A/N: I am so sorry for the delay in updating. Work got very busy leaving me little time to write. This past week I've been in London, where I got to meet Nicola Walker after seeing her on stage at the National Theatre. What a lovely, lovely woman! Photo and a written account are on my Tumblr page if you're interested. The link should be in my profile page on here.

Anyway…here's an extra-long chapter to try and make up for my time away!


Chapter 9

Once Ruth has gotten used to the fact that she'll have met the majority of Harry's immediate family before their second date, the four adults get to work. Ruth and Lyn prepare the food while Harry and Ben decorate the living room with balloons and streamers. With four pairs of hands instead of the two they were expecting, it isn't long before most of the preparations are complete and much to the adult's relief, there is time for a cup of tea before the party starts.

Once Catherine's friends begin arriving Ruth hides in the kitchen with Harry's brother; neither she or Harry want to field awkward questions about their relationship from well-meaning but inquisitive parents.

"So, how did you and Harry meet?" Ben asks. It seems the awkward questions will come from much closer to home.

"We work together," Ruth answers honestly. She doesn't give any more information, unsure what Ben thinks Harry does for a living.

She's safe however, as Ben whispers, "You're a spy?"

"Technically yes. I'm a desk officer, so not much actual spying for me."

"And you've been seeing each other for how long?" he enquires, a cheeky smile on his face.

"H-how did you-"

"The fact that you're here and have obviously met his children was the big give away. My big brother's not so eloquent introduction just confirmed it," Ben explains before mimicking Harry. "'This is my…friend, Ruth.'"

Ruth can't help but laugh as Ben playfully mocks Harry. "I…we…it's very new."

"How new?" he presses. "Come on, if you tell me I can intercept questions from my Father when he arrives so you don't have to."

"Would you believe that this is our second date?"

"This? His daughter's birthday party?" Ben shakes his head. "Remind me to tutor him in the ways of romance."

"Well, Catherine invited me to her party and Harry promised me dinner afterwards."

"Enough said. We'll get out of your way sharpish."

"Don't feel you have to."

"No, we will; and I'll make sure my father doesn't overstay his welcome either.

Just then, Graham toddles into the kitchen dragging his blue teddy bear behind him, an uneasy look on his face.

"Hello Graham," Ruth greets with a smile. "Are you okay; do you not want to join in the party?"

A shake of the head this time. "Too noisy," he explains.

"Ah." She has to admit he has a point; the noise level coming from the living room has increased as each of Catherine's friends have arrived and right now there appears to be a lot of squealing and giggling going on. "Well then, why don't you sit up here," she pats a dining room chair, "and do some colouring."

Graham nods. "Okay."

Ruth helps Graham onto the chair and then gets his colouring books for him as Ben excuses himself and disappears into the back garden to answer a phone call. Keeping one eye on Graham, Ruth finishes off the food; getting the pizzas ready to go into the oven. There is a knock at the front door as she opens the oven but, assuming Harry will get it, she ignores it and carries on with her task.

A couple of minutes later the knock comes again; Harry hasn't heard the door. Sighing, Ruth puts down the knife and pads down the hallway. She opens the door to reveal an older man, probably in his early sixties; Harry's father.

"Hi," she greets. "You must be Mr Pearce?"

"Yes."

"Come on in. I'm Ruth. I'm a friend of Harry's."

"Just a friend?" he asks with a twinkle in his eyes; not too dissimilar from the one Harry has sometimes. Now she knows where he gets it from.

"Dad!" Ben calls, entering the hallway and Ruth is grateful for his timing. As father and son greet each other she slinks off back to the kitchen.


Once the pizzas are cooked, Ruth leaves them to cool and joins the party in the living room. She finds the children and Harry, in the middle of a raucous game of musical chairs. They are marching round the chairs as the music blares, their eyes darting between the chairs and Lyn, who is operating the CD player, in anticipation of when the music would stop. Suddenly it stops and there is a mad flurry for chairs. Harry and a little girl dressed in red are left standing, but Harry quickly perches himself on his daughters knees, holding on to the arms of the chair so she isn't taking his full weight.

"This isn't a very comfortable chair," he announces with mock disgust. "It's all lumpy and bumpy."

The children squeal with laughter and Ruth can't help but chuckle at his antics.

"Daddy!" cries Catherine. "That's cheating. You're out!" She shoves him and he tumbles to the floor. Chastened, he pouts before crawling away on his hands and knees, the children's shrieks of delight ringing in his ears.

Soon, the game is over and Catherine's friend Molly is declared the winner. Checking her watch, Ruth asks, "Is everyone ready to eat?" A deafening reply in the affirmative followed by the pounding of seven pairs of small feet as they make their way to the kitchen makes her ears ring. Ruth follows them in and arrives to see the start of an argument between two of the boys.

"I'm sitting next to Catherine!" declares Jack.

"No, I am," protests Callum.

"Well that's easily solved," smiles Ruth. "Catherine can sit at the head of the table and you can each sit either side of her." The children do as instructed and harmony reigns once more. Harry throws her a grateful smile as they begin placing various plates of food on the table.


The jelly and ice-cream is a big hit and once everyone has had seconds, it's time for Catherine to blow out her candles. Harry's father conducts the young guests in a rousing chorus of 'Happy Birthday" while Catherine sits there beaming, full of excitement.

"Are you ready to blow out your candles and make a wish?" asks Harry. Catherine nods and Ruth and Lyn stand ready with cameras. "Okay, three, two, one….blow."

Catherine takes a deep breath and puffs. Six candles go out first time but the last one proves a little tricky, so Harry leans over and helps.

"What did you wish for?" asks Molly.

"It's a secret," Catherine tells her friends. "If I tell you, it won't come true. That's right isn't it Ruth?"

"It is, sweetheart. Now, why don't you help me cut the cake?"

Ben and Lyn take the other children back into the living room but Harry hangs back watching from the doorway as Ruth helps Catherine to cut the cake into pieces small enough to go into the party bags. He is that engrossed by them that he doesn't sense his father approaching behind him.

"So that's Ruth," he comments quietly. He's been eager to meet the woman who had so obviously captured his son's heart, especially after the heartache Harry had suffered in his previous relationship.

Harry starts slightly at the sudden appearance. "Yes."

"The children seem to like her."

"She's good with them."

"Do me a favour son; don't let her go. I can tell she's good for you."

Harry stands dumbfounded for a moment at his father's words; he's not usually so effusive. But when Ruth turns around and smiles at him, he feels himself smiling in return, something he's not done much in the recent past. He realises his father is right; Ruth is good for him. Very good indeed.


The party is over, the guests have left, the takeaway is ordered and Harry is putting the children to bed, whilst Ruth continues clearing up downstairs.

"Well I'd say that was a success," Harry announces as he returns to the kitchen, where Ruth has poured them both a glass of wine.

"It was. Catherine's certainly a very popular little girl," Ruth observes.

"She is. But, my God Ruth, she's only seven years old and already has boys fighting over her!" Harry sighs and runs his fingers through his hair. "What's it going to be like when she's in her teens? My life is going to be a misery."

Ruth laughs out loud. "Harry, did you not see her? She wasn't even interested! There's only one man in her life, and that's you. She adores you, and I don't think that will ever change."

"It will, one day." Harry casts a wistful look at the photo of him and Catherine that's stuck on the fridge. "She'll meet someone and fall in love…"

Ruth takes his hand in hers. "That's a long way off, Harry," she tells him softly. "A long way off." Surprising both herself and Harry, she stretches up and places a gentle kiss on his cheek. When she pulls away, she maintains eye contact with Harry and the flick of her gaze down to his lips gives him the impetus to make his move. He reaches up and cups her cheek, tilts her face toward him and lowers his mouth onto hers.

It's a gentle kiss, lips grazing and tongues teasing. Ruth moans into Harry's mouth and her fingers clutch two handfuls of his shirt, hanging on for safety as she floats on the waves of heat and emotion. She lets out a shaky sigh as they break apart and she wraps her arms around him and lays her head against his chest. The warmth of his body is pressed all down her front. She stays very still, letting him soak in.

He kisses the top of her head. "I've wanted to kiss you for so long," he murmurs into her hair.

"Me too," she agrees, her cheeks reddening at her admission.

He leans down to capture her mouth again and turns them, pressing her against the kitchen cupboards. The kiss deepens and their hands begin to roam; hers rubbing up and down his back until they resting just above his bum; his moving down her sides until they reach the hem of her blouse. His fingers toy with it, brushing against her bare skin, edging the material upwards.

Ruth pulls away, breathless. "Harry…" He looks up at her. "As wonderful as this feels, I think we should slow down. The food will be here soon and we don't want either Catherine or Graham to find us like this."

"You're right. I'm sorry."

"Don't apologise. I enjoyed…kissing you."

"But?" he asks, sensing she has more to say

"But…I'd like to take things slowly…with the physical side of things, if that's okay?"

"Of course," he assured. "I'm not going to lie and say I'm going to find it easy because I find you completely irresistible," he tells her as he kisses her again lightly, "but I'll wait if that's what you want."

"It is…for now at least."

"Then that's what we'll do." He reaches around them and retrieves their glasses of wine from the counter. He hands Ruth one and motions for her to follow him to the living room.

"Harry!" she calls him back, worried that her words have hurt him. "For what it's worth…I don't think I'm going to find it easy either," she confesses, a slight blush forming on her cheeks.

"That's…good to know. Now come on," he takes her hand and leads her into the living room, "I think we deserve a sit down."