Epilogue...

"You didn't have to take me out to dinner," Ruth said as she took a sip of her wine.

"I wanted to," he said. "You deserve it." She smiled, feeling very happy and loved. "Plus you look absolutely beautiful."

"Thank you," she replied. She had felt slightly anxious about the knee length, low cut blue silk dress which was so unlike things she normally wore but Harry's eyes had been fixed on her throughout the drive to the restaurant, so she wasn't too worried. They were celebrating the fact that Harry was at pretty much full fitness. He had managed to walk pretty much all the time unless he was tired, which was better progress than anyone had anticipated. Neither Harry, Ruth, nor any doctors had thought he'd recover this well. It was eight months since she'd found him alive, and life had never been better.

"I want to thank you for looking after me when I couldn't," he said.

"You weren't that bad," she said, tactfully forgetting to mention the occasion he'd pushed himself too quickly and broken about a dozen ornaments in his frustration.

"There's something I want to talk to you about though," Harry said bringing her out of her thoughts about his recovery.

"That sounds both serious and ominous," she said finishing her glass of wine.

"Its not bad," he said. "But I've been giving it some serious thought over the past few weeks."

"Oh God," she said in a low voice. "You are worrying me, and after the year we've had, that's saying something."

"Its not bad," he repeated. He rummaged in his jacket pocket and suddenly something clicked in the back of her brain.

"Oh my God," she said in a completely different, hushed tone. His eyes were sparkling and he got out of his chair and got down on one knee next to her, holding a small velvet jewellery box as everyone in the restaurant fell silent, watching the scene unfold.

"Ruth, will you marry me?" He flicked open the box and there was both happiness and uncertainty in his eyes and she knew exactly why, after the last time at Ros's funeral. But she wasn't going to give the same answer this time.

"Yes," she said with a massive smile. His face mirrored hers as he took the ring out of the box and slid it onto her finger as the restaurant broke out into applause. The sapphire ring fit her perfectly and he straightened up so he could kiss her. "I love you," she whispered with a smile.

"Thought I better make more of an effort than last time," he said when he returned to his seat, looking at her beaming face.

"It wouldn't have mattered," she said as the deep blue sapphire sparkled on her finger, almost as brightly as her smile. "I'd have said yes anywhere." He looked at her, love shining in his eyes at that statement. "How long have you had the ring?"

"A few years," he said. "Been keeping it because I only imagined you wearing it. Even when you turned me down."

"I don't regret that," she said. "It wasn't right at the time."

"I know, I just didn't want to lose you."

"You never will now," she said, reaching across the table and gripping his hand. Nothing further was said, but the happiness in their eyes spoke volumes.

The End.