This is my first ever fluff fic so please R and R so I know whether or not I should ever attempt this again. Of course it would be Harry and Ruth that would cave me into writing fluff ;)

The stunned silence would have been funny if everyone hadn't of been so plain mad.

"Full marks," he said to Tom, "excellent leadership skills."

"You bastard!" Ruth said but she couldn't hold back a smile.

Zoe was still sitting on the desk crying. After all, she had been about to kill someone. Harry went over to her and put his arm around her. He'd often thought that Zoe was the daughter he would have liked to have had, rather than the one that he actually had. He tried to ease up the tension, pulling Zoe's head against his chest and rocking her a little. "Full marks, Zoe," he chuckled. Now she was half laughing, half sobbing.

In the corner Sam was trying to explain herself to Danny re her feelings for him while Colin and Malcolm were rolling their robot around a desk because they could. Ruth was talking to a techie Harry couldn't remember the name of. She too was laughing, pushing back her hair and sighing with relief because her precious cats were still alive.

His Team hadn't slept for two days. Their nerves had been frayed to pieces. He owed them a break. "Right," he said, "it's over to The George for drinks." Everyone cheered, chattering amongst themselves and grabbing their coats before trailing out of the pod.

He couldn't help but seek out Ruth. He had been touched by her obvious concern for his supposed lonely death- and to think he had distrusted her based off GCHQ credentials! Right. That was it. He pushed his way past the others and got in the pod just behind Ruth, who was tangled up with her overcoat. He went to put his arm around her just as she turned to face him, accidently bumping into him.

"Steady on Ruth. We haven't even started yet!" he joked. He loved that she laughed at his joke. Zoe never did. Damn Zoe and her hyperactive eyebrows.

Anyway, he was in a jolly mood and he decided that he wouldn't mind getting to know Ruth more intimately...

They were outside Thames House now and it was chilly. The Grid was shivering. Zoe was on the phone to her mum so Danny came over to Harry. "So how long did you practice that little class act in the mirror for?"

Ruth pushed back her obstinate hair. It seemed to be a habit of hers. She punched Harry in the shoulder playfully. "I bet you spent hours in front of that mirror."

Danny winked. "That or he's a natural."

"I'd go with 'a natural' Danny. After all, you have to work with me tomorrow."

Danny mock sighed. "Thanks for reminding me, Oh Ever Humble One."

Ruth giggled and then looked hastily down at her feet embarrassed. "I'm...I'm sorry Harry. I'm sure Danny and I didn't mean to imply..."

Harry was intrigued. He was reminded of Ruth's first day on The Grid when she had broken that desk lamp. Sam and Danny had burst into his office demanding to know, "if that woman is for real?" At his obvious confusion, they'd described that little oddball incident. He tried not to laugh remembering Sam's impersonation of "THING!"

Danny already had an eyebrow raised at Ruth. She was blushing now. "What didn't you mean to imply Ruth?"

"I...I just didn't mean to come across as disrespectful."

He noticed how short Ruth was. He had to stoop down to reach her level. "You didn't," he whispered in her ear.

They were at The George. Terry ushered them over to the regular MI5 birthdays and Christmas table. There was a seat over. Tom had said he wasn't up for a drink. Something about his girlfriend. Ruth managed to squeeze in next to Zoe and Sam before Harry could stop her. He went for sitting opposite instead. He couldn't help but notice that she didn't look displeased about this.

They cracked into the pre prepared wine straight away.

Harry handed Ruth a new wine glass. He'd lost count of how many bottles they were on to now. He made sure his fingers touched hers. She was explaining Greek mythology to a slightly flushed Sam, pretending to ignore his touch. But he knew she had noticed because she lost her train of thought and her breathing suddenly got heavier. Sam grabbed the glass from Ruth's fingers, still lingering in the air.

"Careful. Do you want to drop that Ruth? How much have you had to drink anyway?" she demanded accusingly.

"Not as much as Zoe- that's for sure," muttered Danny who was trying to push an emotional Zoe unsuccessfully off his shoulder.

"You love me, don't you, don't you Danny? Please say you love me," Zoe was demanding imploringly.

"Yeah of course," Danny said quickly, but Harry noticed he looked oddly sad as he said it. He would have spent time figuring out why but he was paying too much attention to Ruth. "Come on Ruth, drink up," he said, "you've had hardly anything at all."

"Um, that wouldn't be such a good idea, Harry. Professional behaviour, workplace ethos and all that..."

"Oh please," said Danny, "my bullshit detector is blaring."

"Yeah," added Sam, "If the rest of us are allowed to drink, why aren't you?"

"You don't know what I'm like tipsy." Ruth was fiddling nervously with the wine glass flute. Harry caught her gaze and held it.

"No," he said quietly, "but I'd like to."

It was late and the music was blaring. Danny and Sam were getting up close and personal on the dance floor. Zoe had picked up a random hot young guy and was slow dancing with him in a corner, her head on his shoulder.

"You're in a choir aren't you Ruth?"

"Yes."

Heavens, this woman was awkward. He tried again. "I lean towards classical orchestral performances myself, though I do have a soft spot for good choral work."

Finally, Ruth's face lit up. "I love being a part of a choir. There's something unbelievably liberating about the way the different vocal tones work together"

'Mmm," Harry inched his hand out towards hers where it rested on the table.

Ruth was getting philosophical. "There's a sense of being your truer self when you sing. When I sing I forget I am plain Ms Ruth Evershed whose life is her job and whose best friends are her cats. I forget that I will never be like Danny and Sam, or Zoe and the latest boyfriend. When I sing, I forget how alone I am. I become something greater than myself."

Harry was holding her hand now. She didn't notice. To his surprise, he realized she was crying. He got up and moved to sit next to her. He put a tentative arm around her shoulders. "You don't always have to be alone; Ruth and I will never accuse you of being plain."

She looked up at him, suddenly angry. "Oh Harry. I'm not naive. Don't you dare patronise me."

'I wasn't! I meant what I said." He passed her his handkerchief and she snatched it off him. After a moment he moved his arm off her shoulder and they sat there in silence.

It was now very late. Ruth put her hand over Harry's. "I'm sorry for acting like that earlier. It's just... I'm so used to a certain type of man in my life. I'm sick of men thinking I'm a desperate sex target."

"I might be head of Section D, but I still have some morals left, Ruth." He paused, feeling a bit reckless. "And I know when I am in love."

She caught her breath shocked. Quickly she schooled her face to blankness. "I didn't hear that Harry."

'Yes. You did."

"Why? Why would you say that? You hardly know me."

"People can't help what they feel Ruth."

Her mouth was set obstinately again. "You're not mad at me again are you? Because that could get tedious."

"No," she said a little too quickly. "Shocked. Confused, but mad? No."

"Good."

Ruth got up. She pointed at Zoe who was standing by herself now, pale. "I think Zoe is going to be sick. I'll help her to the bathroom and then call a Taxi for her to get home."

"You're not evading me are you Ruth?"

"In a word Harry. Yes."

As Ruth led Zoe off to throw up in a sink, Harry gestured for Danny to come over for a second. Sam came over holding Danny's hand. They had both sobered up shockingly. He told them what he wanted them to do...

Ruth came back. "Zoe's getting dropped home by Terry." She wouldn't meet his eyes. She was fiddling with her glass again. He took it off her.

"Ruth?"

"Yes?"

"There's something I want you to hear..."

"Harry. Don't..."

He laughed. "Give me a chance, woman!" He caught the eye of The George's resident DJ. The DJ nodded a little and Danny and Sam inched closer to Harry. The MI5 stragglers were the only people left in the bar.

"I want to tell you a story Ruth."

"Oh..."

"When I was a kid I was in the school choir; not because I was any good, but just because I loved music and wanted to be good."

"Harry, if this is some sort of tactic to make me feel sorry for you, it's not working."

"Of course it's not. How dare you accuse me of such base motives?"

She laughed. "So the point of this story is?"

"I haven't sung in public since school. Too embarrassed."

"And this matters to me why?"

Harry signalled at the DJ again. The DJ picked up the mike. "This song is dedicated to Ms Ruth Evershed. House regular Harry Pearce and friends Danny Hunter and Samantha Buxton will perform The Monkee's 'I'm a Believer.'"

Harry adjusted his tie, grinned at Ruth's shocked expression and grabbed the microphone. Danny started them off. "And a one and a two and a one, two, three, hit it!"

Harry started to sing. The crazy things he did for love. He was so off key but he didn't care. "I thought love was only true in fairy tales/meant for someone else but not for me. Love was out to get me..."

"Do, do, do, do,do," Sam and Danny chimed in.

"That's the way it seemed."

"Do, do, do, do, do."

"Disappointment haunted all my dreams!" He pointed at Ruth. "But then I saw her face. Now I'm a believer, not a trace of doubt in my mind, I'm in love..." He leaned back dramatically in true rock star fashion. 'OOHHHHH." By this time Ruth was laughing so much she was having difficulty breathing.

"Just say yes to a date with him so we can make him stop. I promise he's not that bad a guy. I'd know. I've worked with him for the past four years," Danny shouted over the top of Harry.

Harry glared and kept singing over Ruth's laughter. "I'm a believer/ I couldn't leave her if I tried."

Sam had her hands over her ears. "Please Ruth, end this torture."

Danny leaned in and grabbed the mike off Harry. "Yeah, I saw her face/ now I'm a believer. YEAH. YEAH. YEAH. YEEEEAHHH."

There was silence. The DJ clapped them. So did Ruth. "So that's what you three were planning while I was stuck with Zoe in the bathroom?"

"Yep," said Danny cheekily. "Now that I have seen my boss shoot his own ego to pieces will you go on a date with him?"

'Do say yes, Evershed," Sam added sweetly, "or we may have to sing 500 miles, and that would sound truly awful!"

Ruth looked uncomfortable. "Of course if you don't want to..." Harry put in quickly before trailing off.

Danny smiled at both of them. 'Well, it's late for us old fogies. Sam and I are off. Don't let us keep you up."

Ruth stared resolutely at the table till they were both outside. Harry put his arms on the table and leaned towards her. She looked up before he could say anything. "The answer is yes Harry."

He dropped her home. On the door step she kissed him on the cheek shyly. "I do like you Harry. I want you to know that. It's just... I'm not a very open person."

"It's fine Ruth. My own record isn't what one would call exemplary."

"So we're well matched then?"

"I'd rather like to think so."

"That's good. That's very good." She paused. "Do you... do you want to. What I mean is, do you want to come in? We... we could watch a movie or something..."

"I'd like that very much."

She opened the door and he got his arm around her this time as he followed her inside. Cats twined around his feet. She turned her face against his. Her lips were so close to his own. He felt like he'd finally come home...

Wow- and that was my first ever even remotely fluffy fic. I can't decide if I should write a second chapter or not. What do you guys think? Or am I so bad at fluff I should run back to angst/tragic fan fic as fast as my pen can carry me?