Chapter Seven - What Follows

It baffled Eggsy that he had never been to Roxy's house. Though he understood why with one glance from Roxy. His gaping mouth and wide eyes didn't go unnoticed by her. In his defense her house was breathtaking, if it could even be called a house.

Morton manor was an estate of large and tremendously beautiful proportions. Roxy was the soul proprietor of it, in it's entirety. She said that she made a point to always have it occupied, though. If that be by staff, relatives, or simply troubled youth.

After she had fully dealt with the death of her father, followed by her mother, she went about changing things in the house so that it served a purpose. Since she was always heading back to school, she got her father's best friend (Percival) to help her start up an orphanage-type wing of the house. It was to be a place that anyone could go to if they were in need of good help. For troubled youth, disowned young mothers, orphans, and people just trying to hide from something or someone.

The deal was, Roxy had said, if anyone wanted to stay at Morton manner, all they had to do was pull their weight. If it be by cleaning the banisters or fireplaces, mowing the lawn, or tending to the gardens, or cooking. Young people would be taught their job and continue to work for their stay, until Roxy and Percival found a better place for them.

Numerous kids walked past them and greeted Roxy warmly, as if they were all old friends, or affectionate cousins.

"Anne! How's your new job?" They'd say, with bright smiles, or, "Anne, great to see you. It's been so long." or from the younger ones it'd be, "we miss you Anne. Stay for dinner?" All the while Eggsy was practically ignored, though he didn't mind.

Once Roxy brought them to the west most study, or her 'father's corner', she sat at his desk, and Eggsy dropped onto the antique couch across from it.

"Anne?" Eggsy shook his head with a smile. "Did you introduce yourself right when we first met?"

Roxy shook her head, "Ah, I did. I go by Anne due to my identity as Ms. Roxanne Morton being a well kept secret here. I expect you to remember that." She raised an eyebrow at him.

"Why is that?"

"Percival and I started this place, with those beautiful souls, because I wanted to do something good, and I couldn't bear the loneliness. It was a year, with Mr. Brock of course."

"Of course." Eggsy said, agreeing with her that her family's butler was inseparable to the house.

"You see, being the bright slightly lonely eight year old I was, I thought it'd be fantastic to have a secret identity. Percival thought so too. Perhaps for different reasons than me. But we decided that they'd always hear about Ms. Morton, the woman who ran the show and opened her doors to them, and they'd never meet nor see her. Though I'd be among them, as Anne, to get to know them all and insure that they were heading on the right path, and not stealing anything. But most of all to be their friend. I came to find out I needed their friendship more."

"A spy from the start." Eggsy remarked, staring on at her fondly. He than came to notice the painting on the wall. It was of a young married couple, who's faces seemed vaguely familiar.

"My parents." Roxy moved from her desk to sit on Eggsy's lap, her eye's never parting from the painting. "They were forced together, pushed together really. By my grandparents on both sides. They were practically betrothed from childhood. It started out alright, my father told me. But things don't always turn out the way we'd like them." Roxy sighed.

"What happened?"

"It eventually started to get ugly. Their marriage was in shambles. My mother followed in her father's footsteps and became a drunk. She would sleep around as often as the sun would rise. My father turned to his family's religion, then he clung to me once I was born. I was his life's purpose, he would tell me..." she drifted off, her eyes falling away from her mother's portrait. "When I needed her the most, she-" Roxy shook her head, "After he died... she was still the same. Always out, never around, unless she'd wanted to show me off to her friends. Which was so rare. I didn't hate her though. I never hated her. Even after I found out about all the affairs and her bad decisions. My father always said that she was a special creature. Despite her best efforts she never was cut out to be a Morton, or a mother. I think he pitied her, I know he still loved her. Even if it was the idea of her that he loved. As the young girl he spent summers with. As the woman who birthed his child. Through it all, he stayed faithful, and he never uttered a word against her. Which tops off the long list of things I adored about that man. He was too good for the world, and he deserved better."

"No. I think he got what he deserved. He got the very best." He squeezed her hand. "Now show me. Where's yours?" Eggsy gestured to the painting.

Roxy laughed out loud. "No." She shook her head. "Why did I even bring you here?"

"Because you're infatuated by me?"

"No. That's not it." She grinned. "I'd say it was because I wanted to show off my wealth and really fancy house." She said sarcastically.

"But Rox. Seriously."

"Eggsy. Name one time we were together outside of work."

Eggsy's eyes searched the top of his head throughly. "Ummmm- Barcelona!" He declared. "Wait. Nope. That was a diplomatic drop. Hey how about Valencia?"

"That was a pit stop. It hardly counts."

"What about Malvern?" Eggsy seemed confident about this one.

"Okay. Malvern. I'll give that one to you. However 'short' that favor really was. But my point is, we spend so much time together, we know each other, but how much do we know about each other. We spend no time together that's just for us."

Eggsy fell silent, thinking it over in his head. "You've got a valid point. I haven't taken you out on a proper date. I'm the worst."

Roxy looked around the room, then rolled her eyes.

"That's what this is. Right. I knew that. I'm enjoying so much, getting to know you better. And your family." Eggsy's good humored smile turned soft. "But I am. I really am." Eggsy bravely brushed some of Roxy's hair out of her face. For the first time ever, she didn't grab his had to stop it. "You're so beautiful. But I must know, why do you so rarely grace Morton Manor with your presence?" he asked.

"The really question is, why do I even come at all. Honestly I'd get rid of this place if it wasn't a family heirloom. I'd downsize in a heartbeat if it meant this land would somehow still stay in the family and do some good. Yet I'm the last of the Mortons and my generous boarding to strangers situation wouldn't be welcome under anyone else's ownership. This house, its marvelous, but the memories that lurk... they're painful. That's why I'm always at my flat in London."

"I get it. My mum sold our house months after my dad died. Loosing who you love and being where they always were.. it's not easy," Eggsy shook his head.

Eggsy then proceed to take Roxy out on a "proper" date. Which really meant taking her to the pub he grew up in. After one too many tries at the perfect selfie, Eggsy resorted to storytelling. Though he wasn't the best story teller, Roxy let him believe she didn't know that yet. He recounted the tales of getting his arse whooped, and the rare tales of him returning the favor near where they sat. He also told the story of Harry's lesson on 'manners maketh men'. They then laughed about the manner as Eggsy attempted to recreate the facial expression of one of the guys Harry bested. They laughed so hard they almost cried. They both hadn't had a laugh quite like this in a long time.

"I really didn't get to know him too well. It's a shame." Roxy took another swig of her Guiness.

"You would've loved him. And he would have loved you. I think you two would've gotten along too well actually." Eggsy picked up his glass to drink from it again, only to find it empty. He just set it down and starred at the wall. Harry Heart had been like a father to him, or a really close uncle. He had saved his life in the short amount of time he spent with Eggsy. He would always be grateful for that, and he'd never forgive the Valentine's memory for that.

Roxy slid under his arm and rested her head on his shoulder. "I know you miss him. He'd be damn proud of you, you know."

"I don't know. There's a million things I haven't done. I've a lot to do still. A lot to make him proud for."

Roxy nodded her head.

"It's getting late Rox. You want to head over to my place? End the fist and last day off in a while, on a good note."

"Something my father always said, was 'never be afraid to say no'. That's the answer Eggs. It's no. Sorry. It wouldn't be good for me, and it wouldn't be good for you."

Eggsy looked on at her a little confused, and she could see the slight disappointment behind his eyes.

"I know where this is going Eggs. And I'm not going there with you. Not now. Unless that's all we are. Two people who only want sex out of each other. If that's all that matters..."

"No." Eggsy smiled, "that's not all we are. But I'm being honest, when I say I really don't see why not? I'm wondering..."

"There's a reason we haven't slept together." She paused, nervously looking Eggsy in the eye, "it's a promise I made to myself a long time ago. To wait."

Eggsy scoffed, "till you've found the 'right' man is it?"

"No." she cut in shaking her head, "Till marriage Unwin." She sighed. "You see I made a promise to myself, on my own, a long time ago. If someone was sincere enough about their intentions, they'd be chivalrous enough to do the old fashioned thing. The right thing in my book. You know me Eggsy, I never give anything to anyone unless it's absolutely necessary. Weather or not I want to. And I keep my promises, I do what I say I was going to."

Eggsy remained silent for some time. "So... you're saying you want to get married?"

"Eggsy you're one of the most brilliant people I know, but you're such a dim wit. That's not what I"m saying. Absolutely not. Not now anyways." She shook her head at Eggsy. "The main point, Eggsy, is that our relationship is built on more than attraction and sex. There's more here and you know it."

"Alright than."

"Alright than what?" Roxy inquired.

"A proper courtship it is. Since it's what you'll have. And no ones ever made me look at it this way. It's refreshing somehow. I just don't see why you didn't say anything earlier. You're my best mate. I'd never go on judging you for anything. I mean, maybe at first..." Eggsy smiled in good humor.

Roxy smiled at his tease, then she turned to him, "I don't know Eggsy. Things like boundaries, discipline, love and sex. They go together, they're complementary, but not everyone sees it that way. People I've known... let's just say I don't know them anymore."

"Rightly so." Eggsy nodded his head. He intertwined his fingers with Roxy's, then isolated her ring finger. He eyed it closely. "What's your ring size Rox, I hope you know I'll not wait too long." Eggsy winked at her, to which she shook her head with a comical frown. Then they both began laughing, and continued to do so until they left the pub.

"I'll drop you off. Yeah?"

They walked arm and arm down the streets. They weren't particularly trying to find a cab, for walking arm and arm was quite preferable. Roxy leaned her head into Eggsy's shoulder and for the first time in a long time they felt not a care in the world. They almost felt as if they weren't world class secret agents. As if they were just two young people in love. As if their story was a simple story, or even a story at its end.