Chapter 20

…

Kate was pacing in front of the fireplace, nerves wracking her body as she watched Sharon set the table for dinner. Sharon chose that moment to look up and see Kate watching her, her face full of panic, something that for Kate was extremely rare. Sharon walked over to her, wrapping her in her arms as she kissed her.

"Kate, you have to try and relax."

"Relax? I'm meeting your mother for the first time; she's coming face to face with the woman who's twice her daughter's age. She'll hate me, I know she will."

"Listen, my mother is a very open minded woman."

"What does she do for a living?"

"These day, she's retired but she used to work for government, that's how I met Gareth, he and my mother were working together."

"Your mother used to work for MI6."

"My mother was a PA; MI6 used them from time to time when they were over worked."

"Oh I see."

"She's harmless trust me."

The door bell rang, causing Kate to flinch in Sharon's arms.

"Relax; it's going to be just fine."

Sharon released Kate from her embrace and went to answer the door. Kate checked herself in the mirror as she heard the voice of Sharon and her mother. Kate tensed when she heard the voice of Sharon's mother, familiarity hitting her but she quickly brushed it aside as the footsteps got closer.

"Mother, I'd like you to meet Kate. Kate this is my mother Adrianna Darnell."

Kate turned around, her smile fading when she came face to face with the familiar woman. Adrianna locked eyes with Kate before extending her hand.

"Kate, it's a pleasure to finally meet you. My daughter has told me a lot about you."

"Like wise Mrs Darnell…it's lovely to meet you."

"Well, now that the formalities are out of the way, I'll go and get us all some wine and check on dinner, Mother have a seat…Kate, I won't be long."

Kate waited for Sharon to go in to the kitchen before turning to Adrianna who was now on her feet again, coming towards Kate.

"Kate Kaplan, I don't believe it."

"You don't believe it, you got married. Something you said you'd never do."

"Well things changed."

"Clearly."

"His name was Patrick, I met him through work, and we fell in love. Married within a year and then I fell pregnant with Sharon."

"Does she know, about you?"

"As far as Sharon is concerned I was a PA, she has know idea I was with MI5."

"A spook."

"I never let the job interfere with my personal life and it's not going to start now."

"She obviously never knew about us."

"Patrick never knew about us, you and I…that was a long time ago."

"I'm dating you daughter Adrianna."

"Look, she never has to know. It's been kept a secret this long…why tell her now."

"And you don't mind, that I'm with her."

"I was a little shocked when she said she was dating someone older, I didn't realize how old."

"I'm still younger than you dearie."

"Dearie…wow, I've missed that."

"You haven't changed."

"You have, you work for MI6 now…what happened to Reddington, last I heard you were on his team."

"Things changed."

"Did he hurt you?"

"I betrayed him, I got what I deserved."

"Kate."

"It's in the past; I'm happy where I am now and with Sharon. Just so long as you're alright with me being with her?"

"I'm happier now I know it's someone I can trust."

"She never needs to know about us, correct."

"The last thing I want is for my daughter to know that I once had an affair with her girlfriend, it will be our secret. It's been one this long."

Kate smiled softly to her as Sharon came back in to the room, caring three wine glasses and a bottle.

"So, how are we all getting on?"

"Wonderful, Sharon darling…Kate is a lovely woman, I'm glad you're happy."

"Mother, are you feeling alright."

"Of course darling."

"You really mean that?"

"I'm happy for you both…now, pour that wine and let's celebrate your moving in together shall we."

Adrianna looked at Kate, smiling softly to her as they drank their wine.

…

7 ½ Months

Mallory walked in to the spare room to see James dressed in sweats, a paint brush in his hand as he looked around the room.

"You're doing a wonderful job."

"Hey, how long have you been standing there?"

"Not long."

"Do you really like it?"

"It's beautiful."

"Is the yellow okay?"

"It's perfect for her."

"I've never painted before."

"Are those stencils or did you draw them yourself?" Mallory asked, looking at the border around the middle of the wall with the ducks on it.

"I drew them, now I'd never admit this to anyone else but back when I was younger, I was quite the artist."

"You're full of surprises."

"It's amazing how quickly things change, one minute I loved to draw and the next…I began killing for a living."

Mallory turned James around, taking the paint brush and putting it on top of the paint tin before looking in to James eyes.

"That's not the man you are anymore and those people, they were terrorists, you were doing your job."

"I know, it's just…there was always a few brief moments when I actually felt bad, for killing those men and women."

"You saved a hell of a lot of lives in the process, god only knows what might have happened of they had been allowed to live."

"Yeah, anyway…happier note…I was thinking about the wedding."

"Oh."

"I wondered how you felt about the summer, it gives us a little time after Maddie's born…or if you have another date you'd like instead then we…"

"No, the summer sounds perfect and at least our daughter can be present for it too."

"That's what I thought."

"I'm glad you asked me."

"What? To marry me, of course I was gonna ask. I love you, it's just with the pregnancy, I didn't want to rush you, we have so much going on right now with Maddie and moving and in another month she's gonna be here and we have a whole other part of this parenting thing to learn."

"Are you scared?"

"A little, but we'll be doing it all together so I feel a little better about it."

"We'll be fine."

"I know we will….you hungry. This painting lark really burns up an appetite."

"I'll make us something."

"You're supposed to be resting, get as much as you can….you're gonna need it."

James kissed Mallory before leaving the room to make lunch, Mallory smiling at the colours of the room.

…

Sharon appeared in Kate's office just after 6pm, Kate looking up from her desk when she felt someone watching her.

"Sharon…I wasn't expecting you."

"I've booked us a table as Samuels'; I thought I'd treat us."

"Sounds wonderful, I'm just finished actually so we…"

"Before we go, I need to ask you something?"

"Oh…is there something wrong."

"I'm not sure; I was hoping you might tell me."

"I don't follow."

"I was searching my mother's attic today, were having a good will charity thing at work and I know my mother had a lot of stuff she wanted gone so I offered to go and sort through things with her."

"Right."

"She had to take a phone call and while I was alone I came across some old photos that I've never seen before." She said passing one to Kate.

Kate took the picture from her, her face dropping when she looked at it.

"That is you yes? With my mother?"

"Sharon…"

"That was taken over forty years ago, why are you in a picture with her."

"Alright dearie, I'll tell you the truth…I know your mother, I met her through work and we became friends."

"What do you mean through work, you weren't a PA?"

"No dearie and neither was Adrianna."

"What?"

"Adrianna worked for MI5."

"Not she didn't."

"Yes….she did. She didn't want you to know. He job, it was dangerous as I'm sure you can imagine. She was always able to keep home and work separate."

"Did you know about me?"

"No, I met your mother years before she married your father. We were close."

"Oh my god, you mean you and my mother were…"

"It was a friendship that developed and yes we did spend a night together, but it was only one night and it never happened again. You mother wasn't like that, she preferred the company of men and I…well, you know me."

"Please tell me she didn't cheat on dad."

"No, we happened long before and after that one night we went back to being friends and over the years we drifted, eventually we lost contact until, a few weeks ago when she walked in to you house."

"Oh my god, me and my mother have slept with the same woman."

"I understand if you want to end what we have, I imagine it's very hard on you and I am sorry dearie, I really am."

"It's a shock, I just need some time to process this. About dinner I…"

"I'll cancel for us, its fine."

"I'll call you."

Sharon gave a weak smile before walking away, running past Eve as she left.

"Hey, is Sharon okay?"

"I'm not sure…Eve would it be alright if I stayed with you for a few days."

"Sure, what's happened?"

"I'll explain later."

"Okay, well I just need to drop these off to Q and I'll meet you outside."

"Thank you Eve."

…

James came through to the bedroom, smiling to himself when he saw Mallory lying on his side, sleeping. He walked over to the bed, taking of his shoes before lying down beside the older man, his arm coming to lie on Mallory's abdomen as the man made a soft moan, James leaning in to place a kiss to the back of his neck before closing his own eyes.

"What time is it?"

"I thought you were sleeping?"

"I wasn't sleeping, just resting my eyes."

"It's after 9pm, go back to sleep."

Mallory sighed before turning over on to his back, his head turning to look at James.

"You were gone for a while."

"I just needed to get a few extra things for the nursery."

"James, you've already bought enough. At this rate there'll be no room for the baby."

"I'll get the crib built tomorrow."

"Take a day off; just spend the day with me lazing around. I won't feel so bad about doing nothing if someone's doing it with me."

"You're not doing nothing, you're taking care of our daughter, keeping her safe…healthy."

"I can honestly say I've never been so bored in my life, I'd take MI6 over boredom any day of the week."

"Well it won't be for much longer, she'll be here soon and then you're gonna regret saying you were bored."

"I probably will, I can't wait until she arrives James."

"I know me either."

"I'm glad you came to the hospital that day, if you hadn't, I don't know what I'd have ended up doing."

"Even if I hadn't come that day, I think deep down, despite your fear…you wanted to have her."

"But on my own, I don't think I'd have been able to do it. I now know why women find it hard."

"Well you're not them and you're not alone, everything happened for a reason. We're together and that's what matters, I love you both very much and I can't wait for Maddie to get here."

Mallory smiled at James as the younger man looked down at him before kissing him.

…

To Be Continued…