Tell Me: a drabble about one character confessing something to another

A/N: This has been languishing on my hard drive for quite a while now – I'd actually forgotten I'd written it, until I was transferring stuff to my new laptop. A few tweaks later and here it is. I hope you enjoy…

Ruth left the hospital in a daze. The conversation she had just had with the doctor still spinning around inside her head. It was confirmed. Well, at least now she could begin to face it; to make plans. And there were so many plans to make. So many that, she couldn't think properly; she needed to clear her head. Turning to her mother, who had accompanied her to the appointment, she said, "I think I need to be alone… to think... get my head around all of this."

"If you're sure?"

"I am."

Her mother nodded. "I understand. I'll head back to your house. I'm sure I'll find something to keep me busy."

"Thank you for coming today. I'm not sure I could have got through it on my own."

Her mother squeezed her hand. "You're stronger than you think you are, my dear."

"I'll need to be, to face what's to come."

"When will you tell Harry?"

"Soon. I won't be able to keep it from him, he's too observant for his own good. I think he already suspects that I am not well."

"You should have shared your suspicions with him. He'll be devastated that you didn't." Her mother liked Harry. Ever since he'd brought Ruth out of exile after eight months, he'd been the best thing since sliced bread. When the two of them had gotten over their fear and embarked on a romantic relationship, it was difficult to tell who was happier; Ruth and Harry, or her mother.

"I couldn't bear to put him through that when there was nothing concrete…" Ruth admitted. "It might not have been… it was better to wait for confirmation."

"I doubt he'll see it that way," commented her mother and Ruth knew she was right. He very likely wouldn't see it that way at all.

"Well we'll know soon enough," she replied, turning toward the park that faced the hospital. "I'll see you later."

Her mother kissed her cheek. "Take care and for heaven's sake, don't do anything stupid."

Ruth rolled her eyes. "Really mother, what on earth would I do? We're not in some Greek tragedy!" she replied with a teary smile as she headed towards the park.

As she walked, she thought about her life with Harry over the last few months. They had been so happy since finding their way into a relationship and now this. She didn't know what to do. She wasn't ready to face this. She knew she couldn't face it alone; that she needed Harry but she didn't want to tell him, to shatter the life that they had together. It was by no means perfect, but it worked perfectly for them. That's why she hadn't told him of her concerns; so as not to unduly worry him. She had told herself that it wasn't really a lie, as there was nothing definite to tell him. But now she knew for certain and to keep it from him any longer would be a lie, and she couldn't lie, not to him. Not now.

Taking out her phone she pressed number one on her speed dial and after it had rang for what seemed like an age, she was rewarded with the sound of his voice.

"Ruth," he said, the smile evident in his voice.

"Hi."

He must have sensed there was something wrong in her tone. "Are you alright?"

"No, not really. Are you at home? Could I… could I come over?"

"Of course. You never have to ask, you know that. Are you coming now?"

"I'll be there in about half an hour if the tube cooperates."

"I'll have the kettle on then."

With that they ended the call and Ruth walked in the direction of the tube station, hoping that for once it wasn't running to time; she wanted Harry to live in blissful ignorance for as long as humanly possible.

They had been sat at his kitchen table for ten minutes and she had yet to utter more than five words. He knew something was wrong; he'd suspected for weeks. Whenever he had asked if she was okay, she had replied that she was and he hadn't pushed it. But he was beginning to wish he had.

"Ruth, I don't want you to think I don't enjoy having you here, because I do, very much. But you've barely spoken to me since you arrived. I can tell there's something wrong and I'm worried." He took her hand across the table. "Please talk to me."

"Harry this isn't easy for me, so please let me finish before you say anything, okay?"

"Ruth, you're scaring me."

"Please, Harry. Promise me you won't interrupt."

"I promise."

Taking a deep breath, Ruth kept her gaze fixed on their clasped hands as she spoke. "I had a hospital appointment this morning." She left her words sink in before continuing. "I hadn't been feeling myself for a few weeks. I've been tired and achy, experiencing bouts of nausea and dizziness but I put it down to stress; work hasn't exactly been a walk in the park lately has it? But when I started to get a strange metallic taste in my mouth… I finally saw my GP. She told me what she thought it was, but admitted that it could be a number of things, so she referred me to the hospital for further tests." She found she couldn't tell him; she couldn't speak the words so, taking her hand from his, she took the results out of her bag and slid them across the table to him, to read for himself.

He was silent for a few moments as he took in what was on the page. When he had he spoke softly "Are they sure?"

"Positive." She slid something else across the table. "Here, see for yourself."

Ruth heard his gasp as he looked, and finally brought her head up to meet his gaze. Was he smiling? He stood and made his way around the table and knelt at her side. "Ruth, this is… fantastic news."

"I-it is?"

"Of course it is. You're pregnant!" He saw an array of emotions pass over her face, the last of which appeared to be relief. Something clicked in his brain; he understood now. "Ruth, did you think I wouldn't be pleased?"

"Oh Harry, I didn't know what to think! We've only been together six months; it's far too early for us to be having a child together. Plus, neither of us are in the first flush of youth and our jobs aren't exactly conducive to family life. Add to that the fact that you've already got two children who you barely see because of what you describe as your failings as a father… can you blame me for thinking that you wouldn't welcome this?"

Harry had to admit her reasoning made sense and her points about their age and their jobs were valid ones, but he couldn't…. He reached out his hand and gently rested it on her belly. "I am so happy, Ruth. I know it's not ideal but we'll find a way to make it work, I promise." It suddenly occurred to him that he didn't know how Ruth felt about the whole thing; other than the fact that she had been worried about his reaction. "That's if you want to. I don't want to presume th-"

Ruth smiled and rested her hand over his. "I never thought about having children but now it's happening, I think… I think it would have killed me if you'd said you didn't want it."

Harry nods. "That settles it then. We're having a baby."

"We are," Ruth agrees, leaning down to kiss him. "We really are."

Harry returns the kiss eagerly, his hand never leaving her stomach.

The months ahead would be full of reflections on past mistakes, attempts at family reconciliations, big decisions and lifestyle changes. It won't be easy; in fact at times it would seem like they're trying to walk up a downward escalator, but in that moment, they were happy; content to bask in the joy that comes with the creation of new life.