A/N: Credit to the amazing hazstylestrash for her 1D Harry Potter series...be sure to check her out!

Thanks so much to everyone that reads, votes and comments...you all make my day, seriously! x

Beth's POV

I push the piece of French toast around my plate as I coat it with the syrup before I place it in my mouth.

Oops.

Too much syrup.

A drop of the golden brown liquid falls onto my exposed chest.

Lucky for me it didn't fall down between my breasts while Harry was here.

Happens all the blood time with popcorn.

I wipe the syrup off with my finger and suck it off nonchalantly before I catch Harry out the corner of my eye.

His mouth is open slightly as he stares at me.

Shit, do I have food on my face?

I reach for a napkin and wipe my mouth with it.

How embarrassing.

"So...uh...what are your plans for today?" I ask him.

Wait, what business is it of mine?

Could I be anymore fucking awkward?

He's probably got some girl to meet up with anyway, I mean, he's Harry Styles, why wouldn't he right?

"Well, actually..." he says.

Why would he waste his time with us when he could be out with some hot young model or actress thing?

"...if that's okay with you?" Harry continues.

It's the cold light of day, that's what it is.

The harsh reality.

I wouldn't blame him for wanting to hightail it out of here.

"Beth?" Harry says.

Of course he wants to be out with some beautiful, thin, young girl.

Or home.

In bed.

Naked.

With her.

"Beth!" Harry says in a louder voice.

I turn and look at Harry but I notice that all eyes around the table are on me.

"Um...yeah?" I answer weakly.

"You were miles away," he says as he raises his eyebrows, "what were you daydreaming about?"

He puts his elbows on the table and rests his chin on his hands and looks at me with a cheeky smirk.

I feel my face begin to heat up with embarrassment again.

"I...uh...oh shut up!" I say as I look away and stab my fork through my toast and take another bite.

Harry nudges my knee with his under the table to gain my attention again.

"I was saying that I have an errand to complete today and I could really use some help," he explains.

"What kind of errand?" I ask curiously.

"Ah...secret men's business," he says and smirks again.

Secret men's business my ass.

Probably can't decide whether he needs a fringe on his boots or not.

"And what help do you need?" I ask.

"I was really hoping you'd let Nick come along with me, another man would be really handy," he says.

"Awww...can I mum?  Please?" Nick begs me.

I start to chew at my bottom lip.

It's something I know I do when I'm deep in thought or stressed.

This is a combination so my mouth is working overtime here.

"You understand what you're asking of me don't you?" I say to Harry, "you're asking me to entrust you with my child."

Harry's face suddenly becomes serious as he realises what I'm trying to say.

"Muuuuuuuuum!" Nick whines, "please let me go with Harry!"

I sit for a moment, not saying anything, as I felt all eyes on me.  I knew Harry would absolutely ensure Nick's safety, I had no doubt about that.  I guess it is the fact that I am being asked to let someone I've only known for a few days, in a foreign country, to take my child somewhere without me.

Granted this same person has seen me in my underwear but I digress.

Minor details.

I look at Nick and he's now got both his hands pressed together like he's praying and I can see he's silently saying 'please, please, please' repeatedly.

"Okay, okay," I put my hands up in defeat.

Both Nick and Harry fist pump with enthusiasm.

Really?

Who the hell is more excited here?

I simply shake my head and smile.

"Well you'd better hurry up and brush your teeth and get dressed then," I said to Nick, "I'm sure Harry has other things he'd rather be doing."

Nick gets up from the table and bolts up the stairs to get ready.

I notice Harry frown slightly and I'm unsure why.

I feel I've offended him in some way and I don't want to ask, I'm too scared to.

But I finally summon up the courage.

"Are you okay?" I ask him although I'm so scared of what he's going to say.

He bites the edge of his lip before he answers me.

"I've overstayed my welcome haven't I?" he says quietly.

Oh fuck.

I was not expecting that.

I remember that Jamie and Chloe are still at the table and I don't think they should be here for this.

"Have you two finished as well?" I ask and they both nod, "well why don't you two go and get dressed as well hey?"

I wait until they've left before I turn my attention back to Harry.

I tentatively reach out and touch his forearm.

"Not at all Harry, I just don't want you to feel you have to be here," I say.

Harry frowns at me.

"I mean, we're not your family, we're not really anything to you and the kids can be a handful and you'll probably get sick of them and then sick of me and there's probably, well not, there would be people you should be with, your mum, your family, other...people...especially at Christmas and of course we love, I mean like, having you here and..." I say without taking a breath.

"You're rambling again," Harry says with a smirk.

"Yeah..." I finally stop to breathe, "I am aren't I?  Sorry..."

Harry moves his arm out from under my hand and my heart leaps into my throat.

Fuck I've really stuffed up.

He's finally seen me for my pathetic, neurotic self.

And I'm okay with that because I'm used to being pathetic by myself.

But he turns around in his chair and reaches out to grasp my chair with both his hands, as he suddenly pulls it closer to him.

I'm trapped between Harry's arms, my knees now touching his seat between his open legs.

"Let me say this once and once and for all," he says.

I feel like a naughty school girl.

And not naughty in a good way.

"I enjoy being here, I want to be here and I love-like being around you and the kids," he says as he looks me straight in the eye,

Oh you caught that like, love thingy.

"Okay," is pretty much all I can utter.

We're so close in proximity, his hands next to my thighs, my legs touching his.  I watch as his eyes dart down momentarily to my lips and I hear his breath catch in his throat.

Or maybe that was me.

I can see him lean forward ever so slightly and his eyes move from my mouth and back up to my eyes and stay there.

Yes.

No.

Yeah...no...yeah...no...I...uh...

My heart thumps so loud I can hear it in my ears.

"Mum!  Harry!  I'm ready!" Nick calls as he comes down the stairs.

Harry and I quickly move apart and right now it doesn't seem such a bad idea as my breakfast threatens to come back up.

"Great!" I say as I hear Harry clear his throat.

He stands up and his hand gently touches my shoulder as he walks over to the couch.

I watch as he puts his boots on before he turns to Nick.

"You ready?" he asks.

Nick nods enthusiastically.

He walks behind Harry like he's as cool as him.

Well it is Harry Styles.

Harry grabs his coat and puts it on.

"We'll just swing by my place," he says to me, "so I can change my clothes."

"Sure," I say, "what time should I expect you two back?"

I'm trying to be really cool about this, like, I am such a cool mum.

I'm in pre-ripped jeans, of course I'm cool.

"We shouldn't be longer than a couple of hours," Harry says, "okay?"

"Okay," I nod my head.

Harry opens the door and Nick practically skips out and over to Harry's car.

I suddenly have visions of myself running out the door and tackling Nick rugby-style and not letting him go.  But Harry's hand on my upper arm makes me realise I'm still standing in the doorway, blocking him inside.

"I'll guard him with my life," he whispers.

"Is it that obvious?" I cringe.

"Just a little," he reaches out and taps my bottom lip, "you're going to chew that off if you're not careful."

"Okay, okay," I put my hand on his chest and push him out the door, "go before I change my mind and embarrass my kid."

Harry grabs my hand before I have a chance to take it off his chest and winks at me before he places a kiss on the back of it.

Cheeky bugger.

He turns and I hear the car beep as he unlocks it and both he and Nick hop in.  I watch as they drive off down the gravel road until they disappear out of sight.  I close the door and turn around to lean on it, breathing out loudly.

I see Jamie is sitting back at the table.

"What are you doing?" I ask him.

"Still hungry," he mumbles with a mouth full of food.

"Course you are," I reply.

I walk over and start to clear up everyone else's dishes and take them over to the kitchen.

"What are we going to do today mum?" Jamie asks me.

To be honest, I'm still knackered from yesterday and last night, I don't feel like doing anything.

"Why don't we just relax and watch a movie hey?  Your choice," I suggest, "I'm still a bit tired today."

"Oh you're still tired mum?" he asks.

Jamie has a thing where he tends to repeat a lot of what I say to him, back to me.

It's a quirk of his.

I nod to confirm.

I start to wash the dishes and I'm almost finished when Jamie brings his plate over.

"That was good mum," he says.

"As good as the first lot?" I smile at him.

"Yup," he agrees.

"Why don't you go and pick a movie out, I'm nearly done here mate," I tell him.

As I dry my hands on a tea towel, Chloe finally graces us with her presence.  Her hair is down, which is rare as she usually wears it up.  She has her blue skinny jeans on, a black and pink check shirt and her little brown heel boots on.

And is that lip gloss?

Has Niall lost top spot?

I say nothing but go over and sit next to Jamie as he starts the movie.

"Mum," Chloe says, "how long do you think Harry, I mean, they'll be?"

I decide to play dumb.

"Harry said they'd only be a couple of hours," I reply, "so probably by the time this movie finishes."

"Okay," she replies, and proceeds to recline herself on the couch, as she flips her hair over her shoulder. 

Then pulls it back over the front of her.

Then flips it back.

I hope she doesn't pull a muscle in her neck.

I turn my attention to the television as Jamie cuddles up to me and I try to focus on what is in the Chamber of Secrets.

Not that I haven't watched this at least fifty times already.

I feel my eyes start to grow heavy just as Harry and Ron are stuck inside Ron's car and the Whomping Willow tree is about to throw them out.

Next thing I know I'm sitting on my bed but I don't remember how I got here.

The door suddenly swings open and Harry stands there. 

But it's Harry Styles dressed as Harry Potter.

Holding a wand.

"Harry?" I ask as I'm pretty confused.

"Are you coming to class or not?" he asks.

"Uh...not?" I reply.

His eyebrows knit together in confusion until his face suddenly lights up.  He steps forward and kicks my door shut with his foot before he takes a few more steps towards me.

I can't help but swallow nervously.

"You want to see my Whomping Willow don't you?" he smirks.

I can't help but snort.

Harrys eyes narrow as he points his wand at me.

The one in his hand.

The wooden one.

The thin, wooden one.

The one that casts spells.

FUCK.

Not the one in his pants.

"I...um...Harry..." I start to stutter as his hands move to the button and zipper on his pants.

"Relax baby, my Whomping Willow is all for you..." he whispers seductively.

"Harry I don't know if I'm ready to see your Whomping Willow..." I begin to crawl back onto the bed as he advances towards me.

I can hear a loud knocking behind Harry.

Then it's out of his pants and I almost fall off the bed.

"Jesus, Harry, how big is that thing?" my eyes are wide as I can't help but look.

"Hard enough," he says as he wraps his hand around it and kneels on the bed.

I can hear the knocking again.

"No I don't want your Whomping Willow Harry!" I yell out as I sit bolt upright and open my eyes.

"Mum, the Whomping Willow was on ages ago," Jamie says without taking his eyes off the movie.

"What?  Yes of course it was," I say as I gulp.

I hear the knocking again and realise there's someone at the front door.

I shake my head to clear my thoughts and chuckle to myself.

Geez you dream some weird shit woman.

I dream about Harry and he's more like Harry fucking Potter.

I open the door and jump a little as I almost think I really am looking at a freaking Whomping Willow.

But it's actually a large fir tree that stands on the front step.

It suddenly moves a little to the left to reveal a very smiling Harry and Nick.

"Surprise Mum!" Nick says happily.

And that's when I notice how genuinely happy he looks.

And it's been awhile.

"Where would you like it?" Harry asks as he pushes the tree through the doorframe.  Nick follows behind, his hands carry shopping bags full of Christmas decorations.

"Oh my god!" Chloe screams.

"It's a Christmas tree!" Jamie's voice is at an equal level with his sisters.

They scramble off the couch and start the serious discussion of where the tree should go.

Harry holds onto the tree, looking very pleased with himself, however his smile drops as soon as he looks at me.

"Is this not okay?" he asks me.

"It's fine," I say, even though I can feel my eyes fill with tears.

He looks at me, his beautiful face full of doubt.

"Here Harry!  Right here!" Chloe says as she points to the corner of the room.

Nick pulls the tree stand out of a bag and takes it over as Harry carries the tree behind him and they secure it to the base.

"Can we decorate it Harry?" Jamie asks him.

"Of course," he says, "it's all yours."

Boxes of decorations are now being opened, tinsel flung around and Christmas lights are being untangled and the look on their faces is absolutely priceless.

They're full of joy and excitement.

And I suddenly hate myself for it.

I had tried to take it away from them and the guilt washes over me in waves.

The room suddenly feels too hot and I have to leave it.

I quietly walk out the front door, the cool air is comforting on my heated skin.

I walk a few metres away and stop at a nearby fence.  My hands grasp the wire as I look out over the field and it is another reminder of home.

"Beth?" I hear Harry behind me, "I'm so sorry if I've hurt or offended you.  I certainly didn't mean to."

I shake my head to indicate he hasn't.

I feel him stand behind me, to the side but still behind me.

I can't look at him.

I'm a horrible, horrible person.

I'm a horrible mother.

"You've made them so happy Harry," I begin and I feel a tear slide down my cheek and I brush it away with my hand.

"But I've upset you somehow in the process and I never want to upset you Beth, ever," his voice is laced with sadness and confusion.

"This is my own fault.  I tried to make them forget, because I want to forget and that was so wrong of me now, I see that," I say as I continue to look straight ahead.

I hear Harry take a deep breath behind me, but he doesn't say anything.

"I didn't want to be there again and I thought if we weren't it would be easier, it would be the best thing for them, no reminders," I start to talk more quickly, my words tumble out as I try not to cry, "I don't know if this the right thing anymore and I thought if we had no reminders of the day they wouldn't notice...maybe...I don't know..."

I am fully crying now; my hands frantically wipe at my cheeks as my tears don't stop.

I feel Harry's hand rest on the small of my lower back and he places a lingering kiss on the top of my head.

"I can't thank you enough for what you've done for them Harry," I say.

I hear Harry sigh before he finally speaks again.

"Beth," he whispers against my hair and I find it so comforting, "what are you trying to forget?"

My hands grip the wire of the fence even tighter as I try to stop crying, but I only succeed in letting out some pathetic whimper.

"Christmas," I finally answer in a strained voice.

Again there is silence.

"Why love?" he asks.

I turn my head to where his currently touches mine and I look up at him.  He returns my gaze, simply waiting for me to continue.

"My husband...," I let out the breath I'm holding in, "he died...last Christmas Day Harry," I whisper.