Harry's POV

When I wake up this morning, it's with a feeling of enthusiasm and excitement.

I had this idea that came to me after I talked with Beth last night. 

I only hope she doesn't think I'm overstepping the line but I just can't fathom that her kids won't get to experience Christmas properly just because they're here and not at home.

I pick my phone up from the bedside table and check the time, pressing the button to light up the screen and read that it's just after 8am.

And that I also have some missed text messages from Cate.

Crap.

I debate whether I should read them or not.  I mean, yes we occasionally slept together but she was also a friend.

But that's all she'll ever be to me and I've always made that clear.

There is also a message from Ryan.

Reluctantly I open Ryan's message and read it.

Haz, you didn't even say goodbye you dick.  And what did you say to Cate?  She was pissed after you left.  Lucky I was there to comfort her.

I couldn't help but smirk.

Sounds like it all worked out for the best.

I decide to ignore Cate's messages.

I have bigger plans for today.

Time to put my plan into action.

I waste no time in getting myself ready for the day, showering before I eat a quick bit of toast for breakfast.

I then grab my phone, sunglasses and keys and head towards my front door.

I step outside and feel that it's a bit on the chilly side today so I step back in and grab a jacket and beanie before I shut the door and head to my car.

Once I'm buckled in, I reverse out onto the road and begin the drive.

It takes me about half an hour and I finally reach my destination.

I find a parking spot and turn the engine off.

As I get out of the car, I pull the hood of my jumper over my head, covering my beanie.

I walk in through the doors, and keep my head down as I try to avoid eye contact with people.

It's not that I don't want to stop and chat with fans, it's just that I'm on a bit of a timeframe.  The quicker I get this done, the sooner I can see Beth.

And the kids.

And Beth.

I enter the store and decide I might need a shopping trolley for this.

I push the trolley to the first section and come to a standstill.

Which bloody colour?

It's like a fucking rainbow.

I don't know their favourite colours either.

In the end, I decide to just grab a mixture of colours and throw a few boxes into the trolley.

I walk around to the next aisle and again, another wall of sparkly rainbow colours greets me.  This time I only select a few colours as well as some other bits and pieces I think the kids will like.

Well what they actually need.

I'm aware that some people are staring at me and whispering, but I just continue on as quickly as I can.

I have a few other ideas in mind and I head over to those sections in the store.

I'm finally done and I head to the front to the registers to pay.

"Leaving things to the last minute aren't we?" the woman behind the counter says with smile as she starts to scan my items.

"Better late than never eh?" I smile back.

I patiently wait for her to finish so I can pay.

"Have a nice Christmas!" she says as she helps me gather my bags up.

"You too," I reply as I thank her and walk out with my purchases.

I always wonder if people genuinely mean it when they wish you a Happy Christmas or is just a part of their job?

Like, do the really care that I have presents to buy and put under the tree?

That I'm going to pig out on my mum's stained glass Christmas cookies and have one too many glasses of eggnog with Robin?

That my chestnuts may or may not be roasted?

Probably not.

I carefully weave my way through the crowd of people and manage to make it back to my car without being spotted by anyone.

I put the bags into the back of the rover before I hop into the driver's seat, pulling my beanie off my head and putting it in my pocket.

Now to carry out the second half of my plan, and for that I need some additional assistance.

Nick.

I start the drive back to Holmes Chapel, specifically to Bridge Farm.

I'm really excited.

I'm virtually bouncing around in my seat.

I really hope this all goes to plan.

After a relatively quiet drive back, traffic was pretty minimal, I pull into Bridge Farm and drive slowly to Beth's house at the back of the property.

As I step out of the rover, I notice the curtains are all still closed.

That seems a bit strange.

I walk up to the door and knock on it.

I can hear the television but no one's answering.

I suddenly notice out of the corner of my eye the curtain on the window moves slightly and I see Nick peeking out from behind it.

I smile and give him a wave.

He then disappears and the door opens.

I notice Nick is still in his pyjamas.

"Hey Nick!" I greet him, "can I come in?"

He moves aside so I can walk in.

I'm hit with the aroma of buttery popcorn.

I notice they're all in their pyjamas on the couch, under doonas, eating popcorn and watching Harry Potter.

Where on earth is Beth?

"She's upstairs in bed, she's sick," Nick tells me.

God I hope she's okay.

I'm already walking over to the stairs when Nick advises me to leave her be and that she'll be fine by tomorrow.

What?

I can't not check on her.

Nick warns me again to leave her be.

I can't.

I'll take my chances.

I slowly open the door to her room and I can see she is sleeping quietly.

I walk over to her and see she's lying on her stomach.

She wears a singlet but from what I can see of her exposed skin, there's a light sheen of sweat on her.

I touch her forehead and it's hot.

So is the back of her neck.

I realise I've woken her when she mumbles 'what' to me.

She really needs to see a doctor.

I can feel the heat from her skin radiating off her without actually touching her.

I pull my phone out and start looking for a local doctor.

One that does house call would be better, I don't want to move her.

She's trying to argue against it.

Shit, was she like this last night?

Did I leave her in this condition and go to a fucking stupid party?

Why didn't she call me?

Ah!

I've found a couple of doctors.

I'm about to call the first one on the list when my phone leaves my hand and is thrown on the floor.

"Harry," Beth says, "I have my period."

What?

I can't help but look over her body.  The covers are only up to her waist but she's visibly shaking as though she's cold but her heated skin says otherwise.

And I can see she's in a great deal of pain.

Now, I've grown up with two women, mum and Gem, and they've never been like this.

Sure, they get a bit pissy but that's it.

This isn't right.

"But..." I say confused.

"Endometriosis," she says before her face screws up in pain.

Endo-what?

Is this some special kind of period?

This is just wrong then...and scary.

I touch her back gently and I ask her what I can do for her.

"Run," she says and gives a small laugh.

I kind of think she's not really joking.

CODE RED.

CODE FUCKING RED.

Apparently there's nothing I can do for her, so instead I smooth her damp hair away from her face and again she shivers so I pull the covers up.

Nick comes in and hands me a heat pack, instructing me to put it on her back.

This kid's dealt with this before?

I place it on her back but she pulls it off and clutches it to her stomach as she curls up into a ball facing away from me.

"Try rubbing her back," Nick suggests, "it gets really painful."

I place my hand on her lower back, just under her singlet so I can try and give her some sort of relief.

I must be doing something right as she lets out a sigh and moments later her breathing becomes more even and her body loses it tenseness as she falls asleep.

I move around and sit on the other side of the bed next to Beth as she sleeps.

It actually allows me to catch up on emails and other things on my phone.

I start to think though about what she called her condition.

Indo...endo...what was it again?

I open up Google on my phone and start to search.

Jesus Christ.

I can't believe the symptoms I'm reading.

This was like fucking Satan's period.

I read it can damage fertility so maybe she didn't have it as bad as what I read here.

Maybe she'll tell me more when she's better.

She suddenly sits up and scrambles to push the covers away before she almost falls out of the bed in her rush to get to the bathroom.

I also stand up and as I reach the doorway, I find her with her head over the toilet.

Christ.

"Are you okay?" I ask her.

I seem to have startled her and she looks at me like she's forgotten I was here.

"Why are you here Harry?" she mumbles.

"I came to visit, well, actually I had an idea," I begin, "but when I got here, Nick explained how sick you get."

She seems to be thinking this through and eventually nods in agreement.

She stands up but stumbles and almost falls over but I'm quick to reach Beth to steady her.

"Thank you," she whispers.

She seems so bloody frail right now.

So tiny.

I watch her carefully as she goes to the vanity and tries to tie her hair up.  She's still off balance so I gently take the tie from her hand and take over putting her hair up in a bun for her.

It takes me like, two seconds.

"Come on," I say, "let's get you back to bed."

She hesitates immediately.

"I...uh...I need to change," she says.

Change?

Oh.

Ohhhhhhhh.

"I'll wait out here," I say because clearly she doesn't need my help for that.

As I walk out, something catches my eye and I see her underwear in the small bin.

Fuck, it looks like someone tried to murder her knickers.

I walk back out to the bedroom.

I need to sit down.

A few minutes later, Beth walks out.

I realise she's here in front of me in just a singlet and knickers.

I'm still like a stranger to her yet I'm probably seeing her when she's most vulnerable.

I just want to take care of her.

I get up off her bed and hold the covers up for her.

"Harry, why are you here?" her voice is small and it breaks as she finishes.

Oh no, no sweet girl.

"I want to help you," I tell her, "you need help."

"I don't need help!" she suddenly snaps at me.

I let the covers drop from my grasp as I realise that Beth is the type of person who will never ask anyone for help.

She has a lot of pride.

I realise it's up to me to try and give her help, even though it doesn't seem in her nature to accept it.

What has made her believe she has to do everything alone in this world?

First things first though.

Let's deal with now.

Beth is now shaking again and I can see she's trying not to cry.

I don't know what else to do so I walk over to her and hug her.

She feels tense in my arms but I'm not going to give up that easily.

"I get that you're a really strong and independent person Beth.  And I have no doubt you can do anything," I begin, "but you're in a foreign country and you know nobody, it's not like you're back home."

She doesn't say anything but she doesn't move away from me.

"I'm just asking you to let me help you because you don't have anyone here, you don't have anyone in your corner," I hug her a little tighter to me, "let me be in your corner Beth, because I want to," the last part comes out as a whisper.

She leans into me and sighs.

I mentally high five myself at my small victory as Beth lets me guide her back to her bed.

Once Beth is comfortable, I decide I should go and check on the kids.

Sort them out some dinner at least or it'll be ice cream again I'm sure.

I walk towards the door before I hear Beth call my name.

"Thank you," she whispers.

Anytime, I think as she closes her eyes to sleep and I head out and down the stairs to see the kids.