The Unexpected Journey-A Prince Harry Fan Fic

Chapter 123

Day 9:

Colorado Springs
USAFA-Warrior Games
USAFA Training facility
Interview.

"Harry?" Maddie called out to him as she moved across the room the next morning.

"Yes love?" He was sitting on the edge of the bed, pulling his shoes on.

"Would you mind holding onto this for me?" She breezed past him and dropped, in his lap, a pair of white, cotton panties.

"Oh no!" His face snapped up, his hand reaching for her arm as she passed. "No way," he tugged her back as she laughed; incredibly amused. "I cannot do this another day, not while I'm working..." He pulled her into his lap and though he would guess based off her laughter that she was completely messing with him, he had to be sure. As she tipped back in his arms, he slid a hand up her leg, under her skirt and, finding that she was in fact messing with him, he shook his head at her. "Naughty girl."

"Sorry," she shrugged, content there in his arms. "I couldn't help myself."

"What am I going to do with you?" His hand squeezed her ass and then, quite unexpectedly, pulled back and gave her a little tap.

"Oh!" Maddie's lips twisted up into a smile as her eyes flashed wide. "Oh..."

"Sorry, I..." Harry began, rubbing his hands over the spot he had slapped.

"No," she held her fingers to his lips. "Don't apologize, I..." She flushed pink. "Oh God. Did I like that?" Their eyes locked and the heat rose between them.

"We don't have time to do this right now," Harry whispered, his hand sliding slowly, regretfully, from her ass to the outside of her skirt.

"No," she shook her head, trying to convince herself that he was right; settling into his lap. "Maybe later?"

"Madeline," he groaned, taking in the hopeful look in her eyes, the fun tip to her voice. He wrapped his arms around her completely and hugged her tight and close and kissed at her neck. "You can't talk to me like that before we head out."

"Or what?" She sighed; eyes wide with a mocking innocence. "You'll spank me?"

"Oh God," Harry groaned again. He hugged her tighter as she squealed and laughed and struggled lightly against his arms. It was going to be a long day.

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Their last day on their first tour served up moment after moment ripe for Maddie to poke fun, primed for Maddie's bright smile and wide laughter. They attended the Bike Races where once again he was gifted with a defunct air horn. After the laughter from the crowd died down, Harry had allowed a side-glance to his wife who stood smug and smirking and words just waiting on her lips.

"Go ahead," he spoke low, only to her as their eyes stayed trained on the games. "I know you're dying to..."

"Have that problem often?" She went for it; as cheesy and expected as it was, she went. "Your magic fingers failing you? Lost your touch?"

"Wow..." Harry shook his head, biting at his lower lip as his hands rested on his hips. "Is that the best you have?" He raised his eyebrows and looked straight to her.

"Well," she sighed, turning her body to face his. "I was going to comment on your inability to get things to...blow...when you want them too but..." She reached out, letting her fingers run lightly over the short line of buttons on his polo shirt. "But we both know that's not true." Her smile pulled wide as she turned away from then, refocusing on the bikes that were sailing past them and he nodded. This had become just the kind of smart he had grown to expect from her on this trip; her own particular brand of sass. If there hadn't been so many cameras on them, he may very well have offered the swift smack to her ass she had asked for earlier. But he knew better; when to draw the line.

And they both stood dangerously close to that line later that day at the United States Air Force Academy training facility when after tossing an American football, he was talked into getting on all fours at the bottom of a pyramid. Maddie, wearing a skirt and heels, was relegated to the side where she stood with a wide smile she had to bite at to keep from laughing. She waved at him as he shook his head; knowing exactly what was going through her mind. And, when she pulled her own cell phone out, something she never, ever did, to snap a picture, Harry's eyes narrowed and his lips curved into a smile.

"Are we done now?" He mouthed, looking up to her; hoping her sass would come to an end soon. With a glimmer in her eye and another snap of her phone, Maddie shook her head and tucked her phone back into her pocket. She could barely wait to show their friends back home those pictures.

Eventually the pyramid came down and Harry stood up. It took everything he had in him not to go right to his wife and swing back with some fun of his own. But he didn't. H stayed on point and they finished up at the training center. And, finally, they could see the end of their tour on the horizon.

They hurried to the hotel, hurried to change and hurried to the interview site. And Maddie was so busy rushing around that she hadn't the time to stop and contemplate the nationally televised interview she was about to give until they were there; meeting Diane Sawyer while production assistants helped them with their microphones. They had talked in the car on the way over; Thomas giving them notes, Libby reminding them of talking points but it hadn't really hit her until that moment.

And the interview began. Diane was kind and warm and didn't seem like she was out to get either of them; putting Maddie at ease as she sat next to Harry on the small couch. The questions started light; how has the tour been? What has been your favorite part so far? And then she took it a step deeper, turning to Harry with a small smile.

"Now, you've spent a lot of time on the tour meeting with military men and women and their families. Clearly that's a cause important to the two of you; you as a soldier and you in working with those transitioning back to civilian life. Tell me, Captain Wales, do you plan on continuing in the Army now that you're married and working as a full time royal?"

"That's a good question," Harry adjusted slightly in his seat as his mind shifted over to her line of questions; to his military role. "At this point in time I have every intention on maintaining both my military commitments and certainly with Madeline at my side now, we'll be taking on more royal duties together and individually." He tossed a smile to his wife and turned back to Diane. "So I suppose my answer is that I will continue to do both just as long as I can, as long as those two roles will continue to allow me to exist in both areas."

"And are there any plans or possibility of another deployment in the future?" Maddie's hands stayed stilled and calm in her lap though her heart jumped just a bit—as it always did when thinking of him heading out again.

"Plans?" Harry shook his head; solemn and thoughtful as he did. "I'm not currently aware of any immediate plans though it is always a possibility." He took a deep breath. "As with any active soldier in the military, you go when they tell you to go, where they tell you to go and, should I receive those orders, I'll take up—just like any other soldier. As I've said before, time, money and resources were spent training me to do a job and nobody; myself, my family, the military; nobody would have wasted those if it meant me sitting on the side while others head out."

"And you," Diane turned a smile to Maddie. "What's that like for you; newlywed into this...sometimes surreal life...looking at the possibility of another deployment?"

"Well," Maddie took a breath and blinked. "I am, and have always been, immensely proud of my husband's service in the Army. That's not to say I don't worry. I think all military spouses, partners and families do. But I trust that he knows what he's doing, I trust in his training and I trust in the men and women who serve beside him—many of which we spent time with on this tour, here in Colorado and in Washington and New York." A satisfied glimmer flashed in Harry's eyes as his wife masterfully turned the question back on point; The Tour, The people. If he could have high-fived her, he would have. But he kept his cool; hands folded in his lap.

"And what a successful tour it's been," Diane's smile spread. "Throngs of people have come out to see you; to wave and to vie for a chance to say hello. That must be quite something to see."

"Sure," Maddie smiled and nodded. "I mean, I've seen Harry elicit that kind of reaction before and certainly in England we've seen crowds at various events but I was surprised by the level of interest; even here in my home state. It was really quite something to see."

"That's right," Diane nodded. "You were born here in Colorado."

"I was."

"Do you still consider Colorado to be your home?"

"Oh wow..." Maddie thought for a second. "I suppose in some senses I do. I mean, my mother still lives here. This is where my father lived so...when I think of my childhood home, this is where I think of." Her smile grew soft as she remembered. "But I've been very fortunate to live in some very different areas. I grew up on a farm in a small, rural town in the US. I went to college in New York City. I lived in a tiny, remote part of Africa and now..."

"You live in a palace," Diane offered and Maddie's smile tugged higher as her eyes shifted down for just a moment.

"I do," she nodded. "Each place has been remarkable; offered up lessons and friendships and taken a little bit of my heart but..." She shrugged lightly; her demeanor airy and at ease as she answered. "But when I think of home, I think of London; of my home with Harry at Kensington."

"Of course," Diane nodded in understanding. "Do you miss it? Colorado?"

"Sure," Maddie answered. "I miss my family, my old bedroom. Sure. But I haven't lived here in a very long time. Long before Harry and this new part of my life."

"Do you think the two of you will come back often? Seeing as your family is still here?" Maddie took a breath, preparing to answer but before she could, Harry spoke up.

"I think that we'll come to the US more than I have before alone, for sure," he grinned. "I've always got along well with Maddie's family and we really enjoy visiting them and spending time here. So I would say yes, we'll be back." He raised his eyebrows to Maddie who nodded.

"Is it strange," Diane concentrated on Maddie. "Coming back to this familiar place but in this new role?"

"Not really," Maddie laughed lightly. "There are certainly moments that stick out; throwing out the first pitch at a field where I used to watch games in the cheap seats—that was a bit surreal but I wouldn't say strange."

"Fair enough." Diane nodded and turned to Harry for a moment. "Now, you've done this for your entire life..."

"Quite a few years, yes." Harry chuckled.

"But this is your wife's first Royal Tour," she smiled sweetly at Maddie.

"Yes it is," Harry's lips slipped higher.

"And by all accounts; the news coverage, the turnout, the response...it's been a remarkably successful tour." She paused for a moment and spoke softly. "And it appears to be a pretty seamless transition into this new role as your wife and a Duchess. You must be incredibly proud? At all surprised? What's it like to see this all unfold?"

"Proud?" Harry actually sat a bit taller as he thought about it; thought about her. Though he tried to stay focused, tried to stay trained on Diane Sawyer, his eyes drifted to Maddie and he felt a flush in his cheeks. "Yes. Enormously proud. I think in a...role like mine you just...you hope that you find somebody willing to take it on, somebody willing to jump into all that comes with this lifestyle and the responsibilities that surround it. Am I surprised? At how well she's done? At how she's stepped into the role and the responsibilities?" He shook his head. "No. Not in the least."

"Aw," Maddie's voice grew soft as she smiled at him; distracted for just a moment by his words, by the look on his face as he spoke them. "That's very sweet."

"That is very sweet," Diane agreed and Maddie snapped right back.

"But it's more than just that," Harry leaned in a bit; wanting to make a point. "What I mean is that Maddie has worked hard all of her life for many of the same people who I like to think I'm working for; children, military members and their families. She isn't new to service, to hard work and determination. This may be a new avenue, a new way of doing things but this isn't something foreign to her. I had no doubts she would be able to step up to this with little effort."

"I see," Diane smiled, knowing exactly what she was catching on film; Prince Harry getting personal, letting them in on his feelings for his wife. It was something to see and, she knew, it would be something when the world saw it. Turning to Maddie, she continued. "And right before you left for the tour you announced two big projects you're taking on; Walking With the Women and The Delphinium Project. Can you tell us a bit more about those?"

Maddie nodded and fell into ease as she explained the two projects; each unique and so very different from each other, all while maintaining a close, personal tie to her. She was succinct and clear and the passion she had for her work was clear to everyone who was watching and who would be later. And then, as the interview drew closer to the end, Diane moved on from official business and went straight for what she knew viewers would want her to ask.

"Now of course, we can't sit down with two members of the royal family and not ask about the newest addition. Not long before you came to the United States you welcomed your first nephew into the family. Tell us, how is he doing? What's it like to be an aunt and uncle for the first time?"

"Wow..." Harry sighed as both of their faces lit up with wide smiles and dancing eyes. "I would say it's quite amazing. Wouldn't you?"

"Oh my yes! And he is just..." Maddie grinned as she recalled his chubby cheeks. "He's perfect. He really is and I know I speak for Harry when I say that we can't wait to see him when we return to London. We have thoroughly enjoyed this trip and everyone who we've met along the way and it's sad to see it come to an end. But knowing that we get to see Arthur on the other end...it makes it that much sweeter."

"Absolutely," Harry nodded in agreement.

"And I suppose that begs the question," Diane's eyes twinkled and both Harry and Maddie knew exactly what was coming next. "Are there any immediate plans for a cousin for Arthur?"

"Ha!" Harry laughed; clapping his hands together. "Immediate? No. No immediate plans," he smiled at Maddie, hoping that their faces didn't show just how much they had been trying to make it more immediate.

"No," Maddie shook her head, tearing her eyes from his. "Though we absolutely want a family..."

"A large family," Harry interjected.

"A large family," Maddie agreed. "There are some things that need to happen first."

"And I think we both want to be married for a while, figure things out before we bring a baby into the mix," Harry offered. "But yes. At some point we will have children."

"Absolutely," Maddie smiled wide.

"Well you both seem to be very energetic and quite happy in your newlywed phase."

"Well I won't speak for Maddie," Harry smoothed down his tie and adjusted in his seat; turning just slightly towards Maddie. "But this has absolutely been two of the best months of my life."

"Wow," Diane's eyes flashed wide as Maddie smiled; finding humor in how blunt and over the top Harry seemed to be. "That's quite a statement."

"It certainly is," Maddie shook her head slightly as her cheeks warmed. If he wanted her to remain calm, cool and collected, he was sure making it more difficult. "We are both quite happy, yes."

"And speaking to that," Diane moved in her seat; reaching for a folder of photos she had. "Throughout your tour here in the US, there has been a great deal of coverage and comment on just how...happy and close the two of you seem." She opened up the folder and began to flip through some of the photos; all pictures of Harry and Maddie together, touching in one way or another. It was nothing crass or inappropriate; hand holding, his hand on the small of her back, her hand tucked around his waist under his jacket. There were more than a few of them kissing or locked in an embrace and there was even one or two of Harry's hand drifting to Maddie's ass.

"Well," Maddie cleared her throat and smiled sheepishly. "What can I say? We are newlyweds and..." She sat up a bit taller and shrugged just a bit. "We've been traveling around the country visiting organizations and projects that have such inspiration behind them, we've been meeting people who have amazing stories and, at the end of the day, we carry that emotion with us and...we're drawn to each other; to share those emotions and this experience and..."

"Honestly," Harry lifted his eyebrows, smiling at the interviewer; knowing fully well what he was about to hand her. "I just really enjoy kissing my wife." Maddie nearly choked on the air in her lungs. "All of those things are true; what Maddie just said. There is a lot of emotion and meaning that we carry with us but...I enjoy kissing my wife, being with her, holding her hand and...I don't know." He shrugged and glanced to Maddie quickly before looking to Diane. "It's still socially acceptable to kiss your wife, right?"

"Well yes," Diane laughed in the moment, despite her professionalism. "I suppose it is."

"Well there you go," Harry smiled to Maddie who met his eye with the sarcastic glimmer he had seen from her all day. He was in for it and he didn't care one bit.

"Is that the message for the day?" Diane laughed; genuinely warmed by the two of them and their interactions.

"Yes," Harry nodded before turning to the cameras and with the charm and sass that was so unique to Harry, he smiled and said. "Kiss your wife." And then he caught himself. "Or your husband or your significant other."

"Fantastic," Diane clapped her hands together, certain that she wouldn't find a more perfect place to end the interview. "You heard it here from the heart of southern Colorado and His Royal Highness, the Duke of Sussex. Go home. Kiss your wife." She turned from the camera and smiled at the young couple. "Your Royal Highnesses, thank you very much for taking the time to meet with me today. I certainly hope you enjoy the well-deserved break you have coming."

"Thank you very much Diane," Harry nodded.

"Yes thank you," Maddie smiled sweetly and then, as the camera blinked to a stop, she clipped off her microphone and slid her eyes to her husband. "Very nice Captain."

"You liked that?" He smirked as he clipped of his own mic; leaning in to press a kiss to her cheek while Diane finished up with technicalities and her own mic. "Did it make you want to spank me?" His voice whispered in her ear just seconds before he rose to his feet to shake Diane's hand and say their final good-byes. With pink cheeks that were easily explained by the interview, Maddie rose to her feet and followed suit; shaking hands, offering thanks, and soon she and her cheeky husband were being escorted to their car.

Their first Official Tour was officially over.

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On their short drive back to their hotel, the debrief began. Maddie could tell that while Thomas wasn't as amused by Harry's last answer as she was sure the rest of the world was going to be, he wasn't all that upset or surprised about it either. He had worked for Harry for years and it would have been a gut level shock had he not added his own bit of flavor somewhere in there. They finished up discussions about traveling home. Thomas and Libby would be leaving the next morning, leaving them behind only with security. All of their travel paperwork was already organized and waiting for them in their suite. So far they had heard nothing but positive comments and feedback regarding their trip; both from the palace and the public.

"You should," Thomas made it a point to meet Maddie's eyes when he spoke. "Consider this trip an enormous success." While Maddie blushed and fought her instinct to deny that it had anything to do with her, Harry smiled wide and pulled her hand to his lips for a kiss.

And then, because there was nothing more to discuss; no call times, no lists of names or rundowns of itineraries; the four of them relaxed into their seats, took in the scenery and soaked up those moments of accomplishment; something finished, something done well.

As they pulled up the drive to the hotel, Maddie turned to Libby and reached for her hand. The young woman was a bit surprised by the gesture but hid it well. "Thank you, so much. Truly. You kept me on track, you were unbelievably prepared. I absolutely could not have made it without you."

"Oh, Ma'am, I..." Libby shook her head; slightly uncomfortable receiving that kind of lauding, especially in front of Thomas and Harry. "It's my job."

"I know it's your job," Maddie continued on. "And you do it so well. I just wanted to say thank you."

"You're welcome Ma'am," Libby patted Maddie's hand with her own and smiled sweetly. Though it wasn't within her character or in the nature of her job to expect that kind of thanks or certainly attention, she would forever think the Duchess was kind for offering it.

And before anything else could be said on the matter, their car had come to a halt and everyone was stepping out.

"Oh. Harry..." Maddie called out just as they were ready to step from the car.

"Hmmm?" He pulled back in, looking to her with lifted eyebrows and questioning eyes.

"The answer is yes." Her eyes crinkled up at the corners just a bit as she smiled. "To the question you asked me earlier. It absolutely does."

Though every night of the trip so far had consistently ended with the two of them connecting physically; hands clasped or her tucked under his arm or wrapped in his embrace, this night was a little different. They were feeling a bit more free and relaxed and enjoying the slight uplift that came with a successful tour. And Harry was enjoying watching her move. As they walked from the car, he loved how she was quick to look to where people were waiting to catch a glimpse; offering a wave and a smile and a cherry hello. He watched as she walked tall through the lobby, as she had a light conversation with Sampson in the elevator. And when they finally came to a stop at their door, they said good-bye to Thomas and Libby and then she stood in front of him; eyes soft with a hint of smirk and she sighed out a long breath.

"We're done..."

"We are," Harry nodded; tugging her into his arms, unashamed and without care. "Are you ready to celebrate?"

"I am," she nodded; lowering her voice as the security officers filled into their suite. "Though...you said such amazing things about me today. It was all so beautiful and sweet." She leaned in even closer as Harry reached out to hold the door for her. "It's probably totally inappropriate to ask you to spank me now." Harry let out a deep chuckle as his arms snaked around her waist; tugging her closer, his lips dipping to her ear.

"It is never inappropriate to ask me to spank you." Maddie giggled in his arms and glanced towards their suite, ready to haul him in and make him prove it.

But she stopped. As her eyes peered into the room, her wicked smile faded into sweetness and she breathed. "What is this?"

"Come on in," Harry nodded his head towards the room. "Let's find out."

With his hand at the small of her back, Maddie stepped away from Harry and moved into their suite. After the door locked behind them, the security officers slipped nonchalantly from the main room into their own rooms and Harry and Maddie were alone in the candlelit room.

"There's..." She looked around, moving further into their space, coming back to her own mind with each step. "A lot of candles, Wales." She laughed. "Does the Fire Marshall know about you?"

"He does," Harry laughed with her, loosening his tie as he followed. "We have champagne and dinner and..." He reached out to pull a tall silver lid from a cloth covered table. "Red Velvet cupcakes..."

"Oh!" Maddie's hands clapped together like an excited little child. "You're the best husband ever."

"Says the woman who, only moments ago was threatening to spank me," his eyes danced with humor in the candlelit and Maddie sighed.

"Promising," she corrected with a gleam in her eye.

"Right," he laughed.

"Harry..." She moved closer to him then, wrapping her arms around his waist and pressing against him. "This is..." She smiled wide. "Why is this?"

"Why?" He smiled, his fingers tucking hair away from her face. "Because you're done. You survived your first tour. You survived nine full days at work with me." They both chuckled as he wrapped his arms around her; his face dipping closer to hers, his cheek rubbing soft against hers. "Because you're going to have my babies..."

"Harry..." Maddie felt a lump in her throat as she turned her face to look at him.

"I wanted to celebrate," he shrugged. "Care to celebrate with me?" His eyes widened teasingly. "I have champagne."

"Mmmm..." She moaned slightly, tightening her hold around his waist. "I suppose if there's champagne."

"There is," he nodded.

"And the red velvet cupcakes?" She bit at her bottom lip.

"Absolutely," he nodded with a snicker; loving how unabashed she was in her love for food. It reminded him of how full on she loved him and it made him undeniably happy.

"Then you have yourself a deal."

"Perfect," he ran his hands over her back. "Now. I am going to open the champagne and while I do that..." He slipped his hand into his pocket, pulling out his phone and pushing a few buttons before holding it out. "There is somebody who wants to speak with you."

"Me?" Maddie was confused as she took the phone from him, but slid it to her ear anyway. Harry pressed a kiss to her shoulder and slipped away to open champagne, to take the silver off of dinner. Maddie's eyes followed him as she waited and then, with a click, the deep, soothing voice told her instantly who it was.

"Madeline."

"Charles," she grinned; feeling instantaneously relaxed, content, and a bit homesick.

"Congratulations on the end of your first tour my dear."

"Thank you," Maddie smiled wide; feeling silly and happy. "I had an amazing time."

"Good, good," he was smiling. She could tell. "We've seen remarkable coverage of the two of you and I just wanted to let you know that we're all very proud of how well you've done. Very proud and very pleased."

"Oh wow..." Maddie's voice dropped as her emotions rose. "That's very sweet of you to say, Sir."

"The Palace has had nothing but good things to pass on," he added on, wanting her to know that it wasn't just him voicing these things. "Are the two of you celebrating tonight?"

"Yes sir," Maddie looked around the room at the candles, at the set table, at Harry, who had dropped his coat and tie to the couch—pouring champagne for the two of them.

"Has he champagne?"

"Yes," Maddie laughed. "He has."

"And some ridiculously expensive celebratory gift?" He asked as though he were reading off of some checklist and Maddie giggled slightly.

"Well I don't know about that," she found him so funny and sweet sometimes. "I do know, however, that there are some red velvet cupcakes."

"Wonderful. Wonderful." He missed her; he missed both of them and was excited for them to be back in London. "Well, I will let you go now dear. I simply wanted to pass on my congratulations. We'll expect to see the both of you when you return in a few days."

"Absolutely," Maddie nodded, taking the glass Harry was offering as he stepped close. "And thank you, again."

"Very well. Good night darling."

"Good night," Maddie smiled and, with a sigh, disconnected. She held the phone out to Harry and watched as he tucked it away and moved in closer. "Your father wanted to congratulate me..."

"Oh?" Harry's lips turned into a coy smile as he moved into her space.

"He didn't need to do that."

"He's terribly proud," Harry shrugged. "And so am I."

"You really need to stop with this," Maddie rolled her eyes; feeling a flush in her cheeks. "It's not a feat to do your job and you two are acting as though I parted the Red Sea. You with your lines to Diane Sawyer and..."

"Lines?" Harry's eyebrows lifted. "I meant every word I said."

"I know you did," she ran a hand over his chest and surrendered just a bit; letting it be. This was how they were; the Windsor men. "It's just...a lot. You with this room and your father...asking if there was champagne and if you had a ridiculously expensive celebratory gift..." She shook her head again and took a drink; her eyes catching Harry's over her glass. "Harry..."

"Well," he sighed, setting his glass to the side. "Now that you mention it..."

"Mention what?" Her voice had slight warning to it; slight uncertainty as she watched him move across the room. He went around the bar and leaned down; searching. When he reappeared, he had a square box in his hands; meticulously and beautifully wrapped. "Henry Charles," Maddie watched as he held it up.

"I don't know that it's ridiculously expensive," he brought the box with him as he returned to her side. "But it most certainly is a celebratory gift."

"What are you doing right now?" She watched him with soft eyes and a bit of a tug at her heart as he moved before her. "You know you don't need to do stuff like this."

"I do know that," he nodded; his eyes catching hers and she saw there something that made her see that this wasn't just Harry being Harry, this wasn't just about offering up a gift for the sake of offering one up. So she calmed and she waited and she saw him struggle a bit with his emotions.

"Hold on. Are you okay?" Her hand reached out to his arm and he smiled; wide and with abandon.

"I am absolutely okay," he nodded. "I just...this is a gift for the end of your first tour, for the end of your first American tour," he was careful to be specific as he contemplated the box in his hands. "And well...it has some meaning behind it that..." He was having a hard time finding the words over his emotions so he took a breath and handed it to her. "I'll explain, I think, after you open it."

"Okay," Maddie breathed; taking the box from his hands. It felt so cozy and intimate in that giant suite, in that moment. This moment where Harry stood close, watching her with bated breath as she pulled at the bow, as she moved the paper off the box. And just before her fingers lifted the lid, his eyes slid to hers and the look she caught there made a lump begin in her throat.

But she lifted the lid away and pulled at the silky fabric resting over what was inside and she unveiled what was possibly the most beautiful piece of jewelry she had ever seen in real life. Strands of pearls coming together around a deep blue sapphire surrounded by diamonds; it took her breath away the way it sparkled in the room. She looked it over with great reverence; her eyes welling with tears for some reason she couldn't quite place. It looked so sparkly, so beautiful—so familiar. Her eyes flashed up to Harry's and he smiled with emotion filled eyes.

"It's a necklace," his voice cracked but he cleared his throat and continued. "That my mother wore..."

"Harry..." Maddie's eyes pooled as her heart swelled and Harry, taking a breath and letting it all wash over him, smiled. He reached out to run his hand over her cheek, cupping her face in his palm for just a moment.

"She wore it on her...First US tour..." His lips tugged up in a smile and Maddie blinked at the tears in her eyes. "When she danced with..."

"John Travolta," Maddie finished with a shaky voice; the images instantly flashing to her mind.

"Exactly," Harry smiled at the memory.

"Harry...this is..." She shook her head, overwhelmed by it all; by the history, by the significance, by the meaning behind him giving it to her on this trip. It was a lot, to be faced with something holding so MUCH.

"Yours," he finished with a soft voice. "I...I know that it's not entirely your style and it's a bit...large and...flashy?" He lifted an eyebrow with a smirk.

"No Harry it's..." She took a steadying breath. "It's beautiful."

"And you don't have to wear it," he continued on. "I just...it was hers and I want it to be yours and I couldn't think of something better to give you on the last day of our..."

"Harry," Maddie's fingers fell over his lips; her eyes fixed on his. "Just...stop." And then, holding tight to the box in her hand, Maddie leaned in and replaced her fingers with her lips and she kissed him.

This kiss wasn't the teasing, lust-filled variety they had been sharing as of late, it was slow and sweet and so amazingly laced with passion that it made both of them stop and take notice. Her lips were soft against his and she could feel the mass of emotion he had for her as he kissed her back.

"It's beautiful," she whispered; pulling her lips from his, her eyes searching to hold onto his. "It's beautiful and perfect and..." She smiled wide. "And I can't wait to wear it. Harry I'm so...I'm so honored that you want me to have it and..." She blinked back tears as she looked down at it again; this beautiful piece of jewelry that had been Diana's—his mother's, her mother-in-law's. It was all so touching; it was all so much. And he caught it; he knew it would be.

As Harry moved the necklace from her hand, as he laid it down on the table next to them, her arms moved immediately around him—and his around her. As Harry's mouth tilted over hers, as Maddie's opened and invited him in, they forgot about the champagne and the dinner and the tour and the necklace and the candles and...

They held onto each other.

Because in the end they had both been right. When Diane Sawyer had asked about the photos of the two of them together; touching and kissing and holding. They had both been right. It was a lot of emotion to hold onto and, at the end of the day or between engagements, they drew naturally to the other; seeking and finding support for what they had heard, for what they were doing. They found their center in each other—and this trip had proven that. They were going to be an amazing team; a force to be reckoned with and everyone had seen it happen—the public, the media, Charles, the Palace. Even Maddie and Harry knew.

But they had both been right. There was a lot of emotion. There was a primal need to connect but that wasn't the end of it.

As Harry lifted Maddie slowly into his arms, as Maddie's entire body wrapped around his; her ankles linking around his waist, her arms tangling around his neck, as he moved them from the candlelit room into their room, into their bed, as he peeled clothes from her body in a slow, torturous fashion, as she clung to him and called out his name; as they both marveled at how easily this day had moved from a naughty, tease of a promise to something so laced with heavy feeling and love.

There was a lot of emotion; the need to connect. But they had BOTH been right.

Harry loved to kiss wife. It was as complicated and as simple as that.