For RebaForever15 and ForeverMBond and everyone else who has been kind enough to read. Only 2 chapters left. :) Thanks for hanging with me :)
When Joanna was finally able to reach her brother Paul, she was pleasantly surprised to find that he was actually in London or rather Surry, which was not that far away. She had originally decided to just tell him about their Mother and James, but Paul, being the self-absorbed little twit that he was would not let her get a word in edge wise so she finally agreed to meet him at a small cafe just around the corner. As she waited for her brother, Joanna debated the best way to approach the topic of their Mother. Paul had a lot of resentment and their last conversation about her ended with him asking only to be notified if she happened to die. As she heard the bell on the door ring, she looked up to see a man in his late 30's with sandy blond hair and a scruffy beard approaching her.
"Hey Sis, what brings you to town?" he asked as he leaned over and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek
"Do I need a special reason to come and see my little brother?"
"No, but you usually call first" he replied with a laugh "But seriously, what brings you all the way across the pond?"
"Well...It's Mum" she said cautiously
"Really? What's she gone and done this time? She didn't die did she?...because I told you that..."
"No...No it's nothing like that exactly" she said nervously "She wants to see you"
"Good for her, well you can tell her that when my schedule allows it I will try to find time to fit her in" he said sarcastically
"Paul, she really wants to see you and the least you could do is..."
"Where the hell was she when I really wanted to see her!" he said angrily "I'll tell you where, she was working. Her bloody job was more important to her than we were!"
"Paul, I know how it seemed at the time, but that wasn't the case at all, If you would just let me explain" she replied
"It's too late for explanations. If she wasn't working then she was in the hospital for some mysterious condition. Dad was the only one who really cared about us."
"That isn't true Paul. Mum loved us, it's just that her job..."
"Yeah I know. She had responsibilities blah blah blah...I've heard it all before so you can just save your breath"
"It might interest you to know that I know what the mysterious condition was" she said, hoping to peak his interest
"Alright, dazzle me with your detective work. What was it? The Plague? Typhoid? Some contagious flesh eating disease?"
"No! She had been shot, several times I might add, and she nearly died!"
"Is that what she told you? Who in their right mind would shoot a secretary?"
"No one, but they would shoot an undercover agent for MI6" she said bluntly
"What are you talking about? Mum was a secretary...right?"
"No love, she wasn't. She kept her distance to protect us, and now she really needs us, so would you at least consider seeing her?"
Paul sat there with a stunned look on his face for a few minutes.
"I can't believe you fell for this" he finally said
"Would it help if I let you talk to someone who could prove what I'm saying is true?"
"Yeah, alright. You find me proof and I'll consider seeing her"
"I'll be right back" she said as she got up to make a call "Stay put!"
Joanna quickly took out her phone and dialed her mother. She decided that there was not time like the present, and it was best to get this settled before Paul changed his mind.
"Hello Mum, may I speak to James for a minute" she said
"Of course darling, is everything alright?"
"Yeah, I just need his help with something" she replied mysteriously
M didn't press for any more answers and handed the phone to James, mouthing Joanna's name so he would know who was on the phone.
"Hello Joanna, what can I do for you?"
"I seem to have gotten myself in a bit of a jam with Paul and I need your help. Would it be possible for you to meet me at the cafe around the corner?"
"Sure, when?"
"How about now?"
"What's the rush, if I may ask?"
"I sort of told him more than I should have about Mum, and he wants proof that it isn't all a lie, and since you can provide the proof as well as meeting him, I thought it would be nice to kill two birds with one stone, so to speak"
"What exactly did you say?"
"I let it slip about what she used to do, I didn't tell him about her current position, but Paul, being Paul wants some sort of proof so..."
"Alright, I'll be right there" he said hanging up and handing the phone back to M
"Is everything alright?" she asked with a worried expression
"I'll let you know. I'm going to meet Joanna" he said grabbing his jacket
"Do you want me to come with you?"
"No. It's best you stay here." he said pulling her close and giving her a soft kiss
"What's this all about?" she asked with a faint hint of her usual boss tone
"Well, if you must know, it's about your son"
"Paul...is he alright?"
"He's fine, just stubborn, like his Mother" he said with a smile as he disappeared out the door.
It only took James a few minutes to walk to the Cafe where he immediately spotted Joanna at a corner table with a younger man.
"James" she said with a bit of relief "Thank you for coming"
"Who's he? One of Mum's minions?"
"Paul, don't be rude!" she snapped "This is James. James this is my brother Paul"
"Nice to meet you Paul" said James cautiously "Why don't we go across the street to the park where we will have a little more privacy" he said
Joanna paid their bill as James and Paul patiently waited outside. The three of them walked across the street in silence and found a secluded bench.
"So what is it you want to know about your Mother?" asked James bluntly
"You don't believe in wasting any time do you?" snapped Paul
"It's not that, it's just that I believe in getting things out in the open"
"Alright then, Joanna seems to be under the impression that my Mother was an undercover agent for MI6. I know how ridiculous that sounds, but..."
"It isn't ridiculous at all because it's true" he replied flatly
"That's insane"
"Maybe so, but it's the Gods honest truth." replied James in a serious tone
"And you know this because...?
"Because I work for her, and I've been on several missions with her, and I love her"
"What do you mean you work for her? And what's this about loving her? She has a heart of ice! She doesn't love anything but her job!"
"Joanna, would you give us a moment alone?" said James in a serious tone "It's time your Brother knows the whole truth and better it come from me than you, Your Mother won't be quite as angry if I tell him"
Joanna got up and walked away hesitantly as James sat down.
"Paul, there are some things about your Mother you should know, and I am putting my job, as well as hers, on the line by telling you this so please pay attention as I will only say it once. Your Mother was one of the best agents MI6 ever had and it only because she was nearly killed that she stopped being an agent and took a desk job"
"Right" replied Paul sarcastically
"She moved up the ladder at MI6, but by doing so her job became more and more complicated..."
"Yeah, being the executive secretary to the "BIG" boss is really a good excuse for ignoring your children" snapped Paul
"I don't think you understand. She isn't the secretary to the "Big" boss as you put it...she IS the "BIG" boss"
"You're telling me that my Mother is the HEAD of MI6?"
"That's right, and I work for her. My official title is Commander James Bond or 007 whichever you prefer"
"And what does the 007 stand for?"
"License to kill...on her orders"
"So
you're telling me that my Mother runs the government hit squad?"
"In a nutshell...yes, but that's not all. Recently, a man from her past came after her and tried to kill her, and it was my job to keep her safe, and believe me that wasn't easy, but she's home now and she's recovering"
"Someone tried to kill Mum?" replied Paul with a sudden hint of concern in his voice
"Yes. Look, she loves you and your sister more than anything, and keeping her distance from you has been the hardest thing she has ever had to do, but it was only to protect you"
"And just how do you fit into all this?"
"Well, somewhere along the way, I fell in love with her, and right now she's going to need all of us to get through this...so what do you say? Will you at least give her a chance?"
"How do I know that you're not just stringing me along?" asked Paul suspiciously
"Do you want to see my scars? I'll be happy to show you"
"I...No that won't be necessary." said Paul quietly
"There's just one more thing. I love your Mother more than anything and I am going to marry her. It would be nice if you would give her your blessing"
"I think I would really like to see my Mother before I give you my answer" he replied, still sounding a bit stunned
"Of course, but Paul, you cannot tell her that I told you about her current position. You can't tell anyone for that matter" warned James
"Don't worry. No one would believe me anyway"
"Right then. You know the way. I'll wait at the cafe with Joanna. Just call us when you are ready for us to come home" said James as the two of them crossed the park to meet Joanna.
"Where's he going? she asked as Paul headed off toward M's flat
"Home"
TO BE CONTINUED...