AN: I have no idea how schools work up in the northern hemisphere, but let's just say for the sake of the story that Alex graduated the week before, okay? Good. Now onto the story!

Forever and Always

I was there when you said "forever and always"

Friday the thirteenth of May

There was a reason why Friday the thirteenths were considered bad luck. And for one Alex Rider, they didn't get any worse than this. This particular Friday the thirteenth would be the defining moment of Alex's life. It would be a memory which would stick out, forever.

That particular day in question dawned bright and sunny. Not very warm, but still pretty sunny. The rain of the previous day had dried, and as Alex looked out his window he could see birds fitting happily across the blue sky. He should've known right then that something was wrong.

After performing his usual morning routines, which included changing and scanning his room to make sure that no bombs were present, the now eighteen year old went downstairs into the kitchen, where he was greeted by the lovely sight of his housekeeper, his best friend and his girlfriend all having breakfast. Without him.

"Oh, jeez guys, thanks for saving me some," Alex drawled sarcastically, sitting down just as Tom snatched up the last waffle on the plate.

"You're welcome," the boy said before wolfing it down.

Sabina shot Tom a rather disgusted look before turning to Alex and giving him a good morning kiss. "How did you sleep?" she asked sweetly, offering him what was left of her breakfast as Jack stood and began making Alex more waffles.

"Rather well, considering Tom was across the hall snoring like there was no tomorrow," Alex grinned, declining her waffles and giving the girl a thankyou kiss on the cheeks. He stood up to help Jack, ignoring her when she ordered him back into his seat.

It had been a week since Alex and Tom had graduated from Brooklands. Since then, Tom had camped over at his house three out of the seven days which had passed, while Sabina had visited every day, sleeping over every other day while Alex would be at her house on the days when she wasn't at his. Complicated process, but it worked.

"So," Alex began once he'd sat back down with a plate full of his breakfast, "What do you guys want to do today?"

"I'm staying in my room and reading," Jack said, "And if anyone dare disturbs me..."

"Okay, we get it," Tom said, putting his hands up, "And don't worry. Unless there's a fire I won't disturb you at all. I like my balls where they are thanks."

"Good. Then we won't have any problems," Jake said sweetly, before leaving the three teens to talk amongst themselves.

"Honestly Alex," Tom whispered once he was sure Jack was out of earshot, "How the hell did you manage to put up with her for so long and still live?"

"With skill and great dexterity," Alex grinned.

"Sure Alex, sure," Sabina giggled.

The pleasant bantering was interrupted with a series of knocks on the door. Alex should've known right there and then that something was wrong. Most people who visited his house didn't do so first thing in the morning. In fact, the only people who annoyed him like that were –

"Ben," Alex groaned upon opening the door. Ben's face immediately pulled down into a pout.

"Why aren't you happy to see me?" He sulked, "I'm happy to see you!"

"Ben, no-one's ever happy to see you," Rose's voice drifted in from behind the man, "Now move so that I can get into the bloody house!"

Ben moved aside with much grumbling to allow his former protégée to step inside.

"Alex!" Rose exclaimed once she spotted the blonde teen.

"Hey Rose. Nice to see you again," Alex grinned, allowing the woman to pull him into a hug which he returned.

"How come she –? Oh, never mind," Ben huffed, letting himself into the house and closing the door behind him.

"Hi Rose! Hi Ben!" Sabina greeted when the two MI6 agents trailed into the kitchen after Alex. Having spent so much time with Alex, she'd gotten to know and get along with the MI6 agents quite well. In fact, Ben and Rose had taken the girl to one of MI6's practice shooting ranges less than a month ago, and she'd come back with glowing eyes and a happy smile. And also an annoying habit of routinely begging Alex to take her back to the range. Something the boy was very close to strangling Ben and Rose for.

"So, what are you guys doing here?" Alex asked pointedly. It wouldn't do for Sabina to get in the first question – no doubt she'd be begging them to take her back to the range.

Rose and Ben shifted slightly, a movement so small that neither Sabina nor Tom registered it. But Alex did. And his eyes narrowed in response. He should have realised exactly what was wrong when he'd seen the movement. He would have at least been braced for the events that were about to occur. But no, he'd only been slightly suspicious. His spying skills must've really taken a plunge after years of neglect.

"Yeah, Alex we're going to need to talk to you about something. Alone," Ben added hastily when he saw Tom and Sabina look up with interest.

Alex frowned, puzzled. "Okay," he said, leading them out of the kitchen and into the living room, which Jack had recently installed folding doors for. Letting Ben and Rose in first, Alex slid the wooden panels shut before turning to face the two agents.

"So...?" Alex began.

Rose sighed. "Alex, it's MI6," she said without any presumption, "They want you back."

Alex froze as Ben shot Rose a glare for being so insensitive. "They...what?"

"They want you back," Ben confirmed apologetically.

"But...why?"

That caused Rose to through her head back in laughter. "Why? Alex, you're the best damned spy the agency ever had! Well, maybe aside from your dad...and your uncle...and Agent Rosa...and that guy...and the guy before Blunt himself..."

"The point is," Ben cut in, "That you're too "good to let out of sight". They want us to escort you over to the bank, to go over the "terms of agreement". But you have to think about this very carefully. Because once you sign you name on the contract, you're theirs. Forever."

Alex groaned in annoyance, dropping onto the couch and hiding his face in his hands. Really, he should've seen this coming, what with all the clues the world had been giving him that morning. But still...now? A week after he'd just graduated, and thus wouldn't have anymore school to worry about? It was too much of a coincidence to be a coincidence. Dimly, in a very far part of his mind, his own soft words echoed.

Knowing Blunt, he'll probably have the day I graduate circled in his diary. I bet I'll be sent on a mission within a week of graduating.

God, how long ago had he spoken those words? Really, maybe he ought to consider fortune telling as an alternate career or something.

Alex sighed. "I don't really have a choice do I?"

Ben and Rose, both of whom had been extremely quiet while they waited for Alex to process his thoughts, exchanged rather uncomfortable glances.

"No, you don't," Rose replied, "We tried to talk Mr Blunt out of it, but...well, the man isn't very willing to let you go. Me'n Ben did get a rather good deal for your contract though, so if you did join, you wouldn't be so...well, used."

Alex smiled weakly. "Thanks Rose."

Rose inclined her head in response. Alex sighed again. "Well, let's get this over with then, shall we?" The eighteen year old stood, leading the way out of the living room. He paused by the stairs, gazing up them as if contemplating if bothering Jack at that current moment was worth it. Evidently he decided it wasn't, for with a slight shrug of his shoulders he continued onto the kitchen, where he found Tom and Sabina talking about what he could possibly be talking about.

"Alex!" Sabina was the first to notice his reappearance. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing...well, nothing much," Alex sighed, before going over to Sabina and pulling the girl into his arms. "Listen, I'm going to need to go out for a while...could you tell Jack if she asks where I am?"

"Sure," Sabina said immediately, pulling back to look worriedly into Alex's brown eyes. "Where are you going?"

Alex smiled grimly. "The bank."

ARFEARLESS

Alex walked into Mr Blunt's office with Agents Allende and Daniels flanking him. In this territory, he may have more skill, but the two agents definitely had more pull on the manipulative, blackmailing old man. Blunt didn't even bother looking up until the three had taken their seats and Mrs Jones had walked in with the revised contract, courtesy of Rose and Ben.

"Ah, Alex," Blunt said at last, looking up to stare at the boy over the mountains of paperwork present on his desk."

"Mr Blunt, Mrs Jones," Alex greeted politely.

"You have no doubt heard about our proposal to you?" Blunt asked. At the incline of Alex's head, he carried on. "Agents Allende and Daniels have taken it upon themselves to, ah, improve the contract which we had written up. In light of certain...events, we have included these changes."

"The original contract," Mrs Jones carried on for her superior, "Was the same one signed by all Probationary Agents, that is to say, agents who are new to this field. However, as Agents Allende and Daniels were only too keen to point out, you are anything but a PA. Therefore, we have worked together and made the following amendments to your contract, should you wish to sign it.

"First of all, and this was a very firm point which the two agents were adamant on, you will be paid for your services which you provided at age fourteen. The pay will be the usual amount given to Primary Level Agents. You will also be paid for your trip to Australia when you were fifteen, as well as compensated for the time you spent a prisoner to Scorpia when you were sixteen. Furthermore, if you agree to sign the contract, pay for your services will commence at Secondary Level. You will also have the full rights and privileges of a Secondary Level Agent.

"You will be fully covered by life insurance in the event that something does go terribly wrong. We are also willing to send agents to check up on your guardian and close friends for every alternate day you spend on a mission.

"You will be given a minimum of two weeks respite between any mission which you will undertake. However, due to your skill level, your missions will not have a 'safety check' on them. You will also have access to any therapeutic treatments needed, or lawyers but I really hope you won't ever need them, paid for by MI6. In addition, you will be given a month of holiday every year beginning on the 20th of December and ending on the 20th of January. Unless there is an absolute emergency, we will not contact you at all during this holiday period. You may take this holiday at a different time in the year, or choose not to take it at all.

"So Alex, what do you say?"Mrs Jones asked at the end of her monologue.

Alex sat there staring at her. If he had not had his expressions schooled from infancy, he probably would also be gaping at her too. He was in shock. There really was no other word for it. Shock and...well surprise too, that he had friends who would fight so hard for him.

Really, he'd always known that he would end up working for the MI6, and no doubt giving his life up for them too.

"Um..." Alex swallowed, trying to bring some wetness back to his suddenly dry mouth, "Can I talk this over with Rose and Ben?"

"Sure Alex," Mrs Jones nodded, gesturing for the three to go outside.

Alex nodded his thanks, before dragging the other two out and slamming the door shut.

"Did you really do what I think you did for me?" Were the first words out of his mouth.

Rose and Ben exchanged glances. "Um...yeah?" Rose responded, not entirely sure what the question had been in the first place.

Alex stared at her for a very long time, making the woman highly uncomfortable, before the eighteen year old broke out into a massive grin. "Thank you so much!" He whispered, fully aware that Blunt and Jones would be able to hear everything that wasn't spoken softly enough.

"You're welcome...I think."

"Sorry, I must be creeping you out," Alex muttered sheepishly, finally looking away.

"Yeah, you got that right."

"It's just...I don't know. I guess I wasn't really expecting you guys to stick up for me like that."

Ben shrugged while Rose grinned. "What are friends for?"

Alex returned the grin. "Yeah."

"So..." Rose started.

"What are you going to do?" Ben finished for her.

Alex smiled. "I've known ages and ages ago that I would end up working for MI6. Really, even if you guys hadn't changed the contract so much, I would've said yes. But now, I'm definitely saying yes!"

Rose pulled Alex into a hug once she was sure he was absolutely certain about his answer. "No regrets?" She asked to make sure.

Alex grinned. "No regrets."

Ben punched the air. "Alright! We have Mr Superstar working with us, and we know him! Ha, think of the bragging rights we'll get, Rose!" And the man zoned out, a dreamy fog flitting over his eyes.

Rose shook her head, before turning to Alex. "One more thing you should know," she grinned mischievously, sending Alex's stomach churning in dread at what the woman had come up with now, "And it took me hours of pleading before Mrs Jones would agree to this. But anyways...You're my new protégée!"

Those in the lobby of the 'bank' at that moment may well have heard the drawn out "NOOO" coming from one of the higher floors. Shrugging, they all went back to their own respective businesses.

.

Thanks for reading guys!

Love Chariots99

IMPORTANT P.S.–A lot of people have asked me about the title of the previous chapter "Hey Stephen", so I thought I should take a moment to explain. See, this series of one-shots came about when my friend insisted I listen to Taylor Swift's song "Change". While I was doing this, inspiration struck, and I thought "Why don't I base some stories on her song? It'll save me heaps of imagination, since I don't really have too much of that to begin with!" So, that is how these one-shots were born.

In essence, the previous chapter was based on her song "Hey Stephen". I thought it would really fit the whole Desiree and Derik scene, since many of you have reservations about the boy. Let me just say that you won't be seeing much more of him...and yes that was foreshadowing...xox