This is some fluff for Lady J to keep her smiling through Christmas. Disclaimers to Kudos. All is snow inspired.

"We're not going anywhere."

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm sorry Ruth but it's been snowing for hours apparently, nothing's moving out there, the roads are impassable, the buses have stopped and the tube has come to a standstill.

"But it was fine when Beth and Dimitri left."

"It was then, but it's not now."

"But I haven't fed Fidget," she said simply.

"I'm sure she'll cope. Probably better than us," he added with a smile.

Ruth looked around the grid and although she had spent the night here many times before it had always been in the midst of some national emergency and sleep had not been an issue.

As though knowing her thoughts Harry said "I'll see if there are any of the in-house rooms available."

There were a handful of rooms that senior members of the service could use if necessary. Harry picked up the phone.

"Harry Pearce, I need two rooms for an overnight."

He waited.

"Are you sure?"

He paused.

"Fine, thank you."

He put down the phone and looked at Ruth.

"They have one. Seems we were the last to know what was happening outside."

"It's fine," she said, "I have work to do."

"No Ruth, don't be stubborn, you take it, I can sleep on the sofa in my office."

"Is there any food up there?"

"A packet of peanuts and a bottle of wine, if you're lucky," he said smiling.

"Then let's at least share that," she said and dared to look at him.

Harry opened the door and Ruth looked around. It was the first time she had ever seen one of these rooms. They were not unlike a standard hotel room, perhaps a little larger.

Harry scouted about and soon had in his grasp two wine glasses, a packet of cashews, a small tube of plain Pringles and a bottle of merlot.

"Feast," he said smiling.

Ruth smiled and sat in one of the two chairs. "Who needs more?"

Harry knew he did but he didn't say anything.

Ruth tried not to look at the double bed that stood at the side of them.

The table sat between them and hosted their feast of food. They both reached for the cashews and their hands collided.

"Sorry" said Ruth and pulled away.

Harry wished there was a sofa and not just chairs. He wanted to be nearer to her.

He stood up and crossed to the window opening the curtains and then returning to turn off the light. He saw the slightly surprised look on Ruth's face from the street light.

"I just thought it might be nice to watch the snow falling," he said.

They both looked out of the window at the white rooftops and the extraordinary large flakes of snow that were backlit by the streetlights. It was quite magical.

They sipped the merlot and sat quietly and contentedly until the bottle was empty.

"I best go," said Harry.

He stood up.

"Please don't."

He paused, not sure of her exact meaning.

"There're still some nuts left and I've had more than enough."

He sat back down. It wasn't much of a reason to stay but he would have accepted an awful lot less than that.

They sat for a while longer and he pretended to eat a cashew.

Ruth knew she wanted him to stay.

Harry knew he didn't want to go.

Eventually she spoke.

"If we have to stay, we might as well make the most of it," she realised that hadn't sounded quite as she intended, "I mean, it seems unfair that you should have to sleep in your office on a sofa that's only big enough for a child, let alone a grown man." She suddenly felt somewhat discomforted by the combination of "grown man" and Harry in the same thought.

"I've told you Ruth, I'll be fine, you must take the bed."

"Why don't we share it?"

He stopped, afraid to say anything.

"I mean, it's just a bed, I'm sure we're capable of sleeping in the same space without making an issue of it."

"Right," he said wanting to make an issue of it, wanting to make a total, all assuming, all consuming issue of it.

"Let's just sit and watch the snow from over there instead," she added, trying to make things easier. She got up and pushed off her shoes and cardigan and slid under the duvet, propped up against the pillows, eyes fixed firmly on the window, hoping that Harry would follow.

Harry did follow, shoes and jacket off he slid beside Ruth.

The snow was beautiful and mesmeric but it gave them an excuse, it gave them something to focus on. Their eyes focused but both their thoughts were elsewhere.

"I've never seen snowflakes that big," she said eventually.

"No, it's beautiful."

"Makes me think of being a child and being cuddled up in the warm listening to the rain and wind outside."

He looked at her and smiled, she had pulled the duvet up around her chin.

She turned then to look at him and it took all that he had to not reach out for her.

"I'm sorry, Ruth, I can't stay," said Harry and started to get out of bed.

"But Harry…"

"I'll be fine."

"Why, Harry, I don't understand what the problem is?" She tried to control her disappointment.

"Ruth, I have only so much self restraint."

She looked at him and hoped he meant what she thought he meant. But he had to say it. "Restraint over what?" she asked innocently.

"Over you." He didn't face her but pulled on his jacket.

"Harry?" she prompted.

"I'm sorry Ruth but I can't share the bed with you"

She took a deep inner breath and hoped her next words would be wise ones and not another great mistake in their long and complicated relationship, "Who says you have to be, Harry?"

"Have to be what?"

"Who says you have to be restrained?"

He looked at her and the bed and the room and wondered if she was giving him the permission he so desperately sought.

She said nothing more, she sat in the bed and he stood beside it.

And then her hand reached out and pulled back the duvet besides her.

"Come back to bed, Harry," she said, looking out of the window at the snow and watching his reflection in the glass as he shrugged off his jacket, pulled at his tie and slid back under the covers.