Chapter Text
It was late on a Friday night in a small town just outside the city and Louis was busy wiping down the coffee and hot chocolate machines before tackling the tedious task of putting them back together. It was rather slow in his mum’s coffee shop that evening and after a long week with his daughter, Mia, a good night’s sleep was just what Louis needed. If completing all of the cleaning duties before closing time meant he could close the shop and be sleeping by midnight, then he was determined to work as quickly as he could.
As he pulled out a couple stacks of cups and inserted them into their holders, he couldn’t help but think of how thankful he was for everything his mum, Cathy, has done for him and Mia. She wasn’t particularly thrilled with the fact that Louis was not only pregnant, but also the idea that he was planning on keeping his baby with his then boyfriend, Alex. Still, she gave him a job at her coffee shop to help him earn what he could to support her granddaughter.
When things between the couple began to go south and Louis reluctantly approached his mum about his limited options, she never hesitated in helping him out. His mum never had a lot, especially having seven kids of her own, but she decided to convert the office above the shop into a one bedroom apartment so Louis could raise his daughter on his own. Not only did she give them a place to stay but she allowed Louis to work around Mia’s schedule. Since his daughter was only two, Louis depended on Alex to pick her up and watch her every other weekend so that he could work. While he appreciated all the sacrifices his mum had made, he dreamed of the day he was independent. More than anything, he really wanted to find a proper place for them to live, somewhere that had a park nearby for Mia to play until the sun went down. He also hoped that one day he would be able to find a better job and give Mia everything her little heart desired.
Focused on cleaning, Louis didn’t hear the ding of the bell, indicating someone had come into the shop. “Hello.” A man’s deep voice reclaimed his attention.
“Oh hi, I’m so sorry I didn’t hear you come in. I’ll be with you in just a moment.” he said as he finished pushing the last of the cups into their slot and went to the sink to wash his hands.
“It’s alright, take your time,” the man said. “I’m not in a big rush tonight.”
Louis dried his hands before he turned around to look at the customer. “What can I get for you today sir?” he asked as he stared straight into the man’s eyes. Oh wow, he thought to himself, that looks an awful lot like Harry Styles but there is no way Harry Styles would ever find his way into this tiny little shop though, right? I mean there wasn’t much around here for a famous pop star to do. Besides, he had never seen a picture of him wearing baggy sweats and a hoodie with a baseball cap before. Every picture his best friend, Liam, showed him, Harry always dressed in a pair of black skinny jeans and a t-shirt from some old band that Louis generally never cared too much about. What Liam would do right now if he knew. But it couldn’t really be the Harry Styles, could it?
“Could I just get a coffee please? Also, do you happen to have any scones?” maybe Harry asked, interrupting Louis’ thoughts. He reached up and removed his hat and set it on the counter top near the cash register, waiting for the smaller man to answer.
“We have a-a few scones left in the display case right over here,” he stammered, moving toward the enclosed glass display counter and pointing. “A couple of cheese and one raisin is all we have left at this time of night... They tend to be popular with the older men that come in for their afternoon tea. Oh, uh, what size would you like for your coffee, sir?” He rambled.
“I will try a cheese scone, please, and could I trouble you to put some butter on it for me? And I guess I will just have a small coffee. Likely a good idea if I plan on getting any sleep tonight.” he answered with a very calm, monotone voice. “And please, call me Harry, I always feel so old when people call me sir.” Harry smiled.
He looked him directly in the eyes. “Of course, H-Harry,” he stuttered, using a small square of wax paper to grab a cheese scone and carry it over to the sandwich counter. He cut it in half and slathered some butter on both halves before he placed both halves back together. “Would you like this for here or to go?”
“I’ll have it here if you don’t mind my company for a little while,” Harry said as he looked around the little shop, noticing they were the only two people inside.
Louis gently placed the buttered scone on a plate and took out a small china mug and filled it with coffee and set them on the counter beside Harry’s hat. “Milk and sugar are over on the counter at the end.” Louis directed Harry with his hand. “Enjoy,” Louis told him with a smile after he rang his order in the register and put Harry’s money neatly away inside the till before shutting the drawer. “There are a few magazines and some books, I think, on that table over there if you are in need of something to read.” Louis told him as he pointed to a table in the middle of the dining section of the tiny shop.
Harry thanked the blue eyed man very much and took a seat near the rear of the shop at a cozy little table for two. This place was perfect, exactly what he needed right now. He has been on the road touring for awhile now and was tired of all the media and fans and everyone constantly watching his every move. He needed just a couple of hours to feel like a normal person again before he felt like he might actually go insane; a moment to slip by unnoticed and unseen by a camera or some crazed fan. He really did love his job and loves his fans - he loved how happy he could make them when he ran into them on the street, or the feeling he got when they sang the words to his songs back to him while he was on stage. Heck, he even loved how much his fans thought they really knew about him, as annoying as it got sometimes.
Harry picked up the scone and took a bite as he relaxed into his chair and watched as the man behind the counter picked up a cloth and wiped the counter where his food had been prepared. “This scone is delicious… I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name,” Harry politely said.
Louis stood up straight, stopping what he was doing and looked in Harry’s direction, “Who, me?” he asked awkwardly, still not believing that Harry Styles himself walked into his mum’s shop and is attempting to make small talk with him.
“Well, no one else is here, silly.” Harry giggled and smirked back at him.
“Louis,” he simply stared debating whether he should try to take a quick picture of Harry and text it to Liam. Harry was his favourite singer after all, and what kind of best friend would he be if he didn’t. “My name is Louis, and my mum makes all the scones we sell here herself.” He thanked him for the compliment and put his cell phone back in his pocket, deciding to give Harry his privacy. “I will pass along the compliment though.”
“What a lovely name, Louis. I’ve never met a Louis before and I have met a lot of people.”
“I bet you have,” Louis giggled, before tilting his head with curiosity “What brings you here to our little coffee shop, if you don’t mind me asking. I mean it’s not every day we have a famous pop star like Harry Styles walk in.”
“I don’t mind a little conversation,” Harry turned his chair to face him. “I just needed some time to myself, a little quiet time away from all the cameras and screaming is all. Don’t get me wrong, I adore all of my fans. It’s just that sometimes a person needs peace and quiet, a normal conversation that isn’t about work or someone wanting something from you. It is rather refreshing actually,” Harry said rather honestly.
Louis finished wiping all the counters and rinsed his cloth clean. He threw the wet cloth over the sink to dry before walking around from behind the counter and grabbing the broom. “I get that, it must be difficult sometimes - always having to be “on”, so to speak. I feel that way often, sometimes I just wish I could get away and have a day to myself. No one asking me for anything or expecting anything of me, maybe even not having to wake up to do anything in particular.” Louis lazily swept the floor, imagining what such a day might actually feel like.
“Absolutely,” Harry responds enthusiastically. “I mean, I love what I do and I really appreciate everything my fans do and enjoy meeting them everywhere and anywhere. I have just been working so much these last couple of years. I want some time off to be me and not in the spotlight. Like you said, a day to myself where no one wants or needs anything; where I can get up when I want and do what I want for the whole day.” He stared off into a daze, transfixed.
Louis had just finished clearing the display cases for the night when he heard the bell on the door ding as it opened with a rough bang, making him jump once more.
“Hey Louis, I thought that maybe I could just drop Mia off here tonight and you could close the shop early. You know, you could put your own daughter to bed yourself and then help me relieve some of the stress she’s caused me today,” Alex said as he barged in, not even looking around or seeming to care if anyone else was in the shop.
“Umm... Hi Alex,” Louis awkwardly said as he glanced in Harry’s direction “First of all, you know I can’t close the shop early. Secondly, there is actually a customer here right now,” He nodded his head in Harry’s direction. “Also, it is your night to have our daughter because you know I have to work. Mia should have been in bed hours ago,” Louis responded, rubbing his face in annoyance.
“I know she should have, but I was stressed and thought you could be just the thing to help with that.” Alex winked at Louis as he handed over a very sleepy Mia. Louis gently placed Mia in an armchair and covered her up with her blanket that she carried everywhere. He placed a kiss on her forehead as he spoke to her. “Hey baby girl, Daddy missed you, sweetheart.”
“Daddy... Sleep, please?” Mia quietly asked in a sleepy voice.
“Yes sweetheart, you close your eyes and go to sleep. Daddy will carry you up to bed when I finish talking to Papa, okay?” he assured as Mia allowed her eyes to close and let herself drift off to sleep.
Louis turned himself back to where Alex still stood waiting for a response. He winked at Louis, “Well, what do you say... I don’t even have to stay the night. It’ll only take a couple minutes. We can even just go into the back while she’s sleeping,” Alex suggested with want in his eyes.
“Are you actually being serious right now, Alex?” Louis whispered quietly, trying to not wake up his daughter and hoping Harry wouldn’t overhear what Alex was suggesting.
“Never more serious, honey,” Alex said, moving closer to Louis and placing his hands on his hips, pulling him closer to himself.
Louis gave him a look of complete disgust. “ No ,” Louis said, louder than he planned as he pushed Alex away from him. “Don’t you ever call me honey again. You know that when I left we broke up, and that means I am not at your beck and call anymore. Alex, you can’t come over whenever you want. Our only relationship now is co-parenting Mia.” he said, angry that Alex actually thought he would leave their daughter in the front of the shop with a complete stranger and give him a quickie in back.
“But baby, you were so good, and I miss your mouth and your body.” He slowly moved toward Louis again as Louis took a few more steps backwards, away from Alex. “I mean, look what you have already done to me.” He looked down between his legs at the bulge that had already started growing, before he looked back up into Louis’ eyes with a wide smirk all over his face.
“Oh my god Alex, you need to leave, just get out of here.” Louis was completely disgusted at this point. He was also feeling embarrassed, how could this possibly be happening tonight of all nights. Louis is beyond tired of this song and dance Alex played often and wished more than anything that there was a way someone else could watch Mia. She deserved to be loved by someone, someone more reliable, someone more committed to her, someone that would give her the world.
Alex continued his advances and moved closer toward Louis again, this time grabbing his ass and letting out a low growl. “Come on Louis, I know you haven’t gotten any since we’ve been apart. I thought you’d be happy that I came to you with my little problem instead of going to any of the other guys that have been begging me to come over tonight.”
“Excuse me! You thought this would make me happy?” Louis was trying his best to keep his voice down while still portraying how upset he was at whatever Alex was trying to pull. He didn’t want Mia to wake up or have any idea about what was currently happening around her. “I left you because you are a complete ass and treated me like shit. You no longer need to worry about my personal life as it isn’t any of your business who I have or haven’t been sleeping with. Please just leave.” Louis could feel Alex’s grip tighten around him. Louis tried to push his elbows between their bodies so he could make some space between them. He wasn’t comfortable with how far he was being pushed tonight and was beginning to struggle to get away.
Harry watched as Louis put forth great effort to try and get out of Alex’s grasp and couldn’t sit on the side lines anymore. He got up, walked over and looked right in Alex’s eyes. “Alex is it? I believe this young man has repeatedly asked you to leave. I think it would be wise if you listen to him before things go any further,” Harry said as he stared Alex down.
Alex let go of Louis’ ass, but didn’t move to leave. “Just a little lover’s quarrel - you know how guys are, am I right, mate?” Alex smiled at Harry.
“No, I have no idea what you’re talking about. Leave before I call the police.” Harry said firmly.
“No need to get them involved.” Alex put his hands up and backed away from them both. He looked at Louis as he backed toward the door. “You can deal with your daughter then.” Alex hissed as he walked out the door. “Don’t even think about letting her call me Papa or calling me for anything. I’m done with both of you. Have fun doing it alone, bitch.”
As the door to the shop slammed shut, Louis looked at his daughter still curled up sleeping peacefully, with an ache in his heart and tears threatening to roll down his cheeks. Then he quickly looked towards Harry still standing next to him. “I am so sorry about that, Mr. Styles. Your next coffee and scone is on me,” he said as he tried his best to hold everything inside and throw Harry a smile.
“Come on, Louis, it’s just you and me here now. She’s asleep and safe,” he nodded toward Mia, who was curled up and sleeping peacefully. “You don’t need to give me anything. I just stepped in to help before things went any further,” Harry explained, watching Louis’ expression carefully.
“You shouldn’t have had to see that. He was supposed to have her until after her nap tomorrow. It is my weekend to work,” Louis said, his emotions slipping through no matter how hard he tried to stay calm.
“It’s okay, Lou, really,” Harry rubbed his shoulder, hoping his nickname would go unnoticed. “Let me pack up my stuff and get out of your way. You probably want to close up and put that little one to bed anyway,” he told Louis, before going to pick up his belongings. He gently placed his dirty plate and coffee cup on the counter before resting his hat on his head and pulling his hoodie over top.
“Thank you.” Louis just watched Harry walk towards the door. “I mean - for stopping Alex.” A tear ran down his face. “You really didn’t have to do that... I’m sure I would have been okay,” Louis wiped his eyes with the back of his hand.
“It was nothing, nothing any normal human being wouldn’t have done anyway.” Harry opened the door and looked over his shoulder once more. “Take care of yourself and Mia, yeah?” he said as he stepped back out onto the street. “Maybe I’ll see you again.”
Just like that, Harry was gone. Not exactly how Louis had ever expected to meet a celebrity. Louis locked up the shop behind Harry and watched him walk down the street in darkness. Liam will never believe me when I tell him that I met Harry Styles and that he saved me from Alex’s shit, Louis thought to himself. He shook his head and let his thoughts focus on quickly finishing closing the shop so he could take Mia upstairs to bed. As he finished, he found himself quietly promising her that he was going to fix things and make everything better.