Alex woke before Yassen. Yassen looked relaxed and peaceful. Alex had never seen him asleep before. Alex was so tempted to touch him. Yassen spoke. "Have you been watching me for a long time?"

"About an hour."

Yassen opened his eyes and Alex took as sharp intake of breath. Yassen was still as beautiful as the first time Alex had laid eyes on him. Alex's hand touched Yassens's face and then they were kissing. Slow, tentative and like coming home. Alex dreamed about how Yassen tasted. Alex leaned over and dominated the kiss, kissing harder, deeper exploring Yassen's mouth. Wanting more. Alex trailed kisses along the russian's jaw and down his throat. He breathed out and gasped out "I want you so much."

"Then take me. I'm all yours." said the assassin with a smile.

For the first time in Alex's life, he topped. As he pushed into Yassen, he'd say he'd been waiting his entire life for this moment. Tight, hot and wonderful. He angled to brush past Yassen's prostate. Alex wanted Yassen to become undone. Lost in the bliss of fucking.

As they both lay in the morning sunlight. Alex stated "I've never topped before."

"You were waiting for me."

"Yes. I think I was."

"Have you had many lovers since Cuba?"

"Three. Well two were little more than quick fucks. Richard was the real deal."

"The artist?"

"Yeah, the artist."

"You should talk to your father. Tony has been trying to find you. He has contacted MI6 and they have sent out discreet enquiries. You are officially missing and yet you have crossed three borders unopposed. Little Alex running rings around MI6."

Alex felt like sulking, but that strategy would not work on Yassen. He nodded his head and acquiesced. "I'll call him tonight".

Alex knew Tony's mobile off by heart. It was 10am and Tony was enjoying brunch with a married couple he'd met and befriended. Tony noted the phone number with the French international code.

Alex spoke first "Hello, Papa. I hear you miss me"

"Where are you, Alex?"

"Nice. Some Hotel on the Rue St. Honore."

"Are you coming to stay with me?"

Alex was a bit flummoxed "What in America?"

"Yes in America, LA."

Alex mused on this statement "I thought you needed space."

"I know Peter told you that, but I never meant to give you the impression I wanted you out of my life. You are my son. Never forget that we're family Alex. Jon would not have wanted us to become estranged over a stupid lack of communication. I miss my baby boy."

Alex was lost. Yassen watched as Alex's tight emotional control broke down and the young man cried. The dam holding back too much grief and hurt under tight control for far too long broke. Alex put down the receiver.

Tony was frantic. He called the number registered on his phone. The Hotel Azure had no guests called Alex Fletcher-Smith on its books. Tony was about to call MI6 when Alex phoned again. His voice sounded raw from crying "I'm booked on the Paris LAX flight in eight days. I'll see you then." The phone again went dead.

The next morning, Yassen took Alex to see his boat. It was a sleek ocean going yacht with cabin. The weather was still stormy, so they retired back to the hotel. Yassen looked at Alex. Even now he could see that Alex was not happy. "Since I cannot sail would you like to come to my villa?"

"You have a villa?"

"Yes 20km north from here. There I can relax. Hunt, fish, hike and swim."

"Sounds nice."

Yassen the touched Alex's face. "I will tell you all I know about your father and our time together. I will teach you what he taught me."

"I'd like to know more about him."

The drive north was in total silence. Yassen pulled onto a small mountain road and stopped at a small farmhouse. Yassen began to describe the area. "The river is about 1 kilomtere north-east of here. There is a village 5 kilometres over the ridge. There are no distractions here. I relax totally."

Yassen opened the door. The house was basic. A cooker and a sink in the kitchen. Tinned foods on the shelves.

"This is your home?" Alex questioned at the house not much more than a hovel.

"One of my homes. To succeed as an assassin you remain on the move and only share personal information with those you trust." Yassen smiled and looked intensely at his companion. "You told the Cubans and the CIA everything about MI6 but details about Alexei and myself you have kept to yourself".

Alex looked the bare room and spoke softly, "I just didn't tell them everything you told me. My secrets and yours. I never told them what you told me about Hunter. Tony and Jon never understood. They only saw you as a bad guy. Life is not black and white. You were as trapped by the situation at Skeleton Key as I was." Alex looked at Yassen and smiled.

Yassen noted the smile was genuine even if fleeting. "I have had my revenge on those who ordered me to hurt, to kill you."

Alex walked into the room and sat on the sofa, stretching out. "We survived."

"Yes we both did. You are so like John in so many ways. Your working so hard over the last year has proved it."

"This year has been so hard. Not with training or finishing school. Just with being alone. I miss Jon so much. Tony just found it so hard to cope without him. Stupid things upset Papa so much." Silence and loneliness had been Alex's constant companions.

"We both need to relax. Just what holidays are for."