The next morning, they left the building. Q cleaned his glasses on his shirt and put them back on.
"So, I have a question." he said, glancing at Bond.
Bond reloaded his gun and placed it inside his jacket. "You usually do."
Q raised an eyebrow and shrugged. "How are we supposed to get those files when you strictly said we can't go back to headquarters? And, another thing, how do you plan to get them? We can't just walk in since you told off M the other night, and I seriously doubt he's going to welcome you with open arms. And, how are-"
"That's more than one question. In fact, half of what you said weren't questions." Bond said, running a hand through his hair.
"We could always get Q to get the files." Lily shrugged.
Q grimaced and looked at Bond for support. "Me? But, why do I have to-"
"That's actually not a bad idea." Bond smirked.
"Wha-? You're both mad. That dip in the water last night must've gotten you sick." Q said, folding his arms.
"It makes sense that you do it. You've got all the gadgets, Q." Lily said with a shrug.
"That's my job, though. I'm just the one that gives him the gadgets while he breaks in and gets the job done." Q said, pointing at Bond.
Bond shrugged and chuckled. "Desperate times call-"
"Don't say it. Whatever. I'll do it, okay? But, I'm not going to like it and if I get caught, I'm blaming you, Bond." Q groaned, rubbing his forehead.
"So, how are we going to do it?" Lily asked.
Bond thought for a moment and got an idea. "It's going to be tricky and it might not even work."
"I know where they keep the files." Q said.
"But, that's not the tricky part." Bond said. "The tricky part is getting inside without being seen. After I spoke with M, he's probably got your face on 'Wanted' posters by now."
"Then, why doesn't Lily do it?" Q asked, motioning his head at me. "He's only seen her once, and I'll bet a simple disguise won't get her caught."
Bond glanced at Lily and she shrugged. "Whatever gets those files."
Q blinked. "Wait, wait, what are we doing? We're actually giving Duplin the files? I thought this was all some kind of joke."
"If we don't give him the files, he'll kill us." Lily replied.
Q rolled his eyes. "And, if we do, he'll probably kill Bond and the agents in those files."
Bond grimaced. "I'm on those files?"
Q's eyes widened and he covered his mouth with his hand.
"Q, answer me." Bond said, sternly.
With a sigh, Q shook his head. "Me and my big mouth. Yes, Bond. You and a handful of other agents were on those files that Bastian tried to steal."
Bond stared at him and grabbed the collar of Q's shirt.
Lily gasped. "What are you doing?"
"Quiet. When were you going to tell me this?"
Q swallowed. "Look, M just told me not to tell you because...he wanted to find out before you did. He knew you'd react like this and want to take action before even telling him."
Bond sneered. "He knows damn well I'd take action."
He released Q's shirt and exhaled sharply. Lily stared, scared that Bond might strike out of anger.
"So, Duplin wants those files because he wanted to find out more about me. And, it's your fault." Bond said, looking at Lily.
Lily grimaced. "Mine?"
"He said you were looking for me. That's why you left and that's why he came here. He was looking for those files and for his precious little Lily." he spat.
Lily stood in silence as Bond approached her, angrily. "And, you knew that, didn't you? You knew he was trying to get those files of me."
"How could I know that?" Lily spat.
"Why else would you aim a gun at the car his men were driving in?"
She closed her eyes and sighed. "I...I knew he was here to get them. Okay? I had to stop him, but I didn't want to meet you that way."
Bond made a fake laugh and shook his head. "You insolent..."
"So what if I knew he was coming for the files?"
"You knew that and you drew all this attention to yourself, that's what."
He grabbed her by her shoulders and she held her breath as he leaned into her face. "Does he know? Does he know you're my child?"
Her lip trembled. "No. He doesn't."
"How do you know?"
"If he did, he wouldn't have let us go like he did." she replied, fearfully.
His face softened a bit, but he kept his grip on her. "This complicates things. Now, we can't just give him any files. We have to give him the right ones, and you're going to get them."
She nodded as he let her go. His hand stroked her brown hair as he stared at her.
"We're going to need to dye your hair. You're going to walk into that building and Q will talk you through how to get them." he said, slowly.
Q cleared his throat. "Uh, how is she going to get in? She's going to need security clearance."
"She can use a fake ID. Make one out of mine." Bond said, glancing at Q.
"It's not that simple."
"Then, make it simple!" Bond barked.
Q hesitated and just nodded. Bond reached his hand up to his ear and removed his earpiece. He gently placed it in Lily's and kept his eyes gaze on her.
"You do what we say and this will end just fine." he said, quietly.
"So, you just plan to give him the files and walk away? It's not going to end like that." She said, impatiently.
Bond sighed and rubbed his temples. "I know that. I'm working on-"
"I already know how this will end. It's the only way and I know you can see it too." she replied, almost whispering.
Bond stared at her and shook his head. "No. No, I'm not-"
"It's the only way. I have to leave with him when we give him the files. I'll give him the bloody files and destroy them, the first chance I get."
Q shook his head. "He could kill you. Are you mad?"
Lily lowered her eyes and slightly shrugged. "Not like it matters. I have nothing to live for. Bastian is the only man I've ever known and the only one whom I've spent a great deal of my life with."
Bond was hurt by this. He could see that she spoke with certainty and anger. Her eyes were filled with sincerity and tears. She blinked them away and shook her head.
"I know that's the way this is going to end. Then, you can continue living your life..without worrying about a child to care for." she said, coldly.
Bond shook his head. "I'm not going to let you do this."
"Yeah? Just get me ready and we can get this over with."
Q and Bond exchanged a glance. Q shook his head and waved his hand to show that Bond should drop it. He stepped away from Lily as Q approached her. He lifted her chin with his finger.
"Let's do something about that hair." he said, softly.
After several hours, Q managed to get Lily to a salon and get her hair done. They dyed it black and bought her extensions. With a pair of green contact lenses, she looked completely different.
"You look perfect. Come, we should head back." he said, offering his arm to her.
She slightly smiled and linked arms with him as they walked through town.
"You don't have to do it, you know. Bond can figure something out." Q suggested.
"This is the only way to get Bastian what he wants. All he wants is to know who Bond is and have me by his side."
"And, when he finds out?"
Lily bit her lip. "Then, Hell will break lose. He might try to use me to get to Bond in some way."
"But, why is he so concerned about Bond? What does he have against him?" Q asked, raising an eyebrow.
Lily sighed and lowered her eyes. "He's just...jealous. When I..."
She paused and shook her head. Q noticed and urged her to go on.
"It's too...horrible."
He nodded. "Right. I'm sorry."
They continued walking in silence. Lily stopped after a few minutes and Q looked down at her.
"He touched me. I was nine and he was drunk." she whispered.
Q swallowed and cleared his throat. "I...I-I'm sorry."
She shook her head and hugged herself. "It's nothing."
"It's everything." Q argued.
Tears streamed down her cheeks and she tried to hide it with a smile. "I'm sorry."
He wiped her tears with his thumb and stroked her cheek. "It's alright."
"He's...jealous that I could ever love a man besides him. When I heard that I had a father who...was alive, I had to find him. I once asked Duplin if he could help me find him. He would do anything for me...except that."
Q listened and sat down on a bench. Lily sat beside him and sniffed, rubbing her nose.
"He threw a fit and I ran away. He found me and brought me back. It was then that he realized how much finding Bond meant to me. So, he decided to find him first. That's when I learned that he was going to steal those files on him. I hurried here to stop them and get them first."
"I would get the files and read them. Find out who my father is. Why he'd been gone all these years. Now, here I am, and I know next to nothing of him." she said, wiping more tears.
Q wrapped his arm around her as she continue crying. "I expect you're tired of hearing this, but I'm truly very sorry."
She shook her head. "No, don't be. Hearing you say it means the world to me."
He glanced down at her and she gave him a small smile. He stroked her cheek and leaned his head in to kiss her. They stayed that way for a moment until he pulled away.
"How can I do this to you?" she whispered.
"What?" he asked.
"I can't kiss you when I'll never see you again."
She stood up but he didn't follow her. She needed to be alone to gather her thoughts and calm down. She walked several feet from him, but he could still see her. When she turned into a small alley, he sighed and rubbed his temples.
She wiped her nose as she stood alone. Glancing up at the sky, she sighed and wiped her tears away. Suddenly, a hand covered her mouth and another wrapped around her neck.
She let out a sharp gasp as the person shushed her.
"There, there. It's only me, my darling."
Bastian...
He turned her around, keeping his hand over her mouth. "Why do you shed tears? But, I suppose you can't help it, can you?"
He shoved her against the wall of a building, and she let out a muffled grunt.
"You look beautiful. Better than you normally do." he said, running his hand across her neck and stroking her black hair.
She stared at him in total horror and trembled.
"Did you really think I wouldn't find out?" he sneered.
She stared at him, blankly. He gently removed his hand from her mouth. "What...what are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about you and that little wretch down at the park. Did it feel good when he kissed you? Did you feel like he actually cares for you?" he asked, mockingly.
She stared at him and raised her voice. "Q! Q, get ov-"
He clamped his hand back over her mouth as she let out muffled screams. "Shut up, you insolent brat. Now, get me those files or else I kill that boy."
Her eyes filled with horror as he raised his hand to strike her. His hand slapped her across the face and she fell to the ground. She saw stars and slowly sat up.
"Lily?"
Q came running to her and helped her stand up. "It's alright. We should head back."
She nodded and covered her cheek with her hand. They headed back together with his arm around her. She rested her stinging cheek against him and wiped her nose.
When they arrived, Bond raised his eyebrows, impressed.
"She looks perfect. Well done, Q." he said.
Q shrugged. "I thought the extensions would do the trick."
Bond waved for them to come over to a small table he had in the middle of the building. A piece of paper was laid upon it with a small drawing Bond made.
"Alright, now pay attention, Lily. You're going to enter through here and present the ID that Q made. You gave it?"
Q nodded and took it out of his pocket. "Right here."
"Alright, you'll scan it on this machine here and it should read fine. You'll head in and go into the data room. Take it, Q."
Q cleared his throat. "So, you'll go in and see a black filing cabinet. open the third drawer from the top and you'll see a stack of papers. Underneath them is a manilla folder. That's where the files are. To open the drawer, you'll need this key."
He held Lily's hand and her cheeks blushed. He placed a small gold key into her hand and closed it.
"Be careful when you're doing it."
Bond looked at her and grimaced when he saw that her cheek was red. He reached out and touched it, causing her to flinch and step away.
"What is that?" he asked.
"What?"
He frowned and grabbed her chin, turning her face. "This red mark. Where did you get it?"
She trembled. "I've...had it since last night."
"You're lying. You didn't have it last night." he said, frowning at her.
She pushed him away. "How would you know? It was dark last night!"
Bond grabbed arm and twisted it behind her back. Q jumped and put his hand on Bond's arm. "What are you doing?"
"She saw Duplin today. He knows what we're up to." Bond replied.
Q grimaced. "How could she have seen him? She was with me all day."
Bond gave him a look. "All day?"
Q thought about it for a moment. Then, he remembered her walking into that alley and how she had been sitting on the ground when he found her. How she was crying and holding her cheek. He glanced at Lily in disbelief.
"You met with him." he breathed.
Lily shook her head. "No. He found me there. I didn't know he-"
Bond twisted her arm even more and she cried out in pain. "Stop lying!"
"I'm not lying! I swear that I never-"
"Q, get the ID and a taxi. You're going to have to get the files. By some miracle, you're going to have to do it without getting caught." Bond ordered.
Q was still in shock, but nodded. Bond grabbed Lily's other arm and pinned it behind her back as well. He leaned into her ear and spoke quietly.
"This was all just an act. That's why Duplin threw you into the water and let you go. He wanted you to get those files. Well, change of plans, darling. He won't get them and you're not going anywhere."
Lily felt like crying as she hung her head. "Please. Please, just listen to me."
"Find us a cab, Q." Bond said, ignoring her.
Q stared at her with a look of anger, but also hurt. She looked at him, pleading a him with her eyes. He looked away and left the building. Bond dragged her across the room, and grabbed a chair.
"Sit down."
He sat her into the chair and she remained, trembling. He grabbed a rope and she felt tears building up.
"Please, don't do this. I never met with Duplin. He approached me. You think he struck me in the face after we kissed and discussed how we were going to rule the world?"
Bond ignored her and walked behind the chair. She narrowed her eyes and stood from the chair. She turned to face him with her fists clenched.
"Sit down. Now." he said, sternly.
"No, you're not listening to me!" she cried.
He reached into his jacket, pulling out his gun. He aimed it at her and she gasped lightly. Tears fell from her eyes and she nodded.
"So, this is what you truly are. To aim a gun at your own daughter." she wept.
He gave her a cold stare. "Sit down."
"Just shoot me, why don't you? You'd be doing me a favor. I wouldn't have to see you or Duplin again."
Gun aimed, he ignored her. She wiped her tears and shook her head. Slowly, she turned and sat back down in the chair. He tied her hands behind her and wrapped it around her torso.
She wasn't sure but she swore that she heard him sniff from crying. He grabbed an old rag and tied it over her mouth. Then, he stood in front of her. He lifted her chin and looked into her eyes.
"Don't make any noise. We'll be back soon or if Duplin comes back, he can have you." he said, softly.
More and more tears came as she hung her head. He walked away from her and left her alone.