A short chapter this time, but I'm going to be making a time jump next, and it needs its own chapter. Enjoy.


Ruth awoke feeling an arm around her waist and a kiss on the back of her neck. She smiled and pushed back against him. "Morning," Harry said.

"Mm," she agreed. "What time is it?"

"Six thirty," he said. "Why?"

"Lucy," she said relaxing back into his embrace. "We've got half an hour."

"Mm," he said. He kissed her jaw for a moment before getting out of bed. Ruth bit her lip as she watched his naked body. Then she felt surprised as he quickly pulled his clothes back on.

"What are you doing?"

"I need to get home for some fresh clothes," he said. "Then I have to get to the JIC meeting this morning. I'm sorry I can't stay longer."

"Shame," she said. He caught the look of disappointment on her face and sighed. He leaned over the bed and kissed her slowly. When he let her go she was smiling. "I know you have to go."

"Sorry," he said. "It wasn't my intention. Actually nothing about last night beyond drinking wine was my intention."

"Regretting it?" she asked, the fear in her eyes.

"No," he assured her quickly. "Never. Where's my shirt?"

"Somewhere on the stairs," Ruth said with amusement.

"Oh yes," he said with a grin. "I remember." She laughed lightly and kissed him again.

"I'll see you at work later," she said. Harry nodded.

"Bye." She smiled as he left and then listened as he went down the stairs, pausing to finish getting dressed and then left the house, her front door closing quietly. She collapsed on the bed and started fiddling with her hair absent mindedly She felt very happy and well rested, but she also felt disappointed that he'd had to leave so soon. That was what she got for sleeping with her boss on a Monday night. Maybe at the weekend they'd be able to spend more time in bed together in the morning. Assuming they ended up in bed in the first place.

She got up and went for a quick shower. Turning up to the grid smelling of Harry wouldn't be a good thing for keeping their relationship quiet. But as the hot water rushed over her body she realised how happy she was.


She actually got into work early. Only Malcolm was in, everyone else not seeing the necessity to come into work this early. "Hi," she said sitting behind her desk.

"Hello," he replied. "I wanted to talk to you actually."

"About what?" she asked.

"I'm happy for you and Harry," he said. Her smile froze on her face.

"How did you know?" she asked.

"I've known Harry for ten years," he said. "I know when he's in a relationship, and I've also noticed the way he looks at you when he thinks no ones watching."

"Oh God, does everyone else know?" Ruth said.

"Probably," Malcolm said. "I don't gossip."

"Oh God," she repeated. "I wanted to keep my private life private."

"No one minds," Malcolm said. "Harry's one of my oldest friends, I like to see him happy."

"Thanks Malcolm," she said, forcing herself to smile. He went back to work and she gave herself a little shake. What did it really matter if everyone knew? She planned (maybe hoped) that this would be a long term relationship, so the people they worked with would be bound to find out eventually. It didn't mean she had to like it. She had never enjoyed being gossiped about, a state of affairs which had only increased when she'd found herself pregnant in school. But then again once their relationship was common knowledge people would eventually get bored and stop talking about her.


Around lunchtime Ruth went into Harry's office smiling. "Happy suits you," he said quietly.

"Mm," she said. Then, with great purpose she walked towards him and kissed him deeply, ignoring the fact that the blinds were pulled back, showing the office to the rest of the grid. He reacted for a moment and then pulled back.

"People will see," he said quietly.

"Let them," she said. "They already suspect anyway. Just… then they'll know, and the gossip will die down."

"Okay," he said, smiling. He kissed her again, passionately and breathlessly. Her face was flushed when he let her go, eyes bright. "Have you got the Jenkins file?"

"I'll get it to you this afternoon," she said happily. She walked out of his office, knowing she was being gossiped about but she didn't mind. Well, not too much. She went behind her desk and got to work, her lips still bruised by his kiss.


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