#royalfanficcentral

“Oh you are too hard on yourself dad! You are handsome for a guy your age.” Alexa chuckled lightly.

Ben turned around and took a glance around the restaurant searching for something. “So, no paparazzi here today?” He forced a playful grin, hoping to make light of his daughters current situation.

“No, daddy. Guess I lost them on the way.” Alexa followed along with his humor. When her father saw how the media had been following and harassing his daughter, Ben did not take too kindly to it. He even phoned Prince Andrew like any protective father would to try to help her in anyway he could. He was advised that it would blow over soon and they would be onto the next royal news.

“I see that you have already ordered for me. Thank you, sweetie.” His dad smiled.

“Yes, I got you a steak, medium cooked with a fully loaded potato and salad instead of fries.” Alexa informed her father who narrowed his eyes at his daughter.

“What? Mom told me you and her were on a diet and made me order a salad!” Alexa tossed the blame towards her mother.

“That sneaky little women. I thought I would be able to get this passed her today.” Ben shook his head and pointed his finger at Alexa. “You can never get anything past that women I swear.”

His features morphed into a more serious tone. “Now, how have you been doing with everything? I know a lot has changed in the last few weeks.” Ben alluded to the fact of the release that his daughter would a part of the royal bridal party and with that came the hounding of the press.

“Dad...” Alexa was hesitant to bring it all up again. When the news first broke, she had ignored her family and to this day never gave an explanation as to why. It took her a few days before she would even send them a message and explain everything. Each member of her family had been supportive of her and even her brothers attempted to both walk her to and from work until things died down, to which she graciously denied.

“Things are getting better honestly. Like Andrew told you they have now moved on to someone else.” Alexa began. “But, there was something I wanted to tell you and I do not want you to tell mom yet, ok?”

Ben nodded in understanding and silently waited for her to continue.

“Promise?”

“Lexi bear, I am not going to tell your mother... unless...?” His eyebrow raised in suspicion.

Alexa sat back in her chair and sighed. “No, I am not pregnant dad.”

Ben released the breath he was holding. “Oh thank god.”

“I have a boyfriend.” Alexa knew this would almost warrant the same reaction out of her father after what happened with Reese.

Her father sat there in utter silence no doubt his mind going through on how to get rid of the guy already. “When did this happen?” Ben curiously asked.

“We have been dating for a few months and its been official for almost two.” Alexa confessed with a soft smile spreading her lips. “The reason why I wanted to tell you is that....” She paused briefly. “I was with him that week when the news broke... those days that I was ignoring you.” Benjamin angled his head at his daughter, his blue eyes starting to form a glaring stare.

“No, no.” Alexa stopped to explain. “He was the one encouraging me to talk to my family, but I just couldn’t. I told you now...well, because I wanted you to know I wasn’t alone when it happened. I know you guys were worried about me....”

“I see.” Her father was short for words. “I take it things are going well then? He’s treating you right?” Ben’s fatherly instincts came forth.

Alexa’s blue eyes smiled, matching the beaming grin on her lips. “Yes, daddy. He treats me very well.” She giggled lightly. “He can be quite protective like you sometimes.” Alexa drew the similarity between Harry and her father.

“Why can’t I tell your mother then?” He leaned in from across the table. “Why are you hiding your relationship with this guy?”

She took in a deep breath and sighed. “It’s a bit complicated...” Alexa did her best to try and explain without letting on the whole truth. “We are taking our time getting to know each other... yes that was my idea...” She added before continuing. “We don’t want any outside pressures in our relationship at the moment and we all know if you tell mom then she will want to meet him.”

“And you aren’t ready for that yet?” Benjamin nodded his head. “Or are you afraid that if we do meet him.... then you are in a serious relationship like you thought you were in with Reese... and that terrifies you?” Her father hit the nail on the head.

Alexa was rendered speechless, being unprepared for her fathers truthful statement hitting her square in the chest. She sat there across from her father and slowly nodded, not even realizing that was the real reason for her holding back in her relationship with Harry.

“Yeah... it’s scary dad.” Alexa squirmed in her seat. “Putting yourself out there to trust someone again like that.” She confided in her father like she always had.

Ben sat back in his chair and glanced at his daughter for a few silent moments before speaking. “You know, Alexa. It’s ok to be fearful of things in life, but you cannot let that fear chose how you live your life. Sometimes all it takes is a little trust and a little faith.”

Alexa let those words sink in. “You always give the best advice dad.” She smiled warmly at her father. “You aren’t upset that I kept this from you...?”

“No! Not at all! Why would I be?” Ben shook his head at his daughter. “Look, Lex. If you think your heart is ready for a relationship again then go for it.” A grin stretched across his lips. “But, promise me this one thing. Don’t hold back because of the past, because that is the past and not the future.”

Alexa reached out and placed her hand on the back of her fathers. “Thank you daddy, I needed to hear that.”

“Of course, sweet heart. You know I am always here for you.” Their food had arrived just on time and they dived into their dishes as silence fell between them.

“I do want to meet him though.” Ben chewed on a bit of his steak. “Show him that I am definitely more protective of you, than he is.”

“Oh no....” Alexa giggled nervously. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

—————————

Alexa sifted through her purse to try and find the keys to her flat while Harry stood patiently beside her carrying the alcoholic drinks and snacks for tonight. “Ah! Found them!” She giggled lightly seeing Harry role his eyes.

“It’s about time! Thought my arm was going to bloody fall off.” He teased back at her.

She turned the doorknob to unlock the door. “I did offer to help you!” Alexa opened the door to allow his royal protection officers in to ensure the flat was safe for the prince to enter. Alice, her roommate was home and had become accustomed to these searches.

“I’m happy that you are going to meet, Jay. I think you two will really hit it off.” Alexa talked quietly with Harry at the entrance waiting for the all clear.

“I am more concerned about your other friends. Which one is the one I need to charm again?” Harry tilted his head down at his girlfriend.

“Hallie. She’s the tough one to crack.”

Today was the day that Harry was going to meet Alexa’s closest friends. It had been a week since their fight at Kensington Palace and even though Harry was required to go back to base, they spent long hours in the evening working out things in their relationship that had come to light during the fight. Harry did admit that he had never fully forgiven Eugenie for making Alexa cry that night at the pub and everything seemed to re-surface during the fight.

Harry had witnessed that his fighting with Eugenie was literally tearing Alexa apart and if he had any hope of staying with her, then he would have to grin and bear it with his cousin and find somehow to move on from all this with Eugenie. Alexa did confide in him that Eugenie was less willing to forget things with Harry and move on. She had been ignoring Eugenie all week simply because she could not deal with it all at once. All Eugenie did was complain about either the wedding or Harry and quite simply, Alexa needed to take a step back for a while. The decision she made with a heavy heart and held onto the hopeful fact that this would blow over soon and she could get her best friend back. 

The prince received a call midday during the week from Alexa and she basically told him that he was staying with Alexa at his flat this weekend so she could introduce him to her friends. He did not hesitate to agree and when he asked her what changed her mind about it all, all she said was she received some good advice to take a chance. They had spent the night in last night, helping one another create a meal to enjoy with a few bottles of wine and a suspenseful action film that Harry chose, enjoying each other’s company in the process.

“All clear, sir.” His RPO returned and stated that they would wait down in the car and lobby for the prince.

Alice was close in behind the RPOs and greeted the couple. “Hey Lexi!” She pulled her flat mate into a warm welcoming hug before welcoming Harry back in. “Harry, pleasure as always!” They exchanged kisses on the cheek before Alice insisted on taking the groceries to the kitchen.

Jay was standing there quietly in the kitchen and quickly enveloped Alexa into a hug. His tall frame, nearly the height of Harry had to bend down and embrace her. “Jay! It’s been forever since I last saw you.”

He flashed a warm smile down at his girlfriend’s flat mate. “I know, training has been keeping me busy in Germany lately.”

Harry placed the packs of beer and bottles of wine on the kitchen counter, making Alexa turn back and smile at him. “Jay, I want you to meet my boyfriend, Harry.” The prince had rounded the corner of the counter and shook Jays hand firmly.

“Your highness, pleasure to meet you.” Jay’s grip was firm, but his kind smile made Harry feel right at home.

“Just Harry is fine, Jay. Nice to meet you finally.” He leaned up against the counter. “These girls have told me a lot about you.”

Jay tossed his head back in laughter. “Nothing good I am sure.”

Alexa leaned into Harry and placed an arm around her boyfriend, snaking it around his waist. “Jay works for the Military in Intelligence, developing software of some sort.” She explained to Harry, giving him a hint that they had the military connection between them.

“Oh, that’s really interesting.” Harry looked back up to Jay. “How long have you been doing that for?”

“Eight years now. Four years overseas and now been steadily between London and Germany.” Jay had asked Harry about his military background and talked about his flight training.

“Why don’t you two boys go and watch the rugby game while we prep some food for tonight.” Alice suggested as the two guys seemed to really hit it off right from the start like Alexa knew they would.

“You sure babe?” Jay locked in Alice’s gaze and she smiled a beaming quiet smile in reply. “I hope you are not an All Blacks fan, Harry!”

Alexa had grabbed two chilled beers from the drink fridge and set them on the counter for Harry to take into the living room. The prince came back around the kitchen island and placed a hand on Alexa’s hip while grasping the beers. “Let us know if you need any help, ok?” He watched her green eyes staring up at him fondly.

“I will, go have fun with Jay.” Alexa stood up on her tippy toes and captured the princes lips in a quick tender kiss.

—————

Alexa blindly reached down and grasped Harry’s hand, holding onto it with a tight grip. The nerves within her were building with each passing minute and Alexa’s friends had just rang to be allowed in. Harry sensed his girlfriend’s anxiety and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.

“Come on, let’s go meet your friends.” He spoke with an air of confidence.

Pushing himself off of the sofa, he pulled Alexa along behind him towards the door. Alice had followed in behind them, but went into the kitchen to allow the couple to greet them first.

The blonde closed her eyes and released a deep sigh before peaking up at the calm prince. “I know they will love you, I am just nervous.” She confessed to Harry.

“That’s understandable. I promise I won’t embarrass you... too much.” A cheeky grin formed on his lips as he winked.

“Henry!!” Alexa shook her head back at him. Before she could speak another word, a knock on the door interrupted her. “Well.” She breathed out. “No turning back now.”

Alexa took a step forward with Harry behind her and grasped the handle of the door, opening it to reveal a smiling Naomi carrying a bottle of wine and Hallie behind her with a stack of games and snacks.

“Alexa!” Naomi pulled her friend into a close hug and squeezed her hard. Opening her eyes, she caught a glimpse of Harry standing behind Alexa. “Hi Naomi, thanks for coming tonight.”

Naomi literally was frozen in place as she locked eyes with the prince. She had never met a member of the royal family and now one of her good friends was in a committed relationship with one. Not only one, but the world’s most eligible bachelor. Alexa had moved on to greeting Hallie as Harry stepped up and introduced himself to a shocked Naomi.

Harry recognized what was happening and this wasn’t the first time that it had happened to him. He offered a welcoming smile and held his hand out to shake Naomi’s hand. “Hi, I’m Harry.” The prince kept the introduction casual.

Naomi robotically stuck out her hand and gave Harry’s hand a weak shake. She was mesmerized by his deep blue eyes she that were no doubt given to Harry by his mother. Nodding her head, she broke the trance and smiled warmly back at him. “Hi.... Harry.” Naomi paused to gather her composure. “I’m Naomi.”

Alexa had greeted both of her friends and stepped back towards the prince, wrapping her arm around his waist casually. “Guys, I want you to meet my boyfriend.” The blonde lifted her head and locked in Harry’s gaze for a moment. “Naomi, Hallie.... this is Harry.” Her eyes drifted back towards her smiling friends as Naomi offered to shake Harry’s hand again awkwardly. Alexa couldn’t help, but giggle at her nervous friend but was thankful in how Harry down played it all and shook it again like nothing happened.

Hallie stepped in and opened her arms up to embrace the prince. “Hi, Harry. I’m Hallie! Sorry, but I am a hugger.” Alexa watched her friend offer Harry a welcoming hug. Stepping back out of the hug, Harry found his place back by Alexa’s side.

“It’s about time we met you!” Hallie broke the ice. “I almost didn’t believe Alexa when she told us that she was dating you!” Harry barked a laugh at Hallie’s comment.

“Well, you know I didn’t believe it myself that I convinced Alexa to date me!” Naomi and Hallie tossed both of their heads back in laughter.

“You and your jokes.” Alexa shook her head at the prince. “Alice and Jay are here too. Babe, can you take Hallie’s games into the living room and I can get these girls a drink?”

“Sure, love.” Harry kindly grabbed Hallie’s games and bags of snacks while the girls followed Alexa into the kitchen.

Naomi placed her bottle of wine on the counter and held her head in her hands feeling embarrassed. “Oh, Lexi I completely embarrassed myself in front of a royal!” Naomi’s black curls fell forward covering her embarrassed face she hid.

“It’s fine, Noe. Don’t worry about it.” Alexa placed her hand on Naomi’s back and gave it a re-assuring rub. “Besides, he’s not a member of the royal family tonight. He’s Harry, my boyfriend.”

“But, I SHOOK HIS HAND TWICE!” Naomi moaned again as the rest of them started to giggle at her expense. Alice had poured them all a drink and started to set out the rest of the prepped appetizers and snacks for tonight.

“Wow! Look at all of this food!” Hallie had already started to dive in. Alexa knew that Hallie would be the hard one to crack tonight and convince her that Harry was different than the man she read about in the gossip columns and papers.

Harry and Jay had returned to the kitchen, opposite of the girls. “Damn, seems like we are a bit outnumbered Harry.” Jay cracked a joke as the girls started to fall into laughter.

Alexa had remained silent and locked eyes with Jay. She silently mouthed a ‘thank you’ to her flatmates boyfriend who had welcomed Harry like he had been a long time friend. That afternoon, she kept hearing the guys chatting while watching the rugby game and it appeared they had got on well.

“Dig in everyone!” Alice opened the snacks up for grabs as everyone grabbed a plate to stock up on before they started the games.

——————

“A BIRD?!” Naomi hollered at the top of her lungs as the timer was nearing its end. She was trying so hard to figure out what Alice was gesturing for their, but it seemed so outrageous. “I DON’T KNOW! A FREAKIN PTERODACTYL!?” Alice stopped and shook her head in silence, having to remain quiet.

Jay sat back and carefully analyzed Alice’s gestures. “Babe, please don’t ever pursue an acting career, I have no idea what the hell you are doing?!” He was fed up and grabbed his beer to sip on.

The buzzer rang. “TIMES UP!” Alexa bounced in the seat next to Harry. “What was it Alice?”

“Flight of the Phoenix.” Alice tossed her arms up in the air. “You see... I rose from the ashes like a phoenix...” Her flatmate re-inacted slowly. “Then took flight.”

“Ya...Alice. I don’t think anyone would have gotten that.” Hallie sipped on her wine before releasing a light chuckle.

The group had decided to play a game of charades and split themselves into two teams. Jay, Alice and Naomi were on one team, while Harry, Alexa and Hallie made up the other team. Hallie was next up to act. She jumped out of the big lounge chair and grabbed a card that gave her a clue as to what she needed to act for Harry and Alexa.

Her eyes locked onto the couple that were sharing the love seat. She saw Alexa’s hand settle on Harry’s knee as they both were sat on the edge of the seat eagerly ready to start guessing. “Ready?” Hallie’s dark brown eyes widened as they both nodded simultaneously. “If we get this, we can win!”

“Let’s go Hallie. You can do this.” Harry was sweetly encouraging Hallie, giving her the confidence to proceed. Hallie smiled and nodded for Naomi to start the timer and begin the round. With Hallie acting out gestures silently, Harry and Alexa started yelling out their guesses.  

“Song?” Alexa questioned as Hallie held up a pretend microphone to her lips, but shook her head no, wanting them to keep guessing.

“Singer?! It’s a singer.” Hallie nodded with a beaming smile at Harry’s guess and started to point to her hair and ran over to Harry and tapped his hair.

Alexa looked completely confused at what Hallie was doing. “The singer Prince?” Hallie started to giggle as did the rest of the group, but it still was not the correct answer. Her friend continued the same gesture until she made the connection. “Oh! HE’S A GINGER SINGER!”

She yelled as Harry barked a laugh along with the rest of the group.

“ED SHEERAN!” Harry screamed the correct answer finally.

“YES! OMG! I thought you were never going to get that.” Hallie came and high fived the couple.

“Wait...” Harry spoke up, “Hallie were you comparing me to Ed Sheeran or just the ginger hair?” He jokingly teased the mixed Asian beauty.

“Clearly...” Hallie paused for a moment. “Comparing you to Ed Sheeran!” Harry made a less than impressed face as the rest of the group laughed at his expense.

Alexa tossed her head back in laughter knowing for a fact that Harry hated being compared to the singer. It felt good watching Hallie and Harry being able to have a banter with one another despite Hallie’s voiced concerns about Harry.

The game had finished and the group fell into a comfortable conversation as they got a chance to learn more about Harry first hand while the drinks flowed steadily. Naomi and Hallie had cuddled up together on the big lounge chair silently watching their friend beside Harry, seeing how close they were together and hardly went a second without having some sort of physical contact.

Naomi rested her head on Hallie’s shoulder and silently observed how relaxed both of them appeared. The couple had settled back comfortably on the sofa next to one another. Alexa was explaining a story to the group, but Naomi’s eyes stayed on Harry. His eyes had drifted to his girlfriend, silently sitting there and listening to her tell the story, but his eyes stared down at Alexa adoringly and appeared to be quite captured by the blonde beauty sitting next to him.

She saw how they blindly found each other’s hand and entwined their fingers together. Harry soothingly rubbing his thumb along the side of her hand, letting Alexa know that he was there.

Naomi was foremost a hopeless romantic, the one that believed that true love existed and that it was out there for everyone. She had seen Alexa at her worst after the breakup and heartache of Reese. But, seeing how happy her friend was sitting next to the prince of England made her heart swell with happiness. It wasn’t though Alexa had snatched a prince, it was the evident way how they outwardly showed care for one another as a couple truly falling in love. It wasn’t a facade or a relationship of means to Harry like Alexa’s relationship with Reese had been. Naomi could sense that this was different not only to Alexa, but how serious Harry was trying to get know every aspect of Alexa’s life.

Alexa had ended the story as a silence fell between the group. “Who needs more drinks?” Being the host, it was her duty to ensure everyone had a full glass.

“I will have more wine, lovely.” Hallie stuck out her hand being unable to get up as Naomi nearly had her body plunked down on her fully. Alexa grabbed the glasses as Harry stood up behind her to help.

“Here love, let me help you.” Alexa’s boyfriend grabbed some of the glasses from her and followed the blonde into the kitchen that would give the couple a quick break to check in on one another. He sat them down on the counter and turned around to see Alexa reaching up top to grab a bottle of wine. Her shirt had rode up exposing her abdomen. Harry came up behind Alexa and placed his hands on her hips as she felt them running up along side of her abdomen.

Alexa started to giggle as she had successfully grabbed the bottle of wine and came back down to his level. But, his hands still wandered beneath her shirt, feeling the sensation of his fingers trail to the middle of her abdomen. Harry rested his chin on her shoulder and released a sigh.

“You ok, love?” Alexa placed the bottle of wine on the counter and reached back to play with his ginger hair.

“Mmmhm. I’m great. You ok?” He felt Alexa start to turn around to face him, loosening the grip on her waist. She turned around and placed her hands on his chest before lifting her head to smile back up at him adoringly.

“I really love that you are meeting my friends tonight. You don’t know how much this means to me and how amazing you are with them, being so welcoming and playful.” Alexa stood up on her tippy toes and nudged Harry’s nose with hers. “I want them to know the man I am falling in love with...” She rested her head against Harry’s forehead as a comfortable silence fell between them, letting those expressed words settle.

They stood there in a silent embrace, not needing words to further convey their feelings for one an other. Alexa and Harry had already expressed to one another that they were falling in love when she had made her trip out to Suffolk, which of course had changed the trajectory of their relationship in many ways. But, with the recent fights with Eugenie and Alexa questioning her future relationship with not only the princess, but with Harry, it still felt amazing to hear Alexa say it again.

“You know that if it’s important to you, it’s important to me now.” His finger lifted Alexa’s chin delicately before he leant down and captured her lips softly. Their lips locked in an embrace as the world around them disappeared for a moment. All their cares and fears drifted when they were with one another. There connection was so deep, neither one of them could find the words to explain what drew them toward one another.

Alexa felt Harry start to break away, her hand flew to the back of his neck and indicating for Harry to not stop. He took in a quick breath and continued their kiss, deepening it further as he cupped Alexa’s cheek to hold in tenderly.

They had become oblivious to their surroundings as footsteps approached the kitchen, but their minds were still trapped in a cloud of lust that they didn’t hear a thing. All that the couple was focused on was one another.

“Do I need to send out a search part- ” Hallie rounded the corner and had caught Harry and Alexa locking lips. Alexa tore her lips off Harry and looked towards Hallie for a brief second before becoming embarrassed. Alexa’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she buried her head into Harry’s chest. The prince turned sideways to see Hallie standing there with her mouth open, starting to laugh at Alexa’s response.

Hallie smiled cheekily and locked in the prince’s gaze and he simply shrugged his shoulder. “Sorry Hallie. We can fix the drinks in a moment.” Harry broke the awkward silence between them.

“Ya, I am sure you will Harry.” Hallie popped her hip out and came further into the kitchen, surprising the prince. “Having a snog in the kitchen...” She couldn’t help but tease the couple.

Alexa lifted her head to glance up into Harry’s eyes. “Sorry.” She whispered up at him, knowing that this may put the brownie points he had won with Hallie to no good use.

The black haired beauty poured a few drinks and watched the couple come out of their embrace through the corner of her eye. “What’s your poison Harry?” Hallie glanced up at the prince waiting for his drink order.

“Bourbon, neat. On the rocks.” He ordered and saw Hallie grabbing a bottle of Bourbon that Harry had brought.

“Lexi, why don’t you take these drinks back to the girls.” Hallie pushed them towards Alexa. “While I have a little chat with Harry.” It wasn’t exactly a question more of a demand coming from Hallie.

Alexa sharply breathed out. All day she had a feeling that Hallie would interrogate Harry at some point this evening. She thought that after everything so far, that Hallie had seemed to get past the issues she harboured with the prince and moved on after getting a sense of who he was.

“Ya, that’s alright Hallie. Would love to have a chat.” Harry had down played it, having heard Alexa warn Harry that Hallie might want to talk to him tonight. “Is that alright, babe?”

Alexa’s eyes drifted towards Hallie and gave her a warning glare. She did appreciate how protective Hallie was over her, a trait that she had become accustomed to. “Be nice to him.” The blonde smiled kindly at her friend.

“You know I don’t bite...” Hallie paused for a moment. “... that hard at least.” She teased Alexa. “He’s a big boy, he can handle a little chat with me.”

Harry’s hand rubbed down the small of her back re-assuringly. “I will be fine, love.” He leant down and kissed her temple softly to convince his girlfriend that he would be ok with a little interrogation from a concerned friend.

Alexa took a few steps out of the kitchen before glancing back over her shoulder at Harry, seeing him staring at her as she walked away.

“Shall we take our drinks outside to the terrace for a chat?” Hallie suggested as the prince happily agreed.

“Lead the way.” He grabbed his drink and took a healthy sip of bourbon.

Harry followed Hallie out of the kitchen and passed by the living room through to the terrace. He sat down diagonally from Hallie and placed his drink on the smaller circle ceramic table. The sun was almost set but gave off enough light. The prince waited for Alexa’s friend to start the conversation and ask whatever she wanted about him. He was willing to be an open book for Hallie if it meant he could put her mind at ease about him dating Alexa.

“So...” Hallie began. “I have known Alexa for a long time now. I have seen her at her best of times.... and at her worst.” The black beauty eluded to the time after Reese and Alexa broke up.

“You mean what happened with Reese Kellington?” Harry already knew that was what she was trying to convey, but he wanted Hallie to know that Alexa had already confided in him about that whole situation.

“So, Alexa has told you what a complete jerk face that money hungry asshole did to her?” Hallie had quite a few choice words for that man.

“Yes.” Harry nodded and grabbed a quick sip of his drink. “We talked about that pretty early on and it was the reason why we were taking things slow for not only me, but Alexa. She had her own reservations about me because of who I was and the apparent social circles I run in, nearly the same ones as Reese.” He gave Hallie all the information she wanted from him.

“Then you can understand me not being easy won over again by someone like him.” Hallie narrowed her eyes at the prince, not being afraid to speak her mind like Alexa had warned him.

“I’d like to not be compared to Reese in anyway.” Harry firmly spoke. “I can understand your reasons to be cautious of me in order to protect Alexa from what she went through again... but Hallie.” His voice spoke her name. “I am not him.”

“Then who are you Harry?” Hallie was relentless. “Are you who the papers say you are? Are you still the same seem to be player like you were in your early twenties?”

The answer was relatively simple.

“I’m Alexa’s boyfriend who is falling in love with her more every single day.” Harry let down the walls and admitted it to Alexa’s friend, being as candid as possible. His answer took Hallie back a bit, being caught off guard.

“Look, Hallie.” The prince continued as he noticed Hallie remaining speechless. “I know you want to protect Alexa and quite frankly so do I. I never go into a relationship without thinking it through or feeling guilty that eventually if our relationship gets revealed, the amount of pressure and scrutiny Alexa would be under. I do not take those things lightly.” Hallie nodded silently, making Harry know that she was following it all.

“Alexa had been wanting me to meet her friends for quite some time now. She hasn’t said this right out to me, but I feel like she does need more support and people to vent or talk to about our relationship. She really only had Alice and Eugenie that knew about us seeing one another and I am happy that she can now confide in you and Naomi.” Harry leaned forward as a serious expression graced his face. “All that I am asking is that you get to know me like this, rather then put me in the same labels the press has done. Because I am more than a prince, more than a soldier and more than what they have made me out to be.”

Hallie sat silently for a few moments and let the words settle.

“Don’t stop questioning me or my intentions. Alexa needs a friend like you on her side.” Harry added one last comment.

Her headed lifted to lock in Harry’s gaze. “I won’t. But please don’t hurt Alexa.” Hallie’s features softened. “She will be the best thing that has ever happened to you, but people take advantage of her kind sweet soul.”

“She already is.” Harry’s lips spread into a beaming smile. “Any other questions or concerns?”

Hallie shook her head no. “Not at the moment, you seemed to have answered quite a few and for what it’s worth Harry. I can tell how happy you make Alexa.”

“Thanks, Hallie.” Harry stood up and enveloped Alexa’s protective friend into a hug. She caught a glimpse of Alexa staring at them in the living room through the French window paned door. A smile crept up on her lips seeing the two of them ending their chat in a hug.

“Let’s get you back to Alexa before she blows an aneurism at me interrogating you.” Hallie joked with the prince causing him to bark out a chuckle. He liked Hallie’s sense of humour at least.

The prince followed Hallie into the living room and sat down beside an anxious Alexa. He immediately grasped her hand and gave it a light squeeze before turning his attention away from the conversation to his girlfriend. She was peaking up at him with her beautiful green eyes that softened when she witnessed a beaming grin spread across Harry’s lips. Clearly, his conversation with Hallie had gone well and there was no further need for Alexa to worry. She leaned in and pressed her lips against his cheek for a quick peck silently whispering, “thank you.”

Naomi had been sitting next to the prince wanting to engage in a conversation with him to be friendly, but she did not know how to start. Harry had glanced towards her way and offered a warm kind smile having picked up on Naomi’s hesitancy. “So, Naomi how long have you known Alexa for?” He opened the conversation.

Naomi’s face lit up at the mere thought of it all before she even started to tell Harry the story of how they met. “Alexa and I went to the same primary school. I had just moved back from Geneva with my family and was the new kid in the school. When the teacher asked if anyone would like to show me around, Alexa’s hand flew up in the air.” Naomi started to giggle at the memory. She looked up to Harry and could feel his genuine interest in her story, giving Naomi his complete attention.

“So, friends at first sight then?” Harry added.

“I guess so.” Naomi nodded with a beaming smile.

“Are you Swiss then?” The prince was genuinely curious because of Naomi’s apparently mixed ethnicity, he was unsure of her background.

“No no.” Naomi shook her head. “My mother is half Philippino and half Scottish, while my father is English. Hence my mixed ethnicity. Most people are very curious of my background.”

“That is a wonderful mix though, I honestly would not have guessed it.” He smiled kindly towards her, making Naomi feel as comfortable as possible.

“We did grow up in Geneva for my first few years as my father was working for the United Nations there in the Human Rights sector. He still does to this day, but does most of his work out of London now.” Naomi leaned forward and grabbed her glass of wine.

“That’s quite remarkable. What do you do if you don’t mind me asking.” Harry had completely relaxed Naomi and she was able to put her anxiety aside and delve into a great conversation with Alexa’s boyfriend, even being able to ask some questions of Harry too in order to get to know him better.

———————

“It was great meeting you again, Harry.” This time Naomi was comfortable enough to give Harry a hug goodbye. His arms wrapped around her frame and gave it a gentle squeeze.

“You as well, Naomi. Hope we can do this again sometime.” He smiled out of the hug before turning to Hallie to say goodbye.

Naomi moved to Alexa next and pulled her into a long embrace, whispering in her hear. “He’s a keeper, Alexa. I approve.” She had to let her friend know her thoughts about her new boyfriend. Even from the few hours that she had spent with the couple, she already believed that they were going to be something more. Maybe it was her hopeless romantic self coming through, but she wholeheartedly believed that Harry could be the one for Alexa.

Alexa closed her eyes and squeezed her friend tight. “Thank you, Noe. You have no idea how much that means to me.” She broke out of the hug and smiled down fondly at her friend. “Get home safe, send me a text when you do ok?” Naomi offered a quick nod before gathering up the rest of her things.

Hallie was next to say goodbye to Alexa as she stumbled into her embrace. Alexa tried to steady her, but the prince had to intervene. “You ok there Hal?” Alexa stood her up on her feet.

“Ya... I am fabulous!” Hallie slurred out her words. “NAOMI WAIT!” She hollered at her friend taking a step forward and nearly stumbling towards the door.

Alexa grabbed her friend again before glancing back over her shoulder at Harry. “I am going to help Naomi get her into the car.” She informed him. Harry offered to help as well, but she thought it was best if he stayed inside just in case some pap straggler was still outside.

Pushing through the door into her flat, Alexa could hear someone in the kitchen cleaning up. She rounded the corner to find Harry gathering the trash and tidying up. “You don’t have to clean up, Henry.”

“I don’t mind love.” He felt Alexa’s arms wrap around his waist and place a peck on his cheek.

“Where did Alice and Jay go?” She glanced around for any sign of them.

Harry stacked a few plates into the sink to wash up. Alexa grabbed a wash cloth and a drying towel. “Jay has an early flight back to Germany tomorrow. They offered to help clean up, but I told them to spend some time together if they wanted.” He admitted with a soft smile.

The prince handed Alexa a wine glass to dry. “Awe, Henry.... you are so sweet.” She continued to help Harry dry the dishes as he washed them. “I think my friends really like you Harry. Thank you for just being yourself and making them feel so at ease so they could get to see the man I know.” Alexa was really amazed at how well everything had seemed to go tonight and how easily Harry fit into her friend circle.

“Well, you have surrounded yourself with some great people Lex.” Harry glanced down at his girlfriend. “Thank you for letting me get to know them. I know this was a big step for you.” He leant down and placed a gentle kiss to her temple before handing Alexa another dish.

Feeling Harry’s lips pressed against her skin reminded Alexa of the moment earlier in the night when Hallie walked in on them locking lips. “I cannot believe Hallie walked in on you kissing me!” She groaned with a slight embarrassment.

“Well, maybe we should finish what we started?” The prince winked at his girlfriend.

Alexa bit down on her bottom lip as a playful side started to come out. She reached her hand down into the warm soapy water and flicked her wrist, splashing the prince in the face with some water while some landed on his shirt, soaking him. “Ooops.”

The prince’s mouth flew open in shock. “Ooh, baby don’t start this game if you can’t finish it.” Without warning, Harry splashed Alexa but aimed for her shirt right where her breasts were.

“Ahhhh!” Alexa drew in a quick breath. “HENRY!” She glanced down at her soaking wet chest then slowly back up to Harry as he was prepared to do it all over again. A cheeky grin was plastered on his lips.

“Don’t you dare!” Alexa warned him, but silently was wanting to continue their fun. Too quick for the prince she grasped the sink sprayer and turned on the water, aiming it at the prince. He noticed her fast movement and splashed her for all she was worth before she fired the water at him.

Alexa had quite literally doused him in water as she stood there and dissolved into a fit of laughter seeing his less than thrilled expression. He came over to her and wrap his arms around Alexa, soaking her in the process. Harry bent down and grasped the back of her thighs, lifting her up onto the counter.

“You are in so much trouble...” His voice became deep as he locked in Alexa’s green eyes as they held his hostage.

Alexa’s fingers ran down Harry’s chest feeling the wet material of his shirt grip his muscles and accentuate them. She reached the hem of the shirt and started to lift it off of him. “Let’s get this wet shirt off of you...” Harry helped Alexa rid him of his shirt and tossed it aside.

His hands went straight to unbuttoning her blouse while Alexa admired his  naked body, feeling the lust coursing through her veins. Harry leant down and placed a soft kiss over the mounds of her exposed breasts, eliciting a desire filled moan from his girlfriend.

His lips trailed up to her neck, attacking the sweet skin by her collarbone. Harry felt Alexa’s legs wrap around him to lock the prince into place while her fingers combed through his ginger hair, pushing his head down further onto her neck while he continued his sweet assault.

“Take me to my room.” Alexa’s tone was filled with lust. “I want you Henry.”

For the time being, he had nothing to do but get used to Carol’s mood swings by each passing day. Every day was a surprise where he didn’t know which Carol he’d get. The sweet one, the teary-eyed one, the bitch one or the wicked witch of the west one. He couldn’t deny that sometimes it was difficult as fuck to keep up with her snappy and bitchy attitude for no reason whatsoever.

The cycle seemed to be: she’d bitch him and then start crying because she didn’t really mean it. Or whenever he did something good for her (God forbid he sent flowers to her office just because!), she’d say that he was way too overbearing and fussy.

“Women get pregnant every day and everywhere in the world without your suffocating habits and they end up just fine without your overwhelming concern and need to keep me under your watch all the time.” she had said once.

Just to start crying right after and say that lots of women also yearned for their partner’s support and most didn’t have it at all during the pregnancy. And that he was just by her side, by choice, taking care of them. Loving and cherishing them, regardless of this being an unplanned pregnancy and that she was a heartless and mean bitch while he had all the best intentions on his heart.

Needless to say the couple were arguing more now than ever and most of the time Harry would take the blame or excuse himself out of the room to take a deep breath and to remember that his Carol wasn’t like this.

It also felt very weird to argue with an overly emotional pregnant lady.

He tried to remember that this was just a very hormonal version of the woman he loved. Also a test to see if what he felt for her would come out stronger after this trying time. It’s easy to love someone when everything is fine, but true love is proved when the wind is blowing hard and you have not choice but hold onto each other to make sure you (and her) are safe.

He knew that she was stressed with her Masters degree, still keeping top grades whilst having a full time job and working a scary amount of hours every week (which he had already asked her to take it a little bit slow) and also travelling with her project.

He did want her to take a break and take it easy. If it was up to him, Carol would spend her days resting and sleeping to her heart’s content – as she always complained about how sleepy and tired she felt – but wouldn’t dare to even think about suggesting about quitting her job. She’d throw a massive fit and say that she would keep earning her own money as she didn’t need or want his thank you very much.

Some days, and those were rare, Harry was lucky enough to get glimpses of his girlfriend – and that’s what helped to take a relieved breath: knowing somewhere deep down that ugly surface was his sweet and loving girlfriend.

She usually would ask for very weird combinations of food – which he’d always go fetch for her; and have an insatiable sex drive — that he’d be more than happy oblige; and apologize non-stop for being a bitch on steroids to him.

He would forgive her – of course, as there wasn’t anything to really forgive her for - and they would get to chat and try to plan their future as her bump would only grow from now on and they needed to strengthen their relationship and become a real team to face, first and foremost, their parents and then the Institution Harry belonged to.

“What do you want to do?” Harry asked in one of the few blissful nights where they hadn’t argued over meaningless things. They were relaxing on his bed, after an afternoon full of amazing sex that left both of them exhausted. He was lying on his back and had his hands leisurely caressing her thighs.

“Obviously I want you around and to keep the baby.” she was eating ice cream straight from the box. “The big question is: what can we do?”

“Well… I don’t even know what our options really are. Everything I think I know is just wishful thinking. We would need to face a meeting with the Firm and its minions to know for sure. I know that my father and grandmother will demand a wedding.” he side-looked at her, half expecting to have a flying spoon over his head.

“I really don’t want to get married on these circumstances.” she replied and he waited for her to finish. “I do want to get married someday but not just because you knocked me up. It’s the 21st century after all.”

“Although I am part of and represent an Institution that is stuck ten centuries behind. But never mind.”

They both laughed at that.

“I will ask permission for you to move in with me. Don’t think gran will oppose much to that as Kate and Will did it. Before you start your feminist rant...” he laughingly cut her speech, knowing that she’d come up with something to refute. “I know that you love your flat and that it is comfortable enough for the two of you and that you can pay all the bills with money to spare but...” he pecked her lips, to distract her – lest she started to yell at him after a perfect day - and stole some of her vanilla ice cream, making sure to avoid the weird toppings she added in there. “It’s not safe. For any of us. And if we would try and make it safe, it’d cost way more than renting a moving truck and a storage unit for your things as obviously we don’t need new furniture here, except for baby things.”

He could actually hear her mind running wild with thoughts and ways to refuse his offer.

“At Kensington we already have the privacy, the security system, bullet-proof windows, armored cars and 24/7 people on call whenever he or she starts screaming in the middle of the night and we need a rest.”

She smacked his shoulder playfully.

“But…” he continued. “If Gran says we can’t stay here, then I would gladly buy us a house. And pay for the security system and features.”

“You’re insane.” she stated.

“Why you say that?” he was confused.

“Buying a house just for this...”

“”This” Carolina” - he pointed his finger between them to emphasize his point - “is my family and I very much intend to be close by even though you seem to not stand to look at me for more than a few seconds these days. You would help me choose somewhere suitable for us, that has everything we need, and then we would move in together and not marry right away as it seems to be your desire.”

“Why do I sense there are other options that you’re hiding from me?”

“Well… The options of what we will be advised to do are endless. If we start playing “what ifs” and imagining scenarios that might be presented to us, we’d be here all night. There are, though, some options that stand out from these possibilities… For example: I might have to renounce my title.”

She had a shocked expression on her face.

“Says that Pa and Gran demand a wedding and we say that we don’t want to marry under pressure. We might be denied the request of you moving in. So then I’d need to move out and with that – no wedding, kicked out – the press will have a field day, change the public’s view on me and as I’d just be the prince who tarnished the name of the family, again mind you…” he laughed and continued. “Thank heavens Will and Kate have already two children to claim the throne and out goes Harry.” he joked.

“I’m sorry.” she said, already drying the tears after what he said.

He talked about it as if it was a joke but being part of royalty were what made Harry who he was. Give up on it because of her wishes was a very hard thing to do. She considered in that moment if she shouldn’t let go of her stubbornness and just get married so he’d get to keep everything that was rightfully his.

“In that scenario our child wouldn’t have a place in the succession line. We would have more freedom. This part is what I like the most of this option.”

“What do you want to do?” she asked him sincerely.

“Honestly I’d like to marry you. Pressure or not, if you were up to it we would go to the town hall tomorrow.” he waited until the shocked expression on her face faded. “We could live somewhere else than Kensington – don’t care much for that part. I don’t want our children to have titles. it’s a fucking burden to bear, but he or she will be upgraded to prince or princess whenever father is King anyway.”

“Do you think our marriage would work? I personally don’t think I’d be able to face a divorce. I want all of ‘until death us do part’.” she finished the ice cream and left the empty box on Harry’s bedside table and turned to look at him.

“Of course it would…” she looked at him pointedly and asked him to think with his mind and not heart. “Ok… thank you for the reality check. I think that we are very good to and for each other. Relationship is something you build and take care of each day. As long as we’re both committed to our success, I do believe we could go forever. We’re both children from divorced parents and I think we agree that we wouldn’t want that for our children. But also we wouldn’t want an unhealthy environment for them to grow up at, just like we did. So if it came to a point where our relationship became toxic, we would need to separate our ways.”

“That’s a more sensible response Mr. Wales.” she pecked his lips again.

“I don’t think it’s healthy for us to keep guessing what might happen. It’s way too many options. It’ll drive us crazy... I would rather think and chose something that is actually given to us to think about.”

“Do you think you can have an appointment with The Queen after my 12th week milestone?” she was biting her lips as a nervous trait.

“I shall see to it.” he answered.

“Then we will be presented with options and decide what’s best for our family.”

“Ok...” he helped her to lie down. She was wearing one of his pajamas shirts and her ten-week bump showing. He caressed it and then placed a soft kiss on it.

“I do want to tell my mom first. Can we?”

“We can do whatever you want, darling.”

“So after we pass that milestone, I will call her and then we will sit with The Queen to discuss.”

“In the meantime I will do my best to keep you hidden.” he said.

“Which won’t work as we have Tommy’s Christening to attend.” she laughed.

“And are you OK with that?” he was still caressing her bump. “I know that you want to go, but don’t you think it’d be better if you stayed home? Or maybe just attended the reception afterwards? There’s a great chance of being spotted. Are you ready for it? Your life as you know it will be forever changed… and for that I am deeply sorry.”

“Well… I don’t want to miss it and sooner or later I will be spotted. We won’t arrive together or sit together during the service. But I do think the press will put 1+1 together and link me to all other photos… As I will be the only unknown person there. And I know what I’ve signed up for upon agreeing to be your girlfriend and carrying your child. No one will ever be ready for that. And I will need to rely on you a lot.” she sighed.

(…)

Carol had asked Hailey to design something for as she had no idea what to wear on a Christening. She had been flattered when Lara had sent an invitation that said “Honorary godmother” for her, she truly wasn’t expecting an invitation to such an intimate and formal event. 

She was at her sister’s studio – which was a spare room at her house – surrounded by lots of fabrics, sketches, pictures and at least three sewing machines. This was the last fitting of the pink dress Hailey had said would work for a morning event.

“You really should stop eating junk food Carolina.” Hailey said when noticed that the dress wasn’t closing as smoothly as it was three weeks before. “You’re getting chubby.”

Concentrating on not laughing or spilling the beans, she simply nodded.

“Thank goodness the Christening is in two days or I’d have to loosen up this dress, again.” Hailey said clearly irritated. “Never show up on time on fitting days and when you do show up, you’ve gained weight. Good Lord.” she mumbled to herself and when finished, she let Carol look at herself in the mirror.

She was in awe. Even barefoot, without her hair done and make up-free she was feeling pretty. Which was a first ever since she learned she was carrying her bundle of joy. The dress had 7/8 sleeves, the front had a draped finish and the skirt that ended just above her knees was made of feathers in the same colour.

“It’s amazing, Hailey. Thank you” Carol said turning around to see. “I think I want you designing my whole wardrobe.”

“Let’s not get carried away, shall we?” Hailey joked. “Now you just need shoes and accessories. Please don’t ruin my creation.” 

“I might stop by at Harrod’s later and see if I can find anything.”

“Maybe go with a big hat to cover your face?” her sister offered knowing that Carol would have her life turned upside down any moment now.

“That’s exactly what I am going for.”

(…)

Carol had asked for a day off on Friday before the christening and packed everything she was going to need for the weekend affair. All godparents (Harry, Skippy’s sister Victoria, Lara’s brother Henry, Eugenie and Jake Warren) were to check in at the luxurious Luton Hoo Hotel for a welcome luncheon and to rehearse (Carol didn’t understand why a Christening would need a rehearsal but didn’t comment on it). Then the other guests would arrive on Saturday at noon for the Service and then attend a brunch afterwards. The godparents were expected to stay at the hotel and enjoy it’s spa, checking out only on Sunday evening after a thank you dinner.

Carol had to pack way too many outfits and right now she was fitting well into only half of her clothes because of her bump. She was accompanying Harry for the three day stay as per Lara’s request. The brunette had bought a small golden bracelet with Tommy’s name engraved as a gift and hoped his parents would like it.

Harry asked Bill to carry Carol’s luggage to the waiting car while he kissed his girlfriend and – when he checked they were truly alone - her bump.

“You both ready to go?” he asked.

“Yes! I need to see that little red headed cherub!” she said happily.

They went to the car, both sitting on the back seats, buckling up and talking animatedly about the party and Harry explaining what was expected of her. This was Carol’s first formal encounter with people he had known his whole life. Most of them were daughters and sons of his parents’ friends and they all have been a tight knit group ever since they were born. 

Skippy and Lara had opted for a small gathering of closest family members and a few selected friends – Carol was so relieved about it, she didn’t think she’d be able to face a big gathering right now. Thankfully she knew some of the guests that would likely attend as she didn’t want to be left alone while Harry was on godfather duty.

“So Eugenie is coming?” she asked.

“Yes… She’s also a godmother, remember?” he replied.

“Oh thank God. I think I only know her and Jack and Jake and Zoe. Are you sure Arthur and Alessandra are not attending?”

“Yes. Alessandra had to do something in California and Arthur went with her.” he traced the worry lines on her forehead. “Don’t stress too much, Carol. I will be by your side most of the time.”

“I know… it’s just…” she started and he waited. “Nevermind.”

“What is it darling?” Harry said holding her hand.

“I can’t help but feel inadequate to attend such an event.”

“It’s the Christening of your friends’ kid. How on earth can you be inadequate?” he was confused.

“Said friends are aristocrats, barons and baronesses... Close enough to the monarchy… and I’m… I’m just… me.” she said, not looking at him.

“Carol, trust me. Your accomplishments are way greater than what any of us will ever have. You fought your way through life to get to where you are now. We all just had it all handed to us on silver spoons, quite literally. If not actually handed, doors were opened because of connections and surnames.” he kissed her temple. “Also, if anyone think any less of you, it’s their loss. You did point out a few days ago that we’re on the 21st century after all.”

“Hopefully I won’t embarrass you. I don’t know a single thing about etiquette.” she said, biting her lower lip.

“I’ve done my share of embarrassment enough. Nothing you do will ever beat my Vegas trip. Don’t worry. If anyone treats you badly, let me know. Or just go find a familiar face to chat, Ok?”

“Ok. Thank you.”

“You’ve got it. Just keep your charming self and you’ll be fine.” he added kissing her knuckles.

She admired the change in the scenery as they left busy central London to the countryside on their way to Luton. Carol was still feeling uneasy, but decided to have some water to try and calm her stomach. Being driven on the “wrong” side of the road still scared her and she was trying to believe in what Harry had said and not what her mind was shouting at her.

The hotel was a newly renewed manor and it’s perfect tended lawn and lakes were quite imposing. Harry offered his hand to help her out of the car and they went to the lobby to check-in. He usually asked Bill to do it, but wanted to give some sense of normalcy to his girlfriend, so decided to do it himself. He obviously understood that Carol knew who he was and knew that he had some privileges and hadn’t to bother with some tasks as everything he could possible need would’ve been taken care of in a matter of seconds.

He also didn’t want to scare her away – or let her think that he was incapable of doing things for himself. He wanted to tone it down a bit, and let her see that they could mix her humble upbringing with his luxurious and privileged one. He was set to make an effort and be more hands-on on tasks that the rest of the world did on a daily basis.

“The rest of the world don’t go to a 5 start hotel for the weekend.” he thought to himself, shaking his head, while signing the paper the receptionist gave to him.

She couldn’t help but notice the clear shift on the staff behaviour when they spotted Harry. They all bowed or curtsied to him, all of them curious – but obviously not asking – as to who she was. Harry intertwined their fingers while he spoke to the attendant at the lobby, to reassure her. Bill and the other bodyguards appearing just seconds later with their luggage and attentively looking around the seemingly empty lobby.

Apparently they had a paparazzi free travel and he was thankful for that. Harry had booked the mansion state suite for them, which was bigger than her whole apartment. Their California king bed was so inviting and she wanted to take a nap so badly but knew that she couldn’t. As she was travelling comfortable – another reason to have been looked upon by the staff -, she knew that she’d have to change for the luncheon.

Soon, some of the hotel staff was unpacking their luggage and organizing everything in the walk in closet in full speed. She didn’t even have the time to ask them to leave it – as fast as they came, they were gone.

Harry was on his phone and she didn’t want to listen to his conversation, opting to go to the bathroom for a quick shower to help her to stay awake. It might have been the car movement that had her so sleepy. The bath robe available was so soft and slightly warmed that it almost made the somewhat “wake up” cold shower ineffective. She styled her hair in a sleek ponytail and opted to wear one of the dresses that concealed her growing belly. She applied make up – making it simple – and went to the bedroom to fetch both Tommy’s gift and her heels.

“You look amazing darling.” Harry said when he spotted her yawning. “Tired, huh?”

“So much...” she whispered.

“I will try to find an excuse for you, and then you both can rest a bit.” He said, kissing her neck while resting his hands on her belly.

“Good luck with that.” she laughed.

He helped her with her shoes and changed clothes as fast as he could to go to one of the banquet halls where the invitation said the luncheon would be held. He had one hand on Carol’s lower back, protectively and also to guide her through the doors. He could hear the footsteps of his bodyguards behind them and made a mental note to ask Bill to increase the distance between them a little bit. This was going to be a stressful event for Carol and he didn’t want her feeling suffocated.

Their heard Tommy crying before they arrived at the hall. Exchanging a concerned look, they hushed to the Victorian styled room. Lara was holding her cherub, pacing the room, making soothing noises while Skippy was searching for something inside the diaper bag until he retrieved a pacifier. Carol went directly to Lara.

“Carol! I’m glad you came.” Lara said, side hugging her friend while rocking the little boy and looking for her husband. “I’m sorry. He’s fussy today.”

“Is he okay?” Harry asked concerned.

“Don’t mention it! Hi Tommy.” Carol said in a sing-song voice, caressing his red locks. “Auntie Carol is here.”

“He’s fine mate. Have just woken up.” Skippy replied when arriving with the pacifier, giving it to his son who stopped crying immediately. He greeted his best friend and Carol, asking them to make themselves comfortable while they waited for some people to arrive to start serving the food.

“Carol” Lara asked after a few pleasantries were exchanged. “Do you mind coming with me?”

“Sure.” Carol handed her clutch to Harry to hold, grabbed Tommy’s diaper bag and followed Lara to the nearest bathroom that smelled like lavender which immediately made her head hurt and her stomach to turn, even before pregnancy she hated the scent to lavender. 

Thankfully she hadn’t eaten much until now. The room was large – like everything in this hotel it seemed -, with marble sinks and stalls, gold details, everything screaming “tastefully luxurious”, it also had two deep burgundy upholstered chairs

“It’s my turn to change this little man’s nappy and I think he’s getting hungry.” Lara said happily undoing his onesie buttons, while Carol handed her the wipes and a clean nappy. “I’m glad you came. We won’t have much time to catch up this weekend, though. But we should go out sometime. Maybe lunch?”

“We’ve been busy, haven’t we?” Tommy smiled melting both women’s hearts. “I wish I was busy with this little man… Office work is so boring.”

Carol disposed of the used diaper and arranged everything back into the bag while Lara sat on one of upholstered chairs and got ready to feed her baby, Carol sat across from her friend. She watched at how lovingly she talked to and looked at her son and how happy the infant latched on.

She noticed in that moment that she wanted that so badly. Her love for her child was already one of the strongest feeling she ever felt. She knew that her baby was her reason to believe in a better tomorrow and to fight for it. She knew she’d move heavens and earth to make this child protected. Her mama bear instinct kicked right in at full force.

Her hand unconsciously went to her bump caressing it. She wanted to be a mum and in that moment she finally figured out that she was going to be a mother in a few months’ time. She wanted to feel the first kicks, she wanted to hold her baby close to her and get to know everything about her little bundle of joy: his or her preferences, mannerisms, personality, dreams...

“Why are you crying?” Lara asked after she looked up at her friend and saw the brunette with tears on her eyes.

“It’s nothing...” Carol said drying her tears.

“Carol… Is anything the matter?” Lara was preoccupied.

Carol got up to fetch a tissue and dry her tears. She took a deep breath and smiled at Lara.

“I’m pregnant.” Carol blurted.

“Beg your pardon?” Lara looked at her with a shocked expression on her face.

“I’m pregnant.” Carol repeated slowly this time.

“What is it with us and bathrooms when it comes announcing pregnancies?” Lara laughed. “How far along? You weren’t planning to tell me, were you?”

“I’m ten weeks along, we found out a couple of weeks ago. And no, no one was supposed to know before the twelve week mark… but seeing you with him, I just realized that I want this so badly and these damn hormones made my mouth talk faster than my brain could think.”

“Don’t worry, your secret is well kept. I’d hug you but master here is hungry.” they smiled and Carol sat down again. “How are you feeling?”

“I didn’t have many symptoms before I found out, but then, I became tired, breasts sore, sleepy and snappy.” they laughed and Lara commented it was very normal.

“And how’s Harry?”

“Over the moon. I think he wants to spread the word like wildfire… He’s wanted this for so long.” Carol smiled caressing her bump. “But he’s into an overprotective mode that is annoying.”

“Expected. He will be like this for the rest of your lives… Stop fighting it and get used to it, Carol. After everything that has happened to his family, it’s quite obvious that he won’t let anything of the sort happen again.” Lara said. “I’m glad for you. They will be close in age!”

“Thank you for not pointing out the out of wedlock implicit in this news.” Carol said when Tommy unlatched and smiled at his mum.

“Well… you’re welcome? What are you guys going to do about it?” she gave the baby to Carol, together with a burp cloth while she clasped her nursing bra and adjusted the dress again. Carol was gently burping the baby.

“We will know for sure in two weeks. I’m trying not to think about it just yet.” she sighed.

“Do try to enjoy the peace while it lasts. We are definitely scheduling a lunch date after you have “The talk” and I will be all ears for you.” she kissed her friend’s temple.

After the baby was properly burped, the ladies made their way back to the hall where Harry had a glass of scotch on one hand, talking to Jake, Skippy and Jack, probably about football. Carol and Lara took their turns to greet the new comers, with Zoe and Eugenie cooing over the baby on Carol’s arms. Harry’s eye twinkled admiring his girlfriend thinking that soon, it’d be their baby on her arms.

Carol stood beside Harry, playing with Tommy only half listening to what people were saying around her.

“I see that Tommy’s stolen my girl.” Harry joked, caressing Carol’s lower back.

“I think it’s the ginger hair.” Eugenie joked.

“Of course it’s the ginger hair – and the cute face. It’s nice to look at one for a change.” Carol joked.

“Ok, gotta keep you too separated. You girls teaming up will be the death of me.” Harry joked.

Reluctantly Carol gave Tommy to his father while Harry introduced her to the people he knew. Basically everyone in the room was a Lord/Lady or Baron and she felt a little intimidated but didn’t let it show. Carol first met Skippy’s parents and his stepmother, she knew his father was one of Prince Charles’ best friend – and he was studying her. Clearly his friend would know that his younger son had a new girlfriend by this evening. She was polite but let Harry do the small talk. Then it was Lara’s side of the family, she was introduced to her father and brother. Skippy’s sister  was the easiest to get along with… she shared the same sense of humor as her brother’s.

Carol was relieved when she found her assigned place at one of the round tables spread against the hall. It had a round floral vase in the centre, cutlery (lots of it) were made of silver and the glasses were crystal. Harry was sitting at her left and Jack at her right, followed by Eugenie, Jake and Zoe. Knowing everyone made things easier for her and Eugenie kindly asked her boyfriend to exchange places so she could sit by Carol’s side. Both of them engaged on a conversation during the first course. Eugenie was discreetly pointing to the right cutlery without anyone noticing and Carol gave her a polite smile as a thank you.

“Don’t need to be nervous, Carol.” Eugenie said at some point. “You’ll get used to it. And thankfully the only members of the Royal family here will be Harry and I. You’ll do just fine.”

(…)

Carol excused herself from the rehearsal. She wouldn’t play an important part during the ceremony anyway and she wanted a nap. Lara, now being even more empathetic with her friend, didn’t fuss about it and Carol went to their luxurious suite and straight to the bed, not even bothering in changing clothes or removing her make up.

She woke up later with feather-like kisses on her face and slowly opened her eyes to a very handsome Harry.

“Hi.” he said smiling to her.

“Hi” she answered back.

“I’ve missed you” he said nuzzling his nose on her neck, giving her the now familiar goosebumps.

“It’s been only a couple of hours.” she caressed his beard.

“It looks like an eternity for me.” he was laying on the bed beside her. “Did you get the rest that you need?”

“I did, yes.” she yawned and stretched. “Fully charged now.”

They shared a laugh and Carol positioned her head on his chest and one of her legs between his. He instantly held her, playing with her hair.

“I’ve asked Lara for you to enter through the back door tomorrow. I think I’m not ready to share you with the world just yet.”

“Thank you.” she whispered.

“My heart almost skipped a beat when I saw you with Tommy today.” he said and she could hear the smile on his voice. “My girl with a ginger baby on her arms… If you weren’t pregnant already you’d be getting tonight.”

They both laughed hard at that.

“Don’t be so cocky.”

“It’s just… you know that you’re giving me something I’ve wanted for a long time. Don’t you?” he said after a while. “A family of my own to protect, to take care of and provide for. A child to teach lots of things – someone to be a better version of myself. Thank you, Carol. I know this is hard for you. But I promise to be there every step of the way.”

She was crying after he finished his speech and he knew it. He didn’t mention or made fun of her because of that, but he only held her tighter and kissed her temple.

(…)

Carol woke up early on Saturday morning. It took her a while to untangle herself from Harry’s arms but she managed it. Putting on the robe to cover her now naked body, she went to the living room space of their suite and asked for breakfast to be delivered for them. She took a quick shower and started setting up her make up and hairdresser station on the bathroom vanity when Harry woke up and went to her, hugging her from behind.

“Morning.” he said trying to open her robe and receiving a playful slap afterwards.

“Morning!” she replied.

“Do you have time for a quickie before you start making yourself even more beautiful?” he asked seductively.

“Now now Mr. Wales… we did have four very “longies” last night. You can’t possibly be still horny.” she said looking at him through the mirror.

“Well… your bigger breasts make me hard. I can’t help it.” he said circling her nipples with his thumb.

“If we start, we are going to be late. So, your Royal Horniness, keep yourself together and we shall deal with it afterwards.” she fastened the robe belt again while he pouted and sat on the counter.

“Why do you need all of this?” he asked pointing to all of the make up she brought, changing the subject and concentrating hard on other things so he’d get rid of the boner he was sporting at the moment.

“It’s not even enough and I want to look nice today.”

“You look nice every day.” he said while watching her washing her face and applying some lotions.

“Thank you.” she said looking at him and pecking his lips.

She started to apply her make up and he didn’t even wanted to ask what all of those things would do, deciding to take a shower before breakfast. She finished faster than he thought, given the amount of things she applied and they enjoyed the perfectly cooked breakfast before changing clothes. 

Harry wanted a picture of Carol wearing that pink dress and noticed that if she placed her hand on her belly, they could see her small bump that seemed to grow by the second. He smiled when mentioned it to her and she said that she would likely have a very big bump.

“You will be a very sexy momma.” he commented while holding her clutch and the present that they had forgotten to give on the day before and went to their friend’s suite.

Skippy opened the door to their suite and informed Carol that Lara was in the bedroom nursing. He and Harry stayed on the living room while Carol went on the search of the baby.

“Morning sunshine.” Lara said when Carol opened the door.

“Good morning!”

Tommy looked around and smiled at Carol before turning and latching once again.

“As soon as he finishes, can you dress him for me, please?” Lara asked and Carol agreed.

“We forgot to give you his present yesterday” Carol gave the small package to her friend. “I hope you like it.”

Lara opened it and thanked her friend for the bracelet. It was very delicate and simple, one that she’d buy herself for her son if she had thought of that and clearly a very well thought present for him.

“I loved it, Carol. Thank you so much.”

After the baby was well fed and burped, Carol dressed him carefully and combed his hair to the side. She then fastened the bracelet on his arms and left Lara alone so she could finish getting ready for them to leave. Upon entering the living room again, with Tommy smiling and happy, Harry’s heart filled with emotion.

“You’re going to kill me.” he whispered to her.

“Why?”

“You with him on your arms, you being so lovely to him and carrying our baby… I can’t wait until it’s our turn.”

(…)

Harry and Carol rode together with Eugenie and Jack to the St. Albans Cathedral. The car stopped first at the back entrance where Carol jumped off and quickly entered the church, finding her assigned place. And then stopped at the front of the church and sure enough, lots of photographers were waiting for them there. Harry and Eugenie waved and entered the church, waiting for Skippy and Lara to arrive. Harry was shifting his weight and looking where Carol was sitting still alone.

“Calm down, Harry. She’s just fine.” Eugenie mentioned.

“I don’t think having her here is a good idea.” He replied.

“Why not?”

“I don’t think she’s ready for what’s to come from the media once they realize who she is.” he sighed.

“It’s not going to be easy, we know that. But you love her and she loves you… and I think she’s a very strong woman. With our support she’ll do just fine.” Eugenie side hugged her cousin.

“Thank you for “our support” part. It means a lot.”

“I really like her…”

“So do I…. Jack, would you mind?” Harry asked.

“Right on it...” he pecked Eugenie’s lips and went to sit beside Carol. It was pretty obvious how she had relaxed after seeing a friendly face and they both started chatting right away.

(…)

The Service was very right to the point but beautiful and moving.

Lara had asked someone to decorate the church with lots of flower arrangements in a mixture of white Casablanca lilies, tulips and Lily of the valley. Tommy was as happy as he could be, trying the eat the program on his mum’s hand and smiling, up until the water touched his head but his daddy soon made him stop crying and cheery again.

Carol was paying attention and making sure she held the best posture as possible, as she knew that some of these people had Prince Charles on speed dial and she wanted to make a good impression.

Even though when you meet him you’re going to announce you’re pregnant… Not the greatest first impression will come out of that.

She shook her head to clear off these thoughts and smiled at her friends when Skippy waved at her from the altar. She was really fighting the urge of placing her hands on her bump and making a mental note of asking Harry how christenings were done in his family. She knew what they shared with the press, but didn’t know how the ceremony was held.

Lara requested everyone present to take a group picture, together with the priest before they left the church. Although Harry had tried to have her beside him, Carol ended up beside Jack on the far right of where he was. After the pictures were taken, Bill appeared signalling it was time to go and Carol left through the back entrance going straight to the waiting car.

At moment, as they had rehearsed, Harry and Eugenie left the church through the front door together with the other attendants and stopped to take a few pictures with his godson as Lara wanted.

Everyone else started to get into their cars to head to the reception whilst Harry, Eugenie and Jack  conveniently stayed behind to stop and wave to the press – just to make sure that Carol’s car would be long gone without anyone following.

Jack was the one driving this car and he could see that the Prince was nervous and he could relate to that… He was the one arriving at the family and even then it was very difficult. As soon as they entered the Hotel’s grounds – out of sight of the paps that began following them - Harry got out of the car before it even fully stopped moving and bolted straight through the corridors until he found the reception room. Carol was there, sipping on some water and he immediately hugged her.

“Are you alright, darling?” he was carefully checking her to make sure she wasn’t going to hide anything.

“Yes, just fine… I think I’m still undercover.” she said. “Bill is a great security man, Harry. Don’t worry.”

“I don’t like the idea of you getting discovered while pregnant...” he confessed.

“I know. I don’t either.” she chastely pecked his lips. “Let’s just not think about it, ok? Everything went fine and the other guests are arriving and you have more pictures to pose for.”

Harry went on godfather mode, still making sure Carol was within his eyesight.

The photographer Lara hired was good, getting all the “must have’ shots as quickly as possible and Harry wanted to have one of him, Carol and Tommy. When he saw the picture on the camera’s display, he knew that it was going straight to the mantle of his fireplace.

________________________________________________

A/N: I hope all of you are keeping safe and sane on this quarantine mode.

Thank you for your continued support! I love to read all of the messages you send me and hopefully you’ll enjoy this quit long chapter.

             The Invictus Games held in Toronto that year game Harry a purpose and a new sense of accomplishment. After all the turmoil that he and Elle had been through the last months, being able to be a part of something he was so proud of and really make a difference, shone in him a new light and perspective on what he could do now that he had more influence and power on his hands. Elle had stayed behind since Arthur was still too young to travel and needed his mother. 

        When he arrived in Canada, he once again met with the Trudeaus. The trio exchanged pleasantries before proceeding to the Prime Minister's home, where Harry would be a guest until they flew to Toronto on the following day.

" I'm very happy to be able to congratulate you in person on the birth of your son. We are all thrilled for you and Eleanor.", said Justin.

" Thank you. We're both very happy. Arthur really is an incredible child and truly a blessing to us both.", said Harry smiling.

"And... we've all been shocked to hear of the recent changes as well. I'm sorry if that is a sensitive topic, but I wanted to talk to you about some bilateral projects, if I may.", said Justin.

" It's somewhat delicate but I'm happy to talk about improving the relationship between the UK and Canada.", said Harry, giving a brief smile. " But for now, let's focus on the task in hand. This year's Invictus Games.", he continued and the Prime Minister nodded his head, not touching on the subject any longer.

    On the following morning, Harry flew to Toronto with the Prime Minister and his wife. He was taken in a black SUV to the Air Canada Center, where the opening and closing ceremony would held. As the car approached the venue, he could hear the music and cheer growing louder and louder. Stepping out of the car, Harry waved his hand at the public gathered. He walked backstage, alongside the Justin Trudeau and waited for his queue. As the teams filled the arena one by one, Harry watched as the speeches were made, getting emotional after each story of endurance and hardships that was shared. 

" Your Royal Highness, Ladies and Gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure to stand before you tonight and welcome our competitors to this year's Invictus Games. But before we can declare this games officially opened I'd like to say a few words. Your Royal Highness, thank you so much for your leadership, vision and strength in realising and guiding  this project, which will allow so many of our brave veterans to keep moving forward and us, the opportunity to cheer them on.", said Justin and loud cheers and claps were heard from the audience.

"... and without further ado, here, to declare the Invictus Games Toronto 2017 opened, our patron and founder, Prince Harry.". Harry was then welcomed onstage and smiled at the audience. 

" Hello Toronto! Merci beaucoup pour votre hospitalité. And thank you Prime Minister for this warm welcome. Invictus is about the dedication of the men and women who served their countries, confronted hardship, and refused to be defined by their injuries. Invictus is about the families and friends who faced the shock of learning that their loved ones had been injured or fallen ill - and then rallied to support them on their journey of recovery. And above all, Invictus is about the example to the world that all service men and women - injured or not - provide about the importance of service and duty. I wanted to find a way for veterans to be a beacon of light, and show us all that we have a role to play; that we all win when we respect our friends, neighbours, and communities. That's why we created Invictus. Not only to help veterans recover from their physical and mental wounds; but also to inspire people to follow their example of resilience, optimism, and service in their own lives.", said Harry.

" Sadly, my wife could not join us here since she's at home with our little one...", he said and cheers erupted from the crowd. "... but she too wanted to pass along the message of hope we all share today.", he continued and a video appeared on the screen behind him. In it, Elle was dressed in her Invictus Toronto 2017 shirt and had a little Arthur, napping on her arms, dressed in the Invictus baby grow they had been gifted a few months ago.

" Hello Toronto! Hello competitors! It saddens me not to be able to see you compete fiercely in these coming days and cheer you on as I did last year in Florida. But as you can see, I have a very small person that needs my full attention.", she joked and there was a sound of laughter from the crowd. " These games were created so that each an every one of you can see and experience change and teamwork. You are all winners for having reached this far. For cheating death and overcome emotional and physical challenges. I hope you embody the spirit of this games by showing courage and determination that will inspire generations to come. You are proving to the world that everything is possible, even under the most impossible situations. Good luck to you all!", said Elle. As the video ended, another cheer and applauses were heard and Harry grinned. 

" Well, as my wife has said, I hope you are ready to inspire, to challenge, to work together, and to change your lives in the next coming days. You are Invictus! Let's get started!", he concluded, to a resounding cheer. 

    When Harry came back from Canada, he felt invigorated. He was ready to resume his public activities with full force. And so was Elle. With them both back at work, which had had some new additions to their normal workload since the singing of the Abdication document, Harry and Elle spent a lot of time on their engagements around London and the UK as well as working on their side projects. Elle had once again started writing her book, meeting every now and then with Melissa and Trevor to catch up and talk about academia. As for Harry, he was working on expanding Sentebale's work across other African countries.

A new Royal Tour was set for next year, on the Caribbean, which they hoped to bring their son along. Most of the times, if they’d be staying for more than a day, they’d bring Arthur with them. But he did spend a good deal of time with his grandparents, who, on both parts, doted on the little boy, dearly. Even though Charles and Camilla were estranged from Harry, Elle made a point to take baby Arthur to see them from time to time. As for her own parents, Victoria and Rupert adored babysitting their grandson and were completely at his mercy. Elle once caught her father bouncing the infant on his knee as he did with her when she was a child and it warmed her heart to see how much her son was loved by her family.

     Not to mention the staff. The entire McClaire gang doted on the little boy. Brandon and Olivia were delighted to have a child on the home again and usually commented on how much they had missed the joy of children whenever Elle was around. Jane and Gregory took upon themselves to play with Arthur whenever they could. As for Margaret and Thomas, they’d school the little boy about everything around the kitchen and garden, respectively. Now that he was starting to eat solids, Maggie was particularly fond of cooking small portions of baby food for Elle to take home with her to see if Arthur would enjoy it. And it had never failed to please the infant, to the chef’s delight. 

        Once winter arrived, and Elle’s birthday came to pass, she received the best gift she could ever wish for: hearing Arthur properly say his first couple of words, such as mama, dada and lan, which, of course, translated to the three most import things in his life: his parents and Lancelot. He had also mastered his tummy time and could roll on it and then upwards again, as well as sitting without either Harry or Elle helping him. They had a good routine going on of naps, playtime and feeds, with now a few solids introduced as well. The new parents quickly discovered Arthur’s fondness for bananas but his distaste for papaya. Little by little, the three of them were entering new territories. 

    On the second week of November, Elle and Harry prepared for Remembrance Sunday, as many other members of the Royal Family. That’d be the first big and meaningful event without William and Catherine. They had moved back to Anglesey with the children and Elle had heard weekly from Kate. Dressed in a black dress and matching black hat, she stood beside Camilla,  Anne, and Sophie on the balcony and watched as Her Majesty, Charles, Harry, Andrew and Edward all placed the red poppies wreath on the Cenotaph. A tear or two fell down her cheeks as she thought about all the suffering that still went on around the world; about the fight and the people, military and civilians alike that were caught in the numerous conflicts. 

     That day at the Cenotaph had been the first interaction Harry had had with his father since the Abdication. After the ceremony, once they were all inside, she saw them talking in hushed tones and Harry, although stone faced, was talking back to Charles and even gave a small, tight smile to his father when he showed his phone to him. Elle imagined they were talking about Arthur. On the mend… slowly, but surely., she thought observing father and son. 

 “ I’m so glad to see them taking again.”, said Camilla, coming to stand beside Elle. The young duchess nodded her head, agreeing with the older woman.

“ Indeed. There’s much work to be done, but the first steps have been taken.”, said Elle. 

 “ I hope he can do the same with his brother.”, commented Camilla. “… William… it’s been hard on him too. He misses Harry. They all do. Will you talk to him, Eleanor? See if he can, maybe, call him again?”, she asked.

 “ I’ll try. I promise. I don’t like this situation anymore than you do, but Harry needs to be allowed to get over the anger and resentment he’s still feeling before he can forgive both his father and his brother.”, said Elle.

 ************

     Long before the whole ordeal with the Abdication had come to pass, it had been decided that Harry, Elle, Arthur and Sir Lancelot would spend Christmas with her family that year, stopping by at Sandringham, to make a quick visit to the Queen and other members of the family, on Boxing Day. So when December came, Elle was more than happy to take all of the Christmas decorations from storage and start giving their apartment the very best of seasonal cheer. 

As this was Arthur’s first Christmas, she had outdone herself by making sure he was featured every step of the way, dressing him in the cutest outfits: from little Elf to Rudolf, a Snowman and Father Christmas himself. Harry would often sneak on her and take several pictures of her and of Arthur and sometimes he too would get into them. The album Elle had given him years ago was filling up quickly. Soon another one would have to be bought so they could be cataloging their lives together. 

When he went to their bedroom that evening to shower and change while Elle fed Arthur downstairs, he opened one of his drawers to look for that particular photo album when he saw the binder Elle had given him on their first anniversary, a few months ago. In it, there were the unopened letters she had written to him, each for a different occasion. Going through them, he found the one he was looking for: for when you feel lost. Carefully detaching it from the binder, Harry took the small envelope in his hands and opened it. Elle’s elegant penmanship came into view.

 My love, my darling Harry,

If you’re reading this letter, then it means something horrible has happened in yours or our lives and you need to keep yourself grounded, to find a path to keep going forward. I may not know what it is since I’m writing this in the past with no hindsight whatsoever about the future. But, I do know that you’ll always find a way to see the light at the end of the dark tunnel. You are one of the strongest, most kind, good-hearted and positive people I know. You’ll find a way to see past whatever is troubling you because you know, deep down, that it’s not the edge of a cliff, or the end of journey. There’s so much more to be lived! You may be at a crossroads or maybe a very big challenge is what you’re facing… and although it seems like a big deal now, it will be nothing more than a little bump on your path towards a great and happy future. You can do it, Harry. You can face whatever challenge is put in front of you and you can find your path again. I hope I’m there by your side, through thick and thin, as we have vowed to each other. I hope you don’t need to read this letter because I’m going to be there by your side telling everything that is written here. But, in the case that I’m not for whatever reason or that you need to hear it again, and again, again… You can and you will be found. You will see clearer. You will overcome the darkness and the desolation you might have been feeling. Take a deep breath, focus on the good parts of your life, on the people who love and support you no matter what, find your inner strength to battle the urge to 

shut everyone out… forgiven and forget, my darling. The storm is scary but it always ends. And the result is a beautiful and clear sky. You may be lost in the middle of a storm right now, but it will end. I’m sure of it.

All my love, 

Elle.

Harry eyes were glossy and unshed tears threatened to fall down his cheeks as he read the letter another time. He let her words sink in his brain and heart, reassuring him yet again, that he could do the task that was set for him and that she, his wonderful wife, his marvellous Elle, would be with him, beside him, every step of the way. Sighing, Harry folded the letter and put it on his nightstand. A hot shower was in need. 

    He was mid shower when he heard the bathroom door open. Harry didn’t turn his back for he knew who was it. Soon, a chilly air invaded the box and a pair of arm encircled his waist. He felt Elle’s breathe on his back, her lips gently kissing his warm skin.

“ Arthur is asleep.”, she said in between pecks. He placed his hands over hers, giving it a gentle squeeze before turning his body to face her. Looking deeply into her eyes, Harry cupped her cheek and lowered his head, molding his lips against hers. They pulled each other closer, basking in the passion of the moment, as the hot water fell on their bodies. Kissing turned into touching, pressing and gasping and soon, Elle had her back against the tiles, moaning. Their love making became more and more intense, the shower long forgotten. Panting, the entangled their bodies and leaned their foreheads together, faintly smiling. 

" It's been a while since we've done that, hasn't it?", said Harry, giving her his signature smirk.

" In the shower? Most definitely.", she replied chuckling. Pecking his lips, she reached for the towel and draped around her body before exiting the bathroom. Harry remained there for a few more minutes then joined an already dressed Elle in bed. He got under the covers and pulled her against him, nesting her in his arms. Gently, he began running his fingers through her hair, which earned him soft moans of content from her. In a matter of minutes, Elle was fast asleep. Harry smiled at the sight before him and placed a peck on her temple before closing his own eyes and drifting off into sleep.

************

    As Christmas week came, Harry, Elle, Arthur, Lancelot, and their RPO's made their way to Woodenford Castle. Passing through the snowy fields of Wiltshire, they drove during late morning arriving at the familiar majestic site of the 13th century stone castle on early afternoon, just in time for a healthy lunch provided by Ms. Martin, the fabulous chef. As soon as they were past the gates, Elle could see her family eagerly waiting at the front door. Once the car was pulled into a stop, they jumped out of the Range Rover, took Lancelot out and pulled Arthur from his car seat, who greeted his parents with a bubbly smile. The family was soon engulfed in warm hugs and kisses on the cheek offered by Victoria, Rupert and Edward, who soon whisked his nephew away, whispering promises of fun and mischief in his ear, while Logan helped with their luggage.

" I'm so glad you're here!", said Victoria, still holding Elle's shoulders. 

"We are very glad to be here.", said Elle. " Specially since it's Arthur's first Christmas. And nothing can compare to our Christmas tree...", she continued as they stepped inside. Warmth and the smell of pine and spices filled her senses, making her instantly more relaxed and happy. As they too off their coats and headed to the Drawing Room, she held her breath in excitement. And she wasn't disappointed. The 25ft Norway spruce was up, its ornaments glistening under the lights.

" Oh wow...", said Elle in wonder.

" We haven't finished decorating it yet. We know how much you love doing it.", said her father smiling. She smiled back at him and nodded her head with enthusiasm. She walked over to the with Arthur in her arms and browsed over the many different ornaments, their shapes and colours twinkling in the light, catching the infant's eyes and sparkling his curiosity. The family around them smiled lovingly at the scene and Harry even snapped a few pictures of mother and son, who seemed to be immersed in their own little bubble of Christmas cheer. They all joined in to decorated the tree. Little by little, the magnificent decor was complete. Harry snuck behind Elle and warped his arms around her, pulling her and Arthur close to him. 

" Now this... is what I call a proper Christmas tree.", he said in her ear.

" Couldn't agree more.", she replied, turning her head to the side and pecking his lips. They smiled to each other then looked down at Arthur who was looking amazed at every little thing around him. Elle kissed his chubby cheeks and Harry tickled his belly, earning them both a giggle from the toddler. His smile, a toothy one now, lit up the room. It was contagious and made everyone else smile too.

    For the next few days, Elle and Harry took the time away from the city to decompress and have a few dates, just the two of them. Since the snow wasn't deep and they decided to take the horses for a small walk near the river. Bundled up in puffer jackets and very warm mittens and caps, they walked over to the stables, greeting the familiar faces they saw on their way.

" Ahh Lionheart.", said Elle stepping close to her horse's stall. He neighed and threw his mane around, reaching for her hand. She chuckled and caressed his nose. "I've missed you too, buddy.", she said to him. Harry was given Percival to ride, just like on the first time he had been to Woodenford, all those years ago when they reconnected. 

    They saddled up their horses and slowly trotted side by side, the chilly breeze cutting through their skin, making theirs cheeks red. "Race you to the river.",  he said to her and galloped past her. Elle chuckled, remembering how she was the one to do the same last time they did that. She soon caught up with him and they laughed to each other as they reached the riverbank together. 

" Even with a head start, you can't seem to beat me, Major.", she said, winking and grinning at him. 

" What can I say, you've always been better at it than me...", he replied. Harry then got off his horse, tying him to a nearby tree. He then helped Elle out of her horse and did the same. Elle then picked up the the small basket with water and sandwiches she had brought and hand in hand, they walked to a stone bench that overlooked the river. Sipping on their bottles and nibbling on their snacks, they quietly observed the flow of the water and the breeze on the pine trees, listening to the sounds of the nature around them. Snuggling up to him, Elle sighed happily. 

" Feels so good to be here, in the peace and quiet after the months we've had, doesn't it?", she said.

" It really does.", replied Harry. " Sometimes I can't believe all that has happened to us...", he continued, holding her close, playing with her wedding ring. 

" I know, darling. It's been a crazy couple of year, filled with good and bad things, and we've faced them all together.", said Elle, looking up at him. 

" I have no idea what I'd have done without you by my side, Elle.", he said cupping her cheek. "You bring out the best in me. You're my saving grace and shining light at the end of a dark and rocky road.", he finished. 

" Oh Harry...", she whispered, smiling gently at him, teary eyed after his declaration. Leaning in, she pulled him closer and brought his lips towards hers. They kissed slowly, savouring the moment, but eagerness and passion flowed through their mouths and soon they were feeling much hotter than before. Once they finally pulled away from each other in need of breath, they rested their foreheads together, breathing in and out, eyes closed, feeling the heat coming from one another's bodies. 

************

    On Christmas Eve, the family gathered in the Great Hall of the castle for the Foundation brunch. A tradition that her parents had started as a way of thanking the staff and key members of the community who are a part of the Duke and Duchess' foundation. Cassandra was there and was delighted into meeting the new addition to the family. As were a few other staff members, coordinators and representatives of the small associations connected to the Foundation. Harry was soon whisked away by some veterans that he had met before while Elle was engrossed in talking to new mothers and their children about the literacy projects she had been developing and the work that had been done in the county. At dusk, they took part in a soup kitchen, delivering food and blankets to the homeless and less fortunate of Salisbury.

" I think that doing this, helping other people, really shows what Christmas is all about.", commented Elle as they gave out blankets to the people. Harry smiled at her and placed a kiss on her temple. 

    When finally came time for dinner, they returned to the castle for the much anticipated festivities. Dressed in a burgundy red dress and black pumps Elle patiently fed Arthur while Harry took shower. With only a towel around his waist, he come out of the shower and gave her a peck on the lips, walking towards the closet to get dressed. Smirking, Elle bit her lips and settled Arthur on his Moses basket. She tiptoed to the closet, finding her husband wearing only his underwear. Sneakily encircled her arms around his waist, running her hands up and down his torso, leaving a trail of kisses along his back and neck. Harry groaned and she smirked to herself, nibbling his earlobe. 

" Someone's in a mood...", he said huskily. 

" Oh darling... you have no idea what awaits you later tonight...", she whispered back, before leaving him alone in the closet.

" Looking forward to it... you tease!", he said, catching sight of her wink and smirk towards him just as she exited the room. Shaking his head, Harry dressed quietly, feeling a little discomfort on his trousers. That little temptress..., he thought. He heard her talking to Arthur and soon he was all alone in their room, which gave him plenty of time to get her gift from his suitcase. Smiling to himself as he looked at it, he pocked it and left the room as well, rushing down the stairs to meet the rest of the family. 

    The McClaire family was gathered in the Hall, the Christmas tree sparkling bright and under it, a selection of different sized boxes, mostly filled with toys and clothes for Arthur no doubt. The table was set with candlelight and ornaments along its length; a selection of roasts and mashes filled them all and warmed their bodies. At the stroke of midnight, the clinked their glasses in cheerful and joyful harmony, wishing each other a very happy Christmas. Once dinner was over, they pulled crackers and in a selections of colourful paper crowns, gave each other their gifts. As predicted, Arthur was spoiled to bits by their grandparents and uncle. Her parents exchanged comical gifts such as a new pair of glasses for her father and a new crocheting kit for her mother. Her brother gave everyone gift cards to Waterstones, which pleased most of them. Elle and Harry gave them framed pictures of Arthur with each family member, which brought her mother to tears. Finally, it was their time to exchange gifts. 

" Mine is a little bit late, but with everything that has been going on, I thought it was actually fitting to give it to you now.", said Harry handing Elle a small, squared package. She tore the paper and inside she found the familiar red box with the logo of the House of Garrard in golden letters. She carefully opened it, finding an eternity band ring, surrounded by tiny diamonds. Picking it up, she noticed that on the inside that was something engraved: Little Bear it read and she looked up at her husband with misty eyes.

" I wanted to give you that for a long time but...", said Harry. Elle smiled and shook her head.  "No, no... it's perfect timing... oh Harry... it's beautiful. Thank you.", she said, pecking his lips. She then reached to her side to give him his present. Similar to her own, it was wrapped in a square brown paper. He, like her, tore it to pieced and found a small circular container. 

Opening the lid, he chuckled and looked at her. Elle smiled and waited for his reaction. He took the silver and leather bracelet from it and payed closer attention to the marks on it: 

51°31'02.0"N  0°10'23.0"W, 19.04.17. Harry instantly knew what it meant. 

" It seems I'm gonna start a collection with these ones...", he joked, pointing out to the bracelet. Elle chuckled and smiled. 

" Well... it's only fitting since you have one for every part place in our shared history.", said Elle. 

" I love it. Thank you, my love.", he said, kissing her cheek. 

        That night, once everyone was asleep and Arthur was properly placed on her old bedroom which had been converted into a nursery, Elle kept her promise to Harry. She teased him, and toyed with him until he had enough of it and pushed her against the wall, on the bed, in the shower, and on the floor. They released all their bottled up tension making passionate love to each other again and again.

************

        On the very early ours of Boxing Day, they made the four-hour journey from Salisbury to Sandringham. With a sleepy Arthur in the back and Ingrid beside him, they drove to the familiar red bricked estate. 

" Are you ready to see them?", asked Elle.

" I am. Do I still feel hurt? Yes. Am I going to wallow in it? No. I think I should, no, need to move forward. For my own sake.", replied Harry. Nodding her head, Elle smiled and took her hand in hers, joining their fingers. 

" It will be great. And we'll start mending bridges by greeting them properly, alright?", said Elle, and Harry nodded his head in agreement. They parked outside and were greeted by William, Catherine and a very sleepy looking George. Taking a step forward, Harry smiled gently and embraced his brother.

" Hi Will. Happy Christmas.", he said. William, who was a little shocked, embraced his brother back and smiled widely at him.

" Happy Christmas, Harry.", he replied then hugged Elle as well. 

" Hello all. Merry Christmas!", said Kate, hugging them. " Had a pleasant trip?", she asked.

" It was pleasant enough. Not much traffic at this hour.", replied Harry.

" How was Christmas at Woodenford? I don't think I've been there since we were teenagers.", said William.

" Oh it was great. You know hoe my mother is with decorations... Arthur was delighted to see everything.", said Elle smiling at her brother-in-law. 

" I wonder where Elle gets the crazy Christmas fever from...", said Harry and the adults chuckled. The light atmosphere was enough to settle the animosities and bring back, a little of he camaraderie and love that was severed between the brothers. The sleeping toddler on her arms twitched a bit and they rushed inside, to warm themselves up. Once there, they were greeted by the rest of the family who were about to get breakfast. Charles and Camilla were among the first ones to greet them. Cautiously, Charles approached Harry.

" Son... Merry Christmas.", said Charles, smiling faintly. Harry smiled back and took a step forward to hug his father. Elle could see that Charles was visibly relieved to be hugged by his younger son. 

" We're delighted that you've come here.", said Camilla, greeting them with hugs and kisses. " Would you like to have breakfast with us?", she asked. Famished as they were, they joined in and Arthur was soon whisked away from Elle's arms and passed along cousins and doting family members.

" Oh he's so big!", commented Anne smiling. 

" He's gonna be a tall lad!", said Edward. 

" I reckon he's gonna go into the family tradition and join the military.", said Andrew.

" Now now, he's not even a year old. Let the poor baby be.", said Bea.

    The banter and conversation flew joyously and Elle took the time to look around the room. Elizabeth and Philip were still absent but, considering the time, she thought they would both be changing for church. Soon enough, they appeared on the doorstep and smiled at the sight of the new arrivals.

" About time you got here, boy. Lost your way, ye?", joked Philip. 

" Let us see the baby...", said Elizabeth, taking Arthur into her arms. The baby cooed and smiled at his great grandmother. "Oh he's just as adorable as I remembered.", she said., making his parents beam with pride. " Oh, that reminds me... I have something for him. Come with me you two.", she said pointing to Harry and Elle. Following her into the living room where the Christmas tree was, she handed them a rectangular box. Opening it, they found a glass bobble with Arthur's name in it, surrounded by glittering green specks. 

" Now he has one too.", said the monarch. " We've hanged yours now you can put his next to them.", she continued. Smiling to the older woman, Elle took the ornament and looked around the tree to find hers and Harry's names, placing his it just under theirs.

" Now the tree is complete.", said Elizabeth.

He felt awful that his dear friend was going through something like this and being so far away from home without being able to do anything, but this, this could not happen again. “Si, as a friend I know the past few days have been extremely difficult for you and I cannot imagine what is going on in your head right now.” Harry and Simon started to slowly walk behind the rest of the squad, out of ear shot from Luca and Owen. “But, as a fellow pilot.” He breathed out. “You just put more lives on the line in that situation and that was completely unacceptable. Whatever is in your head cannot affect your flying again or…” The prince paused and glanced up from the ground towards his friend to see the somber expression formed on Simon’s face.

“I will have to stop flying.” Simon nodded. Understanding that he was placing Harry in a tough spot. “I put my squad’s lives on the line today, Harry. I need to get my head right.”

“Do you want to go speak to someone? Maybe a good chat will help ease the mind a bit?” Harry attempted to convince Simon who shot down the idea quicker than Harry brought it up mainly out of fear that the conversation would reach their superiors and Simon’s flying would be brought into question.

Harry’s eyes lifted hearing children laughing in the near distance. His eyes fell on Emily giggling away as she meandered through a small group of Afghan children with a football. They were all screaming and chasing after her as she fought to pick them all off of her body as they clung on tightly to her. Emily kicked the ball towards a little girl who was evidently the smallest one in the group and ran her little heart out to get the ball, but was trampled over by the bigger kids as she fell to the ground.

Emily jogged over to the girl who was now balling her eyes out sitting on the ground holding her knee tight to her chest. She knelt down and stood the little one up and brushed the sand off of her knees before consoling her. The little girl nodded and Emily smiled before giving her a big engulfing hug. Emily picked the little girl up and swung her around making her cries turn into an endless string of giggles.

“That stubbornness is going to kill you one day, Si. Or even me.” Harry walked off without another word feeling an inner rage building within. He headed towards Emily, wanting to let off a little steam and join the game with the kids. A distraction from his thoughts was exactly what he needed in that moment, and Emily was definitely a great distraction for him.

“Em!” Harry called out her name as her head turned and became distracted by the soldier running towards her flashing a beaming grin.

“Hey you.” The smile that grew on her lips was exactly what Harry longed to see after such a stressful flight. “Want to join in? I am sure they won’t care if I beat you.” She placed her hand on her hips and egged him on with a wink.

“Oh! It’s so on!” Harry took off his sweater and tossed it aside.

Emily turned around and yelled at the children in Arabic, telling them that Harry was going to play and to gang up on him. But, she decided to keep that little secret to herself as they started screaming and piling on top of him making Emily laugh hysterically while taking control of the football.

“No! You cannot speak in Arabic, that is soo not fair!” Harry protested profusely as he plucked each child off of him while Emily ran ahead.

“Afraid of a little challenge are we, Captain Wales?” Emily took off ahead kicking the ball as the prince chased after her, closing in the distance quickly.

He placed his hand on her side and tried to kick the ball from between her legs, but she angled her body into the pilot and gave him a cheeky elbow to back off. “Is that how you are going to play huh?” The close proximity towards Harry was clouding her mind, distracting her from what she was doing.

“Yes, Wales.” Emily did a move and snuck around him leaving the prince in her dust as the children around them started screaming to catch up with the blonde. She passed the ball off to the little girl that had been crying earlier and she kicked the ball into the net. She started jumping up and down with her arms in the air cheering so loud as Emily picked her up and placed her on top of her shoulders, running around to celebrate the goal.

Harry stood there with a beaming smile plastered on his lips as Emily approached with the little girl on her shoulders that was smiling from ear to ear with glee. The pilot offered the little girl a high five to which she happily gave to Harry. “Nice goal! The girl clapped her hands as she beamed proudly of her efforts. Emily placed her on the ground, but she immediately was drawn to Harry. She tapped his leg with her tiny hand and tugged on his pants to lift her up.

“You want up?” Harry held his arms out and looked up to Emily. “Does she want up?” Emily combed through her dark hair with her fingers and asked her in Arabic as she nodded and lifted her arms up in the air. “Yes, Amira wants you to pick her up.” Emily watched the interaction briefly, but a little boy kicked the ball towards her and yelled her name. She turned around and took off, leaving Harry holding in the child in his arms.

“Do you want to play still, Amira?” He asked the little girl, who probably did not understand a word he was saying, but she pointed to where the ball was and he took off running with her in his arms ensuring she was cradled against his body securely.

Emily and Harry were sitting with the small group of children down on the sandy ground as she offered some water to their tired little bodies. They were jumping around talking to Emily as she attempted to include the prince and translate what they were saying to her as he sat with Amira clinging tightly to him.

She glanced down at Amira and smiled, watching how Amira was enthralled with Harry. “Looks like you have made a new little friend, Henry.” Emily casted her blue eyes up to lock in the prince’s gaze.

“Looks like I have.” He released a deep chuckle as Emily helped the little girl take a sip of water that splashed down onto Harry’s legs.

One of the boys was a bit shy and hiding behind Emily staring at the prince. But, each time Harry looked at him, he shied away behind the blonde doctor. He whispered something in her ear and she giggled. “He wants to know how to get big and tall like you.”

“You eat your veggies.” Harry barked a laugh and tossed his head back. Emily grinned and told the boy what Harry’s answer was and he shook his head with a look of disgust that made both of them start to laugh.

The two of them sat there and enjoyed the company of the children that were a welcomed distraction for both. Emily had a tough morning at the hospital and needed an escape while hearing the little children laugh and play helped Harry de-stress and clear his mind from what happened with Simon.

Harry’s gaze was steady on Emily, watching her play with the children brought him some sort of inner comfort. Or maybe it was simply being in her presence that instantly calmed the prince. Either way, he felt that it was the right time to ask her on a date tonight.

“Em?” He coaxed her attention away from the children as her blue eyes darted towards him with an endearingly full smile.

“Yes, Henry?” Her blue eyes never wavered.

“Are you free tonight to go out with me. On a date that is?” Harry’s lips spread into a hopeful grin. “I want to spend more time with you, just the two of us.” Those mesmerizing blue eyes drew him in and got lost in their depths.

“Yes...” Her cheeks blushed faintly. “Yes, I want that too.” Emily could hardly contain the excitement that fluttered in her heart and it showed on her face as her eyes sparkled in response.

“Why don’t I wait for you outside your building around eight? The night will give us a bit more privacy.” Harry voiced his well thought out plan.

“Got it all figured out now, do you Wales?” She giggled teasingly at the prince. “I will be ready then.” Emily shifted in her spot to get up despite the protests of the children that were sitting in her lap. “I know!” She leaned in and gave them a tight hug, squishing them as they tried to escape the confines of her arms as Emily explained to them that she had to go back to work.

“I need to go back to work for a bit longer, but will see you tonight.” Emily stood to her feet and took one last look at Harry who was nodding with a smile before she walked away.

The butterflies in Emily’s stomach were flipping back and forth. She was rummaging through her closet wondering what on earth to wear on a date with a prince on a military camp in the middle of Afghanistan. How are you even supposed to go on a date when it is completely frowned upon to be involved with soldiers on the base? If they were caught… Emily shook her head and banished that thought from her mind.

Emily glanced towards her bedside table to see she only had a few minutes to pull something together. She grabbed a white sweater and pulled on a pair of her travel navy pants and quickly combed through her blonde locks trying to look somewhat presentable.

Opening the entrance door to the building, Emily quietly snuck out wanting to ensure that no one saw her leave with Harry. Their plan was to meet at the side of the building, but Emily had not realized how dark it had already became. She crept down the stairs and peaked around the corner only seeing darkness.

“Henry?” She whispered his name not entirely wanting to walk any further into a dark space alone. Hearing footsteps come forward, Harry stepped a bit into the light to show that he was indeed there with a wide brimmed smile plastered all over his face.

“Em, I’m here.” He reached out and gently grasped her hand with a beaming smile that instantly calmed Emily’s fears. Harry took a quick glance around to make sure no one was around and gave her hand a light tug, pulling her into the darkness. “Follow me.” His voice was deep and trusting.

Emily held on tight to Harry as her other hand clasped around his wrist to ensure he was not going to leave her behind amidst the dark. “Where are we going?” She whispered into the night as they snuck around the base feeling like teenagers sneaking out of their parent’s house on a weekend.

“You will see.” Harry walked hand in hand with Emily towards the helicopter hangar that he knew was unoccupied this late at night. “Watch your step here.” He carefully led her past his body around the back leading towards a little make shift tent he had quickly put together.

Emily crouched down to glance inside to see blankets, pillows, flashlights and a few of her favourite treats set out beside a box of pizza. “Did you set all this up? For our date?” Emily asked as she felt Harry crouch down beside her, his hand settling down on her lower back.  

“Yeah, I did.” He chuckled lightly and followed a crawling Emily inside, sitting down right beside her. Harry pointed and looked up to through the open space through the tarp that Harry deliberately made as Emily’s eyes followed his gaze. “It’s a bit hard trying to come up with a place for a date so I figured this would give us a little privacy and well I like looking up at the stars here.” His voice drifted off into a whisper as he gazed up at the night sky illuminated by sporadic stars bordering the moon. “It calms me for whatever reason.”

Emily was enthralled by the groups of stars shinning brightly through the little space at the top of the tent. The blonde nodded slowly with a soft smile agreeing with Harry. “It’s something about them that often does that. It makes everything seem not so far away like it feels sometimes.” Emily’s soft voice coaxed Harry’s blue eyes down to stare into hers with a lingering gaze.

“This is perfect, Henry.” Emily blinked slowly and turned her head to gaze up into those deep blue eyes. “You sure it’s ok for us to be here?” There was a hint of worry laced in her voice.

“As long as we don’t get caught.” Harry shrugged his shoulders and playfully winked at the blonde doctor teasingly. “Nah, Em it’s fine.” The pilot leaned back and grabbed the box of pizza for them to share.

“So, I wanted to buy you dinner on our first date but the options were a bit… limited.” Harry started to blush a bit, feeling a bit embarrassed that he could not take Emily on a proper date here on base. “This is what I came up with...” He opened the box to reveal her favourite ham and pineapple pizza.

“Oh my god, did you really get my ham and pineapple pizza?!” Emily’s mouth fell open in shock that Harry would do this for her. It was endearing for Emily to see all of Harry’s efforts that went into their date. It reminded Emily of how Harry and the guys planned her surprised birthday party and it was little things like that that Emily appreciated so much and showed how much he cared.

Emily grabbed a piece of her pineapple and ham pizza he had gotten for them to share and took a big bite. “Yup, this will do!” She grinned happily while chewing down the delicious pizza. “Here, have a bite and see for yourself what you have been missing your whole life.” Emily leaned forward and offered a bite of her pizza to Harry. The prince hesitated and shared an expression that he was not entirely convinced to.

“One bite and you may get to kiss me.” Emily playfully teased, but Harry’s expression changed to a serious one as he quickly took a bite off before Emily could go back on her word. Her mouth dropped in shock having realized what she had promised Harry. The glint in his eyes was proof that he did indeed plan on taking Emily up on her bargain.

She watched his priceless reaction when he realized how amazing pineapple on pizza actually was. “Wow…” He nodded and grabbed a piece of his own. “This is actually way better than I thought it would be!” Harry quickly finished the rest of his piece. “Plus, I get to kiss you…”

The way that the prince was staring at Emily in combination with his devilish grin that had formed on his lips made Emily’s heart pound into a fluttery mess in her chest. The blonde woman could not formulate a response so all she did was nod slowly while her mind went off thinking of everything that could change once they did. But, then a smile turned up the corners of her lips as a memory reminded Emily of that night that Harry walked her back to her building and kissed her forehead. “Yes, you do.” She finally was able to string a set of words together, but it was her cheerful smile that spoke louder than words to Harry that Emily wanted the same thing.

Harry and Emily had topped off the pizza that they had shared and decided to lay down in the tent beside one another. The extra blankets Harry had taken from the VHR tent were tightly bundled around their bodies as they shared the warmth it created for them against the cool afghan night. Emily’s side was pressed close against the prince being able to use his shoulder as a comfy pillow. Harry’s arm was tucked under the blonde doctor to ensure she was as close as possible to the prince so he could enjoy the feeling of someone beside him, a craving he had long forgotten to indulge in.

The pair were staring up at the stars through the hole in the tent with Emily pointing up into the night sky to show Harry a few of the constellations she could see. Her other hand was gently intertwined with Harry’s as their fingers danced, playing with one another absent mindedly while they talked. Harry was staring down at Emily being completed enthralled and under her spell as she lined out yet another constellation for him.

“And that one is Orion.” She sighed with a beaming smile. “It’s one of my favorites. Do you know the myth behind it?” Emily turned her head to see the prince staring intensely at her with those mesmerizing blue eyes that nearly made her heart stop.

“No.” He shook his head slowly, but his gaze never faltered. “Tell me.” Harry craved to hear her soft calming voice speak again.

Emily forced herself to look away, focusing back up at the stars before clearing her throat. “Well, based on Greek mythology, Orion was some sort of talented hunter and believed he could rid the Earth of all the wild animals. Gaia, who was the goddess of earth, was angered by Orion and sent a scorpion to kill Orion. Orion tired to battle the armored scorpion and realized he could not shoot his arrow through the armor so he jumped into the sea.” Emily paused for a brief moment to glance back at Harry to see him listening very close to every word she spoke.

“Go on.” Harry’s deep voice encouraged as he locked their fingers together.

“Apollo, who was the Greek god of the sun, decided to help Gaia kill Orion. Apollo pointed out Orion in the sea to his twin sister Artemis convincing her it was a villain. She shot it with her bow and arrow than swam out to see that it was her friend Orion. Artemis begged the gods to bring Orion back to life, but they refused so she put Orion’s picture in the sky so she could always see him.” The blonde doctor trailed off into a comfortable silence.

“Why is that your favorite?” An intrigued Harry craved to learn more, but he also wanted to distract his own mind that was drifting to the situation he found himself in because of Simon’s arrogance, much like Orion’s in the story. He looked past Emily and watched his fingers curl around hers, squeezing them in silence as he witnessed the hesitation flash across her face hoping that it would provide Emily with some sort of comfort.

“You remember me saying that I was in Syria before coming here?” Emily watched the prince nod in silence. “Some nights, it was all too much for me to handle having a constant feeling of hopelessness mixed with the feeling of not being able to do my job. We had to sit outside the city listening to the shells firing into the city everyday knowing that innocent people were dying until we were granted a cease fire to go in and provide aide for the limited time we were given.” Emily forced her blue eyes shut as a frown creased the soft skin of her forehead, needing a minute to get passed the memory of it all. Her eyes fluttered open along with the release of a heavy sigh.

“Most nights when I couldn’t sleep I would go for a walk and find a place to look up at the stars. I could always pick out the Orion constellation even amongst the hazy clouds left behind from the bombings. It brought me a sense of comfort seeing that every night it was still there no matter what else happened in the world. That when everything else was falling apart around me, it was still there every time I looked up.” Emily turned her head and shifted onto her side to face Harry snuggling into him tighter, silently asking to be comforted by him. She stared into those deep blues that she had now used to replace those stars she sought out every night for comfort. His blue eyes were the one constant now amongst all the chaos that had surrounded Emily since finding herself in at Camp Bastion.

“It made me think of home and how they could be staring up at the same stars making them seem closer than they were to me. So, I understand what you meant. That the stars have some sort of calming effect out here.” Harry’s arm had wrapped around her frame and settled down on her hip.

“You have that kind of effect for me too.” Harry confessed to Emily as his gaze faltered away from her eyes. He tried his best to hide from what was plaguing his mind all day long, but it was catching up with him.

Emily’s hand reached out and softly cupped his cheek while lifting his head to gain back those deep blue eyes he attempted to hide from her. “Henry, what’s wrong?” The doctor’s blue eyes were filled with concern. “What happened this morning before you came to play football with the kids?” Emily asked again. This time she knew that there had been something off with Harry this morning.

“How did you -?” His eyes narrowed, wondering how on earth Emily knew.

“I was using them as a distraction just as you were.” Emily confessed with a half crooked smile. “But, I can tell something is bothering you and it still is.” Her thumb tenderly stroked his cheek, a gesture that Harry welcomed as he leaned into her gentle touch.

Harry shifted his body onto his side to face the blonde beauty. “It’s about Simon.” Mentioning Simon’s name and the concerned expression on Emily’s face made her sit up and purse her lips together as she put the pieces together. She had seen Harry walking beside Simon coming back from a flight before he came to play with the children. Something must have happened during their flight.

“What happened?” Emily encouraged Harry to continue despite the worry growing tight in her chest. “You can trust me. I won’t say a word to anyone.” She assured Harry that what he was about to divulge would be kept in confidence.

“We got a call for troops in contact this morning.” The prince breathed out and felt Emily’s fingers starting to run through his ginger hair soothingly as she laid there next to him listening with the softest blue eyes that made him want to tell her everything. “Everything seemed routine. We ran to the apache, got it up and running in out usual time. Never once did I feel that something wasn’t quite right, but my mind keeps going through each moment wondering if I could have picked up on it sooner.” Harry shook his head in disbelief.

“Simon stopped barking orders at us and I was waiting for him to confirm what I saw and then there was just silence… right as we entered into the combat zone.” The fear circling in Harry’s eyes was so evident that it sparked a fuelled anger from within Emily at Simon. But, Emily held her tongue and did not voice her inner raging thoughts that were developing.

“It was like he blanked or wasn’t even there.” Harry’s brow furrowed as he to tried to make sense of what happened in that Apache this morning. “I felt the apache nose point down and I knew he had somehow lost control of it. So I took control of the Apache and started commanding it.” Harry gulped down the lump in his throat. “It was too late to call in another apache and I was not going to let the guys on the ground down knowing what they were fighting against.”

“You made the right call.” Emily’s voice softly broke through his thoughts.

“That’s not what bothered me, Em. I am trained to fly that beast of a helicopter.” Harry’s lips pursed into a hard straight line while his jaw clenched tightly. “We finished the call successfully and flew back to base. Simon snapped out of it half way back and started taking back full command again. But, I questioned every little thing and ran it through scenarios in my head if I would have gave that command. Never before did I feel the need to question Si on his abilities to fly or command an attack Apache until today. I have always trusted him with my life, but today he lost that trust.” Harry’s heart started to race just like it had back in that apache. So he closed his eyes and concentrated on the feeling of Emily running her fingers through his hair.

His eyes gently opened to find Emily’s holding his gaze. “The worst part Em, is that when he came back he apologized for it all, but when I asked him to go talk to someone because it could not happen again and that he put so many other lives at risk… he refused to do so. I still covered for him with command after they questioned what happened.” Harry watched Emily’s brow furrow with deep concern over what Harry just confessed to her. “And, now I am not entirely sure that was the best option.

“Henry that is not ok.” Emily’s voice was laced in profound concern for the prince. “He could have killed you or Owen or Luca…” Em shook her head back and forth. “A soldier like this is more dangerous than the dangers we face outside these walls. You trust them innately, but Henry… I know you aren’t that stupid to let this go. Right? No matter what Simon is going through it cannot affect his judgment behind the controls of a thousand tons of metal.” Emily could not hold back in giving her opinion on the matter, especially when it could put Harry’s life at risk.

“I know and I don’t know how to help him.” Harry’s face contorted at the mere thought of his options. “Either I let this continue or convince him to get help… and if I can’t convince him to then I have to report it to the commander and that could ruin his career as a pilot.” The pilot turned his head to find Emily looking down away from him with a wounded expression on her face.

“Em?” Harry speaking her name did not gain her attention. “Emily?” It was if she was trapped in her own thoughts.

“Sorry…” She shook her head, lifting her gaze to smile up at the prince. “I uh… I could talk to someone and see if they could speak with Simon off the record.” Emily kindly offered to help.

“Really? Who would that be?” The hope in the prince’s voice brought a smile to Emily’s lips. She wanted to help in anyway she could, not just for Simon’s sake, but for Harry’s as well. But, in doing so would put Emily in a tough spot.

A set of blue eyes matched Harry’s gaze. “Clarissa.”

Harry instantly sat up in a rage of anger. “No.” He shortly replied in a cold hard tone, nearly snapping at Emily making her jump a bit. “I am not letting that woman any where near Simon or even you, Em. Especially you, after the shit she pulled with you. She cannot be trusted at all.” Harry’s voice was raised while a quiet Emily sat across from him knowing this was the reaction that she would be met with. But, it was the only solution she could come up with for a quick fix. Emily’s other idea of trying to get Simon granted leave on an emergency basis was denied and they were running out of options to help their friend.

His eyes fell upon her sitting with a defeated expression etched across her face. All Emily was doing was trying to help Harry and the fact that she even brought up the idea to talk with Clarissa, a woman who treated her awfully, to help Simon said tremendous things about Emily’s character. She was willing to put aside personal feelings and her pride to help someone in need.

“I’m sorry Emily.” Harry sighed deeply. “I should not have brought this up tonight. I only wanted to hang out with you and not bring this other shit into the mix.” The prince sat across from Emily and grasped her hand that sat in her lap. She freely gave it to Harry as he tried to coax her attention towards him. “What’s on your mind?” Harry could tell she was holding something back from him.

“Harry, I already lost a friend here.” Emily’s blue eyes lifted slowly to lock in his. “I would do anything to make sure that didn’t happen again.” She parted to lips to speak, but hesitated and shook her head. “I don’t know where I would be without you quite honestly, or even your squad.”

“This place would really suck without me, wouldn’t it?” Harry winked playfully at Emily in an attempt to lighten the mood. A smile peaked through her somber expression making Harry continue his teasing with a certain objective in mind. “Come on, Em. Who would beat you at FIFA all the time? Or secretly sneak these to the hospital for you when you are on call late?” Harry grabbed a handful of Emily’s favourite candy bars he had stashed away for them to enjoy.

“Not true, I beat you that one time.” Emily was beaming from ear to ear, holding her abdomen from laughing so hard. “Give me one of those, Wales!” She reached out to grab one, but the prince held it back out of her grasp.

“Nuh uh.” Harry held up his finger and waved it back and forth with a raised eyebrow. “I get something from you first.”

Emily giggled lightly and closed in the space between them, leaving mere inches apart. Her lips stretched into a flirtatious grin. “And what is that, Captain Wales?”

“I think you already know, Doctor Clarke.” Harry’s eyebrow rose suggestively after watching Emily bite down on her delicate bottom lip.

“Tell me…” Emily angled her head and tried to coax it out of him, wanting to hear the words fall off his lips.

“I am going to kiss you, Emily.” Harry’s voice was deep and commanding. He cupped her cheek tenderly and brought her lips so close that he could feel her heavy breath float across his lips. The tip of her nose nudged up against the pilot’s as she opened her lust filled eyes to stare into the depths of his blues.

“Henry, we can’t go back from this.” The doctor’s voice was jagged as she attempted to calm her breathing down, but finding herself in this position with Harry kicked her body into over drive as every touch every sensation was magnified. The simple stroke of his thumb against her cool skin burned a fiery path along her cheek. Her heart was thumping in her chest so loudly she was sure that Harry could hear it.

“I know.” He sighed deeply. “I want you Emily.” Harry’s voice was confident and held no evidence of doubt that she was what the prince wanted. “I have since the very first day I laid eyes on you. The first time I saw those gorgeous blue eyes. Do not doubt that.”

Emily’s head swayed back and forth gently knowing she was about to give in to Harry. “It’s not because your promise?” She knew it was not the perfect time to ask this, but part of her still wondered what drove his intentions. Was it the promise he was bound to from her dying friend or was it feelings he had developed for her? A piece of her was terrified to know the truth behind them.

“That promise is what helped me get to know the real Emily; the one that I can’t deny that I have feelings for any longer.” His hand snaked around her neck and tugged it down towards him gently. “Now stop second guessing this and let me show you how I feel about you.”

The blonde softly inhaled his sweet scent, falling under Harry’s spell as she nodded her head lightly giving Harry the permission he was longing for. Her heart was beating so fast she couldn’t get a decent breath in, her head spinning into a downward spiral of desire for the prince.

She felt his breath on her cheeks from his close proximity as he waited patiently for the right moment to capture Emily’s lips. Harry watched her eyelids flutter and then close with her ready lips parted. He could not wait a moment longer as he leant forward, allowing their lips to meet for the first time.  

He kissed her softly at first, then with a swift swing of intensity that made Emily cling to him tightly, balling the material of his shirt in her hand as if he was the only solid thing in a dizzy swaying world she had found herself in.  His insistent mouth was parting her shaking lips, sending wild tremors along her nerves as if something within her sparked and evoked a fiery flame that burned through her body. Sparking sensations Emily had never known she was capable of feeling.

Harry tasted the sweet lingering taste that fell off of her lips that he was continually drawn back to, unable to get enough of her soft innocent lips that she eagerly kissed him with. He felt Emily give up control as she allowed Harry full power over her being to which he delicately took. The space around them evaporated, ceasing to exist as they explored this new world between them.

Their lips broke apart revealing a breathless Emily who was struggling to catch her breath. His lips formed a crooked smile seeing the effect that he had on Emily. Harry cupped her cheek and massaged it gently, waiting patiently for Emily to come back to stable ground. A light moan escaped her lips as the prince kissed her jawbone, innately tossing her head back gently into the prince’s cupped hand. His wet lips trailed down to her neck, feeling the thudding of her heart through her soft delicious skin.

“No…” Emily moaned out between deep breaths as her fluttering eye lids opened to look down at the Harry. She knotted her fists in his shirt and pulled Harry back up to her lips, abruptly crashing into them silently telling Harry that she needed more of him. Her fingers gripped the tufts of his ginger hair eliciting a soft low groan from his throat.

Harry’s arms circled around Emily and gathered her against his body. He gently lowered them down to the floor of the tent becoming tangled as one. Harry purposely took his lips off of Emily’s for a second to take in the view of Emily before him. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he felt his heart beat with wild abandon knowing that all he wanted in that moment was Emily and nothing was going to come between them.

Emily silently gazed up into the soldier’s eyes with fondness as they held a silent conversation. She tenderly grasped his cheek with her soft fingers and stroked it gently as the prince angled his head towards her touch. In that moment, Emily had never felt so at peace in a war torn place like this. She had never felt so calm and sure of herself that this was right between them without a doubt in her mind.

Emily gently tugged on Harry’s neck as he straddled himself between her legs. The weight of his body on top of Emily’s as the prince carefully cradled the blonde securely in his arms, was a feeling of security she had long forgotten. She felt all of him pressed up against her making her lips part to release a tiny moan that was captured by his awaiting lips.

Suddenly, Harry kissed her harder, deeper with an urgent fervor that fueled the fiery passion between them. It was not gentle like before, but a welcoming roughness that Emily surrendered to and matched Harry’s passion. His hands gripped her hair in a soft tug making their lips break apart briefly as each one fought their way back to find the others once again.

Every sensation had become heightened; like a set of colourful fireworks bursting throughout her being. She inhaled Harry’s scent, that scent that was just…him. It burned a memory into her nose along with the way his firm big hands caressed her body so delicately, but securely as it made her feel an innate sense of safety. The sounds of his low husky moans or the way that he spoke her name simply drove her body into unfounded land.

Without wasting another second, Harry’s lips were devouring Emily’s, stealing her breath away. Every other kiss that Emily had experienced before this in her life was wrong. It never felt right until this moment right here; this moment with Harry.  

Harry’s fingers were entwined with Emily’s tightly while walking the blonde back to her dorm. Her other hand gripped his forearm firmly as they wandered through the base amongst the eerily quiet night, but the prince could still see that smile that lingered on Emily’s lips throughout the rest of their night after they shared their first kiss.

It was a smile that only Harry had seen before once on her lips, a smile that was only for him.

Despite the long stressful day, Harry felt a sense of peace and calmness whenever he was with Emily. There was just something about her that Harry longed to have in his life. Whether it was her bright cheery smile or her infectious sweet laugh, it was Emily simply being Emily and that was enough for him at the end of the day.

Harry was pulled from his thoughts, feeling her hand rub up and down his arm. “You ok Henry?” Emily lifted her head to peak up at the silent prince noticing his quiet change in demeanour.

The prince nodded lightly and looked towards a dark hide out space between two buildings. He tugged on Emily’s hand as they took off in the direction away from her building.

“Henry!?” Emily quietly scolded the prince. “What are you doing?!” She was already afraid of getting caught, but now Harry was just tempting fate.

He turned and pulled her body flushed against his, gently cupping her cheek as the blonde peaked up at him barely being able to make out his features against the night sky. Without warning, he leaned in and abruptly kissed Emily with a soft urgency.

She at first fought it, knowing it was a terrible and risky idea to be kissing like this out in public with a chance that anyone could be watching or walking by to catch them in the act. But, the little voice inside of her head faded as she placed her hands against Harry’s chest and allowed the feeling of the kiss course through her body.

Their dripping lips broke apart breathlessly while the prince continued to tenderly hold her cheeks in his hand, keeping Emily exactly where he wanted her to be. “I am better now.” He smiled cheekily and earned a playful smack across the chest from Emily.

“We have to be more careful…” Emily was the voice of reason amongst them. “No one can know, Henry.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and settled her head down gently on his chest to feel the prince take in a heavy breath.

“I know, Emily.” His arms surrounded her frame to hold her body tight against him. “I’m not ready to let go of you just yet.” The pilot confessed as he closed his eyes and relished in the feeling of having Emily secured in his arms.

“If we get caught…” Emily’s voiced trailed off against the night, unable to voice the consequences that would surely arise if they did.

“We won’t.” Harry bent down and placed his lips softly against her temple, giving Emily a reassuring kiss. “Let’s not talk about this tonight. Let’s just enjoy each other.”

“Henry….” Emily lifted her head off of the prince’s chest to see his blue eyes casted down on her, halting her words.

“Let’s figure out where this is going… privately… before we worry about the rest of all of that.” What he spoke of was true. They both knew the other held feelings for them, but they had not had the chance to explore them any further than tonight. In a place like this, their priorities had to be their bound duties, not their developing feelings for one another.

It was a simple yet difficult choice they had to make.

Duty first, love second.

Until the time where it could be reversed.

A quiet Addy peaked up at her boyfriend with a smile. “What?”

“Thank you for taking me on this trip, Henry.” Addy leaned in and placed her lips softly against the prince’s that lingered.

“You two get a room already!” Tom yelled from across the aisle making Harry and Addy break apart to turn and stare at him.

“Oh shut up, Tom. You and Mel were going at it like monkeys earlier.” Addy stifled her laughter seeing Tom’s surprised reaction. “Yeah, weren’t as subtle as you thought.” Harry muttered with a light giggle.

Adalyn peered out the window of the vehicle while holding tightly onto Harry’s hand. She had not let go of it since the moment the plane had landed. Harry had not disclosed the full details of their vacation to Adalyn, only the fact that they were going to Croatia for a few days and advised her on a few things to pack. Little did she know, she was in for a big surprise, as were all of his friends and their significant others.

Their range rover pulled up to a harbor coming to a rolling stop. A confused Addy turned to lock eyes with Harry questioningly. “Where are we going?”

A simple shake of the head gave Addy her reply. Harry was still not going to tell her. The prince hopped out of the vehicle and grabbed both of their bags. “I can carry mine.” Addy grabbed the handle, but was quickly scolded by the prince.

“No way!” Harry gently pushed Addy’s hand away. “I am not letting my girl carry her bag when I am perfectly capable of doing so.” Addy smiled adoring up at Harry while she rubbed up and down his back that signalled her appreciation.  

“Thank you.” She pecked him on the cheek as she watched his smile spread wider.

Melanie came up behind Addy and grabbed her arm. “Come on! Let’s go!” She pulled Addy away from the prince. “I cannot believe we allowed these guys to plan a trip…” Mel leaned in and whispered to Addy. “I swear to god I will kill them all if we are going on a stupid fishing trip with them.”

Addy glanced back over her shoulder to make sure that Harry was right behind her. “I don’t think they are that stupid… or are they?”

Mel’s eyes darted towards Addy’s, locking in their gaze. “Ok… maybe it’s possible.” They both dissolved into a fit of giggles as they walked along the wooden path and turned the corner. Melanie nearly squealed deafening Addy’s ear when she saw a yacht waiting for them as they rounded the corner.

“Is that for us!?” She ran back to Tom practically dancing around him. While Addy had stopped dead in her tracks making Harry catch up to her. Taking in the view of the magnificent yacht, she felt extremely uncomfortable knowing how much this would have costed for Harry.

“Is it not big enough?” Harry could sense the uneasiness evaporating from within his girlfriend as he tried to make light of the situation.

“It’s too much, Harry.” Addy crossed her arms defensively without an ounce of laughter.

“It’s not really that much.” He tried to convince Adalyn that it was no nig deal at all. Harry had already anticipated this reaction from Addy.

“I can’t let you pay for all of this.” Addy shook her head slowly as she absentmindedly played with the necklace that Harry had given her. The rest of the group had walked off ahead of them nearly running onto the yacht. Dropping the bags down, Harry released a deep sigh.

“I’m not like them Harry…” Addy confessed. “Like your ex’s.” She turned to stare deeply into his blue eyes. “I can’t pay for these lavish holidays or expensive clothes and jewelry or –”

“Stop it!” Harry reached out and placed his hands on either side of Adalyn. “I am not asking you to be like that, nor have I ever.” His deep blue eyes were sincere.

“But, I can’t let you pay for all of it either.” Her voice cracked as she turned her head away feeling ashamed. “And I can’t keep affording it, and when I can’t, you pay and that is not fair to you, Henry…” She stared off into his blue eyes.

The prince released a deep sigh. He understood where Addy was coming from, but that was why he offered to foot the bill. “I did not take you here to make you more stressed out. You have been off work for nearly three months now and I know things are getting tougher for you.” Harry stepped closer to Adalyn. “I wanted this to be about us and our friends. We need this…. we need this getaway.” He sighed. “All I want in return is to see a smile on that pretty little face. To me that is worth more than anything on this trip. To see that gorgeous smile of yours that I rarely get to see now.”

Addy angled her head staring up at him sweetly. The wrinkles that had formed across her forehead had softened. “Ok… fine.” Addy closed in the distance between them and wrapped her hands around Harry’s neck. “But one day, I am going to take you somewhere, deal?”

“Deal.” Harry bent his head down and pressed his lips against Addy’s forehead.

“Now let’s get going before they think they can steal our room.” Harry was quick to grab their bags and lead Addy aboard the yacht.

“How’s the view?” Addy had escaped outside to the balcony that led from their suite to take in the fresh ocean breeze as they sailed along the water. Her eyes were glued ahead as she watched the city they embarked from slowly fading in the distant horizon as a sea of blue created more distance between.

Addy glanced back over her shoulder and smiled. “It’s beautiful.” She beamed as her head swiveled back out towards the ocean. Hearing a pair of footsteps behind her, Addy felt Harry wrap his arms around her tightly.

“Mmm, you are right. It is beautiful.” Harry released a deep chuckle. Addy’s hand slid down Harry’s arms resting her hands on top of his giving them a squeeze as silence flooded between them.

“What are you thinking right now?” Harry’s soft voice broke through her thoughts.

“You.” Addy confessed.

“Me?” Harry questioned.

“Just thinking of that night we met…” A smile crept up on Addy’s lips.

“I remember.” Harry spoke. “You were wearing a burgundy dress and your hair was down.” Addy listened in silence as the memory that had been playing in her mind was coming to light with every passing word of Harry’s. “I ran into you and nearly sent you to the floor.”

“But you caught me.” Addy interjected and turned her body around to face him still within the confines of his arms. A pair of blue eyes were staring back into her green orbs intensely. “Harry?”

“Yes, love?” Harry could see a fire burning in her eyes.

“Do you regret any of it?” Addy’s green eyes averted away from his stare.

“Regret you?” Harry asked with confusion until a slight nod of his girlfriend’s head nearly punched him in the gut. “Not for a second.” He watched as Addy remained silent. “Do you? Where is this all coming from?” Harry gently grabbed her chin and turned Addy’s head to make her look at him.

“It’s been what…  eight months since we have been together and so much has already happened.” Her voice was quiet. “Some days I wonder what life would be like if I hadn’t met you.” Addy winced at the mere thought of it. “But, looking back now after everything… I wouldn’t want a day to go by without being with you. I would go through it all again if it meant I got to have you in my life.”

“Is this about me going back to Suffolk?” Harry cupped Addy’s cheeks tenderly.

“You going back… me going back to work… being on my own.” Addy shook her head with tightly closed eyes.

“I thought that was what you wanted, Adalyn?” A confused Harry massaged his thumb into the warm flesh of her cheek.

A set of green eyes opened staring right into the depths of him. “What I want is to be normal again.” Addy breathed in deeply. “I don’t want people tiptoeing around me. I don’t want you or my family always worried about every little thing I do like I am going to vanish or something.”

Harry held his tongue. But, I almost did lose you Addy. You almost vanished from my life. He thought to himself.

“I want to have fun again, Harry.” Addy rested her forehead against Harry’s. “Like that day we spent on the farm together….”

“Mmmm that was fun.” Harry smirked crookedly.

“I am just tired of bad things happening to us and want to focus on the good things. Like this trip and us!” Addy slowly tossed her head back while holding onto Harry’s hips.

“Well it is almost a new year. We can start fresh. Leave all the bad shit that has happened in the past.” He smiled down lovingly at Adalyn. “Except for meeting you. That was the best day of my life.”

“Ooh stop it.” Addy blushed at his words.

“It’s true.” Harry whispered across her lips as he leant down to place a kiss on top of them. “Don’t ever forget that.”

“I won’t.” Addy stood up and pressed her lips one more time to Harry’s. “We should go find our friends, shouldn’t we?”

“I guess so…” Harry growled and pulled his lips reluctantly off of Addy’s.

The yacht’s captain and crew were introduced to their group and were made aware of the schedule of stops for the next few days. The excitement of the group was palpable as if they all needed this mini vacation and getaway from the pressures of their daily lives.

The guys were diving into their beers as the girls got changed into their swimsuits. Today would be spent on the yacht with a chance to use the water sport toys as they continued onto their next destination.

Melanie and Adrianna were the first to appear as they headed straight to the bar for a drink. Tom could not keep his eyes off of Mel, checking her out in her bikini.

“Damn, I am a lucky man.” He stood up and went directly over to his girlfriend leaving the guys behind.

“He’s starting to sound whipped like you Harry.” Skippy stuck out his tongue at Harry seeing the glare in his eyes.

“I am not whipped, Skippy.” Harry took a swig of his beer. “Not even remotely.”

“I am.” Guy tossed his head back in laughter at his own confession while his friends joined in with his laughter.

“We all knew that, Guy.” Harry spoke out the obvious.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Adalyn walking down the stairs and did a double take. His mouth nearly dropped to the floor in surprise at how sexy his girlfriend was standing there in a green bikini that accentuated all of her curves in just the right areas.

“Holy hell.” Harry whispered under his breath, but he swore Addy heard him as she locked eyes with him in that very second. She shyly looked away from him seeing how he was devouring her with his eyes.

Addy was leaning up against the bar waiting to place her drink order when she felt a hand pressed on the small of her back. Knowing by the immediate touch it was her man, she leaned into him.

“You look so sexy.” Harry whispered into Addy’s ear as he gently rubbed over the exposed skin on her back.

“Thank you, love.” Addy looked up at her boyfriend. “Why don’t you get me a drink then and I will meet you by the hot tub.” Without another word she left Harry behind in a daze knowing that his eyes watched her backside as she walked away from him.

Walking by Skippy and Guy she quickly leaned in and said. “Harry is whipped whether he thinks so or not.” Skippy was nearly keeled over roaring with laughter that gained Harry’s attention as he caught Adalyn walking away from his friends.

“I cannot wait for the water fall hike! It is going to be so amazing!” Mel gushed as she stumbled and nearly spilled her drink over everyone in the hot tub. The yacht was sailing by the picturesque coastal town of Baska, attracting everyone’s eyes as the clear blue water along the old buildings captivated them.

Addy was mesmerized by the view that was in front of her. She felt Harry come up beside her as he kissed her shoulder gently. “Why don’t you go get dressed so we can explore a little bit?” His words caused Addy to turn her attention to him.

“We get to go there?” Addy beamed with excitement.

“Yeah! Let’s hurry so we don’t waste any time!” Harry grabbed her hand and helped his girlfriend climb out of the hot tub.

Harry could barely take his eyes off of Addy in the summery dress that she had put on as they embarked off the yacht. A pastel colored floral skirt was perfectly matched with a white off the shoulder top that hinted at her breasts. Her brunette hair was loosely pulled back into a classy bun, but what caught his eyes the most was the necklace he had given her that Addy kept on nearly everywhere she went. He would often find her playing with it when she thought he wasn’t looking.

“Hey!” Harry turned to look back over his shoulder to look behind at the group. “We have dinner reservations at 730pm. Don’t be late!”

“Are we going to split up or stay together?” Mel asked the group as they continued to walk along the harbour front boardwalk.

“What do you wanna do?” Addy whispered to Harry as they locked in each other’s eyes.

“I want you to myself for a little while.” Harry lifted his arm and wrapped it around his girlfriend’s shoulders as they broke apart from the rest of the group finding their own adventure in the small Croatian town.

“Hey! Where are you two heading off to?!” Tom yelled after them.

“Nowhere!” Harry snickered before grabbing Addy’s hand and nearly running off with her, laughing away as they ditched the rest of the group.

The couple walked around the small town of Baska and entered little shops along their way. People kept pulling them into their shop and taught them what life was like in the town as they showed them what they had made to sell in their sea-side shops.

Harry spotted Addy eying a painting that she kept going back to look at. It was of a couple sitting together on the beach looking across over the ocean done in a watercolour base. Something in it was drawing Addy to it, but each time she went back to it, she did not pick it up.

“See anything you like?” Harry approached Addy as ran her hands through the soft material of a hand made scarf.

She simply shook her head. “No…” But her eyes trailed back towards the painting for a few seconds before fully answering. “Not exactly.” Addy looked up at Harry. “I heard there is a market a few streets down. Do you want to go there?”

“Yeah, wherever you want to go.” Harry nodded while pulling out his wallet. “You thirsty? It’s so hot out here. Why don’t you grab us a few drinks before we go? I think I saw a stand just outside the door. I want to ask this owner something.”

“I could use a drink!” Addy took a few bills from Harry. “Coke or water, love?”

“Water is fine. I will see you out there.” Harry internally smiled as his plan to distract Addy worked as he watched her leave the little store. He quickly approached the shop owner. “Do you paint these by yourself?”

“I do, sir.” He nodded happily.

“Could you paint one for me?” Harry took a few steps back and grabbed the painting Addy had her eyes on to show him. “Like this?” He showed him.

“Yes!” He nodded again. “I can paint for you and your wife. She has an eye for art!”

Harry smiled at the thought of the shop owner calling Addy his wife. “Maybe one day she will be.” He joked with the owner. “Can you do it tonight? We are leaving back to the yacht later tonight. I will make it worth your while.”

“Give me three hours? Pick it up here?” The owner smiled at the prince.

“That would be great! I can come back or have someone get it.” Harry was smiling from ear to ear hoping that Addy would like it.

“Water colour? Same exact picture but you two?” The owner confirmed with the prince through broken English.

Harry nodded and pulled out his phone to show him a picture of a selfie the two of them took earlier that afternoon. “Yes, like this.”

Harry looked towards the exit and knew he had to get going before Addy became suspicious. “How much?” He gave the man more that what he had asked for and headed out the door to find Addy walking back with two cold waters in her hand.

“Ready to go? I asked around and I think the market is around the corner over there.” Adalyn pointed out ahead of them while handing her boyfriend some water.

“Let’s go there?” Harry took a big drink as the cool water trailed down his throat.

“I feel like we have been doing what I want today though… what do you want to do?” A hint of concern was laced in Addy’s voice as she found Harry’s hand and started to walk towards the direction of the market.

“I am good with whatever as long as I get to do it with you.” Harry picked up her hand and kissed it softly. “I got my fun earlier with the jet ski!”

The couple had found the market and was amazed at all the unique little souvenirs and Croatian things the people from Baska had made to sell. They were simply having fun picking out little gifts for one another, the sillier the better.

Addy was nearly in tears after laughing so hard at Harry as he modelled an apparent traditional dress that men in Baska wore to ceremonies. He popped out his hip with a pouty lip making Addy dissolve into endless giggles.

“I will take it!” She dug through her purse despite protests from the prince not to, saying he would never wear it. “It’s not for you!” Addy leaned into him. “I personally think it would look great on Will!” A mischievous smile formed on her lips.

“I agree with you, love.” Harry pulled it off over his head and eyed it again while holding it up. “I think William will love it too!” The prince winked at Addy as she paid for it and put it into a small bag.

“We should get Kate something too!” Addy continued to walk along the vendors eying custom jewelry when she heard their names being called out.

Harry looked up and scanned the crowd becoming on guard as he did not recognize the voice that called their names. His eyes searched hard and landed on what he saw were paparazzi practically running towards them with their cameras in hand. How the hell did they find them here? The prince had told no one he did not trust about this vacation he had planned.

“Addy, let’s go.” Harry gripped her hand and started to lead her through the market as quickly as he could. His eyes fell back on the protection officer that had re-joined them after keeping a substantial distance between them as per Harry’s request.

Addy heard her name being called out as she looked back to see why Harry was in such a hurry to leave. A group of paps were hot on their heals as they weaved through the market stands. Her body became tense as she quickened her pace in order to keep up with Harry’s long strides.

“How did they find us?” Addy looked towards Harry who was wearing an angry expression with his brow furrowed and jaw clenched tightly.

“I don’t know. They are ruthless like I have always told you, Addy.” He spoke through pursed lips. His hand was still gripping Adalyn’s hard as his eyes scanned for the best way to get them out of there.

“HARRY! ADDY! COME ON SHOW US A LITTLE SOMETHING!”

“Harry you are going too fast, I can’t keep up.” Harry was nearly running, but Addy’s sandals were not exactly the practical type.

“You have too, love. Please try.” Harry’s voice was begging her to.

She gripped his hand tighter and gained his blue eyes turning back to check on her. A playful glint in Addy’s green eyes caused him to not look away. “Lose them, Henry.” The corner of her lips turned into a lighthearted grin.

“My pleasure.” Harry squeezed her hand tight, ensuring he had a good grip on it.

“Extra points if you lose your RPO too.” Addy giggled as the thrill of the run coursed through her.

“Extra points?” Harry’s eyebrow rose suggestively as his determination to please Adalyn turned the pursuit higher. He suddenly turned back on his heel and weaved them back through the same vendors they had just passed through after he noticed the paps having taken another route.

The prince travelled back towards the harbour front with Addy right by his side as they tried to ditch the paparazzi and his RPO. Addy glanced back over her shoulder seeing that the paps had were somehow gaining ground on them as their continual shouts of their name echoed from behind closer and closer. “Harry, they are getting closer!”

His eyes searched around, trying to find an escape route.  A devilish grin appeared on his lips once he spotted it. “Do you trust me?” Harry locked eyes with his girlfriend’s that held a mix of fear of the unknown and adventure from the chase circling in them.

“Always.” Their gaze lingered for a second longer.

“Don’t let go of me.” He tugged on her hand gently as they took often down towards the docks. Running through dock after dock of boats lining them, the prince spotted an older man preparing his boat to leave. Their footsteps echoed against the old wood that swayed over top of the water as their pace quickened.

Addy looked up to see exactly where Harry was taking her as adrenaline coursed through her to run faster along side him. “A boat?”

“Yes!” Harry smiled proudly of his plan. “Sir?!” He waved his free arm to gain attention of the man. “Start your boat, we will pay you well!”

The elderly man looked around and spotted the couple eagerly running down the dock being chased by people with cameras. He waved his arm to join them before he ran towards the controls as the engine of the boat roared to life. Harry glanced back over his shoulder. There may be enough distance between them and his RPO that he may actually lose everyone like Addy had asked him too.

Harry helped Addy get on the boat safely first as she stepped across a short wooden plank, letting go of his hand for the first time since the chase had started. The elderly man directed Harry in quickly untying the ropes that secured the boat onto the dock while making sure his girlfriend was safely seated at the front.

His girlfriend looked down the long row of the dock and saw them gaining ground as their voices became clearer. “Harry come on!” Addy stood up and walked towards the boat. “Get on!” She warned him and stuck out her hand for him to grasp.

The prince gave the boat a hard push to create some space between the boat and the dock in a last ditch effort to ensure no one would jump on. He grabbed Addy’s hand as she pulled him onto the boat with all the strength she had within her. His body crashed into her, making her nearly lose her footing with a light gasp.

Harry’s arm wrapped around her to secure Addy in place as her green eyes peaked up at him fondly. “You did it!” A set of green eyes were proudly smiling up at Harry.

“I did it for you, love.” He wanted to get lost in the depths of those green eyes again, but their names being shouted alerted him back to the reality of the situation at hand. The couple could hear the snaps of the cameras left in their wake as the boat successfully left the harbour.

Addy blindly searched for his hand, turning around to see the elderly man grinning at them ear to ear. “Hello!” She could not help but dissolve into a fit of breathless giggles as she tried to regain her breath from the long run.

“Thank you, sir. For helping us out.” Harry greeted the elderly man and introduced themselves. “This is my girlfriend, Addy.” He shook the man’s hand. “I’m Harry.”

“Welcome aboard my boat! The beautiful Josephine!” The man graciously welcomed them and offered them to sit and relax as he took them on a tour after they politely refused not to further waste his time.

“Please. I insist.” The man sat them down and gave each of them a traditional Croatian fruity drink. “I want to show you my beautiful country!”

Addy looked up at Harry to see if he wanted to stay on the boat and get a private tour from a local. “Do you want too? I think it will be fun.” She searched his blue eyes for an answer.

“I am in!” Harry smiled happily and lifted his arm for Addy to snuggle in closer. “I am happy I got my extra points.” The prince cheekily smiled down at Addy. “When do I get my reward?”

Addy tossed her head back with laughter and then breathed out a sigh. “Tonight…” She peaked up at Harry and bit down on her bottom lip, silently telling her boyfriend what his reward would be.

“Mmmm… in the hot tub?” Harry questioned with a suggestive eyebrow.

Addy simply nodded at the idea before turning her attention back to the elderly man who was telling them about the history of the town as they sailed along the coastal line.

Harry and Addy were all smiles only having eyes for one another as they walked hand in hand into Gallo, the restaurant they were to meet the rest of their group at after an afternoon of exploring. No member of the group missed seeing their gleeful smiles as they took the last few empty seats at the end of the table. The couple were a few minutes late having gotten back from their little private tour along by the local man who aided in their escape.

“What did you two get up to this afternoon?” Adriana leaned in towards Addy as Harry sat down beside Guy.

Addy glanced towards Harry unsure of what to say exactly so he stepped in and answered. “Well, we were exploring the little shops and markets when paps starting chasing us.” The whole table was now listening as they all formed shocked expressions.

“Seriously? All the way in Croatia?” Melissa’s expression softened as she looked across the table to see Addy’s smile fade and become quiet. She felt for Adalyn deeply. To have someone always wanting to photograph you and the lengths that they would go to just to get that one picture would certainly take its toll on her. Especially when she was meant to be on a stress free vacation that she desperately needed.

“Why?” Tom asked his friend.

“They only have one reason Tom.” Harry simply shrugged his reply before seeing Adalyn’s smile no longer there. All of his life he had hated the press for intruding on his personal life. All he was trying to do was to take his girlfriend on a vacation and he couldn’t even do that without them following them.

The prince nudged her leg gently underneath the table to subtly get Addy’s attention. Her green eyes lifted, locking in his gaze as he silently asked with his eyes if she was alright. A light nod with an attempted smile gave Harry his answer.

“But, then we escaped from them and got on a boat.” Addy’s smile re-appeared. “We got a tour from a local fishermen and he showed us around. He took us to a little hidden cove and it was amazing!”

“No way!” Mel wanted to hear more about it all.

“Some total James Bond shit.” Guy patted Harry on the back. “Wait… you even ditched your RPO?!”

Harry bit down on his bottom lip as a naughty glint appeared in his blue eyes. He was waiting for a phone call from his grandmother or father knowing he would get in shit for doing so. But, it was all worth it to spend some alone time with Addy on that little boat. “Yeah, waiting for the backlash as we speak.”

What Addy did not tell the group was the local man, Leo, actually took them back to his home on the coastal town where they met his wife, Josephine; the women whom he named his boat after. They had a lovely chat and were offered an assortment of traditional Croatian baking and a large selection of teas. There was something that Josephine told Harry as they were leaving their home to meet their friends. She told him something that he simply could not ignore as it felt like a foreseeable warning to him. “The eyes always tell their own story you know. They are the entry to the soul. She has a lot of fear behind her eyes that girl does. She hides that fear from you.”

“Harry?” Addy’s voice brought him back from the memory. “Want to share something with me?” He picked up the menu and quickly scanned through it.

“Yeah we could order two plates and share, love.” Harry winked at Addy. “You choose what you would like, I am good with whatever.”

“Are you sure?” Addy angled her head at Harry.

“Positive.” His gentle eyes reassured her.

The smile that grew on her lips was a sight he simply could not look away from. It was a smile that Harry rarely got to see since after the incident with Jake. He planned this trip with Guy all because he wanted Adalyn to remember what it was like to have a little fun and to relax without the pressure building up around her from all aspects of her life.

The press were at an ultimate high with their inquisitive nature about Adalyn as news of the kidnapping and desire to know how ‘Prince Harry’s girlfriend’ was coping with the aftermath. They even were getting braver asking about Addy during his official engagements to which he never gave a reply to validate anything. This caused Adalyn to want to close her self off from the outside world simply because she could not handle how the paparazzi shouted question after question about it to her.

Adalyn’s curator job at the Imperial War Museum were continually breathing down her neck about starting back up as projects sat uncompleted and were threatening to give all of her hard work she had done onto someone else. She confided in the prince shortly after his surprise visit to her grandparents farm that she was worried if she did not go back, that she would have no job to go back too. Adalyn questioned herself if she was ready too, but in the end that question did not matter as she could not give up her job. The plan was for Addy to start back up in the new year part time for the first month and then back to regular hours once she settled back in.

But, for the time being he would take that smile she was giving Harry knowing what was awaiting for him later in the hot tub that night.

Once her parents had left, she stripped off her school uniform and flung open each of her suitcases to piece together a dozen different outfits to try on. Each one she laid out on her bed, beside the large mirror that sat on her pillows and leaned against the wall, allowing her to get ready for the evening from the comfort of her fuzzy purple bedspread.

Yet it was somewhere between brushing her hair and doing her eyeliner that her eagerness started to drop and her bravery started to fade, when that little sting of self-doubt crept in and slowed everything down. With her parents there, with everyone's parents there, the girls of Ivy House were friendly and welcoming. Parents had a way of dampening that typical school atmosphere of popularity contests, bullies, peer pressure and hormones.

With the first day excitement blanketing over everyone it was easy to forget incidents like the one with Ruby Brower the year before, who got locked out of her room when she came back from the showers and earned the nickname 'Ruby Cheeks' for the rest of the year. Then there was Florence Hutton, a sixth form girl who passed out in the common room during Ellie's 2nd year, smelling of vodka with her panties around her ankles and her eyebrows shaved off. She was expelled from the school for indecent behaviour, but everyone knew she wasn't the sort of girl to get blackout drunk.

The girls of Ivy could be brutal, vindictive and petty. Everything Ellie needed to have a horrible evening of socialising.

The makeup on her bed vanished under dozens of different coloured pens and highlighters, the dresses and jeans that she had picked out were crushed beneath piles of drawing pads and notebooks.

Her frustration grew as the hours passed, each club that she found conflicting with another, each giggle or snippet of chatter that she heard from the corridor as girls headed downstairs to the party. Each minute that passed without her leaving her room, with every one being a reminder of how easy it had been to talk to people just hours before. Every moment she would curse herself for being stupid enough to think Marlborough could schedule every activity it had available without any of them clashing.

How could they? There are hundreds!

Every time she shuffled her notepads more club leaflets would fall out onto her bed, each reminding her of something she'd already signed up for that she'd have to work into her schedule.

If I can ask to get out of Maths five minutes early, I can just about get to Tennis tryouts on time and hopefully those finish before Shakespeare Society starts at four o'clock, but then I can't do Drama club on Sunday afternoons, at least until the Hockey season is over. Maybe if I ask Mrs Moon to move the meet to Fridays instead, but then that would mean...

Thump, thump, thump!

Ellie shoved a heap of notepads, bras and makeup out of her sight, sending them all clattering onto the floor just as a dozen loud knocks drummed against her door. The noise caused her to jump, sending more of her things across the room and making her clutch her chest to stop her heart from bursting out.

Three of four girls lingered outside her door, laughing and chatting between themselves as they delivered the same drumming to the other bedroom doors along the corridor and clearly having all the fun in the world.

"Screw it." Ellie tossed the rest of her notebooks aside and picked up her eyeliner again. "I'll figure it out tomorrow."

She spoke aloud to herself, willing herself forward. Ivy may be a jungle, full of hidden enemies and lethal predators, but she definitely wasn't going to be their fearful prey. She wanted to push herself this year and she wasn't going to fail on the very first night by keeping out of sight with her nose buried in inconceivable timetables.

The corridors were eerily quiet when Ellie stepped outside of her bedroom, except for the distant chatter of the common room downstairs and the quiet mumbling of girls in their rooms who were deciding to stay put. She immediately felt the nerves freezing her in place, making her feet feel like lead weights that lazily dragged along the carpet.

The risqué black mesh top that she'd decided to wear was already beginning to feel like a mistake, along with the more pronounced cats eye that she'd drawn on her eyes and the slightly darker shade of lipstick that coated her lips.

Keep going. It'll feel even worse if you turn back now.

Ellie tip toed her way forward, wanting to make as little noise as possible as she made her way past the doors of her neighbour's rooms. She listened to hear if anyone was in the rooms around her, curious to see who was inside, what they might be like and wondering if they were just as nervous as she was about socialising.

The room across the hall seemed strangely quiet and empty, but her next door neighbour was definitely there, rustling around inside her room and apparently unpacking something heavy. Ellie couldn't help but stand outside the door, looking at the moving shadows at the bottom of the doorframe and smirking as the girl inside clearly hummed a tune from the latest Wither Sisters album.

"That's a good sign." Ellie whispered quietly, pondering what other bands they might have in common.

The humming stopped abruptly, the girl's shadows freezing in place beneath the door and making Ellie's heart drop to the pit of her stomach. She could feel the girls stare burning its way through the wooden door, then the shadows started moving again, growing larger and larger, then the door handle started to turn.

Ellie sprinted away, desperate not to be caught in the act of spying on her first night back, especially on her next door neighbour. She ran around the corner and out into the main hallway where more girls were leaving their rooms and heading downstairs, then she hid behind the open door of the girls' bathroom. She heaved a sigh of relief when a door opened and closed back down the corridor without anyone coming around and looking for her, and when the coast was clear she quietly and gracefully made her way towards the stairs, desperately pretending she wasn't so flustered.

Awkward encounter number one is now out of the way.

The common room was absolutely packed when she arrived, since it was the first time that day that everyone was in the same place and doing the same thing without parents or unpacking to worry about. At least sixty girls squashed together, piling on to the dozen or so sofas and benches that were scattered around the room or huddled in groups around ten circular tables that were each painted a different colour. Some were still wearing their uniforms while most had clearly had the time to get changed into their best outfits. On top of the hundreds of different conversations and reunions going on, party music was booming out of large speakers around the room and forcing everyone to yell loud enough to be heard over both the music and each other.

One of the Ivy prefects, the pristine looking fifth year girl called Dana Cook was shepherding a bunch of first year students through the crowd and trying to be heard over the music. "First years, follow me, we have to finish orientation!"

Ellie ducked out of the way just as some of the smaller girls spotted her and decided to separate from the orientation group and head towards her, but Dana roared at them to come back and they meekly complied. Ellie always did her best to avoid the first year newcomers at Marlborough, those who weren't yet prepared to think of her as a normal student. She wasn't going to be rude and not say hello, but school was hard enough without people ogling her and following her around.

Alex waved at her from a table at the back of the room where she was happily talking with two of her friends from the third year, a pudgy brunette called Laura Houghton and Bella Stokesworth, a girl even smaller than Alex who tied her black hair into two thick braids that ran down her back. Together they were sharing a table with about six second year girls, who all watched Ellie closely as she sat down and immediately started whispering amongst themselves when they thought she wasn't looking.

"Didn't think you'd come." Alex said to her as she entwined their arms.

"You know I've been wanting to change that." Ellie said irritably as she looked around the table. Laura and Ashley had continued their conversation about trying out for the Fencing team, whilst the group of second years were whispering so loudly to hear each other that they didn't realise Ellie could hear them.

"Does she ever come to these things? I never saw her last year!"

"She came to the meetings but never the parties!"

"What?"

"She came to the meetings!"

"What?"

Alex turned in her seat so that she blocked the second years view of her. "Don't worry about them. Relax a little, sis."

It was easy for her to say. Alex had adapted to boarding school like she was any other normal girl, especially not one who had spent the years before being home-schooled and hardly having a social life. She had jumped at the opportunity whilst Ellie had sat and stewed, only occasionally getting her feet wet and testing her comfort zone when it came to making friends.

I don't want to wait anymore, I'm ready.

Alex was right though, it really wasn't so bad. Sitting at the table and talking with her sisters friends was a pleasant experience, she always knew it would be, but the struggle came with getting used to it. Her interactions with other students felt so few and far between, even with all the classes where she sat side by side and worked with girls and boys her own age, she had never opened up to someone enough to make a friend.

That's my goal.

"All right girls, settle down, settle down." Mrs Moon spoke over a microphone and then waited for the music to be turned down before she continued. "We need some more even groups here. Jane, why don't you go over there with Sadie. Hannah, why don't you guys join Trish's group down here."

Girls started shuffling around, frowning as their conversations were broken up and they were forced to find new friends for the evening. "Ah, Ellie, nice of you to join us."

Oh lord.

All the girls in the room rapidly twisted and turned around in an effort to find her. Like spotlights searching for a target, at least sixty pairs of eyes settled on her. Ellie raised her hand, smiling shyly and hoping for the attention to move elsewhere before she exploded. Alex reassuringly bumped her shoulder, letting her know she was nearby.

It's okay. You're used to people staring, aren't you?

"I'd say there's too many of you over there. Ellie, come and join Ashley and the girls at the front here." Mrs Moon beckoned her over, with each wave of her hands acting like a crane which slowly lifted Ellie out of her seat. She was just as comforting and friendly as she always was but this time, at least to Ellie, it felt a little evil.

Ellie's eyes darted around as she made her way to the front of the crowd, weaving between tables and avoiding looking at the girls around her who followed her every movement. She heard Alex's voice behind her, loudly pointing out that Sasha White quit the Fencing team last year and left a spot open, which thankfully restarted her friends conversation along with every other conversation that seemed to have stopped when Ellie's name was called. Using the noise as cover, Ellie hurried the last few steps around a few tables and sat down in the empty seat that Mrs Moon pointed her too.

Happy to be out of the limelight, she hadn't taken the time to look at who she was actually sitting next to. At first the girl didn't look at her, only briefly glancing at her arm with an offended look on her face, as if Ellie had no right to sit next to her, but when her large, doe-like hazel eyes looked up at Ellie her expression quickly changed to an eagerness.

Oh, that Ashley.

Ashley Mills had a big reputation among the fourth years of Marlborough College. Her family was one of the wealthiest around and seemed to be top of the pile when it came to the rich kids of the school, everyone looked up to them, some even feared them. In a school where almost everyone came from money and powerful families, reputation meant everything and was the difference between popularity and social exclusion. Ashley's older sister Sarah was also the Head Girl, and the expectation was that Ashley would be following in the same footsteps.

The Mills family held onto power with an iron grip and held almost as much influence over Marlborough College as Ellie's family did, if not more. Ellie knew that if she was going to make any progress at school this year, she would have to deal with Ashley Mills.

Ellie decided to speak first, knowing that most girls were afraid of even sitting next to a member of the Mills family and that perhaps that was something she could relate to. Ashley wasn't known to be a bully or mean, just someone that held a lot of power among the students, particularly in Ivy House.

Maybe Ashley herself wasn't so bad, maybe it was her family that was the villain that everyone was afraid of. A powerful family could cast a very large shadow over someone's life, something Ellie was very familiar with.

"Hey." Ellie said, acting confident and making herself comfortable in her seat. She wanted to show Ashley she wasn't afraid of her and it seemed to be working.

Ashley's eyes were twinkling, her mouth slightly open as she watched her. Ellie could tell she was thinking, analysing her closely and pondering what to do with her. Ashley's speech was friendly, her words like honey and nowhere near matching the family reputation. "Hey, don't see you at these things often."

"Yeah." Ellie answered nervously, distracted by the openness that came with sitting at the front of the room. "I normally skip out after forty minutes or so, but I'm planning to try a bit harder this time."

She watched Ashley, hoping that she'd said the right thing and not ruined her chances of friendship already. On the contrary, Ashley seemed almost impressed with her answer. Lucy Morello and Lauren Beattie, Ashley's closest confidantes, both moved their chairs closer so that Ellie was squeezed in amongst them and the rest of the room was shut out.

"Well, you aren't missing much so I don't blame you. It's not really much of a party with all the kids around." Ashley turned her head and looked at all the first year girls that were gathered together nearby, all them quickly averting their gaze and pretending they weren't just looking at her.

"So why do you stay?" Ellie asked.

"Mrs Moon expects it of me, at least to stay for the quiz. Something about my influence and being a role model." Ashley explained nonchalantly. She leaned in closer to Ellie and hid her lips from the view of everyone but their table. "The girls and I were going to hang out in my room after, if you wanna join us?"

"Don't you want to relax with the rest of the house?" Ellie said, matching the whisper. She could feel girls around her leaning in and trying to hear her.

"You don't want to make friends with them." Lucy piped in, surprising her. Up until then it had seemed like only Ashley was allowed to talk.

"You were wise to avoid everyone." Lauren added.

"Yeah, Ellie." Ashley looked suspiciously around the room once again. "You're maybe not aware yet, but you should know most of these girls are Scheming. Little. Bitches."

Her words were vicious and harsh, directed at everyone around her and clearly coming from a girl who had been on the wrong end of several of these schemes. The whole of Ivy suddenly felt much more hostile and made Ellie appreciate the safety of sharing a table with Ashley Mills, a girl who was quickly revealing how difficult it was going to be to make real friends.

The quiz ended up being incredibly easy, the questions were aimed at the first years as a way to help them socialise and make friends whilst the older girls were allowed to sit back and only pretend they were taking part. Ashley, Lucy and Lauren made a conscious effort to involve Ellie in their conversation, even if it jumped from various girls, boys, classes and sports that she was yet to meet or take part in. Ellie could ease herself in, just as she had hoped to do. Her confidence was growing, as well as the sense that she was becoming part of something.

The girls even huddled around her protectively and gave the group stink eye to Rhiannon Wakefield, a Sixth Form girl who accidentally bumped into Ellie's chair.

It was startling to her how much being part of a group and having friends around her could change her perspective, allowing her to sit and be herself, to enjoy what she was doing without being worried about everyone else. She could look around the room and stare into the eyes of girls she had never spoken to before, girls who she would normally shy away from when she'd first come downstairs.

This included an older woman, tall, intimidating and well-toned, standing in a dark corner of the room and looking directly at her with her arms crossed. She looked too mature to be a student but too young and uncomfortable in the crowd of girls to be a new teacher, her body language was stern, stand-offish and almost as suspicious as Ashley was. She kept her eyes on Ellie as she left early with her new friends, her gaze so unsettling that Ellie had to rush the others to leave the common room even quicker.

She tried to put it out of her mind, focusing instead on the heavily decorated door of Ashley's bedroom.

"So what about you guys?" she asked vaguely as Ashley unlocked the door and led them inside.

"What about us?" Lucy asked back, casually slumping down on Ashley's bed.

"You said everyone down there is a scheming bitch, so what about... you?" Ellie was tentative and avoided looking at their reactions, instead focusing on the walls of the room which were already covered in photos of Ashley with her friends. Popular kids from all across the school were easily recognisable, making Ashley's status as Queen of the school even more obvious, as well as the fact that she was unfairly efficient when it came to unpacking.

"We're trying to save this place." Ashley commanded her attention again and pulled her onto the large queen size bed to join them. "Ivy used to be the best house in school, we had the best sports teams and we always won the House tournament. Now it's just filled with bullies and cliques while the rest just want to transfer to New Court or Elmhurst."

"Me and Sarah are doing our best, trying to make sure Ivy gets back on top, but the bad sort are still getting in and dragging us down. You know all about that though, right?"

The atmosphere inside the bedroom very quickly shifted as the three girls watched Ellie closely and silently, waiting for her to respond. Was she implying Ellie was the bad sort?

"What do you mean by that?" asked Ellie, feeling insulted.

"Just that you must be used to your fair share of fame hunters and leeches, Princess." Ashley gave her a knowing smile.

"Yeah, you're from the biggest family around. You have more power than anyone in England, let alone Marlborough. You're friends with movie stars and celebrities, just last week I saw you in OK! Magazine hanging out with Taylor Swift." Lucy added in an adoring tone that Ellie was very familiar with, yet her knowledge of the private lives of royals was worrying.

"Okay, chill fan girl." Ashley scolded her friend with a judging stare and looked warmly back at Ellie.

"There aren't as many as you might think, but yeah." Ellie said, moving on. "It's gotten a lot worse after Granny died, people coming out of nowhere and claiming we share a family connection."

It took them a moment to realise who Granny was, but that wasn't unusual when she was talking to people outside of the family. Ellie waited for the inevitable chorus of "Ohhh!" and smirked when the girls provided it.

"We should really stick together Ellie, your influence would really help get us back on top of the tables at school. Can you imagine what we could do with you on our side?" Ashley and the girls looked between her and each other, excitedly thinking about the prospect.

"Well I've been signing up for more clubs than I can count, and I've got more team tryouts this week than I've had in my entire life. What do you need me to do?" Ellie spoke honestly, she couldn't think of much more she could be doing to help make Ivy great again, and in truth she wasn't that bothered about it.

But if helping them means I can make some friends... why not?

"Oh, don't worry about tryouts. Ashley can get you on most of the squads easily." Lauren casually brushed aside her worries.

Ellie looked disbelievingly at Ashley, who was taking out her phone and nodding at her smugly, as if it was completely obvious that she had that level of power. "Do I have you on Facebook?"

Ah, great. I figured this would come up.

"No, no. I don't have a public Facebook account." Ellie knew if anyone gained access to her private account, there would be hell to pay when her parents found out. Private pictures were one thing, but when those pictures could then easily be stolen and sold, that was a risk nobody in her family could take.

"Well girly, that's gonna have to be our first order of business!"

They ended up making an entirely new profile for her in order to keep her family and photos private, despite repeated questions from Lauren and Lucy asking why her family's privacy was so important. Ashley was more respectful, and Ellie guessed she often had similar interactions with people wanting to befriend her. It was nice to have someone who could understand her, as well as reign in the girls when they got too curious.

"You just don't want us to see all your celebrity friends." Lauren sighed at her, pretending to be hurt.

"I don't have that many, actually." Ellies account was tiny compared to Ashley's, who had hers loaded up on her laptop to be an example for Ellie. She was more embarrassed by the fact that she had no friends her own age, while Ashley boasted over two thousand.

"Don't worry about that. You can easily make everyone in this school worship you." Ashley was looking at her like she was some sort of science project or ancient artefact, urging her to unleash her power.

"Ashley, I mean real friends. Like this." Ellie jealously gestured to Ashley's friends list.

"Like that." She pointed with her eyes to the walls, covered in vast amounts of photos of dozens and dozens of friendships. "What I don't want is people worshipping me, people pretending they're on my side. I want to make friends from shared experiences, from going out, from partying, from being together!"

The words were well rehearsed, spoken dozens and dozens of times in her head over the summer. Her voice had grown louder as she spoke, angrier even. Her cheeks were warm and flushed, and the girls looked at her, half in shock and half in awe as she sat and stewed in her frustration.

"There's only one place to start." Ashley squeezed in beside her, pressed their cheeks together and stuck her phone out in front of them. "Smile!"

Hours passed by late into the night as they took more and more photos together and started populating Ellie's new profile with her likes and dislikes, her favourite bands, her favourite hobbies and all these new profile pictures. The friend requests started pouring in when Ashley added her as a friend, making her phone buzz so often that it turned into one constant vibration. Lauren and Lucy delighted in re-doing her hair and makeup and gushed over how proud they were to be the stylists of a Princess. Ashley meticulously picked out outfits for her to wear and oversaw every style choice the other girls made with Ellie, clearly enjoying being able to thoroughly turn her into one of them.

Ellie was starting to feel like she belonged, but even more so, she was starting to feel like she had been claimed.

With all the photos she was uploading with her arm around Ellie, looking fiercely at the camera and daring anyone to try her, it was clear that Ashley wanted Ellie to be well and truly one of her girls.

"It's honestly so hard to stay friends without social media." Lauren told her when she was starting to hesitate over accepting the friend requests on her phone. Lucy accepted five more for her and then dragged her into another photo of them dancing on the bed to a Disney song.

Ellie decided she would take her time. She would only add people in her year, people she knew she would be seeing in class regularly. It was easy at first, adding a new friend between trying on different outfits from Ashley's wardrobe and posing with each other, but things were different by the end of the night, when she was heading back to her room at three in the morning wearing another girl's jeans and feeling better than ever than she'd ever felt at Marlborough.

Over six hundred requests were waiting for her, from new kids in school to sixth formers who were in their final year. Ellie's restrictions had gone from her year only, to people on the teams she was hoping to join, to the years below and above her, to then finally all of the school. She was adamant that it wouldn't go any further than that.

As she made her way up the stairs to her floor and practically skipped through the corridors leading to her room, she reassured herself that the people on her page could only see what she wanted them to see. Ashley and the girls had been eager to upload every photo they had with her with captions like 'Look who I met' alongside others like "My new best girlfriend", but they had at least asked her each time whether she was happy with them.

It'll all be fine. They're all nice photos and it's all secure within the Marlborough network, it's good. You're good. The Palace won't find out.

She swung around the corner into the small off-shoot corridor where her bedroom door was waiting, but a tall, intimidating and well-toned blonde woman stood blocking her way. She was wearing all black skinny jeans and a long sleeve top despite the time and had clearly been waiting for her to show up.

Ellie almost fell over in her eagerness to stop. The woman crossed her arms and looked irritable, like a mother who had been forced to stay up late until her daughter got home.

"Your Highness, are you all right?" she asked in a Pennsylvania accent. Aunt Emma's influence in the decision making was now clear. Ellie's spirits immediately dropped.

"Oh, you..." Ellie mumbled, failing to hide her disappointment. She had easily forgotten after the night with Ashley and the girls.

The woman blinked, obviously a little hurt by the less than friendly greeting. "My name is Jennifer Jareau. I'm here as your in-house protection officer, Ma'am."

Ellie winced. Being called Ma'am was like a spear through the chest after the night she had just enjoyed. "The one sent by my grandparents, yeah." She couldn't help but sound snide.

"They had a hand in my appointment, yes, but I'm here fully at your service and that means knowing where you are at all times." She was clearly growing more annoyed.

"Isn't it your job to find out?" Ellie took on an aggressive stance, her arms crossed to match Jennifer. "I've been here three years and I haven't needed to tell anyone where I am or where I'm going."

"With respect Ma'am, things will be different this year." Jennifer gritted her teeth, her words curt and sharp.

"Oh, will they?" Ellie pushed past her, wanting to get away from Jennifer before all of her good vibes were crushed. "And don't call me Ma'am, not here."

She turned to her door and ignored the woman, but only when she tried turning the handle did she realise that in her nervous rush downstairs hours before, she had forgotten to bring her keys. Ellie pulled on the handle several times and each time the door stood firm, leaving her lingering with her back turned to someone who was quickly becoming, at least to her, the worst person at Marlborough.

"Here." Jennifer sighed, going into the bedroom opposite Ellie's and grabbing a spare key. She inserted it into Ellie's lock and opened her door.