The Unexpected Journey-A Prince Harry Fan Fic

Chapter 135

A/N: Important note: In this chapter a made up country of Khundu is introduced. I didn't want to use a real country so I borrowed one from my favorite tv series The West Wing. Hope that's okay.

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Returning back to their lives was difficult. After losing Khenda, after the service in Bendal, it took both Harry and Maddie a little bit of time to readjust to their normal lives; as normal as their lives were. But they returned, full throttle. As the holiday season neared, their schedules expanded and Maddie found herself being called out more and more often.

But it was nice. It was nice to be busy again, nice to have something to concentrate on. And, in truth, she was really beginning to enjoy it. She was beginning to find the fun in her duties. She was returning to herself and it felt...nice.

Everyone around her seemed to be doing well. Kate was recovering well; still seeing Gerald on a twice a week basis, still taking a bit of a time out from public life but the improvements in her mood and her outlook seemed to have a trickledown effect on the family. Will was smiling more and Arthur was a happy bundle of cuteness.

All three of the Cambridges were present and accounted for at the Remembrance Day event. Even as Kate had scaled back her involvements, this was simply not something she would be willing to miss. So they all came together; to remember and honor. And seeing them, all of them, had been good for Maddie. And for Harry.

And for the public, who would salivate over a picture of Harry in uniform holding a smiley little Arthur who was focused on nothing other than pinching his uncles nose. It was just the kind of reprieve they needed. It was just the kind of reconnection they wanted.

And of course they were still trying to have a baby. They had taken a moment to recover from their sadness after Khenda died, after Maddie realized she wasn't pregnant yet again. They had taken a moment to wallow, a longer moment than those before, and then they took a collective deep breath and continued on. Neither of them were at the point of worry yet, but both of them were at the point of ready.

As November slipped by them with a bat of an eye, they were both looking forward to the New Year, to all that came with the end of this one and the beginning of the next. And it was one dreary, chilly day deep in November when they finally realized all that was lining up for them.

They sat in Harry's office at SJP while Thomas flipped through their schedules for the next two months; this party, that benefit. They were green-lighting nearly everything and then he presented an option that made Maddie's eyes pop up from her notebook.

"I'm sorry, was that for me?"

"Yes Ma'am," Thomas nodded, a small smile pulling at Harry's lips. "They asked for you specifically."

"Not Harry?" She turned to her husband with stunned eyes.

"No Ma'am," Thomas shook his head. "It's become customary for a member of the Royal Family to go to Camp Bastion just before the Christmas Holiday; to visit the troops, wish them a Happy Christmas, take photos. That kind of thing. This year they asked for you."

"Wow..." Maddie was shocked at the request and incredibly flattered. "Why?"

"Sorry Ma'am, do you not want to?"

"No, no!" She exclaimed with wide eyes and a wave of her hand. "I want to do it. I just. I'm surprised."

Harry chuckled next to her. "She has a hard time taking compliments sometimes, Thomas." Harry turned to her. "It's typically a woman; Kate, Anne, Sophie. I'm sure that they want to tap into your newness, your affiliation with Walking With The Women, your work with vets..."

"Precisely," Thomas agreed with Harry as he listed.

"When do I go?" She turned back to Thomas with a smile; she was in.

"Just before the family goes to Sandringham for the Christmas holiday. You would be gone for a day and take a heli to meet the Duke in Norfolk."

"Fantastic," Maddie smiled. "Sign me up."

"Right," Thomas nodded and made a note in his portfolio. "Now that's it for official duties. Are you still planning on spending the New Year in The States?"

"Yes," Harry answered quickly. "Following Boxing Day, we're going to Colorado through the New Year." It was a compromise he had made; easily. They would always and forever be spending the Christmas holiday at Sandringham, the very least they could do was spend the New Year with Maddie's family. And it didn't hurt that he loved spending time with them.

"Good then," Thomas made another quick note and shut his notebook. "If you'll excuse me?"

"Sure," Harry nodded and rose to his feet, shaking Thomas' hand. "Thank you."

"Yes," Maddie followed suit. "Thank you for keeping us so organized."

"Of course," he smiled to the Duchess and then, just as simply and unassuming as he had slipped in, he slipped out; closing the door behind him.

"Now..." Harry turned to his wife with a wide smile, knowing the answer to his upcoming question. "Don't you have somewhere to be?"

"Ugh..." Maddie stretched her arms over her head as she groaned. It was too early in the morning and she had a long day ahead of her. "I cannot believe they are going to make me work out all day."

"It's not all day," Harry smirked, reaching for his cup of tea on the table and sitting back on the couch.

"It is too," she narrowed her eyes at him. "I have cardio first thing and then some endurance training," she rolled her eyes. "And after lunch with Ella..." She let out a long, heavy breath. "That trainer is going to make me run."

"Look at you," he chuckled. "You really think you're in such an athletic condition that you shouldn't have to train?"

"No," she laughed. "I didn't say I shouldn't have to train. I just...It's November. I need to start in November?"

"Well, they are trying to gear you up for the practice ski in January," he explained as she began to walk around the room.

"I do not need to train for two months for a practice ski in January." Her eyes narrowed.

"It's a twenty mile practice ski," Harry's eyes followed her as she moved around him; around the room.

"Yes I know." She smiled. "I've been skiing since I was a child, Captain. I'm no stranger to the snow."

"You do know that cross-country skiing is drastically different than downhill?"

"No," she turned wide, mocking eyes to him. "Tell me more my mountain man."

"Okay..." He rolled his eyes. "Make fun."

"Awwww..." She moved around behind him, her hands sliding over his shoulders as she leaned to kiss him. "What are you doing today? While I'm out being trained like a circus animal."

"So dramatic," Harry sighed, pulling one of her hands from his shoulder to his lips. "I'm having lunch with my father."

"Oh?" Maddie smiled. "Where?"

"Our place," Harry answered and tugged at her hand, wanting to bring her around to him. "Listen, I know you don't want to go running," he grinned as she settled in his lap. "But I'm awfully proud of you for doing what they want you to do."

"Thank you," Maddie pressed her lips to his; allowing her ridiculousness to ease a bit. "Are you still going to love me if I'm a terrible runner?"

"I think I'll actually love you more," he laughed. Her stubborn nature was one of the things he enjoyed most about her, even when it was being used against him.

"Perfect," she grinned. "What about if I'm the slowest cross country skier in January?"

"You will most likely be the slowest," Harry pointed out as his shoulders shrugged. "But yes. I'll still love you."

"What if..." Maddie bit at her lip, amused by their conversation, delaying her departure. "What if while I'm out there I lose part of my nose to frostbite? You'll still love me then?"

"Of course," he nodded, sensing her motives, noting her silliness but answering her anyway.

"What about my ear?" Her eyebrows arched.

"Yes." He nodded again.

"How about part of my ass?"

"Now listen," his tone changed. "Your ass shouldn't be hanging out in the Arctic, Maddie."

"You just never know," she winked and moved to kiss his cheek before stepping from his lap. "I have to go. As much as I would rather stay here, in doors, with you. My big, strong, handsome husband..."

"Okay," he rolled his eyes, moving from the couch to his desk.

"We could cuddle up...make love..." She flashed a bright, wide, hopeful smile and he laughed.

"Go." He pointed to the door. "Go build up your endurance and I'll see you tonight."

"For the love making?" She laughed.

"For something," he grinned as she pulled open the door. "I'll see you later."

"Good-bye Captain," she sighed and with just a bit of dramatics, she left his office; as ready for her day as she would really ever be.

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The cardio workout ended up not nearly as strenuous as Maddie had feared. Even the endurance training wasn't terrible, though she was absolutely starting to feel the pain. After a quick shower, she pulled her hair up, dressed and hurried to Ella and Bishop's for a relaxed lunch before she had to meet up with her trainer again to run. Ella was really just beginning to show and every time Maddie saw her, she was growing a little rounder in the middle and she looked simply exquisite.

"Come in, come in!" Ella tugged her best friend into the house as they hugged and said hello.

"My God, look at you!" Maddie grinned from ear to ear as she looked down at Ella's little round pouch. "You look adorable!"

"Thanks," Ella rolled her eyes. "You would think it would make me a little self-conscious but, funnily enough, the rounder I get, the more Bishop wants to touch me. Things are about to get really interesting around here."

"Oh," Maddie chuckled. "I'm not sure I needed to know that. Is he here?" She looked around as they made their way to the kitchen.

"No," Ella shook her head. "He's in Italy with his father and some business associates."

"Oh fun," Maddie slid into a chair at the table, looking at the lunch spread. "Thank you so much for having me over."

"Are you kidding? I love seeing you," Ella sat down next to her and reached for her water; looking Maddie over with quizzical eyes. "Sorry but, did you just take a shower?"

"I did," Maddie nodded with a slight groan. "I started training this morning for the trek."

"Oh that's right!" Ella's smile pulled wide and amused. "You're going for a run this afternoon."

"I am," Maddie laughed at herself; pulling her fork into her fingers and poking at the salad.

"How are you feeling?" Ella smiled at the very thought of Maddie running; knowing what this trek must mean to her if she was.

"Well, if I'm being honest...my ass...really hurts."

"Ha!" Ella's head tipped back. "It's been awhile huh?"

"Yes!" Maddie's eyes grew wide. "I mean. I'm not exactly lazy and I like to think I'm in decent shape but...my ass..." She shook her head slowly. "It's already killing me."

"Apparently being Duchess isn't quite the ass workout you had expected?" Ella joked.

"Apparently," Maddie snickered.

"Maybe Harry could help you with that?" Ella winked.

"Working out my ass?" Maddie laughed into a sigh. "I don't even want to know what that would entail. Maybe we could keep that suggestion between us."

"I suppose," Ella shrugged.

"I think maybe you've been hanging around Bishop too much."

"Agreed," Ella smiled. "But that's not about to change..." She took a deep breath and a sip of water. "So...about Bishop."

"Yeah?" Maddie raised her eyebrows.

"I had an appointment this morning," her hand ran over her rounded stomach.

"Is everything okay?" Maddie glanced to the baby she felt so incredibly protective of before it was even there.

"Yes. Absolutely," Ella was quick with the reassurances. "I found out the sex of the baby."

"Hold on. You what?" Maddie stopped in her tracks, her voice shooting high and her fork resting on the table. "You know the sex of the baby?!"

"Yes." Ella was beaming.

"And you just let me go on for five minutes about my ass hurting?!"

"Well you were on a roll."

"A roll that should have been stopped!" Maddie wiped her lips with her napkin. "Now wait...I thought you two didn't want to know."

"Bishop doesn't want to know," Ella corrected. "I want to know. I DO know. Do you want to know?"

"Oh God YES. Can I know? I mean would Bishop care if I knew?"

"I asked him if I could tell you." Ella's eyes were dancing.

"And?" Maddie bit her lower lip, her breath holding.

"And it's a boy."

"It's a boy!!!" Maddie clapped her hands together before she leaned in to hug Ella. "Oh my God. You're going to have a boy!"

"I know! Can you even imagine it?" Ella laughed as she hugged Maddie back. "Another little Bishop running around?"

"Look out London," Maddie sighed; happy and giddy for her best friend. "Oh wow. Ella...a son. You're going to have a son." And as tears pricked at her eyes, Maddie sighed back into her chair. "You're going to have a son."

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The ride from Ella's to meet her trainer was a quiet one for Maddie; reflective and thoughtful. She sank back into the seat and looked out at the rainy, dark day. And it fit her mood. Despite the rebound she was feeling, despite the laughter and the happiness and the celebrations, she still had a bit of sadness looming nearby. She still thought of Khenda; every day. She had made it a point to call Collins often, to talk to Isaiah, to make plans with them. And, in the wake of it all, she and Harry had been spending more time talking about their parents; the parts they wanted to be sure to remember, the parts they wanted to be sure to pass onto their own children.

When those children finally came. Maddie took a deep breath and looked down at her hands. She didn't want to get caught up in the baby making hysteria, she really didn't. She didn't want to start counting days to ovulation and she really didn't want to begin discussions about samples and testing and basal temperatures. Though those particular adventures were still far away on the horizon from where they were at, they were still there. Months away, but they were there. But she wasn't ready to think that way. All she wanted to do was relax and enjoy her marriage. She wanted to have fun with her husband, lots of sex with her husband, and when the time was right—she wanted a baby.

But on these dreary dark rainy days, it was a little easier to feel the slight of sadness that came with months of trying and no results. Particularly when she seemed to be surrounded by babies; chubby little Arthur, sweet little Isaiah, Baby Tindall, Baby Bishop. There were babies everywhere and she just wanted one. One cute little bundle with bright red hair.

She took another deep breath and looked out the window. She wasn't ready to obsess over this yet. She wasn't ready to go down that road. She wanted to relax and let it happen. So she inhaled and exhaled a few times and closed her eyes. And she smiled. Ella was going to have a son. Harry was going to be delighted to add another boy to the lineup.

"Oh!" Her eyes snapped open and she reached for her phone. Dialing his number, she held the phone to her ear.

"Madeline," when Harry answered, her lips pulled higher. If nothing else, the last few months had at least brought them closer; strengthened their connection. "If you're trying to get out of the run, I refuse to be an accomplice."

"Ha!" She laughed. "No. I'm not trying to get out of the run. I have some news for you, if you want it."

"What kind of news?"

"Ella knows what they are having," Maddie chuckled. "But Bishop doesn't want to know. I've been given permission to tell you if you want to know...and if you can promise not to tell Bishop."

"Oh wow!" His voice brightened. "I think I can do that. I think I'll actually enjoy doing that."

"Nice." Maddie rolled her eyes, already imagining the teasing.

"Tell me."

"They're having a boy," she felt a warm happiness wash over her as she let him in.

"A boy," Harry breathed. "Wow. Bishop's going to have a son."

"He is," Maddie nodded, her previous blip of sadness fading as she shared the excitement with her husband.

"Well that is wonderful news," Harry laughed at the thought of a tiny Bishop running around. "Hey listen, baby. When your run is over, can you come straight home?"

"Sure," she nodded. "Is everything okay?"

"Of course," he laughed. "I just want to see you...massage your sore, tired feet."

"Ha!" Maddie laughed along with him. "I actually think you may end up massaging my ass."

"Done. Sign me up." And she could tell he was grinning.

"I'll see you when I'm done," Maddie's sigh was heavier as her car pulled to a stop. "I'll be sweaty and exhausted."

"Brilliant." Harry couldn't help but chuckle at her.

"I have to go now. Run time."

"Remember to breathe. Deep breaths."

"Remember to breathe? That's your advice to me?"

"It is today," he answered. "I love you."

"I love you too," she grumbled. With a quick good-bye she ended the call; stepping from the car out into the drizzly rain. It looked like she was really about to do this.

She was about to become a runner.

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By the time Maddie's car pulled into the gates of Kensington Palace late that afternoon, she was ready to call it a day; beyond ready. While she had been running the sky had opened up and it was way past drizzle. But it seemed fitting. She was tired and sweaty and wanted nothing more than to sink into her enormous bathtub full to the brim with piping hot water. She wanted to calm and soothe her muscles and then curl up with her husband and let the day sleep away from her.

Despite her weary body and the dampened day, her spirits were high. While she was running she had spent a great deal of energy trying to get her mind off of the fact that she was running, off of the fact that there was a trainer—ex Army no less—calling out pointers to her as she moved. In order to move past that, in order to keep from taking off her running shoes and throwing them at his head, she let her mind drift to all of the happy places in her life; Harry, Ella, Arthur, a recovering Kate, Baby Boy Bishop. There were a great deal of happy places in her life.

So even though her body needed soothing, her mind did not. She was already there. Her door pulled open and Sampson was ready; umbrella in hand. Maddie laughed and waved him off.

"I think I can use a little rain after all of that, don't you?" She raised her eyebrows, knowing he had seen her struggle through her workout.

"If you say so Ma'am," he nodded but followed along anyway. He was a smart man and he wasn't about to comment on that any further.

"Okay," she sighed as they reached the door. "Thank you Sampson. I think we're in for the night."

"Have a good evening Ma'am," he nodded and stepped away; watching as she opened the door and stepped inside. Maddie knew without looking that he waited until the door latched behind her before he turned away from her.

She let out a long breath as she toed off her shoes and kicked them to the side; giggling at the way it made her feel happy to reap just a tiny bit of abuse on the shoes she had finally worn. With a glance at herself in the mirror, pink cheeks and a haphazard pony tail, she called out into the house. "Harry! I'm home from my day of medieval torture..." She had a wide smile and happy eyes as she moved through the entryway, rounding the corner to their living room.

And she stopped in her sock-footed tracks.

There in her living room were Harry, Charles, and a uniformed Lieutenant Colonel in the British Army. All three men rose to their feet as she appeared and when Maddie's eyes flashed to her husband's, her heart thudded in her chest and she felt it; a shift in the room. She watched as Harry gulped at a lump in his throat, as he pulled his eyes from her and forced a smile. She watched as he slipped into business mode.

"Madeline," he held a hand out to her, inviting her into the room. "This is Lieutenant Colonel Mitchell. Colonel, I don't believe you've met my wife, Maddie."

She stood silent and still for a beat, for a blink, before she pulled it together and turned a smile to the tall, dark haired officer who extended his hand. "Colonel," her voice was shaky; a rattle only Harry was able to catch. "It's lovely to meet you."

"It's a pleasure, Your Royal Highness," he took her hand and dropped his head.

"Please forgive my attire," Maddie waved her hand over herself. "I began training today for my trek in the Arctic."

"The medieval torture?" The Colonel laughed lightly.

"Exactly," Maddie's eyes flashed wide and her smile pulled higher. "My trainer is former Army. I'm sure you would be proud." A rumble of laughter rounded the group as Maddie stepped to Charles, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "I didn't know we would have company when I returned."

"Actually," Charles spoke up, meeting her eyes with warmth and kindness. "The Colonel and I were about to take leave."

"Not on my account I hope," she turned back to the three of them, trying to reign in her overactive imagination; trying to calm her pounding heart.

"Not at all," Charles shook his head and turned his gaze to his son and Maddie caught it. An unspoken communication between them, something had happened here and the twisted feeling in her stomach hinted at her worst case scenario.

The two older men were quick with their good-byes, polite and dignified and Maddie stood in their living room as Harry showed them to the door. In the two minutes he was away, it took all she had to hold her mind at center, to not unravel before there was reason to unravel. But every beat of her heart, loud and hot in her ears, pulled her further and further from the calm she was grasping for.

The second Harry reappeared in the living room, the second his eyes found hers, Maddie's posture shifted; her shoulders slumped, her head dropped and her eyes focused on the ground.

"Colonel Mitchell..." Her voice cracked as she spoke; with a cough, she cleared it and continued. "Him being here with your dad...that..." She took in a shuddery breath. "That means what I think it means...doesn't it?"

And though Harry stood tall and steady, he felt his knees give just a bit at the look on her face, at the waver in her voice. "Maddie..." He tried for soft and soothing, taking a step towards her; wanting to be near her when she found out.

But she already knew. She was the wife of a highly trained Apache pilot in the British Army. She knew.

"When?" She cut him off, not able to look up at him as a weight settled over the room. Harry watched her for a minute, watched her wait for him to tell her what she already knew.

"January." She flinched at the sound of his voice.

"How long?" Her voice was devoid of emotion, devoid of feeling—numb. Just like her heart.

"Standard four month deployment," he answered; wanting to pull her into his arms, but knowing she wasn't ready for that. Her arms wrapped around her middle, protecting herself.

"Where?" She cracked; just a bit, just enough.

Harry took a breath and looked to the ground, remembering vividly the images they had seen on the news only two days ago. He lifted his eyes to her, intent on watching her reaction as he told her. "Khundu*."

The word slammed into Maddie's chest, nearly knocking her over. Her eyes blinked closed, her breath pushed from her lungs and her fingers clenched into small fists. And Harry caught it all.

"Madeline..." He reached out to her.

"Wow..." She cleared her throat; her head nodding heavily. "I...I guess I..." And she couldn't look at him. For the first time in their marriage, she couldn't meet his eyes; for fear it would be the end of her resolve. Her fight or flight instinct kicked in and suddenly all she could see was a way out. "I need to take a shower." She turned to look up the stairs. "The run and...I need a shower." She moved from her spot then, brushing past a confused Harry and making way for the stairs.

"Oh-kay," Harry watched her move past him with wide eyes. He knew she was shocked, he knew this had hit her—he had watched it hit her. But this sort of complete avoidance surprised him. "Maddie I..." His hand reached out to her but she was already out of his grasp.

"Shower," she repeated the word, already bounding up the stairs; leaving a stunned Harry in the living room watching as his wife fled.

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She couldn't get up the stairs fast enough. She couldn't get away from him, from his words, from the harsh reality of it all, fast enough. As she pushed into their room, she tore off her clothes, tossing them to the floor with disregard and immediacy. She didn't stop to do any of the things she normally did before she showered; lay out clothes, find her lotion, her robe. She didn't stop for any of it. She couldn't. She turned on the shower as hot as she could stand and then she stepped inside.

And only when she was there, safe in the steady stream of noise, the haze of the steam; only when she was completely hidden from the realities that awaited her did she let it sit.

And then she sank. Her heart, her mind, her body. Her knees gave out and she slid, her back against the hard tile of the shower wall as she slid to the bottom. It was there that his words finally resonated.

In just over a month her husband was being deployed to one of the most dangerous places on earth. And there was nothing she could do about it but cry.

So she did. Big, shoulder heaving sobs.