Makepeace took some cutlery and place mats out of the kitchen drawers and went into the lounge to lay the table whilst Dempsey found a bottle of wine and opened it. He passed her in the doorway when she was on the way back into the kitchen and he caught hold of her around the waist whilst they did a small dance, trying to get past each other. He seemed to be trying his best not to let her get past however and she eventually stood back, slapping him on the arm.

"Move out of the way silly," she chastised. He grinned and eventually stood aside. She moved back into the kitchen to transfer the food onto the plates and he placed the wine glasses onto the table before filling them.

"You want music?" he called out through the doorway.

"Why not," she smiled. "Something relaxing."

He grinned, searching for a cassette, placing one into the player and pressing play. "Smoochie," he mouthed to himself. He turned the volume down so that the music became a soft background noise and took a seat when she re-entered the room with two plates of food.

"Chicken a la Dempsey and Harry," she smiled, placing one of the plates in front of him.

"Impressive," he said, looking down at the food.

She put down her plate and sat opposite him. "I know. Who would have thought it?"

He picked up his fork and sampled the food, smiling and shaking the fork at her. "You know, as a team... we're unstoppable!"

She tasted the food herself and nodded. "It would appear so," she smiled.

As they began to eat he asked her how she had prepared the chicken and made the sauce and she explained it to him, surprised that he was interested.

She hadn't thought that she would be able to stomach any of the wine however after she had eaten some food she risked a sip, and one sip lead to another and another. The wine complimented the food wonderfully and she began to relax, enjoying Dempsey's company and the meal they had prepared together.

"So did you spend the whole of the afternoon with Thomas then?" she asked.

"Yeah, we talked a bit and then played a few games of cards," he replied.

She contemplated that for a moment, watching him eat. "Well, you seem to have enjoyed yourself."

"I did," he admitted.

She couldn't work out if he wanted to expand on the conversation or not but she was intrigued about the whole thing and so she questioned him more.

"What did you two talk about then?"

He paused momentarily with his fork halfway to his mouth. "Oh, this and that."

"You're being rather secretive," she pushed. She was itching to know and besides, it was part of their case she convinced herself.

He watched her for a while before speaking. "We talked about his family and...my grandpa," he finally said.

She gave him a knowing look. "He reminds you of your grandfather doesn't he?"

He nodded. "Yeah, kinda."

There followed a short silence whilst they finished their meals and both of them became thoughtful. Dempsey placed his knife and fork down and waited until she had done the same before picking up his wine glass and moving to the chair next to her. He topped up her wine and held up his glass for them to clink.

"To grandpas," he said, clinking with her. "And to you and me, partner," he winked, clinking again and sipping his wine. She smiled and sipped hers.

He held her gaze for a few moments then, mulling something over in his mind and wondering how to voice it.

"Harry," he began.

"Yes."

"What makes you happy?" he asked, throwing caution to the wind.

She looked taken aback. "Wow, that's a very broad question."

"Hmm." He thought a bit more and then an idea come to him. "Tell you what, let's do a kind of game. You say somethin' first, then I will, then you, until we run out. See who can last longest," he challenged.

"Okay," she said with some uncertainty, and then wracked her brains for something to say. "Who goes first did you say?" she asked, playing for time.

"You," he replied.

"Maybe you should go first...just to show me how it's done," she added.

"Okay," he said confidently, until he gave it some thought and began to realise that this game may not be as easy as he'd imagined. "On second thoughts ladies should go first," he backtracked.

She grinned. "Shall we leave this game for another time?"

He frowned. "No, no. I'll go first then." He thought again and she took the opportunity to think of her own idea. "Got it. Putting some scum bag behind bars," he said, triumphantly.

"Me too," she said quickly in reply.

He pointed at her. "Nah, that don't count. You aint allowed to copy mine!"

"Who said so?" she asked.

"Me, I invented the game!" he exclaimed.

She doubted that she would get away with that one anyway. "Okay, being with good friends," she said, using up her next idea. He nodded and his brain was in chaos again trying to think of the next thing to say. He hadn't expected her to come back with something quite so quickly. "Now your turn," she said, putting him under further pressure.

"Okay! Give me a minute!"

She watched him with amusement as she sipped her wine.

He looked at the table. "A good meal," he said finally in desperation.

"Good wine," she countered, holding up her glass.

Damn it! This wasn't exactly going to plan. He had a sudden idea. Okay so it wasn't exactly getting to the heart of the matter but it was all he could think of.

"You and me beatin' Spikings at Poker!"

She laughed and that gave her another idea. "Chas trying to find Spikings's whiskey bottle!"

He grinned. "Yeah, that's a good one. Oh, fry with the beer hat on!"

She smiled and watched him smiling and she realised something else that made her happy, not just something that made her laugh but something that made her really happy.

His eyes moved over her face, alight with animation, and the smile that lit up her eyes, and he felt something that he always felt when he saw her like that.

They sat there, searching each other's eyes and the silence stretched on.

Does he know?

Can she tell?

"Aren't we sidestepping somewhat?" she said suddenly. "I mean I'm assuming that the sight of Fry wearing a beer hat doesn't make you ecstatically happy!"

"Nah, I guess not," he laughed.

"Being wanted," she said suddenly with a burst of courage.

The atmosphere abruptly changed with her statement and his eyes intensified. "Being needed," he said instinctively without thinking.

Her eyes clung to his. "Being held," she said softly.

He had the strongest urge to do just that but he bided his time to see what else she would say. "Being close to someone," he said, taking her hand in his.

She looked down at it. "Sharing affection with someone," she whispered, finding it hard to get the words past the emotion in her throat.

He reached out and gently placed his hand on her face. She looked up at him and he slowly moved his lips towards hers.

"A kiss," he whispered back, closing the gap and brushing his lips against hers in the most tender way. "And holdin' someone," he finished, standing up and pulling her into his arms.

He held her closely and she rested her cheek against his chest, taking great pleasure from his closeness. He put a hand in her hair and kissed the top of her head before tightening his arms around her.

"Let's move to the sofa," he whispered.

She pulled back then and the uncertainly was back in her face. "Just for a bit eh Harry," he assured her. She smiled and moved with him.