They reach the end of the lobby.

To the left, a long corridor with the banquet rooms and restaurant; to the right, a bank of lifts. It's crowded with patrons; the people gaily dressed for the holiday; and yet Zaf has no trouble discerning that Ruth is not among them. He has a choice; check to see if she's stepped into the restaurant or check the lifts.

The restaurant feels wrong; there's too many people milling about for her to have entered it that quickly; and so he opts for the less busy lifts.

As he reaches them, he sees just one moving.

And that's stopped on 5.

Pushing the up button, he waits impatiently for the doors of the second lift to open. Stepping in, he frowns as Jo moves more slowly. "Hurry up."

When she's clear of the doors, he presses 5 and silently urges the lift to move faster.

"We're wasting time - Ruth said she was going to the restaurant."

"Gut feeling – Ruth went up; not to the restaurant."

"And if you're wrong?"

"Then I'm wrong."

That's all he has time to say as the lift doors open on floor 5. Rushing out, he looks around the small lobby but doesn't see the brunette. But he does see a sign.

Pearce-Rennings Wedding

"Shit."

Hurrying now, both rush towards what they can only assume is another banquet room. As they round a corner, both stop, mouths wide at the sight before them.

"No freaking way." Zaf mumbles. Jo smacks his shoulder than grins as she realizes they've had everything wrong.

"Have I told you how beautiful you look?" Leaning back, Harry looks his fiancée up and down, smiling at the way his early Christmas gifts accent her natural beauty.

"No." Smiling, she wraps her arms around his neck and pulls him down for another kiss. She loves kissing him; loves the feeling of his lips caressing hers; and now that they're about to be ousted, she's not going to deny herself the pleasure. "I've some news." she whispers when they finally break apart.

"Hmm?" It's the only response she gets as he leans in again to kiss her firmly.

Leaning back, she smiles at his pout and informs him, "You've gotten your Christmas wish."

"How so?" he asks, following her head with his own.

"Zaf and Jo." she manages to mumble before his mouth is on hers again. Feeling him nip her lower lip, she sighs and opens her mouth to him. It's when they finally part for air that she continues on. "They're downstairs. Or were. If their lackluster cover story is any indication, they'll be following me upstairs."

"Who?" Harry asks, confusion at the seemingly change in conversation.

"Zaf and Jo." She knows the moment their conversation makes sense in his mind because he squeezes her tightly, his smile bright as his eyes shine at her. "So you're saying..."

He doesn't get to finish his thought because they both hear Zaf's exclamation.

"Merry Christmas." Ruth whispers, leaning up to kiss his chin softly before turning to the others. With a raised eyebrow, she implores of them, "so Jo's date came upstairs then?"

Grinning now, Zaf takes a step closer to the woman he enjoys flirting with and counters her comment with one of his own. "And you're late for a date?"

"Ah - but I was late for a date. With my fiancée. I didn't say where exactly the date was."

"Fiancée?" Zaf and Jo ask at the same time as Harry asks them what the hell they're doing there.

"Yes, Fiancée." Ruth tells them before turning her full attention back to Harry. "I would say one of us was being followed."

"Why the he..." He's cut off by the opening of the suite door behind him.

"Daddy?"

All four turn to look at the woman before them, dressed in a floor length white column.

"Are you ready then?" Harry asks, reluctantly letting Ruth go.

"I am." Catherine says, stepping forward. "Is everything alright."

"Everything's fine sweetheart. These are just 2 of my employees. They were just about to update me on something before leaving for a distant - very distant - post. But it can wait until the 27th. Can't it?"

"Yes sir." Jo mumbles as Zaf just nods, eyes still locked on the beauty that is Harry's daughter.

Both say goodbye and make their way down the hall, Zaf turning once to catch a final glimpse of the woman.

Frowning, Harry watches them go before offering his arm to Catherine.

AN: Well, I hope you've all enjoyed this little update to the story and to the advent calendar. If you've a moment, please let me know what you think of Day 5 - and let me know if there's any other little bits you'd like to see in this story. And a thank you to my sounding board - you know who you are and how much I appreciate the support and friendship you give me.