Missy had been sending flowers every day for the past two weeks.
Bouquets of every kind had arrived—roses, lilies, exotic arrangements Hally couldn't even name— all ridiculously giant, delivered to wherever it was Hally happened to be at that particular moment. Yet, Missy herself hadn't reappeared. Hally assumed she was lying low while UNIT tied up loose ends after the Cybermen attack.
Each bouquet came with its own note tucked between the stems, small cards that had started innocently enough:
"I'm sorry. Be patient with me."
"Let me make it up to you. Let me be everything you need me to be."
"After all this time, you're still mine. Despite everything. Thank you."
Although they'd started to become less PG.
"I've been thinking about you on your knees."
"Do you have any idea how much I've missed having you unravel beneath me?"
Hally had ended up intercepting the deliveries before anyone at UNIT security could catch a glimpse of them.
"Do you think about my hands on your skin? I think you do."
"I remember every single sound, every little gasp and whimper. All of it is mine."
"Your pleasure is mine, sweetheart."
Flustered didn't begin to cover it.
The more the notes came, the harder it was for Hally to concentrate on anything else. Frustration buzzed under her skin, but her annoyance at Missy's audacity was slowly—very slowly—being replaced by something far more inconvenient: an overwhelming, aching need.
Initially, she'd managed to just ignore it. But with every day that passed she found her mind inevitably drifting to Missy. The thoughts were… not work-appropriate. It was driving her slightly insane. Getting anything done had become impossible. To make matters worse, both of her vibrators had mysteriously disappeared from her bedside drawer. She considered buying new ones or, hell, just dealing with the problem herself, but something stopped her. Some ridiculous, stubborn part of her refused to give Missy the satisfaction of knowing her plan, whatever it was, was working.
So, Missy was what, forcing her to forgive her by making her so desperate to be fucked that she caved and just let her get away with it?
Ugh.
No.
Instead, Hally had resolved not to forgive her and not to do anything about the endless frustration. Which left her in a perpetual state of horniness.
Home wasn't much better. Lily had gone from giving her the silent treatment to monosyllabic answers, grunting at her when she wasn't outright avoiding her.
One afternoon, they'd returned home to find the living room floor completely covered in dark purple rose petals.
Lily had been delighted, practically skipping through the floral mess.
Hally, on the other hand, had stood in the doorway, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Right… and what happens with this? Do I just clear them all up now, or should I wait until we've got a carpet of rotting flowers?" Her voice was clipped, frustration evident.
Lily had turned on her, scowling. "It's romantic," she snapped, her voice dripping with derision. "Why are you always so boring?" With a dramatic huff, Lily stormed upstairs, leaving Hally staring after her.
Wow. Eight whole words. A new record.
Hally had arranged for Alina to visit the house on Thursday evening. By the time Alina arrived, Hally had already set out some activities in the lounge: colouring books, a stack of crayons, and a few board games carefully laid out on the coffee table.
When Hally called Lily downstairs, her daughter lingered in the doorway, eyeing the scene like it was a trap. Her gaze flicked between her mother and Alina, suspicion clouding her face.
"I know what you're doing," Lily said, crossing her arms over her chest.
Hally offered a small, tired smile. "That's fine. I'm not trying to be secretive about it. Alina is just here in case you wanted to talk to someone."
Lily didn't move, her posture stiff.
"You don't have to," Hally added quickly. "I just thought… seeing as you're not really talking to me, you might want to talk to someone else. I know you're angry, and frustrated, and I just want you to know there are people you can talk to. Even if you don't want to talk to me."
Lily's eyes stayed on her, measuring. Suspicion gave way to something unreadable.
"I don't want you to feel like you're… on your own," Hally said softly. She cleared her throat, the weight of Lily's silence lingering in the room. Turning to Alina, she forced a more neutral expression. "Anyway… I'll leave you to it. Text me when you're done. Five minutes, forty-five minutes… whatever."
Alina nodded with a reassuring smile, and Hally slipped out, closing the door behind her. She'd prearranged with Jack that she'd pop round to let Lily feel like she had space without Hally interfering.
"It'll be fine. She's just stubborn… like her mother." Jack said, his eyes glittering as he poured her a cup of tea she was probably not going to drink.
Hally nodded, but it still hurt. It hurt that Lily wouldn't talk to her. That her daughter was so angry, so closed off, that Hally had to call her therapist for help. Even if Alina managed to get through to Lily, Hally wouldn't know what they talked about. Patient confidentiality and all that.
She tried not to think about it. She tried to convince herself that it was fine, Lily would be ok.
Two hours later, Hally's phone buzzed. A short text from Alina: 'We're done.'
By the time she'd walked the few meters back to her front door, Lily was already heading upstairs. She brushed past Hally in the hall without a word.
Alina waited in the lounge, her expression soft as she stood to leave.
"Do you have time tomorrow afternoon?" Alina asked, her tone light but pointed as she hovered in the doorway.
"For…?"
"For yourself." Alina said, a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.
Hally shifted uncomfortably. "Umm, maybe. I've got a lot of… things."
Alina clocked her with a look, parts knowing, parts disapproving, her expression clearly read 'I know you're avoiding me, but it won't work forever.' But, she didn't push, instead wishing her a good evening before heading out.
Dinner that evening was silent, as it had been for weeks. Lily picked at her plate, her shoulders hunched, refusing to meet Hally's eyes.
Hally cleared her throat, forcing herself to break the silence. "Did you want to see Alina again?"
"Yes." Lily mumbled without looking up.
"Did you have a good talk?"
Nothing.
"Is there anything you want to talk to me about?"
More silence.
Hally swallowed the lump in her throat, forcing her voice to stay steady. "Okay… well… I love you, Lilja."
Just silence.
"Can I have a hug?"
The sound that left her daughter was tired, a heavy sigh, her chair scraping loudly against the floor as she stood. Without a word, she turned away from the table and walked away, the sound of her feet trudging up the stairs the only noise to accompany the heavy silence she'd left behind.
Hally leaned back into her chair, letting her fork drop onto her plate. She dragged a frustrated hand over her face, ignoring the sting creeping into her eyes. Breaking wasn't an option. The only option was to pull herself together. To be fine. Just, fine.
She absentmindedly clicked through the list of unanswered emails sat in her inbox, a soft breath falling from her. Unenthusiastically, she sorted them into folders, if she decided on which needed to take priority perhaps she could tackle those first. Her phone buzzed against the desk.
Without much thought, she picked it up, glancing at the notification.
Armitage.
Her focus sharpened. He never texted her unless it was something important. She unlocked her phone and opened the message.
It was a photo.
A photo of her.
Hally blinked, her hearts thumping heavily in her chest. The image was crisp and deliberate. Missy. Dressed sharply, back in clothes that matched her guise as headmistress. Dark-tailored trousers, black shirt, and a long black overcoat. Her hair was down, a soft curl to it. The photo had been taken at a distance, wide enough to capture most of her, but close enough to catch every detail of her face. Missy was striding forward, walking diagonally away from the photograph, although her head tilted slightly toward the camera, as though she'd known it was there.
Hally stared at the photo until the three dots of Armitage typing caught her attention.
A: The Headmistress has turned up for work.
It took a moment for Hally to fully process the words. Her mind stuttered over the implications.
She dialled him immediately. Armitage picked up before the first ring finished.
"Is that today?" she asked, her voice tight.
"About two minutes ago," he confirmed. His tone was level, although she could hear the edge of tightness to it.
"At the school?"
"Yes."
"What's she doing?"
"Just… she's just in her office."
"That's it?"
"Yes."
"What about Lily? Has she gone for Lily?" Fear left a waver in her voice.
"No... Lily is still in her classroom."
Hally's breath caught, a knot forming in her throat. The endless possibilities were racing through her mind, colliding with one another.
"How would you like me to proceed?" Armitage's voice crackled through the phone.
"Uh…" Her mind faltered.
Missy.
Missy had just walked into the school.
"Hally," Armitage pressed. "Would you like me to engage?"
"No," she exhaled, forcing her voice into steadiness. "No. Leave it to me. Just… just observe. Stay put. Call me if she leaves her office."
"Will do."
Hally ended the call and sat in silence. Her phone rested in her palm, cool and lifeless, as her mind whirred.
Missy had shown up at the school.
What?
Missy wasn't hiding. She had walked right in, in plain sight.
What was she doing?
What did she want?
Panic surged within her as she considered their daughter, before she tamped it down swiftly. If Missy had any intention of taking Lily, she would have done it long before now. No, this wasn't about Lily. It couldn't be.
But what was it?
Her gaze flicked toward Kate's office.
Tell Kate. That was what she should do.
Hally planted her hands on the desk and stood, but her feet didn't move.
A wave of nausea rolled over her, a confusing cocktail of nerves, dread, excitement, and—God help her—desire.
Missy.
She clenched her fists, her nails biting into her palms. She had to do the right thing. She had to walk to Kate's office, explain everything, and let UNIT handle it.
Right?
Hally tried to picture it. She would stand there and tell Kate that Missy, The Master, her wife, was at Lily's school.
Yes.
Right.
What would happen then? Would UNIT storm the school? Arrest her?
And if they did… what would Hally do? Stand by while they did so?
Her breath hitched. The thought left her rooted to the spot.
Could she go to the school herself? Grab Lily, grab her wife and run?
She could.
She really, really could.
But no.
No. That wasn't the solution. That wasn't what Lily needed. As much as it might be easier short term, as much as she selfishly might have wanted to, she couldn't just run.
Hally gritted her teeth, forcing her legs to move, taking a single step toward Kate's office.
She stopped.
She squeezed her eyes shut, inhaled deeply, and opened them.
Her hands were trembling. She couldn't move.
Telling Kate would mean Hally might have to choose. To choose whether to stand by the humans and let them… what? Let them imprison her wife? Or… what?
Well…
But Missy had just walked into school.
Missy wasn't hiding.
Hally had to tell Kate.
Hally moved out of her office, her steps slow and deliberate as she crossed the open floor toward Kate's office. Her assistant glanced up and offered a smile.
"Is she in?"
"Oh... no, she's in meeting room three."
Hally nodded stiffly and continued past Kate's office toward the meeting rooms. Stopping outside the door, she hesitated. Should she knock? Should she interrupt?
Yes.
This was urgent. Important.
She knocked loudly.
"Yes!" came Kate's voice from inside.
Hally opened the door, her mouth already forming an apology for the interruption, but her words stalled at the sight in front of her.
Kate was seated at the head of the table, flanked by Jack, Alina, Hart, and Martha.
Her throat tightened awkwardly.
Kate glanced at her watch and smiled. "Twelve minutes. John, you owe me £20."
Hart pouted, his eyes flashing with mock annoyance.
Hally's frown deepened as she looked between them all. There was something lingering, something in the way they were looking at her, the slight edge in Jack's gaze, the smug quirk of Hart's lips.
She cleared her throat. "You… already know."
Kate offered a calm smile, motioning for her to step inside and close the door. "Of course. We've had surveillance on the school for weeks."
Hally sighed softly, her shoulders sagging as she stepped through and closed the door behind her, bringing herself to drop into the empty seat beside Jack.
"Twelve whole minutes." Hart muttered, his tone teasing.
Hally shot him a glare across the table. "The walk from my office to here is at least... three."
"Okay," Jack cut across, leaning back in his chair. "So, what were you doing for the other nine?"
"I called Armitage," she snapped.
Hart smirked, folding his arms over his chest. "Which would've taken a minute, tops. He's not known for his small talk."
Hally huffed and shot him a petulant look.
His smirk widened.
Kate straightened, bringing the room's attention back to her. "Well, now that we're all here, we can begin discussing what we're going to do about it."
Hally frowned. "Surely you've already discussed it? Seeing as you've apparently all been sitting here waiting for me..."
Kate's smile didn't waver. "Unfortunately not. You see, before we could deliberate any plan of action, we needed to ensure we understood all the variables."
Hally grimaced. "Please don't refer to me as a variable." She sighed, then gestured at herself with an irritated flourish. "Well... yes. Hi. Here I am. After thinking about it for what, eight minutes? I didn't run off, grab my wife and daughter, and get the fuck off this planet. I stayed and came here to tell you. Well done me. You're welcome."
Kate let her little rant pass without interruption. "Hally, I know this is difficult. The Master being on Earth creates a conflict of interest, which is why having you in these discussions is important. At the same time, if you had decided to take your wife and daughter and leave, there would be very little any of us could do to stop you." Her calm tone shifted slightly, her gaze levelling with Hally's. "And while I empathise with the stress this is no doubt putting you under, if you could drop the attitude, it would be appreciated."
Hally bristled but gave a stiff nod.
"I, for one, am glad you decided to come to me," Kate said, softening her voice with a small smile. "Now, other than her reappearance, has The Master made any other contact we should be aware of?"
Hally shook her head. "Just the endless stream of flowers, which you already know about."
Alina tilted her head thoughtfully. "Did she send any today?"
"No." Hally replied, shaking her head with a soft exhale.
Jack leaned forward, tension evident in his frame. "Why would she go to the school?" His voice was tight, worry for Lily etched across his face.
Hart hummed in thought. "I suppose it makes us less likely to storm in with the boy scouts."
Alina's gaze lingered on Hally for a moment before shifting to Kate. "Has she made any attempt to approach Lily?"
Kate shook her head. "No, she's just in her office, doing... admin."
Martha let out a soft snort. "So she's what? Just returning to work?"
"Well, the pay is good," Hart quipped, a smirk tugging at his lips.
Kate shot him a sharp look. "If she wanted to take Lily, she could have done so at any point. This isn't that. She's not doing anything… she's just waiting."
"For us?" Jack asked, his frown deepening.
"Or she's getting our attention," Martha suggested, her expression thoughtful. "Could it be a distraction?"
Alina's gaze shifted back to Hally. "She's waiting for her wife."
The room fell silent as Hally looked up, locking eyes with Alina. Slowly, the others turned their attention to her.
Alina let out a soft breath, her voice measured. "Yes, perhaps showing up at the school does prevent us from going in with force. But we could just as easily evacuate the entire area if we wanted to. That isn't what she wants. What she wants is for us to send in Hally."
Eyes darted around the room, considering Alina's words.
Kate leaned forward, her tone pragmatic as she turned to address Hally. "We need to know she's not a threat. We need to find out what she wants."
"So... bring her in and ask her…" Hally offered with a dark scowl.
Kate fixed her with a pointed look. "We could, except we all know she'll never talk to any of us. The alternative makes more sense."
Hally frowned, her arms crossing tightly over her chest. "Hold on... you're actually considering sending me in? On my own?"
Kate shrugged lightly. "It is the option with the least risk."
She scoffed loudly, her displeasure written clearly across her face.
"Could we not extract her quietly?" Jack suggested. "If Hally is what she wants, she'd come."
Alina let out a soft hum, drawing the room's attention. "We might run the risk that she'd just disappear again. If we're playing her game, we have to follow her rules. It's evident that she wants Hally to go to her. If she wanted to approach her here, that's what she would have done."
Martha frowned. "Surely it doesn't make a difference."
Alina shook her head. "It does. It's a deliberate move. Forcing Hally to come to her is a power play." Alina settled her gaze on Hally, offering her a knowing look. "She's flirting."
With a heavy exhale, she flopped back in her chair, arms crossed tightly over her chest.
Alina wasn't wrong.
"Fine." Hally muttered, the scowl on her face deep and unmoving. "What exactly do you want me to do?"
The black SUV hummed softly as it idled on the street outside Bridgewater Primary School. Looking through the lightly tinted window, Hally could see the twenty or so other UNIT vehicles scattered along the road, their black windows concealing the soldiers inside. They were all in position, waiting silently, just out of sight. The quiet tension hung in the air like an invisible thread, thin and taut.
Hally sat in the back seat of the car, arms crossed tightly over her chest as she waited for Kate to give her signal. Beside her, squished into the other back passenger seat, demeanour perhaps even more petulant than hers, was Jack. He mirrored her, arms also crossed over his chest as his gaze swept across the scene outside, tension hard in his jaw. Hally shifted, the small wire they'd fitted her with earlier pressing cool against her skin.
"This is ridiculous." Hally muttered under her breath, fully aware the entire UNIT team were likely able to hear her.
Jack glanced at her but said nothing.
She didn't understand what UNIT hoped to achieve with this. Even if Hally happened to walk in there and Missy promised not to kill any more humans or blow up the planet, or something equally catastrophic, it wasn't like UNIT were just going to take her word for it. And yet, here they were, sending Hally in to coax answers from her wife.
Her wife.
Hally grimaced at the thought. She supposed she needed to speak with Missy anyway, but this was not how she'd imagined their first conversation in weeks would go.
There was a light crackle in her ear as Kate's voice hummed through the earpiece. "We're set. Hally, when you're ready."
With a sigh, she popped open the car door and stepped out onto the pavement, her irritation plain on her face. As she made her way towards the school gates, Alina slipped out of the nearest car and fell into step with her.
"You're reluctant." She observed quietly as the pair of them stepped onto the pavement.
Hally shot her a withering look, only slightly tempered simply due to the fact that it was Alina. "Yes. Obviously."
"Why?"
"Because."
Alina tilted her head, undeterred. "Because what?"
Hally let out a long, exasperated breath, stopping just short of the gates. "Because I don't want to see her."
"Ah." Alina nodded slightly, her expression calm but probing. "You would rather ignore the implications of her return?"
Hally glared at her for a moment, then shook her head and strode past without answering. Alina didn't press the matter further, simply watching as Hally disappeared into the school building.
The reception area was quiet, the hum of fluorescent lights the only sound. Hally strode purposefully toward the hallway leading to the Headmistress's office, but a voice stopped her.
"Hi, can I help you?"
Hally turned her head to see a receptionist behind a small window, her tone polite but firm. Hally's scowl deepened.
"I'm here to see the 'Headmistress'."
The woman frowned slightly. "Do you have an appointment?"
"No."
"I'm afraid—"
"Just tell her, her wife is here." Hally interrupted, her tone cutting and leaving no room for discussion.
The receptionist's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh… I see. One moment, please." She grabbed the phone, her fingers fumbling slightly as she dialled.
Hally could hear her faintly as she spoke into the receiver. "Headmistress? Yes, sorry to disturb you, but your… wife is here to see you?"
After a brief pause, the receptionist put the phone down, politely hiding the utter disbelief that had fallen onto her face. "You can go right through."
"Thanks." Hally muttered sarcastically, already moving.
She reached the office door and pushed it open without hesitation.
Missy was seated behind her desk, she didn't even glance up at first, instead finishing whatever note she was scribbling on a document. When she finally looked at Hally, her expression was one of exaggerated disapproval.
"You're supposed to knock," Missy chided, pouting.
Hally rolled her eyes but leaned back slightly to rap her knuckles loudly on the doorframe.
Missy waved her hand dismissively. "Well, no, now you've ruined it."
Hally stepped fully into the room, her arms crossed tightly as she regarded Missy. Somehow, despite sitting calmly on the other side of the desk, Missy managed to project the air of a disappointed headmistress scolding a wayward student.
The silence stretched between them, taut and uneasy. Missy, of course, seemed to revel in it, her smile patient and knowing as she waited for Hally to speak first.
"What are you doing?" Hally asked finally, her voice flat.
Missy tilted her head, frowning as though the question were absurd. "I was reviewing a funding application before you barged in here."
"Here. What are you doing back here?" Hally clarified with a hiss.
Missy leaned back in her chair, the curve of her smile not matching the fake sincerity twinkling in her eyes. "I work here."
"Right… and that's it, is it?" Hally cut back.
Missy pouted dramatically. "Darling, I'm running a school. I'm really quite good at it, you know."
"And that's it?"
Missy cocked her head. "No… of course, that's not it."
Kate's voice crackled softly in Hally's earpiece. "Ask her what she wants."
Hally sighed softly, her irritation at this entire scenario prickling across her skin. Childishly she plonked herself down in the chair on the other side of Missy's desk, facing her, and reluctantly relayed the question. "What do you want?"
Missy's eyes sparkled with amusement. "What I want?" she echoed, tutting. "Oh, Katie Kate, you already know what I want. And you already know you're going to give it to me."
"Ask her if—" Kate began, but Missy interrupted sharply.
"I have no interest in your stupid planet." She cut, her tone impatient. She raised her eyebrows at Hally, clearly waiting for Kate's next question, but none came.
Hally frowned, studying her. "Why would you assume UNIT is going to 'give' you anything?"
Missy smiled again, leaning forward to rest her elbows against the desk. "Because she understands a tactical advantage." Her eyes glinted, trailing over Hally.
She stared across the desk at Missy, not quite sure why Kate had gone quiet at her insinuation. Her wife observed her with infuriating poise, one leg crossed elegantly over the other, a faint smile playing on her lips. There were over one hundred and fifty armed men waiting outside, how was it that Missy seemed totally unconcerned by them? She sat there, somehow holding all the control in her lap. The question must have been written all over Hally's face, because Missy continued.
"Kate is already fully aware that she's going to give me what I want." Missy purred, the calm assurance in her voice cutting through the charged air.
Hally huffed, although uncertainty lingered with a twist of her stomach. "Why on earth would she do that?"
"She already has." Missy replied, tilting her head. "She sent you in here, didn't she? To negotiate terms."
"What terms?"
"Your terms." The smile widened, maddeningly self-satisfied.
Hally's brow furrowed. "My… terms?"
"Yes, dear. I assume you're going to have a few before you're happy letting me stay."
A scoff escaped her. "It's not up to me…"
Missy's eyes twinkled with something between amusement and condescension. "Isn't it?" She leaned back in her chair, inspecting her nails with exaggerated disinterest. "Sweetheart, I'm here for you." Her gaze flicked up, sharp and deliberate. "Just you and Lilja."
"But—"
"But, but, but…" Missy interrupted, waving a hand dismissively. "I took over the planet, so what? Get over it. They have." She gestured vaguely toward the window.
Missy pressed on, ignoring the daggers Hally was shooting her. "Oh, darling, do you really think the head of UNIT would have sent you in here with me if she had any inclination to arrest me?" Her mouth curved into a smirk. "Yes, me popping up does rather complicate things, but she's a smart lady." Her expression grew sharper. "She knows that on this occasion, the easiest way to deal with the problem is to simply leave the problem alone. The path of least resistance." She winked.
"Don't be ridiculous," Hally said tightly. "They're not just going to let you roam around freely."
Missy grinned, triumphant. "Wouldn't they? To keep you happy?"
Hally's silence was telling, though her expression twisted with disagreement.
A knowing smirk curved Missy's mouth, triumphant. "Well… Kate knows there really are only two options here. We keep this nice and peaceful, she lets me live my quaint little life while I make it up to you and our daughter… or she can run the risk of arresting me." Missy's smile turned razor-sharp, her eyes glinting with danger. "Perhaps I let her, perhaps I escape, who knows? But one thing is certain… if it came to it, if you had to choose…" Her gaze bore into Hally, unrelenting. "She has no guarantee you'll side with them."
A cold pit of dread settled in Hally's stomach.
Missy's voice softened, dipping with an unapologetically flirty edge. "It's far better to keep the all-powerful Goddess sweet and on your side." The wink she gave her was full of innuendo, clearly revelling in her own theatrics. "And of course, there's the fact that with you in her pocket, she has those who love you at her beck and call. Namely, your father and even perhaps… your wife. The benefits of keeping you on side outweigh the risks of me roaming free."
Hally sat still, the weight of Missy's words sinking into her skin. The silence in her stretched on pointedly: Kate wasn't denying any of it.
Missy leaned forward slightly, her tone shifting back to business. "So, again… darling, your terms?"
Hally let the silence linger before speaking, her voice steady but with an edge of irritation. "I'm assuming you've got what you need, Kate?"
Kate's voice crackled in her ear, cautious but clear. "Yes."
Without hesitation, Hally pulled the wire from underneath her shirt, disconnecting it as she removed the earpiece. She looked back at Missy, the pair of them now truly alone. Missy's patient, unwavering gaze rested fully on her.
"The flowers were a bit much." Hally meant to quip the words with a sharp edge, maybe even a hint of exasperation. But as they left her lips, they softened, carrying an unexpected tenderness instead. Breathy, even.
Missy's pointed smile eased. "There's no such thing."
Hally allowed herself to relax back into the chair. "My terms?"
Missy nodded, her demeanour shifting into something softer, though the glimmer in her eyes remained, a mischievous spark she couldn't quite smother. "How would you like this to work?" Her voice was even, her tone uncharacteristically earnest. "Whatever you need. Whatever you want. It's yours."
Hally chewed on the inside of her cheek, her thoughts swirling as she tried to find the right words. Missy, surprisingly, didn't press her. She stood still, watching Hally in silence, her patience a rarity that only made Hally more cautious.
"I want to take this slowly," Hally said at last, her voice steady, though her fingers flexed nervously at her sides.
Missy's eyebrow arched in curiosity. "Which part?"
"All of it." Hally met her gaze squarely, swallowing hard but keeping her voice firm. "This... this is fine. You can stay here. You can carry on with Lily as you were before. But more needs to happen slowly. A transition. I can't just suddenly have you moving in. I can't just jump straight into everything being fine."
Missy nodded as if she'd expected this answer. "Fine," she said easily, though her tone carried a note of calculated intent. "But I want a visit outside of school. At least once a week. It can be anywhere. Sundays."
Hally winced slightly, already shaking her head. "We can't do Sundays…"
Missy's lips pursed into a pout, her eyebrows knitting together theatrically. "Saturday, then."
"Friday evenings would be better," Hally countered, her tone decisive.
Missy hummed, clearly disagreeing. "Friday evenings won't work."
"Why not?" Hally asked, folding her arms as her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Because on Friday evenings," Missy began, her voice taking on a honeyed lilt, "I take my wife out."
Hally's eyebrows shot up. "Oh, do you?" she asked dryly.
"Yes," Missy replied, her grin spreading, smug and self-satisfied. "You see, she wants to take it slow… so dating it is."
Hally's arms stayed crossed as she levelled Missy with a piercing look. "I'm not 'dating' you if it ends up like the last one," she said, her tone clipped and resolute.
Missy gave an innocent shrug, though the smile tugging at her lips betrayed her mischief. "That wasn't a date, darling. That was a kidnapping."
A soft sigh escaped Hally as she pinched the bridge of her nose, her patience wearing thin. "Fine. Saturdays. We can meet. Do… family stuff."
Missy's eyes sparkled. "And Fridays?"
The demand wasn't in her words, but in the way she held herself, her stillness leaving no room for negotiation. Hally let out a slow, measured breath, recognising the familiar tug of Missy's persistence. It was relentless, and it was working. "Yes. You and I can do Fridays."
Missy's lips curved into a satisfied smile, deliberate and slow. She inclined her head, her approval almost regal. "Good girl."
Hally leaned back slightly, attempting to regain ground, her tone sharpening as her resolve returned. "Otherwise, stay out of my way. I don't want you interfering with my job, with UNIT, this planet, The Doctor—none of it."
Missy raised her hands in mock surrender, the gesture theatrical as her grin widened. "Loud and clear, darling. Scout's honour."
Hally arched an eyebrow, unconvinced but unwilling to push further. Instead, she nodded, more to herself than to Missy. "Fine." Her voice softened slightly, as though repeating the word would solidify her resolve. "Fine."
The silence that followed felt less like a reprieve and more like a concession Missy granted. She didn't move, her gaze fixed on Hally. Hally could feel the weight of it, Missy's patience, her careful restraint. It wasn't compromise. It was command, deliberate and intimate, and Missy wore it like a crown.
The silence hung heavy between them until Missy broke it with a tilt of her head, her voice dripping with wicked curiosity. "Do you think of me when you touch yourself?"
Hally's head snapped up, her eyes wide as heat rushed to her cheeks, painting them a deep crimson. "Are you serious?" she sputtered, her voice a mix of outrage and disbelief.
Missy's response was a languid shrug, her expression the very definition of feigned innocence. But the gleam in her eyes, the slow curve of her lips, betrayed the true intent behind her words. "I'm only asking a question," she purred, her tone rich with quiet satisfaction, as though she'd just thrown a stone in a pond and was watching the ripples spread.
Hally's hands curled into fists, her nails biting into her skin as she fought to regain some semblance of control. The tension between them felt like a live wire, crackling with unspoken promises and heated challenge.
Finally, unable to stop herself, Hally let out a sharp breath, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade, "Who else do you think I'm thinking of?"
The response was immediate, Missy's lips curled into that slow, predatory smile, the one that made Hally's stomach flutter despite herself. "Good." She said, her voice a low, satisfied murmur. But then Missy leaned forward, the shift in her posture unmistakable. "You should know, darling…" Her voice dropped into a deeper, huskier sound. "I think about you." Her voice trailed off, deliberately slow. "When I'm alone. All I can think about is you. Your voice, your body... the way you look when you think you're alone, all quiet and focused and delicious." Her lips curled into a predatory smile as she continued. "The way you bite your lip when you're deep in thought…"
Hally's face warmed. The heat was spreading through her chest, coiling tight in her stomach, but there was no escaping the fact that Missy had her completely off balance.
Missy's smile deepened, dark pupils never leaving her. "I want you on your knees. I want you tied to my bed. I want you begging. I want to make marks on your skin, leave you writhing … when you look at me like that… eyes full of defiance and something else... like you want to see how far you can push me before I have to punish you."
Hally's hands flexed on the arms of the chair, and she finally forced herself to speak, "Stop," she said, her voice wavering.
Missy's smile widened, a soft chuckle escaping her lips as she straightened up. She watched Hally, her eyes gleaming with amusement and something darker beneath the surface. "Oh, darling, you've been thinking about it too, haven't you?"
Hally forced herself to her feet, breaking the hold Missy had over the room. She paced behind her chair before she rounded on her, Hally's face set with determination, despite the evident flush to her skin. "Just because we're dating doesn't mean I'm going to put out," she snapped.
"I'll be the perfect gentleman," her wife purred, the deliberate choice of words laced with teasing amusement.
"Gentlewoman." Hally corrected, her tone clipped.
"Quite." Missy replied smoothly, a spark of playful intent flickering in her eyes.
Taking a deep breath, Hally reset.
"Can you get Lily out of class?"
Missy's brow arched, curiosity flickering in her gaze. "You want to tell her now?"
"Yes."
"Together?"
Hally nodded, fixing Missy with a meaningful stare. "Yes. I don't want there to be any confusion or blurred lines."
Without missing a beat, Missy picked up the phone, dialling the receptionist's extension. The sharpness of her command unmistakable as she requested Lily's presence. Once the call ended, a silence fell between them, a quiet, deliberate pause that stretched out, thick with anticipation.
Hally hovered near the edge of the room, her movements stiff as she glanced between Missy and the door. She felt strangely out of place in a space that was so unmistakably Missy's. Missy, on the other hand, sat comfortably, her posture relaxed but radiating an air of unshakable authority. The way Missy was positioned, slightly leaning back, fingers delicately tracing the armrest of the chair, her eyes never leaving Hally, felt almost like a challenge.
Hally shifted her weight, trying to appear calm, but she couldn't shake the hold her wife had on her. She'd become so used to it being just her and Lily. Within their little home. People moved around her. Hally had the control. It was different. In Missy's presence, she was no longer the dominant force. It wasn't sitting. Missy didn't need to speak to hold that control; it was in the way she occupied space, in the stillness around her. Even when she was silent, Missy commanded attention, and somehow that left Hally feeling out of place.
Hally could feel it, could feel the tug in her chest, the pull toward giving in to Missy's unspoken command. There was an undeniable temptation to simply fold. It would be so easy, to just let go and surrender.
But Hally fought it. She resisted it. The familiar ache of wanting to give up control, to let Missy take charge in every sense. Just the way she sat, the tilt of her head, the slight curve of her lips. To give in to that power, to let herself be held within it. Enveloped in everything that was Koschei, to stop fighting for once and to let herself be completely lost to it, was a temptation that curled in her stomach, hot and insistent.
But Hally wasn't ready to give in yet, not completely. The small, stubborn part of her held on, pushed against the pull even though it hurt. She clenched her fists at her sides, grounding herself.
As the minutes dragged on, the quiet between them stretched longer, stretching the . She knew Missy was watching, reading her every movement, every hesitation. She could almost feel Missy's amusement at her diminishing attempts to fight it, to fight that deeply innate urge to surrender.
The sound of a knock at the door broke the stillness, Lily's presence, welcome but suddenly bringing with it a clear shift. Their daughter stepped inside, her face lighting up when she saw Missy. But upon catching sight of Hally, something flickered in her expression. The bright spark in her eyes dimmed slightly, and her mouth tightened as if she were suddenly reminded of the fact she was supposed to be angry at her.
Lily's posture stiffened, her eyes narrowing as she shot Hally a pointed, almost accusing look. "What?" she asked, her voice laced with a trace of irritation.
"What? What?" Missy hummed, her tone light and teasing, a playful edge to it. "Is that how you greet me now, Lilja?"
Lily's composure cracked, and despite herself, she couldn't hold back the small, reluctant smile that tugged at the corners of her lips. She moved toward Missy, her earlier tension melting away as she wrapped her arms around her, hugging her tightly.
Pulling back slightly, Lily looked at Hally over her shoulder, her expression wary. "What are you doing here?" she asked, her tone edged with suspicion as if Hally's presence was somehow an intrusion on whatever private moment she and Missy were sharing.
Hally took a deep breath, and chose to sit down, letting her body settle into the chair as if to ground herself. She didn't want to overreact, not with Lily still obviously upset. "Maimadh and I have been talking," she said carefully, her voice softer, but with an underlying seriousness.
Lily raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms defensively across her chest. "And?" she asked, her tone flat, a little challenge in her voice as she waited for Hally to elaborate.
Missy, tutted softly, her gaze sharp but affectionate as she looked at Lily. The admonishment was subtle, but it carried an undeniable weight. "Lilja," she said, her voice a mix of fondness and authority. "Drop the attitude."
There was a brief, heavy silence as Lily hesitated, her arms still crossed. But then, with an exaggerated sigh, she uncrossed them, giving in with a visible reluctance. She slumped into the seat across from Hally, her posture shifting from defiance to curiosity. The scepticism in her eyes remained, but now there was a flicker of something else, an openness, or at least a willingness to hear what was coming next.
Her eyes shifted between Missy and Hally, waiting for the explanation.
Hally straightened, her tone steady as she explained. "Missy and I have a lot of things to sort through, Lilja." Missy shifted in her seat. "But we're sorting through them, and we want you to know that some things might be changing."
Lily's gaze flicked between them, interest clearly piqued.
Clearing her throat, Hally continued, "Maimadh will carry on working here. She'll continue with your after-school sessions, if that's what you want."
Lily nodded firmly, her expression softening. "Yes."
Hally exhaled softly. "And she'll be coming around every Saturday," Hally added, her voice gentle but carrying an underlying tension. "To start with."
Lily narrowed her eyes, clearly contemplating the situation with a maturity that often caught Hally off guard. Her mind worked quickly, weighing possibilities. "Can she stay over?" she asked, her voice quiet but sharp.
Hally hesitated, feeling a flicker of uncertainty. "Maybe," Hally answered slowly, the words tasting uncertain on her tongue. "Sometimes. But… look, sometimes we just have to take things slowly, even when we don't want to…" Her eyes flickered toward Missy, and she caught herself, her voice catching slightly in her throat.
Lily frowned, her frustration showing clearly. "But why do we have to be slow? Why can't we just be a family?"
Hally's hearts twisted as she tried to find the right words. She opened her mouth but found herself searching, unsure of how to make Lily understand.
"We are a family, Lilja," Missy said, her voice steady, reassuring, yet carrying an underlying weight. "We've always been a family." She met Lily's eyes, her gaze unwavering. "You've been very, very patient, but we need you to be patient a little bit longer."
Lily's brow furrowed, her gaze darting between her two parents, still unsatisfied with the answer. "Why?" she asked again, the quiet defiance in her voice clear. "Why won't she let you come home?"
Hally's chest tightened, a rush of guilt flooding her.
"Sometimes, even though two people might love one another," Missy began, "they might do something that hurts the other person. It's like a deep scratch. A scar. And like all wounds, scars take time to heal." She glanced at Hally, the brief exchange of silent understanding heavy in the air before she turned her gaze back to Lily. "I gave your mother a scar, Lilja. And she's healing. And neither of us can rush her, understood?"
Lily let out a long sigh, her shoulders sagging in defeat. She wasn't happy about it, but there was a quiet understanding in her eyes. She let out a small, resigned breath. "Fine." Her voice, though soft, held the tone of someone who was giving in, even though she didn't fully agree. "Fine."
Hally sat at the head of the table, her fingers drumming against the cool surface. The room hummed with quiet tension, the air dense with expectation. Across from her, Kate stood, arms folded, her expression inscrutable.
"So that's it, then?" Hally's voice was sharper than she intended, but she didn't backtrack. Her hands stilled, and she stared directly at Kate.
Kate sighed. "The situation is stable. For now, that's the best outcome we could hope for."
Hally's jaw tightened. "Stable," she repeated, her tone laced with disbelief. "You're just going to… leave it?"
"That's the decision, yes," Kate replied, her voice calm but firm. "Missy's cooperation—such as it is—is keeping things from escalating. And your… involvement is ensuring it stays that way."
Hally leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "So, we're not going to hold her accountable? Not even try?"
Kate met her gaze, her calm exterior cracking just enough for a flicker of irritation to show. "Do you really believe that's a viable option right now? Missy is unpredictable, yes, but she's also contained. We'll monitor the situation closely, but for now, this is the best approach."
Hally felt the heat rise in her chest, frustration curling in her gut. She opened her mouth to retort but closed it again, forcing herself to exhale slowly. What was the point?
"Fine," she muttered, standing abruptly. "If that's all, I have other things to do."
Kate didn't stop her as she left, but Hally could feel her gaze lingering. The door hissed shut behind her.
Alina had just finished another session with Lily, her presence lingering in the hallway as she made to head out. The slight hesitation in her movements were telling, There was something in the way she stood, not quite demanding, but definitely intent.
"How are you feeling?" Alina asked, her tone gentle, testing.
"Fine," Hally replied, the word hollow as it left her lips. She could feel the weight of the silence between them, the subtle pressure of Alina's unspoken questions. It was clear she wanted to say more, to dig deeper, but she was holding it back. She could see it in the way Alina's eyes lingered on her.
"Have you spoken to Missy? Since?" Alina ventured, her voice measured, though it carried a thread of concern.
"Yes. Briefly." Hally's own response came out tight, clipped. Her hand moved unconsciously to her stomach as she leaned against the wall.
Alina didn't push, but she couldn't help herself from following up. "Kate indicated you weren't too happy…" Her voice was soft, more of an observation than a question, but it hung in the air nonetheless.
Hally exhaled heavily. "It just feels like there's no accountability. She gets away with everything and somehow I end up being the 'unreasonable' one?" Her voice shook slightly.
Alina held her gaze, her brow furrowing, clearly not quite finished probing. "Have you spoken to her about it?"
Hally let out a bitter laugh, the sound hollow and empty. She ran a hand through her hair, ruffling it in frustration. "No," she said, her tone quieter now.
Alina remained silent, but her expression softened. Then, after a beat, she asked carefully, "And things with Lily?"
She exhaled heavily, her shoulders slumping. "Well, she's not scoffing at me anymore…" Hally's words trailed off, uncertainty colouring her voice. "But… I know she's still impatient. I don't even know how we got here. I just… I don't know. I'm tired. That's all. It's fine. I'm fine," she finished quickly.
A soft hum of frustration escaped Alina, the sound a mixture of empathy and concern. She sighed, lowering her gaze for a moment. "Well… you know my office is always open. It would be really great to sit down and chat, Hally. Whenever you're ready."
"Yeah…" Hally said, her voice soft, almost hesitant. "I know."