M just stared at James with a look of both shock and disbelief written across her face.
"What did you say?" she asked in a rather shaky voice
"You heard me. I said I think "Wife" has a rather nice ring to it" he replied with a hint of amusement. It wasn't often he could render his boss speechless and he was enjoying every second of this
"Don't you think this is a bit sudden" she finally said as she sat up and pulled the blankets up around her
"No. I've wanted to ask you for a long time, but we're so busy and we hardly have any time alone anymore. It seems that I just get home from a mission and I'm back out in the field within days"
"Well I know we've been busy but…"
"You love me don't you?"
"Yes, but that's not the point" she replied
"Then just what is the Point?"
"I….I…"
"Look, I'm not wasting any more precious time. I love you, I want to be with you, now more than ever. I want to protect you, love you and whet ever else goes along with this, so are you in or out?" he asked bluntly
"Well I have to admit it's not the most romantic proposal I've ever received" she said as she leaned over and kissed him tenderly "But as proposals go, it will do" she said with a smile
"And just how many proposals have you had" he asked curiously
"Wouldn't you like to know" she said casting him a wicked grin
James sat up and put his arm around her and pulled her back to lean against the pillows with a grin from ear to ear on his face."
"Good, now that that's settled, I was thinking about a small, casual thing with Eve and Bill and of course your children if you want"
"It won't matter to them. We don't seem to get on very well, so where they are concerned it really makes no difference" she said quietly
"Well we'll see about that. You're their mother, and if you want them there then they'll be there" he said lightly kissing her temple
"You really have given this a lot of thought haven't you?" she said with a smile
"I had a lot of time on the flight back"
"What about Jack?" she asked half teasing and half serious
"What about him?"
"Well it would be only fitting that he should be there since he's the one who put this idea in your head"
"He did not!"
M pulled back and gave him one of her famous "I don't believe a word you're saying" glares
"Ok maybe he did suggest, in his own not so subtle way, that I needed to make a decision where you are concerned, but it was still my idea" he said defensively
M leaned back into James arms, shaking her head and smiling. It wasn't even 7:00 am and the rest of her future had already been decided, and for the first time in a very long time she was happy. Completely and totally happy.
James and M stayed in bed for a while longer just enjoying each other's company when James finally started to become restless.
"Something wrong?' asked M sleepily
"No…I was just wondering if you fancied any breakfast?"
"I hadn't really given it much thought actually. For some reason I have other things on my mind" she said with a smile
"Well how about I pop downstairs and cook up something and bring it up to you"
"You don't have to do that. I can go down and fix something for us"
"No! You stay right where you are. You've had an extraordinarily horrendous couple of days and you deserve to have lay in." he said firmly as he untangled himself from her and got up
"You had better be careful 007…I could get used to this" she said playfully
"I was counting on that" he said with a wink
M could hear James clattering around in the kitchen and eventually the scent of bacon began to waft up the stairs. Since she wasn't particularly tired she decided to go down and give him a hand. She was partially down the stairs when James popped around the corner and stood at the bottom of the stairs with an expression she just couldn't quite pin down on his face.
"Something wrong?" she asked sounding worried
"No" he said quietly as he continued to stare "It's just with the sunlight behind you, you look like an angel" he finished as he climbed the stairs and gently backed her against the wall and kissed her.
"James" she said as she rested her forehead against his "You haven't hit your head have you?"
"No why?"
"Because angels are young, beautiful, flawless creatures and I just simply do fit that bill in any way, shape or form"
"You do in my eyes" he replied as he put his arm around her and escorted her down the stairs. "I thought you were going to stay in bed and let me wait on you hand and foot?"
"Well I was, but the smell of bacon was just too tempting" she said with a grin
"Alright. You can come down as long as you just watch and let me do the cooking and clean up after" he said with a bit of mock annoyance in his tone
"Deal" she replied as she leaned up and kissed his cheek and then headed into the kitchen
M sat at the table and watched while James basically destroyed her kitchen as he finished cooking.
"Breakfast is served" he said proudly as he place her plate in front of her
"Good Lord James, you don't really expect me to eat all of this do you?" she asked as she looked at her plate that was heaped with bacon, eggs, fried potatoes and toast
"Well I wasn't sure what you liked so…"
"It's alright" she replied with a laugh "I'll manage"
As James sat down, M could tell by his expression that he had something on his mind.
"So what has you so deep in thought?" she asked as she picked at her food
"Well…a few things actually. First, I intend to go around and have a word with Mallory about this whole mess of a mission…"
"There's no need for that. I've already taken care of Mr. Mallory" said M in a tone that clearly meant "The matter has been dealt with, so mind your own business"
"Alright then there's the second issue of your children"
"What about them?"
"I want to meet them"
"I don't see why. They won't be the least bit interested" she replied with a slight hint of sadness
"Well just the same, I would like to meet them"
"I'll try, but don't get your hopes up" she replied as she finished picking at her breakfast and stood up to clear her dish
"What are you doing?" he asked as he rose and stood behind her, reaching around to take her plate "I thought we agreed that I would take care of the cleaning up"
"So we did" she said turning to rest her head on his shoulder. "I think I'll go back upstairs for a while. Why don't you leave this till later and join me" she replied quietly as she wrapped her arms around him
"Hey, are you alright?" he asked suddenly concerned
"Yes, I just suddenly felt the need to hug you, is there something wrong with that?"
"No not really" he said pulling her close "You can do this anytime you like" he said with a smile as he leaned down and kissed her.
As James was about to pull back, M reached up put her hand on the back of his head, holding him in place as she deepened the kiss. James was more than happy to let her take the lead as he backed her up against the counter, pressing himself against her, leaving little doubt that he wanted her.
When M finally broke the kiss, she looked up at him with a rather apprehensive expression.
"Are you alright?" he asked eying her carefully
"I'm fine" she said breathlessly "James…Do you remember when you said you would let it be my decision as to when I was ready" she asked as she leaned against him
"Yes of course" he said, just as breathless, as he tilted her chin up to look in her eyes
"I've decided, I'm ready" she said with a smile
"Are you sure? I mean we don't have to if you don't want to" he replied, trying his best to contain his excitement
"James" she replied "You can wipe that silly smile off your face. Contrary to popular belief, an old body doesn't always behave the way we want, and sometimes you just have to strike while the iron is hot" she said with an impish grin
"Enough said" he replied as he scooped her up and charged up the stairs.
TO BE CONTINUED...