"Wake up," Harry whispered. Rut scrunched her face up, wanting to bury her head under the duvet and slip back into sleep. "I have breakfast." Ruth squinted her eyes open and saw a tray with tea and bacon sandwiches. That was enough to make her sit up and attempt to wake up properly.

"What time is it?"

"Ten," he said. "You slept well."

"Orgasms do that to me," she said, her lips twitching. He kissed her neck before taking his own sandwich. They hadn't had sex, because as Harry had tried to say he needed a little medication to help him. But he had been determined to bring her to satisfaction, and he had. Three times. Meaning that she woke up in a happy little bubble this morning. Life was good. And so was the bacon. "That's delicious," she said. "Careful or I might start expecting breakfast in bed."

"You can expect it, its fine," he said smiling at her. "You're beautiful."

"No, I'm not. I'm old," she said.

"What does that make me then?" Harry asked.

"Distinguished," she said. He looked at her incredulously. "I don't think of your age when I look at you."

"Then believe me when I say you're beautiful," he said. Ruth rolled good naturedly and took another bite of bacon.

"You know, I am so happy," Ruth said. "I can't believe that what, a week ago I hadn't seen you in twenty five years."

"I struggle to see it too," Harry agreed. "Why didn't you meet someone? Marry someone else when Claire was younger. I'm sure you had offers."

"One," she said. "Well, not an offer per say, but one proper relationship. Luke."

"What happened?" Harry asked softly.

"He knew that I was thinking of someone else," she said sadly. "He was a very good man. But he couldn't accept that my mind was usually elsewhere. And I couldn't expect him to live with that either."

"Who were you thinking of?"

"Fishing for a compliment?" she asked. "You, of course it was you."

"My ego is not that delicate or fragile," he said. "You don't have to lie."

"Well why did you never marry then?" she asked.

"Because I wanted you," he said. "All right I see your point." She laughed and took a sip of her tea.

"What are we going to do today?" she asked.

"Well, I need to go to a chemist," he said swiftly. Ruth managed to blush at that. "Miss Evershed, am I making you blush after last night?"

"Apparently," she said.

He suddenly pinned her to the bed and rolled on top of her as she squealed playfully. He smiled at her when she stopped wriggling and felt his heart overflow. "Ruth, I love you."

Her smile faded from her face when she heard that, but only from shock, and only for a moment. "I love you too," she said. He leaned in and kissed her slowly. It was heaven.


The week flew past. It went much faster than either of them would have liked, including a couple of days spent doing little else apart from being in bed. All too soon Harry was due back on the nine o'clock flight the next morning. Ruth cooked dinner, rice and curry and they were almost silent as they ate.

"I don't want you to go," Ruth said as she took a sip of wine. "I've loved having you here."

"I know," he said. "I've loved being here too. And its nice to see you made a life for yourself after MI5."

"I did," she said. "And you know what, I enjoyed an awful lot of it. Much more so than I would have had I been in prison." Harry inclined his head in agreement. "I wish you could stay here for longer," she said. "Forever. But I know you have to go back to London."

"Come with me," he said before he could stop himself. "Your daughter's in London, you have no family here… come back with me."

"Harry…"

"I mean it," he said. "Come back to London. It'll be safe for you now, no one will care about MI5 agents of so long ago. I can't lose you, not again."

"I don't know what to say," she said once words started to flow again through her surprise.

"Then say yes," he said simply.

She sighed heavily. "God Harry, I don't know," she said. "This is.. so unexpected. Sudden."

"It's not sudden," he said firmly. "It might be unexpected but I hardly think its sudden. Not after this long."

"We hardly know each other," she said.

"That's not true either," Harry said. "I am rather good at persuading people, but I am not going to talk you into moving across the Atlantic. You've got to want it."

"I'll think about it," she said. "Honestly, I will. But… I am surprised."

"Fair enough," he said. For a moment he covered her hand with his own before returning to his meal. The silence enveloped them again but Harry knew Ruth was thinking. Hard.

She didn't speak until their plates were empty. "Do you want me to live with you?" she asked. "Or find a stupid cold and lonely box flat in London?"

"I think that answered your own question," Harry said with a smile. "I meant to live with me, but whatever you want Ruth."

"I don't know," she said. "I have so much stuff here, where would it all go?"

"Ship it over to my address, I believe I have cupboards and wardrobes," Harry said.

"I'm not going to give you an answer now," she said. "I can't. I need to think about it."

"Fine," he said. "Do. Now, I saw a fabulous chocolate cake for dessert. Shall we?" Ruth nodded, glad that he'd changed the subject.


Ruth awoke at three in the morning, her mind running very fast. She was worried and anxious, both about Harry leaving and the offer he'd given her. She could go back to London. But she didn't know if it was the wisest course of action. Gently she lifted Harry's arm off of her waist and got up. For someone who'd had a prolific MI5 career, he slept deeply which was surprising. But it also comforted her that he'd managed to leave those days behind him. Going to the bathroom she closed the door quietly and switched the light on, looking at herself in the mirror.

She could barely see the teenager she'd once been. If she looked hard she could just about see her thirty year old self but she looked like what she was. A sixty year old woman, with the best days of her life behind her. It was a depressing thought. But then again why should she spend her later years in a place that had no true meaning for her. Yes, it was where Claire grew up and held some fond memories for her, but it wasn't where her home truly was. And even her daughter lived in England now. Would it be so hard? Didn't she deserve to be happy. Going back to England could be so easy. But would it be the right decision? She didn't know. All she did know was it would take longer than Harry had in America for her to make her decision.

With a sigh she washed her face and waited until her breathing was even before going back into the bedroom. She smiled at Harry and got back into bed, closing her eyes and wishing the morning and his departure would never come.


Coming to the end of this fic now. At least one more chapter and an epilogue to go. Thank you for the reviews so far!