Eutopia (Lloyd Hansen AU)

34

"Make yourself look gorgeous, we're having dinner with Denny and the bitch the stupid hair tonight". Lloyd walked through the door one lunchtime, finding Autumn busy playing with Margot in the nursery. "How's my little sunshine?" He crouched down and admired his daughter who was focusing on the objects dangling from her baby gym.

"Dinner? " Autumn asked. "Why?"

"Talking business, the expansion of the project". He saw her face. "It doesn't just stop when we've eliminated all the CIA and Sierra agents sweetheart. The community is growing. We've got more babies on the way. Things are moving exactly how we want them to".

"Am I going to need to prepare..."

"I've got the chef on call. You just need to look beautiful". He kissed his wife and smirked. "Not that it's hard".

"No but you will be by the end if this evening I imagine?"

He shrugged it off. "What can I say? You make me feral Auty".

She smiled and kissed him gently. "I'll go pick out something to wear after lunch. It's almost ready anyway"

Lloyd got up, picking up Margot and kissing her head. "Beautiful girl, I think we may have to show you off tonight. Let Denny and dog face see just how much of a success this is".

"Lloyd" Autumn sighed.

"What? She's our success, my greatest achievement - we should be proud to show her off to everyone".

"But Denny? Lloyd, remember what he did to me".

"Hence why I'm doing it. Show him just who is running the show here. He may be calling the shots with the CIA, but amongst everything else that's happened for this to become what it is? I'm the ring master".

Autumn nodded. "I know you are".

Later that evening, Autumn smoothed her dress out, turning to Margot who she'd laid on the bed whilst getting ready. The little girl was dressed in a sweet little dress that Lloyd had brought for her one weekend whilst he was in Venice terminating another CIA agent.

"Pretty as a picture" Autumn picked her daughter up and nuzzled her, Margot now gurgling back. "Daddy's going to love it".

"Damn right he is, let's take a look 'atcha princess". Lloyd appeared in the doorway, coming over to see them. "Prettiest girl in all of Eutopia...and you?" He looked at Autumn, "are divine" now kissing her gently. "Let's get going".

They made for the waiting car to take them to headquarters, Autumn looking out of the window at the perfectly lit streets. It was quiet. All the agents now home from their busy days (aside the ones who were away) whilst their wives doted on them by making them dinner and helping them relax.

Autumn now realised she couldn't really remember what life was like before coming here, other than work. What it was like before Margot.

All of her time was now devoted to her husband and daughter.

She was no longer a perfect agent. Her original mission being over before it had begun.

She was the perfect wife. Just like all the other women who dwelled in this place.

Somehow, she now felt content with it all rather than wanting to fight against Lloyd to try and find a way out of there.

Autumn had simply accepted her role.

The car pulled up outside headquarters and Lloyd helped Autumn out, the presence of guards had increased more than normal due to the fact that they had Margot with them. He wasn't prepared to risk it. She would simply sleep through everything, anyway, having had a feed before they'd left and now was snoozing in her mother's arms.

"Denny, good to see you again". Lloyd said as the pair shook hands, his eyes laying on Suzanne. "Not you..."

"Whatever" Suzanne rolled her eyes and walked over to Autumn. "Nice to see you Autumn, and this must be Margot". She smiled gently as she admired the baby. "Least she doesn't look like Lloyd".

At this point he turned. "Carry on and I'll shove you back in that fucking doghouse where you belong".

"Lloyd" Autumn warned, but then wished she hadn't.

He stared at her but said nothing until gesturing for them all to follow. "Let's go through, dinner should be almost ready".

Suzanne hesitated for a moment as the two men walked through and then looked to Autumn. "Are you ok?"

Autumn nodded. "I'm fine. I know how to handle him".

"At least someone here does".

They followed the pair into the room where the dining table was set out along with a waiter who poured them their drinks. Autumn settled Margot into her pram and sat down, taking a sip of wine in the hopes that her courage would rise to get through the evening.

All the while, she could feel Denny's eyes on her, even if they weren't actually. Somehow it felt like he was still watching her even if he was making conversation with Lloyd.

The food was served, finally, and Autumn busied herself with with eating, hoping that no conversation would be fired her way. Suzanne gave the occasional input but otherwise remained silent. Simply listening - probably knowing that anything she objected to or proposed would be scrutinised by Lloyd.

Autumn felt her husband's hand on her leg, giving it a comforting squeeze.

"Sir, there's a call for you". One of the guards walked in. "One of the agents, says it's important".

Lloyd huffed. "Tell them to call me back later, I'm busy".

"It's regarding Donald's Fitzroy".

Autumn's head snapped up and then she looked at her husband.

"If he's not dead then I don't wanna know". Lloyd's patience was wearing thin.

Her hand quickly went to his. "Lloyd, take the call. It'll be fine". She nodded, knowing there was a steak knife right in front of her if she needed to run Denny through. He wouldn't try anything though, not in a mansion full of security.

Begrudgingly, he got up and went to speak to whoever had news.

Denny watched him go and then continued to eat. "So Autumn, how are you enjoying motherhood?" His eyes flickered up to stare into hers. "Is it everything you imagined?"

"Yes. Everything and more". She kept her focus on him, reaching for her drink and sipping it. "And our marriage? I'll admit it wasn't great at the start? But he's different now. I'd like to think I've helped him in making this place what it is".

He sighed. "Autumn you may think you know your husband but in truth you barely know him at all".

"That's not true..."

"It is...just how much has he told you about himself? Does he talk about family? Where he played as a kid? The little things that people should know about one another?" He saw her face. "Your silence says it all. Look, autumn, I'm not lying to you when I say you don't know him, because you really don't - Suzanne and I can help you outta here". 

"I don't need help". She snapped, "I'm here because you sent me..."

"Yeah, a mistake on my part. I've come to realise that all this isn't exactly what I thought it would be. And Lloyd? He's not the friend I thought I had". He gestured to under the table and passed her a key. "It's to his office. Don't let the curiosity kill you".

Before she could say anything else Lloyd walked in on his phone, now finishing the call he'd been on and smirking. "We haven't got Fitz, but we do have someone who could prove very useful..."

"Who?" Denny asked.

"The niece. They're bringing her here as we speak".

Autumn's hand kept a firm grasp on the key in her palm. As much as she hated Denny's guts, she felt like perhaps she did need to uncover just what he was playing at. Some words did ring true, the personal side of Lloyd? She had no idea about family, where he liked to play as a kid, what his favourite show was, favourite music?

Perhaps Denny was right. But she would soon prove him wrong. Maybe then she could carry on with her life.