"Aren't curious?"
Roxy looked up from the book she was reading. "About what?"
"The new Arthur! I'm dying to know who he is."
She raised an eyebrow up. "What if it's a woman?"
"Then I'm even more intrigued to know who she is." Eggsy grinned, receiving a hit from Roxy. "Don't worry, Roxanne, you're the only girl in my eyes."
"Is what every guy says to his best friend." Roxy cheekily retorted, getting up from the chair. "I'm starving!"
"Well, we have two hours until we're called into the introduction meeting so you want to go out and get some fish 'n' chips?" Eggsy asked, getting up from his seat as well.
Roxy contemplated the idea before nodding. "Where's your mum? Wasn't she meant to be back ages ago to take Ella?"
"We'll bring her with us, and probably by the time we're back she'll be here."
Roxy nodded, heading towards the playroom to get Ella as Eggsy took a detour to the coat wardrobe for her buggy.
"Hello, Ella! What's that you've got there?" Roxy cooed, carrying the young child.
"Ellie!"
"Ellie the Elephant? Oh, wow!" Roxy giggled, turning off the light as she made her way to the front door. "We're going on a little trip! To get some food and maybe we can go to the park. You like the park?"
Ella nodded, showing her pleasure at the sound of the park. "Park play?"
"Yeah, park play." Roxy repeated, strapping the young child into her buggy.
"You got everything? Your phone, keys, handbag, coat? You know, the female necessities they just cannot live without, eh?" Eggsy smirked, placing his hands on the handle of the buggy.
Roxy rolled her eyes, getting her stuff and putting her coat on. "You know I couldn't care less." she replied.
Eggsy scoffed a little. "Says you. Last time we were talking shop, you said that you were dying to have that 'Cherry Red Belle Lazer Razor Ultra-Lipstick with the matching 'Velvet Red Invisible Blush'!"
"As I am a female agent, shouldn't I have the premier female makeup set? That includes several things that has saved our lives in the past?" Roxy smirked, putting her lipstick on. "By the way, thanks for the birthday present."
"What-what birthday present?"
"The Peach Belle Lazer Razor Mega Ultra-Lipstick with the matching Rose Pink Magnifier Blush!" Roxy exclaimed, giggling.
Eggsy's smile dropped as he checked his pockets. "You took my wallet, didn't ya?" he realised.
"Yes and you are the most wonderful best friend a girl could have, Gary! Probably why I slept with you in the first place." she grinned, leaving.
Eggsy took a breath in and out before shaking his head and pushing Ella's buggy out the door.
Roxy was going to be the death of him.
...
"Do you miss her?"
"Who?"
"Your mum. Do you miss her?" Eggsy asked quietly as he pushed his sister on the swings.
Roxy sat on the second swing and shrugged, blushing slightly. "I miss her a lot but I don't remember her, you know?"
"Yeah, I know. I feel the same way about my dad."
"What was he like?"
"He was... he was a great dad. Took me fishing in the weekends he was home. Always came back with souvenirs after a case. The Kingsman necklace was the only thing I have left of him really. Dean got rid of any trace of Dad."
"I'm sorry."
"Nah, it's okay. Now I have this, the agency to keep him with me and that's more than anything really. Following in his footsteps."
Roxy nodded, watching Ella laugh as the wind blew on her face. "She's going to catch a cold, zip her up tighter." she commented.
Eggsy stopped the swing and fixed his sister's jacket, placing a long kiss on her head. "I don't know what I'd do with her. Or Mum. They're my everything." he whispered.
"I don't have anything." Roxy found herself saying, broken-heartedly.
Eggsy pulled her up and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, using his other to carry his sister. "You have us, doesn't she, Ells?"
"Roxy! Mine!" Ella giggled, reaching out to Roxy who happily took her into her arms.
Eggsy placed a kiss on the side of Roxy's head and brought her chin up so that she could look at him. "You have us. We're never going to leave ya."
Roxy smiled, blushing. She was about to say something when a street gang made their way up to them.
"Oi, oi! Look here, boys. It's Eggsy. And some fine piece of ass beside him. What's your name, sexy?"
"None of your business. Let's go, Gary," Roxy said, preventing Eggsy from replying. She could handle herself.
She strapped Ella into her buggy and started to push her away, hoping Eggsy would just leave it and follow her. But he didn't.
"It isn't nice to disrespect a woman. One with a higher capability than you. Apologise and all this can just go away." she heard him say. She kept walking away though, her heart beating in her chest.
Surely, he noticed that at least two of the five had guns and the rest had knives?
"Apologise? For what? Complimenting a fine ass? Nah, bro you must be trippin'."
Eggsy sighed, shaking his head. "Boys... You might have realised that I haven't been around lately."
"Yeah? You joined the army or what?" The leader laughed.
"I guess you could say that."
And she heard it. The grunts, the hits, the jabs. She closed her eyes, knowing and trusting that Eggsy would get out of this alive. She had no doubt, she had seen and heard him fight more than five guys before and the majority of them had guns.
"I really hate it when they don't listen." she finally heard.
She turned around, eyebrow raised. "Eggsy... I don't want you picking fights because of me." she said, looking at the unconscious bodies on the floor.
"They shouldn't disrespect you. What they said was uncalled for and if I want to pick fights, I'll do it to protect someone I care about. Let's go."
He took over in pushing his sister and watched as Roxy reluctantly walked further away from the bodies, following him.
Maybe he cares, she thought.
...
"Well? How long are we going to wait for?" Roxy asked, impatiently. "Not to be rude or anything but we have a toddler waiting with one of the shop's workers and he didn't seem too happy to take her."
Eggsy chuckled when he saw the other agents' faces. "She's my little sister, don't worry. Lancelot and I are not romantically involved or anything."
"Well, Arthur is here now so you can relax." Merlin said, rolling his eyes.
The door opened. The sound of heels sounded the room and nobody dare look until she had sat down.
They all waited for her to speak. From Merlin's facial features, Eggsy guessed he already knew her.
"Afternoon,"
Her voice was velvet-like and very recognisable.
"Mum?"
Michelle sighed, turning to face Eggsy with a smile. "Galahad, it's lovely to see you. Are you surprised?"
"Surprised is an understatement, Michelle." Roxy exclaimed. "Sorry, Arthur."
Michelle sighed again. "I've been involved since after my husband died, Lancelot. Harry got me into this. I knew that Eggsy would be safe with him before he died when Dean got... mad. I knew all about where you went, honey, Harry kept me updated. I never meant to keep this from you but there was a high risk of Dean finding out."
Eggsy's heart beat loud in his chest as Roxy's hand found his.
"Say something."
Merlin stood up. "Perhaps the rest of us should leave Arthur and her companion some alone time?" he ordered, herding everyone out.
Roxy stayed however, keeping her hand tightly in Eggsy's.
"You knew all along? About Kingsman?"
"I didn't want to play favourites, love. If you need time to take this all in then that's okay. Ella and I will stay here for the night as I finish the introductions. You and Roxanne go home but please, Eggsy... don't shut me out."
"I could have lost you too, Mum!"
Michelle shook her head. "I've not been on missions! I'm just the brains behind all of this, I never put my life on the line."
"But-but Dad! He was... I...-"
"Need some time. Let's go, Eggsy. We'll come back tomorrow." Roxy said gently.
Michelle thanked her with her eyes and a nod and Roxy then knew the secret of love between a mother and her child. She hoped one day that she would experience the same thing with her own child.