BOND

38.

Staring at the ceiling

Two weeks and I'll be home

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

Elena shook off the need to sleep, knowing she won't be getting any for the whole day. The second her foot touched the ground Hugh was whisking her off for interviews.

Half listening to him, she walked much slower than his usual power walk, her attention around her as nostalgia hit her smack dab in the face. Much as she had wanted to get away from the place, and glad that she had, this had been her home. Quickly waving to the people who managed to snap out of their awe before she had already moved on ahead, she sat into the waiting car.

"There are three today so tomorrow..." Hugh trailed off when she didn't give the slightest reaction that she had heard him even the slightest bit.

Feeling a comforting hand on her knee, Elena tore her gaze away from the window to look at Hugh. "Sorry. I was just," she sighed. "Taking it all in."

Her phone rang and she smiled at the caller ID.

"Shouldn't you be sleeping right now?"

Joey's drowsy voice filtered through the line, "Just wanted to see if the flight was okay."

She heard the rustle of sheets, the same sheets she had been in just hours ago, and imagined him turning about as he woke up more. "It was terrible," she said, attempting to sound glum.

"Great," he yawned. "Have fun at home."

The definition of that had definitely changed. She waited for him to cut the call but when finally light snores filtered through she put down the phone, smiling.

"Which photo did you post again?" Hugh asked, shuffling through the mountain of documents that only he knew the way around. 

Elena passed her phone over, her Instagram profile already open. 

Nodding in approval of the photo Joey smiling into the distance, at her actually since Taylor had taken the actual photo, he said, "You two look good together."

Hugh, though a good friend, wasn't very forthcoming with compliments or even talking really so she knew that the observation was a big deal.

"Thanks, Hugh," she smiled warmly before melting back into the seat, her legs propped up to relieve the dull ache. She must have dozed off because the next thing she knew was Hugh shaking her lightly.

Stumbling out of the vehicle, the first thing she saw was Michael, walking towards her with the biggest grin on his face. Managing out a wider smile than the one she wanted to give, she covered the distance between them, immediately finding the familiar feeling of being in his arms comforting.

"Missed you," she dragged out, separating herself from him. He had been in London for almost the past month so it had been in a while since they had last seen each other.

Hugh interrupted their meet cute, pushing both of them into the studio.

That was pretty much all he did for the whole day and the one after. Pushing them along for interviews the instant one ended. If they stopped in between for meals, Elena and Michael couldn't remember it. Still, being around each other, they slipped into their usual chaotic behavior.

After a prank in the studio went wrong and Hugh ended up being drenched in cold water, he separated them off. 

Michael got off on good manners ad since it was her who had organized the whole thing, she had press for another hour.