After another long day at work, Harry and Mia went to one of their favourite nearby cafes so that he could treat Mia to tea and cake as promised.

This wasn't an unusual outing for the two of them, since the pair seemed to enjoy cake just as much as each other, and after long days at work they would often come to this very cafe to unwind.

The cafe was a favourite of theirs in particular, mainly due to their odd decorations.

They had a quirky sense when it came to design, with books used as shades for the light bulbs that hung above, and mismatched teapots and mugs. Every table would have a little assortment of random flowers, however what it was held it wasn't the normal kind of vase. One table would have a typewriter holding the flowers, whilst another table would have bowl.

The place could be described as dollhouse for the unorthodox soul, and it was something that had Mia and Harry always coming back to it.

"Here you go," a waiter said, placing teapot and two mugs on the table, along with two slices of cake..

"Thank you," the pair replied, and then looked down at the sweet treat in front of them.

Harry was partial to a chocolate fudge cake, liking both the crumbly-cakes side to it and loving the gooey chocolate centre it had. For Mia, it was a carrot cake that did the trick, the sweet layer of icing it had on top felt like a taste of bliss.

"Tea and Cake, as promised," Harry then smiled at Mia.

This caused Mia to grin. "You're the best," she replied, picking up a fork and taking the first bite of her cake.

The taste of the cake instantly caused the smile on her face to widen from ear to ear. It was just what she needed after this day.

When she glanced towards Harry, he was just shaking his head at her in amusement, moving to pickup the teapot and pouring the beverage in both the mugs.

"Seriously, Harry. You're amazing," Mia smiled, taking another bite of her cake.

"I hope you continue to think that after what I tell you," Harry then said.

Mia looked him, and saw the guilt-ridden expression that he had on his face, something that left her completely bewildered.

"Nothing you will ever say would make me think different," she told him honestly.

Harry was the only person who believed in her enough to give her a chance, and although it may have been his pity that got her job, he still hired her and three years later, kept her employed.

Mia never though that she would ever have a boss like Harry, someone that would be so caring and guiding, someone would help her become better.

"I hope so," Harry sighed sadly.

He took off his own glasses for a moment, taking a small handkerchief from his pocket to wipe the lens, and then place them back on.

Mia noticed that he looked almost nervous in his actions.

"What did you want to say?" She then asked him, feeling a sense of worry grow within her, especially after seeing Harry's sad expression.

Instead of answering Mia's question, he smiled at her.

"First off, how's the cake?" he asked, gesturing towards the dessert.

Mia smiled, knowing that Harry was never really someone who could swiftly change the topic of conversation.

She then took another bite of her cake slice. "It's so good," she said, smiling happily.

"I'm glad," Harry nodded, taking a bit of his own cake and nearly letting out a moan at how good it tasted. "Dear me, this cake really is the best."

Mia waited for a moment, letting Harry eat his cake in peace, but she could tell that something wasn't right.

She placed her fork down onto the place next to her cake, and rested her arms on the table.

"Harry, what's going on? You're kind of scaring me," she said, feeling a little concerned.

From what she knew, Harry rarely ever was one to beat around the bush, the last time he did, it was to tell her that he ate the piece of cake she was saving in the fridge.

Harry let out a deep breath, and placed his fork down onto his plate as well and rested his arms on the table as well.

"Mia, I'm going to be retiring soon," he then stated.

She was stunned silent for a moment at this words, trying to process what she'd just heard from him - and then it hit her.

"What? No!" She exclaimed, her voice wasn't loud enough to disturb the other tables, however Harry could sense the sadness within it.

"I'm afraid so, dear." He nodded.

"But-...but, no. Why?" The ability to form a question was lost on Mia at the moment.

There was so much that she wanted to say but wasn't able to, it all seemed to be coming out as pure gibberish instead.

Harry hated seeing her like this, especially since Mia was like his own daughter. He didn't like seeing her upset.

"You see I'm sixty now, I'm reaching my old age," Harry tried to explain, but Mia shook her head at his statement.

"You can still work," she tried to reason with him.

Giving her a small smile, Harry tilted his head to the side a little. "I'm getting old, dear. I can't keep doing this."

"But I don't want you to go," Mia replied.

She knew that she almost sounded like a whiny child at this point, one who on their first day of school didn't want their parents to leave them behind in an unknown place.

Carter wasn't an unknown place to Mia, she had been there for years, it had become like a second home to her. However, without Harry there, it'd go back to feeling like just another workplace, hollow and empty.

"I know, but I promised Mrs Nelson, that when the kids are all settled, and we're comfortable, I would give her more time," Harry explained.

He couldn't help but smile, remembering how his wife, Leslie, threw a tantrum that he wasn't giving her enough time - which was in part true.

He had thrown himself into his work, and though he loved her unconditionally, he had been neglecting her. So, in order to please his wife, he made a promise, one which could keep her happy and it was now him he held up his part.

"You're really going to go?" Mia asked, but already knowing the answer to the question, she saw it in written on his face. He was leaving.

Harry nodded sadly.

"Yes," was all he could say.

There was a silence between the two of them after Harry's answer. The clatter of utensils against plates and other people talking echoed in the cafe, however the sad silence between Harry and Mia was louder than it all.

"I'm going to miss you, Harry." Mia then spoke, and he looked to her with small smile. "It won't be the same without you," she told him.

Mia felt glum after Harry's new, but smiled anyway. He was retiring for good reason, to be there for his wife, but then he wouldn't be there at the office.

Despite being a grown woman, he'd was like this safety blanket for her. Although, Mia knew if she was to truly become independent, than she needed this change.

"I'd hope not," Harry then laughed at her words. "Oh I'm going to miss you so much, sweetheart. Not to mention your coffee," Harry joked, his attempt at lightening the mood.

Mia looked down, and began to pick at her cake, moving some of the crumbs around.

"When are you going to leave?" she asked.

"I still got some time but even when I do, I'll be in for the occasional check-in's," he then told her, which put an instant smile on her face.

Mia pointed her fork in his direction.

"You'd better," she told him, trying to be as threatening as she could, but her mouth twitching into a smile betrayed her tone.

Harry's heart warmed at the sight of her smile.

"I just wanted you to be the first to know, before someone else tells you," Harry said.

He'd made the decision for days now, already having spoken to Richard about it. He wanted to tell Mia himself, knowing that if she'd heard it through office gossip, it would hurt her.

Mia felt happy to know how much Harry cared for her feelings.

"That's the real reason you took me out to tea and cake, right?" Mia quirked her brow, playfully calling Harry out.

He let out a boisterous laugh in response.

It was the real reason and Harry knew Mia would catch on soon enough.

"I always knew you were a smart one," he grinned.

Mia shook her head gently, rolling her eyes at him too.

"Now let's get to it, before the tea gets cold," he stated and both Mia and Harry raised their tea cups towards each other. then smiled.

"To your retirement," Mia smiled.

"To the future," Harry then said.

Clinking their cups together and then taking a sip, the of them to got back to their cake and moving towards a lighter topic of conversation.

Mia was blissfully unaware of the fact that Harry leaving, was the first in a lot of future changes.