James just held and tried to console a heartbroken M for about an hour before she finally cried herself to sleep in his arms. He couldn't blame her for the mood swings, after all she's had a hell of a last twenty four hours and very little sleep, so putting it in that perspective she was doing remarkably well. Once he was sure she was sound asleep he gently picked her up and carried her upstairs to her bedroom and laid her on the bed. As he was about to leave M stirred a bit and called out to him.

"James" she said reaching for him

"Yes M what is it?" he said taking her hand and sitting beside her

"I'm so sorry for earlier" she said sleepily

"It's not your fault, You've been through a lot is all" he whispered

"I wanted to thank you"

"For what?" he said quietly

"For giving me back my name. I must have had a good reason to threaten to have you shot if you ever said it aloud, but I think I will forgive you just this one time." she said trying to manage a weak albeit sleepy smile

"My pleasure M" he said as he rose to leave

"James" she said again sounding almost panicked "You won't leave me will you?"

"I'm not going anywhere, I promise"

"Would you just lie here with me for a little while until I fall back to sleep?" she asked

He could see the tears beginning to form in her eyes again so he slowly climbed in beside her and cradling her in his arms the two of them fell asleep.

Several hours later James woke to the doorbell ringing and pounding on the door. M was still sleeping soundly in his arms and as much as he didn't want to disturb her he knew he had to get up and answer the door. As he made his way down the stairs he noticed that a step had come loose "I'll have to fix that later" he thought to himself as he continued heading for the door.

Tanner and Eve were waiting on the other side looking extremely worried as he opened the door.

"Bond!...What took you so long?" snapped Tanner as he walked past James with Eve close behind

"Christ Tanner! What were you trying to do wake the dead?" said James sounding rather annoyed

"Apparently...Where's M is she alright?" he asked scanning the empty sitting room

"Relax...She's fine. We were upstairs sleeping so keep it down would you as she is still asleep" replied James "Nice to see you Eve" he said turning to face her "I trust you two have everything under control at the office?"

"Yes. So far so good. No one has questioned M's absence yet" answered Eve

"Good. Let's keep it that way shall we" he said with a wink

"You said she's asleep?" questioned Tanner "You have been following the doctor's orders checking for all the things on the list I trust?"

"Yes I have and I can honestly say she has only had one little problem with the mood swings but let's face it she's exhausted so I don't consider it anything to worry about."

"How's her memory? any progress yet?" Tanner asked rather hesitantly

"About the same" replied James trying to conceal the disappointment in his voice.

"We've brought food in case you're interested" interjected Eve

"Great, I'm sure she will be hungry when she wakes up, I know I am"

Just then James heard M calling for him with panic in her voice. He bolted up the stairs to her room to find M looking back at him with a rather terrified look.

"M what is it?...What's wrong?" he asked rushing to her side and holding her close

"I heard voices I don't recognize, who is here?" she asked sounding alarmed

"It's ok M, it's just Bill Tanner and Eve, don't you remember I told you earlier that Eve would be stopping by?' he asked searching her face for some sort of comprehension

"Yes...I guess you did didn't you" she replied feeling a bit foolish

"Would you like come down and see them? They have brought us some dinner, and I'm sure you must be hungry?"

"Yes... of course " she said timidly

"Don't worry...I'll be right by your side" he said helping her up.

James helped M down the stairs and together, with M holding on the James for dear life, made their way into the sitting room to greet Tanner and Eve.

"Hello Ma'a...err M...How are you feeling?" asked Tanner tentatively

"Fine thank you" said M eyeing him cautiously

"M. This is Bill Tanner, he is your assistant, Do you remember him from last night?" said James watching her closely for any sign of recognition

M thought hard for a moment before nodding her head as confirmation that she had in fact remembered him.

"And this is Eve Moneypenny, your secretary" he said motioning to Eve

"Good evening M." said Eve with a warm smile

"Hello" replied M softly, maintaining her firm grip on James arm

"Eve" said James as he gently pealed M's hand from his arm "Why don't you and M sit and get reacquainted while Bill and I get dinner ready?"

James gently guided her to the sofa and placed a kiss on her forehead "Don't worry M..I'll just be in the kitchen if you need me"

M and Eve sat in companionable silence for a few minutes with M just staring at her hands.

"We don't have to talk if you don't want to" said Eve quietly

"It's not that I don't want to, it's just that I don't know what to talk about. You obviously know me but I have no memory of you and I'm sorry? said Me said apologetically

"Oh please don't be sorry M, it's not your fault" replied Eve trying to be supportive "I'm just here to help you in any way I can because I care about you. I'll tell you what. Why don't we Not concentrate on the past right now. Let's concentrate on the present and start fresh. Hello, My name is Eve Moneypenny, Nice to meet you" she said holding out her hand

"Thank you Eve. I'm... M nice to meet you" said M relaxing a little.

Meanwhile in the kitchen James and Bill were preparing the dinner that Bill and Eve had brought. Chinese take away one of her favorites or at least it was.

"James, how is she really?" asked Bill with a hint of concern in his voice

"Well...She's beginning to ask a lot of questions that I'm not quite sure how to answer to be quite honest"

"What do you mean?"

"She saw the scars on her arms and legs this morning and wanted to know what happened" replied James

"You didn't tell her did you?" said Bill the panic clearly evident in his voice

"No. I told her she had been injured while away on a "business" trip years ago" he answered quietly.

"What else has she been asking about?" asked Bill

"Just general things, like her name, who is Q, who are we to her, what is the nature of our relationship just things like that"

"I see...I've been meaning to ask you. Just how is it you were here last night? what exactly is the nature of your relationship with M?"

"It's not important right now" said James rather evasively

"You didn't think twice about it when I mentioned you should stay with her and when we arrived you said the two of you were upstairs sleeping?"

"M and I have a very complicated relationship and yes we were upstairs sleeping together only because she was very upset and didn't want to be alone that's it end of story!" replied James rather defensively

"I wasn't trying to pry I'm just concerned for her. This is no time to fall for the boss so do try to put aside your charm until she's recovered , I don't want to see her hurt any more than she already is!" said Bill as he carried the dishes thru the dining room.

"Believe me Bill...Hurting her is the last thing on my mind" replied James under his breath as he went to collect M and Eve.

"Dinner is ready."

For RebaForever15 Don't worry M won't alway experience this much pain They say that which does not kill you makes you stronger.