AN: Welcome to my next Christmas offering for this year's Advent Calendar. This is a multi-chapter story set in series 5, though to be fair, I am playing with the timeline majorly. You'll see what I mean when you read. Also, I'd say characters are OOC or will become OOC as the story progresses. I believe this is an original idea to the fandom, but if it should be copying anyone else's, I apologize now; it is not my intention.

Thank you to Sigma Creations and HR always lives on for giving this and the next two chapters a read through for me.

A light mix of rain and sleet is falling as Ruth slowly trudges from the bus stop home, the evening rush lighter than most other nights this time of year due to the messy precipitation. It has also found her with an unprecedented Thursday night free as the last evening rehearsal before the Saturday night holiday performance of her choir had been canceled. Which is in itself a blessing as she's mentally and physically exhausted from the extra work required to research and approve those guests celebrating the holidays with the RF.

All of those extra background checks, the larger than normal increase in assessments of temporary employees, the second and third reviews of any threat assessments pertaining to London; and all with the added benefit of Harry no long speaking with her, making her smile with a word or a look.

Three months.

That's how long it's been since he asked her on that second date and fear of what others would say or think had her saying no. Since then, he has erected a wall to keep her out; no more late night conversations or lingering glances across the Grid, no more accidental touches as he passes over a file or sitting next to her during briefings.

He's been distant, short, and utterly professional.

She regrets saying no. Not because of work, though she does miss the pleasure he brought to the daily grind that comes with their profession, but because she misses him. Misses his wit, his motley laughter, the way he makes her stomach flutter with just a glance, misses the worry when he's out in the field and the potential of the what if.

She's thought of asking him to dinner, or even a drink, but she's unsure how he would interpret the invitation and so she's hesitant to extend it.

Shivering, she pulls her jacket tighter and turns onto her street. Just a few more houses and she'll be home. As she passes her neighbors, she has to smile at the festivity surrounding her. All have gone out for the holiday season, fairy lights twinkling in windows and on trees, candles glowing from their perches.

And then there's her house.

She can see it in the distance, all dark and gloomy compared to the others, and for a moment, she feels a rush of sadness creep upon her, but it's as she nears the gate she tells herself it's for the better. She's alone this holiday.

Like the past two. Like she has been since taking this job in London when her mum had taken her to task for leaving Cheltenham at such a difficult time for their family and given her an ultimatum; take the job and lose her family or forget the job and stay within the bosom of family bliss. It hadn't been much of a choice.

Only around the holidays, when everyone is off celebrating with friends and family does she feel the real loneliness of her life, does she regret the decision, and so this year, she had made the promise to just skip the holiday.

And as much as she tries to deny it, she knows it stems, in part, to the depression-like state she has sunk into over the end of her non-relationship with Harry.

With a sigh, she opens the gate to her front garden, carefully walking up the slippery path as she searches her bag for her house keys. She knows they're in there somewhere, she had checked before leaving the Grid. As she nears the porch, she happens to look up from her search and stumbles to a stop.

To stare in shock and wonder.

AN: This is technically Tuesday's offering to the Advent Calendar but I'm posting it a day early as we're supposed to get more snow tonight and as I'm the only manager in this week, I've got to do the 90 mile drive in, thus I have no idea what time I will be around. Please leave a review, letting me know what you think, good or bad.