Sorry it's slightly late!!!! I thought yesterday I'd leave it until after Spooks, and I did, and then I went on Spooks Forum and spent about an hour talking on there, and then I went to start this chapter and thought that I'd do it when I could keep my eyes open, so it never got done... Sorry! :hands out virtual cookies:

The security guard at the desk on the way into Thames House had looked at him with surprise, and had a twinkle in his eye as he came in.

"Good morning sir. Merry Christmas," he had told him cheerfully. "We're going to have to -"

"Check them, yes," he replied, handing over his box to the security guard as Catherine did the same for another guard. "And I need to sign Catherine in."

"Yes sir," he handed over the folder. "Don't Section D have Christmas off this year? I thought it was Section F's turn? I've already seen one person come in."

"From Section D?" he asked, handing back the folder. The guard gave Catherine a temporary ID pass to carry around with her.

"Yes, Ruth Evershed, she came in about three quarters of an hour ago," the guard said, handing back both boxes. "Merry Christmas sir, miss." Harry smiled briefly at the guard as he handed one box back to Catherine, and carried one himself to the lift.

Catherine held the box awkwardly with one hand as she looked at her watch on her other wrist. "It's 8:30, why on earth has anyone come in at 8:30?"

Harry pressed the button for the lift and waited impatiently. "I don't know why. Maybe she had some work to do." The doors opened and Harry stepped inside, Catherine cautiously following behind him. They continued the rest of the journey up in near silence, only broken by Harry's occasional comments of "This way".

They finally reached the Grid, the automatic doors opening to allow them entrance onto the Grid. One desk lamp was already turned on, however no one else was there, as far as they could see.

"Catherine, if you go into my office there should be a cardboard box under my desk, could you go get it please?" Harry asked, opening up the first box.

"You're here earlier than usual," Ruth commented as she returned to her desk.

"As are you," he replied.

"Maybe, you don't know. Perhaps I always got here this early."

Harry smiled, although she couldn't see it. "I highly doubt it. The security guard doesn't normally say that you've come in this early -"

"This being the same security guard who I'm very good friends with and just texted me to ask why on earth you were bringing a box of decorations onto the Grid?" she asked, facing the computer. Harry turned round, shaking his head.

"Is there any part of the universe that you haven't infiltrated?" he asked, half in jest half serious.

"I had a bit of trouble with getting to Pluto, a bit too far away and the people there weren't very nice," she said seriously, looking up at him and smiling. "I do also have a bit of a problem with the Royal Protection Units, they don't tend to tell me as much either."

"Because of your stepbrother?" he asked quietly.

"Most probably," she answered. "What are you doing here Harry? It's Christmas -"

"Then what are you doing here?"

"Working. I had to come in early anyway to speak to a contact, so I thought I'd get some work done as well." Catherine came back into the room, walking slowly over to a table and placing the box carefully down.

"What on earth is in that box?" Catherine asked.

"A Christmas tree," Harry explained. "Ruth, this is Catherine, my daughter. Catherine, this is Ruth." They both greeted each other, taking the other person in. "Now, you're both going to help get this place decorated. That includes you, Ruth."

"I did get the subtle hint that it included me," she told him, standing up. "What do you want me to do?"

"Just start putting some tinsel up. I'll start on assembling the Christmas tree then, and Catherine can you unpack the food?" Ruth almost laughed at how Harry was naturally taking control of the situation, but instead chose just to smile and pick up one of the boxes, taking pieces of tinsel out from it.