Finally another (short) chapter to keep this story moving. Enjoy!

Lucas returned to the grid more than two hours later.

As soon as he stepped through the pods, he felt Harry's eyes boring into him, and it was only a few minutes before he was summoned into the glass office.

"So? What do you think?" Harry had been waiting anxiously to hear Lucas' opinion of Ruth.

"Harry, I realise you don't want to put Ruth in any danger, or throw her in the deep end, but ... I think she's ready. If nothing else, you just need to give her something to do, something meaningful. She needs to feel normality in her life again."

Harry shouldn't really have been surprised by Lucas' perception. He had chosen Lucas specifically because he would be able to relate to Ruth's situation. Now he had to trust his instincts.

"Alright. I'll let her know she can come back from tomorrow. But I want you to keep an eye on her. We still have to clear her name properly, and until that happens this is going to be temporary, however much we'd like it to be otherwise."

Lucas gave Harry a pleased smile and small nod, in recognition. "Thank you. I will look out for her. I promise."

*****

When Harry walked through his front door that night, Ruth was curled up in his armchair with a copy of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare which she had acquired from his bookshelf. There was a delicious smell emanating from the kitchen.

Ruth looked up and smiled as he entered the living room. "Hello."

"Hello." his voice croaked back in wonder. Returning home to find Ruth there and looking like she belonged, had always been there, he felt a bit like the cat that had got the cream. "What can I smell?"

"Dinner. I made lasagne, and there's a salad. I hope that's okay?"

Harry was amazed how domestic and normal this all felt, and he nodded, "More than okay, thank you. My fridge was empty, so I assume you went out?"

"Yes. It's not empty anymore. Are you hungry?"

"Starving."

"Good, it should be about ready. I'll just check."

*****

Dinner was calm and it felt perfectly normal for them both to be behaving like this. Ever since Harry walked through the door, it was like his life had never been any different. Ruth was a good cook - the lasagne was as good as any he had tasted. That and the effect of the excellent bottle of wine they shared had helped relax them both.

They were now standing near the sink. Ruth leaning against the bench, Harry folding a tea towel and placing it on the dish rack. Ruth was thinking to herself that she now had a delightfully amusing image to file away in her memory, the one of Harry just moments before with his sleeves rolled up and hands plunged deep into the hot soapy water.

Harry's voice broke into her daydreaming, "Tomorrow, I was planning to leave about 7 am and drive in, if you'd like to come with me?"

Ruth nodded, glancing at him and then away again, aware that he was trying to make up for what had happened earlier.

"Ruth, I'm sorry about this morning ... I needed to get myself sorted as much as anything ... and clear the way. I need to do this properly. I don't want to lose you again."

Ruth lifted her eyes up to look him directly in the face, and found Harry looking intently back at her. Both of them were breathing deeply, very aware of the implication of what he had just said. A solitary tear slipped down Ruth's cheek as she thought about everything they had lost, and she quickly brushed it away with the back of her hand.

Instinctively, Harry leaned towards Ruth and kissed her. A light kiss, barely touching her lips, one that tingled and rippled through both of them.

That day at the boat, Ruth was the one who had kissed Harry – one final leap to show him how she felt about him, and a memory to take with her. He kissed her back, but he was still in shock that she was walking out of his life. Tonight Harry had initiated the kiss, and an altogether different dynamic was at play.

Ruth was suddenly feeling nervous around Harry again. "I think I should get to bed. I mean, if I'm actually coming in with you tomorrow, I think I should have an early night."

Harry nodded, his lips pressed together in acceptance, showing nothing of the frustration he felt as she seemed to shrink away from him again.

Please post a review, they are appreciated.