Tommy had caught a cab to meet Judith and he hailed another to take him to pick up Barbara. He had considered the car but with so many different things to do today parking would be too hard.

She was ready when he rang her doorbell. In truth she had been ready for nearly an hour. If only she knew where they were going she might have been able to calm down. Do I dress the suit up or down? He had said "the suit you wear to court" so she presumed he wanted a more formal look. So what shoes do I wear? Pumps were probably better than the flats she wore to court but nothing too flashy. Who am I kidding? She did not have flashy shoes. In the end she settled on low, comfortable black pumps with matching black belt and a white shirt that under her blue suit jacket that was a little softer than the ones she used for court. She thought about some sort of bright necklace to hang around her neck. She needed something to lift it but again decided against anything that might make anyone look twice at her. She had a small necklace that would go under the blouse and discretely distract from the bareness of her neck. That will do.

When she opened the door she was almost blown away. He looked magnificent. His suit was flawless and his smile complimented it perfectly. She suddenly felt very frumpy.

"Barbara, you look great." He seemed enthusiastic and genuine.

"No I don't," she contradicted, "I look like, like the same old Sergeant Havers I always look like."

He sighed. She didn't see what others saw in her but he would change that, slowly but he would change it. "Well Sergeant shall we go?" he asked extending his arm and giving her his special DI 'don't argue now Havers' look.

In the cab he ignored her questions about destination and what they were doing this afternoon. They chatted about different things and he mentioned he had had lunch with Judith.

"She has invited us down to Howenstowe next weekend for a quite family weekend. I thought it might be nice to get away seeing we have a few days off in our shift roster."

"But Sir you said family weekend. Your family don't want me tagging along." Barbara would actually have liked to go and see them but it would seem a bit odd if it was only family.

"Don't be ridiculous Barbara," Tommy said. He had anticipated protest but was having none of it, 'I understand you and my mother became quite close over the last year so she will be delighted to see you. And I wouldn't have asked if I hadn't wanted you there would I?"

"No."

"So?"

Barbara sighed audibly the asked, "Are we driving down on Thursday night after work or Friday morning?"

"Excellent." Tommy suddenly had a mischievous thought. "Friday morning but I want to leave before the peak hour. You had better stay at my place on Thursday night."

Again he expected protest but Barbara simply nodded. Hmm, I might be making progress. He noticed that the cab was almost there. "By the way do you prefer Abba or Queen?" Tommy asked, completely out of context.

"Er, I guess it depends; probably Abba. Why?"

"Just wondering."

Barbara thought he was mad but the cab had pulled up at the rear of Trafalgar Square and now she was intrigued. What business does he have around here?

"Ok good we have time," he said holding open the cab door for her to alight. He knew it was pointless offering his hand to help her. She alighted and stood as if to ask "what next'? He put his hand in the small of her back and gently steered her towards the entry of the National Portrait Gallery. Barbara barely noticed the hand but she groaned inwardly when she saw where they were heading.

"Am I getting a crash course in culture Sir? Because you can't teach me to fit in better with your lot you know?" she said in her loudest and strongest East End accent.

Tommy knew where she was going with this argument and simply laughed, "I would never dream of trying to change you Havers. It would be easier to relocate the moon!"

He had decided that his new rule, other than when it needed to be police protocol, was to call her Barbara unless she was being a reverse snob in which case she would be Havers. If he was really annoyed it would be Sergeant Havers. He knew she was smart enough to soon see the pattern.

Once inside Tommy took her hand and led her towards the second floor. She baulked slightly at his touch and he dropped her hand after about twenty feet so that she would just think he was guiding her, not that he was actually trying to hold her hand. Slowly, slowly get her more used to him casually touching her and she might not be as afraid when he eventually kissed her. He was lost momentarily thinking about that possibility when he realised she was talking.

"Sir, where are we going? We are blocking the passageway."

"Oh sorry, this way," he said and headed into a door marked 'Private'. They entered a room full of people milling around holding champagne flutes. Barbara instantly regretted agreeing to come then saw Judith across the room coming towards them. Judith kissed her and then exclaimed, "Oh Barbara it is wonderful to see you. You look so well; so relaxed. I said the same thing to Tommy over lunch. Solving murders must be good for you. So you are coming down this weekend I hope? Tommy and Mother are so looking forward to it."

"Yes, er yes so am I," was all Barbara could manage to reply. Has she guessed something was going on? But nothing is going on. She pushed the thought from her mind and tried to focus on what she was doing here.

"I had better go," Tommy said and headed towards the front of the large room. It was then that Barbara looked around and noticed that a big dark curtain dominated the space, obviously hanging over something on the wall. There was a small dais in front of it and Tommy stepped up onto it with a small man with a 1920s style suit and handle bar moustache. Oh how clichéd! A little bell rang and there was silence. Then the man started speaking about what a privilege it was for Lord Asherton to have loaned the Gallery such a valuable artwork from his personal collection.

Ah so he is unveiling a piece of art. So why did he want me here?

Tommy said a few words about the importance of art and the work of the Gallery and tugged an ostentatious gold cord. The curtain part in the middle and Barbara was awestruck. She was staring at a portrait of Tommy standing very formally in a morning suit with a hunting hound curled at his feet. It, he, was beautiful. It took her a few seconds to realise it was not actually Tommy. The man was older, probably about fifty and was slightly grey around the temples. He lacked the softness in his eyes that Tommy had and his nose was slightly broader. So this is what he will look like in a few years; just as handsome as he is today. She blushed at the thought.

Judith had heard Barbara gasp when the painting was revealed. She looked over and saw her reaction. Nothing was showing to the strangers in the room but Judith saw how Barbara had been unable to take her eyes from the painting and was flushed. Tommy had also looked at Barbara as he unveiled the picture. He knew she would be shocked by the likeness and he was electrified to see her response. She was still staring at it when he moved up quietly behind her. He wanted so badly to touch her but thought if he did his ancestor might leap out of the painting and strike him dead.

"So what do you think of my great-great-grandfather?"

"He's gorgeous!" Realising what she said she quickly added, "I am not really into art but wow, I am gobsmacked Sir. He's so... so realistic. The paint makes him almost shine and the brush stokes bring out his chin and the soft waves in his hair." She was rambling. Shut up Barbara!

"Yes a great artist captured it. The Gallery has wanted to display it for years but I was reluctant, for obvious reasons."

"But why?"

"Because I look so much like him. It's a bit embarrassing don't you think?" He grinned foolishly like a small boy. Barbara looked at him now for the first time since seeing the painting and smiled. He was self-conscious. She smiled at him and said, "I won't tell Winston or Lafferty unless you really annoy me!"

They stayed at the Gallery for about an hour before Tommy suggested drinks. They went to a pub nearby but after the first round Tommy excused himself and left Barbara with Judith. They had strict instructions to wait there for him and not move while he ran an errand. When he returned he looked quite chuffed with himself and both Barbara and Judith wondered what he had been doing but neither asked, sure that it would be revealed.

A little after five Tommy turned to his sister and enquired, "So will you join us for dinner Judith?"

Barbara had been about to answer and protest that she did not want to intrude on a family dinner when she realised he had not addressed his question to her; he had asked his sister to join them. A bit presumptuous perhaps but she could not help but feel elated. She had, despite her reservations when she got to the Gallery, enjoyed her afternoon. She knew she would visit the Gallery more often now, just to visit one picture. It may not have been a portrait of Tommy but it was so beautiful and so like him in essence that she knew it would be a source of comfort to her.

Judith declined the dinner invitation. She knew from his tone that he had something planned and was only being polite by inviting her. She was pleased that something seemed to be brewing between Barbara and Tommy but she wondered if they even realised it yet.

They put Judith into a cab Tommy took Barbara by the hand again to lead her through the crowd. This time he did not let go and she did not seem to flinch. When they reached the restaurant it was a quiet Spanish place with pictures of toreadors and Gaudi buildings on the walls. It was nothing overly special and Barbara was pleased that he had not booked the Savoy or somewhere else where she would feel uncomfortable. They were shown to a small table up the back. No one gave them a menu and she looked at Tommy thinking he would not be happy with such slack service.

"I pre-ordered; we are in a bit of a hurry," he said reading her mind. He was doing that a lot lately. Barbara was slightly disappointed assuming he must have something else on tonight but had felt obliged to have dinner with her. She was tempted to ask why but decided against it. The last few days had been so nice just spending time with him that she did not want to spoil it with some silly fight.

Dinner was the house "special paella" that Barbara found delicious. She soon forgot her hurt as they ate and talked about the painting and his family. She was fascinated to learn that his forebear, depicted so elegantly in the painting, had been a key figure in the abolition of slavery. That just seemed so much like something Tommy would have fought for that it made her smile. Dessert was a selection of small sweet treats and Tommy seemed anxious as he kept glancing at his watch. He paid quickly and said, "Come on we have to hoof it a bit, we should have off-loaded Judith a bit earlier."

"I can catch a cab by myself it I'm holding you up."

Tommy looked at her as if she had an alien growing on her forehead then laughed when he realised she thought he was going somewhere without her. "No Barbara, WE are running a bit late, not just me!"

They threaded their way through the backstreets and arrived in front of the theatre just off Leicester Square. People were starting to move in. She looked up and laughed when she saw the sign above the foyer –'Mama Mia'. So this is why he asked about Abba. Barbara had never been to the theatre before. She was unsure what to expect but she was pleased he had selected something she would like rather than an opera or ballet, which she imagined he would be far more at ease attending. She looked up and with genuine enthusiasm beamed at him, "Thank you Sir, this is a wonderful surprise."

Tommy felt his heart liquefy. He wanted to kiss her so badly he had to fight to control himself. Instead he smiled back and put his arm around her shoulder and squeezed. "You deserve a treat Barbara; I hope we have a wonderful night."

"How did you get tickets?"

He knew what she was hinting at. "You would be very proud of me. I ordered them through the half price last minute service. That's where I went from the pub, to pick up the tickets. And no, I won't let you pay for your ticket." His voice was kind but firm.

"If you're sure then." It was hard for Barbara to accept kindness but she was trying hard to be gracious. "Thank you."

Throughout the show Barbara rocked in her chair and virtually sang along. He had not seen her look that stress-free and cheery in ages; perhaps ever. He had expected to feel a bit uncomfortable. Romantic musical comedies were hardly his "thing" but he was enjoying it immensely, mainly watching how Barbara was totally immersed in the show. There were a few occasions where her arm was next to his on the armrest and he had taken her hand in his and held it gently. It never lasted long because she broke free to clap at the end of a number to jump about excitedly. He would forever treasure tonight seeing her so free of her usual inhibitions and hang-ups.