Dramatis Personae:
Mansfield family
M / Olivia Jenkins-Mansfield 1945-married Nigel 1972
Nigel Mansfield 1943-2009
Judith Olivia Mansfield- 1973 (Sam)- children-Emily 2000 & Jason 2002
Ryan Nigel Mansfield 1975 (Sarah)- children-Elizabeth 2003
Marshall Mansfield 1941- (Josephine) 1943-2008 two children
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Chapter 5
Olivia is very serious all of a sudden. "Mr. Bond why do you do what you do?"
Up until that point the drive had been of amusing childhood stories or imitations of people at work.
"The job or the women?"
"Both."
"Duty...service...the thrill."
"That explains the job, but why work your way through the greater London female population...do you not worry about diseases?"
James Bond cocks his eyebrow at the inquisitive blonde woman beside him. She is not glamorous but there is something about her...something compelling in her intelligence. She does not want him, however he does interest her.
This one wants to know what makes a 00 tick. This woman is just disarming enough to find .out...in all honesty, he is beginning to believe that she is the most dangerous woman he has ever met.
"I am clean if you are inquiring subtly for your later use?"
"No...even if we have to share a room...I will not cheat on Nigel...we are not over yet."
"How can you be so sure?"
"The same way that I know you hide behind bravado, machismo and the end of a relationship that was very important to you. There was a woman that you loved wasn't there?"
"Yes...my wife. Tracy."
Bond is actually surprised that he is telling her this but it is a long drive and something tells him that Olivia is adept at keeping secrets.
"Wife...really? What happened?"
"She died."
"I'm so sorry."
"So am I."
"I think I understand you better now."
"Really?"
"Why you act the way you do...you feel you have nothing to lose and you don't care if you die and that is a good combination for a 00 agent."
"Yes...and you? What are your aspirations? I have heard a lot of chat about you...the only woman to currently do the analysis that you do."
"I want to help the cause. I am good at looking at problems from a different perspective and they finally came to notice that and ignore the persistent chauvinistic desire to make me a secretary. Are you against a woman in such a position?"
"Not at all. If you are capable than that is good enough for me and should be good enough for anyone. I just don't think women have what it takes to be 00 agents...and before you get angry...I know some may be able to separate their humanity from themselves but that would be rare indeed. Not to mention the physical threat out in the field. I have taken many beatings but women would be beaten and raped."
"Yes, I can imagine that is a concern for any of the female agents. I would hope the physical training would be enough to prevent the worst of it but there are many that have had to voluntarily engage with the enemy to obtain information."
"Would you be willing Olivia?"
"No...I personally have no interest becoming a 00 however, I do believe that a time will come when there are female 00 agents."
"A brave new world."
"Something like that. I prefer to think of it as a natural equalization of sexual relations."
"I am having a difficult time not seeing you as a future M, Miss Jenkins."
Olivia laughs.
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Olivia laughs as her grandchildren rush from the house to greet them.
"GRAN!"
"Well, how are my little loves today?"
Olivia bends down to hug the three children as Bond tries to remember who is who and which child belongs to which of M's children.
"James this is Judi's oldest Emily and her brother Jason and their cousin Elizabeth. Children do you remember meeting James last year at Gran's house?"
"Yes...Gran...mum says he is a TOY!" M's grandson Jason answers.
M frowns, "a toy?"
Bond begins to giggle and smirk behind Olivia. He then bends on his knee before the three children and opens the bag he brought them.
"Speaking of toys...here are some new...very noisy toys that your parents are really going to love."
Judi and Ryan come out of the house to a cacophony of noise from laser guns going off and three screaming children.
"Mum...James you didn't have to bring them gifts...it is a bad president to set."
Jason screams and jumps at his mum pulling the loud trigger.
"Really...you didn't have too...I mean you really didn't have too!" Judi shouts out over the din of electronic beeps and screams of the three children running and weaving around the four adults.
Olivia smiles and hugs her daughter and then her son. "Consider that payback for referring to James as a toy-boy in front of my grandchildren."
Judi flushes red in embarrassment as Bond hugs her. "I am not offended Judi. I would be her toy-boy any day."
Ryan clears his throat as Bond continues to hold on to and hug his sister.
Judi is the vision of her mother some 27 years younger and a couple of inches taller and with mid length chestnut coloured curls that gave her a very classical look.
"James...isn't it bad enough that you are playing around with my mother?"
Bond releases Judi and extends a hand to Ryan. Ryan is about 6 feet tall with similar chestnut curls and a thin physique. He looks a great deal like his father...all but the eyes...his eyes, like Judi's are the same as Olivia's.
Bond currently has two sets of those deep blue laser beams directed at him now as he continues to hold Judi tightly in his embrace.
"Sorry Ryan. I can't get enough of the Mansfield women."
"I trust you will stay away from her granddaughters in the future."
"I promise." Bond laughs.
"Mum James, dinner will be ready soon. Come in and Ryan will get you a drink."
M walks in the kitchen with James as Ryan hands them drinks. "Where are Sam and Sarah?
"Sam is on a...business trip...but will be returning in an hour. Sarah is with her mother until 6 and will be popping over then."
M and James sit and with their drinks. M is concerned about the way Judi avoided her gaze when she asked about Sam. As for a business trip...that seems unusual in his type of work.
The children burst in and the sound level goes through the roof.
"Kids...kids….why don't you go show your Gran your newly painted rooms?"
Jason grabs Olivia's hand, "mine first Gran...it's the best."
"I'm oldest, mine first Jason!"
"Now...now. Emily, Jason asked first. Lead on young man." M says diplomatically.
With the children out of the room Ryan and Judi sit down in front of Bond with smiles on their faces.
"So what do you two want to know?"
"When are you going to ask her?" Judi blurts out.
"Once it feels right. I haven't been home in 25 years and I have no idea the state of the place. Kincade is having it fixed up but he says the process is slow."
"So you grew up on a massive estate?" Ryan asks.
"Yes and I hated it...but there was never much to do in the house...so I stayed outside. Why don't you and the children come up with us?"
"That would be lovely Bond but Sam is busy...with work...and the children are off on a camping week and then they are another summer camp the week after."
Ryan sighs. "Sarah's mum is not doing well so she will not leave right now. Elizabeth is going off on the same camping trip with her cousins."
"Well then what about you two? Can you come with us? We will make a party of it and you two can spend some time with your mother while I deal with the dreaded lawyers."
"What is your issue with the lawyers James?" Ryan asks, "can I help in any way?"
"I forgot you are a lawyer. It is just that I was declared dead and now I need to organize my estate. I need to update my will and likely make a massive amount of payments to sort this nightmare out. This is why you two coming will make the entire trip more fun for your mother. Either that or she will have to spend her entire time with Kincade...I don't trust him not to hit on her."
Judi burst into laughter. "I would love to...let's make the plans over dinner."
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After dinner the children are gathering all their supplies to leave for camping the next day. Sam seem to stay away from them entirely. M knows that he has never really cared for her nor her him.
Nigel didn't like him...but then again a father not liking the man that takes his little girl away is nothing unusual. However, it was a good enough reason for M not to trust Sam also. Nigel was always a good judge of character...he had the makings of someone who could have worked at six.
Judi always claimed it was M's continuous absences and limited interest in her children's lives that irked Sam. With how busy she was running her department...it was difficult enough for her to make time for Nigel let alone get to know the in laws.
M is happy that her children are coming North with them and Sam does not at all seem to mind Judi running North at the last minute. There are things going on between these two that are making M's internal warning system going off.
James gets several calls during the evening from Kincade in Scotland. Once James deals with his calls he enters the sitting room.
"I have to get there as soon as possible. There are issues getting it ready for so many guests after so long and the lawyers need to see me first thing tomorrow. I am going to leave now and that way you can drive up with your family...in a more comfortable car."
"You are leaving tonight?" Judi asks.
"It is only 4 more hours or so and without your mother to tell me to slow down...I can make it faster."
They laugh and M stands to walk him to the door. They exit the house and move to the car. James replaces his bag in the boot and moves around to embrace M.
"Be good without me. I have alerted Tanner. There will be a guard outside the house within the hour. They will follow you discreetly to Skyfall tomorrow. I gave Ryan the directions and if I am not there when you arrive. Kincade will be there to show you around."
"What did you tell Kincade about us?"
"Very little. I like to keep the old man on his toes. I told him I am bringing the new lady in my life and her family up for a visit. I will refer to you as your title since Skyfall is about to become MI6 mark II. Kincade will just assume it's short for Emma or Emily."
"You have taken care of everything but who I will snuggle with tonight?"
"No one I hope.. besides I have the feeling you would not let me entertain you in your daughter's house...you are far to loud and we may traumatize the grandchildren. Well you could snuggle up with one of your grandchildren."
"I would be worried that I would lash out...as for loud...you are the cause of all that. I do know how to be quiet when I have to be."
James laughs. "Great now I don't want to leave...it could be a experiment to see how many times I can bring you off before you scream my name the way I like."
M swats him looking thunderous. "James...stop being so rudely suggestive when my family is near."
"OK...OK I know that...now and I am positive that you are on the mend and almost back to normal darling. I hope you are excited to finally see the old pile of rubble."
"James...I am sure it has not decayed that much in 40 years."
Bond quirks up his eyebrow. "40 years ago it was fine...it was at least lived in at that point. It is the last 28 years that I am concerned about."
"Yes of course. Be safe love...don't drive poorly."
Bond silences her protests with a kiss. As he clasps her head with one hand as the other squeezes her ass pulling her to him.
M giggles into her lovers mouth as she hears Ryan clear his voice behind.
"Mum...really PDA in Judi's drive. You two are incorrigible."
"It is all you mother's fault...if she wasn't so supremely sexy...I could keep my hands to myself."
"James...my son doesn't need to hear this."
"I think he does. I think they need to understand that you drive me to distraction and that this is real."
Judi exits the house. "We know it's real James. I have not seen that woman smile this much in years. I don't think dad even made her smile that much."
"Judi...watch your mouth young lady. Your father made me smile too...you were just to use to ignoring what your parents were doing. You could not pick up on the subtle signals of our relationship."
Ryan rolled his eyes. "Mum...they weren't that subtle...Dad would make you laugh and giggle while doing dishes and we knew to turn our music up that night or listen to the two of you through the walls."
M's mouth opened in shock. "You...enough out of you...young man."
Bond smiles while still holding M with his arm around her. "Oh...do tell? So much for being able to remain quiet eh?"
"Quiet...Mum really you thought you were being quiet?" Judi smirks while watching the uncomfortable red flush run rampant all over her mother's face.
Ryan laughs, "it is great to get one up on her now isn't it Jude. James we could tell you some stories..."
"Fantastic! Now I know I will enjoy spending some time with the two of you. I have yet to pry all her secrets out of her."
Judi levels her best motherly disapproving gaze at them for making out in her drive.
"Good luck with that Bond...our mother has secrets within secrets. We can only entertain you with a few tales from our childhoods and adolescence. The one with the real story of this woman could only be told by our father. Believe it or not...I managed to pull a few of them out of him as I grew up. Yes mother you can start getting nervous now...with a few glasses of wine in me the entire facade may crumble."
They all laugh but then M levels that gaze at her daughter...the look that can make grown men...agents with the licence to kill...shake in their shoes.
Bond needs to get out before he ends up in the middle of something he is not yet ready to be in the middle of. At least at Skyfall they will be on his turf...but who is he kidding...M will take control in a matter of minutes. Location does nothing contain her bossiness nor her wrath.
"Goodbye and I will see the three of you at Skyfall tomorrow by dinner."
Judi looks around suddenly...worried, "Bond what about...you know...protection?"
"Taken care of J, and M will be safe with you and R...backup is on the way and will keep a discreet distance until you get to my home."
"Oh fantastic...we all get code letters now. Come on R lets go inside to give the old lady and her toy-boy time to make out."
"Oh Jude...too much information. I will never get to sleep tonight with that in my head."
M slaps the arms of both her children and they turn to go back inside.
"Say goodbye to the children for me M...and be good, stay inside until morning."
"You worry too much."
"It is my job to worry about you."
"No it is not really. I do have guards that are trained to watch me...you are a delinquent 00 who is nursing his own hurts."
"It is now my job to watch over you even if you have your own guards. Considering past occurrences like Mitchell."
"Stop...let's not dwell on the past. Goodbye love and stay safe."
Bond kisses her again before climbing back into the Aston and heading North to Scotland.
To be continued….