James knew that he had to be quick. He couldn't let Alison get far away from him. He had to be the one to sort this mess out and ensure that her wedding wasn't ruined. He had come back to London only one day ago and already he was ruining everything for her. He headed out of the apartment and pulled his phone out of his pocket when he saw that Alison was nowhere to be seen. Dialling Q's number, he waited for the quartermaster to answer.

"Please tell me you have sorted everything with Alison," Q answered the call and James could hear a booming voice behind him informing him that one train had arrived. He was in a train station, clearly.

"Not quite," Bond said. "I think I might have made things worse. She found my ticket to Jamaica and I…I know that I've hurt her…she's ran off somewhere and I don't know where she's gone. I told her that you came after me and I saw sense, but she didn't want to know."

"You dragged me into this?" Q snapped. "Well, thank you so much for that."

"Q," Bond said in a warning tone, indicating that he was not in the mood for discussing why he was to blame. "Can you find out where she is or not?"

"I don't need to track her phone to know where she'll have gone," Q retorted. "She goes to the park down the street whenever she needs time to think or is stressed. There's a bench by the pond. She'll be there."

"And if she isn't?"

"Then call me," Q said. "But she'll be there and you need to sort this out."

"That's what I want to do."

James hung up and placed his phone back into his pocket before heading to the park. He wandered along the paths, moving around passing families and couples as he spotted the pond in the distance. Sure enough, there she was. She was on the bench, legs pulled up to her chest and chin resting on her kneecaps. She had her gaze set on the water in front of her, watching the geese swim up and down, hissing at passing ducks as they went by.

Slowing his footsteps, James stood by the side of the bench. "Can we talk?"

He saw her move the back of her hand to her eyes, wiping away the tears as she shrugged. James took that as indifference and he settled down on the bench besides her, looking to his daughter and feeling an ache in his chest.

"Alison, I didn't mean to hurt you," Bond told his daughter. "And I never wanted to go…I never wanted to leave you."

"Then why did you even book that flight?" Alison asked from her father, tone softer but still harsh. "Why would you do that to me, dad? Why could you not have just called me first instead of assuming I wouldn't want you there? Of course I want you there."

"I know," James promised her. "And I know that it was a stupid idea and if I could take it back then I would. I would never have booked the flight…I would have come after you and sorted this sooner because the last thing I want to do the day before your wedding is have an argument and make you upset."

"Trust me, it's the last thing I want too," Alison promised her father. "And I don't want to argue with you, dad. I just…even the thought of you not being here…thinking that I would want to get married without you…"

"Was stupid, I know," James said to her. "But I'm not going to anywhere so long as you want me at your wedding…and I'm going to try and make it up to you anyway I can. You can be angry with me and upset, but not as angry as I am at myself."

Alison looked to her father and watched him for a few moments before she spoke. "You want to make it up to me?" she asked from him.

"Of course I do," James promised her.

"Then will you walk me down the aisle?"

James swore he felt a weight lift from his shoulders as he nodded his head, a soft smile forming on his face. "I'd love nothing more."

…

Alison and Q had gone out that evening with his parents, James tagging along and finding it fascinating to meet Q's mother and father. He had played the normal father, informing them that he worked with Q, but not that he was an agent. Q had told his parents certain pieces of information, but had omitted quite a bit out, namely that his fiancée's father was a spy and that had meant Alison had been placed in danger one too many times.

Bond had gone back to check-in to a hotel, sharing a cab with Q's parents as the quartermaster pleaded with him not to embarrass him. Bond simply smirked, a twinkle in his eye as he followed them into the cab. Alison had taken hold of Q by the hand and they had agreed to walk home instead of calling for a cab or using the tube.

"You know that your father would never have taken that flight," Q said now that he was alone with Alison.

"I know," Alison said, hand inside of his arm as she wandered by his side and they waited to cross the road and move away from Covent Garden. "It still hurt that he even did it, though, but I don't want to be angry with him…not when he clearly regrets it and we have other things to think about."

"Indeed we do," Q agreed with her on that point. "And I didn't tell you because-"

"-I know," she interrupted him, not wanting him to dwell on it as she looked up to him, giving his arm a squeeze in her grip. "I know why you didn't tell me, Q. You did it to protect me and it's fine. It's more than fine, actually, because all you ever do is try to keep me safe."

"I haven't done a brilliant job in many instances," Q said.

"Hey," Alison said, bumping her hip against his. "You are amazing and have done so much for me. Never ever doubt that."

"Is that why you're marrying me? A sense that you owe me a debt?" he teased her.

"Well, it's not for your money," she responded and he bumped against her, sending her moving slightly away from him as he grabbed her hand and pulled her back in an instant, his arm going over her shoulders as her hand kept hold of his, draping across her body. He bent down and kissed her squarely on the lips as she tilted her head up, gaze meeting his. He kept the kiss light and brief, knowing that they had to keep their wits about them so that they didn't bump into anyone.

"You also know that it's bad luck for the bride to see the groom the night before the wedding, right?"

"I wouldn't say we're traditional," Q retorted, pushing his glasses further onto his nose. "Besides, I'll be gone first thing in the morning. And…you…are you sure you're going to be alright with that?"

"I'll be fine," Alison assured him.

"I know that you had hoped that Madeleine would be here to help you get ready."

"That's not happening," Alison replied. "I just don't know how to bring the two of them back together. My dad doesn't trust people easily and I don't want to push him away, but Madeleine…if she didn't do this to him then it's not fair they don't get the chance to be together."

"Your father is stubborn minded," Q said. "I doubt you'll be able to change his mind."

"I know," Alison agreed. "But it might be a case of buying my time."

Q hummed softly as they walked across another road and the crowds quietened down slightly. "You can be quite good at scheming, but just promise me that you'll wait until after the wedding before you begin hatching your plot."

"I can do that," Alison assured him.

"Good," Q replied. "Because I would quite like a quiet honeymoon before we deal with drama once more."

Alison chuckled and nodded her head. She could agree with him on that point.

…

Bond had checked his reflection numerous times in the mirror before he had left in a taxi for his daughter's apartment. He paid for the fare and adjusted the dark blue tie against the white shirt he wore under his grey suit, hoping he looked smart enough. He rang the intercom and it took a few moments before Alison answered, buzzing him up. He climbed the steps towards her apartment to find her stood there, the door wide open. She had a fluffy dressing gown wrapped around her as she saw her father approach.

"You look very dapper," Alison said as she held the door open and Bond bent down to peck her on the cheek as he approached.

"And you look underdressed," Bond retorted.

"Ha, ha," Alison drawled, closing the door behind him. "I'm just about to get changed."

"Well, you should hurry up or Q might think that you have left him at the altar," Bond said to his daughter and she nudged him in the arm before moving off to her bedroom, shouting out to him as she went.

"You're not getting rid of him now," Alison said. "He's about to be your son-in-law."

"Christ," Bond muttered. "How did it come to this?"

"You insisted on taking me to the National Gallery that day," she reminded her father. "Anyway, help yourself to a drink…food…I'll be ten minutes."

Bond grunted his agreement and nodded, moving in her cupboards and finding the whiskey instantly. He had insisted she keep a bottle for when he decided to visit and it turned out she had done just that. He poured himself a small glass and thought about how he had ended up about to walk his daughter down the aisle to Q. She was right, though. If he had never taken her to the Gallery then she would never have met him. If he had never asked Q to watch over her while he had gone after Silva then they would never have grown close. But they were where they were and nothing was going to change that.

He sipped on the whiskey as he heard his daughter move around in the bedroom. He wondered how long it could take to get dressed before he saw her leave the room and he watched her push at the material of the skirt she wore. He gripped tightly onto the glass in his hand, wondering if he might drop it from shock.

The dress she wore was long with a skirt that flowed to her feet. It had long, lace sleeves with floral patterns and a high neckline. The lace detailing came just to her chest and the bodice clenched her waist, the floral pattern continuing all the way over the gown. There was no veil and her hair was curled, hanging in a loose bun at the nape of her neck with loose curls dangling down the nape of her neck. She had a necklace hanging around her neck and the blue pendant glimmered in the light.

"Alison…you look…"

"Is it alright?" Alison wondered, still smoothing out the skirt's material. "I didn't know if it was too much. I wanted a simpler gown for the evening, but this one I've had for ages for the daytime…maybe I should have taken it back and gone for a plainer gown."

"No," Bond said, shaking his head. "You look amazing, Alison…so beautiful."

"Really?" Alison checked.

"Really," he promised her, moving towards her and taking her cheek into his hand, looking down onto her with a sad smile. "Your mother would be so proud, Alison, never doubt that."

"You think so?"

"I know so," Bond promised her and he embraced her tightly, trying not to crease her dress as she wrapped her arms around his midriff and he kissed the top of her head. "And she's not the only one."

…

Q was struggling not to pace as he stood at the front of the room. The registry office was nicely decorated, he would admit to that. There were flowers dotted around in tall pots that made the room feel slightly more romantic. There were chairs that were covered in white fabric with silk ribbons around them, but only his mother and father occupied them. As he looked to the window, he couldn't help but think about how this was a far cry to what they'd had planned.

The Manor House they had initially booked had been grand and lavish, with sweeping green lawns and a number of reception rooms that were intricately decorated. Alison had fallen in love with it and Q had to admit that it had been stunning. They had intended on inviting Q's friends from university alongside some of his work colleagues. Alison was also going to invite her university friends and some of her teaching friends, but no family except her father. Q, on the other hand, had considered inviting his extended family, but when the venue had cancelled on them, they had thought long and hard about other alternatives.

He wondered if Alison would be disappointed when she walked in. He knew that his parents had hoped that their only son would have a grander wedding so that they could celebrate with other family members. But they had said nothing other than express their delight with him being happy. As long as he was happy then they were happy.

"You should stop pacing, son," his father said.

Q looked to his dad. He was dressed in a navy suit with a purple shirt and dark purple tie. He was a tall, slender man with greying hair. He pushed his glasses further onto his nose as his mother rested her hand on his arm.

"He's nervous, John," she said.

"He's putting a hole in the carpet, Mary," he responded.

Mary smiled softly to her son and rolled her eyes at his father's comments. His mother tugged down the silver dress she wore with the bolero over it. She had nude tights on her legs and had curled her black hair so that it hung down her back loosely. He knew that his parents adored Alison. They visited London whenever they could and Q had taken her home to meet them a few times as well. She had always been the perfect daughter-in-law to them.

"I think we're ready."

The registrar walked in and smiled to Q as he nodded his head. He remained stood where he was, waiting patiently as the music started and he waited with patience for the doors to open. Looking down the aisle, he saw Bond hold the door open and his other hand was holding onto Alison's. Q let his gaze rake over Alison and his mouth gaped open at the sight of her. His breath hitched in his throat as he looked over the white dress she wore, drinking in its intricate pattern and the high neckline.

She held onto her father's arm and walked by his side, Bond's gaze set down on her and remaining only on her. She peered up to him and gave him an encouraging smile before her eyes moved over to Q and she met his gaze. He was dressed in a smart, blue suit. His hair was neatly brushed on top of his head and he had a dark blue tie around his neck and over his crisp, white shirt. He watched as she finally stood before him and James continued to hold his daughter's hand.

"Look after her," Bond said, gaze meeting Q's.

The quartermaster nodded his head. "Of course," he said and James squeezed Alison's fingers before letting Q take her hand.

"Because I still carry a gun," Bond added on and Alison nudged her father in the arm as he chuckled and bent down to kiss her and Q rolled his eyes, finally letting his fingers squeeze Alison's tightly.

He met her gaze as Bond took a step back and he watched her as she looked at him, smiling widely. Nodding his head, he knew that there was no going back now. They were finally going to be married.

…

"What're you doing?" Alison shrieked as they came to their apartment door.

Q moved quickly, hearing Alison laugh shrilly as he picked her up into his arms and carried her forwards, struggling to keep a grip of her because of the swatches of material around her legs.

"I believe it is customary for the groom to carry the bride over the threshold, is it not?" he checked with Alison.

"I didn't think that we did anything traditionally," Alison responded and Q somehow managed to open the door without dropping her to the floor.

Entering the apartment, he set her down and kicked the door shut before bending down to kiss her once more, the motion tender and sweet as she reached a hand up to his neck, running her fingers along it softly before closing her eyes and letting him back her into the bedroom where they spent the next few hours wrapped up in each other.

The day had been better than Alison had imagined. They had gone out for a meal afterwards and drank champagne before Q returning home. Q had spent the entire afternoon unable to take his gaze from his bride, looking down at his wedding ring and wondering if he would get used to the feeling of its weight soon enough. It felt so different.

The clock struck ten in the evening and Alison rolled over onto her front, a hand moving to Q's chest and running along it until she had cupped his cheek in her hand. Looking down at her, he watched as she propped herself onto her elbow and kissed him once more.

"Hmm," he hummed gently. "You're insatiable, my wife."

"Don't tell my you're already tired," she teased him, pecking at his lips once more.

"I just need a break," he said, a free hand moving along her side as she nestled against his side and his other arm went around her shoulders. "Besides, we have plenty of time…we have an entire marriage to fill with being together."

"You say that, but what happens when we get older…have kids…we need to make the most of our time together."

"Have kids?" Q questioned from her. "I had thought that was quite a while away for us."

"It is," Alison said, "but…well…who knows what might happen?"

"You're not trying to tell me you're pregnant, are you? Because I have had quite enough excitement for one day."

"No, I'm not pregnant," Alison responded almost too quickly and Q nodded as she kissed him once more to stop him from saying anything on that topic.

…

A/N: Do let me know what you think! I'm going to be doing a few time skips to get onto No Time To Die soon enough but would love your thoughts in the meantime!