The Alternate Journey

Chapter 2

The world had gone mad when The Palace announced the end of their engagement. It exploded across all forms of media and publication and there was no way to escape it.

"On behalf of HRH Prince Henry of Wales, Saint James Palace regretfully announces the end of his engagement to Doctor Madeline Forrester. The couple, engaged to be married in June, have parted amicably and ask for privacy and respect as they both move on with their lives."

Nobody took the news well. Harry's family went wild with confusion; not one of them understanding his twisted form of logic—not even William, who sat closest to how his brother's mind worked. Harry's friends were stunned; all of them lining up to ask him what on Earth could have happened to make him walk away, to make her walk away. They all wondered and none of them found the answers they were looking for.

Maddie did her best ignoring phone calls from all of them, only replying to texts from Kate and Eugenie and Zara with politeness and kindness and regret. Her mother had threatened to come out, threatened to throttle Harry with her bare hands, but Maddie had insisted she stay put; needing to ride this out alone for a moment.

At the end of the first week, Collins put in his first phone call to Bishop—the young man who had brought Maddie to them, the friend of Harry's who had implored upon them to keep him in the loop, to let him help. Collins called to let him know that Maddie had finally moved from the couch, had finally lifted her head, taken a shower and managed a conversation that didn't involve a flood of tears.

Bishop, who had been watching Harry slowly unravel in private, was grateful for the phone call; happy to hear that Maddie was on the upslope, however slight it was. The news was out and it had created this horrible finality to it all but it had helped Maddie to begin to grieve, to let it go—to let him go.

And then the speculations began. It was like wildfire; hot and fast and unable to control. Stories of alleged infidelity led the parade of bullshit that was thrown out there. Most of it featured Harry as the adulterer, dragging out old photos of him with cocktail waitresses and tired starlets, drudging up his parents. And Bishop watched as Harry took hit after hit from the media. He watched as even some of his most loyal fans turned against him. He watched as Harry seemed unfazed by it all—as though now, without her there, it didn't really matter what any of them thought of him.

But when the stories began to move the other way, when they began to name Maddie as the cheater, the harlot; Bishop watched as Harry came roaring back. He did things he had never done before; threatened lawsuits, blackballed reporters; made a personal statement. When he decided to stand up before the press, in front of the world to put to rest any thought that Maddie had done anything wrong, begging the world to let her be—Bishop truly thought that would be the moment when Harry would snap back; when he would make a run for Maddie and beg her forgiveness.

But he had been wrong. And that night, sharing another bottle of expensive scotch, Harry made that abundantly clear. He and Maddie were over, but he didn't want his life to continue to hurt her. He just wanted them to leave her alone.

There were a few who had figured it out, bloggers and fans mostly. They had been paying close attention to the timing, they had guessed that Harry had reacted to the kidnapping attempt, the attempt that was downplayed on purpose. They had guessed that Harry had snapped and sent her away, unable to handle the "what if's". But nobody gave serious credence to those theories.

And the hunt was on. Though many were deterred by the threats from the Palace, many were out to find Maddie. She hadn't been seen since just before it all fell down and everyone wanted a picture of her. And when Bishop returned to Paris after three weeks to meet with his team, he was quite honestly surprised that they hadn't found her yet.

He debated over calling her. Since he had left her that night in Khenda's arm, under Collins' watchful eye, Bishop had been in London—tending to Harry and his broken, twisted heart. He had spoken to Collins a few times, when he called to tell him she was recovering, that she was off the couch, that she had moments without tears. But he hadn't spoken to Maddie and he wasn't entirely sure that she would want to speak to or hear from him ever again.

And then, three nights before he was to leave London, his phone buzzed.

It was a text from her.

"You aren't really planning on coming to France without stopping by, are you?"

He smiled and relaxed; his fingers moving over the screen of his phone.

"I am pretty popular with the Parisian ladies, we'll see if I can fit you in."

"I would imagine you are. Please try though. It would be great to see you."

"Friday," Bishop spoke the word as he typed it. "I will see you on Friday."

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

"You look fantastic," Bishop smiled as Maddie stepped out of his arms, out of the embrace she had pulled him into when he had appeared at her door late that Friday afternoon.

"Please," Maddie rolled her eyes with a small smile. "The last time you saw me, I was..." She let off, feeling the emotions that still rose at the memory. "I'm probably burned in your brain with makeup all over my eyes and snot running down my face."

"Attractive," Bishop laughed and followed her inside. Collins and Khenda were on their way home with Isaiah and Maddie was cooking dinner.

"Thank you for coming over Bishop," her demeanor shifted from joking to serious. "It's really good to see somebody from London." She was being genuine. Sometimes the hardest part about ending things with Harry was how it meant the end to everything that was a part of her life with him; her friends, her home.

"Thank you for inviting me for dinner," he smiled sweetly, seeing the sadness wash over her for a moment. "It's been a while since I've had a home cooked meal by somebody other than a chef."

"Your Parisian ladies don't cook for you?" Maddie's smirk returned as she moved back to the chopping she had been doing before he arrived.

"Nah," he shook his head with a smug grin, following behind her. "They like to maximize their time with me for other things."

"I bet they do," Maddie laughed; a warm, wonderful sound that neither of them had heard for much too long.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

"So listen..." Maddie leaned in, looking to Bishop across the table. They had finished dinner and a bottle of wine and Collins and Khenda had just taken Isaiah up to get him ready for bed. The night was winding down and Maddie knew Bishop had 'plans' he wanted to get on to. "I know that you come to Paris once or twice a month."

"Oh?" He smiled, taking a final sip from his wine. "Kept close watch on my schedule, did you?" Maddie's eyes narrowed and he laughed. "Sorry. Yes. I'm here once or twice a month."

"I don't want you to feel like you can't call or stop by or..." Maddie waved her hand. "I know you're his friend."

"I'm your friend too," he cut in.

"I know," she smiled and she did. He had taken care of her in a moment when there was nobody else on the planet who could. And she would remember that forever. "And...as my friend, I want you to know that you can call. We can talk. It's not going to make me miss him any more. It's not going to make me sadder. In fact, this has been...nice."

"It has," he refrained from poking fun at her word choice; seeing she was trying to be sweet and honest.

"But I also don't want you to feel obligated," she met his eyes and held her breath. "You don't have to keep tabs on me. I'll recover. I'll be okay."

"Come on Madeline," he shrugged. "I don't 'keep tabs' on people. I'm your friend. How about you just...let me be your friend?"

"Okay," she nodded. "Fair enough. I can do that."

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

It was exactly one week later when Maddie was finally discovered. Though she was less than thrilled that the press had found her, she had to chuckle when it was a young, college student from Texas who scooped the paparazzi that had been searching for weeks. Maddie had been out for a walk and she had stopped to buy a coffee; something warm and dark and, when she stepped out of the café, she nearly ran into a group of three young women who seemed to be there on a vacation as they were toting cameras and backpacks and when one of them stepped aside and held the door open for Maddie, Maddie met her eyes, smiled and said thank you before she pulled on her sunglasses and stepped outside.

It was that young girl who had seen her eyes, who had heard her voice, who recognized her. Thinking fast, she pulled her phone from her pocket, snapped a series of shots and uploaded to twitter and tumblr and facebook.

By the end of the day, the world knew where Madeline Forrester had gone to hide. And she wasn't going to be hiding much longer. As the media focused on France, wanting to be the first to drop a story about the Dissed Doctor, in London, Bishop was stepping into Harry's office with a new bottle of scotch and a look on his face that told Harry exactly what it was he was there for.

But he had seen it. It was already in the papers. Bishop settled into one of the large chairs in the middle of the room and opened the bottle of scotch as Harry swiped two glasses from the side table and rounded the desk to join him.

"They found her," Harry tossed the newspaper onto the table, settling the glasses next to it.

"Yes," Bishop nodded, pouring the warm, dark liquid into the glasses and nudging one over to his friend. "You knew they would eventually."

"Yeah," Harry sighed, taking a drink.

"Do you want me to tell you where she is?"

"I know where she is."

"Do you want me to take you to her?"

"Are we going to do this every time she comes up?" Harry's eyes lifted from the glass at his lips to his friend.

"Maybe," Bishop pushed back lightly. "Listen. I'm there a few times a month. I see her, check in on her...I...do you not want to know that? Do you not want me to tell you how she is or what she's doing or..."

"I know you think this is easy for me," Harry cut him off, putting his glass down on the table with a rattle. "I know you think this hasn't been hard."

"I don't think that," Bishop shook his head. "I don't think this is easy for you. I think this is the hardest thing you've ever done in your entire life." He saw the way Harry's eyes welled up, saw the way his Adam's Apple bobbed in his throat. "I also think it's the stupidest." Harry's eyes snapped back. "But you won't listen to me and you won't listen to you either." Bishop sighed out a deep breath. "I'll stop pushing. You can ask me about her if you want to and I'll tell you if anything...big happens but...I'll stop pushing."

"Thank you," Harry breathed, scrubbing a hand up and over his face before he reached for his drink. "And thank you for the scotch." His eyes glanced down at the paper, at a smiling Maddie sipping coffee in Paris and his heart lurched. "I really needed it."

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

It was less than two weeks before Bishop was back in Paris and this time, when he called Maddie he had a purpose. He had seen the media frenzy unfold when she was discovered and he had seen the way Harry had come out after them. And while there was very little he could do, there was something that he could offer—something small. But he knew he would have a hard sell. So, he took a leap and asked her to meet him at one of his hotels after he finished up with his meetings for the day and, excited to see him, she agreed.

He was walking through the lobby with the last of the meeting attendees, offering him congratulations on his newest granddaughter when Maddie spotted him. She was sitting off to the side, trying to remain inconspicuous as she watched Bishop finish up work.

"Merci beaucoup. Je vais vous le mois prochain! Passez une bonne journée." Bishop shook the man's hand once more and then watched as he slipped from the lobby. He straightened out his tie and turned to glance around the lobby, expecting her to be there. Maddie rose from her seat and moved in his direction.

"Bishop," her voice lifted at the end of his name, her lips twitching into a smile and he turned directly towards the sound of her voice.

"Madeline," He brightened instantly and moved to hug her hello; pressing a kiss to her cheek.

"Was that really you just now?" She pointed her hand towards where the man had just left them.

"Of course it's me," he rolled his eyes. "You look unsure."

"I..." She laughed lightly. "I'm sorry. But were you just speaking French? Quite well, I might add?"

"Ah," he nodded. "Oui."

"I had no idea you spoke French."

"Well I have always been a fan of the romance languages, Madeline."

"Of course you have," she rolled her eyes and nudged him lightly.

"Anyway," he clapped his hands together and moved forward. "There's something I wanted to show you. Can I get you something to drink before we head up?"

"Up?" She was curious. "No. Thank you. I'm fine."

"Fantastic," he smiled at his assistant who stood off to the side. "We're going to head on up. If you need me, you know where to find me."

"Yes sir," the woman, slightly older than Maddie's own mother nodded and took leave.

"Sir?" Maddie grinned as she and Bishop stepped into an elevator; his hand on her back as he ushered her in. "I had no idea there were people around who called you Sir."

"They are paid very well," he joked back, holding out a card that he swiped on a security pad inside the elevator before pressing the button to PH-7. Maddie watched with curiosity as the doors closed in front of them, wondering where exactly they were headed and what exactly he had in mind.

When the elevator door opened, they stepped into a beautiful entryway to what Maddie assumed was a Penthouse apartment.

"Is this where you live when you're here?" Maddie took it in as they walked further into the place. It was lovely; she could tell it was full of amenities, that it was designed with wealth in mind but it was sweet and understated and...comfortable.

"I've stayed here before," he nodded. "My father keeps a few open here and there; for family or important clientele. A few friends have used some in the past. Sean stayed in one in Spain during part of his Gap year. Kiki stayed...here, I think...when she was trying to prove a point to Sean." They both chuckled at that and Bishop watched as Maddie took it in, looking out the large windows at the view, running her hand along the soft sofa.

"So?" She arched her eyebrows. "What are we doing here? Did you need to get something before we went to dinner or..."

"No no," he shook his head and, unexpectedly nervous, he took a breath. "I wanted to offer this place. To you. For as long or as short as you need it."

"I'm sorry. I..." Maddie's eyes squinted as she let his words run over her mind. "You're offering it to me?"

"Yes," he nodded. "I don't know what your plans are or...where you want to be or what you want to do but I know that Khenda and Collins are your friends..."

"They are my family," Maddie corrected, still catching up with where he was at.

"And I thought maybe it might help you...regroup...if you had a place of your own, that was close." He waved his hand around. "This place is empty and I thought, I don't know. I thought you might like to stay here."

"Wow..." A bubbled of laughter burst from her lips. "Bishop, really, this is amazing. It is but I don't think..."

"Before you say no," he cut her off, moving closer. "It is a secured floor with a secured door. There is a top of the line system in place." He waved the card he still had in his hand. "We have a doorman on the building and a private, in house security company. There is a personal concierge for the apartments and..." He shrugged. "I know you want to pretend that you weren't a part of that life before and that you can easily slip back into the 'normal' life you used to lead, but you can't." He met her eyes and he could see that she knew he was right. "You are an international name now and, as much as it pains me to tell you this, there is no going back. But here...you can feel safe. The press cannot get up here. You can stay as long as you like and..." He glanced out the windows behind him. "Come on. It's a beautiful place. You can relax and figure things out and not worry about anything."

"But Bishop...It's too much. It's..."

"It's not," he shook his head. "It's really not. I know it seems like it might be but this is incredibly small space considering just how much my father has. And, like I said...it's open," he smiled. "And others have stayed here."

Maddie watched him for a minute; her brain churning in thought. He was right. It would be nice to be close to Collins and Khenda but not so close that she was living with them. And she wasn't ready to move anywhere just yet. She couldn't go back to her life in London and she couldn't even begin to think about moving back to the states. Her heart wasn't ready to think that far ahead, that permanent. It would be perfect to stay here, in France, and figure things out. She had enough money in savings, from working and from her portion of her father's life insurance policy. She took a deep breath and looked around.

"I don't know..." She bit at her bottom lip, taking in the view, the comfortable space. "I...I would want to pay you."

"I won't take money from you." The shake of his head was firm. "I didn't take money from any of them, I won't take it from you."

"Well I would want to do something... Bishop, this is a big deal. I would want to do something."

"Like what?" He lifted an eyebrow, his mouth twisting up just slightly.

"Well not sexual favors, if that's what you're thinking," she smacked his arm.

"Of course that's not what I'm thinking," he laughed and relaxed a bit.

"And this isn't...this isn't about him?"

"How would this be about him?" Bishop grew quiet.

"I don't know," Maddie looked to her feet and then back up to him. "Is this you...cleaning up after him?"

"I'm sorry?" Bishop's forehead scrunched up.

"I know that before me, you cleaned up after him a lot. With women," she took in a breath and asked. "Is this you, cleaning up his mess?" She waved a hand over herself and watched as his posture stiffened, his face growing just a bit irritated.

"No." He was gruff in his answer at first, standing tall and talking directly to her. "First, you are not a mess." His eyes softened. "And second. I am not cleaning you up." He waved his hand at her. "I am your friend and third..." His voice dropped and he grew probably about as serious as Maddie had ever seen him. "I'm going to let you have that one...because you've been through a lot and this is, admittedly, a little unorthodox and new to you. But...the next time you assume that my intentions are anything other than out of friendship and genuine care and concern for you, you and I, Doctor...we're going to have issues." Maddie's eyes were locked with his and she could see it, he meant it. She gulped and nodded.

"Okay," she whispered. "Okay. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..." Hurt your feelings? Insult you? She didn't really know, but she had done it. "I'm sorry."

"No. I'm sorry," he softened, seeing her reaction. "Listen. Maddie, I can't do much to help you through...all that is going on around you," he was referring to the press and the media and the heartache. "But I can give you a place to stay; a place to eat pastries and drink wine and not worry about people finding you. A place to sit and relax and figure out what's next and..." He trailed off, seeing the tears in her eyes, even as she turned away from him. He took a deep breath, not entirely sure what to do; so he continued. "I come to Paris about twice a month. I can stop in. You can cook dinner. I can get you drunk and take you out. You can be my wingman, help me with the ladies..."

"Ha!" Maddie's head tossed back in laughter and Bishop grinned; he had succeeded. "You need help with the ladies?"

"Just one," he smiled wide as she turned back to him. "I'm trying to be a friend to her, trying to make what, to me, is an easy, insignificant gesture—one I've made for many friends—and for some reason, she's refusing me...care to help me with that?"

"Okay," she sighed, wiping her eyes. "Okay. You have made some excellent points and thank you, truly, for the offer."

"Please don't say no," his eyes turned down in a move that Maddie was certain he had used thousands of time to get what he wanted. She shook her head with a slight role of her eyes.

"That doesn't work on me," she warned and he persisted. "Can I think about it?"

"Sure," he nodded. "You can think about it."

"Thank you." Bishop smiled and waited a beat before he clapped his hands together.

"Okay Doctor. That's it. Thinking time is over."

"What?"

"Come on!" He rolled his eyes. "Come on. I'm offering you a penthouse in a beautiful hotel in Paris! You take that. I'm telling you you'll be safe and secure and you can do whatever you want and...and I'll even throw in visits from me once or twice a month..."

"Well when you throw that in," Maddie smirked.

"You take it." He narrowed his eyes at her and Maddie took a second to muse on the fact that he really was the only person on the planet who could talk to her like this. "Madeline," he drawled her name out. "You take it." She knew he was right, but she had one more question.

"Does...does he know?"

"He does," Bishop nodded. "I told him because I didn't want him to read about it in the paper and assume..."

"Sure," she nodded.

"But that's it. I told him. There was no discussion. He is not involved." Bishop knew this would be a sticking point. "This is me, offering you a favor. That's it. Nothing more. Nothing less."

"Okay."

"I promise." He held his hand up in a pledge.

"Okay," she took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. Fuck it, she thought. She wanted this. She needed this. "Fine. Okay. You win. I'll take it."

"There you go," he winked, his smile stretching wider. "How easy was that?"

"Pretty easy," she sighed; feeling...relief.

"Good," he seemed happy, he felt better; knowing she would be someplace safe, someplace secure. "Now. How about I call and have your stuff delivered from storage and you and I can order up some dinner?"

"What about all the ladies waiting for you on the streets of Paris?"

"Well I'm probably going to need energy to satisfy them all, right?" He crooked an eyebrow and smirked.

"Probably," Maddie agreed with a laugh.

"Okay then.

"Okay then."