He's standing in a quiet corner of the book shop, Aubrie resting in his left arm as he browses the limited offerings of travel guides. It's mid-morning and the book shop is their last stop of the day; Ruth wanting to pick up a few children's books to read with Aubrie during their journeys', as well as a new copy of the Iliad.
In Greek.
Apparently it's never too early to be introduced to the classics.
Though it's not as if he can argue, he has picked up Le Morte d'Arthur in its original French and added it to her pile of books, smiling as she'd looked up at him in wonderment.
"Don't look so shocked. It's not as though I can only speak French, I did learn to read and write it too." Hand sliding around to her back, he leaned into her, pressing a kiss against her hair. "You're not the only member of this family who knows another language or two."
"Every day I find some other thing about you that amazes me. And…"
She's cut off by little hands pressing against her knees. Looking down, she smiles as Aubrie stands against her, clinging to her knees. At her feet are all the books from the lower shelf.
"Mummy uh."
Bending down, she picks up their daughter, cuddling her as she takes her little hand in her own. "And what were you doing?"
"Boos."
Amazed at the changes and developments Aubrie is making every day, Ruth smiles
"Don't you think we should put the books away now?"
"NO!" Aubrie says loudly, shaking her head back and forth. "Me."
Ruth looks at her daughter and with a sterner tone to her voice says, "They are not your books and we need to put them back where they came from. Mummy will help you."
Little hand reaching out, Aubrie smacks Ruth's shoulder. "Me boos!"
Ruth stands in shock starring at her daughter. She has never acted like that before and she's thrown for a moment on how to react. Harry though, reacts immediately and takes the girl in his arms, frowning as she looks at him.
"Aubrie, we don't hit mummy."
"Me boos." She cries, hitting Harry like she did Ruth.
Having snapped out of her shock, Ruth grabs Aubrie's hand in hers before she can hit Harry again. Stepping closer, she gently takes their daughter's face in her hand and turns her to look at her. "Aubrie Skylar Pearce you do not hit people. No books if you don't stop."
"Me boos." She says, tears running down her cheeks as she looks at her mum. "Me boos?"
Ruth's grips slacks and she gently wipes the tears away. "Apologize to your daddy than for hitting him."
Tears still in her eyes, Aubrie turns to look at Harry and not saying anything, wraps her arms around his neck, her face buried in his skin.
He feels the pressure of her small lips pressing into his throat, the coldness of her tears notable and he reacts, his heart melting at her apparent distress. "It's okay." He says, pulling her closer to press his lips against her forehead, "But no more hitting people, okay?"
Aubrie nods her head yes, her tears stopping as she leans forward, small hands gripping Harry's cheek, her mouth pressing against his in a kiss.
"And you need to apologize to your mummy too."
Aubrie turns and holds her arms out to Ruth, her lower lip between her teeth. "Apology accepted." Ruth mutters, leaning over to kiss her, arms sliding around her small back as she hugs her. "I love you. Why don't you look at books with your daddy?"
"Boos daddy?" Aubrie asks, arms still wrapped around Ruth's neck as she turns to look at her father.
"Books Princess."
Thumb in her mouth, Aubrie nods off to sleep curled on a blanket in the middle of the lounge floor. Harry sits on the sofa, head leaning back against the cushions as he enjoys the peace and quiet.
No national emergency or crisis beckoning him away.
His mobile has even been regulated to the kitchen counter, no longer within arm's reach.
In the kitchen, he can hear Ruth puttering around, preparing Vichyssoise for their dinner. Zaf has taken the car as well as Jo and headed off over night to Sisteron, making up for the lost three months of their relationship.
Harry has his own plans for the evening.
As the rain beats against the farm house window, he stands and stretches. Glancing once more at Aubrie, he turns towards the kitchen and pads across the wooden floor. Stepping into the doorway, he watches as Ruth chops vegetables at the wooden butcher block, her body swaying to the music quietly playing from the CD player on the counter as she sings along.
"I'm falling even more in love with you, letting go of all I've held onto. I'm standing here until you make me move. I'm hanging by a moment here with you. (Lifehouse)"
As she lies the knife on the block, he steps behind her, wrapping his arms round her waist. Chin resting on her shoulder, he nuzzles her neck slightly as she jumps in surprise.
"Harry!"
"Hmm. You smell good."
"Touchy feely Harry is going to take some getting used to." she mumbles, head lolling to the side as his lips press behind her ear.
"Forgetting all I'm lacking, completely incomplete. I'll take your invitation. You take all of me now. (Lifehouse)"
Spinning her around, he pulls her back with him to the middle of the floor and starts moving to the slow melody of the music. As the crescendo builds, he spins her around one before dancing around the room.
I'm living for the only thing I know. I'm running and not quite sure where to go. And I don't know what I'm diving into. Just hanging by a moment here with you. There's nothing else to lose. There's nothing else to find. There's nothing in the world, that can change my mind. I'm desperate for changing, I'm starving for truth. I'm closer to where I started. I'm chasing after you. (Lifehouse)"
By the time the track changes, Ruth is half laughing, half crying and Harry pulls her close. Mouth against her ear, he whispers, "I'm living for the only thing I know."
Head turning, she meets his eyes and her own voice a whisper, she says, "I love you."
"Good thing I love you too."
Smiling, he steps back, his arms still on her waist.
Works Cited
Lifehouse. "Hanging By A Moment." No Name Face. By Jason Wade. 2000. CD.
AN: Special thanks to NatesDate for helping with bits of the story.
