The Unexpected Journey-A Prince Harry Fan Fic

Chapter 126

Day 10-13:

Time off with family

Quietly and quickly, they began down the hill towards the main house, hoping to sneak back in through the back door, just next to the back staircase. Because somebody had come into Kyle and Amy's cabin, Maddie and Harry were forced to go the back way, forced to take a bit more rocky terrain than the gravel road they had taken up. But both of them were too happy with themselves, too excited about the prank, about their success in pulling it off, to really think much of the change up. Maddie dropped Harry's hand and began to move more quickly down the mountain; loving the feeling it brought—the freedom, the exhilaration. And Harry couldn't help himself. Seeing Maddie so happy and so giggly, he tossed his head back and let out a laugh. And when he looked up at the sky, all he could see for miles were stars; bright and plentiful and he felt absolutely amazing.

And then it all came crashing down. With an agonizing scream from just down the hill. His head snapped back and his heart jumped in his throat. Her scream was loud and strangled and rose the hair on the back of his neck.

"Maddie?!"

"Harry!" Maddie's voice sounded shaky as she called out to him in the dark and his ears immediately perked up; his breath letting loose.

"Maddie?" He stopped running and looked around; searching out in front of him where she had just been.

"Harry!" Her voice was more urgent, more insistent and he knew something was wrong.

"Where are you?" All the humor from the moment drained completely.

"Here..." She flipped on her flashlight and he spotted her instantly; headed in her direction before he even registered the light.

"What happened?" He hurried towards her; further down the hill.

"Be careful!" She called out in a bit of a groan. "There's a barbed wire fence and...fuck. I ran into it and I twisted my ankle and...fuck!" She called out and Harry grew more and more nervous given her word choice. "Harry..." Her voice grew teary. "There's a lot of blood...I'm really hurt."

"Okay, okay..." He moved in closer, sliding a bit on the loose dirt as his eyes found her. "Let me see." He kneeled down in the dirt next to her; clicking his flashlight on. His eyes scanned her leg and he drew in a breath. She had sliced nearly a five inch gash in her shin and she was right, there was a lot of blood. It looked terrible. His eyes flashed down to her ankle; already swelling and turning color. "We need to put something on it..." Harry looked around. "Here," pulling off his t-shirt, he moved it over the bleeding wound, wrapping it around her leg and tying it tightly. Maddie hissed and bit her lip as he worked. "That cut is bad."

"I know," she nodded.

"We have to get you back to the house," Harry glanced towards the home, not too far away. "Do you think you can stand?"

"I don't know," she shook her head at him; eyes wide. "I tried to stand right back up and I just couldn't."

"I'll carry you," he moved closer to her, moving his arms under and around her.

"Harry...maybe we should...Oh!" She gasped as he lifted her off the ground.

"I have you," his voice was reassuring as he settled her in his arms. "I have you. Come on." And then he began to walk towards the cabin; his mind reeling with what was about to go down.

Walking into the cabin shirtless with Maddie in his arms with a bloodied leg and a swelling ankle brought about the exact reaction Harry had expected. A collective gasp, shock and then organized chaos.

"What the hell?" Kyle was the first to speak as the room jostled into motion. Amy and Jenna pushed aside their magazines, Hannah rose from her chair and, just as Harry imagined, Jim sent a quick glance to the stairs he had gone up and then turned a tight face back to him.

"I tripped on a barbed wire fence," Maddie began to explain as Harry moved her quickly into the house and onto the couch; her family moving around her. "I twisted my ankle and I can't walk and..."

And then Jim stepped into the middle of it all, the people around him parting as he neared Maddie. "Do you have a First Aid kit handy?" Jim looked up to Patrick who nodded and moved to the kitchen to grab it. His eyes fell to Harry and the wordless conversation that happened between them spoke volumes about their dynamic.

"We went through the window," Harry admitted, guilt etched on his face, in his voice.

"Through the window?" Hannah looked from Harry to Maddie with a concern that only mothers carried. "What the hell were you thinking?"

"Mom..." Maddie looked wide eyed at her mother.

"Isn't that a little dangerous and stupid and..."

"Mother!" Maddie's voice was louder; shocked at the way her mother was reacting, as though this were the first time any of the people around them had done something stupid and been hurt.

"Here you go," Patrick handed the kit over to Jim who opened it up.

"No. She's right," Harry's hand fell on her good leg as Jim moved in to take a look at the gash on her leg. "We should not have gone out the window."

"You think?" Sampson spoke up as he moved next to Jim, his voice considerably more calm than Hannah's but his gaze just as pointed.

"I'm sorry...are we in trouble right now?" Maddie felt a light laugh press through her lips, grimacing as Jim poked at her cut, felt at her ankle.

"No," Jim spoke quickly and firmly but she wasn't sure she believed him. "But we are on our way to the hospital." He looked up to Sampson and moved into business mode. "Wake up Arthur. Let's get the cars ready and find the nearest medical center. We need to..."

"No," Maddie groaned, her head tipping back into the pillows. "Do we really need to..."

"The cut on your leg is around twelve centimeters long and at least one deep. You hit a barbed wire fence with who knows what on it and your ankle is swelling as we speak. This isn't a discussion, Your Royal Highness," in three words he reminded her of her role, of his role and her inability to speak to this decision. His eyes shifted back to the other officers, now in motion. "We're rolling in under five. And you..." He looked to Harry. "I would suggest you find a shirt."

"Yeah," Harry sighed and looked to Maddie. "I'll be right back."

"I'm sorry," Maddie reached to squeeze his fingers.

"Not your fault," he shook his head, offering a smile that didn't quite meet his eyes. "I should have known better."

"What the hell were you guys doing running down a mountain in the dark anyway?" Gary asked what he felt was the most obvious question in the room. And, despite the situation, Maddie's eyes met Harry's and they both allowed a small chuckle. If they were on their way to the hospital, they were going with their secret kept.

"We just..." Maddie shrugged. "We wanted a little time alone. Now go..." She winced in pain. "Get your shirt. I think that Jim might just leave without you." Harry nodded, dropped her fingers and hurried up the stairs, knowing she was absolutely right. The way Jim had looked at him, the way all of them were looking at him—there was a good chance they would leave him behind.

In under five minutes, Harry and Maddie were loaded in the SUVs and pulling away from the house. Though Hannah had considered going along, she refrained; thinking it best to step aside and let Harry stand next to Maddie on this particular ER visit. They were heading out of the mountains at a top speed, on their way to a small medical center where Jim felt comfortable taking Maddie for what he assumed would be a relatively routine incident—but for the HRH that came with it all.

Harry sat next to Maddie on the back seat, her wrapped leg propped up on a pillow in his lap as they wound through the mountain roads.

"Hey," Maddie nudged his leg with her other foot; bringing his attention to her eyes. He looked to her and she tilted her head to the side, softening.

"Hey..." He breathed, his hand rubbing up her good leg as the events continued to settle in him. "You know your mother does the guilt thing better than my father. Seriously. She should go work for the palace. Had she been there ten years ago, who knows what I would have amounted to."

"It was an accident," Maddie's voice was pointed.

"Yeah..." Harry sighed and looked up to his PO sitting in the jump seat while Arthur drove. "Jim..."

"Sir?" Jim's voice was low and his eyes trained forward.

"Sir?" Harry groaned and leaned back into his seat; knowing the tone, knowing the word choice. "You have nothing to say?"

"No," Jim shook his head.

"God..." Harry sighed. "It's so much worse when you don't yell." And when Jim began to speak, his voice was low and clear and meant to convey exactly what Harry was talking about.

"In about two minutes we're going to roll into a small medical center and they are going to take your wife into a back room where they are going to flush out that huge wound of hers with a solution that's probably going to sting a bit. They are absolutely going to give her stitches; I'm guessing at least ten. They are going to give her a whole battery of shots. They are going to splint that ankle and give her crutches for a week. They are probably going to keep you up for the next four hours," Jim shrugged. "All because you thought it would be funny..."

"Hey, wait a second," Maddie spoke up next to Harry.

"No he's right," Harry shook his head to her.

"He didn't make me go out of that window," Maddie continued and Jim turned around in his chair; his eyes meeting Maddie's with an expression she had never seen from him before.

"I am very well aware of that ma'am," he nodded.

"Ma'am?" Maddie's voice went hoarse at the way the word sounded from him in that moment.

"I'm not sure I need to remind you of the last time you went off without security..."

"Now hold on," Harry's voice grew rough and assertive.

"No," Jim shook his head, his eyes snapping back to the front, looking at Arthur who sat silently as he drove. "If we don't know where you're at, we don't know where to come looking for you when you don't come back." He turned back to Maddie whose heart was pounding in her chest. "And you should know that."

"Jim," Harry's voice held warning as Maddie's eyes grew wide.

"Henry," Jim volleyed back and everyone in the car grew silent, including Harry. The tension was high and the words were loaded and Maddie knew enough to know that it was best if she kept quiet. Though, if Jim had meant to drive home a point, to make sure she understood the severity of what had happened, what could have happened—he had succeeded. Clearly her mother wasn't the only one around who could throw down some guilt.

The car pulled to a stop outside the ambulance bay with the shadow car right behind them. Jim was the first one out the door, reaching Harry's and pulling it open. His eyes met the young mans; calmer and quieter than it was before. "Out a second story bedroom window."

"I know," Harry groaned, running a hand through his hair as they both rounded the car to Maddie's side, where Arthur stood.

"With your wife," Jim shook his head.

"I know..." Harry let out a breath. Jim was right; he should have thought it out further.

"Running down a mountain in the dark with who knows who or what is out there..."

"You done?" Harry lifted his eyebrows as Arthur reached to open Maddie's door.

"I don't know," Jim shrugged. "Am I going to need to start camping out with you and the Missus?" Without waiting for a retort from Harry, Jim shifted out of father mode and into professional mode; reaching for Maddie's hand as their team went to work. Lucky for them, it was relatively late at night and the small medical center seemed to be running slow and easy for the night.

Trying for inconspicuous, it was only Jim and Arthur who accompanied them inside while the others parked the cars and waited on radio if needed. Harry held onto Maddie as she stepped up to the counter and smiled at the nurse on the other side.

"What can we do for you?" The woman on the other side had to have been her mother's age; short and petite but with warm, firm eyes.

"I was running in the dark and I tripped over a barbed wire fence," Maddie explained with a slightly embarrassed smile on her face. "I have a pretty serious gash in my leg and I twisted my ankle and..."

"I see," the nurse looked over the counter, glancing back to an aid sitting down the way from her. "Jerry, grab a wheel chair would you please?" The young man moved quickly, bringing it around to Maddie and Harry helped him settle her in.

"Okay now..." The nurse turned back to the notes she was taking. "Your name?"

"Um. Maddie," she was caught off guard for just a moment after nine days of everyone knowing exactly who she was. "My name is Madeline."

"Last name?" She reached for a clipboard and some paperwork.

"Sussex," Maddie blinked as Harry stepped up, holding his hand out for the clipboard the nurse was arranging. "I'm her husband. Do I need to fill this out?"

"That would be great." She handed it over and turned to Maddie. "Now I'm going to see what I can do to get you back there just as quickly as I can. I'm going to need you to keep this leg elevated and the pressure on the wound. Just like you're doing, okay?"

"Yes, thank you," Maddie smiled as the nurse looked around at Arthur and Jim and nodded a small smile before disappearing. "Oh my God," Maddie whispered to Harry as the nurse stepped away. "They don't know."

"I noticed," he scanned the pages.

"I mean it. They don't even notice you." Maddie was grinning; clearly amused. "It's like the Twilight Zone when they don't even notice you."

"Well put," he sighed and looked to Jim who was watching as the formerly empty waiting areas began to get busy—a carload of seemingly drunk teens filing in. Jim's eyes met Harry's and he nodded, moving towards the counter. "Listen," Harry moved closer to her. "Jim's going to have to tell them."

"What? Why?" She looked from Harry to Arthur who had moved in closer.

"Well to begin with," Arthur stepped in, nodding to the group of people. "We have company. It would be better for you to at least be behind a curtain. Not just for safety, but for press." Maddie nodded; it made sense.

"Which reminds me," Harry sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I have to call my father..."

"God, baby, I'm so sorry," Maddie's lips turned in a frown, knowing instinctually that Charles' reaction was going to mirror that of her mother's, of Jim.

"It's okay," Harry shook his head and pulled his phone from his pocket. "I'm just going to turn this in and then I'll call papa." He smiled with a hint of sarcasm to Maddie and moved next to Jim at the counter; turning over his clipboard, talking with the nurse.

Maddie took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying not to think about the pain in her leg; if it wasn't the gash, it was her ankle. And both were beginning to sting quite a bit. She turned tired eyes to Arthur who stood next to her chair. "I'm sorry if I made you worry." Her voice was small but genuine and he turned fatherly eyes to her.

"I'm not as...mad as Jim." He confessed. "We were in a relatively secure location with very low threat," he sighed. "But he has a point."

"I know," she nodded.

"If we don't know you're gone..." He shook his head as both of their minds jumped to that afternoon that things had almost ended up so much worse.

"We just..." She rolled her eyes and decided to be honest. "We were pulling a prank on my cousins. They messed with Harry when I threw the first pitch and we wanted to get them back..." She looked up at him and suddenly felt very silly for even admitting this; for thinking it might be some sort of justification.

"And you thought if we went with you, they would know," he offered and she nodded. "I hear you. I do. Just next time, tell us what you're wanting to do and we'll work around it."

"I'm sorry Arthur," she meant it; that was evident. "I hope you don't get into any...trouble for stuff like this."

"I don't," he chuckled lightly. "But sooner or later if you keep slipping away and getting hurt when you do...one of us is going to get it," he waved a finger between them. "And they probably aren't going to transfer you anywhere if you know what I mean."

"I do," she smiled at the look on his face and took a breath. "It won't happen again."

"Oh I know," he nodded and gestured towards where Harry stood with his phone pressed to his ear. "Jim has been on him for years, his father even longer..." Arthur shrugged and looked to Maddie. "I think maybe we've found the way to keep him in check." And before Maddie could tell him she wasn't about to be part of some plot to "rein" Harry in, things began to happen. Jim and Harry made their way back to her, along with a doctor and another nurse.

In minutes, they were back in the ER; off in the corner in their own room and while Arthur and Jim stood outside, Harry sat in a chair next to Maddie's bed and watched as she answered the doctor's questions; rehashing the incident while he did a preliminary look at her wounds and took a brief medical history.

"And you're up to date on all of your immunizations? Tetanus?"

"Yes sir," Maddie nodded. "They checked before we came to the states."

"Are you taking any medications? Herbal supplements? Anything prescribed?"

"No," Maddie shook her head as the Doctor made notes.

"Allergic to anything?"

"Not that I know of."

"And you're thirty years old?"

"Yes," she smiled as Harry squeezed her fingers in his hand.

"And is there any chance that you might be pregnant?" Though the question was routine and the doctor didn't even blink when he asked, the room went absolutely still.

"Whoa...wait..." Harry snapped to attention. And when Maddie looked to Harry, she could see it; the paranoia that only came with a lifetime of people trying to take advantage of your most intimate moments.

"Sorry," the doctor looked from Harry to Maddie. "We're going to have to x-ray your ankle to check for a break and there's an issue with some of the contrast. But...if you would rather not answer, we can just double vest you and..."

"We just stopped using birth control," Maddie answered with a smile and a hand to Harry's arm. She was going to trust the doctor; trust the process.

"How long ago?" He didn't take notes, didn't write anything down.

"Just this week."

"Okay," he nodded. "And your period, was it regular before that?"

"Yes sir," Maddie smiled.

"And you used birth control before this recent change?"

"Yes," Maddie nodded. "We were very careful. I can't imagine it's been enough time for us to be able to tell something like that, has it?" From the corner of her eye, she could see Harry's eyes dance at the possibility.

"No ma'am," the doctor shook his head with a smile. "But we'll just treat it like you were; double vest, specific contrast and mindful of the antibiotics if we order them."

"Great," she let out a breath and felt more at ease.

"Now," the doctor sat his notes aside and reached for the bandaged part of her leg. "Let's take a look at this, shall we?"

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On almost all accounts, Jim had been right. They flushed Maddie's wound, stitched it up with twelve stitches. After a few x-rays, they determined she had a severe sprain but no break. They splinted her ankle, gave her crutches and a prescription for some pain pills to supplement what they were handing her to leave with. And when he told her she needed to stay off the foot for at least a week, Maddie couldn't help but shrug and pass off a joke about delaying her training for the Arctic another week. And even a slightly sullen and guilty Harry couldn't help but laugh and insist she would do anything to get out of running.

It was nearly four hours later when the SUVs pulled up that long, private gravel road. And, having heard news from Harry earlier that Maddie was okay, the houses were silent; everyone was asleep. Harry lifted a heavy lidded Maddie into his arms and carried her up the stairs to their room where Brad had re-installed the window screen and locked the window in their absence.

He helped her get settled; changed into pajamas, tucked into bed with her foot propped up and then, finally, he slipped into his own pajamas and slid in next to her; this long night finally coming to a close. Harry was exhausted but Maddie seemed to have a resurgence of energy. She had snoozed in the car on the way back. She had barely woken up the entire time Harry had been nestling her into their bed. But for some reason, the silence and the comfy surroundings seemed to stir her wake; her mind wild at work. She couldn't really find a comfortable position as she adjusted in the bed. And finally, turning to look at her husband, she gave in with a sigh.

"Harry," she whispered, nudging him lightly. "Harrrrrrrry..." She drew out his name; low and slow as she watched with a grin as he stirred from his quick dip into slumber.

"Mmmm?" His eyebrows lifted though his eyes remained closed. "Did you need some water?" He whispered; his body wanting to stay asleep while his mind wanted to take care of her. "Or more pain pills or..."

"I can't sleep," she knew she sounded ridiculous given all that had happened but she felt drowsy and drugged up and she couldn't help it when her bottom lip pulled out in a slight pout.

"Ah..." He breathed, his eyes peeking out at her. "So you're waking me?"

"For better or worse?" She smiled sweetly and Harry chuckled; shaking his head as he woke even further.

"Come here," he rolled to his side and his arm moved around her, careful as he pulled himself closer to her; tucking his body into hers. Maddie snuggled into him, her hands tugging his arm tighter, sighing into his body.

"Better," she smiled, her hand running along the arm he had around her waist.

"Good," he kissed the side of her head and tucked her closer. "Are you in pain?"

"No..." She ran her fingers across the soft patch of hair on his forearm and shook her head. "I'm just...I was so tired and now that I'm laying here...I don't know. My mind is running crazy. Maybe I'm still coming down from tonight. Or maybe I'm nervous about going back to London or...I just can't sleep."

Harry smiled, finding it a tad sweet that she wanted him up with her; happy to oblige her with anything she asked after the night she had just had. "Would you like me to tell you a story?"

"A story?" Her grin peaked as she turned her head to look up at him. "I think yes...I would like for you to tell me a story."

"Okay," he yawned; big and wide and then settled down against her, kissing her shoulder and smiling. "Once upon a time, there was a Prince..."

"A Prince?" Maddie giggled quietly. "Is this a fairy tale?"

"It is," he nodded, careful of her leg as he moved. "Now. Once upon a time there was a Prince. He was a tall, handsome, brave Prince..."

"Of course he was," Maddie grinned.

"And he was a good and happy Prince but...something was missing." Though Maddie snickered, he continued. "The Prince loved to smile but his smile...it was a bit broken."

"A broken smile?" Her snickers faded as she clarified.

"What? Have you heard this before?" He leaned to look at her with a smirk.

"No," she laughed.

"Then shush and let me tell my story." Maddie blinked warmth up at him and waved her hand. "He could smile but his smile wouldn't quite go all the way...it wasn't as big as it could be. So, he travelled all over the land looking for that something that would make his smile complete. And then one day..." His voice moved dramatically as he weaved this tale. "One day he traveled to the enchanted desert of Bendal and there...he met this beautiful doctor..."

"Oh for Heaven's sake," Maddie sighed. "Have you been taking my pain meds?" Harry ignored her sass and continued.

"She was smart and friendly and the most beautiful person the Prince had ever seen."

"Harry..."

"And she was there helping people feel better, healing their hearts and making them smile all the way." He looked down at Maddie then and he smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners and though she rolled her eyes, she was listening intently as he continued. "So the Prince went to see this magical doctor and before he could even tell her about his broken smile....she had fixed it!" His eyes went wide and Maddie giggled. "Before he knew it, the Prince was smiling; wider than he had ever smiled, from ear to ear and he knew..."

"What did he know?" She couldn't help the way her voice dipped into a whisper.

"He loved this magical doctor."

"Well sure." She blinked.

"And he wanted to be with her forever."

"The magical doctor?"

"Yes," he nodded, smoothing a hand over her shoulder. "A magical doctor who gives people their whole smiles back." He bent to press a kiss there. "So the Prince went to the beautiful doctor and with his heart in his hands he asked her, begged her, to come with him back to his kingdom where she would become his Princess and make him smile forever..."

"I'm going to guess she said yes?"

"She said yes." Harry nodded reverently.

"And they lived happily ever after?"

"Well," Harry shrugged and chuckled. "I know the Prince did. The jury is still out on the magical doctor."

"This is the story you tell your laid up wife who can't sleep?" She smiled love up to him, her hand working into his hair.

"No," he shook his head, turned to kiss the arm that ran by his face. "This is the story I'm going to tell our daughters."

"Harry..." Maddie eyes teared up.

"Tonight when the doctor asked about the possibility of you being pregnant..." Harry groaned at himself. "I shouldn't have taken you out that window."

"Stop," she shook her head, smoothing her fingers over the lines his worry created on his face. "It was an accident."

"But you're hurt," he looked down at her leg. "You're hurt pretty badly and God..." His hand moved over her stomach. "What if there's a baby in there? What if I took our little baby out a second story window and..."

"Shhh..." Maddie's fingers moved to his lips, pinching them together gently. "If there's a baby in there she's happy to have such an adventurous daddy...thrilled in fact." Maddie's eyes locked with his and she waited, eyebrows lifted, until he nodded and backed down. Releasing his lips she nestled closer to him.

"Did you say she?" Harry's voice held a strong reverence in it.

"I did," Maddie nodded, her other hand moving to lay over his on her stomach. "You said daughters. I said she..." She took a breath and thought for a moment. "There are just entirely too many boys around here."

"Agreed," Harry nodded enthusiastically.

"Besides...if we only have sons...What story will you tell then?"

"Same story," Harry was beaming brighter than the light from the moon. "Just with more dragons."

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When they finally made it downstairs the next morning, Maddie and Harry were greeted by a smattering of her family; all stationed around the large kitchen eating breakfast. Hannah was the first to spot them as they moved into the room.

"Oh wow..." She let out a breath, her eyes swinging over Maddie's leg.

"It's not as bad as it looks," Maddie was quick to assure her, noticing the softness in her mother's face; a stark contrast from the night before.

"How many?" Gary asked, nodding to the bandage over her cut.

"Twelve," Maddie sighed, sitting in the chair Harry pulled out for her.

"Ouch," Patrick shook his head.

"It's already in the papers," Jenna waved her i-pad in the air and began to read. "An announcement from Saint James Palace; Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Sussex, while vacationing in the Rocky Mountains with family took an unexpected fall resulting in twelve stitches to a gash on her shin and a splint and crutches for a severely sprained ankle. She is expected to make a full recovery in seven days and there will be no schedule changes necessary."

"Would you look at that," Maddie grinned hazily tired from the meds, from the late night.

"They are quick," Harry smiled back at her and moved to pour them both some coffee.

"Listen," Maddie turned to her mother, reaching for her hand. "I'm really sorry that I worried you last night. I had no intention of anything bad happening and I promise you we weren't in any danger..."

"Ahem," Hannah raised her eyebrows and glanced down at Maddie's leg.

"It was a barbed wire fence that...I swear...hadn't been there during the day time," Maddie joked and Hannah let out a small smile. "It won't happen again. I promise."

"I know," Hannah sighed. "I know I reacted a bit...over the top. But we thought you two had gone to bed and when he carried you in with blood everywhere...my mind just..." She waved her hands in the air and Maddie laughed lightly.

"I know. And I'm sorry," Maddie patted her mom's hand as Hannah moved to kiss the top of her head; all was forgiven.

At least from Hannah.

As Harry returned with some coffee and a plate of fruit, the door to the house opened and they could all hear people walking through the living area into the kitchen. Their eyes shifted up and the first person to walk through the door was Kyle with Amy following sluggishly behind him.

And he wasn't happy. His eyes moved instantly to Maddie as the group exchanged hellos. Without a word, he looked down at her leg and then up to her eyes; steady and unwavering.

"Well..." He glanced to Harry and then back to her. "I hope it was worth it." Maddie blinked and a wide grin stretched across her face. It had worked.

"It was," she nodded, reaching for her coffee. "It absolutely was."

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Though there had been grander plans for the day, Maddie's new injury sidelined her and Harry for the most part; handing them both a low-key, relaxed day. They did venture down to the dock where they held court with Maddie's leg propped up. They spent their time relaxing and chatting with her family as they cycled through. Amy and Maddie flipped through wedding magazines, talking in high level hypotheticals as they built a few wedding scenarios in their minds. Hannah stayed close, getting into more detail about her upcoming return to school to become a nurse. The girls, Casey and Molly, made a show of explaining their recent escapes down the water. And eventually Maddie convinced Harry to head out with her family while she took a nap.

It turned out to be just the kind of day they needed, minus the sprain and the stitches; relaxed and uneventful—after an incredibly eventful night and an even more eventful two weeks. They spent time with family. They enjoyed the peaceful serenity of the mountains. And then, as the night drew to a close, Maddie tucked into Harry as best she could and her eyes closed. No story necessary—she was ready for sleep. And, after nine days of a successful first tour, and three wonderful days, and one tiny blip, with her family—she was ready to head home to London.