It was a Friday afternoon and as she was rounding off her work for the week Nikki suddenly realized she hadn't seen Kate at the Lyell Centre all week. Come to think of it, not the week before either! Nikki suddenly realized that it had been quite some time since she had last needed to scramble away from Kate. She was sitting at her desk when this revelation suddenly hit her and as soon as the thought hit her brain it left her mouth.

"Harry?" she immediately said, looking over at him, "how come Kate's not been around lately?"

Harry looked up from his desk in surprise. "Do you miss her?" he shot back.

Nikki grinned, "No, it's just… well, she's been coming in so often and I suddenly realized she hasn't been in anymore, recently, so…"

Harry shrugged, "It's less distracting if she doesn't come, don't you think?"

"So, you've asked her not to come anymore?"

"Yes"

"And she doesn't mind?"

"She has little choice in the matter," he said shortly before quickly changing the subject to, "So, how's Daniel?"

Nikki smiled, "He's lovely! He's fine."

"You two seem to be getting quite serious."

"Oh, I don't know. We've been together for about 4 months now? That is…"

"…. much longer than your usual unsuitable-boyfriend-time-span!" Harry finished off, avoiding Nikki's look and switching off his computer.

"He's not unsuitable!" Nikki protested.

"Mmm, I can see that…" Harry mumbled, getting up and then adding, "Come on, it's getting late, let's get Leo and head for the pub!"

Leo, however, couldn't make it to the pub. Janet had called, and after a week of lots of overtime for Leo and for Janet, she had announced that she was finally free for the weekend. Leo wanted to grab the opportunity to finally see his own girlfriend again.

So, it was just Harry and Nikki. It had been ages since they had been out alone together. Instead of it feeling awkward it felt strangely comfortable, like coming home. As they walked to the pub, Nikki grabbed Harry's arm.

"Like the good old days," she smiled.

He smiled back at her warmly, "Yes," and squeezed her hand with his as they walked on arm in arm, Harry's hand still holding on to Nikki's on his arm and Nikki content to keep her hand there as still as possible.

"So, shall we add dinner to the drinks?" he asked after a little while.

"Er… well…"

"Yes?"

"I'm meeting Daniel for dinner later. He said he'd pick me up at the pub..."

"Oh."

"I didn't know Leo wasn't coming or I wouldn't have arranged it this way," Nikki said defensively.

"That's alright," Harry said, letting Nikki's hand and arm go. Nikki felt a small chill go through her at the loss of this closeness. It had only been a few minutes, holding on to Harry, but letting him go again so quickly felt cold to her.

Soon afterwards they entered the pub.

With a glass of wine for Nikki and a beer for Harry, the mood soon became light as they talked and especially laughed and made fun of all sorts of things: work, news, weather, films. Nikki basked in the familiarity and ease of being with Harry. They hadn't been this carefree alone together for a long time. Nikki couldn't put her finger on it. There was a lightness to Harry, he was oozing his old charm again. He almost seemed carefree, as if Hungary had never happened, as if all the darkness had gone. She pushed to the back of her mind that undoubtedly his happiness with Kate was at the bottom of this and for that she was grateful to Kate. Still, she preferred not to think too much of the other woman. She just didn't want this evening to end. Ever.

Nikki was actually gripping Harry's arm in laughter and he was grinning into her eyes when they suddenly both heard, "Hello, Nikki… Dr. Cunningham…" and jumped! They had never noticed Daniel coming in and walking over. Now he was standing beside Nikki, looking down at her almost gravely.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't see you!" she exclaimed, laughter gone and heart still beating from the fright she'd gotten. "Come sit down!" she added, pulling him down in the seat beside her and planting a quick welcome kiss on his cheek which he accepted. It was immediately followed by a greeting kiss of his own, square on Nikki's lips.

Nikki involuntarily shot a glance at Harry, who looked to be frowning but his features quickly cleared when their eyes met.

"Where's Professor Dalton?" Daniel asked, "Isn't he also included in Friday evening drinks?"

"He couldn't make it," Harry said.

"Have a drink?" Nikki offered him.

"No, I really think we should get going. It's just gone 7.30."

"Really, is that the time!" Nikki exclaimed.

"Time flies when you're having fun," Harry said dryly.

"It really does," Nikki said softly.

"Shall we go then?" Daniel asked getting up.

Nikki looked at Harry, a little unsure, then back to Daniel.

"Maybe Harry could join us? He…" she started but when she saw the sour look on Daniel's face she stopped.

"Nikki, it's alright, being the third wheel isn't really my style. But thank you." Harry smiled as Nikki got up. "Go have fun! I have things to do and places to go to myself."

"Oh," Nikki said, "Right." Inwardly now accepting that the drinks part of the evening with Harry was really over and she had to leave with Daniel.

"You must be meeting Kate!" she suddenly realized and said out loud. "Well, have fun then!" she ended, her happy mood now totally gone at the thought of Kate.

"You too, Nikki, Mr. Pearce…" he said. Nikki tore her eyes away from Harry as Daniel touched her back and led her out. Right outside the pub, Daniel pulled her closer to him and whispered in her ear, "Isn't it lovely, just you and me?"

"Mmmmm," she acquiesced as she looked in through the pub window again one last time and saw Harry looking at her with a frown. She almost defiantly snuggled closer to Daniel, kissed him demonstratively on his lips and walked off to dinner with him.

"You seem distracted, Nikki," Daniel said. "Tell me what's wrong?"

Dinner had just ended and it had been delicious but this part of the evening wasn't nearly as fun and comfortable and exciting as the first part of the evening had been in the pub and Nikki felt it acutely.

She didn't want Daniel to feel bad, however, and quickly smiled, "It's just been a long day, Daniel. I'm fine."

"You seem tense," he added.

"Yes, long day!" she reiterated calmly. "I'm just tired, really…"

"You didn't seem tired when I picked you up," he countered.

"Well, it's later now!" Nikki said, defensively.

"Yes, but you have been distracted and very quiet from the moment we left the pub. Is it something I did?" he asked.

"No!" she exclaimed, quickly grabbing his hand on the table, "No, there is nothing wrong with you, you are perfect! You really are all I could ever hope for: intelligent, cultured, kind, driven, sharp, sexy, a man with feeling. Really, a good man… the dream man actually!"

"But I'm not Harry Cunningham," he said softly.

"Pardon?" Nikki said, her heart skipping a beat at Daniel's comment.

"I'm not Harry Cunningham," he repeated. "I don't make you laugh like Harry Cunningham does."

"You do make me laugh!" she protested.

"Really?" he asked, studying her.

"Yes!"

"No… I don't, not like that," he stated. "I don't make you light up the way he does."

"Oh, that's nonsense…" Nikki started but Daniel wouldn't be interrupted.

"I stood watching you and Harry for a few minutes when I arrived at the pub earlier. You and he were oblivious to your surroundings, engrossed in each other, laughing with each other and when I stood there watching you, I realized that you and I are never like that. Never so in tune like that."

"Daniel, you've got it all wrong!" Nikki protested, "Harry and I are just old friends, I've told you that before."

"No, I'm right. You are in love with him, Nikki."

"Daniel…" she started.

"Really, you are in love with him. He lights you up like I never see anyone else light you up. You're in love with him."

"Nonsense," Nikki tried again, half heartedly, "And besides he's got Kate."

"That's not the point. He may be with Kate but that doesn't stop you being in love with him."

"Daniel… I don't know what to…" she half whispered, looking down at her hand covering Daniel's. He put his other hand over hers and added softly, "And he is in love with you…"

Nikki gave a little laugh, "No, he isn't… He's not interested in me at all that way…"

"Well, then he's an idiot." Daniel said, a little too vehemently.

Nikki looked up at him.

"I can't be number two for you, Nikki," he said, searching her face, "I know you like me and I like you so much more than I've liked any woman in a long long time, but I can't be second choice."

"You could well become first choice, Daniel. Give it time!" she half pleaded.

Daniel withdrew his hands from hers and shook his head.

"No, Nikki, I think we should call it quits now while we're ahead…"

"But…" she started.

"I can't do this anymore. I'm sorry."

She nodded and looked down. "I do love you Daniel. I'm sorry I couldn't, can't, love you the way I should..."

"I hope you find happiness, Nikki," he said, leaning forward and stroking her cheek. Tears sprung to Nikki's eyes at his heartfelt words.

"I hope you do too," she whispered back and he smiled. They looked at each other for a few moments before Daniel was the first to gather himself and say, "Let me get the cheque and get you home."

Nikki smiled in resigned acceptance.