A/N: This chapter is dedicated to you @dirtyyarn for being a supportive soul and well, because you pre-empted this outcome!

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The front door swings open answered by a seemingly stressed Angela who is flushed red in the face and wiping her floury hands down her apron.

"Hello Harry." She greets me with a warm smile. "Welcome, come in, come in." She waves her hand to beckon me inside. I meet so many new people all the time that I am rarely nervous but for some reason here today I feel sick in the pit of my stomach.

"Hi Angela, thanks for inviting me to lunch." I can hear the apprehension in my own voice as I give her the flowers. My hands are so clammy I practically have to peel them off the cellophane that surrounds the pretty arrangement.

Knowing diddly-squat about flowers and the person I really wanted to ask not being available right now, I did the next best thing and telephoned the florist where she works. Following their excellent advice, I placed an order but decided to collect them in person.  Lily had told me the shop was in the next village just past Summer Haze and the opportunity to see where she worked was too good to miss. I don't know, perhaps being near all things 'her' was a chance to feel closer to her in her absence. 

When I pulled up outside the traditional double fronted little shop, it was exactly as she had described it to me. I could visualise her name across the canopy with her dream of the white wood framed blackboard standing outside listing today's special offers. Once I ventured inside, the familiar perfume of fragrant blooms and aroma of candles hit me.  When I closed my eyes it was like Lily was cuddled into me and my nose was buried into her soft hair, inhaling the sweet scent weaved through her fine strands from her Saturday shift amongst the flowers.

Angela pulls me out of my lulling floral thoughts. "Oh they are beautiful, you really shouldn't have but thank you. Lunch is our pleasure, it's the least we can do after your support this last week.  Please come through and into the kitchen."

As I follow her into the large hallway, the first thing that strikes me about the Jefferson home is family, much like mum's home in Holmes Chapel. The décor is classically modern with elegant period colours and warm tones, similar to Summer Haze. It says lived in but not in a messy way, more in a cherished way. There are family pictures everywhere as both the small upright piano in the hallway and the stair wall to the first floor are covered with prints. As I fleetingly pass, the photos of Lily from her childhood up to the present day catch my eye.  The one thing I notice in them all is that she is smiling that beautiful smile that lights up the room and my heart when I see it.

We venture into the vast country style kitchen that leads straight through into a bright conservatory.  Despite only wearing a long sleeved shirt, I feel hot under the collar but the French doors are ajar streaming a cooling breeze across my flushed face.   Angela beckons me to sit on the sofa.

"Can I get you a tea or coffee Harry?"

"Coffee would be lovely, thank you. Is there any update on Lily yet?" I think it's highly unlikely but I have to ask.

"Oh no, we are not expecting to hear anything today. Robert will probably pop to the hospital later on tonight to see her but they really need us to keep our distance."

"Ok I understand. I appreciate you have a lot on your plate at the moment but when you know would you please be able to let me know as soon as possible."

"Of course, yes absolutely Harry." She offers fondly.

I look out into the vast expanse of garden that I know is Lily's domain.  It is as carefully tended as the gardens at Summer Haze and a smile graces my lips when I spot the summer house that is going to be Lily's workshop, tucked away at the bottom of the garden.  Angela places my coffee down on the small table and catches onto my thoughts. 

"It is such a beautiful garden, we are so very lucky."  Angela offers melancholily. 

"Yes it is, Lily is very talented.  I tried to mow my lawns this week and made a right hash of them.  Gardening really isn't my forte!"  I smile outwardly and Angela let's out a chuckle. Then I laugh inside recalling my disaster at trying to control the sit-on mower whilst attempting to cut the Summer Haze grass.  My efforts to help Lily backfired and I hope and pray the zigzag formation will have grown over before she sees it and kills me! 

"And how are you Angela, how are you feeling about everything?" I don't think the question is too forward after our honest conversation the first night I was caught visiting Lily.

She shrugs slightly and screws up her nose. "I'm fine, you know how it is." She offers a half smile and I think how tired she looks. This woman is incredible. She is clearly still holding everything together for everyone and pushing her own feelings aside, just as I know my mum would.

"Well if there is anything else I can do to help at all, even with the lunch today, please let me know." I state hoping she will let me assist but not holding out much actual hope.

As suspected, she shakes her head profusely as if almost to dismiss her earlier moment of sad contemplation.  "No no, it's all under control, but thank you. We are just waiting for everyone to arrive."

Now is my opportunity before the house gets too crowded.  "Before they do, I would really like an opportunity to speak with you and Robert about something before lunch if at all possible." I frown at the thought. I have rehearsed my speech in my head but often things never pan out as you plan them and indeed my request is interrupted with a shout. "Mum, mum!"

"Oh please excuse me." Angela rushes out to hallway. "Thomas you are filthy, upstairs now, shower." Then she reappears. "Sorry about that, Thomas has been playing football this morning at school.  I don't usually allow him to miss school but I felt that we desperately needed to be together this afternoon as a family."

As I did at the hospital, I again sense her trepidation about taking Lily's recovery as a given.  This lunch is clearly more than just a lunch. It is precious time for them to spend together before the results of Lily's tests are established.  I suddenly feel even more honoured to have been invited.   

She busies herself once again in the kitchen until there is a knock on the front door. "Oh it's like Piccadilly Circus in here today." She sighs.

"Would you like me to answer it?" I feel I should ask even though it's not my house.

"No, you just enjoy your coffee, I won't be a moment." She wanders back out into the hallway. "Hello Olivia darling, thanks for coming."  Her voice is tender towards Lily's best friend.  Goodness how many people are invited I wonder? I feel the knot in my stomach twist ever tighter.

"Angela of course, thank you for the invite.  How is she, any news?"

"No, not yet, probably not until tomorrow."

"Ok, well I've got these bits and pieces Lily left last time she was at mine. Can I put them into her room?"

"By all means yes pop those upstairs and Olivia, if you could knock on Thomas and Nathalie's doors and shout them to come down that would be great."

I hear footsteps up the stairs and then Angela appears again. She stops in the middle of kitchen placing her palm on her forehead as though gathering her thoughts.  "Right, Harry where were we, yes, you wanted to chat to Robert and I about something. Well he is on his way back. He had to pop into the hospital this morning but he'll be here shortly."

"Angela! Angela!" I hear the edgy voice that I immediately identify as Robert.

"Oh speak of the devil." She muses.

"Is Harry here yet?" Robert's voice is getting closer before he bursts through the door, his glare meets mine drilling right into me.

I immediately get to my feet. Something is obviously on his mind and if he is going to have another go at me I would rather it be on an equal footing face-to-face than him standing uncomfortably over me.   I feel as though I am going to throw up. I knew coming to lunch was a bad idea.

"Robert what's wrong. Is everything okay with Lily?"  Angela asks exasperatedly. I feel sorry for her that her best-laid plans for a quiet and enjoyable luncheon are slowly developing into a debacle.

"Yes, yes, all is fine with her." He mutters absentmindedly.

My shoulders relax from the tension knowing there is nothing wrong but Robert latches his stare right back at me. He sits down at the kitchen island, placing his briefcase on the floor by the side of the stool. Angela sets a coffee down in front of him and she sits next to him, clasping her hands in front of her.  I sit opposite them both as a cold shiver cascades through me.

"Robert, what's up, you seem agitated." He rubs Angela's arm to appease her and then turns to speak to me. His voice is matter-of-fact. 

"Mr Styles." That alone indicates this is not good although his voice is collectedly measured. "Do you know what I do for a living?"

"No, not exactly but Lily said you are a doctor."

He nods and rests his chin on his knuckles to fix his focus deeper onto me as though he is trying to read me as he speaks. "Yes that's correct I am, I specialise in pediatric cancer."

Wow, I admired his profession before but that has just gone up a hundredfold. "Well that is remarkable, I have met many cancer...." But he interrupts me.

"We have all manner of patients at St Mary's. Luckily most come in for their treatments and leave but inevitably with cancer there are those whose stay with us is unfortunately longer. I have a patient staying on my ward at the moment called Emily.  It doesn't matter when I start my shift I always pop by to see her. Sometimes of course she is asleep if it's late but if she is awake we chat. I treat my patients like my family Mr Styles. Sadly Emily only has a few months to live."

He is clearly annoyed about something because he keeps calling me Mr Styles which is grating on my already shredding nerves. I attempt to get a word in edgeways again. "I am very sorry to hear that.  I have met many cancer patients and it is heart wrenching."

At my statement, Angela glances at me strangely. "Robert what does this have to do with Harry?" She is perplexed at where this conversation is going but I have already caught his drift but decide to let him continue rather than jump to conclusions.

"Well, when our patients stay with us we encourage them to make their space their own. You know, pretty string lights, books, cuddly toy, favourite blanket or perhaps their own pillow. You can imagine my surprise then when I stopped by to see Emily this morning that up on the wall next to her bed was a picture of you smiling back at me Mr Styles. I thought I recognised you when we first met but couldn't for the life of me think from where."

An uncomfortable silence falls over the kitchen.  I feel my whole body sink into the stool like I'm shriveling up. Angela looks from Robert towards me and back to Robert again.

"Why would a patient have a picture of Harry on her wall?"

Before I can answer, someone else's voice filters into the room. "Because he is Harry Styles of One Direction, the biggest boy band in the world."

We all shoot our eyes towards the door where a woman, who I assume is either Nathalie or Olivia, is stood. She stares at me so blankly I cannot read her emotions at all. Silence ensues again and I know I must speak to break the awkward void filling the air.

"I was going to tell you today."

"Yes, in all fairness Harry did say he had something to tell us. I had no idea Harry I am sorry I didn't recognise you. One Direction, as in the band One Direction, as in X-Factor One Direction."

"Yes Angela that's correct." I nod nervously towards her keeping one eye on Robert who has a look of distaste plastered across his face.

"I was going to tell you today, I haven't purposely kept it from you. When we met a week ago it wasn't the right time to say anything and it doesn't really matter anyway." I try to shrug it off.

"Doesn't really matter? Doesn't really matter." Robert interjects. "I had a lovely chat with Emily. She told me all about you and how humble and down to earth you are despite your fame. She said you are her inspiration because you are so loving and family orientated. It was touching, I came away feeling I had misjudged you, especially after everything you have done for Lily and us this past week."

Although his words are delivered sincerely and with kindness, I sense an almighty BUT coming on so I kept quiet.

"That's until I left the hospital to come here and as I was passing the newsstand I saw this splashed across the top of the newspaper." He reaches down to what I assume is his briefcase and produces a newspaper in his hand. "Let me read you the headline shall I and I quote, 'Hibernating 1D Harry Found Alive & Well.'" He slams the paper down on the work surface making everyone jump.

I close my eyes and suck in a huge breath that I hold. 'Fuck.'

I begin to speak. "Look, I." But he interrupts me again.

"No, you look. Quite frankly, I don't care who you are and how you met my daughter. What I do care about is that this picture was taken at St Mary's. Someone has spotted you there. If you think for one moment that I am going to allow my daughter to be dragged into some sort of media circus because of her connection to you, you have another thing coming."  He is mad, again, shit. "Is there anything else we need to know?"

I slowly exhale the deep breath I have been holding and address them both as calmly as I can. "I am Harry Styles from One Direction. I am currently on an extended break after five years. I am here because I wanted to disappear to rest. My Dad found the rental for me at Summer Haze... "

Robert throws his hands up in the air and lets out a sarcastic laugh. "Jesus, this just gets better and better."

Angela places her hand on his arm but speaks directly to me.  "But the rental is in the name of a Mick Greenberg." She pouts her lips out to indicate she is totally confused. 

I hold my hand up to my chest. "I am Mick Greenberg. It is a pseudonym I use."

"So in effect you lie about your name" Robert utters.

I shake my head. "No, no that's not how it works. It is to save the hysteria and keep anonymity. I was supposed to disappear for six months and Summer Haze was the perfect place. But then I met Lily." Her image pops into my head and relaxes me instantly.

"In other words you got bored, young man like you there alone with nothing to do and you took a shine to my daughter."

I answer him politely but with adamant force.  I have been composedly nervous up to this point but my heckles are beginning to rise. "No Sir, that isn't how it is at all. I met Lily and we became friends." There is no way I am going to allow him to accuse me of that.

"And you asked her to lie for you." Olivia pipes up.

I feel as though I am be bombarded from all sides.  "No, I would never ask her to do that. It came from her, she offered to keep it to herself."

"Well that's irrelevant because you've been spotted at the hospital so you have to cease visiting Lily immediately." Robert voices his expectation.

My hands are splayed open on my thighs and I dig my nails into my jeans and feel my shoulders tensing.  "I can't do that, I need to see her. Dr Jefferson please."

"I am sorry Harry but I cannot risk my daughter as I said she is extremely vulnerable at the moment."

"I know that. I was going to tell you both everything today. Under normal circumstances it wouldn't matter." I can hear the pleading undertone in my voice.

"But these aren't normal circumstances are they." Angela says questioningly.

I am soft in my tone with Angela.  "No, you are right, they they are not."

"I guarantee that hospital will be filled with press before long. Does anyone else know about you two?" Robert asks.

Before I can respond there is another commotion in the hallway and I hear voices drifting down the stairs. The door opens and three people stroll into the kitchen who must be Thomas, Nathalie and probably her boyfriend whose name I cannot remember. As soon as my gaze meets theirs all their faces drop and their eyes flare wide in shock. Thomas is the first one to speak, his voice very high pitched.

"What the FUCK is Harry Styles doing in our kitchen?"

A moment of complete silence ensues where you could hear a pin drop.

"Thomas Jefferson do not use that language in this house." Robert growls.

Thomas' mouth is hanging open, Nathalie has an unemotional to read flushed face staring at me intently and her boyfriend is just ridiculously laughing to himself.

Olivia slowly speaks. "This is Lily's boyfriend."

Robert rises up and heads towards the group. "Everybody out, out now we haven't finished talking with Harry. And no telling anyone he is here do you understand." He shakes his pointy finger threateningly at the group.

A chorus of "Yes Dad/yes Dr Jefferson." Can be heard as they filter out of the kitchen like a gaggle of gossiping geese.

"I mean it." He shouts after them as he hurries them out the kitchen and closes the door behind them. "So does anyone know about you two or not?" He returns his attention back to me.

"No, not that I am aware of." I suddenly have a wobble and the whole kitchen feels suffocating.  "I'm sorry I need some air." Without waiting for any response, I push off from the stool and walk quickly towards the conservatory patio doors and into the garden. I follow a path and come across a wooden table and chairs under a pagoda of plants. I rest my palms on the surface and bow my head down taking on board some deep breaths.

Who was I fooking kidding? It was only a matter of time. Shit!

I slam my palms against the surface of the wood in frustration. Suddenly that wave of protection for Lily washes over me. 'Remember Harry', I say to myself, 'this is the woman you love. You respect her parents because they are her parents but not only that they are her anxious, worried and scared parents. You need to tread very carefully because Robert is right, Lily and this family doesn't need to be the subject of a media storm, not right now.'

I need to take control of this situation that is my doing, albeit indirectly because of who I am. I stand up, take in a deep breath, hold my head up and stride back towards the house with purpose.