Takes place from the end of stabbed, with a (in my opinion) rather unrealistic twist. But I couldn't help myself. There is going to be drama as well as the fluff and it won't be all sunshine and happiness, but starting off nicely...

It was the last day of January and Ruth was pacing up and down the kitchen after being on the phone for more than an hour when Harry came in. He'd gone down to the village shop for today's paper and he'd been distracted by a cricket match going on the village green. Now that he had time for things like cricket matches. Ruth looked so angry that it was almost funny he though, but he didn't dare laugh as he sat down by the kitchen table.

"Thank you very much," Ruth said into the phone sarcastically. She slammed the phone down onto the kitchen table "You unhelpful bastard," she cursed at whoever had been on the other end of the phone.

"Apparently I'm not the only Pearce who paces," he said as she stood looking out of the kitchen window.

"Harry, I am not in the mood," she said, more angry than he had ever seen her. "Just once, just this once I wish I still worked at Thames House." Harry looked at her completely shocked. She had never voiced this opinion before.

"Only because I know that if I still worked at the grid this would take me about twenty minutes to hack into the databases I need to, rather than doing it he official way."

"Doing what?" Harry asked.

"I'm trying to have my name changed on all my official documents. Passport, driving licence and so on. It's a bloody nightmare!"

"You don't have to do that," Harry said. "I don't mind if you want to stay Ruth Evershed."

"Well I do mind!" Ruth said. "I would have done this all before Christmas but we were so busy moving house and getting married and then coming down with the flu and…" Her words were cut off by Harry kissing her. It quickly turned passionate and Ruth found herself pressed between his body and the kitchen table. It was an extremely pleasant situation to be in. The only drawback was that they were both still fully clothed. He kissed her again, lips attacking hers when the doorbell rang.

"No, no, no," Ruth moaned in frustration under her breath. "We are busy."

"I'll get rid of them," Harry said breathlessly. Ruth nodded as he got off the table and hurried to the front door. Ruth sat up and straightened her blouse a little, trying to get her breath back. She stood up as it became clear that the visitor wasn't easy to get rid of. She walked around the corner and forgot (almost completely) about Harry pining her to the kitchen table. (They'd do that again at a later date, she was sure).

"Erin!" Ruth said happily. "Come in." Harry and Ruth shared a look which said louder than words ever could that they'd continue their tryst at a later point in time.

"Its good to see you both so happy," Erin said as Ruth handed her a mug of tea.
"Yes," Harry said, his fingertips brushing under the hem of Ruth's blouse for a second.

"I'm sorry about the wedding," Erin said. "We wanted to be there, but with only a few hours notice we couldn't get away."

"Its Harry's fault," Ruth said. "He seemed desperate to get me down the aisle once I'd agreed.

"Do you blame me?" he said sitting next to her. "So what brings you here?" Harry asked Erin.

"Well I have two pieces of news," Erin said. "First Dimitri was caught in the explosion in London last week."

"Oh no!" Ruth said shocked. "They said there were no casualties! No one was injured!"

"I know, we had that circulated on purpose for various reasons."

"Is he alright?" Harry asked.

"He's got a little burn damage on his left arm and recovering from smoke inhalation but he will be fine."

"Good," Ruth said sincerely. She'd always liked Dimitri.

"Yes, well him being hospitalised has cleared things up otherwise. We have decided to get married."

"What?" Both Harry and Ruth said at the same time. "Blimey, you know how to keep an office romance quiet," Harry added.

"We learned from the best," Erin said with a smile.

"No arguing with that one," Ruth said squeezing Harry's hand lightly.

"Anyway, I thought it would be good to tell you in person," Erin said, a smile flowering on her face.

"Congratulations," Ruth said quietly.

"Thank you," Erin said. She reached into her jacket pocket and handed Ruth a wedding invitation. Ruth felt her heart skip when she read that it was addressed to Mr and Mrs Pearce. She thought that would never get old.

"That was quick," Harry said.

"You two had a twenty four hour engagement," Erin said quickly. "You don't get to judge us." Ruth nodded as Erin continued "There's a perfect little church I love," Erin said with a smile. "Its beautiful in summer with so many blooming flowers. Dimitri told me to book it. To make sure I wouldn't change my mind."

"We'll be there," Harry said.

"You don't even have to look at the date?" Erin asked.

"Well, we are incredibly busy now that we're both retired," Ruth said sarcastically.
"Fair enough," Erin said happily. She gave Ruth a hug and then let her go and looked at her curiously.

"What?" Ruth asked.

"You look different. Look, its none of my business but…are… are you pregnant?" Ruth's face looked like its been slapped, the total astonishment that was on it.

"Oh my God, how the hell did you know?" she said in an amazed whisper.

"Ruth?" Harry said, pulling her arm to face him. Erin cringed, as it was clear from the look of genuine shock on his face that he hadn't known. "But… how?"

"Harry, do you really need the graphic details?" Erin said before she could stop herself. They both stared at her and Erin blushed strawberry red. "Well, now that I've ruined everything I'm going to go," Erin said retreating from the kitchen as fast as she could.

Harry looked at her in complete amazement. "Is it true?" he asked in a whisper. Almost as if saying it too loudly would make it a lie.

"I would have told you," Ruth said as his hands ran up and down her arms, her eyes boring into his, trying to make him see how honest she was being. "I only found out yesterday. I was just working out how to tell you."

"But you told me... you said that you couldn't have children."

"I didn't think I could," Ruth said shaking her head. "The doctor told me its a minor miracle, especially after looking at my records. But she also told me there was no doubt."

"You said everything went fine with the doctors appointment. You said you were just recovering from a bad infection and they gave you some antibiotics."

"Well I lied," Ruth said with a smile. "I wanted it to be special when I told you. And then Erin goes and spoils it."

"Say it," Harry said with a smile. "Please for me. Just say it."

"I'm pregnant." He didn't say a single word. He quickly kissed her, his hands running over her back, firmly pulling her body closer to his. She let out a satisfied "mm," without their lips parting and he chuckled into her mouth. "So you're happy?"

"I'm ecstatic," he said putting a hand on her flat stomach. And then he kissed her again.

This chapter is based on a grain of realism. My mum accidentally did what Erin did to two of her friends (whoops!) Luckily it all turned out well! More soon, but working a lot this weekend. Will get it up as soon as I can.