It was a muggy winter's morning, James Adams was trotting around the ever leaky mission preparation building placing buckets under the various leaks in the roof. 'Rotten poxy roof,' James exclaimed in frustration.

'Would her ladyship like to give us a hand? Or would she rather sit on her arse?' James said cheekily, while rounding the corner into Lauren's large office at the far end of the building. No one else would've dared speaking to the head mission controller in such a manner but James couldn't resist winding up his little sister from time to time.

'I'm not in the mood for your nonsense right now, James.' she replied swiftly, without looking up from her laptop. Her office was immaculate, with briefings and other papers neatly stacked on the counter behind her desk, a stark contrast to James' messy office.

'What's wrong?' James asked with genuine concern. 'It's well above your pay grade', Lauren snapped before glancing up at James' shocked expression. 'I'm sorry for snapping James, the ethics committee just declined a huge mission I've been in the process of setting up. I've spent about four months trying to cover all the angles and now Kerry's asking me to let it go and work on something else.' Lauren said with her hands on her head.

'I can go have a word with Kerry if you want,' James offered kindly. Lauren shook her head, 'Sorry James, but the last thing I want is the chairwoman's husband trying to fight my battles for me.' James walked around to Lauren and rested a reassuring hand on her shoulder. 'I'm sorry, I'm just trying to help.' James said almost being cut off by a loud buzzing sound indicating that someone was at the main door waiting to be let in.

'Damn kids always forgetting their access passes' James muttered before excusing himself to get the door. 'You know in my day you would-,' James scolded while opening the door but froze when he saw the state of his daughter standing at the door. 'Hannah! What the hell are you doing here?' James gasped. Hannah was in a right state, her light blue training t-shirt and combat trousers covered in mud with tears streaming down her face.

'I didn't know where else to go,' Hannah bawled. 'I was hoping it would be just aunt Lauren here,' she could barely get the words out of her mouth between sobs, staring at the ground between her feet the entire time, too ashamed to look up at her father. After the initial shock subsided, James took a knee and pulled Hannah into a tight hug before yelling over his shoulder for Lauren. 'Don't worry honey, just tell us what happened,' James said, trying to soothe the bawling ten year old.

Lauren made her way out to the main door and was overcome by a sense of Déjà vu. 'Hannah dear, what happened?' she said, shuffling James aside and pulling her niece into a great hug. 'I…I couldn't do it.' Hannah said meekly in between several sobs. 'Hannah, you have nothing to be ashamed of, several cherubs have had to take more than one stabs at basic training. Both your mum and I had to have two goes to get through it,' Lauren said reassuringly.

'But you both had good excuses' Hannah screamed, 'Mum's gonna be so pissed off when she finds out that I just walked out of the gates.' Lauren wiped the tears off Hannah's face before raising her head up to meet her gaze. 'You listen to me Hannah Lauren Adams, no one and I mean no one is going to hold this against you, you understand?' Hannah nodded slowly before Lauren continued, 'And you have nothing to be ashamed of either, basic training is hard, your dad would've probably failed had it not been for your mother's experience.' Lauren and Hannah looked at James who nodded modestly before adding 'We'll go talk to mum together, okay? But first you should probably take a nice hot shower and get something to eat.' Hannah rubbed her face against her sleeve to wipe off most of the mud, snot and tears before letting out a small smile. 'Thanks,' she said softly before sprinting off towards the junior block.

Lauren looked wearily at James, 'You might as well take the morning off, go after her and see that she's not too upset.' James nodded, 'Thanks for always being there for Hannah, Lauren. She really looks up to you.'

'She's my niece James, of course I'm always going to be there for her,' Lauren said. As James set off on a jog towards the junior block, Lauren yelled 'And make sure Kerry doesn't go ballistic on the poor child!' James turned around and nodded before continuing.

'Quit? What do you mean quit?' Kerry scolded. Her husband and daughter were sitting in the two leather chairs on the other side of her large mahogany desk. 'Mum, I... I-,' Hannah mustered before being cut off by Kerry, 'Look at me when you speak to me, young lady.'

Hannah looked up slowly trying not to meet her mother's gaze before continuing. 'I couldn't take it anymore mum, the instructors were so mean and-,' she whined between sobs. 'She can always try again in three months' James pleaded before putting an arm around Hannah's back and bringing her in for a hug. Hannah shook her head furiously, 'Please don't make me do it again' she said quietly.

Kerry gave Hannah a stoic look before continuing, 'Hannah, you need to answer this next question honestly dear, do you want to be a Cherub agent?' Kerry said before adding 'You also need to know your dad and I will support any decision you make.' Hannah looked up at James who nodded sincerely before saying 'We're not going to force you to do anything you don't want to do, Hannah. We care about you far too much for that.'

'I want to be a Cherub agent, but training is just so hard' Hannah complained, bursting into a fresh round of tears. James tightened his grip around his daughter before looking at Kerry and mouthing 'Go easy on her, eh?'

'Hannah dear, you have to get through training' Kerry said. 'I'm going to sign you up for more athletic training and put your name forward for a few training exercises off campus, okay?' Hannah nodded slowly, 'Whatever you think is best, mum.'

'You know, the Norris' son, Jacob is going to start his basic training in three months' time.' James said cheerfully, 'He's a complete nutter just like his dad, if you get partnered with him, he'll help you get through some of the more physical parts of basic training.'

Hannah let out a small laugh and Kerry got up from her seat and crouched besides her daughter. 'Hannah, I'm sorry for not being very understanding. How about the three of us go out tonight and get something nice to eat,' Kerry said while wiping the tears and snot off Hannah's face with a tissue. Hannah nodded, 'I'd like that very much, and can Aunt Lauren join us?' Kerry smiled before saying, 'I don't see why not, your dad will give her a call to see if she's available, alright?' Hannah smiled before giving her mum a hug. 'I have lots of work to do dear, but I'll see you two at the main gate at 6pm.' Kerry said.

Both James and Hannah nodded before getting up to leave. James pecked Kerry on the way out who made a telephone sign with her hands to say that she'd call him in a few. He nodded before swiftly exiting the office after Hannah.

Lauren was on James' phone in his office when he returned to the mission preparation building. 'He's just walked in the door, Kerry, one sec' Lauren said into the phone before holding the receiver up towards James. 'Yep?' James said, placing the receiver against his head.

'What are we going to do about this?' Kerry asked.

'What are we going to do about what, hun?' James replied with a puzzled expression.

'She quit after 34 days, James. What if she's not cut out for this? What if she barely passes through training and something terrible happens to her during a mission?' Kerry asked desperately.

James ran his fingers through his hair, 'I think you're getting too far ahead of yourself, there must have been several other kids who quit training the first time but ended up okay,' he replied trying to calm Kerry down.

'What like Nicole Eddison?' Kerry tutted.

James sighed, 'Kerry, you need to trust the training instructors. I'll have a word with Bruce after his shift at the compound and see what he thinks about this, alright? And for god's sake, don't compare our daughter to Nicole bloody Eddison.'

'You're right James, I'm sorry. It's just that I'm already so stressed with all my new responsibilities. This was the last thing I needed.' Kerry said.

'Sometimes it feels like I'm the only level-headed person around here' James said cheekily while winking at Lauren who smiled and gave him the finger. 'Don't worry about a thing Kerry, leave this one to me.'

'Thanks James, you're a lifesaver,' Kerry said cheerfully.

'Not a problem hun, maybe after dinner we can have some James and Kerry alone time,' James replied whimsically.

Lauren screwed up her face, 'Eww, I don't need to know about your love life James' she said.

Kerry put on her sexy voice, 'Looking forward to it Jamesey,' she said before giggling and placing the phone back down.

James had a grin from ear to ear while placing the receiver back down. Lauren had only heard one half of the conversation and looked at James with a questioning gaze. 'And?' she asked. 'And what?' James said straightening his face.

'What did Kerry have to say, moron?' Lauren asked with a hint of frustration.

'Oh that, you know how she always worries, she was worried that Hannah might not have what it takes to be a Cherub agent,' James replied. 'Oh by the way, Hannah wants you to join us for dinner in the town this evening, if you're available that is.'

Lauren nodded, 'Yeah, Kerry told me while you were on your way here. Can I bring Greg along?'

'Course,' James replied, 'Do we still have to call him Greg though?'

Lauren wagged her finger at James, 'You know how he gets James. You'd better not start calling my husband Rat again.'

'But that's his name!' James moaned before walking Lauren out of his office. 'Let's get some work done while we still can, eh?'

'Hah! That's a first' Lauren snorted while making her way back to her office.