Ruth had a very uncomfortable and sleepless night. Every time she turned over, in her minds eye all she could see was Harry in bed with this mystery woman and it was agonising. In her head this woman was much more beautiful and much younger than herself. Thinner and more attractive too. It meant she couldn't get any sleep at all. Ruth wondered at the depths to which she was sinking, being jealous of a woman who was currently on her death bed? Being jealous of what Harry had told her had simply been a depressive one night stand? And she knew the reason why. Because she'd never known that side of Harry. They had always shared a special connection and attraction too, but nothing had been developed further on it, no matter how much she wanted it to. It just hadn't happened. She knew many sides to Harry. Fearless leader, colleague and friend. This faceless woman had known Harry the lover, whereas she never had. Had known what it felt like to be kissed and caressed and touched and wanted by him. And it was that that made her green with envy. Also the fact that this woman had carried Harry's child wasn't helping her stay calm either. She had always assumed that during her exile he'd stayed celibate and single. Now she was questioning everything. If there was one woman she was aware of, how many more had there been? Finally at half past five in the morning she drifted off for nearly two hours, her only concession to sleep that night.

While getting ready for work she made damn sure that she didn't look like she'd had a night of tossing and turning, applying makeup to the dark circles under her eyes. She took the bus to Thames House, all the while her mind still spinning with Harry and his new found daughter. What surprised her was that she met him quicker than expected, going through the doors of Thames House. Harry's daughter was in his arms, looking around with wide eyes at everything in confusion. Ruth silently thought to herself that she didn't know if she was ready for this, but then Harry caught her eye and she couldn't avoid it any longer.

"I couldn't get a nanny until tomorrow," he explained. "Its just one day."

"Sure," Ruth said as she was checked through security. On the other side she waited for Harry, feeling it would be rather rude to just walk off.

"You're late," he said as they walked up together.

"No I'm not," she said after checking her watch.

"You're usually here an hour before everyone else? Now you're coming in on time?" he teased her lightly.

"Maybe I was concentrating on the news you told me last night," she said pointedly. Lucy decided the time had come to speak.

"Who are you?"

"My name's Ruth," she said, smiling at the girl. "I'm a friend of your dads." Lucy looked from Harry to Ruth as if considering them.

"Okay then," she said in a happy voice. She turned back to Harry. "Is she nice?"

"Yes she is," Harry said simply.

"She's pretty."

"Yes. She is." But the tone he used this time was much different. A lower voice that made her shiver. Ruth felt slight relief that the pods were in sight. As they whirred through and the pods let them onto the grid she heard Lucy say, "That's so cool!"

The day was a busy one, but not desperately and urgently so. Whenever Ruth looked into Harry's office, she saw him smiling at the little girl, clearly trying to engage with her. Erin was glaring at him occasionally too. After a few hours, when lunch was approaching Ruth found it became very irritating and called her across.

"Please don't take it personally," she said.

"What?" Erin asked simply. Ruth nodded in the direction of Harry's office and the younger woman sighed. "I've never once brought my daughter to work, and because he's the boss he gets away with it, I hardly think that's fair Ruth."

"No what isn't fair is not knowing you had a child in the first place," Ruth countered quickly. Then she realised what she'd said and backtracked. "Look, he can't make a babysitter appear out of thin air. He only found out about her yesterday."

"He wouldn't be lying to you by any chance would he?" Erin said shrewdly. "A child appearing isn't exactly a shining recommendation to the woman he's currently sleeping with is it?"

It took her a second but then Ruth finally worked out what Erin meant. "I'm not sleeping with him," she said honestly. Erin raised one eyebrow in disbelief but Ruth let it drop. She wasn't going to waste her energy trying to convince her. Erin didn't say anything but returned to her desk. A few seconds later Harry and Lucy emerged from his office, the girl still looking wide eyed around the grid. He approached Ruth quickly, one hand holding Lucy's carefully.

"She wants to see the boats on the river," he said quietly. "Do you want to come with us?"

Ruth didn't answer straight away, considering. He was genuinely asking her, rather than demanding. If she said no, he'd respect that and not push her. Instead of saying yes, she looked at Lucy. "Is it okay if I come with you and Harry?" Lucy studied Ruth for a moment, but then she nodded, as if deeming her trustworthy. "Sounds good then," Ruth said quietly, her eyes returning to Harry's. He smiled a happy smile as she got up from her chair and they all went through the pods, Lucy's face breaking into a wide smile again as they let them out the other side.

Okay, so I've made Erin a little mean, but it just happened that way. Please leave a review! They really make me want to continue this. Been debating to do a Dimitri and Erin fic, would there be any interest? Thanks everyone!