The Unexpected Journey-A Prince Harry Fan Fic

Chapter 143

Day Twenty-Three Continued...

"Maddie?" Bishop was shocked to see her; even more so in the breathless, sweaty state she was in.

"Hi..." She panted, leaning her hand against the doorway. "Is Ella still here?"

"Yes, she's..." He looked her over then; her clothes, her shoes, the agent behind her dressed the same. "I'm sorry, did you run here?"

"I..." Maddie swallowed and nodded. "Can Sampson come in and take a look around?"

"Yes, of course," Bishop stood to the side and called out to his wife. "Ella love, Maddie's here." He turned back to her then. "I'm not even joking right now, did you run here?"

"Yes," Maddie nodded, catching her breath as Sampson returned with an all-clear nod. She stepped inside and smiled as Ella joined them. "I ran here."

"You what?!" A bubble of laughter fell through Ella's lips.

"But it's miles!" Bishop shook his head, confused and perplexed by all of it.

"Do you still have them?" Maddie ignored Bishop and focused on Ella. "The articles, the blogs, do you still have them?"

"Please tell me that you did not just run here from Kensington Palace so that you can read that garbage and..." Ella shook her head at her best friend. "You're insane Madeline."

"What articles?" Bishop looked from one woman to the other.

"Can I see them?" Maddie stayed on topic.

"Well I would be quite an ass if you ran all the way here for them and I refused to show you." Ella took a deep breath and despite her urge not to, she waved Maddie inside. "Come on. Right this way."

"What articles?" Bishop asked again, following behind the two women.

"The ones about Maddie and Will," Ella called back and Bishop stopped in his tracks.

"No," his voice was stern as he spoke to them, drawing their attention back to him. "No. We're not going to..." He caught up to them, stepping right up to Maddie and looking her square in the eye. "Don't do this. Don't go there with this. Don't start reading this bullshit and..." Maddie turned away from him then and continued down the hallway. "This is insane Madeline. You see that right? You ran all the way over here to look at that nonsense. What did I tell you about..."

"Stop it!" Maddie yelled, spinning around to face him. "I know it's crazy. I know that it's rubbish but you don't get to tell me how to react!"

"They don't know what they're talking about love," he grew soft with her.

"And you don't know what it's like to have them question your loyalties to your wife," her anger deflated and the room grew sad.

"No," he agreed with a shake of his head. "I don't."

"I appreciate what you're saying, what you're doing but..." Maddie trailed off and swallowed her emotion, turning to Ella with sad eyes.

"Come on," Ella reached for her hand, smiling softly at her husband as they continued on towards the living room where her laptop was with the copies of the article she had picked up. "We can get drunk."

"We?" Maddie snickered as they moved onto the couch.

"Well maybe you and Bishop," Ella looked pointedly to her husband who raised his eyebrows and pointed to his chest.

"I thought that if mommy couldn't drink then..."

"I'm making an exception," Ella's voice leveled out. "You may get drunk with Maddie."

"What?!" Bishop was flabbergasted.

"Well she ran all the way here," Ella groaned and nudged him with her foot. "And she's about to read articles about her and her brother-in-law. Now can you go get a bottle of wine and..."

"I'm on it," Bishop nodded quickly; rising to his feet and looking to Maddie. "Madeline?"

"Well I can't really deny you the one free pass you've been given now can I?" She smiled between the couple and shrugged. "I'm in."

As Bishop stepped out of the room, Ella pulled up the original article and a few blogs that were running with it, some discussions. When Bishop returned, both women were deep in concentration as they read through it all. He shook his head as he stepped over to them, handing Maddie a glass of wine.

"I just..." Maddie took a sip, her head shaking slowly as she sat back on the couch. "I can't believe this. Of all the things..."

"I know," Ella patted her knee, sitting back against the couch with her best friend.

"I'm actually not that surprised," Bishop shrugged, taking a drink from his glass with a smile.

"Really?" Maddie's eyes narrowed as she looked to him.

"Yeah," he shrugged again, taking a larger sip. "It was the same when Harry hooked up with Kate. It appears these brothers like to share."

"Ugh," Maddie groaned, her head tipping back. "As if anyone would ever believe that shit."

"Well why not?" Bishop lifted his eyebrows. "It was in the papers, in the blogs. There was massive discussion about it; even some...creative works of fiction."

"Really?" Ella smirked.

"Mmm," Bishop nodded. "There was quite the uproar at the time."

"But why would anyone believe that?" Maddie looked to him. "Kate would never, ever. She adores Will. And Harry? He'd rather die than do something like that to his brother. I've never seen somebody so devoted and loyal and...." She stopped in her thoughts and nodded. "Ah. I see what you're doing."

"If you know that..." Bishop leaned forward on his knees. "If you know the response to that so quickly, what are the chances that other people know that about you and Will? I promise you that Harry knows that. That Kate knows that. That everyone who knows them, knows that."

"I hate you sometimes." Maddie tipped her drink to her lips and took a long, slow sip.

"I know," he shrugged, smirk firmly in place. "And I'm okay with that. Just...don't get caught up in the crazy Maddie. Not now."

Day Twenty-Four

It had only been a day since the discussion had tipped to the salacious. Maddie had handled phone calls from her mother and Jenna who were checking in on her. She had turned off the news and turned on music and she had reached for a glass of wine. She was midway through her second when she heard a loud, sharp knock on the door. With confusion on her face, she moved to answer it. When Maddie swung open the door, Kate was standing tall on the other side; arms crossed and eyes set. A tipsy bubble of a laugh pushed through Maddie's lips. "You look mad." She smiled at the brunette.

"I am mad," she nodded.

"Why?" Maddie breathed, her eyes hazy as she lifted her eyebrows, her mouth twitching into a smirk. "Because I've been sleeping with your husband?"

There was a beat of a moment when Kate's face held tight, a cloud of heaviness hanging over them and then both women eased, Kate's hands dropping to her side as she rolled her eyes.

"Well there's that," she sighed. "And apparently you're getting drunk without me."

Maddie laughed lightly and stood to the side. "Come in?"

"Thanks," Kate stepped in the door and waited until Maddie shut and locked it before she turned to her. "Why haven't you returned my calls? I've been trying to get in touch with you since yesterday."

"I know," Maddie groaned, leading her into the living room where she reached for another glass and moved to the couch. She took a deep breath and let it out as a sigh. "I'm embarrassed."

"What? Why?" Kate took the glass she offered and sat back on the couch. "You can't really think that I'm worried about any of this can you?"

"No," Maddie groaned again. "But..."

"But what?" Kate laughed. "Do you think I've slept with Harry?"

"No!"

"And I don't think you're sleeping with Will. It's just as absurd. Now." She swallowed another sip and put her glass on the table. "Get your shoes. Get a coat. We're going out."

"What?" Maddie laughed at her. "You can't be serious."

"Dead serious."

"Why would we do that? We have alcohol here and we're home and..."

"And nobody can see us together," Kate sighed. "Come on. We're going out and we're going now and I won't take no for an answer."

With a tad of reluctance, Maddie sat down her glass and did as Kate told her. She put on shoes, she grabbed a coat and after checking her hair and face for anything too crazy, she set out with her sister-in-law for some public girl time. And even though Kate had every intention of being in a place where photos would be taken, she also had every intention of having a good time. With all that had happened with Arthur, with Harry being deployed, they both needed it. And they had an amazing time.

The pictures of Maddie and Kate out on the town ran hot the next day. Though there were stories that ran speaking to how ludicrous the rumors were given how close the two women seemed. There were also counter arguments made that pointed to PR stunts and strategy. As though there were a chance somebody from the palace called them up and sent them out.

Maddie was confused and upset and tired and...she felt like she couldn't win.

This was what Harry had talked about when he warned her that the press would come for her. He had foreseen this; he had known. And Maddie had believed him, though she was surprised at the timing, given his deployment. But it seemed as though nothing was sacred any longer. Brothers betraying brothers; wives cheating on husbands. Nothing was sacred any longer.

What she desperately needed was some perspective. So she took a step back and looked at all of it as a greater part of a whole. The gossipy stories seemed to be holding court exclusively in the less reliable sources around town; The Sun, The Mail, The News of The World. So she took a breath and she took a step back. She took advice—Kate's, Bishop's, her mother's—and she sucked it up and went about her work.

Day Thirty-Six

Because Maddie and Will were coming from different sides of town for their next event, they were set to arrive separately.

"Ma'am," Libby called her attention up from her fidgeting fingers. Despite her logical understanding of the gossip, she still felt nervous about being seen with him in public again.

"Yes?" She smoothed her hands down over Harry's shirt that was belted around her and she lifted her eyes to her assistant.

"Just a reminder," the young woman smiled. "It's Heinrich van Otto and Louisa Stallman."

"Yes, thank you Libby." Maddie smiled gratefully across the car as it rolled to a stop. Libby nodded sweetly and Maddie's door swung open.

Here was an audible reaction and a flash of cameras when Maddie stepped out of the car. It seemed that despite the stories, the people, the public still had a great deal of affection for the Duchess. Maddie smiled to them, thankful for their sentiments. Will's car had pulled in just in front of hers and he came back to meet her.

She smiled as she curtsied and he held a bemused smirk as he kissed her cheeks. Without much time to address the crowd gathered to catch a look at them, they were moving inside; through the main doors, down a short hallway and into an elevator. Once alone inside, Will looked down to her with brotherly concern.

"Are you okay?" His voice was low. "You seem nervous."

Maddie nodded; small and shy. "Just thinking of all the ways my actions can be twisted..."

"Don't let them do that," his eyes were stern and fixed on her. "If they get to decide how you behave...they win. Don't change based on a few pieces of fiction." He tugged at his coat and stood tall. "Let it go; relax."

And she did. Once inside, she let it go and focused on the task at hand. And it was smashing success. They spent the afternoon meeting with the elderly population listening to the services that were being provided, concerns they still had. It was an incredibly productive and informative afternoon.

But of course all that ran the next day were articles discussing her hemline, how she looked in Harry's shirt and musings drawing attention to the fact that she and Will arrived and left in separate cars. "A new, jealous mandate from Kate? Perhaps."

She couldn't seem to catch a break.

But she tried. She tried to let it go, tried to ignore it. She didn't want it to taint the real work she was doing, she didn't want it to hang over their heads on their trip to Wales. But when The Telegraph ran an opinion piece by a mildly respected reporter, Trini Burniss, discussing the new Duchess seeking solace "within the palace," she wondered just how long she would last before she simply exploded. She had seen a lot of stuff printed about her at this point, but this was reaching a new kind of low.

Day Fifty-Six

Their trip to Wales was upon them before they knew it. While Will traveled by helicopter to a local airstrip, Maddie took the longer journey by land. They both met up at the hotel that was hosting the charity benefit they would be attending that first night. The stories about them had fizzled but had far from faded; pictures surfacing of the two of them being friendly before her engagement to Harry, after the announcement, at the wedding. Though it stayed in the discussion, Maddie had done her very best to keep her mind from it. But she knew, just as he did, that their overnight stay in Wales was only going to fuel the fire that seemed to simmer under these ridiculous notions.

Once she arrived in her hotel suite, time seemed to fly; Tara was doing her hair, Rosie was pulling her dress for the night. It was a formal affair; Maddie in a dress and Will in a tux and all sorts of fancily dressed people wanting to shake their hands and take their turn to meet them.

Maddie had just finished dressing, getting one final spray to her updo, slipping on the beautiful jewelry she had been loaned for the evening, when Libby stepped forward to let them know that the Duke was ready; it was time to go. With a grin and a deep breath, Maddie stepped into the hall, their entourage of security and staff around them dressed and ready to go.

"Good evening," Maddie smiled up at him.

"Madeline," he leaned in to kiss her cheeks. "How are you? Are you doing better with all of this...shit?" He spoke low and only to her as they began to move through the hallways. They were on their own private secure floor of the hotel where the event would be taking place.

"Yes. I am. I'm...letting it go..." With a smile set in place she pulled air in through her nose and blew it slowly out of her mouth.

Will watched her with amusement. "Are you drunk right now?" He chuckled.

"No," she shook her head. "Just...zen." Maddie laughed lightly. "I did yoga, I meditated, I ran forty miles."

"Yeah?" Will snickered.

"I'm trying."

"Okay, well," he shrugged and moved past it. "You look nice."

"Thank you. So do you."

"Where is Harry in all of this?" He waved his hand at her formal attire.

"Cufflinks," she held up her arms showing him the ends of the three-quarter sleeves of her fitted tuxedo jacket that she wore over her dress.

"Nice," Will nodded approvingly as they rounded the corner and the mood shifted to a more serious one as they grew closer to the venue. "You know...he wouldn't want you to worry about those stories."

"I know." Just the mention of him made her heart thump.

A pause sat between them; both of them thinking of him, thinking of all the craziness surrounding them. And then Will's assistant, Fynn, looked to him with a nod. It was time.

"Are you really okay Maddie?" He turned to her; his hand on her elbow as he spoke low.

"Yes," she nodded, her lips pulling into a smile. "I'm really okay. Let's go."

Will turned with a nod and matched her smile with his own and as the doors to the ballroom opened, their names were announced and the applause and excitement rushed out around them; greeting them and pulling them inside.

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

The evening was beautiful; the speeches were sincere and the food was impeccable. Maddie watched as the night unfolded around them with expert timing. Everything was wonderful, even when she and Will began to circulate with their respective assistants; meeting and greeting. She shook so many hands, smiled so much her cheeks hurt but at the end of it she felt lighter; felt better. It was always wonderful to be in the middle of it; the work they were sent out to do or acknowledge or inspire. This was what it was all about; this new royal life of hers.

They were there later than they had anticipated, later than they had planned. But things were going so well and they were both enjoying the evening, meeting the people of Wales who had come out to meet them. It wasn't until well into the night that the lateness began to draw Maddie to an end. Seeing this, Libby spoke quietly with Fynn and moved about bringing the night to a close. Maddie said good-bye to her tablemates, spoke her thanks and gratitude to the host for the evening, posed for a few last pictures and then with a goodnight to Will, she followed Libby out of the ballroom, ready for sleep. She was mere steps from the door when she heard a woman's voice call out to her.

"Your Royal Highness!" Maddie stopped and turned as a tall brunette hurried in her direction. "Your Royal Highness!" Maddie glanced to Arthur and then to Libby and she waited for the woman to close the few feet between them. She was slightly breathless when she finally came to a stop. "I'm so sorry. I was hoping all night to have the chance to meet you. I'm so glad to have caught you before you left!"

"I'm sorry," Maddie smiled sweetly, a slight shake of her head. "I'm afraid I don't know you."

"Oh my yes," the woman nodded, recovering her composure as she held out her hand; dipping into a curtsey when Maddie took it. "I'm Trini Burness."

"Trini Burness..." Maddie repeated her name, something about it registering familiar. And then it hit her; realization washing over her. And every single stressful moment she had suffered over the last month at the hands of the media came rearing back. Her smile faded and every feature on her face hardened. That name would stick with her forever. It was an odd feeling; to finally put a face with a name, with the piece of trash she printed. "Ah. Yes. I recognize the name."

"Yes," the woman nodded; smug and pleased with herself. "I'm a reporter."

"Interesting," Maddie nodded, taking a deep breath to try for calm. "We've really begun to stretch the definition of the word reporter now, haven't we?" Libby's eyes snapped up to her boss; her face covering her surprise nearly as quickly as it had materialized.

"I..." Trini glanced around; confused and more than a bit stunned. "I beg your pardon."

"No," Maddie shook her head, taking a half a step closer to her; lowering her voice. The calm simply wasn't coming. "You're the one with the article on the opinion page, the blog that accompanies it. That pathetic Royal Watcher nonsense." The woman's eyes flashed wide but Maddie continued. "The one who writes up pieces of fiction that would make the day time soap writers jealous and prints it as though it were the news." Maddie was seething; her jaw clenching around her words. "While my husband is fighting in a war and my sister-in-law is home with a new baby and..." She stopped herself before she said too much but her anger didn't end. "He's my brother. Don't you understand? Have you no self-respect? No dignity? No professional code of ethics?" Maddie caught herself then; pulled at all of her professional training and the young reporter could see the transformation as she fought for control. Maddie sucked in her breath and stood tall, her fingers dropping her hand as though it were diseased. She took a step back and for the first time in her life, she stared down her nose at somebody. Libby, watching the moment closely and being the professional she was, stepped forward and took control.

"I'm sorry Ma'am but we should be going," she held her arm out and tossed the most polite smile she could muster back to the reporter. Maddie nodded to Libby, more grateful than she could articulate, and without turning around to look again, she moved right out of the ballroom.

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

Maddie was sure her cheeks were red when she returned to her room and there was a good chance there was steam coming from her ears. Thanking Libby outside her door, she pushed into her suite and let the door slam loudly behind her.

"Trini Burness," she huffed, tossing her clutch to the table that sat behind the couch. "What the hell kind of nerve. Walking up to me and..." She took a deep breath, wanting to calm down. It was all so frustrating and alienating. With each breath that passed through her lungs, the anger began to give way to something else; something worse. Shaking her head at the impending sadness, she reached into her clutch for her phone. Pulling it into her hands, she moved around to the couch; sinking down into it still sparkly and well-coiffed from the night.

Staring at the blank screen, she willed him to call. Her forehead creased as her mind focused only on him, on hearing his voice. She needed it. She needed to hear from him more than ever. She wanted his calm voice and his understanding. She wanted him to be pissed at Trini Burness with her, to rub her shoulders and try to move the stress away. She wanted him to help her navigate this mess she seemed to be in, to help her pull from this place of mistrust and upset.

She wanted him.

She missed him so much; nearly two months in and the ache in her heart that reminded her that he was gone still hadn't faded. It hadn't given in one bit. She had been wearing his clothes and sleeping on his pillow—but even that had lost the smell of him. Her eyes fell closed and she pulled his face forward; dancing blue eyes, enormous smile, wild red hair that was more indicative of his personality than anything else about him. She wanted to hug him and run her hands through his hair and hear his laugh and his voice. Her eyes opened and focused on the phone in her hands. Blinking at the prick of her tears in her eyes, she huffed out a breath.

The phone simply wasn't ringing; he wasn't going to call. Despite the tears in her eyes, her lips curled up just slightly—knowing he would make fun of her later for her attempt at mind control. Allowing just a few tears, she wiped at them with the back of her hand and she laid the phone down on the table in front of her. She needed to get ready for bed; needed to take of the jewelry and the makeup and get some sleep. She would feel better in the morning.

So she took a long, deep, calming breath; just like those she had coached Ella through in Bendal, just like she had coached Kate through in the bathroom. In through the nose, out through the mouth.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

And when she finally felt like she could stand and get ready for bed without breaking down or breaking something, her hands moved to the cufflinks on her jacket, twisting and pulling them through. She smiled down at them as she worked them over in her hands; thinking of how many times Harry had worn him, all of the places they must have been. Holding them in her palm, she rose to her feet. It was time to take off the dress and unpin her hair and let go of this night. She moved towards her room, stopping to look at herself in the mirror. A softer smile pulled at her lips as she looked herself over, as she was reminded of all of the wonderful things that had happened that night; pushing out the one bad.

The knock on the door pulled her attention from her reflection, from her memories. Her fingers held tight to the cufflinks in her hand and she moved to the door. Since they were on a secure floor with only them, she felt incredibly comfortable answering the door.

"Will?" She was surprised; a small smile curling her lips.

"Can I come in?" His forehead was creased, his jaw tight and though it threw up a blink of concern for Maddie, she wasn't put off.

"Of course," she stood to the side and he stepped past her into the suite. Maddie shut the door and turned to face him. "Is everything okay?" She watched him move a few steps past her before he turned on her.

"Did you have a run in with a reporter downstairs?" His arms crossed over his chest and his eyes narrowed in on her.

"How did you..." Jesus, Maddie thought; that was fast. "I don't know that I would call her a reporter." She snickered at the use of the word.

"She is." His voice sounded firm and final.

"Or that I would call it a run in," Maddie continued, moving further into the suite; her eyes narrowing in confusion.

"She would." Will's eyes pulsed and Maddie caught it; anger or upset or...frustration. She wasn't sure exactly what it was, but it gave her pause.

"I'm sorry," she studied him. "Am I in some kind of trouble right now?"

"Madeline," the way he said her name made her feel like she was sixteen and about to get chastised for breaking curfew. "You cannot go after reporters like that."

"Hold on," Maddie held up her hand, her defenses flying up. "I did not go after her. She came up to me and..."

"You cannot talk to them like that," he shook his head as he cut her off. "You cannot call them out on the carpet in front of their peers and..."

"She was alone. It was only Libby and Arthur and do you know who we're talking about here?"

"Yes." He nodded. "And it doesn't matter."

"It does matter," Maddie felt all of the frustration she had worked to ease rush back to the surface. "She published an article that said that you and I were..."

"I know what it said," he cut her off, not caring to hear it all again. "And it doesn't matter."

"It does matter." Maddie hated that her frustration made her teary, hated that this interaction with Will was going this way; hated that Harry wasn't there to support her.

"To Whom?" His expression was incredulous, his voice just the same.

"To me!" Maddie pressed her hand to her chest, her eyes blinking; trying to be rid of the tears that threatened.

"No." He shook his head.

"No?" Maddie nearly laughed in his face; did he really think that he could command her feelings? This was the first time she had seen this side of Will and it was shocking and unsettling. "No?"

"It shouldn't."

"But Harry is..." Maddie began her explanation, her reasons, but Will moved forward; coming in close as his hand rose to cut her off.

"Your husband doesn't believe this rubbish and neither does my wife." His voice dropped an octave as he spoke to her. "You think either of them is the least bit concerned about the two of us having some kind of affair?! No! And if anyone is, they are the pathetic ones. This is standard operating procedure for them Madeline and I know that you're new and this can be unsettling..."

"Unsettling?" Her eyes flashed wide but he continued.

"And I know that Harry isn't here to reel you in..."

"Reel me in?" Maddie repeated his words in disbelief.

"But you cannot go around snapping at anyone who writes something that's less than flattering and..."

"Excuse me?" Maddie cut him off; her fire coming back to her. "Did you come in here to chastise me?"

"I came here to tell you to back off." He bit off the last two words. "To let it go. The way you spoke to the reporter was not okay."

"The way I spoke to her." Maddie shook her head, laughter coming up from a place of craziness.

"You're risking too much for too little reward."

"Too little reward?" She repeated, her mind still having trouble wrapping around all of this.

"Your public capital for a moment of satisfaction at getting in the last word?" He threw his hands up in the air. "Do you know what this kind of thing could do to your image, to your ability to work successfully with the public, with the press?"

"I don't care about that." Her head shook quick and furious.

"Then you're not nearly as wise as Harry has built you up to be." The words flowed from his mouth so easily; so freely that it caught Maddie off guard.

"Wow..." She felt like she had been slapped; like the air had been knocked out of her. And her eyes began to well up, her fingers tightening around Harry's cufflinks. "You know, I think maybe it's time for you to go."

"Madeline," he softened for a moment, catching the harshness in his voice, the tears in her eyes. "I should not have been so blunt. I merely came here to warn you to the potential ramifications of what you said tonight, that it could come back and bite you when you least suspect it. My brother's not here to protect you from these things and I thought that I should..."

"Reel me in?" Maddie took a breath and nodded, still hardened, still guarded, still pulling it all together. "You've certainly said what you came to say..."

"Maddie." His hand extended to her then, the look in his eyes returning to normal as he took in her reaction.

"Thank you for looking out for me Will," she met his eyes with a coldness he hadn't seen from her before, with a detached feeling she hadn't felt with him before. He took a step towards her with an apology on his lips but Maddie spoke first, moving away from him. "I think maybe it's time for you to go."

"Madeline..." He was sorry; his voice had been too harsh, his words too pointed. He knew that. He got this way when he was protecting family; Harry had always teased him, Kate had warned him off before. But Maddie didn't know that and now she was looking at him like he was a different person. But before he could tell her that, before he could explain, a loud, sharp knock pulled their attention to the door.

Maddie moved to answer it, assuming it was Libby coming for her jewelry. She swung it open to see Fynn; his phone in hand and gravity in his eyes.

"Fynn?" She questioned.

"I need to see the Duke." Maddie nodded towards Will and stood to the side. Fynn walked right past her, right up to Will and he held out the phone that Will didn't even hesitate to pluck from his fingers; assuming it had to be important for an interruption such as this.

Maddie glanced back out the door, seeing Libby standing in the hallway along with a mixture of her and Will's protection. "What in the world?" She spoke under her breath; mostly to herself as she slid her eyes from the group gathered in the hallway back into her suite.

She studied Fynn for a moment; stiff and pensive and then she looked to Will. He stood tall and graceful in his tux from the night but there was something about his face, about the way he pressed his phone to one ear and fingers to the other so that he could hear; so that he could understand.

Maddie turned back to the group in the hallway, ready to ask them what was going on, why they were all there, who was on the phone. But before she could open her mouth to form any of those words, she heard Will suck in his breath and her head snapped right back to him.

And she knew. The look on his face, the way her stomach clenched and ached.

Something was wrong.

When his eyes rose directly to hers, avoiding everything else in the room, she felt her heart flutter in her chest and she knew.

Something was very wrong.

She swallowed at the sudden dryness in her throat, opened her mouth to say something, took a step back; her body wanting to pull her from this moment before she even really knew what was happening. But she was unable to speak, unable to move, unable to tear her eyes from her brother-in-law in those last few seconds of his phone call.

And then the call ended and the room came rushing around her.

Will was in motion immediately, the phone sliding into his pocket as he took long, hurried strides to where she was standing by the door. He stepped right up to her and when his eyes met hers, she saw something there she had never seen on him before; fear and sadness and a great deal of uncertainty. He was miles different than the man who had entered her room.

His hands moved in, wrapping around her upper arms in a way that was meant to be supportive, meant to hold her to him—meant to hold her up and then he swallowed the lump of emotion in his throat and he said the words that brought her world to a screeching halt.

"It's Harry."

Maddie's head began to shake, her eyes clouding with tears and her heart cracking in her chest and as Will's fingers tightened their hold on her, she realized that her whole body was shaking. Will's eyes blinked a few times, his jaw adjusting as though he were trying to keep it together, trying to get it out.

"His Apache has gone down somewhere over the water."