Harry was awake. It was nearly six in the morning and he couldn't sleep. If someone had told him six months ago he'd be lying next to a naked Ruth, he would have had difficulty believing them. But this was real, he reminded himself. She really was lying next to him, her feet tangled with his, her light breathing gently disturbing her own hair. He treasured these moments, because she was so unaware of how beautiful she was and her effect on him. He slowly trailed his fingers over her collarbone, so softly that she wouldn't wake. He ached to touch more of her but he restrained himself. She really was an amazing woman, he thought.
"I know you're watching me," she breathed, stretching her back slightly.
"I didn't want to wake you," Harry said quietly.
"I've been a mother too long," Ruth said. "I wake up early almost everyday now. You were staring."
"Just thinking how beautiful you are," he said honestly. "I love you."
"You've never told me that," she said quietly, her blue eyes sparkling at him. "You've never said the words before."
"That's ridiculous," Harry said, shaking his head.
"You've told me you love Lily, but you've never said it to me."
"Well, I have now," he said, deciding to stop arguing the point. "I love you."
"I know."
"You just said…!"
"Harry, you never told me," Ruth said quietly. "It doesn't mean I didn't know. Love doesn't always need words. But for the record I love you too." She brushed her lips lightly over his and the kiss became deeper very quickly. "Harry," she said, pulling back as his hands started wandering. "No, we don't have time."
"Sure we do," he said. And after two seconds, she forgot why she'd been arguing in the first place.
Later that day Ruth arrived on the grid, holding Lily's hand tightly. She was looking around awestruck at the new surroundings.
"Ruth!" She turned and saw Jo smiling at her. Then her eyes were drawn lower to Lily, who was sucking her thumb, her head tilted and her brown eyes surveying Jo with curiosity. "Hello," Jo said to the little girl. Lily turned and buried herself in her mothers skirt. "Oh, she's shy," Jo said looking back at Ruth. "How are you?"
"Good," Ruth said. "Its nice to be home."
"So, you and Harry then?"
"I thought that might come up," Ruth said with a smile, following Jo back to her terminal as the blonde sat down. "We didn't plan it."
"The two of you couldn't plan anything," Jo said. "You were hopeless."
"Thank you," Ruth said sarcastically. She pulled up a chair next to Jo and then lifted Lily onto her lap, who seemed to have got over her sudden bout of shyness and was staring at Jo again.
"Who are you?" Lily said, her face screwed up in confusion.
"My name's Jo. I'm an old friend of your mums." Lily looked at Ruth, as if confirming this and she nodded at her.
"Okay," Lily said. "You said daddy was here!"
"Shall we go and have a look?" Ruth said. Lily nodded. "I'll be back in a minute," she said to Jo. "Come on sweetheart." Ruth walked through and knocked once on Harry's office door, being thrown back to years ago when she'd never bothered knocking. She opened the door and watched Harry for a second.
"Have you got a minute?" Ruth asked
"Yes," he said. "Everything okay?"
"Someone wanted to see you," Ruth said a second before Lily bounded into the room.
"Daddy!"
"Hello gorgeous," Harry said, a bright smile filling his face. Lily jumped up and very quickly she was sitting in Harry's lap, looking at his desk. "Do you want to do some drawing? Lets see what you can destroy…"
"You don't have to look after her," Ruth said quickly. "I know you're busy."
"Ruth, I don't mind, so do me a favour and shut up." He said it with a light tone which made her smile. Harry handed Lily a pencil and she quickly started scribbling on the back of a form he'd given her. Ruth turned and quietly shut the door, heading to the spare computer next to Jo.
"She's beautiful," Jo said.
"I know," Ruth said smiling. "I adore her. So does Harry."
"Did he know you were pregnant?"
"No," Ruth said. "I didn't know myself until after I had to leave."
"He's taken to it well?" Jo asked with a hint of a question.
"Yes," Ruth replied. "He loves her."
"She's got Harry's eyes," Jo said.
"I know," Ruth said. "For the past few years whenever I looked in her eyes a part of me saw him. Anyway, I need to get on."
"Are you working here again?"
"No," Ruth said. "I'm changing Lily's last name, it'll be so much quicker here." Jo nodded and they fell into silence as she got to work.
"Done."
"That was quick," Jo said.
"I guess I haven't lost my touch," Ruth said with a smile. "I'll go home. Just get Lily and I'll leave you in peace." Jo smiled but then got distracted by an email that had just come in. Ruth turned just as Ros came through the pods.
"Ruth," she said, unable to completely mask her surprise. "Did Harry bring you back to work already?"
"No, I just needed to use the network for a little while," Ruth said.
"No one else can bring personal matters to work," Ros said with a raised eyebrow. "But I guess sleeping with the boss helps."
"Ros!" Jo said loudly before Ruth could so much as blink.
"I'm sorry," Ros replied almost sounding sincere. "That was unkind. It is good to see you."
"Thanks for that rather twisted greeting," Ruth replied not sure where that had come from.
"Bad day," Ros said with a sigh. "I found one of my assets murdered earlier this morning. Really, I'm glad that you're okay."
"Thanks Ros." Ruth said. She walked through to Harry's office and smiled when she saw Lily on the floor, drawing over what looked like a paper factory explosion while Harry was on the phone, but keeping a close eye on her at the same time. It only took a couple of minutes for him to put the phone down. "You finished?" he asked.
"Yeah, its all done. I'm going to take Lily home."
"But mummy!"
"No buts," Ruth said. "Your dad's got to work." She pouted at Ruth in a way that melted her heart even when she tried to stay firm.
"Alright I see your point," Harry admitted. "She does pout." Ruth smiled at Lily who realised she wasn't going to get her own way and got up, walking towards her mum.
"Bye bye daddy," she said quietly.
"You be a good girl for your mum alright?" Lily nodded and then gripped Ruth's hand tightly.
"I'll see you later."
"Yes," Harry said fervently. Then he turned as his phone rang and picked it up. Ruth carried Lily who still looked around the grid with amazement before going into the pods, which Lily found very amusing.
"Come on Lily Pearce. Lets get you home."
Any suggestions where to go from here?