Well, it was going to be a oneshot, but we all know by now that there's nothing I'm worse at writing.

She was completely taken aback, and struck dumb. Unable to do anything else, she stroked his hand, which held hers, very gently, her mind desperately trying to catch up with what had just happened.

"Tim, what?" She could hardly believe it.

"You don't have to answer straight away," he told her hurriedly, "This is just my way of telling you, I want to marry you. Ruth, you don't even have to say yes, if you don't want to, I'm happy to go on just as we are."

"I want to say yes," she told him, her other hand reaching to cup his face, thinking aloud as much as anything else, "I really want to say yes."

There was a pause.

"I am saying yes," she decided, stating it firmly.

"Really?" he asked, his eyes widening, "Are you really, Ruth?"

"There's no reason on earth that I wouldn't," she told him, smiling at the look on his face, "Yes, Tim. Yes, yes, yes."

He gave half an incredulous laugh, reaching his hand up to cup her face, drawing her lips down to his so that he could kiss her. She smiled against his mouth, her heart fluttering in disbelief. She held is head gently as he knelt between her knees. She was getting married. They were getting married!

"Are you sure?" he asked her, breaking away, looking up at her with such sincerity.

She spluttered with laughter, she was feeling almost giddy.

"Tim! Of course I'm sure!" she told him, hugging his shoulders, "I've never been more sure of anything in my life."

"That's good," he replied, hugging her back, "That's very good indeed."

They stayed there for a while, for what felt like a very long time, but after a while he moved back onto the sofa beside her, holding her like he had done before.

"How long have you been thinking of asking me?" she asked him curiously.

"On and off ever since I met you."

"Really?" she asked, surprised.

"As good as," he told her, and then, "I've always loved you, Ruth."

She kissed his arm, which lay lazily draped across her collarbone, his hand holding gently onto her shoulder.

"I love you too," she replied.

They were quiet for a few moments.

"Do you still want to keep the same time frame?" he asked her.

"How do you mean?"

"I mean going on holiday in a few weeks time. In view of the fact that we would get married before we went."

"Oh, I see," she replied, "Yes, please."

He smiled at her. Ruth was one of the only people he knew who could answer such a question like that.

Her thoughts seemed to keep pace with his.

"I think we should have quite a small wedding," she suggested, "Just a few friends."

"Yes, I would prefer that too," he agreed, "No song and dance about it."

"Well, maybe just a little song and dance," she amended, thinking that Chris and Celia would never forgive her if there wasn't at least a bit of a party, and she herself felt at this moment as if she could dance for the rest of her life, "And maybe a bite to eat afterwards."

"I was speaking metaphorically," he told her.

"Oh," she gave him a smile, feeling a little bit silly.

He smiled back and kissed the top of her head gently.

"I'm afraid I don't have much in the way of family I'd want to ask. My sister lives in Bristol; we could ask her and her husband and kids, but that's it."

"That's alright," she told him, "There's just my sister and her chap too. Heaven only knows what my old mother would have said if she could see me getting married for the second time!"

He was quiet, he was not sure what to say to that. Fortunately, she smiled at him, turning her head and kissing his cheek.

"Everything will be better this time around," she told him, "I know it will. Because you're ten times the man that Eddie is."

"I'm glad you're so sure," he told her. Then, a moment later, "You're the only person I could ever imagine marrying, Ruth. There's never been anybody else who I'd ever have thought of asking."

"I'm so excited about this whole thing," she told him, "I can't wait."

"That's good," he replied, "I love you so much, Ruth."

"I love you too," she told him again, she never got tired of saying it, "I'll always love you."

Their eyes met sideways, and she turned in his arms, allowing him to kiss her properly, drawing her body close to his.

"Darling," she murmured, "Do you fancy an early night?"

He smiled softly against her jaw.

"Yes, please," he told her, taking her hand and leading her towards the stairs.

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