Ruth was taking her time getting ready. It wasn't a formal occasion, but she at least wanted to look like she made an effort. Her thoughts kept trailing back to the day before, it had all happened so quickly she was still sure she was still missing something.
"We're going to be late at this rate!"
Harry's voice booming up the stairs made her jump slightly, but a wide smile appeared on her face when she remembered what had happened that very morning. He was here, with her. They were here, together. It had been so long a fantasy in her mind, the sudden step into reality was beyond belief.
"Oh shut it!" She yelled back, a hint of affection in her voice as she set about the task of applying her mascara.
"We have to talk about this Fiona," Adam snapped angrily, slamming the cupboard door shut as Fiona tried to place some cups back on the top shelf.
"We've already spoken about it!"
"Not together we haven't! And if Wes doesn't find care soon we're all in for it!"
Fiona sighed deeply and stormed out of the kitchen, pausing briefly in the doorway before turning back to face her husband.
"I'm going for a bath; make sure the chicken doesn't burn."
Harry had spent the last twenty minutes pacing impatiently downstairs in Ruth's living room. He'd forgotten about the lengths women go to in order to look the part, and when he had tried to reason with her and tell her she looked beautiful all the time, she had told him to shut up and go away. Sighing, he finally gave up waiting and began to climb the stairs quickly; eager to hurry her up so they could leave, and get back to her house for that matter.
His jaw dropped as he heard her door open and she appeared in the hallway.
"Ruth..." He stammered, unsure of what he should say without making her too uncomfortable. "You look... Amazing."
Ruth smiled awkwardly and her cheeks turned bright red.
"Erm... Are you sure you're ok about this?"
"Of course." He smiled and held out his hand for her to take. "You do know we're only going to Adam's and Fiona's place right?"
"Yes, I just wanted to look nice..." She put a finger to his lips to stop the protest that was beginning to form. "And don't tell me I look nice all the time."
She laughed at his outraged expression and led the way down the stairs, grabbing the car keys off the side before leading him out towards her car.
She climbed out of the bath as quickly as she could, the cold air sending a shiver down her spine as she left the warm contents of the bath water. Grabbing a towel, she wrapped herself up and rushed into the bedroom, shutting the door firming before perching herself on the side of the bed. Reaching over for the remote on the side, she switched the television on and allowed herself to fall backwards onto the bed, sighing loudly as the news headlines began to fill the room.
She'd been so indulged in her thoughts she didn't hear the doorbell go. It wasn't until little Wes came bounding in the room hurriedly to announce Harry and Ruth's arrival that Fiona finally summoned the will to get dressed and sort herself out properly.
Descending the stairs quickly and quietly she could hear Wes talking excitedly to Harry and Ruth in the living area and heard the clinking of plates in the kitchen; Adam preparing the table. Leaning on the doorframe of the kitchen, Fiona smiled as Adam removed the chicken from the oven (alas, it hadn't been burnt!) and as he placed it on the side to cool down, he couldn't help but notice her shadow lingering.
"Harry and Ruth are here," he said deadpan, trying to justify why he is busying himself in the kitchen.
"Have you offered them a drink?" Fiona asked as she wanders over to the cupboard and starts removing some glasses.
Adam paused slightly and shifted his weight between his feet as he tried to think of something to say.
"The moment I opened the door Wes jumped straight into Harry's arms," he shrugged, turning his back on Fiona and leaning onto the counter in front of him. "I couldn't decide whether I wanted to cry or throttle Harry until he choked to death."
"You said that you and Harry had spoken, hence why you thought tonight would be a good idea!"
"Yeah I know, but incase you'd forgotten, I've recently found out Wes isn't my son!" he hissed, finding the wine and walking over to where Fiona had placed the glasses.
"I'm sorry I put you through this," she whispered, picking up two glasses before turning to face him. "I'm really, really sorry. The least we can do is try and work this out, for all our sakes."
By the time dinner was served Harry didn't feel like eating. He had felt confident tonight would go smoothly, especially with Wes lingering and the conversation the two men had shared in his office earlier in the day. The look Adam had given him as he entered the confines of their home caught him completely off guard and he now wondered, with a slight pang of unease, how the rest of the evening would pan out.
Please review! More to come soon!
This was just intended as a bit of a filler chapter to try and help make some sense of how the relationships are going between Harry/Ruth and Adam/Fiona.
The "conversation" when I decide to write it will be in the next chapter, I promise you it will be interesting stuff :p