Ruth woke up with a big smile on her face. Today wasn't about Rose or Jamie or anyone else. Today was the day she was going to marry the man she loved more than anything in the world. Today was about them. She hadn't got much further in her silent happiness when Harry rolled over and kissed her sleepily. "Mm, good morning," Harry whispered before kissing her again. He smiled at her, truly happy. "The last day I'm going to wake up next to Miss Evershed."
"That sounds good," she replied happily. Her eyes were sparkling as he drew her in for another kiss. She felt comfortably squashed when he rolled on top of her, pushing her into the soft mattress. "We'll never get into work if you carry on like this," she whispered in the single moment her lips were free.
"Oh well, they'll manage," Harry said as hands started wandering.
(Insert M rated piece here)
At that moment the phone rang, breaking through their wonderful bubble of warm happiness. Ruth's upper body was on Harry's chest so she leaned across him and picked up the phone. "Yes?"
"Ruth," Adam's voice said blankly. "I wanted Harry."
So do I she refrained from saying with difficulty. "Adam, we are getting married tonight. Can you give us a ten minute lay in?"
"Two hours," Adam grumbled. Ruth looked at the clock at was shocked to see the time.
"Ah, I hadn't noticed," she said. "We have genuinely just woken up," she added. Now that Harry's breathing had come back to normal he took the phone from her.
"Mr Carter, my fiancé is currently lying naked on top of me. Do you really need to occupy us on the phone, or can you give us an hour?"
"Harry!" Ruth squealed, not liking Adam to have that mental image in his mind. She hit his chest playfully as Harry quickly disconnected the call. "What the hell would make you say that?"
"Well, its true," Harry said, holding her body against his as she struggled. "He was interrupting."
"I'll never be able to look him in the face again! He's already seen me shirtless, he's going to think I'm some kind of hussy!"
"No he doesn't," Harry said, stroking her hair. "Anyway, the affair he was having with the Iranian consul's wife means he'll keep his mouth shut."
"He had an affair with…" Ruth tailed off as she considered that. Harry let her go as she started to get dressed, knowing that their happy morning had been broken. Harry sighed as her beautiful skin became covered by material. They should go to work anyway.
Ruth couldn't look at Adam all day. But by the time that evening came around she was past caring. All she could look at and think about was Harry. As she walked down the aisle in her beautiful cream dress, a single white rose shining against her dark hair all she could see was Harry's face smiling at her. He looked so handsome in his fresh suit and in spite of everything, she felt so lucky. She felt special when his eyes sparkled at her, knowing he didn't look at any other woman this way. Not even her whose name wasn't going to be mentioned today. As he held her hand tightly and they repeated their vows, she felt her eyes welling up with unexplainable tears of happiness.
The cold metal of the ring Harry slid over her finger, sitting next to her engagement ring felt right at home and she briefly curled her fingers, loving how it felt against her skin. Her hands grasped his as she returned the favour and put his wedding ring where it would always stay for the rest of his life. She let the ring settle there and then looked at his face. His eyes were running over every inch of her face as if she was the most precious thing alive.
"You may now kiss the bride."
"I love you," Harry whispered before gently setting his lips on hers. Neither heard Adam's wolf whistle or Malcolm and Jo's loud clapping. All they heard was their own pulses thundering through their bloodstreams. It was a longer kiss than they had ever shared in public before. When they parted their smiles were massive. They quickly signed the wedding licence before leaving the registry office, feeling that no newly wed couple had ever been so happy.
Ruth unlocked the door of their house and bent down to pick up the post out of habit. "Leave it," Harry said as his lips kissed the back of her neck, a hand. She allowed herself to enjoy his touch when something caught her eye.
"Wait." Harry sighed and she opened the envelope which had caught her eye. It had been hand delivered which is why she spotted it. She opened it and pulled out a card with a bright red cartoon train on the front. Ruth laughed as she flipped it open, Harry looking over her shoulder.
Harry and Ruth. Congratulations. Apologies for the inappropriate card but it was Jamie's favourite. Best wishes Rose.
Beneath the message was a messy red handprint from Jamie. "That is really sweet," Ruth said, her animosity towards Rose fading with the happy occasion of the day. Harry looked at it with a smile but let it flutter to the floor with the rest of the post.
"I'm going to make love to my wife tonight," he said in that seductive voice he knew she couldn't resist. "All night long and into the early morning. Right now, I don't want to talk about Jamie." Ruth smiled as he leaned down for a slow soft kiss, one filled with promise and expectation for the long evening ahead.
Needless to say, there will be an M rated chapter after the end of this. Just giving it a polish. This is the last chapter I'm going to post until next week. I'm going on holiday! Please leave a review if you have a spare second.