Harry's POV

I'm just about to put another forkful of pasta in my mouth when the boys return to the table, however Chloe keeps on walking until we hear her door shut.

I look at Beth and see sadness etched on her face and I feel terrible for her.

She questions the boys who confide she doesn't want to leave her friends or their animals which is a pretty fair call for a kid.

I wonder if I can convince her to stay.

No.

I don't want to just simply convince her, I want her to want to stay, much like her mother.

But maybe I can show her what this place has to offer.

What I have to offer.

Beth sighs heavily from across me, her face downcast as she rests her forehead in her hand.

I should go and deal with this, it is my idea after all.

"I'll go and talk to her," I offer as I stand up from the table.

Beth looks up at me hesitantly, and I know it's because it's such a delicate situation that we're dealing with.

"I'm not going to try and talk her into it," I begin, "I just don't want to see her upset."

"Well neither do I Harry," she snaps like I don't know it's obvious.

I just want to try and fix things, I hate seeing Chloe upset, I hate seeing any of them upset.

But then maybe it's not my place and I decide to sit back down because Beth knows her daughter best.

And I don't.

But I want to.

"I was just trying to-" I try to explain again.

"Help, I know," she cuts me off.

There's complete silence at the table.

And I know it's bad because Jamie isn't even eating.

"Sorry," I murmur, "I know I'm not her father..."

"No, you're not," she looks me dead in the eye.

Well I know but I wasn't quite ready for her to be so blunt about it.

And it bloody well hurts.

"But you're probably the closest thing she's got to that right now," she finishes and just like that my heart soars at her words.

She's backing down, well, maybe hopefully resigning herself to the fact that I am here to help and that I want to help and that I can help and-

Harold, you're babbling now.

"Go on," she waves me off, "go and talk to her..."

I don't hesitate to be up and out of my chair in case she changes her mind and I race off to Chloe's room to talk to her.

I stop as soon as I reach it and blow out a large calming breath.

You can do this Harold, you got this.

I knock gently on the door and wait but there's no response.

I try again and when there's still no reply, I slowly open the door and see her lying down on her bed, her head resting on Penny as she uses her for a pillow.

"Mind if I come in Clo?" I ask quietly.

She doesn't answer but sniffs before she shakes her head no so I take that as a hopeful sign and walk in, closing the door shut behind me.

I gingerly sit down on the bed next to her legs and gently rub her back, thinking of how to start the conversation when she suddenly sits herself up and flings her arms around my neck tightly.

I don't say anything, especially since that was the last thing I expected, so I just hug her tightly and continue to rub her back consolingly, waiting until she's ready to talk.

Eventually the crying stops and she lets out a shuddering breath before she whispers so softly I almost don't hear it.

"I miss my daddy," she says.

And there it is.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I whisper back.

She pulls back and looks at my shoulder before looking up at me.

"Sorry I made your top wet," she sniffs.

I smile at her sweetness as I push back her wet, tearstained hair from her warm face.

"That's what they're there for love," I reply.

She gives me a weak smile before looking down at her fingers.

"If...if we leave, there's no more daddy," she says.

"How do you mean?" I ask.

"The house and the farm were daddy's idea and if we leave it then we leave him, right?" she looks up at me in question.

Well fuck.

What am I supposed to say to that?

"Well..." I begin, trying to think of how to relay what I'm thinking in kid's terms, "I guess it depends on how you want to remember your dad you know?"

She looks at me, waiting for me to continue.

"Take your house and your farm," I go on, "you think of that as your dad's because he wanted it so it's only right that you attach it to him, it's something physical...like you can see it and touch it," I pause, "you can go out and walk around and picture where he'd be correct?"

"Yep," she nods slowly.

"So that's what I mean by physical," I continue, "you can hold it, it's there in front of you."

"Like a photo?" she asks.

"A bit," I smile, "but when you look at a photo, you remember where you were when it was taken and the memory it gives you, so mentally, you're thinking of him. You won't be able to physically go back to that place in time with him, but in your mind you will, do you understand?"

"I think so..." she trails off.

"And there's got to be things he said to you, things he told you, stories, jokes," I tell her, "things that you will always carry in your heart and your head and they'll be wherever you go because they're inside you."

"Like how he always called me Clo Bo?" she asks.

"Exactly," I smile, "you can remember that feeling anywhere sweetheart because you can hear him say it to you."

She goes silent, and I can see the wheels turning in her head and I smile because she's just like her mother.

"So, what you're saying..." she pauses, "that wherever I go, my daddy is always with me?"

"That's what I like to believe, yes," I reply, "that's how you never let their memory die along with them. You look at photo's, you talk about them, you remember all the good times and it's okay to remember the bad or sad times too..."

"So, I could talk to you about him and that would be okay?" she asks.

"Sweetheart you can talk to me about anything at anytime okay?" I reply, trying not to let the sudden onslaught of tears spill over, "I know I'm not your daddy, but I'll always be here for you, always," I bundle her up in my arms and hug her tightly, my damn tears giving way as I do.

"Harry," she murmurs.

"Yes love," I reply.

"You're wetting my top," she giggles.

~~~~~~

I leave Chloe in her room, advising she has a little nap before going off to stay at mum's since she's a tad worn out from all her crying.

We continued to talk about her dad and from what she said, they butted heads quite a bit.

Why does that not surprise me.

It made me wonder if we would have the same relationship.

Would she listen to me if I had to discipline her or would she only listen to Beth?

Would we be equal partners in raising them?

Would I have a say in their education, what would be best for them?

Slow down Harold.

Well this is important stuff.

We also talked about the fact that she would find it hard to leave her friends and the animals. The animals I could fix, the friends part was not as easy, and I couldn't blame her.

I suggested that she and I could visit where I went to school growing up, so she could perhaps get a feel for the place, and possibly meet some other children who would be in her year level.

To my surprise she accepted my invitation.

It was a start.

I came back into the kitchen to find Beth cleaning the benchtop that already looked spotlessly clean.

She immediately turns around and her mouth opens before it closes, and I know she's dying to find out what we talked about.

I calmly walk over to the kettle and start it up before getting out a cup to make myself some tea before a tea towel flicks me on the arse.

"Hey!" I turn around and see Beth standing there glaring at me.

"Well don't keep me bloody hanging!" she snaps.

"That hurt!" I pout, rubbing my behind to ease the sting.

"I'll kiss it better later," she scoffs, "now what did she say?"

"Not only will she miss her friends and animals, she also thinks that if she moves then she's leaving her dad," I reply, letting that fact sink in.

Beth's face falls and she crumples the tea towel up against her chest.

"Oh, I'm such a horrible mother for not even considering that," she says, her voice full of hurt, "I didn't even think..."

"No, you're not," I quickly move to reassure her, "don't ever say that, you've always done the best you can for those kids, anyone can see that."

"But-" she starts.

"Don't ever doubt yourself, okay?" I cut her off, "now I suggested I take her to where I went to school and show her around, you know, get a potential feel for the place so it's not so foreign?"

"And what did she say?" Beth asks.

"She agreed," Harry smiles, "as long as we go for ice cream after."

Beth rolls her eyes and a small smile appears on her face.

"We'll work it out, I promise," I tell her as I give her a hug and a quick kiss on her nose.

"What will be will be..." she replies.

"Well hopefully you'll be with me," I respond.

"That's cheesy," she rolls her eyes again and releases herself from my arms.

"You love the cheese," I banter before taking a sip of my tea.

~~~~~~

Beth is fussing over the kids, making sure they have everything before I take them over to mum's.

"Are you sure you have everything?" she yells out.

"Yes!" I hear echoing through the house.

"Are you sure your mum wants to have them?" she asks me again, for the umpteenth time.

"Yes!" I reply in exasperation, though I'm not sure if it's because she keeps checking with me or it's because of the excitement of this impending evening that has me jumpy all of a sudden, "I mean, yes, of course she is," I clear my throat and repeat in a more subdued tone.

"Okay..." she replies before giving each of them a hug and a kiss.

"Love you mama," Chloe says as she follows her brothers out to my car.

"Love you too poppet," Beth replies as I cuddle up to her from behind, kissing her on the cheek.

She looks right at home wearing my apron, in my kitchen, in my house.

I could really get used to this.

Imagine if she wore the apron with nothing else underneath?

I can't help but growl in her ear at the thought as my crotch grows a mind of its own and begins rubbing against her back.

"Harry," she whispers.

"Mmmm," I murmur as my hips continue to slowly move.

"I can't cook with your dick in my back," she whispers back.

Oh, but we could have fun trying.

"Sorry, I'm just excited," I say, reluctantly releasing my grip on her before adjusting myself, "I might stay and have a cuppa with mum if that's okay?" I ask.

"Of course," she smiles, "I'll just be working on your birthday dinner anyway."

"What's my present?" I ask with a grin, not really caring but knowing I'll love what she has planned for me anyway.

Instead she slowly walks over to me with a mysterious look on her face.

"Diamonds," she replies.

Diamonds?

Maybe she's brought me a ring?

Well that would show how serious she is about you Harold.

It must be a ring.

I mean, what else would she get me with a diamond on it?

"Off you go," she finally waves me off.

"Take out menus are in the drawer remember," I say cheekily even though I have full confidence in her cooking abilities.

I grab my keys before blowing her a kiss and close the door behind me as I head into the garage, hopping into the car and heading off to mum's.

~~~~~~

"Hello babies!" mum says as she opens the door and I give her a grin because I know I'm included in that greeting.

She hugs each of them tightly before ushering them inside, telling them to put their bags away and to come into the kitchen for something to eat.

"How are you darling?" she says as she hugs me before letting go and ushering me follow her inside.

"Really good," I reply as we walk down the hall into the kitchen.

God it smells good in here.

Always does.

"Well sit down then," she points to the chairs at the breakfast bar before asking the kids what they'd like to drink.

"Cuppa?" she asks me, holding the kettle up.

"I'd love one," I reply as I grab a biscuit from the plate, savouring the warm sweetness of it in my mouth.

"So, what's planned for tonight?" mum asks as she pulls out a couple of cups onto the bench.

"Well Beth is cooking a special dinner," I tell her, "that's as much as I know," I shrug my shoulders.

"Ah," mum smiles, "sometimes the best nights are just a lovely dinner, a good drop of wine and a cuddle on the couch in from of the telly," she then whispers, "without children."

I smile in return hoping I get all that and a bit of hanky panky to finish the evening off.

Mum pours the water into the cups before bringing them over to the table.

She then goes back over to the breakfast bar and places some of the cookies onto two smaller plates, pushing one over to the kids.

"If you're really careful, you can take the plate and your drinks and go and watch telly in the other room by the fire," she says kindly.

"Yes!" Jamie says enthusiastically.

"Let me carry the plate," Nick orders the younger two.

Chloe says nothing, she carefully hops down and grabs her glass of juice and follows them, but not before mum watches her with curiosity.

"What's up with the little one?" she asks as she brings the plate over to the table and sits down with me.

I let out a sigh and shrug my jacket off, placing it over the back of the chair.

"I...I uh..." this was such a big thing and I suddenly felt nervous about telling mum, "I've been talking to Beth about moving over here...permanently."

My mum's eyebrows raise as high as I've ever seen them as she puts her cup down before looking at me.

"That's a huge step Harry, a massive step," she pauses, "for the both of you."

"I know, but..." I run my hand through my hair, "but it's the right step. Mum I can't even imagine being with anyone else, ever. She's...she's just my everything."

Mum smiles and nods appreciatively.

"I'm not disputing that love," she says, "and anyone just has to look at the two of you to see that but you're asking her to uproot herself and her children to a new place half way round the world," she pauses again, "what if it doesn't work out, where does that leave her?"

"You mean the both of us?" I question.

"No, her Harry," she says, "your life would go on, you have everything here, but what would she have?"

"If it were to happen, I would see she was taken care of mum," I say, "I'd even draw it up in a contract for her peace of mind, whatever it would take for her to see how much I want this..."

"But does she want this?" mum asks.

"She's scared, but I think so," I reply.

"You think?" she says.

"She does, and we know it's a huge thing she's doing," I say, "Chloe was upset when we mentioned it this morning because she feels if she leaves the farm she's essentially leaving her dad behind."

"Oh, the poor love," mum sympathises.

"That and leaving her friends behind, but I had a chat with her and offered to take her around my old school to have a look at..."

"Harry you know I support you in everything you do, and I can see what the two of you have is something special," mum pats my arm, "just think every decision through carefully okay?"

"We will mum," I smile as I take a sip of my tea.

"So, do you think she'll be up for giving me grandbabies?" mum asks deadpanned, causing me to choke on my tea.

~~~~~~

There seems to be so much more traffic on the way home from mum's than there was driving there, and I'm convinced it's because everyone somehow knows I'm going home to get me something special.

Harold's gonna get some lovin' tonight.

I wonder what she has in mind?

What if she's got something new she wants to try?

Because I am always down to try anything with Beth in the bedroom.

Or up.

Down or up, whatever she needs.

I finally pull into the garage and hurriedly run into the kitchen, only to be met with the most amazing smells.

"Beth?" I call out but hear nothing in response.

I walk over to the two dishes sitting on the stove top and have a peek at them.

My mouth starts watering at the sight and the smell.

My baby's done alright.

Now to find her.

I start walking up the stairs in search of her.

"Beth?" I call out again, "love?"

Hopefully she's in the bedroom but with dinner ready she might not be either, but I'll look there first.

I open the door and can hear a song playing.

I don't mind this one.

"Beth?" I gently call her name as I walk in.

Holy fuck.

That's...

That's the outfit I was looking at.

Online.

For her.

And now it's on her.

Again.

Holy fuck.

"Um...happy birthday?" she says nervously, though why I have no idea.

She starts to say something else, but I don't even hear her.

Before I even realise it, my mouth is on hers and I'm kissing her as though my life depends upon it.

Eventually I pull away to take a closer look at it on her, my fingers caressing her skin as they make their way from her neck, down between her breasts, following the material down the middle of her body.

She looks so fucking hot right now I can't even think straight.

"You brought this? For me?" earning a nod in response from her.

I was sure I only thought it.

"I wanted to surprise you for your birthday..." she begins, "it's a little bit small..."

It's a little bit heavenly you mean.

"Is it?" I murmur absentmindly as I look at her, thinking that she's all mine.

She blushes under my gaze before smiling up at me.

"Dinner smells amazing by the way," I suddenly remember, "but do you mind if we eat later? I'd much rather start here," I say before moving my crotch ever so slightly against hers, watching as her eyes flutter closed.

"Sure," she suddenly replies, opening her eyes and looking at me with determination, "but remember it's me giving you a present," she says as she pushes me back gently, "I suggest you strip down to your underwear and make yourself comfortable."

Okay then.

Hanky panky here we come.

"Maybe you could help me with that?" I say cheekily as I kick my boots off.

Beth pulls at the button then the zipper on my jeans, moving down with them as she pulls them over my thighs, her mouth moving slowly over my cock as she pulls my jeans down to my ankles, so I can step out of them.

Oh, that's so not fair.

"Sit," she orders as I stand up, pushing me playfully on the chest.

Reluctantly I slouch down onto the chair before she leans over and kisses me on the mouth.

"Keep your hands on the chair," she whispers.

I watch curiously as she turns around slowly and walks over to the bed, reaching over to open the drawer and take something out.

I get a good look at her arse as she leans over, and my eyes widen when I spot it.

Holy fuck.

"Beth...is that...what is..." I start to ask but she shushes me to be quiet.

"All in good time Harry," she smirks, before sitting down on the bed and opening her legs wide, leaving nothing to the imagination.

I have fucking died and gone to heaven.

And she's already wet.

I want to stick my tongue down there so bad right now.

A sudden noise has me looking up at her and how did I not even see her grab the vibrator she's holding.

"I know you like to watch me play," she bites her lip as the vibrator hums, "so are you ready to watch?" she asks me.

Yep.

I'm officially dead.

She starts moving the vibrator along her collarbone and down between her breasts before running it over one nipple and then another until they harden through the lace material.

Beth continues moving the vibrator down the middle of her stomach, just barely grazing her groin as she runs it along her inner thigh on one leg and then over to the other.

I suddenly become aware that if I bite my lip any harder it's going to bleed.

"Where do you want me to put it Harry?" she asks.

I can see how wet she is, and I want to tell her to put it in her pussy and fuck herself with it, but I can't tell her that.

Surely that's a bit too crass?

Like, something a teenage boy would say?

"Harry?" she calls me again and I look up at her face.

"Uh...I..." I suddenly begin to stutter.

She moves the vibrator directly onto her clit and the action makes close her eyes and her body jump before she bites her lip and opens her eyes again.

"Shall I put it here?" she asks coyly, moving it over her clit in circles.

I watch her movements, swallowing almost nervously.

"Or what about...here?" she says before moving it down and pushing it inside herself.

Okay, maybe not that crass perhaps?

"Both..." I manage to say.

"Tell me how..." she says as she pulls the vibrator out and it's now glistening with wetness.

Go on young Harold.

She is giving you anything you want.

Man, up and fucking say it.

"I want," I breathe in deeply before letting it out, "I want you to make yourself come by using it on your clit then I want you to fuck yourself with it!" I blurt out.

She smiles at me before lowering it onto her clit again.

"That's all you had to say birthday boy..." she says as she bites her lip.

Looks like I'm getting dinner and a show tonight.