't say that like I'm the one who left the first time."
"Don't go all Mother Teresa on me, we both know-"
"We both know that it was our collective dick-headedness that got us here. Don't you go pinning that all on me." She said, prodding him in the chest. Deckard sighed and held his hands up in defense.
"You're right. You're right, alright? I didn't think that when I put the down payment on the house that I'd even have to think about consulting anyone, especially you." He reasoned, making Mirena's body language softened.
"That's fair." She said quietly, understanding why but still trying to wrap her head around picking up all of her life and moving to London.
"I didn't even think you would want to go," Deck said, pressing his lips together.
"What even makes you think I want to go?" Mirena smirked. Deckard pointed back behind her to the hallway.
"The way you came in here and ripped me a new asshole. That's what." Mirena smiled down at her feet and took a few steps forward towards Deck.
"Alright..maybe I do..want to go." She said, earning that signature Shaw smirk.
"Is that so?" He jested, gripping her hips as she snaked her arms around his neck.
"Shut up." She sighed, pulling him to her by the nape of his neck.
Mirena sighed at all of the boxes around her. Never in a million years did she think she'd be back here, picking up after Deckard and cleaning up the house. This time, it was to move. It was about time, though. When they were married, she made him move all the way out to LA when they first started working so it was only fitting that now they were...whatever they were, she move back to his home.
It was everything she had expected of Deckard. It was a four-floor walk-up with a built-in garage underneath and paned glass enclosing most of the walls. It wasn't her favorite, he knew how she felt about glasshouses in general, they made her feel vulnerable. She had to give it to him though, the view was spectacular from every angle of the house...when it wasn't fucking raining that is. Every time she looked outside the sky was grey and gloomy. That's why she hated England.
"Has it ever been sunny here? Like ever?" She called as Deckard came down the stairs with an empty box and tossed it towards the front door with the others.
"You love the rain." He countered, pressing a kiss to the top of her head as he passed by her to get to the kitchen items.
"Loving rain and being consumed by it and an ungodly amount of gray is a completely other thing. Speaking of!" She snapped, pulling out two pillows she had found to go in the living room.
"I was thinking light gray on top of the dark gray...what do you think?" She asked sarcastically as Deckard chuckled at her teasing of the monotonous colors.
"I will get more than six shades of gray in here, Deckard Shaw, mark my words." She threatened, throwing the pillow in his direction, having it land on the back of his head before falling to the dark wood flooring. Deck sighed, bracing himself on the kitchen island before turning around to face Mirena.
"You are about to start a game you aren't going to want to finish, Rena." He threatened, making Mirena perk up at his words. She was so sick of unpacking all of these boxes, she could use a little exercise.
"Oh...I'm not?" She questioned, rising from her criss-cross position on the floor. Deckard had turned back to the box labeled "Pans and such" so he couldn't see the wicked smile Mirena had on her face. She wrapped her arms around his middle, resting her palms on his chest as she trailed kisses down his spine, finally making Deckard look up from the box.
"Rena, we'll be unpacking for months if you keep this up." He warned as her hands slipped from his chest to snake under his henley which was her half-assed attempt at getting his shirt off. Deck sighed and turned around to face Mirena, his hands on his hips as he looked down at her accusingly.
"You're sure about this?" He questioned and the small woman nodded quickly, her bottom lip not captured between her teeth. Deck rolled his eyes before he peeled off his shirt and tossed it to the couch. Mirena let out a gleeful squeal as he scooped her up onto his hips and placed her down atop the island.
"Mmm, I love unpacking." She sighed out as Deck began attacking her neck with kisses.
"Shit, shit, shit" Mirena swore as the door clicked open and she heard Deck's heavy footsteps approach the den.
"Rena, what the bloody fuck are with all the boxes out front- Jesus Christ." He said, dropping his bag and taking in the sight of the room. Mirena was barely finished hanging up stockings but other than that, she had turned the house into a wonderland...minus the lights that she still had to convince Deckard to hang.
"Oh, you hate it." She frowned as she watched him inspect everything from the tree to the decorative lights strung about.
"I don't hate it, love. It just...seems silly is all." Mirena frowned as he approached, and snaked her hands around his neck.
"You mean pointless." She said, reading the Englishman like a book. Deck looked at her sheepishly and nodded before rubbing his face.
"What's the point with both of us running off. You know our busy time is the holiday season." He reasoned and Mirena groaned. He was right but she craved normalcy...well...some parts of it anyways.
"But...if this is what it takes to make you happy then I suppose the tree is a nice touch." He complimented before leaning down to kiss her softly.
"But I'm not hanging any bloody lights outside." He said sternly as he pulled away. Rena scoffed and placed her hands on her hips.
"Give me one good reason why not!" She called as he grabbed his bag from the floor.
"It's fucking demented to hang Christmas lights up on a palm tree and even more demented to do it when it's 85 degrees outside." He said as he headed up the steps to the bedroom.
"That's...a decent reason. Shit!" She swore, defeated.
Mirena ran her hand over Deck's bare chest, lazily tracing shapes and enjoying the warmth and contact from him. Their escapade had landed them from the island to the dining table and finally to the floor in front of the fireplace. Somewhere between switching locations, Deck had managed to snag a few throw blankets from one of the boxes to save their asses from the cold wood flooring.
"You know what would look spectacular over the fireplace? Stockings...and a nativity." She said with a grin, lifting her head to see Deck still had his eyes closed and an arm behind his head.
"When Christmas comes, you can do whatever your heart desires." He said, his thumb running circles around her bare shoulder.
"You're kidding. When did you become Mr. Christmas?" She scoffed before snuggling closer to him.
"When we started living somewhere that's actually cold during Christmas." Mirena chuckled and settled back into his warmth, allowing herself to relax and maybe fall asleep.
"You tell Mr Nobody about your transfer overseas?" Deck asked as Miena felt herself falling asleep.
"Right..Well, actually, I have re-enlisted myself for mercenary work as of last Thursday? Two Thursdays ago?" Deck sat up quickly, bringing Mirena up with him.
"When were you going to mention that?" He asked, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Probably around the same time I was going to mention putting Mr. Nobody on my blocked caller list. I've always hated working for the government, you know that." She said before countering his bickering with her own.
"Isn't this all too similar to doing whatever it is you do with your damn black market scans and international drug whatever."
"The fate of the world is in my hands with my work." Mirena scoffed and rolled her eyes.
"Oh, get off your high horse with that crap. If I hear you talk about how you saved the world one more time, I'll blow my brains out. You act as if I wasn't even there!" She threatened.
"Look, I'm glad you're getting back into your work...just..be careful, it's all I'm saying." He said, pressing a kiss to her temple in hopes it would make her scowl go away but he knew better.
"I know more than you." She said, taking the blanket and wrapping around her fully before getting up to go to the bedroom.
"What?" Deck yelled, confused by her statement.
"I said what I said!" She called down the steps as she rounded the corner to the bedroom, slamming the door so hard it echoed throughout the home.