As Dempsey put the film in the player, he yawned loudly. He turned around and saw Harry's eyes dropping as she struggled to stay awake. He smiled at her, turned the television off and came and sat back down beside her. He put his arm around her gently, until her eyes opened and she saw Dempsey gazing at her.

"I think it's bedtime, Princess," he whispered softly.

She looked dreamily at him. She didn't relish the thought of going to her cold, dark bedroom alone at that moment; she wanted nothing more than to be in Dempsey's company. Her bedroom had become a miserable place of late; she had spent night after night lying awake wondering where Dempsey was, whether he was safe, whether he was lonely, whether he was alive.

"I don't want to go to bed yet, James."

"Why not? You're obviously bushed! I'll go and get the spare quilt."

"No! We've only just opened this second bottle. It seems a shame to waste it now."

Dempsey wondered what was getting to Makepeace. He got the feeling that she didn't want to be alone, and if he was honest, he didn't fancy curling up on her sofa just yet. It was new, he noticed, and slightly smaller than her previous one. He had a feeling it wasn't designed for him to get a comfortable nights sleep – not unless he was severely intoxicated anyway.

"Are you sure? I don't mind if you wanna call it a night?"

"I'm sure."

"Tell ya what, why don't I put on some music instead?"

"Mm, okay. I may as well get the quilt for you now. It's getting a little chilly in here."

Harry rose and ran a hand through her hair. Dempsey watched her as he moved over to her music collection.

"Mind if I put the fire on for a while?"

Harry turned from across the room. "Of course not. Do whatever you want."

She exited the room and Dempsey could hear her climbing the stairs as she went for the quilt. He lit the fire, which began crackling warmly in front of the sofa, and began to rifle through Makepeace's tapes. There was a definite mixture, and he wondered whether all of it was her own preference, or whether some tapes had been left by previous boyfriends. He let that thought slip from his mind. The thought of Makepeace with another man bothered him a lot these days.

He carried on searching as Harry returned with the quilt which she draped over the sofa, and crawled underneath. Dempsey found a cassette right at the very back of the unit. There was no label on it. Out of curiosity alone, he selected it and pressed play. He turned around to see Makepeace under the duvet, the fire lighting her soft face, as he dimmed the only light in the room. He stared at her intently for a few moments, as she sipped her wine slowly, brushing her hair from her face. God, she looked so beautiful. He always knew she was attractive, but it was as if he was seeing her through new eyes. Her soft skin, her blonde hair, her blue eyes. She looked divine, even without makeup and in her pyjamas. This is what he had missed over the last few weeks. Just being with her and sharing his nights with her. He had lay awake so many times, just thinking things over and over in his head. All about Coltrane, Joey, New York. But one person always managed to sneak her way to the forefront of his mind and embed herself in his dreams. It was her. Lady Harriet Makepeace.
He didn't know where his feelings would take him and if they would ever be reciprocated. But he knew he needed her and wanted her in his life. God damn it, he loved her. And the thought that he could never have her was driving him insane. Harry looked up at him as she put her glass down.

"What have you chosen?"

Dempsey came back to reality. " I dunno, Princess. It doesn't have a label!"

She smiled. "Its probably a mixed tape then. Angela is forever making them for me."

"Angela?" That name sounded familiar. Dempsey got under the duvet with Makepeace, resting his arm along the top of the sofa.

"You remember. You met her the night at Stringfellows."

Dempsey couldn't suppress a grin. "Ah, I remember now! As I recall, you stole her dress."

Harry looked at Dempsey, not knowing exactly what to say. As if on cue, the music started and Meatloaf blared out.

Harry looked over at the player, glad of a diversion. "See! Courtesy of Angela. She loves this Meatloaf music!"

"Hey,yeah, I've heard of him. Do you like this music?"

"I'm not too fussed if I'm honest."

"I can turn it off if you want?"

"No. It'll change in a minute."

Harry again sipped her wine and Dempsey followed suit. He yawned as he put his glass back down.

"Am I boring you?!" Harry asked playfully.

"You could never bore me, Princess. I just haven't slept much lately. I think it's catching up with me."

"Me neither." Harry paused. "I was out of my mind with worry."

"Aww, Harry. I didn't know you cared!" Dempsey hoped she did, but Harry replied seriously.

"Didn't you?"

"Well, not until today, when you told me whilst pointing a gun at my head." He grinned and Harry smirked back.

"Spikings nearly took me off the case twice. I was going into the office hardly being able to see straight, I was so exhausted."

"I'm sorry for what I put you through." Dempsey whispered softly.

"It had to be done. I know that. I just didn't think it would be so hard. Or that – " Harry cut off. She'd said too much.

"Or what?" Dempsey urged.

"Nothing."

"No! Go on. Finish what you were going to say."

Harry swallowed as Dempsey gazed intently at her. She drank the last of her wine, which she felt was going slightly to her head. As she leaned forward to return her glass to the table, she spoke.

"Or that I'd miss you as much as I did." Harry tried to make it sound casual, but failed miserably. She expected Dempsey to make some crass remark and they would be back to their usual banter, but a secret hope in her heart willed for him to say something genuine. Dempsey let his hand wander to the back of her head and caress her hair. He spoke softly.

"Come over here."

Harry paused for a moment, before moving across to lay her head on Dempsey's chest, as he pulled her into him. She had no idea where this was going, but she wanted contact with him, reassurance that it was all over and he was back for good.

Dempsey spoke quietly. "I'd lie awake for hours night after night, a million and one things running through my head. I'd toss and turn and will myself to switch off. But I couldn't. Despite everything that was going on, all I could think about was being with you again."

Harry smiled, and cuddled herself closer to him, her hand lay resting on his shoulder. As they enjoyed the moment, they heard the song switch, and Foreigner began to play softly, as Dempsey rested his chin on top of Harry's head, holding her gently but firmly. They both listened to the words.

"So long, I've been looking too hard, I've been waiting too long
Sometimes I don't know what I will find, I only know it's a matter of time
When you love someone, when you love someone
It feels so right, so warm and true, I need to know if you feel it too."

Their minds were racing with uncertainties. They both wanted to know what the other felt about their relationship. Dempsey vaguely recognised the song, but he couldn't place where he had heard it. He listened closely to the words.

"Now I know it's right, from the moment I wake up till deep in the night
There's nowhere on earth that I'd rather be than holding you tenderly."

He squeezed Harry's arm, as though trying to tell her that it was her he wanted to hold, her he wanted to be with. All the time. This move didn't go unnoticed by Harry, and she began slowly stroking the material of Dempsey's shirt. She felt so content. So complete now that he was back with her. Dempsey tried hard to recall where he had heard the song. As the chorus started up, he smiled softly and reminisced.

"I've been waiting for a girl like you to come into my life
I've been waiting for a girl like you, your loving will survive
I've been waiting for someone new to make me feel alive
Yeah, waiting for a girl like you to come into my life."

Dempsey thought it was fate that he had chosen this tape. This song summed up everything so well. He had been waiting for something good to come into his life. Fair enough, he had played the field a bit in the past. But he has created a new life in London, and Harry was such a vital part of that. When they went out, he wasn't remotely interested in picking up a girl. He was more than happy to let people think that he and Harry were an item. He didn't know how he could survive without her.

"I've been waiting, waiting for you, ooh, I've been waiting
I've been waiting
(I've been waiting for a girl like you, I've been waiting)"

Dempsey recognised the last line, as he sang softly;
"Won't you come into my life?"

Harry lifted her head to look at Dempsey.

"I didn't know you knew this."

"You know it to, don't you?"

"Well, yes. I know it. But only because of Angela. I didn't know you were a fan of Foreigner."

"I'm not particularly."

"Then how - ?"

"We danced to it."

Harry looked utterly confused. "We danced to this song? When?!"

"You don't remember?" Dempsey hadn't expected her to.

"No..." Harry tried hard to picture herself dancing with Dempsey, but drew a blank.

"It was the night in Stringfellows. You practically dragged me onto the dance floor! Not that I needed much persuadin'!"

Harry covered her face with her hand. "Oh my God. You should have told me to sit down and shut up!"

"I didn't want to! I wanted to fulfil your request!" Harry looked at him quizzically. "You grabbed me from the bar and shouted "Come slow dance with me James!" And when Angela tried to tell you to get off me, you told her "No no no! He's my James and he's dancing with me!" And well, after a declaration like that, how could I refuse?!"

"Oh God! Why didn't you tell me about this?!"

"Cause I knew you'd feel embarrassed! You'd had way too much champers!"

"I'm sorry. I made a complete fool of myself, didn't I?"

"No! Hey, and don't be sorry! You saved me from trying to pluck up the courage to ask you."

"You wanted to dance with me?"

"Of course I did."

"Why?" Harry couldn't resist asking.

"You know why."

"I don't."

Dempsey inhaled deeply and looked at Harry directly eye to eye, their mouths hovering ever closer to each others.

"Cause it was the only way I'd ever be able to hold your body so closely against mine and get away with it."

Harry looked away, blushing. Dempsey continued. "And you know, Harry. You looked so gorgeous and well, that red dress really turned me on!"

Harry couldn't help but giggle. Dempsey put a finger under her chin and forced her to look up at him again.

"You wanna slow dance with me, Harry?"