Title: The Beautiful Game
Fandom: Spooks
Rating: T
Parings/Characters: Harry/Ruth, Wes Carter
Warnings: None

Disclaimer: I don't own Spooks or any of the characters you may recognise. They all belong to Kudos/BBC.

Summary: Ruth suffers through Harry and Wes watching the football. Two shot inspired by Euro 2012. AU sometime after S8 – you decide at what point.

A/N: As I'm now something of a football widow for the next month, I thought I'd put my free time to good use. I failed though and this happened instead! Lol! Inspired by my fella's enthusiasm for the current round of international football that is taking place in Europe. Unbeta'd so apologies for any errors.

Chapter 1

Ruth wipes her hands on the tea towel when the doorbell rings. "I'll get it, shall I?" she shouts through to Harry, who is ensconced in the living room watching the football.

"Thanks," he calls back. "Tell that lad to get in here; it's about to kick off."

Ruth shakes her head and opens the door. Wes stands on the other side, hands in his pockets, blonde hair tousled.

"Hi Aunt Ruth," he greets, giving her a hug before turning and waving at his Grandparents, who had been waiting in the car for someone to answer the door. Satisfied, they pulled away leaving Wes for the evening. "Has it started yet?" he asks as he steps inside and Ruth closes the door behind him.

"Just about to!" calls Harry from the lounge and Wes rushes in.

"Hey Uncle Harry!"

"Cutting it fine aren't you?"

"Sorry. My granddad's driving a little slower these days, but he refuses to admit it, so won't leave any earlier." Harry nods in understanding; he knows about aging and losing one's faculties a little more than he likes to admit. "So what do the teams look like," Wes asks.

"Bloody useless that manager; don't know what he's thinking with his selection."

Ruth enters before Wes can reply, offering him a drink.

"Got any of that real lemonade?" Wes asks.

Ruth smiles. "Of course. I always get some for when you're visiting."

Harry has looked out for Wes since Adam's death, several years before; going to his rugby matches and school prize-givings, but his involvement in the young boy's life has increased as Harry and Ruth's relationship developed. At one of his prize-givings, shortly after Ruth had moved in with Harry, they had been talking to one of Wes' teachers who had mentioned he had been struggling with his Classics classes. Ruth, being Ruth had then taken it upon herself to give him some extra tuition, inviting him for tea one night. Once Wes had grasped the basics of The Odyssey, the three of them had had lovely evening. So enjoyable in fact that having Wes for tea became a regular thing; every few Saturdays at first but eventually, it became every week.

This week he has come to watch the football; England v Spain in the European championship quarter final. Although slightly more of a Rugby Union and Cricket fan Harry still gets caught up in the international football and is convinced, as he has been for all the previous competitions, that this will be England's year. Ruth disagrees of course but doesn't have the heart to disabuse his theory. Not that she follows football; she can't stand it but she knows England's track record and just can't see them winning. She doesn't like any sport really, although she does admit to having a soft spot for Johnny Wilkinson and not because of his kicking ability. She'd once admitted during a briefing on the Grid that she wouldn't object if the England fly-half had wanted to make her Mrs Wilkinson; something that Harry has never let her live down, especially not since the development of their relationship.

She takes the drinks in for Harry and Wes while she waits for the kettle to boil for her cup of tea. They're too engrossed in the match to notice, but she doesn't mind too much; it's nice for Harry to have this time with Wes; he missed out on doing such things with his own son. Plus it gives her time to finish her book.

She doesn't get very far with her book; shouts of, 'OH!' and 'REFEREE!' from the living room are too distracting for her to concentrate. Putting the book down she decides to make a start on tea for them. She is chopping carrots when an almighty cheer of "YEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSS!" abounds from the direction of the living room causing her to jump and almost slice her finger off.

She looks down at her finger; a small amount of blood is collecting on the scratch the knife has made. She lifts it to her mouth and gives it a quick suck, before examining it once more. It's not deep, but she covers it with a plaster anyway.

She debates going back to the food preparation but decides that, on balance it isn't a good idea; she values all her fingers too much. Instead she leaves the kitchen, picking up Scarlet's lead from the dresser in the hallway, and pops her head round living room door.

"England scored!" Wes announces.

"Yes, I gathered that. I was chopping vegetables at the time and your sudden shout almost caused me to lose a finger."

"Are you okay?" Harry asks, concerned, but not so much that he stops watching the match.

"I'm fine; it's just a scratch. But to save anymore possible injuries, I'm going to take Scarlet out for a walk. There's still some veg to chop though if you think you could tear yourselves away from the TV at half time?"

"Of course," Harry replies dutifully, "don't think much of that Adrian Chiles bloke anyway. His half time analysis is rubbish. Give me Des Lynam any day!"

"Or Gabby Logan," agrees Wes. "She's alright. Not bad to look at either."

Remembering that Ruth was in the room, Harry simply smiled at his young companion and said, "I couldn't possibly comment."

Ruth decides now would be a good time to leave, before the conversation deteriorates any further. "Scarlet!" she calls. The Jack Russell scurries out from behind the sofa, having taken residence there to avoid the football. "You're a creature after my own heart, aren't you girl? Can't be bothered with this football nonsense," she coos to Scarlett as she bends down and clips on her lead.

"It's not nonsense!" protest Wes and Harry in unison.

"It's the beautiful game," Harry continues.

"As long as it's the beautiful game you're watching it for, and not the beautiful presenters

"Of course!" Harry assures. "The beautiful presenters are just a bonus," he adds cheekily. Ruth knows he's only joking and it's testament to how much they love each other and far they've come in their relationship that they are comfortable with that sort of teasing.

"Come on Scarlet," she says with an exaggerated huff, "let's go and leave the men to their…game." She pulls lightly on the lead and the dog follows her obediently into the hall and out of the front door.

A/N: There will be a second part which is mostly already written so should be up in a couple of days.