The Unexpected Journey-A Prince Harry Fan Fic

Chapter 182

By the time Maddie stepped foot in the hospital in Colorado, she was more than a little disoriented. With the hours it took to get there, the change in time as she had travelled, it felt surreal to be walking the halls of the hospital with Arthur close at her side. Still wearing her dress and heels from Trooping the Color, she had only taken the time to unpin the fascinator from her hair and pack a bag before jumping in the car and heading to the airport.

It had all happened so fast. One minute they were dealing with the fallout of the upcoming interview--the interview she had missed in her travels--and the very next minute they were learning of this tragedy that had struck their family. Harry had insisted she leave right away. He had assured her that Lilli would be fine staying behind with him. He had known there was a place she needed to be that wasn't at their side--and they would be okay without her for a little bit. So she had agreed. She had waited until Greta had returned with Lilli, until she had snuggled her daughter close and showered her with love and then she said good-bye.

But before she walked out the door, before Harry had let her go, he had pulled her into his arms, he had tucked her as close and as tight to him as he could possibly get her and he had kissed her.

Long and slow and deep, wanting to solidify the connection between them, wanting to keep her warmth with him even when she left. Wanting her to know in her bones that no matter what happened, no matter the interview, no matter what came next--he was right there waiting for her.

She carried that kiss with her on the flight; the taste of him, the heat of his hands, the look in his eyes. Things were so heavy between them at the moment, weighted with the way they seemed to be standing shoulder to shoulder against these hits that seemed to keep coming. She missed him next to her like she missed a part of her soul, a part of her body.

Despite the heat of the summer, Maddie felt chilled as she moved through the halls. Wrapping her arms around herself, her hands rubbed warmth to her skin as she read the signs that would lead her to her family. There were a few second looks, a few confused glances from people who thought they might recognize her though nearly all of them shook it off and Maddie was thankful for that.

She didn't care so much if people knew her, didn't care if they wanted to snap quick photos as she hurried past, didn't even care if they gaped. She only hoped that by the time she reached her cousin, by the time she reached her family, they would leave them alone--that they would respect that privacy.

Her stomach churned as she thought of all the ways their privacy had been violated and for a split second she paused, for a brief, fleeting moment, she second guessed her decision to be there. Maybe her presence would only bring more chaos, maybe it would only make things worse.

Her throat grew tight and her eyes welled up and her mind scattered. The very last thing she wanted to do was cause Amy or Kyle any more grief...

And then she rounded the corner and she spotted a small gathering of her family members. Less than twenty yards away from her was her Uncle Patrick; tired and worse for the wear. Sitting next to him was Jenna, frowning down at a cup of coffee as Gary and Derek spoke softly off to the side.

"Ma'am?" Arthur's voice was whisper soft and when she turned to look at him, his smile was small and sympathetic. "Are you okay?"

Gulping at the emotions in her throat, Maddie nodded. "Yes." And then, as the tears won out, she shook her head. She wasn't okay. She hadn't even seen Kyle yet and already the grief was taking over.

Wiping at her eyes, she willed her feet to move and she closed the space between herself and her family. Jenna was the first to look up, the click of Maddie's heels cutting into the murkiness of her thoughts.