Up on the Roof

[MandyM15]

This is set at the end of 9.1 when Harry and Ruth are on the roof and Ruth is about to tell Harry why she declined his marriage proposal. A one shot, this is how it should have been written ;0)

I don't own Spooks, BBC or Kudos



"I've been thinking about why I said 'No'"

"Ruth, you don't have to"

"Because it would be a lie"

"A lie?"

"Yes Harry, a lie"

Ruth, looking to her feet, slowly gathers the courage to say what has been on her heart all day.

"The things I said to you, at the funeral, about the mistakes you made"

"Ruth, please" Harry lowers his head afraid to look her in the eyes

"That was a lie, an excuse"

"An excuse, for what?"

Raising her face to his, still lowered, and lifting her hand to smooth down his tie, Ruth feels a boldness rising inside her. It comes out of nowhere and is the feeling she has been longing for since that first day on the Grid when she first set eyes on him across the meeting room table.

"I have been making excuses for so long Harry. When Malcolm found out about our date, when George was shot and even when you asked me to marry you I found an excuse and ran. I ran away from you. I ran away from you when…when I should have been running towards you."

Harry can't look up, his eyes rooted to his shoes, eyes filling with tears as he denies himself even the smallest hint of hope. He can't be rejected again. He loved her too much, loves her still.

Ruth sighs and gently cups his chin, wet with a stray tear and brings his eyes up to meet hers.

"I love you Harry"

Her tears threaten to spill with his. She gives him the slightest sideways smile but inside her heart is breaking as a feeling of dread emerges. Has she left it too late to declare her feelings for this man she has loved for so long?

His words are stuck, his broken heart unable to comprehend or believe Ruth's declaration and stuck between despair and exhilaration he turns to face the city.

"Harry?"

Ruth places a hand on the crook of his elbow and gently squeezes.

"I am so sorry. You have always been so honest about your feelings for me and all I have done is push you away. Please believe me Harry when I tell you that I love you. I love you with so much of my heart…"

"That none is left to protest?" offers Harry as he turns to Ruth managing a small smile.

"You see, who else will finish my Shakespearean sentences for me?" smiles Ruth in return, the feeling of dread in the pit of her stomach gradually subsiding.

"Ruth, my heart is yours. It has been since you stumbled into the meeting room nine years ago but I can't keep hoping this thing between us will amount to something when…"

"When it hasn't already?"

"Yes. I know my timing is terrible but….."

"Harry, you were right, timing is nothing, nothing Harry. What did Benedick say to Beatrice?"

"I can't Ruth"

"Please Harry."

Harry, taking Ruth's hands in his and with once last leap of faith that his love will be requited he reaches inside and finds in a broken voice the words she wants to hear.

"I do love nothing in the world so well as you, is not that strange?"

Grabbing the lapels of his coat she pulls him into a kiss, a long, warm kiss. As their lips collide everything that has passed between them melts away and all that is left is love, a deep love meant for only them.

Wrapping her in his embrace they look out at the city, a city they have protected for so long and yet one that will never look the same again.



Hope you enjoyed :0)

[pookster]

Wonderful and lovely WAFie piece. Terrific look at why Ruth said no and her regrets. Loved the Bard remark. Very much Harry and Ruth. Well written. Looking forward to more to this story.

[Tea Lady]

Lovely little one shot. Loved the bit of Shakespear in there too