Chapter 35

Tuesday 25th December 2007 6.35pm

"Why does it smell of burnt pancakes?" asks Graham as he, Abby, Catherine and Fabien arrive later that evening, the smell having hung around despite the cooking of a traditional Christmas dinner. His question causes Wes and Ruth to start laughing and for Harry to give them an icy stare.

"Come on through," Ruth invites through her laughter, "and I'll explain."

There's not a lot of space, but Wes and Graham sit on the floor, allowing Harry and Ruth to take one sofa and Abby, Catherine and Fabien to take another. Once they're all ensconced in the living room around the fire Ruth tells them about the morning.

"So he's on the move now?" comments Abby. "Good luck keeping up with him!"

"Oh goodness, I know!" agrees Ruth. "I won't be able to turn my back for a second."

"Yeh Dad, you might want to get fit," teases Catherine.

"Cutting down on pancakes should do it," adds Graham with a cheeky grin. "If you carry on burning them every time then it won't take long!"

This elicits another chuckle from Wes and Catherine. Even Fabien and Abby fail to hide their smiles.

When the furore dies down, Harry speaks. "Has everyone finished laughing at me now?!" Wes, Catherine and Graham do their best to look contrite but fail miserably. "Because if so, I believe there are some presents around her somewhere that need opening."

Ruth is retrieving the presents from around the back of the tree when James wakes. She struggles to get up quickly but Harry tells her not to worry; he'll go and get him. By the time Ruth has sorted the presents into four piles, Harry is returning with James.

"I think he must have heard the word presents," Harry comments as he sits down with James.

"Hi little man," coos Catherine as Fabien reaches out and takes his hand, shaking it gently.

"He's gorgeous," comments Abby, waving at him.

"Well I'd have to agree with you there," says Harry. "Takes after his mum."

"Awww," gush Catherine and Abby. Ruth merely blushes and takes a renewed interest in the tags on the presents; double checking they're all in the right piles.

There is only Graham who hasn't commented on, or interacted with James as yet and he knows that his reaction here could possibly dictate how the rest of the evening progresses. Abby and Catherine know that too; he can feel their eyes on him; waiting with bated breath to see how he handles it. He looks at his Dad holding this child that is not biologically his but who he obviously adores and who obviously adores him. He reminds himself, as Abby is fond of doing, that his father was probably like that with him when he was a child; he's just too young to remember. So he swallows down the pang of jealousy he feels and shuffles closer the sofa where they are sat.

Reaching up to ruffle James' hair, Graham smiles at him. "Hiya mate."

James regards this stranger for a moment before concluding that he is friend not foe and returns the smile. "Ga!"

The tension that had built up instantly dissipates and, throwing Graham a grateful smile, Ruth begins handing out presents.

She and Harry have bought Catherine some accessories for her new HD camcorder and a CD of a band they have never heard of whilst Fabien has got a new shirt and a book Catherine told them he wanted. They've got Graham a new phone and a jumper and for Abby they decided on make-up and a scarf, not really knowing her well enough to chance anything more personal.

Harry receives a very fine bottle of single malt from Graham and Abby as well as a CD of Mahler's 4th Symphony, while Ruth receives a scarf and a bottle of perfume. Catherine and Fabien buy a new tie for Harry and earrings for Ruth; they also get a joint present - tickets to the Opera in January with a promise to babysit. The boys don't do too badly either, Wes gets two new games for his Nintendo DS and a ton of chocolate and James gets new clothes from and a pop-up toy which Harry unboxes immediately much to the little boys delight.

As Harry plays with James, Catherine produces another present, flatter and squarer than the others. "We do have another present for both of you. From all of us, Wes and James included."

She hands the present to Ruth who takes great care in opening it. Peeling the paper back gently, she sees that is as a photobook. She flips through it, her smile growing bigger as she turns each page. There are a variety of photos of James that chart the first six months of his life. The first page contains the two ultrasounds she had and James' first picture when he was born. These are followed by photos of him with Harry and Ruth in several different contexts; half of which Ruth doesn't even remember being taken, but they've taken that many that's hardly surprising. On the centre pages of the booklet there are photos of the other children. Catherine and Graham when they were younger, with their Dad and now they are older with their respective partners. Wes is there too; a recent school photo and one of him taken with Harry and Ruth at the Christening.

Ruth feels tears pricking at her eyes. "Thank you Catherine; it's beautiful." She stands and embraces the younger woman.

"It wasn't just me. I had help. Wes helped me smuggle out the photos and Graham helped me choose and scan them. It was a bit of a rush job but we managed it. I was worried it wouldn't arrive in time, but for once Royal Mail didn't let me down."

"Makes a change," quips Harry. He places James on the floor with his new toy and takes the book from Ruth. He looks through it before embracing his daughter. "Thank you sweetheart." He approaches Graham, who stands. "Thanks son." He gives him a hug, it's still not as natural as it with Catherine, but it's less awkward than it had been at the restaurant. Turning to Wes, he ruffles the young boy's hair, "And you…how did you manage to smuggle all those photos out to Catherine?"

Wes shrugs his shoulders, "It was easy!" he says with what can only be described as an enigmatic smile. Harry shares a look with Ruth; Wes is so much like both his parents. Neither will be surprised if he decides to join the service when he's older and, as much as they might not want him to endanger himself, they know that the service will be lucky to have him.

"Is anyone hungry?" Ruth asks, wanting to fend off the feelings of sadness when she thought about Adam and Fiona.

"Actually, there's one more thing," Fabien announces much to the surprise of Harry and Ruth. He's never been one to put himself in the centre of attention at family gatherings; preferring to sit back and let Catherine take the lead. As the young man takes Catherine's hand, Ruth catches Graham's eye and realises what is going to happen. She smiles.

"Last night, I asked Catherine if she would do me the great honour of becoming my wife and she said yes."

Even though she had worked out what was happening, she still can't stop the small squeal that escapes her and she grabs Catherine, giving her a congratulatory hug.

Fabien addresses Harry. "I know that it is tradition to ask the father of the woman you want to marry for her hand, but I was unable to speak to you beforehand. Is it okay, do I…do we have your blessing?"

Harry looks at his daughter laughing and smiling with Ruth over her engagement. Like most fathers, he wonders if anyone is good enough for his little girl but, he reasons, he makes her happy and he's proven his worth with his actions in Lebanon. So, he nods and holds out a hand to Fabien. "Of course you do. Congratulations."

Fabien shakes his hand, before Ruth comes up to congratulate him, allowing Harry to embrace his daughter once more. "Congratulations," he whispers.

"Thanks Dad. And thanks for not being too hard on him."

"Would I?" Harry asks innocently before turning serious. "I'm assuming you've told your Mum?"

Catherine nods. "This morning."

"And what did she say?"

"She happy for me. I think she thinks this will make me settle down and stay in the country though."

"It won't of course," Harry comments resignedly. He knows his daughter by now; she'll continue to fight against the injustices of the world. She's like him in that respect, except she chooses a different way to make a difference.

"Probably not," Catherine agrees.

"As long as you're happy sweetheart. That's all I care about." He leans in to kiss her cheek.

"I am Dad. Truly," she tells him. "You will give me away, won't you?"

"I'd be honoured. Now, I think this calls for some champagne, don't you?"

Harry crawls into bed behind Ruth, after securing the house and shutting the animals in the kitchen.

"Are you asleep," he whispers to Ruth.

"Yes," she retorts with a smile.

"Doesn't sound like it."

She shifts so she is facing him. "Well I was trying to be. Did you want me?"

"I always want you Ruth," he says gruffly, kissing her.

She returns the kiss, but can't help the yawn that escapes her. "Sorry!"

"It's alright Ruth; it's been quite a day."

"A good one though."

Harry nods. "Was nice to have a full house at Christmas."

"Catherine seems happy," Ruth observes.

"She is."

"You were very gracious when they announced their engagement. I envisioned you interrogating him about his intentions for a good half an hour before giving in," she teases.

"He's a good man. When we were in Lebanon…" Harry trails off as the memories of Catherine lying in that hospital bed wash over him. "Let's just say, I think he's more than proven his worth."

Ruth wraps her arms around him, knowing how much the images of Catherine's condition still trouble him. Its one thing to deal with death and destruction every day, but when it's your own child it's totally different. She doesn't know how she'd cope if it were James. "She's safe now. And happy. That's all that matters."

"Thank you Ruth."

"What on earth for?"

"Last year I spent Christmas alone with Scarlett and a bottle of scotch, this year I got to be with the woman I love and my children. A lot of that is down to you, so thank you."

She blushes and looks down. "You deserve thanks too Harry. Last Christmas I was scared out of my wits at the thought of being a single parent, but thanks to you I haven't been."

"I do love you Ruth."

"And I you."

A/N: Here's some news for you: I've finally finished writing this fic on my PC and I can tell you that there will be another 4 chapters and an epilogue, which will bring it to 40 chapters in total!