�Steed, we had no idea either. They had it kept very secret, and� and even Mrs Peel herself didn�t find out until the morning he flew in�� Mother confessed.
�They had him in the local hospital, to recover, for about three weeks, after one of the local tribes had found him. Until they were finally allowed to send him over.� Mother answered.
�So Mrs Peel was kept in the dark too! So they were going to let him barge in on us. In the act as they say?�
�We wouldn�t be so�� Mother weakly put it.
�What Mother? Thoughtless?� Rather dryly Steed added.
�No, inconsiderate!� Mother responded.
�For him to find out that his wife had been playing away, with one of the Ministry�s spies. It would have destroyed her own career as well as mine!!� Steed angrily said.
�Well it�s all over, in the past, there�s nothing you can do about it now� Mother blatantly said.
Steed�s eyes narrowed, and pointed his index finger at Mother saying, �Yes, and you made DAM sure that I couldn�t do anything about it didn�t you Mother!!� Steed�s voice echoed with emotion and outrage.
He poured himself another whisky, combing his dark hair back with his fingers, and paced the floor of his apartment. Mother just watched him walk, saw him torturing himself, trying to hide his feelings for Mrs Peel inside, and to wash them away with alcohol. He gulped the reddish, potent liquid down, and headed back towards the silver liquor tray.
He slammed the glass down, and turned to Mother.
Tears formed in his eyes as he said
�She was the one� The only one, don�t you understand that?�
Mother looked into his warn, tired, heartfelt grey eyes.
�I think I should go� Mother gently replied.
There was a long silence while Mother was making his way out of his apartment. Then Steed enquired saying, �And that leave of absence you mentioned?�
�Take as long as you want to Steed� Mother said sympathetically.
�You bet I will!� Steed answered readily.
And with that Mother left.
Steed paced his carpeted floor once again, thinking about her. How much he wanted to be with her right at this moment. How much he wanted to feel her close to him, her hair between his fingertips, her mouth on his own. He wanted her so badly, but he knew that he would never see or feel her again. Tears were slowly, streaming down his pale face. He felt his stomach churn, and his hands trembled, he lifted his hand to his forehead, spread his stretched fingers over his face as he wiped away his tears. He made his way to the drinks tray, again, lifted the glass decanter poured another, but this time he did not bring the glass to his lips. He watched the liquid in the glass, swirled the reddish brown medication he required around in its container and remembered her hair, her face, smile, voice, everything, her laughter filled his mind. He thought to himself, memories are all he had to remember her by, photographs helped him remember, brought back images, moments in his memory, moments he could simply not forget. They had shared so much together, now she was gone, nothing could bring her back, he knew that, but didn�t want to reflect the pain. He simply looked at the Whisky and remembered, didn�t move just stared at it. Then with one last motion of his body, he lifted the glass to his lips, and toasted it to her. �To you Emma�. Tears filled in his eyes, as the warmness soothed his aching heart, and with that he knew that she would always be with him where ever he was, deeply, imbedded in heart, his mind, and body, as if the Whisky was her, and was seeping into himself. Her words circled his mind, �Always keep your bowler on in times of strain. And watch out for Diabolical Masterminds!� He stood there for a long time, just thinking of her. He seemed contented as if a weight had been lifted off his heart, and he walked up the twisting staircase to rest. It was either the Drink, or the thought of her, but he soon drifted off to sleep.
