Nerves had Ruth fidgeting with the simple silver bracelet on her left wrist as she paced the length of the main room in her bare feet. Tonight was a big night. Not just in terms of being her first official outing as a spook but also in her relationship with Harry.

It was the first time she would be attending some political event as his plus one. The first of what would be many nights and possible weekends together making nice. Where she wouldn't be just Ruth Evershed; Senior Analyst for Counter Terrorism; but rather his fiancé and mother of his future children. She'd be an extension of him. Her every move and comment scrutinized by his opposition and enemies.

Thank God he had no aspiration towards become a politician. Because if he had she would seriously have to give consideration to being his mistress instead of his wife. Spook wife she could handle; politician's wife would have her running for the hills. Literally.

What made tonight even more nerve racking was the lack of connection between the two of them over the last nine days. Yes they were talking now but their brief phone conversation that afternoon had covered nothing more than the babies. They'd not even seen one another. She feared that there would still be a bit of a chill between then.

Turning back towards the stairs, she glanced at her watch and sighed. 18.15. They had 45 minutes before the dinner began. 45 minutes to circumvent the traffic of rush hour London and find the rest of the team that was meeting them. And Danny was running late. As a woman she had expected to be the party taking the longest to get ready. With Harry she was; he was always waiting for her. Danny was the exact opposite. When she'd last checked he had just gotten out of the shower; leaving his hair and dressing to go.

Stopping at the bottom she was about to yell up when there was a knock at the door. Turning she frowned and glanced at her watch. Who would be there at this time of night? Padding across the wooden floor she stood on tiptoes and glanced through the peep hole. Seeing the back of a familiar head, she fought back a smile as she undid the locks and chain.

"Harry." she breathed, her hand on the open door. "What are you doing here?"

Turning around; Primrose grasped in his right hand; Harry smiled but didn't speak. Stepping towards her, he gently pushed her into the flat and followed her in; the Spook in him wanting their conversation in private. Shutting the door with one hand, he offered up the flower to her. Seeing her smile as she took the flower, he brushed her hair from her face.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Holding the flower to her chest, she looked up at him as he watched her. Seeing his eyes skim her face, her chest, and come to rest on her slightly protruding stomach, she smiled. The ultrasound today had changed things for her. She was still scared; was still terrified at the prospect; but seeing the tiny heartbeats on the screen had made it so much more real. These two babies; along with Harry; were her family. Something she had been lacking in since she was eleven. She'd realized in the shower tonight that that's what scared her the most. Family had always left her; either by death or by choice.

Trusting Harry not to leave her was hard. Especially when every time they fought, one or both of them ran away. She was just as guilty as he was. But she'd realized something else. There were two tiny beings growing inside of her. They were hers; and his. No one could take them away. These two babies would always be her family and because of that, so would Harry.

Clearing her throat she watched his eyes lift and meet hers.

"Sorry." he said though it was apparent he was anything but.

"No you're not."

Stepping forward, he slid an arm around her waist, letting his hand rest in the middle of her back. "You're right, I'm not. At least not about looking at you. I am sorry for being a closed minded bastard."

Sighing, she stepped closer and let her head rest against his chest; the bud of her flower poking up between them to avoid being crushed. Closing her eyes, she breathed in his scent and felt the tension of the past week easing away. "I'm sorry for being so wishy-washy. And for letting my fears come between us again."

Wrapping his other arm around her waist, he pulled her closer. "We both reacted badly. And we need to talk about it - later. Unfortunately for now, we have a dinner to go to."

"Which brings us back to what you're doing here."

"I'm doing what I should have done last Saturday; I'm taking you home where you belong. We just have to make a slight detour to a political function first." Leaning back, he looked down at her. "And since we have to be there in a little over thirty minutes, it might be a good idea if you run upstairs and get your bag."

"It isn't packed. It's going to take longer than five minutes."

"Ah that's where you're wrong. I called Danny on my way over. He was ordered to have your things packed and ready to go. So go get your bag."

Both stopped at the sound of a bag hitting the floor. Turning towards the steps, Ruth had to laugh at the sight of her suitcase lying on its side at the foot of the steps. Untangling herself from Harry's arms, she crossed the room to it. Feeling him behind her she looked up and smiled at Danny; who stood at the top dressed in tux pants and white shirt.

"Please tell me you didn't pack my make-up and bath things in my suitcase."

Lifting the smaller bag in his hand, he grinned and made his way down to them. "Nope, they're right here."

Bending down, Harry picked up the fallen suitcase before taking the smaller bag from the other man. "Thank you Danny."

Nodding at his boss, Danny leant forward and hugged Ruth lightly. Kissing her cheek softly, he stood back and watched her a moment. "Not that it hasn't been nice having you here but go home. I don't want Harry to get the wrong idea and think we've something going on. He'll transfer me somewhere with no hot water."

With that, he turned and made his way back upstairs.

"He's right. You need to come home. The house is entirely too empty without you."

Sitting in the back of his car, Ruth let herself rest against Harry's side; his arm holding her close; as they sat in the evening traffic.

"Ruth?"

Tilting her head up, she met his eyes. "Hmm?"

"I'm sorry for missing today. I let my pride and fear keep me from being there with you. Are you and the babies okay?"

"I'm okay. Better than I was. I'm still scared but today somehow made it more real. And even though we're now having two instead of one, it seems less daunting."

"And the babies?"

"They looked okay but"

"But" he interrupted, his hold tightening.

"But we have to wait for all the blood work the doctor ordered to come back before we'll know if things are looking normal for now. And even then we'll have to wait until they're older to know if developmentally they look alright."

"When will the results be back?"

"Wednesday at the earliest." Opening her clutch, she pulled out the two copies of the ultrasound the doctor had given her. "But The Doctor did give me two copies of their first picture. One for you and one for me."

Looking down at the picture, she traced a finger between the two fetuses, a smile settling over her face.

Reaching his free hand down, he gripped the edge of the ultrasound and starred at it. He'd seen the picture earlier, when they'd been on the phone, but this was different. Not only were they here; together; but it was somehow different holding this film than looking at it on a computer screen. Holding her tighter, he felt a smile settle on his face and said the only thing he could think of.

"They really do look like peanuts."

AN: I would like to say I am awed by the sheer volume of people who left feedback in some way for the last two chapters. The thoughts and feedback completely blew me away. Before I twisted the angst knife any deeper, I took a moment; or an evening; and wrote a little bit of fluff as a thank you.

So many people blamed Harry and I feel bad because I didn't mean for him to come across as a complete bastard in his reaction to her hesitation. Ruth was just as guilty in this as he was; or at least that was my feeling. Their relationship has been filled with moments of miscommunication and missed moments; while I don't think the moments of miscommunication will ever fully go away, I do hope to change the missed moments. =0) And if the offering of a little fluff as thank you isn't enough, I also spent the evening baking chocolate peanut butter muffins and banana muffins and would be more than happy to share them too. If you have a moment, please take a moment and leave me another review with your thoughts - and where you'd like to see them go next.