I can't leave this family alone! This chapter was prompted by a tumblr anon, I'll start on the suggestions left here eventually :)
Sipping his steaming tea, Q smiled. He was content, in a melancholic sort of way. He currently had some time to himself between observing agents, time which conveniently matched up with the evening free time at Broad Oaks boarding school. And if that pleasant coincidence had perhaps been manipulated by a genius Quartermaster, who could blame him?
Currently, there were four people jostling for attention on the screen in Q's office.
Oscar, a dark haired boy of 13, had somehow won against his older siblings and was sitting directly in front of the camera on a computer chair. He was constantly forced to push his glasses up his nose, absorbed in watching his older brothers' enthusiastic movements. The twins, Mark and Steve, never could sit still. They were currently miming a particularly violent rugby tackle that had occurred in their last match. Unaware, of course, that Q and James had pored over the video footage already, in a vague attempt to make up for missing yet another game. (They were a formidable pair against any team, and reminded Q of his husband and husband's best friend in a way which was almost painful.)
He interrupted them as soon as he spotted an opportunity. "Looks like you did well again, boys. Now where's my Flower gone, hmm?"
Lily was the last person in the call. She was perched on a stool next to Oscar last time Q looked, but had now disappeared out of shot.
"Gone to get her phone!", Oscar whispered in a sing-song voice. "She got a text from her booooyfriend!"
Q raised an eyebrow at that, placing his finger against his lips as a sign for his young son to be quiet. He winked conspiratorially, though.
"Don't call me 'flower', Dad. It's so embarrassing." Lily was determined to be a 'real' teenager, complete with hair flips and eye-rolls, ever since she'd celebrated her fourteenth birthday. Her blush gave her away, though, as did the shy smile she couldn't shake as she read her texts.
"But you are my little Lily flower!", Q replied with a smirk. He suddenly found himself missing the girl, and all his other children for that matter. It had been three days since he'd seen the youngest of them-he wasn't arriving home until they were fast asleep. Pulling his knees up and wrapping his arms around his legs, he smiled at the camera. "Tell me about him, Lil'. Kick your brothers out the room."
August. A month of relaxation, for most students and parents alike. Certainly not in the Bond-Holmes household. With all ten children at home, peace was a foreign concept. There were tantrums, practical jokes, arguments and laughs filling the flat at all hours.
And tonight-well. Bond was on the warpath.
As many of the children as were allowed had left. Everyone else wished they could. Tonight, Lily's boyfriend was visiting, collecting her for a cinema date. More importantly, he was meeting her parents for the first time.
Her secret agent, armed-and-dangerous parents.
Q couldn't help but laugh as Bond prowled the hall, waiting for the doorbell to ring. He'd already flat out refused to let his daughter leave the house in two of the dresses she tried on, and was only allowing the skirt and top combo due to combined pleas from Lily and Q for him to "Chill, Father!" and "Calm down, James".
When the doorbell eventually rang, he whipped his head towards the door like a shark scenting blood. While Q tried (unsuccessfully) not to snort, James plastered his most intimidating expression onto his face, and walked towards the door. When he pulled it open, the young boy in the hallway visibly stepped backwards, and Q decided to intervene.
Stepping forward, he offered his hand. "Evening. I'm Lily's Dad, and this is her Father."
Smoothly, James stepped forward, also shaking the boy's hand. His expression had had lesser men shaking and confessing all manner of secrets, in the past. This fifteen year old, however, simply cleared his throat and returned with a strong handshake. "It's nice to meet you both. I-I'm Sebastian. Is Lily ready?"
Peeking her head around the corner, Lily smiled sweetly at the boy. She stepped into the hall-Sebastian's eyes widened, and Bond cleared his throat in a blatant threat-and walked towards them.
"Night, Dad. Father. Stop bullying Seb. I'll be back by ten." She kissed both of their cheeks and stepped hurriedly out of the door before either man could argue. Sebastian smiled at Q, smiled less confidently at Bond, and left with the girl.
Q closed the door, and leaned back against it, eyebrow raised at his husband. "That went well." James just let out a sigh, shuffling forward to bury his face in Q's neck. The brunette just laughed, arms wrapping around his partner.
"I like him", James muttered against Q's skin.
With a tut and a fond smile, Q replied, "No, you like that you convinced Evan and Sophie to hide in the cinema and spy on them for you."
James leaned back, pecked Q's lips, and said with a scowl, "Yes, and I'll continue that tradition unless they're married. At least."