They had started the day on the sofa and so there it would be, that they finished it.
But first came tea.
They pottered around still clad in only their towels.
She was the first to mention the rally in the park, as the kettle clicked off.
His tone was somewhat derogatory, suggesting that what was needed was more than fist pumping, chest thumping neanderthals; that what was truly needed to restore the balance was something well beyond their meagre imaginations. But he did not venture what.
As he filled the teapot she ran her hand lightly across his back.
"It needs more than balance," she said, as he turned towards her, "so this..." her finger tips traced the scars across his chest, "can never be allowed to happen again."
Harry watched her fingers, before looking into those bright blue eyes, marvelling at the sharpness of her mind to link Daniel's source of hatred, to his own physical proof of former hurt.
She was good. But he knew that.
He slid his arms around her and held her close, wondering just where the camera was.
"You're cold," he whispered, "shall I get you your dressing gown?"
He felt her nod into his chest before he let her go.
He reappeared wearing likewise and as he slid the soft material around her shoulders he lifted her wet hair so as not to get it trapped He handed her a small dry towel, as she handed him the damp one which she had deftly slipped off.
He looked at it, "I thought we had a shortage of these larger ones," he said, catching her eye, "but it actually seems like there are several."
"That's good" she replied, straight faced, turning back to pour the tea.
They relaxed, they chatted, they ate toast. It was like a Sunday morning but on a Wednesday evening. It felt good.
"Do you have to go into the office, tomorrow?" she asked, as they washed up.
"Possibly in the morning, I'll give them a call, depends what is happening in Rome."
"Do you think it will have passed?"
"Hopefully, for the moment, but who knows what bloody rubbish they'll come up with next."
"Could probably do with a few of those chest thumping neanderthals over there", she smiled.
"I told you Helen, it needs more than that," he complained.
"So we may have a free day?" she asked, knowing the answer.
"Mainly, though we have that meeting with Mr ..." he hesitated.
"...Coleman," she prompted, "oh, yes."
"Mid afternoon."
"What's it about?"
"Not sure, he was rather cagey."
"What did you make of him, Daniel?"
He pondered.
"I don't know. I have the feeling he has an agenda, but for what, I have absolutely no idea."
"Maybe he wants to sell you life insurance?" she smiled.
"Or make a claim against an accident at work."
"Don't be silly," she said, throwing the tea towel towards him, "it's bound to be a PPI claim."
Coleman done, they relaxed a little more and eventually settled onto the sofa to watch a film.
Harry couldn't remember the last time he had sat and watched a whole film, let alone done so with someone else.
He sat at one end and held out his arm, she took up the prompt and sat, her back leaning against him, head propped against his chest, her legs stretched out before her.
He passed over the small brandy he had poured for her, contemplated the fact that she was naked beneath the dressing gown and then quickly started the movie.
He didn't need to get carried away with that particular thought.
And so for nearly two hours they got lost, absorbed, transported.
They were two people being entertained, sitting comfortably with no pressure to be elsewhere and no thought of anything else. His left arm was around her waist, her right resting upon his knee. They were content.
As the music surged and the credits rolled she turned her head back to him.
"That was good," she smiled, her face open, eyes wide.
"It was," he nodded.
Her eyes were so very blue.
His gaze was so very intense.
She was only inches away.
And so he did the most natural thing in the world.
He kissed her.
Harry kissed Ruth, Daniel kissed Helen: where one ended and the other began was indistinguishable.
Whether it were real, or faked; intended or accidental: no one knew.
Even them.
Especially them.