When we pulled out of my drive in my 1965 Aston Martin DB5, one of my favorite personal jokes,  "Secret Agent .." started "playing on the stereo" as we took off. It just always seems that when I take her out, the song plays until the end of the first chorus and then I turn it off like 'that's the end of that'.

This is Johns first ride in it, he's seen it and appreciated it but never has he gone for a ride in it. When I click the song off he gives me a judgmental sort of look.

"Really, Sin?" He looks likes he wants to laugh or passed gas and is hoping it doesn't smell. If he did the latter..... well he better not, I'll kick him out and he'll never ride in my secret agent car ever again. hmmph....

"What?! I own the secret agent car and I am an agent. If anyone should get to play that song while driving this car, it would be me." I say affronted by his reaction. I continue to drive my car full of dignity.

Johns laughter fills the car at my antics.

"You are an amazing woman, Sin. It's no wonder I fell so hard for you."

*Blushing Scarlett*

"I know. You're not so bad yourself you know." I attempt to act nonchalantly but my flushed face said otherwise.

..... Mollies house....

We arrive at the house and I put my baby by the garage and get her covered. I picked up the bag of stuff for Cass and I quickly go over a few details with John.

" Mollie is the great grand daughter of my friend from the war Sarah. She calls me Auntie M most of the time. Mark is her husband, he's an architect and engineer, who designed and built this house as well as mine. Mollie is also an engineer also but works from home so she can help take care of and keep Gran company.

Now try not to act shocked when we go in there poor Cass was looking like goldfish." I said casually as we strolled up to the house hand in hand. Something I was still getting used to.

"Why would I be shocked? It seems like a normal enough house?"

A smirk fills my face.... 'looks can be deceiving. You're slipping there Agent.'

I ring the bell, knocked and walked right in as always.

"Moll! I'm here!" I announced loudly closing the door behind us.

I look at Johns face and he was definitely impressed. He catches me grinning at him and he just nods like 'when you're right, you're right'.

"Oh I would certainly say so. Who might this be, Mary?" Mollie came out of the kitchen with a tea tray in her hands followed by Cass with a tray of snacks and sweets.

"Oh wait now don't tell me yet. Why don't we go on out to the patio with Mark and Gran. Then we can do introductions all at once?" She suggested.

"Sounds ideal to me, let me take that Mollie." agreeing as I took the tray from her and motioned for her to lead the way.

Peeking a look at John, he had the calm and coolness of a trained agent face but I knew when he was anxious the way his ears would redden.

John smiled down at Cass, "Hey Cass, how are you doing?"

"I'm doing alright, Agent John. You're not here to take me away right? Because I really like it here." Cass said seeming a little anxious.

"Oh no. No worries there kid. We're just here to visit." He responded putting Cass slightly at ease.

We went our to the patio and joining Mark and Sarah and I motioned around the table to do the introductions. We were offered wine, tea and the treats.

Sarah leaned over to me, " Ach, No worries Mary, I ken ya better. Here 'ave a dram o' this." She leaned over and gave me a bottle of my favorite Scotch Whiskey from the distillery in a nearby small town from where she grew up.  "At least as time goes on, they ken how to still make a fine drink." She said as I gladly poured me a glass.

"Thank you Sarah. Would you like a taste John?" I ask politely.

"Yes, please."

"Well, who'd 'ave thought that you still ken your manners, Mary? So, John is she normally puttin' on airs  for you like this?" Sarah laughed seeing the deer caught in the headlights look on Johns face at her blatant query.

"Sarah, don't be giving me a bum rap with your bilge, you lynx." I retorted. "He knows I'm rude 99 times out of 100. You got to give me credit for that one time."

That had everyone chuckling and breaking the ice. We continue with small talk until I gave Cass the bag from the castle with his gifts.

"Wow, thank you!  These are great! I'm going to put them in my room right now so I don't mess them up." Cass ran off and I beamed.

*I did a good thing*

We sat and talked a while. Sarah and I reminiscing about the good ol' days. How much we enjoyed the 50's, especially going to Vegas and seeing Sinatra.

"Oh tha' man was such a dreamboat the way he would croon inna tha' mic." Sarah's eyes sparkled at the memory.

"Yes, remember when he asked you to dance at the party I threw?" Recalling how happy she had been. This made Sarah flush slightly at the memory.

"Wait you knew Frank Sinatra?" John inquired.

"No, I didn't know him personally, I'd met another member of 'the clan', I'm sorry, you would know them as the 'Rat Pack', but anyways, I invited them and he brought Frank with him. Sarah was over the moon getting to dance with him." I looked at her giggling.

"Ach, Mary, ya ken how angry Dan was aft that? I told him 'twas jus' a dance, not a frolic in the hay." She said and seeing John's confused look she informed, "Dan was my husband. I'd ne'er seen him jealous a day 'n 'is life, 'cept for tha' one. Thankfully that same night Dan introduced Mary to Nathaniel."

I gave Mary a look and she changed the course of the conversation.

"So Mary when did you get that beautiful piece of decoration there on your finger?" Sarah asked pointing at my ring. She never did like waiting on an answer if she was curious enough.

"Actually, yesterday."  I said trying to keep a straight face in front of them. My ears were getting warm though.

"John, are you the one who put an engagement ring on Mary's finger?" Sarah asked turning to face him.

"I can proudly say I did." He smiled confidently putting an arm around my shoulders.

"Well congratulations! I'm glad she took my advice, for once."

This smart mouthed woman.....  I stuck my tongue out at her with a sneer as she just laughed.

Marks phone started ringing and he left to go answer it as Mollie went in to go get more drinks and snacks. Cass came out asking me to go look at his room.

"Do you mind staying with Sarah, or you with John?" I asked looking at them both.

"Ach go in with the lad, we'll be fine." Sarah said waving us off.

Cass showed me how'd they'd  painted his room and his bed, computer desk, all his new clothes, and he showed me the secret entrance diagram they were going to build to a tree house out front. Moll came in and told him it was time for bed and I told him goodnight as she tucked him in and read him a story.

It was still just Sarah and John out on the patio when I made my way over from behind them and heard them talking.

...I'm a spy, of course I'm going to eavesdrop...

"...Mary can be a bit closed off wit' her emotions. She always has been, but you two 'ave been seeing each ot'er for high 3 years now? I ken her better than any one else on dis earth, she's happy an' I'm grateful for ya for that. She needs someone who will help love 'er and remind her of that."

"I plan to do my best. I'm lucky to have her." John nodded to her.

"I see why Mary is so smitten wit' you. You 'ave some personality traits she admires, but unlike ot'ers you're someone who seems sincere and your actions prove it. Mary would 'ave tossed you to sea a long time ago if she felt ot'erwise." Sarah patted his hand and I made my presence known.

"What are you guys talking about? Oh Sarah, are you trying to make a move on my man?" I joked.

"Well you can' tell me he doesn't like older women, ya ken." We all laughed at that and she continued on, "Howe'er, this ol' dame needs her beauty rest. Do ya mind helping me to bed? I'm not used to a drink  nigh more, ya ken."

I go over and help her up and walk her to her room. John takes her other arm as I get the doors open and then shoo him out of the room so she can change.

"I like him Mary, I'm glad you took my advice and didna' let him go. You seem very happy."

"oh Sarah, I am happy. You know I don't think I could have let him go even if I tried. Every time the thoughts came up when he'd do certain things, he'd make it obvious that he was not going to push the issue. I think it helped relax my anxiety in a sense."

"Ya ken, Mary, I'm glad as time has gon' by, you 'ave been able to maintain you're youthful heart. Aye, ya ken when to be level headed even though you 'ave always been a wee immature you've ne'er let the dark side of life change ya. Nor the years, unlike they've changed me. I envy the fact that you're still young of heart and mind." She looks at me seriously and I know I don't need to say anything in return to that.

Other than, "Thank you Sarah."

She takes a breath and changes the subject, "I think I should warn ya though, the lad Cass, has a wee bit of a crush on you now. I can tell by the way he talks bout ye. It's rather adorable really."

"He's a young boy Sarah, it happens." I wave it off.

"Oh aye it does. Did ya ken how bright and spot on the boy is though? Moll is talking 'bout getting an assessment test before school starts. That boy seems to 'ave a bright future ahead of him now that he's part of the family."

"Really? I knew he was smart, but he's book smart too, that's good to hear. I'm glad I thought of Moll and Mark when he wouldn't let me leave. I'll talk to Moll about that later. Thank you for being my sister through the years and giving me direction when I needed it. John is quite a man. Anyways, now I'll let you rest. Goodnight Sarah."

"'Ach 'twas nothin. Goodnight Mary, I love you."

"I love you too, Sarah."

..........................

That was the last time I ever saw her alive. The next morning Mollie called crying saying how she'd passed in her sleep. All I can say now is thank you whoever decides fate that sent John to me, because if he wasn't there to hold me as I fell apart, I don't know what I would've done.

A massive black void now filled my every harrowing, waking moment. I just laid there not wanting to move, eat, or even drink.

I cried and screamed into my pillow, the bed, and Johns embrace as I realized over and over again, I'd never see her again.  My friend, the sister I never had, the one who had kept me together and strong through all these years.

Racking sobs and endless tears just flowed from me. For three days straight I was in utter agony.

John finally placed me in a bath and washed me gently on the third day when my tears had slowed long enough to breathe with out sobbing again. He dried me off and got me some clothes while he changed the bed linen and put me back in bed.

Moll, Mark and Cass came over to try and comfort me, under no fault of their own, it just made the tears flow again. Cass didn't want to leave me and crawled into my bed and hugged me, patting my head and back. I fell asleep under his gentle care for a little while until Mark said it was time to go and the movement woke me up.

There was no memorial or celebration of life, just as she wished. Her remains were buried with her husband, daughter, son, and grandchildren all the family that had already passed before her, their own family tomb back in Scotland.

Now Moll was all that survived of her blood and she would be the last as well. I have watched my entire family both blood and non, die, save one. Mollie. In time I would be burying her as well.

I cried in Johns arms to him about this and he held me tightly, "You still have us though Mary. I will do my best to see about getting a Fae to fix this for you. I will not leave you alone in this world until I do, I promise."

"What happened to "Happily Ever After?" When fairy tales are told, it's always 'they lived happily ever after' not 'now welcome to an eternity of torment'." I said frustrated.

"Because that's all a fairy tale is, ...a story."