Ten days later Harry visited Ruth on his own. Catherine was looking after Lucy again but Harry was thrilled that her breathing tube had been removed yesterday. She was breathing on her own again. It made him almost believe that she'd come back to him soon. "Hi Ruth," he said, brushing her hair off of her face and kissing her forehead. "How are you feeling?" Then he felt slightly stupid for speaking to her when she couldn't reply. "Lucy's been decorating so many cards for you I think our kitchen table is going to be permanently stained with pink glitter you know."

"...oh…" Harry froze. She hadn't moved but he had heard her moan, he knew it.

"Ruth, oh come on, say something," he begged, holding her hand tightly.

"Huh?" Her breathing had changed and was very heavy and Harry smiled, even though it sounded bad.

"Can you hear me?" Harry asked calmly.

"...Christ, I've got a headache," she murmured, her voice hoarse, but most definitely her voice. In spite of himself he laughed slightly. Then she opened her eyes and glared at him. "Luce…" she said, eyes wide with terror as she tried to sit up. "Is Lucy…?"

"She's perfectly fine," Harry said assuring her. He gripped her hand tightly.

"You promise?"

"Yes," he said. "Who'd you think made you all the pink get well cards?" Ruth looked to the bedside table and smiled, relaxing on the bed.

"Can you get me a drink please?" Harry nodded and poured her some water and handed it to her. "God I feel bad. Like I've got the mother of all hangovers, but without the enjoyment of the night before."

"I've got my Ruth back," Harry said with happiness. And then he burst into tears.

"Hey, what is it?" she asked, stroking his shoulders, the only part of him she could reach as he'd collapsed on her bed. As her head was thumping so bad she couldn't think of anything intelligible to say, so instead she allowed her fingers to run through his hair, feeling his curls until he quietened.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I thought I might lose you. I thought you might… die on me. I couldn't bear it. Oh God."

"I'm here," she said, a small smile on her face. "What happened?"

"Crazy gunman lose in the shopping centre. Got you in the back of the head. I'm sure they'll be testing you for brain damage when they know you've woken up. You've been unconscious for a while."

"How long?" Ruth asked seriously. "How long have I been out of it?"

"About ten days, why?" he asked, unsure of why it seemed so important. She relaxed when she heard that.

"I didn't want to miss Lucy's first day of school," she said. "That's all." Harry smiled. This was the Ruth he knew and loved.

"God, I love you so much." He kissed her lips firmly, as if reclaiming her, but she didn't really mind.

"Can you get a doctor or a nurse to give me a painkiller or something. My head is aching so much."

"Yeah," Harry nodded. He went to the door and heard her voice call him back slightly.

"And I love you too." He smiled as her eyes closed and his heart had never felt lighter.

That afternoon Harry brought Lucy to see her mum. He thought it would be good for both of them, and was getting bored of Lucy asking when Ruth would wake up. So he opened her hospital room door and was slightly disappointed to see Ruth sleeping. "Now sweetheart be quiet," Harry said.

"Okay." As soon as Lucy spoke Ruth opened her eyes and Harry knew she hadn't really been asleep in the first place.

"Hello my girl!" Ruth said loudly.

"Mummy!" Lucy bounded up onto the bed and into her mothers waiting arms. Ruth kissed her hair as she hugged Lucy tightly.

"How are you?" Ruth asked as Lucy drew away. Immediately the girl started chattering away and Ruth tried to keep up. She kept stroking Lucy's hair as she spoke, and the sound of her voice was very soothing. When Lucy stopped speaking Harry asked a question. "I thought you were asleep?"

"I've been poked and prodded like a lab rat," Ruth said bluntly. "I didn't want any more nurses chatting to me, so I thought I'd feign sleep."

"Well, I'm so happy you're back," he said, kissing her briefly. They spent a lovely afternoon together, all three of them enjoying each others company.

The next morning Ruth was surprised when she opened her eyes. Catherine was by her bedside. She smiled when she saw her stepmother awake. "How are you?"

"I always seem tired and my head hurts," Ruth said honestly. "But I'm alive, that's the main thing."

"It is," Catherine replied, a broad grin on her face.

"Thank you for helping with Lucy while I was…"

"Its fine," Catherine said honestly. "She's a good girl."

"At times," Ruth said, but there was a note of pride in her voice. "Has anyone told Harry about Lydia?"

"No," Catherine said. "They thought, and I agree, that you'd probably be the best person to break it to him. You keep him calm when he wants to rage, you always have. Plus no one was going to tell him anything while you were…"

"At deaths door," Ruth surmised bluntly.

"Well, yes," Catherine said sheepishly.

"You're a bunch of cowards, the lot of you," Ruth said with amusement. "Shall I mention that he's going to be a grandfather twice over?"

"What?" Catherine asked sharply, her face pale.

"I'm not stupid. I know you're pregnant."

"You bloody spook," Catherine said under her breath and Ruth laughed. "I don't mind," she said. "You can tell him, or not."

"God, you're all acting like teenagers who are terrified of telling their parents!"

"Dad gave us that impression as kids," Catherine agreed. "I know he won't kill us but its not easy to confide in the boss of MI5."

"Mm," Ruth said. She couldn't help it but she felt her eyes closing.

"I'll leave you to sleep," Catherine said, smiling.

"Okay," Ruth said. "Congratulations."

"I'm so excited," Catherine said eagerly.

"Wait until the sleepless nights," Ruth said, rolling over and going to sleep. "Not so exciting then."

"Thanks Ruth."

I was tempted to give Ruth a side affect but I just couldn't bear to in the end. Any suggestions about how Harry should find out about both new bundles of joy? I have no idea what I'm going to do... Thanks for the reviews so far :-)