Harry picked up the dress she had moved from the bed to allow their activity just now, "So this dress then?" she questioned

"Will be perfect" he kissed her nose and picked a white dress shirt out of the wardrobe.

Harry glanced at the time "Dempsey!" she sounded shocked it's "7.00 already"

"No problem, no one will be there at 7.15, that's just code 8.00 will be fine, and we're the stars of the night so they won't go anywhere without us, however late we are."

Harry looked uncertain when he said 'stars of the night' and Dempsey noticed the furrow wrinkle through her brow "You put that dress on and go and reassure my mother that you're fine, then I can have my shower and we can go"

Harry was all too keen for him to get ready so she finished dressing and wandered downstairs.

"Wow, you look stunning my dear"

"Thank you"

"Jimmy was telling me half the NYPD want to transfer to London"

"Well I really don't know why"

"I think it has to do with you" Sophia winked and Harry laughed "Well most of the team are guys, some are really quite…" she paused "unimpressive or easy to ignore as far as looks go and the other women are older."

She smoothed her dress, and sat down, she started to speak several times but her mouth produced silence. "Ask away dear"

"A night out with the lads isn't usually this sophisticated is it?"

"Can you remember where you're going?"

"Zanzibars?" Harry thought she remembered.

"No Harry, it's a celebration night."

"Oh" Harry was surprised, she had been there throughout the brief organisation and missed that completely

"Zanzibars is always the start for the big celebrations"

"Big celebrations?" Harry queried

"Hatch, match, dispatch, 40th birthdays, divorces, promotions and retirements. Let me guess the question was asked about a night out, Jimmy chose the venue."

"How did you know?"

"Oh I've been around the NYPD life long enough to learn their code"

Harry guessed they fell into the matching category

Dempsey arrived downstairs "Let's go princess, don't wait up mum he teased"

The evening was great fun, and full of Dempsey stories. After their cocktails they dined at a fantastic restaurant and moved onto a nightclub. Dempsey's friends were fun and whilst Harry danced with them Dempsey smooth talked two women, within minutes it seemed they were all over him, Harry glanced over and watched Dempsey introduce them to Jareed and Brook. Leighton grinned "They are never very successful, always used to rely on Dempsey to get them someone".

Harry realised as she watched him that for the first time she felt no jealousy. All those times at String Fellows or Tramps they had gone together, and even mostly gone home together but every time she had watched him dance with someone else, watch his fingers run down their arms, under their chins, his arm wrap around their waist she had always held a dread that she would be getting a taxi home alone and watch him step out with one of her friends or acquaintances. Now it was different, she knew exactly what he was doing and she felt so proud that this tall handsome man that so many women wanted was hers.

He came back over to her in a matter of minutes and led her back onto the dance floor. The dances had become slow and he held her tightly against himself, enjoying her perfume and her arms around him and her face nuzzled into his neck. Harry just loved to feel James's arms around her, guiding her, holding her. He equally delighted in being able to hold Harry in a different way. It wasn't that they hadn't danced together, that he hadn't ever held her coat for her or wrapped an arm around her shoulder but it had always been given and received differently. She could feel the beat of Dempsey's heart against her, he whispered into her ear. Harry grinned and they left the floor. "Guys we're heading home" Dempsey announced to those not dancing "Got to be in court later this morning" he added the explanation, everyone laughed, no one believed it to be the reason.

Indoors Dempsey made themselves both a tequila sunrise and sat next to Harry on the couch as he passed her her drink.

"You enjoyed yourself princess"

"It was fun; I think Jareed and Brook must miss you"

"You didn't mind did you?" Dempsey suddenly panicked

"You have a natural talent" Harry grinned and leaned over to kiss him.

James took another sip and put his glass down, allowing his now free hand to cruise Harry's leg and move up her thigh. Harry felt the excitement of making love with James again, she felt as if they could never express themselves enough. Her pulse started to race, she kissed his lips hard and allowed his hand to move under her dress around her thigh. As he started to lean over her and guide her down onto the sofa she suddenly remembered Sophia..

"Your mother said something about Zanzibars being special"

"You're special princess"

"A code?"

"We're special then" now he leaned into kiss her but she leaned out of his reach and picked her drink back up. She taunted him, her eyes were fixed on his, she grinned and waited.

"You're mine and I didn't want any of those yanks trying to make out with you"

She allowed his hand to wander around her thigh but sipped her drink some more, how could she do this he wondered ~ two totally different messages, well that she had done for years he acknowledged to himself.

Harry's eyes were still fixed on him, an eyebrow raised as if to ask for more. She felt his caresses in anticipation and wanted to be in his arms but she wanted to hear more, could she draw it out she wondered before she gave in to the pulsing blood running around her body.

Dempsey knew that Harry had that determined look; it was one he recognised well after all determination was one of her defining characteristics. As he thought about her his heart fluttered and he melted again: the steely, resolute, indomitable male gave way. "Ok, I've never had one of the big celebrations, never having gotten to 40, or had a kid or even got engaged, and… well we're unlikely to be here for one of those getting married celebrations so it was my way…."

Harry's lips were planted on his, then she stood and lead him out. The moonlight shone through the kitchen window as they passed towards the stairs prompting her memory. Harry smiled and winked at James "When you wish upon a star anything your heart desires will come to you"

btw the next story is called home alone - for good reason ;)