"It's too cold out here for you Fidget." Slipping through the door into the frigid winter morning, Ruth pushed the furry animal back into the warmer hall with her boot. "You'll thank me tonight."

Pulling the door shut, she listened to his fitful meows beyond the wood and glass, her heart breaking at his apparent distress.

"I'm sorry." she called softly, sliding a small piece of note paper between the door and frame. "But really, you'll be better off inside."

Locking the door, she watched as her breath puffed out in a small cloud and settled onto the stained glass. It really was bitter this early in the December morning, too early for dawn light to have broken the horizon.

Tucking her keys into her jacket pocket, she listened to the angry meows for a moment longer before turning. Looking up and down the quiet street a moment, she paused as her next door neighbor slipped up his walk, dog scurrying ahead on his leash.

Holding her breath, she watched as they made their way inside. As the door clicked shut, she let the breath out.

He hadn't seen her.

Thank God.

Alec was nice enough but no was not in his vocabulary. In the three years she'd lived in London, he had continuously asked her out. With his Italian good looks and successful job as a hotel manager, most would wonder why she said no.

They'd have understood if they knew his idea of a perfect first date.

She'd thought he was joking the morning he'd suggested it over the hedge.

"Ruth just the woman I was hoping to see."

"Good morning Alec. I'm sorry but I really have to go. I'm running late as it is."

"Two minutes. Surely you can spare me that?"

Pausing to look at her watch, Ruth sighed but nodded.

"Great. I've been thinking about us."

"There is no us Alec. Never has been and never will be."

"You say that now but I've figured out the problem. I've asked you out but I've never given you a suggestion for a date."

"Alec, there is no problem. I'm sorry that it's not what you want to hear but I can't go out with you. I'm already spoken for."

"That I know is a lie. No one ever comes to visit you." Reaching out, he placed his hand on hers. "I've thought long and hard about this and I'm sure you'll now say yes."

Pulling her hand back, she shrugged her purse onto her shoulder before stepping back slightly. "Alec, I really have to go."

"Alright. But be home tonight at 7. I've planned the perfect date."

"Alec..."

"No, really, it will be perfect. I'll bring over my mother's chicken parmesan and a bottle of red wine. While it's heating in the oven, we can go up to your room. By the time dinner's ready, I'll be stroking your hair and you can roll over to kiss me thank you."

Laughing, she shook her head. Seeing his look, she'd stopped laughing. "You're serious?"

"Of course I am. I'll see you at 7."

She'd said no and hurried off to work. That evening at 7 there'd been a knock at her back door. She'd ignored it, hiding in the spare room upstairs pretending that she wasn't home. He'd expressed his disappointment the next time he'd seen her but been un-relentless in his perusal of her.

And the longer she stood on the stoop, the more likely he was to come out and see her. Pulling her purse higher on her shoulder, she made to go down the step when something caught her eye. Looking down, she starred at wonder at the small package wrapped in red foil.

Squatting down, she found the card attached to the string on top. Undoing the twine, she opened the thick stock and read the carefully written lines.

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me a partridge in a pear tree.

Looking at the writing, she frowned. She knew the small, careful script from somewhere, she was sure of it, but from where, she was unsure. Turning it over, she hoped for some kind of clue but found nothing.

Holding the card in one hand, she carefully undid the twine. As the red foil fell apart, she found a small pot containing a small tree. Wrapping in clear cellophane under the tree, a stuffed bird sat. Looking between the tree, the bird, and the card, Ruth frowned.


Her day going from mysterious to tedious, Ruth stopped in the women's room on her way back from lunch. Things were quieter than normal on the Grid. Which meant nothing more than that they only had one active case instead of three. Her morning had been spent creating legends for Ros and Adam, putting together the necessary details to make them believable.

As she was making to open the stall door, she heard two woman enter the room. About to open the door, she paused as she heard her name.

"Who I feel sorry for is Ruth Evershed."

"That's the analyst in Section D, right?"

"Yeah. Nice woman. A bit on the quiet side but she's always been polite the few times I've had to talk with her."

"Why would you feel sorry for her?"

"Didn't you hear? They went out to dinner last month."

"I thought that was a joke. What would a nice woman like her be doing with someone like Harry Pearce."

"It's true. I don't know what she was thinking but according to his then driver, they went to dinner at some upscale restaurant. She ended it the next day when people started talking. He was apparently heartbroken when she called it off."

"Yeah, heartbroken that he probably didn't get her into bed."

"We don't know that."

"Come on, if he was really heartbroken over her, he wouldn't have turned in the request to socialize with form to the DG. I saw it myself. Didn't catch the woman's name on it but the DG didn't seem too shocked when he took it. Asked if he was sure before signing it."

Ruth missed the rest as the two woman finished washing their hands and left the room. Slowly opening the door, she peeked out and saw she was alone. Stepping up to the sink, she turned the water on and looked in the mirror, wondering on the conversation she'd just heard.

Had Harry really moved on that fast?


It was quiet as she stepped onto the Grid, her mind on the conversation she'd just overheard. The thought that a month later people were still talking about her one date with Harry wasn't what was bothering her.

No, it was the thought that what they said was true.

That Harry had moved on so quickly.

When she could have sworn there was something between them. Something more than just a casual fling.

Her saying no to a second date before he'd asked had been her nerves. Her dislike of being talked about. Of people thinking she was with him only to further her career.

She had always planned to ask him to dinner again. Once things quieted down.

She'd hoped he would wait.

Thought that he was.

And a small part of her this morning had thought the note and gift on her step was from him. The romance behind the gift entirely like him. The him he worked hard to keep from the world around.

Yes, the handwriting on the card wasn't his normal scrawl.

But who else would leave a pear tree with a stuffed partridge on her front walk?

Maybe the two women in the rest room were wrong. Perhaps it hadn't been Harry handing in that form but another Section Head.

Or if it had been him, maybe it wasn't his form. Perhaps he had just been submitting it for someone else in the department.

Looking around the Grid, her eyes settled on the figure at his desk.

She could find out. He was alone. Working quietly while the others were out to lunch. There was nothing stopping her from going in, from talking with him. A few simple questions would give her the answer.

But did she have the nerve?

Glancing at her desk, she saw the Hinton folder. It'd give her an excuse for going in. Before she could talk herself out of it, Ruth grabbed the folder and made her way across the grid.

Sliding open the door, she paused as he looked up, a small smile lighting his eyes before he squashed it.

"Ruth."

Taking that as her permission to enter, Ruth slid the door open further. Crossing the room silently, she clutched the folder to her chest.

"I uh..have...the Hinton folder for you. I meant to drop it off before lunch."

Reaching a hand out, Harry slowly took the folder from her, his eyes on hers. "It's alright. I was just getting caught up on some things. Anything I need to know about it?"

"No. It's all pretty routine."

Nodding, he set the folder on his desk. "Is that all?"

"No." Now empty hands twisting together, she wondered how to do this. It had sounded so simple at her desk.

He watched her silently for a moment, her nerves obvious. Pushing his chair back, Harry stood and moved around the desk. Stopping in front of her, he leaned back, hands on the edge of the wood as he crossed his legs. "What is it Ruth?" he asked softly.

Looking up from her hands, she met his eyes, a bit surprised that he'd moved without her realizing it. "I was, uh, was wondering if..."

She was cut off as his cell phone rang.

Frowning, Harry reached out to pick up the offending device. Looking at the screen, a small smile crossed his lips. Lifting his eyes to the woman in front of her, he indicated with his head towards the door. "I uh, need to take this. Can we talk in a bit?"

"O..of course." she said softly, her eyes shifting from his to the phone before she left. Stopping at his door, she slowly pulled it closed as he answered his cell, her heart dropping at his words.

"Hello sweetheart." A brief pause before he continued. "No, you're not interrupting anything."

Knowing she shouldn't be eavesdropping but being unable to move, she listened as he continued.

"No, tonight is still alright. I should be able to leave by 6."

Hearing his chair squeak and knowing he had sat down, Ruth turned and leaned against the wall as he continued.

"I miss you too. Listen, I need to go. But I'll see you tonight. Okay."

His voice lowered to a softer tone as she listened. "I love you too. Bye."

Ruth heard him set the phone down on his desk. Knowing she had to move before he came out, she quietly slipped into the forgery suite, tears falling from her eyes.


AN: While I'm not sure if there's 12 full chapters here, I do have a few more planned out if anyone is interested in the story.