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“This is nice. Really nice. Dead posh.” Benji states excitedly as Ethan drives the team into the parking lot of the Trafford Centre, in Manchester, UK.
“Exactly Alanna’s scene, then.” Replies Ilsa. “And mine.” She says, hoping to spend some of her sizable income on an expensive dress or two, or at least a nice meal.
Ethan, Luther, Grace, Benji, and Ilsa are on their very first fully-fledged mission as an official team. Grace is now field trained, Ilsa is fully trained up again with her various fighting techniques after almost dying in Venice, and they are all excited. This mission is fairly low-stakes, there’s no risk of anyone dying. Well, almost no risk. In this game, you never truly knew.
All of them had made an agreement to request a low-stakes mission, with Ethan going off by himself for anything more dangerous, and he works with agents he doesn’t know the real names of and doesn’t have any personal attachments to. The rest of his team help remotely, but one day they’re going to be back to world-saving endeavours together. Ilsa misses it, but she’s been training Grace and she’s rather enjoyed it.
Grace is her rookie, and Ethan is officially her partner in the IMF. And her partner in life, and of course, her future husband.
Today, the team are at the Trafford Centre to oversee Alanna brokering a very expensive, highly sought after diamond, as part of her ongoing agreement with the IMF.
Ethan is there as her protection, Luther and Benji are on security as well as monitoring and communicating to everyone else where all the key players are at all times, and Ilsa and Grace are posing as shoppers, staying close to Ethan, Alanna, and the buyer, and are backup in case it goes wrong.
They get out of the car, and make their way inside.
“We’ll split up once we get to the entrance.” Ethan says as they make their way down the long corridor leading to the main shopping centre.
“Okay.” Ilsa replies, touching his arm, feeling nervous despite herself. The last time she was in the field, she almost lost her life.
He looks around, and drops a quick kiss to her lips. “I love you, good luck.”
“I love you too, and thank you.” Ilsa beams.
Grace smiles at her friend confidently. “We can do this, Ils.”
“Yeah, no fatalities this time.” Agrees Luther. “We’re gonna be okay, everyone.”
They get to the entrance of the massive, sprawling shopping centre, and Ethan winks at Ilsa, nods to Grace, winks at Ilsa, and heads off with Benji and Luther.
“Comms on?” Ilsa asks, and the men answer over her earbud, and Grace gives her a nod.
“Fabulous.” Ilsa smiles, relaxing slightly. “Remember the plan, Grace?”
Grace nods. They’ve arrived early, and Grace and Ilsa are going to take a turn around the floor of the Trafford Centre the men are on, and then they’re going to wait in a coffee shop near to the private room where the diamond deal is happening, Benji and Luther are in the food court, keeping track of everything.
“So, how are you both?” Grace asks as she and Ilsa browse in a jewellery shop.
“Yeah, we’re great. We’re happy, and safe.”
Any threats against Ilsa have been neutralised by Ethan and a couple of faceless members at the IMF who were more than happy to help.
For now, all of the team have settled in England, Ilsa and Ethan have a comfortably sized house not too far from London, in the Suffolk countryside. It’s so they can both commute to the English branch of the IMF base easily, and because its excellent training facility has been key for Ilsa to regain her skills and to train Grace. It’s where Ethan likes to train at the gym, and of course Ilsa doesn’t have any qualms about watching her very attractive other half work out. They like to spar together, as well. Ilsa frequently bests Ethan, but he is skilled at distracting her attention too, which is one of the many reasons they work so well together. They complimented each other.
“Good, I’m glad.” Ilsa smiles. “How are you doing?”
“Honestly?” Asks Grace. “I’m tired from training a lot of the time, and the testing is tiring, as well. But I’m happy, I finally feel… relaxed, I suppose in this life, now.”
“Good, I’m glad. My, the architecture here is beautiful.” Ilsa comments, gazing around them.
“Yes, we get to see some beautiful places in this job.”
“After the mission is over, providing we don’t have to make a quick getaway, we are definitely shopping. Not beforehand, we are not treating ourselves to something expensive and then running after some idiot who thinks it’s a good idea to steal a diamond, so our shopping gets forgotten about.”
“Yes, Ilsa.” Grace replies, a smile tugging at her lips. But, she also senses that Ilsa is tense and so she doesn’t say anything else.
Presently, the women sit down at the agreed cafe nearby to where Ethan is waiting for Alanna.
They spot Alanna and her bodyguard across the large hallway, and she exchanges nods with them.
“Here we go.” Murmurs Ilsa.
“Yep.” Grace bounces her leg, nervous.
Ilsa stands up to order a tea for herself, and a smoothie for Grace. She happens to know that her rookie has a penchant for them and she does not need any more coffee.
Ilsa returns to their table with the drinks, just as Alanna greets her buyer.
Grace exchanges a look with Ilsa and sips her drink, as they both listen to the deal go down.
Ilsa’s heart rate is high for someone who’s sat down, her hand gripping her takeaway cup a little too tightly.
Elsewhere, Benji and Ethan wait with baited breath. Ethan watches the deal go down.
After what feels like years, Alanna’s voice is heard over the comms. “Thank you, gentleman, for trusting me with this. Mr Smythe, enjoy your diamond.”
“It’s done!” Grace exclaims.
“Not quite yet. The White Widow, her buyer, and the seller need to safely leave.” Ilsa cautions, but is relieved that the worst seems to have been avoided.
“All right, everybody’s out.” Says Luther a few moments later.
“Well done, team.” Ethan compliments them.
“Well, we didn’t really do anything.” Grace mumbles, annoyed.
“You will get your turn, plus you almost fell off a bloody train with Ethan.” Ilsa points out. “Boys, we’re going shopping. I’m muting our comms seeing as it will be girl talk. What are you going to do?”
“There’s an arcade, what do you think, Ethan?” Asks Benji.
“Sounds good.” Ethan responds.
“I’m out, there’s a new piece of tech that I’ve got my eye on.” Says Luther.
“Okay, well Ethan and I will meet up with you all later, yes?” Suggests Benji.
“That’s fine with me.” Replies Luther, and Ilsa agrees, and mutes her comms.
Luther’s new piece of tech turns out to be a Switch 2, and Ilsa and Grace very much enjoy shopping. Ethan beats Benji at some of the arcade games, but Benji’s hidden talent is 2p machines.
“So,” Grace asks when she and Ilsa take a break from shopping. They both sit down next to a stunning fountain. “Are you and Ethan planning your wedding yet?”
“Um, that’s… Sort of on hold at the minute, we’re happy as we are.” Ilsa eyes Grace nervously, wondering how to word her next sentence. “Now, don’t get too excited… Ethan and I are… trying to make a little Ethan and Ilsa.”
Grace’s face lights up! “Oh Ilsa, that’s wonderful! I’m so happy for you two!”
“Thank you.” Ilsa smiles. “It’s been a long six months of trying.”
Grace watches her friend’s face fall. “Ilsa… I’m sorry, I-”
“No, it’s okay. We’ve both had our fertility checked, we did when we started trying, and everything is fine, for both of us. Unexplained fertility, our doctors call it… we had an appointment last week.”
Tears threaten to fall, and Grace wraps her friend in a tight hug. “It’s okay, you will get to have your baby, I promise.”
“How can you know that? We could be trying for years, and then it could be too late, and then…” Ilsa’s bottom lip wobbles.
“Because I was the reason you almost died, Ilsa. And you came back.” Grace stares Ilsa straight in the eye. “Ilsa, love, you have to understand that it’s only been six months. You cannot give up. Life brought you and Ethan together, and you survived the worst. You came back to him. You will have your baby together, the way I see it life hasn’t been kind to you, but then again, you are extremely bloody lucky.”
“You’re right.” Ilsa sighs. “Can I talk to you a bit more about it? Or are you going to blush?”
“Um, it’s okay. I won’t tell Ethan. You can confide in me, Ils.”
Ilsa smiles. “Ethan probably will know anyway, he knows this is weighing on me. Sex… it feels like a chore, a job to be done. I still enjoy it, obviously.
Grace shuffles uncomfortably, then remembers that she’s trying to be supportive.
“I want to throw in the towel some days. To stop cycle tracking, to stop grabbing Ethan and dragging him upstairs when my temperature peaks when I ovulate. I’m tired of it, already.” Ilsa sighs. “I love my work, and I’ve just got my fitness back, I’ve joined the IMF, only on low-key missions for now….”
“Now would be an ideal time for you both to have a child.” Grace finishes for her. “I get it.”
“Exactly.” Ilsa replies. “But, as you say, life gambles with us. One day, we will get our baby. Our roll of the dice will land exactly where we want it.”
“Yes, think positive. Are we done shopping?” Ilsa asks. “I’m hungry, and I’d love you check out the food court, I hear, like the rest of this building, it’s very interesting.”
“Yeah, I’m done.” Grace says.
Ilsa lets Ethan and Benji know that they’re ready to meet, and the two women make their way to the food court, known as the Orient.
On the way, Ilsa pauses outside a shop selling prams and other baby items. She gazes inside at expectant parents, those with babies, and other shoppers, looking doleful.
“Ils…” Grace touches her arm. “It’s okay.”
“I know. One day.” Ilsa hopes, and then they continue their walk.
“You know…” Grace muses. “You’ve probably heard this advice already, and who am I to know if it works, but if it were me in this situation, I’d forget about the perfect time to conceive, according to medical advice. I’d go against it, just once. Enjoy each other, don’t wait for what others deem the right time. You never know.”
“Alright, thank you.” Ilsa smiles at Grace, an idea popping up in her mind. She’s bought a very expensive dress and has topped up on her makeup collection. A plan forms, and she smiles to herself.
“Wow, this is incredible!” Grace gasps as they enter the Orient. It is modeled off of a cruise ship, and the various eateries are styled as if they are in their country of origin.
Ilsa spots Ethan and Benji , and leads the way over to them.
She surprises Ethan by kissing him soundly, humming happily against his lips.
“Hello, you.” He chuckles after they part. His eyes search hers, wondering what’s up with her, but he knows not to ask with everyone else around.
“Yeah, hello Ils. Nice to see you too.” Complains Benji.
Grace chuckles. “They’re in love, Benji, you should be used to feeling very single around them by now.”
Ilsa laughs at that, and sits down beside Ethan, taking his hand in hers. Luther joins them soon after, and they fall into conversation. Benji is excited about Luther’s new console, and the pair decide to buy the new Mario Kart and have a race.
“Grace, what about you?” Benji invites the newest member of the team. “Ilsa, Ethan, what about you two? We can buy a couple of extra controllers, it’ll be fun!”
“Yeah, I’m in!” Grace agrees.
Ethan exchanges a glance with Ilsa, who gives the slightest shake of her head. “Sorry guys, not tonight. Another time, definitely, and we can still have our dinner together, C’mon, I’m hungry.”
“Me too.” Agrees Ilsa, and they all pick a place to get their tea from, and split off from each other, Benji and Grace heading towards a fish and chip place, Ilsa and Luther burritos, and Ethan, he goes to Itsu, for some sushi.
They reconvene with their various meals, and sit down together, enjoying one another’s company.
Ilsa holds Ethan’s hand, enjoying relaxing with her husband to be, and their dearest friends.
“What’s everyone doing now, then?” Asks Grace after they’ve eaten.
“We’re heading off, Ethan has some shopping to do.” Ilsa says. “We’ll make our own way home.”
Ethan, in fact, does not have shopping to do, but he stays quiet.
“Okay, see you soon?” Benji enquires.
1
“When I kick your ass at Mario Kart? Definitely!” Ethan replies, making Grace, Ilsa, and Luther laugh.
“Just because I was better at getting prizes from the 2p machines than you.” Points out Benji.
“Ah, Ethan doesn’t have the patience.” Ilsa jokes, earning herself a scowl from her fiance. The others chuckle, and they say their goodbyes to the couple.
Ethan waits until he and his intended are out of earshot to murmur to Ilsa. “So, what’s going on?”
“What’s going on is, we are going to stay at the hotel that’s attached to this place for the night. I am going to dress in a very expensive dress, and wear that special lipstick you like. Then, we are going to have a drink together. After that, you are going to make love to me in our hopefully very comfortable hotel room.” Ilsa replies.
“Ilsa… as much as I’d like that, what about-”
She raises a finger to his lips. “Tonight, timing and only being intimate to try to conceive shall be forgotten. Well, we don’t all the time, but….”
“It’s always the end goal.” Ethan nods.
“Yes. We are going to have fun, let go a bit. Celebrate the mission going successfully.”
“Your wish is my command.” Smiles Ethan, looking forward to the evening ahead.
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“Ethan, that was…” Ilsa sighs as they bask in the afterglow.
“Well, I am rather good.” Ethan jokes.
“Mmm, so am I. We are both excellent at it.” Ilsa says, snuggling into him. They chat some more, and Ilsa falls asleep, wondering if Grace’s advice works.