This story copyright © 2003 Mia McCroskey
The characters from The Avengers and other sources are the property of their respective owners.
[an error occurred while processing this directive] people have read this story since April 2004
Steed revisits his past
Emma begins an important project
Epilogue
"Mrs. Gale? It's Emma -- Emma Steed," Emma shut her eyes and forced herself to take a deep breath.
"Hello Emma. How nice to hear from you -- please call me Cathy."
Emma smiled with relief. "Cathy, I wonder if you could spare some time to speak with me. A lunch perhaps?"
"That would be delightful," Cathy replied, although the suggestion actually made her immediately anxious. Much as she wanted to get to know Emma Steed, this somehow sounded more like an inquisition. But she allowed herself to commit to lunch the following day at a restaurant near the museum. Cathy immediately cancelled her 2:00 appointment, just in case.
"Cathy!" Emma waved from the table where she was already seated. Cathy couldn't blame her for not wanting to get up. She seemed to have grown by inches in the two weeks since she had last seen her. Cathy sat down across from her.
"How are you?" she asked, hoping that the point of her inquiry was obvious.
"Bloated, hungry, tired most of the time," Emma reeled off her symptoms like a catechism. "But I'm still convinced it's all worth it."
Cathy chuckled, "Perhaps I'll ask you again in a couple years."
Emma nodded and smiled. "Thank you for coming. I hope I didn't seem mysterious on the phone."
"Not at all. I have been hoping for an opportunity to get to know you better -- if that's what you had in mind?"
"After a fashion," Emma replied, picking at the napkin on the table in front of her. "This is really at Steed's insistence, although I think it's a good idea."
"Steed's insistence?"
"Yes. I had asked him, long ago, why you and he were never -- involved. He refused to answer. It came up again recently, and he strongly urged me to speak to you. Frankly, I think he's ashamed of his behavior when you and he worked together, and I'd like to know why."
Cathy sat in silence for a moment. This was unexpected, although, she realized, it shouldn't be. Emma had done what she never would -- allowed herself to love him, and marry him. Now she was trying to understand him. And Steed, well, of course he couldn't allow himself to tell his wife about the rough edges he had smoothed over just before meeting her.
"His shame is misplaced," Cathy finally said. "but he has changed a great deal since then, and I know he does not want you to think less of him."
"Then he's a silly old egotist," Emma shook her head ruefully. Cathy's eyes widened and Emma shrugged, "always so concerned that his image be as spotless as his suits. He really is worse that way than I am."
"I think this runs deeper than his clothing," Cathy said tentatively.
"So tell me," Emma replied. "Tell me the things about my husband that he won't tell me himself."
"I'm not sure I'm comfortable --."
"Please Cathy. I failed to learn everything I should about my first husband, and it ended very badly. I am confident that Steed will not betray me like Peter did, but still I am making it my business to crack him."
"You make him sound like an enemy agent."
"Once a spy," Emma shrugged and smiled, allowing herself to look appealingly at the other woman.
"He was rough -- he seemed to like to hit suspects. He was manipulative -- I think that's what bothered me the most," Cathy began. As she described Steed's faults she watched Emma's expression go from surprise, to recognition, to amusement. And then they were exchanging stories, comparing notes, and laughing at the antics of the man that they both loved, in one way or another.
fin