"So what, or rather who is in Spain?" I asked after we had reached cruising altitude.

"A good friend of mine, Señor Miguel Figaredo. He expressed interest in the Apis statue we took. Big fan of bulls." Making himself comfortable in the seats across from me, Eddie crossed his arms over his chest. "Just remember not to tell anyone about what your ring does and everything will be fine. The only feline with us is that little stinker," he said, pointing to Tangram who was curled on the seat next to me.

In response, Tan lifted his head and glared at Eddie. In the short two weeks I had him, Tangram and I had formed a strong bond. While Tangram wouldn't hurt Eddie, there was obvious male head butting going on. But I suppose that's what happens one two tigers have one girl in common.

"Ignore him, Tan, darling. You got a bath this morning. He, on the other hand, I can smell from here." I gave Eddie a little smirk as I said this, scratching Tan's ears. Gurgling happily, he rolled over for a belly rub.

"Like mother, like son. I suggest you take a nap before too long."

"Before you fall asleep, how about telling my why you brought me on this trip? You did bring them along," I said, jerking my finger at Benny and Trigger snoring away at the front of the little private jet.

"Sometimes I need more muscle than just you. Besides, I want you to be more of the ambassador this time around."

I snorted. "Me? Why me?"

"Because I know you will be polite and show interest in people. If the Triad taught you anything, it was manners. Plus, people warm up to you easily. Just look at the guys since they came back."

He had a point. When they had returned a few days ago, they had been as surly as before. Their attitudes had changed after a couple days, however, and they now treated me with a bit of respect. They willingly helped me with dishes and moving some of the heavier items around in my old room.

"Just remember, Tiger, that you and I are spending some time alone at some point," I said, moving Tangram aside so I could lie down.

With a chuckle, he rolled his eyes. "As you wish."

~ ~ ~

A few hours later Tangram awoke me by pouncing on me and pulling my hair. Forgetting where I was, I gave a grumble and tried to roll over to get away from him. Eddie caught me under my arms as I rolled off the seats.

"Good morning," he said, lifting me back into place.

Yawning, I stretched and looked out the window, pulling Tangram against me. "Where are we?"

"About forty minutes outside of our destination, Cartagena. Are you hungry?"

I shook my head. "Did he eat?"

"Ate and left a few unpleasant surprises," Eddie said, wrinkling his nose in disgust.

"I'll clean it up," I said, standing.

"I already made the guys clean it up. Keeps them occupied. He will need to be trained not to go where he pleases, Q."

Mocking his actions as he shook a finger at me, I settled back into my seat, snuggling Tangram to me. "He's just a cub, Eddie. He'll learn in time." I buried my face in Tan's fur, smelling his musky scent. It made me feel comfortable and pleased me. "Maybe when we land we can go to a café to eat?"

"Our host will be expecting us to eat with him. I'm going to go change. I expect you to do the same. Business attire, please."

"'Business attire, please,'" I mocked under my breath as he turned and went toward the back of the plane to where there were two changing rooms. "Shall we then, Tan?"

Setting him down, I let him follow me to my own room to change. I hated when Eddie went into "boss" mode, or what I liked to call "Evil Eddie." Once I was dressed in a long, green dress, I snuck a peek out to the front of the plane. Benny and Trigger were busy watching a movie, their backs to me. Tangram had returned to our seat, and was pressing his nose against the glass. Grinning, I tiptoed over to Eddie's little room, slipping through the curtain. My breath caught as he turned to face me.

"I figured you'd come in here," he smiled, smoothing an eyebrow down with a fingertip.

I must have sounded extremely intelligent just then as I tripped over my tongue, making nonsensical noises. It wasn't that the suit was anything special, but he just looked so cool and confident just then. The green of the suit brought out his eyes, and went perfectly with his black hair. The shirt was opened and I could just see the hollow of his throat, and the minute pulse of his jugular. Add to that the little cockeyed grin he was giving me, and I was speechless.

"Nice to know I can make you feel the same way that I do when I see you," he chuckled. Stepping over to me, he tilted my chin up, his eyes twinkling merrily at me.

Placing my hands on his chest, I leaned in for an expected kiss, closing my eyes. He gave me a quick peck on the cheek, before letting me go. He tugged his jacket straight, smiled, and ducked through the curtains.

He just... No. He wouldn't! But he did, Q! He just blew you off! "How dare he!" I grumbled to myself. With a growl, I stomped back to my changing room to finish getting ready. Sitting on the chair, I put on the shoes I had brought; some nice, strappy black ones. I had just finished with the last tie, when Tangram came running into the room, swinging his head madly around, front paws splayed and claws out.

"Come back here, you little miscreant!" Eddie's voice was plainly annoyed. When he popped his head into my changing room, I could see the expression on his face matched.

"Aw, honey. What's the matter?" I said, directing the question at Tangram as I picked him up.

The tiger struggled in my lap as I tried to find the source of his discomfort. Right around his neck, pulled too tightly, was a collar, a common dog collar. Frowning, I quickly removed the offending article. I eyed Eddie for one second before shoving the collar into his pocket and pushing past him. Tangram grunted at being held like a ragdoll, but didn't squirm out of my arms. I sat back in my seat and watched Eddie storm up to me, collar held in a white-knuckled fist.

"Put this back on him now, Q."

So it's just "Q" now, is it? I coolly looked at the collar, then up at a very disgruntled looking boyfriend. "No."

Eddie planted his fists on the armrests of my seat, leaning in, jaw set firmly. With the hostility radiating off Eddie, Tangram took a defensive position. The little darling. He was too small to really hurt Eddie. I knew the guys had to be watching this and glad that his anger wasn't directed at them.

His face an inch from mine, he growled, "I'm not asking. I'm telling."

"And I'm denying," I said, staring him straight in the eye.

When Eddie attempted to put the collar on Tangram himself. I had to suppress a laugh when Tangram snapped at Eddie's fingers, just nipping the tips. He pulled back, glaring at the two of us. To his credit, Tangram puffed himself up and gave a rumbling growl, hissing at Eddie. Unbeknownst to him, all the time I spent running around in tiger form with Tangram was training. The cub was picking up my lessons, as well as hand signals quickly.

"If he bites me again, Q, he's going back," he finally said, tossing the collar into the seat next to me. Turning on his heel, he stalked back into his dressing area. Silence filled the plane.

Once I knew Eddie was back in his dressing room, I went back to my own. Digging through one of my bags, I pulled out a large jewelry box that I had received from old man Kittlemeier. Settling myself on the floor, my back to the curtain, I called Tangram over. Obediently he sat in front of me as I cracked the box open. Inside, nestled in the velvet was a circle of interconnecting question marks, made out of titanium, and painted Eddie's signature green. The tag question mark was fitted with a small homing device.

"C'mere, darling," I said, presenting the collar to Tangram. He allowed me to clip it around his neck, and then puffed his chest up proudly, letting the drop question mark stand out in the white of his chest fur. I laughed as I dug the matching leash out. "Goofball."

Setting the leash aside, I packed the box away into a cabinet. As I did, Tangram let out a small growl as the curtains across the way rustled.

"I know. He can be such a jerk sometimes! There are times when I question his motives with me, y'know? Like when I wanted a kiss from him a few minutes ago. Just a kiss! What's he do? Acts like a total jerk. Then he tries to put that horrible thing on you!"

"He needs to wear a collar while we're out, Dee," Eddie said.

I gasped and spun around to see Eddie casually leaning against the wall, his derby in hand. Gaining my composure, I tried to push past him. He grabbed me by the wrist and dragged me to the back of the room, pinning me against the opposite wall. It was times like this that I remembered exactly how much stronger than me he was, even if he never showed it. His grip was like iron, but never hard enough to hurt. His expression, and the way he held his body to mine said, "Remember, Kitten. I'm stronger than you, and you will do as you're told." Still, I had my ring...

"Now I know you could harm me right now, Kitten, but I trust that you won't so I don't have to hold you down and wrinkle that lovely dress of yours. For now, please call Tangram off before he ruins my slacks."

Barely able to suppress a laugh, I looked down to see Tangram with a mouth full of Eddie's pant leg, tugging away. I flicked my hand, and said, "Off," pleased that he obeyed immediately. A scowl that reminded me so much of one of Eddie's settled on Tan's face as he sat behind Eddie and grumbled.

"Now, where were we?"

"We weren't anywhere, Mr. Nigma," I said coldly, despite how turned on I was with him being so close. The soft scent of his cologne tickled my nose. Why did he have to make it so hard for me to be mad at him?!

"We're always somewhere, Kitten. Face it." He quickly pressed a finger to my lips before I could say anything. "Shh. I don't need you to speak. The daggers from your eyes say it all." He released me all together, placing a hand on either side of my head and leaning in. "Seems we both realized that Tan would be needing a collar. Only you went and got him a nice one. I'm sure I'll find out how much that trinket cost when we get back."

"I paid for it myself, thank you very much," I said, insulted that he would think I would spend his money on a fancy collar for my pet. "I do have money of my own. It's better than being dependant on..."

He cut me off with a kiss.

I pushed him away. "Don't!"

"What's the matter?" he asked.

"You! You can be so thick sometimes!" I said, crossing my arms across my chest and turning my back on him. I wanted to cry. Why did he have to do this to me? Why? Be such an idiot, and then go do something like that? I wanted to scream in frustration. I wanted to throw my arms around his neck and kiss the fool.

"I'm sorry for not giving you a proper kiss earlier... I have a little present for you, if that helps?" he asked, sounding hopeful as he brushed aside my hair and placed a knee-buckling kiss on my neck. "I'm just nervous about this trip, Kitten. Having you here. It's different. I want everything to go perfectly."

"I hate you so much, Eddie," I sighed as I gave in to him. I forgave this man far too easily. Probably because I knew what was pushing him to do the silly things he did. "So what's the present?"

He grinned proudly as he pulled a palm-sized question mark from his pocket. The negative space of the punctuation was a screen, the dot a microphone/speaker.

"Comm-unit. I only made two. One for you, one for me. Um... Just in case we get separated or something, you know?" he hurriedly added, clearing his throat and rubbing the back of his head the way he did when he was nervous.

"We are approaching the landing field, Mr. Nigma. Please prepare for landing," the pilot announced.

"Guess my show of appreciation will have to wait," I said, tucking the little device into my bra. I gave his hips a little bump with mine as I walked out of the dressing area and to my seat. I had to smirk when Eddie took his seat across from me, frowning like a petulant little boy who had his dessert taken away. That was why I forgave him so easily. No matter what, he looked adorable. I'm such a sucker.
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