The Crown (Prince Harry fanfic #5)

Chapter Forty

The children were dropped off at Buckingham Palace, before everyone moved to the next venue for Harry's fortieth birthday party. Both the little boys wore tuxes. Freddie's was a little more formal with him being a two year old, while Henry's tuxedo was just an onesie. Henry managed to sleep the whole drive and then even in the party. Freddie knew something big was happening and he bounced around like crazy.

Music blared as the couple rolled up. Freddie wanted to run toward the music, but Harry kept a good grip on him. Royals were already inside, along with normal people and celebrities. The celebrities were chummy with the royals, having been close to the royals before. Then Harry's friends were around, the ones he had always known, were there, of high society. But Lucy had taken the initiative to invite a few more people, especially people that weren't from high society but normal, or royals, or celebrities. The few more people included people who served in the British Armed Forces with, including all the way back in his front lines days and translators, guys and gals Harry hadn't seen for the longest time but were his friends. And Lucy had invited a few more people after that.

Harry and Lucy stood next to each other, with Freddie now calmed down and Henry yet asleep, as he welcomed them all to his fortieth birthday. Once again, jokes were made about his age, but most of the guys and gals were his age or older. His eyes sparkled as he talked to the old ones from that time in his life. Each had chosen their own paths and their own dreams.

After welcoming all his old army buddies, there were more people Lucy happened to invite, from numerous charities Harry had around the world. Most came as delegates from Sentebale and the Invictus Games. It was survivors that Harry had gotten close to over the years, especially from the Invictus Games.

Soon enough, Harry had welcomed everyone else, which had taken a good hour, and everyone got to moving. Food was served on the walls with a cake. The cake was surrounded by small cupcakes that resembled grave sites. Lucy did have a sense of humor. Anyone was allowed to take whatever they liked.

"Chocolate cake?" Harry asked.

Lucy nodded with a smile. "There is nothing better."

Harry tipped his wife back and kissed her deeply. When he came back up for air, Lucy's cheeks had flushed red. She didn't like public displays off affection. Over the years, the two had managed to mostly keep it under wrap, but it was Harry's birthday after all. If someone cared, they shouldn't have been there.

Instead of the normal orchestra for events, Lucy had always thought to get some of Harry's favorite bands and musicians of the current and old to play a few of his favorite songs. Expense didn't seem to be an issue here, but Harry's mind still wandered on the subject.

Ellie Goulding sang when Harry finally leaned over to his wife and asked, "How much?"

Her eyes remained on the. "This can't wait until later?"

"Luce," he begged.

"It's not actually that expensive," she said, "or this would've been a lot smaller." Lucy did like to crunch the numbers. She was conservative in this way. "But I started asking around and it turns out, most things come free, like some of our performers tonight." Her eyes met his. "You have done a lot for a lot of people. They wish to give back to you."

Harry smiled. "That's incredibly kind of them."

"And free publicity," she said quickly. "Some of these people's careers are going downhill, so they were happy to get their names out there again."

"As my final song this evening," Ellie Goulding stated, making everyone look to the stage, "I would like to invite the couple out to the dance floor for a dance."

The crowd cleared as Harry led Lucy to the dance floor. His hand held Lucy's hand high, as they took the floor. All eyes fell to them. Ellie Goulding's song "Your Song" started playing. Harry bowed to Lucy, which she curtsied. She had come a long way since meeting the Queen with an atrocious curtsy. She had a least a little more grace about her. Harry took Lucy in his grasp and began to slow dance with her. He wouldn't waltz here and now, but Lucy always led.

The song continued as Harry looked into the eyes of his wife. Happiness filled him. His two children, his sons, had gone to bed long ago. The parents were allowed to party. Her deep purple dress spun in the light, but always came back to him. Her lips were turned up in a smirk. Her hand reached up and brushed off a tear from his cheek.

"Happiness, I hope," she said softly.

"Of course," he said, and kissed her hand. "You're just so beautiful. It's unbelievable."

Lucy shook her hair back. "You're too good to me."

"I never thought, Luce, I would meet a woman like you. I never thought a person like you existed, and sometimes, it's tiring. You're stubborn and your past is... challenging. But you are the love of my life. my life wouldn't be... good without you. I didn't think that I would ever find pure happiness, but I have pure happiness with you. I have pure love with you."

Blushing, Lucy kept her head up. "Why do you say things like this to me?"

"I like to make you blush."

Lucy blinked tears out of her eyes. "Do you want me to say something nice back to you?"

"If you can think of anything."

"I love you."

Harry smiled. "That's all I need to hear." Leaning in, Harry kissed her again. There was something about kissing Lucy that just made him happy. He wanted to be closer to her. As his lips met hers, the crowd went wild, as they somehow forgot everyone watched them.

Ellie Goulding's song ended and she said good-bye, as the next performer too stage: Lily Allen. Harry's eyes swept over to Lucy, but she shrugged. Tonight, there were a lot of different musicians, even ones that he perhaps didn't love. Lily Allen went for it, but left out her songs of "Fuck You" and "Hard Out Here." Perhaps swearing wasn't the most impressive thing to do at one of these events. Lucy wanted to disagree.

More people joined the couple on the dance floor. Lily Allen's song of "Somewhere Only We Know" slowed everyone down as Harry took Lucy's waist again. Instead of dancing the old fashioned way, Lucy slid her arms up around his neck and hooked him to her. Harry's hands took his time sliding down her body. Even in public, Harry didn't care. He wanted to feel her.

The party continued, but people started to leave as it closed into midnight. That didn't mean the party ended. Sure enough, the party continued easily until two in the morning, when there was barely anyone left. Someone had put on current pop music, which played in the background as the couple swayed on the floor.

"You're not tired, old man?" she asked.

Harry smiled. "Not with you."

"Well," Lucy said, shaking her hair to one side, "then the night is still young."

After leaving the party, it didn't take long to return to Kensington Palace. His hands couldn't be kept to himself. Lucy's birthday present to him had been nice; he liked it. But Harry wanted something more and without interruption. Luckily, he got it. He got it good.