Harry was running late. He wasn't usually the sort to run late, but he'd been detained that morning. He should have done it last night, packing up Ruthie's things and setting out instructions for Ruth, but he'd not gotten around to it. So he'd been rushing around his house to write out everything the dog needed, her food and water bowl and her bed and toys and lead and such. He'd also taken more time than he should have to give his beautiful spaniel a kiss on the nose and tell her that Ruth was coming to pick her up later and wouldn't that be nice? He did hope Ruthie wouldn't be upset without him. He'd not left her alone for a single night since he'd brought her home, but of course now he had no choice. "Be good. I'll be home Sunday," he said, giving her another kiss. And then, of course, he had to wash his face again, thanks to the shedding fur and dog slobber.

When he did finally make it to the Grid, he was rushing around and out of sorts. Erin was already in Reading with Michael and Priya. Calum and Dimitri would be coming with Harry later this morning. Assuming he could manage to get out the door. He'd been detained again in giving the envelope with the key and instructions to Thames House security to hold for Ruth Evershed.

He was in his office reviewing last minute reports when the phone rang and he swore under his breath. He answered it with his customary bark of, "Pearce."

"Ruth Evershed has requested entrance," the security officer said without introduction.

"Give her the envelope I left for her," Harry replied with annoyance.

"She's requesting to see you, sir," the officer replied.

Harry frowned. Why should Ruth want to see him? Well, if she did, it was surely for a good reason. "Send her down," he said.

He put the phone down and stood up from his desk pacing anxiously. What could she possibly want? He honestly had no idea. They'd spoken yesterday about some personal things but nothing too much. She wasn't seeing Andrew Portow anymore, and Harry had thought about that more than he'd ever care to admit. Perhaps this had something to do with the operation. Some new information. Or perhaps she had a conflict and couldn't watch Ruthie for him. But all of that she could have said in an email or phone call. Why had she come in person?

In an abundance of caution, Harry closed the blinds on his office window in anticipation of her arrival. When that was done, he went to stand behind his desk. Or should he sit? No, standing was better. Conveyed confidence that way. Yes, that would be good. Keep it professional. Not let her get the upper hand. But who was he kidding, Ruth always had the upper hand between them. At least Harry always felt she did. Now, especially. He never quite knew where he stood with her. So he'd greet her standing. Strange sort of poetry to that.

The office door slid open without a knock. Only one person ever did that. Harry looked over to see her walk in and close the door behind her. She was wearing a turquoise green dress similar to the purple one she'd worn yesterday, well-fitted and professional. She looked polished and utterly exquisitely beautiful. Harry felt his mouth go dry.

"I know you're getting ready to leave. I won't take too much of your time," she said, launching right in.

"What can I do for you, Ruth?" he asked, hoping he was projecting the right image of professionalism and detachment. He felt neither at the moment.

Her face was lined with consternation. "I wanted to talk to you. Before…before I lost my nerve. After we met yesterday, I thought about a lot of things. And I talked to Maria, of all people. She's a very good friend to me, actually. Despite your history with her, which I don't really like to think about, but at least that does mean that she knows you and I'm not explaining things entirely without context. Particularly about you. You're not someone who's easily described, after all."

"Ruth," he interjected, "you're babbling."

She swallowed hard and nodded. "Right. Sorry. I…well, I was talking to Maria. And she told me something that I'd not really allowed myself to realize before."

"And what's that?" Harry asked softly.

"I've been giving in to persuasion from everyone except the two people who matter."

"And who's that?"

"You and me."

Harry felt his heart skip a beat.

Ruth went on, "I told Maria everything. Absent things that would require signing the Official Secrets Act, of course. About how the gossip persuaded me to break it off with you all those years ago and run from you at Havensworth, and by the time I started to come around, Cotterdam happened. And I wouldn't let myself trust you when I got back. I certainly didn't trust myself. I should have said yes when you asked me to marry you, but I wouldn't let myself do it. And then…oh Harry, those days we spent after the Albany affair, wrapped up together in your bed at your house, that was…it was everything I've ever wanted in all the world." Tears were spilling out of her eyes at that.

"It was all I ever wanted, too," he said. Harry's heart was thundering in his throat. Why was she telling him this? What was this all leading to?

He left his place behind the desk and walked toward Ruth to stand before her. She stayed where she was, watching him, looking up into his eyes with an expression he could not quite place. Apprehension? Fear? But then there was a flicker of something else. Bravery.

"Why did you leave, Ruth?" he asked. After all, that was the question he'd been tormented by these last four years. Since the day she'd called to tell him she was leaving, citing professional purposes and making no reference whatsoever to the personal.

Ruth swallowed hard and finally confessed, "I didn't trust myself. Us. I didn't think…I couldn't imagine how it would work. I was so afraid to be happy, Harry, so convinced it would end in something terrible just like everything else between us. Because of us. Cotterdam and Mani and Albany. All of that was because of the two of us, because of what we were to each other."

Harry could hardly believe what he was hearing, that she was actually giving him answers to his questions. "That was then. Things have changed," he pointed out.

She nodded. "Yes, I know. And I thought after all this time, it would be different. But I still…" Ruth paused and took a deep breath. "Harry, I was never seeing Andrew Portow romantically. I just needed a friend. And he wasn't worth my time at all. I wanted to make sure you knew that."

This was certainly news to Harry, but he just nodded in acceptance. "I got a dog as an excuse to stop seeing all those women," he admitted. "I just couldn't bear it after seeing you again."

More tears tumbled down Ruth's cheek as she shut her eyes tight and stifled a sob. She opened her eyes again and gazed up at him. "I know things are different and things have changed between us thanks to the choices I've made but after all this time, I still feel just the same way."

"So do I," he replied.

Her face lit up at that. And with an awed smile, she said, "I love you, Harry. I always have, and I think by now I know that I always, always will."

Harry was at a loss for words. Every ounce of his self-control and self-denial flew right out of him. He took Ruth's face in his hands, feeling the moisture of her tears, and leaned in to kiss her.

Their mouths moved together in a long-forgotten rhythm. But the habit returned quickly. Lips and tongues and teeth proclaiming love and passion without measure.

But then the phone rang, causing them to spring apart, breathing heavy and chuckling in slight embarrassment. Harry had to answer it, but he did not want to let her go. He took her hand and took her with him as he crossed back to the desk to bark, "Pearce."

Ruth held his hand and snuggled his arm while he listened to Calum remind him of the time. She could hear his voice through the receiver, being as close as she was. She shouldn't have eavesdropped on calls, but she did not want to part from him just yet. Not now that she'd just found him again. She rested her cheek on his shoulder and looked at the red wall behind him. And she smiled.

Harry hung up the phone and wrapped her in his arms once again. "I'm sorry about that. But unfortunately I do have to go," he told her.

"Yes, I know. My timing's not very good. I just didn't want to go any longer without telling you."

He leaned in to kiss her gently again. "I'm glad you didn't wait. We've waited too long, you and I."

She nodded in agreement. "And now I suppose I'll have to wait the weekend to see you again."

"Unfortunately, yes. But you'll…you'll not change your mind again?"

The worried, vulnerable tone in his voice broke her heart. Ruth threw her arms around his neck and hugged him close. "No, I swear it, Harry. I'll never change my mind," she whispered in his ear.

Harry allowed himself to relax in her embrace for just a moment. He did not quite know why now was different than all those other times, but he found himself believing her. He certainly wanted to believe her.

"You know," she said with a hint of a giggle as she pulled back from him, "I have had about a million fantasies about kissing you in this office with that red wall behind you."

He grinned wolfishly and kissed her again, just because he could, miraculous as it was. "We shall have to repeat the experience."

"We shall," she agreed. She kissed him once more before stepping out of his arms. "But now you have to go. And I have to get your housekey from security so I can go get Ruthie for the weekend. She and I both will be waiting for you to get home on Sunday."

Harry had never heard such wonderful words in all his life. "Ruth, I…"

She was already halfway to the door to his office and cut him off. "I know. And you can tell me when you get back. Be safe, love."

And then she was gone. And Harry found himself forcing that self-control and self-denial back to where it belonged. He had an operation to get through. And when it was all done, when he came back home, Ruth promised to be waiting for him.