A/N: I hope you didn't think I had forgotten about this fic. I'm sorry it has been so long but time has been running away from me recently. I have been busy honestly; house-hunting and doing other dull adult tasks.

This chapter was probably my favourite one to write so far though. It's time for the MI5 Christmas party, and like every good party, there are hook-ups, arguments, drunken antics, tears, and tantrums!

Chapter Nine

Sasha had tried to stop Emma from going in to work the following day, he really had. But as hard as he tried to persuade her, it had not been enough to wear her down. She had stubbornly insisted that she felt better and was absolutely well enough to go to work. She was determined to go in; there was no way that she could stand a whole day alone in the flat, just thinking…thinking about her situation. She needed work to take her mind off things. A day off would send her crazy, she was certain of it. So in the end he had relented, even though he didn't entirely believe her. He could tell that she wasn't completely better, even though her sickness had subsided, she still didn't seem be completely recovered; she was still somewhat unsettled. And that concerned him.

So, he made sure to watch her closely throughout the whole day, checking up on her regularly to ensure that she was ok. So much so that she became quite irritable with him in the end.

"Sasha, for the hundredth time, I'm fine, so will you please just leave me alone to get on with my work," she snapped.

"I'm sorry, I'm just worried about you that's all," he apologised.

Emma felt instantly guilty. She knew that he was just being a caring boyfriend. She hadn't meant to be so blunt.

"I know you are," she said, turning to smile at him. "But there's no need to be as I'm ok, honestly."

"Just as long as you're sure," he said, before planting a kiss on her cheek and returning to his own desk.

"I am," she called out, and she wished that it was not a lie.

"And how are you Erin, are you ok?" Sasha asked on his way back. Erin was just coming through the pods, having been on an operation all day.

"Fine," she answered a little suspiciously; she'd only been to meet with a Grade C asset, so nothing too dangerous. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Emma looked up, alarmed by their conversation.

"It's just Emma got sick from the meal you two had yesterday. I was just checking you didn't have the chicken too," Sasha explained.

"Chicken?!" Erin inquired; she was sure that Emma had just had a Caesar salad.

Emma sat helplessly at her desk. Thankfully for her, Ruth had also caught on to the situation, and was quick enough to step in.

"Um sorry to interrupt," Ruth began. "And I know you've only just got back Erin, but could you possibly help me finish the reports for Six because they want them by the end of the day."

"Yeah sure," Erin agreed. "We better hurry though, so that we've still got enough time to get ready for the party tonight."

Emma breathed a sigh of relief and mouthed 'Thank you' at Ruth when nobody was looking. Sometimes she wondered what she'd do without that woman in her life.

Fortunately, Sasha didn't think anything of Erin's confused response, and consequently dropped the subject thereafter. But Emma was aware that next time she might not be so lucky. She knew that sooner or later he would begin to suspect. And besides, he had a right to know. She had to tell him. She just wasn't sure how to.

"Holy shit, you look incredible," Sasha told Emma as she entered the living room, having just finished getting ready.

Emma giggled, and did a twirl for her boyfriend. "So you like the dress then?"

"I love the dress. And I love you in it. But at the same I'd quite like to see you out of it right now," Sasha confessed, feeling his pulse race as he took in the sight of his girlfriend. He always found her gorgeous of course, but there was just something about her tonight, that made her look positively blooming.

Emma laughed at the fact that Erin's predictions had been proved correct once again. "Well, I'm afraid there's no time for that as I just got a call to say that our taxi is here."

Sasha sighed. "Well, that is a shame. I'm not sure I'll be able to keep my hands off you tonight!"

"Well you're going to have to try to as I'm not sure your father would approve of us fornicating in the middle of The Grid!" Emma said, remembering Harry's words on the phone that time.

"What does he expect?! It is a work Christmas party after all," Sasha commented, as he helped Emma into her coat.

"Fair point. Hey, if he gets enough whiskey down him, it might be him and Ruth who end up in the stationary cupboard…fornicating," Emma joked, picking up her clutch bag as the pair headed out the door.

"You never know!" Sasha said as he locked up. "However, I have a feeling it's more likely to be Erin and Dimitri."

"Really?! You think they'll finally hook up," Emma replied hopefully; the undeniable sexual tension between them was becoming almost unbearable for everyone else in the office.

"Well, if Dimitri has his way then they will."

"It's certainly about time that they got together. Mind you, Tariq might throw a curve ball by getting off with one of the girls from Section C!" Emma joked as they made their way down the stairs.

Sasha laughed heartily. "Good luck to him! Anyway, we will soon see."

"Indeed we will. It should be a good night," Emma commented.

She was looking forward to letting her hair down after the stress of the last few days, though obviously she'd have to think of an excuse for not drinking any alcohol. But she'd still be able to enjoy herself, and it would be good fun to spend an evening with her colleagues in a social environment for once. She was planning on making the most of the event as her last opportunity to forget about all her worries before she broke the news to Sasha, which she was planning on doing the following day.

"Dimitri is totally checking you out right now," Emma leaned in to notify Erin subtly.

Erin smirked as she took a sip of her drink, and looked over towards Dimitri, who quickly looked away as she caught his gaze.

"Busted," Tariq said to Dimitri who was stood at his side.

"What, do you think she saw me looking at her?" Dimitri asked.

"She definitely saw," Sasha broke the news to his pal.

"But it's fine though, because she was totally giving you the eye back," Tariq told him.

"Really, you think?" Dimitri asked hopefully.

"Definitely," Tariq confirmed, nodding.

"I mean, she's wearing red, after I told her she looks best in red. So, she took my advice, which has got to be a good sign, right?" Dimitri inquired.

"Right," Sasha confirmed.

"Clearly she's into you, so you might as well go over there and ask her out. I mean, what's the worst that could happen?" Tariq said.

"Oh, I don't know. Her turning me down, crushing me in front of all my colleagues, leaving me to do the walk of shame back to my wingmen, defeated and hopeless. Consequently causing it to be unbearably awkward between us back at work, so much so, that I'm forced to return to the SBS, and live a life of regret," Dimitri responded solemnly.

Sasha and Tariq both raised their eyebrows at each other. There was a moment's silence between them before Sasha said optimistically: "Or…you could get laid tonight."

Tariq nodded, and put a hand on Dimitri's shoulder as he told him: "Look mate, you might as well. It's the perfect situation because if she turns you down, then afterwards you can just pass it off as a drunken gesture and she won't be able to make anything of it. It's now or never."

"Alright, I'll do it," Dimitri said, exhaling deeply.

"Good man," Sasha encouraged.

Dimitri gulped down the rest of his beer, before straightening his tie, sticking his chest out, and heading off towards his fate.

"Good luck," Tariq called out behind him.

"Look who's coming over," Emma said to Erin as she spotted Dimitri approaching. "I best leave you to it."

Emma turned to leave and speak to Ruth, but just before she did, she quietly said to her friend: "Be nice, now."

"I'll do my best," Erin replied, before looking up at the man who now nervously stood before her.

"Oh man, I hope he doesn't crash and burn," Tariq said to Sasha.

"He'll be ok," Sasha said, confidently. "It's just you who needs to be paired up with somebody now."

Tariq laughed a little forcefully. "Nah, I don't have time for any of that."

"You don't want a girlfriend?" Sasha asked.

"It's not that I don't want one, I just don't need one," Tariq tried to explain.

"So you're not going to mind being the only one in Section D who's not part of a couple?" Sasha questioned. He hadn't meant it to, but his inquiry had come across a little harsh.

Tariq tried to brush it off. "Not really, it's all a bit incestuous if you ask me, and besides, we don't know if things are gonna work out with Dimitri and…" he trailed off as he turned to look at the pair in question, who were currently engaged in a very passionate public display of affection.

"At last," Emma said with a sigh. "I thought they were never going to get it on; they almost took as long as you and Harry."

Ruth giggled, blushing slightly.

"I'm pleased for them. I just hope it lasts and is not just a drunken fling that they'll go on to regret," Ruth commented, as she watched the pair continue to kiss hungrily.

"No, I have a feeling it will be for the long-term," Emma replied.

"Anyway," Ruth said, averting her gaze from the scene, "how are you doing?"

"Ok, I'm going to tell Sasha tomorrow," Emma revealed.

"Good," Ruth said, "do you have any idea how you're going to go about it?"

"Nope, I'm just going to have to wing it," Emma confessed.

"Sometimes that's for the best," Ruth replied.

Emma hummed in agreement, before suddenly noting the disappearance of Dimitri and Erin.

"Hey, where did the new couple go?" Emma asked.

Ruth turned to look at the area they'd vacated. "No idea."

"Maybe they finally saw Harry glaring at them, and felt it would be appropriate to carry on the show somewhere a little more private, like the stationary cupboard perhaps!" Emma joked, though she had a feeling that she might not be too far from the truth.

"Where did they go?" Tariq asked Sasha, also noticing Dimitri's and Erin's absence.

"Probably the stationary cupboard," Sasha said with a grin.

"That would be the ultimate cliché," Tariq commented.

"I doubt he'd be too bothered about that, if he is getting lucky tonight," Sasha replied.

"True, if he is, we're never going to hear the end of it though, are we?"

Sasha laughed. "No never! He's going to be so pleased with himself."

"Perhaps we shouldn't have encouraged him so much. Still at least we don't have to watch it happening over CCTV footage," Tariq joked.

However, Sasha was not amused. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Tariq looked up to see his colleague's angered expression. He hadn't meant to provoke him; it was just meant as banter in response to Sasha's earlier comments.

"Mate, I didn't mean…" Tariq began.

"Well what did you mean then?" Sasha asked, feeling his temper flare up. He knew he shouldn't take the jibe so personally, but it was a memory that he'd been trying to suppress, and one that he could really avoid being readdressed by his workmate.

"Look, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything, just forget I did," Tariq insisted, desperately trying to diffuse the situation.

"But you did, so what were trying to say Tariq?" Sasha glared down at him.

"Nothing, it was a bad joke, a low strike. I didn't intend to upset you," Tariq vowed.

"I'm not upset! Why should I be? Emma was working, she had to do it," Sasha said, mainly for the benefit of himself.

"I know, exactly, which is why it was a terrible joke. I really am sorry man," Tariq apologised once again.

Sasha however, was unwilling to forgive. "Whatever," he muttered, as he stormed off.

"Sasha!" Tariq called out.

Sasha stopped abruptly to turn and warn him: "Look, leave it, ok, and just be thankful that you're not nursing a broken nose right now."

Tariq bowed his head and did as he was told.

By this point, some of the other guests had noticed the commotion, including Emma. She reached out to grab Sasha as he stormed past her, but he shook her off, and proceeded to head towards his father's office.

"I better go after him," Emma excused herself.

Ruth nodded. Harry came over to join her. "I guess now wouldn't exactly be the best time to initiate a father-and-son bonding session."

"No, perhaps not," Ruth agreed. "Do you know what happened?"

"No, perhaps it was the mince pies; they're enough to send anyone over the edge," Harry said dryly.

"Yes, MI5 may be many things, but its specialty is most certainly not catering," Ruth agreed, also having noted the poor quality of the refreshments for the evening.

"I wouldn't even feed any of this to Scarlett," Harry commented.

"Hmmm, but you do spoil that dog though," Ruth replied.

Harry shook his head, though he let out a gruff chuckle, as Ruth was right, of course.

"Sasha, talk to me," Emma pleaded, with her boyfriend, who was stood in silence at the back of the office facing the wall. "What happened?"

"It was Tariq, he was being a prick," Sasha admitted, still turned away from his girlfriend.

"What did he say?" Emma asked, walking up to stand beside Sasha.

"He just made a joke about the Khan operation from the other day," he revealed.

"Oh," Emma sighed, having hoped that that was behind them. "Well he probably didn't mean anything by it. You know what Tariq can be like; sometimes he just says stuff without thinking. It comes with the nature of being such a genius."

"I know," Sasha said, squeezing the bridge of his nose.

"Don't let it bother you," Emma told him as she rubbed his shoulders to try and relieve his stress.

"I'm trying but I just can't," Sasha admitted.

"Why not? I thought we'd been over all this," Emma cried in exasperation.

"I know, it's just I didn't realise working with you would put so much stress on our relationship," Sasha said.

"What?" Emma asked incredulously, upset and a little shocked that her boyfriend felt that way.

"It's not just the Khan thing, I mean ever since I joined Section D, things have been a little strained don't you think?"

Emma didn't respond. She didn't know what to say. She knew that they had been arguing a little more than usual, but she hadn't thought of it as being anything too serious.

"Initially I just put it down to it being new and different here and the pressure of working for my father but maybe…" he started.

"It's me," Emma finished off his sentence for him.

"No, I didn't mean…" Sasha began, struggling to find the words to explain, "it's just you seem to have been acting…differently lately, more distant. I worry that's because I've pushed you away."

"I've been ill," Emma said.

"I know, but it's not just that. You must see it too, that we're not as close as we were before I joined here," Sasha said.

"What are you saying, Sasha?" Emma asked, her voice cracking slightly.

"I don't know," Sasha admitted. "What do you think?"

"I like working with you," Emma said honestly. It had been stressful at times, and the Khan operation had been particularly testing, but overall she had enjoyed having the support of her boyfriend in the workplace each day. She had had no inclination that he might have felt differently, which she guess, did actually prove his point somewhat.

"Then why have you been so…odd lately? If it's not down to us working together, then what is the reason?" Sasha asked.

Emma looked into his eyes; he was waiting for an answer. She had no excuses prepared. She needed to tell him the truth. She had to tell him now. She had no choice.

Emma tried to blink back the tears that were once again accumulating, and took a deep breath. Her head dropped to face the floor and she closed her eyes before proceeding.

"It's because…" she started, and then gulped, "I'm pregnant."

Emma had barely whispered the last part of the sentence, it was almost inaudible. But Sasha had heard.

His head was spinning; thoughts were whirring round his brain a mile a minute. He was struggling to keep up. He couldn't believe it. He didn't understand; as far as he was aware Emma had been on The Pill. Was she sure? Had she taken a test? How far gone was she? Who else knew? What were they going to do?! He had so many questions, but they would have to wait. For his girlfriend stood before him, shaking, as tears streamed down her face. She didn't need his questions right now, she just needed him.

Sasha took Emma into his arms, and held onto her tightly. He stroked her hair and rubbed her back as she cried hopelessly into his shirt. He kept telling her: "It's going to be ok, don't worry."

He didn't quite know how it would be ok, but he would make it, somehow.

A/N: How's that for a dramatic chapter?

So Sasha knows at last, and he's planning on being the supportive pillar of strength that Emma so desperately needs at this time...