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Aubrey gave a soft smile and took a few more sips of her wine. "But I'm serious, Nick. I was really scared. I love you. Am I going to be able to talk to some one else on occasion without feeling afraid that you're going to get angry at me?"

"I promise," she said, taking his hands.

Fine, it had to be done.

"I think, next time, if you can try not to order me around like a dog. At least in public. Let me show them I follow you because I want to, not because you make me. Because its the truth, you know."

Damn him, she felt so much like a flitty little teenager around him. "I'm glad you're comfortable around me," she said with a smile.

She finished off her glass of wine and held it out and as if to ask for more.

"And is it really that obvious that I would do anything for you. Yeah its true, but I would like to think that I come off as more than a mindless Moreau-bot." She cracked a grin.

"Baby, I don't think fuzzy pink bunnies could kill your evil scientist angle," Aubrey downed another glass of the wine. And secretly wished next time he wanted to spend $500 or more to impress her he would use on jewelry insted of wine. If he wanted to get her into bed a nice diamond tennis bracelet would probably work just as well.

She snickered at her own wit (wow, that was pretty damn good wine).

A text message is left for Aubrey on her cell phone styled communicator. "Aubrey, please provide the islanders whatever they need for their Christmas celebration. I will be providing presents from me for the holiday."

In the dining room a large tree has been constructed and decorated with lights overnight.

Every single gift put under it at the moment is for Aubrey.

Here is what you'll find as you unwrap the packages.

• A large box of Teuscher Chocolates (Considered some of the finest in the world ( http://www.teuscher-bh.com/productinfo.html ) many of them are the Champagne Truffles and then other varities.
  
  
• Package of different gourmet cheeses from around the world.
  
  
• Bottle of Drappier French Champagne White Wine Vintage 1959.
  
  
• Collection of custom made dresses to Aubrey's size from famous dress-makers around the world (who rarely make in that size and they would have all been custom).
  
  
• An Ipod filled with music Moreau knows Aubrey would like.
  
  
• A Bose speaker set that the Ipod can be hooked up to, to allow Aubrey to use the Ipod to listen to music without headphones.
  

About a month before last Christmas...

Moreau looked at his watch as the elevator dinged open in the ground floor of his mansion. It was late and he headed for his bedroom. He knew Aubrey would probably be waiting for him, he had worked late, again. He climbed the stairs and turned the corner to enter the plush bedroom with the California King four poster bed at the back wall.

"Good evening." he said as he entered.

Aubrey was indeed waiting for him, sitting up in the bed in her nightgown, cuddled up with a body pillow and book. She smiled warmly as Moreau came in, marking her place and setting it down on the bedside table. "Good evening."

Moreau walked over to a seperate changing room. He put his clothes away to be cleaned by the help and came out in nothing but his boxers. As he normally wore to bed.
Aubrey pulled down the comforter welcoming him, immediately snuggling up to his side. "Its late," she started, "You must be tired..."

"Just a bit, yes..." Moreau detected a hint of something else in Aubrey's voice. Something that was bothering her, he worried about this since when something bothered her it bothered him.

"Is everything okay love?" he looked over at her.

"Well now that you mention it...." she said kissing his cheek. "I was just wonder what the exactly plans for the, you know.. .holidays were. I can't believe its been, what? Five months already?"

"Well I assumed you'd be organizing something for the islanders of course. You seem to enjoy that." Moreau shrugged and turned back a bit.

"It's been a productive five months. I'm glad your here." he said.

Aubrey smiled. "Yes, very productive. And I know that I don't have a real, you know, official work type benefit plan or anything, but I was wondering when I might be getting some, you know, vacation time? I haven't seen my mother since the airport and I always spend Christmas with her."


Moreau blinked. He had assumed when he had moved Aubrey here that he had made it completely clear that she would not be leaving this island. "Absolutely not."

She blinked back at him. "Excuse me?"

"Aubrey, I'm afraid love that I can't authorizing anyone leaving this island." he pulled back away a bit. "I thought you understood that the first time we spoke."

Aubrey scratched her neck. "Like...ever? Nick, I know this was a permanent relocation operation but I'm not a prisoner here."

"Of course not Aubrey, but unfortunetly the work we do here is too classified. I don't even leave the island, you know that." Moreau stayed calm hoping it would encourage Aubrey to do the same.

"Yeah, but... I didn't think you and your family were really... you know.. close. And I know this is classified, but... do you not trust me?"

"I trust you Aubrey, I truely do. But I can't allow anyone to leave unsupervised..." Moreau stopped for a moment at this mention. He began to roll over an idea in his mind as he waited for a response from Aubrey.

Aubrey closed her eyes and squeezed the bridge of her nose, trying to stay calm. "I'm not just anyone."

"And what about James? He comes and goes all the time!"

"James is, a different situation. He knows betraying me could be... dangerous." Moreau looked away, he had never really brought this up with Aubrey. He had always let her assume as everyone else did that James did what he did completely willingly. Moreau continued to mull the idea around in his head. He wasn't going to say anything until he had fully thought it out.

Aubrey blinked. She really didn't want to admit it, but she knew betraying Moreau could be... dangerous. "You... you don't think I would betray you...do you?"

"I... don't Aubrey." Moreau sighed and attempted to snuggle closer. "Listen, I may have a way to make this work..."

Aubrey didn't feel quite out of the woods yet, so she raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"I... we... have a lot to do over the holidays. But if your willing to work with me. We can both visit your family just after Christmas." Moreau looked into her eyes for a reaction.

"How does that sound? A few weeks atleast away from the island. Maybe go some other places as well? Whereever you want in the world, as long as I stay with you." Moreau grinned hoping this offer would satisfy her.

Aubrey's eyes widened. Meeting the parents, for more females, was code for things were getting serious. "You're serious?! Really, Nick? You'd do that?"

"Yes... and we'll go wherever else you want. You can plan the entire trip. Anywhere... you desire." Moreau smiled. Getting her away from the island would prevent any moral issues with his... plans.

Aubrey smiled and began to relax. "Can you at least let me get a letter off to them to tell them I'll be coming?"

"Of course, we'll have James deliver it." Moreau of course would look at it as well but he wasn't going to tell Aubrey that. He trusted her... mostly. But he couldn't let anything jeperdize his operation. Not even her.

Aubrey pulled Moreau into a deep kiss, her mind already trying to wrap around what her parents would think. They didn't really.. approve of her obsession with Moreau, and definately didn't approve of her taking his job offer.
Moreau finished the kiss "Aubrey, I just want to see you happy." Moreau stroked his hand through her hair. "I look forward to meeting your parents."

"Now, lets sleep love." he snuggled close to her.

"I'm sure they'll love you once they actually get to know you," she said, not realizing that probably just gave away that, currently, they couldn't stand him. But she wasn't thinking about that now, she happily snuggled up close and tossed her glasses into the bedside table.

"I'm sure your right." Moreau quickly picked up what that met. He'd always had impressions that they didn't like him. "Don't worry love, nothing will stand between us. Nothing." He'd make sure of it, then he closed his eyes.