Paris, June 15, 1950

A half-burned Gitane was dangling between Victoria's lips as she was inspecting a negative through a magnifying glass. She had a hard time deciding, which one of the two shots she was going to use for Madame Guillefoyle's portrait. Both had their strengths and weaknesses. Both were good shots, but neither was exceptional. Not that Madame Guillefoyle would notice. She'd accept either one and say it is a masterpiece. Kate kept saying to Victoria that she herself was the greatest critic of her work, and deep inside, Victoria knew it too.

Both Victoria and Kate had made a name for themselves since their arrival to Paris and opening the l'Espace Chase in a small boutique in Montmartre; Victoria as a photographer and Kate as an illustrator. They both had a relatively steady flow of customers that covered the rent of the space and brought food on the table. It was by no means luxurious, but they both were content.

They had kept contact with Max and Chloé, who had taken over the tavern from Joyce. Every now and then, they took the opportunity to come to Paris to see Kate and Victoria, who had a small but cozy apartment above their premises. The capital had slowly recuperated from the war and was beginning to see the first signs of a transformation to a modern metropolis. There was always something new to show to the visitors.

"Will you put that out? You're dropping ash on the negatives!" Kate said as she walked into the shop from the back room.

"Don't worry, I'll be careful," Victoria responded, but stubbed the cigarette into the ashtray nevertheless.

"I know you will, honey," Kate said, placing a kiss on Victoria's lips. "Blech! I wonder if I ever get used to the taste of tobacco in your mouth."

"Sorry about that, darling."

"Any ideas for dinner?"

"There's a new bistro that just opened a couple of blocks down. I'd like try it out," Victoria said as she collected the negatives into a folder.

"Sounds good!" Kate said as she began to count the register.

Victoria was about to take the negative folder to back room when the front door opened and a woman in her late thirties stepped inside. She was dressed in a light blue two piece suit and her platinum hair was neatly braided on the back of her head.

"Nous sommes en train de fermer," Victoria said politely to the woman.

"Oh, I'm not here for a photograph," the woman said in South London English. "I came to see you two, Captain Marsh and Sergeant Major Chase."

"And who might you be?" Victoria asked, slightly more alert, upon realizing that the stranger knew their names and ranks.

"Let me introduce myself: Camilla Davies," she offered her hand. "We have a common acquaintance, Mr. Smith."

"I suppose he failed to mention that both Kate and I have retired from service, Miss Davies." Victoria said reservedly as she shook her hand.

"Oh, he did mention that," Camilla responded. "He also mentioned that you might be able to help me with my little problem."

"It must be pretty specific problem, if the MI6, if I assume correctly, thinks that it takes a former SOE and OSS operative to resolve it," Kate remarked.

"It is indeed, and you assumed correctly, I represent His Majesty's Secret Service," Camilla admitted. "We've been contacted through our network that there is an officer in the Soviet Military Intelligence who would wish to defect."

"So, how does this concern us?" Victoria asked. "I'm sure you have more competent people to deal with this kind of problems."

"Oh, I'm sure we have," Camilla noted as she dug up a dossier from her briefcase and put it on the desk. "The thing is that she specifically asked for you."

"She?" Victoria asked as she looked at the file. Even though her hair was different and she was wearing a uniform, Victoria immediately recognized the woman in the picture.

"Rachelle!" Kate said.

"Yes," Camilla confirmed. "Major Ambre has expressed her wish to defect to the west and both the CIA and MI6 have come to conclusion that the information she possesses is worth the effort. There would be an opening to extract her in two weeks when she is visiting East Berlin. Her only term for her defection was that her old team mates handle the extraction."

Both Victoria and Kate looked at the file and then each other. Kate gave an approving nod to Victoria.

"Very well," Victoria said to Camilla. "We are in, but on one condition."

"And that is?"

"It has to be the whole team," Victoria answered. "We'll need Max and Chloé too."

"I don't know about that," Camilla hesitated. "I doubt my supervisors will approve involving civilians in this kind of operation."

"It's either everyone or no-one," Kate said with determination.

Camilla looked at them both for a moment, before sighing as a sign of surrender. "You ladies are quite the tough negotiators. I'll pass your terms on to my supervisor and come back to you." She took the file and put it back into her briefcase. "Thank you for your time!" With that, she left the store.

"So..." Kate said as she locked the door behind her.

"So..." Victoria repeated. "Once more unto the breach."

"Well, I've always wanted to visit Berlin," Kate said.

"Me too, but for pleasure."

"Maybe we'll find time for that too," Kate took Victoria into her embrace and gave her a kiss.

"Maybe we will." Victoria kissed her back.

A/N:

And here we are! It's been a ride. I hope you enjoyed reading the story as much as I enjoyed reading it.

Camilla Davies makes a cameo with the permission of the wonderful Lyta Halifax. Do check out her story 'Black Swan' to see more of her.