It's Christmas Eve and I still do not know what I'm going to get Harry. It's strange even having to get him a gift; not that I haven't in the past; it's just this time I have to get him a gift. I did find a CD for him that I know he'll like; a new recording of one of his favorite Opera's; and a few books on the Cricket team he follows but it doesn't feel like enough. Not since our relationship changed. Yes I know it's only been a week and who really worries about this kind of stuff after a week but with Harry and I; a week is a long time. Especially as this has been a non-relationship for so long. What does one normally get their live in boyfriend of only a week when they have a lunch break to do it?

Speaking of the week; I know I've been seriously lax in writing. It's only been in this journal; my private place for my thoughts and all. I've been diligently writing in the one for work as I think they're looking for any reason to move me out of Section D. Monday was my first day back after everything that happened; both with Peter, the whole TRING thing, and my change in relationship status. Harry and I drove in together that morning; no driver; just two of us in his SUV. It helped to prepare me for walking back onto the Grid after a week away. I can't explain why but I was nervous and somewhat afraid of seeing everyone again. I think part of me was worried they'd look at me differently; think I was weak and couldn't do the job; but there was nothing like that. Silly I know.

It wasn't all good though. Monday also saw my first appointment with the therapist. I was right in thinking that she'd be doing more than just glancing at what I'd written in the journal. We had a lengthy discussion about the length of each entry I'd written and my lack of sharing anything worthwhile. What did she expect? There was no way I was writing about what Harry and I had done over the weekend or the decisions that had been made. No one needs to know what happened on Saturday at the tree farm or ice skating. Warm, giddy and entirely too happy by the way. That's what I was feeling. Nor did she need to know all the self doubts and fears I was dealing with before the giddiness came.

After we spent thirty-six minutes of our allotted hour bickering over the content in my regulation journal and what was expected in it, we spent the next twenty-four minutes starring at each other. She kept trying to get my to talk and I kept giving her one word answers. Not the best course of action but I don't trust her. And I know my job depends on these sessions but that's the problem. If I say the wrong thing; she'll have me out. If I don't say the wrong thing; she can have me out. What am I supposed to do? She gave me topics I'm supposed to write about each day along with what happened throughout my day. It's not resulted in much more content but I'm trying.

The rest of the day Monday wasn't too bad. No one pressed me for what had happened during the session though I did catch Harry watching me a few times throughout the day. We didn't have any major disasters which was good and Malcolm and I were able to get to the extra choir rehearsal our choir was having. I did have a surprise though when I got home that night. Harry had arranged with Adam for Fidget to come home! Honestly I wasn't expecting that. Harry had mentioned that he wanted the cats and I to stay with him but I thought he was just saying that. Turns out he was being honest. Of course, only one cat made it there. Apparently Wes has taken a liking to Muggles and Muggles has taken a liking to Wes. Adam asked if they could keep him until they found another that Wes liked but I said it was fine. I love Muggles and I'm going to miss him but he's making my favorite little man happy and I know they'll take care of him.

Fidget on the other hand has settled right into our new home. He's still not too sure of Scarlet or of Harry but he's loving being back with me. So much so that he won't let the other two without three feet of me. Harry tried the other night to kiss me goodnight as I was heading upstairs. It was really quite sweet and something I can definitely get used to. Fidget though, well he decided that Harry's foot needed scratching with two sets of claws. I will say Harry showed great restraint in not kicking the cat across the room. His glare down though did earn him a hiss and a beating with a tail but it also earn him a longer kiss from me.

Tuesday saw us investigating a possible terrorist cell that led into both Wednesday and Thursday. There was little sleep for any of us which led to tempers being short by the end of the 72 hours. Especially when it turned out to be the misunderstanding of some low level person over at 6. Seems they stumbled upon a website online where people write these stories called fanfiction about TV shows, books, and other things they like only this person thought it was real. There's that TV show on TV called 6. You know the one where they follow the lives of a group of fictitious people working in a non-existent part of 6 in London? Well, instead of forwarding the actual site to his superiors where it would have been caught right away, he printed the stories instead and put them into briefing format.

For the greater part of three days we ran our butts off trying to figure out what was going on and who was behind it. That is until Colin happened to come across the site and was able to match the information. Harry was not happy. Three days spent looking for people who didn't really exist trying to disprove a plot that really wasn't going to happen with no sleep meant someone was going to receive a not to pleasant phone call. Needless to say the person who started this is no longer working with 6. Actually, I'm not too sure if he's even still in this country or not; Harry wasn't too talkative about what happened after he'd sent us all home.

Today I'm hoping won't be too bad. I haven't seen Harry yet though I can hear him across the hall getting ready for the day. It's still early and I've seen his diary; he has no meetings today which means we can actually sit down for breakfast together. Is it bad that we're one week in and I've missed our morning breakfasts together? What's going to happen when he leaves?

Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, Ruth carefully made her way down the last of the steps and pulled her dressing gown closed over her penguin flannel pajamas. It was Christmas morning and by the looks of it, Harry had been up for awhile already. The tree in the front room was already on; it's lights sparkling in the grayness of the morning. Next to it the fire was burning taking the chill out of the morning air and in a rare show of friendliness the two animals were curled up together on the hearth. Sitting on the couch in his dressing gown; hair unruly from sleep and curling in the back; Harry looked up from the file he had been reading and smiled.

"Good morning."

"Hi. Have you been up for awhile?"

"Just long enough to make a pot of tea and get the fire going." Placing the file on the table, he patted the couch next to him. "Come sit with me."

Fighting back a yawn, she crossed the room and curled up next to him, her eyes drifting around the room. It'd been years; maybe since before her father died; that she had a Christmas morning like this - peaceful. There was no fighting, no kids running around screaming and crying or half drunk college roommates stumbling through the door with half naked men; but there was a tree and a fire with two animals sleeping in front of it and a man who for the time being was all hers. Somehow this was always how she had pictured Christmas when she was younger. The only thing missing was a well behaved child or two ripping into paper wrapped gifts under the tree.

Harry fought back a grin as he took in the sight of her. Bare feet sticking out from light blue pajama pants, hair sticking up in the most adorable of ways, a red crease down the side of her face from her pillow, sleep still filling her eyes as she curled up next to him - he didn't think he'd ever seen her look more beautiful. Sitting back against the cushions, he curled an arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer. He didn't know how long they sat like that but eventually he heard her breathing start to get heavier. Smiling now, he leaned his head against hers and shook her.

"Hey, no sleeping. We have gifts to open."

Ruth shook her head slightly and nuzzled her face into his side. She was warm, content and entirely too comfortable to think about anything but sleep at the moment. Sighing happily, she moved a hand to his chest and let it rest there, the beating rhythm of his heart lulling her.

Oh how he wished he could let her stay like that; curled against him in sleep. And there was no reason he couldn't; they had nowhere to be and weren't expecting anyone; but he'd come up with what he hoped was the perfect Christmas gift and the anticipation of her reaction was eating at him. Sitting there for a few more minutes; enjoying the weight of her lying against him; he finally moved enough that he could wrap both arms around her. Moving her back, he looked down into her sleepy, unhappy eyes and grinned. There were no words that he could think of that could describe what he was feeling at that exact moment. Bending down, he kissed her; slowly, passionately until she suddenly pulled back, a blush spreading across her face as she turned her head.

"I've not brushed my teeth yet." she said embarrassed.

Gripping her chin gently in his hand, he grinned and turned her back to him, his mouth lowering to hers. "Who cares" he said right before his lips met hers in another languid kiss.

Sometime later they separated, Ruth more awake then she had been before and blushing deeply though her eyes were lit as they met his. Taking her hand in his, Harry stood and pulled her to her feet. Maneuvering around the coffee table, he led her to the tree and sat on the floor in front of the fire. Pulling her down next to him, he grinned as she looked at him in amusement.

"What?" he asked at her look.

"Where's Harry and what have you done with him?"

"I am allowed to enjoy myself you know."

"Yes but we all thought you only enjoyed whiskey, getting one over on the Americans and yelling at people. Won't everyone be surprised when I tell them differently."

Reaching out, Harry dragged her to him, his fingers digging into her sides as he tickled her. "I can't let you do that Ms. Evershed."

Laughing, she tried to squirm out of his grip but found herself held tightly against him, her head resting against his shoulder when he finally stopped his torture of her and she tried to catch her breath.

His breath hot against her ear, he whispered softly "Ready for gifts?"

Not trusting herself to speak, she nodded yes.

Harry reached under the tree and pulled two of the gifts; one for him and one for her. Handing the brightly wrapped gift he knew was from Malcolm to her, he leaned back with his and watched as she tore into the paper. Without trying to get too sentimental, he realized this was the first time he had spent Christmas morning opening presents since his divorce. Jane had kept the children the years after their divorce; he'd be allowed over to see them in the afternoon's before they went to their grandparents for Christmas Dinner. Most Christmas mornings from the time of his divorce on were either spent alone or at work; unless he'd been seeing someone at the time. But those relationships were not the type where gifts were exchanged nor were decorated trees present; rather they were the type that were gratifying while they lasted but not the type where joy was found just watching the other opening presents. He hadn't realized how much he had missed this. Snapping out of his thoughts at her squeal of delight, he watched as she lifted a teal colored scarf and matching gloves from a box. He'd mentioned to Malcolm that she didn't have a scarf and gloves when he'd asked what she might like for the holiday. As they reached the last gift under the tree, he realized it was time to give her the main gift he'd gotten her.

Going to stand, he felt her grab his arm and pull him back down.

"Open your last gift."

"But I want to give you your last gift."

"In a moment. Please. Open mine first." folding her hands in her lap, she looked at him nervously.

Watching her a moment wondering what it was that was making her so nervous, he finally nodded and reached for the square box. She'd already gotten him a CD and some books; he wasn't expecting anything else. To him, they were already perfect because they meant she knew him; the real him. Sliding his finger under the edge of the tape, he peeled back the paper. Looking at the cardboard box underneath, he lifted the lid and found a stack of papers. Frowning, he pulled them out and looked at them; unsure of what they were. Lifting his eyes to hers, he silently questioned her.

"A few weeks ago you asked to read what I was writing and I told you no, that they were too personal. But I saw how that upset you. And before you ask, that's not why I'm giving them to you. I...I...well if anyone is ever going to read them, I want it to be you." Looking down at her lap, she waited.

Harry looked at the papers he held then back at her and his heart leapt. She was trusting him. Setting them down carefully, he reached over and dragged her to him. Wrapping his arms around her, he hugged her tightly, his lips pressing against her hair.

"Thank you." he said softly.

Pulling back slightly, she looked at him and smiled. "For what?"

"Trusting me."

Holding her tight for another moment, he gently kissed her before helping her stand.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see."

Gripping her hand, he led her out of the warmth of the front room and across the hall. Stopping at the closed door between the bottom of the steps and the front door, he turned suddenly and looked at her.

"Close your eyes."

"Harry."

"Ruth. Please close your eyes."

Sighing, she closed her eyes. Hearing him open the door, she felt him grip her hand and slowly lead her forward. Once they stepped through the door, she felt him move behind her. Sliding his hand from hers, he leaned forward and whispered in her ear.

"Open your eyes."

Ruth opened her eyes and gasped as she looked around the room. She'd never been in the room before but knew it had been his disused formal sitting room. Now it housed shelves upon shelves of her books. The walls behind them were painted a deep burgundy, and the floor had been covered in a thick cream carpet. Turning slightly, she saw the piano she had found in his basement in front of the window; the wood polished until it gleamed. He'd told her it had been his mother's when he'd found her playing it one afternoon when she had wandered down to look through her stuff. Turning the other way, she saw the thick couch turned into a corner.

Turning to face him, her eyes wide she didn't know what to say.

"Do you like it?" he asked nervously.

"Harry. I don't...no one's ever...what were you...I can't believe...thank you." Jumping forward, she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly, tears falling from her eyes.

Wrapping his arms tightly around her, he pulled her closer and pressed his lips into her hair. "I'm taking it you like it?"

"I love it but what were you thinking?" she asked into his neck.

"That I love you, I'm thrilled you've agreed to stay here, I wanted to give you a space of your own, and I just...didn't know how else to show you how much I want you here."

"Harry." she said, the tears falling more as she pulled her head back and looked up at him. "God I love you." Standing on her tip toes, she pressed her mouth against his.

AN: Thank you all for the lovely reviews! I'm still debating where this story is going to go; there's two totally different paths it can take and so I'm giving you all a choice; consensus wins. It can a) be somewhat happy with them stumbling through the roadblocks of having relationship together in what I hope is a unique and interesting way while at the same time dealing with the fallout from the Peter situation or it can b) not be very happy with them being pulled apart by a case at work where it may or may not end with them actually still being together. You all tell me; it's kind of a choose your own adventure moment. Hopefully more soon once I see where people want it to go.