John and Marlena (Finally) Get a Q!

Chapter 61 - New York, New York

Marlena turned around, her jaw dropping slightly as she looked up at the façade of the hotel in front of her. Q took her hand in his and led her up the steps. The lobby of the Carlyle was small and understated, but the impression was of a subtle opulence. It had an exclusive European feel to it and an eye for detail could discern the elegant and expensive furnishings under the soft glow emanating from Tiffany lamps. Gene turned to her.

"Will this do?" he whispered with a smile. Marlena could only nod, her eyes wide.

She followed him to the desk where the night clerk was on duty.

"Yes sir, can I help you?" The snide look on his face told them that he was less than impressed with their attire and no doubt by the time they had chosen to appear.

"Yes, you can," Q wasn't about to let this spotty-faced pipsqueak ruin his night. He slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out a platinum American Express card. He laid it on the counter with a condescending smile. "We need to pick up the key to our suite. We checked in earlier, but you'll probably need the card to confirm."

The clerk nodded, disbelief plain in his eyes as he picked up the card from the polished wooden counter.

"I'll be right back," he managed a haughty smile before he disappeared through a door, no doubt to check the validity of the credit card.

Marlena looked at Q in amazement. She had never encountered this sort of treatment at a hotel before. He grinned back at her.

"Well, we're not exactly dressed to the nines. I guess they're not used to quite *this* degree of casualness." He indicated Marlena's clothing and she looked down. The knees of her white sweatpants were stained with grass and dirt, an adornment that seemed to travel all the way up her rumpled clothing. She chuckled ruefully, a blush seeping into her cheeks as she pulled her fingers through her tangled hair.

"Oh, I guess not."

"You still look gorgeous to me," he kissed her forehead.

"I knew there was a reason I liked you." Marlena stroked his cheek with her thumb and then kissed him.

Gene's face broke out into a wide smile.

"How about we blow that moron's mind?" he asked her, indicating the door which the clerk had passed through.

"What? How?" Marlena had no idea what he had in mind.

"Just close your eyes for a moment," he entreated her with some excitement. Marlena looked at him, her eyebrows raised, and then did as he asked. She heard a small click and suddenly she felt the cool draft of the air-conditioning drift across her shoulders. She opened her eyes and looked at Eugene. He wore a tuxedo with a blue bow tie. The sight of it evoked a smile as it called to long-forgotten memories.

He took a deep breath, stunned at how beautiful she looked.

"Turn around," he told her in a low voice.

In the mirror before her she saw that her hair was now piled up on her head in an elegant French twist, tendrils framing the sides of her face. Discrete diamonds swung from her ears and nestled at the base of her throat. Her dress was a strapless creation cut from an exquisite mauve-blue satin. Rhinestones littered the straps of her matching shoes.

Gene walked up behind her and pulled the satin wrap closer around her shoulders. She shook her head, amazed and thrilled at the same time.

"I feel like Cinderella." He dropped a kiss on a shoulder that was lightly dusted with freckles.

"You look more beautiful than Cinderella ever did."

"Flattery will get you everywhere," her voice was husky as she turned around in his arms.