A/N: Thanks so much to everyone who's reading, voting and commenting on this, I really, really do appreciate it very much! xo

Harry's POV

After seeing mum safely inside, I start the drive home. I actually feel a bit excited to be honest. I've had a great lunch with her and I'm hopeful that this dinner will cap off the day beautifully.

I can't help but wonder what Beth will cook?

She was pretty open about her lack of ability to cook, but I'm sure it'll be lovely whatever she cooks. I probably should bring something though. It would be awfully rude of me not to.

I'll pick up something along the way.

Soon enough I'm back home and I glance at my car's dashboard and see that it's almost 5pm.

I turn the engine off and hop out of the rover. I go inside my house and head upstairs to change. I don't really need to shower so I swap my t-shirt for a black long sleeve shirt with a dotted print. It's one of my favourites. I don't really need to do anything else I don't think so I walk down the stairs and go to pick up my coat.

Wait.

Deodorant?

I lift up my arm and sniff.

Nah, I'm fine.

I think.

I run back upstairs and spray some on.

Just in case.

I'd hate to be accused of having smelly armpits.

I go back downstairs again and grab my coat for the second time as well as my wallet, sunglasses and keys.

I jog out to the car and hop in and begin the drive to Beth's.

I turn the radio on and start to tap along to the beat on the steering wheel. I'm in a damn good mood and I'm really looking forward to this.

Soon enough I'm in the main strip and my first stop is the florist.

What woman doesn't like flowers?

Those with hay fever probably.

Shit.

But it's winter. Surely it'll be fine.

I decide to chance it and head into the florist.

I settle on buying Beth some roses. There is a beautiful bunch of dark red ones and a dozen of those would be perfect. I pick them up and inhale their sweet perfume smell.

'Baby they're perfect, baby they're perfect for you,' I sing in my head.

What the hell Harold?

I shake my head and walk over to the counter and hand the roses over. The woman behind the counter proceeds to wrap some clear cellophane around them.

''Would you like a card for these?" she asks me.

"Sorry?" I reply.

"A card," she nods her head to the display stand on the counter, "do you want to write a note?"

Fuck.

What do I write?

Thanks for the dinner I invited myself to?

"I'll be right, thanks anyway," I decide the flowers alone are enough.

With the flowers now wrapped and paid for, I head back out and put them on the passenger seat of the car. I quickly duck across the road and into Waitrose to pick up some cheese and biscuits to have for after dinner.

I stand and look at the different varieties of cheese when a thought hits me.

Am I being over presumptuous in thinking Beth will want to have a late supper with me?

What if she hates me?

What if she hates cheese?

Who hates cheese anyway?

All the more for me I guess.

I decide on a brie and some swiss and then head to the biscuit section for some water crackers.

I should get something for the kids. A block of chocolate should do it.

I walk up to the front and wait my turn at the back of the queue. The girl behind the counter calls me up and I place my items down. I smile but don't really make eye contact with her.

I pay for my items and thank her as I take the bag from her to which she wishes me a good evening. I walk towards the exit doors when I hear someone behind me speak in a hushed whisper.

"Apparently he's having dinner with this skank of a woman tonight."

I stop dead in my tracks.

"Really?" the other girl scoffs in disbelief, "how on earth would you know that anyway?"

"She was here last night and was such a bitch. She had no money to buy food for her bratty kids," she continues, "and to be honest, she looked like she could eat a bit less herself."

Now I'm seeing red and I can't help myself but I suddenly find my feet turning my body around and quietly walking me back up to the counter before my brain even registers what I'm doing.

"I mean, what would he even see in someone like that?" she questions.

"As opposed to someone like yourself?" I ask her.

The young girl I recognise from last night stares at me, clearly in shock that I've overheard her. The other girl steps away, wanting nothing to do with the exchange.

I raise my eyebrows as I wait for a response. She shakes her head as if it will suddenly make everything go away. I'd like to think I'm pretty easy going and that I rarely get angry with people, but this girl is saying terrible and untrue things about my Beth and I can't pretend I'm okay with it.

Wait.

My Beth?

Well she isn't this girls Beth.

The girl looks close to tears and to be honest, I don't care. She's making awful accusations about someone she doesn't even know.

"You know why I love 'love' so much?" I quietly ask her.

She bites her lip and shakes her head slowly, her face red as a shaky breath comes from her as she exhales.

"It's because jealousy and nastiness makes people ugly," I snap at her before I turn on my heel and walk out before I say any more.

I angrily walk to my car and unlock it before I get inside and sit down, slamming the door behind me.

Fuck!

I hit the steering wheel with my hand before I run my hand through my hair in frustration.

I mean, I know I have this image to maintain and pretty much what you get is what you see with me, but that girl was way out of line.

To say nasty things about someone you don't even know like that?

Beth's nothing like that.

Wait, you don't even know what she's like Harold.

She just...she just wouldn't be.

I put my key into the ignition and turn the car on then pull the car out onto the road and continue the short drive to Beth's.

By the time I pull up in front of her house, I start to feel a bit calmer, the anticipation of the evening brings a smile to my face.

As I reach over to the passenger seat and grab the shopping bag and the roses, I realise I'm early.

I hope she doesn't mind.

I close the car door and walk up to the house, raising my hand to knock on it when I reach it.

Beth opens the door, a look of surprise on her face.

Maybe this wasn't such a good idea Harold.

"Sorry I'm early," I say, "I hope that's okay with you?" I smile sheepishly at her.

She quickly glances down at her clothes before she looks back up at me.

Oh she certainly doesn't need to change...the stripe top she's wearing hugs her...um, nicely?

"Of course Harry," she steps back and pulls the door open so I can enter, "in fact dinner's just simmering on the stove ready to serve."

"Thanks," I say as I walk in and I'm hit with the most delicious smell.

Beth closes the door behind me and gestures for me to walk in further.

"That smells amazing!" I say, "what is it?"

"Livers," Beth replies, "I hope you like them."

Shit.

My stomach drops down to my feet.

Lucky I bought cheese.

I've never thrown up on a date but there's always a first for everything I suppose.

Before I can think any more about it, Chloe walks into the kitchen and notices me standing there.

"Harry!" she says, a smile spreads over her face, "we've just finished cooking dinner for you!"

"So I hear," I reply.

"Mum's chicken risotto is so yummy!" she continues enthusiastically.

"Chicken livers?" I ask.

She pulls a face that suggests I've just told her Niall is leaving One Direction.

"Ewww...no!" she cries, "it's just normal chicken Harry!"

I look over at Beth who I see is trying not to smirk.

"Funny," I say.

"I try," she replies.

"Ooh they're nice flowers!" Chloe exclaims, "are they for me?"

Beth turns around and moves to the stove to stir the risotto, biting her lip as she tries not to laugh.

I'm not quite sure what to do.

I don't think Beth would be upset with me if I gave her daughter the roses. On the other hand if I still give them to Beth, I don't think I want to see Chloe get angry with me...

"Yes," I hold the roses out to her, "these are for you."

Chicken shit.

Chloe's face lights up like it's Christmas morning.

"Thank you Harry!" she looks up at me for a moment before she walks over to me and hugs me around the waist. I've hardly had time to return it before she lets go and runs into the lounge room.

"Oh boys!" she yells, "Harry bought me flowers. He bought me roses!"

I hear Beth sniggering over at the stove.

"What's so funny?" I ask.

"Wait for it," she says.

"Mum! Why does Chloe get something from Harry?" Jamie comes marching into the kitchen, "she always gets stuff."

"Do you want roses from Harry?" she asks him.

"Well...no..." he says.

Shit.

Then I remember that this kid likes his food. I quickly pull out the block of chocolate and hold it out to him.

"For after dinner," I smile as I give it to him and hope it's enough.

"Oh you're awesome Harry! Like, Niall was my favourite in One Direction before but you're my favourite now!" he says before he runs back into the lounge shouting, "hey Nick! Harry gave us chocolate!"

"You have to share with me too Jamie!" Chloe argues.

"You got flowers Chloe so you can eat one of those!" Jamie retorts.

"Dinner!" Beth suddenly calls out, cutting in before a full-on argument looks ready to break out.

"So what do I get?" Beth turns around and leans back against the bench, her arms crossed in front of her chest.

I hold the bag out to her.

"Um...cheese?" I reply, "I mean who doesn't like cheese right?"

"Lactose intolerant people," she responds with a straight face.

Fuck.

Is she lactose intolerant?

Well this is bloody awkward.

"I'm kidding Harry," she smiles, "who doesn't like cheese right?" she repeats my question as she takes the bag and puts it into the fridge.

She points to the cupboard.

"Can you get some bowls out please?" she asks.

"Of course," I reply as I remove my coat and go over to hang it on a hook by the front door.

I turn around to see her staring at me before she moves to pull the large pot off the stove and over to the bench. I place five bowls down and watch as Beth fills them up. My mouth is watering at the smell of it. The kids come over and it's a whirlwind as they pull out glasses and pour themselves some juice before grabbing a fork each and taking a bowl over to the table.

"Wine?" Beth asks me, as she takes out a bowl of shaved parmesan to put on top of the risotto.

"Yes please," I reply as I search for a couple of wine glasses.

Beth passes a bottle of white wine to me and I open it and pour it into the glasses for us and then bring them over to the table.

We're finally settle at the table with our food and drinks before the kids start eating like they've been starved of food.

I take hold of my glass and raise it over to Beth and she does the same.

"What shall we toast to?" she asks.

Um...

"To no chicken livers!" I say.

"To no chicken livers!" Beth laughs.

We sip at the wine and it is crisp and cool on my tongue. I place the glass down and pick up my fork to taste the risotto.

It tastes as good as it smells.

The chicken with the pumpkin and the spinach and the parmesan...dear god.

It's like angels weeping on my tongue.

I must have inadvertently made some sort of noise as everyone looks at me.

"This is good," I say, "really, really good!"

"We know," Jamie says, "dibs on leftovers for tomorrow!"

"We'll see," she says kindly to him.

I can't help but let out another small moan of appreciation of the dish Beth's made, which earns giggles from the kids.

"It's alright Harry," Jamie says to me, "let it out!" to which I see him shift to the side and let a fart rip.

"Jamie!" Beth says.

Then an almightly noise comes from Nick as he burps.

"Nick!" her voice is getting higher, "what have I said about doing this at the dinner table?"

"To do it loud!" Jamie says before they all lose it in a fit of laughter.

"I'm so sorry," Beth apologises to me.

I'm actually trying not to laugh as I was just the same when I was their age. Beth notices me as I snigger.

"Don't bloody encourage them!" she whispers to me, as she fights a smile herself.

"Oh mum come on!" Nick says, "it's not like you can't burp the alphabet!"

I look at Beth who's face has now turned as red as the roses I bought.

"You are no longer my favourite," she looks Nick dead in the eye.

"OHHHHHHHH!" Jamie and Chloe point and laugh at their brother.

I can't help but laugh and smile along with them, the dynamic of the four of them is infectious and I certainly don't feel like an outsider as they laugh and banter.

I decide to go for it and open my mouth and burp out loud as well.

All four sets of eyes turn to look at me in silence.

Shit.

Then the kids begin to laugh and scream hysterically and Beth is left shaking her head and just continues to eat.

"I give up," she mutters, but I see the twinkle in her eye as she takes a sip of her wine.

Yes this definitely has the beginnings of a beautiful evening.