M

Ralph Fiennes

Her voice dropped to a hushed whisper that only Gareth could possibly hear. "I can't return to them, can I?" If she returned, Kindersley would remove Britain from her route and if she dared to go against Foundation orders by insisting to meet with Tom in person, they would kill her and Tom, too, if he wasn't already... "It's a Catch 22. If I do return. If I do not return. Schrodinger's Tom. Help me. Help me."

"It is." Maria nodded. She hadn't meant to make him feel bad though. She just wanted to make him aware that Sarah's fate was probably much harsher than his own. Even if her punishment didn't seem as harsh.

"I think you're right about talking to her, and talking to her together would be strange. I don't think we should involve HR in this yet, but, if anyone is having a conversation with her we definitely need to record it." Maria pointed out. "I genuinely don't know what's best in this situation. I don't want you to be put in any more of an awkward position than you are.... maybe I could talk to her?" The instant the suggestion left her mouth she regretted it. She didn't really want to talk to Sarah, especially not one on one. She had no idea what to expect from the woman but the fact Maria had tried to be nice to her and Sarah had been nothing but rude.... AND she'd kissed Gareth. It filled her with a sort of anger that probably wasn't productive.

She took the last batch of their soon to be snack with a smile and began her part of the process once more. “I think so too.” She agreed to his comment about how everyone seemed to have some form of cherished recipes saved in one way or another. She returned his smile when he checked his watch and conformed they were still on time to catch the beginning of the show they planned to watch. “Good, glad to hear it.”

I’m honestly glad I offered you to stay here

HIs unexpected words hit a place deep inside she hadn’t realized yearned for the sort of comfort they provided in the moment. She smiled at his follow up comment. “I’ll always accept an excuse to cook and bake.” She tossed back. “I enjoy it and to be quite honest, it’s become of a form of relaxation and even stress relief at times. The attention it commands is so often exactly the kind of distraction needed in those moments.” She admitted softly. Though as soon as the words were out of her mouth, she wondered what on earth compelled her to admit it to Gareth. Something she’d likely return to examine more closely later when she was trying to sleep. Somehow without even noticing she’d become comfortable with him.

“Oh no, you didn’t make me feel any of those ways at all.” She assured. “In fact, I was just thinking to myself how comfortable I was feeling.” Okay so maybe she was actually going to say that out loud. Corinne smiled again, trying to ignore her thoughts which seemed to be vying for immediate attention. “The company has been really nice, I know it’s temporary of course, but you’ve made me feel more welcome and less like an intrusion on your life and it’s appreciated.”

Gareth cleared his throat and shook off those thoughts, carefully setting all the finished Welsh cakes on a big plate he had got from the cupboard. Five minutes. That gave them enough time to fill the glasses with wine, carry it all into the living room, turn on the tv, and get comfortable on the sofa. Goodness. Almost like married life.

He smiled widely when Corinne actually did understand what he was trying to say, and was on the same page as him. That she didn’t mind living with him at all – a total stranger, actually. There was a lot of trust involved, on both sides. “Let’s go then. Would you take the glasses and the wine?” He picked up the plate and carried it out the kitchen and into the living room. It was actually three rooms combined; the living room and study, with all the bookshelves filled to the rim with both modern and old books, and the dining room area at the other side, looking over the garden. Or, well, what was left of the garden. He had never been good with plants and had actually just abandoned it. With some work, he was sure, it could actually be a nice garden with a patio – he just neither had the time, nor muse to do anything out there.

"It's not that I don't believe you, by the way. It's just, I know it's affected you, everything that happened and it's still affecting you." She admitted. She did roll her eyes slightly when he said about Bond. "You have to remember Bond and I went through a lot together, like you and some of your army buddies. It forms a... tether. He was also the one to get me out of..." Maria trailed off. "That doesn't mean he's not on your side Gareth. He helped me save you. He knew, he knew you weren't what they were saying. I know it's hard but give him a little, tiny bit of credit. Plus if he was only on my side he definitely wouldn't have had you back to his apartment."

Maria sighed gently. She loved Gareth so much and sometimes she just hated how alone he seemed to feel but she didn't know how to fix it. She didn't know how to show him.

His gaze shifted back to meet Maria’s. Thankfully he wasn’t one of those jealous husbands who didn’t allow his wife friendships with other men. Now, he didn’t trust Bond to not do anything stupid, knowing full well how much of a womaniser he was; but he did trust Maria. “Bond told me. He said he was only helping me because he helped you.” His brow rose. At least that much he knew. He sighed. “Maybe…you are right about Moneypenny. We’ve never talked much,” Gareth admitted, almost sheepishly. “Everything I know about her, I know from her file.” That really was embarrassing, wasn’t it? Another sigh. “You must think I’m paranoid.” He shook his head. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to worry you.” Too late, though. Maria was always worrying, always making sure everyone around her felt safe and comfortable, even if she didn’t. She kept putting everyone before her. Gareth was proud of her for being like that, he loved her for it; and yet sometimes he found himself wanting her to be a bit more selfish, to think about herself more. God knows she deserved it.