A/N: Sorry for the long wait...again. I hope you will accept this cute, little (well, maybe not so little) chapter as a token of apology.
In this instalment the Christmas party is still in full swing, although Sasha and Emma are hidden away in Harry's office discussing their 'situation' for most of it.
There are lots of soppy moments throughout, so enjoy!
Chapter Ten
"Do you think they're alright in there," Harry asked Ruth, after looking at his watch and noting how long Sasha and Emma had been gone.
"I'm sure they're fine," Ruth told him. "But perhaps I should go and check."
Harry nodded. "Yes, better you than me."
Ruth headed off towards Harry's office. She attempted to peer in to see what was going on, but the blinds were drawn. She knocked lightly on the door.
"Who is it?" Sasha asked, his voice slightly shaky, Ruth noticed.
"It's me, Ruth, is everything alright in there?" she called out over the music.
"Yes, we're fine, thank you," Sasha told her, when in actual fact he had never felt less fine in his life.
Emma lifted her head from Sasha's shoulder and looked up at him. "She knows," she croaked out.
"Oh," Sasha replied.
"She guessed," Emma explained. "But nobody else knows apart from us three."
"I see," Sasha said. "I'll go and speak to her, then."
Emma nodded. He steadied her on her feet before walking away to the door. He opened it up only a little.
"Emma…just told me," Sasha revealed.
"Told you what exactly?" Ruth asked cautiously.
"That she's…" Sasha began, struggling to actually say the word out loud. After a lengthy pause, he managed eventually, "pregnant."
"Oh, right, um, I see," Ruth said, not really knowing what the best response was for the current situation.
"I guess we'll be out soon, it's just we need a moment first, to you know…" Sasha trailed off, not really knowing what the end of his sentence even was.
"Yes of course, is there anything you need me to do, or to get you?" Ruth offered.
"No, thank you," Sasha said. "But, just don't tell my father, yet."
"Oh no, I wouldn't. I won't tell anyone," Ruth reassured him.
"Ok, thanks, well, we'll see you a little later."
Ruth nodded as Sasha closed the door in front of her. She took a deep breath before making her way back to Harry. She hadn't even considered what his response would be until now. If they did decide to keep the baby, then how would he react, she wondered. Would he flip out over the fact that Emma would have to take maternity leave? Maybe he'd be secretly overjoyed at the prospect of having his first grandchild. Ruth wasn't sure, though she hoped it was the latter. She knew that he had softened in the last year, and so maybe he might even offer to babysit on occasion. She laughed at that thought, thinking about the pair of them trying to look after a newborn together. She'd had no experience, and as far as she was aware, Harry hadn't held a baby since he'd had his own children.
"What's got you smiling?" Harry asked, interrupting Ruth's thoughts as she reached him.
"Oh, nothing, I'm just getting into the Christmas spirit, that's all," Ruth told him.
"So how were they?" Harry asked, having been genuinely concerned about his son.
"Fine, they're just having a chat," Ruth revealed.
"About anything in particular?" Harry probed.
"I'm not sure. They didn't tell me what had happened. But Sasha seemed a lot calmer."
"Well that's something," Harry said, relieved.
"Hmm, they should be out in a little while though, I should think," Ruth said.
Harry nodded. "Good, wouldn't want them missing the party." He raised his eyebrows, and Ruth laughed.
"Oh c'mon it's not that bad, don't be such a scrooge!"
"You clearly haven't tasted the mulled wine," Harry said. "I'm quite certain it's the same stuff from last year, that's been left open under a radiator for the past 12 months."
"Oh lighten up, and pull this with me," Ruth ordered, handing him a cracker.
Harry looked indignant, but did as he was told. It was Ruth after all.
Sasha thumbed the tears away from Emma's cheeks. She was so sad, and he couldn't bear it.
"It's going to be ok," he repeated.
"Is it?" Emma asked.
"Of course," he said smiling at her.
"It's just, it's such a shock. We're so young, and we haven't been together for long, and we're spooks, and…" Emma trailed off, beginning to sob once again.
Sasha took hold of her hands. "None of that matters, we could make it work…if you wanted to," he told her with certainty.
"Do you want to?" she asked him quietly.
"I'm not sure," Sasha answered honestly. "I haven't had time to think it through. What about you?"
"Well, I want children, but I don't know…it's just the timing," Emma confessed.
"When is the time ever right though?" Sasha said out.
Emma laughed. "Good point. I'm not sure; it's just such a big decision. At least I know I don't have to make it on my own now though."
"Did you think you would?" Sasha asked feeling slightly horrified.
"Well, I thought it might scare you away," Emma confessed.
"I can't believe you'd think I would leave you to deal with this on your own!"
Emma looked up to see the hurt in Sasha's eyes; she hadn't meant to offend him. "Oh no, I didn't mean…I was just so worried about everything. Anyway, Ruth reassured me that you'd be here for me."
"Of course, it's my baby too," Sasha said as he glanced down at Emma's stomach. It was only for a brief instant, but she noticed.
"We should probably get back out there," Emma said.
Sasha hummed in agreement.
"But I better just try and sort myself out first," Emma said, fumbling for a compact mirror in her clutch bag. "Jesus Christ!" she exclaimed as she assessed the damage, "I look a mess."
"No you don't, you look beautiful, as always," Sasha told her.
"That's a lovely thing to say, you're wrong, but it's lovely all the same," Emma said, amazed that she was actually able to joke with her boyfriend after all that had just gone down. Maybe it wasn't as bad as she had anticipated after all.
"Ah, there they are," Harry said, noting the eventual reappearance of Sasha and Emma. Nobody heard him however, as everyone else was focused on the return of another couple.
Erin and Dimitri had just walked back onto The Grid, both looking sheepish and sporting suspiciously disheveled hairstyles.
They were greeted with a round of applause from the other guests, and some particularly enthusiastic whooping from Tariq. Dimitri went bright red and stared down at the floor. Erin, on the other hand, remained cool as ever, shaking her head as she headed off to get a drink.
Emma peered through the crowd to see what had caused the commotion. She smiled as she realised. She was pleased for the pair of them. She was also pleased that they had overshadowed her and Sasha's reentrance. As far as she could see nobody had actually spotted them, and hopefully everyone would be too busy gossiping about Erin and Dimitri, to bother ask any questions about Sasha storming off, and their consequent disappearance into Harry's office.
"I thought you too might need this," Harry walked over and handed both Sasha and Emma a tipple of whiskey each. Emma looked up, surprised. So, it seemed their presence had not gone entirely unnoticed then.
"Um, thanks," Emma said as she accepted the glass, and wondered how to avoid actually drinking its contents without arousing suspicion in Harry.
Sasha on the other hand had no qualms on that front; he gulped the liquid down in one sharp swig.
"Thanks Father," he said, grateful for the offering. He had needed a drink to calm his nerves. It had helped a little, but he was still in total shock.
"Thought it might come in handy," Harry explained as he revealed the hip flask in his breast pocket. "I had a sneaking feeling that the beverages tonight would be diabolical so I thought it best to smuggle in my own supply."
"Well it was a good call," Emma replied. "Perhaps you should offer some to Dimitri, the poor boy looks mortified after that greeting everyone gave him and Erin."
Harry glanced behind him to catch a glimpse of the man in question for himself, as Emma had predicted he would, providing her with a brief opportunity to chuck the contents of her glass in a nearby plant pot.
"Yes, I probably should," Harry agreed, chuckling softly as he turned back round.
"Don't feel too sorry for him. He may be mortified but he's also looking very pleased with himself," Sasha commented, noting the new air of smugness about his friend, which was clear even from a distance.
"That is true," Emma agreed.
"Anyway, I trust that all is well between you two," Harry said, treading carefully.
"Yes, of course," Sasha confirmed, as he took Emma's hand and squeezed it tight. "I just overreacted over something that Tariq said."
"Ah I see," Harry responded, pleased that the spectacle hadn't been related to the Khan case, but at the same time, not totally convinced that he was being given the fully story. But still, he was tactful enough to know not to probe any further.
"I better go and talk to Tariq actually," Sasha said as he looked for the techie in the crowd.
"Yeah," Emma agreed, "probably best to clear the air."
Once Sasha had walked off, Emma decided to use the opportunity to have a private chat with Harry: "He's not angry with you."
"I beg your pardon," Harry responded.
"The Khan operation," Emma explained, "he doesn't blame you."
"Well he should," Harry quickly replied. "I was the one who gave the orders."
"He knows that you were just doing your job. He doesn't hold it against you," Emma reassured him.
"And he told you that, did he?" Harry asked.
"He didn't need to," Emma told him with a smile.
Harry nodded before proceeding to take another swig of his whiskey.
"The problem with you two is you don't talk enough, to each other I mean," Emma stated.
"Oh, you don't need to tell me that," Harry replied, "I'm already fully aware of our lack of communication."
"Well then do something about it," Emma told him frankly, to which Harry responded by raising his eyebrows.
"He…needs you," Emma continued, "you're his dad and he needs you, now more than ever."
"I thought Sasha said everything was sorted between the pair of you?"
"He did. It is. It's just…" Emma began before trailing off. "Look, just talk to him alright. He's worried about letting you down. He just needs to know that you'll be here for him no matter what, which I trust you will?"
"Of course," Harry confirmed, before adding: "within reason."
This time it was Emma who raised her eyebrows.
"I was going to have a chat with him tonight actually, but then you two disappeared off, and the moment seemed somewhat lost," Harry explained.
"Yes, well tonight probably isn't the best time, what with everything that's happened, but do it soon though, won't you?"
"You have my word," he promised.
"Thanks Harry," Emma said, squeezing his arm as she walked past him to leave.
She made her way through the collection of guests, looking out for her boyfriend along the way. She spotted him in the corner, laughing and joking with Tariq, indicating that all was well between the pair once again. Emma sighed with relief. She began to make her way over to them when she was stopped by Ruth.
"Emma," she called out.
"Oh hi Ruth," Emma greeted her approaching colleague.
"You told him then," Ruth said.
"Yes," Emma stated, "I did."
"And?" Ruth prompted.
"He took it quite well, much better than expected in fact," Emma revealed.
"In that he hasn't fled back to Russia," Ruth joked.
"Yet," Emma replied with a smile.
"So, what prompted you to tell him? I thought you were going to do it tomorrow."
"I was, but when we were in the office he started talking about how he'd noticed a difference in us, and in me, lately, and I couldn't just stand there and tell him point blank that nothing was wrong. I didn't want to lie to him. So…I just said it," Emma revealed.
"Well done, at least it's over now," Ruth said, squeezing Emma's hand as she did.
"Yes, we still need to discuss our options, though. It's just the office Christmas party didn't really seem like the appropriate time to get into all that," Emma said.
Ruth laughed lightly in response. "No, I don't suppose it is exactly the best circumstances."
"But," Emma began. "I think I already know his stance."
"Oh really," Ruth replied.
Emma hummed. "Just something he said gave me the impression that he wants to keep…it," she revealed, referring to the moment when Sasha had referred to the small ball of cells growing inside of her as a 'baby'.
Ruth nodded, and knew not to pry any further. "I'm sorry about barging in on the pair of you earlier by the way. It's just that Harry was concerned by your absence, and I felt it was better that I check on you rather than him."
"Oh, don't worry. I told Sasha that you had guessed, he didn't seem too surprised," Emma told her smiling, for Ruth was known for her intuition amongst her colleagues.
"Yes, well he seemed most concerned about Harry finding out when I spoke to him," Ruth revealed.
"Finding out what?" Harry questioned, appearing behind Ruth from seemingly out of nowhere.
Ruth jumped, "Gosh, I really wish you'd stop doing that!"
Emma was panicked, but Ruth however quickly recovered from her initial shock and proceeded to calmly tell him, "Sasha didn't want you to know what he's bought you for Christmas."
"He thought you might have guessed," Emma added, relaxing once again as it became obvious that Harry believed Ruth. She felt bad lying to him. She never lied to Harry. But she knew that in this instance that she didn't really have another option.
"Well, you can assure him that I have no idea what this present is, nor did I even realise he was getting me anything at all," Harry said.
"Well of course!" Emma exclaimed. "We're not all scrooges like you!"
"That wasn't quite what I meant," Harry replied. "And besides, I have been forced to get into the spirit of things this year, by a certain someone."
Ruth chuckled. "I know you enjoy it all really at heart."
Harry raised his eyebrows, but didn't pass comment.
"That reminds me actually, Harry and I were wondering what you and Sasha were planning on doing on Christmas Day," Ruth said.
"Gosh, I hadn't even thought about it to be honest. Both my parents, and Sasha's mother and Ilya are all abroad, so I guess it'll just be us two," Emma told her.
"Well, if you fancy it, you can come round to our place for dinner. Only if you want, though, don't feel like you must," Ruth suggested.
"Oh," Emma said, taken aback. "Well, that would be lovely, as long as you don't mind. I'll have to speak to Sasha first, obviously, but I can't imagine he'd say no to your cooking."
Ruth's culinary expertise was well known amongst the team. Since moving in with Harry, she had become something of a domestic goddess. She would often mention new recipes that she had found, and bring in home-made snacks and cakes for everyone to try at work, much to their delight. Emma was positively convinced that if it wasn't for Ruth's honeycomb fuelling the team, then they wouldn't have discovered Serbia's imminent terror plot on the UK just last month!
"Great!" Ruth said, positively beaming at the prospect of her first real proper family Christmas. "Well, it won't just be me cooking, Harry will be assisting me. I'll make sure of that!"
"By assisting, she means peeling potatoes, and crossing the sprouts, of course," Harry said, nodding his head in Ruth's direction. "So do reassure Sasha that Ruth will very much be Head Chef throughout proceedings."
"I will do," Emma replied. "In fact, I shall go and talk to him now, if you'll excuse me."
The couple smiled as Emma left and headed off to finally reach Sasha.
"Hey," she said, gently tugging on her boyfriend's arm.
"Oh hey," he turned to her, excusing himself away from Tariq. "You ok?"
"Yeah, I've just been talking to Mamma and Papa Bear back there, and they've invited us over to their house for Christmas dinner."
"Oh," Sasha responded, taking a sip of his drink.
"Are you up for it?" Emma asked.
"Is Ruth cooking?" Sasha questioned back.
"Yes," Emma confirmed.
"Then absolutely."
Emma chuckled, "I thought that that might be the case."
"Ugh, at last!" Emma groaned as she removed her 5inch heels the moment she stepped through the door of her flat.
"You sure it's good idea to be wearing those?" Sasha questioned, throwing a glance of distain at the black stilettos that had been tossed onto the carpet.
"What do you mean?" Emma asked.
"You know, in your condition. You could have fallen or something," Sasha explained.
Emma was taken aback. If Sasha hadn't already given away his stance earlier on in the evening, then he was definitely confirming his feelings now. She coughed before replying, "Don't you go worrying about that. Perhaps if I'd taken Harry up on his offer of whiskey, then that might have been a risk, but I'm as sober as a nun tonight! It's just the swelling that's annoying. Though you know what they say: 'no pain, no gain!'" Emma joked, brushing off his comment; not quite ready to discuss the bombshell that she'd dropped just a few hours earlier.
"Hmmm, yes, well you did look hot tonight," Sasha complimented her.
"Mind you, I don't think I could have lasted much longer in them. I'm glad we left when we did," Emma said as she made her way to the bedroom to start getting undressed.
Sasha followed close behind, "Same, I don't know how many more times I could listen to Dimitri tell me about the cupboard incident!"
The pair of them had discreetly left the party early, leaving the rest of Section D to carry on eating the terrible finger food and listen to Tariq and Callum belting out Slade on the karaoke without them.
A/N: I don't know about you, but I loved the bit where Ruth is imagining how Harry will react to the news. :)
Please let me know what you thought of this chapter, and prepare yourselves for the next one, as things are set to get pretty intense once again!