The Unexpected Journey-A Prince Harry Fan Fic

Chapter 171

There was so much that Maddie had learned in those first few days at home with Lilli. There was so much this tiny little miracle had taught her, about love and life and priorities. So much so that she would struggle to ever begin to quantify it. This baby, as loved as she was, as cherished as she was, had thrown a wild, lit firecracker into the peaceful calm that Maddie and Harry and crafted around them. And, as she set off, as she made her brilliant, bright presence known, Maddie couldn't help but notice how well equipped to adapt to this welcome disturbance her husband seemed to be.

Even when Lilli's cries woke them for the fourth time that night, even when her tiny little lungs proved a prime competitor for the cannons that had announced her arrival. As the sound pierced into Maddie's revered slumber, as her darling little baby sleeping in the bassinette in their room called out to her parents in need of any number of things, Maddie could hear Harry's deep, warm voice, calling out to the both of them, bringing comfort to their room, to his girls.

"We're here..." He called out to Lilli, rubbing his hands up over his face, into his hair. "We're here. We're coming..." Sitting up in their bed, he leaned over to kiss Maddie's shoulder, his hands rousing her gently as they ran over her. "Maddie love..."

"I know," she nodded, pulling her eyelids open. "I know..."

And then, just as he had done during the three previous times that night, Harry pulled himself from bed. Giving Maddie time to wake, time to sit up and right herself, he was quick to his daughter's side, sweet and soft as he lifted her up into his hands, bringing her tiny little body into the large, protective fold of his. "Ohhhh...there, there little Lilli..." He cooed, his fingers stroking at her cheeks as he took her to the changing table, prepared to do his part; changing her nappy before taking her to Maddie to nurse.

Sitting back against a pillow she propped up against the headboard, Maddie watched the two of them through half-opened eyes. And she would be lying if she said that watching Harry with their daughter didn't make her want to forgo the next two precious hours of sleep and love on him instead. But this wasn't the time and she had weeks before she got her body back.

"Thank you Captain..." She called out to him, feeling blessed that she had him, that he was ready and eager to help out –even at three in the morning.

"Of course. Of course..." Flashing a quick, wide smile up to her, he nodded his head and looked back to their daughter, focusing on the task at hand. "Now, now Lilli-bean....let's see what we have..." His back straightened, his face turning away. "Holy shit." His face scrunched up.

"Harry!" Maddie called out, laughter following close behind as she watched him take a deep breath and turn back to her.

"My God," he shook his head. "No wonder you're screaming so much my dear..." Pulling it together, he reached for the supplies on the table. "I would be raging myself if that were in my pants."

"Really now..." Maddie groaned through her laughter.

"What?!" He looked up to her. "I would!" With a knowing grin, he looked back down at their daughter who seemed to be quieting now that he was cleaning her up. "Your mum would too...I guarantee it." With quick work and steady hands, he had her in a clean nappy and was zipping up her pajamas and pulling her back up into his arms. "There you are little miss...now let's go see Mum for some breakfast..." With a snicker and a sigh, Maddie watched the two of them with nothing short of adoration in her eyes–even if she could barely keep them open. "Here we are..." He reached her side of the bed, leaning in to settle the squirming little baby into Maddie's awaiting arms.

"Thank you," Maddie smiled up at him as she adjusted their daughter, bringing her in so she could nurse, hissing as she latched on. "Wow..." She exhaled, turning wide eyes up to Harry as he watched in interest and intrigue.

His teeth clenched, his eyebrows lifting. "Hurts?"

"Mmm. A little." Maddie nodded, settling back as Lilli settled in. "I'm just getting used to it is all."

"Sure. And I suppose it would hurt after somebody clamped on every two hours..." He pressed his palms to his own chest, grimacing as he thought about it.

"Maybe we'll try it sometime," she wagged her eyebrows at him, laughing with him as he looked down at their nursing baby. "They're still tender and...seriously...so big."

"Ha. Yes they are." His smile slipped smug as his head tipped to the side. "You know, I know this is going to sound incredibly inappropriate..."

"A thousand dollars says I know what you're about to say," she narrowed her eyes at him.

"But they look...amazing..."

"Annnnnd...you owe me a thousand dollars," she tried to glare up at him but the humor in his eyes matched that in her own. Turning her smile down to her daughter, she shook her head. "You do know that they are only this big because they are full of milk, which is there to feed your child."

"You know, you would think that would somehow make it less sexy..." His finger stroked her cheek as he leaned to kiss her. "But it doesn't."

"Of course not," Maddie sighed. "Your father is a strange man Miss Lilli...but we sure love him, don't we."

"That's what I like to hear," Harry chuckled as he climbed back into bed next to her. "Okay. Tell me. What can I do for you? Water? Tea? Some of the pizza Bernard left for you?" Just as he had every time before, he offered up a variety of options, of things she might need or want as she fed their baby.

"No," Maddie shook her head, stifling a yawn. "Nothing, thank you. Just..." Her hand reached out to him, rubbing along his slightly rough jawline. "Just stay here with me..."

"Okay," he pulled her hand to his lips for a kiss, his head falling to his pillow next to her, watching her in his new standard mode of awe. "Okay..."

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"Hey..." Harry's voice was just above a whisper as he snuck into their room, standing next to Maddie as she watched Lilli sleep. She was nestled up on the soft blanket Hannah had made out of Jay's old shirts, sleeping soundly.

"Hey," Maddie turned a soft smile to him. "Are they here yet?"

"No," he shook his head, his fingers moving over hers as they rested on the railing of Lilli's bed. "They are on their way but...I don't know..." He looked down at his daughter, her lips moving in a slight, soft sucking motion as she napped. "Do we dare wake her?"

"I don't know," Maddie shook her head, biting her lip to keep from laughing. "There is the old adage...never wake a sleeping baby, but..." She sucked in a breath and grinned. "She's expecting a visit from the Queen."

"Ha..." Harry laughed, low and quiet. "Well, she doesn't know that the Queen is coming."

"No, no she doesn't," Maddie shook her head, her hand moving out from under his, reaching to smooth down a wayward puff of red hair on Lilli's head. "You have a busy afternoon little girl. So many people want to meet you..."

"You know, I don't think Gran would ever expect us to wake her just because she's here," Harry's hand moved to Maddie's back, rubbing warmth and comfort. "She's had children before, she understands."

"Yeah?" She turned a smile up to him, her eyebrows lifted.

"Absolutely," he nodded, his hand tightening around her waist, drawing her closer to him. "And so will all of the other people coming after her; Grandpa, my father, your mother..."

"Ha..." Maddie shook her head. "She really didn't need to go stay somewhere else."

"I know," Harry agreed easily. "But she wanted us to have our first night here together...alone..."

"To see if we could make it?" Maddie's lips curled up in amusement.

"Maybe," Harry chuckled. "Or maybe she was just being sweet."

"Maybe she was..." Maddie nodded her head, a small yawn slipping from her lips.

"Hey...how are you love?" His eyes ran over her, checking her smile, cataloging the tired look in her eyes. "You okay?"

"I am," she nodded, leaning into him with a sigh. "I'm tired, but it's only been two days and...I think I'm supposed to be tired." Pressing a kiss to his chest, she nudged him. "And you? You seem to be holding up pretty well."

"Yeah?" He couldn't help the smirk that flashed across his lips.

"Yeah. And you've had the same amount of sleep as I have...probably less...I don't understand..."

"Well you were the one who grew her," he tipped her chin up so that he could kiss her. "Of course you're more tired than I. All I did was...stand by in awe."

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"Harry..." Maddie was stretched out on the couch in the living room, catching up on her emails, on the news as Lilli napped. "My God...Harry..."

"Yes?" He looked up from the file he was reading, catching the warm smile on her face. "Everything okay?"

"Okay?" Maddie laughed, shaking her head. "Everything is...wow...Harry." She pulled her eyes from the computer screen, looking right at him. "Have you seen the news?"

"I have," Harry chuckled at the wide-eyed look on her face. "Apparently some married couple had a baby. It was a girl." The smirk on his lips was reflected in his eyes. "They haven't revealed her name yet, but we are all on our toes."

"Ha!" Maddie laughed, shaking her head. "Well, rumor has it we should find out this afternoon."

"Thank God!" Harry winked, tossing his hands up in mock relief before he settled back in his seat and nodded to her. "That's not what you were talking about though, was it?"

"No," Maddie giggled. "No it wasn't..." Tucking her feet up under her, she softened. "I was talking about the coverage of Invictus."

"Ah..." He nodded, his eyes glancing away with a bit of embarrassment. "That."

"Yes Harry, that." Maddie's foot stretched out to poke him. "Goodness, Captain. You pulled off something amazing. And what's even better....is that the entire world knows it and is acknowledging it and....Harry, baby...it's...it's wonderful."

Taking a deep breath in, he sat his file aside and let it out, his eyes rising to meet hers. "The coverage has been remarkable."

"The Games were remarkable," Maddie inserted with a tip of her head. "It must feel nice, right? To get the recognition you deserve?"

"I don't know," he shrugged, his shy smile tipping higher. "It's nice to see the games getting the recognition. It's nice that they are already talking about next year, that other cities are already contacting my office to talk about hosting and organization prospects and..." He sighed. "Yes...yes. It feels...nice. But you know as well as I do that it wasn't me..."

"Harry," she shook her head.

"It wasn't," he insisted. "It was a team of highly talented people..."

"Lead by a highly talented leader and..."

"Madeline," he tried again to deflect her praise, having always been a little uncomfortable with the praise.

"You know..." She paused, her eyes growing soft as her mind drifted thoughtful. "You know who you remind me of right now?" She only waited a beat before she continued. "Khenda."

"What?" He blinked in surprise, his heart thumping in his chest at the mention of his beloved friend.

"You do," Maddie leaned closer. "Remember? Every time you would complement her on the work she was doing in Bendal, she would always redirect the praise to 'the team'. Just like you're doing now. But we both know that it was her influence and her leadership that made it happen Just like it was yours that brought Invictus together."

"Wow..." His voice cracked as her words washed over him. "I don't know what to say to that..."

"Good," Maddie smiled even wider. "I'm proud of you Captain. And she would be too. And I know that things have been crazy around here and really...baby focused. But I want you to know...I'm incredibly proud of you."

"Thank you," Harry smiled, his cheeks flushing. "That means a lot to me, Maddie. Thank you."

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"Okay," Harry clapped his hands together, his mind at work as his eyes looked over all of the items they had set out on the counter of their bathroom. "Bath time."

"Bath time," Maddie nodded as she held Lilli in her arms, bouncing her just a little as Harry arranged the bottles on the counter, moving the plastic tub closer to the sink. "Think it'll go easier this time?"

"Yes..." He nodded, turning a wide grin to her as he shrugged. "I don't know. She's awfully slippery."

"Yes she is," Maddie smiled down at Lilli, adjusting her around. "You're a slippery little girl when you're all wet and bubbly."

"You know, I think maybe last time it was the angle of the tub. I think if we leave it up on the counter instead of putting it in the big tub, we'll have better leverage."

"Sounds reasonable to me," Maddie nodded. "Maybe this time Lilli will get more of a bath than you."

"Easy," his eyes met hers. "You know...if you'd be more comfortable, we could always ask your mother..."

"We could," Maddie nodded. "She is just down the hall but..."

"You want to do it," he supplied for her, understanding and on board.

"I do," Maddie smiled, taking a breath and letting it out with a sigh. "You'll stay though?"

"Absolutely," he nodded without question. And then, as he reached out to turn on the water, a thought struck him. "Hold on..." His hand pulled back and he looked up to Maddie. "I have an idea."

"Yeah?" She lifted her eyebrows, kissing the soft red wisps of Lilli's hair. "What's your idea daddy?"

"Well..." He moved in closer to her, his hands reaching out to take Lilli from her. "I would be happy to show you Mum. But you...you're going to have to take off your clothes."

"Henry." Her arms folded over her chest as Harry grinned down at his daughter.

"We're going to get in the shower," Harry explained quickly. "I think that maybe it might be easier to just...give her a shower." He turned to Maddie with an easy smile. "I can hold her while you soap her up. What do you say Mum?"

"Well," Maddie thought it over for only a second. "It's not the worst idea you've had."

"Yeah?" He lifted his eyebrows, a smirk already pulling at his lips.

"Yeah," her lips curled up right along with his.

"Good," he nodded to her. "Now take off your clothes."

"Ha..." She bit her lip as she shook her head. "I'll start the water. YOU take off your clothes Captain."

"Yes Ma'am," Harry laughed, letting Maddie scoop their daughter from his arms before he pulled his t-shirt up over his head. "Your mum enjoys bossing me around Lilli-bean," he leaned over to kiss her cheeks before tugging at his shorts.

"Don't listen to him little miss," Maddie cuddled her close as she reached into the shower to turn on the water. "He likes it too..."

"It's true," Harry sighed, moving to her side. "Okay...I'll go in while you take her clothes off and then you can hand her over?"

"Got it," Maddie nodded, watching him as he moved past her, not even pretending not to look at his ass.

"I know what you're doing," he called out to her as he stepped into the streaming water.

"Sorry!" She laughed, moving over to the counter where a large fluffy towel was laid out. "I couldn't help it!" She rolled her eyes at herself as she laid Lilli down, pulling off her little clothes, her diaper. And in a soft, sweet voice, she spoke to Lilli. "I just couldn't help it. Okay little one...let's go to daddy." Lifting a naked and alert Lilli up into her arms, Maddie moved quickly to the warm shower as Harry opened the door and held out his arms. "You ready?"

"Yes," he nodded, smiling at Lilli as she opened her eyes wide, squirming in Maddie's hands. "Are you going to come in and take a shower with daddy?"

"Hold on tight to her..." Maddie's hands eased Lilli into his, but didn't quite let go. "She gets really slippery..."

"Yes I remember," Harry's smile was focused on his daughter. "I have her Maddie. I swear I won't drop her..."

"I know..." Maddie's laugh was nervous, knowing she was being ridiculous for being so worried.

"You can let her go," Harry looked up to her. "I have her. I promise."

"Okay," Maddie nodded. "Okay..." Her words, her reassurances were more for her than anyone else. "Okay." With a deep breath, she let go.

"There we go..." Harry pulled Lilli into his chest, his arms moving protectively around her. Bouncing her lightly in his arms, he moved them both into the water, careful to keep her face from the stream, watching her closely for any upset. After a moment, he grinned, his eyes flashing up to Maddie who still stood at the door, watching. "You know what...I think she likes it."

"I think she does," Maddie nodded, happy and relieved

"Now come on mum," Harry waved his hand at her. "Come on in. Bring the soap."

"Ha..." Maddie bit her lip, her cheeks flushing just a bit. "I don't know Harry."

"You don't know?" His gaze turned confused. "What do you mean you don't know?"

"I....ha..." She laughed at herself, looking down at the floor, out at the wall; anything to avoid his eyes. "This is going to sound ridiculous to you but..." She took a long, deep breath. "I just had a baby and my body is...."

"Madeline," he started before she could even finish.

"Soft," she cut him off. "Soft and squishy and nothing is in the right place and..."

"You're right," Harry spoke up, causing her eyes to snap up to his. "You're absolutely right."

"I..." She sputtered.

"That does sound ridiculous."

"Harry..."

"Absolutely ridiculous." His eyes were fixed on her as he held onto their daughter. "You had a child Maddie..."

"Yes I know."

"Like four days ago!" He shook his head, moving closer to the door.

"I know..." Her voice was a whisper as her emotions shifted. She felt a bit out of sorts, awkward and sad and happy and...tired. "I know."

"Love," he called to her, wanting her to look to him, wanting her to take on some of his confidence. "Everything is supposed to be a little out of place right now..." He was being so sweet with her. "You gave our daughter a wonderful, warm place to live for nine months...it'll take a little while for that to even out."

"Harry..." She felt tears in her eyes as her voice cracked.

"And, if you don't know already, I'm beyond impressed, overly awed, at what that amazing body of yours has done and I love every single squishy part of it..."

And it worked. His words made her laugh. "Jesus." She rolled her eyes.

"I do," his lips spread into a grin as he held out his hand. "Now please, Lilli needs to be cleaned and I think it'll be so much easier with the two of us..." His eyes met hers and he nodded his head toward the streaming water behind him. "If you really must, you can wear your clothes but..."

"No..." Maddie let out a breath, frustrated with herself, with the way she felt, with her momentary lack of confidence. "No, no. I'll come in just...give me a minute."

"That's my girl," Harry smiled up at her and then down at Lilli. "And you're my girl too. Yes you are..." He drew her up closer to him, kissing her cheeks. "Daddy is a lucky, lucky man, with such beautiful, amazing girls at home..." He kissed her again. "Now as soon as your mum gets in here, we're going to clean you right up."

"Okay..." Maddie spoke to herself, taking another deep breath before she began to pull off her clothes; laying them in a pile before she moved to join her husband–her amazing, sexy husband–in the shower with their daughter.

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When Maddie returned home from her one week doctor appointment with Lilli, Harry was there waiting for her. Hurrying towards the door, he had a wide smile on his face, his hands reaching out to take the baby carrier from her.

"My girls are home!"

"Yes we are," Maddie smiled as she eyed him. "And so are you..." She shut the door behind her and watched as he lifted the carrier up, peering in at Lilli. "I thought you were going to go to the office this afternoon?"

"I was," he shrugged, setting the carrier down on the table and reaching in to take Lilli out. "But I called Thomas and he sent me a few things over and I'm working here instead."

"Aw honey," Maddie's smile was endearing as she shook her head at him. "You know you're going to have to go back to work eventually."

"Eventually," he eyed her with a smirk. "But not today..." Lifting a wiggily Lilli up into his arms, he cooed down at her. "No, no. Not today Lilli-bean. Not today." With a kiss to his daughter's cheeks, he stood tall and leaned to kiss Maddie. "Hi love."

"Hi Captain," she smiled against his lips.

"How was the appointment?"

"Good," Maddie nodded, her eyes darting away just a bit. "Lilli is perfect."

"Well we know that," Harry chuckled as they moved into the living room. "Any news?"

"Well," Maddie's arms crossed over her chest as she dropped into the large, stuffed chair. "She's apparently a hungry little goose." Maddie sighed. "And I'm not producing enough milk for her. So...the doctor suggested we supplement with some formula in a bottle."

"Oh really?" Harry's eyebrows lifted as he looked up to her. "How often?"

"Just once a day," a small smile pulled at her lips. "He said just one for now. He suggested I let you have one of the late night feedings." Though she winked and grinned, Harry could see that something was a little off, that her eyes were a little distant.

"Well I would be happy to take one of the late night feedings," he smiled down at Lilli before looking back to Maddie. "You don't seem as excited about it..."

"Yeah..." She sighed, rolling her eyes at herself. "I don't know. I feel...I feel a little...disappointed in myself I guess."

"Maddie..."

"And," she cut him off. "And I feel silly for feeling that way. But I can't help it." Taking a deep breath, she shook her head and moved forward in her chair. "BUT. I am excited that you get to feed our little monster," her smile was genuine, brightening her eyes as she looked up at him. "I think you're really going to enjoy it daddy."

"I think so too," he watched her for a moment, sweet and protective. "You okay mum?"

"I am," she nodded, catching his gaze reassuringly. "I will be. I promise."

"Okay," he nodded, taking her at her word. "Okay then. Now, which shift would you like me to take? Three am?"

"Ha!" Maddie clapped her hands together. "You're really up for three am?"

"Ah love," he held on to Lilli as he leaned in to kiss Maddie again. "I'm up for anything you need."

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"She is absolutely beautiful," Charles smiled down adoringly at his granddaughter as he cradled her in his arms.

"Isn't she," Harry stood just over his father's shoulder, a matching smile on his face. "She looks just like her mother..."

"Yes," Charles nodded, glancing up to Hannah who sat across from them. "Does she look like Madeline when she was a baby?"

Hannah nodded, taken with the scene in front of her; these two men fawning over this tiny little baby. "She does. I have some photos at home that look almost exactly like her."

"Is that so?" Charles lifted his eyebrows, turning his smile back to Lilli.

"I would be happy to send over copies if you would like," Hannah offered.

"Yes. I would love to see them," Charles nodded happily. "Thank you very much."

"Of course," Hannah agreed, making a mental note as Maddie rejoined them.

"I'm sorry," she took a deep breath and moved into the room, smiling as she looked around. "I didn't mean for that call to take so long.."

"Not a problem." Harry looked up to her. "How is Kyle?"

"Great," Maddie moved to a chair next to her mother. "He saw pictures of Lilli, loves her name, wants to meet her..."

"Did you tell him we'd be out in May for your mother's graduation?" Harry asked

"I did," Maddie nodded, reaching for her drink. "He's happy we're coming."

"I'm happy you're coming," Hannah piped up, thrilled that they would there to share in her moment, that she would be able to show off her granddaughter.

"It will be great to take her to the farm, show her the land..." Harry smiled as he thought of it.

"Mmm," Maddie agreed. "You know, we should take her out to Highgrove; the fresh air, the gardens..."

"Well we would be happy to have you any time you like," Charles turned a bright smile to Maddie. "Any time at all." He bent to kiss Lilli's head. "Now, would you like to see what we have in these boxes for you little darling?" He turned to Harry with emotion and memories in his eyes. "Would you like to open up the boxes? See what your mother left for you?"

"Of course," Harry nodded, looking over at the boxes his father had brought over. As Charles handed Lilli over to Hannah, Harry moved the boxes next to the couch and took a seat next to his father. Lifting the lid off of the box, his features softened.

There was a quiet sort of sweetness in the air as Harry began to pull items out, looking them over and setting them aside. There were a few soft, little blankets, a handful of toys; rattles and a stuffed bunny. There was a framed painting of the nursery rhyme "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" with beautiful pastel stars painted in a soft sky. As Harry pulled the items from the box, Charles told him the stories he knew; that the painting had been in Diana's room as a child, that it had been one of her favorites. There were a few books with worn little pages and Diana's childhood signature in the front covers.

The second box contained mostly clothes; sweet little bonnets, a tiny pair of shoes, some sleepers and a few outfits; one of which was a delicate little white eyelet dress with matching little pants with ruffles. As Harry held it up to Maddie, his eyes were bright and full of emotion as he looked through his mother's belongings.

"You know..." Maddie reached for the dress as she smiled at her husband. "This might be perfect for the family photo we're taking tomorrow."

"Yeah?" His eyebrows lifted, his voice soft.

"Yeah," Maddie nodded. "It looks like just about the right size for her..." She had to blink at the tears that welled in her eyes. "But only if you're okay with it. I know it's old and full of memories."

"No, no," Harry shook his head, swallowing back a lump in his throat. "I would love that. I would..." He turned to look at his father. "Is that okay?"

"Oh Henry," Charles' hand was warm on his shoulder. "Of course it is. These are yours to do with what you like."

"What about Will and Arthur and..." Harry cleared his throat.

"I spoke with your brother and he was in absolute agreement that it should be yours, that it should be Lilli's," he turned his smile to his granddaughter nestled in Hannah's arms.

"Well okay then," Harry nodded, turning to look at his daughter; his eyes sliding up to meet Maddie's and she could see just how big this moment was for him. "I think the dress would be perfect for the photo tomorrow."

"Yeah," Maddie smiled over at him, her arms bringing Lilli in closer as her own emotions swelled. "I think so too."

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"I think she's listening to me Maddie." It was a Sunday afternoon and the cold outside had chilled the windows. But inside there was a fire burning and Harry sat on the couch, looking down at Lilli who was laying in her boppy pillow on the ottoman in front of him.

"Oh yeah?" Maddie called out from the entryway as she pulled on her coat, readying to take her mother to the airport.

"Yes..." He grinned down at Lilli, her eyes following him as he nodded. "Yes I do. I think you're listening to me. Are you listening to your daddy? Are you?" He couldn't help the way his voice slipped slow and sweet, even though he knew he would catch rounds of mocking if anyone overheard him. He didn't care. Lilli's tiny little smile was impossible to withstand and at only a few weeks old, she had him completely ensorcelled. As he smiled wide at her, his fingers tickling along her sides, he sighed. "I swear she's listening to me Maddie."

Maddie's hand was soft on his shoulder as she returned to the room, buttoning up her coat and wrapping her scarf around her neck. "She is listening to you Captain," Maddie glanced over at the two of them, smirking at the look on Harry's face. "In fact, I think she's laughing at you."

"Are you laughing at your father?" He leaned in close to her, his fingers walking up her tiny little body, making her smile more. "Are you laughing at me? That's okay if you are. You can laugh at me..."

"Goodness," Maddie shook her head, loving the way he was with Lilli; reveling in the happiness she brought to the both of them. "Are you two going to be okay while I take my mother to catch her flight?"

"Of course we are," Harry spoke to Lilli first before turning to look up at Maddie. "Of course we are." Scooping Lilli up into his arms, he rose to his feet, following Maddie back to entryway Hannah's suitcases were already lined up by the front door. "You know...I was reading the baby book today."

"Yeah?" Maddie chuckled as she reached for her purse. "What did you learn?"

"That she prefers her mum's face over any other..." Harry's voice dipped low as he moved in close, his lips seeking hers. "See. She's only a few weeks old and already so much like her father."

Maddie chuckled as she kissed him back. "Very nice." She kissed him again. "You'll be here when I get home?"

"I will be. Though...we might both be napping."

"Okay," Maddie pulled back from him just as her mother began down the stairs. "Well I'll be quiet when I come in."

"Thank you," Harry winked at her before turning towards Hannah. "Okay grandma...would you like some last minute snuggles before you have to go?"

"Ugh," Hannah groaned, smiling as she took Lilli from Harry's arms. "I just want to take her with me. Can I please just take her with me?"

"Mum?" Harry lifted his eyebrows to Maddie who laughed and shook her head.

"No, no. Not this time. But we will be there in just a few short months."

"Not short enough," Hannah sighed, looking over Lilli, trying to memorize her smile and her cheeks and her eyes; how she felt and how she smelled. "You two should be very proud of yourselves. She's absolutely perfect."

"We are proud of ourselves," Harry joked. "And I agree. I'm not sure we could have done any better."

"No, you couldn't have," Hannah grinned up at him. "And you've both done so well being first time parents. I'm just...incredibly impressed."

"Well, we've loved having you here," Harry's hand ran over her shoulder, sincerity in his smile. "And you are absolutely always welcome back. I hope you know that."

"Thank you," she smiled as she leaned to kiss his cheek. "You're an amazing father Harry. Lilli is very lucky to have you." Before Harry could respond, she turned to Maddie. "And you...my goodness Madeline. What a wonderful mother you are."

"Mom..." Maddie felt her emotions building in her throat.

"You are," she held her daughter's eyes. "You have this remarkable natural ability. I'm so proud of you."

"Are you trying to make me cry?" Maddie laughed as she waved her hands at her eyes.

"No, no," Hannah laughed too. "I just want you both to know that. Even on those sleepless nights, even when the crazy piles up...you're doing very, very well."

A soft knock at the door cut into the sweet moment.

"It's time to go," Hannah grew teary, her face dropping to kiss Lilli's forehead. "Keep being a good, sweet girl for your mom and dad, okay little one..." She kissed her again. "I'll see you soon." She hugged her tight and close. "I love you so much." And then, with a smile and a sigh, she handed Lilli over to Harry, kissing his cheeks one more time before she let him go. "Okay." She wiped at her eyes and turned to Maddie. "We should go."

"Okay," Maddie nodded, offering her mother's hand a comforting squeeze before she leaned in to kiss Lilli and then Harry. "I'll be back."

With one last round of "I love you's" and promises to be together soon, the door was opened and Maddie, Hannah and her luggage were whisked away.

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When Maddie slipped back into their home after a tearful good-bye with her mother, she was quiet with the door, soft with her steps; knowing they might both be napping. Setting aside her purse and her keys and hanging up her coat, she peeked around the main floor before taking to the stairs. As she made her way down the hallway, she could hear them–or more rightly him. Slowing as she approached the door to the nursery, she stopped in the doorway, and the scene inside melted her heart.

Settled into the rocker, with his feet propped up on the ottoman and a drifting Lilli nestled into his arms, Harry spoke to her in his low, deep, soft voice. "So the Prince went to see this magical doctor. He spent time with her; talking to her and laughing with her and before he could even tell her about his broken smile, she had fixed it..." Maddie's hand pressed to her chest, in effort to keep her swelling heart in place as she recognized Harry's fairy tale. "Before he knew it, the Prince was smiling. And it was wider and bigger and happier than he had ever smiled and he knew..."

"What did he know?" Maddie's voice was quiet as she called out to him, his eyes and his smile lifting instantly to her.

Without blinking, he continued. "That he had to spend the rest of his life with her."

"Ah," Maddie nodded, moving over to sit on the ottoman, her hands running warm along his legs. "The Prince and the Magical Doctor?"

"You recognize it," he grinned, wanting to draw her in, wanting her to be closer to him.

"I do. I do." Leaning closer, she looked down at their sleeping daughter, so peaceful in Harry's big, protective arms. "Did she like it?"

"She loved it," Harry nodded, smiling down at Lilli. "Of course, I added in a few dragons."

"Yeah?" Maddie chuckled. "Did she like the dragons?"

"She loved the dragons," Harry assured her. "In fact. I think we might have a little dragon-slayer on our hands."

"Yeah?" Maddie's eyes were amused–and tired–as she smiled up at her husband.

"Yeah," he nodded. "Your mother made it to the airport fine?"

"She did," Maddie sucked in a breath. "I'm going to miss her."

"Me too," Harry agreed. "And so is Lilli."

"And..." Maddie moved a little closer to him, her hands running higher towards his knee. "And it will be nice to be just the three of us."

"Yeah?" Harry's eyes lit up just a bit.

"Yeah."

"You know. I could put Lilli in her crib and maybe you and I could go crawl in our own bed and do a little snuggling of our own..." His eyebrows wagged as he offered. "What would you think of that?"

"Hmmm..." Maddie's smile warmed. "I think I would like that."

"I think I would too." Holding tight to Lilli, Harry pulled his feet from the ottoman and stood, moving soft and slow as he took Lilli to her bed. Easing her down to the soft quilt that was spread out, he was careful as he let her down, as he let her go. Pausing to make sure she was fine, to watch her settle, he smoothed his fingers over her soft hair and turned around to face Maddie. With an outstretched hand and a wide smile, he nodded his head to the side and lifted his eyebrows. "Come on Mum...join me?"

Slipping her fingers into his, she let him pull her up from the ottoman. And as they slipped from Lilli's room, she let him wrap his big, strong arm around her. And though she was tired, though she was overwhelmed in the most wonderful of ways with all that was going on around her, she felt centered and strong and anchored. To Harry and this wonderful little family they had created.