* I'll Take Care Of You *

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX….CLINIC IN SWEDEN

It was still cool in Stockholm when they arrived but they had prepared for it with warm coats and slacks. The trip by taxi to the clinic was soon accomplished and they entered into a bustling reception area that was busy but at the same time felt clinical and comforting, a real no nonsense type of atmosphere. In a very short time they had signed in, Maggie’s medical coverage had been noted and they were ushered into a calm oasis to be greeted by Dr. Sigursen. Maggie liked him immediately.

He had risen from behind his desk upon their entrance, came over, speaking excellent though accented Engliish and took her extended hand in both of his, giving her a gentle squeeze then raising her hand to his face so she could ‘see’ him.

He was tall, she could tell by how far up she had to reach, and very slender, the type of physique that people called wiry, his hair thinning and face creased with smile lines that radiated from his eyes and mouth. His scent was…clean was the only word that she thought fit, slightly antiseptic, possibly from the soap he would frequently be scrubbing his hands with.

“Please sit down, make yourselves comfortable. I’ve been going over the reports which you sent me, Dr. Kerrigan. Of course we will do a certain amount of testing as well, just to be thorough, but at this time I foresee no problems. Lady Ryan, you appear to be a prime candidate for the laser procedure we have developed. There are of course, no guarantees, but I do believe that we can achieve at least some improvement. Ten years ago this would not have been possible but there have been amazing advances in the past few years. Do you have any questions or concerns?”

Maggie smiled in his direction.

“Of course…My mind is filled with all sorts of questions, most of them selfish or irrational. I think it would ease my mind if I knew what you expected of me now, what the process will be.”

“Fair enough….I would like you to check in to the Clinic here to be available for some testing and a general check on your health….that should take about 3 days. At that time I can tell you further what I have in mind.”

Ten minutes later an efficient nurse came in and took Maggie’s hand skillfully to lead her from the office to a large airy room, chatting as they went, telling her about the Clinic facilities, describing the surroundings in a manner that assured Maggie that she was well versed in dealing with the unsighted. Geena stayed while Maggie changed into the most comfortable loungewear she owned, a pair of satin pjamas and matching robe, then when Maggie was taken to another location for some tests, left to check into a nearby Hotel.

The rest of the day and the following ones were filled with tiring testing, great meals enjoyed in a spacious dining room, occasional walks in the sheltered garden areas and time spent on the computer filling Urs in on what was happening. He was in Madrid now, slowly wending his way back to her, meeting commitments as was his duty, chafing at the restraints that made it necessary for them to be apart. The morning of the fourth day Maggie and Geena met with Dr. Sigursen again.

She was extremely nervous and he sensed it, coming over to sit beside her and take her hands once more before he gave her the findings.

“There is no reason why you should not have the surgery. You are a bit underweight, likely due to the trauma that you suffered recently but that seems to have no bearing on your over all health. If you chose I would like to schedule the procedure with in the next few days. After surgery you will recover quickly since it is not particularly invasive, just very delicate. My usual advice is to leave the dressings on for a week, then gradually reduce them, subjecting your eyes gradually to more and more light daily until the dressings are removed and replaced by sunglasses. Your eyes and whatever vision we are able to achieve will be light sensitive for a few months and you will be required to take the usual precautions…sunglasses, wide brimmed hats, that sort of thing. It is a gradual process with the improvement increasing daily as your eyes become accustomed to handling light again. What are your thoughts, my dear?”

Maggie laughed, her voice a bit shakey.

“Panic!!...this is all happening so fast, it’s hard for me to absorb. Don’t misunderstand, Dr. I do want to see again and I’m more than ready for whatever it takes. I’m getting married soon and I would like to actually SEE my fiancé before we take our vows. I’m told by others that he looks like a Greek God.”

He laughed.

“And what will you do if he doesn’t? Throw him back?”

She smiled. “I’ll marry him anyway…he is beautiful inside, where it matters.”

“Good answer, my dear. I find that sometimes the unsighted ‘see’ much better than those of us that make judgments superficially.”

The remainder of the day Maggie and Geena spent quietly, outside in the gardens, talking about Urs and Seb, reaching no conclusions about what Geena should do. After dinner Maggie checked and found that Urs was signed in so sent him a buzz on Instant Message. He answered immediately

Tristan says: I was hoping you would be on soon. Did you get any answers yet?

Isolde says: Urs he wants to operate soon, in the next few days. He can’t guarantee how much I will see but seems really confident that there will be improvement. I’m trying hard not to be apprehensive but I have this terrible knot in my stomach.

Tristan says: We have one more thing to do tomorrow then I’m going to join you for a few days. Be strong, Love, and think only positive thoughts. How long will it be before you know how much improvement there is?

Isolde says: Dr. Sigursen tells me that it will be gradual over the next weeks or months…my eyes have to learn how to handle light again, kind of like a baby does I guess.

Tristan says: That makes sense…then I will have a favor to ask of you when I’m there with you. Something I hope you will promise me without knowing what it is. I have to go away again for another couple of weeks and this favor will make me feel comfortable about leaving you.

Isolde says: You aren’t going to tell me, are you?

Tristan says: No…LOL…. But if you love me you’ll do this for me…it would make me very happy.

Isolde says: Unfair!!! You are a manipulative cheater who knows I will do anything for you!!!...

Tristan says: Sorry, that isn’t going to work…I will see you in a couple of days and expect your answer then…right now I have to go…David is banging on the door screaming that the transport is here and Steve is having a fit because I’m late…can you believe that…Me? Late? I love you!!!

Isolde says: I promise!! And I love you too.

She was laughing as she closed the computer. There was nothing like a small dose of Urs to make a person feel better about life.

**

It was an extremely busy time for the next few days. The guys finished their appearances in Madrid and scuttled back to the Hotels to catch flights, Urs to Stockholm via Paris, David to Denver and the rest to London.

In the clinic Maggie rested as much as possible and the first day ate more than she really wanted, storing up energy for the trials ahead. Geena kept her company most of the time, studiously avoiding mention of Sebastien though Maggie hinted at the subject a couple of times. Early in the morning of the second day Dr. Sigursen came to the room while Maggie was just waking and introduced her to another doctor, Moira Janke, who would be handling the anesthetic. She was a short, perky blonde of middle years with a wide smile in her voice that soothed her patient’s fears immediately.

“I have an opening this morning and see no reason to put this off. If you are willing I would like to fit you into the 11a.m. slot. The surgery should take no more than 3 hours, another hour in recovery and you should be back in your room before dinner time. Are you all right with that?”

Maggie took a deep breath and smiled, just a bit.

“Yes….this way when Urs arrives it will be done and he won’t have that awful wait to go through.”

“Good girl,” he said and patted her on the hand before rushing off again.

“He’s invited me in to watch…I hope you don’t mind Mags,” Geena said as she took her friend’s hand.

“Of course not, Geena. It will be comforting to know you’re there. Oh, Geena I pray this works, even partially. I miss Jessie so much…no other dog could ever replace her…. And I don’t want to be a burden on Urs.”

“Like he would complain. He nearly worships you, you goose. It’s almost embarrassing to see the love that emanates between you two. And you guys have worked out so many of the obstacles: what you do with CASPAR, your buckets of money, the traveling they do now and will in the future…If only Seb…”

“If only Seb what? Accepted your work with the Agency? Is that what the problem is? Seb is a kind and gentle person, a bit of a chauvinist at times, but I’ve never thought him stupid. He maybe just needs time to think it through and find a way to come to terms with it.”

Geena was quietly crying and rested her head against Maggie.

“I didn’t realize I had fallen so hard. The fight we had sounded so final and it hurts so bad, Mags. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before.”

“I know….we’ve been friends for such a long time and I’ve seen you mad at guys before but never hurting like this. Have faith, girlfriend. Madame Cosanga predicts a happy turn of events in the near future. You can’t let this be my first failure at matchmaking.”

Geena laughed and raised her head.

“I remember that…you wound that ratty old towel around your head like a turban and hid a candle in a glass under Madeleine’s prized silk scarf and we all had our fortunes told….burnt a hole in the scarf and Maddy cried…in fact we were lucky we didn’t burn the dorm down. It cost one chocolate bar from our hoard from the care packages our parents sent and you made out like a bandit…then we ate every last one of them and threw up. What were we… 12?”

“I think so…we were too sick the next day to take our math test, I remember that part.”

“That was almost as much fun as the time we put Super Glue on the seat in the Lav and Miss Schneider got stuck….remember how she screamed when they brought in a male plumber to rescue her?”

“What’s this WE?…you did it…I just stood guard,” Geena said indignantly.

They were both still laughing over antics from their past when the nurse came in to begin the prep for surgery.

**

There was music playing softly when Maggie came out of the anesthetic induced fog, music she recognized….the mixed CD that Urs had made for her. She stirred a bit and felt a hand brush against hers, then grip it and lips touch her cheek. Urs!!

“Hey sleepyhead…it’s about time you really woke up.”

“You sure this isn’t a dream? I expected you tomorrow, but I’m glad you’re here.”

“We ran like mad men for the plane after the last appearance. You wouldn’t believe how hot it was in Madrid. I’m an Alpine guy, don’t care much for those boiling temperatures with no breezes.”

“Did you talk to the doctor? Does he think it was successful? When can I take a peek? And when can I go home? And…”

“Whoa, slow down, Liebe!! No, I came straight in when I found out you were out of surgery and back in your room so I don’t know how he feels about it or anything else yet. So whatever he has to say we’ll hear it together.”

He leaned over her and kissed her lips gently, effectively silencing the questions he felt were still to come.

“Now,” he said as he sat on the edge of the bed and held her hands. “It seems to me that you promised you would do something for me, no questions asked.”

“Am I going to regret trusting you so much? I don’t like that sort of sly tone in your voice.”

“Trust me, Love…you’ll love this. When you can leave here I want you to go to Willisau to be with Mami and Papa. NO, NO, don’t interrupt…I’ve been telling Mami what is happening and boring her to tears with how much I love you and miss you and how wonderful you are….. and she asked if you would come and stay with them during your recovery. Mami was in nursing before the 5 of us demanded so much of her time, still does the occasional shift. Please Maggie, I have to go back to the US soon and Canada and I would feel so much better if I knew you were with people I love and trust.”

“Yes,” she said with a little smile.

“Yes? No arguing, no digging in your pretty little heels? Just Yes?”

She giggled.

“Well I did promise and it has to happen sometime….and the way I figure, you could not have turned out so well if your parents weren’t nice people.”

“You don’t really know, Liebe…I could be ugly as sin.”

“I don’t care…we can always put a bag over your head if it’s really bad….anyway, warty and homely, yellow teeth and bad skin…you’re mine!!”

She pulled him down easily since he didn’t resist, and they were still enjoying a rather passionate kiss when the Dr. arrived.

“Well it appears that our patient is in fine spirits Dr. Kerrigan,” he said with a laugh to Geena who entered as he held the door for her.

“Don’t mind them, they’re like that all the time…. Like rabbits.”

He surprised all three listeners by laughing.

“Good, a healthy libido and healthy body often complement each other. Now I suppose you’re interested in the outcome of our little surgery.
It went exceptionally well, no complications with the new procedure. I expect that you should be able to take the first little peek in a couple of weeks but I have to stress that you must not be disappointed if there seems only minimal change. Each day you will remove a bit more of the gauze and allow your eyes to adjust to being used again. It will take time, much like a newborn…they can see nothing at first until the eyes gradually adjust. By the 6th month the change will be complete and however much vision you have then will be what you will keep. You must be careful of bright lights, direct sunlight for some time, but that is easy to do…sunglasses, wide brimmed hats, shade.”

They thanked the busy man profusely and Urs asked the all important question….’When can I take her home?’

“Tomorrow if you like…the surgery was not in the least invasive and Lady Ryan is very healthy as I said before. You will need to see an ophthalmic surgeon once every two weeks for a couple of months and preferably a nurse daily, if possible. My nurse will bring in a printout of suggestions for home care. And I would like to see you six months from today.”

And with that and a jaunty wave he was gone again.

**

Maggie joked that even without sight she had seen nothing of Sweden except the clinic…Urs promised to bring her back some summer for a proper look as they boarded the plane for Zurich. They had said good bye to Geena in Stockhom since she was going back to London and her work. Urs thanked her for what she had done for Maggie and whispered encouragement to her regarding Sebastien. She was thoughtful on her flight, thinking of the stubborn Frenchman, nearly weeping when she thought about the situation they were in and how she had wished that it could have been more lasting.

She was distracted when they deplaned in London, offered her passport to customs and didn’t even notice that the check was cursory…a quick input on the computer and a smile to welcome her to the United Kingdom.

She hadn’t taken much luggage to Sweden, just a few comfortable changes of clothing since she hadn’t expected to stay so long, so there was just one case trailing behind her as she slung her carryon over her shoulder and trudged for the exit and the lineup of cabs.

“Bonne Nuit, mon chere,”

She whirled to see who was behind her, tugging the handle of her case out of hands suddenly gone nerveless, elated and frightened at once at the gentle greeting…was it? Could it be?

Sebastien stood close behind her, smiling gently, his eyes bright with what she though might be tears, that adorable mouth curved in a grin that showed off the sweet little gap between his front teeth.

“I missed you,” he said and reached his free hand out to caress her cheek.

“I’m not quitting,” she replied though the words nearly choked her.

“Neither am I…I’m not quitting on us. We have something special, mon petite chou… something worth working out.”

She sighed, stepped into his arms and felt her world spin into place once more.

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN….WILLISAU

It had been a long, exhausting day, filled with new experiences but fortunately shared with Urs and the anticipation of late in the evening being alone with him for the first time in weeks…. At least the first time Maggie had been alone with him and healthy enough to let their emotions take control.

The flight to Lucerne had been bumpy, the plane caught in some bad weather near the Alps but they had landed safely and been met by Urs’ brother, Franz, a larger, more uninhibited version of Urs who swept Maggie up in his arms for a hug and noisy kiss.

“So, the proverbial cool and collected bachelor has finally met his match. Good for you girl!!” he said as he released her back to the gentler hands of Urs. “I’m younger, but already two babies ahead of him. Wait until you meet my little terrors and Shannon, my wife.”

“He cheats…they had twin boys the first time out. Give us time, Franz…we’ll catch up.”

Maggie laughed at the good natured ribbing between the brothers. It was obvious from their voices that they adored each other, that the rivalry was just of the sibling kind.

They kept up a lively conversation on the drive to Willisau, chatting about old friends and family, about Urs new career and allowing Maggie to just listen and become more familiar with all the varied aspects of this large family that she would be embracing as her own.

“You’re quiet, Liebe…are we perhaps a little over whelming for you?”

She laughed and snuggled closer into his arm that was around her shoulder.

“You two sound like I suppose I do whenever I meet some of the girls from my school days….this business of having a large family is quite an eye opener to me.”

“So how are you doing, really Maggie? Mami told me that you’ve been through a rather nasty mugging lately and then the surgery on top of it.”

“I’m fine, Franz, just fine. NO bad after effects…. And I can hardly wait to see if the eye surgery worked. My companion was killed trying to defend me and I miss her terribly but if the surgery works then I won’t have to try to replace Jessie…not sure I could.”

“I know what you mean, sort of… we have two dogs, so does Mami, and they become part of the family.”

“How old is Schtute now?” Urs asked, doing some mental arithmetic.

Franz screwed up his face in thought.

“Fifteen…no Sixteen, I don’t know how old that is in people years…and I think Heinz is 6. He’s still as dumb as a load of bricks but doesn’t know it, so he’s happy all the time.”

Maggie was sandwiched between the two men in the cab of what she could tell was a high powered truck. It was a comfortable ride, a bit noisy since Franz mentioned that he could only drive mountain roads while he had music on, adding that in deference to having company he would keep the volume turned down. She smiled as the vibrations from his ‘turned down’ volume boomed in her head and her legs that were extended under the dash board.

“You cut off that mop of hair…looks good… did they have to tie you down to do it?” he asked Urs and she could almost see his grin.

“And yours has grown…how does Shannon like living with a rocker?”

“She’s still with me, that should answer your question. Maggie when Urs left to go to Amsterdam, I took his spot in Conspiracy. We’ll never make it big but it’s fun doing a few gigs now and then.”

“So musical ability runs in the family then…is Shannon a musician too or do the twins keep her too busy?”

“They’re just going 2 now and we have a nanny so she gets some free time. She sings with us and works in my office part time….. I’m a chiropractor when I’m not indulging in music.”

He switched to English.

“By the Way, your German is excellent…maybe a shade rusty but over all excellent. We all speak English as well if you’re more comfortable with it.”

She turned her head to smile at him, able to tell from the sound of his voice that he had turned to look at her.

“I need practice, so if you can put up with my mistakes I’d prefer German, perhaps even a bit of Swiss German so I can learn. I’ve thought that we should start language classes at the school since the government school system doesn’t have much available. It could be a valuable lesson, especially for the kids who want to work internationally.”

Their conversation evolved into a discussion about the School and the benefits of a language program but Maggie noticed when the truck slowed and made a turn onto a gravel surface, slowed again and stopped.

There was a chorus of barking as the dogs that had been mentioned greeted the newly arrived and a woman’s voice called out to them to be quiet.

Urs helped Maggie from the cab of the truck and gave her a quick squeeze. He could feel how nervous she was, wished there was something he could do or say to ease her mind and leaned over to whisper in her ear…..

“I would never have brought you here if I thought Mami and Papa would eat you alive…. Trust me, Love.”

She was laughing when the woman approached, taking her hand and raising it to her face to feel the smiles, real ones that involved her whole face, much as Urs’ did when he was happy.

“My dear, it’s so good to meet you. I feel I already know you with all the chatter my big boy has indulged in lately. Welcome, consider this place your home.”

Urs leaned over to give his Mami a one armed hug and a kiss on the cheek.

“Mami, I’m not a boy anymore,” he chided her.

“Nonsense…even when you are an Opa you will still be my little boy.”

She slid her hand down Maggie’s arm and took her hand, gave a gentle tug and led her towards the house, both chatting freely, Maggie not even aware at first that her case of nerves had evaporated. Urs let them go, sighing in relief that he had been right…the two women had bonded almost instantly, their personalities such that they recognized each other as kindred spirits.

**

“So how long do you have free this time?” Maggie asked when Urs finally stopped kissing her and let his hands explore remembered territory. He had asked her to come and help him unpack, making his parents laugh as they glanced at the small carryon cases and causing Maggie’s cheeks to flare with color. Still, she had eagerly complied and nearly dragged him up the stairs to his old bedroom, which incidentally she would be using while he went away again.

“I’ve put you in Urs old room since it is the one with the easiest access to a bathroom,” was what Inga had said when she explained where everyone would be.

“A week, then I have to catch a flight to the US and meet up with the guys again. Come on…I’ll give you a tour of the room.”

He lead her through the room, letting her touch the furnishings and orient herself as to where everything was. Two tall dressers against the right wall with a desk built between them and an office chair that tucked under the desk with a connection just underneath to cable and a power outlet for her computer. The front facing wall held windows and a door which gave access to a balcony, small but roomy enough for two lounge chairs and a small table. The left hand wall held a doorway into the bathroom which also could be entered from the hall.

She heard Urs click the lock into place for the hall way door and raised her brows at him.

“We will be the only ones up here….my parents added on to the back of the house when we were teens and their bedroom suite is now off the kitchen on the main floor. So you see, we will be able to have a long soak in the tub, just the two of us and no interruptions.”

He pulled her into his arms and started kissing her gently, his mouth tasting her skin leaving a trail of fire across her cheeks, down her neck, into the opening at the front of her buttoned shirt, chuckling when she moaned.

“We should go back down to visit,” he said and started to move away.

“Buhler, you’re a dead man if you stop now!!!” she murmured as she grabbed a hand full of shirt and pulled him back into her arms.

“Why, Lady Ryan, whatever do you mean?”

She knew he was teasing, could feel the evidence against her stomach as she drew his shirt up and over his head, dropping it to the floor and resting her hands on the scattering of hair between his toned pecs.

Two could play his little game, she thought as she inched her hands down to his belt and licked her lips as she slowly removed it from the loops, toyed with the dome fastener at the top of his jeans and popped it open. She lowered the zip and raised her face to him, her lips slightly open, stretching up until she could feel his breath on her lips as he bent to meet her mouth, his hair falling in a silken curtain to gently caress her cheeks.

“Okay…let’s go back down stairs,” she whispered and giggled when he moaned.

“Later ….much later!!”

No more teasing was allowed as they enjoyed the pleasure so long denied them, gently, slowly, savouring each touch, building until neither could hold back, affirming their love once more.

**

They came back down stairs just in time for a quick tour of the main areas of the house and to join Papa and Mami in the kitchen.

Urs had described his parents to Maggie as they lay wrapped in each others arms calming from their intense emotions.

Mami was fairly tall for a woman and slender, at 60, still a vibrant woman who enjoyed sports and caring for her home and assorted brood, including 7 grandchildren. She had a pleasant alto voice , sang in the local church choir and was called Mami by not only her own children but the scores of friends that her family had made over the years, only a few of whom called her Tante Inga.

Nikolai, his Papa, was tall, a big man like his younger son, 8 years older than Mami, active and lean, only slowing down the past few years with a few health problems, joints not quite as flexible, Blood Pressure a shade higher than his doctor liked. He had switched from hands-on carpentry to graphic design, still had a nice workshop on the property for his first love, wood working, and had fashioned at one time or another most of the furnishings in their home.

The place itself was bright and airy, very little clutter, the furniture mostly big and leather, a soft chocolate, Urs said, with bright yellow and gold accents in the pillows and the hand woven rug in front of a massive stone fireplace.

After dinner they retired to the Lounge and Nikolai asked Urs to light a fire…it wasn’t really cold, just the usual cool of the mountains at night but the crackling flames lent a cheerful, peaceful sound to the room…Night Music he called it.

Urs came back to the large leather chair where Maggie sat listening to Inga talk about the grand children, picked her up and sat in her chair with Maggie on his lap, leaning back against his chest with her head on his shoulder. She rested her hands on the arms that circled her waist, playing idly with the hair that ran down onto the backs of his hands, finer and she had been told, so pale as to be almost invisible.

“Did the Swedish doctor give you printed instructions for your home care?” Inga asked as Nikolai poured them each another small shot of liquer.

“Yes…I’ll need to find a Doctor in Willisau to check the site every couple of weeks…Urs read it to me and it says that after the first week I can remove the gauze in a darkened room and if it isn’t painful can open my eyes for 10 to 15 minutes at first, then daily a bit more…just whatever I can handle without pain.”

“Good…I know it will be trying for you to be patient but keep your goal in sight…it will be worth all the effort. I’ve heard excellent things through the community about the work at that clinic.”

“I think what worries me most at the moment is how the kids at the school are doing. I didn’t realize how much I would miss them.”

“Liebeling, I’m sorry… I forgot to tell you,” Urs interrupted. “Seb, Gerry and Carlos told me they are going to go to the school and check on how things are going, maybe get in a couple of tutorials. Gerry especially, was interested in seeing how Camille was progressing.”

They talked a while longer then the elder Buhlers bid the young couple good night.

Inga came over to kiss Urs on the brow and cupped Maggie’s face in her hands briefly.

“I am so pleased that you will be in our lives, daughter. You make my son very happy and that makes my heart full. Sweet dreams.” She kissed Maggie on the brow and left, hand in hand with the love of her life.

They were quiet for a few minutes, just enjoying being together and thinking about the day. Urs felt Maggie relaxing against him and heard her breathing change slightly as she fell asleep. He breathed in the light scent of her, gently nestling his face into her hair. He was filled with such a feeling of peace and contentment. He had guessed that his parents would take to Maggie and she to them. Their approval was subtle but, to him, so evident: the arrangements for bedrooms, Mami kissing Maggie good night, Papa coming out with the expensive Liquer, the way he had gripped Urs shoulder when he went past on the way to their suite and the way Papa had offered details about his work at dinner…. They had never taken to Celeste, never been rude of course, but there was no warmth in the time they had spent with her.

He wiggled out from underneath her and banked the fire for the night, putting the screen back securely. Schtute was no-where to be seen…she usually spent the night in his parents room, curled up on the extra thick doggie bed that Mami had made especially for her. Heinz bounded to his feet and went to the door, understanding the routine well. Urs opened the door and stepped out on the verandah while Heinz raced around in the pasture, chasing imaginary foes, stopping to water the grass several times then coming back to stare eagerly at Urs as he looked at the vast night sky. The stars were so bright here in the mountains, so different from what could be seen in the city. He longed to be able to share this view with Maggie, sent a silent prayer that someday soon it would become a reality, then returned to the house and grinned as Heinz circled and flopped on his bed beside the door. Some guard dog….he would be so happy to see a real live person in the night he would probably lick them to death.

Carefully, so as to not wake her, he carried Maggie upstairs and placed her on the bed they had shared only a few hours before. He eased her glasses off and stared at the small gauze pads taped over each eye, impatient to know if the surgery had worked but resigned to waiting as she must.

She woke slightly as he disrobed her, helped him with the fastening of her bra when the hooks defeated him. He could see the red mark on her thigh now, where she had been stabbed, the faint marks of other healing wounds. So much trauma, so many terrible things. He wanted nothing bad to ever happen to her again but knew that it was a futile dream. Things happen…the best he could do was be there for her, to help when he could, to comfort when helping was beyond him.

He snuggled into bed with her, wrapped together they way they liked, Maggie safe in his arms with her back against him, bare skin from head to toe and he smiled knowing how attuned they were. She would wake in the morning eager to love and be loved, just as he usually did. He fell asleep, eager for morning to come.

**

The week went by too fast. They had easily established a routine, breakfast in robes with Inga and Nikolai, then Monday, Wednesday and Friday Papa would dress and go off to the office for the morning, returning to have lunch with them and discuss the days’ plans.

Inga would put fresh dressings on Maggie’s eyes after she and Urs had carefully showered and Urs had brushed and braided her long hair. Then a stroll to exercise the dogs, sometimes accompanied by Inga, more often just the two of them, taking varied routes so Maggie could have the scenery around the house described to her. Afternoons they would split up, Urs and his father to the workshop to toil at some mysterious project that they were forbidden to see, Maggie with Inga in the kitchen as they talked endlessly and Inga slowly learned all about her childhood, reciprocating by telling her about Urs as a child.

He had always been a studious little boy, she said, a devil sometimes but quickly forgiven when he looked at his parents or teachers with those large eyes and that endearing smile.

Music had been his calling since early childhood…he always sang, as he did his school work, his chores, riding his bicycle, even when skiing or hiking in the woods. He studied violin and piano, then guitar, clarinet…if it made music, Urs was interested. So they weren’t surprised when he decided that music was to be his lifetime occupation.

“This new venture…we try to always be supportive but it is such a gamble for him. We’ve heard the CD’s of course and I even go on to the computer and read what is said about them, his new friends. He is very quiet when we ask him about the success, but that is normal…Urs has never been a boy, a man now, though don’t tell him I said that, that brags about himself. Tell me what you feel about what he’s doing.”

So Maggie told her all the things that Urs would have considered bragging: the growing fan base, how the tracks were being received and shooting to the number One spot so quickly, the demand for a Tour and Appearances, the reason for all the travel.

Inga poured them both a coffee and sat at the counter listening as Maggie explained and reached for her hands when she had finished.

“I think they will have even more success than Sony or Simon ever dreamed. Their voices blend magically and each of them is a perfectionist so they work very hard to make every track perfect. This upcoming world Tour will season them, make them more comfortable with what they are doing… I think they can stay together and producing music that will enthrall the world as long as they wish, perhaps eventually tapering off to a new album a year and occasional tours, perhaps even to solo projects as well. I just know that whatever Urs does, he will do well.”

They changed the subject, knowing how it would embarrass Urs, when they heard the two men returning, likely looking for coffee.

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT….UNVEILING

The time went by much too fast and all too soon it was the morning when Urs had to leave again. They had planned on an early start today since Maggie was determined to have the pads off and see just how much improvement there had been. They all knew it wouldn’t be a dramatic unveiling with her miraculously having 20/20 sight but she so longed to be able to see Urs, even a bit and the excitement in the room was palpable as Inga loosened the tape holding the gauze in place.

For some reason Maggie was calm and controlled, perhaps because Urs wasn’t. He couldn’t settle himself and actually jumped when his Papa caught his shoulder and forced him to stop pacing.

The curtains had been drawn on the bedroom, the most sensible room, Inga had decided since it could be easily darkened, and the lamp was turned on low.

She cautioned Maggie to not open her eyes until she soaked them a bit with a cloth dipped in warm water…after a couple of weeks they might have been crusted and not open easily. She held her hands in front of Maggie’s eyes, about 3 inches out and said that when she was ready to go ahead.

Maggie cracked her lids open a bit, just a sliver at first and gasped, opened them further then all the way.

“I see…something pale…hands?”

Inga dropped her hands as Urs took a shaky step forward, only now realizing he had been holding his breath as he drew in a ragged breath to fill his silently screaming lungs.

“Red…I see RED!!! And something pale,” Her hands reached out in front of her and contacted his red Harley shirt, something he had purposely won as perhaps easier for her to see.

She ran her hands up onto his face and giggled.

“Well, I can see you…sort of…just a pale blob at the moment but your shirt is glorious!!! It’s working Urs, it’s really working!!!”

He came closer and she could see an impression of something pale surrounded by darker colors, the briefest flash of warm brown as he bent his head to hers and kissed her gently.

She was reluctant to put the pads back in place at first but after 15 minutes of hazy sight a head ache started and Inga insisted.

“It will be better tomorrow, Liebeling and the next day and by the time Urs returns you should be down to only glasses to protect against the brightest lights. Now go wish your man a safe trip and a speedy return. You must not be sad when he leaves.” Inga had leaned over and whispered to her so the two men could not hear and Maggie reached up to give her a hug. This must be what it was like to have a mother, she thought, scarcely remembering being this close with her own mother during her rebellious teen years and childhood.

He had been crying, she knew it instinctively, confirmed it with a soft caress on his cheek. She heard Inga and Nikolai leaving the room, felt Papa’s arm around her shoulder in a gentle hug as he went past. Urs drew her into his arms and rested his face in her hair, his breathing shaky as he held her close, protectively.

“Will you IM me again?” she asked.

“Of course…I’ve already worked out the timing. If you were not here, with my parents I’m not sure even you could talk me into going this time. Promise me that you will behave, not get too impatient.”

“I promise…and you must promise to wear that red shirt so I will recognize you.”

“You may be disappointed. I could be incredibly ugly.”

“Not a chance… and I wouldn’t care if you were. There’s always a bag to go over your head….Seriously Urs, all those thousands of Ubers can’t be wrong.”

He laughed at her logic, remarking that she was becoming more Swiss daily.

“Seriously, mein Klein Liebe, ICH Liebe sie, mit alle mein Gemut, mehr denn Lieben.”

{my little Love, I love you with all my heart, more than life}

His kiss was tender and loving, a promise of years to come, a life worth living, together.

They went down stairs and Urs collected the bag he had left at the door, holding her hand as they went out onto the verandah to join his parents. Minutes later Franz truck pulled into the drive and roared to a stop at the steps. He left it running as he leapt out and raced up the steps to kiss his Mama, grip Papa on the shoulder and envelope Maggie in a quick bear hug.

“Come for dinner tomorrow, if you can bear the twins underfoot…both Shannon and I have the day off,” he called out as he threw Urs bag in the back and got in the drivers side again.

One last hug and they were gone, Urs hanging out of the window for a last look at Maggie standing wrapped in Papa’s arms, leaning back against his strong chest.

He pulled back into the cab of the truck and saw Franz steal a glance at him.

“So now you know how it feels. Welcome to the club, Brother.”

Urs smiled and settled himself in the seat, doing up his seat belt securely. He doubted that any man had ever loved a woman the way he loved Maggie…but this was one contest he wasn’t eager to get into with his brother.

**

This time the days flew by, full and exhausting as they did promo appearances in the US. The e/mails and IM’s were daily, some just general chat, some a little …livelier when the frustration levels grew to be too much to handle. They were becoming masters at naughty chatting, which cut down considerably on the cold showers.

Maggie didn’t dwell on her progress, just said that daily she was allowed more time uncovered and though the results were slow it was steady. Urs didn’t push her on it…he would be home soon and would see for himself.

All of the group was happy when the last appearances, in Canada, were done and they boarded the jet for London. They would have a solid 2 weeks off before going on a whirlwind trip to Barcelona, Geneva, France and Finland, then returning to the US for the Live 8 extravaganza in Philadelphia, then the 4th of July celebrations in Washington….All this was a lead up to their first real, full length concert, to be held at Henley in the UK.

Urs raced to the ticket desk, waving at Geena who paid him little attention since a certain Frenchman was right behind him and had his arms open to welcome her. He raced past Petra who held little Paul and was wrapped securely in David’s arms and Gerry, laughing as Carlos nearly fell over the luggage cart in an effort to reach her.

He was in luck. He could just make the flight to Zurich, if he ran. He ran and caught the attendants just as they were about to close the door.

He quickly stuffed his carryon under the seat and threw himself in the seat, did up his belt and took deep breaths to calm himself.

Once they were airborne he relaxed. The guys would take care of the rest of his luggage, Seb had his guitar and he was on the way home. Everything was working out perfectly. Now if there was only good news about Maggie’s sight…and if she was well enough to go with him this time… How he wished that this would happen and soon. They had been promised a respite from traveling in August, possibly the whole month. What a treat that would be.

He suddenly realized that August would be the long awaited ‘first chance we get’. They could hop on the bike and go to the coast, get married and spend all their spare time trying to start their family. He fell asleep smiling and thinking about August and all the beautiful memories they would build.

**

He had the transport drop him off at the end of the driveway so he could walk the rest of the way to the house. He always loved to walk up the drive and see the building rising out of the landscape, welcoming him, from his childhood on always having a fanciful notion that the house seemed to be smiling at whoever approached….the two huge windows in the front seemed to be eyes wide open in surprise and the darker slash of the front porch with the flower urns at the end, a smiling mouth with the white of the stone steps, the shining teeth.

He laughed as he thought of it. He hadn’t lived here as a main base for many years, first in Amsterdam, then France and on to London, but this was still home. At least it was until he and Maggie decided where to build their own.

Eager now, he gripped his carryon tighter and jogged the remainder of the drive, took the stone stairs two at a time and burst in the front door…it was never locked, not here, almost in the countryside and not with the dogs around to raise a ruckus if anyone arrived.

Strangely the house was quiet except for some music coming from the kitchen. The scent of baking reached him and his mouth watered in anticipation…Mami was making something that smelled heavenly.
He set his case in the front hall and crept through to the Kitchen, wondering where Maggie was. She had mentioned that Mami was helping her learn to cook, patiently, since she had no experience at it other than the ability to reheat what Heidi prepared and froze.

Mami was at the counter and reacted with a joyful smile and a scold.

“Urs… come here for a hug…my hands are all sticky…you should have called to say you would be early.”

He grinned and went to her, hugging her carefully since her hands indeed seemed to be coated with sugar and flour.

“I was lucky and caught an earlier flight. Where is she?”

Mami shook her head and smiled at his impatience.

“She and Papa took the dogs for a walk to collect the mail. I’m surprised you didn’t see them on the road.”

“We came from the other direction, didn’t pass the Poste. Mami, how is Maggie…has she taken the gauze pads completely off yet?”

His mother made shooing motions with her hands.

“Go…find them and see for yourself.”

It was beautiful out, one of those crisp, clear May days when you could see forever over the pastures that gently became foothills at the base of the rocky, still snow capped mountains beyond the city. He stood on the veranda shielding his eyes from the sun and tracing the path of the road as far as he could, the trees along the roadside blocking his view after a few hundred yards.

There was a flash of white between the tree trunks, then the tawny body of Heinz, their cross bred Alsatian/Retriever leapt into view, taking to the air to catch a stick thrown by someone as yet unseen. He raced back proudly, prancing a bit, teasing. He had always been easy to get to retrieve objects…giving them back was another matter entirely.

Urs laughed and went down the steps, sure now that Papa and Maggie were coming. He hadn’t gone far when he could see them clearly, both in jeans and white tee shirts, walking side by side, totally engrossed in a conversation, Maggie waving her hands around in explanation as she did when she was excited and Papa throwing his head back in that deep belly laugh Urs knew so well. Schtute, their Alsatian bitch, plodded along beside Maggie. At 16 she seldom played anymore but except for slowing down she was still the lovable foot warmer that ruled their household. Even Max, their cat who in fact, had produced her one and only litter of tiny kittens and became Maxine, shortly after they took her in, even she loved the old dog and was likely to be found grooming her while Schtute groaned with bliss.

Just as they were about to turn in the driveway, a car approached and stopped…a neighbour wanting to chat. Papa stopped and leaned on the car door but Maggie waved and came on alone.

Alone!!!...she could see well enough to walk unaided!! He increased his pace, began to jog and saw that Heinz had noticed him.

The dog stood at alert, ears forward, body poised to run forward with one paw raised slightly. Maggie saw him and stopped, raising her hand to shade her eyes, though they were already shaded by sunglasses but she was trying to get a better look at who was approaching.

Something about his scent or his body must have informed Heinz for suddenly he gave a happy yelp and dashed forward, tail wagging, tongue lolling, eager to reach this man he remembered.

Urs paid little attention to him other than slowing to a walk and bracing himself for the onslaught that he knew was coming…..Heinz was well known for his exuberant greetings. Urs’ eyes were glued to Maggie.

She was closing the gap between them, more slowly now, with one hand rising to her mouth as if in shock. Closer, closer still until she was only 2 feet away and she slowly raised the sunglasses that were hiding her face to nestle them in her hair. There was a small dot of new skin just under each eye, near the corner. The vivid green of her pupils swam above a sea of tears as she stared at him, her gaze unable to take in everything she wanted to see, roaming over his face, back to his eyes, to his torso and back again to his eyes.

“Urs?”

Her question was timid, longing, the joy held in check until she was sure.

She reached out a trembling hand and touched his face, closing her eyes as her touch confirmed that this was indeed the man she had longed to see. Her eyes flew open again, now sure, now filled with joy.

“You have your Papa’s eyes…I could drown in them.”

“Does this mean I won’t need to go through life with a bag over my head?”

She laughed and cupped his face with her hands.

“Now I understand why all the women who see you fall in love with you. You are beyond handsome…you’re beautiful, perfect…. And mine.”

She stood on her tip toes and offered her mouth to him, melting into his arms as they consumed each other, all the yearning and unfulfilled desires, the anxiety of the past few weeks, soothed by the taste and feel of mouths fused together, bodies striving to get closer, then closer still.

Urs broke the passionate kiss but held her still, his face nestled against her neck, neither eager to let the other go.

“You can see…it worked…Liebeling I’m so happy for you, for us.”

“Every day it gets a little better, a little clearer. The bright sun still hurts a bit but so long as I’m careful for a while…..”

“…and you will be, I’ll see to that,” he said with a growl that made her laugh as he lowered her sunglasses again.

“Then we’d best go in the house for I haven’t had enough of looking at you yet.”

They strolled hand in hand back to the smiling house, stopping twice on the short walk because Maggie couldn’t get enough of looking at Urs and kept stumbling. He laughed at her and said he knew just how she felt…. He never tired of looking at her either….maybe in 50 or 60 years the novelty would wear off.

**

Maggie took off her glasses as soon as they were inside, out of the sun’s glare and watched him as he ran lightly up the stairs with his carryon, was still watching as he came back down, grinning at her when he saw her staring at him.

“So are you surprised? I thought you would have a pretty good idea since you used to see so well with your hands. Just how good are your eyes now?” He put his arm around her shoulders and led her into the Lounge to snuggle together on the leather sofa.

“I have a bit of a problem reading or looking at far away things for very long….my eyes start to hurt, so I rest them. Urs, Mami is so beautiful…I hope I can look half as good in my sixties. And Papa…he’s like a big cuddly bear and nearly as protective as you are. Thank you for making me promise to come here. I feel like I have family again.”

“You do have family, Liebe, though I have to warn you that if everyone gets together at the same time it can be rather intimidating. We are a rather large brood if you include all the cousins and aunts and uncles.”

“I know…there have already been a few groups dropping in, all so friendly and welcoming…and so many children. My face hurt from laughing so much when Franz’ twins and your sisters’ children were here all noisy and playing…what dear treasures they are. Ingrid says that her 3 are much better behaved around Mami and Papa than they are at home and yet Mami never scolds or raises her voice.”

He laughed. “We all learned very young that the quieter Mami gets the more you better pay attention.”

“How long are you home for this time?”

He shifted her a bit so he could see her face but lost her concentration as she ran her fingers through his hair and marveled at the ripples of color as the silky strands caught a stray ray of sunlight.

He had explained about the upcoming trip and had to repeat it again when she caught the last bit about wondering if she could go with him.

“I’m sorry…did you know that your hair isn’t all one color…there are the most amazing shimmers of gold and red, some burnt mahogany in it…It’s so beautiful…..Yes, yes I’m listening…damn you…I can’t concentrate when you look at me like that…your eyes are incredible, hypnotic…. Go where with you? Of course I will, anywhere…. Where are we going?”

He laughed and hugged her, then buried her face against his chest while he explained again.

“And then we have August free…unless something comes up, like a trip to the coast.”

She squealed with delight and hugged him until he had to plead to breathe.

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE …….House hunting {A}

It was a day of revelations for both of them. Maggie couldn’t stop watching Urs, something he definitely noticed and teased her about as they had lunch with his parents and told them about their ‘secret’ of eloping. He had expected resistance from them but Mami cried and said it was terribly romantic, that she and Nikolai had done the same thing, sort of, not on a motorbike but not telling anyone since her parents were very much against their only daughter marrying a lowly carpenter. They had gone to a chapel, license in hand and been married, not telling anyone until months later when Urs was conceived and the family could do nothing about their union.

“That explains the distance that I always felt with Opa Julio,” Urs said, shaking his head in wonder. “And Oma Maria always used to cry at the oddest things….like when you told her that you were expecting Yvette and she ran from the room, weeping.”

“Yes…my father was angry with Papa…said he only wanted a brood mare, that it was ‘uncivilized’ to breed like rabbits.” Inga laughed when she said this but even Maggie could see that it was a very old hurt.

“Well, be warned,” Urs said as he glanced at Maggie and her face colored…she knew what he was going to say. “We intend to have a whole house full of children…there was actually some mention of 15.”

He chuckled as he watched Maggie’s cheeks turn flame red and leaned over to brush his lips against her face.

Papa choked on his soup at this news and had to be pounded on the back.

When he had finished choking and laughing, he grinned at Inga.

“Mother, I think we had best get started on another extension to the house so we will be ready when these two and their children come to visit.”

Urs took Maggie’s hand and held it while they finished their coffee.

“We do both want a large family. We talked about even adopting a few children as well as having some the old fashioned way.” He chuckled again as once more Maggie’s face colored. “That’s the way it is at her school…all these kids of all different ages…one big happy family with all the squabbles and love and noise that come with the package. We haven’t decided yet where to have our house, but soon. For now Maggie has a huge apartment in Chelsea and I will let the flat go.”

“I doubt you’ll be spending much time at home over the next year or two anyway, if the glimpse of the plans I saw are any indication.”

“And what will you do, Dear, when Urs has to travel?”

“Go with him as much as possible. There will be things I can do to make the traveling easier on him and so the separations won’t be so long.”
“And your work, what about that and the school?”

“Urs’ work comes first… I can do my computer work from anywhere and I’ve already made arrangements for a professional to take over my duties at the school…. We’ll work it out.”



They went for a long hike up the hills behind the house, only taking Heinz with them since Schtute didn’t handle climbing well. Mami and Papa went in to town to do some shopping and visit friends, leaving them on their own for dinner, but well supplied with leftovers and a freezer full of goodies…plus the sweets that she had been making when Urs first arrived.

It was a lovely walk, the trail faint but unobstructed, rising gently as it wound around or through copses of trees.

Maggie was fascinated with the butterflies that flitted from one clump of spring flowers to the other and the odd flash of a songbird as it sped by above them. And of course the mountains were spectacular. They sat for a while on the side of one of the craggy rocks that formed the foothills, staring down into the valley arrayed far below them, a bowl shaped lake nestled at the base, glistening with reflected sun, the tops still snow covered, would still be Urs claimed, even in mid summer. He promised that later in the summer they would take the other path , the one which led to a secluded waterfall…maybe they could even camp there for a couple of days.

Urs was fascinated with Maggie, so enthralled with everything she had missed seeing over the past years. He plucked some daisies, let her inspect them up close and smell them then tucked them into her long plait and announced that she looked like a Fairy Princess.

“And you are my Knight in shining…Jeans? Oh Urs…I’m so happy!!! The man I love, loves me too, the world is so new to me… I want to sing and dance and embrace my life!!”

She spun about in a circle with her arms held up to the sky and Heinz thought it was a lovely new game, charged over and knocked her, laughing, to the ground, prancing around her prone form waiting for her to continue the game.

Urs dropped down to sit beside her and she rolled over onto her stomach to lay her head in his lap, one arm circling his lower back and the other over his legs, trailing lightly over his thigh.

He stretched to reach her sunglasses, knocked off when she fell, gently replaced them over her eyes as she sighed with contentment and he leaned back to recline in the lush grasses.

“Come up here, woman. I’m having difficulty breathing with your face where it is,” he said and tugged on her hair but gently.

“No!! I’m enjoying your…reaction!!” She giggled and he raised slightly to lift her bodily so that he had access to her face and her chest lay against his.

“Don’t tease or you may be sorry!!”

She smiled as she watched his eyes change, the color deepened and the lids lowered slightly, making the almond shape more pronounced, sultry beyond words.

“I could never be sorry for what we share,” she said and licked her lips in anticipation.

The invitation was too much to ignore and Urs groaned, reached his hand up to cup the back of her head and nipped at her lower lip, gently, soothing the gentle bite with his tongue….. and felt a large, wet doggie tongue lick his cheek as Heinz decided to play as well.

They gave in, both laughing as they rose and chased the happy dog, racing around, almost catching him, only to be defeated when he sped away and lured them on, further and further up the hillside.

**

The sun was almost touching the mountain crags when they slowly made their way back to the house. They stopped once for Heinz to drink out of a tiny rill that meandered down the hillside. Urs pulled a large sipping bottle of water out of the small back pack that he had brought with some fruit and beverage, and the every present first aid kit that no sensible hiker would leave home without. While they enjoyed the last rays of the sun they sipped on the water, sharing the bottle, then turned in the deepening dusk and headed for the lights that had automatically come on. It was cooling rapidly now, without the warmth of the sun and he took the light jacket from around his waist and draped it over Maggie’s shoulders.

“You should make me suffer… I didn’t listen when you suggest bringing a jacket.”

“Seeing you suffer would only make me hurt too, so it wouldn’t be a wise thing to do. This way you can feel sorry for me,” he said with his eyes twinkling.

They raced the rest of the way, trying in vain to beat Heinz. He was waiting on the back verandah when they came to a stop, looking as though he were laughing at them.

Dinner was a co-operative affair. Urs scrounged through the frig and found some leftover treasures, Maggie warmed some rolls from the night before and put some white wine in to chill and both cheated by having dessert first, a luscious struedel made with wild blueberries that Papa had picked last season and frozen.

After cleaning up they went to the Lounge to share the wine and cuddle on the sofa. Urs told her about the trip they had just finished, dwelling at length on the scene at the airport as Geena and Seb met for the first time since he had done an about face and called her to apologize.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen between them but at least they’re talking again,” he said and Maggie sighed with contentment.

**

Geena sighed and stretched her cooling body, relishing the cool of the sheets against her still over-heated skin. So far they had done little talking, both fevered beyond belief to get back to her flat and into bed.

They made love twice, with a quick nap to replenish batteries in between and now Seb was browsing through the kitchen looking for something to make a snack out of. They both knew that a serious discussion would happen, and soon…it must if they were to go forward and develop a relationship based on more than just lust.

She had spent a great deal of the time while they were apart, trying to think of a compromise that would make them both happy. For Seb to pretend that she was not involved in missions that occasionally ended in loss of life for someone was not the answer….hiding his head in the sand did not work for ostriches and wouldn’t for a Frenchman…the problem was still there and would be until it was faced. Perhaps if he understood better exactly what they did most of the time, he would be understanding of the need, on occasion, for extreme measures. She wondered how far he would be willing to go, if he was faced with danger to herself or someone else he loved, like his Maman or his Divo brothers.

He came back in the room with a tray laden with an assortment of cheeses and sliced baguette, some wine that she hadn’t remembered buying, tiny bits of the roast left-over from Sunday dinner, grapes, freshly washed and cushioned in a paper towel and a dipping sauce he had thrown together, a secret recipe he said when questioned.

She told him about her trip to Sweden with Maggie and the routine work she had done since returning, about a minor mission she had been on, helping to secure the release of a young woman who had wanted to end a relationship with an abusive boyfriend and was held captive when he refused to let her go.

In turn he described their trip, the fans and the silly questions some of the interviewers posed, told her of the up coming trip and out of the blue asked if the next time she went to Base he could go as well…he was eager to learn more.

They finished their snack and Geena cleaned up, taking the empty tray back to the Kitchen. She did a little happy dance as she returned across the Lounge and pounced on Seb as he lay on his back on the bed, starting a wrestle that she quickly conceded… one step at a time, she reminded herself then promptly put everything out of her mind except the hands and mouth that were creating such delicious sensations as they roamed.

**

David had fallen asleep on the sofa with Paul curled up in the safe circle of his long arms. Petra smiled at the sight of the two men in her life then gently covered them with the crocheted blanket that she had made last winter as a means of keeping her sanity on the long, lonely nights.

She let her eyes study David’s strong, yet boyish face, so young in repose, yet with the kindness and gentleness showing clearly. In spite of his penchant for computer games he was wise beyond his years, wise enough to recognize and accept the need that Paul had for a strong male in his life and eager to accept the challenge. It was hard sometimes to understand why she had been fortunate enough to attract this man to her…she had always considered herself rather bland, ordinary, yet David constantly told her how beautiful she was, was always proud of her achievements and to be seen with her.

She bustled about the kitchen, tidying an already neat area, peeking now and then, to see if they still slept, deciding that while he was home this time, she would tell David exactly how she felt about him. It was a risk, since she didn’t know how he really felt but she could no longer hide the fact that she loved him…. And always would.

**

Carlos and Gerry returned to their table to cool off, the crowded dance floor still swarming with people gyrating to the Latin music. They had been dancing forever it seemed, the sultry moves of the tango, samba, rumba, whatever the band threw at them.

With the instinct of years of being together, Carlos took Geraldine’s hand and kissed the palm, she nodded and they left the venue, eager to get back to the flat and try once more to make a baby. This time if it didn’t work they had decided to seek medical advice… at first when they were together Gerry was very young and they were not ready…then their careers intervened…. Now they no longer wanted to wait…there would be adjustments to make but they could handle it.

They left a trail of clothing from the doorway to the bed, both eager and impatient, both excited beyond what they had expected to still feel after so many years. Carlos thought of his secret plans and the thought made him grin, his eyebrows wiggling as Gerry asked why he smiled and he refused to answer. He quieted her questions the only sure way he knew… her co-operation was immediate and very fulfilling.

**

Urs and Maggie had already retired when Inga and Nikolai returned in the late evening. They shut the house up for the night, Inga wondering if they were sleeping yet and Nikolai replying with a hug that he hoped not.

She glanced at him in surprise and recognized ‘the Look’.

“Why you randy old devil!!” she said with a laugh and scuttled off ahead of him into the bedroom, laughing as he caught her about the waist and they indulged in long familiar caresses. She thought that having the young couple in the house had made an impact on her love life as well…she would thank them with a special dessert tomorrow but now…it was time to gently enjoy the result of their romance.

**

Urs was broody and Maggie didn’t understand why. She went through her usual bedtime routine while he stood on the balcony looking at the night sky, deep in thought.

“Are you coming to bed, Urs?” she called out softly.

“In a few minutes,” he said but didn’t turn around or come in.

She sat on the edge of the bed, working lotion into her arms and shoulders, down her legs and on her feet, looked for him again and found that he had moved, only to brush his teeth, strip to his shorts and tee shirt, click off the light, and was motionless again, standing in the doorway, watching her, his hands braced on the door jamb.

She stood and went to him, reaching up to caress his cheek.

“Urs, what is it? Something is troubling you…Please talk to me.”

He sighed and laughed, a nervous sound that frightened her a bit.

“I… I’m nervous…. I keep thinking that I’ll disappoint you, or now that you can see me…I mean all of me…maybe you won’t like what you see…. Maybe the male body will be repulsive to you… when you couldn’t see, it was different… I could touch you, give you pleasure, build what we would share…. Am I making any sense?”

Maggie leaned into him and her hands gripped the hem of his tee shirt, slowly raising it up his chest, following with her lips, tasting, whispering, kissing her way up to his collar bone as her hands slid the shirt up and off.

“I know this body even better than I know my own… the firmness of your chest with the ticklish curly hair, this dip at your shoulder, how sensitive it is, the way you moan when I suck on your skin…right here…..”

He couldn’t help but moan and clutch his hands in her hair, throwing his head back and widening his stance slightly so that his long throat was exposed to her questing mouth and their bodies were pressed together.

“I know how you feel under my hands, what you do to me, how skillful you are, how tender and caring, how well we fit…there are no surprises …just enhancement of what I already know and love…”

She ran her soft hands around his firm waist and up the strong plane of his back, then slowly back down, digging her fingers in lightly.

“The muscles in your back ripple when you try to keep in control…. I want to chase the ripples with my nails, mark you as mine….”

Their mouths met, in a frenzy, inhibitions forgotten, nothing left but passion. They dueled for space, teased lips with tongues and teeth and suddenly Maggie broke free, stripping his shorts to his ankles, turning away from Urs and stepping toward the bed, discarding her satin gown with one quick movement, then turning as she knelt on the bed and beckoned to him to come closer.

He stood still for a moment, silhouetted against the dim night light behind him, a shaft of moonlight bathing him in a shimmer of silver, then he stepped into the circle of light from the bedside lamp, leaving his shorts in a heap on the floor.

She gasped, her eyes glazed with pure desire and she held her arms out to him, her body trembling with passion and love, no questions or doubts left now as he reached her and she drew him down into their own private world.

CHAPTER THIRTY

Maggie lay awake watching him sleep, the soft light of the bedside lamp pooling on his skin, making shadows that rose and fell as he breathed.

She had seldom seen a man naked or even semi naked except on the beach or the statues of nudes in Art Exhibits, so her yardstick of measuring perfection was limited. She smiled as she thought that they would all pale in comparison to the perfection that was Urs.

His glossy hair curled wildly about his chiseled features, long, dark lashes resting on high cheekbones, a shadow of stubble darkening his strong, chiseled jaw and chin. She knew now that what had been said about his eyes didn’t nearly describe the perfection of those green/hazel pools that made her melt whenever he turned to look at her.

His neck was long and corded with muscle and blood vessels, pulsing slightly if you looked carefully, and she did, visually tracing the track from the carotid to the spot at his temple that could just barely be seen through lightly tanned skin, tidy ears, tucked neatly into his hair, the faint outline of an old, healed opening for a stud or hoop in the left lobe, likely from his Conspiracy days.

He stirred, perhaps sensing her inspection of him, rolling to his side and one arm coming close, searching for her until his hand touched her stomach and he gripped her waist gently to nestle her closer, sighing when he felt her body snuggle against him, relaxing and breathing deeply again, in repose.

She smiled as she thought of how nervous he was tonight, how worried about her reaction to seeing him for the first time. He had no vanity about his appearance, though he worked hard at keeping toned and fit. She had to suppress a chuckle as she thought of the impact his inhibitions would have on the fans. There was no dissembling about him…his face could be read like a book by anyone caring enough to try and the shyness would in itself be appealing to many. With a contented sigh she relaxed against his chest, breathing in the scent of him, stealing one last taste of his mildly salty skin and the lingering, musky scent of their lovemaking and joined him in sweet dreams.

**

They rose early, while a soft mist still enveloped the land and a weak sun peeked over the eastern mountain range, dressed in long track pants, tees and jackets to go for a run, a short one today since Maggie hadn’t been running for weeks, since before the attack in the flat. Heinz must have remembered that this was the man who loved to run with him as he was waiting by the door and whining gently to be set free…once the door was open he was off like a shot, returning to the verandah as they chatted quietly and warmed up with stretches.
“You sure you’re up for this? We won’t go far today and no really big hills,” he said as he attached a stretchy cord to her sunglasses and wedged them in her hair for later.

“Absolutely…if I get tired, I’ll walk and you can go on, pick me up on the return lap.”

“Deal,” he said and they started out, taking it easy on the driveway and turning away from town at the roadway. Urs adjusted his stride to compensate for her shorter legs and they chatted about her impressions of the area, this being her first trip to this part of Switzerland.

“Well I’ve never seen it in winter but I like the cold so long as I’m not in the city. Winter in a large city is so nasty, the snow is all grey and streaked with soot and road dirt. I would imagine here it’s cleaner since the air wouldn’t be so polluted.”

“It’s very beautiful…lots of people still use the sleighs and horses, more for fun than need and of course there’s all sorts of winter sports. Do you ski, Liebe?”

“Yes, I learned when we were in school and Simon actually took me in France a couple of times after the accident. It wasn’t the same having to be in tandem but I loved it…and I skate, well enough to keep from bruising my butt too badly.”

“About the same as me then. It was never fast enough for me. I prefer flying down a hill side on a pair of skiis. We’ll have to come in the winter and go for a sleigh ride… our neighbour keeps a few Percherons and it’s kind of a tradition for him to pick up stragglers for church on Sunday. He hires the small sleigh out too if you just want to go for a tour. There’s just something magical about sitting under the fur rugs with the horses trotting and the bells jangling.”

“Urs, did you ever consider getting some land here and building a home? It would be nice to be so close to family…and with air travel so close it wouldn’t be difficult for you to meet commitments.”

He laughed.

“I think that’s one of the many reasons I love you…you almost seem to read my mind. I’d love to live here again. It would be such a great place to raise kids but I didn’t want to be the first to mention it and seem like I was trying to influence you.”

“Then over the next two weeks lets scout out some property and see what’s available. We can get an idea of what it will cost and how much of a hassle it would be.”

They had gone three miles when Maggie began to slow and decided that she had done enough for the first time out. Urs kissed her on the brow and went on, promising to catch her before she made it back to the house. Poor Heinz went back and forth a bit trying to make up his mind who to follow, finally deciding on Urs since he was moving faster and raced after him happily.

Maggie watched them leave for a couple of minutes then turned and began walking steadily so her legs wouldn’t cramp up, thinking about what they had discussed. Switzerland would be a great place to live. Schooling was above average, health care, though only covered by personal insurance was exceptional and it was one of the best countries for being Ecology minded. Protection of wilderness areas was widespread, large areas were zoned against being developed and they had an excellent Protection of Watershed program, all things she had looked up on the Internet and approved of.

She began mentally designing the house she would like to have, even ventured a few things for a kitchen now that she was a novice cook. Lots of bedrooms of course, she thought with a grin, wondering just how serious Urs was about having a really large family. After meeting his family and their varied children and spending nearly 8 years involved with the school, the larger the better as far as she was concerned.

She heard running footsteps behind her and whirled around to find Urs approaching with Heinz keeping pace beside him.

“You didn’t go very far,” she chided as he neared.

He swept her into his arms and spun her around making her laugh.

“I missed you,” he said with a grin and rubbed his stubbled face against her neck before kissing her.

“Shower time!!” he said with a grin and an eyebrow wiggle that Carlos would have been proud of.

They jogged, hand in hand, to the house, crept inside and upstairs for one of their very long, thorough showers.

Maggie washed his chest while he watched her eyes, intrigued by the intensity of her study of his body. She glanced up at him and smiled.

“I like to look at you…it fascinating the way the hair on your body swirls with the water as it runs down, the way your muscles quiver when I touch them lightly…” She looked down and her hand followed her eyes, her fingers delving through the thicker hair as it became a nest at his groin, her lips curving in a smile when she touched his manhood and it stiffened slightly….her fingers curled around the shaft and it throbbed to life, filling with the influx of blood of arousal, making him moan with pleasure.

“Urs…will you be upset if I ask you something?” she raised her eyes to his.

He groaned. “Only if you take your hand away…”

“The pictures I found online… they looked different…and it said that the average man is about 6 or 7 inches long when aroused….I’m no expert but are you…bigger and built different somehow…because of being Swiss?”

He laughed and took a half step back so she could get a better look… and grip.

“Luv…it isn’t common in Europe to circumsize baby boys, partly because it’s considered unnecessary…. and partly because there’s added pleasure ….for both partners when the penis has that little ridge of extra flesh…..and I’m bigger than average because …it is a genetic thing that runs in my family…..ah, Little Luv…that feels so good.”

He found it incredibly stimulating to see her studying his equipment, her eyes learning all the secret places that he loved to be touched, just as her fingers and mouth already had. His breath was becoming ragged…he leaned back on the tiled wall with suddenly weak knees when she lowered her mouth to run her tongue along the hard length of him.

“How much bigger?” she whispered and the vibration of her words made a few drops of pre-cum appear like tiny pearls on the head of his straining penis.

“Ach Mein gott…81/2, maybe 9 inches with you…..You get me so excited…..Maggie you’re driving me crazy….”

Her right hand slipped between his spread legs, her fingers gently stroking the perineum, the flat space between his scrotum and the base of his penis, then moving on to gently fondle the velvety sacs as her mouth traveled the length of his rigid shaft and her tongue flicked out to lick the head.

His hands clenched feebly in her hair, his own head thrown back as desire consumed him and she sucked him inside her hot, wet mouth, gently, then with her tongue and lips firmly working the tender skin, sucking him deeper.

He was lost now in a sea of lust, his hips thrusting without any command, conscious only of the pleasure she was giving him, wanting to give back but unable to stop as she drew him in further until he was completely engulfed by her eager, sucking mouth, felt her throat close around the head when he had nothing left to push inside and he exploded with a roar that he couldn’t contain…he felt her swallow and the muscles of her mouth and throat vised around his shaft, creating even more spasms as his seed flowed and she swallowed, then slowly released him to work her way up his body and share the taste of his cum with his gasping mouth.

“You taste better,” he whispered when he could speak.

“Like very tiny tapioca that needs more sugar….Did I do it right? I want so much to please you?”

He chuckled and managed to tighten his arms around her.

“Mein gott, Maggie…I’ve never experienced anything that amazing…no one ever took me completely in their mouth before, not any whore I’ve ever been with nor the girlfriends who whined and didn’t like to do it so I never asked again. And the feeling of your throat constricting when you swallowed…I swear I had a second orgasm….”

She smiled against his chest and looked up at him, suddenly aware that the shower was still running and creating rivers that flowed down their bodies.

“There’s only one problem,” she said and averted her eyes.

He took her chin in his fingers and smiled at her.

“Did you think I was going to leave you unfinished? Not a chance. Your turn.”

She was so close that he felt the first orgasm the instant that his lips found her clitoris and licked the swollen nub. The second came minutes later as his fingers slid inside her, curving to caress the G spot a few inches inside her vaginal tunnel and he moved his mouth down to the entrance to lick at the wetness that oozed out of her while her body bucked under his other hand.

The whole scene was so erotic that he stood and lifted her onto his again engorged shaft and they came together, joined at mouth and groin.

Urs had just enough energy left to turn off the water, wrap them together in a bath sheet and carry his lover into the bedroom to collapse on the bed. They lay clasped body to body, not talking, just enjoying the aftershocks until breathing returned to normal and they could think about getting dressed.

**

The prospect of finding a place somewhere nearby made them both impatient and it wasn’t long after their ‘shower’ and a quick breakfast with Inga and Nikolai that they walked into town and entered the estate agent offices that Papa had suggested.

It wasn’t a really long walk but enough that they could talk and Urs glanced at her rosy cheeked face as they walked along, hand in hand, thinking that even with the sunglasses she had the look of a woman who had been well and truly loved today.

“Will it make you randy if we talk about what happened in the shower?” he teased, more than half serious.

She blushed furiously but shook her head and smiled.

“”How did you know what to do? I’ve been afraid to ask you to go down on me, afraid you would find it disgusting lik Cel…..”

She knew he had been about to say ‘like Celeste did’ but stopped himself…..the woman was a fool, not wanting to enjoy this wonderful man in everyway possible.

“Why, Urs Buhler…you always tell me that nothing is taboo between us….You should have told me what you liked…heaven knows you pleasure me often enough the same way…why would I think it unpleasant to do it to you? Actually I found it very erotic, to think that I had that much power over you…just not quite enough…”

He looked at her and raised her glasses, smiling when he saw the sultry look in her eyes.

“ Looked it up on the Internet….it’s amazing what you can find out online.”

“No one ever did that for me before, not like that.”

“Then no one ever loved you the way I do…. I will do anything to make you happy.”

“You do, Liebeling,” he said as he swung her into his arms and kissed her. “You make me very happy. The amazing loving is just a bonus.”

**

The woman behind the desk recognized Urs and was flustered at first but soon calmed and let them leaf through a book of listings that were currently available, wondering as she watched them during the lulls in conversation how she could get Urs’ autograph and if her friends would believe her when she mentioned his name later tonight.

Urs glanced at Maggie and saw that she felt just as disappointed as he did…obviously the woman had her mind elsewhere for the book she had given them held nothing even remotely suitable though they had been fairly clear as to their expectations.

“I’m afraid these won’t do at all. We don’t want to locate in town and prefer not to live in something modern. Ideally we would like something older, in the country but still accessible to amenities, a good chunk of land, lots of trees and perhaps even something that will need renovating extensively.”

Sofia drew herself together and became the professional she had before prided herself on being, reached on a shelf behind her desk and drew out another, thinner book.

“Of course…I wonder if something here might be more what you had in mind?”

This was better. They smiled at her as they leafed through this book, pausing to read the specs at the properties on offer, doing mental arithmetic to convert the asking price into Pounds.

Most were smallish farms with quaint homes and outbuildings, some in areas that would be snow bound in the winter months, but at least the right type of place. Urs drew in a sharp breath at the second to last page when he hesitated and Maggie’s hand shot out to stop him from going further.

They read the information on the place and snuck a peek at each other, grinned and read the specs again. Finally Urs looked at Sofia again and asked what she knew about the place.

“The Bjorn homestead? Yes that one has been on the books for a while. Let’s see: 500 acres, 40% of it thickly treed and hilly; a small stream that runs to the river; the buildings, I’m afraid badly in need of upgrading; secluded but with fairly easy access to a major motorway during winter; excellent water supply from two wells but no electric connection…the owners never saw the need. The mother passed on some time ago and the father the second winter back. Their children had no desire to relocate back to the homestead so it has been on the market for nearly 2 years…. They wish to sell so the estate can be divided. I believe we have the keys somewhere if you would like to inspect it.”

She went off searching for the keys and Urs and Maggie grinned at each other in delight.

“It can’t be this easy,” she said quietly.

“We’ll see…. Maybe since we’re willing to renovate and consider the land more important at the moment…let’s not get our hopes up.”

Sofia came back with keys in hand and offered to take them out to see the place. They accepted and soon were loaded in her Audi and purring along the motorway east of town. They turned off onto a secondary road and in minutes turned again, stopping at a rusted wire gate on a curved laneway.

Urs opened the gate then closed it behind their transport, climbed into the back seat again and leaned on the back rest behind Maggie to view the pastures they slowly drew past, the lane rutted and inhibiting speed…it was obviously seldom used for the weeds and new spring growth was tall and encroaching on the tracks.

Within seconds the house came into view, tucked in behind one of the rounded hills, looking squat and cozy, encircled by lofty pine trees, this part of the Napf Valley pristine and rolling gently, giving way behind the house and scattered outbuildings to forest that marched unfettered up the steeper foothills.

The house was bigger than they thought at first glance, the breadth of the structure and height of the trees disguising the fact that it was actually three rather lofty stories spreading sideways, part of the lower floor tucked into the solid escarpment. It was dusty and in some disrepair from long neglect and a lifetime of use, echoing when they entered since most of the furnishings had been long gone. The floors were wood and solid, the double sided fireplace stone, a massive old wood burning cooker in the kitchen area with a pump at the sink for water. Urs primed it and soon had cool, clear water flowing from the spout.

They gave the outbuildings a cursory inspection, both enchanted with the locale and the view and both trying to keep their rising excitement masked.

Sofia withdrew to the car to let them talk privately and to save her dressy, high heeled shoes from further assault by the weeds and earth of the yard. Urs and Maggie stopped under one of the many fruit trees dotting the land that had at one time been a garden and talked briefly.

“What do you think, Liebe?”

“Silly man…you know I love it…I can’t believe that we’ve been this fortunate already. I counted 7 bedrooms and I’m sure there would be a way to add bathrooms on that level. No closets in any of them but that’s pretty typical I think of older places…did our ancestors not have many clothes or did they pack everything into bureaus?”

He laughed and said he didn’t know.

“That larger outbuilding could be made into a nice workshop I think, and the old chicken coop into a garage. The fruit trees need some serious attention to bring them back…I think we need some advice before we get carried away and make an offer. Let’s go home and see if Mami and Papa would like to lend us their expertise.”

They stopped at another property on the way back to town and tried to be objective, gave it a quick look but their heart had already been captured by the deserted property they had already seen.

Sofia was not eager for another trip into the wilds so gave them the keys to have another look and they walked home, jogging the last bit when they saw that the morning had gone and Papa was already home for lunch.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE….Recall

Conversation at lunch centered exclusively on the house and property. Nikolai was familiar with the place and the current owners, the 5 children of Herr Bjorn had been estranged from their father after the passing of their more loving mother, but were willing to put all that behind them now that there was an estate to settle.

“If you decide to put in an offer on the place you may get a very good price. They’ve been waiting nearly 2 years now to settle. Would you like me to take a look at it…see if the buildings can be salvaged? Old Bjorn was pretty tight with the money…. He isn’t likely to have done much upkeep over the years.”

“Urs, do you have one of those digital cameras? We could take pictures of everything to look at later. It might be easier than just trying to remember.”

“I have one,” Inga exclaimed almost as excited about the property as urs and Maggie. She raced from the kitchen where they had been sitting at the counter eating lunch and talking, returning a few moments later with a compact little camera in one hand and a small video camera in the other.

“Both of them have new batteries and are ready to go. Franz bought them for Papa and I and we’ve never remembered to use them.”

Urs was the only one who had any sort of experience, and that just from watching David who took pics and videos of everything that didn’t beat him off or run screaming.

He figured it out for the camera first and took some shots of them, candid shots that had them all laughing and assuming outrageous poses.

“Did you all take silly pills? Maggie I think you’re a bad influence on my parents… they don’t usually act like this.”

Papa was passing behind him and threw a choke hold around Urs neck, messing his hair and laughing at the outraged but feeble struggle.

“Maybe it’s time we did, Boy. And don’t you go blaming this pretty little thing… it’s just Spring Fever. Hit’s hard here in the mountains or don’t you remember? You been a lowlander too long?”

Maggie saw Urs color a bit and knew it was an old joke between father and son… she would ask him later about it.

**


They had checked out the property again, spending most of the afternoon crawling in and around, hiking over, climbing up, taking water samples to go into a private lab in Lucerne.

Urs and Nikolai were in heaven, pounding on studs, climbing on the roof to inspect shingles, poking at the grouting in the window panes, even dropping a flashlight on a rope down the chimney to see if the liner was still functional.

Maggie and Inga chose slightly more mundane chores: inspecting the size of the bedrooms, the layout of the kitchen, the direction and availability of sunlight since they were hoping to convert to solar power. They also inspected the grounds near the house and outbuildings, hoping to spare as many trees as possible if they did decide to put in an offer for the property.

“What do you mean IF…you both know that it was love at first sight… if things go well I would be willing to gamble that you will try to make this place your own.”

Maggie laughed. “You read us so well. I think Urs will be very disappointed if this isn’t a good deal for us…I know I will.”

They strolled outside and found their grubby men just coming out of the large basement door, brushing cobwebs and dust off their clothes and laughing.

Urs looked up and threatened to hug both of the women, his clothes, hands and arms covered with dirt and…coal?

“There’s a big old furnace down there…Herr Bjorn used coal and wood in it and almost everything is coated with coal dust. It’s going to be a big job to clean up, but once it is there’s lots of room. We can have a root cellar under the kitchen and finish the rest off as an office and storage, maybe even a gym.”

Nikolai joined them and smiled patiently at Urs exuberance.

“The basic structure seems sound, house and other buildings as well, though run down. It’s been a while since any maintenance has been done but if you two are wanting to go with solar power and want to make the property as Eco friendly as possible you would have the bones of the buildings to start work with.”

They didn’t really want to leave but had done all they could for the day, so they spread a couple of old blankets from the boot on the seats and headed home. It was too late to go see the realtor again so they separated and went for showers, met up again in the Kitchen to work on dinner and kept coming up with more and more suggestions about the property.

“I hate to raise the nasty subject of money but it is one of life’s realities. This will be a very expensive undertaking, between the initial purchase and the renovations. Are you very sure you can handle it?”

Urs smiled gently at the concern on his father’s face and nodded.

“Papa, we’re sure. This new venture has been very good to me…and it will get even better.”

“This is a partnership Urs… we can draw on what I have as well. It may be wise to let our financial advisors untangle the accounts and make the offer through our lawyer. They must be used to this kind of thing.” Maggie hadn’t meant to mention money in front of his parents, but didn’t want him worrying needlessly. As far as she was concerned what she had was his, not just her love and her physical being, but everything.

His reaction told her that he hadn’t even considered that her wealth might be a problem for them. He was surprised, thoughtful, then nodded slowly and reached over to take her hand.

“Good idea, Liebe. No need for us to worry about the unimportant details. We can save our energy for more important things…like how big to build my workshop.”

A little later Maggie excused herself and went upstairs to find her mobile and call her lawyer, with the time difference she knew the workaholic advocate would be still in his office. She had just finished giving him all the information about the property and the realtor and was replacing the phone on the desk when Urs came in the room.

“I called Harvey, Harvey Goldberg, my lawyer. You already told me you don’t have one yet so I asked him to look into the sale of the property and see if there are any liens and so forth. Urs I’m sorry for talking about private things in front of your parents but we never did get around to having that talk and I didn’t want you to worry.”

“Liebeling, Money is that last thing we will ever fight about. We both have enough to never have to worry and neither of us likes, nor wants to live a life that’s based on possessions. We can leave all the money hassles to the lawyer and the advisors.”

He wrapped his arms around her and stared at her sweet face, smiling at the sparkle in her eyes.

“Do you really like the idea of living here? You aren’t just doing this to make me happy are you?”

“You are silly… of course I want you to be happy but I love that place…the idea that we can make it our own, a special place that we can escape to when the world intrudes on our happiness… it makes me giddy.”

He grinned and brushed her hair back off her smiling face.

“I thought I was what made you giddy.”

“That too…. You are the most sensual, perfect specimen of a man that I’ve seen in…oh, at least 12 years.”

She giggled and stood on tiptoe to nibble on his chin, squealed when he dropped his mouth to bite her neck, too lightly to leave a mark but the tingle shot right to her toes.

“Papa is digging out the Brandy, the good stuff. I think he’s just as excited about the property as we are. Let’s go down for a while, then we can retire and…talk.”

She giggled again.

“I do love it when you want to …talk. I love you Urs Toni Buhler.”

His lips brushed gently across hers and he whispered back… “And I love you, Lady Margaret Rose Ryan.”

**

The next few days they seemed to be in the center of a whirlwind. The phone calls flew back and forth across the airwaves from Switzerland to London, Lawyer Goldberg and the firms of advisors got together, in person and via computers, negotiations were started and the couple at the center of the activity strolled on the hiking trails around Willisau, blithely leaving all the intricate details to people more adept at handling the stress.

Urs bravely tried some of Maggie’s attempts at cooking, honestly praising her when her cookies turned out just as good as Mami’s.

One day went by then two and still there was no call from Harvey or Sofia. The third day they were returning to the house when Urs spotted Mami outside, cleaning some of the winter debris out of her herb garden. They joined her and she frowned as she told them that Simon had called, wanting to talk to both of them and asked them to call back.

Urs was reluctant at first but finally gave in and called Mr. Nasty. Maggie watched as they spoke for a few moments, trying to read from Urs reaction whether she would like the news or not. He didn’t look upset, just annoyed and not much. She took the phone when he held it out and listened carefully, sighed and then just said that she was definitely well enough but it was up to Urs, she would call him back.

“Simon certainly has a way of bringing a person back to earth, doesn’t he?’ she said as she set the phone down.

“My first reaction was that he gave us more free time than I had expected,” Urs answered with a chuckle as he drew her onto his lap and held her around the waist.

“So what do you think?…you’re better at reading between the lines with him than I am.”

“His voice didn’t have that little squeak it gets when he’s lying so I think it’s just what he admitted….David and Seb want to know more, Simon sees this as an opportunity for all four of you to see and understand better what is going on and he would like to enfold everyone into the Agency in some manner. With all the travel you do as a group you have a perfect cover for some of the more passive work and he could keep one of Caspar’s best teams together.”

“Then let’s do it. We can trade off with him…the second week of this holiday for the entire month of August, baring emergencies of course.”

Urs called Simon back and made plans to arrive in London in two days, then be whisked by Limo to the estate. Now they just had to tell Inga and Nikolai.

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO

They left after two more nights of peace and quiet, still no firm word on the house but Harvey had contacted them and said that things were ‘progressing’ nicely, what ever that meant.

Simon had gone all out to impress, a luxurious limo waiting for them at the airport after getting through customs, champagne on ice in the mini bar and a note explaining that he had taken the liberty of arranging for personal items to precede them.

Urs had been to the estate before and didn’t remember seeing anything even remotely resembling an official base of operations. Simon had a small office on the ground floor but not the sort of thing that could deal with world wide missions and secret assignments.

“There’s a sub basement, under the basement area where the pool is,” Maggie said with a smile. “You probably didn’t notice that the whole estate is heavily guarded as well, and that back beyond that thick forest there is a bunkhouse, garages and a target range. All the other agents are expected to practice on the range with a variety of weapons, twice a year. Obviously I was exempted from that, as are two other unsighted agents that work in Ciphers and Computers and two who work exclusively in Finances.”

It was late when they arrived and they found the others already at dinner with Simon in the formal dining room, though the atmosphere was anything but formal.

Paul had already gone down for the night and there was a baby monitor on the table beside Petra’s place setting, David beside her in jeans and his well loved flip flops, Simon and the other four also in jeans but in sock feet, all happy to see the new arrivals and exclaiming over Maggie’s healed eyes.

She and Urs exchanged glances when they noticed how affectionate Geena and Seb were towards each other, holding hands while they waited for the dessert course to be served, laughing now and then over some private joke.

It wasn’t until they were all seated in the Lounge before a crackling fire and sipping on some excellent cognac that Simon outlined the next few days activities for them.

“We have 8 days before we have to pack up and catch a flight again. I’d like to spend that time having you familiarize yourselves with what we do, how we train, and most importantly what level of participation we can expect from you. Each of you has expressed an interest in doing something with CASPAR, the degree of involvement will depend on you.

“We believe that CASPAR works best if you become familiar with the members who will form your team since there are times when you will have to trust your team mates with your lives as well as the success of the mission. Geena, Petra, Maggie…you are already valuable assets to our organization…we don’t want to lose you but we understand that you are entitled to a private life. If possible, you should be able to work with the partners you have chosen in your personal lives. You are, of course, free to turn down an operation at any time, no questions asked.

“Tomorrow you will have a tour of the offices that we call Base…in the afternoon we will go to the Pit, as we call the area beyond the forest and we can see how much knowledge you have of weaponry. I think that will be enough for the first day. Now I have some papers to clear and e.mails to answer. Enjoy your evening. I’ll see you all in the morning.”

He left them alone and, as he had guessed, they talked about nothing else but CASPAR until fatigue called a halt to their day. They retired, couple by couple, trudging up the stairs and saying good night at the door ways to their suites, still full of questions but willing to leave it until the next day.

**

“What was that joke between you and Papa…something about Spring Fever?” Maggie asked when Urs was brushing her hair before bed.

He laughed and tugged her hair, making her yelp.

“I wondered if you caught that. When I was very young, before I knew anything much about procreation, I asked Papa why sometimes Mami got so fat and then went to the hospital and came home with a baby…did they only give out babies to fat ladies?…he told me that it was Spring Fever…that sometimes men and women got it and then the women got really big with the Fever and they went to the hospital and traded their fat for a baby. He has never let me forget that I believed him for several years, even when Max had her kittens he claimed that she had Spring Fever…. I think he was suggesting, in his own special way, that we all were infected with it …he and Mami certainly had a very romantic look when they came in for breakfast….You watch, when we are expecting he will tease that you are suffering from the results of it.”

Maggie laughed at the thought of Urs as a naïve little boy…. Sometimes even now he still reminded her of one… that smile when he was trying to get his way, the little laugh when he had a secret but really wanted her to tease it out of him.

“How do you feel about all of you becoming involved in CASPAR? Does it make you nervous or apprehensive at all?”

They had finished in the bathroom and turned the lights off. Urs turned the covers on the bed down and waited while Maggie scooted across to the middle, resigning himself since tonight she wore one of her long nightgowns…her wordless signal that tonight and for the next 3 nights, they would have to abstain.

“It doesn’t make me nervous at all. I think it’s a good thing. There must be ways that we all can help and this orientation will show just how that can be. There shouldn’t be secrets between any of us and this way there doesn’t need to be.”

He slid under the covers and reached for her, nestling her into his side with her head on his shoulder and his arm draped over her waist.

“Then if there shouldn’t be secrets, you can tell me what you and Papa were working on in the workshop,” she said and he felt her cheek move in a smile against his bicep.

“That’s not a secret…it’s a surprise…there’s a big difference.”

She was quiet for a while and Urs had nearly drifted into sleep when he heard her speaking softly again.

“I think tomorrow I’m going to try my skill with handguns. After all this time I really should give it a go.”

“Don’t worry, Klein Liebe…I’ll always be there to cover you.”

“Thank you M’Lord,” she murmured sleepily and giggled, making him smile.

Urs lay quietly, just enjoying the sensation of holding this woman he loved so much, thinking of how different he felt now, so complete, so eager to get on with their life together. His parents clearly adored her, just as he had expected, and why not? She demanded nothing, gave everything, accepting help graciously with gratitude, embracing each new experience with wonder and joy. Her pleasure over the house and property they had found was real and all encompassing, impossible to fake. He had listened to Maggie and Mami as they chattered away about flower beds and which herbs would survive the depths of winter, watched Maggie’s face light with interest as Mami told her about a wonderful craftsman in Willisau who could convert the old wood burning cooker to something much more efficient and eco friendly while still retaining the old world look.

Maggie had looked up then and caught him staring and grinned, reaching over to lay her arm on his shoulder and twine her fingers in his hair.

“Think how lovely the scents will be in the Kitchen Urs, when I learn how to bake bread. When we go into Willisau next will you show me where the bookstore is so I can buy some cookbooks and a notebook to write recipes in?”

He thought of it now, how her face had been so animated, her eyes shining and how he had reminded himself that her birthday was coming up soon… if they had finalized the deal on the house, he knew what would really please her as a special birthday present.

She sighed in her sleep and her hand sought and found his, slipping underneath his palm, a subtle sign of submission, seeking safety under his strength. He snuggled just a bit closer, curled his fingers gently around her hand and closed his eyes.

**

Geena had stopped weeping and raised her face to Sebastien to smile weakly. He brushed the tears from her cheeks and smiled, gently kissing her then holding her against his chest.

“You cry for the strangest reasons, Mi amor. You should be happy for Maggie, now that we know the surgery was a success.”

“I am happy…it’s just such a relief. I would have felt responsible if it had failed and she was devastated. I encouraged her to get it done. And now here we are, all together, working as a team…. Seb, you make me so happy…. I didn’t really know love until you came along. Now I wonder how I ever existed before. What made you change your mind about the agency?”

He sighed and walked her backwards to the bed, laughing when she pulled him down on top of her on the thick duvet.

‘You…you changed my mind. I heard about some of the things you had taken part in, thought about what would have happened if you hadn’t intervened…and then I thought about how I would feel if you hadn’t made it back from one of those missions. I want to help, to make a difference too, and to be around to make sure that when you are in danger, I might be able to help. I can’t lose you now…it would destroy me.”

There was no need for more words as his magic hands awakened the yearning she was coming to know so well….

**

Gerry finished laying out their clothing for the next morning and slid under the covers beside Carlos. She poked him, making his vocal rendition of a locomotive, pause… the man was a champion snorer!!!
After all this time she had become used to it, didn’t usually waken during the night but it was difficult to get to sleep when he was in full rumble.

She stared at the shadowed ceiling for a while, thinking about the day, pleased that they had this distraction after the disappointment of the Pharmacy pregnancy test she had taken yesterday. Negative, again. She felt the tears gathering in her eyes and forced herself to breathe deep, calming herself. They would, of course continue to try, but it was time they sought medical advice. She longed so much to hold their baby in her arms…Carlos would be such a good father, of this she was sure.

He rolled over onto his side and gathered her against him, fitting her back against his thick mat of chest hair. She pictured a baby boy with dark, thick hair on the tiny chest and giggled, just enough to lighten his sleep. His mouth rested briefly on her neck, then the chorus started again. One nudge in his stomach and it eased. She closed her eyes and willed herself to sleep before it started again.

**

David was too excited to sleep. He eased out of the bed and rationalized being up at this time of night by deciding to check on Paul. Of course the boy was sleeping soundly, dry, full, content as only a child who is loved dearly can be. He watched for a few minutes as the tiny chest rose and fell, now and then the tiny rosebud mouth making sucking motions as he dreamed.

He had taken to the boy right from the first sight, as if there was a bond between them that had just been waiting to be activated. It didn’t matter that Paul was not of his body. He felt like the boy’s father, would be if Petra would only agree to marry him. She claimed to love him, to want to be with him but was hesitant, unsure if she could handle the separations, not really confident that her parents would understand how she could forget Paul Sr. so quickly.

He returned to their room and curled up next to Pet as she slept on her stomach. She turned her head so that she faced him and without opening her eyes murmured… ‘Alright?’

Her hand was on the pillow between them and he captured it in his, bringing it to his mouth.

“Perfect,” he said and kissed her fingers.

She smiled and nestled closer, the contact with her eased his restless mind and they both slept.

**

The next four days were intense, filled with things only seen by the Divos and Gerry in the movies or on some infrequent TV shows. The area known as Base was not terribly inspiring to any of them, except perhaps David who was amazed at some of the technology and kept wandering off to look at just one more gadget or piece of electronic equipment. They were taken in rugged Jeeps to the forest and wound through the trees on barely discernible tracks to an area that was semi cleared, a sheltered bunkhouse built under the trees and several service vehicles parked under camo netting.

Here they met some of the off duty guards and a few agents here to upgrade their combat skills and do their twice yearly testing on weaponry. They had been warned earlier that no one would be introduced by name, perhaps by code name and that they should have their new code names ready to use as well. Only those on their Team would know who they were in real life and the reason for this was of course obvious.

At breakfast they had memorized the names of each other, laughing as they got used to them but secretly pleased at how suitable they were.

Maggie was Ceol, a Celtic word for Music
Urs, code name was Tristan, the hero of an Opera
Geena answered to Nightingale, for reasons no-one seemed to know
Petra was known simply as Mother
David became Player
Sebastien groaned when he was assigned Froggie
Carlos laughed when he heard his new name…Beast
And Geraldine became Maeve, which confused her at first until she learned that Maeve had been written of as a warrior Queen of the fairies.

The second and third days they had gone back out to the range for weapons training and practice.

Urs, David and Carlos excelled at this, even the blindfolded stripping and reassembling of various guns, though three times out of four Maggie proved that her years of darkness had honed her skills and she could beat them all by several seconds. Actually firing them was another matter. Try as she did it was actually fairly dangerous to let her use a hand gun, her aim was always off, way off and the kickback was not something she seemed able to control. She was resigned to the more easily used weapons like the micro Uzi which sprayed hundreds of rounds per minute and had to be just pointed in a general direction and shifted slightly back and forth…not very accurate but effective.

Sebastien found that his niche was with the Glock. He wasn’t eager to use it but determined that if he ever had to he would know how, and practiced until he could hit the target every time.

Gerry tried the larger weapons but she was too petite and her hands quite small. She was issued a 25 caliber, an easily contained and concealed Colt, meant only for close work and protection and became proficient. Her skills lay elsewhere they found as she easily learned the intricacies of field communications, her good ear and nimble fingers relaying messages and fixing the units when they were purposely disabled to test her.

The fourth day found the team split up. Maggie, Urs and Carlos to the field for more intensive training, David, Pet and Seb into Base, to talk to some of the planners and Geena with Gerry going over First Aid and Communications.

They met up again for dinner, all of them jazzed by their successes, all changed out of their ‘work’ clothes and showered, ready to rest and talk about their day.

Tonight they were on their own for dinner, Mrs. Mac having left early to see the new grandson her daughter had just produced. She had left steaks out for them, marinating with slices of Papaya layered over the huge slabs, guaranteed to be tender. The guys were unanimously elected to grill the meat on the BBQ built into the back terrace wall while the ladies prepared veg and salads in the main kitchen.

They were comfortable with each other now, the past 4 days had swept away any strangeness they felt at being in each others pockets, so to speak, and they worked well as a team, each seeming to anticipate the needs of the others as they peeled and plated, nuked and cleaned up.

Dinner was a noisy affair, all of them ravenous and the platter of steaks melted away, accompanied by laughter as they all had tales of trials and errors in their different fields.

Later the girls refused to let them help clear and while they were busy putting things away and loading the dishwasher, the guys went to Simon’s billiard room and Seb and Carlito got into a game.

Petra and Maggie joined them and for a while they sat around listening to CD’s and watching the antics as Carlos kept trying to cheat. David and Petra were laughing about some story he was recounting of his mother trying to marry him off to the butcher’s daughter when Urs, who had been intently watching Maggie as she listened, saw her glance at a tiny blinking red light on the far wall, near the ceiling and sigh as a look of sadness crept over her. She felt him watching and gave him a weak half smile, reached over to tap Petra on the arm and motion to the light.

“Stay here, Pet. I’ll go check it out.”

Just then the sliding door to the room opened and Seymour stood there about to speak.

“I saw it Seymour, thank you. Come with me please.” She was completely cool and calm now, her eyes icy and she excused herself to them and left the room. Urs followed her and she began to warn him off, changed her mind and kept on toward the private office.

Seymour used the keypad and unlocked the office door and for the first time Urs saw the inside of the private space. It was completely functional, built for efficiency more than comfort, several large desks around the room, built in computers and monitoring equipment, locked metal cabinets and a few pull down large maps. One of the computers was blinking and Maggie went to it, sat in the large rollered chair and rapidly keyed in a code. Within seconds the screen lit up with a picture of Base and a stranger to Urs behind a desk.

“Good evening, Ceol. We have a code AA in Sector 43.”

“Tell me.”

“Confirmation has been secured that an assassination attempt is to occur early tomorrow on a leading scientist at Allied Research, UK. He has developed a new additive for the oil industry that will make the use of oil for vehicles more efficient by at least 250%. The threat of reduced profits is the reason for this action. We have been asked by MI6 to take out the assassin tonight before the job can be completed and spirit the scientist to a safe place to forestall any future attempt until this product is opened to a widespread market. You have the closest available Team.”

“Do you have an extraction team available for the scientist?”

“No. We have no teams close enough …we were hoping that you would be able to co-ordinate both efforts.”

They discussed a few more details and Maggie signed off. She turned to Seymour. “Put the landing lights on please, Seymour and open the armory, ask the others if they could step in here for a moment. I’ll need my night vision, buck knife and the Uzi Micro with folding stock , 2 extra clips, plus the usual tools.” She switched her gaze to Urs and he thought that he must have looked just like this when he went on missions. “Urs will you go with me?…you saw out on the range how bad I am with small arms…with the Uzi I don’t have to aim.”

He merely gave her the look that meant … ‘why are you even asking? You can’t leave me behind!’ and they raced out of the room and up the stairs, undressing as they ran. In five minutes they were back, dressed in black leather, vest, pants, boots, carrying a short leather jacket and gloves, both with hair tied back and concealed under black caps. By then Seymour had brought the others to the room.

Petra was printing out a dossier and facts on the job while Seymour opened one of the metal cabinets and collected the weapons Maggie had asked for and indicated to Urs that he should choose what he needed.

She faced the nervously fidgeting Divos and ladies and smiled.

“Well Team, the practice is over…it seems we have our first assignment.”

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE

“It seems our team is needed to stop an assassination and there is little time to plan. Are you all willing to go on your first real mission and will you accept me as your team leader this first time out?”

She got nods or murmurs from all and went on.

“Good, then listen up, cause I don’t have much time. Petra will fill in the details after Urs and I leave and a heli will be here to take Geena , Seb and Carlos to pick up the man we need to protect…Gerry, you will go with them as backup in case anyone needs assistance. We have to co-ordinate our actions in case there are spies for the assassin, so be very careful to do nothing without confirming with David and Petra first. And you all should go armed, though hopefully you won’t need to be, except you Gerry since you are almost as bad a shot as I am.”

Gerry smiled at her, not offended in the least.

“But I’m a whiz on the radio so I’ll keep them in touch.”

“Dark clothes everyone, David, I’ll expect a plan of action from you enroute, as soon as you’ve seen the specs and another for the extraction team which you can relay to Gerry. Good luck, everyone!!”

She smiled when Urs knelt and strapped her buck knife to her calf then tucked an extra clip for the Micro Uzi into her belt, clipped on the battery for her ear piece and mike and held her jacket for her to put on. The micro Uzi was a work of art, small and manageable, the stock folding up to make it appear smaller and Seymour had taped the clips end to end for easy insertion.

Urs clipped a tool belt around his waist, mini flash, night vision goggles, med kit, a Glock nestled in a shoulder holster, tucked the file inside and zipped her jacket, then his.

They heard the wup wup wup sound of a muted chopper and left the house by the kitchen door on to the terrace and raced for the chopper seconds after it landed on the back terrace. Seymour saw her pale face in the window as they gained height and then they were gone. He went back inside and made a large urn of coffee to keep them going through the hours of waiting and returned to the office as the sounds of another heli could be heard approaching.

**
Seb and David talked at length on the radio in the second heli, planning the snatch and stash of the Professor. David had studied the schematics of the building where the man was probably sleeping and planned out a course for them to take as well as the likely places for someone to be watching the house. Arrangements were made for a vehicle to pick them up and a safe house to retreat to… if all went as planned and the timing was excellent there would be no need to interact with whoever was keeping vigil. They would merely grab the man and run. It all depended on the timing.

They were nervous…it showed in the sweaty palms and the wide eyed stares, the frequent fidgets…Geena stopped Carlos from checking his weapon for the fifth time and smiled gently, giving him a thumbs up that received a crooked smile in return. She settled back in her seat, pleased to feel Seb’s hand clasping hers when he finished the planning session with David…. He was cool and calm, thinking positive about what lay ahead of them.

**
“Mother, this is Ceol. Sound check.”

“Read you 5 by 5.”

There was silence for a moment except for the rustle of papers and the muted sound of the chopper coming over the radio.

“Mother…Q….possibility of friendly on sight”

“Negative, Ceol. No friendlies.”

“Check again, Mother…Tristan and I agree that we would take a hostage in his position…if he’s a pro he likely would too.”

Petra keyed in a query on another screen, waited and received a negative.

“Ceol…intel shows no sign of a hostage….the Professor’s wife…deceased, 1999, daughter, Sonia, 22, on hols with boyfriend of 3 years, Adrian Carmody…..currently trekking in NZ.”

Again there was a silence for a long 20 minutes, then she came back on.

“Mother, have X Team ready on my mark.

“On your mark, Ceol.”

Petra keyed in another computer and in seconds was answered by Gerry.

“X.”

“Mother…Ceol deployed…stand by for mark”

“Standing by.”

The silence in the room now was brutal, everyone straining to hear more than just the soft sound of the chopper blades. Seymour stood hunched over the computer desk until Petra looked at him nervously and he moved back to stand with his arms folded across his chest, breathing lightly so he could hear better. The minutes dragged on, David poured himself and anyone else who wanted it another coffee, then slipped out of the room to check on Paul, came back and whispered that he was fine to Petra, receiving a smile and clasp of his hand but there was no other conversation until at last they heard something different from the speaker.

“Bird…Ceol and Tristan on site, open line.”

Petra keyed in a series of letters and numbers and suddenly they could hear breathing and on the screen two small green blips that were Maggie and Urs moving quickly across a grid map.

“Mother… I have you on grid…security at your 3”

There was no answer, just the light sound of breathing. They watched the green dot slow and circle around an elevated area, then move swiftly and come to a stop for a moment.

“Security disabled….She’s over the wall, Urs right behind her,” Petra whispered, automatically being quiet even though her mike wasn’t on.

The dots moved again, slowly now, moved along at a right angle to what could only be a building, then seemed to stand still though they could hear rapid breathing as if doing something strenuous.

David shot Petra a raised brow in question and she murmured ‘Tree to the second floor’.

There was a very soft sound of feet on concrete when the dots started to very slowly move again, separating, then nothing until they clearly heard the whisper ‘Mark’ and Petra repeated it on the second mike.

The red dot that was the target they were going toward suddenly became two, but it was too late for Petra to warn them of another person in the bed.

Almost immediately there was a grunting sound, a moan and the sound of something hitting against a body, very hard. They heard a woman begin to scream, the sound was cut off and then they heard Maggie whispering to someone. The green dot that was Urs moved to the door to listen for anyone approaching.

“If you want to live, you must make no sound. Nod if you understand……I am going to remove my hand but know that if I even think you are willing to make a sound this knife on your throat will end your life, just as his was…….are you the wife …girlfriend? .....whore? .... tell me, but whisper.”

“I am Sonia, my father is Dr. Keroff…they brought me here to control Papa but I think they are going to kill him. They killed Adrian.” The woman started to cry but Maggie put her hand over her mouth again.

“Quiet…if they find you with him dead beside you, they will kill you and if you make a sound I will. You have very little choice. Come with us…if you make no sound we will get you back to your Papa. My friends are rescuing him as we speak.”

Back in the room Petra was whispering under her breath but David could hear it. ‘Bad idea Mags…she’ll get you caught.” He was thinking the same but understood why Maggie felt she had to try to rescue the young woman.

There was more noise this time as they went down the tree, the other woman not as adept at moving without noise. It seemed as loud as a cannon to the people in the room as they listened. The two green dots moved now towards the wall, accompanied by a small red dot, had just reached it when Petra keyed on her mike… ‘One, to your right 15 feet.”

The dots and the infrared signal of another body froze at the base of the wall then one dot moved to intercept a moving signal to her right. They could hear a gasp then a thud as a body hit the ground and the dot moved back, stopped, and they could hear a short whispered conversation…in Swiss German. Urs was urging Maggie to take the woman over the wall while he kept guard…her reply had something to do with the obesity of the young woman and the need for his strength. There was the sound of heavy breathing as Urs exerted a great deal of energy, then a pause as the infra-red signal moved again, likely as he lowered her to the ground.

Petra pressed in another set of codes and immediately they heard a voice… “Bird”

“Ceol plus two…pick up.”

She watched her monitor without blinking, felt the men in the room crowd up behind her but paid no attention. The red of the chopper appeared and the green dots and body signal moved rapidly toward it. On the edge of the screen a number of body signals appeared, moving rapidly and she keyed on her mike to Urs and Maggie again.

‘Team…..unfriendlies at your 3-6-7-and 9, at least 11…..move it!!”

They heard Urs hiss at Maggie to go, then the sound of her breathing rapidly and goading the girl to move faster. Faintly they could hear the chopper as it came closer to pick up the two fleeing women, heard the other puter beep, then… ‘X, in transit’ and heard Maggie push the girl again.

“The chopper…friends…run, dammit….run or die!!!” the sound was louder and then they heard the sound they had dreaded…shots being fired and Urs’ Glock returning fire as he moved, fast.

Maggie swore, a rapid cursing in French, Spanish and something else none of them understood then they heard her once more…..”I’ll cover you, RUN!!!” And the burping sound of the powerful but small Uzi Micro, spitting out round after round. She ran out and changed the clip end for end in seconds, they heard her running again and firing then the sounds of another weapon, this one bigger, an AK 47, Petra thought and the sound of Urs and Maggie running full out, the thud of an impact and a low moan, a curse in German. There was a sustained burst from the Kalashnikov then someone yelling ‘GO! GO! GO!’ and the roar of the chopper whirling away.

After everyone in the room started breathing again, Petra keyed the mike on.

“Ceol…get your ass back here so I can kick it.” They heard Urs laugh then Maggie as she answered.

“Don’t think you’ll want to do that Mother. You’ll get your foot all bloody. Lost a few pin feathers back there.”

Petra was silent for a minute. “Ceol…..damn you Ceol….you should have left her…Tristan?” she waited then keyed on the other mike.

“Bird….report…”

“Mother….they’re alright, just grazes. Inbound….half hour.”


**

It wasn’t until they had all exited the people mover that transported them from the heli landing pad to the site of the Professor’s building that nerves kicked in and then only briefly.

As part of the planning team, Seb had instructed everyone of what to expect and they felt familiar with the area…the closely packed houses, the street with only one functioning street light at the far end, the cars parked nose to tail along one side of the pavement. They used night vision to survey the area, checking each car, yard, shadow until they felt relatively safe.

A man walked his dog along the sidewalk, pausing while the dog relieved itself against a fire standard, going on again then turning the corner to disappear down a side street.

The house itself was one storey, though David had told them that the attic had been converted into one large bedroom and that was where the man would be sleeping.

Gerry scanned the house and confirmed that there was one body heat signature in the upper area of the house, then she scanned the surrounding area and found another.

“Left side of the house…one body, under that large tree, moving slightly…as if to keep warm or awake….Next door…everyone sleeping…other side…sleeping…Cars out front…someone in second car from the right, back seat… lying down, my guess would be asleep but not confirmed.” She continued with her scan and Seb nodded at Geena who held two syringes in her hands.

She gave one to Carlos and kept the other. Silently she and Seb crept across the road and approached the car, keeping down to avoid detection. Seb stood slowly, just enough to peek in the open window, then squatted again, indicating that the man was indeed asleep with his feet towards them. He mimed opening the door by reaching through the window and Geena nodded, for good measure pointing to his silenced Glock and he agreed, drew it and slowly stood again.

As if in slow motion he reached in and released the locking mechanism then kept his Glock trained on the sleeping man as Geena quietly eased the door open.

Their target must have sensed the danger for he stirred slightly but it was too late…Geena plunged the hypo into his thigh, through his pants and injected him, sending him off to dreamland for the next few hours.

They closed the door and retreated to the paved driveway, meeting Carlos by the hedge and creeping along the back of the house until they reached the corner. This one would not be as easy since he was wide awake.

In their ear buds they heard Gerry inform them that Urs and Maggie were in place. They had to immobilize this guard quickly and quietly before he could warn his boss.

Seb outlined a plan but Geena paled as she heard it, her fear of him being hurt taking control of her professionalism for a moment. He patted her hand, smiling at her and she drew in a breath. He was right, of course…this was a time for boldness and precision…she had to trust him. She nodded.

Their target was pacing a bit, his hands deep in his pockets to keep them warm in the night air. They waited until his back was toward them, then Seb stood and walked silently along the side of the house until he was standing only inches away from the man when he turned, pointing his Glock at the man’s chest. He motioned for the man to turn and seconds later Carlos had used the second hypo, catching the guard as he slumped, asleep like the other.

They left him were he lay and went to the house, entered quietly and the men waited with weapons drawn in case they had missed someone while Geena and Gerry went up the narrow stairs to rouse the Professor.

He woke with a start and his first words upon realizing that he was being rescued were for his daughter. Gerry sent a message that their part of the mission was completed while the man dressed hurriedly, pulling clothing on over his pjamas, taking his laptop and a slim briefcase out of a hidden panel in the floor and following the women down stairs.

They rejoined Carlos and Seb in the Lounge of the still dark house. No one else had been seen, not even another dog walker.

Gerry sent the signal which would have the van come to pick them up and in seconds it pulled into the street, backed into the driveway and they exited the house, climbing in and quickly left the area.

She kept them updated on the other part of their team, on the rescue of the girl and the airlift, noticed that the relief was so strong in the elder man that he began silently weeping when he heard that his daughter was safe.

Half an hour later they were nearing their destination, keeping to the speed limit as they took the relieved and sleepy man to the Safe House to hand over to MI6.

They glanced at the tired faces around them and began laughing, a relief of the tension of the past few hours. For a first time, out it had been a piece of cake.

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR

Seymour was waiting for them when the chopper landed for a moment and Urs jumped to the concrete, reaching back to lift Maggie down. Petra was doing the cleanup of arrangements for the scientist and his daughter and David had opted to stay with her to be sure that the plans he had drawn up came to a successful ending.

Maggie walked slowly from the landing point as the chopper left, carrying her Uzi and with her head bowed against the down draft. Urs walked beside her and she leaned against him for a moment then looked up and searched his eyes, her face streaked with blowback from the Uzi and camo paint, his bearing a scrape and bruise from the minor struggle he had encountered with the assassin and the dark steaks of camo paint.

“I couldn’t leave her, Urs. I just couldn’t.”

“I know, Honey. You did the right thing.” He put his long arm around her shoulder, felt warm blood seeping onto his hand, took the Uzi from her and walked her back to the house. Back in the office Seymour and Urs stripped her of all her tools and weapons and Urs gently removed the leather jacket to reveal the wound across her back, running from her right shoulder to left hip, not deep, but through her vest and sports bra, painful and still bleeding. She didn’t seem to feel it, stood as if dazed while they removed her leathers, down to her bra and panties, perked up slightly when Seymour took her weapons and he asked that he be allowed to clean them for her and didn’t even notice when Urs took off her wrecked bra, slid her arms into a robe and belted it around her body.

“Mr. Buhler, excuse me sir…” Seymour approached Urs as he tied the belt loosely.

Urs looked at him, surprised to see the worry lines and fatigue on the man’s face. The butler had always seemed implacable to him, a typical English butler who never showed emotion.

“If you would be so good, Sir, as to take Lady Margaret-Rose to the music room, I’ll fetch some hot drinks. She finds both rather soothing after an…episode.”

Urs nodded to him, carefully picked her up and strode to the nearby music room, a spacious area with many instruments and stereo equipment, soft sofas and chairs scattered around for easy listening. Ancora was already playing softly on the stereo when he carried her in and sat in one of the oversized chairs with her snuggled against him. A few minutes later David and Petra wandered in and talked softly about the evening, about the success of rescuing the scientist and inadvertently his daughter, announcing that the snatch and stash of the Professor had gone like clockwork and he was now ensconced in a safe house, with his daughter, in the care of MI 6 agents while their team were on their way home. Seymour returned with two large urns of frothy hot chocolate and handed Petra the medical kit while he poured mugs of drink for everyone and retired.

She was half way through her mug of chocolate when she smiled up at Urs and seemed to come back from where-ever her dark thoughts had held her prisoner.

‘Thank you. It’s nice to have someone here who knows….Seymour is always wonderful but he’s been staid and stoic for so many years a hug is something he finds difficult anymore.”

Petra came over to crouch down in front of her.

“Mags, I’m sorry for what I said about leaving the girl…I didn’t mean it, I was just so worried….”

She sat up and cupped her hand around Pet’s face. “I know, Pet. I couldn’t leave her. They would have killed her when they found her laying next to their boss with his throat cut…he woke up before Urs could deal with him and struggled… and if she had screamed then we both would have died. She was so innocent in all of this, I had to try to get her out. But she was a chubby little thing and sure couldn’t run very fast, and giving her a boost over that wall would have broken my back. It’s a good thing Mr. Fitness was there.” Maggie laughed and Petra smiled at her.

Urs leaned forward and put his arms around her again. “Finish your chocolate, Little One, then I think you need a shower and some gauze on your back before bed. We’ve had a busy night.”

She laughed at his bossy ways but he could see she was grateful that he was taking charge.

“Say good night, Liebe.” He stood and carefully held her trying not to cause her more pain across her injured back, took the med kit from Petra and carried Maggie up the stairs.

“Well aren’t you just the bossy one, now.”

“You bet…one of us has to use some sense and get you off to bed.”

He took her to their bedroom suite, started the shower running and left her to bathe, sitting in the lounge with his head in his hands until he heard the door opening and she came back out with a large towel wrapped around her body. She sat backwards on one of the straight chairs from the small table beside the fireplace and lowered the towel off her back so he could apply a topical anesthetic and antibiotic salve, very gently spreading it over the shallow groove made by the bullet. Very carefully and efficiently he lay gauze over it and applied strips of tape then leaned in to kiss her bare shoulder and neck.

“You take too many chances, Liebe but I do understand. We couldn’t leave the girl there. At least you didn’t argue with me when I told you to go. But then you turned back when she was in the heli, to lay down cover for me…. You should have just jumped in the heli….”

“Would you have? If the positions had been reversed, would you have left me to deal with it on my own, or would you have covered for me?”

She had turned to look in his eyes and he had to admit that he would have done the same thing.

“We are a team Urs, in life and in our work for CASPAR…..no one gets left behind….especially not someone that owns your heart.” She stroked her hand across his cheek and smiled at the soft look of love she saw in his eyes.

“I was very proud of you tonight. And I don’t think I would have made it back if you hadn’t been there for me. I know you think we should retire but I would like to be downstairs to talk to the rest of the team when they get back. It’s actually my first time in anything more than a passive role and theirs too. We should be there when they come home.”

He sighed and agreed, took a quick shower then sat patiently while she attended to his wound, giving his cheek a tender kiss to make it better. He helped her on with her shirt and as they were leaving the room she leaned closer to whisper…. ‘The four days are up…no long gown tonight, Swiss.’

He groaned and tried to pull her back into the room but she eluded his half hearted attempt and they went back down to wait for their friends.

**

They rejoined Petra and David in the Music room, sharing some of the excellent Cognac from Simon’s cabinet, a special bottle that Maggie said Simon would have a heart attack if he knew they were sampling.

“Then I think we should finish it tonight and leave the bottle on the pillow in his room. I just wish we had a hidden camera we could use to tape his reaction,” David said, mildly surprised when they all agreed to his prank this time.

“David, I think you’ve really found your niche. Your planning for tonight was spot on. I’ll feel confident going on any others if I know you have done the planning. It’s amazing how quickly you came up with everything and made it work. We usually have a great deal more time than that to work everything out.”

“It was a bit scary…like playing a game but with real people, real bullets and real blood. I had to think of it as just another Playstation game until it was over and then thought ‘Holy Crap!! What did we just do?’ And I’m not sure how Pet stays so cool and collected, on both ‘puters, fielding messages from both sites and never breaking a sweat.”

Pet blushed shyly as Maggie passed on a bit of info.

“I’ve heard other agents who work often in the field say that they feel instantly calmed when they hear that ‘Mother’ is keeping them in touch. Good planning, intell and communication is key to a smooth operation.”

There was a bustle in the Hall and Urs went to the door to wave the others into the Music Room. It was noisy for a few moments as they loaded Seymour down with their weapons, med kit and radios and came in, fairly bubbling with the excitement of everything going so well.

“Seb was so daring, the way he crept up on that guard!”

“Carlos can move like lightening and so quiet!!”

“I looked up when we were at the car and there was Gerry, that tiny gun in her hand, ready to help, so calm and cool…”

“I know it wasn’t funny but I almost laughed when the Professor woke and saw two women bending over him. He looked like he didn’t know if he was going to get lucky or dead!!”

The comments went back and forth as they shared the Cognac and wound down. Finally they calmed and told a relatively coherent tale of what had happened, each of them adding a bit to the story, then they had to hear a version of what Urs and Maggie had done.

Geena insisted on taking a peek at Maggie’s back and gave Urs a thumbs up on the first aid.

“Good operation Team…a successful conclusion and only one minor injury,” Maggie said with a smile.

“Two,” Gerry said and held up her small hand. “I broke a nail.”

Seymour paused before coming in to say Good Night when he heard the hysterical laughter in the room. He entered to find some of them in tears from laughing so hard and almost smiled. He remembered how laughter had often released the tension when he had still gone out in the field. He nodded and said good night to the room in general and left, even more pleased with himself now…. Earlier he had decided to unlock the liquor cabinet. They surely deserved it.

**

It was nearly morning when they had all wound down enough to head for their suites. As they went slowly up the stairs, Maggie suggested to Pet that she ask the daily girl, Christy, to mind Paul for her and catch some extra sleep during the morning. She came from a large family and was really good with the little boy. Pet thanked her for the suggestion, squeezed her hand and went off with David to check on the youngster before they went to bed.

Urs watched as Seb and Geena preceded them down the hall. His French brother was different somehow, more…confident was the word he thought best applied. And Geena certainly appreciated his new attitude, if the close contact of their bodies and the whispers were any indication. Seb grinned at her and opened their door, swept her inside and they could hear giggles as the door closed firmly.

Carlos and Gerry had disappeared. Urs and Maggie entered their suit and stood for a moment, just holding each other, Urs avoiding her sore back by resting his hands on her bottom.

“Now, everyone is tucked in for the night, can we get back to what you mentioned as we left here earlier? I seem to recollect something about no nightgown?”

She grinned at him and he moaned when he saw the tip of her tongue against her lower lip.

“Tease!” he said, his voice husky with yearning.

“Stallion!” she shot back, making him laugh.

She took hold of his tee shirt and whipped it up and over his head, that little pink tongue appearing again as she ran her hands over his sculpted chest.

He stepped away from her, their eyes locked, and he slowly removed his belt, then the jeans and at last the tight boxers, backing up until he felt the straight backed chair from the little table at his legs. He sat and watched, his pulse surging rapidly, hands aching to touch her, as she removed her shirt and jeans, the lacy little panties and came to him to lean over and place her mouth gently on his, her breasts dropping easily into his cupped hands. All the trauma of the mission melted away as they lost themselves again in the wonder that existed because of their love.

She left his mouth and leaned down to gently kiss the wet head of his penis, erect and proudly waiting for her.

“Not tonight, Lover…tonight I need you inside.”

He groaned as she placed her knees on each side of him, inching closer until her wet sex touched his aching shaft. She rose on her knees, leaning forward and lowered herself on him, slowly swallowing his rigid member and clasping him tightly as he buried his face between her breasts, a hand on each side of her soft mounds, pushing them together so he could suck on one then the other.

She rode him, slowly at first, their groins meshed together, rubbing, stimulating, sharing kisses that drove them ever higher. Urs stood and let her feet lower to the floor, turned her and soothed her when she protested, pulling her back against him and holding her about the waist with one hand, the other gently pushing her upper body down as he entered her from behind.

“Rest you weight on your bent arms, Luv,” he coached softly, sliding his feet under hers and reached around to fondle her mound and breasts as his rhythm increased and she rocked back in time with him…..and they flew, over the top into a world that only they lived in, a Paradise they had created.

They lay on the carpet, entwined until they slowly separated and Maggie eased her wounded back against his chest, laughing a bit.

“Was that ‘The Elephant’ or ‘The Stag’?”

Urs chuckled.

“You’ve been reading the Kama Sutra online again haven’t you?”

“Looking at the pictures mostly…did you know they have an animated version?”

“I thought it would be more comfortable, with your sore back and all…I didn’t count on it being quite so…fulfilling.”

She was quiet for a minute then as he was rising to scoop her up and move to their bed she frowned and rested her head on his shoulder.

“Urs, are we sex fiends?”

He laughed and lay her on the sheet, leaving his hands braced on either side of her as he leaned in to caress her mouth with his lips.

“Only about each other, Liebe, and that’s a very good thing.”

**

As Team Leader Maggie had to file a report in the morning but after that the day was free for them all. They all spent it quietly. Petra took advantage of Christy and napped in the morning, with David to ‘keep her company’. Carlos and Gerry didn’t even surface into public until lunch time, Geena and Seb briefly, then they too returned to their suite.

Maggie and Urs went for a walk on the estate, staying away from the forest and the Pit area. They found a small stream that cut across one corner of the property and rested under one of the large Oaks, Urs leaning back against the trunk while Maggie sat between his knees and gently rested her back against his chest. He had changed the dressing in the morning and announced that he was an excellent doctor….the crease was already beginning to heal.

“When we get back to the house I think we should phone Harvey and pester him about the property. I know these things take time but I really have my heart set on that place.”

“I’ll call him. If we just knew for sure that we were going to get it we could start drawing up plans, collecting information on making it solar powered…oh Urs, just the thought is so exciting. Our own place, trees, garden. A workshop and garage for you…can we have a hot tub? I’ve always wanted to have a hot tub but the suite just didn’t have room.”

He laughed at her enthusiasm and hugged her, speaking against her ear and making her shiver.

“We can have anything you want, Love. I just want you to be happy.”

“I am happy…sometimes too happy…”

“Excuse me? How is that possible?”

She squirmed a bit in his arms, suddenly too embarrassed to talk about what she had let slip.

“Hey…what about our no secrets rule?” he said with a chuckle.

“Well…those phone calls when you were away…. Sometimes it was just too much and I…you know…well you do have a quite a …randy effect on me, just thinking about you.”

He laughed until the tears rolled down his cheeks and she jabbed him with her elbow for laughing at her.

“Sorry…. If it’s time for true confessions I have to admit that I won’t dare think about you while I’m on stage. There have been a couple of interviews when my mind wandered and I had to hide behind one of the guys to get photos taken. It’s strange…I never ever had that problem until I met you.”

She smirked and he laughed at her again, letting her wrestle him to the ground, not putting up even a token resistance.

“Behave yourself, woman…there might be some innocent little birds or animals watching.”

He grinned at her and reached up to gently pull her down to lay stretched out on top of him, raised his knees and spread his long legs to trap her hips in between.

“It’s so peaceful here….” he said as she rested her head against his chest and sighed with contentment. He started softly singing, something she didn’t recognize, didn’t want him to stop so she said nothing, just closed her eyes and enjoyed the sensation of his voice vibrating through both their bodies, her ever present visuals flickering in her mind, a rainbow of silvers and blues, sparkling like diamonds, with the warmth of rubies and topaz when he was in the lower ranges. It was lovely, sung in Italian and she vowed to learn the language so she would know what he sang of.

He stopped and she asked him what it was.

“Did you like it? It’s something I’ve been working on for a while now, doesn’t have a name yet.”

“Don’t share it with the group, Urs, not yet at least. Let me enjoy it, let me be selfish, just this once.”

He kissed the top of her head and promised, then sang it for her again as they enjoyed their small, private slice of peace for just a little longer.

**

They left for London, wanting to stop by the flats and make sure everything was alright and for Maggie to drop by the school to check how things were going.

It was a riotous homecoming for her with everyone swarming her for hugs and kisses and to wonder at the miracle of her restored sight. Cookie cried then raced off to the kitchen to bake something special, Heidi came by when Maggie phoned to tell her that they would be at the suite for one night, the Divos and their ladies came for dinner and it turned into a party.

Camille was doing remarkably well with her training and after dinner an impromptu recital took place in the yard with the piano rolled out, guitars and violins, even a set of drums appearing. Camille sang a couple of tracks, the kids played various ensemble pieces, Mica from the butcher shop wandered in with his harmonica and even May Fergus turned up, bringing Maggie a bouquet of lovely purple violets.

Brian quietly congratulated the new Team on their first mission…word had spread through the community of the new kids in town.

Instead of the early night they had planned, it was actually quite late when they all wandered down the street past Maggie’s building. Little Paul was staying at the school with Joan for the next couple of weeks while Pet took a break and went to the appearances with David. It would be the first long absence she had enjoyed away from him but she wasn’t concerned since he knew and really liked Joan and having all the kids to dance attendance on him was heavenly for such an active little boy.

It was strange at first coming into the suite. Maggie had never seen it before and moved around from room to room amazed at the colors and the way it was set up. Urs found her on the balcony after he had washed up for bed, just standing as she had been that first night, this time actually looking out over the city.

He stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms lightly around her, tugging her back against his chest.

“Do you remember that first night when I met you backstage? We came out here and you asked me to kiss you, to make a memory.”

“September 2004. I couldn’t believe how bold I was to ask for a kiss, but it just spilled out of my mouth before I could stop myself. I thought you would be put off, that I had been too forward. But then you kissed me and something wild burst in me, an explosion of feeling that I had never felt before and I wanted more.”

“For me too. I knew something important had happened, that I could never be satisfied with anything less again. It took me a while to give in, to admit that there was a part of me that would always belong to only you. And now I’m so happy. Maggie I want to be with you into eternity…even that may not be long enough.”

She turned in his arms and twined her arms around his strong neck, looking up into the moon shining in his sultry eyes.

“How be we start with eternity and then see how we feel?”

He grinned at her as she smiled up at him.

“Deal!!”

He kissed her lightly, again remembered their first kiss and deepened this one, kept his mouth locked on hers and did what he had longed to do that first night….lifted her into his arms to carry her into their waiting bed and once again to practice the Tantric skills of love making that she was so quickly learning from him.

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE

The schedule was such a whirlwind that they saw very little of the places they visited: Airport, buildings zipping by as they sped into the city, Hotels, more anonymous buildings as they made appearances, sang one or two tracks, fielded questions with smiles during interviews, then a quick restaurant meal, short sleep and off to the airport again.

In due course they appeared in Barcelona, Geneva, France, Finland, Portugal for two glorious days, then across the ocean again to Philadelphia for the Live Eight benefit. July 4th they took part in the Celebration in Washington, then scurried back to the UK to prepare for their first real, full length concert at Henley.

The girls didn’t mind the hustle, in fact seemed to enjoy it, spending a lot of time together, attending all the appearances as part of the audience or taking leisurely lunches in the hotel dining room when the guys couldn’t join them. The nights made up for the busy days, long luxurious soaks in the tubs in their suites, the jets stirring the water and soothing tired nerves, movies sent up from the concierge that they had not had time, or in Maggie’s case, the ability, to see.

Urs and Maggie’s favorite pass-time during the evenings and on the interminable flights was browsing through Home and Garden books and magazines, carefully building a file of their favorite things. There still had been no final word from Harvey though a brief chat on line with Mami confirmed that a ‘SOLD’ sign had gone up near the gate….they prayed that it had been sold to them.

Geena found Maggie in the coffee shop on their last day in the US, pouring over a Home and Garden magazine, reading an article on solar homes. Gerry and Petra had gone shopping and the guys were all, reluctantly, enduring fittings for new suits in Urs suite.

“Hi Gee…did you get tired of listening to them whine?”

Maggie laughed and closed the magazine.

“They like to look good but don’t like all the fittings and work that goes into making them that way. And they kept asking me not to look so I got tired of it and came down here. They’re such little boys sometimes.”

“It was actually kind of funny…David had to scoot back to his suite and find some shorts…going commando is not a good idea when you’re getting fittings.”

“Just wait until they hear that they all will have to come to me soon for physicals…Seb won’t be a problem but I can just picture Urs’ face when he thinks he’ll have to let me see his… ‘package’.”

Maggie nearly choked on the juice she had just sipped at.

“Gee!!…you have to tell him that your partner will do that part of the exam. We’ll never get him in there otherwise.”

“Is he always so shy? Remember after the airport thing when I came in the office…I thought he would have a heart attack just exposing his chest to me.”

Maggie colored a bit and dropped her eyes to the table.

“He isn’t shy at all…with me. He’s patient and loving.” She looked up at her friend and saw only concern in the lovely blue eyes.

“Are you happy, Mags? I know you had no experience before and if I had been here I would have tried to prepare you….. does he make you happy?”

Maggie got a dreamy look in her eyes that was all the answer needed but she did anyway.

“Frequently!!”

She realized what she had said and laughed and Geena hugged her, overjoyed that her oldest friend had found love at long last.

They poured over the magazine, clipping out pages for the folder of interesting and favorite things that Maggie and Urs had compiled, had just finished and were putting things in the small briefcase that Maggie had carried from the room when her mobile phone rang.

She excused herself and talked for a few moments and Geena saw a grin spread across her face. Maggie closed the handset and dropped it in her pocket.

“It’s ours…Oh Geena, the property is ours!!! I have to go tell Urs!”

She raced off, forgetting her briefcase and handbag, neglecting to pay the tab and Geena took care of it, following behind slowly. Maggie was nowhere to be seen, already in an elevator on her way up to the executive floor and Geena shook her head, laughing as she wondered when Mags would realize she had left everything including the key card behind.

She was already at the suite door, patted her pockets and came up only with her cell phone…NO Problem!!!

“Urs!!...Urs!!!...Let me in!!!” she screamed, pounding on the door with both hands, giving it a little kick for good measure.

Sebastien answered, opening the door and staggering as Maggie pushed past him, scanning the room quickly and spotting Urs on the sofa, just starting to get to his feet. She flew across the room and jumped at him, knocking him back partly onto the sofa with her wrapped securely in his arms.

“It’s ours…the property is ours!!! Harvey just called!”

The tailor from Armani and his assistant, the Wardrobe Lady and her assistant, all looked on dumbfounded as the suave, sophisticated Swiss tenor they had just fitted for a new tuxedo and elegant white dinner jacket, rolled off the sofa with a hysterical, laughing woman in his arms, kissing her and roaring with laughter himself.

“Who is that?” the tailor asked David quietly as the tall American stood waiting patiently for his fitting to be over.

“Total stranger…happens all the time,” he said, managing to keep a straight face as Urs tried to get untangled and sat on the floor with Maggie on his lap, facing him, waiting for her to calm down enough that he could get the full news. In the middle of all this Geena opened the door with Maggie’s key card, walked in and deposited her arm load of rescued items on the first chair she reached.

“So…anything interesting happen here while I was away?”

**

The Team shared a private smile when they read in the paper about the amazing new discovery of an additive that would make use of oil more efficient. By tacit agreement they didn’t discuss their part in the affair, but it was privately pleasing to all of them that they had been instrumental in this dream becoming a valuable reality.

Gerry and Carlos were asked to undertake an escort mission, a Spanish diplomat and his wife, no reasons given, nor demanded. They came back to London 36 hours later, none the wiser but their mission successful and pleasant, they said, riding in a private jet and treated cordially by the clients.

They had 3 days to relax then they wanted to rehearse the concert they would give at Henley Festival. It was to be a gala affair, formal wear the appropriate dress of the evening, the guys to wear their new Armani outfits and the ladies all in long gowns.

In celebration of the real start of the many concerts they would give over the next year Urs urged Maggie to shop for something special, something of her own instead of as usual wearing one of the retro outfits of her mothers. It was well past time, he said, that she started putting herself first now and then, instead of always others.

“You look stunning in them, but I think it’s time you built a wardrobe that is your own personal taste. It doesn’t seem fair that I get to wear Armani that’s made for me alone and you don’t have anything new and special.”

She spent a morning shopping with Gerry but came back empty handed, claiming that nothing she saw caught her eye. Urs laughed at her and promptly took her shopping himself, urging her to try gowns on and parade them for him. He selected 3 that he said made him drool when he saw them on her and when she couldn’t decide on one, bought all three to the delight of the sales staff.

The sly looks of the women who had taken care of them could not be mistaken. They had recognized him and assumed that Maggie was his mistress. He smiled and encouraged their misconception, playing the wealthy singer to the hilt, suggesting that they should now go on to a jewelers and see if they could find anything suitable to wear with the dresses, then perhaps a shop that specialized in naughty lingerie.

Maggie was at a loss why he was acting so out of character until later when they had flagged a cab for home. Her face flamed when he told her but she laughed.

“Urs!!! I shall never be able to face those women again!! You’ve been around David too long…some of his love of pranks has infected you.”

The next morning they went quietly to the licensing office and procured the necessary papers for marriage. It was a special moment for them, intensely personal, though the clerk was matter-of-fact, almost bored with her job. The romantic mood lingered into the evening.

Maggie dimmed the lights and lit candles, Urs turned off the phones, put on a stack of CD’s and opened a bottle of wine that they both loved. Dinner was light, pleasant, centering around seafood and luscious chocolate creations. They showered together, building the mood with loving strokes and caresses, prolonging the rapture they knew was to come.

They sat facing each other, clad in the velvet softness of towels, on the thick carpet in front of the fire, legs in the Lotus position and eyes focused on each other, only their hands and knees lightly touching as they calmed and relaxed, matching their breathing, letting the sensual energy build within each other.

Maggie felt the ZING of transferred desire as he gently reached out and stroked her fingers, tightened the muscles of her stomach as a slow burn started deep in her core. She turned her palm up to his seeking mouth, her free hand touching his chest with feathery light strokes. His eyes darkened, lips parted and she could see the pink of his tongue between his gleaming white teeth. She leaned toward him, tasting the soft plumpness of his lips and touched his tongue gently with hers, inviting him in to the dark sweetness of her mouth, sucking his lower lip, then his hot tongue, when he entered and explored.

She felt herself losing control, emotions surging through her, steadied her breathing to once again match his and calmed, letting the slow build-up infuse her entire body once more. Urs smiled at her, a sweet, knowing smile that made her heart leap in its prison, lowered his eager mouth to her neck and brushed his lips lightly over her skin, the High Priest, taking his Neophyte on a slow, erotic journey of passion as only he could.

**

Sound check was over and it was now free time to wander the lawns and river side pathways, exploring some of the wonders that made up the Henley Festival. They had decided to stay together, all the men dressed now in their brand new Armani tuxedos, complete with bowties, shiny shoes and silky shirts. All four of their women had worn gowns of course since the dress code for Henley was ‘Formal’, no exceptions. It was actually quite fun to stroll through the well dressed crowds, sipping champers from real flutes, going from one unusual sculpture in the enclosure area to the other: modern pieces that had to be guessed at, a life sized piece of a horse, sans skin, that spoke of the power of the magnificent animal.

Performers wandered the crowd as well: singing sous chefs in cooks outfits, pausing to serenade the guests as they chatted with old friends or new acquaintances; Giant multi colored butterflies on stilts, other stilt walkers in costumes that defied description; performers costumed as apes who appeared to be statues until suddenly they moved, very apelike and skittered through the crowd. On the River, boats decked out in flags and frippery paraded slowly, joined by paddle boats captained by man sized puppets, the operator inside the body.

They strolled the Gallery along one side of the large entertainment tent, intrigued with the photos of past Festivals as well as the varied exhibits of art, classical, modern, impressionist…everything seemed to be represented.

Recognition of the Divos was evident in the quiet whispers the glances, the occasional polite request for a photo, gushing and open admiration just not appropriate in this setting. There were also many glances at the lovely women who accompanied the well turned out men and these the four men noticed and accepted proudly. Indeed they did look wonderful.

All four had opted for black but there the similarity ended. Gerry had chosen a sleeveless black satin, strapless , heavily beaded from just under her breasts over her tiny waist and ending in scallops over her hips. She had draped a lacy black shawl around her ivory shoulders, piled her blonde {this month} hair up into a mass of curls and wore only diamond stud ear rings as jewelry.

Geena, also in black, seemed taller as she floated along beside Sebastien, her 4 inch Manolo Blancos lifting her to almost his height, her gown of Moire silk simple, draping from the jewel collar to her ankles in a body skimming curtain that hinted at the lushness beneath, shimmering as the fabric caught the light, from the blazing sun during their afternoon stroll, later from the lights that sparkled from the floating stage or along the walkways. When she turned a Swarovski crystal rose was nestled in the center of the French Roll of her auburn hair, her only adornment.

Petra had chosen silk also trimmed with soft velvet, a pant suit that covered her long body, celebrating her height rather than apologizing for it, the trouser legs full and unlined, matching the sleeves of her shirt, cuffs, collar, and belt of velvet that begged to be stroked. She had done her blonde hair in a cap that framed her oval face and wore a gift from David, dangling ear rings that glistened and waved as her head moved.

Maggie had also chosen a silk gown from her expanding wardrobe, something that Urs had purchased on impulse merely because he had seen it in a couture house and thought she would look stunning in it. He didn’t explain why he had gone in the salon in the first place, just smiled and went off to noodle a bit on his guitar when she asked him.
His taste was impeccable. The gown was formed of minute pleats of silk, reminiscent of what Helen of Troy would have worn, halter topped and fitted, more minute pleats of fabric clasping her waist snugly then several layers of more pleats to her ankles. It had come with strappy sandals, more Jimmy Choos she thought, black with a lovely tower, four inch heel, her hair straightened somewhat in front and on top, held back with diamond studded combs then waving riotously down her bare back. Other than her engagement ring her only jewelry was small diamond studs. Her shawl was draped casually over one shoulder during the afternoon, a fringed velvet and silk net affair of embossed roses.

As official Swiss timekeeper, Urs reminded them when it was time to retreat to the dressing rooms behind the floating stage. The sun had gone down and the lights about the grounds were on, making the whole area seem like a fairyland. They peeked out the curtains to watch the crowd beginning to take their seats, judging the crowd to be in a festive mood. While the ladies were still with them the Divos appeared calm, ready for this momentous occasion, at least momentous for them.

Quietly the ladies all bid them ‘break a leg’ in the tradition of the theatre and stole a moment for a careful kiss, no smearing of makeup allowed.

Maggie squeezed Urs, hard, making him laugh and comment that she had been working out far too much.

“Sing to me, my Love,” she whispered and he mouthed back “Always!” then she joined the other women to be lead out front to their reserved seats by a uniformed usher.

The girls settled in their seats and tried to remain unconcerned but each was thinking back on the journey it had taken their men to get here.

It was, of course, a gamble for all of them, possibly the biggest one for Carlos who already had a flourishing opera career and had to cancel dates several years into the future to become part of this group. Gerry had faith that he would succeed, not just because he always did at whatever challenge he met but because she believed in what they were doing.

Geena thought of Sebastien, leaving his beloved Paris and a burgeoning pop career to take on this project and thanked whoever was responsible for encouraging him to do so. What if they had never met? Would another opportunity to meet him have come up? Or would she have gone through her life missing the one person who fulfilled her as a woman? She didn’t want to think of it.

Petra thought of what David had confided to her about his life before Il Divo. He would have been successful…his voice was amazing but being in this group showcased it in ways he never would have found in theatre, either Opera or Broadway. He was so important to her and to Paul. She felt her heart melt at the picture of this tall man and her tiny son. It was so right, so perfect.

Maggie, strangely enough was thinking of the arrival of Il Divo at the venue, all four sitting in open topped white Rolls Royce convertibles, the street lined with cheering crowds as they tried to conceal their amazement at the reception and smile, waving at their fans, laughing with the sheer exhilaration of it. They had watched from the cordoned off red carpet, thrilled speechless that their men had been so well received and borrowed hankies from each other to sop up the tears of happiness.

Urs dimples had deepened as he smiled at the fans and his eyes crinkled at the corners…a surge of happiness swept through her even now as she remembered. It was so wonderful to see him fulfilled and happy.

The lights dimmed and the orchestra began the introduction. At the back of the stage up lights flicked on, illuminating the four men as they stood between Roman columns at the top of wide steps. The opening of Regresa a Mi started and the crowd hushed in anticipation.

Never missing a beat or hitting a sour note, they delivered the track with emotion, feeling that was transmitted to the rapt audience. At the end of his first solo piece Urs smiled at Maggie, a brief look that assured her that he was over his nerves, giving everything he had to his performance. She relaxed and settled in her seat, her face awash with happy tears, to enjoy what she now knew had been a long labour of love but was only the beginning.

Il Divo was on it’s way to conquer the world.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

They slipped from the venue quietly and watched the display of fireworks from the sloped lawn at the side of the river walk, enjoying the anonymity of the darkness and crowds, each snuggling his gowned lady against his body, coming down from the high of a well received performance.

When the fireworks were over they waited a few minutes for the crowd to thin then slowly made their way to the parking area and the transport that was waiting for them. Their new manager, hired just before the trip to Washington was livid, ranting about them disappearing when he had wanted them to meet some of the organizers of the Festival.

They just smiled, letting him rant, thinking that he had better get used to it. They weren’t ready yet to be puppets who danced to his tune, perhaps never would be. Privately they had discussed this new guy and decided that he left a great deal to be desired. If they must have a manager then they preferred Steve Martin, the man who had taken care of them during the recording sessions and video shoot.

It was very late when they arrived back in the city. Petra and Gerry had fallen asleep on the ride home, cuddled up against David and Carlos while the others talked quietly about the events of the day, reliving some of the emotions the concert had created, excited about the reaction of the crowd and the fans who had met them on arrival.

Urs asked what plans the others had for their days off which started the next day and if they were lucky would last most of the month.

“Pet has to work the rest of this week but then I hope she’s going to take a trip to Denver with me to meet my parents. Mom and Dad will love Paul.”

“We are going to visit our parents in Madrid then join friends in Nice for some sun,” Carlos said.

“Geena has to work so I will visit Maman then come back and keep her company,” Seb said with a hug of his sleepy lady who smiled at him and closed her eyes, resting her head on his shoulder. “What about you two?”

“We may go for a bike ride,” Urs admitted and Maggie bit her lip to keep from laughing. “Maggie has booked the rest of July and the whole of August off unless there’s a major incident. She’s definitely off for the next 2 weeks.”

They said good night at the entrance to the building and waved as the people mover took the others off to their destinations, walking hand in hand into the lobby and smiling at the security behind the desk.

It was lovely to get home, to kick off shoes and put on soft music, to share one last glass of wine as they shed fancy clothing and removed makeup, brushed teeth and talked about the day and how well the concert had gone.

“You were crying…I looked at you and you had this huge smile on your face but your cheeks were wet.”

She wrapped her arms around his waist and looked up at his tired but happy face.

“I knew you would be successful but I didn’t know it would have such an awesome effect on me. Your voices are so much…more, when the performance is live, the harmonies so blended, so perfect. I don’t know how the others looked since I couldn’t take my eyes off of you. I could read every emotion on your face, in your eyes. I will never forget it Urs, this first time in real, full concert. I was so proud of you.”

“I was singing for you, Love. That made it special for me too.”

He turned out the light as they left the Loo and held her hand as they approached the bed.

“Tired?” he asked as he turned the covers back and watched her lay her cell beside the bedside light.

She glanced at him and saw the grin.

“Yes… but I could be convinced to stay awake…with the right incentive.”

He laughed and grabbed at the sleep shirt she had on.

“You are insatiable, Woman. I just wanted to talk for a few minutes and cuddle. It’s been too public all night to hold you like I wanted.”

He slipped the shirt up over her head and smirked when she asked why.

“You don’t need it…I’ll keep you warm….and I like the feeling of your soft skin against me.”

She slid into bed and snuggled against him, as always sighing when she felt the hard, muscular body pressed against hers.

“All those years of sleeping alone…such wasted time. Why didn’t you come find me before?”

“Thought I had to settle for second best….or maybe I knew you weren’t ready then. Love, do you have anything you have to get done tomorrow?”

“Just some stuff I have to sign at the school. Why?”

“I have some things to do that might tie me up most of the day.. Will you run away with me the next day, will you not tell anyone and just run away?”

“Yes…anywhere, any time.”

He kissed her so gently, as if she might break if he applied too much pressure, as if she were the most precious thing in the world.

She nestled against him as he held her and closed his eyes, breathing in the scent of her, the warmth from her body that filled his heart, wanting to freeze this memory of how he felt at this moment, to keep for any times when the pressure of what they would go through in the next year would seem too much to bear. There would be separations, he knew this, and difficult times, possibly times of despair. The love her presence filled him with would make it possible to survive whatever life threw at him.

**

It was Sunday, a day when all the kids would be home from school. So Maggie went to her office early, hoping to get her paperwork done before the noise level in the house became unbearable.

Once it was learned that she was in the building it was a bit difficult since it seemed everyone, at one time or another, had to drop in and relate their latest woes and triumphs, chat a bit and catch up on what was in the future for their friend.

It was lunch time when she finished and made her escape, instead of going home, heading into one of the street fairs in Soho, browsing and making a few purchases.

Urs had gone off on the motorbike early, before she had been dressed, leaving her a smilie faced note that just said he loved her and was off on a secret mission, would be back at dinner time.

She stopped in the little gated park near her building and enjoyed a leisurely ice cream cone, watching the nannies and children, the elderly ladies feeding the pigeons, the occasional elderly couple walking slowly, not talking much but keyed into each other completely, their love strong and evident even after many years.

She thought of getting old with Urs and smiled. She couldn’t picture him as anything other than vibrant, virile, lean and tall, well tall compared to her vertical challenge. Would he be like Papa, still with a full head of thick hair into his 70’s? And would she stay slim, agile and able to keep up with her active mate? It wouldn’t happen without effort, this much she was sure of…the rest was a mystery, like a book you were about to open and read…. The pages would unfold the story and the outcome was something you could either accept or enjoy and adapt, customizing it to what fit your life or desires. They would meet difficulties together as well as the joys of life …this was another certainty. What they did with the knowledge they gained was up to them.

She laughed at herself for trying to organize and pigeonhole the next 60 plus years. One day at a time was a more productive way to handle life…..what was that old saying…’Life is what happens while you are busy making plans!!’. So true!

Tomorrow was to be their wedding day…it was enough to look forward to at the moment, that ultimate moment when they became one, in front of God and with the blessing of the government licensing department.

She went on home, unpacked her purchases and started on dinner.

**

Urs had been busy. Before the sun was completely up he had left the city and was speeding along the motorway heading for Chris and Mary’s B & B. They were up and waiting for him to arrive when he pulled into the crushed shell parking area, forewarned by his phone call the evening before and eager to participate in his surprise.

They sat around the small table just off the kitchen and discussed the arrangements.

“Homer couldn’t be here today…he’s got services at the Cathedral this morning, but he will be on time tomorrow, all decked out in his proper gear.”

“And I spoke to Myrtle from the farm only an hour ago…she has promised to have the truck here with those things you asked for but can’t do it until early tomorrow morning. Chris and I will go out early and I promise everything will be perfect.”

Urs grinned at his dear friends, so happy that they understood why he and Maggie wanted this day to be so special and private.

Mary was slim again and when he asked what they had given birth to this time she waved at him to follow…In a corner of the little office was a cradle, one that had seen a good deal of use but looked soft and comfortable with new linen, a tiny bundle wrapped in a blue blanket sleeping quietly on his side.

“We named him Jonathan, just because we like the name.”
Urs watched the tiny boy sleeping his rosebud mouth making sucking motions that made both the adults smile.

“We want to have a large family…. It’s one of the reasons we love the house we just bought… 7 bedrooms and lots of land.”

Mary laughed softly and turned to rejoin Chris.

“Be careful…once you start it can be habit forming.”

“I hope so!” he answered and smiled.

He left them soon after, going out to the coast and putting in a couple of hours work, getting everything ready for the next day. Just before sunset he stood back and surveyed his work, well pleased with himself, with the way the small enclosures he had formed out of driftwood from the beach and long grasses were unobtrusive, blending into the landscape but functional….

The return trip was even shorter…when he passed the restaurant the parking lot was full so he didn’t stop in. He spent the trip back thinking about the life they would have, his mind drifting into how Maggie would enjoy the surprise he had planned for her, the service, the honeymoon…no other people, no phones, no distractions, just the two of them.

**

It was late morning when they finished getting ready and mounted the Harley. They stopped at the flats and quietly slid an envelope under each door of the three Divos flats, each with the same message.

‘Hola, Bonjour and Hi:

We know how you old ladies worry so this is just to let you know that we have gone on a sort of honeymoon. We won’t be available for phone calls until the 26th so don’t bother even trying. If there is a real emergency you can call my brother Fritz at the number below…. And it better be a REAL emergency!!

Urs and Maggie’

They crept back out of the building to the Harley and roared off giggling, not sure if their friends would get the messages before they went away or after, not really caring.

It was a beautiful day for a ride, bright and clear, the sky cloudless, the air almost too warm for their leathers. They had each packed a small case and fit them in the saddle bags. In spite of the messages they had delivered Urs packed his cell phone but left it turned off.

He slowed as they passed the B & B, just enough to see that the children were playing outside in the yard under the supervision of a tall woman he assumed was the Nanny. He sped up and soon they had turned off the main road and approached the area they had visited so many months before.

Chris and Mary had been waiting for them, Chris laughing as he checked his watch and announced that as usual Urs was right on time.

Maggie looked around in pleasure at the area, the long wild grasses interspersed with shrubs of lavender and wild briar roses, the thick trees along the hidden roadside and occasional twisted trunk of a lone survivor amidst the reeds, grasses and scattered boulders. Towards the water the boulders rose in a fence, guarding the coast, like the stone walls around a castle, jumbled together, today with a meandering pathway of lavender, thyme and sage swatches strewn along the ground, the scent rising in the breeze and filling her senses.

Mary took her hand and led her away from Urs, their steps on the fragrant herbs releasing yet more of the glorious scent into the air.

They entered a rough enclosure made of driftwood interlaced with dried grasses, a tree stump for a table, another for a seat, a curved stone from the beach, worn from years of pounding waves into a bowl shape, filled with water from large wooden pail.

“Urs built this for you yesterday. He knew you would want to wash up before the service,” Mary said.

“I thought so…it’s so Urs…so thoughtful always.”

She removed her short leather jacket and used the soap, her favorite of course, to cleanse the road dust and exhaust from her face and hands, found her brush in the small carryon that had traveled in the saddle bags and pulled on the filmy, scooped neck , white peasant blouse that she had thrown in as a last minute impulse. Mary presented her with a coronet of freshly picked briar roses, mixed with sprigs of lavender and fixed it in her hair, a small bouquet of the same for a bridal bouquet and she was ready.

There was no music other than the sound of the gulls wheeling about overhead and the joyous sound of small birds as they flitted about in the wild flowers on the headland, the lovely counterpoint of the soft breeze from the ocean that stirred Mggie’s hair as she walked slowly along the herb strewn pathway. She smiled as she noticed that Urs had somehow managed to have wild roses and lavender bursting into blossom in between the crevices of the rocks… it must have been at his command for nothing could have been so perfect without his efforts.

Mary had gone on ahead and Maggie watched eagerly for her first glimpse of her beloved, breathing in the heady scent of the herbs as her footfalls crushed the leaves and the plants released their aroma. She rounded a jumble of boulders and the space opened before her, a sandy area surrounded by more boulders on the land side, the cliff side open to a vista of the water far below.

Urs was waiting for her, standing before a flattish boulder that had been covered in roses, the centerpiece a gleaming golden cross and an open Bible, a robed priest standing beside him, Chris and Mary to the side and slightly behind.

He saw her and his face burst into a smile, as if he had entertained doubts that she was really coming to him but now could contain his joy no longer. He too had washed and changed, his shirt a billowing pirate style garment with full sleeves and open front, showing his chest of curly hair that she loved to lay her cheek against, his hair curling in the breeze.

He held his hand out to her, not moving, waiting for her to come to him, taking her bouquet and without looking passing it on to Mary, his eyes never leaving Maggie as he drank in the sight of her.

Hand in hand they faced the priest and he began the ceremony.

“Today is a joyous day, a day of privilege for those of us gathered here for we are to witness the giving of oaths before God, of this man and this woman who chose to spend their lives in holy matrimony. This is not a decision lightly taken, nor given without thought, instead it is a commitment to the commandments set down for mortal man and woman in the scriptures.

“Who is there present who will give this woman to this man to be wed to him until the end of days?”

“I am Margaret-Rose Ryan and I belong to no one but myself,” Maggie said with a firm voice. “I chose to give myself to this man, the soulmate who has claimed my love.” She turned and spoke to Urs. “I shall honor, obey and respect you, be your helpmate, your lover, your friend, your companion, the vessel which will carry the seed of your body and nurture the children we produce from our love. So long as my heart beats and beyond, I am yours.”

“So be it… Urs Toni Buhler, do you accept this freely given gift, will you give your oath to love and cherish this woman, to keep her from harm to the best of your ability, to respect her and be faithful only to her, until the end of days?”

“ The gift you have given to me is beyond what my heart has longed for through my years of searching. I promise to remain faithful, loyal only to you, to love and honor you, to respect you and keep you safe for as long as I live and beyond… and God willing we will create children together as a visible form of our love, one for the other. You are my soulmate and I am yours.”

They exchanged rings and repeated the final words together as the priest intoned them and lay his hand over theirs. Then he smiled and spoke the words they had waited for.

“By the power vested in me from the Church of England and the Government of this land, I pronounce that Urs Toni Buhler and Lady Margaret Rose Ryan are married one to the other and shall be known from this day forward as husband and wife. You may kiss the bride to seal your union.”

Maggie was smiling but weeping silently as Urs took her face in his hands, his eyes glinting with unshed tears and he leaned down to tenderly caress her lips with his. That first kiss as husband and wife promised everything that their oaths had spoken and more. He broke the kiss after a long minute and looked at her again then grasped her around the waist and crushed her to him, both laughing now with joy, Maggie with her arms around his neck as he whirled them around and they laughed.

It was a few minutes before they calmed enough to sign the papers that made everything legal but neither could stop grinning or reaching out to caress the hand, the cheek, the arms of the other.

From somewhere Chris produced a bottle of champagne and flutes, the priest took off his robes to reveal a set of black leathers and they sat on the crushed herbs to enjoy the view and talk while they sipped the champers.

Pastor Montieth re-introduced himself to Urs and Maggie.

“They call me Preacher in the Club, for reasons that I guess are obvious,” he said as her released his long gray hair from the rubber band that had contained his long ponytail in place. “I ride an old Indian, a ‘44 model that saw work in the Second World War. Chris teases me about it, rather too much, says I should upgrade to a Harley but I just tell him that the Indian was first, came out in 1901 and Harleys are a late comer…didn’t start up until 1903.”

“We really appreciate your doing this for us, Preacher. We didn’t want a big fancy affair, just something unique and private since we don’t plan on ever doing it again.”

Urs took Maggie’s hand as she thanked the Preacher and she looked at him, both not wanting to be rude but eager to have everyone leave so they could be alone.

As if sensing this Mary rose and came over to hug them both then bullied Chris and Preacher into heading for their bikes and going back to the B & B.

“What are you doing for a honeymoon?” she asked as Preacher collected his bible and Cross, tucked them into the saddle bags on his shiny red Indian and Chris collected the few other items laying around.

“It’s a surprise,” Urs said with a grin and Maggie raised her brows at this.

“More surprises!!! You trying to spoil me already, Herr Buhler?”

“You bet!!...I think you’ll like this one too.”

With hugs and kisses all around the two bikes left and at last they were alone.

Maggie melted into his arms and it was several minutes before any kind of speech was possible.

She rested her head against his chest, breathless but content, willing to follow him anywhere so long as they weren’t separated.

“So where are we going?”

“Home,” was all he said and grinned when he saw her eyes light up in understanding.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

It was dusk when they arrived at the farm. Maggie’s head was spinning as all of Urs plans fell into place perfectly. They had gone to a small, private airfield near Brighton and boarded a waiting Lear, her only hesitation soon calmed when she mentioned she didn’t have her passport and Urs pulled it out of his carryon with a grin. After that she didn’t question anything, just let him take the lead and went along docilely.

She could see that he was pleased at his success, his impish grin and swagger evidence that he was happy with how his surprise had gone over. He knew her so well, knew that of all the ‘honeymoon’ places they could have gone, this was at the top of her list. Somehow it felt different going back here, knowing that it belonged to them, that this was going to be home in their minds and hearts for years to come.

A shiny black Harley was waiting for them in Lucerne, a loaner from a close friend that Franz had arranged for, Urs told her while he took an envelope from the saddlebag and stuffed their carry-on bags inside.

There was a very short note inside, the bike key and the gate key….’Mission accomplished…Congratulations!!!...Secret Agent F.’

They rode to the farm, bypassing Willlisau and opened the gate together, their first time arriving at their own property. For a few minutes they paused at the gate, looking at the land and trees, the sun almost touching the sheltering mountains and drank in the sight.

The fields were over grown, long lush grasses waving in a slight breeze, interspersed with the nodding heads of wild blossoms and the dusty blue of wild sage bushes, just starting to flower. New growth showed on the tips of the evergreen, the paler shoots that by summers end would darken as the branches thickened and stretched further to shelter the land. It had rained recently and the rocky escarpments still glistened with run off while over head the last few day-time feeders flitted through the air heading home to roost in safety for the night.

They mounted the bike, rode through and Maggie slid off to lock the gate behind them, then snuggled up to Urs back again, so full of happiness that she hugged him hard, making him laugh.

Once the bike was safely locked down in the shed, the garage a little too unstable to trust it just yet, he took her hand and led her along a faint trail leading into the forest, throwing the straps for the bags over his other shoulder… he waited for her to ask where they were going but she just smiled and followed along, trusting him, not really caring. This was their land, his secret and she refused to spoil it.

His timing was perfect. They cleared the forest and walked on, the shadows lengthening, walked through the dim light of another copse of trees and came out onto a level area beside the stream.

A camp had been set up just at the edge of the trees, a tent, not large but big enough for two friendly people, logs around a firepit that lay ready for a match, a cooler and canvas supply bag suspended from one of the larger trees with the rope easily accessible, everything that campers would need ready at hand, including a small pile of cut firewood and kindling and a hand axe embedded in the top of a chopping block.

Urs knelt and dropped a lit match into the tinder under the carefully stacked wood in the firepit and stood to watch Maggie as she inspected the tent, the stream, the entire campsite and came back to fit her arms around him.

“Thank you, my darling….this is so perfect. I wouldn’t want to spend our first night as husband and wife anywhere else.”

“Franz thought I was crazy but I told him I knew you well enough to feel confident. So I was right? Will you be content to live rough for a few days while we explore? I did send some extra clothing on ahead for both of us, so we don’t have to run around naked, though it does sound like fun.”

“Naked works for me, M’Lord,” she said and raised her mouth to his just as the sun fell behind the mountain crest and the stars popped out to begin their night time journey across the velvety blue sky.

**

Dinner was a communal effort, Maggie remembering some of the camping tricks that she and her father had used so long ago but mostly acting as gofer for Urs as he threw together a meal from the supplies he had asked Franz to bring up to the site. He fashioned a tiny reflecting oven out of aluminum foil and made biscuits, made packets of thin strips of beef with slivers of vegetables and put them on a small grill over the flames, set up a tin coffee pot and made coffee that smelled…and tasted heavenly…and opened a tin to reveal home made brownies, which they broke all the usual rules and ate first… it was after all, a celebration dinner.

They cleaned up together after dinner, not needing any additional light since the moon was full and they could see well as they sand washed their utensils and metal plates in the stream, setting them upside down to dry on the rocks, then sitting by the stream to watch the sky and the reflection of the stars in the rippling stream.

Urs smiled as he felt the sensual energy building between them. Maggie had caught on so quickly to the slow buildup of desire that he preferred. Her voice became husky, soft and loving, her touch, even while passing on the dishes, was gentle, more a caress than just the transfer of plate from hand to hand. When his hooded eyes caught hers they saw the deep yearning that she was nurturing, letting it suffuse her entire body just as it was flowing through his.

He pulled her gently into his side and felt her tremble, kissing her neck like the gentle touch of a butterfly, nibbling on her ear lobe and breathing lightly in her ear to make her shiver.

When he reached her mouth it was as if he had found a treasure, one too delicate to consume without care and love. He stroked her lips with his tongue, lightly, gently, tasting, testing the plump softness with his teeth, entering to caress the walls of her mouth and play with her tongue. Her breathing had slowed, matching his, breath for breath but now she took control, massaging his lips with hers, leaving to come back gently, sucking on his lower lip and allowing her hands to begin an exploration of his neck and chest, slowly unbuttoning his shirt and easing it partly off his muscular shoulders. Her fingers traced the contours of his muscles, and she smiled when she felt the tremor as his yearning grew….she was fascinated by his male nipples, circled each in turn with her hot tongue then formed her soft lips around the nipple, teasing it with her tongue and sucking as it engorged and rose. She wondered if Urs felt the same surge of pleasure when he kneaded her breast in his long fingers and sucked on the tender nipple.

He reached for the hem of her shirt and eased if up, exposing her bra, following with wet lips and tongue as the tee went up and off over her head.

The clasp for her bra was no match for his nimble fingers…that dealt with, he slid the cups away, sighing with pleasure as the moonlight caressed the plump softness and he lay a trail of kisses that teased around the pink goal that grew as he neared. A flick of his tongue, a last intense gaze and his mouth closed over her. He sighed when he felt the burst of pleasure that made her fuller, firmer against his tongue, and suckled, kneading her breast like a very large nursing baby.

“Oh, Urs…” she breathed, a soft sigh of pleasure that needed to be acknowledged.

She was trembling when he lay her back in the grass and ran his hands lightly over her naked torso, feather light, watching her eyes in the moonlight, kneeling straddled her legs. He bent to lick her tummy, delving into her innie with his tongue while his fingers dealt with the dome and zipper of her jeans, sliding them down over her firm butt when she raised her hips off the ground.

“You are so beautiful,” he murmured as he looked at her, covered now only with a lacy strip of blue panites, the dark curls of her neatly trimmed mound visible through the design in the lace. Gently he hooked his fingers in the lace and eased them down, joining the heans that had pooled at her knees…one swift movement and they were gone, leaving her completely exposed, a vision of beauty that waited for him, bathed in the silver of the moon and star shine.

But not yet…tonight he wanted their loving to last forever, wanted this first time of their married life to be special, to build into something extraordinary, even more incredible than what they had already shared.

She reached for the closure of his jeans and he took her hand,, kissing the palm and sucking on her fingers, gently, working them in and out of his mouth in imitation of the rhythm they would achieve, but later.

“Patience, Kleine Liebe…let me give you pleasure…”

With consummate skill and control he explored her body, fingers, mouth, tongue, tasting, stroking, inflaming, driving her almost over the elusive peak then easing her back down to unbearable yearning until she writhed under his hands, moaning…he allowed her release, savoring the taste of her wetness with an eager mouth, a thrusting tongue, both aware that it was not enough, that she craved more.

He knelt astride her hips, pulling her torso up to his chest for a kiss that made her bones melt.

“I want you…need to be inside your sweet body…to feel the wet glove of your body closing around me….”

“Oh yes,” she gasped, reaching for his jeans again and not stopped this time. Somehow the jeans and shorts were gone and his shaft sprang to attention, infused with blood, dark, dangerous, huge, the tip already wet. He lifted her and she wiggled down onto him, taking him inside as she sat on his folded knees. For a moment they stilled, enjoying the feeling of at last joining, then with a swirling motion of her hips Maggie arced her back, thrusting her breasts against his chest, his hands went to her glutes to pull her tighter against him and they rocked gently, building the rhythm that robbed them of breath, made their hearts race and all other sensations vanish…..and the bliss over whelmed them, going on and on, in never ending ripples of pure joy.

It was much later that they gathered their discarded clothing and realized just how cool the night air had become. Urs checked the firepit and scooted quickly to the small tent, bending to crawl inside and join Maggie in the warmth of the double sleeping bag, nestling naked against her, sharing her warmth.

“Again?” he whispered, though he knew the answer.

“OH Yes!!,” she whispered back then said no more as her mouth found what she had been seeking on his chiseled face and he forgot to breathe.

**

They were ravenous in the morning. Urs built the fire up while Maggie went for a bucket of water from the stream to make coffee. He filled the pot, dropped in the necessary 2 drops of purifier and set it on the edge of the firepit to brew, yelping a bit when she slid her cold hands up his back under his shirt.

“The stream must come from up on the glacier…it’s icy cold this morning,” she said, laughing at him.

“I noticed…. I would have warmed some for you if you had waited.”

“No problem…we pioneer women are tough!!! And I needed to wash my hands anyway. Now what can I do?”

“Lower the cooler so I can get to the jug of eggs. What do you think about going up stream a bit after breakfast? I’m pretty sure I can hear a waterfall not too far off.”

They agreed and after a breakfast of tinned fruit, scrambled eggs and toast done on sticks over the fire, they sipped their coffee as they cleaned up and got ready to follow the stream up to where they hoped to find a water fall.

Maggie was pleasantly surprised to find that he had pre-packed her hiking boots. She raised her brow at him and he just shrugged and told her he had couriered everything to Franz in preparation of the camp out, hoping that she wouldn’t notice that a few of her belonging were gone.

“I figured I could keep you too distracted to worry about clothes for a couple of days,” he said with a grin and laughed when she blushed.

Urs took the lead on their trek, winding along within sight of the stream, through the edge of the bush, picking a pathway that he felt Maggie could handle easily. They came to an area of tumbled rocks and he began climbing, reaching his hand back to give her a boost up some of the larger rocks. The sound of tumbling water grew louder as they climbed, then suddenly they were at the top of the rocks and looking at a crevasse where the, rock formed a sheer wall in front of them and water poured over the edge, not falling so much as sliding down a smooth rock face and creating a pool at the base. It was about 40 feet from top to bottom, splitting in several places to slide over the face then gather again in a curtain before plunging in a foaming pool at the bottom. The banks of the pool were flat and sandy with small stones peeking out of the crystal earth sweeping back on one side for 20 feet and rising until the land met forest growth again, the other side, shallow and reedy, the forest meeting the tall reeds with only a scant foot or two of sandy beach area just below the rocks they were standing on.

Urs decided to see how deep the stream was here and stripped to his shorts on the narrow strip of sand, wading in carefully, taking 3 steps and turning to call up to Maggie.

“It’s very shallow, look…just comes to my….” He backed up one more step and the water that had been to his knees suddenly swallowed him, well over his head from the constant pummeling of the cascade.

Maggie was frightened at first but he surfaced laughing and sputtering, lying through his teeth and claiming that it was lovely and warm.

Still she couldn’t let him suffer alone and climbed down, stripping to her bra and panties and waded in. By judiciously feeling ahead of her with a tentative foot she found the sandbar to the other side and scurried out to sit in the sun and thaw out.

Urs swam toward the wide beach area, soon finding that he could touch bottom and waded out, collapsing on the sand beside her, his whole body a very nice shade of blue.

“There’s a lot of junk down there, other wise it would be a lovely swimming hole.”

“Junk? You mean like garbage…way up here? How could that be? The whole area we’ve seen is so pristine, like we’re the first people to ever walk through here.”

“No, it’s branches, stuff that has washed down stream and because of the depth of the pool the current hasn’t been strong enough to carry it away. I think we should clean it out, not totally just enough to make it safer to swim. I saw fish down there, Maggie!! We have fish in our stream, so that means it’s healthy water. They can’t survive in polluted streams.”

His teeth were chattering and she made him move into a sunnier spot, stripping off his shorts, wringing them out and laying them on a branch to air dry.

They had been quiet for a while, lying silently basking in the sun when Urs raised his head from the sand and looked around, sure he had heard something. On the far side the reeds stirred and at the base he saw ripples fanning out, gently, then the movement of something swimming. A squat brown duck swam into sight, followed by a string of paddling ducklings, each struggling to keep pace with their more adept Mama. He nudged Maggie gently and she followed his gaze, saw the little family and grinned, not saying anything that would disturb them, just watching as they skimmed along at the edge of the reeds, Mama searching for bugs and the babies racing ahead to see what prizes she had found them.

They watched until the sun left their warm little piece of sand then were forced to move. Of course Mama herded her family back into the reeds at once and they reluctantly waded back across to dress, Urs deciding to carry his still damp shorts.

When they arrived back at the campsite they ate a cold lunch and decided to go the other way, trying to find the post that would indicate the north side of their property.

Again they followed the stream. Much more woods wise than Maggie, Urs pointed out the different kinds of trees to her, noticed and showed her the tracks where deer had come down to the edge to drink, cautioned her on some of the plants that could cause a nasty rash…in general acted as an excellent guide. They came out of the forest on a meadow that sloped away as far as the eye could see up the hills, carpeted with alpine growth that gave way to lichens as it neared the rocky outcroppings. An eagle floated far above on the air currents and they watched for a while. In a perfect moment of wonder at the bounties of Nature, Maggie spoke softly to him.

“Happy Birthday, Urs.”

He glanced at her, surprised that she had remembered and that she had said nothing before now.

“I have something for you but it’s back at the suite.”

“Thank you, Liebe, but I have everything I need right here.” He kissed her but then looked at her with that little boy grin.

“You could tell me what it is though.”

“And spoil the surprise…I don’t think so.”

He tried begging, tried kissing it out of her and as a last resort tried tickling. She got out of his grasp and ran so he chased her, almost catching her but she was fast and elusive, slipping past his outstretched hands until her laughter defeated her and she turned right into his arms instead of eluding him any longer.

“Now tell me or suffer the consequences,” he said with his best imitation of a leer.

“Alright!!! Well you know how you always tease that if you lose your voice you could always play guitar with Ozzie. I’ve arranged for you to play with him in a recording session…with your new Malmsteen.”

“Play with Ozzie? But Love, I don’t have a Malmsteen, much as I would like to…..”

She just grinned at him while the information trickled through his brain, finally hit him and he whooped with joy causing a flight of birds that had been hiding in the grasses to take flight.

He threw Maggie up in the air and caught her, whirling her around and kissing her face, her neck, anything he could get his laughing mouth on.

He was married to the woman he would love forever, they owned the property of their dreams, he was the proud owner of the worlds best guitar…and he was going to play with Ozzie…could life get any better?

**

For 4 more days they went out each day to explore, each day finding more to love about their new home and land. Signs of animals were everywhere and welcome. It seemed selfish to not share the bounty of this land with God’s wild creatures. They talked about sometime in the future getting horses, chickens of course, though they would have to make them secure against the foxes they had seen sign of. And dogs, smart one they could train not to chase the wild creatures but to bark and scare them away from the homestead. It was important to both of them to leave the forest as is, nurture it but let it remain wild and verdant.

Now that the deal had gone through they could concentrate on the house and main buildings. They would seek a local architect first, hoping to find someone who specialized in Eco friendly buildings. And try to be supportive of the local craftsmen as well, this too was important to them. Urs knew that much of this must fall on Maggie’s shoulders since he would be traveling a good deal of the time but they were confident that they could do it.

The fifth day it began raining in the early morning and the temperature dropped. They went out briefly to watch the swollen stream, then returned to the tent to snuggle and make love, napped and made love again, raiding their supplies for cold food and laughing like children as they picnicked in their tent on crackers, fruit, cheese and chocolate. They lay in the warm sleeping bag and made up mental wish lists for the house, named their children, discovered even more about each other and waited out the storm, not at all concerned when it lasted through until the next morning.

That afternoon they decided to gradually make their way back to the homestead and do more exploring around the main site. They packed everything up and divided it into two piles, Urs shouldered the bigger one and they carried the cooler between them, taking their time and wandering back along the wet earth to the main homestead.

As they neared they saw a figure moving on the trail ahead. Franz, moving quickly.

Urs stopped and they put the cooler down, turning to each other as they realized that their time of peace and freedom was about to come to an end.

Real life was about to intrude on them once again.

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

It had been a bit of a rush, trying to explain what they could to Franz, getting the bike out of the shed and leaving him with the supplies, apologizing and when Urs looked back he could tell that sometime soon he would have to sit down and have a good talk with his confused and a bit apprehensive brother. Some things he couldn’t talk about but for the most part he was determined to confess about Laurenz and the danger that Yvette had been in and that he was involved in an agency now that required secrecy and sometimes dangerous missions.

He was having difficulty switching from the mindset of the past few days of idyllic exploring and romance to the unknown mission that they had been called back for. They had no information other than that a heli was waiting for them, a bad sign that it was something very important, Maggie had said. There was no way that Simon would have dared her anger by interrupting this cherished few days alone with Urs.

He grinned when she said that, having seen first hand how she could explode. Simon was a wise man, he decided.

The flight was noisy and tedious, none of the perks they were used to from flying in business class so they cuddled and napped as best as possible in the hard, uncomfortable seats. It was just after noon when they landed at the estate outside of London and hunched over to run to the patio where Seymour waited to welcome them.

“Senor Marin and Miss Geraldine are in the Kitchen, Sir. The others should be arriving within the next hour. I’ve taken the liberty of asking Mrs. Mac to provide a luncheon for you, since I know nothing is ever provided on those abominable flights.”

They thanked Seymour and headed inside, Maggie biting her lip to keep from laughing and when they were out of range explaining that Helicopters offended Seymour’s sense of propriety, the noise, the disturbance of the surrounding bushes and soil that splattered everyone and everything, the uncomfortable seating and the fact that it was often necessary to scream to be heard.

They joined Carlos and Gerry at the counter in the Kitchen. They had just started eating, had only arrived 20 minutes earlier, just enough time to unpack and come back downstairs.

“Why were we summoned, Maggie?” Carlos asked and she shrugged her shoulders.

“We’ll know as soon as everyone is here I think. Simon isn’t one to explain things any more than he has to.”

They both excused themselves to wash up in the adjoining Loo and came back ravenous. Carlos passed Urs the tray of assorted sandwiches and he loaded his plate with some of everything.

“So where did you two go? You look tanned and rested…did you go to the beach somewhere?”

Urs glanced at Maggie and smiled. She returned his smile as she took a few triangles of food and shook her head.

“No, but we spent the whole time out of doors. It was wonderful, sunny and fresh, the air and water so pure…. And we did a lot of walking.” She giggled as they looked at her trying to figure out the location.

“We went home, Carlito. We just went home and camped, hiked all over our property, swam, sort of, in the stream……” Urs turned as he heard a familiar voice approaching.

“And you sang to the trees…” came a booming voice behind them as David, Petra and little Paul entered the kitchen.

“As a matter of fact I did,” Urs answered with a smile.

“You should try it, Davey…it’s absolutely incredible the way the sound bounces back off the mountains…the reverb is outstanding!! I just sat back and listened totally mesmerized.” Maggie had a dreamy look in her eyes as she remembered.

“Actually… I was singing for my wife, not the trees,” Urs, his smile becoming a grin and he took Maggie’s left hand with his to show off both of their rings.

There was pandemonium for several minutes as the girls all shrieked and hugged Maggie, the guys teased and shook Urs’ hand then kissed the bride, on the cheek at Urs insistence. Paul thought it was an excellent game and kissed everyone who came near him.

“You sneaky dog!! How could you do that without us…who was there…did you have a party…?” David had a million questions but Petra put her hand over his mouth and tried to calm him.

“We just wanted a quiet, private ceremony…later on we’ll have a party when we all have time. There was only us, a biker who happens to be an ordained minister and two old friends from my Conspiracy days. Then we hopped in a Lear and went home. I had Franz set up a campsite for us, way back in the forest and we stayed there until this morning.”

“So you’re the first to fall….. I wonder will this start a cascade effect?” David said with a wry smile at Petra, who tried to ignore him…..of course ignoring David is something that not many can achieve so she blushed instead.

Seb and Geena arrived just then and saved them from needing to explain the looks and blush. Again it was noisy as they learned about the wedding and honeymoon and asked what the mission was.

Talking of why they had been brought back to London brought a somber atmosphere to the gathering and they all finished off the lunch Mrs. Mac had provided in a much more subdued mood.

Petra talked about meeting David’s family and how they had taken to little Paul so well that his mother cried when they had to leave. It had been her first trip to that part of the States and she described it in glowing terms, especially since the family lived outside the city proper with lovely vistas all around, and even had a few saddle horses so they had gone riding several times.

Geena and Seb had spent the entire time in Paris, not what they had planned but after visiting his Maman the first day, they had realized just how much they missed the vibrant city and decided to stay. They visited old haunts, strolling along the canals, went for quiet dinners and did some of the touristy thing, like the Eiffel tower, the Louvre and Notre Dame. It had been restful and romantic, evidently had resolved some differences between them for Seb seemed happy and relaxed in spite of the recall.

Carlos didn’t have much to say about their trip to Madrid other than it had been nice to see old friends and relatives again. Their visit with a fertility specialist was too private to share, at least not now when the results of the numerous tests had not yet come back. Gerry took his hand under the edge of the counter and gave him an encouraging smile.

They kept more or less together for the remainder of the day, waiting for the call from Simon, receiving one message relayed through Seymour.

MI6 was interrogating a man that they had in custody, trying to obtain more information about the threat that concerned them. It was taking longer than anticipated and they were to wait.

So they waited, putting in time in the Music room, napping on the patio, playing with Paul. After his dinner the little boy was put to bed with Christy staying overnight to act as Nanny in case Petra and David got busy. Nerves were beginning to fray and no one ate much of the excellent dinner Mrs. Mac provided before heading home.

Seymour had gone to bed and they had all opted to wait in the office, sprawled about in the chairs and on the sofa, when at last the red light went on. Sebastien noticed it first.

“The light….it is blinking.”

Pet went directly to the computer and keyed in the code, then sat back with the speaker on as Simon’s face appeared on the screen.

“Mother….this is Grumpy….you were recalled because 6 needs the assistance of Team Ceol, Blind Op.”

Maggie looked at Urs and saw the hard look that had already crept into his eyes, saw Geena rise from the sofa and nod as she joined them. Maggie sat in the next computer chair and keyed on her mike.

“Checking with team…one moment….”

She turned to face Urs and saw the confusion on his face, keyed off her mike and tried to explain. “We have no details since the op is of utmost priority and Base will take no chances of being overheard. Simon will know and will brief us in code which he will send to Pet but only after we accept or decline.”

“What happens if we say yes and then don’t like what’s involved?”

“We’ll be sequestered until the op is over, all of us in the house.”

“How can he do that?...There’s only Seymour and a few security on the gates?” David said and blanched a bit when Pet and Maggie exchanged glances.

“Trust me David….there’s more security here than you would ever have dreamed…and don’t sell Seymour short…he spent most of his adult life as head of CASPAR…he taught us most of what we know.”

‘Seymour? You mean the butler, Seymour?”

Maggie nodded then turned back to Urs.

“What’s your feeling about it, Maggie?”

She sighed. “Simon would never ask me to do anything trivial or against my moral judgement. He knows me too well. If he feels it’s important enough to call for us, then I think we should do it.”

He put his hand on her shoulder and squeezed. “Then let’s accept, so long as we stay together.” Geena stood on the other side and hushed Seb as he tried to ask what was happening, nodded at Maggie again and quietly explained what was happening.

Maggie turned back, nodded at Petra and she typed in a code and waited for a moment while Simon verified it.

“Details coming through. Good luck, all of you.”

He smiled at them, a grim worried look that confirmed how serious the problem was and his image faded from the screen to be replaced by a rapid download of jumbled letters and pixels that Pet sent directly to another machine to be decoded and printed.

It was indeed serious they found when the sheets spewed out of the printer and they all crowded around to listen as Maggie read it out.

“Intell to MI6 has confirmed that a plot to assassinate Jacques Chirac, Tony Blair and with considerable collateral damage at the conference in Derby, day after tomorrow, has been put in motion by agents of Al Queddah. We were recalled because they’ve known for several days that something was planned but only now have broken the code and confirmed who, when and where. The method is through a detonation of C4 carried by one of the reporters accredited to the affair, which will in turn cause the cascade effect David spoke of earlier, to release canisters of Serin gas that will affect an area of up to 100 square miles.”

“Oh my god, that means thousands of people, maybe as much as a hundred thousand or more,” Geena gasped in shock and Maggie nodded grimly as she continued.

She skimmed a bit and blanched then read it out.

“The C4 has been implanted INSIDE the abdomen of the woman, Helena Foster, and she has already passed the security checks. We are being asked to perform a multi task op. First we must secure the woman at her flat, the address is here, find the unknown detonator and disable it…Nightingale will have to operate on the woman and I will attempt to remove the bomb without causing it to detonate. We will need to take out the two bodyguards in her flat so we can do this. And we need to find out where the Serin has been placed to remove it safely, again the possibility exists that the Team and I will have to do this if it’s determined there are guards.”

She paused to let everyone absorb what she had read. Urs placed his hand on the back of her neck, lending her his quiet strength and she continued.

“Six has asked for help since this will require agents who are unknown to the terrorists and can multi-task. They will provide us with the schematics of the flat as well as the grounds and buildings in Derby. They also will provide security for the main targets, President Chirac and PM Blair, but can not openly cancel the conference due to the danger to the populace in the area, nor can they evacuate, there just isn’t time and evacuation would tip the terrorists …if they have remote capabilities they could then detonate and the loss of life would be wide spread. We have up till 1 hour before the expected arrival at the site to complete our mission since that is the expected arrival time of the targets and the latest they can cancel.”

The silence in the room was deafening as she finished and then Carlos spoke up.

“What can we do to help?” His usual Latin good nature had become hard and dark, his eyes burning with anger.

Maggie rubbed her palms over her face and tried to organize her thoughts.

“Pet, I need you to print out all the info on the other computer so David can come up with a plan. I will need to go because of the bomb or bombs, Geena for the surgery….” She looked up and knew without asking that Urs and Seb would insist on going. “Carlos and Gerry, we don’t know how many there are so I would think that your presence may be needed, depending on what David comes up with. I would suggest that the 6 of us get dressed and ready while David and Pet do their job.”

**