Epilogue

She crossed and then uncrossed her legs, her foot twitching. She then sighed and crossed her legs again, her hands wringing in her lap. She had a distinct gut feeling as to why she was here, but still didn't fully believe it. She'd just have to wait and see.

She looked at him, and then around the shop; the different fabrics, the mannequins. The door to the fitting room which had the secret lock to the hidden equipment room, the hall that reached the Dining Room of the shop. The door that had the 'elevator' to the tube.

She was seeing much more than the first time she entered the shop, trying to reach Eggsy who was simply a tailor then. Things had definitely changed since that day.

He cleared his throat and she turned to look at him, hiding her triumph. She'd read that in negotiations it was best to not talk first.

They stared at each other.

She raised an eyebrow.

He did the same.

She smiled and then wiggled her eyebrows… And he only stared at her.

She sighed, giving in.

"Fine. There it is. I said the first words, Merlin."

Merlin gave a slight nod, his lips twitching.

"So, here we are."

She stared but then shook her head.

"Seriously? After all that shit, then sitting here for who knows how fuck long… that's what you have to say?"

Merlin stared at her, analyzing her, figuring her out as though she was a stranger.

"What?" she asked.

He stared, but then nodded.

"I must say, you've recovered… well, from your endeavor."

She blinked, but then shrugged.

It had been two weeks since her rescue – though she'd been adamant to label it as a 'recovery', hating the former word. She was in the midst of her own escape when the Kingsman came along, she made sure that was known to avoid the 'damsel in distress' syndrome.

However, the first few nights home, Eggsy, who had unofficially and wordlessly moved in, had to wake her up from nightmares. For as long as she lived she would never forget the morning home. He woke her up and dragged her to his apartment with a copy of The Sun in his hand, making her pin up the cover with the headline reading "It Must Be Magic" about a Harry Potter actor's surpising development (also known as puberty).

He'd turned to her, looking at the various covers just as she was doing.

"Magic brought you home," he'd said softly, squeezing her hand tight.

Ariel blinked, bringing her thoughts back to the present.

"As well as anyone could, I suppose," she said softly, not meeting Merlin's gaze.

"I'm here to talk to you about your future. You'd fit in well with our-"

"Oh, hell no!" she interrupted, knowing he was trying to find her a job.

He stopped, and raised an eyebrow.

She took in a breath, but then shook her head.

"Listen… I… I can never thank you enough for what you did to help me. Not just what Eggsy did, but all of you… But there is no amount of money to convince me to work for this agency."

He sighed, and shook his head.

"You're wasting your potential, Ariel."

It was her turn to raise an eyebrow.

"Excuse me?"

Merlin only stared.

"How… dare you," she said, standing up quickly. "If you weren't Eggsy's boss I'd kick your fuckin' ass."

"Sit down," he barked. She blanched, but then drew her mouth into a tight line as she plopped onto the sofa, swinging her feet onto the coffee table, hearing a scoff from the man at the desk.

"Fine, Merlin, which potential am I wasting?"

"Firstly, I must advise that despite the sweater vest, I can more than hold my own."

She raised an eyebrow.

"Secondly," he continued, but she interrupted.

"I'm a scientist, just like my parents. I can hold my own, but I can't kick ass like the Kingsman do."

He tilted his head.

"I'm looking at a civilian who was able to avoid two separate kidnap attempts."

"I don't-"

"I'm looking at a woman who was held hostage, but managed to survive; fellow witnesses recall that you played a front, faking work, biding time."

She frowned.

"I wasn't biding for time; I just knew that-"

"Your explanation, which I can presume was that you were just faking work to stay alive, to find a way out, is one of the many reasons you should join us."

"I don't have field experience-"

"When we were hacked," Merlin started, taking a deep breath before continuing, "and the men came to the safe house… Eggsy wrote it all down in his report.

She stopped at that.

What, exactly, had Eggsy disclosed of their time at the cabin?

"Your own life was threatened, and instead of using that to your own gain, you used it to save the life of another."

She shook her head. She wanted to voice out loud that if it was anyone else – she didn't know what she would've done. But seeing Eggsy broken down, in danger… she would've done anything.

"Freelance," she said softly, crossing her arms as she looked at the faded leather on her boots. "I'm just a scientist, like my parents."

"That's exactly why you'd be a great addition. Your background, your survival instinct-"

"I don't agree to a project, job, mission, whatever the hell you call it – I'm not gonna be forced."

Merlin only nodded.

"Nothing on the field."

He nodded again.

"Strictly at headquarters… maybe on sight, if it's somewhere good. Never been to France. Or Italy. I've always…"

"That's not how that works, Ariel."

She smiled, expecting that reply.

She sat up straight, sighed, and then leant forward over the coffee table between their sofas, holding out a hand.

"Freelance it is. And expect that my invoices will be significantly more than the minimum wage."

Merlin tilted his head, but then shook her hand.

"Wouldn't expect anything less from you."

The cab dropped her off in front of her place. She thanked Mr. Brown as she exited and looked up at both stoops, both doors.

She grinned as she climbed the steps to her place, opening the door to JB's excited barks and Syndey's welcoming meows.

She bent forward and gave them both love before she dropped her keys and purse on the table and walked to the living room where Eggsy was waiting, pizza and beer on the coffee table.

"Oh my god, I love you," she said, rushing forward and opening the box before she grabbed a piece, not bothering with a plate as she took a bite, softly moaning at the cheesy goodness.

"Babe, you're gonna have to determine if ya love me, or the pizza?" he asked.

She dropped the half-eaten slice into the box as she finished chewing, wiping her greasy hands on a napkin before she turned and leant into him, giving Eggsy a savoring kiss.

"Both, luv, but you're a close first."

He chuckled as he leaned in for another kiss, which he meant to be quick but she leaned in, making it longer and sweeter.

He pulled back, letting out a breath.

"It's gonna get cold."

She nodded.

"True."

But that didn't stop them.

When her stomach rumbled, however, Eggsy went to reheat the pizza in the oven as she toed off her shoes, curling them under her body.

"So…" Eggsy started, leaning against the doorway, watching her speculatively. She blinked but then shook her head.

"Holy hell, you knew!?"

He only stared at her.

"Wait, you didn't ask him to-"

"Rox was the one to bring it up," he said, walking forward, climbing onto the sofa with her, grasping her hands. She pulled but he held on tight.

"What? Is it so wrong of me to want to work with my girlfriend?"

She frowned at him. He frowned back.

They kept a static gaze and she broke first, her lips turning up into a smile as she leant forward for a savoring kiss.

"Dammit, Eggsy," she said as she pulled back.

"All I gotta say," he started and she leant forward, her nails digging into his skin…

"Is that this is gonna be interestin'."

Holy crap.

I honestly didn't expect such a reaction from a small measly fanfic, but here we are!

I love you all, thank you for reading, viewing, and reviewing.

This is the end. And it has been quite a ride!

However, after I determine a title, I will be posting my second Kingsman fic ASAP; my story has the same element of the sequel: The American Branch.

Thank you for reading.