The Unexpected Journey-A Prince Harry Fan Fic

Chapter 69

Day 25

On Day 25, Maddie received a family heavy phone call from Colorado. The family was together for dinner at her Uncle Patrick's and they decided maybe she needed to hear from them. And, though it was midnight and Maddie had been asleep, she needed it more than she thought. Her mother was first; sending her love and offering to hop on the next plane to England. Patrick was next with a completely inappropriate joke and a "buck up little camper" type motivation. Her grandmother offered to send soup and a knitted blanket. Gary offered to send something from the farm and Kyle offered to come out and go on a soul-purging hike somewhere in the English countryside. And then she spoke at length with Derek about what life was like on a base in a military zone and, knowing she needed it—knowing she could handle it—he was honest with her. She appreciated that about him, about all of them—not feeling the need to hide things from her. He was quick to note that Harry was in the air, he was flying out of a base and things were a little different for him than the frontline guys and gals who were on the ground. And, because he had been honest with her, she believed him.

Day 42

On Day 42 Maddie's other family moved closer to her. Caving to her partner's wishes, and the best interests of their family, Khenda finally gave in. She and Collins packed up their belongings and moved to France. They had waited to tell Maddie and Ella, waited until they had a home secured, till they had jobs secured—until they were absolutely sure. And then they about burst with happiness when they could finally tell her. Two days before they were to arrive, they called Maddie with the good news.

She immediately felt tears of happiness fill her eyes when Khenda called to tell her. As soon as she hung up, she called Ella and they made travel plans for that weekend. It was much easier to convince Ella to go to France than it was to Bendal. They packed their bags, let Bishop drive them to the airport, and in just over an hour—they were reuniting their small Bendal family.

They spent 48 hours in France; 48 wonderful, homecoming hours with Khenda and Collins. They helped them move into their place, they painted walls, they picked out baby furniture and made fun of Khenda's cravings for chocolate shakes. They hardly slept at all; there was too much catching up to do. Khenda was due in June and they would not be finding out what gender their baby would be. She preferred surprises. Collins, elated that she finally allowed them to move to a place safer, more stable, was willing to go along with anything else that she asked. Maddie's heart swelled watching the two of them together; watching them move around each other with such love and adoration. It was a reassuring, comforting 48 hours.

And when the 48 hours was over, Khenda stayed home sorting through her fabric samples for curtains while Collins took Maddie and Ella to the airport. There were tears, there were hugs, and there were promises of many more weekends to come. It was there that the photo was snapped of Collins kissing Maddie's cheek with familial love in his eyes. And it was that photo that was published in a London tabloid with a headline implying Maddie was having a French Affair while Harry was off serving his country.

It was the first time she saw only red. It was the first time she wanted to track down a reporter and punch him in the face.

The bloggers were all over it though; catching the photo and recognizing Collins from pictures of Harry in Bendal. And those bloggers were amazing. They pulled down deep and produced photo after photo of Collins and Khenda laughing with Harry, standing with him at events. And the bloggers were vicious; quick to call the photographer and the tabloid to the carpet. Though there was no apology, no retraction, it was clear that the majority of the public wasn't about to fall for this particular story.

It was the first time Maddie wanted to track down a blogger and hug them.

Day 51

On Day 51, Maddie agreed to accompany Bishop to the Royal Opera House to see Swan Lake. He had taken his mother's tickets thinking that he and Ella could go but, when Ella was called in to work the weekend because somebody was sick, Bishop called on Maddie. His mother didn't want the tickets to go to waste and he promised it would be a good time. Maddie had stalled, not feeling up to the dressing up that would accompany a trip to the Opera. But she loved Bishop and he had stepped up as her friend, going above and beyond to make sure she was surviving Harry's deployment. So she smiled wide and agreed to go.