This is going to be the last "happy" chapter. Things are going to get a bit dark from here. That said, enjoy!


Ruth awoke first in the morning. Her body felt tender and well loved and she felt happy. Turning to Harry she saw his face looked relaxed. In sleep he looked much younger and less careworn. She wanted to stroke his face, but didn't want to disturb him. Instead she reached for her jumper and threw it on, noticing the discarded clothes all over the bedroom floor. With half a smile she went into the kitchen to start breakfast. It took her a while, but she was pleased that when she brought bacon, eggs, toast and two mugs of tea into the bedroom that Harry was still asleep. It didn't last long as the smell of bacon roused him. He looked at her, a male self satisfied smile on his face as he caught her eye.

"Your breakfast is getting cold," Ruth said. Harry tore his eyes away from her and grabbed his plate. Breakfast was delicious. Instead of taking his tea, he leaned on his elbow and watched Ruth.

"You're watching me," Ruth said quietly.

"You're dressed," he complained, pouting like a schoolboy.

"I threw a jumper on, that's hardly dressed." Harry raised his eyebrow and then slid his hand over her thighs. And higher.

"No, you have a point," he agreed, making her chuckle. "So, what do you want to do today?" Ruth said nothing, but looked at the bed pointedly. Harry smiled. "I'm not exactly a young man," he said. "I might need a bit of recovery time if you expect all day in bed."

"It's a good thing that we have nowhere else to be then, isn't it?" Ruth said. Harry laughed and took her into his arms, never wanting to let her go.


At about one in the afternoon Ruth's mind began to wake up. Harry was dozing, but she remembered what he'd said to her last night, when she'd almost been asleep. She gave Harry a nudge before she could stop herself. He grunted.

"What?"

"You said you loved me," Ruth said, her eyes wide.

"No I didn't," he said.

"Yes you did. Last night."

"I did not say I "loved" you," he said, emphasising that word. "I said I love you. Its never past tense with you. It will never be "I loved you once." But yes, I did say that in regards to the sentiment."

"Why?"

"Why do I love you?" he asked, confused.

"No. Why did you say it when I was almost asleep?"

"Because I needed to," he said. "It didn't matter whether you could hear me, I just needed to say it. Not that it makes it any less true." He stroked her hair gently as she smiled to herself.

"I…"

"No." Harry covered her lips with his fingers so she couldn't speak. "I don't want you to say it just because I did." Ruth kissed his fingertips before he dropped them, a smile on his face.

"A few months ago, after… Colin died. And Myers and his friends put you in that detention centre, I was terrified. I thought… I was scared you were going to die before we could stop it from happening.

"Join the club," Harry said fervently. He'd thought he'd be killed before section D could find him too.

"When I got home that night I realised just how much I wouldn't be able to cope if I lost you. It… changed my perspective somewhat."

"I don't intend to go anywhere Ruth," he said quietly.

"Good," she said. Harry kissed her hair and then got up, deciding it was probably time he got dressed. Ruth watched his naked body for as long as she could, before he covered his legs with his jeans. He was still shirtless and her eyes ran over him. She saw the old burn on his stomach, the gunshot wound on his shoulder from Tom… a myriad of old and newer scars and it didn't matter. She knew without a shadow of a doubt that this was the man she simply couldn't live without.

"I love you Harry." She was lying in bed, hugging her knees and watching him as he froze, a smile on her lips. "And I'm not saying it because I have to. I'm saying it because its true." He smiled at her and leaned over the bed, kissing her softly. He held her so gently she felt treasured.

"I love you too," he said, his eyes sparkling at her. The moment was broken by Harry's stomach rumbling loudly and she laughed. "I guess I'll make us some lunch."

"That'd be nice."


Thank you for the reviews so far, and if you have the time, another one would be wonderful!