Realizations:
James has invaded her flat...can he not give her one day... just one bloody day to recover from Christmas and think?
"James...I told you a week and you manage...14 hours? This is not helpful right now. Go deal with Elizabeth or I will send you on a mission."
"M...I've been dying to see you all day. I did deal with the screams, hits, accusations and drama. I gave her back all her things and told her not to come find me...I will be moving."
"Moving? Where?"
Bond just looks at her coyly and smiles a smirk that in this moment she wants to wipe of his bloody handsome face with her shoe.
"You can't be serious?"
"I am deadly serious...the only way a 00 can be."
"James...you are not moving in with me. At this moment I don't even want you in my flat let alone give you a key so you can actually use the front door."
"M...I did what you asked me too and I brought a peace offering of wine and dinner."
M smells the air as she dumps her bag and kicks off her shoes. Bond helps her out of her coat and hangs it beside his own in the hall.
"It does smell good...Indian?"
"Yes. Let's have something to eat and let the evening take care of itself later."
"Yes...later after you dump as much wine down my throat that you are able to."
"M...really...you think I have to get you drunk to take advantage of you?"
"Well...it would help your chances considerably."
"I have never has such problems before...you still trying to be the greatest challenge of my life?"
"Let's just say that you must aspire beyond your normal...clumsy flirtations to succeed with me."
"Clumsy...how can I be clumsy? I am a suave double O agent who oozes intrigue and good looks."
M scoffs. "So I should naturally fall for your charms and just throw caution to the wind and let you have your way with me."
"Yes...you should. It will be incredible M...I will show you."
"I said give me a week and I mean it Bond."
"But M...I need you...please."
Bond drops to his knees and clutches at her. M is surprised by the move and begins to laugh at the ridiculousness of it all.
"Dinner...come now up on your feet. You are not running a very smooth seduction if I am standing here in my stocking feet tired and hungry only to have you taunt me with food and then deny me a taste."
"You have been denying me a taste for years M and I will still beg at your feet for years to come."
Bond stands and takes her hand pulling her into the dining room set up with candles and food.
"I think you are fine to go on your knees now, but once we consummate this relationship...disaster of attractions...you will boor of me and lose interest. It is all about the chase for you."
"Not this time M and my feelings have not changed for you either...you know this you stubborn woman...you just hate to admit that I have creeped under your skin and you feel the same bloody way about me."
M sits and dishes out some rice and buttered chicken passing the dishes down to Bond as he pours the wine and passes another container of food.
"Fine...I will admit you have but we will take this a slowly as I need it to be. As long as you are not worried about me aging drastically before your eyes...I think you can manage a week or more."
"M you age better than anyone and I love you...everything that makes you, you and that includes any wrinkles, children...history that made you who you are."
The continue eating and goading each other with amusing remarks when the doorbell sounds.
James is instantly alert and pulls his gun frowning. "Were you expecting anyone?"
"No...I was not."
M gets up and moves towards the door but Bond stops her with his arm out and tensed.
"I better get this then."
M is not sure about that but does pause before she decides to yell in a sweet singsong voice. "Who is it?"
Bond whirls on her with a glare, whispering rather loudly. "M what in hell do you think you're doing...how safe is that now they bloody well know you're here!"
"Mum it is just us we thought we would surprise you with a visit...sorry for not calling. Hey...is someone in there with you?"
"Just a minute dear."
M grabs Bond's arm and forces his gun down looking at him with panic. "My daughter...go...disappear...leave out the back or however it is you usually arrive here...just get away."
"Why M...she will never believe it and it is dinner for two. You had better just rip the band aid off quickly M...or should I call you Olivia?"
M pushes him back towards the dining room as she moves to the door.
"Shit!" M says under her breath as she opens the door to see her daughter and son standing on the doorstep.
"Hello darlings...what are you doing here?"
"Well mum it was Christmas...remember we spoke for about two seconds on the phone. Actually your manservant Tanner told us of what happened to Jason." Judi M's daughter says as she moves into the house with her brother Ryan and they take off their jackets.
The drop their bags at the bottom of the stairs. Apparently they are staying over.
Ryan sniffs the air, "something smells good."
Bond rounds the corner thinking he might as well get the introductions out of the way.
Judi stops suddenly...shocked and looks at Bond through wide eyes as she take him in.
Ryan freezes also. "Hello…"
"Hello. I am James and I have got to say that is nice to finally get to meet Olivia's children."
"We...are...well I'm sorry but we can hardly say the same...Mr?"
"Bond, James Bond. I work with your mother."
Judi crosses her arms and shoots a glare at her mother. "Work huh?"
M finds her voice suddenly. "Are you two hungry? James brought some Indian food come in and I will get some extra plates."
They move into the dining room and M returns with two plates cutlery and James moves to the bar for two more wine glasses.
"We thought you were going through a tough time...it is Christmas and we heard about your...boyfriend...Jason...I cannot say we expected this." Judi says.
"Be nice Judi." Ryan says as he extends his hand to Bond and shakes it giving him his name.
"I am Ryan and this charming bulldog is my sister Judi."
James chuckles as he holds out the chair for M and then repeats the action with Judi.
"You are not getting off the hook that easy Mr. Bond. Exactly who are you to our mother and don't try to say work friend...this is a rather romantic dinner for a work friend."
"No...and you are right so I will tell you the truth." M's eyes go wide as she begins to interrupt him.
"No Olivia they have a right to know. I am your mother's lover and have been for years."
"WHAT!" Three voices raise in confusion and shock.
"Now hear me out...I am in love with this woman but she has refused all my advances. I in my grief left for Australia and stayed for 6 months and in that time she began dating another man. I came back for Christmas and was at the work party...where we spoke and danced and she introduced me and the other staff to Jason for the first time."
M tries to insert herself to the conversation but Judi and Ryan are just staring at Bond in disbelief.
"I will admit...I was jealous. I thought I had moved on...brought my girlfriend Elizabeth to the party but could only see Olivia. Unfortunately my lovers advances have always been spurned by your mother...I am apparently not age appropriate enough for her."
Judi and Ryan both laugh at this and look back at their very shocked mother.
"As I was saying...she was a vision...the party was swinging and my girlfriend and I had a row and she dumped me because she could tell by my face that I was lost to your beautiful mother. Jason...a good man suffered a massive heart attack...in the gents. Tanner and I found him but it was too late. We have been trying to help her through all of this since the party. I showed up here to surprise her with dinner so she didn't have to cook and she only just got home 30 minutes ago. There….you are up to date and we can take questions, criticisms and comments now."
Ryan and Judi look at their mother and back at James. "Is this true mum?" Judi asks.
M just nods. "It has been an awful couple of days. I am sorry I couldn't make it North to see you both and barely had time to call but I had to deal with the coroner and the rest. His funeral will be the day after tomorrow. Tanner and Bond have been very helpful and supportive."
"But mum...he wants to be your lover...seriously?" Ryan says still shocked that someone his age would say that about his mother.
M blushes and plays with the food on her plate as Ryan and Judi dish out some of their own and Bond pours them wine.
They both turn that question back to Bond who seems to be the only one of the two who is able to speak right now.
"Yes I do Ryan...desperately. I hope that is not too much of a shock to you...surely when you were growing up your mates must have told you how incredibly sexy your mother is."
"Well...ahh...there were...yes...it did happen." Ryan says uncomfortably.
"How long Mr. Bond?"
"How long what Judi...if I may call you that...please call me James."
"How long have you known my mother...worked with her?"
James takes as sip of his wine, knowing where this line of questioning is going. Honesty on his part is the best policy. M can fend for herself and she has done nothing wrong on any level.
M looks like she is going to break...losing complete control of what is going on around her. M's two worlds are crashing into each other and she has no idea if anything salvageable will come out the other side.
"Ten years since I first met her."
"So since before our father died...you have been infatuated with her?"
"Yes...but I never overstepped any boundaries. I respected that she was a married woman and we were hardly in constant contact at the beginning of my career and she is the boss."
M's eyes meet his at the end of the table and go wide.
"The boss?" Judi chuckles, "really...I thought you were middle management or is that one of the many lies you have to tell when you work for the SIS mother?"
M drops her fork onto her plate with a crash and she and Bond quietly look at Judi and then to Ryan who is blushing while he eats.
"Come on...you don't think we were all smart enough to figure it out? Seriously...men in black cars obviously armed with com devices in their ears and guns under their overcoats...come to pick you up for work everyday and that is just normal."
"Judi...really? Did your father tell you that?"
"Oh he hinted it but we figured it out on our own. Mainly after studying for history...some times you would help us and once you gave me some information that my teacher questioned. I researched it further and it was a rumour that it had happened...that MI5 or 6 had accomplished the task that seemed just regular information to you. I never forgot it...and once time passed and information became more readily available on the internet it finally got released...20 years after my project that had been questioned and rejected by my teacher. Just one offhanded remark and I knew who you really worked for."
"Christ...I messed that up then didn't I. How stupid of me to slip up like that. What year was that for you Jude?"
"Sixth. Why?"
"I'm just trying to work out a reasonable excuse as to why I screwed up that badly."
"You were really tired but you were trying to spend time with us because you had so many late nights at the office."
"Yes...likely some issue with the Soviets, Russians."
"So you not denying this?" Ryan asks.
"What is the point. And you likely had confirmation from your father as well as a botched history project."
"Yes I did." Judi nods
"Needless to say this does not leave this room and James is an agent of mine."
Judi crosses her arms under her chest and leans back in her chair looking from her mother at the head of the table to James at the other end.
"So how long has this really been going on? You lie for a living but finally caught red handed you actually told me the truth for once mother. I would like you to do so again...how long have you two been lovers?"
"No Jude...what you want to do is be mad at me for something and are insinuating that Bond was my lover before your father passed. That is not the case. He told you that much. How could I believe a man such as Bond would even consider me...in that light."
"Mum's right Jude...it does seem far fetched."
Bond narrows his eyes at M's children. "You mother is a truly amazing woman and many a younger man has been interested in her. She is killer sexy and very powerful."
"I didn't need to hear that Bond." Ryan says. "So Jason...was he a front or a boyfriend...don't tell me you killed him in bed?" Ryan asks while chuckling with the absurdity of it all.
M just freezes and Bond looks down the table at her remaining quiet.
"Shit! No way! You have to be joking...ewwwwww!" Judi whines. "I thought you said he died in the gents...what is the true story?"
"He died in our hotel room after the party. Bond stumbled on his lie about the gents to protect me. Tanner and Bond assisted me after the fact and had the body removed and traces of...well you understand."
"We think we do...but we also may have just stepped through the looking glass." Judi adds.
"Enough talk about me...why are the two of you here?"
"Oh so you forgot it was just Christmas mum, and perhaps as a widow you might be lonely and need the company of your children...come on mum at least we made an effort...unlike you for so very long."
"I would rather not fight with you young lady but now that you know….I do not have a great deal of time in my life and holidays mean nothing to international terrorists."
"Sorry mum...Judi...calm yourself. Lets just have a bite and watch a movie or something."
"Good idea Ryan."
"Yes... Ryan, and mum can snuggle up with her agent on the sofa while we pretend not to know that he wants to do something more than hold the hand of a woman bloody old enough to be his mother!"
"That is enough out of both of you! We will all have a drink and watch something and Bond will go home and we will go to bed."
Bond frowns knowing that he has just been given the inappropriate lover boot out the door later. So much for his seduction plans for the evening.
"This will be fun. I have always wanted to spend time with your children M." Bond manages without sounding to sarcastic to her children. However M knows he is frustrated about the turn of events.
"M?" Judi raises her eyebrow in question.
Damn James thinks she looks just like her mother when she does that.
"M is my title."
"What? Why?" Both children say in unison.
"Anonymity and protection," Bond says.
"Oh...and the drivers were protection all those years too?"
"Yes."
They finish eating and clean up and move to the sofa and chairs in the living room with their wine.
"So what should we watch mum? A Christmas movie?" Ryan asks as he moves through the listings on the television.
"A Christmas story begins at 8, there is Elf at 8:30 or we are part way through It's a wonderful life." Ryan points out.
"I don't mind...you three pick."
James speaks up. "A Christmas story? I don't think I've ever seen that one...how old is it?"
"It is from the 1980's but tells the story through narration of a boy who grew up in the 1950's and about his most desired present...a red rider bb gun." Judi tells them assuming her mother has never bothered to watch the Christmas classic either.
"That sounds good." M adds.
"You had me at bb gun." Bond says as M begins to chuckle beside him. "I will go make popcorn. Does anyone else want tea or coffee rather than wine?"
"I will stick to the booze mother...it's Christmas and I just met you rather inappropriate boyfriend for the first time. I think I deserve to get drunk." Judi says flippantly to M.
Bond is not use to hearing anyone speak in such a way to M and for a second looks at her daughter sternly but soften as Judi steals her mother's seat and throws her arm around him laughing.
"Come on Bond...where is your sense of humour?"
Ryan laughs. "She likely beat it out of him Jude."
M yells from the other room. "I heard that! Stop bothering poor Bond and behave...Judi where are you sitting now?"
"She always did have eyes in the back of her head. Don't worry old woman...I won't steal your man...although he is quite a looker."
M comes to look at her daughter and Bond on the sofa and begins to laugh. "Poor Bond….what do you do in this situation?"
James looks at M and winks removing the woman's arm from around his shoulder.
"Well I could teach her a lesson M? What do you think?"
"Yes...do that Bond. Show her what you're capable of while I finish getting the popcorn. Ryan come help me."
Ryan looks confused but goes to the kitchen.
Judi turns to Bond who is still holding her hand that was thrown around his shoulder. Bond caresses the palm of her hand and looks deep into her eyes.
"You have such beautiful eyes." Bond whispers seductively bringing her hand to his lips. Judi's eyes are just like her gorgeous mother's.
Judith Mansfield is a very attractive woman and Bond would have no trouble taking her to bed...before...or as a mark and...she reminds him of M...that makes it very easy for him to seem genuine in his current seduction. Although, he can make the motions, his heart is not into this type of false gratification anymore.
Judi swallows and looks nervous suddenly. "What are you doing?"
"I am following your lead darling...this is what you want isn't it. To see if I am genuine in my affections. To see if you can take your mother's man?"
"No...I…"
Bond leans in closely as he continues to relax her while he touches her hand staring at her like she is the only woman in the world to him.
Judi's breathing becomes erratic and her face flushes. Bond leans in to sniff her perfume, not quite leaning all the way back after...he says in her personal space.
"You smell divine."
Bond places a hand on her shoulder and pulls her gently to face him as his thumb caresses her collarbone watching her lips as he leans in close. Bond kisses her collarbone and starts to trail kisses up to her neck whispering how beautiful she is and how much this meeting means to him.
M and Ryan come into the room with the popcorn and they stop to watch what Bond is doing with Judi. Ryan's mouth is hanging open and M just smirks as she watches Bond work his magic on her unsuspecting daughter.
If this had been at all real M would be furious. There is no way in hell that she would condone James Bond or any of her agents seducing her daughter or son.
Judi is lost in him just as M thought she would be.
"So how do you like my agents ability to flirt Judi?"
Judi jumps back and stands quickly. "Mum...I…"
"Calm down Judi...that is what I pay him to do."
Ryan takes his seat laughing and pointing at his older sister. M moves around the sofa to stand between a standing Judi and a still seated Bond.
"How did I do Judi?"
Bond asks as he pulls M down and wraps his arm around her and resting his head on her shoulder as he slouches on the sofa. Bond gives M a quick kiss on the underside of her jaw.
"Wow...you don't play fair mother." Judi sits back down on the floor in front of her mother on a pillow.
"You asked for that Jude...admit it."
"How in hell do you know if he is honest about you...if he can do that to anyone...christ I have some bitch women I work with I would love to use him on."
"Ok, so you are the king of seduction Bond but what on earth do you use that for other than the obvious?" Ryan asks.
"I use it to get to people I need to deal with. That is all I can tell you. As for your mother. I have never been able to get very far with her anyway. I practically got farther with your cute daughter M."
"You think I'm cute do you Bond?"
"You're as cute as your mother is sexy and that is saying a lot."
"Enough...the film is starting." M says as Ryan increases the volume.
Judi sits between her mother's legs and M plays with her long curly hair absently like it's is something they have done many times before in these circumstances. Judi reaches up between them and grabs popcorn as she may have with both her parents in the past.
James is shocked by the domesticity of it all. He never had this...and now he wants it more than anything.
M laughs at part of the film and James looks at her profile and Judi's...they look so alike and there laugh sounds so similar. James does not want to go home tonight. He wants M wrapped in his arms again like the night before.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The movie ends and so does Bond's evening there. The three of them escort him to the door and say goodbye and goodnight. Bond kisses Judi and M on the cheek and leaves in good spirits.
"Well that went well mum. I thought he would fight more to spend the night with you." Judi says.
Ryan sound exasperated. "Jude...please no...that it more than I need to even think about my mother's sex life."
"You two...my sex life is none of your business and no I am not currently...doing...having relations with James."
"No but you were with that Jason bloke...the one you killed. Wait...you weren't suppose to kill him were you?" Ryan asks confused all of a sudden.
"NO I wasn't suppose to kill him! The poor man's heart gave way."
"Too much woman for him eh mum?" Judi winks as she picks up her bag and heads upstairs.
"Perhaps but is was a shame. Jason was a very nice man and you both might have even liked him. God knows what you think of James."
"I think he is sexy as hell and would jump him in a second if even half what he says is true about his feelings for you." Judi says as the three of them walk upstairs.
"Judi! I really don't think you should rush into anything mum." Ryan says in a pleading for sanity sort of way.
"I agree Ryan and I am trying to...well to see how I feel and if this is something that could happen."
"Oh it could happen mum...that man wants you. I have no idea why...mummy issues likely."
M swats her daughter's arm. "That is enough out of you! Time will tell the rest. Our jobs are dangerous and it may be a very short romance should it happen."
Ryan stops in the hall and looks down on his mother.
"Ok...you are my mum and this is totally uncomfortable subject matter for me but you only have so long on this planet and dad is dead. How you spend your time is up to you. I do not think that Bond is trying anything nefarious in his seductions...so at this time...he wants to spend time with you and that is not a bad thing or a good thing...if that makes any sense whatsoever."
"Thank you darling for trying to comfort and point me in the right direction. So who get what room?"
"Judi can pick...I don't care. Do you want us to stay and come to the funeral with you?"
"That would be nice but how are you both managing time away from work and kids?"
"Well once we heard about Jason we thought we would come and the kids are having fun with their other grandparents...you know the ones that aren't busy undermining other nations governments."
"Ryan...watch it. Our mum makes people disappear remember."
"She alway did anyway." They laugh at her.
"I never thought you would take this that well?"
"What part, the gorgeous young lover or that you head up MI6...it is 6 right?"
"Shut it...and my grandchildren better not find out...until my death. They can know then."
"How much longer will you stay working?"
"Until then kick me out screaming or someone shoots me."
Both her children frown at her as they follow her to the cupboard to find extra blankets and towels.
"Don't let what I do frighten you...if I die there...I know I died fighting and that should make you proud not angry or sad."
"Goodnight mum." Both children say and kiss her.
"I am glad you both came...thank you and I will be glad of your support at the funeral."
M goes into her room and goes to the bath to clean up. She passes the door and a hand clasps over her mouth suddenly. M's eyes widen in panic but she smells the familiar cologne of James Bond.
"M don't panic it's me...just don't scream and alert your bodyguards."
M turns on him whispering loudly. "What the hell are you doing back here? What happened?"
"Oh...I never left came right back in the way I usually do. I am not sleeping alone while in London...you are not going to get rid of me that easily M."
"Bond...what...you can't be serious?"
"I overheard your conversations in the hallway. Even your children are for our relationship. It may surprise them to see me here tomorrow but they will understand."
"Fine...but no funny business. I am not...ready to...go that far yet...understand."
"I just need to be with you."
"Fine but you wear pants in bed this time!"
"Yes ma'am!"
M shakes her head at him smirking. "I can't believe any of this is actually happening."
"Believe it woman. I am not leaving you and eventually...I will wear you down. The children like me so I know I've passed that test, now I just have to get you relaxed enough to take advantage of and I will be the happiest man on the planet."
"James...it will happen but let it happen after the chaos of the funeral passes."
"Fine M...I understand...it's loyalty to the memory of Jason. I just feel that I was ahead of him in line and you only knew him 6 months and I've been waiting for years."
"You are so hard done by...poor James."
"Does that mean we can fool around a bit?"
"Bond! My children are across the hall."
"I can be quiet."
"Well maybe I can't."
Bond is pulling M to the bed as he backs away from the bath. He spins her suddenly and pushes her gently back on the bed as he removes his shirt, tossing it on the floor with his tie.
"Oh gods woman what you do to me…"
M laughs at the expression on the poor boy's face.
Whatever happens it will be good.
This odd love affair has the makings of disaster but it will be a fun ride while it lasts.
Olivia Mansfield, mother, grandmother and boss of MI6 is smitten with a much younger agent.
This realization is shocking, and a long time in coming but it is also thrilling and full of new possibilities and she will not let that scare her off.
It is time that M let Olivia take over for a while and have something very warm and real to come home to again.
The End.