A/N: Thank you to all who read and reviewed this story. This chapter is the last. It was originally meant to be a brief epilogue, but there were a number of story lines needed tying off.

London – Saturday 2nd November 2013:

Ruth stands just outside the living room door, quietly watching the activity within. Erin and Dimitri are attempting to dance, although when Dimitri had put Harry's iPod on shuffle, he hadn't expected the Mozart overtures to pop up between Shakira and Beyonce. Erin has sworn that she and Dimitri are just friends, but Ruth is sure she detects something more delicate than friendship between them were they open to pursuing it. The service provides a difficult backdrop against which to conduct a relationship of intimacy. She should know. She and Harry almost didn't make it, and may still not make it, although they are both heavily invested in ensuring they will last the distance. There are never any guarantees.

Malcolm and Sarah sit on the sofa, just close enough for their knees to almost touch. Malcolm had briefly explained to Harry the fraught and fragile nature of his relationship with Sarah, newly re-forming after she had broken up with David, her partner of eight years. She and Malcolm are in the early stages of becoming reacquainted - each relearning the other – and this is a process which requires sensitivity and calm, and as much time as it takes. Malcolm has no expectations, but a lot of hope. Ruth really wishes for the friendship to blossom again into something lasting.

By the window across the room Harry, Calum and Graham are arguing about something. As Ruth watches them the similarities between Harry and his son are accentuated, although neither would appreciate her pointing that out. Both have a habit of pouting and pushing their jaw forward when they are opposed; both smile only rarely, but when they do they can light up a room with such a smile; both place their hands on their hips when wanting to be taken seriously, and both have eyes which draw one in as if hypnotised. Graham has just broken up with Lucy, his girlfriend of two years, and so is at the party alone.

"I wouldn't mind being a fly on the wall." Catherine's voice is quiet, as she stands just behind Ruth. "Either Dad is trying to convince Graham of the intrinsic value of the secret service, and that a fine young man such as he is could do worse than being a spy ….. or Graham is making fun of Dad's inability to problem solve when his laptop suddenly blue-screens."

"And Calum?"

"Calum is stirring the pot. He loves a good stoush."

Both watch from the shadows, not moving. Ruth sees Harry look up and catch her eye. It is a private moment between the two of them, as words are conveyed with just a look. They do it often.

"Dad's crazy about you," Catherine whispers, in a rare personal observation.

"He is, as I am about him."

"I envy you." Ruth only just catches her words, and turns to look into the grey eyes of Harry's daughter. "Why? Aren't you and Calum …...?"

"No. We're not. We're very fond of one another, and we enjoy each other ….. in every way ….. but it's not love. It's the relationship you have until the real thing comes along ….. for us both."

Ruth nods. She knows all about that. "Your Dad will be pleased to hear that. He's been dreading the probability of having to give you away at your wedding to Calum. Can I tell him he has nothing to worry about?"

Catherine nods and smiles. "Of course. I can't have Dad losing sleep over Calum and me. We're little more than shag buddies."

"I'll not be sharing that description with Harry."

"He forgets I'm no longer his little girl," Catherine says quietly.

"You'll always be his little girl."

A comfortable silence sits between them until it is again Catherine who speaks. "Does Dad know that the rather nice silk tie you gave him is not his main birthday present?"

"No …. not yet, although his birthday began with a rather more personal gift, which we both enjoyed."

"Ruth! It's unlike you to be so …... forthcoming."

Ruth turns towards Catherine and smiles. "You jumped to your own conclusion, Catherine. We got up early and drove to the DIY store so that Harry could spend the voucher I gave him. He was a little …... perplexed at first, but I assured him he'd have reason to use some of those electric thingies."

"Thingies?"

"You know, electric drills and the like."

"And?"

"He asked me was I pregnant and did I expect him to build an extra room on the house. I'm not and I don't."

"So ….." Catherine looks around the room, where everyone in the living room appears occupied and chiefly content. "When are you planning to give him his big gift?"

"How about now?"

"In front of everybody?"

"Why not? That way he can't refuse it. He'll have to smile and say, `Thank you, darling.'"

"Now is as good a time as any."

"It's in that drawer over there. Would you get it, please?" Ruth points out the second drawer of the sideboard in the dining room. "It's in a manilla folder …... so as to not arouse suspicion." Catherine moves quickly to the sideboard and opens the drawer, taking out the folder. "Would you hold it, please Catherine, until I need it. It has to be a surprise."

"Oh, it will be a surprise alright."

Ruth takes a deep breath, and steps into the light inside the room. She claps her hands, drawing attention to herself, something she is still not comfortable doing, even in her own home. "Everyone? I have an announcement to make." Ruth quickly looks at Harry, and seeing the shock on his face, she meets his eyes and gently smiles. "As you all know, yesterday was Harry's 60th birthday, and I am happy you could all be with him to celebrate this milestone. His last day working for MI5 was only two weeks ago, and already he is experiencing mild boredom."

"Not true at all, Ruth," Harry growls, and the others in the room nod and smile.

"Harry, I have already given you a silk tie -"

"Which I adore, although I can't imagine where I'll wear it."

"And I let you loose in B&Q …... but this were only the curtain raiser to my actual birthday gift. Here ….." and Ruth turns towards Catherine, who hands her the manilla folder, "I have your actual birthday gift." Ruth chances a quick glance at Sarah, who nods and smiles. "Come here, Harry, so I can present you with this."

Ruth reaches out to Harry as he crosses the room to stand in front of her. She hands him the folder before reaching up to quickly kiss him. For the first time since he turned up outside the coffee shop in Birchington-on-Sea almost three months previously, Harry appears nervous and just a little out of his comfort zone. "Thank you, my sweet," he says, "and if this is not a share portfolio worth at least a million, then I'll be -"

While he's been talking, Harry has opened the folder and looked inside. Ruth is relieved to see the surprise and joy on his face. She is overwhelmed when with his free arm he draws her close, and again kisses her, this time with more feeling. "Thank you, Ruth. I don't know what to say." With one arm still around Ruth's waist, he turns towards the others in the room, and swallows hard, and then coughs, before he looks at each person in turn. "My wonderful partner, Ruth, has given me a picture of a delightful cottage, presumably somewhere in the UK, and I am ….. hoping that the gift is the cottage itself and not just this image."

"Yes," Ruth says, so just Harry can hear her, and then to the remainder of the room, "I saw it the day I took the train from Margate, when I had to leave in a hurry. The train passed it, and when I saw the For Sale sign I swore that if Harry ever spoke to me again I'd buy him – us – the cottage …... by kind favour of the US government, who paid me well for my skills. Thanks must also go to Sarah who handled the conveyancing on my behalf." Ruth exchanges a look of gratitude with Sarah, who is still sitting beside Malcolm, and Ruth is almost certain they are holding hands. "We take possession in four weeks, just in time for Christmas."

Everyone in the room breaks into spontaneous applause, surprising Ruth. She looks up at Harry, who is beaming down at her. He mouths two words – thank you.

Ruth has finished stacking the dishwasher while Harry has taken it upon himself to wipe down all surfaces in the main living areas. "That's that done," he says, entering the kitchen, and rinsing the cloth under the tap.

"Nightcap?" Ruth asks, catching his eye.

"Whisky for me," he replies. When Ruth lifts one eyebrow, he continues. "It will be my third for the night, Ruth. I was determined to not drink too much tonight."

"Last night. It's almost 2 am."

Ruth pours them each a whisky – a splash in the glass for her, and a hefty swig for Harry. When he notices the difference in volume of their drinks he grimaces. "You have entirely the wrong idea about me, Ruth."

"I have exactly the right idea about you." She smiles across the table at him, letting him know she is not disapproving. "I thought it might be a good idea were we to visit your cottage tomorrow …... or the next day."

"Perhaps the next day, Ruth. I'm a 60-year-old man. I need my beauty sleep."

"Oh please, you're much fitter than I am."

They sit in silence for some minutes, each allowing their thoughts to run ahead of them, each not sure how it is that they are here – together – like this, after everything that has happened.

"I need you to know that I didn't buy the cottage outright. There is a mortgage, but a manageable one."

Harry nods, and then takes another sip of his whisky. "I can handle a mortgage, Ruth, and you still have your mother's house. When did you ... organise it?"

"Inspections? The purchase?" Harry nods. "I began during the two and a half weeks I spent alone in Exeter. I always planned for it to be a surprise birthday gift for you ... for us both ... and then once I decided to buy it, and Malcolm had already hired me, I asked Sarah to take over the purchasing. In the end it went very smoothly." Ruth takes a small sip of her whisky. "I thought ... for a start we can use it as a weekender while we do it up a bit. It needs a lick of paint, and a nail or two ….. and then in time, maybe …... maybe I can do my little jobs for Malcolm there just as easily as here."

"They're hardly `little jobs'. You've become fundamental to his operation."

"I'm enjoying …... not analysing."

"Now you're just messing with the language, Ruth."

"He calls me a researcher. It's not quite the same thing."

"If you say so, and we're free to move to Kent any time we wish." Ruth nods. "And I can let Graham live here, once he sorts himself out a bit more."

"He seems quite sorted to me."

"His relationship breakup has unsettled him. Apparently he asked Lucy to marry him, and that's when she did a runner."

Ruth feels her face reddening, remembering a time when she'd done a similar thing. "I trust he didn't choose to ask her after a funeral."

"You'll never let me forget that, will you?"

"No. I won't. When you're on your deathbed, I'll remind you." Ruth looks down, embarrassed. "Sorry. That was thoughtless."

"No, Ruth. I'm just happy that you plan to be with me until my death. That represents a lifetime commitment."

"Yes. It does."

Harry smiles widely, and Ruth returns his smile. They hold the eyes of the other for a little longer than necessary, when Harry looks down, sliding his fingertips around the base of the glass. "I have something to tell you," he says.

"That sounds ominous."

"Not at all. Two nights ago, when I went out to get the wine for the party, I saw Roxy. She was leaving the off licence just as I was about to enter it."

"Did you talk?"

"Not really. We spoke - just hello, how are you, that kind of thing. She was friendly, but cool. She was with someone. A man. He was …... about the same age as me, and she introduced him as Greg. He was clearly a friend and not a relative."

"You did her a favour, then."

"What do you mean?"

"By dumping her."

Harry frowned, his eyebrows coming together in disapproval. "I didn't exactly dump her."

"You did. You dropped her and took up with me."

"That's not the same thing, Ruth."

"It's exactly the same thing …... but in the end you did her a favour, so everyone's happy."

"I hope so. What I mean is I hope she's happy."

"So do I. She didn't deserve to be dumped. No-one deserves to be dumped."

"I'm sure I deserved it, especially when my wife dumped me."

"It's different when you're married to someone. Dumping a spouse is a big decision, not to be done lightly. There has to be a very good reason."

"I learned my lesson, Ruth."

"When?"

"Both times – with Jane and then with Roxy -"

"- and all the others in between."

Harry looks only mildly embarrassed. "It won't happen again."

"I know. Bed?"

They climb the stairs slowly, and when they reach the second landing Harry takes Ruth's hand and lifts it to his lips before he turns and leads her to their bedroom. Once he has turned on the light, he draws her inside and closes the door behind them.