The Unexpected Journey-A Prince Harry Fan Fic

Chapter 25

Author's Note:  I would love to hear from you.  Are you enjoying the story?  Wishing for something more?

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It was early Saturday afternoon and Maddie and Harry had eventually made it out of bed. Dressed for the day, Harry offered to give her a tour of the house. When they stepped into the library, Maddie's eyes grew wide and her heart skipped a beat. Taking in the tall shelves full of books that looked old and loved, she wanted to curl up in this room for at least a day.

"Wow..." She breathed, clearly in awe.

"Really? The library?" Harry crossed his arms and watched as she went to the shelves; her fingers reaching out to touch the stacks with reverence.

"I've always wanted a library," she confessed somewhat shyly.

"Well..." Harry smiled in amusement. "Do you want to spend some time here? I can grab my laptop and do some work, you can read whatever you like and..."

"Yes," Maddie nodded, not bothering to look back at him.

"Okay," he laughed at how quick her response was. "I'm just going to go grab my laptop and I'll be back. Need anything?"

"No," she shook her head, tossing a quick smile in his direction. "I'm just going to pick a book...or twelve." Harry shook his head as he stepped from the room, certain he had just lost his girlfriend to a shelf of books.

When Harry returned, Maddie was stretched out on one of the couches in the room; a book in her hands and two in her lap. With a tender smile, he took residence on the couch across from her. Opening up his laptop, he settled on the opposite end as she did; wanting to be able to watch her face as she dove into the books.

And there they sat for at least an hour. Harry answered emails and read briefings as Maddie scanned the books. She would occasionally offer up a light chuckle or a groan at whatever was occurring in the book. Harry would look up, watch her face for a moment and then, with a grin, return to his work. It was not lost on him how easy it was for them to sit in the same space, be wrapped up in completely different tasks yet—still be so at peace with each other. It felt safe, content.

He loved it.

He had grown so used to her silence, to her attention being focused on the books that when he glanced up from his computer to see her watching him, it surprised him.

"Hi," Maddie smiled, seeing his slight flinch.

"Hi," his voice was cautious at the curve of her grin. "What's on your mind?"

"I was just wondering..." She closed the book in her lap; her finger holding her place in the pages. "What would you consider our first date?"

"Well..." Harry gave it some thought. "I guess I don't know..."

"Would you say it was the Community Party?" Maddie's eyes narrowed as she thought it over. "Or the night of the reception when we finally figured it out or...I don't know...that first night in London when we went out with your friends?"

"God. I really don't know," Harry shook his head, leaning forward. "I'm not sure we've been on an actual first date. Jesus. I'm a terrible boyfriend."

"No," she shook her head, waving her hand. "Sorry. I didn't ask that to...I'm not complaining. Maybe we just...happened, without a first date. Is that how things normally work for you?"

"Well," Harry moved his laptop to the side; turning to face her. "Things don't work out normally for me ever. So...nothing is out of the question, I suppose."

"It's kind of nice actually," Maddie sighed. "Not having to worry about what to wear or if he's going to like me or if he'll kiss me at the end of the night...you know...none of the first date stuff." Harry watched as she shrugged and turned back to her book.