Final bit of fluff to fortify us before Ruth gets battered!

EPILOGUE

"Ruth,"

"Yes, Harry."

"Do we have to?"

"We do"

"But I really don't want to"

"Oh, Harry, please."

"Ruth, I don't think I can"

"You can, Harry."

"But, Ruth"

He pouted and sulked.

Lucas walked into the office.

"Lucas" Harry exclaimed enthusiastically, "Anything happening?"

"What, you mean are there any bomb alerts, terrorist threats, or is the PM about to be assasinated ?"

"Yes, anything" Harry was hopeful.

"No Harry, nothing, not a squeak, nada."

Harry sulked some more. Ruth smiled.

"Oh, I get it" said Lucas "Isn't it couples therapy, today" He could barely contain his amusement.

Harry muttered something incomprehensible.

"It is Lucas" said Ruth "and Harry is, I'm afraid, not looking forward to it"

"Bloody ridiculous idea, world gone mad, PC bol…"

"Harry!" Ruth cut him off. "You've had the memos, we have to do it whether we like it or not."

He muttered again.

"So any couple in the service, who work together now have to be assessed to see if it jeopardises operations and what, see a therapist?" Lucas really did want to rub this in.

Ruth nodded, Harry shook his head and paced about.

"Come on, Harry. Let's get this over with" Ruth put her coat on.

"Don't know why we can't do it here?"

They crossed for the pods.

"Maybe her office couch is more comfy" said Dimitri as he passed.

Harry gave him a rather fearsome look.

"I hear she's a cousin" Beth called from her desk.

"Dear god!" Harry looked like he might be about to combust.

Yeah, West Coast, hypno new age therapist, apparently" added Tariq quite seriously.

Harry turned back towards his office.

"Oh, no you don't," said Ruth and steered him to the pods.

"Have a good time" said Lucas grinning and he winked at Ruth.

"We'll try" said Ruth and smiled.

Harry grunted as the rest called their good wishes.

John was driving them. Harry had been pouting for the last 30 minutes.

"West Coast psycho babble, telling me what I already know."

"Oh Harry, where's your spirit of Atlanticism?" she hoped he would take the bait, that he would remember.

"Oh, Ruth, where's your spirit of romance?" He remembered and for the first time in two days he smiled.

There was a pause.

"I'm sorry, Ruth"

She looked at him questioningly.

"It never happened, did it?"

"What, the Grand Tour?"

He nodded.

"Paris, Rome, Madrid" she said smiling.

"Walking in the streets, sitting in the cafes, wandering the museums" he relived their conversation over dinner so long ago.

"Don't worry, Ruth, it'll happen…sometime."

She smiled at him.

John smiled, his own timing was perfect, as the car turned for Heathrow.

Harry looked up, confused.

"Oh, it'll happen, Harry, just sooner than you think."

"What?"

"Couples therapy?" she started laughing. "I had to wait two minutes from proposal to vows, but vows to honeymoon, six weeks, a girl can't wait forever you know."

He looked at her stunned, "The Grid?"

"Covered. Lucas is stepping up and he's got support if he needs it."

"But what if…?"

"The world will have to keep on turning without you."

"Bags?'

"In the boot."

"Passport?"

She took it from her pocket and waved it at him.

"I'll just call Lucas" he looked at his phone, it wouldn't connect.

"Tariq's doctored it, the only number you can call is mine!."

He looked at her and started to smile.

"Anything else, I should know, Ruth?"

"I packed your kilt"

Le Fin.