Thanks for all the reviews everyone. I thought it was about time I gave them a little nudge in the right direction...

Ruth poured herself a large glass of red wine and curled up on her sofa deep in thought, as usual about Harry. She didn't get long to dwell on it though because her doorbell rang. With a sigh she got up and opened it, not all that surprised to see Harry there. Harry whose arms were filled with a sleeping Lucy.

"Come in," Ruth said without bothering to ask why he was here on her doorstep. Harry nodded and walked through to her living room.

Harry looked at the chair and spoke quietly. "Can I…?" Ruth nodded and he put Lucy on the sofa while Ruth found a blanket for her. Harry tucked it around her and stroked her hair once before turning to Ruth. She picked up her wine glass and they silently went through to the kitchen.

"Why are you here?" she asked quietly.

"I drove to try and lull her to sleep," he said. "It worked and then I just kept driving and I ended up here."

"Oh," she said quietly.

"I wanted to ask you what were you going to say this afternoon before Lucy interrupted?" Ruth looked down at her glass and blushed, making Harry even more curious than he had been before. "Please tell me," he added.

"I was going to say… its not my place I know, but…"

"Ruth, please," he said quietly, his hazel eyes burning into hers with such force she couldn't look away.

"I don't want you sleeping with anyone else. That's what I was going to say." She drew her eyes away from him and turned away, feeling horribly embarrassed and forward. She never said things like this ever, but to Harry it was even worse. However she felt it when he approached her, even though her back was to him. He wasn't touching her but was as close as possible to it. He leaned over her and whispered in her ear.

"I don't want to sleep with anyone… else." The emphasis on that last word was as clear as crystal, and Ruth swallowed uncomfortably as he had basically just told her that he would have no objection to sleeping with her. Suddenly breathing felt very difficult and she could feel her heart racing. She wondered how he was staying so calm, but as she turned to face him, she realised he wasn't calm at all. That maybe, just maybe, he might be as nervous as she was. His eyes were bright and he wasn't looking away from her, not even for a second. Then, before she could even begin to think about it, he leaned towards her and brushed his lips against hers softly and briefly. It was nothing how she had expected him to kiss her. Not powerful, deep or demanding, barely even passionate, but a gentle kiss which held a lot of meaning behind it.

"I thought…" he said after a few long seconds in which she hadn't reacted. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have…"

"No," she said softly as he began to turn away from her. She reached out and held his arm to stop him from leaving her kitchen. He looked first at her hand on him, secondly at her eyes. "Don't apologise," she said in barely more than a whisper. He stayed silent but wondered if he should push his luck again. Her fingers tightening briefly on his arm made up his mind for him. He lowered his head and kissed her again. Just before their lips touched he half heard, half felt her gasp, but he didn't stop. Instead he kissed her with slightly more intent than before. It was all the encouragement she needed and she opened her mouth to him more than willingly. My God, she thought to herself. The way he kissed her made her feel so incredibly wanted. Why on earth hadn't he kissed her like this before now? His hand was on the small of her back, pulling her body closer, all tentativeness gone.

"Help…" Harry let Ruth go immediately and went straight through to the living room to check on Lucy. Once her brain had come to its senses Ruth followed him, her lips still swollen by that wonderful kiss. Lucy was still asleep on the sofa, but she was clearly having a nightmare. "I want my mummy."

"I know sweetheart," Harry said quietly, stroking his daughters hair.

"She's gone. I want her back."

"I know. You're safe," Harry said quietly. "I promise."

"Mm…" Harry kept soothing her until she slipped back into a restful sleep and then he straightened up, facing Ruth.

"We should go," he said quietly. "I think I've imposed enough on you for one evening."

"I'm not going to kick a sleeping child out of my house Harry," she said firmly. "What do you take me for?" She sighed. "Look, I have a spare room upstairs, you're more than welcome to it."

He sighed. "This was not what I came over for," he said.

"I know that," she replied instantly. Her fingers brushed over his softly. "Stay."