"Of course I'm going to kill you.  This is no ordinary date you're breaking with me. You're just chickening out because you don't want to meet the rest of my family.  That's it, isn't it?  Tell me the truth!  You know I can tell when you are lying," Corrie Murchison told her absent lover.

Sighing, the man at the other end of the phone connection replied, "It's a little silly to think that I don't want to meet the rest of your family.  I've survived the gauntlet of meeting your parents, and all of your brothers, which was under very trying circumstances, too.  Meeting the rest of the family couldn't be nearly as bad."

"You'd be surprised.  You think the men in the family are formidable. Wait until you meet Grandma Murchison, or Aunt Phyllis, or my Godmother, Corrine.  Jumping naked into a pit of vipers and spiders would be easier.  And I'm used to the family.  So tell me, big boy, just why will you be unable to attend my baby brother's wedding with me next Saturday in Chicago?  And make it good."

"I would much prefer to be in Chicago, with you and your entire family, than in Langley, Virginia, meeting with the Director and a room full of upper echelon bean counters discussing world events.  Most of them have been pushing papers so long they have no real clue what's going on out there in the world or how to deal with it."

"Tell me about it.  You know what I think about a few of them," the tone of her voice hardened. 

"Corrie, watch what you say over the phone..." he started.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, 'Loose lips sink ships,' blah, blah, blah, blah, blah," she broke in sarcastically.

"Corrie, I know how you feel. I've been there," he said soothingly.

"I know you have, but it still hurts," she said, her voice breaking.

He sighed.  This was the worst part about their long distance relationship.  He wanted to pull her into his arms and comfort her, but he couldn't.  It had been well over a month now since the East Berlin mission had failed.  Corrie had trained the team of five men and women personally.  They could have sent information back using a radio improvised from a potato and two wires by the time she finished with them.  And they were caught going in, before they had time to even set up shop.  Their 'trial' was a joke, and they were all executed.  He didn't blame her one bit for the pain and anger she felt.  Everyone involved with the plan had been stunned by what had happened.  And the one word on everyone's lips was "MOLE"! 

"Corrie, I know it still hurts, but it's a part of the job, and you have to move forward," he tried to console her.

"Yes, yes, yes, it's a part of the job.  The normal risks.  This was a set up.  The mission was set up from the start.  They were waiting for them.  And I will not rest until I find out who the mole is.  So help me," she spat back.

"Corrine, that's enough!  Not over the phone!" he barked back at her.

Taking a deep breath, she said in a quieter voice, "You're right.  I'm sorry.  I'll be okay in a minute."  She paused a moment and then said, trying to sound like her old self, "Why don't you talk dirty to me for a bit.  That should get me back in a better humor."

Laughing, he said, "If I do that, it would start a whole new batch of problems, for both of us.  And getting back to the original discussion, the wedding and Langley, you know I would much rather be with you.  If there is any way possible to get there, I will be there.  I promise you that."

"Umm, I wonder.  For all I know you've got a babe in each port and this trip is just an excuse to check in on your harem," she laughed. 

He relaxed a little, assured by her joking that she was calming down.  When she started in on him like that, he knew she was going to be okay. 

"But just remember this," she warned.  "No one can keep Grandma from speaking her mind, and doing what she thinks is best.  I can not be held responsible if she breaks down the door to your meeting room with her walker and drags you out by your earlobe. And trust me, after all those years of kneading bread, her bony fingers really hurt when they grab a sensitive part like the earlobes.  You don't want to make her angry," she was laughing out loud as she finished this.

"As long as it's only the earlobes, I can take it," he laughed with her.  "And besides, I've been dealing with her star protégé now for how many years, and I've survived this far.  I think I can take whatever a ninety-two year old woman can hand me."

Laughing a sinister, almost pure evil, laugh, the woman who had changed his life said, "It's four years, five months, and, wait a second, ah, three days, to be precise.  And Granny taught me every thing I know, so show some respect.  Trust me, she can take you down, hard."

"Are you trying to frighten me?" he asked her in mock fear.

"She frightens me, sometimes, and I've known her all my life," replied his laughing lover.

"I thought you didn't frighten easily," he shot back at her.

"I don't.  I've seen you naked," she said, laughing uncontrollably.

"Thanks, it's so nice to know how much you love me," he answered her sarcastically, trying very hard to keep the smile out of his voice.

"You set yourself up for that, so don't get hot and bothered with me, big boy," she was laughing so hard, she could barely get the words out.

"Everything you do and say gets me hot and bothered," he replied.  "But it's a good hot and bothered.  And if we keep this up much longer, the telephone police will arrest both of us for lewd conversation over a public phone line.  When do you leave for Chicago?" he asked trying to change the subject.

"If all goes well, I'm taking the red eye out of Berlin late Wednesday night.  I should make it in to Chicago by Thursday afternoon, if all connections go well.  They've got practically the entire hotel booked for the family so it doesn't matter what time I get in.  Friday night is the rehearsal dinner and family get-together.  As long as I make that, my hide will stay intact.  What's your schedule look like?"

"I'll be flying into Dulles Monday morning.  After that, it's anyone's guess.  They told me to pack for at least a week, which means it could be two by the time they get finished.  I'll call you Monday night with my hotel number.  And I promise, if there is any human way possible to get to Chicago by Saturday, I will.  I want to see you in that new dress it took you so long to find.  I am sure the sales clerks throughout the continent are relieved that you finally found what you wanted.  Sometimes, you know, you make me look like a pussy cat," he laughed.

"You've never been a pussy cat.  You've always been grumpy.  I just never liked clothes shopping, and never will.  It was so much easier when I was younger and had the time.  I would make what I wanted, the way I wanted it and it fit just right.  Now, either it's too long, or not big enough in the boobs, or they think my butt should do something it was never set up to do.  It's what happens when you're the runt of the litter," she chuckled. 

"Don't speak ill of the runt. I happen to be very fond of that runt.  To me, you are just perfect, even your boobs and butt," he said seriously, and she did not to argue when he spoke in this tone of voice. 

"Corrie, I have to go now.  I have a meeting to get to. There's piles of things that have to be done before I leave for Langley, even though I'd much rather stay on the phone with you.  However, duty calls.  Behave yourself, now."

"Who, me?" she asked innocently.

"Yes, you!  I know you too well, remember?" he answered seriously.

"If you insist," she answered sweetly.

"I insist.  And," he paused, "remember, I love you," he said quietly.

"I love you, too," she answered, just as quietly.

"I'll be there if I can.  You know that.  I... I miss you," he whispered.

"Takes one to know one," she whispered back.

It was four o'clock on Friday morning.  Every possible connection that could have caused a delay did.  It was raining at each airport she had landed in.  The trip from O'Hare had been a nightmare, even at that time of the morning, because of the storms.  She looked like a drowned rat.  As the bellboy placed her suitcase on the luggage rack in her room, she looked with longing at the bed.  Nice bed.  Nice pillows.  Nice warm covers.  She handed him his tip and closed the door behind him.  She had to unpack  her dress before it was wrinkled beyond all help, but all she wanted to do was crawl under those nice warm covers, clothes and all, and go to sleep. 

Her room had a connecting door to the next room.  As she was opening her suitcase to hang out the dress it had taken too long to find, a small piece of paper slid under the connecting door.  She looked closer at it, and the message read "Knock, Knock".  Sighing, she said aloud to the door, "And which one of my perverted relatives is up at this hour of the morning playing games with a very cranky, bedraggled me?"

The paper disappeared.  When it slid back under the door, it said, "Guess?"

"You obviously don't know me too well, do you?" she asked.  "If you did, you'd know that this isn't the best time of morning to play games with me, especially after a marathon trip here during a global deluge.  You're taking you life in your hands," she told the door.

The paper disappeared again.  When it slid back, it read, "I know.   But I've dealt with it so far for four years, five months..."

She didn't read the rest.  She was beating and tearing on the door lock to get it opened.  Once she did, he was standing there, grinning at her with his best 'I got you' look.  She threw herself into his arms, his wonderful, strong, warm arms.  "I'm going to get you for this," she giggled.  The rest of her sentence was cut off when he pressed his mouth to hers. She got her wish, she did get right into bed, and she was much warmer than she had hoped to be.  She didn't get much sleep, but she made the sacrifice.  Being with him, and feeling his strong, warm hands massage and caress her tired body, it was heaven.  

As for him, the man known to the outside world as Control had been waiting for this moment since leaving Virginia early Thursday morning.  As soon as he realized that he would arrive before her, he had been planning and plotting like a little boy.  This was his chance to get back at her and yank her chain, as it seemed she was always getting him.

As soon as he had arrived at the hotel, he had checked with her father and mother to set everything in motion.  With a family as big as hers, he wanted to make sure that he had a clear playing field.  After that, he arranged for the room with the connecting door.  The original plan had called for a quiet dinner in the room together.  However, as her arrival time had been pushed ever forward, he had eaten alone in the room.  And now, she was here, in his arms.  This must be heaven.

The bedside telephone rang shrilly at seven-thirty in the morning.  Control answered gruffly, "This better be important," only to hear the voice of Corrie's father at the other end of the line.

"Corrie, your voice sure has changed," he laughed.  "Good morning, son!  Did I disturb you two?" he asked, still laughing.

"No sir, we were just sleeping, as in asleep.  Here's your daughter," and he passed the phone to the woman lying next to him in bed.

"Dad, why are you being sadistic this early in the morning?" asked his only daughter, half-asleep.  "Just because you get up to greet the sun light doesn't mean the rest of us have joined Akhenatens cult.  What's up?" she ended.

"It's time to get dressed and come down to breakfast, that's what's up.  Most of the family is meeting in the hotel restaurant at eight-thirty.  Grandma wants to see you two there, or she said she would come looking for you.  You know she means it too.  She said it was about time that you presented him to the matriarch of the family to receive her blessing.  So, rise and shine my girl child and get yourself presentable. Grandma is on the warpath and we're all glad she's looking for your scalps and not ours.  See you at breakfast," he laughed and hung up.

Groaning, Corrie handed the phone back to her lover and pulled the blanket over her head.  He replaced the phone, and rolled on his side to face her.  Leaning on his elbow, he poked her through the blankets and said, "Are you going to share this good news with me, or do I have to play guessing games before I have my first cup of coffee?"

"Trust me, you don't want to know.  Let's just pretend we aren't here and when everyone is at breakfast, we can sneak out of the hotel and go drown ourselves in the lake," she mumbled from under the blankets. 

"It can't be that bad, it's only seven-thirty in the morning," he said, and tickled her.  "Come on, woman, tell me what's going on in the Murchison clan to cause your father to use the telephone this early in the day."

"Grandma," she groaned in reply.

One hour later, Control led Corrie into the dining room of the hotel and walked straight up to the matriarch of the Murchison family, sitting at the head of a long table.  As Corrie and the rest of the clan looked on, he bent over, took the frail womans hand in his, and kissed her hard straight on the lips.  Then he leaned over and whispered huskily in the old woman's ear, "Corrie's told me what a big influence you've had on her.  Thank you for teaching her everything you know about men.  I am very, very grateful."

The rest of the morning passed in a blur.  Control could not say exactly how many Murchisons he had met at that one meal, but there where more than he ever thought existed on the planet.  As the group was breaking up, Corrie's father had pulled him aside and congratulated him on the way he had handled his fearsome mother.  It was the first time in family history that grandma had ever been left speechless when meeting one of her grandchildren's beaus for the first time.  "Son, I wish I had had a camera with me this morning.  Whatever it was you said to her, believe me, I have never in my life, seen a look like that on my mother's face. It was priceless.  Thank you!" he said with all sincerity, for he truly liked this big, rugged man his only daughter had given her heart to.  And it was obvious to every one that he cared as much for her as she did for him.  She had chosen well, and he was happy for them both.

Later that afternoon, during a lull in the hectic family schedule, Control found himself alone with Corrie for the first time me since breakfast.  He had secreted her from the hotel to a quaint little restaurant he had heard about, to have a quiet late afternoon lunch with her before the chaos resumed that evening.  After talking about things in general for a while, he took her hand in his and confessed that he had been keeping something from her since she had arrived at the hotel early that morning.

Taking a deep breath, he looked down into her eyes and said, "I've been promoted.  They've given me Northern Control."

Corrie sat very still for a moment, letting the news sink into her spinning brain.  After a few seconds, she told him, "That's wonderful!  You've worked hard your whole career towards this goal.  I'm really happy for you... I think."  Slowly, as the reality of the news took hold, she went on, "The work load will be grueling, but I know you'll love that.  You won't have much free time but then again we don't now.  You have to relocate, too.  New York, isn't it?" she finished quietly.

"Yes, New York.  I'm to take over the end of this month, two weeks to be exact.  I'm to fly back to Paris the first of the week and turn everything over to John Roberts.  Then I have to close up my apartment and fly back to New York and look for a new place.  The company will handle the actual arrangements for the move and such."  He sighed deeply, and resumed, "Honey, I need to know how you feel about all this. This is going to mean a big change in our lives and I need to know you are all right with it."

She looked into his eyes and shook her head.  "I don't know how I feel about it.  It's all still sinking in.  You know that I am thrilled for you because this is what you have worked your whole life for.  You've definitely earned it.  I also know that the workload will be horrendous, and that you'll love every minute of it.  God help the secretary pool!  But that is as far as my brain is taking it right now.  You do know that I love you, and nothing is going to change that.  We'll just have to take each problem as it comes and work through it.  We've made it this far, and we've jumped some pretty big hurdles.  Unless, of course, you start believing your press clippings and your head gets too big, then I'll have to clock you," she finished with a grin on her face.

The next two days were a blur of activities that kept the two hopping.  The family dinner was great fun.  The men in the family accepted him as one of their own with no hesitation.  With Grandma Murchison's smiling approval, the women of the clan made him welcome.  The wedding of her brother went flawlessly and beautifully.  Both sides of the new family were cut from the same cloth and a good time was had by all.  A collection had even been taken up at the end of the evening to get the band to play just a little longer.  Everyone had danced until they could not stand on their feet any longer.  And to Corrie's surprised relief, no one asked if she was going to be the next one down the aisle.

By Sunday evening the majority of the family had departed town.  For a change, Control chose a small, ethnic restaurant near the hotel to have dinner that evening.  After ordering drinks, they sat quietly, the fingers of their free hands idly caressing each other's.    When the silence had stretched for a more than was usual, Control asked tenderly, "Are you okay?  Or is this just family letdown?" 

Looking at him with what looked like the start of a tear in her eye, she replied, "Yes, I am okay.  Letdown is putting it mildly after all the emotions this weekend has extracted.  It's been quite a few years since we all got together like this and I can't help wonder when, or if, we'll all get back together again.  I'll be all right in a bit, don't worry," she smiled lovingly at him.

"Is that all you're thinking about?" he asked her softly.

"No, you know that isn't all.  I've had such a wonderful time this weekend, with not only my family, but with you, my love.  I'm going into withdrawal just thinking about you moving to New York and calculating the number of miles further away from Berlin you're going to be.  I love my job, just as much as you love yours.  I wouldn't ask you to change for me, and I know you wouldn't ask me to change for you.  But..." and her voice drifted off. 

He took her hand in his and gently stroked the top of her fingers.  He looked into her face and said softly, "Corrie, it won't matter how far we are apart or how near we are.  I'll still love you and you'll still love me.  Every time we've talked about these things, we come back to the same answers.  We agree that having children together is not a driving force with either of us.  I already have a son and a daughter, twins, from a marriage in my early days with the company.  Because of my job, I lost my wife, and I have barely seen my children since.  You had enough child-rearing growing up with seven brothers.  You have enough nieces and nephews to populate a whole state and that's fine with you.  I know how much you love the job, especially now that you are doing a lot of the training.  I would not ask you to leave Berlin to be close to me because that is where your job is right now.  On the same token, you wouldn't ask me to give up my work either.  So, we're at a stalemate for now.  When something happens to change the playing field, we'll know it and we'll make a new decision then.  Am I right?" he finished gently.

"Yes, I know.  I guess I must be getting old or something.  I'm even feeling depressed about you closing the apartment in Paris.  I've never been this sappy over a residence before, and that says a lot considering how nomadic a life I've led.   But I'll always remember it for how wonderful our times there were, as well as the bad times.  Am I sounding like a real ditz now?" she asked, trying hard to smile.

"No, you sound like a woman torn between two loves.  The love of her career, and her love for the man that career introduced her to.  I'm feeling the same way.  But what are the alternatives?  We could both quit and wander the world together trying not to kill each other from boredom.  I could insist you follow me to New York like some macho Neanderthal and you clock me," he said with a twinkle in his eye and a chuckle in his voice.  "You could tell me to quit and I could follow you to Berlin and spend my days sitting in your apartment drinking the cooking sherry.  Or, we could follow the plan we are working with now, doing our jobs with our whole hearts and souls, and finding any and every spare minute we can to talk and get away to see each other, waiting for a time when something would change.  And I hope and pray that it won't be our feelings for each other that would change.  I love you with my whole heart, my whole soul, and my whole being.  I want to grow old with you and die in your arms making love to you like you promised me.  Do I make myself clear?" he finished, winking.

Leaning against him, she said quietly, "I don't know what I did in my life to deserve your love, but I will be thankful till my dying day that the Good Lord brought us together.  You're right, of course.  We've talked all this through before.  The only thing different now is that we have to leave our original love nest.  And, in the cosmic scheme of life, its only walls and windows.  Just remember one thing, though, when you are looking for a new apartment in Metropolis, it has to have a modern kitchen so when I am there I can cook for you until you explode, and a very large bathtub so we can soak the cares of the world away.  Okay?"

He kissed the top of her head and put his arm around her, not caring if it scandalized anyone in the restaurant.  Looking straight in her eyes, he said, "This I swear, I will remodel the kitchen to your exact specifications.  I will have the bathroom torn out and the largest bathtub I can find installed, along with the world's largest hot water tank to fill it.  And when the day comes that we decide we will reside together full time, I will buy you the house of your dreams.  We will settle down there for the rest of our natural lives, or until the woman in you decides we need bigger closets," he finished, nibbling her ear.

After dinner, they took a long walk along the lakeside and returned to the hotel to make love, not sadly, as two lovers about to separate, but as two lovers who delight in their love of each other and at ease with the decisions they had made together.

In the morning, word came from Berlin that her request for additional vacation days had been approved.  They took a cab to the airport and flew to Paris together.  They spent a happy week together, sorting and packing the more personal of their belongings and making plans for the time they would see each other again in New York.  When their time together ended, as they knew it would, they kissed goodbye tenderly at the airport and each headed to their separate departure gates.  One chapter in their lives together ending, another one beginning.