And the wife is beautiful, Lewis hugs me and strokes my hair. The boys roll their eyes as Mia huddles close to me.
We leave the Eden and out of the corner of our eye we see the boy and girl we saved. They smile warmly at us and wave.
It's nice to save someone's life, I smile. It's a pity that I often have to act secretly and anonymously.
That's the job of a spy, Christian sighs.
Chris! - we hear the cry of Elena, who rushes at full speed towards us. A moment and she hangs on the neck of a young man. I look away in embarrassment, but Lewis looks at the girl warmly and softly.
Hi, Ms. Steele, Mr. Protheroe, Elena nods to her boss.
How are you, Elena? Mia asks.
- Everything is fine. The father dealt with the debts, went to the treatment. Mom got a job at a pet store. Everything seems to be fine, - Miss Lincoln is embarrassed. And I'm looking for a job again.
- Since we did, then let's celebrate it at home? Elliot suggests.
Not yet, I sober him. The guy sighs.
- Listen, let's go to the park, little ones. You will rest, and your mom and dad ... - Eric appears near us and plays with his eyebrows.
Welch, is it okay that I'm standing here? Mia asks.
I sit in the living room and read Finch's letters. Hell, he's furious that I messed with Prothero. While we were away, he filled my mailbox with letters that mixed threats and pleas to change my mind. God, what doesn't he like? We passed the interview, we have a chance to get into Eden. Doesn't the end justify the means?
I feel a warm hand on my shoulder. Lewis. He's always so quiet. The man's eyes widen at the pile of letters from Finch. Before I even open my mouth, he throws all the letters into spam and slams his laptop shut.
I don t want anything to bother you today, Prothero murmurs. Let's have a date here. You, me, wine, delicious food and a Harry Potter marathon.
I only love the first four films, there is no war, I mutter. Maybe Twilight is better?
These films should be torturing people in Larkhill. I suggest then There are only girls in Jazz, Prothero laughs.
Perfect I show him that I approve of his choice and go to change. I wash quickly and put myself in order. I look through my wardrobe. Hmmm, everything is gray, businesslike, dull It s like I m over seventy, I live in a nursing home with cats and a vibrator that always runs out of batteries.
Okay, I'll have to go shopping and update my style. While I choose a floor-length black evening dress with bare shoulders, I put it on, do my hair and makeup, and go to the living room.
In the living room, a table for two has already been set and a movie is on. Lewis appears in a black business suit with a bottle of wine and two glasses. When he sees me, he looks at me admiringly.
You are beautiful, he whispers. I feel like I'm blushing. I walk up to him and sit on the couch. Prothero opens the bottle and pours the wine without spilling a drop. We clink glasses, eat pizza and talk about all sorts of nonsense. And when Lewis hugs me, I feel so calm and comfortable ...
For a long time no one took into account my needs and desires. I have always acted secretly, without advertising myself. In order to keep the peace in the world, spies have to give up family and relationships, which I did at the age of seventeen. But now... It's so nice to feel needed and desired...
Hushed, Agent Hedwig, are you all right? Prothero asks, putting his arm around my shoulders.
- Yes. You know, thank you for being my husband. You are caring, kind, strong ... You have a lot of positive qualities that you yourself may not know about. I hug him tighter and inhale the scent of his perfume. Sandalwood and musk. A very pleasant tart smell that suits him very well.
- No, thank you. You're the first one in years to remind me that I can be a good person. Lewis kisses my forehead.
Then he goes down to his nose and smacks it. He finds my lips with his and breathes an innocent kiss into them. I jump up and hug him. The kiss becomes more and more passionate and hot. I pull him towards me, lie down completely on the sofa and begin to rid him of his clothes.
Suddenly I hear the key turn in the lock, push Lewis away and clean myself up.
- We have returned! Mia yells as she enters the house. Behind her are Elliot, Elena, Eric and Christian.
- And what are you doing here ... - Eric is surprised.
Mom and dad are flirting, Mia says calmly.
- Not at all! we shout in unison with Prothero.
In the evening, lying in my room, I think about Lewis. How much he went through, how cold his heart became ... And perhaps only I can help him. Yes, we're a fake family, and when I find out Creedy's plans, we'll break up with him, but damn, I don't want to let him go.
Not in the realm of darkness and horror in which he lives. Only not in the "Merry Owl"! Or... is everything not as I think it is? What do I know about my husband's business? Fake husband, but nonetheless... I'll have to ask him. Eric's words are one thing, but getting to know everything firsthand is another.
Chapter Management Edit Chapter Chapter 17 Chapter Text "I want to watch Sailor Moon!" Mia screams.
No, we're watching the news! Christian mutters. - This is more important!
Children quarrel over TV. This is something new. Usually they are always friendly, but here ...
I look at them and understand that they are not serious. But I decide to help them. I find cartoons about Sailor Moon on my laptop and, after giving it to Mia, I go to the living room to watch the news with the boys. Mia thanks me and squeals with joy and goes to watch cartoons.
You know how to do it with kids, Ms. Steele, Lewis says, sitting down next to us. - They would have received punishment from me: two days without TV and that's it. I would not understand who is right and who is not.
Be gentler, Mr. Prothero, Elliot says. But I have to say, you're doing a good job!
Lewis chuckles and puts his hand on my back. I blush ... pictures of our kiss pop up in my memory. And I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to repeat it.
Listen, mom, agent bear is writing here, zae ... got it already! Mia runs into the living room with my laptop.
Agent Bear... Not that!
What is an agent bear? Prothero asks.
"Fred Thursday, my teacher and Mia's godfather," I whisper. I take the laptop from Mia and, sitting down at the table, start reading.
Eric has handed over the Tawny Owl Mission to Fred and Fred is going to come here to London and try to get my brain right. He loves me like a daughter.
As far as I know, at one time he worked in Syria and Afghanistan and probably crossed paths with Prothero there.
- Fersday, Fersday ... I crossed paths with him in 1998 in Syria. Real knight. But then I was ... to put it mildly, not like that, grins Lewis. - Even then I shared the ideals of Nord-Fier. What does he want?
Come and blow my mind. He writes that you are not the one I need for the task, I answer calmly.
Hmm It doesn t concern him. Half the job is already done! Elliot chuckles.
He's Mia's godfather and has the right to worry about her, Christian protests.
If he was worried, he would be here and play the part of Anastasia's husband, Mia says hotly.
It is truth too. I contact Finch and ask him when Fred will arrive. He says that in a week. I breathe out. There is time to come up with something.
I don t need another dad, Mia says firmly. Even Fred. Can we defend Lewis?
Christian calls his brother and sister to his room, and they confer about something.
I look at Lewis. He is gloomy and gloomy.
"Fred has no right to suspend me!" I'm the head of England's elite intelligence! These Yankees always think they're better than us, smarter. The country of the age of the Russian Bolshoi Theater! And they have vyebons like their country is the age of the Egyptian pyramids, growls Prothero.
But I'm a Yankee too, I laugh.
Not all Yankees are bad and get fucked, Lewis excuses himself and hugs me. I feel good with him However, his terada reminds me of something.
Listen, about your job I start timidly.
Lewis kisses my cheek.
- Let's do this: I'll tell you everything, but not now. I propose to go to the "Owl" and I will tell you everything and show you, - he laughs.
I nod and hear a beep about a new e-mail. It's from Taylor. He congratulates me on a successful interview and wishes me good luck with Fred.
By the way, when it becomes known there, did we do it? Christian enters the living room, followed by Mia.
The lists of enrollees will be posted on Friday, Prothero says, checking something on his iPhone.
Great, we ll all find out soon, Mia grins and laughs.
pov christian
I look at my happy brother and sister. Their smiles are the most important thing in life for me. I am extremely happy that Ms. Still became our foster mother. As for Lewis... Well... It's more complicated. He's a pimp and a trail of murder has been trailing him since the early 1990s. But it seems that he sincerely loves Anastacia and us. This surprises me. Like him and feelings ...
Suddenly SMS. Elena invites me to take a walk. I'm smiling. This girl makes me better...
- Found a job? I ask her. We go to the cinema holding hands. Lena looks away.
Looking But, thanks to Mr. Protheroe, there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel. Listen, Chris, are there any beautiful girls among your classmates in Eden? Elena asks slyly.
So... Jealous Miss Lincoln... This is something new.
I don't know, I haven't been enrolled yet. And what? I'm interested.
Christian, I'm so afraid that there will be someone better than me, and you Lena sniffs.
I shake my head and hug her. Pressing me to myself, I awkwardly stroke my red curls and laugh.
- Lena, Lena ... What kind of girl are you. I will never need anyone but you. - Kiss her on the forehead.
- Honestly? she asks incredulously, pressing closer.
Honestly, honestly, I whisper. I love you, Elena Lincoln.
She smiles and hugs me tighter. I gently take her by the chin and kiss her. The girl flares up and her smile seems to light up all of London...
Chapter Management Edit Chapter Chapter 18 Chapter Text Pov Anastasia.
Friday came suddenly. During these days, me, the children and Lewis became very close. I got more and more into the role of a mother, the children shared their past and problems with me, and Lewis ... He tried to help me.
True, in the evenings he went to the Merry Owl and returned only in the morning, often smelling of perfume and wine. No, I remembered that we had a fictitious marriage with him, and that he was free to sleep with others, like me, but some strange jealousy still arose in my heart and painfully pricked me with its sharp needles.
On Friday morning, Lewis cooked breakfast, I was happy to help him. We turned on the radio and, singing along to hits from the 80s and 90s, moved around our small kitchen, laughing and joking.
Still, the apartment is small for us. We need something bigger, Prothero mutters as he makes coffee.
- There are options? I look ironically.
- Penthouse in Escala. It's not far from "Eden", I was there. Everyone wanted to buy him out, says Lewis.
Well I mumble. I like my apartment, I've been through so much here ... And we will buy a penthouse with dirty money.
Let's talk about it with the kids, okay? I don't give up.
- It's coming. We will discuss everything after enrollment. Lewis kisses me on the cheek.
When we have everything ready, we call the children. All three are terribly worried, I feel it in every cell of my body. Mia keeps tugging at my hand and asking me to give her another omelet, Elliot is silent, but Christian is thinking of something else. I suspect it's about Elena.
An hour later, we stand at the boards with the lists of applicants and look for the names of the children. They passed, they passed?.. The thought knocks in my head like an alarm. But alas their names are not on any list.
Fuck, I growl and look helplessly at my family. Now my children will be left with nothing, and Lewis ... will leave me forever.
- Mom. Mia takes my hand and tries to reassure me with her smile.
Well, should we look for shelter? Elliot jokes grimly.
I m going to hit you now, Christian shouts to his brother.
- Calm down! Prothero says coldly and authoritatively. His tone sends chills down your spine. That tone... The tone of Commandant Larkhill, King of Death...
I shake my head and turn to leave, when suddenly, in the archway I know, I see Peter Jakes, his eyebrows beckoning at us.
We look at each other and go to him.
"Mrs. Steele, Mr. Prothero... I have some information for you," Peter bows his head. But what I tell you should only be between us.
We all nod to him. Peter hands us a list of the children's names. I look at the list and feel a surge of hope.
The first three lines ... The names of my children.
- A waiting list for enrollment. If there are those who will take away the documents for some reason, your children will be enrolled in their place. They have good passing scores, we liked them at the interview. Once again - they will take away the documents - act. This is all I can do for you. Expect good news, Peter says and leaves.
The timid flame of hope ignites within me again. So, not all is lost. Lewis takes my hand and looks reassuringly.