"It's going to be a long night," said Harry.
And it was.
But not for the reasons he would have liked.
The assassination was well planned and nearly well executed...literally.
At 3am the danger was over. They could all go home.
Ruth suddenly recognised something she had not thought about before now.
Reality.
The here and now. The whole practicality of life with Harry. A man whom she knew intimately at work, but privately was almost a stranger.
And it worried her.
"Right," said Harry, grabbing his coat, "let's go."
Ruth hesitated.
"What's wrong?"
"I….we…." she tailed off.
Harry sat down before her.
"Ruth, talk to me, whatever you say is fine."
"But… where do we go, Harry?"
He smiled reassuringly, "well seeing as Lucas has installed Beth at yours, I suggest we go back to mine."
"Oh, right," she nodded but not convincingly.
"If you're worried about Fidget, don't be, he's been well looked after."
She smiled, wondering if there was nothing he had not already thought of.
"Harry, I love you."
He blinked with surprise at hearing the words for the very first time.
"That's good, Ruth, otherwise this would have been a very one sided relationship."
"Marriage, Harry. It's a marriage."
"I'm sorry, Ruth but it's so easy to forget.
She looked at him a little wounded.
"It's just that I've dreamt of being married to you for so long, that it's hard to remember that I only just have been."
"So much for the novelty."
"Oh, no Ruth the novelty is just beginning."
She smiled and looked at her hands. They were entwined with his.
"Okay, Harry. Let's go home."
So they did.