So, this is a multi chapter story I'm writing in a completely different way to my normal method. I have no idea what's going to happen next, and I'm writing each chapter as it comes to me with absolutely no forward planning. This could either be a brilliant idea or a train wreck. That said, enjoy!
Harry bit his lip, trying to hide his nerves as he looked at his watch. She was two minutes late. Only one hundred and twenty seconds, but she knew this was important and he felt nervous at her absence.
"Dad, stop pacing," Catherine said as she gripped his arm. "She'll be here, you know she will." He smiled tightly, looking at his beautiful daughter for a moment before replying. She wore an elegant peach dress and matching heels, and he marvelled silently that he'd managed to have a part in creating this gorgeous person in front of him.
"I know she'll be here, but…"
"You know full well what's keeping her. It'll be MI5. For God's sake dad, you did her job for twenty years before you retired. She will be here."
"Yes, you're right," he said, taking a deep breath.
"I've never seen you this nervous before," Catherine observed, her lips twitching with amusement. While growing up, her father had been unshakable, and she'd never seen a chink in his armour. Clearly Ruth was one of the rare exceptions.
"Look, I'll call her," Catherine said. "See where she is."
"No, don't," Harry argued. "She'll either be here or she won't. Calling won't change that."
"Okay," Catherine said. "I won't call." Catherine looked at Malcolm, sitting down perfectly calmly as they awaited Ruth's arrival. He didn't seem a bit bothered at Ruth's lateness, quite unlike Harry.
The click of heels on the hardwood floor made all three of them look up. "The Pearce-Evershed wedding?" The registrar said, looking at them expectantly.
"We just need a few minutes," Malcolm said pleasantly. "The bride's running late." The woman sighed, looking at her watch as she clearly wanted to get home at the end of a long day.
"I can give it ten minutes," she said. "Then I really have to lock up and go home."
"I will make it worth your while," Harry said. The woman looked at him, evaluating his expensive suit and then nodded once. "Half an hour then," she conceded."
"Thank you," Malcolm said. The registrar vanished from sight and Harry got his phone out.
"You just said not to call her sixty seconds ago," Catherine reminded him.
"Yes, well I've changed my mind," he said shortly. Catherine looked at Malcolm who shook his head, saying louder than words that Harry was not to be argued with.
The phone was picked up after only two rings, but Ruth didn't speak into the phone. Instead he could hear her arguing with her driver. "No, I don't care about the one way street," she said sharply. "Drive up there and drop me on the left. I'll pay the fine, just go." He heard a muffle then she spoke to him. "I know, Harry, I know, I'm almost there."
"I was just checking you were still coming," he said softly.
"Of course I am," she said. "I…" They were interrupted by several car horns beeping loudly in the background. "Oh sod it." He heard the car door open and close and then Ruth came back. "I'm five minutes away, if that."
"It's okay," he said. "Take your time. Catherine's got your flowers."
"Oh good," she said, glad that they'd arrived. "I love you."
"I know," he replied gently. "I love you, too."
Catherine watched her fathers face and then turned to Malcolm. "Does he always look like that when he speaks to her?" Catherine had been on friendly terms with her father for quite a while, but she had only met Ruth a couple of times.
"What, all doe eyed?" Malcolm asked with a slanted smile. "Yes, usually. He always did."
The door banged suddenly and Ruth emerged into the lobby, breathless and a little windswept. "I'm here," she gasped. They all turned to see Ruth, wearing her flattering white linen suit, her heels clutched in her right hand from where she'd clearly run to get to the registry office. "I'm here," she repeated. Harry's face lit up with joy to see her, and he wrapped his arms around her waist, giving her a soft and lingering kiss. When they broke apart she was smiling. "I'm so sorry," she said, moving to a seat and slipping her heels on. "I got here as quickly as I could."
"I know," Harry said. Once her shoes were on, Catherine passed her the small bouquet of pink silk roses and Ruth smiled at her future step daughter.
"Thank you," she said sincerely.
The registrar appeared again, looking relieved now that Ruth had shown up. "Are we ready?" Ruth and Harry both smiled at each other, never having felt happier.
Harry grasped Ruth's hand tightly. "Shall we?"
Forty five minutes earlier, Thames House.
"Dimitri, Azam is in custody, I no longer care what he says or does," Ruth said, knowing she was snapping, but also knowing she was late to her own wedding. She looked around the office that had belonged to Harry for so long and now belonged to her. Then her eyes came back to Dimitri who still looked worried. "Look," she said more softly. "The building will still be standing come tomorrow, Erin can handle things until after my honeymoon, you know she's more than capable." She picked up her garment bag and nodded to him pointedly. "I'm getting changed." Dimitri left and she locked the door and pulled the blinds, quickly changing into her white outfit. She hadn't planned to be on the grid at all today, and it was only because Mohammed Azam decided that blowing up Manchester just couldn't wait until tomorrow that she'd deigned to show up in the first place.
She quickly brushed her hair and checked her make up, glad that she still looked presentable. Maybe she'd even go so far as to say she looked attractive.
As she left her office she was very aware of everyone's eyes on her, but she didn't engage with them, instead walking in the direction of the pods.
"What about the Azam interview when he's transported to London?" Callum said. "And the interrogation forms?"
"Courier them to my house tomorrow afternoon," she said shortly. "I have to go, I have to get halfway across London and I'm running late as it is. I'm not staying here to sign paperwork. Erin can handle the interview."
"And something else," Dimitri said.
"What!" she said, exasperated.
"I was going to say congratulations," Dimitri said, a grin tugging at his lips. "You both deserve a bit of happiness." She smiled at him, and gave him a quick hug as she felt a beautiful bubble of joy inside her.
"Thank you," she said sincerely. "Is my driver…?" That still felt odd, that she had a personal driver, but today she was deeply thankful that she didn't have to get a taxi.
"Waiting downstairs. Go," Erin said smiling. She took Erin's advice, hoping that she wouldn't keep her groom waiting too long.
Hopefully more soon. Thanks for reading, and I hope you can leave a review.