Last chapter, Thanks everyone!


5 Months later.

"Not a chance in hell," Ruth said as she opened the drivers door while Harry reluctantly got into the passenger seat.

"Ruth…"

"Harry, you're not driving," she said firmly. "You've had a whisky, you're distracted and I don't want to die because you're speeding to get to the hospital. Have we got that settled?"

"Just start the engine and stop arguing your corner," Harry grumbled. Ruth smiled and did as he asked, starting to drive towards the hospital.

"Stop worrying," Ruth said as the silence became too much. "She's going to be fine."

"Rationally I know that," Harry said. "It doesn't stop me from being terrified. I mean… my baby girl is in labour, I'm allowed to panic."

"She's not your baby girl anymore," Ruth said in a calm voice. "She's just about to have one."

"You don't know that," Harry said. "It could be a boy. And she'll always be my little girl Ruth."

"I know," she said. "She won't want you anywhere near her until the baby's born, I hope you know that."

"What do you mean?" Harry asked.

"She'll be in pain, she's trying to get a seven pound child out of her body, she won't want her father in the room."

"How are you so sure?" he asked. He wasn't arguing with her, but he simply wanted to keep her talking.

"I wouldn't want you in there with me and you're my husband," she said surely. "If I was in labour, do you really think I'd want you to see me firstly in pain, secondly looking very unattractive while I scream and try and get a child out of my body?" She fell silent, turned right and continued to drive in the quietness of the night.

"Ruth?" he asked after the quiet got too much. "This is… hypothetical isn't it?" She threw him a brief glance. "I mean… you're not…?"

"No, Harry I'm not pregnant," she said briefly. "You don't want any more children."

"When did I say that?" he asked, completely thrown.

"Er… about eight years ago," she said. "We thought Catherine was involved in the November committee and I overheard you talking to Adam. You said never again. Two children were more than enough for you."

"I have no memory of that whatsoever," Harry said. "Anyway, I was upset. We thought Catherine was in danger remember?"

"I know," Ruth said calmly. "Look its fine. We're both getting up there in years, you don't have to want more children. I knew that when I married you."

"Ruth, you're not even letting me have a say," he interrupted quickly. "You're taking me at my word, about something I said eight years ago in the heat of the moment."

She looked at him intensely for a moment. "Are you telling me you want more children?"

He paused before replying, knowing how much was dependent on his answer.

"Children? In the plural? No, but I think having one with you would be something rather special." She blushed at the low voice he used, but smiled at the same time. "But only if you want to. I don't want to insist."

"I'd like a little girl," she admitted, focusing on the road intently. Harry nodded, reached over and squeezed her thigh gently. Her breath caught in her throat before she spoke again. "We'll be there in ten minutes."


Harry raced up to the receptionist and it was all Ruth could do to keep up with him.

"Catherine Pearce?"

"And you are?"

"Her father," Harry said in a menacing voice as Ruth put her hand on his arm for comfort.
The receptionist flicked through her clipboard. "Room 243, she's resting."

"She's had the… I mean, she… But…"

"What my husband means to ask, is she's had the baby?"

"Yes," the receptionist said, her face lighting into a smile for the first time. "Room 243. To the left and then veer right until you get to maternity. Shouldn't be hard to find after that."

"Thank you," Ruth said as Harry seemed a little lost for words. They followed her directions and it didn't take long for them to find her. Looking through the window they saw she was asleep so very quietly they opened the door and then Harry's attention was caught by the cot at the foot of her bed. A baby with a blue hat and blue eyes was staring at them.

"A boy then," Ruth whispered, so as not to disturb Catherine. Harry smiled at the baby who started grizzling quietly. Out of instinct Harry picked the boy up and rocked him in his arms.

"None of that, your mum needs her rest handsome, okay?" The baby's eyes went wide, taking in this new person but his immediate crying had been warded off for the time being. "Right, do you have a name little man?" Harry reached for the hospital ring on the boys wrist, but all it said was baby Pearce. No first name for the time being. Ruth watched her husband coo over the little boy and she felt a lump in her throat. She dearly wanted her and Harry to have a child, and after their discussion, the possibility was there. It was impractical at their age, but the hope was most definitely there. Harry looked up and saw the wistfulness in her eyes.

"Do you want to hold him?"

"Yes, but I won't," Ruth said. "Not until Catherine says I can." Harry looked at her with a raised eyebrow so she elaborated. "I've only known Catherine five months, I'm not going to pick up her child until she tells me I can." Harry nodded, even though he knew Catherine wouldn't have minded and kept cradling the baby.

"Hi," Catherine said weakly as she opened her eyes.

"Hi sweetheart," Harry said, tearing his eyes off of his grandson. "How are you feeling?"

"Sore but okay," she said, sitting up, a tired smile on her face. "Hi Ruth."

"Hi," she replied, smiling back. "Does the little one have a name yet?"

"Yeah," Catherine said. "Michael. Michael Henry Pearce." Harry looked at his daughter in shock. "Don't you dare drop him dad!" she said instantly as he was clearly caught off guard.

"Of course I'm not going to drop my grandson," Harry said indignantly. "Are you sure? About the name?"

"Yes," she said. "When I was in Lebanon and the bomb exploded, if it hadn't have been for you, I'd have died. I wouldn't have got the blood transfusion I needed and there'd be no baby to name. So yes. I'm sure."

Harry tried to pretend tears weren't pooling in his eyes, but both his wife and his daughter saw through this. Ruth looked at her stepdaughter. "Can I… hold him?"

"Of course," Catherine said with a smile. Harry handed the baby over and Ruth took him in her arms, already loving this new addition to her somewhat unconventional family.

"About Michael's father…" Harry started.

"Dad!"

"Harry," Ruth added in a warning tone.

"I just want you to know, that if… whoever it is starts turning up on your doorstep giving you and Michael problems… call me and I'll sort it out for you. Without killing anyone," he added to Ruth's unspoken worry.

"Thanks dad," she said with a grin. Her eyes went heavy and pretty soon she had fallen asleep again. Ruth still held the child who was drifting into sleep similar to his mother.

"He's gorgeous," Ruth said.

"So are you," he said with happiness. He looked at Catherine, making sure she was asleep before he whispered in her ear. "And you'll make a great mother." She blushed and turned her attention back to the new arrival, the whole world alight with possibility.

THE END