After a few hours they found themselves walking through Belmont park. It was mostly empty as the brief rain shower had driven everyone inside. But now it had stopped, the park was beautiful with raindrops clinging to the flower petals and the blades of grass. Once they'd both shed their coats, they were relatively dry and they were enjoying each others company too much to go inside. They had the place to themselves too, which was an extra benefit. After an hour or two of reticence, Ruth had broken down. She'd begun to discuss places she'd visited, in general terms with few specific details of her life. She'd been unable to resist sharing with Harry, the person she'd most wanted to talk to for so long.

"Rome?" he asked, having a certain fondness for the city himself.

"For a few days," she said. "Actually on holiday and not too long ago."

"And?"

"A beautiful city whose hospitality could be improved upon," she said politely and Harry smiled at her. "St Peter's basilica was stunning. The highlight was the Castel Sant Angelo in the Vatican though. Oh, it was so beautiful, and on the day I visited it was pouring with rain. We had it to ourselves."

"We?" Harry questioned, aware of what she'd said about their being no one in her life.

"Alex," she said with a smile. "She's a recent graduate who I met teaching in Japan. More adventurous than I ever was at her age. She found a good deal online and persuaded me to go to Rome with her." Ruth smiled as she saw Harry relax at the word "she." She stopped him from walking and turned to face him. "I meant it when I said there was no one else."

"I know," he replied with a smile. "I just… find it hard to believe. You're such a beautiful woman." She blushed at that, looking down at the ground. "Don't do that," he murmured, tilting her chin up to make her look at him. "Don't look away when you're complemented." She looked into his hazel eyes and felt herself completely melting. No one else in the world looked at her like that. No one thought she was special. To everyone else she was simply another face in a crowd and no one cared about her. This man in front of her truly cared, and the three years she'd been in exile just didn't matter.

He moved his hand from her chin until he was stroking her cheek gently, his hazel eyes still looking at her warmly. "Oh God," she said under her breath, her face crumpling as a wave of tears overcame her. "How did I stay away for so long?" She cried again and within seconds found herself against his chest, his wonderfully familiar scent all around her. In a distant part of her mind, she knew this is why she'd chosen to avoid London and seeing him. Because leaving him for a second time was going to be so difficult.

"It's all right," he murmured. "It's going to be okay." She wished she could believe him.

"I feel like I've done nothing but cry over you today," she said. "I'm so sorry."

"Don't be," he replied with a smile. "It's normal after all you've been through." They were sat in a restaurant for dinner, the day having vanished around them. He poured some red wine for them both as she smiled at him.

"Why are you so kind to me?"

"Because the harsh spook façade is just that. It's a mask. You see the real me." He reached across the table and squeezed her hand, making her heart skip a beat. The waiter came to their table, breaking the moment asking were they ready to order.

"My treat," Harry said. She looked momentarily worried. "In cash," he added quietly, guessing correctly her worry. She didn't want to leave a paper trail, and he knew it.

"Thank you," she said with a smile before giving the waiter her order.

"Harry, that was a wonderful meal," she said sincerely. "Thank you."

"It's nice to share another dinner with you," he added, voice heavy with memory.

"It is," she said. "You know, I never… explained," she said. "About why I said no, to another date."

"Now's not really the time," he said, very aware of the fact that she was only in the country to say goodbye to her mother.

"No, I should have given you an explanation at the time," she said. "It was stupid. You said all those wonderful things. About us touring Europe together and… I was overwhelmed a little bit. And then I did a stupid thing. I thought about it too much and I panicked. I ran. It wouldn't have lasted. If I'd have stayed, I'd never have stuck to that decision, it was just a knee jerk reaction. To know that people were talking about us, it made me panic. And it was a childish decision. I see that now. I should never have tried to run from what I feel for you."

"That's good to hear," he said softly. "But I already knew it was something like that. After Cotterdam… well, you wouldn't have done that if… I was unimportant to you."

"You are important to me," she agreed quietly. She looked at him over the edge of her wine glass, considering. "Harry… do you want to come back to my B and B?" Her cheeks were flaming, but her blue eyes were sure and steady, looking directly at him. She knew what she wanted all right. He considered for a long moment, weighing up his options before finishing the wine.

"I will," he said, making her lips turn up in a smile. "But nothing is going to happen. Not when you're grieving." The smile faded from her face.

"I know what I want, Harry," she said quietly.

"I know," he said. "And I never thought that I'd ever be turning you down." That made her smile, eyes sparkling at him.

"So don't." Harry's eyes changed from soft and warm to smouldering in an instant that took her breath away. He said nothing, but reached for his wallet in his jacket pocket. She smiled as he put down more than enough money to cover the bill and then nodded at the door.

"Shall we?"

More in the next couple of days. Unfortunately I'm working. Thanks for the reviews. :)