The Unexpected Journey-A Prince Harry Fan Fic

Chapter 138

  "So listen..." Harry's voice dropped low as he and Maddie made their way back to the house. Her arm was tucked through his and she was holding him close; borrowing the heat he radiated.

"Mmm?" She looked up to him, their feet falling in sync as they walked through the hard, crunch of the snow.

Harry glanced around and ducked his head, lowering his voice as he spoke. "They are going to mess with you."

"What?" The corner of her mouth tugged up in half a smile, finding the secretive way he was disclosing this to her to be humorous.

"The cousins," he cleared his throat. "It's tradition. We always pick somebody to mess with and if you don't know by arrival who it is you're messing with, they are messing with you."

"And?" Maddie snickered; loving how very much like her family his really was.

"And..." He shrugged. "I don't know who we're messing with."

"Maybe they're messing with you." Maddie nudged him with her shoulder.

"Nope." He shook his head, certain. "It's you. They didn't tell me because they knew I would tell you."

"Why can't it be you?" She lifted her eyebrows, smiling hopefully up at him.

"They don't mess with me anymore," he explained, a bit of a cocky grin lightening up his face.

"Why not?"

"Not easily rattled," he sighed, his face growing humored as he ran through the memories in his mind. "I'm no fun." He stalled in the path, turning his body slightly to hers, wanting her to hear him. "I'm telling you, they are going to mess with you."

Maddie giggled, a light puff of a laugh that told him she wasn't worried, that she found his warning a bit silly and premature. "Okay." She shrugged.

"You think I'm joking?" He laughed at her easy response.

"No," her eyes danced against his. "So they're going to mess with me." She shrugged again. "What can I do?"

"Nothing," he shook his head.

"Well then..." Her lips slid into a long smile, her eyes narrowing. "Why are you telling me?"

"You're my wife," he nodded his head to the side, pulling her back into their walk, back towards the magnificent home before them. "I'm on your team. They mess with you...they mess with me. That sort of thing."

"That's very sweet," Maddie smiled. "So tell me...what sort of things should I be looking out for exactly?"

"Well..." Harry took a deep breath and reached for the door handle, pulling it open for her. "Let me tell you..." And then they stepped inside as Harry began a low voiced list of things that had happened in the past; prepping her for a variety of possibilities that could be headed her way.

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Maddie loved Sandringham House. Though this wasn't her first visit, it was her first time at Christmas and the snow, the ice hanging on the trees, crusted on the foliage, only added to the allure—to the surreal nature she felt when on the property.

The home was magnificent. It stood tall and massive against the wide lawn, striking out onto the skyline. It was beautiful and Maddie loved being there. Inside it was just as impressive. Maddie had done quite a bit of 'settling' into her new life, her new family. She had grown accustomed to, if not at ease with, all of the pomp and ceremony that surrounded her on now a nearly daily basis. But there were moments, walking through the hallways where King George VI had walked, where The Queen Mum had held court. They were in the space where Elizabeth and Bertie played with Lillibet and Margaret. They were in this gloriously brilliant home where so much history had taken place, where Harry's family had been for years and years.

And it felt warm. The colors, the fabrics, the paintings, the little mementos; the touches of home. It felt warm—in this vast, drafty, splendid old estate. Maddie felt warm there.

After she had arrived from Camp Bastion, after Harry had given her the fair warnings towards his cousin, after she had gone to greet The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, after Harry had escorted her to their suite for the holiday and she had taken a little bit of time to herself; a quick nap, a shower, and then dressing for the afternoon. She pulled on a sweater, wrapped herself up in warmth, and she set out in search of her husband.

It was easy to find him; his laughter rang out along with his cousin's, echoing throughout the large hallways. She hugged her arms around herself and followed the sounds of life. When she rounded the corner and stepped into the doorway of the drawing room, she had only a moment to take them all in, everyone seemed to have settled in for the holiday. Kate was off with Autumn in the far corner of the room, watching as Ilsa and Savannah cooed over baby Arthur. Zara and Bea were deeply entrenched in a game Maddie didn't recognize at first glance. Peter and William were sitting on a set of couches, talking with Harry who was gesturing and laughing as he spoke. Maddie smiled as she watched them, but she had only a moment before she was caught, before Mike looked up from his card game with Eugenie and smiled wide.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the Sleeping Duchess of Sussex..." The room came alive with his words as the family rose to their feet; love and greetings abound. They were all smiles and hugs; happy to see her.

"How was your nap love?" Harry's hands were warm, running up and down her back when she finally took her spot next to him on the couch where he sat, talking to Peter and William.

"Wonderful," she sighed, smiling as she snuggled into his side; tucking close. "Where are the adults?" She glanced around the room, finding only their own generation; none of the aunts, none of the uncles.

"Right there," Harry nodded a wink towards his brother and his cousin.

"Ha, ha," Peter rolled his eyes.

"You know what I meant," she sighed; turning a kiss to his shoulder, to the soft cotton of his shirt.

"My father is downstairs, preparing to head out with Andrew," Harry smiled down at her. "They asked Will and I to come along but..."

"You should go," Maddie patted his leg. "You should spend some time with them."

"Yeah?" He liked the idea; had been warm to it since his father had suggested it. But he had wanted to be there with her, watching his cousins like a hawk; waiting for them to mess with her, ready to strike back. "You'll be okay?"

"Of course," Maddie laughed, glancing to the two men across from them. "I'll be absolutely fine."

"Okay," Harry shrugged, stretching his arms up and over his head. "What do you say Big Brother..."

"I'm in," William clapped his hands together.

"We'll be back in time to dress for dinner," Harry leaned in, kissing the side of her head. His voice dropped low. "Keep your head up, don't take your eyes off of them and remember..." Maddie smiled as his voice dropped even lower. "Bea usually heads this up. She looks sweet but she's the ring leader."

"Got it," Maddie's eyes twinkled as she smiled up at him. "Go. Have fun. I'll see you when you return."

"Okay," Harry nodded to his brother and with a quick, scoping glance around the room, he leaned to kiss her. "I'll see you soon."

"Have fun," she kissed him back and let him go; watching as he left.

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Harry hadn't been gone very long when Maddie slipped from the room. She had spent time catching up with Peter, talking about how big his girls were getting, about an upcoming holiday they had planned. She had gone over to cuddle Arthur, to play a bit with the girls. She had watched as the intensity grew in the games that surrounded her and then, excusing herself, she had slipped from the room. They were given free reign when they were at Sandringham; able to explore and discover and though that sort of thing might have grown old for the cousins, Maddie still found it fun to poke around; to enjoy the old house and all it held.

So she set out in search of some of her favorite finds and for a new nook that might tug her in. She moved about at a slow pace, enjoying the peace that came with such explorations. She moved through the drawing room, studying the portraits that hung on the wall, the soft colors of the tapestries. She moved through a small study, loving the rich dark contrast it held. And then she moved to the library. She had always been drawn to the libraries. Even before she stepped into this royal world, she had been drawn to the stacks and once she married Harry, once she was able to walk into some of the most impressive libraries she had seen, the fascination had only increased.

As she stepped into the library at Sandringham House that afternoon, she felt that warm, familiar tug in her stomach; the feeling she normally associated with home, and she let out a sigh.

Content.

Happy.

"Well good afternoon," that unmistakable voice rang out, causing Maddie to spin towards the source; startled.

"Your Royal Highness," Maddie recovered quickly, smiling wide at Harry's Aunt Anne who stood to her far left, looking out the massive windows across the snow covered property. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you in here."

"I blend," Anne smiled with a nod. Maddie walked into the room, kissing Anne's cheeks, dipping to curtsey. "I didn't mean to startle you," she smiled at her nephew's wife. "Were you lost?"

"Purposefully," Maddie nodded, looking out the window Anne had been focused on. "It's a beautiful view."

"It is," Anne agreed, her smile small and tight as she turned her eyes back. "I spent a great deal of time here with my grandmother; watching the birds and the wildlife..." Her thoughts trailed off as she caught herself becoming a bit sentimental. Training her focus elsewhere, she moved on to another topic. "How was Camp Bastion?"

"Incredible," Maddie answered with a blink. "It was my first visit to a military base and I learned a great deal."

"Rumor has it you did marvelously." Anne commented with a small nod in Maddie's direction.

"There's already rumor?" Maddie turned a raised eyebrow to her.

"There's always rumor," Anne's eyes flickered at her words; at a humor that was hidden there. She looked down at the floor, as though she were tucking away a memory, and then back up to Maddie. "You enjoyed yourself?"

"I did," Maddie nodded. "It was nice to spend time with the young Captain who showed me around. He was incredibly knowledgeable and quick to answer any questions I had. It was good...to see firsthand the things I read about, the things I'm briefed on."

"A different sort of event from the smile and wave, no?" Anne chuckled lightly; a soft, warm sound that made Maddie feel as though they were sharing something.

"It is," Maddie agreed. "The smile and wave is important but yes...this was different."

"Good for you," Anne nodded and looked back out the window. She had a fondness for her nephew's new wife. She didn't know her terribly well, had not spent a great deal of time with her. But there was something in her, perhaps the delight she found in visiting the Camp, perhaps the same thing that had drawn them both to solitude in the library. She didn't know exactly what it was, but she felt a warmth, a liking to her. "You know," she turned towards her then, clearing her throat as her body shifted to face her. "You and I never had a chance to talk about what happened."

"What happened?" Maddie lifted her eyebrows, caught in surprise.

"The kidnapping incident in March," Anne was quick to the point, never one to mince words or beat around the bush.

"Ah," Maddie nodded, surprised by how far away that incident felt.

"My understanding is that you handled yourself impressively."

"Well," Maddie shrugged, her eyes catching Anne's as she smiled. "It wasn't as though I fought off a gunmen or anything..." She alluded to the Princess Royal's own brush with disaster.

"No," Anne laughed. "I suppose not. But you did get in a good bite."

"I did," Maddie laughed along with her.

"Well good for you."

"Thank you," Maddie took a breath, wanting to continue the conversation, wanting to ask her what drew her to this library, wanting to ask where her favorite corners were. But before she could speak, a soft knock on the door drew their attention.

"Sorry to bother you," Beatrice's bright, innocent smile greeted them both.

"No bother," Anne shook her head, waving her niece into the room. "What brings you here?"

"We were wondering if we might be able to borrow Maddie for a bit?" Bea grinned as she looked between the two women.

"Of course," Anne was quick to answer with a dismissive wave of her hand; amused at the way the group of them reverted back to childhood when they were all together. "I was just about to go meet up with father for a bit." She nodded to the two of them and took a step towards the door.

"It was nice talking with you," Maddie smiled to Anne, feeling as though they had shared something there.

"It was," Anne agreed. "I'll see you both at dinner." And just as easily as she had slipped into a conversation with Maddie, she was slipping out.

"Yes," Maddie answered and watched as Anne left them.

Beatrice smiled sweetly as Anne took leave. Once they were alone, her smile pulled into a bit of an evil grin as she reached for Maddie's hand. "Now, now, now Madeline Sussex. Won't you come with me?"

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By the time Harry was returning to the house, the sun was beginning to set. The four men had rosy cheeks and chilled noses and their breath blew out in white, cloudy puffs when they spoke. It had been a great day; laughter and ribbing and the strengthening of a bond between them. Harry was smiling as they stepped into the massive mud room; shedding coats and hats, pulling off mud covered boots and unloading from their trip out.

"It's comforting to see that your technique hasn't improved since last year," he threw a smug glance to his brother.

"Of course," Will's eyes narrowed, his face growing tight at the mocking. "It's comforting to know that eventually all are knocked from their pedestals."

"Please," Harry snickered, shedding the last of his winter clothing and clapping his hands together. "I'm not sure who you think is going to do the knocking big brother."

"Alright you two," Charles stepped in, moving between them both towards the door. "Perhaps you should head up, check in with your wives, prepare for dinner?"

"Perhaps," William smiled and followed as the group moved from the mud room into the home.

The second they stepped through the door into the main hall, Harry saw her; Beatrice. With wide eyes and a foot that tapped nervously, she watched Harry. And he knew. Something was up. As Charles and Andrew moved forward, Harry hung back and Bea was quick to saddle up to him and Will.

"Harry..." She was cautious as she approached him.

"Beatrice," he was leery as he looked her over.

"Ahem," she cleared her throat and took a deep breath. "I need you to come with me. Please."

"Where?" He rubbed at his shoulder, working the kinks out of his neck.

"Upstairs," she jerked her head to the side.

"Why are you acting so weird?" He sighed, his eyes studying her. "What's going on?"

"It's Maddie," she bit her lip and Harry stopped walking.

"What do you mean it's Maddie?" He bit off the words, his jaw growing tight.

"Don't stop walking," she tugged on his arm, glancing at Will who was walking with them.

"What did you do?" The only reason he did what she asked, the only reason he moved forward was to find his wife and find out what had happened.

"She's..." Bea stalled, trying to explain. "We were only playing around Harry..."

"What happened?" His jaw clenched as they took to the stairs.

"She's..." She took a deep breath and braced herself for what was about to unfold. "She's drunk. Completely wasted really."

"Drunk?!" Harry's eyes went wide, his voice booming.

"Shh!" Bea waved her hands. "Would you keep your voice down?"

"Why in the hell is she drunk?"

"We...we had a few drinks and..."

"A few drinks?" He shook his head. "You got my wife drunk before Christmas dinner?"

"It was an accident..."

"An accident?!" Harry's face was beginning to turn red. "Please. Tell me. How in the hell did you accidentally get Maddie wasted? And why in the hell would she think she should be getting wasted before dinner?"

"She..." Bea swallowed the lump in her throat and it was clear; she was nervous. He wondered if they had played some sort of 'short straw' game to decide exactly who it was who had to come and tell him this. "She thought we were drinking too."

"But you weren't."

"We had water and tea and she..."

"I'm going to kill you," Harry's teeth gritted together and his fingers flexed. "Where is she?"

"In your room," they reached the landing and turned down the long corridor. "Harry...she can barely stand up. I had no idea she was such a lightweight and..."

"What do you mean she can barely stand up?!" His pace quickened.

"She's crying and upset because this is her first Christmas with the Queen and..."

"What is wrong with you people?" Harry cut in, livid. "You couldn't just mess with her at dinner? Stealing her utensils and swiping her napkin? You had to get her bloody pissed and..." They reached the door to their suite and he stopped, stepping up close to his cousin; his eyes raging. "I'm going to kill somebody. Anybody. You all get together with whoever thought this would be a good idea and you pick which one of you wants to go down for the team because when I come out of here..." He shook his head and rubbed at the back of his neck. Reaching for the door, he took a deep breath and pushed inside; slamming the door behind him, right in his cousin's face. He looked around the room quickly; finding nothing. "Madeline?!" He called out.

"Harry..." Her voice was wobbly and shaky and coming from their bathroom. In a beat he was moving across the room, serious and angry.

"I told you to look out for Bea," he called out to her, trying to tamper down his anger so that he could get her through this. "I told you not to trust them and..." He pushed open the door to the bathroom and stopped dead in his tracks.

There she sat. His beautiful, brilliant, and completely sober wife; perched on the edge of the tub with a smug grin and bright eyes.

"Captain," she greeted him.

"You're..." He looked her over, biting at the corner of his lip as realization washed over him in an instant. His arms crossed over his chest and he shook his head at her. "You're not wasted."

"Not at all," Maddie shook her head, her smile pulling higher. "In fact..." She took a breath and rose to her feet. "I haven't had a thing to drink. As though I would drink before dinner with The Queen..."

"Ha," Harry laughed; a bitter, mildly humored sound and then he turned away from her. "Ha. Just. One. Second." Taking the two steps out of the bathroom, back into the room, he discovered exactly what he had been expecting.

All of his cousins sitting sweetly in their room; wide smiles and eyes full of pride. Beatrice, much more at ease than she had been only moments earlier, took a few small steps up to him and with a sigh and an innocent smile, she tapped his chest lightly. "I think the word you're looking for is...gotcha."

He shook his head and looked down at the ground, admitting defeat. "Yes. You did it..." He took a deep breath and looked up to them. "You got me. Congratulations." As the room drew alive with laughter and applause, Harry turned back to the blonde standing in the doorway. Part of him was mildly annoyed, still reeling from the emotions he had brewed up on his way up the stairs. But a bigger part of him was incredibly fucking proud. "So I see you've joined forces with them."

"Just this once," she smiled sweetly, kicking an innocent twist into her eyes as she moved towards him. "They said it was their only chance, their last real opportunity..." She ran her hands up his chest as she leaned closer. "Are you terribly mad?"

"Not terribly," he shook his head, letting out a long, jagged breath. He had been worried. "Though there will absolutely be retribution."

"Oh?" Maddie's eyebrow shot up, her mouth twisting naughtily. Harry laughed.

"Oh no, wife," he shook his head again. "Not that kind of punishment..." He let his arms move around her then, pulling her close to his sweaty body. She giggled as he buried his nose in her neck.

"Okay well..." Peter clapped his hands together. "That was fun while it lasted but this..." He waved a hand to where Maddie and Harry were joined. "I don't need to see this."

"Well you had better hurry on out of here," Harry called out into the room, not turning to look at his cousins. "Cause in sixty seconds, I'm getting naked and taking her into the shower and..."

"Enough," Zara called out. "We're leaving."

"There we go," Harry grinned, pulling Maddie tighter.

"Thanks for your help Maddie," Bea called out as they all began to file out.

"Of course," Maddie laughed smiling wide. "Anytime."

"No," Harry pulled back enough to look in her eyes; warning and cockiness there. "Not anytime. Not anymore. You're my wife. You're on my team..."

"Good luck with that!" Kate called out, the last to leave the room, as she shut the door.

"Now..." Maddie grinned, sighing further into his arms. "About this promise..."

"Of retribution?" He ran his hands over her back, down her waist.

"No," she shook her head, pulling her bottom lip into her teeth. "Of getting naked and taking me in the shower..."

"Ah..." He smiled wide, his eyes brightening. And then, without warning, he leaned over and lifted her up; tossing her right over his shoulder. Maddie let out a yelp of a giggle as he smacked her ass and moved to the bathroom; making good on his word. They had a little bit of time before they needed to be dressed for a formal, candlelight dinner with The Queen—Harry had every intention of taking advantage of it.