Archive of Our Own ^beta

Fiona leaned back in her chair and stretched. If she had to look at one more phone record she was going to lose it. Two days of researching and the team was no closer to identifying who was probing the electrical grid for weaknesses. As if Britain's entire electrical grid wasn't just one giant weakness.

She glanced over at Ruth, her friend's profile almost hidden by the files on her desk. Ruth had come back from the registry two hours ago with a stack so massive Zaf had jumped up to help when she came through the pods. Amazingly, Ruth was at least half way done. Fiona shook her head in admiration as Ruth closed a file, made a few notes in the moleskin notebook that never left her desk and reached for the next file.

"Eeep"

The sound was so soft that Fiona would have missed it if she wasn't looking straight at Ruth who closed the file so fast the loose papers on her desk fluttered as her cheeks turned bright red.

"Hey. You alright?" Fiona spoke softly as she swiveled her chair to face Ruth's desk.

"Fine. Umm. Fine. I'm fine. Everything's fine." Ruth stammered looking everywhere but Fiona's face or the file sitting in the middle of her desk.

"Then you won't mind if I have a look." Fiona reached out and snatched the folder.

"No. Fiona. Wait. Oh bollocks!" Ruth continued to bluster as Fiona opened the file and saw … pictures of a woman and a man kissing while naked.

"Ah. I see you found one with art" Fiona smiled. Ruth looked panicked and grabbed for the folder but Fiona moved it out of the way.

"Don't worry about it, Ruth. We've all done honey traps. Looking at other peoples' is half the fun. Everyone knows that. And these are rather nice." She flipped through the snaps. "Very nice indeed. There's even some artistry here. Plus the guy is actually hot for once" Fiona picked up the most explicit one for a closer look. Ruth had her head in her hands.

"Oh." Without changing her facial expression or moving too fast, Fiona slipped the photo back into the file, closed it, and walked over to her husband's desk.

"Adam darling" she leaned in just enough for him to remember what she was wearing under her clothes and thrilled to watch his eyes glaze just a bit as she handed him the file. "Be a dear and check this for any operational value. Take it back to the registry when you're done. Ruth and I are going to get some fresh air."

Adam took the file but leaned back to watch Fiona return to her desk, collect Ruth, and head for the pods.

The doors were just closing when Adam shouted

"Christ!"

Harry looked up from his desk at the noise. He had been on the phone with the Home Secretary who was not happy about the situation. Harry wasn't happy either, but at least he didn't feel the need to phone regularly to complain about the lack of updates. As if Harry was withholding some vital piece of intelligence and would continue to do so until a politician reminded him of his duty. Honestly. That was the last thing anyone needed.

Hoping for good news, Harry first looked to Ruth's desk. She had been plowing through files like there was no tomorrow in search of hidden connections. He had been enjoying the view before his phone rang. But Ruth's desk was empty. As was Fiona's. Adam Carter, however, was on his feet and moving toward the the pods at speed with a file in his hands.

"Adam. A word."

Adam didn't stop, barely glanced at Harry and instead held up a pointer finger as if to say ‘one minute.'

"Now. Mr. Carter."

Adam froze and gave Harry a minute shake of the head. Harry held Adams's gaze until the younger man sighed and started walking towards his boss.

Harry moved back behind his desk as Adam entered his office then watched Adam shut the door and almost invisibly pull himself together. Bad news then. Dammit.

"Where is Ruth? " Well. That wasn't what Harry had planned to ask.

"Ruth?" Adam seemed hesitant. Might as well stick to it, Pearce.

"Yes Ruth. It isn't like her to leave a stack of files unperused. It interrupts her engine."

"Engine?" Now Adam seemed downright confused.

"You know, Ruth's Serendipity Engine. When nothing else provides answers she comes up with a matrix of keywords and pulls all the associated files. Goes through them looking for connections."

Adam chuckled and shook his head. "Only Ruth."

Indeed. "Yes well, she's the only one of us smart enough to make the system work. I was hoping for results by now, but she seems to be missing from my grid."

"Fiona took her to get some fresh air." Everything in Adam's face told Harry not to question this further. So of course he barged ahead.

"And where were you going?"

"Ah. Just taking one of the files back to the registry." Did Adam realize he had slightly tightened his grip on the folder? Probably not. But Adam had never worked in Moscow.

"Give it here." Harry held his hand out.

"It's of no operational use. Must have gotten into Ruth's pile by accident."

"So Ruth has seen it?" Adam blanched.

Harry kept his hand open and narrowed his eyes.

"Harry, I think you should let this one go."

"And why, pray tell, should I do that?"

"Because it will only make things worse."

"You're going to have to be a lot more specific."

"Worse for Ruth."

Hells bells. Just what had his brilliant analyst stumbled onto?

"Adam, I can't help her if I don't know what she found. Hand over the file."

"Harry …"

"Adam! The file. Now!"

Adam held it out, and as Harry snatched it from his hand, murmured "Don't say I didn't warn you."

Harry opened the file and photos fell out onto his desk. Photos of a much younger, much fitter, and very naked Harry Pearce sprawled on a hotel bed with a statuesque brunette. Photos Ruth Evershed had now seen.

Harry slumped into his chair as he massaged the headache growing just above his eyes.

"Oh God."

Adam gathered the photos up and headed to the corner.

"Any objections to my shredding these here and now?"

"None. Please. Should have done that years ago." He had stopped using that file when he became Section Head. Why hadn't he shredded them then? Or really anytime before this morning? Christ! How could he have been so stupid.

The shredder whirled.

"And those are the only copies?"

"I keep a full set in my scrapbook at home." Harry's sarcasm was withering. "Of course those are the only copies!"

"Right then. No more evidence."

"A bit late for that, isn't it?"

Adam opened his mouth, thought better of whatever he was going to say, and shut it again.

Quite.

Adam tried again. "It could be worse."

Harry gave a low, derisive chuckle.

"I don't look like that anymore and it probably took Ruth five seconds with the checkout records to realize I used those photos to cheat on Jane for years before the divorce. So tell me Adam, how exactly could it be worse?"

"I was quite the ladies man before I met Fiona. Haven't looked at another woman since we met. I'm guessing it's the same with you and Ruth."

"You didn't destroy a marriage and abandon your kids."

"No. But you wouldn't do that again either. You are not who you were, Harry. Ruth knows who you are now. And she'll forgive you, if you give her a chance."

"No. She won't." Harry could just see how he appeared to Ruth now — an aging, overweight lecher. Any respect she had for him gone in a flash.

"Well not with that attitude." Was Adam Carter really trying to give him a pep talk? Over this?

"Adam…" Harry meant to sound menacing. He just sounded broken.

"Harry." The younger man put a hand on Harry's shoulder, surprising them both. "Ruth loves you. We all know that."

"I don't know that." Ruth might have some fond feelings for her boss but those would be dead now. There was nothing Ruth valued more than integrity.

"That's because you spend so much time watching her you've missed how often she is watching you. Trust me. You can get through this. But you will have to talk to her. Be honest. And don't let her bolt when she gets scared. Can you do that?"

"I … I'm her boss." Adam's confidence was alarming.

"And Fiona reports to me. Spies marry each other all the time. You, uh. You do want to marry her, right? Because if you are looking for anything less then I … "

"Are you trying to give me the shovel talk, Mr. Carter?" Oddly, Adams defense of Ruth made Harry feel a spark of hope.

"Ruth is a good person. She deserves the best. But give me some credit for self preservation. If I thought you wouldn't be brilliant together I wouldn't be bearding the lion in his den."

Harry laughed at that. A light, wheezy laugh that drove out the cobwebs.

"That will be all, Adam."

"Of course Harry." Adam turned to leave but looked back.

"And Harry? Good luck."

It only took Ruth a few more hours to crack the case wide open. She found the ringleader through one of her not-actually-a-coincidence coincidental connections spread across the morass of MI5 files. Special Forces caught the whole group in one raid, and once again the realm could rest defended. Harry was almost bursting with pride when Juliet Shaw showed up on the grid to 'review the details in person.'

He was still smiling when Juliet commandeered his office for a debrief but became suspicious when she moved to close the blinds, blocking out the rest of the grid and his view of Ruth blushing while their colleagues congratulated her.

Once the blinds snapped shut, Juliet turned on him.

"Now that I have your attention." She leaned over his desk in a manner he once found irresistible, but with his mind still full of Ruth - her compassion and the ironclad strength of her convictions - Juliet's maneuvering just made him feel tired.

"What do you want, Juliet?" Some of his weariness must have come through his tone, and Juliet leaned back with a narrowed gaze.

"Well, I wanted to fill you in on a new initiative to secure Britain's core infrastructure. But now I'm thinking I should approve Whitehall's request to borrow Ms. Evershed for a few months. Honestly Harry, she's wasted in Section D."

"Over my dead body." Harry spoke softly but his voice and face were cold as ice.

"Anyone who can make those kind of connections deserves greater scope for her talents, wouldn't you agree?"

"And what is more important than defending the realm from terrorists? Political analysis? Don't be a fool, Juliet."

"Don't overestimate Section D, Harry. Just because it's where your career stopped doesn't mean it has to be dead end for her."

"Not everyone wants to climb the greasy pole." This was getting out of hand.

Juliet snorted. "Don't tell me you are still making career decisions for the women in your life. It never worked out for you in the past."

Harry only just hid his flinch. "This is different."

"Maybe it is. But if Ruth wants a promotion, I hope you won't try to hold her back."

Harry did not trust himself to respond right away. Instead he took the few steps to his office door and opened it for her.

"If that's all, Juliet, it has been a long few days."

"For now." As she swept out of his office, Harry marveled that he had ever considered Juliet's smirk sexy. Adam was right. He wasn't the man he used to be.

Ruth breathed a sigh of relief as Zaf and Jo headed into the pods. It had been a long day and she needed some peace and quiet. Well, quiet any way if she was going to unpick this whole thing with Harry. Not the whole thing. That would take much too long. But the file. What was she supposed to think about that file?

Fiona had been very kind, ushering her off the grid and onto a shady bench by the river. Ruth still did not know where or how Fiona had picked up a pain au chocolat until the treat was in her hands along with a takeaway cuppa, but that's spooks for you. You never know what they are up to. Like Harry and Esmerelda Rostova. What a name! Well, she knew what he had been up to. Very up to. Dammit. This is why she needs the peace of an empty grid.

Fiona had a point though. Honey traps were part of a spook's stock and trade. If anything, she should have been surprised to hear that no one had thought to use Harry in that way. What with his gorgeous hazel eyes and full pouty lips, especially when paired with his confidence and the power he exudes, he could have any woman eating out of his hand. Probably quite a few men, if he ever wanted that. At least Harry had never turned his considerable charm on her. She would make an utter fool of herself. Not that it was likely to happen. Harry could have anyone he wanted and no one ever wanted awkward, bonkers Ruth. Even Andrew hadn't shown interest until he became a mass murderer. So there. Harry had been doing his job and that was the end of it.

Except.

Except for why her serendipity engine suggested the file. Oh god. That must have been why the registry clerk winked at her when she picked up her requests. She had been so embarrassed by the photos she forgot it was the most requested file in the whole stack, way out of proportion to any possible interest in the case. Which left the photos. People in Five had been checking out the file to see the photos. To see Harry. Naked. Did he know?

Ruth pulled up the record on her terminal. The file had been checked out several times each year from 1982 to 1994, all women. Then nothing. Harry took over Section D in 1994. Did that put them off? That didn't sound right. How would Harry have known someone was looking? It's not like the registry alerts agents when their old files are being pulled. No one would ever get anything done. Unless. No. Please no.

The only reason the check outs would have stopped in 1994 is if Harry stopped them. But there were no restrictions on the file which meant Harry stopped directing women to the file. Oh god. He used a case file to flirt. To seduce. To cheat on his wife for five whole years before his divorce.

Ruth felt a little sick. She knew Harry's reputation; it was legendary at Thames House. But this was worse. This was planned. Harry had treated his womanizing like an op and used Mi5 resources to get women into his bed. Or their bed. Someone's bed anyway. None of this felt like the Harry she had come to know and l— care for.

For the first time in her life, Ruth had too much information. And she had to see Harry the next morning. Well first she needed to get home and hold Fidget for as long as her sweet cat would allow.

Harry stepped through the pods and almost collided with Ruth. He put his hands on her arms to steady her and found he did not want to let go. He caught her glance for a moment but then she was looking away, stepping back, and crossing her arms.

"Harry. Gosh. Sorry. I was just heading out and I wasn't looking and"

"It's fine, Ruth."

If she heard him it didn't stop the flow of words "I thought you were gone for the day. You never come back this late and oh god, did something happen? It must have. I didn't get a red flash but maybe it is delayed. I was headed home and it has been a really long day but if something's happened"

"Ruth." He caught her gaze and held it. "Take a breath." She looked terrified but did as he asked.

"Nothing has happened. My meeting with the Home Secretary ran long, that's all."

"Oh." Ruth looked at her feet. "I … in that case I'll be going. Good night."

She started to walk past him to the pod on his right and he quickly moved in front of her.

"Actually I came back hoping to catch you before you left." He had all but run back from Whitehall in the hopes that she was finishing her report even though he told everyone it could wait until tomorrow.

"Me?" Ruth squeaked.

Harry smiled, but this only seemed to make Ruth more nervous.

"Yes, you. Do you have a few minutes?"

For a horrible moment, Harry thought Ruth would insist on leaving. It would be the first time she didn't immediately jump to do what he asked, but he wasn't planning on a boss-employee kind of conversation. If he worked anywhere else he'd probably get fired, but the service liked keeping relationships in-house. Just as Harry began to worry, Ruth's shoulders relaxed.

"Of course, Harry."

Ruth stepped into Harry's office still holding her coat and wondering how she had gone from fleeing the grid to spending time alone with Harry. Not alone. Well, alone but not alone-alone. He was her boss and he had something to tell her. She pulled her professionalism around her like a cloak.

Harry had already moved to the drinks tray but waved her towards the couch. She sat down with as much dignity as she could muster.

"Would you like a drink?"

Ruth startled and dropped her bag. "Will I need one?"

Harry chuckled. He actually chuckled. "I hope not. But you are welcome to one if you'd enjoy it."

"Oh. Well, I suppose, if it's alright."

Harry turned around with two glasses of scotch and handed her one with a smile.

"Of course it's alright. I wouldn't have offered otherwise."

Ruth decided her drink was the most fascinating sight in the universe. First Harry returns to the Grid much later than usual to talk with her, of all people, and then he offers her a scotch. Could this day get any weirder? Unless … Harry sometimes needed, not a confidant exactly, but a sounding board. Someone he could talk to when presented with a difficult choice. It all started when it looked like Tom had gone rogue. Ruth had been shocked that she was the one Harry took for a walk along the Thames to run through scenarios and ask for her support. Of course Ruth had worked with Tom for the least amount of time, but then Harry kept doing it. Only a handful of times since, but it role she was honored to play. She sat up a bit straighter, sipped her drink and smiled at the smooth taste before the burn hit.

"I didn't know you like scotch."

Harry's voice had a softness, a warmth she wasn't expecting.

"My father loved a good scotch. Usually I have a cider, but I keep a bottle at home so I can have a glass when I miss him too much."

"My father enjoyed scotch as well. Though not as frequently as I do, even after mother died. But then, he was a banker so he had less to drink about, for all that he missed her."

"He never remarried?" The question was out before Ruth could pull it back. Harry never spoke about his family. Ever. But to her shock, he answered.

"No. He never did. I asked him once; he told me she was the love of his life and he had no interest in being with anyone else. It made no sense to me at the time, but I think I understand him better now."

"Because you met your wife."

Harry barked out a laugh, and Ruth cursed her tongue and the scotch and the soft enclosure of Harry's office with the shades down hiding the rest of the Grid from view.

"Oh heavens no! I did love Jane once but never to that degree. That was a selfish love, and I did far too much damage with it. I know the difference now."

Ruth just managed to shut her mouth before asking who Harry had met since that changed his mind. She knew her heart couldn't take that information. She returned her gaze to her glass and took another sip. It burned less on the way down. She needed to get the conversation back on track before she embarrassed herself.

"So, umm, what did you want to tell me?" Ruth winced as she stumbled over her words trying but not quite managing to make eye contact.

"Ah, yes." Harry took a large sip of scotch and Ruth braced herself for the worst.

"First I want to tell you that you made a real difference today. Your ability to make connections and find just what we need is remarkable. I've never met or even heard of an analyst half as good as you."

Ruth blushed scarlet and looked down briefly before meeting his eyes with a small smile on her face.

"Thank you, Harry. That means a great deal to me, especially coming from you."

The warmth in Harry's eyes deepened. "It is all true. I do not say it enough. You are so good that every other division head in the service would kill to have you on their team. Just this afternoon I received a request from Whitehall for you to join a project over there."

"Wait, what? I don't want to work in Whitehall!"

Harry chuckled again. "I'm glad to hear it. I don't know what we would do without you. But it was recently pointed out to me that I needed to let you choose your own career rather than keep you in Section D."

"But I only want to be here!" Even with everything today, Ruth knew this was where she belonged. The team had changed from the lock step trio of Tom, Zoe, and Danny (oh Danny, she missed him so much) to the far more freewheeling Adam, Fiona, and Zaf with Jo still learning the ropes. But it was her team and Ruth knew it was Harry's leadership that provided the continuity of purpose and camaraderie through it all.

"Again, I'm glad to hear it. But it is only fair that you know you have options, should you ever want to exercise them."

"I won't." Ruth was resolute.

"Good. It would have been disturbing if Juliet had been completely right on this one."

Ruth jerked her head up.

"Juliet? What does she have to do with this?" Loathing coated her every word.

"She threatened to transfer you to Whitehall this afternoon. When I refused she reminded me it was your decision, not mine."

"If Juliet wants me in Whitehall that's all the more reason to stay right here." Ruth tried to sound indignant but inside her heart was breaking. Was Juliet the one who taught Harry about selfless love? Had their romance rekindled since the witch returned from America? It would be a horrible irony, given how selfish that woman was. Of course Harry could be in love with someone Ruth had never met, but Harry was always on the Grid. When would he have had time to meet anyone else? Let alone spend enough time with them to reevaluate his stance on love. Oh bother. Time to leave before she really put her foot in it.

Ruth put her glass down and began to gather up her coat and bag

"If that's all Harry, I'll be heading home."

Harry seemed to react to her change in tone. If she didn't know better she could have sworn she saw a flash of panic in his face. But Harry never panics, and certainly not over anything so mundane.

Harry watched Ruth gather her things and panicked. The conversation had been going so well! What had he done wrong? Well, he couldn't let her leave yet. Not until he addressed the elephant in the room.

"Wait. None of that is why I asked you to stay. Tonight. For a few minutes. To talk." Smooth Pearce, real smooth. He could just hear Juliet taunting him about losing his charm. Yes, well, Ruth deserved more than a practiced seduction. Even if it meant he sounded like a callow youth tripping over his own tongue.

Thankfully Ruth stilled and waited for what he would say next.

Harry drank the last of his scotch in one gulp. He wanted a refill, or three, but wasn't sure if Ruth would stay long enough for him to pour another glass. He had a horrible feeling that if he turned his back she would vanish into the night. Fanciful. But there you have it. He took a deep breath and turned to face Ruth.

"I want you to know that those photos have been destroyed."

Harry watched a thousand emotions pass through Ruth's eyes catching glimpses of surprise, horror, and embarrassment before her gaze settled into something alarmingly close to anger as she stood up.

"I had no idea what was in that file when I pulled it, Harry. I have no interest in such things and have blacklisted the reference in my algorithm. Good night."

She moved to the door, but Harry got there first.

"Ruth, wait."

"Let me pass, Harry."

She reached for the handle, but he caught her hand and tugged it, the motion spinning them round until Ruth's back was to the door and Harry was in front of her. They were so close Harry had to tuck his chin to his chest to see her face. She was looking down but probably couldn't see the floor, just his middle-aged paunch.

"Ruth, look at me, please."

She shook her head.

"Please Ruth." Harry knew he was begging, and he didn't care. He was still holding her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. Ruth closed her eyes but didn't pull her hand away. He took that as a minor victory and decided to keep talking.

"I should have destroyed those photos years ago. That is not who I am anymore, and I wouldn't go back to those days even if I could. I've changed. I promise."

"Harry ... I … why are you telling me this?" Ruth now looked more shocked and confused than angry. Harry decided that was probably an improvement, even if he secretly loved it when Ruth got angry; all her shyness dropped away, revealing the lioness underneath. He suspected the same thing would happen should she be caught up in a passionate embrace, but he was getting ahead of himself.

Focus Pearce. Slow and gentle. Only the truth.

"I'm telling you this because your good opinion matters to me. Because you found that file and I know how bad it makes me look. That is not how I wanted you to find out about my past." Harry kept his voice low and calm — and Ruth burst out laughing.

And she kept laughing and laughing. She even started to bend over which caused him to take a step back.

"Ruth?" Harry tried to keep the hurt from his voice but she must have heard it anyway. Because she straightened up and wiped the tears off her cheeks.

"Harry, if you really think there is a woman in Thames House who doesn't know you cut a swath through the female population when you were a field agent, then I really don't think you understand how this whole ‘intelligence' business works."

"I …" Harry was at a loss for words. "I was always discreet."

Ruth almost laughed again at the look of utter confusion on Harry's face, then she remembered the hurt in his voice and checked herself. But he had started this and he deserved the truth, even if only for future reference.

"Women talk, Harry. It's how we protect ourselves."

"Protect yourselves? From what?"

"From predators, rapists, abusers, you name it."

Harry now looked deeply disturbed.

"Oh Harry. I don't mean that you are any of those things. We also let each other know who might talk a good game and be fun for a fling but has no interest in commitment."

Harry blushed. He actually blushed!

"Ahh. Well. I suppose that would have been accurate. At the time anyway."

Watching Harry stumble over his words was a surreal experience. Ruth was used to being the least combobulated person in any given room. Harry always knew what to say. It was often bitingly sarcastic, but he was never at a loss for words. Could this night get any weirder? Maybe it was time to stop asking that question and just get home.

"So all I learned is that you co-opted Five's Registry to conduct your … affairs. Not very professional but hardly illegal and you stopped ten years ago, so once again, none of my business."

"That's all you learned?" Harry's voice had an undercurrent that Ruth did not appreciate.

"I saw your face and shut the file. I have no interest in erotica, honestly I do not see the point. But even if I did, I would never look at nude photos of someone I know without their consent. That would be a betrayal of trust and decency and … oh bollocks. Why are we even talking about this? I just want to go home before anything else goes wrong!"

Ruth hated the way her voice rose, in pitch and volume at the end there. She was at her limit, but Harry was still her boss so she took a deep breath.

"Apologies. I am exhausted. I"

"Having been trying to leave my office for some time now. If anyone should be apologizing it's me. And I am sorry, Ruth. I truly am."

If Harry had sounded hurt before, now he just sounded resigned. No, not resigned. Harry sounded broken. Before she could talk herself out of it, Ruth walked back to the sofa and sat down, patting the space next to her.

"I think we got tangled up somewhere. Sit with me Harry and let's unpick this."

And to her eternal surprise, Harry smiled and moved to sit down.

Once Harry was settled Ruth took his hand.

"Harry, what is going on? Really?"

Harry sighed. "I suppose after all of this you deserve the truth."

Ruth smirked "If it's not too unprofessional to ask. This is The Grid, after all."

Harry let out a small chuff, "I'm afraid it's not professional at all. But the truth is" He paused and Ruth waited.

"The truth is. I love you." Ruth startled but Harry held her gaze. "I'm in love with you Ruth, I have been for some time now."

"Me?!" Ruth squeaked. "But I'm "

"The most principled, brilliant, compassionate person I have ever met. And the most beautiful woman I have ever known." Ruth was shaking her head, so Harry pressed on "You are. Don't argue with me, Ruth. I know my own mind."

Ruth bit her lip and looked down. She wanted to argue, but Harry had used his Grid voice and her thoughts were tumbling and and and

Harry gently placed a finger under her chin and tilted her head up. There was a softness and sadness in his eyes.

"And I know that you are far too young and lovely and good for an old bitter bastard like me but"

Ruth kissed him.

It wasn't the most expert kiss but she did get the alignment right and briefly pulled his lower lip in between hers before letting go.

Harry's mind completely stopped.

Ruth had kissed him and now she was smiling like a sunrise.

"You wonderful, gorgeous man. Did you really not know I love you back?"

"I … I didn't dare hope?"

"Neither did I." Ruth smirked "Some spooks we turned out to be."

Harry laughed and kissed her. The kiss was short and sweet and when he came back for more Ruth melted into his embrace.

When they came up for air, Harry pulled her up off the couch.

"It's a bit late for dinner but I know a chippy nearby that's still open, if you'd like"

"Yes." Ruth smiled and Harry smiled back.

Ruth picked up her coat for the third time as Harry mused, "Of all the places I hoped to finally kiss you, I must admit my office wasn't where I expected it happen."

Ruth laughed as he held open the door for her. "Oh Harry, of course it happened here. This is where we belong."