Absolute wish-fulfillment fluff and no plot to speak of. Might have happened late season 8 but let's face it, it doesn't really fit anywhere apart from inside my own mind.
Montages should be imagined to a soundtrack of La Vie En Rose, or similar.
Hope you enjoy.
9:30am The Grid, Thames House
Harry pokes his head out of his office.
"RUTH ! My office now please."
Ruth rolls her eyes and walks over, carrying a pile of files. He looks up briefly as she enters the room. She doesn't bother closing the door behind her.
"I know it's really short notice but I need you to accompany me to meet an asset today. He's French and I'm not sure that my language skills are up to the task." He's not looking up at her now.
"I don't know Harry, can't you find someone else? I've got rather a lot on." She's not looking him in the eye either.
"Look Ruth I need it to be someone I trust."
That's always going to be her Achilles heel. She shifts from foot to foot awkwardly.
"When?"
"Today. Now. We need to leave in 15 minutes, there's a plane waiting." He looks at his watch.
"A plane?" She stares at him.
"Yes. RAF Northolt." He looks at her directly. Face totally impassive. We are working together. This is what it looks like.
"Where's the meeting?" Her brow furrows.
"Not far, but we need to fly. It's a lunch meeting. You'll need to print and bring the email attachments I just sent you." He stands to put his coat on. Conversation over.
Ruth thinks it'll probably be Belfast. There's been a lot of chatter about Belfast lately. Still, it'll be good to get out of London for a bit. She's just not looking forward to the inevitable awkwardness between them.
11am, A private plane
Ruth and Harry are sitting on either side of a table. He is reading a broadsheet newspaper.
Ruth has been asleep against the window for half an hour before a rumble from the plane wakes her abruptly. It's beginning to make its descent. She looks out of the window, blinking into the bright sunlight. Suddenly her eyes widen in shock.
"Harry!"
He doesn't look up from his newspaper.
"Hmm?"
"That's Paris!"
"Did you say Paris?"
"Yes Harry, Paris, as in the capital of France?" she says then, suddenly, realising. "The bloody meeting is in Paris and you didn't tell me! " Her face is pinking up with annoyance.
"Well do you blame me?" He lowers his paper and looks at her.
"You should have said! " She is rubbing her eyes and smoothing her clothes down.
"Yes I'm sure you would have agreed to come if I asked you to a lunch meeting in Paris."
She looks down, chastened. But then she goes back to looking out of the window and can't hide the sparkle in her eyes.
He smiles fondly at her obvious excitement.
12:30pm Saint Honore, Paris
Harry comes to a halt outside a boutique and is looking in the window. Ruth pulls alongside and follows his gaze into the window.
"We might need to look more like 'locals' for this lunch meeting."
Ruth's eyes widen.
"Harry, that's Dior !"
"And?" She smiles at his lack of knowledge on such matters.
"It's very, VERY -"
"It's about time the Section D credit card got dropped on something other than thermobaric bombs don't you think?"
He clearly has NO idea, she thinks to herself.
"Well...if you insist." This will be funny, she thinks.
"Come on - you get that one" he points to the mannequin on the right "and I'll get that one." he points to the mannequin on the left
"If they have it in my size mind you." He adds.
"Ha" she scoffs.
"Meet you back out here in 10 minutes." He looks at his watch. They have reservations for 1pm. Then he walks purposefully in through the sliding doors.
A little over 15 minutes later they emerge into the sunlight. Harry looks flawless in an immaculate rolled up shirt, trousers and a jacket over his shoulder. Ruth is now in a timelessly chic day dress and sunglasses.
"You're right that was VERY expensive." He grins at her.
"I did try to warn you."
"Well now we look suitable Parisian, we can go to our lunch meeting," he says.
"We do look - " She looks down at herself and then at him, suddenly at a loss at what to say.
"Wonderful." He smiles warmly and lovingly at her. "Come on, this way." He offers her his arm and she takes it.
1pm Maison Blanche rooftop terrace, Avenue Montaigne
Harry and Ruth are led across the rooftop by the Maître d' and the view of Paris is quite simply jaw-dropping. Ruth can't quite believe it. Harry has clearly been here before, but is enjoying seeing it through her eyes. They couldn't have had a better day for it, not a cloud in the sky.
"Wow. That view."
"I think our rooftop view at home is pretty great." He raises an eyebrow as he sits down.
"Yes it is, but this is...something else." She takes her sunglasses off and looks out, eyes shining.
"Table for 3?" says the Maître d in French.
"Yes - we're expecting another - guest - shortly?" Ruth replies and looks to Harry for confirmation. He nods once.
"Champagne for three then."
Ruth smiles and turns to gaze out across the skyline while Harry only looks at her.
Shortly a very distinguished-looking gentleman around Harry's age approaches their table and Harry gets up smiling widely. They obviously know each other very well. Ruth stands and turns to see their guest.
"It's so good to see you again Harry" says the man in flawless English with a slight French accent and shakes Harry's hand firmly.
"And you Davide, and you. It's been what? Five years?" He turns to Ruth. "I'd like you to meet Ms Evershed, Section D's best analyst and translator."
She blushes and holds her hand out to him which he shakes with both hands, warmly. It's like he was expecting her to be there.
"Pleasure to meet you at last Ms Evershed," he says. "I've heard of you, or course." Ruth looks at Harry quickly and he changes the subject.
"Won't you join us for some champagne Davide."
"Don't mind if I do, thank you. What a day you chose for our meeting Harry !"
The three sit back down and shortly three glasses of champagne are poured before them. Harry hasn't explained his relationship with Davide and Ruth hasn't asked. They are just three people having a drink on a glorious afternoon. After some pleasant exchanges about things to see in Paris in the spare few hours before their flight Harry turns to Ruth.
"Ruth do you have the envelope for Davide?" She starts slightly, as she remembers the reason why they were there in the first place.
"Yes of course, it's just here."
She leans down and comes back with it.
David takes the envelope and tucks it smartly into the inside pocket of his jacket. Then he drinks the rest of his champagne and raises his glass to the two of them.
"Thank you both. I will take my leave now. I very much hope you enjoy the rest of your visit."
Harry and Ruth both go to get up but he raises both hands towards them.
"No, no, please don't get up. Harry I hope it's not 5 years before I see you again. And Ruth, such a pleasure to meet you finally."
As he leaves, and they sit back down again, Ruth is eyeing Harry suspiciously.
"What?" he says guilelessly.
"You know what." She is cross but smiling.
"I've no idea what you're talking about."
"That was it? That was the meeting you needed my 'expert and trustworthy assistance' with?"
"Well, I needed you because my French isn't quite up to scratch."
"The man spoke perfect English!"
"I meant in terms of ordering lunch."
Harry raises the large paper menu before him and pretends to scrutinise it. Ruth pretends to be outraged but then her face relaxes and she smiles at where his face would be.
"Unbelievable. Total misuse of MI5 funds."
"What is?" He's still behind the menu.
"All this!" she gestures at them both, what they're wearing, and the view before them.
"So you'll be raising an official complaint then?" comes the deep voice behind the menu.
"Absolutely. As soon as we get back." She is now behind her menu too.
"Right. After we've had lunch and done a bit of sightseeing of course."
"Yes."
"Good." He looks over the menu to see her smiling.
-Montage-
Ruth ordering in French and Harry watching happily as she makes gestures to the waiter.
Both being presented with beautiful food and obviously happy.
Harry holding up the empty champagne bottle and then another arriving.
Ruth pointing at famous landmarks below them and explaining items of architectural significance to Harry.
Harry and Ruth clinking glasses and laughing about abandoning their Grid outfits in the Dior changing rooms.
Ruth leans back in her seat pondering Harry in a serious way. Then she suddenly gets up and walks around to his side of the table.
"Come on, we've got things to see! " she says.
He looks like he would be quite happy to stay at the table drinking champagne for the rest of the day but when she offers her hand down to him he smiles, takes it and gets up.
"Lead the way Ruth," he says brightly.
-Montage-
Harry and Ruth ambling down picturesque streets in the Île de la Cité, with Ruth excitedly pointing at things and Harry with his hands in his pockets following along happily.
Harry and Ruth standing in front of Shakespeare & Company bookshop and R practically leaping up and down holding onto Harry's arm.
Perusing bookstalls next to the Seine.
Sitting outside a cafe and Ruth ordering in French - espresso for him, tea for her.
Standing next to a riverboat, Ruth is trying to persuade Harry to take the trip on the Seine and him shaking his head - too touristy - and her pulling his sleeve until he relents.
Harry and Ruth on the boat passing under a bridge as the light starts to fade and the fairy lights come on, Ruth leaning against his arm on the top deck.
8pm Private plane, somewhere over the Channel
Harry and Ruth are sitting next to each other on one side of the table. The cabin is dark apart from the overhead light over Ruth. This time Harry is asleep and Ruth is reading one of the second hand books she picked up. She puts the book down on the table and looks across at him.
"Thank you." she says quietly and presses her side against his.
He hums lightly.