Unexpectedly this is the last chapter of this fic! So I hope its been enjoyed and massive thanks for all the reviews. They really make it worth my while writing these fics. I have also added the M rated chapter to "The Morning After" so I hope you like that too...
On Thursday Ruth felt like crying and laughing at the same time. Lucy was going to school and she was so excited, dancing around the house, jabbering away. Ruth knew that she was going to be worrying about Lucy throughout the day but she also knew her daughter was going to enjoy this immensely. As Lucy jumped into the car Ruth went to open the drivers door but Harry stopped her. "You can't drive."
"Yes I can," she said firmly.
"No, you can't," he repeated. "You have to refrain from driving for six weeks after brain surgery."
"What!"
"You didn't read the paperwork you brought home with you did you?" Harry said with a smile.
"Not yet, I've been busy."
"Let me drive."
"Mummy?"
"Everything's fine," Ruth said moving over to the passenger seat while Harry smirked. "Daddy's going to drive, okay?"
"Yes mummy," Lucy said, a broad smile on her face, mirroring Harry's when he's happy. Ruth smiled back as Harry turned the engine on and they drove off.
"Bye mummy!" Lucy beamed, skipping off to play with a girl she'd just met called Carrie. Ruth and Harry watched her go, and soon she was absorbed. Getting back in the car, Ruth felt like crying.
"She'll be fine," Harry said as they sat in silence.
"I know she will be," Ruth said, rubbing her tears away from her face. "She'll be more than fine. But I'm going to miss her at home."
"Lucy will thrive," Harry said, leaning over to kiss her forehead. Ruth nodded. "Now I'm going to take you out for breakfast at that little French place you like. With the croissants and the God awful hot chocolate that you love."
Ruth smiled weakly. "That sounds really good." Harry nodded and drove off, trying to distract Ruth was going to be an enjoyable experience.
"Hi mummy!" Lucy called as she raced to the car that afternoon.
"Did you have fun?" Ruth said, relieved at her daughters smile, knowing the answer already.
"Ooh, yes," Lucy said eagerly. She started describing everything that happened, speaking a mile a minute, it was all Ruth could do to keep up. Harry smiled at Ruth as if to say I told you so. Ruth smiled back and then asked what Lucy had enjoyed the most. Both of them smiled at their daughter, who made them so happy.
Eighteen months later…
Harry awoke in his favourite manner, to Ruth's lips on his. "You need to get up," she whispered.
"Why?"
"Because both of your grandchildren are coming around soon," Ruth said. Harry sighed as he remembered. Not that it was a bad thing, more that he couldn't spend an hour or so lounging in bed with his beautiful wife. They had decided to celebrate both the grandchildren's birthdays at the same time, a week after James's birthday, and a week before Nicola's. So presents were going to be given to all, and the house was going to be mad all day. But mad in the best possible way. Both Harry and Ruth loved the new additions, and they certainly made life more interesting. Nicola (Catherine's daughter) was a loud bundle of joy. Whereas James (Graham's boy) was much more reserved and quiet. He'd study everything with wide eyes, taking it in like a sponge. But Harry loved them both. In fact he loved everyone in his life. Retiring was absolutely the best thing he'd ever done.
Harry was about to move when Lucy came bounding into their room. "Morning Luce," Harry said stifling a yawn.
"Everyone's coming over today aren't they?" she said loudly.
"Yes sweetheart," Ruth replied. "Its going to be a full house."
"Ooh good! You've wrapped up the presents haven't you? And the cards?"
"Yes, its all done," Ruth said pulling her dressing gown over herself. "Do you want some breakfast before you exhaust yourself?"
"Yes please mum," Lucy said, her Harry-like smile on her features melting her heart.
"Go on down, I'll be there in a minute." Lucy darted away, a mess of dark brown curls at her back. Ruth leaned over her husband and kissed him softly. "Stay here," she whispered in between kisses. "I'll bring you up a coffee."
"I love you," he said, closing his eyes for a few more moments. Ruth smiled and a quiet "mum?" made her realise her attention was needed elsewhere.
"I'm coming sweetheart," Ruth said, leaving the bedroom. "Your dad wants a few more minutes sleep, okay?" Lucy nodded and then laughed happily as she went and sat at the kitchen table for breakfast. Ruth smiled with joy at her lot in life. Who'd have thought ten years ago she'd have ended up here? But as she buttered Lucy's toast, she was so glad she had. Her family, extended and not technically blood related to herself, made it all worth while.
The End.
I'm going to start working on a Harry Potter fic, so it might be a while before I write more spooks stuff. One last review would mean the world to me. Thank you.