3 years later

It was a peaceful night where I remained lifeless on my bed. I felt tired and unproductive as I put on music and tossed the phone somewhere on the mattress while I closed my eyes. No one was in the house. It was quiet and empty save the body that was mine occupying a tiny fraction of the area inside.

I felt my chest rise and fall steadily as I gazed at the dark ceiling with a blank stare. The time was 11pm the last I checked the clock. Usually, Helene and Carlos would drop by with Cherish since they were, uhem, fired from the agency. However, today I heard there were plans going on at the R.U. They were probably called up for something considering they didn't pay me a visit.

I rolled on my stomach and propped up my head with my hands as my elbows supported it. I wasn't a part of the corporation anymore. It wasn't my business where anyone was or what they did. Well, except for one man.

Suddenly, my phone rang. My startled self raised her eyebrows and picked it up to see who had the damn nerves to call almost at midnight and disrupt the lonely me deep in thought.

Clearing my throat, I proceeded with an uninterested tone, "... I'm shaving, please leave a messag—"

There was a chuckle on the other side that interrupted me. My eyes widened as I shut my mouth and pressed the phone to my ear.

"Carter," My voice came out barely above a whisper, a beam emerging on my face as I tilted my head on his reply.

"Shaving you said?" Liam asked from the other side.

I laughed, "I thought you were Kai or someone."

"Uhuh," he commented sarcastically, "And you would tell Bennet that you're shaving?"

"You don't know how fast he'd click his phone off," I smirked, running a hand through my hair as I turned to lay on my back. There was a moment of silence on the line before I heard the man speak up with, "I missed you."

A sad smile formed on my face as I tried to recall the last time we were in touch. It had been a few weeks. Liam had a mission overseas and he was still currently on it as far as I knew. We both missed calls due to the different time zones and it ended up with me telling him to just focus on the mission. We would talk when he came back. I'd rather that then him get distracted and hurt, and then never come back.

"Jamie?" Liam spoke up again.

"You could call now?" I asked carefully, "What about the mission?" My expression dropped and I sat up criss-crossed on the bed, glancing at the clock, "... I'll just call you later. For now—"

"Jamie." He cut in firmly.

I pulled away the phone and looked at it with slightly wide eyes. Crap, I did it again.

"Sorry," I put my face in my hands lightly after letting the phone sit on the bed, "I'm just a little tired." Sighing a bit at how my mood drastically changed so quickly recently, I added, "I miss you, Liam. I want to see you."

Even if I couldn't see his face at the moment, I could picture the man smiling on the other side. "You miss me?" I suddenly heard him ask.

"Yeah.." I sat there with my eyes closed and listened to his deep voice. He'd grown, even more so than the last time we were together. He knew just what to say, when to say them, and how to say them to make me feel better. I still don't know how the man does it, but I wondered how he was going to do it today. For some reason I didn't feel like being happy today.

"Well then come downstairs and see him, Mrs. Carter."

I froze. I knew that voice from a thousand miles away. "Isla..?" My eyes dilated as I heard her and Liam conversing quietly, "What are you doing on Carter's mission?"

"How thick-headed are you?" The girl scoffed as she replaced Liam on the phone.

I rolled my eyes. "Shut up and say it in words I can understand, jerk."

"He's back," Isla smirked after our little squabble, "We're outside your door. Want to open up?"

"But how—" My voice cut off as I felt pain in my stomach. But while my mind should've raced through all of the possible explanations on what I just heard, it only thought of one thing, and one thing only: Liam was back.

I felt my heart racing as I pushed myself up and got off the bed. My phone remained open and unanswered on the mattress as I left my room and hurried downstairs. I was slightly sweating, I had no idea why. The temperature inside my old house was always the same. Maybe I was sick? Beats me how though, I haven't been in contact with people in forever.

This sucks, I groaned mentally to myself as I reached my front door, I haven't even quit being an agent for that long and I'm already unfit. That's impossible.

Without wasting anymore time, I opened the door and my eyes widened on seeing not only Liam and Isla standing right before me, but another girl holding a stack of envelopes. I didn't care at the moment what they were though.

My eyes softened as the man I had just been talking to happened to be standing before me with his arms wide open, grinning. I went into his embrace and wrapped my arms tightly around him, face buried in his chest. Liam picked me up off my feet and we spun briefly in our own little world. I laughed out loud for the first time in weeks and tilted my head down while in the air to kiss him as we made eye contact. He eventually slowed down and placed me back on my feet as he deepened the kiss, stroking my hair tenderly.

Isla smiled and shook her head slowly, watching the two of us have our reunion like it had been years. However, one person, more specifically the girl they came with, couldn't read the atmosphere and she began her charades of coughing to get our attention.

I frowned into the kiss and Liam could sense it, pulling away with a laugh as he understood why my mood had changed. The two of us turned to the girl and I arched my brows at her as if to say, you called, dear?

The girl flinched back when she saw my glare, but she kept an overall straight face while she gave Isla a weird look and cleared her throat. "Why did we come here?" she suddenly asked Isla before turning to Liam as if to include him too, "We're supposed to be at the party!"

We three adults looked at her silently as if she wasn't from Earth. "Does this look like a party to you?" I asked her amused, glancing at Isla with a curious expression. Isla sighed and frowned at the girl. "I'd appreciate it if you kept quiet and do what you're told to do, Melissa."

Liam wrapped his arm over my shoulders with a smirk as I crossed my arms and eyed so-called Melissa. "Trainee at the Renai?" I guessed with an uninterested tone at Isla, who nodded reluctantly.

Melissa's eyes widened, "Wait, how does she—"

"How about we come inside," Liam cut in, glancing at me with a side-smile, "I'm dying to sit down. 8 hrs. on a private jet doesn't really give me the chance to relax."

I rolled my eyes and let all of them inside, shutting the door and going to the living room where everyone had already settled down on the couches. Liam gestured for me to sit next to him and I complied, leaning back in his arms before I eyed everyone with suspicious eyes.

"Alright, spill." I spoke up after a moment of silence, "What's going on? Why are you all here?" Isla, who usually had her grumpy face on 24/7, lightened up slightly when she heard me ask my question.

"You're getting out the house, that's what," she smirked, crossing her arms across her chest.

I raised my eyebrows. "It's 11, be realistic. What restaurant is going to be open long enough to serve your growling stomach?"

"Tsk," Isla scoffed.

"Wasn't that hard to hear 10 ft. away," I mumbled extra loud, getting up to grab some drinks. I stopped when Liam grabbed my arm and pulled me back down to sit with him with a smirk.

"Here's what's up," Liam intervened finally, "The R.U.'s having a reunion party to celebrate the alliance of the Renais and some other major agencies. It's held at the restaurant they reserved specifically tonight. All agents are invited to come."

"Wait," Melissa interrupted him, making us turn our attention to her, "Why are we telling her this? I thought only we were supposed to know? You know, because of us being..." she glanced at Isla and Liam as if they should already know what she meant without her saying the last word, 'agents.'

"Are you forgetting something?" I ignored the ignorant girl as I looked at Liam curiously.

"You're an exception," Isla said, "Cause you're someone's wife."

I laughed at her bitter tone, "Oh? If I didn't know any better I'd have thought you wanted to drag me along because you're lonely."

"I have Gale—" she shot back, suddenly quieting down as she realized what she had just spit out.

"Ohuhu," I smirked at her, leaning forward as my ears perked up, "A relationship between two agents from different agencies?" I saw the woman before me shift uncomfortably and I stroked my chin in exaggerated thought. "What a girl— you get him, Oakwood."

Isla blushed five shades brighter and she glared at Liam. "Why'd you have to marry her?" she whisper-yelled through gritted teeth.

"Cause I love her," he answered back without hesitation as he stuck out his tongue and watched the scene unfold in amusement.

"Don't act like you don't care about me," I continued, smiling innocently at Isla.

"I don't," the woman tested me, raising her eyebrows, "I'm only tagging along because of Liam."

I rolled my eyes and mimicked her last line silently as I glanced at Liam, who was arching his brows at the two of us bickering. "So you coming, Jamie?" he asked, intertwining our hands together.

I shook my head. "I'm not feeling it. Besides, I have bad experiences with parties and restaurants." I coughed once and eyed Isla from the corner of my eyes, who looked away and pretended to pick at her clothes.

"Wait, he loves her?" Melissa blurted out, staring at Liam with confused, hurt eyes.

"Keep up, will you?" I snapped at the girl, who shut up immediately. I looked back at Liam who began talking again. "Hmm, you're not coming?" he said, thinking.

I eyed him for a few seconds before my face contorted into a suspicious frown. "Stop it."

"Stop what?" he asked innocently.

"Stop with the face."

"What face? This is my face."

"But you're doing that thing with your eyeballs."

"Aren't you analyzing too much, Lennon?"

"But— Isla, you don't see it?" I turned to the woman.

"See what?" Isla jumped in.

"His eyes."

"I mean.. yeah?" The woman eyed me weirdly, "It'd be weird if he suddenly didn't have his irises—"

"No, it's sparkling like when he wants something from me." I backed away with a cautious expression, suddenly seeing a smirk on Liam's face.

"I'm sure that only happens in movies," Liam laughed, "And stories. We're not in a story."

Pause.

From the corner of my eyes, I glanced briefly at the ceiling with squinted eyes.

.. Jamie, stop staring at me or you'll freak the others.

"Jamie?" Liam called me.

I looked away and forced a smile at Liam, "You aren't letting me not go, am I right?"

"Who said that?" Liam playfully rolled his eyes.

"Go change," Isla nodded, "We're behind on time."

"What about you two? And little miss chatterbox here?" I smiled at Melissa. She reminded me of Diana, but from what I've heard from Sammy, Diana had gotten better.

"I'm all dressed up under this coat," Isla replied, opening her trench coat to reveal a long, hugging black-silk dress, "I'll finish up the final touches in your bathroom. You still have my lipgloss on the little shelf above the sink?"

I scoffed. "I didn't even go in that restroom after you came here last time. Feel free to use it for eternity."

"Your hate for me is lovely," Isla grinned, winking as she made her way to the hallway and out of view. I rolled my eyes and smiled, shaking my head as the woman disappeared.

"Melissa," I then called the girl, who turned her head to me and tensed up, "You want to change in a bathroom too?"

"I still don't understan—"

"It's the third door to your right after you follow Isla down the hallway," I sighed, "There's another bathroom there."

"But—" The girl gave up and glared at me instead.

"A simple 'thank you' would suffice," I stated back calmly, looking over at Liam who had gotten up from the couch. "I'll be up in a bit to change," he told me, "I need a drink from home before we set out again." I smiled and nodded, walking up the stairs to get myself ready.

Walking into my room, I found my phone on the bed still on and I let out a small sigh, trudging to the closet to see if there was anything suitable for a party. And not just any party hosted by just anyone, it was a big celebratory reunion party hosted by my ex-agency for current agents, and I'll just happen to show up as an ex-agent. I mean, I didn't leave with any bad blood between us, but it'd still be weird seeing faces of my old team, old agents, and possibly my old team leader.

The memories. We had a good run. I was happy for the most part, and I backed off when I knew I couldn't find that happiness staying there anymore. But I guess it wouldn't be too bad to see everyone again. You could say I was a little thankful they still considered me something considering they allowed Liam and Isla to invite me.

I wondered if me leaving affected anyone..? I doubt it, I thought to myself as I picked out a dress, it's been another three years. Given time, anything could become normal again. Anything.

Feeling tired, I went to the bathroom for a moment. Little did I know I'd end up staying there having the worst moments of my life. It was a while before I heard someone come up the stairs. Wiping my mouth, I turned on the faucet and washed myself. There was small knocking on the door before it opened and I heard the big, low footsteps of a man in my room. "Where are you?" Liam asked as he put his bag down and began taking off his coat.

"Restroom," I mumbled, looking at myself in the mirror as I shut my eyes and held myself steady. I waited a few seconds before grunting quietly and turning off the faucet, wiping my hands on the towel hanging on the hook on the wall.

"You've been up here for a while," Liam commented from the other side of the door, "Melissa's already done."

I opened the door and our eyes locked on each other as I forced a smirk, "As long as Oakwood isn't ready yet, I can take my time." He smirked as I came out and stepped in front of him, helping him take off his tie.

"I saw the dress you picked out," I heard him say as I unknotted the fabric and gently took it off his neck while the man sighed out in relief and began unbuttoning his shirt.

"I don't know if it still fits," I laughed weakly, taking a step back as I walked towards the bed where I laid the dress out, "Haven't gone anywhere in a while. I didn't need a dress so I didn't buy one."

"Mind if I picked it out?" Liam smirked, pointing to the door where he hung a new gown I had never seen before. I assumed he put it there when he was welcoming himself inside.

"Wow," My eyes widened at how beautiful it was. I glanced at Liam and he nodded for me to take the dress and examine it. So I did.

"You had time to buy something like this?" I joked as I held the gown up and looked it up and down, admiring Liam staring at me from the side. "Thank you."

He walked up to me and planted a gentle kiss on the top of my head. "Go try it on."



I came out with my hair and makeup all done and was expecting my man to greet me looking equally spectacular, but I ended up snorting playfully as I laid eyes on a half-naked Liam.



"If I didn't know any better," I tilted my chin up with a smirk as I walked towards him, "You seemed to be waiting for me to see you like that. Be honest, how long did you pose, babe?"

Liam smirked and ran a hand through his hair. "Hey, I worked hard as an agent. My abs should be appreciated."

I coughed and wandered my eyes to the ceiling. "You mean your rib cage," I murmured, realizing too soon that he had heard my remark.

".. And that's why I love you," Liam forced an intimidating grin as he tackled me on the bed abruptly. My eyes widened and soon I failed at letting out fits of laughter as I fought with the man above me. "Carter, I can't breathe," I gasped finally, hands pushing up on his chest, "You're heavy. Take out your gadgets from your pockets before climbing over me, god."

"Weeak." he teased, bending down to kiss my lips before climbing off of my body. I felt the bed rise and I decided it was safe to sit up again, regaining my breath as I straighten out the dress that I was wearing. Great, hair was messed up.

Liam got himself dressed as I tossed him his white-collared long sleeve I folded in the drawers earlier that week. The man worked fast, still in agent-mode I presumed amusingly, while I tidied up his hair, not before giving it a good ruffle to make him frown.

He gazed at my own hair for a moment before shaking his head with a sad smile and looking back down at me.

"What is it?" I asked, matching his expression as I waited for him to reply.

"I just thought the gown would've gone well with.."

I smiled as I finally understood what he wanted to say. "I left it there in the house that time, remember?"

"Thought so," he sighed, "Oh well. So long."

"It was cute while it lasted," I lightened up as I caught his eye and grinned, "Our little thing." I tied my hair into a low bun with a hair tie and waited for Liam to finish preparing.

When he was done, he took my hand and the both of us glance down at our wedding rings sparkling in the night, reminding me of everything I've went through before that little thing was put on me. Liam brought my hand up to his lips and lightly kissed it, before looking me in the eye sincerely and the two of us left the room to go downstairs where Isla and Melissa were waiting.

"Took you long enough," Isla frowned at me as I made my way to the living room to greet her ungrateful ass.

"Fick dich," I mumbled. (Fuck You).

"She cursed at me in German, didn't she?" Isla frowned at Liam, "Vete a la mierda también." (Fuck you too).

I fake-gasped, "You cussed me out in Spanish."

"I would never." Isla smiled.

"Ladies, the car," Liam coughed, ushering all of us outside where his car was parked.

Liam sat at the driver's seat, I next to him, and Isla and Melissa were in the back seats. "Lynx," Liam activated the car, to which we heard a few whirring noises before a voice spoke up.

❝Welcome back, Liam.❞

"Lynx," I cracked a smile, "There's more people in the car."

❝Greetings to Miss Lennon, Miss Oakwood, and.. I am sorry, she is not in my contact list.❞

"I'm Melissa," the girl grumbled, probably bored and irritated that we took so long to get ready.

❝While I did not ask, thank you for letting me know.❞

The three of us adults let out soft laughs as Liam started the car and and began driving to the restaurant. The girl settled back in her seat and rolled her eyes before staring out the window, probably wondering what the hell was going on. Like, why was I suddenly attending this party for agents when I was never one?

I shook my head at her behavior and focused on the road ahead. I was still an agent at heart, it hadn't been that long since I quit, and my instructor instincts were itching this entire time to snap at the young one for breaking Bullet 15.

Bullet 15, the 15th rule in the Agent Rule Book. Agents-in-training greet senior agents in the corporation regardless of relationship.

It applied to all agents everywhere and anywhere, at any time. It was too bad I didn't have the privilege of using my authority around her, or anyone, anymore.

Liam seemed to noticed my thoughts as I stared out the window at the night sky, keeping quiet and dazed. He placed one hand on top of my left hand and I turned to him, side-smiling as I flipped my hand over so our fingers could lock. Feeling more tired than usual, I shut my eyes and attempted to get in a little sleep before we reached our destination.

-

The moment I stepped into the main room of the restaurant where the party was reserved, the room dropped silent for a moment before champagne pouring was resumed and laughter erupted once more. A crowd of agents, both familiar and unfamiliar to my memories, ran up to our group and began shaking hands and guiding us to our specific table.

"Wait, why are we being clamored??" Melissa cried out, bewildered at the warm welcome she was getting. Isla looked down at the girl and smirked, "Because we're welcoming back an ex top-ranked agent, that's why."

Her eyes widened. "Huh, who—"

❝AGENT W!❞

A chorus of voices shouted my code name from our table and my eyes had never dilated so fast before in my life. I attempted hushing them with a finger to my lips but I gave up with a beam as I saw that half of the agents before me were well drunk.

"HOLD UP, you're an agent??" Melissa pointed at me, her face scrunched up in horror.

I could feel my eyes twitching at her using informal language with me. "Well no—" I started as my attention went to her, but some familiar high-ranked R.U. agents from our table cut in and caught my eyes.

"Yo, Lennon," Aaron, Agent R, waved to me with a wide grin. Jean and Hunter sat next to him and gestured for me to come over and take a seat. I saw Sammy and Diana dressed up and pouring each other drinks after I greeted them. Helene and Carlos were also there, tending to Cherish, who was playing with Ash on Gale's lap along with Kora. Kai went over and gave me a tight hug before pulling Liam aside for some chit-chat. Amidst the chaos, I spotted Jay, my old team leader, and I grinned as I made my way to him and the German woman who asked if I wanted to have dinner with her years earlier.

"Agent W," Jay smiled as I went in to give him a hug.

"It's been so long," I sighed out, stepping back as I gave him a nod and turned to the German team leader, giving her a respectful nod as I chatted with her. We joked around and she wished me well, asking how I've been these days. Tables around us, filled with agents from different agencies, went up to talk to me and I greeted them all with big smiles and witty talk, occasionally pulling Liam in to take over half of the conversation. Time was ticking slower and slower, and I began feeling exhausted. Luckily, Jay called out for silence at our table and we all took our seats.

The man cleared his throat before announcing, "We have someone special joining us tonight."

My eyes widened before I shot my old team leader a look and glanced at Liam worriedly. He's not going to call me out, is he, I tried telling Liam. The man just shrugged slightly and smiled at me, waiting to see what happened next.

"AND WE KNOW PROTOCOL," Jay continued all of a sudden, getting cheers around the table, "BULLET 15, now."

Aaron, Jean, and Hunter, while on my same level, began the procedures by bowing out of partnership. Helene and Carlos followed even though they were no longer a part of the R.U. Gale, Sammy, Diana, and Kora bowed to show me respect. Kai and Isla stood up and followed suit out of friendship. Melissa, realizing her mistakes all night and looking around bewildered at Isla paying her respects, made a deep bow before me. And last but not least, Liam turned to me, gave me a proud smile, and bowed as the gentleman, Agent K. Jay raised his glass up for me and nodded slowly with a grin.

I felt tears daring to escape so I did my best to keep my composure as I looked around the table at each and every one of them while the tables around us clapped. My hand covered my mouth as I beamed at them straightening up and raising their glasses at me.

"Jay," My voice came out shaking. Jay gave me his attention and waited for me to talk.

"While this is amazing and I.." my lips were slightly ajar as I gazed at the group and lost my train of thought, "I.. I'm not.." —Agent W anymore. It hurt. It hurt so much that I couldn't greet them as Agent W.

"No," Jay suddenly stated, glancing at everyone, who smiled up at him and looked at me with bright eyes, "We never fired you. You retired for your well-being, but your code name still hasn't been passed down. No one else is Agent W. How about tonight, you associate yourself as an agent, just this once? And enjoy the party?"

My heart lightened up. I felt beyond happiness and gratitude at the moment. I glanced at Liam next to me. He grinned and nodded back. "You're looking much better today than the last time I saw you, Agent W," he whispered, "Glad to have you back, beautiful."

Yeah. Being an agent was awesome. I don't regret one bit. I raised my glass towards them and finally found the words to express what I wanted to say.

❝From Agent W, to all of you.❞

I took the first sip before the rest followed suit with wide, irreplaceable grins. Tonight was a night to remember.

-

"Restroom," I mumbled, putting my head in my arms. I pushed away my dish so that there was room to rest my head on the table.

Isla eyed me with slightly concerned eyes as she glanced around the restaurant. "Shit, they're all knocked out."

"Even Liam?" I pouted, wiping the sweat off my forehead as I looked up at her.

Isla walked up to the man and poked his head a few times. "Dead as a bug," she replied firmly, walking back over to me.

"Great," I cried out, "We have to toss them all in their cars and auto-drive them back. After I go to the restroom."

Isla frowned at me. "You've gone like five times since they passed out not too long ago."

"Six," I corrected, pushing myself up from the table.

"Are you okay?" Isla asked, grabbing my shoulders as she helped me stand up, "You didn't even eat a lot. I saw you called for a small serving."

"I'm going to throw it all up anyway," I forced a smirk, having trouble breathing as Isla checked my forehead.

"Wait..." Isla mumbled, standing back as she looked me over, "Throwing up. Mood swings. Rising temperature... Liam."

"What does Liam have to do with this?" I jumped in curiously, letting out a small laugh.

Isla crossed her arms and gave me an amused look. "Wow. So this is how I'm going to find out," she arched her brows.

I narrowed my eyes in confusion.

"He is so dead," Isla mumbled, glancing over at Liam as she made a motion like she was going to hit him. "Stupid Carter."

"You say that," I laughed as I watched her, "But I'm a Carter now too." I tilted my head at the woman and smirked.

"Well, that makes sense then," Isla returned my gaze, making me frown, "You're both stupid Carter's. Tomorrow, come with me to the clinic. We're going to pick up a little something for you."

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