The Unexpected Journey-A Prince Harry Fan Fic

Chapter 149

A small burst of laughter pushed through Maddie's lips and her eyes welled up even further and then without much thought to anything else, she let him gather her closer, she let him bring her in and she let him kiss her.

Right there in that terminal; with all of the people, with all of the cameras, with all of the reporters.

Harry tilted his mouth over hers and he kissed her; warm and soft and full on the lips.

And it was the most amazing thing she had felt in so long that she couldn't help but twist her fingers into his hair and hold him to her just a moment longer than would be publicly acceptable. And when he finally pulled back, just enough to smile down at her, just enough to press his forehead to hers, she grinned and nudged his nose with hers.

"I've missed you so much Captain."

"I've missed you too Maddie..." He kissed her once more before pulling further away. With a deep breath, he sat her upright; steadying her on her feet.

"I can't believe you're here," she looked him over, ran her hands over his shoulders, over his arms.

"Funny, I was just thinking the same thing about you," his eyes were sweet on her, his arms opening up regrettably to allow her to move from him, to stand on her own. "Back from the North Pole."

"Ha!" Maddie laughed; her heart so full of joy, so light with excitement; at finishing the trek, at seeing her husband. She felt like she was floating. Taking a breath, she turned her eyes back to the rest of her team; smiling wide as she looked them over. "I'm so proud of them," Maddie sighed, her hand moving up to hold onto his, their fingers intertwining.

"I'm so proud of you," he brought her hand to his lips for a kiss; holding her skin to his mouth for a moment, relishing the warmth, the softness. Maddie turned back to look at him, her fingers reaching to stroke against his cheek and she smiled wide. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, the Trek guide called them all back to the entrance, wanting to take a few more photos; one last shot of them all in their gear before they were free to shower and change and meet up again in about an hour for dinner.

"I have to..." She nodded her head to the side; nearly lost in his blue-eyed gaze.

"I know," he nodded; holding onto her for just a beat longer before he released her fingers. "I'll be right here."

"Hmmm...." Her lips pressed together as she looked him over; head to toe. "Best surprise yet, Captain. Best surprise yet."

Harry chuckled as she walked away, missing her next to him the moment she took the very first step. But he smiled with pride as she took her place next to the other trekkers and when photo time came, he pulled out his phone and snapped a few of his own.

After the photos had ended, they were all dismissed to settle in. They had instructions to meet for a celebratory dinner that evening; a chance to unwind and have conversation without the sub-zero temperatures and bitter winds.

So Maddie had waved good-bye to her new friends, promised to be there for dinner and then, with Harry's hand locked into hers, she led him from the airport, to the awaiting cars, back to the hotel.

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Maddie shut the door behind her, clicking the lock into place and when she turned back into the room, he was right there in front of her with that brilliant smile of his.

"Hello," his eyes twinkled as he moved closer. She watched as any sort of public persona he had worn in the airport faded and it was just the two of them.

Harry and Maddie.

Her with her back against the door. Him closing the distance between them with confidence and determination.

"Hello," she echoed with a smile as the space lessened between them. As he stepped up to her, into her space, her hands rose and for a split second did not know where to go. They wanted to be everywhere. As his arms moved around her, as his hands pressed to the door on either side of her, hers slid into his coat and over his chest. It was warm and soft in there and under her right hand she could feel his heart pounding. "It's really you." Her eyes flashed up to meet his and he nodded with a sweet, soft smirk.

"It's really me," he stepped closer; his body pressing tighter to hers.

Maddie's hands moved up his chest to his shoulders; his broad, strong shoulders. And her smile pulled higher. "I thought it was going to be days before I saw you," she ran her fingers up his neck into the soft spikes of red hair at the nape.

"I couldn't wait that long," he shook his head as his hands on the door slid closer to her body, closer to her. "I hope you don't mind."

"Oh God," she shook her head, tears threatening to well in her eyes. "I don't mind. Not at all. Not in the least." Her hands slid back down, pushing his coat off his shoulders as they went. "I've missed you."

"Ha!" He laughed out into the room, moving his hands from either side of her so that she could push his coat from him. As it slid off his last arm, he tossed it aside and focused in on her; his eyes serious and full of want. "God Madeline," when his hands moved back to her, they bypassed the door, bypassed the tease and went straight to her hips. "You have no idea how much I've missed you."

"Well..." Her voice dropped low, her hands reaching back out to him, her fingers curling around the fabric of his shirt. "Maybe you come on over here and..."

If he ever really needed an invitation, that was all of one he needed. With that familiar smirk of his lips and that well known dance in his eyes, he leaned in and for the second time that day, for the second time in four months, his mouth caught hers.

The first few passes of his lips over hers were a soft, sweet "welcome home" but when her fingers tightened on his shirt and her mouth opened under his and she let out that small breathy whimper, the heat in the room—between them—peaked.

And he couldn't hold back any longer.

With a moan into her mouth, he pressed in. His tongue moving in between her lips as his hands on her hips moved higher; sliding up in between them, over her stomach, over the swells of her breasts. Making her moan.

As his mouth continued to move with hers, his hands wrapped around the front of her coat and pushed; wanting her out of it. Wanting her out of everything. Forcing her hands from his body, he tugged her coat off and tossed it away.

And just like magnets they were forced back together.

It was hot and feverish and full of this desire that had been building and smoldering since he had left her four months ago.

His hands wasted no time as they moved back to her hips, this time slipping up under the hem of her shirt. When his flesh met hers, she gasped into his mouth and her eyes flew open. With a smile against his lips, she pulled away; her breath coming up short and heavy, her lips pink and swollen and happy.

"Harry..." She breathed as her body reacted instinctually to his; pressing against him even as she tried to move away. "I....I haven't even showered."

"I don't care." He was quick with the words, quick with a shake of his head; his tongue licking his lips as he bent in to kiss her again.

"Ha!" She laughed loudly and happily as her hands pushed at his chest. "But I do!"

"Maddie..." He groaned in that frustratingly sweet boyish way he had.

"I haven't shaved my legs in weeks," she eyed him, her body arching out against him as his fingers tickled over her ribcage.

"Madeline," he grinned as his hands moved around her back pressing hot against her, bringing her closer against him. "I've just returned from months in the desert. I survived a helicopter crash. I swam for miles and you..." His eyes looked her over and his cheeks grew pink; the corners of his eyes crinkling up in his smile. "You're back from the North Pole and you look...so fucking sexy..." She rolled her eyes but he held her tighter. "And you're here. In my arms and I swear to you....Maddie, Maddie...I don't care about any of that. Please." His smile softened, his eyes growing wide. "Please. Let's make love."

There was a moment of hesitation, a blink of her eyes when all she wanted to do was tear off his clothes and take him right there against that door. She had thought of this moment so many times, wanted his hands on her, his mouth on her; wanted him so much. Harry caught her pause, caught her second of indecision.

And he moved in. His hands were moving under her shirt, back around towards the front of her. His lips were kissing at her mouth, her chin, her jaw; moving over her in a heated sort of need. As he dipped down into her neck, Maddie laughed at the way his slightly fuzzy chin tickled her skin. Harry chuckled against her, pressing her closer, tighter. "Oh God..." She groaned as her own desires moved her into him; wanting his hands all over her. Needing his hands all over her.

When Harry pulled back from her neck, his eyes were flickering with amusement; with love and humor and everything she had missed about him while he was away. "God baby I've missed you so much," he shook his head, his fingers moving deftly as they found the softness of her breasts.

Even though she moaned, even though she wanted this—wanted everything about where his hands were headed, where his lips were leading them, she shook her head and moved to stop him. Her hands moved up under her shirt, her fingers wrapping around his wrists and when he pulled back from her with confusion in his eyes, her lips curled up in a smile.

"I need to take a shower baby," she pushed his hands out from under her shirt. "I need to take a hot shower and wash away this trip and..." She bit her lip as she moved away from the door, as she stood tall and wrapped her arms around his neck; tipping up on her toes to kiss him. "And when I come back..." Her lips kissed his...slow and hot and full of promise.

Harry groaned at the way she made him feel, groaned as he nodded, his hands patting her ass as he surrendered. "Go. Shower. And come right back here."

"I swear on my life," her eyes met his in a solemn vow. And then with one last kiss, she stepped away from him; her hands sliding slowly down his chest as she moved.

He watched, his teeth pressing into his bottom lip, as she walked away and his entire body and soul ached for her to return. "Just a shower Sussex!" He called out. "No shaving!"

With a laugh Maddie stepped into the bathroom and shut the door behind her; leaving a breathless, happy Harry in her wake.

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When Maddie stepped out of the bathroom, a cloud of hot steam drifted out with her. Wrapped only in a large towel, her eyes immediately sought and found him. He had taken off his coat, his shoes and his sweater. Standing only in his jeans and a button-up, he flipped mindlessly through the channels on the television.

Until he heard her. His eyes snapped up to her and his smile spread wide. Without another glance to the TV he shut it off and tossed aside the remote control.

"All done..." Maddie smiled at him, feeling silly as she felt her cheeks blush under his gaze.

"And wearing just a towel," he nodded to her with that damn smirk of his; his arms folding over his chest as he looked her over. She shrugged and kept walking, right up to him.

"I assumed whatever I put on would be coming off," her hands were on him instantly; as if his hot, hard body was their natural home.

"You assumed correctly," Harry's voice dropped as her fingers moved over his folded arms up to the buttons of his shirt.

"Any reason you're still dressed?" She looked up to him under lowered lashes and the smile on her face made his knees weaken.

"None that I can think of." His head shook, his arms unfolding.

"We should remedy that." Maddie's eyes twinkled as her fingers worked quickly over the top two buttons.

"We absolutely should," he agreed with a chuckle, his own fingers working up from the bottom. When they met in the middle his hands caught hers and he pulled her closer to him. He wasn't sure if it was just the fact that he had been gone for months or if it was that she had just accomplished this amazing fete or if it was just that he wanted her as he always had—with everything in him. He wasn't sure exactly what it was but the site of her, the smell of her, the feel of her in the room with him—it warmed his blood, ignited his pulse and swelled his heart.

And there was a moment; a fork in the road when they both knew that this could go in two different directions. This could be the wonderfully loud, boisterous, laughingly fun reunion where she tore his clothes off and he tossed her towel aside and they fell into bed in a heap of rushed, heated desire. Or it could the other way; with high emotion and maybe a few tears as they pushed together, allowing it to feel as big and momentous as it possibly could. Harry watched Maddie closely, his lips turned up and his hands on hers; waiting for her to decide which way they were going to go.

She looked up at him, her lip pulling between her teeth. And then, as her smile stretched wide, she decided. Her fingers reached out to touch him; pushing into his now open shirt to his bare chest underneath. His skin was hot and her warm fingers against him made his breath catch. Maddie chuckled as his muscles jumped beneath her hand, as they grew accustomed to her touch again. Stepping in even closer, her fingers moved to trace a line from his sternum to his belly button. His chest rose and fell and Maddie's heart pumped faster as he watched her reaction to him.

A small sigh fell from her lips as her hands flattened out against his stomach. It felt so good to have him there with her, under her hands, at the tips of her fingers. Her eyes followed the path they blazed back up his chest to his shoulders. And then they locked with his. With a wide smile and big bright eyes, Maddie pushed at his shirt; tugging it off his shoulders, down his arms and tossing it to the side.

"There we go," she grinned; heat rising to her cheeks as she looked him over appreciatively. Her hands flattened out over his chest, sliding down to his stomach and then with a twitch in her lips, her fingers wrapped around the buckle to his belt and tugged him closer.

"Jesus..." He moaned; his own hands sliding up her arms, up her shoulders to hold her at the sides of her neck, tipping her face up to his. As his lips fell hot against hers, her fingers went to work. She unbuckled and unzipped and within seconds, she was pushing at his pants wanting them off. Now. She pushed down as far as she could without pulling her lips from his and then he took over, stepping out of the pool of clothing at his feet and stepping closer to her.

"Harry..." Maddie sighed into his mouth as his body pressed against hers. She ached to be closer.

"Mmmm..." He smiled and pulled back, watching as his hands moved to her towel. With a teasing look in his eyes, he slipped his fingers into where the towel was tucked around her. With a tug and a flick, the towel was tossed aside; just like that. "My God..." He groaned, his hands moving around her instantly; pulling her hot, naked body flush against his.

"Oh my God..." Maddie laughed, her hands catching his shoulders as he wrapped himself around her again. "I've missed you Harry. I've missed...this."

"You have no idea," he shook his head. He was so full of desire, so full of love; so full of her.

"Hmmmm..." She arched against him, her hands dancing up into his hair, pulling his mouth back to hers. "Maybe you show me."

"Yes ma'am," he nodded and dipped to kiss her again; hotter, heavier. As he gathered her closer, he moved to turn them, to turn her back towards the bed.

But feeling bold, Maddie stayed put; instead she pulled her lips from his and with her hand flattened out over his chest, she gave him a light push back towards the bed. Harry smiled big and wide when the backs of his legs hit the bed and when she pushed once more, he did exactly what she wanted him to; he sat down on the bed and moved back towards the center. His hand held onto hers as he moved, as she followed him onto the bed on her knees. When he reached the pillows at the head, he settled back and with wide eyes he watched as his gorgeous, naked wife moved her legs over his and straddled his thighs.

"My God," he breathed heavily, his hands moving to her hips as she scooted closer. "You're beautiful."

"Ha!" Maddie's head tipped back as she laughed. "You've been in the desert for four months; clearly you're a bit jaded."

"Watch your mouth," he leaned up as his right hand slid up the side of her body; his left sliding down. As his fingers moved into her hair, turning her mouth down to his, his eyes flashed wide and his smile grew. "Madeline Sussex...is that a smoothly shaved leg I feel?"

Maddie's eyes twinkled as she shrugged. "I don't know."

"You know that wasn't the deal," his fingers tightened as they moved down her leg towards her knee. "I think somebody's in some trouble."

"Yeah?" Maddie held his gaze, her hands settling on his shoulders; her fingers tickling at the back of his neck. "Exactly how much trouble are we talking about Captain?"

His eyes narrowed and his hands slid back to her hips and then, with his own desires pulsing below her, his fingers danced across her hip, across her stomach and then they moved; slowly and teasingly down towards her center. "Quite a bit of trouble," his voice was low and husky as he reached her hot, wet center where all of this build up had pooled, waiting for him.

She sucked in a breath at the feel of his long fingers stroking against her; her body acting on instinct and arching towards him. "Harry..." She breathed, her hands tugging into his hair.

"Madeline," he shook his head, his lips smiling as he leaned in to capture her nipple; hard and ready and aching for attention. She moaned when he pulled it into his hot wet mouth; gasped when his tongue flicked over it.

"Please...." She breathed.

"Please?" He echoed with a smirk and a cocked eyebrow.

Her eyes looked down at him, her tongue tipping out to wet her lips and then with this brilliant confidence and this unyielding sexiness, she wrapped her hands around his wrists and pushed him back. Harry's eyes went wide for just a moment as he watched her move over him; scooting higher as she pushed him back against the pillows.

And when her hot little fingers wrapped around his hard, pulsing cock, his head tipped back and his eyes closed and he had to work to keep himself from dying right there at her fingertips.

"Harry..." She called to him, wanting him with her now that he was finally with her. She had waited so long to be close to him, so long. She knew she simply couldn't wait any longer. His eyes pulled open and his hands moved back to her thighs; slowly and lovingly and when she lifted her hips up he sucked in a breath and braced himself. And then with a twitch of her lips, she moved the tip of him to her hot, wet entrance and she breathed. "Now."

He couldn't look away from her; couldn't tear his eyes from watching as she slid herself over him. With a groan and a gasp, Maddie sat down onto him, into his lap; taking all of him as far into her as she possibly could. Her cheeks flushed and her body tingled but her eyes stayed locked with his as she sighed.

It felt so good, beyond good, to be there with him; wrapped around him as he pushed up into her. His hands slid hotly over her skin; her hips her thighs, back up her side. He was getting the feel for her again, letting his hands take back the memories; letting his body reclaim this intimacy with her.

And she felt amazing. Everything about her was amazing; her soft skin, the curves of her body, the way she felt clenched around him. When his hand moved up her neck and into her hair, Maddie looked down at him and there was this moment; this beat of heaviness that passed between them. This look that spoke of all of the time they had been apart, of all that had happened, all that had been said, all that had been tested. And for just a moment the weight of it all almost pulled them from the light frivolity of what was happening. But Maddie wasn't ready for that. She wanted to dive into it, wanted to address it at some point.

But not yet. Not until they had reunited. Not until they had loved over each other, until she had communicated to him in more ways than words just how much she had missed him, how happy she was to have him back with her; in her arms.

Holding his hand in her hair, she leaned forward and pressing her chest to his, she kissed him. Hot, heavy and deep.

Harry's head lifted up off the pillow, both of his hands burying into her hair, holding her to him. Because even though she was moving forward without the talk, without going down that deeply emotional road they would get to eventually, he needed her to know.

He needed her to know; she was it. She was everything. And this, being with her there in Svalbard, making love after so much time apart.

This was his whole world.

"I love you," he spoke into her mouth, unable to stop kissing her long enough to get it all out in one breath. "I love you so much. Maddie..."

She nodded; holding his hands to her as she let him push his tongue into her mouth, as she let him nip at her lips and smooth over them with his. And then she pulled back, pressed her forehead to his and whispered. "I love you too."

And then, blissfully, she began to move.

Her lips kissed down his neck to his chest, her hands sliding down his arms as she sat up; her hips rising and falling over him. And then she lifted up higher, nearly all the way off of him. With a clenched jaw he watched her lower herself back down; moaning as she moved. Harry's head shook, his hips arching up to her as his fingers griped her hips and he sucked in a breath.

"Maddie..." He gasped; wanting her to slow down—needing her to slow down.

"Captain," she grinned; rising and falling, rising and falling. Rising. And waiting. And falling.

"Maddie," he groaned; his hands holding tighter, stalling her in his lap. With a chuckle, he looked up at her, biting back his breath, trying to calm his heart. "If you don't slow down, I'm not going to make it..."

He could see her ego puff up, he could see the smirk on her face seconds before it materialized. She looked so fucking proud, so happy that he didn't even mind that she was about to unman him—simply because she could.

"Maybe I don't want you to make it," she laughed as she leaned over to kiss him. Her tongue pushed into his mouth as she clenched her muscles that were wrapped around him, causing him to groan against her lips.

"Baby..." He wrapped his arms around her then, holding her to him in effort to stop her movements; to allow himself a moment to pull it together. "Maybe I don't want you to make it either."

"Mmmm..." She grinned and pushed against his chest, wanting to sit up. And though he needed just a moment longer, he released his hold on her and watched as she sat tall and proud in his lap. "It's been four months Harry..." She reached for one of his hands, moving it to her breast as she brought the other one to her center, just above where they were joined. And then, as she began to move again, as his hands went to action where they were placed—knowing exactly what to do—Maddie's breath came up short and her eyes locked with his. "I promise you..." She shook her head as the rush began to inch through her body. "I'm not going to make it."

They were both right. It had been so long, too long and they wanted it too much—wanted each other too much. With a few more strokes, a few more rises of Maddie's hips, of Harry's hands stroking at her, of his groans, of her gasps.

They were so close to the end—even before they had begun they were so close to the end. But when Maddie's breath changed, when it pulled short and quick and her hands moved to press his closer to her, when her eyes slid shut and her head tipped back—it took all Harry had to hang on, to stay there with her just long enough.

"Harry..." She called out into the room, her fingers gripping at his as she moved against him, as she pushed and pushed and then, as she grew closer and closer, Harry sat up. With one hand wrapped tightly around her waist he pulled her down onto him as his lips moved over her.

Her neck.

Her shoulders.

Her chest.

And when he dipped down to take her nipple into his mouth, when he pulled her down roughly to him, he felt it take her over.

"Oh!" She gasped.

Her fingers pressed into the skin of his shoulders, her eyes rolling closed, her head tipping back and then it happened; wave after wave of pleasure washed over her as Harry held her collected in his arms.

"Harry...Harry...Harry..." She moaned his name as she fell apart and before the last of her orgasm moved through her, Harry was moving them.

He had to.

With arms wrapped around her, he flipped her back onto the mattress. Pulling her knees high and around him, he slid his hands up her still pulsing body and took her hands from his shoulders, linking his fingers into hers and pressing her hands up above her head, into the mattress.

He stroked into her once.

Twice.

And on the third time, he lost it.

He lost himself.

Groaning her name into the soft skin of her neck, he let go and pushed all of himself into her.

They stayed there like that for a moment; her legs wrapped around him, his face in her neck. As he lifted his head so that he could look at her, their eyes met and a matching pair of wide grins spread across their faces.

"Wow..." Harry chuckled, dipping to press a kiss to her shoulder.

"I'll say," Maddie sighed, arms moving out from under his so that she could hug him.

"I think we broke a world record," Harry joked as his arms tucked underneath her, wanting to hug her close.

"What can I say," Maddie smiled up at him as he looked down at her. "I missed you. My body missed you."

"Ha!" Harry nodded; loving her more and more as she laughed along with him. "God you're amazing."

"Thank you," she lifted her lips to his. "And...thank you..." She winked.

"No no," he laughed with a shake of his head. "My pleasure." Harry kissed her then; softer and slower before he pulled back, looking her over. "You okay?" His hand smoothed down over her hip.

"I am," she nodded. "You?"

"No," he laughed and shook his head. "But I don't think I'm going to be okay ever again." He smiled as he rubbed at her hip; his voice falling sincere for a moment. "I love you Maddie...I love you and I missed you...so much. Do you know that?"

"I do know that," she smiled simply, her fingers moving to ruffle his hair. "I do."

"Good," he nodded, turning to kiss her wrist. "Jesus..." He laughed at the way his heart pounded. "I think it's me who needs a shower now."

"Is that so?" Maddie grinned up at him, her legs tightening their hold on him, not wanting him to pull from her just yet.

"Yes Ma'am." His eyes twinkled as she struggled to let him go. "We're meeting for dinner in half an hour and I'm definitely going to need a shower."

"Fine," Maddie huffed, letting her legs loosen around his hips.

"Fine," he mimicked her huff as he pulled, regrettably from her; kissing her as he moved from the bed—her lips, her chin, her chest, her stomach.

"Go ahead and take a shower..." Maddie sighed as she watched him walk away from her, enjoying the view as he did. "But no leg shaving Sussex! We don't have time for that!"

And as he stepped into the bathroom, she could hear his loud boisterous laugh echo around him.

And it was the sweetest thing she had ever heard.

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When Maddie and Harry stepped into the large, private dining area where all the other trekkers and their families were beginning to gather, they looked every bit a young couple in love. Refreshed and showered and smiling, Maddie was glowing as she held tight to his hand; tucking herself close to him. And when Harry looked at her, which was often, it was impossible to miss the adoration he held for her.

It was that way throughout the entire night. Her wanting to be close to him, wanting to have contact with him and him, bursting with pride and devotion. He stayed next to her as she excitedly introduced him to the others.

"You remember my husband, Harry?" Her eyes twinkled every time she said husband.

They met everyone. They met Michelle's husband and her two young children. They met Sheryl's sister and her mother. They met Wendy's wife. They met Louise's boyfriend. They spent time with the guides, Harry listening to tales of the trip; of Maddie on skis in the Arctic. And then they met Andrew who despite the blushing protests from Maddie, pulled out his camera to show Harry some unedited footage from their last day on the ice.

As everyone gathered around the table, around Andrew, they were glued to the small screen with laughter and a few tears. And as they watched it for the third time, the look on Harry's face, the pride in his eyes as he looked to his wife, her hand wrapped up in both of his—the pride never once faded. It never once faltered.

He was so in love with her; more than he had ever really been.

And later, much later, after bottles of wine and toasts of champagne and one amusing story after the other, they were all drawn apart—towards their own rooms and their families and their plans for home.

Harry wrapped an arm around Maddie's shoulders and held her close and snug as they entered their room for the second time that day; blissfully happy and content.

And together.

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Things in their room, between them, were warm and calm and quiet. They dressed for bed and this time as they slipped in next to each other, they were filled with the sweet familiarity that comes with being home. Harry settled into his pillow and lifted his arm, inviting her in. And she went; eagerly and happily, snuggling into his side, resting her head on his shoulder. His arms wrapped around her and pulled her closer and Maddie closed her eyes; relishing in the way her senses reacted to him.

The smell of his skin, of his hair. The feel of his steady breathing. The sound of his heartbeat under her ear. The smoothness of his skin, the tight, hard muscles. Her hands moved over him; softly and soothingly, welcoming back the feel of him next to her. Maddie sighed closer and Harry chuckled as he turned to kiss the top of her head. As her fingers graced across his hip, just under his t-shirt, they ran over something new; a scar. Maddie's eyes flew wide and she lifted up to look down at him.

"What is that?" Her voice was small, the confusion still hanging on, even though she knew better. He blinked and hesitated and it only fueled her concern. Pulling back the blankets, Maddie sat straight up in bed, leaning to turn on the light. "Harry..." She ran her fingers over it again. "What is this from?"

"It's..." He faltered only for a second before he sucked it up and told her. "It's from a burn."

"A burn?" Her eyes lifted to his; full of concern. "From the crash."

"Yes." His head nodded and his eyes stayed fixed on her; watching as she processed it all. Her fingers ran over the length of it, her eyes welling up with tears. "Maddie..." His hand reached out to hers but she pulled back; out of his reach.

"I..." She shook her head; swallowing back the lump in her throat as she tried to fight it—the return of those feelings.

"I'm okay," he was soft with her; knowing this as bringing up a lot from her. His hands smoothed over her back as she turned away from him.

"I'm not," she whispered in a choked up voice. "I'm not okay...you have a burn?" She turned teary eyes back to him. "What else is there?"

"Hey..." He sat up on his elbows. "Don't cry. It's okay. I'm okay. I..."

"What else is there?" She was firmer with him, her fingers smudging out the tears that pressed from her eyes.

"There were a few burns, Maddie," he tried to stay calm and at ease with it. "I told you that. You knew that. There were a few burns and a few cuts."

"Where?" Maddie's eyebrows lifted. "Where else are they?"

"What? You want me to strip down and show you?"

"Yes!" She nodded, not at all concerned about sounding silly. "Yes. I want to see what happened to you. I want to know what permanent scars were left on your body."

"Maddie..." He sat all the way up.

"You won't show me?" She blinked.

"Of course I'll show you. I just...you're upset and..."

"We were in Wales when it happened," she cut him off; her mind drifting back to that night. "Will and I were at the hotel in Wales. The event was over and I had just had the run in with the reporter..."

"Wait," he shook his head. "What run in? What reporter?"

"And he had come up to push me back in line..."

"Push you back in line?" His eyes narrowed and his voice dropped. "What in the hell are you talking about?"

But Maddie wasn't fazed, was deterred by his change in tone. "And then Fynn walked in with Will's phone and it was like the floor dropped out from under me."

The sound of her voice, the waver and the sadness, snapped Harry back to her in an instant. "Maddie..."

"We got in a helicopter and then a plane and...it wasn't until we landed in London that I knew you weren't..." She gulped and blinked at the tears. "That you weren't dead."

Maddie felt her throat tighten, felt the palms of her hands begin to sweat and all of the feelings from that night rushed back to her. She threw the blankets off of her and moved from the bed. Harry was behind her in an instant, moving around to her side; stepping into the path of her pace. When she turned to look up at him, the look in her eyes broke his heart.

"Maddie..." He groaned against his own feelings; of regret and worry and guilt.

"I didn't..." She let out a light, bitter laugh. "I didn't know what to do. I...if Will hadn't been there, I would probably still be in that hotel room unable to move. I..." She shook her head a bit wildly. "Even now...after all this time, even seeing you standing here and feeling you and..." Her hands reached out to his chest to feel his warm body underneath them, as if to check; to make sure. "Thinking about it just..." One of her hands moved to clutch her own chest and a few, scattered, fresh tears slipped from her eyes. "I was so afraid Harry. So afraid."

"I know," he whispered, his words catching on the lump in his throat. "I know. Come here..." He pulled her into his arms then; wrapping his body around hers, pressing her close to him. "I'm so sorry for that night Madeline. I'm sorry the phone call came, I'm sorry you had to worry. I'm sorry that you had to wonder and not know and..." His eyes looked up to the ceiling as he fought for control of his own emotions. "I'm sorry I didn't come to you that night. I'm sorry I didn't do this...right then..." He leaned to press a kiss to the top of her head as she tried to calm her tears, as she listened to his heart beat in his chest.

After a few minutes of standing just like that; held together by his arms, Maddie nodded against him. She knew he was sorry, she knew that the last thing in the world he would ever want would be to hurt her. She knew that in her bones. But it didn't stop her from hurting. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

"You have nothing, nothing to be sorry for," he ducked down to catch her face in his hands, to look into her eyes. "Listen to me. You have nothing to be sorry for; not for being mad, not for being upset, not for hating me..."

"I..." She interrupted. "I never hated you..."

"No?" He smiled sweetly; knowing her better than that.

"For only a second," she smiled and wiped at her eyes, feeling silly.

"Okay," he nodded, his lips pulling higher as one of his hands left her face, reaching for her hand. "Here..." Standing tall, he pulled her hand in his and moved it around to his back; pressing it to the skin just above his hip. Maddie felt a thin, long puckered line of scar tissue and her eyes flashed up to him. "This was a cut." His voice was low and soft as he ran her fingers along it. "There were ten stitches."

"Harry..." She breathed.

"And this..." He slid her hand around to his stomach to a small circular spot. "This was a burn. A bolt came loose and it was hot and..." He shrugged lightly and pulled her hand over to his opposite bicep. "There's a cut here. Less than five stitches. No big deal."

"Harry," she let out a bit of a whimper and he rubbed his thumb over her fingers that were pressed to his arm.

"You wanted to know..." He whispered. "I want to show you. Maddie..." He slid her hand down his side, over his rib cage to another spot. "This is a burn and right below it," he moved her hand again. "A cut. There are some on my legs and..."

"Stop," she shook her head, pulling her hand from under his.

"But..."

"Stop," she cried. "I thought I wanted to know, thought I wanted to see but..."

"I'm okay baby," he caught her face in his hands again. "Look at me. I'm here. There were cuts and burns but nothing big. I took a hit to the head but...I'm okay."

"I..." She croaked and shook her head again; her hands running along his forearms, her fingers wrapping around him as her eyes flittered up to his. "Were you...were you scared?"

The air between them grew heavy as he drew in a long slow breath; his eyes not moving a fraction away from hers. She watched as he swallowed, watched his Adam's Apple bobbed in his throat. She could feel his hands tighten on her face, feel his fingers rubbing at her temples.

And when his voice sounded out into the room with a slight shake to it, it resonated deep inside of her soul. "Terrified." Maddie's lip wavered, her eyes filling with tears but Harry continued. "Not of the crash, not of the swimming..." He shook his head. "Of the phone call I knew you were getting, the look I knew was on your face...of the thought that I might never see you again."

"Shhh..." Maddie pressed her fingers to his lips, shaking her head trying to rid them both of that thought.

"Listen to me Maddie..." His voice was rich with emotion. "That night when I finally called and told you I was..." He took a breath. "I told you I was staying. That was the hardest decision I've ever had to make. I knew you would think I was choosing the Army over you and..."

"I didn't think that," she shook her head.

"I knew you would be upset and..."

"I just wanted you home," her voice cracked. "I wanted you in my arms. I wanted to touch you and feel you and know for sure that you were okay. I just needed it more than I've ever needed anything..."

"I know," he pulled her into him again; wrapping her up in a hug. "I know." He kissed the top of her head and cleared his throat. "I realized a lot that night. I spoke to my father and he was upset and he told me; it was time to stop playing soldier, time to start playing husband."

"No, no," Maddie shook her head, pulling back from his chest to look up at him. "I don't feel that way. I don't think you're playing and I don't think you need to stop, I just..."

"Maybe I do," he cut her off.

"What?"

"Maybe I do..." He shrugged; his hands smoothing over her back. "I don't know Maddie. I really don't. I think...I think we should get back to London, get back to normal and then we should talk about it because the last thing I want...the last thing I want would be for my children to grow up without a father."

"Harry," she blinked at the tears in her eyes and smiled up at him.

"And in the meantime..." He dipped lower so he could match her gaze. "Whenever you need to make sure I'm here, that I'm okay, you just..." He took her hands in his and placed them on his chest. "I'm right here; right under your fingers and I swear to you...I'm not going anywhere."

Maddie, full of emotions she could barely name, nodded her head and wrapped her fingers around his t-shirt; pulling him to her with one swift movement. The heat in his lips, in that kiss radiated around them. Maddie's arms moved up and around his neck and suddenly her primal needs and desires were paramount to everything else.

"Love me Harry..." She moaned into his mouth, pressing closer to him as his hands moved around her. "Now...please..."

With a groan all his own, Harry scooped her up into his arms and took her right back to the bed from which they had just came.

This time wasn't about the lively, lightness of a welcome home. This time, as he pulled her clothes from her body as his mouth moved over every inch of her skin...this time was about laying all of the emotions, all of the stress and worry and love and ache at the feet of the other. This was about claiming each other again; about reclaiming everything between them that was heavy and hot and full of the love they had for each other.

The first time had been about welcoming home, about a reunion after a long time apart.

This time was about bonding them back to the other.

There were tears and cries and moans and calls out to God.

And it was everything; everything they had missed, everything they had put on pause, everything they had built towards, everything the needed, everything they wanted,

Everything.