Epilogue. Sorry this has been a bit of a one shot spread over 6 chapters but I blame you all for sending lovely reviews that just keep me writing!

They were just emerging from the lift when they saw Jason Graves. Harry's first instinct was to kill him. He calmed himself and reached for Ruth's hand trying to make her understand once more that he, they, were more important than this sanctimonious and odious man.

"Harry, we must stop meeting like this."

Harry ignored him and walked straight past.

"Another good night in store, then?" he added with a sick smile.

Ruth turned and Harry feared.

"I'd say so," Ruth said to Graves, "Though, it appears you're alone, again? Shame, but no surprise."

Graves opened his mouth to reply but she hadn't finished, "Shame you wouldn't know what a woman looked like without having to pay for her."

She took Harry's hand and pulled him towards 'their' room.

Harry smiled at Graves. "Goodnight, Jason."

He followed Ruth into the room and shut the door.

"I wish we'd been on the roof of the building," she said.

"Why?"

"Because then I could have pushed him."

"Ruth, you're a hard woman."

"No, Harry I've just been shown the way. Shown what matters."

"What matters, Ruth?"

"You do. We do, Harry. We do."

"No matter who knows, who comments, who gossips?"

"No matter."

"So, I can wake up with you tomorrow and know that whatever the day holds you won't try and run away again."

"Yes Harry, I promise I will never run away from you again, no matter what anyone thinks."

"It'd be easier if you were my wife and not my….bit on the side."

"Bit on the side?" she said, eyebrows raised.

"Well, you know," he said lamely.

"I can't marry you, Harry."

He said nothing.

"That's okay, Ruth."

"How can I marry a man who hasn't even told me he loves me?"

"I have."

"No, Harry, you haven't."

"I told you I couldn't breathe without you."

"Not the same thing."

He sighed.

"If I tell you I love you, if I take you to bed and show you how much I love you, will you marry me?"

"How many times will you show me?" she asked shyly.

"As many times as I'm capable of."

"Estimate?"

"How long have I got?"

"Well," she said crossing to the window and opening the curtains once more, "it's still snowing so I'm sure everyone will be late in again tomorrow."

"That's good," he said, "but I think you'll find it's about quality and not quantity, Ruth."

"How many times, Harry?" she was enjoying this now.

"Well Ruth, if you promise to stay conscious, I'll promise to be unrestrained and then we'll see what happens. And if you must, you can keep count."

"Harry, if I marry you will this feel a little less illicit?"

"Yes…no…whatever the right answer is, Ruth."

She laughed.

"You're just teasing me now," he said and pouted.

"Harry, take me to bed and show me."

He walked towards her slowly, narrowing the gap all the time.

"And then will you agree to marry me?"

"Possibly."

"Ruth!"

"Harry, you can't always have what you want."

"Are you quoting the Rolling Stones at me?"

"No. That's you can't always get what you want."

He took her wrists in his hands and pulled them behind his back. "I will have what I want, Ruth. I will have you. And you will agree to marry me."

"Is that right?" she said teasingly.

"Yes, that's right."

"Or else what, Harry?"

"Or else….I'll never kiss you again."

"Fine," she said.

He kissed her suddenly, passionately and then stopped. Her eyes remained closed willing him to continue, willing to feel his soft, full lips once more.

"Shall I carry on?" he asked.

"Mmmm," she answered, eyes still closed.

"Then say you'll marry me."

"I'll marry you, yes. Now for god's sake kiss me again, Harry."

He smiled and kissed her and held her tight and felt the breath in his chest constrict and wondered if he would ever be able to stop wanting her.

Hope you enjoyed and hope it kept Lady J smiling!