Chapter 16: After All is Said and Done

M got out of the shower and changed. She's lost weight on that liquid diet for the better part of a week. Looking at herself in the mirror she seemed...younger somehow, or maybe it was just the after effects of going back in time in her dreams.

M was just glad to be awake and home. Surprisingly she was still tired. It was tiring with so much vivid dreaming. She couldn't believe what had happened and had no idea how much of it was real. .

It seemed that they were in their own dreams in the beginning. However by the time Q tried to extract them and the power failed may have coincided with when the group of them joined together.

M looked forward to the doctor's and Q's final report on the matter before passing judgement on her own mind's failings. If anything they were a maelstrom of thoughts and memories of what was, and what could have been.

Truths uncovered and previously unvoiced.

M had hoped that it wasn't the case but she knew it was by the uncomfortable way Bond was staring at her earlier and Eve and Tanner kept subtly brushing their hands together, that what happened was real enough.

Q implied that probability before they all left. All thanks to that snake Parker. M had a mind to have him killed but she may need him for a witness for the fact that she was about to politically castrate Haines.

M had had a man watching him for years and she has enough photographic evidence alone to sink him. M had just been waiting for him to give her the excuse to do so.

"Fraternization at the office is not to be encouraged." M said to herself as she readied for bed.

"Why would that be M?" James Bond said from the now open doorway of her room.

M jumped and yelped, "Damn it! You could have killed me! What the hell are you doing in here? You were expected to wait downstairs or be in the guest room, since you insist on staying the weekend."

"Ordered to stay the weekend you mean. Both Doctors, Q and Mallory all decided it would be the best course of action to make sure that there are no...unexpected consequences of our trip to OZ."

M had to laugh at his analogy. "Be that as it may you manipulated the situation so that you could accompany me home. Honestly I'm surprised no one questioned further how you even know where I live."

"Come on M, after Skyfall they all suspect how I feel for you. Even if you cannot bring yourself to admit it after what happened with Silva. And after a week together in every possible fantasy scenario, I would have thought that was obvious. I know you don't want to admit it but I will. M; you mean a great deal to me and I want to take this further."

"Take what? This is absurd...Bond...I'm older...we cannot...not to mention I'm your boss."

Bond moved towards her and held out his hand to caress her cheek. "M, I believe I fell in love with you a long time ago. I never realized how much until my subconscious put you in my line of sight and we made love. Me the upstart viking and you the beautiful Queen."

M scoffed. "Bond you are not supposed to be here and me letting you get away with this only makes it worse. How could you suggest coming here...they will be watching. But I suppose it doesn't matter much now." M shrugged.

Bond looked confused. "Why M?"

"Mallory is gunning for my job and there are many in the government who feel I've been M too long and they want me out. I think..."

"Haines? Do you want me to do something about him?"

"No...can you imagine how that would look? Besides I already have a plan for him. Retirement. I am thinking about retirement."

"If you want to, you are well in your rights to do so. Although, I can't picture you sitting still not knowing what is going on. Maybe Mallory could be your co-M. Gradually leave. As for how any of this looks, to hell with them all. I think we make a perfect couple."

"I'm sure you do but I can imagine the uproar at Westminster if it came out that M was sending her lover out to take care of Haines, over a personal professional threat.

"Lover...you're not using that for a different meaning are you?"

"What do you think." M smiled and reached up around her most impetuous agent's neck, pulling him down to her level. Their first kiss did not feel knew. It felt as if they had know each other for an age.

After what they had been through, M felt that hiding her feelings from Bond would be a moot point. She objected only weakly in frustration, surprised at Bond's pursuit of her in the shared hallucinations they had been in for a week.

The guilt over the loss of her husband and the incident a Skyfall were falling away as the two of them showed each other exactly what they felt for each other.

They pulled away panting as they looked at each other. "I have to admit I'm surprised M."

"Why...you and I have been doing this dance for many years. And once we were in dreamland, I found out...much to my surprise that you thought of me the same way. I have always tried not to treat you differently but you are, and always have been my best agent and you can't lie in your dreams. You were there to help deal with both Silva and Nigel. I'm too old for games and far to old to wait any longer. If you are willing, then why shouldn't I seize life, while I still have the chance?"

Bond smiled. "Here's to seizing the day. I do love you M and I will keep this relationship as quiet as Eve and Tanner." He winked at M and twirled her around the room, ecstatic that this was real not just a desperate dream. "I have to say that I'm happily surprised and I love your pajamas."

M giggled like a school girl. "You're not so bad yourself 007."

"I love it when you say my number." Bond smirked.

M was right. This had been building over the time they knew each other. Her almost dying at Skyfall had cemented the fact that he loved her more than any woman he had ever know

"I know James and I love you too. There is no longer any need for verbal communication when the physical was oh so much more enjoyable. But I will not object to whispered sweet nothings."

M smiled a smile that Bond had not ever seen on her face before. "You little minx." Bond growled looking at her with a passion that took her breath away.

Bond pulled M into a passionate kiss as he moved her back towards her bed and a future that he had only ever dreamed of.

The end.