The Unexpected Journey-A Prince Harry Fan Fic

Chapter 164

"Okay Captain, what will it be?" Maddie sat up in her seat as Harry pulled the car down the drive to Highgrove. "Are we going to tell them or not?"

"Tell them?" He glanced over at her with a smile.

"Niece or nephew, granddaughter or grandson..." Maddie waved one hand towards the house as she patted her belly with the other. Kate, Will, and Arthur had already arrived earlier that day. Charles and Camilla would be joining them that evening. They were spending a long weekend in the country before a long stretch of work began; the launch of The Invictus Games on Monday, the Cambridges trip to New York the next weekend, and Remembrance Day events the week after that.

"Ah," he nodded, reaching over to smooth his hand over their growing baby. "I don't know. Do you want it to be a secret?"

"No," she shook her head with a grin. "I'm not very good at keeping secrets."

"Ha!" He laughed. "History has shown otherwise darling."

Maddie laughed along with him. "I don't have a particular leaning one way or another. We can tell them if you want. We can not tell them if you want. Totally up to you."

As the car slowed to a stop, they turned to look at each other for a moment while Harry thought it over. Shrugging, he leaned in to kiss her. "I'm going to say no...for now. Can I reserve the right to change my mind?"

"Always," Maddie kissed him once more before reaching for the door handle, ready to spend the weekend in the country with the family; excited to see the grounds green and growing—eager to see Arthur toddle around the lawn that was holding up even in October.

"Finally!" Will's voice called out from down the walk as he spotted them; his hand shielding his eyes from the sun. "We've been waiting for you two forever!"

"Forever?" Harry called back with a smirk. "You've been waiting forever?"

"Not me," Will laughed as he joined them on the gravel drive. "And not for you," he grinned at his brother for a moment before turning to Maddie. "Madeline," he leaned to kiss her cheeks, to hug her hello.

"William," she smiled as she greeted him. "Where's my favorite little man?"

"Just coming out now," he nodded and pointed towards the house as Kate stepped out with Arthur walking next to her holding onto her finger with his chubby little hand.

"Arthur!" Maddie clapped her hands, bending down to his level as his face brightened.

"Maaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" He called back, bringing out laughter from his group of adoring fans.

"I think he's always going to love you more," Harry sighed heavily as he rounded the car to his wife.

"Until he's a teenager and learns of your wild ways," Maddie winked at him as she lifted the little guy up into her arms. "And how are you doing today Mr. Arthur?"

"He's been a little rascally," Kate smiled. "He's ready to run wild and free in the mud around the garden. And how are you? How's the baby doing?"

"Baby is doing great," Maddie kissed Arthur's cheeks as the foursome began down the walk.

"Is he still moving a ton?" Kate pulled her sunglasses onto her eyes.

"She." Without thinking, without pause, Harry corrected her. "She is moving a ton and I finally get to feel it and..." Noticing the way the group stopped, the way Maddie's eyes widened as she looked at him, he caught it. "Shit."

"She?" Kate blinked, looking from Harry to Maddie. "She? She! Is it a girl?"

"I..." Maddie's cheeks flushed as she shook her head at her husband.

"Come on Maddie!" Kate implored her with a small, sweet stomp of her foot. "I told you! You have to tell me!"

"Fine," Maddie sighed into a wide, warm smile. "It's a girl."

"Oh my God!" Kate's hands flew to her mouth, her eyes big and bright as she laughed. "It's a girl! Maddie..." Her expression grew soft, her hands sliding down to her chest as though she were trying to keep her emotions in. "You're going to have a little baby girl."

"I am," Maddie blinked at her own tears, at her own bubbling emotions as she nodded her head.

"Congratulations," Will's smile was wide as he leaned in to kiss her cheeks before turning a smug smirk to his brother. "Well, well, well."

"I know," Harry shook his head, standing tall and proud in spite of all the grief he knew was coming his way—being a father of a daughter in this brood of boys.

"A girl?" Will lifted his eyebrows, his arms crossing over his chest. "Seems like the fates have a sense of humor."

"Say what you want," Harry shrugged. "In less than five months, I'm going to have a daughter." His voice wavered as he said it.

"Did you hear that little man?" Kate leaned in to her son as she hugged Maddie. "You're going to have a baby girl cousin."

"Yes you are," Maddie kissed his cheeks. "Yes you are."

"Have you told him yet?" Will looked from his brother to Maddie.

"Who?" Maddie's eyebrows drew together.

"Our father," his eyes met Harry's and Maddie caught the quiet exchange.

"No," she smiled, watching them closely. "Why?"

"Because..." Will took a breath. "There were a few times in our lives when he would have gladly exchanged both of us..."

"Oh several times," Harry offered with a snicker.

"For a little girl." William finished. "He's going to be....happy?" He looked to Harry.

"Over the moon," Harry smiled. "He's going to be over the moon."

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And he was exactly that. When Harry let out the news, Charles was around his wife and hugging Maddie close, his smile probably the widest Maddie had ever seen it; cheeks pink and round, eyes dancing with delight. She loved seeing Charles like that—completely, unabashedly happy. And then, with Maddie's shoulders held warm under his hands, he confessed the same thing his son's had earlier in the garden.

"Don't get me wrong, I love my boys," his voice was low as though he were speaking only to Maddie, though everyone was listening. "I would do anything for either of them..."

"Of course," Maddie chuckled, seeing the amusement on Harry's face as he looked to his brother—knowing what was coming.

"And I couldn't be a prouder father. They've both turned out remarkably well given all that was tossed at them." Maddie felt a tug in her heart.

"Yes they have," she agreed with him easily, seeing the pride in his eyes, the love in his voice as he spoke of them.

"But I would be lying if I said that there weren't times—many, many times—when I wished that we..." He looked down at his fingers as his mind drifted through the past. "That we had been able to have a daughter as well." With a soft smile, Maddie waited with him as he thought it all over, as he pulled back to present. His eyes lifted to hers with such a sweetness it made her heart swell. "And when you two joined the family...first Catherine and then you..." He looked over Maddie's shoulder to his other daughter-in-law who was watching with her own warm smile. "Having two such wonderful, extraordinary women join our family, it made my old heart content and whole and...happy." Bending to kiss the top of her hand, he took a breath. "And now a granddaughter?" His face lit up as he grinned. "A sweet, perfect little baby girl? To balance out our wonderful little Arthur?" He looked to his grandson, then to his wife who was beaming and then back to Maddie. "I don't know what to say. I'm speechless...and full of emotion." His voice caught in his throat just a bit. "Thank you so much Madeline. I don't know what to say..." His arms wrapped tightly around her and Maddie felt tears press to her eyes as she hugged him back.

"Thank her?" Harry spoke up, bringing his sarcastic tone to lighten the mood in the room. "Perhaps you should thank me, Hmm? My understanding of the reproductive process is..."

"The reproductive process?" Will snickered as he shook his head at his brother.

"Is that it's the father's...contribution...that determines the gender of the baby," he winked at Maddie as his hand moved over his father's back to his shoulder. "So if you want to thank somebody for the little girl...I'm just saying..."

"Yes, yes, Henry," Charles laughed, low and warm, as he released Maddie and turned to his son. "Well done." He kissed his cheek as the others laughed. "Come here, let me hug you for the enormous amount of work you're doing to grow this child."

"Ha!" Maddie laughed loud and wide, meeting Kate's eyes in a shared moment.

"Well done son," Charles hugged his youngest son tightly. Despite the humor rounding the room, he was immensely proud and beyond happy.

"Thank you," Harry laughed as he hugged his father back, watching his wife as she took them both in, as she smiled wide and easy; content.

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"A daughter," Will's voice was low as he sat in the chair across from his brother on the patio outside their father's country home. Everyone had long ago gone to bed and the two of them still sat outside drinking the last of their brews, smoking the last of their cigars even as they were bundled up in the chilled weather. "You're going to have a daughter."

"I know," Harry's eyes sparkled in the soft, faint light from the moon. Puffing out a breath of smoke from his cigar, he leaned back in his chair. "A daughter."

"You know that was my biggest fear," Will confessed as he crossed his legs, one foot resting on the other knee. "Having a daughter."

"What?" Harry's forehead scrunched up. "Why?"

"I don't know," Will shook his head, bringing his own cigar back to his lips for a draw. "The comparisons I suppose."

"To mum?" Harry lifted his eyebrows as he relaxed even further into the chair.

"That," Will nodded with a light shrug. "And to Kate, to Gran, to...everyone," he sighed and let the corners of his lips twist upward. "It was easier for us than it was for Bea or Eugenie. Even with...all of it...it's easier for us than it is for the girls. You know that."

"Yeah," Harry nodded, his mind drifting off as he thought about his brother's words, judging their weight, their severity. "You're trying to scare me?"

"No," Will was quick with a shake of his head, leaning to reach for his drink on the table. "I'm saying...it was a fear for me. Not for you?" He was asking, curious about where his brother's mind was.

It took him a few seconds before he could answer, a few moments of thought, before his smile stretched higher and in his characteristic smirk and innate rebellious nature, he shrugged. "Not for me."

"Ha!" Will's head tossed back in a loud, bark of a laugh. "Is that because she's half you?"

"Nah," Harry shook his head. "It's because she's half Maddie."

Will's eyes snapped up to meet Harry's, holding for a moment before he shook his head and took a long drink. "Smooth."

"Smooth?" Harry laughed. "I have no reason to be smooth for you big brother. I mean every word." He took in a puff from his cigar and blew it out. "Maddie is strong and confident and...fuck. She's bloody brilliant. If our daughter has any of that...she'll turn out just fine." Harry thought for a second, his lips turning down in a frown. "And gorgeous." His forehead pinched as he looked up to his brother. "Damn it."

"Thinking about your daughter out there with...the likes of you?" Will snickered as he waved his hand towards his brother.

"Yes." Harry knew he was ridiculous to feel tense, but he felt it anyway.

"And with men like your friends," Will offered with lifted eyebrows.

"My friends..." Harry's voice fell off as his eyes flashed wide. "Bishop."

"There it is," Will pointed. "Terrified."

"I..."

"Don't worry," Will shook his head, leaning forward as he sat his drink down. "We'll teach Arthur how to shoot, how to throw a punch."

"Arthur?" Harry blinked and shook his head, sitting taller in his chair as his smugness returned, as his confidence rebounded. "Hell. I'm gonna teach her how to throw a punch. And she's going to be fantastic at it. I mean...she is half me too."

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When Maddie's bladder woke her the next morning, just as the sun was peeking out over the trees, she was surprised to find her husband already up. His tired eyes were wide awake as he watched her move off to the bathroom with a knowing smile. She was quiet as she returned, sliding back into the bed next to him and tucking in close.

"Good Morning Captain," she whispered into the crook of his neck as he drew her to him.

"Good Morning," he whispered back, kissing the top of her head as he hugged her tight.

"What are you doing up already?" Her toes wiggled into the warm space between his legs, seeking heat.

"I couldn't sleep," his hand ran smooth and warm up her arm, over her shoulder and around her back. "My mind has been going a little crazy in here."

"Yeah?" Maddie smiled sweetly. "Thinking about the launch on Monday?"

"No," he shook his head, chuckling as his mind shifted for a moment. "That's all ready to go, there are other people working on that. I just have to make a speech. That's all."

"That's not all you're doing," she laughed into a sigh. "But okay. Tell me then what were you thinking about daddy?" She rubbed her finger over his creased brow. "You want to tell me about it? Maybe I can help."

"Yes," he nodded, pulling her hand from his forehead to his lips for a kiss. "I do want to tell you all about it. But there's someplace I want to take you first...is that okay?" He turned her hand over to kiss her palm. "Come for a walk with me?"

"Right now?" Maddie glanced over at the clock, outside at the dawning day. "I'm in my pajamas and I would need to get dressed and..."

"In our pajamas," Harry cut her off, hugging her close for a second before pulling away. "Come on. Let's throw on some wellies and coats and go. I promise it won't be long, or far. And there will be no one but us. We'll be fine in pajamas."

"But..." Maddie tried to snuggle closer. "It's so much warmer in this bed."

"It is," he laughed, leaning to kiss her. "I promise to bring you back to it. And to warm you up. But there's something I want to show you. What do you say? Come with me?"

"Okay Captain..." She sighed dramatically but held her smile. "I'll come with you."

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As their boots crunched the gravel underneath them and their coats pulled tight to keep them from the chill, Maddie walked alongside her husband as he told her about his conversation with Will the night before.

"This is what you lost sleep over? Worrying that someday our daughter might hook up with somebody like you and Bishop?"

"Don't say hook up." He held up a finger, his eyes narrowing as he shook his head.

"Harry," she laughed at him as she followed his lead. "You're worried about your daughter finding a man like you?"

"Or Bishop," he nodded emphatically. "Yes."

Maddie looked up at him for a beat, her eyes blinking as she watched him and then with conviction and confidence she shrugged and sighed. "Well I should hope so."

"What?" His eyes snapped to look at her. "No, I don't think you understand."

"And I don't think you understand," she tucked her hand into the crook of his arm as they turned and headed to the side. "While this scenario is ridiculously in the future...if our daughter should bring home a man like her daddy, like the man I married, I would be...elated."

"But..."

"And Bishop?" Maddie's eyebrows lifted. "Do you know a man who is more loyal? Who has a bigger heart? Who would let nothing stand in the way of the happiness of his family?" Harry's eyes were wide with confusion as she continued. "You don't Harry. You don't. And gosh, I would think you would want somebody like that for our daughter."

"I...." Harry shook his head. "I think I lost track of my point..."

"Good," Maddie snickered. "It was a stupid point."

"Hey!" He pulled back in surprise.

"It was!" She laughed, tugging him back. "I can't believe you would think that I would agree with you about what bad men you and Bishop are."

"We weren't always like this," he defended. "There were many, many women who were before you and Ella who aren't quite as enamored as you seem to be."

"I know that Captain," she turned to kiss his arm. "But our child will have my brains and your street smarts...she'll be fine." Maddie let out a long breath. "Besides. Maybe she'll end up liking women. Then you won't have to worry about men like you and Bishop. It'll be women like me...and Kate and..."

"Oh!" Harry perked up in excitement. "Oh! Good one. Okay. Okay..." He took a breath. "Yes. I actually like that much better. Thank you."

"You're welcome," she laughed, shaking her head. "Now do you want to tell me where we're going?"

"Ah, yes," he nodded, patting her hand. "Actually...wait." He stopped completely, turning to face her. "Ella."

"What?" Maddie's forehead knotted. "Ella? What are you..."

"Women like you or Kate or...Ella..." His eyes grew larger. "You know I love her but..."

"Are we back to our daughter again?" Maddie crossed her arms over her chest. "Really Harry?"

"Ella married Bishop!" He waved his hand. "And they had a baby! A baby they created at Buckhouse!"

"Okay," Maddie stepped towards him slowly, cautiously; patting his arm softly. "You do know you've lost your mind just a little bit. Right? You understand how insane you sound?"

"You say that now."

"I know that now. Worrying about our daughter who isn't even born yet and Buckie who is a baby." She rolled her eyes. "More than a little insane Captain. Is this what woke you up early? Is this why we're out here walking?"

"No," he shook his head, taking a few deep breaths as he calmed himself, as he brought himself back to the purpose of this hike. "It started out about Buckie but ended up being about something else entirely."

"Maybe you tell me what..." She reached for his hand and smiled sweetly, ready to move on to other things.

"Okay," he nodded, snapping back to her. Bending to kiss her fingers in his hand, he pulled her with him towards the treehouse. "Just...over...here..." They took a few more strides and drew to a stop. "This tree..." He pointed to a tall English Oak as Maddie stepped into his side. "I wanted to talk to you about this tree."

"You..." Maddie looked to the tall tree next to them. "You want to talk to me about this tree?"

"See, now you kind of want to return to the Buckie discussion, don't you," Harry smirked, that gleam in his eye flickering.

"No," she shook her head with a smile. "But I do want you to explain what you mean."

"Fair enough," Harry nodded. "The night we told my father you were pregnant, he brought me out here. We smoked cigars and he told me about this tree...and this one right here," Harry patted another not far off. "He told me about how he and my mother planted each one of them after Will and I were born. That one is Will's and this one..." Harry's hand returned to the tall trunk. "This one is mine."

"Ahhhh..." Maddie nodded in understanding, warming at the sentiment. "That's actually a really sweet story."

"It is," Harry agreed easily. "He had a speech that went with it. We talked about my mother, we talked a bit about fatherhood..." He trailed off for a blink and then turned his wide smile back to Maddie. "So this morning as I was lying in bed waiting for you to wake, I was thinking about these trees and how...I don't know..." He glanced down, just a tad bit sheepish as he thought it over. "I think I would like to do something like this too...when our children are born."

"You want to plant a tree for our daughter," Maddie felt her heart swelling in her chest.

"I do," he nodded. "It doesn't have to be an English Oak. It can be something else...something more American if you like..." He chuckled as she rolled her eyes. "But I like the idea...very much."

"I do too."

"Yeah?"

"Of course," she reached out to rub his arm. "You know me...I'm a farmer's daughter, I'm an enormous fan of what your father's put together here. I would love to plant a tree here for our daughter. Do you think he would mind though?"

"Oh no," Harry shook his head. "Not here."

"Not here?"

"No." And then she saw it; that smile, those eyes. Something was up.

"Harry..." She eyed him as he moved to stand directly in front of her, crouching so that his eyes were level with hers.

"I think it's time we bought our own place in the country."

"What?" Maddie's eyes turned up to him in slight surprise, laughter on her lips.

"We've talked about it before," he continued on. "We talked about it before the baby, we talked about it not too long ago during our birthdays..." He shrugged and moved in closer, his hands on her arms pulling her to him as his voice lowered with hushed excitement. "Think about it Maddie. A country home of our own. We can plant whatever you like...any tree, any flower. We can plant acres of delphinium. Hell, we can plant corn if you want to."

"Oh yeah? You want to be a farmer?" She smiled at his sweetness.

"I want to have a place where we go to leave the city, where we control the color of paint on the walls...a place that wasn't the same place I went through my awkward teenage years. I want a place where we can plant trees for all of our children..." He reached out to stroke a finger down her cheek. "And if you want me to be a farmer, I will be."

Maddie snickered, turning her lips to kiss his hand. "You know I love it here at Highgrove."

"I know you do," he nodded, his hands moving up and down her arms. "And it just so happens I know the owner and I'm sure he would be more than elated to lend you some tips on gardening and landscaping..."

"I'm sure he would," Maddie moved into his space into his arms, wrapping her own around his waist. "I would love a place in the country Harry."

"Yeah?"

"Yes," she nodded, leaning up on her toes to kiss him. "You don't have to work hard to convince me of this one. I'm in."

"Really?" She watched as even through the excitement, he grew a bit soft, a tad sentimental.

"Yes," she kissed him again, snuggling in closer. "Of course. Let's do it."

"So when we get back to the house, I can call up the realtor the family works with and ask him to get together a list?"

"When we get back, you should call up the realtor the family works with and ask him to get together a list." Maddie's eyes were bright and her smile firm; she was just as excited as he was.

"Yes!" His hands moved into the air in victory—maybe she wasn't quite as excited as him. Maddie laughed as he hugged her tight. "Can we go see one or two today or tomorrow?"

"If he can put something together that fast," Maddie nodded, turning to kiss his cheek.

"God I love you," his lips turned to catch hers.

"Good," she smiled against his mouth. "Now, can we head back to the house? I'm freezing and I need to call my mother and let her in on the big secret."

"Yes! Yes of course. Come on," he took her hand and pulled her with him. "Also..." He wrapped a warm, protective arm around her shoulders. "Did you notice that my tree is bigger than Will's?"

"Ha!" Maddie's laughter rang out into the space around them. "Yes Captain. I noticed."

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"Well?" Harry waited until they were alone on the back patio of the immaculate home they had just toured before he asked. Standing next to her as she looked out over the expansive back yard, his fingers played lightly with hers and he whispered. "What do you think?"

"It's beautiful," she responded quickly. And it was—it was enormous and completely updated and it sat on a sprawling acreage with trees and even a bit of water running along the edge. As soon as Harry had called, the realtor had set up a showing for them the next morning. And here they were.

"It is beautiful," Harry agreed, one corner of his mouth turning up as his eyes slid to the side, watching her out of the corner. And he waited. He knew she had more to say, he could feel it in the way she stood, in the air between them. So he waited right there next to her.

"It's..." She bit her bottom lip and took a breath, turning towards him as she broke whatever trance she had slipped into. "It's too..." Her nose scrunched up as she tried to think of the right word. "Modern?"

"Modern?" Harry lifted his eyebrows, amused at the look on her face.

"It's just...completely updated, Harry." Her voice dropped low as she moved in closer to him like she was sharing a secret. "The bathrooms looked like something from the Jetsons and the kitchen....I didn't even know where the refrigerator was..."

Harry laughed, loud and wide, as he clapped his hands together. "So we're going to keep looking."

"Yes," she smiled up at him with apologetic eyes. "I'm sorry. I know he brought us out on short notice and..."

"No, no," Harry held up a hand as he shook his head. "No apologies. None. We don't need to do that." With a hand on her back, he gestured back towards the house. "But we should tell him what we do and don't like so that next time..."

"A little less Jetsons?" She lifted her eyebrows.

"A little less Jetsons," Harry nodded and reached for the door, holding it open as she stepped inside.

"Okay," Maddie agreed. "Hey...on our way back to Highgrove, do you think we can stop in Tetbury for dessert?" Her hand patted her belly as her smile turned flirty.

"Yes," Harry shook his head with a chuckle. "We can absolutely stop for dessert darling. Anything you want."

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"Better?" Harry smiled at his wife as they stepped from the restaurant out into the sun.

"Much," she nodded, pulling her sunglasses to her eyes. They had stopped and had a light lunch and a not-so-light dessert. Feeling satisfied and relaxed, she linked her fingers through Harry's as they made their way down the walkway.

"So what's next Mum?" He drew her closer to his side, his shaded eyes glancing around them for any sign of photographers. "Want to head back to Highgrove for the afternoon? Back to London? Norway for another look at the lights?"

"Ha," Maddie laughed lightly, leaning into his arm. "I don't know. Maybe we can look through a few shops? Walk off some of that dessert?"

"Sure," he shrugged his shoulders and Maddie loved how at ease and relaxed he was; even as the launch awaited him the next morning and she was sure there was quite a bit skirting around in his head.

"Just a couple," she promised but he wasn't put out. Truthfully, he couldn't think of much else they had to do that day than relax and take it easy. The week would bring with it plenty for them to do. So he held onto her hand and followed along as she pulled him through a few shops; looking things over, picking up a few items that sparked her attention. And then as they wound their way through the back of one store, Maddie was sorting through a few children's books when something caught her eye.

"Oh my God," she whispered, her fingers pressing to her lips as she nudged Harry. "Look." She pointed as inconspicuously as she could.

"Hmm?" He turned to look where she was looking and he saw it. There was a table with stacks of baby onesies—all colors, all kinds. But the one his wife was pointing at was a soft pink with pearly, cream lettering that read 'Made in England'.

"Harry..." Her voice was soft and sweet and full of that deep emotional feeling that came when she thought of the baby growing inside of her. Her fingers were gentle with it as she pulled it up from the table. As it unfolded, a small ruffle of tulle lined the backside and as Maddie giggled, even Harry had to admit it was pretty damn cute—even as he rolled his eyes. "It's adorable."

"It is," he agreed with a nod of his head.

"I think I want this," she whispered, glancing around the store as she said it, looking at the handful of people shopping there with them.

"Yeah?" Harry lifted his eyebrows. "Does it bother you at all that she might not have been made in England?"

"Ha," Maddie pressed her fingers tighter to her lips to keep from laughing. "There's just as good a chance that she was made here...even better if we're honest."

"Okay," Harry's voice dropped lower. "Does it bother you at all that this is very clearly meant for...a she?" His eyes darted out around them and then back to her and she knew exactly what he was saying. He was talking about the people who would witness them buying it; certainly the clerk and potentially the four or so people shopping. He was talking about how fast news often spread—faster than fire in some cases.

Maddie held his gaze for a second, looking down at the soft pink fabric, her thumb stroking over the material as her lips curled into a small smile. "What if it doesn't?" She whispered, feeling silly as her eyes welled up. "What if it doesn't bother me at all?"

Harry's smile pulled high, his eyes dancing as they stayed locked with hers, as his smug confidence took over his face. And then with a small nod and a shrug, he arched an eyebrow and tossed the decision over to her. "This is all you love."

"Okay..." Her voice was barely a whisper, really just a breath as her mind ran it all over in her head. It was bigger than this onesie—this moment. It was bigger than the soft pink fabric and the cute play on words and the adorable row of tulle on the bottom. This was her turning over this secret that was theirs. Or this was her relieving them both of the burden of keeping it quite for the next few months.

Or. She looked up at her husband, her sweet, loving husband who was ready to go whichever direction she wanted and she felt her emotions well up again. Or this was about two expectant parents buying something sweet and funny for the baby they were over the moon about, the daughter they couldn't wait to meet.

She laughed lightly at their lives; at how a simple moment could be something so monumental, at how sometimes they blew things out of proportion. "Okay..." She took a deep breath, leaned in to kiss his lips and then, without blinking, she pulled the onesie into her hands and marched right up to the counter with Harry right behind her.

The cashier rang them up, did a double take as Harry paid and smiled nervously as Maddie took the bag and thanked her—and then she watched as the young couple, the famous faces, stepped hand-in-hand out of the store and back into their day.

She wasn't the only one who saw them that day and eventually a few tweets would drop, a grainy photo would be released and the secret was out. Though Maddie and Harry would find it quite humorous when the stories that ran were absolutely certain they were having a boy—not one of them believing either of them would ever do something so open, instead choosing to believe that they were trying to throw them off.

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Maddie sat off to the side watching with enormous pride as her husband stood in camo in front of the brilliant black and yellow logo that would soon become internationally recognizable. It was Monday and Harry was launching his brainchild, The Invictus Games. Though she knew he was nervous, could see him twisting together his fingers and biting at the tiniest corner of his lips, she could also see the excitement in his eyes; she could hear it in his voice.

"Yes. This is a challenging timeline. But thanks to Sir Keith Mills who said that he had nothing going on this year, that he'd be more than happy to get the band back together again..." Maddie chuckled along with the crowd as Harry explained how the same group that had been responsible for the hugely successful Olympics had agreed to come back to the table to support and organize the Invictus Games. It was going to be a quick turnaround. They were launching in late September with plans to compete in February. Five months—and both of Harry's babies would come to fruition. Maddie's hand drifted over her stomach as Harry continued. "Why do we need it? To demonstrate the power of sport. To inspire recovery. To support rehabilitation. To demonstrate life beyond disability. It really is as simple as that." She could feel herself tear up, could feel her emotions welling up in her chest as her husband brought life to this beautiful idea. "This is part of a broader legacy. The games are a means to an end." Harry spoke with pride and clarity as the cameras snapped away, as the video rolled, as the world learned of The Invictus Games.

When he finished his speech, they stood for photographs, they shook hands and smiled and when they slipped into the car that would take them home, Harry let out a long, slow, deep breath and Maddie reached for his hand—both of them knowing just how much work was about to unfold.

And Maddie could feel the pride she had for him, the admiration she carried, growing and growing and she couldn't wait to see this become a reality.

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"Maddie..." Harry's voice was nearly sing-song as he called out to her from his end of the couch. "Madeline..." He nudged her on the other end with his toe, his legs stretched out towards her just as hers were stretched out towards him.

"Give me a minute Captain," her eyes lifted up from the pad of paper in front of her with a teasing glare. She tapped the pen in her hand to the tip of her nose as she thought.

"But it's been five..." He let the pad of paper he held in his fingers fall to his chest as his head tipped back in a dramatic moan. "And I'm dying over here."

With a snicker she shook her head and looked at the names she had listed on the piece of paper. "I only have three. The goal was five. I'm going to need a minute to think of two more and..."

"No, no. Come on," he held his notepad out to her, waving for her to give him the one she held in her hands. "We can do it with three."

"Easy Handsy," she swatted at his hand, holding hers out of reach as he laughed. "How many do you have?"

"Six." He didn't even bat an eye.

"Six!" Her eyes widened and her eyebrows rose. "You were only supposed to do five!"

"Yes well..." He tried for a moment to think of a reason, an excuse. But he had none. His lips pulled up into his standard grin, his eyes dancing as he looked across to her.

"Jesus," Maddie rolled her eyes and pinched his big toe that wiggled next to her. "What am I going to do with you?"

"Right now or..." His eyebrows wagged suggestively bringing laughter from his wife. "Come on love. This isn't a concrete, unchangeable list it's just...a start. A brainstorm, a beginning point. Let me see what you have."

"Fine," Maddie sighed and leaned forward, holding her pad out to him. They had spent the day at the launch of Invictus, shaking hands and meeting people and that night after dinner, they had snuggled up on opposite ends of the couch as Harry rubbed her well-worked feet. And their conversation had naturally drifted to their daughter. When Maddie had suggested the brainstorm some names, Harry had been quick to retrieve paper and pen and now here they were, exchanging lists.

"Thank you very much," Harry snatched hers up quickly and held his to her, leaning back with a grin as she took it and settled back as well.

With her pen twirling in her fingers and her bottom lip tucked between her teeth, she began to read.

With every name she read, with every stroke of his penmanship, she felt the emotions inside of her bubble and rise; they were naming their child, their daughter. It was huge and heavy and she felt silly as tears blurred her vision.

"Harry..." Her voice cracked as she looked up from his list.

"Yeah?" He glanced up to her, catching her tears. "Hey...what is it?' He put the pad aside and reached for her foot, pulling it back into his lap. "This isn't really because I have six is it? You can cross one out if it's really a big deal and..."

"Ha! Crap..." She laughed as she wiped at her eyes, his words having their exact intended effect. "I'm sorry. I just....I started reading your names and it...we told everyone this weekend, we bought the onesie and we...we're writing down names and it just suddenly felt so real and it was overwhelming. Just for a second."

"Aw baby," he laughed lightly, rubbing at her foot as he moved a little closer. "It is real. And it is emotional and...that little baby girl in there needs a name but we have time to think about it, time to decide."

"I know," she nodded, loving him so much—the way he knew how to handle her like this.

"And if you don't want to do this now, yet, then we don't have to..."

"No, no," she shook her head, sniffing at the last of the tears. "I want to do this now. I do. Okay..." She took in a deep breath and looked back down at the list, her lips curving into a smile. "I like number two."

"Yeah?" He sighed as he leaned back, grinning as he reached for her pad. "I'm a fan of number three."

"Really?" Maddie lifted her eyebrows. "I had a hard time with that one..." She shrugged her shoulders. "I had a hard time with all of them actually. None of my names sounded....you know..." She waved her hand at him.

"You know?" Harry snickered, his gaze narrowing. "What do you mean?"

"I mean...I mean...regal enough."

"Regal enough?" A puff of laughter pushed through his lips. "Who do you think we're naming here?"

"The fifth in line to the throne," Maddie didn't bat an eye. "Who do you think we're naming here?"

Harry held her gaze for a moment, held his tongue for a beat before he took a breath and his smile softened. "That's a fair point but..."

"I know it is," she cut in with lifted eyebrows.

"But," he continued, one finger raised as if to make a point. "But she's also our daughter and the likelihood of her ever reaching said throne is just...not good," he shook his head.

"Well that's a fair point."

"I know," he winked in that smug way that he had—the one that made her want to pinch his cheeks as she kissed his mouth.

"But even still, do we need to pick a family name?"

"Not really," he shrugged. "Look at Zara....Eugenie...Savannah...those aren't family names, nor are they very regal..."

"Okay," Maddie nodded, taking it in, her mind working it over. "I have another question for you."

"Perfect," he wiggled his fingers. "Bring it on."

"Alright," she shifted around a bit, stretching her legs further. "How many names does our baby have to have?"

"Sorry?"

"Henry Charles Albert David," she pointed at him before blinking and pointing to herself. "Madeline Jae. You have four. I have two. How many does the baby need to have?"

"Ah," he understood. "Need to? Just one. Or a symbol of some sort if we're going unconventional."

"For real Harry," Maddie poked him with her toe. "Does the baby need four?"

"No," Harry laughed with a shake of his head, grabbing for her foot. "She doesn't need four."

"Two?"

"Two would be nice. Maybe three."

"See," she smiled sweetly, her shoulders easing. "That's all I needed to know...how many names we're working with."

"Well there you go," Harry grinned across their tangled legs at her. "We could just go with the three you were able to come up with and call it a day."

"Ha. Ha. Ha." She rolled her eyes, ready to come back with something snarky and glib, but their daughter had other ideas. "Oh!" Maddie's eyes flew wide open and her hand moved to her stomach. "Harry!" She looked to him with an excited smile.

"She's moving, isn't she." But before she could answer his non-question, he had tossed aside the pad of paper in his hand and had moved closer, her legs moving around him as his arm stretched out—their fingers tangled together as they waited patiently for her to move again.

And when she did, she had two proud, beaming parents there to feel it.