#Princeharryff

[ourplaceinthecosmosphff]

Chapter 28. Switzerland

‘I did think, let’s go about this slowly. This is important. This should take some really deep thought. We should take small thoughtful steps.

But, bless us, we didn’t.’ -Mary Oliver

“By the way…” I added, breathlessly, as he kissed my neck, “I’m falling in love with you, too.”

I felt his hand aggressively grip my tight in response as he pulled my hip into him. He released a heavy breath on my neck and paused, leaning back slightly to look at me.

“You are?”

I smiled. “Where’s all that confidence, Your Royal Highness?”

He grinned and leaned forward grabbing my lower lip with his teeth on a gentle nip. I tightened the hold of my legs around his.

He kissed me again, this time his hands slid up to my jaw, steadying my face in place so his mouth could frame mine strongly, his tongue and mine dancing together as our hips moved as one trying to get impossibly closer.

He nibbled my lower lip again, breaking the kiss; I moaned a complaint, feeling his lips grin against my neck. His hands hovered hungrily around my back, then slid down to pull down the fabric on my waist. He leaned back, looking at my body.

"I don't know how to get you out of this thing." He complained, making me chuckle.

I pushed him back so I could jump down from the table. I gave my back to him, moving my hair to the front, pointing to the flap of fabric on my back hiding a zipper. He undid it quickly, pulling my jumpsuit down to my feet in one swift, fast move. He stayed crouched down as he did, his hands held onto my legs and he slid them up slowly, making my entire body shiver.

When they reached my hips, I felt his mouth on my ass, biting it gently as his hands slid to my crotch as he stood up again, his lips grazing my back slowly as he did. One of his hands made their way up across my stomach, touching my belly button up until the area under my breasts, as the other slid further down between my legs, over my underwear.

Breathless, I pressed my hips back into him just as his hand grabbed a firm hold over my breast; I let my head fall back on his shoulder, bringing one arm up to grab a fistful of his hair.  While his other hand rubbed strongly against my cunt, over my underwear, his lips traced down my neck. The feeling of his stubble against my skin, his hands over my body in the exact way I had fantasized about so many times, it made my legs tremble, my breath weaken, my clit pulsate in anticipation.

"Fuck..." I moaned out, weakly.

"Language, Mary." He whispered, his lips on my ear.

"Fuck you." I replied, smiling, tugging on his hair.

In one fast move, his hands left my body to untie my bra; he  gently spun me around to face him, now almost completely naked.

Self-conscious, I pulled him closer again, but he held my arms in place. Stepping back, he looked at me, an appreciative, seductive grin in his lips as his eyes hovered down my chest, my stomach, my hips, my legs...

"What?!" I asked, impatiently, feeling my cheeks blush as I rubbed my thighs together; every inch of my body already missing his hands.

"I just want to look at you." He said, hands running down his hair.

"This is embarrassing." I complained, shyly, crossing my arms over my chest.

He chuckled, biting his lower lip. He took a step closer, and pulled my arms down, still watching every piece of my skin.

"Why?"

"Because!" I laughed, nervously. "I'm naked! And you're watching me."

"I'm not watching you." He corrected, his hands lightly grazing my body as they found their way to my breasts. "I'm worshiping you..." His eyes found mine, serious, just as his fingers gently pinched my nipples. "The way you deserve."

His hands held onto my chest, firmly, and his thumbs started rubbing circles around my nipples, just as his mouth found mine again. He started slowly, gently, but it was exactly enough to send waves of inciting pleasure down my body. I pushed my body against his, and his leg flexed between mine. I mounted one leg over his hip, feeling his thigh under my cunt.

"This isn't fair." I complained, my arms around his neck, still covered by his shirt. It was unbuttoned, so just as he leaned back I pulled it down, and he shrugged it off to the floor.

I grabbed a hold of his muscly shoulders, sliding my hands down slowly down his torso. I leaned closer, laying a gentle kiss over his skin, covering his chest with kisses until I reached his neck. His hand grabbed a firm hold onto my hair, the other traveled lightly down my body to squeeze my hips closer to his. His hands were too big on me, nearly covering the whole of my back.

I kissed his neck allowing my hands to get to know his body; I had spent so long wondering what he would feel like under my palms, it felt exhilarating to be able to freely touch him, so I did. I touched every inch of his chest, his stomach, the curve of his hips, until my hands found his belt, which I unceremoniously undid.

"Curious?" He asked, his voice still as teasing, but now strained, lower.

I answered by letting his pants fall to the floor, reaching down to allow my hand to hover over his bulge. He bit my neck in response, a little stronger, a puff of heavy breath down my skin. I moved my hand down, gulping at the touch of him, thick, strong, hard, on my hand. He kissed my clavicle, panting. I moved my hand up, firmly; I felt him getting harder as I did, but just as I was moving my hand more firmly around him, his hands gripped my thighs again and pulled me up to the table, making me lose my reach.

His hands slid down my legs to my knees, pulling them apart slowly, around his waist, dragging me closer as he pressed his hips against mine. He reached behind me and pushed whatever was on the table to the floor, leaning down to lay me against it, his mouth trailing kisses down my neck, my clavicle, and my breasts, kissing one while one of his hands gripped the other. I squeezed my legs tighter around him, enjoying the feeling of his hardened dick against me.

His hands grabbed hold of my hips, strongly pushing them down in place.

"So impatient..." He teased.

"Shut up." I complained, weakly, trying to sit up to kiss him, but before I could his hands held onto my neck, pulling my mouth onto his, lowering me down to the table again.

I felt one of his arms slide down my body, over my stomach, reaching down below my navel and over my lace panties to hover my labia; his hand was so big it covered my whole pussy as he pressed more firmly against it.

"Is this okay?" He asked, whispery, looking up from my breasts.

I smiled in response and he pressed his middle finger down, starting to move up and down slowly, making strained moans leave me against my will.

"Good?" He asked, now sounding definitely teasing. I pulled him more firmly against me with my legs in response.

"God--" I let out, breathless, as his finger found my clit. "There--" I begged.

My back arching, my legs trembling, he reached his other hand over to hold onto my neck, lightly holding it over my throat. He moved my underwear out of the way and fingered me down, feeling just how wet I'd become.

I saw the grin taking over his lips, and pulled him up for a kiss before he could tease me about it, biting his lips mercilessly the more his fingers moved in me. I came with a spasm of pleasure with his mouth to my neck, sweating weakly.

He kissed me again, slowly. His hand between my legs continued to run all over my cunt, now delicately, as if just enjoying the feeling of it.

He leaned back, pulling my lower lip between his. "Can I taste you?"

I nodded, kissing him again, deeper now. I barely knew what he asked; I would have said yes to anything.

He reached down, pulling my panties off. He spread my legs wider, and traced down my body with his lips until they were over my labia; he kissed me slowly, from below to the top, letting his tongue get to know every nook and cranny. When he found my clit again, a moan escaped before I could stop it, it was the only sign he needed. He kept his mouth over it, his tongue circling it, first with kitty licks, then strongly while his finger reached down from below to enter me again, sliding in easily, familiar. He fastened the rhythm and waited until I was moaning breathlessly again before adding one more finger while his tongue continued to add pressure to my center, circling, sucking, until I was thrusting myself into him.

When I looked down, desperately, his eyes found mine, hungry, but I didn't feel the need to look away. I felt an overwhelming wave wash over me, taking over control of my every movement while I came with a strained, high pitched moan; his face between my shaky, weakened legs.

Panting, I fell back down on the table, eyes closed as I breathed quickly, wishing time would stop. He gave my navel one final kiss before making his way up my body. He laid his head between my breasts as his hands found mine, intertwining our fingers.

When I felt I might not fall back down again, I sat us both up slowly. I felt myself dripping over his table, and his hard cock between my legs, but his eyes were all I saw while he rested his forehead on mine.

We remained like this for longer than felt appropriate, just nuzzling our noses together as our breaths evened out together.

“Truth or dare?” He asked, eventually.

I smiled; “If I say truth, will you ask me to rate your performance?”

He chuckled, his cheeks reddening slightly. “No.”

“Okay. Truth.”

He let out a deep breath. “Did you mean it?”

For a moment I thought he was asking if I was faking it, but his expression was too serious.

“When you said you were falling in love with me.” He explained, whispery, probably finding the confusion on my face. “You know you don’t have to say it just because I did?”

I smiled, and leaned over to lay a quick kiss over his lips.

“I meant it.”

‘Falling in love’ already felt like the wrong way to put it; there was no falling to it. I was there, I fell. But it felt like too much to say it then.

He smiled, nodded, and gulped. His smile disappeared.

“What are we going to do?” He asked, softly, worried.

I heaved a sigh, and looked at the clock over his kitchen window, doing the math in my head.

“I have… two hours before I need to leave for the train station for the last train to Savoy.” I told him. “So, I guess we have two hours to figure that out.”

I traced the spiderman band aid on his cheek lightly; his arms wrapped around my waist, and he pulled my off the table, mounting me to his lap.

“Okay.” He said. “We can do a lot in two hours.”

Smiling, he walked us upstairs to his room. We could maybe fit a whole universe in two hours.

--- ---- ---

I had never been touched like this: sexually, yet in a non-sexual way. Harry had his hand over my breast, caressing it lightly, innocently, but purposefully, analyzing every inch as if trying to commit it to memory.

“Does this feel good?” He asked, causally, if slightly concerned.

“Yes.” I said, smiling, eyes closed, nearly falling asleep.

He leaned closer and raised himself on his elbow to lay a quick kiss on the side of my breast. He left another over my tattoo, on my shoulder, and then nuzzled my hair with his nose as he settled back down on the pillow.

I had a little less than one hour before I had to get up and get dressed, but I didn’t want to move. My legs still felt too dangerously numb, and the feeling of his embrace behind me under the covers felt so perfect the smallest movement felt like it might destroy it.

“Truth or dare?” He asked, whispery, tracing my neck with his lips.

I smiled. “Truth.” I said, just because the idea of having to move for a dare was too much.

He raised himself on his arm again, resting his chin on his hand to look at me. “…Did–did you ever think about me?”

I looked back at him, amused. “Of course. It’s kind of what you do when falling for someone.”

“What I mean is,” he corrected himself, with an eyeroll, “did you ever think about fucking me?”

To this, I bit my lower lip and stared back at the wall. Harry leaned down, kissing my arm.

“Did you ever, you know… at night… think about what it would be like?”

His hand squeezed my breast a little tighter.

“Yes.” I confessed.

He leaned closer to whisper in my ear.

“Really?” He asked, gently biting my earlobe. “What did you think about?”

I turned to him, grinning.

“No follow up questions, Your Royal Highness.”

He smiled, sighing.

“Truth or dare?” I asked.

“Why do I feel like you just want to get back at me for this question?”

“Pick truth and find out.” I shrugged.

“Truth.”

“…did you?” I asked, simply.

He gave me a long look, still smiling, and then leaned down to touch my lips with his.

“Almost every day.” He said. “When you stayed here, every night I wanted nothing more than to just turn you around and kiss you.”

I smiled. “You were very restrained.”

“Thank you.” He said, seriously, sounding touched, making me laugh.

“You only told me to dump my boyfriend once.”

He grinned. “And I didn’t even call him a fucker like I wanted to.”

I giggled; he leaned down again, capturing my mouth with his.

“I thought about this a lot.” I confessed, just because. Touching my nose to his, I folded one leg up to rest between both of his. “I couldn’t help it. But it always made me sad.”

He touched my forehead with his lips, and stayed there.

“I don’t want this to be it.” He said, still to my forehead.

“Me neither.” I whispered.

“…how much do your parents hate me? Just, you know, ballpark?”

“They–they don’t hate you exactly.” I said, unsure. “They just hate everything you represent.”

“Well, that’s much better.” He teased, making me smile.

I leaned back, looking up at him.

“It’s not about you personally.”

“I did yell at your mother and went against them all when I let you stay here.”

I sighed. “Yeah, that–that was good at the time, but unproductive now.”

He stretched his arm back under his head and looked up at the ceiling.

“What do we do?” He asked, pensive.

I took in a deep breath and pushed myself upwards, kicking off the covers as I got up.

“Hey!” He protested. “Come back, I only have you for another hour.”

“I think better on my feet.” I explained.

I opened his wardrobe and opened a drawer.

“Can I borrow a shirt?”

“Okay, first you get out of bed, now you want to get dressed? What have I done?” He complained; I smiled, picked the first, simple, cotton shirt I could find, and put it on.

“Nevermind, you still look hot.” He sighed, almost sounding disappointed.

“Focus!” I demanded. “Let’s think. What can we do?”

He sighed, and sat up against the headboard.

“Well. What do you want to do?”

“What do you mean?”

“Think about it, what is the problem here? Why can’t we just date?”

“Well, I’m the first in line for the throne of Savoy.” I started. “You’re the fourth in line for the throne of the United Kingdom.”

“And why is that a problem?” He asked, didactic.

“Because the press needs profit, and they achieve it by writing stories about us, real or not, and one of their favorite topics to speculate about is who we will marry one day, so as soon as they know we are together, they’re going to start running every possibility about our future–”

“Exactly.” He interrupted. “The whole problem about us being together is what it could mean for the future.”

“…okay?” I nodded. “So, maybe we should talk about the–future?”

I winced; our relationship was 50 minutes old and we were talking about the future? We were doomed.

“No, wait–that’s not–I don’t mean–”

“No, I–I get it.”

“So…?”

He sighed, and sat up, running both hands up his face and through his hair.

“This is hard.”

“Just–” I started. “What if we just… focused on the present?”

He considered this. “What do you mean?”

I perked up, “Well, what if we just refuse to let this affect us? We just… we pretend we’re normal people. Normal people who just started dating and who don’t need to talk about the future yet, because it’s too soon.”

He nodded. “That sounds good… except–”

“Yes?”

“We’re not the problem.” He argued. “We can do that, sure. I’m sure we can. But, what about the press? Nobody controls them. Also, and I feel like that’s an even worse problem, what about our families? They would never buy into ‘we are focusing on the now’.”

“There’s a simple solution for that… We don’t tell them.” I shrugged. “We don’t have to. We know how they feel. Why should we invite them into our…?” I struggled against the word ‘relationship’. “Stuff?”

“Because they control our lives?”

“Good point.” I sighed.

“Also, how could we keep this from them? My neighbours are all family members and employees of my grandmother. And you literally live with your parents.”

“Yes, but!” I said, excited, kneeling onto the bed. “We live in different countries! So, we’ll only be able to see each other every other weekend, anyway, if we can get our security to keep their mouths shut, we can meet in secret.”

Silent, he thought about this as his eyes hovered around the room. I waited, tense. It felt like asking too much. I knew I was the problem, my situation was the problem. Had we started dating before Louis died, people would complain, yes, but they wouldn’t have nearly as much to say about it.

“If only we lived a century or half ago.” He said. “Then this would just be considered a ‘good match’.”

I grinned. “I know… It’s bizarre.”

When monarchies had transitioned from being only a symbol, to being a working force for the country, they had realized the need for members to help. After all, with modernization, social media and the 24 hours news cycle, there’s only so much one monarch can do. They eventually need family members to help. So, today, ‘spares’ were no longer seen as trading chips to other kingdoms. They were more needed at home, for support.

If Louis was alive, and I was still a spare myself, we would still have had a few hills to climb, but the idea of our future wouldn’t be a huge unknown: I would move to England, take Harry’s title, and sometimes visit my family. We might even be able to work for both countries.

But now, considering we even made it that far, if Harry and I were to marry, he would have to move to Savoy, which would be extremely frowned upon by his family, not only because they would be losing a valuable member of their workforce, but because they already had a history with a family member walking out for love before (Edward VIII, who then became Duke of Windsor). Not only that, the woman he walked out for was also a foreigner. The ripple effect it caused in British history was so big it was still a sensitive subject.

Crucially, the marriage laws for British royalty dictated Harry would lose his titles and place in the line of succession should he marry a catholic. Which I was.

“I forgot about that.” I groaned when Harry reminded me.

“They want to change that law, but even if they do, if we were to get married, wouldn’t the Savoy government expect me to abdicate my position in the British line of succession?”

“I…” I stuttered. “I don’t know.” I did know. And the answer was yes, probably. But the idea would be so utterly destructive for his family I couldn’t bear to say it aloud.

“My grandfather had to, when he married my grandmother.”

“Those were different times.” I argued.

“We both know if there’s one place time doesn’t pass that fast is inside a monarchy.” He smiled, sadly.

In my family, the problem would be Savoy’s historic animosity towards England, Harry not being catholic, his polemic party past, and, of course, the risk that our future children would link us forever to Britain, meaning should some people die, it was likely that in a few years the only descendant to the Savoy throne was a British monarch.

Revolutions had started for less.

I sighed. “It’s too much, isn’t it?”

He looked at me, but averted his eyes soon after.

“…It is.”

I turned around, and sat facing the window, giving my back to him, pulling my legs up to my chest.

“Maybe we should cut our losses, then.”

He didn’t say anything. I bit my lower lip and tightened my arms around my knees, to try and stop myself from saying anything else.

I knew what he must be feeling, I knew because I used to be a spare. I knew how hard it was to be in that constant limbo of not being important enough, but not being normal, either. And if I knew dating someone would make my life even more of a public debate, I would run away screaming in the other direction.

He was falling for me, sure. But he wasn’t stupid. If we started a relationship and things went south, he would be the one to draw the short straw. Not only was he not an heir, he had a past that people would point to when trying to find the guilty party of our doom. My people would have my back in the press and pull out all the stops in order to try and save my reputation and image. His might not do the same.

“Is that what you want to do?” he asked, calmly.

I didn’t just feel guilty; I felt very mindful of the fact that on top of everything else, the fact that I outranked him was also a problem. Theoretically, he should follow my orders because my word was worth more than his; or at least, it’s how it would be for people who cared about that stuff. I didn’t think he did, but still, it felt wrong to tell him something that could affect his own choices.

To put it simply: I didn’t want to influence him into getting into something that might hurt him in the long run.

“I want…” I started, “I just want you to be happy.”

I heard him sigh, heavily, and get out of bed. I looked back to see him putting on his boxer briefs.

He scratched the back of his head with a hand, the other on his hips, and looked at me.

“I will be happy, whatever we decide. But right now I want to know what you want.”

“Well, what you want matters, too.”

“I didn’t say it didn’t, but I–”

“I asked first.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“I think it does–”

“This is not truth or dare!” He said, loudly, exasperated, making me flinch.

I avoided his eyes, self-conscious.

“I’m sorry.” He sighed, calmer.

He walked over to me, and sat by my side in bed, facing the window.

“Why can’t you just tell me what you want?” He asked, strained. “You won’t upset me. I get it, so much has happened in so little time for you.” He gulped, winping his palms on the sheets. “I don’t mean to… pressure you into anything. I understand if a serious relationship would be too much right now, we can take it slow if you want, keep it casual, you know? I don’t... I don’t need to be your boyfriend or anything.”

I shook my head, confused.

“I don’t–that’s not–You don’t have to worry about that.”

“But I do.” He insisted. “I don’t want to be one more thing you have to stress over.”

I sighed, heart aching in affection for him. I lowered my legs, and turned to the side to face him.

“Harry…” I started, smiling, “Okay. If this will work, I think we need to always be honest and open with each other… So, in honor of that…” I took in a deep breath, bracing myself. “I want you to be my boyfriend.” I immediately felt a little juvenile for it, especially as he took a while to respond. Then he looked at me, surprised. “Really?” I smiled, embarrassed. “Yes!”

He smiled to the floor, blushing, and threw an arm around me to pull me closer into a tight hug, before laying back down in the bed, pulling me with him. He turned to the side to face me, touching his nose to mine, still smiling.

“You’re blushing.” I teased, whispery.

“Shut up.” I laughed. “So, you’re my girlfriend now...” He added, in a teasing voice.

I sighed, happily. “I am.”

“So stupid... What are we, in elementary school?”

“Oh, okay, if you don’t want to--” I said, getting up, but he held me down. I laughed, letting him.

“And… all the other stuff? We never got to a solution.”

I gulped, realizing he was right. I got so caught up on my own fears that I forgot to think of a solution for the actual problem, which was, of course, that it didn’t matter if we could have an actual, serious relationship, where we were responsible and considerate of the issues we faced, but just… ignored them.

“What if we just try to focus on the present?” I asked, tentative. “A serious, real relationship, but… We let them worry about it if they want. We live each day at a time. Nothing else.”

“And you think they’ll let us?” He asked. “I don’t know how your family works, but mine will need to know what I plan to do about all of those issues.”

“Then we insist. We tell them, listen, we’re Switzerland.”

“Switzerland?” He asked, amused.

“Swiss neutrality,” I started, “is one of the main principles of Switzerland's foreign policy.”

“Tell me more, counselor.” He teased.

I turned to lay on my back to better look at him, going through my brain for all the info I remembered from my political science classes so I could better defend my metaphor.

“Their policy states that Switzerland is not to be involved in armed or political conflicts between other states, but they have armed neutrality! Which means it is self-imposed, permanent, and armed.”

“Armed? I thought you said they were neutral.” He asked, sounding almost bored.

I got on my knees, but leaned down to him. “Armed neutrality means they have no alliance with either side in a war, but will defend themselves if necessary.” I smiled, throwing one leg up to straddle him. His hands slid up my thighs. “I think that should be our official policy.”

“Oh, yeah?” He asked, grinning. He thrust his hips slightly higher, adjusting himself under me. By coincidence or design, his dick was now perfectly aligned under me.

“Did you even pay attention to what I said?”

He sat up, pulling me closer by the back of my knees. I rested my hands on his shoulders.

“Yes. I like the part about defending ourselves.” He kissed the tip of my nose, lightly. “So we stay neutral to everyone else, and whatever they have to say about us, but defend ourselves if necessary.”

“And it will be.” I reminded.

“I’m in if you are.” He said. “You’re the heir. You’re the one who’ll be expected to pick a side.”

“And you’re the man.” I shrugged. “Your family will never be okay with the idea of you giving up power for a lowly woman.”

He laughed, “Well, they’ll have to learn not to underestimate you.”

I grinned, biting my lower lip. His arms wrapped around me.

“Even if we can stay neutral, our families won’t. The press won’t. They’ll pull us in different directions with all they’ve got.”

I nodded, slowly. I held my hands to his jaw, still filled with affection at the bandaid I had put in his cheek only that night.

“So we don’t tell them.”

His brows shot up in surprise. “Are you suggesting we keep our relationship a secret? Mary, do you have an invisibility cape? How come you never told me?”

“Ha-ha.”

“Seriously, there’s no way to keep something like this a secret. We take security everywhere we go. You live with your parents. Half of my family are my neighbors.”

“Okay, so, we have some kinks to figure out.” I shrugged. “But we live in different countries, so we can meet in the middle, somewhere they won’t suspect. We just need to make sure we’ve got our security on our side…” I smiled, and leaned closer to kiss him.

He allowed me to part his lips and deepen the kiss, slow, agonizingly and frustratingly slow. He groaned, his hands finding my backside, and pulled into him. Then I pulled on his lower lip, breaking the kiss.

“Truth or dare?” He grinned, eyes still closed. “Truth.” “Wrong, pick again.” He laughed. “Dare?” “…I dare you to be my secret boyfriend, Your Royal Highness.” Still smiling, he leaned in again and kissed me. “Done.”

--- ---- ---

[A/N: :)))))))))))))))) ]

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[boundtoyouphff]

Fanfic Recommendation!

Hello followers!

I wanted to share an amazing Prince Harry fanfic, Our Place in the Cosmos, that is written by a very talented writer that I have found and have gotten to know the author recently. Please go over and check out her story. You may find some similarities between ours as it is about modern day royal romance between a prince and a princess. It takes a different turn then Emilia’s story but I won’t spoil it with details for you as you must check it out yourself! I am so excited to see what happens and you should too! Click HERE if you want to get started @ourplaceinthecosmosphff​. (If you also would like a recommendation to your story message me xx) 

              Our Place in the Cosmos

Marie-Margueritte has been told her entire life that her duty is to support the king, be it her grandfather, her father or, one day, her brother. The life of the spare is not all fairytales would have led her to believe, but she has made the best of it: a degree from Harvard, a private job, and a promise from her father that as soon as her brother graduates from University, she’ll be allowed to have a more private life. She keeps most of these things to herself. Who else could understand her need, at 25, to have parental permission to live her own life? She finds the answer in England: another spare to another throne. Harry and Marie share a simple desire: a more private life, with someone who understands them. But when tragedy strikes, they are both forced to face an age-old question their ancestors spent centuries agonizing with: at the end of the day, what matters most: happiness or duty?

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[telltheworld-phff]

Part II, chapter I: Althorp

Pain.

That’s all she could feel.

The sort of pain that would irradiate from her body and made her wonder if anyone could see it, as its force was undeniably present.

She felt nothing but pain.

She could deal with the soreness on her body. It felt as if she had run a marathon.

She could also deal with the heavy cramps that she was feeling ever since she woke up. As if she needed any reminder of what had just happened. She hadn’t asked for any medication to relieve her pain because she wanted to feel it. She wanted to be punished for what she had done.

What she couldn’t deal with was the emotional pain that had destroyed her and its relentless waves that kept shaking every single thought that crossed her mind. The waves were like a tsunami that with its violence and fast approach took away and destroyed everything it touched and she was drowning. Completely and willingly.

The waves made her remember everything that had happened a few hours ago.

The waves brought an emotional pain that shattered her dreams and hopes and wishes. Mocking her, showing the failure she had been. This earth-shattering feeling turned her world, mind, life and body upside down. She didn’t even have more tears to cry as they had dried somewhere in the middle of the night.

She was alone as she had wanted to be and surrounded only by sounds. Sound of the machine she was hooked to, sounds of the clock that showed her that time was going to pass whether or not she was ready for it, the sirens of the ambulances coming in and out of the emergency ward and the cries of a new baby that was born just down the corridor from her room. She longed to have had the chance to at least listen to her child cry. To have carried her pregnancy to term and to taste the happiness this new mom was probably feeling at the moment. And yet, here she was. Empty-handed, alone, bleeding and miserable.

She wanted to get up and run, possibly hide from everyone. Should she had the strength for it, she would have. But she could barely move a finger, let alone run.

She placed one hand on her belly. The same one she caressed the growing baby just the morning before, praying with all her might and force that everyone was lying to her. Wishing this all was a very bad joke, a tasteless prank. Everyone must be wrong.

But deep inside she knew it was true.

She knew that her body had been giving signs and she didn’t pay attention to it. She worked and travelled as if she wasn’t growing a tiny human inside her and now, funny enough, she really wasn’t anymore.

Maybe it would be for the best? If she couldn’t take proper care of a baby inside her, what would happen once the baby was born?

She would be better off alone and childless as she couldn’t bear to be responsible for anyone else’s death. She took a deep breath and felt every muscle hurt, her head was about to explode. She knew she couldn't speak as she had yelled until she scarred all of her vocal cords.

Her hands and arms were purple and swollen as she had tried to unhook herself from the blood transfer bag a nurse had hooked her to close to 2 in the morning. Her hair was in knots and her hospital gown was still bloodied.

Another proof of her failure and another brutal reminder that she had just lost her child.

She had lost her everything. She had lost her will to live because nothing else made sense anymore. Her unborn baby had become the centre of her life, her strength, her reason and her motivation.

Well, not really – her malicious mind reminded her, - if this baby was that important you wouldn’t have let it die. You didn’t even fight for it, you simply passed out and almost bled yourself to death.

Pathetic.

She would never know if the baby was a boy or a girl. She would never know if he or she would have her green eyes or Harry’s blue. If its complexion would be pale as Harry, chocolate as hers or a nice mix in the between. She didn’t know if he or she would be ginger. Could she even have a ginger baby?

She wouldn’t know its face. If it would have dimples, curly or straight hair. If it’d have the unmistakable Windsor genes or it’d be a Nogueira through and through. She wouldn’t know how is it like to feel the baby moving inside her. She wouldn’t know how labour would be or if she’d chicken out from the pain and ask for a c-section straight away. She wouldn’t know if she’d be able to breastfeed – if she’d like it or if she’d prefer to buy formulas.

She wouldn’t make her mum a grandmother.

And she wouldn’t give her man a child. The child he was expecting and dreaming about. The child he had built plans for. The child he was searching for a house to transform into a home for them.

The child he was willing to give up his title for.

Everything she got now was pain and shame and guilt and grief.

Why was it happening to her? Was she that bad of a person that this would be some sort of payback?

What makes you so important that you can’t go through something like this? Her evil-filled mind asked her.

She heard footsteps on the corridor and saw her door opening. Agnes was there, smiling. The pain she felt blinded her from seeing the truth in Agnes’ eyes. She was devastated. She knew that miscarriages were a common thing between women, but she hated every time it happened to one of her patients. With Carol, it seemed she had lost her grandchild such was the esteem she held for the brunette in front of her.

She took a tentative step towards the bed and Carol noticed it was way past nine in the morning. She had been awake the whole night.

“Good morning, Carolina.” Agnes asked, getting her file and reading the notes the other nurses had written. “How are you physically feeling?” she worded her question carefully.

Carol didn’t respond. She kept staring at the clock. Fixated on it. Hearing its tic, toc. It was comforting to know that time wouldn’t wait for her to get her shit together. And time was the only thing that she wanted now.

She would give everything she had for a moment in time to stop before she lost her child. She would give everything to have more time with the baby that even though was unplanned wasn’t not even by a single second unwanted.

She wanted to rewind time and do things differently and save her baby.

She always heard that mothers fight for their children and if need be, even give their lives for them. That was what Carol wanted to do. Be a mother to this child. Give her life in exchange for his or hers. She knew Harry would take good care of their baby even if she wasn’t around.

“Carolina?” Agnes called her, firmer this time. Carol had shut her out and not even remembered that she was in the room. She didn’t blink, she just stared at the damn clock and knew that it was laughing at her expense.

“I need you to please talk to me.” Agnes said, sitting by her side on the bed.

Carol didn’t move. She couldn’t, she was paralysed watching the clock.

“I know what you must be feeling...” Agnes said.

There it was. Pity and sympathy. Two things Carol didn’t need at that moment.

“And I want you to know that I did everything that I could to save your baby.” the doctor said, grabbing one of Carol’s hands gently.

Did she really? Her brain asked.

“I want you to tell me what you want.” Agnes tried again and Carol almost laughed. She wanted her child. Alive and well. There was nothing anyone could possibly give her at the moment that would make her feel better.

“I will give you space, then.” Agnes sighed. “A nurse will come to help you take a shower and change clothes.” she got up and stared at the girl she treated like a daughter. She seemed like a shell of the woman she once was. Staring at the clock and shutting everyone out. Agnes gently left the room and took a deep breath. She could only hope that Carol would bounce back from this. If she kept giving herself into the pain for too long, she wouldn’t make it.

(…)

Harry had spent the night awake. He sat by the window of his living room with a bottle of scotch beside him. He stared at the entrance of his house for the whole night and saw when the sun rose. He had drunk half of the bottle by that time and was irritated that it didn’t give him a buzz nor lessened the pain. He thought about compartmentalising it and go out and about on his day, as he had two engagements to be at but he knew he couldn’t do it. He wanted to feel the pain and go through it while it all was still fresh. If he bottled up everything it was bound to come back exploding in the future. He also knew that Carol wouldn’t forgive him if she saw that he was smiling for the cameras and hugging kids mere hours after theirs had died.

If she speaks to you again. His mind remembered.

He had been hurt by Carol’s outburst the night before. He tried to understand where she was coming from, but he didn’t think that she’d kick him out of the room that way. He had called the hospital and Agnes informed him Carol wasn’t speaking to anyone, or eating. She had tried to rip off the IVs from her arms and hands in the middle of the night.

He took a deep breath and texted Edward to let him know that he wanted all his engagements of that damn week cancelled and rescheduled. He also wanted to reschedule all engagements that had children involved for the upcoming months as farther away as possible. He couldn’t bear to be around children when his hadn’t made it.

Agnes had talked to him after they left Carol’s room and she was confident that Carol’s case fell under the more frequently than expected, she didn’t believe Carol had any sort of condition that would make things harder to have a child in the future. Miscarriage is something very common and sometimes it might be related to other complicating issues, but in other cases, it's simply nature being faithful to its course of only the strongest and most adaptable survives.

Edward replied asking lots of questions as to why those changes were needed and Harry simply ignored him. He wouldn’t come back to work until he felt at least a little bit better.

If you feel better at any point.

He felt like a black cloud was above his head numbing his senses and at the same time swallowing him whole.

He got up and went to his room without really thinking or registering what he was doing. He took a shower, got dressed and dried the tears that kept coming every time he thought about what had happened. He had drunk the night before trying to erase from his mind the scene of the woman of his life bleeding and losing their child.

What if he had asked her to go to Kensington, where Gerard and Martha would have kept an eye on her? What if he hadn’t offered to accompany his grandmother to the engagement, therefore, arriving earlier at her place? Why didn’t she tell him anything about blood pressure problems and migraines?

He knew that “what ifs” wouldn’t bring him any closer to changing the outcome of the events. And decided he needed to keep himself busy. Getting his car keys and without letting anyone from his security team know, he drove outside Kensington Palace straight to Carol’s apartment. He let himself in and he dreaded entering her bedroom but he knew he had to get things done and if her reaction last night was any indicator, she wouldn’t deal well if she saw all that blood.

He emailed her boss letting him know that she was in the hospital and that she would keep him posted. He grabbed all the sheets and duvet, almost ripping them off the mattress with rage and threw them inside the washing machine. He cleaned the floor, the furniture and searched inch by inch of the apartment for any spot of blood. When he found none, he made her bed with new sheets and packed her an overnight bag.

He then drove straight to the back entrance of St. Mary’s, getting out of the car and ignoring all the calls on his phone. Edward, Bill, his father… he didn’t really want to talk to anyone right now.

He went straight to the private wing where half a floor had been cleared after Harry was made aware someone had just given birth a few doors down the corridor from Carol’s room. He immediately demanded they were transferred to another wing.

He knocked on her door and opened it to find only a shadow of the woman he once had met.

She had her hair wet, soft curls forming around her face. She was half-sitting on the hospital bed and she was staring at a fixed point on the wall above the door. Harry closed the door after coming in and left the bag on the chair by the bed.

“Hey...” he said approaching her. She didn’t even move or acknowledge his presence. “I brought you a change of clothes and a few personal items. I emailed your boss saying that you’re at the hospital and that we will keep him posted.”

He waited for a reply but didn’t receive one. He tried to caress her head but she dodged his hand. Just another pain to feel. He saw she didn’t touch breakfast and that it was laying on the table across from them.

“Do you want any help to eat?” Harry tried again, looking at her. She didn’t look or talk to him. He noticed that she was staring at a clock and one could cut the tension inside that room with a knife.

“Carol, please…. Talk to me. We need to communicate to be able to grieve properly.” Harry said, sitting on the bed. “I haven’t slept the other night and for what I heard, neither have you.”

Tic, toc. Tic, toc. Tic, toc.

Only the sound of the clock could be heard there.

“Carol? I know what you’re feeling, but please, let me know what I can do to help.”

“Nothing.” her voice was cracked and hoarse and only above a whisper. But that was progress.

“I know I can’t bring our child back...” he started.

“All I want is time to go back.” She replied, looking at the clock and Harry was starting to feel irritated by that damn thing.

“I’m sorry about what happened.” Harry said, trying to grab her hand but she fiercely snatched it out from his hold.

“Don’t touch me. Why is everyone touching me now? Why is everyone bothering me with empty words of sympathy and promises when no one knows what really happened and no one can fucking give me time.” She said and he struggled to hear her well and understand what she was saying.

Both Agnes and him had stayed just outside Carol’s door for more than an hour listening to her screams, almost entering the room again every now and then to try and calm her but deciding against it.

“At least you’re talking now.” Harry said, looking at her. She looked frail and broken. Just like he was.

“I told you to get out. Just leave me the fuck alone.” She finally looked at him and he saw so much pain and hatred in her gaze that his heart broke into a million pieces yet again.

“If that’s what you want.” he got up and opened the door. “I will be back tomorrow.” he said leaving the room.

“Don’t bother” she replied not sure if he heard her.

He did.

(…)

Once inside his car, he thought about going back home to try and sleep a bit but his heart wanted him elsewhere. He wanted to grieve with Carol. He wanted her support to go through this and he wanted to support her as well.

He knew that she had taken the heavier blow on this, as she was the one carrying the baby, but she should also know that he was hurt. He was scared of losing both of them. If she was up to it, they’d start trying to have another child as soon as possible. And he knew that any child he could have with her or anyone else would never replace the one they lost.

His life had gained so much more meaning and purpose when he knew he had to be a role model for someone. That he’d get to parent his child and make him or her the best version of him and Carol together.

He just kept driving and trying to calm his shattered heart. He didn’t know where he was going or how he was driving. He turned off his phone. He didn’t want to see anybody. He didn’t want to talk to anybody. He just wanted his child alive and well.

He was startled when he recognised the black iron gates of the property. He had driven for an hour and a half without noticing where he was headed but it somehow made sense. He knew who he needed the most at the moment and unfortunately, she also wasn’t around to embrace him and promise that everything would be OK.

The guards promptly opened the gates and greeted him. For the first time, he didn’t reply and simply kept driving until he reached the stables on the background of the imposing Estate. He killed the engine and got off his car and walked the long gravel path until he approached the lake.

It was a sunny day and he put his shades on. He walked and was taken by emotion when he was right in front of it. He opened the shed, took out the small boat and pushed it until it was on the water, getting in and rowing his way to the island in the middle of the oval lake. He got out of the boat and when on land, his knees almost gave away and with trembling lips and heavy tears he approached the centre of the island where he could see, engraved in marble, the words “Loving mother”.

“Mummy,” Harry said, kneeling before her grave. “I’ve failed mummy. I couldn’t protect the people that I love and now I’ve lost them.”

He cried. Each tear made his body tremble and his lips quiver. He out-poured all the emotions held inside feeling safe to do so in that place. Feeling safe that his heart had unconsciously brought him where his mum was eternally resting.

“How do I make this pain go again, Mummy?” he cleaned his face with his palm. “It hurts so fucking much. I’ve lost my child. Your grandchild. And I think I’ve lost my girl too.”

The peaceful scenery only made it worse to balance the turmoil inside Harry’s heart and mind.

“I need you here with me.” he whispered. “But you’ve also been taken away from me too soon. Why?”

He cried his tears and his sobs were cutting through his body and shaking it. He thought he would never be able to recover from this. Never. He was a different man and now he had nothing. Absolutely nothing.

“I don’t think I can get through this.” Harry said, looking at Diana’s grave and embracing his bent knees.

He stayed there the whole afternoon. If his uncle and cousins knew that he was there, thankfully no one approached the oval island. He cried and opened his heart to his mother, knowing that she’d listen to him. Knowing that she’d be taking care of him.

When the sun began to set he knew it was time to come back.

“Mummy, could you please take care of my baby with you in heaven? I don’t know if its a boy or a girl but I don’t care. Please tell him or her that we love him so much it hurts and we wish things could’ve been different. I don’t know how his mother and I will survive this searing pain.”

Harry cleaned the tears again and spoke just above a whisper.

“We did our very best but unfortunately that wasn’t God’s wish for us. Please cuddle our child in your arms the way you did with me and Wills. Love on him as you did on us. Both of you are greatly missed. And I love you both with all my being. I know that my baby is now with his grandmother and nothing bad can happen if he’s under your watch. I love you, mummy. And I love you, baby.”

#phff #part II #chapter 1 #Whenyoutelltheworldyou'remine #princeharryff #princeharryfanfic #princeharryfanfiction #britishroyal #british royal family #brf #fanfiction

[nataliawritesstuff]

Who needs a distraction?

Hello again!

Nothing like a global pandemic to bring us back together, huh? How have you been? Or, as we all ask each other these days, how have you been holding up? 

Okay, fine, let’s skip to the interesting part: I have a new fanfic.

As much as I am trying to focus on the plot important parts of life these days, I do want to say three things before I get to the details of this fic, would you mind? I mean, I can’t tell you what to do, nothing’s stopping you from scrolling to the end. So, in that sense, I’ll just pretend you said yes.

1. Politicians are dumb, listen to experts. The pandemic is not over unless you’re from, like, New Zealand, those beautiful lucky bastards. If you’re one of us dumb mortals, though, COVID isn’t over, so stay home if you can, wear a mask, and do whatever is possible to stay sane, like maybe sign a petition and read a fanfic. I have one to suggest...

2. Black lives matter, trans lives matter, and we have the power of change in our hands. Take note of the politicians (national AND local) who are standing by and allowing bullshit to continue. Then vote them out. Stories belong to the people who read them, so keep the good parts of Harry Potter and let no one take that away from you, and if you can afford to, donate to an organization that protects the rights of trans people. 

3. In this blog we have nothing but respect for MY King and Queen of England, Meghan and Harry, and baby Archie. I love them so much, I’m so glad they’re building a life of freedom and action for themselves, and I have nothing but good wishes of love and joy for the three of them, away from the obvious racist, misogynistic, calculated attacks from the British press and the family who didn’t stand up for them.

That is to say, I love H&M and hope they’ll be together for years to come with as many more babies as they want, which personally I hope is at least one more… But I am a fanfic hoe at heart, and tiaras I crave. So in this new fanfic I started writing, we are living in an Alternate Universe where Harry is a single guy looking for love again. I just wanted to clarify I can hold both feelings in my heart: I want to see this fictitious Harry from my story be happy with my character, and want to see the real continue to be the stand up guy we know him to be, who is happily married and leading by example. 

So if you think you want that too, allow me to tell you about Our Place In The Cosmos, a Prince Harry Fanfic:

“Marie-Margueritte has been told her entire life that her duty is to support the king, be it her grandfather, her father or, one day, her brother. The life of the spare is not all fairytales would have led her to believe, but she has made the best of it: a degree from Harvard, a private job, and a promise from her father that as soon as her brother graduates from University, she’ll be allowed to have a more private life. She keeps most of these things to herself. Who else could understand her need, at 25, to have parental permission to live her own life? She finds the answer in England: another spare to another throne. Harry and Marie share a simple desire: a more private life, with someone who understands them. But when tragedy strikes, they are both forced to face an age-old question their ancestors spent centuries agonizing with: at the end of the day, what matters most: happiness or duty?”

Interested? Well, heres:

- a page with the Wikipedia page of Marie’s country 

- another about their flag, anthem and place on the map

- one with their general aesthetic 

If this isn’t for you, I understand and thanks reading this far anyways! =) Stay safe out there, bye bye <3 

If this is for you, see you next week for Chapter 1! 

#prince harry fanfic #prince harry fanfiction #princeharryff #princeharryfanfiction #phff #brf

[phff-opostos]

ALL MY EXCEPTIONS - PHFF

Marie van der Graaf was a 32 year old successful business woman. Being a mother or getting married wasn't really a part of her plans. Everything changes when Marie meets Harry and she has her first experience with love.

Gal Gadot as Marie

Suri Cruise as Harry’s little girl :-)

#mymanips #princeharryff #royal fanfiction #galgadotmanips #justhavingsomefun #notreallyserious #itsallaboutthemanips

[guidinglightphff]

ABOUT ME

Hey!

I’m Natalia. I am 25 years old, Brazilian and I currently work as an agent in a credit card company’s assistance center. I graduated in 2016 as a Literature major and moved to the capital, São Paulo. To quote from my first day at work when we were introducing ourselves: I have no idea what I’m doing with my life (seriosly, I said that. Yikes).

​I love writing, this is my second story, you can check the first one here! The idea for Guiding Light came from the wonderfully talented @teaenthusiast65, and I haven’t quite stopped thinking about it since. It’s my first time writing a British character, so I know her speaking patterns and idioms won’t be fully realistic - sorry about that. 

Anyway, this story is about friendship, family and chosing what’s important to you over all else. I hope you like it! If you have any questions, please ask =)

And if you feel like it, follow me:

Personal blog

Instagram

#prince harry #princeharryff #prince harry fanfic #prince harry fanfiction #fanfic #princeharryfanfiction #princeharryfanfic #brf #fanfiction

[onewildride-phff]

This story is on hold for a while. I've been busy with school and midterms.

#don't know if anyone will read or even care about this #but thought I should explain why I haven't been updating #princeharryff

[littlebitofeverythingphff]

Chapter 9

A/N: I apologize for not updating as regularly so to make up for it here is another loooong chapter! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did writing it! Would love to hear from my readers so send me anything you want!

Pulling out the eggs from the fridge he set them on the counter. Remembering where Adalyn had kept her pots and pans he set on one the stove. All of a sudden he heard the doorknob to the front door turn. 

Harry froze. Adalyn said her roommate was gone for a couple days. The door flew open revealing a woman carrying in some luggage through the entrance. Searching for a quick place to hide Harry knew that there was nowhere to go.

The woman looked up at him dropping her bags letting out a squeal of surprise. “HOLY SHIT!!!” Ainsley screamed loud enough to wake up Adalyn. Harry flashed a grin and smiled at her. “Hello.” His posh voice sounded out.

“PRINCE FUCKING HARRY IS IN MY FUCKING KITCHEN HALF NAKED!?!” Ainsley yelled again shocked. Closing her eyes she opened them again seeing the ginger haired prince still standing there. He was not a pigment of her imagination.

Harry turned hearing footsteps coming loudly from Adalyn’s room. Glancing back at Adalyn he gave her a pleading look, not knowing what to say. Adalyn looked half asleep still, confused at what was going on.

“Adalyn?!” Ainsley spoke up. Stepping forward closer to Harry she saw her roommate nearly white as a ghost clearly shocked at who was in her kitchen. “I told you to put a shirt on…” she whispered to Harry before glancing up at him with a worried expression. 

Exchanging glances, they both knew that they were caught.

Harry could see the worry in Adalyn’s eyes as she watched her roommate sitting patiently on the sofa. Biting down on her bottom lip she tugged at his hands interlocking them in a tight embrace attempting to draw some sort of comfort from his touch.

Sensing Harry leaning down towards her, she felt his lips press up against her forehead kissing it gently. A gesture that did not go unnoticed by Ainsley. Closing her eyes at his touch she took a step closer to the prince.

“What do I tell her Harry?” Adalyn whispered in the space between them. Seeing her head lift he locked in her green eyes. Breathing out he spoke, “she’s your friend Adalyn. You can tell her what you want. Trust her with whatever information you think she needs to know.”  His smile proved to be reassuring and encouraging all in one.

Adalyn wrapped her arms around Harry squeezing him hard. His arms engulfed her, pulling her further into his body. “And Afghanistan?” Adalyn spoke quietly into his ear. She could feel Harry taking in a deep sigh as her arms loosened around him. “Not yet…” his reply was deep and regretful.

Harry kept holding Adalyn in his arms for a moment remembering all that had happened the night prior. Smiling he shook his head at her with a slight giggle releasing from his pursed lips. “What?” Adalyn smiled up at him, her green eyes lighting up from hearing his laugh.

“I desperately want to kiss you again right now. But… I know I can’t.” He confessed, his gaze diverting to the woman glaring at him from the adjacent room. “I think it’s best that I go… leave you two to talk.”

His arms fell from her body bending down to grab his bag. “I will call you later.” Adalyn nodded slowly wishing he would stay. Deep down she knew it would be best if she talked with Ainsley alone. Reaching for the doorknob she opened the door allowing Harry to step through. Taking one last glance at the prince she smiled warmly at him receiving a wink in return. “Bye Harry” she waved watching his frame disappear down the corridor.

Closing the door behind her Adalyn leant her body back against it. Taking a minute she gathered her thoughts. “Addy! I know you are stalling, get your arse in here!” Ainsley called from the next room.

Creeping out from behind the corner Adalyn slowly made her way to her feeling Ainsley analyzing her every move. Sitting down in a chair across from her she avoided Ainsley’s gaze, unsure of how to start this conversation.

“Ok well I obviously have a few questions if you aren’t going to explain why there was a half naked prince in my kitchen….” Adalyn shifted nervously. It was best if she just came out and said it all rather then answering question after question.

“Ok let me explain please.” Her quiet voice grew a little louder. Sighing she glanced up at Ainsley. “Do you remember Lindsie’s birthday dinner?” Ainsley nodded giving her a narrowed stare. “Well I ran into Harry there...briefly.” Adalyn locked eyes with Ainsley, “then again when he came to the museum for a visit…” she trailed off.

Sitting patiently, Ainsley listened to Adalyn explain how they spent more time at the polo game and ending up becoming friends. “Why didn’t you tell me you were hanging out with the Prince Harry?” Ainsley gestured wildly with her hands.

“I wasn’t trying to keep it a secret from you. When I hung out with him it made me feel better, a distraction from everything that was falling apart in my world.” Adalyn fidgeted in her seat trying to find the words to explain further. “Last night was a rollercoaster. You were supposed to be gone for a few days so I told him to come over. When he first asked for my number I was hesitant, not wanting to jump into anything after what had happened with Jake. But, as I spent more and more time with him things sort of changed how I felt about him. I couldn’t stop thinking about him, I missed him each day we couldn’t talk and I hated saying goodbye to him.” Breathing out deeply Adalyn averted her gaze from Ainsley’s eyes that bore into her.

“We talked last night and I told him how I feel about him. We both want the same thing; we want to see where this is going between us. It’s all new and I don’t know if I am rushing into it, but there is one thing I am certain of and that is I truly do like Harry. When I am with him, my heart no longer feels like it’s tearing apart.” A smile appeared on her lips as she glanced at Ainsley.

Ainsley had suspected something had been going on in the past weeks. Adalyn seemed to be in a better mood, smiling more often and overall happy. What she had not expected was Adalyn to be involved with Prince Harry. She had always respected the British Monarchy, but never once wanted their life of public scrutiny. Concerns for her friend kept popping into her mind and she needed to voice them. After all Addy had been through was dating a prince really what she needed?

“Listen Addy. I think it’s great that you have someone in your life again, you deserve it more than anyone. I just don’t know if Harry is the best person to be in a relationship with. His life is splashed on every magazine and newspaper, he’s a prince that has to act a certain way and is on constant scrutiny. I think you need to really think about it before getting involved with him. Once you two are exposed there is no going back.” Ainsley spoke with an edge of concern for her friend.

Adalyn appreciated her friend’s valid concerns; the same warnings that Harry had spoken about last night came back into play. “I know Ainsley. Harry isn’t rushing me, he has warned about how it would be to date him. I don’t know what is going to happen in the future, but I do know that I want to be with him and I am going to need you to support it since you are the only one who knows.” 

Ainsley nodded her head in understanding. Of course she would support her best friend. “I can’t see you get hurt again Addy. I cannot see how you were, a shell of a person again. So if he does… no one will be able to stop me from hurting him too.” She laughed out loudly causing a chain reaction in Adalyn.

“Come here Addy” Ainsley stood pulling her into a friendly hug. “You do know that I need to officially approve of this right?” Adalyn shook her head stepping back from her hug. “Fine. I will tell him you want to talk.” Instantly regretting those words Adalyn cringed inside knowing how protective Ainsley was of her.

“Hey! You know what this is all your fault; why did you come home early from your parents?” Adalyn turned the tables on Ainsley. “What do you think happened? My mother got on my nerves… again. All her talk of marriage and kids made my head spin.”

 Ainsley opened the door wide revealing Harry standing in the doorway. “Come on in…” Harry smiled politely at her as he stepped through the door. “I will go tell Addy you are here.” Nodding Harry waited patiently at the door watching her body disappear behind the corner. It had only been a day since he had seen Adalyn and was already craving to be in her presence once again. Harry had called her last evening asking her out on their first official date. 

“Your ginger boy toy is here Addy!” Ainsley yelled loud enough for Harry to hear.  Walking into Adalyn’s room she stopped in her tracks. “Wow you look amazing!” Feeling the heat rise in her cheeks Adalyn glanced down at her dress. “Do you think it looks alright? Honestly?” She turned slightly, giving Ainsley a better look.

“Does it look alright? Damn Addy, Harry won’t know what hit him once he sees you in this!” Harry had kept the details of their official first date a secret, not giving her any clues as to what they were going to be doing.

Harry was leaning up against the wall tapping his foot in a rhythm as he waited nervously. That was when he caught a glimpse of her out of the corner of his eye. The corner of his lips turned up into a shocked smile taking in the view he bore witness to.

Adalyn walked slowly towards him in a navy dress that exposed one of her shoulders, just enough skin to make Harry curious as to what was under that dress of hers. Her hair was done simply yet held a look of elegance. His eyes trailed down towards her long toned legs leading them to a classy set of silver heels.

Roving over her body his eyes lifted to catch hers. He was speechless. “Harry….” His name fell off of her lips. “Adalyn… you look gorgeous.” Watching her cheeks blush a crimson red at the way Harry’s eyes stayed stagnant on her body clearing checking her out.

“Where are we going?” Adalyn tried one last time to get a hint of the nights events. Harry eyed her suspiciously. “Nooo. It’s a secret. But, you may definitely want a jacket.” Holding out Adalyn’s leather jacket he helped her put it on. Ainsley watched the simple gesture with a smile. “Ready?” Harry asked reaching for the door. “Yes I think so.” Adalyn looked around taking one last look, ensuring she had everything she needed.

“Get her home safely and in one piece Harry got it?” Harry looked up briefly receiving a knowing look from Ainsley. “Yes Ainsley. I promise to take good care of her.” The weight of his words were heavy as he locked eyes with Ainsley. Knowing how protective she was of her friend, Harry wanted to reassure her.

Adalyn saw the gates of Kensington Palace down the road. Looking to the man beside her he tugged on his hand to get his attention. “We are going to Kensington?”

Harry could not wait to show her what he had planned for them. “Wait and see.”  Were the only words he spoke. Seeing her frustration displayed on her face caused him to smirk at her. He brought her hand to his lips kissing it gently. “It will be worth the wait. I promise.”

Opening Adalyn’s door he assisted her in getting out of the vehicle. Immediately finding her hands by his side he walked her into the direction of the gardens. Glancing up at the tree aligned path ahead she saw a glimmer of lights in the distance. “Where are we going?” Adalyn leaned in placing an arm on his shoulder.

Harry smiled widely in silence shaking his head no. His hand squeezed hers before looking down at her happy smile. “Impatient woman…It’s up ahead a little ways.” As the light covered path became closer Adalyn realized the uneven trail was aligned in candled lighting guiding them to their destination.

Taking in the view she glanced up at the night sky, a sky full of stars shining brightly over them. Hearing the crunch of the gravel beneath their feet she committed this moment to memory. The simple moment of being hand in hand with Harry. She could feel her heart beating faster, excited and curious as to what he had planned for them.

“How was the talk with Ainsley? You didn’t mention it last night.” Harry glanced down at her seeing a smile appear on her lips. Leaning in she rested her head on his shoulder finding a comfortable spot as they walked slowly down the lightened path. Sensing her taking a breath, Harry waited for her reply in silence. “It went well. I told her most of everything that had happened between us and how I felt about you…” becoming shy Adalyn trailed off into a whisper.

“How you feel about me huh?” Harry wanted to hear more of that part. Smirking up at him, her eyes shone bright. “Yes… how much I like you Harry!” Adalyn chuckled lightly, tossing her head back. “Good. Because I was thinking you only liked me due to my ginger hair. But wow! Now that’s such a relief. Seriously you have no idea how hard it is to be a sexy ginger these days. Everyone just wants a piece of it!” Adalyn continued laughing at his words almost to the point of tears starting to form in her eyes. Harry giggled beside her, Adalyn’s laugh too contagious to not join in.

Catching their breath Adalyn sighed. “She wants to talk with you Harry. I know you are busy with getting ready to leave and everything and I know I am asking you to do one more thing but….” Adalyn went off on a tangent trying to put out all the information so Harry would agree to it.

His footsteps slowed to a stopped; he let go of her hand to turn and face her. “Addy…” his hand reached up to cup her cheek. “I will do it. You don’t need to try and convince me too alright?” Feeling his thumb smooth over her cheek she nodded. “If it makes things easier for you while I am gone, I will do anything ok?” Harry reassured her again. He knew how hard it could be for Adalyn and if Harry had the chance to make their time apart easier with support from Ainsley, Harry was happy and willing to sit through an interrogation.

Relief washed through her as her anxious breath slowed. “Thank you Harry.” His hand was covered by hers feeling her fingers clench tightly around his bringing his hand back down at her side. 

They continued down the candle lit path following it into the Kensington Gardens. Adalyn’s eyes had stayed steady on the ground as they walked, occasionally glancing and their entwined fingers. She lifted her head to catch Harry’s smiling blue eyes staring ahead. Her breath was taken away at the sight that was set before her. 

Under a big tree there was a blue plaid picnic blanket covering the grass beneath. A big brown woven picnic basket sat in the middle indicating that they were having a picnic meal. Adalyn stood there quietly in shock. “Harry... this is.” Searching for the proper words to describe.

“I hope you like it.” Adalyn could see a glimpse of the shyer side of the prince come out. Tugging on his hand she caught his deep blue eyes. “Harry this is amazing. I have never had a picnic date before and this is so beautiful. I am still in shock. No one has ever done something like this for me.”

Within a second his lips came crashing down on her pulling them into a deep kiss. “It was worth all the effort to see you smile like this.” Harry whispered as he broke apart from her lips. Nodding she closed her eyes. “Mmmhmmm.” She hummed a reply feeling his soft lips pressed up against her forehead as she turned her attention back to the picnic setting. 

“Let’s see what’s in the basket!” Adalyn led Harry down to the blanket, settling in beside her. Opening the picnic basket, Harry pulled out two place settings and wine glasses. Handing Adalyn a bottle of white wine she filled their glasses. “Trying to get me drunk Adalyn? Wanting to take advantage of me?” Harry barked a laugh seeing how full the glasses were. 

“Noo!” Protesting loudly Adalyn smiled widely glancing at the prince suggestively only causing Harry’s laugh to grow loud. “So I really hoped you didn’t make sandwiches for us or popcorn!” Harry froze and gave her a cold glare narrowing his eyes at her only to morph into a cheeky grin. “Oh come on! That was one time!”

“I will have you know that I spent the morning with the head chef here to make this for you.” Harry pulled out a fresh bread roll; a container of a spinach and strawberry salad tossed with sesame seeds and homemade dressing and shaved roasted chicken and fixings for sandwiches. “You made all of this?” Harry nodded proudly staring at the food displayed out in front of him. “With a little help of course. I know it’s simple, but I hope you will enjoy it.” His proud smile stayed stagnant on his lips as he looked to Adalyn.

Leaning down she took a sniff of the aroma the food dissipated. “Mmmmm. I think this will be amazing Harry. Knowing you did this all for me is making me feel quite special honestly.” Adalyn beamed a smile at him; grateful for all of his effort he had done for her so far. Truth was she had no idea what to expect out of tonight, but her expectations were beyond exceeded. 

Having eaten the majority of the food Harry had made, Adalyn could feel her full tummy satisfied with the meal. “I am so full. I ate so much!” A light giggle escaped her lips as her head tilted in Harry’s direction. “I honestly had no idea a woman could eat that much food in one sitting…” Harry shook his head in disbelief before offering her a quick wink for his teasing. 

“Harry! I did not eat that much!” He earned a playful smack on his arm for his comments. Wrapping his arm around her shoulder Harry shifted Adalyn closer to him. Pressing his lips against her flesh exposed shoulder he inhaled her sweet fragrance.

A comfortable silence fell between them, each being deep thought into the depths of their mind. Adalyn had a multitude of questions for Harry about his deployment but did not want to ruin their night at the thought of him having to leave so soon. Harry wrapped his arms around her a little tighter in hopes of not ever wanting Adalyn to leave them knowing that all to soon moments like this would cease to exist for a whiles time.

“What’s going on in that pretty little mind of yours?” His deep voice forced her to bury her thoughts. “Nothing in particular…” Adalyn became shy; her words were spoken in a quiet whisper. “Tell me.” Harry encouraged her, wanting Adalyn to not shy away from him.

Sighing a deep breath she reached for his fingers, playing with them as they interlocked in a tight grip. “I don’t want to ruin tonight.” Her confessing words hit him hard, now knowing what plagued her thoughts. Harry knew they would need to talk more about it, but he did agree with her. Right now wasn’t the right time to do so.

Standing to his feet he stretched out his arm offering her a hand to get up off the blanket. “Come with me. I have something else to show you.” Gripping his hand Harry pulled her to her feet. “Aren’t you just full of surprises tonight your highness.” A giggling Adalyn followed into step beside him earning a knowing look at what she had called him.

He led Adalyn around the willow tree and down through the gardens. “This garden is so pretty. Do you come here a lot?” Adalyn walked hand in hand with Harry as they strolled through the path amongst the luscious colorful garden. “Not as much as I would like to admittedly. My fathers residence in Gloucestershire is covered in flowers and gardens, I think you would like it there.”

“My step mom is quite religious in keeping up her yard. They always have beautiful flowers and bushes everywhere. She says it’s calming for her, but mainly helps her clear her mind at the end of a work day.” Harry had never asked her before about her family and didn’t know she had a stepmother. Intrigued he longed to know more about Adalyn.

“Sounds like she would enjoy my fathers company. He can talk your ear off about his farms and gardens.” Harry shook his head at a memory of his father. “What’s your favourite flower?”

“Lilies. Definitely lilies.” Glancing down he watched Adalyn’s features soften at the mention. Quickly scanning the garden he spotted a patch full of lilies. “Follow me.” Harry hastened their pace into a slow run, pulling Adalyn along behind him in his heels. 

“Harry!” She questioned him at the sudden movement. Kneeling down he ripped a handful of lilies from the ground. Standing to face Adalyn he offered them to her. “Here…your lilies.”

Adalyn’s eyes brightened up at the gesture. Her smile crept up on her lips. “Do you do this for all your dates? Rip apart your grandmother’s garden?” 

“Do you know how much trouble this will get me into Addy? It’s actually my father who planned this part so if the aides tell him I ripped his flowers up for some girl he would have my arse!” So no. Not for just anyone. But for you, absolutely.” Harry grinned widely at her with a suggestive look. 

Bringing the flowers to her nose, she sniffed them, breathing in their fresh scent. “They’re beautiful Harry. Thank you.” Standing up on her tippy toes she placed a gentle kiss on his cheek leaving a fiery sensation against his skin.

Leading Adalyn to the end of the gardens she spotted a tree with a hammock attached to it. Harry leapt into the hammock within a split second. “Join me Miss Mackenzie?” He offered his hand once again. She stood there gawking at him in disbelief. “Harry! Why didn’t you just tell me to not wear a dress tonight!?” Adalyn tossed her arms up laughing at him. First he expects her to sit down on a blanket on the ground in a short dress acting like a lady and now he wants her to climb into a hammock without her flashing her knickers at him?

A deep belly laugh sounded in the air coming from the prince. I guess he really didn’t think that one through. “Adalyn.” He pulled her to the edge of the hammock. “You look damn sexy in that dress so there was no way I was going to tell you to change. So hop up in here with me.” 

Shaking her head at him she pulled her heels off tossing them on the ground. “Don’t you dare look cause I am sure you will know the colors of my knickers if you do.” Harry’s eyebrow immediately rose thinking a dirty thought.

Watching her take a deep breath he could see her internally convincing herself that it would be ok. Pressing down on the side she jumped in slowly. Harry felt the hammock swing to the side seeing Adalyn almost half out and most certainly going to fall off onto the ground. His arm reached around her and grabbed her at her body, gripping her ass hard.

Adalyn’s lips released a loud gasp at his touch as her body slammed into his tightly. Her green eyes flashed up to his locking in the depths of his blue eyes. His hand did not move from her. “You alright?” Harry let out a labored breath. The closeness of his body to hers made her mind scrambled, unable to search for a simple reply she nodded.

His arm had wrapped around her body ensuring she was safely inside, tucked in beside him. Sensing his grip loosen she felt his fingers trail down her dress past the navy material. Their eyes never wavered; feeling her breathing become more heavy and uneven at his touch. Harry’s fingers made a path down her thighs before feeling another tight grip just above the back of her knee.

Moaning a hot breath close to his lips she felt him bend her knee to swing her leg over his body. Harry continued his torture running gentle patterns of inanimate objects across her legs. The chemistry between them was driving Adalyn wild. Her heart was pounding hard in her chest making it difficult for her to even breath right or think properly.

Adalyn was putting up a willing fight. She had promised herself earlier in the day to not get herself caught in another situation like this with Harry for one simple reason. Adalyn needed to know that there was more than just this undeniable physical connection between them. He intoxicated her with his lips, his touch, his voice, with everything that was Harry.

Closing her eyes she shut them hard, pressing down on her eyelids. With a shaky voice she spoke. “Not tonight…” Adalyn felt Harry’s fingers leave her leg. Afraid to open her eyes she kept them shut. “Look at me Addy.” His deep enthralling voice called out.

Opening her green orbs she was met with intense sparkling blue eyes glancing at her worriedly. “You alright? What’s wrong Adalyn?” Genuine concern was laced in his voice for her. Wanting to understand her sudden reaction Harry waited for her reply patiently.

Her features became tense, her body felt rigid against him. “I want to take things slow Harry…” Adalyn whispered lowly averting her gaze from his intense stare. A confused expression graced his face. If she had wanted that than why had Adalyn ask him to stay with her the other night? 

“Let me explain. Please.” A pleading voice brought his focus back to the woman in his arms. Taking a few breaths she gathered her thoughts. “I’m afraid Harry.” She let out a breath. “I’m afraid of getting close to you for you to only leave. It’s not that I don’t want to be with you, I do. I have thought about it and I want it, I want everything that comes with you, but…” she paused and locked eyes with him. “I know there is this physical chemistry between us and it is amazing… and I always want more from you. But, I feel we need to take a step back before that is all this is. I don’t want this to be chalked up as a rebound for me. I already know that I do not want that as a label for you. Plus, you hardly know me Harry and I want to get to know who you really are, not what the tabloids say who you are.”

Understanding where she was coming from he knew her concerns were valid. There was no doubt a physical connection between them that forced its way between them. Harry cared too much for the woman in his arms for letting this succumb to only be an unhealthy rebound for her and if they continued down this path before he left, he knew it would come true. Feeling Adalyn’s hand cup his cheek he smiled at her. She opened her lips in an attempt to explain better before he placed a finger on them to silence her. “You do not need to explain any more Addy. I understand it, as much as I enjoy making out with you and your enticing lips; we can take things as slow as you want.”

Grabbing her hand he played with her fingers glancing down at them. A cool breeze brushed across them causing Adalyn to shiver a little. Her exposed legs were cool to his touch feeling the goose bumps rise across her skin. “Chirst! Why didn’t you tell me you were cold Adalyn?!”

Harry shimmied out of his jacket covering her legs with it. She felt his hands rubbing across her legs creating some warmth. Adalyn snuggled closer into Harry trying to keep him warm. “You are going to get cold too now….” Shaking her head at Harry trying to be the perfect gentleman.

“Don’t worry. I will send for some blankets. Want anything else?” Adalyn shook her head no. “Only you Harry.” She rested her head on his chest finding a comfortable position. Her body relaxed into him as silence fell between them.

Harry had begun running his fingers through her hair in a gentle motion while his other hand was clasped over her fingers that rested on his chest. “I didn’t know you had a step mom…” 

“Yeah, Rosalyn. She married my dad when I was 12.” Lifting her head off his chest she looked up at Harry with a light giggle. “You know she has been trying to set me up with someone!” Harry’s eyebrow rose suggestively at her. “And?” He questioned her wanting to know more.

Feeling his arms wrap tighter around her in a possessive manner caused Adalyn to fall into a state of laughter. “Don’t worry. None of them are as handsome as you….” She smiled up at him before giving his lips a quick kiss. “Well actually…” Adalyn was hard in thought in a teasing manner earning an eye roll from the prince.

“I bet none of them have done this before…” Harry’s hand rested on her neck angling her lips towards his. Feeling his mouth pressed firmly against hers Adalyn melted into him. Breaking apart, a soft moan escaped her lips only to be captured by the prince’s attack on her lips once again. Adalyn’s mind was in a dazed state; Harry consumed her conscious thoughts. His soft lips dancing with hers, his fingers trailing down her back leaving a fiery sensation in its path, the smell of him, the way he moaned into her lips.

Adalyn reluctantly tore her lips off of his earning a low moan from the prince. A breathless Adalyn spoke. “No. No one has done that.” The prince let out a small giggle before placing his lips against her forehead craving for more, but respecting their earlier conversation. 

They spent the next hour exchanging questions for each other, wanting to learn more about the other person. Harry learned the dynamics of her family and about her brothers wedding in the coming months. Adalyn asked about Sentebale and his favourite places he had been in Africa as he shared the love of the countries he had visited.

“I will take you some time. You would love seeing all the kids. They are always so happy and have nothing.” Harry beamed as he explained what was like in Lesotho. An intently listening Adalyn watched him carefully. Seeing the way his blue eyes sparkled as he talked about Sentebale and the children that called Lesotho a home. She could tell how much it meant to him and how much of an impact he was making in so many lives. Their conversation was just she had needed tonight. Wandering in the tales of their everyday mundane life, but it gave them each a glimpse into who the other was.

Glancing down at his watch he saw it was close to midnight. Releasing a small groan he looked to Adalyn. “I promised I wouldn’t get you back too late tonight Adalyn.” He saw the happy smile fade into a line. Adalyn did not want this night to end, but she knew if she didn’t leave now work in the morning would surely lead to a long exhausting day.

“I don’t want to go…” She pressed her head into the crook of his neck. “If we don’t Ainsley will have my head.” Adalyn tossed her head back letting out a barking laugh at his comment.

Harry jumped out of the hammock first. Turning around he offered his hand helping Adalyn get out next. Handing Harry his jacket she smoothened out her dress and grabbed her heels in her hand. “No shoes?” He looked at her questioningly.

“My feet hurt and I need to wear heels tomorrow so I don’t want to put them on quite yet.” Adalyn smiled at him. “Want a lift then?” Harry pointed to his back for her to jump on. “Yes!” A squealing Adalyn climbed up on Harry.

Securing his arms around her legs Harry began walking back to the vehicles with Adalyn getting a piggyback from the prince. “We need to get you back before midnight or you will turn into a pumpkin.” Harry teased her.

“You do realize that it’s the carriage that turns into a pumpkin not Cinderella herself right Harry?” A giggling Adalyn could not contain her laughter at the prince. “Oh shit. You are right.” Harry fell into laughter with her. “Wait?! That means I would turn into the pumpkin?!”

“Yes Henry.” A giggling Adalyn forced out. Adalyn had yet to call him by that name. He had to admit to himself he liked the way it rolled off her lips internally wishing to hear it again. “Faster pumpkin!” Adalyn reached back and smacked him playfully on the ass.

“Did you just touch my but?” Harry angled his head in attempt look back at her over his shoulder. Adalyn leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “Mmmhmm. I sure did. You know it isn’t everyday I can touch a prince’s but without being tackled or sent to the tower of London.”

Harry roared a laugh at her response feeling another peck on his cheek from the woman he carried.  They had followed the candle lit path back down to the range rover. He could feel Adalyn resting her head gently on his back. “Thank you for doing all of this for me Harry.” He could hear her smile through her words. “I wouldn’t have spent the night any other way.”

Breathing in he smiled at her words. It was his hope that she would feel special tonight, that she could see the effort he made for her. “I feel the same way Addy.”

Harry walked up the stairs of Adalyn’s flat hand in hand with her. They slowly walked down the corridor, each not wanting the night to officially end. Reaching Adalyn’s flat she dug through her keys opening the door. Glancing at Harry she asked, “does Luther need to go in first?” Harry nodded a no, earning a narrowed glare from Luther waiting a few paces behind them.

Following Adalyn into her flat he closed the door behind them. Adalyn dropped her purse noticing a lamp light was on in the next room. Hearing footsteps she inwardly groaned as she looked back at Harry.

“Well you kept your promise and brought her back in one piece.” Ainsley leaned up against the wall watching the two of them with wide smiles. “I don’t break promises Ainsley.” Harry responded quickly with a smile.

Adalyn looked to Ainsley trying to express wanting a moment alone with Harry. “Ainsley. Can you give us a little privacy for a minute please.” A smirking Ainsley caught on to what she meant. “Oooh! Yes of course. Kiss each other goodnight. No wandering hands Harry!” She pointed at the prince before rounding the corner.

Adalyn pinched her nose in embarrassment. “I’m sorry” a light laugh escaped her lips. Harry pulled her frame into a tight hug, squeezing her body gently. Her head lifted to meet Harry’s deep blue eyes. “Don’t worry about it.”

“Thanks for taking me home….pumpkin.” Her lips turned up into a cheeky grin. Harry groaned at the name. “I would rather you have said Henry.” He admitted quietly. Leaning down he captured her lips in a gentle kiss. Adalyn’s hand reached up around his neck pulling him down further to press his lips harder against hers. 

Not wanting this to end Harry deepened the kiss. Releasing his arm from her frame he stroked her cheek pulling her lips tighter against his. After a few moments a breathless Adalyn gently broke apart before. Taking a quick inhale she took in his lips for one more sweet simple kiss. “You need to get some sleep. You got to work tomorrow.” 

Harry lifted his head back in reluctance. “I will talk to you tomorrow.” Pulling her forehead into him he placed a soft kiss against her skin savoring the moment. Adalyn’s green eyes locked with his as he reached for the door handle.

“Goodnight Henry.”

#prince harry #prince harry fanfic #phff #royalfanficcollection #chapter9 #phffcentral #princeharryff #littlebitofeverythingphff #harryandadalyn #chapters

[royalnightoutphff]

Chapter Seventeen

Lexy woke up the next morning feeling better than she ever had before. She was the perfect temperature, on top of Harry’s chest with the duvet covering her body, and she was probably the most comfortable she had ever been before. And she was so comfortable, in fact, that she wondered why everyone didn’t go out and find themselves boyfriends to sleep on.

She checked her phone and saw that she still had a few hours before her class but she decided to get up for the day. Then she realized that they were in a hotel room, with a probably clean tub, due to the price tag on the room, and she decided to have a bath.

But when she did move for the first time, Harry’s arm tightened around her. “Where are you going?” He mumbled without opening his eyes.

“To shower,” Lexy told him, feeling too childish to tell him that she was actually going to have a bath.

Harry groaned, his eyes still closed. “Can’t you just lie here a little longer?”

“Why?”

This time he opened his eyes. “Because I’m quite comfortable and I don’t want you to ruin it just yet.”

Lexy sighed. “But I feel nasty.”

“What do you mean, you feel nasty? What have you done in the past day?”

“I didn’t shower yesterday because we woke up late. So I feel obligated to shower now.”

He grasped for his phone, holding it up in front of him and squinting. “At 7:06 in the morning? What time is your exam?”

“Eleven.”

“Exactly. Now lie back down and we’ll negotiate this in an hour.”

“Harry—“

“Superiority rules.”

Lexy huffed but did as he said, allowing Harry to wrap his arm back around her and drift back to sleep. And a few minutes later, when Harry began to lightly snore, Lexy found that she just couldn’t get her mind to stop. Her body may have still been tired, but her mind was not, and she laid there thinking how weird her life was.

If someone had told her that studying abroad would have changed her life forever, she probably wouldn’t have believed them. Especially if they’d told her she would have been dating an actual prince in a few months’ time. It seemed as if things were too good to be true. Lexy wondered when something was going to catch up with them.

Lexy didn’t move again until an hour later when Harry’s alarm went off, startling both of them. And they didn’t talk much as they got ready for the day, Harry dressed in a light blue button down, resembling the princely version of himself. Lexy was still dressed in the same clothes as before but it didn’t bother her as she had already decided she was going to head to her room for a quick shower before her exam.

And besides, her hair was dying for some mousse anyway. She didn’t know why Harry was still speaking to her with the state of her hair the way it was.

“You know,” Lexy said as she was tying her shoelaces. She’d taken to wearing a bright red pair of converses lately even though she wasn’t quite sure why. Lexy had never been a fan of bright colors. “I have an exam in two and a half hours and I haven’t studied nearly enough. I’m not even worried. This is your fault.”

“Yeah well,” Harry countered, straightening his tie. “I’m giving a speech to a lot of your people in a few hours and I’m not even the least bit nervous. That’s your fault.”

Lexy rolled her eyes. “You’ve been giving speeches since you were born. I bet you and William used to give pretend speeches when you were little.”

“Ha ha, you’re so funny,” he bit back. “Although, actually, it does make me nervous that you’re going to be there. I always feel that way, speaking in front of people I know.”

“Oh,” Lexy blinked, putting her flashcards in her backpack. “Well, you shouldn’t. I’m not going.”

“You’re not coming?!”

“I wasn’t able to get a ticket! They offered them to the EPS students first and then the policy kids. When they finally offered them up to the entire student body the line was really long. And that was the day you got here so I’d already seen you and couldn’t be bothered to stand in line.”

Harry groaned. “You could’ve at least told me.”

“Why would I want to hear you speak about something when I can talk to you right now?”

“Because you’re supposed to be supportive!”

“I am supportive.”

Harry muttered something she couldn’t understand and reached for his suit jacket, pulling it on over his shoulders. “If I get you a ticket will you come?”

“Maybe. I don’t want to go by myself.”

Harry rolled his eyes. “You are the most ridiculous person I have ever met. I can’t believe I choose to spend my time with you.”

“You always say that but you’re still here.”

“I’m still here,” he muttered. He helped Lexy into her jacket before steering her towards the door. “Go on, you crazy girl. I’ll text you when I have your ticket.”

“And—“

“And a ticket for Nicole,” he finished for her, rolling his eyes.

Lexy turned back to smile at him before opening his door and practically skipping down the hallway. She felt giddy for once and as she walked along the red carpeted hallway and through the elevator door, she couldn’t help smiling.

**

Even the fact that she hadn’t done as well on her exam, a fact that would’ve previously had Lexy almost in tears, couldn’t drag Lexy down. She was playing Coldplay’s Hymn For The Weekend as loud as they would go in her ears as she made her way to the dining hall, this time alone. But Lexy didn’t let it bother her. She felt like Beyoncé. She felt better than Beyoncé.

Lexy fixed herself some pasta and a small salad, her music still playing loud in her ears and sat down at a table alone. She flicked through her phone for a while, reading up on some news app for the day, something as a politics student, she considered extremely important. And then she settled on Instagram for a while before switching over to snapchat and answering most of the snaps she hadn’t bothered to answer in a few days.

“Mind if I sit here?” A voice asked, startling her over the sound of her music. Lexy jumped slightly but looked up to see the British grad student, Henry, standing there.

She smiled and gestured in front of her, swiftly taking out her other headphone and stopping her music. “How are you?”

“Good,” he smiled. “I’m a bit too excited to see Prince Harry speak this evening. Though,” he winked. “Don’t tell anyone else whose British that.”

Lexy tilted her head. “Why?”

“I think the Royals are a much bigger deal here than they are in England, to be honest. I’m missing out on a great night out tonight to have dinner with Harry and some other grad students and my friends back home would be rather upset to hear that.”

Lexy wasn’t sure what to say. Sure, her time in England had been mostly spent hanging out with Michael, Amelia, Liz, and James, but even Michael, who’d apparently had his way with one of Harry’s friends, had still respected him. But Lexy wasn’t the confrontational type, so she didn’t bother to say anything.

“So how long have you known Harry?” Henry continued when she didn’t say anything.

“Uh, I met him in September I think. I ended up at the same club as him.”

Henry whistled. “You ended up at the same club as him? You must be mighty lucky How?”

Lexy shrugged. “One of my friends was from Kensington. We stayed at her house over the weekend and just ended up there. I was in the right place at the right time, I guess.”

“And you two have been dating since you met?”

While Harry was comfortable telling people they were dating, Lexy still was not. And she was also sure this had something to do with Harry’s ability to read people well, a talent that she herself did not possess. Either way she was getting a particularly bad vibe from Henry and decided to shut him down.

“Uh, no, He was already friends with one of my friends and then we just became acquaintances I guess. When he found out he’d be speaking here he reached out to me and we got dinner to catch up.”

“Must be some acquaintance if he offered to get you an internship with Theresa May.”

Lexy tried to laugh. “I’m sure he was just joking. He’s a friendly guy.”

“Mhm. You know, I’m not too much of a fan of the Royals myself,” Henry continued. “Honestly they’re just there. Like I said, you lot probably care about them more than we do.”

Lexy wanted to tell him that he’d already said that but she just focused on eating the rest of her pasta so she could leave. “I don’t know much about them, to be honest. Like I said, I only know Harry because of a mutual friend. When we met there was nothing about who he is. I’m not even attending the speech.”

“You’re not attending the speech?!” His voice raised and a couple of students looked back at them. “Why not? Surely you would attend an acquaintance’s speech.”

“It’s midterms week,” she shrugged and chewed the last of her pasta. “That and I couldn’t get tickets. If my roommate has an extra, I’ll go, but that’s about it.”

Henry nodded and Lexy wondered, seeing him up close, why she’d ever really had a thing for him. She didn’t know if it was because of Harry or because she was just seeing him up close, but either way she was thinking differently.

“I really must be going,” she told him, finally standing up. “I have another exam coming up.”

“Of course, of course,” Henry gestured that she should go. “Good luck!”

Lexy smiled at him but after putting her things away, she went out a different exit so she wouldn’t have to pass him, holding her backpack closer to her and putting her music back in.

The walk to her room was short and doable in the early spring air. Still, Lexy was glad she didn’t have to be outside for long. Then, she came to an almost full stop.

Waiting outside of her dorm entrance was Max. Lexy stared at him as she got closer, the way he was built sort of like Dwayne Johnson, so big that he could probably break her arm within a second. She liked the way he was dressed in all black, right down to the beanie on his head. And, when he smiled down at her, revealing his two slightly overlapping front teeth, Lexy knew she should have taken the chance to get to know him better.

“Hi Max, is Harry inside?”

“No, Miss Marks. I’ve been told to give you this.” He smiled and handed her a white envelope that had Lexy’s name printed on the front. She’d seen Harry’s handwriting enough to know that it was his and wondered what he was doing sending her archaic letters when he was less than a mile away.

Lexy glanced back at Max before tearing open the envelope, ripping it open like she was a child on Christmas Day. Inside she saw the two admission tickets for Harry’s speech and rolled her eyes, because there was nothing else in the envelope.

“Harry said to tell you to dress nice. There will be a photo afterwards.”

Lexy squinted at him. “Of me and him? In front of everyone?”

Max grinned. “Oh, no, Miss Marks. We’ll have a plan.”

“He’s so weird,” Lexy muttered under her breath, shaking her head. “Did he tell you to just wait here for me?”

“It’s actually my day-off,” Max admitted. “But I’m quite fond of Harry, so I offered to do him a favor.”

Lexy shook her head again. “He’s such an awful person, making you do things on your day off. Would you like something to eat? I might have something in my room.”

“Oh no, you’re quite alright. I’m going to find something for myself.” Lexy nodded and prepared to tell him goodbye but was stopped when he told her to wait. “Oh and Miss Marks—“

“Please call me Lexy.”

“Lexy,” he grinned. “I’m probably overstepping my boundaries right now, but I just wanted you to know that I’ve been with Harry for a while, and I’ve never seen him react like he does to you. Take that as you will.”

“Thanks Max,” she smiled at him. “You don’t think it’s too much though? The age difference?”

Max shook his head. “It seems like a lot now but once you get older, it’ll seem like nothing. And besides, I think what’s most important is that the two of you have been getting on well for months now and age doesn’t seem to be a factor. Just stick with him for a bit longer, alright?”

Lexy nodded and smiled at him again. “Thanks, Max. I appreciate it.”

“That’s alright, Lexy.”

As she walked into the building, she was getting more and more excited about the prospect of seeing Harry’s speech. And also, she was excited for going home. She had only one exam left and then she’d be able to go home and see her family. She was missing her sister’s kids a lot, and she couldn’t wait to see how much the baby, Levi, had grown.

“Well if isn’t Miss Sexy-Lexy making a return,” Nicole said as soon as she entered the room.

Lexy rolled her eyes and sat her backpack and the envelope containing the tickets on her bed. “You’ve even got Harry calling me that now.”

“Good,” she smiled, smugness radiating off of her. “So did anything happen last night?”

“You’re acting like a thirteen-year-old.” Lexy opened her closet and began to sift through it, desperately trying to find something that she could wear. She didn’t own very many nice dresses, and she wasn’t sure she had anything that would be up to Harry’s standards.

Nicole groaned. “Just tell me what happened.”

“Nothing. We made out and then went to sleep.” She felt childish even saying those terms. She was sure Harry wasn’t telling any of his friends what they were doing.

Nicole sighed and laid back on her bed. “Well, Josh and I are having problems. I think we might be done.”

“Yeah, what was that about last night?” Lexy turned away from the closet momentarily to focus all of her attention on her roommate.

“I think we’re just growing apart. He’s just a sophomore so he hasn’t officially decided his major. But,” she sighed dramatically. “He changed his major to mathematics. You know how I feel about STEM majors.”

Lexy shook her head. “That can’t be the only reason.”

“I think we’re just in different places. Well, that, and his family’s racist. I think.”

“Ah,” Lexy grimaced. “Did you meet them?”

“No, but every time I want to post a picture on Facebook of us, he won’t let me. He’s always talking about his mom seeing them or something. It’s just sketchy.”

Lexy frowned. “Well you deserve so much more than that. You deserve a guy who will let you post all the pictures you want.”

“With my mad photo-editing skills,” Nicole laughed, wiggling her eyebrows. “Anyway, it’s not decided. I’m not going to give up a two-year relationship just like that, y’know?”

“We could go on a double date,” Lexy suggested. “Josh and Harry haven’t officially met yet.”

“Josh didn’t even know who he was.”

“We could go to that Italian restaurant,” Lexy suggested. “I told Harry I wanted to go before we left. He’s getting dinner with some grad students but I think we could go after that.”

“I think Josh has a lab. I’m not going to his room until ten.” Nicole frowned. “We could still go though. I don’t mind third-wheeling.”

Lexy shrugged. “That or we could just order take-out here. What time is Josh’s lab over?”

“Don’t know. Don’t care.”

Lexy rolled her eyes. “Whatever. You’re coming to Harry’s speech with me. He got us tickets.”

“You’re going to subject me to listen to the fifth in live for the throne’s speech? Damn, Lex, you sure know how to make a girl feel wanted.”

“He’s fifth?” Lexy frowned.

Nicole rolled her eyes before deciding not to answer. “What are you wearing?”

“I’m not sure yet. Harry told me to wear something nice but I don’t have anything nice.”

“Wear the green dress. It looks good with your eyes.”

“It’s not too Christmas-sy?”

“Not at all. I’ll wear my blue one and we can match.”

“While you’re like a foot taller than me.”

“You should be used to it now, bitch.”

**

When they finally made it to the lecture hall Harry was speaking in, there was already a crowd of people.

“I told you we should’ve gotten here earlier,” Nicole said. She was towering over Lexy more than usual, in a pair of six-inch heels.

“I wanted to do my makeup!”

“It’s not like he hasn’t already seen you without makeup,” she pointed out. “And he seems to be fine with it.”

“That doesn’t mean I don’t want to look nice,” Lexy snapped.

“Oh calm down,” Nicole rolled her eyes, ushering Lexy to some seats that were in the middle of the hall. Lexy sat down first, beside a group of girls who were apparently varsity lacrosse players.

Lexy was about to say something else when the president of the university took to the stage and began to speak, the lights in the room darkening aside from the ones directly above the stage.

“Good evening Princeton!” He shouted and laughed as the students shouted back to him. “I find it incredibly miraculous that you’re all here in the midst of midterms week—I remember my time here very well.” He paused for laughter. “As many of you are aware of, our great country has been a place of shock. With the results of the 2016 election, and our new president, it’s frightening for many of us. But with that being said, I’d like to touch on the prospect of potential, and of greatness, and whether or not the two are related.

“You all know that with being a student at such a prestigious university comes great responsibility, and to make a difference in the world today and every day. We are in the nation’s service, and in the service of all nations,” He paused for clapping of the university’s motto. “And with that, please allow me to welcome someone who from birth, has been dedicated to service. Students, please give a warm welcome to Prince Harry of Wales.”

The clapping was loud and thunderous as Harry made his way up the stage. Lexy, too clapped, but she kept her eyes on Harry as he went up and spoke.

He shook the president’s hand and then played with the button of his jacket before making his way to the podium and grinning.

“I’ve got to say, I never made it to university, but if I had, I would’ve certainly given here a chance, especially it being Prince-ton and all.” Lexy rolled her eyes as the hall shook with laughter, Harry seeming pleased that he’d said something funny. “When President Eisgruber first reached out to me to ask if I’d like to speak, I wasn’t sure if I had anything to say that you wouldn’t already know.”

Lexy was overtaken by the way that Harry was able to stand up on stage and take control of it all, as if he was the only one up there. He was truly charismatic and she couldn’t believe how she hadn’t seen it before.

“But then, I thought about how I had met a Princeton student in September, and I decided to give it a go.” Lexy’s blood ran cold and she froze, eyes wide. “But in order to do that, I want to tell you a little about the night I met her.”

He spoke of Michael and of his relationship with Daniel, leading Lexy to realize that she should give Michael a call soon. And he spoke of how Lexy had danced with Michael, to keep people from seeing Daniel and Michael together. He talked of how Lexy had been alone in the corner of one of London’s finest clubs, working on her Spanish essay. Nicole kept nudging Lexy throughout, but Lexy was overtaken with the way Harry was able to paint her, without using her name or anything that would identify her as her.

“So this long, drawn out story, is just to illustrate how passionate and dedicated Princeton students are. They don’t give up, and they don’t get sidetracked. But above all, meeting that Princeton student has taught me something that I had already known, but had forgotten, and that is that a title doesn’t mean anything, and that we’re all human beings.”

He went on to talk about his charity in Lesotho that he’d talked to Lexy about multiple times—something she knew he was quite proud of. And he was talking about all of the struggles in trying to make the world a better place, all from a place of privilege. But Lexy couldn’t listen to him because she was all too focused on Harry rather than the words he was saying.

He was a natural up on stage, people listening to him without even trying. And he was her boyfriend. She got to spend time with him. He wanted to spend time with her. He’d come all the way across the Atlantic to see her.

And not only that, he was one of the most well-known people in the entire world. He may have been a bit older than her, but Lexy finally decided she didn’t care. She was positive they were on the same maturity level, and if he was willing to just be with her, then she was, too.

When his speech ended, her and Nicole waited for the line of people greeting him to end. Finally, he was standing at the front talking to the students who came to meet him. Lexy and Nicole sat off to the side of the stage, both flicking through their phones.

Neither noticed until the room was sparsely empty, with no one but Harry, Max and Mitch, Harry’s other PO, and a few of the tech guys. Harry was set to go to dinner in about an hour (not that Lexy was keeping tabs or anything).

Lexy was just about to show Nicole Carrie’s new Instagram post when she looked up and saw Harry standing above them.

“You too look lovely tonight,” he told them, a smile on his face.

“Thanks,” Nicole said, grinning and standing up. She did a full turn. “I put a lot of effort into my outfit.”

“Well, it was definitely worth it.” Harry winked at her.

“Your speech was great,” Nicole said. “I had no idea you’d done all that work. It’s incredible.”

Harry smiled again. “Thank you. I must say that it’s one of the times in life when I’m most fortunate for my title, being able to do all that I can.” He nudged Lexy’s foot with his. “And you? What did you think?”

Lexy pretended to think for a while before finally saying, “It was horrible.”

“Yeah? What did you hate most about it?”

“The part about that gay kid. And the girl who was working on an essay in a club.”

“Yeah, she was kind of a loser, wasn’t she?”

Nicole rolled her eyes. “You two are ridiculous. I’m going to the restroom. Don’t leave without me,” she warned to Lexy.

As soon as she’d turned her back to them, walking out with her heels sharply hitting against the ground, Harry sunk into her seat.

“What did you really think?”

“It was great. I could never do that.”

“Yeah? I bet you could. I’ve just had years and years of practice.”

Lexy shook her head, her hair spilling out onto her shoulder. “No, it’s different with you. It was like, watching you up there, you were doing something you were born to do. Like you were an athlete who finally made it to the Olympics.”

Harry snorted and Lexy frowned, wondering what she had said that was funny.

“As much as I do love your dear university, Lex, I have to say that, having attended the Olympics, giving this speech is simply not comparable.”

Lexy rolled her eyes. “Bitch ass.”

Harry shook his head at her comment and crossed his feet at the ankle. “I really wish I didn’t have to go to this dinner. I’d much rather have something with you.”

“Well, my bed is open afterwards.” When Harry raised his eyebrows at her, Lexy groaned. “I didn’t mean it like that. Nicole’s going to her boyfriend’s tonight.”

“As much as I do love your tiny bed, why don’t you just come to my hotel in a bit? The bed is nicer and it’s a lot more private. And by that, I mean the adjoining bathroom.”

Lexy narrowed her eyes but agreed anyway, knowing that he was right, as he often was. The pair spent a few minutes talking about their days before Nicole came back in, heels louder than ever.

“Oh please,” she said, as she sat in the chair on Lexy’s other side. “Take your time. Don’t rush.”

Lexy reached out and pushed her. Nicole paid no notice and took out her phone again.

Lexy sighed. “We should probably get going. I’ll see you tonight though?”

Nicole perked up at that. “Tonight? Oooh, is Sexy Lexy finally making her debut?”

“You calling me that is getting awfully redundant.”

“Maybe when she actually shows up, I’ll stop,” Nicole shot back.

Harry looked between the two of them and shook his head. “I’ll see you tonight,” he promised Lexy. “I’ll text you as soon as the dinner is over.”

The three of them stood up, Nicole locking her phone and holding it at her side. “Bye, Harry,” she said, leaning forward to kiss him on the cheek. “if Sexy Lexy isn’t here soon, let me know and I’ll force it out of her.”

Harry laughed, neither paying attention to the way Lexy rolled her eyes. “Thanks, Nicole,” he responded, putting his arm around Lexy. “I’ll keep that in mind but I think we’re alright for now.”

Lexy wanted to stick her tongue out at Nicole but she knew that would only make her seem more childish so she kept the desire to herself and let Harry wrap her up in his arms. She clutched on to him, as if it was the last time she’d ever see him. Harry probably noticed, but he said nothing, just held her just as tight.

“I’ll see you in a bit, okay?” He told her when he finally pulled away.

Lexy nodded and took a step back. She waved at him as they walked away, taking one last look at him in his suit. She couldn’t help the way she was looking at the crisp white shirt he was wearing underneath the jacket he’d unbuttoned, wishing he wasn’t wearing anything on top of it at all. Although she wouldn’t mention it to either of them, Lexy herself thought Sexy Lexy would probably be making an appearance soon.

“You know,” Nicole said as they were walking out of the building. “We didn’t actually take a photo.”

Lexy frowned when she realized it. She’d noticed when Harry asked that they didn’t have a photo together, not even a selfie. She wondered if that was why Harry had told them to dress up.

“Oh well,” she told Nicole as they headed off to the dorm. She figured she’d have more opportunities for a photo. At least she hoped so.

**

When Lexy finally reached Harry’s hotel room that night, it was nearing eleven, and she felt ready to pass out. She’d also changed out of the dress and taken off her makeup.

“I’m so tired,” she greeted whenever Harry opened the door, pushing past him and throwing her backpack on the ground.

“It’s great to see you too,” Harry told her as he shut the door behind her and came back into the center of the room, watching Lexy as she pulled out her toothbrush.

“I stupidly decided to go for a run when I got back to my room. And once I was running, it just felt so good that I kept going. So I ran eight miles and now I feel like I’m dying.”

“You ran eight miles?!” Harry cried. “And it’s dark outside!”

“I know!” she exclaimed, walking past him and into the bathroom.

She brushed her teeth meticulously, like she always did, and observed herself in the mirror. Harry turned on the TV and she heard the sounds of a local news channel.

It was only after she’d finished and left the room that she realized that, to her disappointment, Harry was no longer wearing the long-sleeve white button down or shirtless. Instead he’d changed into a plain gray t-shirt and a pair of shorts.

“I was tired,” she said as she put her toothbrush back in her backpack. “But now I’d rather do something else instead.” She sat so close to Harry on the bed that their thighs were touching.

“You’re acting different today,” Harry told her. “More confident, I think. I like it.”

“Yeah, well, I like you,” Lexy told him, not wasting any time as she just went for it, putting her hand behind Harry’s head and pulling him towards her.

This time when they made out, if they had been in middle school, Lexy could have told her friends she’d made it to second base. Her shirt even came off, leaving her to realize with initial embarrassment that she was still wearing her bright pink sports bra.

“Sorry,” she said as Harry’s fingers ghosted along the bottom of it.

“It doesn’t bother me,” he responded immediately. “I like girls who run.”

But a few minutes later found them finished for the night, Lexy pulling away and Harry realizing, though not showing any disappointment, that they weren’t doing much else that night.

“I’m sorry,” she admitted, as Harry got out of the bed and turned out the light, sliding underneath the covers with only the light of the television now showing some late night show. “I’m just not ready for that yet.”

“You haven’t got anything to apologize for.”

“I just feel bad. I’m sure if I were someone else you’d have already done that by now.”

“Lexy,” he said, not continuing until she was looking him in the eye. “I don’t want someone else. All I care about is that I’m happy, and you’re happy, and that one day, when that happens, you feel okay with it.” As a side thought, he added, “Well, I hope you feel more than okay with it.”

Lexy laid down so that she was on his chest, wondering how Harry was still able to know just what to say to make her feel better. It was almost as if he had a talent for people. Well, a talent for almost everything.

“Good night,” she mumbled, loving the way her cheek felt against his soft chest hair and hearing his heartbeat right in her ear. She was also amazed by how nice it was to lie there, just in her sports bra, with flesh against flesh. She wondered if Harry felt the same.

Either way, for the third night in that week, she felt overjoyed, and couldn’t wait to wake up next to him again.

#prince harry #prince harry fanfiction #princeharryff #princeharryfanfiction #phff

[ourplaceinthecosmosphff]

Chapter 29. Borrowed Time

‘Harder days are coming. The loan of borrowed time will be due on the horizon. (...)’ - Ingeborg Bachmann

The most northern village in Savoy was Valois-Narcisse, so small that it wasn’t actually reachable by any form of public transportation. Not a lot of people in Savoy even knew Valois-Narcisse by name; Bayona, on the East Coast, was the closest reference point, a beach village considered an under-rated touristic spot. Historically, Valois-Narcisse was populated by sheep and eggplant farmers, not a very sexy niche, and it was still how the village’s only export to local and regional farmer’s markets.

For the following few weeks after Ascot, every time Harry tried to talk about it, his phone corrected the name to ‘value narcissism’, so by the time I drove past the small, rusted iron sign that read its name, I couldn’t help but smile.

One of the reasons Valois-Narcisse was so abandoned was that it was mostly situated up a mountain. Not at the top of the mountain, exactly, although parts of it were. The village just stretched along the mountain, with most of its commerce and eateries, however scarce, down below, and the houses built towards the top, including a couple of small hostels and, lucky for us, one very odd Airbnb.

The houses, bridges and streets were all built of stone and wood, with wildflowers and weeds growing in between, and across the mountain, beyond the village, stood the vast, beautiful Celtic Sea. On days of low tide, locals swore they could see the outline of the Irish coast on the horizon, at least according to the description on Airbnb.

But even if that was an exaggeration, we wouldn’t have cared, because what drew Harry and I to Valois-Narcisse that weekend was how desolate and empty it was. Paparazzi wouldn’t dream of finding us there, so it was there that we scheduled our first getaway. Our first secret rendezvous. Or, as Harry kept reminding me, our first date.

We had been texting non-stop since I left his house after Ascot, about what happened, and also about all things around us, what we were doing or not, and a lot of nothing. It was over text that we made the plans to meet in Vallois-Narcisse for the first time since getting together, it was over text that we discussed the latest of the Adrien saga (he’d been seen out in a club with the singer-girlfriend and their friends), and it was over text that he informed me that since we never got to go on our date the previous year, during our weekend in Vallois-Narcisse, he was going to pull all the stops to ‘take me out’’.

“Are we going out for dinner?” I asked, in our Airbnb, while I got ready in the middle of the afternoon.

“Not really.” He replied, from the small sitting room right outside our suite. “And stop trying to guess, just get ready.”

He had refused to tell me anything about the date, claiming it was supposed to be as real as the real one would have been and in the real one, it would have been a surprise.

“It’s very hard to get ready when I don’t know what we’re doing.” I sighed. “How casual am I supposed to look?”

“Casual.” He replied, unhelpful. “Maybe wear sneakers.”

“Well, that’s one decision off my conscience.” I mumbled to myself, staring at my options laid out in the bed, my small suitcase open on the floor.

I had chosen a preppy, plaid short skirt in shades of white and blue, and I had all the tops I had brought in the bed as possible options. For shoes, I removed the flats from the lineup, and put on my white Nike’s, turning around to look at the tops again.

“Are you ready? It’s time.” Harry called from the other room.

“Just–! Just give me ten minutes!” I shouted back, nervously.

I realized how ridiculous it was. It was just a gesture – a sweet, romantic, gesture – to have a first date when we had already slept together more than once. More than twice. The previous night, for instance. It made no sense, it was just sweet. So there was no reason to be nervous, and I knew that. Rationally, I knew that.

Still, as I looked at the clothes I brought, I hated every single one. I threw the Jurassic Park tee back into the suitcase – too casual –, and looked at the Kimono top, a greenish blue shade, long, loose sleeves, a nice, laidback fit to contrast with the skirt. The other two options, a tight, square neckline, navy blue, crop top, and a loose, green, blouse with spaghetti sleeves, both matched the skirt and were casual enough, but seemed more appropriate for the weather.

“…It’s been ten minutes.” Harry’s voice came back from the other room, patiently cautious.

“Coming!”

In one panicked move, I grabbed the green, strappy blouse and put it on. I rushed to the bathroom and quickly applied some tinted sunblock to my face. I wanted to apply actual makeup, but convinced myself it was silly. He’d seen me without makeup many times already. It wasn’t a real first date, no matter how big the knot on my stomach was, so I just grabbed a pair of earrings, my every-day necklace, and sunglasses, and burst through the door in a hurry, ready to run as if we had an actual reservation, even though I was perfectly aware that no restaurant in this village town worked like that.

“Okay, I’m ready, let’s go!” I said, looking at him, who startled up from the couch and looked me up and down, appreciatively.

“Mary, wow.” He smiled, slowly, approaching me with careful steps. “You look…”

“What are you doing?!” I laughed, blushing. “You saw me five minutes ago. I look the same. I just put on a different, very casual, outfit.”

“Will you just pretend with me? Please?” He sighed, rolling his eyes. “We never got to have our first date, just… let’s just pretend we’re a normal couple today.”

I shook my head, grinning. “…Fine.”

He took another step towards me and, from seemingly thin air, produced a white daisy.

I sighed. I wanted to say ‘really?’, but I bit down my sarcasm, and took my flower.

“Thank you. It’s beautiful!” I said, adding a little more emotion than necessary.

He sighed heavily, making me laugh. “Come on, ma’am, we have a date.”

“Yes, sir.”

Our Airbnb was in a secluded property at the end of a dead-end granite driveway off of the main road. Instead of taking that direction, however, we walked towards the hike trail in the opposite direction. I wanted to ask what was on the huge backpack he’d brought, but I knew he was just waiting for the opportunity to tell me it was a surprise, so I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction.

He announced we had arrived when we reached a clearing amongst the trees. The grass and weeds were a little high, but nothing that made it impossible for us to sit down and enjoy ourselves. Especially because, as I soon discovered, Harry had a picnic blanket in his backpack. Because Harry had a whole picnic in his backpack.

“A picnic?!” I asked, excited.

“You like picnics?” He smiled, setting the blanket down.

“I love picnics!” I said, excitedly. “Don’t go to many, because… you know, outside, not very safe.”

“Yes, I do know.” He nodded, going through his bag, “Fortunately this place has enough privacy for us.”

“How did you even know to come here?”

“I googled it.” He replied, simply.

From his bag, he took out a bottle of sparkly wine and two ceramic looking plastic plates, which he sat down at opposite ends of the blanket. He then placed two linen napkins, folded, on top, with a set of cutlery over each.

“You thought this through.” I noticed.

“Of course I did.” He shrugged, removing a piece of paper from his pocket and reading it quickly. “I do have visual aids, though.”

In his bag, he also had acrylic Tupperware with a number of cheeses, which he then laid out on a wooden board. In another container, he had brought an assortment of cut veggies with a smaller cup inside, with ranch, which he remembered was my favorite. For our main course, he dramatically revealed large sandwiches from his favorite London restaurant, perfectly packaged and cut, for easier consumption. And for dessert, there were also a number of fruits and two small pots with what looked like cheesecakes.

“This is… incredible.”

He seemed the most flattered I had ever seen him.

“Thank you!” He said, folding his note quickly.

“Can I see that?”

“What? Oh, no, it’s just a little reminder of where things go–Oh–okay.”

I walked over to him and grabbed the paper before he could return it to his pocket; it was a list of instructions on how to set up the picnic, in his own handwriting. It even said ‘transfer cheese to wooden board’ and included a drawing of how to set up the napkins on top of the plates, with the cutlery on top of the napkins.

“This is… so sweet.” I gushed, watching him blush. “Where did you get this from?”

“I googled picnics.” He shrugged. “Well, first I googled first date ideas. Then saw the picnic idea and went on google street view to see if this place would be good for one. Then googled how to do a picnic.” He shrugged, grabbing the paper back and folding it. “Not a big deal.”

It was the way he blushed slightly and still made it sound like it wasn’t a big deal that he put in that much effort into giving us one afternoon where we could pretend we were a normal couple, untouched by tragedy. That’s what made my heart swoon for him.

I didn’t even have time to kiss him, though. He was so adamant to continue as if nothing was the problem that he just held my hand and sat down, pulling me with him.

“So…” He started, smiling. “So good that we are finally able to do this.”

“It is.” I agreed, amused.

“Wine?”

“Yes, please.”

“So, tell me, what is it that you do?” I laughed so loudly he reluctantly joined me.

“I’m sorry, it’s just too weird.”

“Come on!” He complained. “Like a normal first date, just go with it.”

“Okay, okay…” I sighed, still smiling. “What I do for a living… I… I am a lawyer.” He gave me an annoyed look. “What? If I’m talking to someone who doesn’t know what I do for a living, I’m not gonna tell them.”

“Fair. But be honest.”

I sighed. “Alright. I have a law degree from Harvard, which I’m really proud of, and I mostly have experience with copyright law… But I am not practicing right now.”

“Really? How so?”

I gave him an annoyed look this time. “I… I made a career change last year towards working on my… family business.”

He grinned. “How interesting.”

“Thank you. It’s been very rewarding.”

“I’m sure it wasn’t an easy choice to make.”

My smile faltered slightly. “It wasn’t fully my choice… But I’m happy with it, regardless.” I added, to assuage his reaction.

He nodded, silently. After a while, he added, “Are you?”

I shifted the position of my legs under me, using the time it took to think it through.

“Yes. Yes? I think so.” I shrugged. “Honestly, I haven’t really stopped to figure that out… Not exactly a priority.”

“It should be.”

I smiled. Not knowing how to change the subject, I reached out to the platter next to me and grabbed a piece of cheese.

“This is really good.” I added.

He smiled, accepting of the change of subject.

“Alright, time for you to ask something.”

“Oh. Okay… Uhm.” I finished chewing slowly as I thought about it. “Where… are you from? Originally?”

He rolled his eyes, smiling. “I’m from England.”

“Oh, really? Interesting.” I said, overly impressed. “Where in England?”

“London.” He added, grinning. “I was born and raised in Central London.”

“Fancy.” I added, appreciatively, making him chuckle. “Do you like living there?”

He considered this. “…not particularly.”

I stopped chewing. “Really?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know… I mean, I liked it, yes, in that… generic, mandatory way you always feel you must like the place you are from. Like, I will defend it if I must. But… if I had a choice, would I want to spend the rest of my life there? I’m not sure I would.”

“Huh.”

“What?”

“Nothing.” I shook my head. “Well.”

“Go on.” He said, grinning.

“Oh, I just mean… I love New York, it was one of the best experiences of my life living there for a year after law school, even if those memories are tainted with the presence of my ex… But as much as I love New York, and a lot of other places I’ve been to… coming home to Savoy is just…” I shrugged. “I don’t know, I couldn’t imagine staying away forever, you know? It’s home.”

He nodded. “I don’t know, I just don’t have that sense of attachment to England. To my family and friends, sure. But to the place? I don’t know. I don’t think so.”

We were silent for a while, eating cheese and drinking wine, and pondering over the words said. Then he perked up again, cheerily, and said,

“Tell me about your family.”

I gave the sky an eye roll. “…Fine.”

“Wow. So aggressive.” He noted, chuckling.

“Shut up.” I said. “Okay. Well, I’m the oldest of three. My brother was the middle child, but he passed away last year. He was three years younger than me and we got along really well. My sister is about eleven years younger than me, so we are not as close, though we’ve gotten a lot closer recently.”

“That’s nice to hear.” He smiled.

“My mother was born in Northern Savoy, her father is French, her mother is Savoyen. My grandfather has a property management and consultancy business, and my grandmother was always a stay-at-home mother. My mother only has one sister, Aunt Katherine, who’s now taken over my grandfather’s business, though her husband, Merlin, who is a Lord, seems to be making most of the calls. That is the root of most of the disagreements between my mother and Aunt, currently.”

“Tough.” He noted.

“Aunt Katherine has two children, Camille is the eldest, she’s been married to Hamilton Costeau for a few years, he’s a hotshot nightclub owner from the capital, and they’re expecting their first child currently. Her brother, Adam, is a freelance graphic designer, he’s married to a writer named Marcia. They’re probably my most normal relatives except that they’re wild, crazy hippies.”

He laughed. “How so?”

“They had a fully vegan wedding in a bowling alley and they live in a boat.”

He almost spit out his wine laughing. “What?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m gonna need more information.”

“There’s not really that much more to it. To be fair, the vegan menu was actually pretty good and bowling is fun. Haven’t been bowling since, so it’s a good memory. We don’t see them a lot, because of the boat.”

“When you say boat…?”

“Not a yatch or anything like that. It’s one of those small, house boats, like in Amsterdam? Except they actually use it to sail around since they’re both freelance and can work from anywhere.”

“Honestly… that sounds great.”

“They’re cool.” I nodded. “Let’s see… on my father’s side, he has two older sisters. Marilou Bondy is in her sixties, her husband is a Vice Admiral in the navy, and they have two kids in their mid-thirties. Zaccharie, married to Amber, they have two kids who are three and five years-old. Zacc is a business manager in a shipping company, his wife has a graduate degree in Psychology, but now is a stay-at-home mom. Zacc’s sister, Heloise, is CEO of a multinational company, and her husband is a doctor. They’re by far my relatives who’ve got it together the most.”

“Sounds like it, those are some big jobs. They have kids?”

“A two year old, adorable. All my cousin’s children are. We have good genes.” He laughed. “Let me see, what else? My father’s second oldest sister, Stephanie, married a Lord of Luxembourg, uncle Ellis, so they live there. They have three kids, Josephine, Klaus, and Catarina.”

“Klaus! I know Klaus!” He said, happily, “Love Klaus. He’s fun!”

“Yes, he’s… very you.” I noted, amused. “How did you two meet, anyway?”

“Oh, he met a friend of mine during gap year, so my friend introduced us at a festival later on.”

“Of course.” I nodded. “As you know, he works for an investment firm. His youngest sister, Catarina, is twenty-three, she took a few years after school to figure it out, so she’s still finishing her degree. And the oldest, Josephine, is an interior designer, and she’s actually getting married next month, to Marius Allard, who owns a network of gyms in Luxembourg.”

“Royal wedding?” He asked.

“A small one, but yes.”

“You going?”

 “Yes.” I smiled. “Anyway. Then, there’s my father, the middle child, oldest brother, and they also have two youngest brothers. Or, had. Adrien’s father died many years ago of lymphoma, so now Adrien is next in line for the throne after Lourdes. You know him, so no need to go into it.”

“How is he doing in New York, by the way?” He asked, pouring us more wine. “I read he and the singer were seen partying in a boat?”

“For the fourth of July, yes.” I nodded. “My father and the advisors are… how can I say it? Pissed.” He chuckled. “Celebrating an American holiday, half naked, in a boat, with a bunch of celebrities, including his pink-haired girlfriend… they want him to come back.”

“Of course they do.”

“Adrien has a younger sister, Natalie, who’s my favorite.” I said, gushing. “She’s awesome, sweet, positive, always down for a good chat, though not big into parties or crowds–”

“So, the opposite of Adrien?”

“Yes.” I laughed. “Nat is getting her masters in Sorbonne, she studies literature and communications. Their mom, Princess Annette, has been a working royal for many years. Finally, my youngest uncle, Prince Albert, is also a working royal. He divorced his wife about five years ago, which was a huge scandal at the time, but we’ve managed to ride it out, and now everyone gets along fine. His ex-wife is even still a working royal, as well.”

“Woah.” He said, brows raised. “We could learn a thing or two from about how to handle divorce in a healthy way.”

“Agreed.” I said, teasing. “They have three kids. Maryanne is eighteen, currently serving her minimum military course post-graduation. Her brother James is sixteen, he’s in boarding school in Switzerland, and Sarah, who’s ten, attends the same boarding school as Lourdes… and that’s it. Unless you want to hear about my extended family, in which case we might be here a while.”

He nodded. While he digested the info-dump I’d just given him, I took the time to finish my wine and have some veggies and ranch.

“Question.” He said, unwrapping our sandwiches, “Why did you only mention two or three working royals?”

“My father’s oldest sisters lost their title upon marriage, and Aunt Stephanie lives in Luxembourg. Aunt Marilou and her husband do work sometimes, but that’s mostly because of her husband’s Admiral job. So, it’s mostly my father and his brothers who work for the Crown. Since Uncle James died, Adrien and his mom work, too, although he’s in New York now. His sister is still in school, so she’s excused. And that leaves uncle Albert and his ex-wife, and their kids are too young. There’s also some cousins of my father who are working royals, though they also have private careers.”

He nodded. “So that’s why you said you would have to become a working royal eventually.”

“Yep. That’s why a lot of the burden was already mine before, and also why I knew it would eventually be mine again. I just… I had hoped I’d have some time in-between.”

“Well,” he took the cheese platter and moved it to the side, leaning in closer to me. “You have time now.”

“I do, don’t I?” I smiled. “What should I do with it?”

“I have an idea.” He grinned, leaning in the rest of the way to touch his lips to mine.

His hand cupped my jaw as we kissed, my skin warm either from the sun or his touch. I put my glass down, mindlessly, not caring when I felt it fall to the grass. I slid my hand across his hair and laid back down, pulling him on top of me.

It was just one afternoon of borrowed time, but it was ours.

— ---- —

It was a cloudy summey day, not great weather for a royal wedding, but it would have to do because Princess Josephine Anne-Marie Elyse of Luxembourg was ready to become Mrs. Marius Allard.

Normally, we wouldn’t all go to a royal wedding just because we were royals, but we were family this time, so we arrived, my family and I, in Luxembourg two nights before. The rehearsal dinner went without a hitch, and so the following morning we got ready in our hotel and waited with other foreign family members for the shutles that would drive us to the church.

I had changed Harry’s contact on my phone to Hedwig – a name I took from Harry Potter – just in case someone saw me texting him, which was bound to happen as were texting so much more often. This didn’t stop my heart from nearly freezing when I received a photo from him. It was a mirror selfie showcasing him in his ceremony military uniform, black and red, with medals to his chest. The text read: ‘beautiful day for a wedding’.

I sighed; A few weeks prior to this, Harry had excitedly informed me during a late-night facetime call, that his family had assigned him to represent them to Josephine’s wedding.

“Why?!” I asked then, astonished.

“Ouch.” He said, sarcastic. “I’m great at weddings.”

“I’m not saying you’re not.” I said, rolling my eyes. “And of course I want to see you! But… my whole family is going to be there! Isn’t your father supposed to do these things? Or your uncle?”

“My father will be busy, my uncle was going to go, yes, but turns out his son has pneumonia so he’s staying put.” He shrugged. “And since I know Klaus, they figured I would be more familiar to the bride and groom than my brother.”

I was quiet, biting my lower lip nervously.

“What? This is good! I’m excited I get to see you all dolled up so soon!”

But I couldn’t get my excitement to match his – and I tried. It was just too risky, not to mention it felt like the day would be torture. To be near him again and have to pretend I didn’t want to hold his hand? Kiss his lips? Rip the clothes right off his body? It was too much.

Sighing, I went to the bathroom and discreetly took my own mirror selfie showcasing my light pink dress with a darker pink on a slit falling from my hips, and my large disc fascinator, and texted it to him.

‘It is unfair how perfect you look’, he replied. It made me smile, and I tried to hold on to that feeling as we rode to the church.

As family, we were close to the last group to arrive, so when I walked down the red carpeted entrance towards the church behind my parents, all I could think was that Harry must already be inside.

We trotted behind, stopping to salute the military battalion in formation under the country’s flag – a Luxembourg tradition. Military personnel saluted, civilians lowered their heads or curtsied. Since mandatory minimum service was still considered service, I saluted with my father, as mom and Lourdes curtsied.

Inside, we were ushered to the front of the church by a palace aide. Because of the odd number of seats, our parents and I were seated one row in front of Lourdes, who found herself sitting between, of all people, Adrien and Harry.

My parents greeted Adrien, who was there fresh from a plane from New York, and then looked at Harry, who received from then a curt nod before they turned to the front.

"How's...? Uhm?" I started, as my cousin kissed my cheeks.

"Sienna?" He asked, sighing. "Her name is Sienna."

"Right. Sienna."

"She's good. She's recording a new album." He replied.

"How... fortuitous." I nodded, as he took his seat again.

Before I sat down, Harry managed to give me a sneaky wink. I blushed, and turned to the front.

We seemed to be the last frontier between family and important guests, as next to Harry sat other royals and in front of us, were mostly empty seats that filled quickly after we arrived.

Just as the music started, Lourdes, who'd been chatting excitedly between Adrien and Harry, sighed loudly and stage-whispered,

"Ah, damn, I'll barely be able to see Josephine from here." She complained. “Margueritte’s hat is too big.”

As calm as I could, I turned to her, taking the care to make myself sound annoyed. "Do you want to trade seats?"

"Really?" She asked, "Is that allowed?"

I looked at my parents, who were already discreetly looking at us.

"Is it?" I asked.

"I believe so." My father said.

Mom leaned closer to me. "Are you sure you don't mind, chérie?"

I smiled, already getting to my feet. "It's fine. At least this way she'll be quiet."

"I heard that." Lourdes said as she passed me by.

I took her seat and crossed my legs at my ankles, holding my head high facing forward, pretending I didn't see the grin on Harry's face. 

Josephine looked breathtaking; lace bodice, three quarter sleeves, flowy, tulle, ball gown skirt, hair pinned back in a low hairdo, a long veil falling down from her family’s tiara – a Luxembourg tiara –, matching diamond earrings. It was difficult to take my eyes from her, except from one thing.

Harry was touching my hand. His fingers very gently grazed mine, slowly stretching until our middle fingers were enlaced. It was such a simple gesture. Such a light touch. But so many people around who were not meant to know about us. My heart beat faster on my chest and I felt my skin warmer as I remembered all the other ways in which that hand had touched me. I risked a look at him, who stared ahead determinedly.

As the song came to a slow end, I pulled my hand from his, startled, thinking for some reason the silence would make us more visible.

The priest began to speak in a monotone, calm voice up front. By my side, Harry adjusted himself in his seat, leaving his left knee to lightly, but very deliberately, touch mine.

I bit down a grin, sighing. Thinking two could play this game, I reached for the neckline of my dress with my hand, adjusting it slightly as if to fix something, but ‘accidentally’ pulling it down sligthly. As it was V shaped, this enlarged my cleavage only slightly, especially as I crossed my arms over my lap, pulling my breasts together.

I stared ahead, ignoring Harry, but I felt his leg press harder against mine.

“Beautiful wedding, isn’t it?” I whispered to him, pointing my chest in his direction.

“Is this another catholic tradition?” He whispered very lightly leaning closer to me. I smiled, blushing.

I looked down at my lap, fiddling with the program. I had no idea where we were on it, which is why I startled again as suddenly everyone rose from their seats to sing another hymn. I followed, pulling my dress up nervously, but I did leave my arm down hoping Harry would touch my hand again.

It took him what felt like the whole song, but then he finally did. I allowed my own fingers to caress his this time, missing being able to touch him, feeling my palms sweating as the thought.

When we sat down again, and someone else started speaking, he leaned down slowly and asked, whispery:

“Truth or dare?”

I sighed dramatically, and gave him a stern look, hiding my amusement.

“Truth.” I mouthed.

He grinned, and leaned down again. “What were you thinking about during the song?”

What he was asking was, of course, ‘what were you thinking about while our hands touched secretly in the middle of this very full church?’

I leaned to him, but starting ahead, said, “About how good it felt last time you fingered me–”

He sighed, heavily, leaning away from me, adjusting his tie as if it was the most important thing in the world.

He didn’t allow me to ask it back, his eyes stared firmly and frustratingly ahead for the rest of the – very long – service.

When Josephine and Marius walked out as husband and wife, we all waited for their close families to follow and then to the aides to guide us away at the right time. Harry continued to deliberately look away from me at all times. 

We were ushered back into the shuttles with the rest of the family, everyone talking excitedly about their favorite moments of the ceremony. I kept my comments to the dress, the only part I remembered in detail.

The reception was held in the palace; I didn’t see Harry again for a very long time. No one seemed to have noticed anything out of the ordinary, other than Lourdes who asked if I was mad at him because we seemed to have ‘barely spoken’.

As all the guests were in their seats, I finally found Harry in a distant table with other foreign royals who weren’t family. There were speeches, there were dances, there were entrées and champagne, and Harry’s eyes continued to find mine whenever I looked at him. Luckily, I was able to distract myself by my family grilling Adrien about his inappropriate girlfriend.

Conversation was the sound of the night in between courses when I decided to find a bathroom to re-apply my lipstick.

“If you pass by a waiter, would you ask for someone to bring me more water?” Lourdes asked as I left.

“I’m not your maid.”

“Really? It’ll cost nothing–”

“Shut up, of course I’ll do it.”

She rolled her eyes in response.

I was distracted, looking around for a waiter, when my eyes found Harry’s again. This time, too intense to look away. He put his hands in his pocket and pointedly walked out of the hall.

I sighed. It was too idiotic a choice to follow him. Yet, there I was. My feet moving of their own accord.

He walked off down the hallway, calm as can be, stopping only to ask an aide for directions. Down another hallway, he turned to the right, before confidently opening a door, turning back to lock his eyes on mine, and walk inside.

I bit my lower lip and looked around. There was a staff member walking off in the distance, but no one around other than that. I didn’t know if that would last. I walked to the door,  and casually looked around one more time. No one was watching. No one around. I took in a deep breath, and walked inside.

I quickly closed the door behind me, but I had no time to notice anything else. Harry’s lips were on mine, strongly, arms framing me in place against the door. One hand turned the lock, the other traveled up and down my side, his heavy breath on my skin.

“That was not okay.” He said, voice low, anguished, against my neck. “Back there.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I said, innocently. “All I remember is a lovely ceremony.”

He grinned against my neck in between kisses. “Fuck you.”

"It's true.”

“You liked when I fingered you, right?” He asked, lightly biting my earlobe. “Maybe I should do it again, then.”

My whole body trembled at the thought of going back outside, pretending nothing had happened, still pulsating with his touch on me.

“…maybe you should.” I said, weakly, feeling his large hand grasp my breast. “Right here. Right now.”

“…that would be really stupid, now, wouldn’t it?” He asked, reaching down for the hem of my dress, pulling it upwards. “We wouldn’t want to be caught… what would they think?”

“It would be such a scandal.” I agreed, feeling his hands now grip my thighs, pulling me up in one quick move.

He pinned against the wall, legs around his waist, leaving me in the perfect position to feel him thrusting his hardened dick against my crotch.

He touched his forehead to mine, and grinned.

“You’re fucking torture, Your Royal Highness.”

I grinned, happily, wrapping my legs tighter around him.

“You like it.”

He smiled in response, his hands rounded my thighs to reach below in between my legs, finding a path under my wet underwear.

“I do.” He confessed, touching me like it was the very first time. “I like it a lot.”

--- ---- ---

[A/N: Well. This was a lot. LOL what do you think??? A lot of...stuff coming so I wanted to take a chapter for happiness only. Also, I promise all that family tree stuff is important. THANK YOU FOR READING AND SORRY I’M LATE! Have a grat week! Next chapter: invictus games! harry’s birthday! MM and Harry get careless... tune in to find out what happens ;) ]

#Princeharryff #prince harry fanfic #prince harry fanfiction #princeharryfanfiction #Princeharryfanfic #prince harry #brf #modern royalty au #modern royalty fanfic #fanfiction #OPITCphff #chapters

[boundtoyouphff]

Chapter 16: Unwritten

A/N: Here is the next chapter! I hope you have enjoyed Chapter 14 and Chapter 15 that were posted yesterday! Please read those first before continuing to this one.

Oh, the magic of new beginnings.

The hope that fills you and inspires you that a fresh start is that key ingredient that you have been missing.

Opening the book to a new page, the start of an amazing adventure yet to come instills me with such joy and happiness looking into the unwritten future. It is time to start a new book in my life and close the chapter of the past. You cannot start a new book while remaining stuck in the last one. So I'm putting you away on the shelf because you are still a part of my past that has brought me to this moment. One I must not forget, but I cannot linger amongst the pages any longer.

But, when I looked one last time at the cover of the book I realized that I was not the author of this. That somehow this book of my life was not written by me, but by those who thought they knew me and those who tried to steer the plot into their own direction.

It is time to write my own book. But, this book is still unwritten. Filled with empty pages, but bounded in hope for what I will be writing in them.

It's time for me to write my own story, to be the author of my own life and the creator of my own voice.

It's time to show the world who really is Emilia Andelle.

--------------------------------

Emilia took in a deep sigh as Ella continued to style her hair for her engagements with Green Peace this afternoon. The princess was handed a briefing by her new private secretary Evie Sharpe. Emilia released a genuine smile seeing how engaged and enthusiastic Evie was about today. She was a stark difference from her previous private secretary, Mia Deacon.

From the moment she had met Evie, Emilia eagerly wanted her to be spear heading her newly developed team. Even her father was impressed by the young woman's resume and further encouraged Emilia that she would be a great fit. Throughout the interviews of Emilia's new staff, her father Frederick was present for all of them as per the Queen's request. But, he made sure to take a step back and only provide advice when Emilia asked his opinion only after she had shared her own thoughts on the candidates. He wanted this team to be purely Emilia's choice and to find people who could not only share her vision, but help her successfully create it. The Crown Prince was proud of his youngest daughter for showing the initiative to create this remarkable team, one of her own making. The ideas she presented to him were well thought out like she had been visioning this idea for a while and now she was finally making that vision come to light.

"The director, Mr. Langford, of Green Peace will greet you when you arrive and introduce you to key staff members. Then we will proceed inside and have a tour of some of the sanctuaries before opening the new wing dedicated to helping the endangered, but also extremely adorable if I may add, Fennec Foxes." Evie was beaming as she finally took a breath and sat down across from Emilia. "They told me yesterday that they have a new litter of baby foxes that are dying to meet a princess and need to be named."

Emilia tossed her head back in laughter. "Well I certainly can do that. Thank you Evie for this."

"Speaking of endangered animals..." Ella piped up into the conversation. "I have this piece of jewelry that you wanted me to order for today." Emilia's stylist held up a pair of earrings that were very delicately designed butterflies with a custom emerald green gem stone.

"Wow! These are perfect!" Emilia carefully cradled them into her hand. The princess was able to sit down with Ella and Evie to go through her personal style for attending engagements. Emilia wished to add even more of an impact through the clothes and accessories that she chose to wear to shine a light on young sand upcoming designers, local designers during her tours and showcase accessories that profits go towards a charity project or change initiative. These butterfly earrings were created by a Illyrian college student who was using the proceeds from purchases to fund her non-profit conservation project of protecting at risk butterflies and birds. It was Emilia's hope that she could shine a light on this piece and use her influence to aid this young college student that shared her passion for conservation. It was little things like this that Emilia would use to create her own identity. To show how far her reach could go beyond engagements and simply making an appearance.

Emilia suddenly became quiet as she dug out a bracelet that was sent to her by Harry. She noticed it on one of their recent video chats and asked him about it. It was a piece that represented Harry's rhino conservation project in Africa. Emilia was hesitant to ask the prince if she could have one and wear for today's engagement. Harry's smile lit up at her question and was happy to send her one. But, he did feel the need to remind her that he is known for wearing it all the time and that the press could link them together if she were to wear it.

"Ooooh, I love that bracelet. It would work so well with your outfit today Emilia! Those blues would tie in perfectly." Ella smiled happily before she got a glimpse of Emilia's uncertain expression that had formed on her lips.

"I know, I just don't know if I should wear it." The princess released a deep sigh. She stood up quickly and grabbed her phone. "I will be right back. I need to call someone." Emilia didn't feel right wearing it today without Harry's blessing for the simple fact that they could be linked, but a piece inside Emilia wanted Harry along for the start of her new journey today and by wearing the bracelet, he could be.

Evie and Ella both watched the princess find a private area to make a call. Evie slowly turned her head to look up at Ella who was displaying a happy grin as if she knew exactly who Emilia was calling. "Should I know anything Ella?" Evie stood up and faced her with an inquisitive look.

Ella shook her head. "No. Whatever do you mean?" Ella perfectly played it off and got back to her work.

"Hello?" Harry's deep voice resonated on the line immediately bringing a smile to her lips.

The princess closed her eyes and sighed. Just the sound of his voice was enough for Emilia to miss him. "Hey." She quietly responded.

"You ok?" Harry had picked up on her quiet tone. He knew that today was a big day for Emilia and her new team. He had stayed up quite late talking to his girlfriend and calming her nerves.

"Yeah I am alright. Getting ready for my engagement." She told Harry while finding a chair to make herself comfortable in.

"I am honestly so nervous. It needs to go perfectly well." The stress in Emilia's voice was evident. It was clear the amount of pressure Emilia was facing today was insurmountable. She had to prove to her grandmother what she was capable of achieving on her own merit.

"Babe..." Harry breathed out. "You are going to kill it. Just don't kill any of the endangered animals and you will be fine!"

Emilia groaned loudly at his attempt to make her laugh. "Henry..."

"Oh come on love. That was pretty funny." Harry continued to snicker on the other line being unable to hold in his laughter.

The princess could not hold in her laughter, hearing her boyfriend's infectious giggle ring out. She dissolved into a fit of giggles feeling the anxiety about her day float away. Emilia sighed deeply, silently thanking Harry for that moment of relief.

"Thank you for making me laugh." Emilia suddenly became quiet, thinking about the reason why she had originally wanted to talk to Harry. She held the bracelet he had given her in her hand, analyzing it carefully. "There was something I wanted to ask you..." she trailed off.

"What's that?" Harry encouraged her.

"You know how you sent me your Rhino bracelet that you always wear?" Emilia led on.

"Yeah, you got it?" His soft voice spoke.

"I did. But, I wanted to ask you if it would be ok if I wore it on my engagement today." The dark haired princess breathed out. "Before you say anything, I want to explain." Emilia felt the need to, as the bracelet would surely link Harry to her if the media picked up on it. "I know that the press could find out that it is something you may have given me, but it has been reported that we are merely royal friends. I want - " Emilia was hesitating to tell Harry what was growing in her mind.

"Just tell me, Emilia."

"Today is a fresh start for me. My first engagement with my new team who I chose and this is something that I have wanted for so long. A new beginning to do the things that I want to do in the way I want to do them. You were a big factor in encouraging me to do this Henry. I want you to be a part of this new start today and I know you cannot be here. So I thought I could wear the bracelet today... so I know that you are still with me in another way. You are a part of this new journey for me." Emilia took in a shaky breath after finishing her rant while she waited for her boyfriend's reply.

"Emilia, you did not have to ask me permission to wear it." Harry's deep voice sounded over the phone. "I want you to wear it today and remember that I always have your back, no matter what. I don't care if they link it to me." The prince spoke freely. "You came here for the Invictus Games and I just did a whole tour with you in Illyria."

"I just wanted to check with you first." Emilia smiled happily at her boyfriend's response. "Thank you for supporting me babe and believing in me."

"Now, go out there and kick some ass. Call me when it's all done and let me know how it goes."

The smile plastered on Emilia's lips was hard to miss. "I will." Emilia sighed heavily. "God I can't wait to see you..."

"Don't remind me that I have to wait a few extra days because someone was leaving later than planned and I have to sit through two days of engagements knowing that you are in the same damn city as me!" Harry started to moan.

"It's not my fault!" Emilia giggled. "I will try my best to distract you anyhow."

"You better. Have a safe flight tomorrow."

"Bye baby."

Emilia hung up the phone and saw the press secretary Olivia Holmes and her new head of security Hugo Blackburn walk into her apartment.

Olivia searched the room for the princess and found her off to the side. She smiled warmly and started to approach Emilia. "Are you ready to go, your highness?"

Olivia Holmes was hired as Emilia's new press secretary, a liaison between the palace communications team and the Illyrian media. She came highly recommended by one of her closest friends, Scarlet, who was a news anchor. Scarlet was even afraid to cross Olivia and with her impressive resume of working for the British Illyrian Ambassador and for the famous female empowering Illyrian Senator Louisa Banks. Olivia was a force to be reckoned with, but she was a hard sell initially until Emilia shared her vision of what she wished to achieve as she found out that she was not planning on being the same cookie cutter royals as the rest of her family.

"For the last time Olivia, please just call me Emilia." The princess smiled warmly then released a deep sigh. "I would be lying if I said that I was not nervous about today..." Emilia glanced down briefly and put on Harry's bracelet.

"I would rather you be nervous right now than over confident." Olivia smirked. "Now, I will go over the journalist who will be asking you a few questions. She has been told not to drift away from these set few or she knows the price she will pay if she does." Emilia's press secretary giggled, lightening up the mood.

Emilia was half listening to Olivia when she saw Hugo approach her RPO Tristan who was standing beside the newly hired RPO, Kane McKinney. Her eyes locked in Tristan's gaze as a proud smile grew on his lips making the princess beam in return.

The princess had endured a long internal debate while she thought of giving Tristan the position of her head of security instead of Hugo Blackburn. It was not because he did not deserve it, more so the fact that Emilia trusted him more than anyway on her team and she wanted him right beside her. She sat Tristan down and told him why he was not getting the position while she was in near tears, but Tristan understood her reasons and told the young princess that he would rather be out protecting her than having the worries of being head of her security.

Kane McKinney had actually been recommended to Emilia from Prince Harry. Kane and Harry served together in the British Forces and went through basic training together. He had recently lost his Illyrian wife to a long battle of cancer, but was not ready to return to the life of the military and had chosen to stay in Illyria after his wife's passing. Harry was able to convince him that he could use his skills as a protection officer and when Emilia told Harry of her plans to form a whole new team, Kane was the first to come to his mind. Tristan had been showing Kane the ropes of being a royal protection officer even though he had completed a rigorous training course prior to his employment.

Hugo was lecturing them when Emilia approached her security team with a kind welcoming smile.

"Hello ma'am." Kane bowed his head. 'Ohh, I mean your highness." He stumbled out of his mouth clearly putting his nerves on display. Tristan rolled his eyes with a light shake of his head.

"Good morning Kane." She giggled at his expense. "Just take a deep breath and remember to watch Tristan. Luke is with us for a few more weeks to help out until you find your feet" Emilia rubbed Kane's shoulder in a warm comforting manner. "Also, like I have said please address me as Emilia. Just don't call me by Tristan's nickname for me and I won't have to fire you." She made light of the situation and got a quick laugh from Kane.

Hugo remained standing there in silence rather stoic and serious. Mr. Blackburn was the only one on Emilia's new team that she had a few doubts about. Emilia's father Fredrick did like what he saw on paper, but the man was a bit of a drill sergeant. She wanted to give the position to Luke Balvondio, one of her present RPOs but his wife was having a child in a few weeks and planned to take some leave to which Emilia was happy to grant. Luke knew the ins and outs of the security side and would have been the perfect fit. She secretly hoped to make the change once Luke was ready to return to his duties.

"Are you ready to leave ma'am?" Hugo's deep voice pulled her from her thoughts.

"Yes, let's arrive on time today." Emilia took in a deep shaky breath and glanced around the room at her new team. A sense of excitement filled her making her lips spread into a beaming grin. She had done it and now she was about to show the world and her grandmother, The Queen, who this new Emilia was.

—————————

Tristan was quietly speaking to Kane, telling him what was about to happen as Emilia's convoy pulled up to the entrance of Green Peace Conservation.

Emilia sat quietly across from them, peering out the window to see the mass crowd lined along the metal barriers that had been waiting just to catch a glimpse of the princess. Her eyes wavered away from the crowd to see the media with cameras at the ready.

Clearly someone had felt her nerves exude from her body as she felt a soft touch on the arm. "Emilia, just remember to be yourself and that is enough." Evie's soft comforting whisper immediately dissipated all of her fears.

The princess turned her head slowly to lock in Evie's kind gaze. "Thank you Evie."

The car rolled to a stop in front of the entrance making the princess shift her gaze onto Tristan. "Ready Emilia?" His blue eyes held her gaze steady.

Emilia gave a light nod of the head signalling that she was indeed ready. Tristan jumped out of one side of the car, while Kane followed suit through the other side. Within a matter of seconds Emilia's door was opened by Tristan as a wave of screams greeted the princess.

She stepped out elegantly with a bright smile and turned back to wave to the crowd. It was the plan to do a walk about after the engagement, but Emilia felt it was best to do one now as well. These people had been waiting for her for hours and it only felt right to do so. Besides, part of her vision was to connect with the people and show the people that Emilia was merely one of them.

"Tristan?" Emilia only had to say his name to let him know what she was wanting to do. Tristan replied with a simple nod and spoke into his coms to alert the security team in the change of plans.

The princess stepped away from the entrance alerting the crowd that she was about to do a walk to greet them and they erupted in the loudest cheer that brought an enormous grin to Emilia's lips. Her light blue dress with white flowers that hung well off of her body flowed in the wind with each passing step. She tucked behind a few stray strands of her hair behind her ear while glancing quickly at the ground.

Emilia's Dress

Emilia's Hair and Makeup

She made it to the first awaiting group and took her time greeting the happy smiling crowd who were so eager to meet the princess. Emilia engaged in a conversation with a nursery school group who had come out to see the exhibition of the fennec foxes as well. They all had drawn pictures of their favourite animals for Emilia, giving them to her as a present.

"I might have to buy a new castle to put all of these pictures up!" Emilia joked and the crowd roared in laughter. "Thank you! I will see you inside." The princess was about to step away when a little girl escaped through the barrier and came running at her with her arms stretched open for a hug.

The little girl was so ecstatic that she had escaped through the confines of the barriers, but she was running so hard that she tripped and fell, scraping her knee on the concrete.

Emilia hastily went to her and knelt down to tend to the little girl who was now wailing. The blonde curly haired child clutched her knee and whimpered. Emilia brushed away the dirt and comforted the young child until the police officers let her teacher through. "It's alright sweetheart. Let's get your knee cleaned up so you can feel better."

The princess stood the young girl up and wiped away her tear stained cheeks and spoke to her quietly until she calmed down. Emilia then pulled the little one into the tight hug that she had come to receive and the whole crowd awed at the kind gesture. The child's teacher kept on apologizing, but Emilia simply brushed it off as no big deal and continued down the way to greet other members of the crowd.

She was stopped by a young woman seeming to be similar in age to the princess. The brave woman asked if she could spend a few minutes interviewing her for one of her college papers for her Journalism degree. Emilia knew she did not have time to stand there for an interview at that moment, but she told the college student to give her details to Evie and she would be happy to arrange another time to be interviewed.

Emilia felt Evie lean in and whisper in her ear that it was time for them to go for their engagement. The princess shook a few more hands and then stepped away from the crowd who was calling her back. "I will come around again after!" She hollered back and walked purposely towards a patiently waiting Mr. Langford, the director of Green Peace.

Mr. Langford politely greeted the princess in a bowed head and a firm shake of the hand. "Welcome back, your royal highness. It's a pleasure to have you visit us again."

"I am so sorry to keep you waiting, Peter. I appreciate the invite again to come and see all the work you and your amazing team are doing. Plus, I hear the Fennec Foxes are adorable and quite playful." Emilia was beaming. She felt relaxed, confident and excited to get this engagement underway.

"Emilia! Over here!"

"Give us a smile will you?"

The press behind the barriers started to holler at Emilia all eager to capture that one headliner image for the papers tomorrow. The princess put on a brave face and turned to smile at the media for only a brief second. Giving them limited time to photograph her which many photographers would surely be complaining about in the upcoming days. Olivia had briefed the media team and royal photographers that there would now be a few select members of the photographers actually allowed in the events and engagements coming forward. This change was quite the sore spot for the vulturous press pack that loved to capture every little moment of Emilia's engagements and fished for anything to use against her in the papers the next day. This idea was given to Emilia by Harry himself as he explained how the British royals conducted engagements with the press.

Olivia was hesitant to limit the amount of access to Emilia during engagements but found a way to work around this by allowing one or two photographers selected by Olivia to capture photographs of Emilia during her engagements. But, the catch was they had to share their content with any willing member of the media upon a request. The photographers had to sign an agreement before hand to ensure this would happen.

Emilia knew that there would be immediate backlash with this decision, but she wanted the engagements to be a bit more intimate. To be able to truly focus on the reason why she was there and not have a hungry pack of wolves on her back. By limiting their access to Emilia showed that she was not going to play their games anymore and that she held the power hand.

The princess continued on her way into Green Peace being introduced to some familiar faces and new staff before her official tour began. She sat in some of the teaching sessions that were being taught to local school children.

Olivia had pulled Emilia out of one of the sessions to conduct a short interview with Kelly-Anne Arbour, an Illyrian journalist. This was the part of the engagement that Emilia had tried to convince Olivia to forgo and not conduct one. She had never really been keen to do interviews as her parents had taught her from a young age to keep a healthy distance between the royal family and the media.

Emilia sat down across from Kelly-Anne and put on a smiling face, hiding the fact that she did not want to be a part of this. An innate gut feeling had settled in the princess's stomach that convinced her mind that something was not right about this situation. But, Olivia had vetted the journalist and she was to adhere to a strict line of questioning. She had to put her trust in Olivia.

"It's such a pleasure to sit here with you today, your royal highness, and be able to speak with you." The journalist welcomed here kindly.

The princess smiled with a gentle nod of reply. "Thank you for having me."

"Now, I know you are quite the busy woman here today out at Green Peace. But, I must steal a few of your minutes to ask you some questions." Kelly-Anne started out. "Now, as we have all been briefed, you have formed a new palace team as of late and today is your first engagement back with them. May I ask why you thought this change was needed? Why The Queen's previous choice of Mrs. Deacon was fired?"

Emilia took in a deep breath. None of these questions were what the journalist was supposed to ask Emilia.The princess turned her head and briefly locked eyes with a furious looking Olivia. "I appreciate your question, Kelly. But, the matter is rather simple that was outlined in the briefing you received." The princess informed her.

"Yes, but if you wish to comment about Mia Deacon?" The interviewer pushed further.

The princess tilted her head at the bravery she boasted. "I do not comment on past employees' work just like any other employer. Now shall we move on because you now only have two minutes left. As you said, I am quite the busy woman this afternoon." Emilia's sass came forth rather strong as Olivia got a glimpse of it first hand.

"Yes, let's talk about a few of your jewelry pieces." Emilia braced herself for what was about to be asked. "I noticed that one of your bracelets today is also famously worn by another royal, Prince Harry, who had recently visited Illyria on tour. Was this given to you by the prince himself? What sort of relationship would you say the prince and you have as it seems you two have been spending a lot of time together lately?"

Emilia was prepared for this and had the perfect reply. The princess glanced down at the bracelet and played with it a little before answering. "I am glad you noticed it. It was given to me by Prince Harry when he was in Illyria in an official capacity and I decided to wear it today to showcase how conservation is so important right now in the world. We are seeing animals getting added to the endangered list on a daily basis while their numbers are continuing to dwindle. It's important for everyone to play their part in protecting these magnificent creatures and give them that fighting chance at survival. As the reach me and Prince Harry have and the global platform that we are given, we have the responsibility to bring these issues into the light and broadcast the efforts of so many people that are trying to make change in the conservation world right now."

The journalist attempted to ask another question when Olivia stepped in and pulled Emilia out of the interview. "Thanks for your time Kelly-Anne, but her royal highness must continue to adhere to her tight schedule this afternoon."

Olivia fell into step beside Emilia and quietly scolded her. "Emilia... we need to talk about what you just confirmed about the British Prince Harry. This should have been run past me first."

"Not here Olivia. Clearly she was not even supposed to ask that question, this is why we don't do interviews." Emilia was furious at the journalist. "Scold her for not staying with the pre-planned questions, not me." The princess walked off being unhappy already with Olivia.

The princess stepped into the enclosure with a few members of the crowd watching her as she was guided through the endangered Fennec fox enclosure. Emilia was eager to learn more about these animals and how Green Peace was aiding them. She nearly gushed when asked if she wanted to meet and name a new litter of foxes, simply replying with a beaming smile and excited squeal to which the crowd found adorable.

She sat down on a nearby rock as a member of staff pulled out a couple of freshly born foxes who were fast asleep. Emilia had a few in her lap all snuggled together while she gently petted them. The mother then came out and rubbed up against Emilia.

"Is it ok for us to be handling them? They seem rather used to humans and the mom isn't as protective as I thought she would be." The princess questioned with slight concern. These were supposed to be wild animals after all.

"Excellent question. We are the only things that they know. Most of the foxes here will stay in a sanctuary like this until we are able to build a place more relatable to the wild and re-train them to be self sufficient." The handler informed her. "Now, we need to name them and thought it was best if our patron helped us with this batch!"

"I'd love to!" Emilia looked down adoringly at the little sleeping foxes then back up towards the crowd. An idea clicked in her mind.

"Would anyone like to help me name these little guys?!" Emilia hollered out and a few school aged children jumped at the chance to help the princess come up with names.

Emilia sat down into the backseat and released a heavy sigh. She closed her eyes and felt the door slam shut and the car pull away.

"Thank god that is over!" The princess chuckled lightly as. A wave of relief coursed through her. "Well done everyone!" Emilia glanced around at her team and thanked them for their hard work in such a successful visit.

—————

Later that evening, Emilia had called in Olivia and Evie into her apartment. She was dressed casually while finishing up packing for her trip to London for her training and Olympic trials for quite a few weeks.

Evie knocked lightly while she stood at the opened door to Emilia's private bedroom door with Olivia in behind her. "Good evening, Emilia. You wished to see us."

"Yes! Come on in!" Emilia waved them through as she placed a few more items into her suitcase. "Please sit down and make yourself comfy wherever."

The princess had picked up on Olivia's quiet demeanour when they arrived back at the palace. Emilia knew that she had to inform Evie and Olivia about her relationship with Prince Harry. But, she only wanted people to know who absolutely were required to.

Emilia sat across from them and smiled warmly. "I wanted to thank you for all of your hard work for today. You guys made everything run so smoothly and I think it was an amazing start for what's to come. So again, thank you!"

Evie was all smiles and said it was all around a team effort. Olivia was simply pleased with the results of the engagement today.

"I also called you here this evening because I wish to disclose a private matter to you that I only want your ears to know." Emilia lowered her gaze and found herself playing with the rhino bracelet on her wrist half indicating what she was about to tell them. "I am very cautious about my private life and do not wish to have many people in the know about my relationships, but I do understand that certain members of my staff need to be aware...." The princess trailed off and lifted her head to lock in Evie and Olivia's gaze while they patiently waited for her to continue.

"Prince Harry and I are in a relationship and have been since he ended his tour of Illyria last month. No one in my family is aware of this except for a few key people and it must remain this way until I deem it so. I realize that you need two need to be aware of this as key members of my staff. If any personal matters need to be addressed in this case then they must be done so in private and only with you two present." Emilia confessed solemnly. She did not want more people to find out about Harry and hers relationship at this time.

"Emilia, thank you for informing us." Olivia smiled warmly seeing how difficult it was for Emilia to openly trust them with this information, but it was vital that they were aware. "Will you be seeing him in London?" Olivia offered a kind hopeful smile.

Emilia lifted her head with a beaming smile graced on her lips. "Yes... it's been a long time since I have."

"I am sure that you miss him. I think you two are a perfect match, Emilia." Evie was gushing about this revelation. "We promise that this information is for our ears only." Evie took her leave.

"I am sorry about earlier, Emilia." Olivia began to apologize. "But, I need to know these sorts of things or else I would have advised you not to wear the bracelet today."

Emilia stood up. "No no. I need to apologize. I know you needed to know and that is why I am telling you now." She sighed deeply. "I am sorry I didn't tell you sooner about him, but I just wanted Harry to be a part of my day today. I do realize that may have been a mistake in how I achieved that. I don't always get it right Olivia, but I learn from my mistakes."

"No need to explain, Emilia. Have a safe trip tomorrow. We will be in touch."

--------

Emilia had finally landed into London after what appeared to be a long flight, but was only a few short hours. She was whisked away into an awaiting convoy with Tristan climbing into the backseat with her while Kane took control of driving the car.

The princess felt a sense of relief wash through her as she had made it to what would be her new home for the next month for her Olympic Training. She was still on a high after her successful first engagement yesterday with her new palace team and even received an adoring message from her father who watched the full coverage of it.

"Feels a bit like deja vu." Tristan commented as the memory of their last time in London came to the forefront of his mind. "Except this time we actually have a proper security team for you and I know I won't lose my job when we go back to Illyria or get my ass chewed off by the queen." He tossed his head back in laughter at Emilia's expense.

"Tristan... I can still fire you." Emilia glanced up and smiled warmly into his blue eyes.

"You could never get rid of me princess." He cocked a crooked smirk. "I think we have already established this on the fact you never could really lose me unlike my predecessors."

"You are right." Emilia shook her head. "Then I would have to stare at poor Luke all the time."

"Ya, I heard that Emilia." Luke hollered from the front.

It had been nearly an hour when Emilia looked outside the window wondering why they had not even reached the outer city limits of London yet. "Tristan, why aren't we in London?" The curious princess questioned as she looked further out deciphering that they were still indeed in the English countryside, but the setting of the sun made it quite difficult to make out where they actually were in combination with the dark tinted windows.

"We had to take a detour to avoid an accident, Emilia. Shouldn't be too much longer until we reach the city." Tristan avoided eye contact with the princess making Emilia inwardly question his response.

A few minutes later, Emilia felt the vehicle turn down a country side road hearing the gravel crunching beneath the tires. The princess glanced outside quickly to find that they were still in the middle of the English countryside, but could barely make out their surroundings through the dark tinted glass. She locked eyes with Tristan and raised her eyebrow up in suspicion as her gut held a feeling that something was indeed up.

"Tristan... you have one chance to tell me where we are or where we are going." Emilia's tone was serious, but her protection officer simply shrugged in response.

"Like I said, we took a detour and should be arriving soon." His answer was vague and nonchalant.

Not even a moment later the car rolled to a complete stop and Tristan motioned to undo his seatbelt. "Guess we are here." He finally looked at Emilia with a glint in his eyes.

"Stop!" Emilia stopped him from getting out of the car. "Where's here?!" The princess was beyond confused and wondering why Tristan was acting so strange.

"You will find out soon enough." Tristan got out of the car and rounded the vehicle to open Emilia's door.

Emilia slowly climbed out, looking at a happily smiling Tristan who closed the door behind her. The princess glanced around at the exquisite countryside manor that greeted her amongst the dimly lit sky.

"We took a detour to the countryside, Emilia. To surprise you." Tristan quietly spoke.

"Surprise me?" Emilia looked away from the manor for one second to glance at Tristan. But, when she turned her head back to the manor she saw that someone had come walking out the front door towards her.

She gasped loudly and covered her mouth with both hands at the surprise walking towards her. Emilia could not believe what rather who was before her eyes.

It was Harry casually walking towards the princess with a beaming smile.

"Harry." Emilia whispered his name as if she had to speak it to believe that she was actually seeing her boyfriend. Her heart tugged in her chest at the mere sight of him as her eyes welled up.

The princess was frozen in shock, unable to move her feet forward for a few seconds. The prince had stopped walking towards her and placed his hands casually in his jean pockets. The beaming smile that was evident on his lips, present for everyone there to see, caused her feet to finally run towards him. It had been a month since she had last seen Harry and Emilia did not want to waste one more second not being in his arms.

She took off running towards the prince. "Harry!" Emilia called his name louder being unable to hold in her excitement from seeing him.

He started to laugh at her shock while opening his arms to welcome her. Harry felt Emilia's body come crashing into him making him take a few steps back to try and steady himself from the impact. Her arms wrapped around him tightly while she buried her head into his chest and squeezed him tight.

"Hi love." He cradled the crown of her head gently and closed his eyes, relishing in the fact that Emilia was once again in his arms. The couple stood there for a few quiet moments embraced tightly with one another before Emilia broke apart and wrapped her arms around Harry's waist while peaking up at him. "I hope you didn't mind the detour." Harry chuckled while he stared into the depths of her icy blues eyes that the prince so terribly had missed.

"You are here..." Emilia slowly shook her head as the shock continued to linger in her body at the surprise of it all.

Harry's blue eyes softened while he angled his head down at his girlfriend with an adoring smile. He nodded his head lightly. "I'm here Emilia." His hand reached out and cupped her cheek tenderly before gently stroking it. He watched her eyes close and squint shut before opening them again as if she was trying to convince herself that this was not a dream.

"I have missed you so so much." Emilia became emotional and stood up on her tippy toes to snake her arm Harry's neck to pull him down towards her lips.

Harry controlled his urge and stopped a few inches away from her lips. He could feel her hot breath float across his lips as if they were calling to him. Emilia nudged her nose against Harry's, but the smile that formed on her delicious lips was the one that he had longed to see the one he often dreamt about. It was her natural happy smile that very little people were given unguarded access to.

"I have missed that smile." His deep voice weakened Emilia's knees as her other arm grasped his forearm to steady herself.

She could not wait a second longer as she crashed her lips into Harry's, connecting them with a passionate kiss that lingered. Harry immediately cupped both of her cheeks to hold her still while he continued to taste her delicate lips. The world around them ceased to exist as they found themselves locked into their own embrace while time stood still. The universe allowing them to share this moment of reuniting together.

Emilia was feeling the cloudy haze effect that her breathlessness had caused her. Her lips gently fell off of Harry's as she inhaled and breathed in his signature scent that brought a sense of comfort within her. She moaned softly causing Harry to suddenly capture her lips once again, locking them back into the passion fuelled kiss.

The princess gave up all control and succumbed to Harry's touch, loving the way he kissed her hard with such desire. Emilia felt his tongue seeking further permission to lock with her own to which she freely gave, allowing Harry to deepen their kiss further. His hand trailed down her cheek to the side of her neck feeling her heartbeat pounding through her soft skin.

Harry broke apart from their kiss and opened his eyes to find Emilia staring up at him with lust filled blue orbs greeting him. He leaned forward and pressed his forehead against hers, resting it while they both attempted to regain their breath. Emilia's chest was rising and falling hard as the prince heard her jagged breath.

"I hope it was ok to surprise you like this." Harry was the first to break their comfortable silence. "I asked Tristan to keep it from you. I just couldn't wait a few more days to see you." Emilia's heartstrings tugged at his confession.

"It is the best surprise anyone has given me." Emilia giggled happily. "But, where are we?" The princess broke apart from their embrace to quickly look around.

"Highgrove House." Harry's hand dropped from her hip and blindly found her hand to hold. He turned around and gave her hand a light tug to follow him. "It's my fathers estate, but I used to spend my weekends here after school. It's quite secluded so I thought it would be best for us to spend the weekend here before you start your training."

Emilia lightly stepped beside Harry as she leaned into, grasping his forearm with her free hand. "Wait... what about your engagements?" She snapped her head up to find Harry smirking mischievously.

"They were never booked, Emilia." Harry chuckled lightly. "I lied to you so you would not suspect a thing, I'm sorry."

Emilia shook her head. "Just don't lie to me again, unless it is a surprise like this." The princess stood up on her tippy toes and placed a soft kiss to Harry's cheek.

"Come on, let me show you around." Harry squeezed her hand tightly. "I cannot wait to have 3 full days to have you all to myself."

"Hmm, whatever shall we do Henry?" Emilia could not hide her excitement even if she wanted to.

Quite frankly, she did not really care as long as if she was with Harry.

#prince harry #princeharryff #phff #prince harry fanfic #fanfic #prince harry fanfiction #chapters #chapter16 #harryandemilia #boundtoyouphff

[nataliawritesstuff]

UPDATE

Hey, kids! I missed ya! How you been?! Hope you’re doing well! 

I am writing to talk about stories, Harry, and just life in general. Let’s start with the boring stuff: I moved to the capital - I am seriously loving it! I got a job on my first week here - not a great job or anything, it’s basically a call center, but I don’t have to call people or sell anything, I just answer the phone and solve people’s problems, which feels nice actually. It pays well enough for a first job and for this field, and the environmet there is cool, so I’m enjoying myself. More importantly, I am paying my debts.

Let’s talk about Harry: He’s dating Meghan Markle! How exciting is that?! She’s such a Jen, I love her! Who thinks there’s an engagement coming??? I do! Hopefully right after Pippa’s wedding!

And now, this: I said a few weeks back I’d start writing a story called What Happens in Vegas, I even made a blog for it you can see clicking here. A lot of you are already following it and I love that you liked the idea! However, I am a bad person and I sort of changed my mind. I couldn’t take another story off of my head and that is usually a good sign, so I must follow my heart. And thus, my next story is called: Guiding light (click here for the blog)! You can check out the details there, but its the story of Caroline, an art teacher who’s moving back to England after studying in Yale. Her father died when she was a kid, and he trained Harry in Afghanistan, so Harry took it upon himself to pay for Caroline and her brother’s studies and making sure they were well and had money to live. This developed into a brotherly friendship, despite the age difference, and now that she’s back, both Caroline and Harry are surprised with how different everything is... too different. She is not a little girl anymore, and doesn’t look at him as a little girl either.

I really hope you give it a chance because I have quite the plans for this story... although it shouldn’t be a long one. I already have a few chapters written, and I’ll try to write more before I start posting so I don’t have to leave any week without updates. 

Please let me know what you think! And come chat, I’d love to know what you’ve been up to =)

#prince harry #princeharryff #prince harry fanfic #prince harry fanfiction #fanfic #fanfiction #update #personal

[onewildride-phff]

All four of them on a joint engagement.... 

(I tried. Lmao) 

#future #manip #meh #OneWildRidePHFF #princeharryff

[littlebitofeverythingphff]

Chapter 6

A/N: Hello readers you ready for a BIG REVEALING CHATER!?!!! I know it’s been a while for an update, it has gotten busy with the Christmas Season ahead! After this chapter there will most likely be no updates until the new year except for a Christmas One-shot with Harry and Adalyn! I will be spending some time with my family, will still be active just not focusing on writing! Like always thank you for being so supportive with your feedback and messages! 

Harry walked down the halls of Buckingham Palace towards the Queen’s apartment. His uncle Andrew had called him earlier in the day asking if he would be available to meet with him, his grandmother and father. Andrew and Harry had been devising a plan in hopes that he would be deployed with his unit in the next few weeks 

His steps brought him closer and closer to the fate of his future. Harry stopped in front of the door taking a moment for a deep breath.  Gathering enough courage to face them he pushed the door open revealing them already waiting for Harry.

Walking into the apartment he was welcomed by his uncle Andrew, his grandmother and his father. Releasing a hug from his father he took a seat across from his grandmother. He tried to analyze his granny’s expression in hopes to determine the course of this meeting. She eyed him with a raised eyebrow knowing exactly what Harry was attempting to do.

Harry gave her a cheeky grin relaxing into his seat. A silence overcame them as they looked to each other, Harry waiting to see who would break the silence first. As it lingered, his hopes diminished thinking that no one would want to tell him that it was once again impossible even after all the work he and his uncle had done.

It was Harry who broke the unnerving stillness among them. “Gran.” He looked towards her gaining the Queen’s attention. “Just tell me straight out.” Harry pleaded for them to lay it all out. Was he going to war or not?

Elizabeth took a deep sigh watching her grandson waiting impatiently for her to tell him. “Henry…” she began. 

“You are going to be deployed with your unit.”

Harry did not believe the words that came out of her mouth. Did she honestly just tell him that he would be going? He looked around the room at his smiling uncle and father. “You are serious?” he questioned glancing back at his grandmother for reassurance.

She nodded an answer giving Harry a wide smile. Harry breathed out a breath he had been holding for what seemed like ages. A huge weight was lifted off of his shoulders. He was elated; he was going to Afghanistan with his unit. Scanning the room one more time he realized there was more than just that. He saw the look that graced his father’s face.

“What’s the rest of it?” Harry looked directly to his father sitting there quietly fidgeting with his hands. “Father?” he questioned further. Charles angled his body towards him, leaning in further. His father opened his mouth in an effort to speak, but the words would not come out.

“Harry” he heard his uncle’s voice beckon on the other side of him. Turning his blue eyed gaze in his direction. “Obviously your security is of the upmost importance and in order to ensure that where you are is not leaked by the press. We had to make a deal.” Harry nodded his head. He and his uncle had discussed the possibility of this and knew it would be a very considerable option.

“Yes like we had talked about right?” Harry nodded in understanding only to receive a shake of the head from his uncle. “No Harry. Not exactly.” Andrew sat back in his chair holding Harry’s gaze. “The information will be embargoed about your deployment and no media will be discussing the matters of that….”his uncle trailed off.

“But.” He paused.

“They will interview you for a documentary about your time there once you have returned, speaking with you as soon as you get off the plane and then on other occasions. They would not settle for a simple interview post deployment like we had planned. This is your choice.” Letting the words sink in Harry sat there.

On one end he would be able to be deployed with his mates but at the very same, he had to sacrifice the privacy that he longed to keep from the media about his military career. Harry knew that this was what was required of him to go. There is no way that the press would agree unless they were offered gold in return. This was the price of being a prince 

Regretfully he agreed to the laid out terms but wanted it to be clear that if they broke the deal on their side, nothing would be given to them.

After the terms were finalized Harry felt a sense of relief. He could tell his father and granny were worried for him but this was something he needed to do. Smiling that this chapter was now beginning for him, he left Buckingham.

In the back of the range rover he began to feel a sense of panic. What about Adalyn? What was he going to tell her now that he would be gone for months on end? Could he even tell her that he was going to Afghanistan?

Harry had no idea what to do. After all she had made it quite clear to him that they were only to be friends. That she was not ready for anything more.

This was the second dress that Elena had tried on so far. Spinning around slowly she showed it off. Adalyn smiled at the beautiful woman in front of her, watching her eyes light up in that dress. She could hear the mumbling of Elena’s friend beside her wishing that she would not chose that dress that apparently ‘did not flatter her figure at all.’

“What do you guys think?” Elena asked curious to know her bridal parties, mother and soon to be mother in laws opinion of the dress. It was eloquent and snug to her figure in a mermaid style beaded on top of lace with a small train gracing the back. Adalyn smiled happily giving her response.

The other women were more vocal in their thoughts expressing their ugly truths, all wanting her to be in a different dress. This seemed like a repeat reaction from the first dress Elena had tried on having the same reaction. She could see the light in her eyes fade as she listened to each nasty comment. Glancing down the row, she could not find the words to describe the shock of what they said. 

Adalyn felt for her having been in those shoes, trying on numerous wedding dresses until she found the perfect one. She too had heard those comments, the comments that in the end truly didn’t matter, as they were not the ones wearing the dress. Adalyn closed her eyes briefly before interrupting the person beside her.

“What do you think of the dress Elena? You are the one wearing it! It doesn’t matter what we think!” She raised her voice looking up and down the chairs eyeing each person letting them know she meant business. It became so quiet you could hear a pin drop. 

Adalyn glanced back towards Elena waiting for her reply. Elena mouthed the words ‘thank you’ to her before offering her a warm endearing smile. “Honestly. I like it, but I do not think it’s quite the one.” Elena looked towards the sales associate, “could we try on the next one?” 

With that Elena disappeared back into the change room giving Adalyn a chance to further speak her mind. She stood up taking a few steps in front of the group as she received each of their attention. “Listen today is not about you or me. It’s about Elena. So you really need to stop with the snide side remarks and giving her your honest ugly truths. What matters is how she feels in whatever dress she chooses. You are not walking down the aisle, she is. This is her day. Got it?” Adalyn took a breath glancing up and down the group receiving nods and smiles all agreeing with her spoken words.

A few moments later Elena walked out of the dressing room with the widest smile and sparkling eyes in a dress that truly made her look like a princess. It was simple yet classy with well placed beads and bling in a sweetheart neck line. Adalyn could sense that this was the one.  

Elena turned and looked in the mirror turning from side to side before facing the group. Taking a breath she just stood there for a moment. Her eyes began to well up threatening to fall over her eyelids. “This is the one” she forced out as her tears happily trickled down her cheek.

Everyone started cheering and clapping that Elena had found the one she had been looking for. Elena’s mother was in tears at the beauty of her daughter in that dress as she stood up and gave her a big hug.

That evening Adalyn was invited over to Elena’s parents home in Soho for a dinner party. The guests were all outside sitting on the patio. The warm wind made the evening a beautiful England night.

Elena pulled a chair up close to Adalyn leaning in close. “Thank you for what you did today Addy. I appreciate it.” Elena sincerely spoke. “Don’t mention it. What matters is that you found one that is absolutely gorgeous and I know that my cold hearted brother will be bawling like a baby when he sees you!” She turned the tone of the conversation.

Adalyn’s phone vibrated as she looked down at it. She received a message from Harry saying ‘how did the wedding dress shopping go? Any cat fights?’  

Unconsciously a smile crept up upon her lips unknowingly alerted Elena’s suspicion. Adalyn was replying to Harry’s text when she heard the following, “speaking of which, who is making you smile like that?” Elena confronted her letting Adalyn know she did not hide that wide bright smile very well.

Adalyn froze. She held her breath for a few seconds hastily searching her mind for the words to answer Elena. Trying to play coy she looked up from her phone replying “just a friend” she smiled before engaging back into the conversation Elena’s mother was in with the woman beside her in hopes to brush off the question.

Elena knew better than that. She could sense something was going on with Adalyn, she knew that there was a new man in her life. Adalyn clearly did not want to talk about it yet so she let it slide.

It was later that evening when Adalyn was curled up beside her sister Lila on the sofa wrapped up warmly in a knitted blanket. Lila had watched her sister grow silent, dissipating into the background of the conversation. She studied Adalyn, watching her lips creep into a flash of a smile whenever a message appeared on her phone. 

Lila had noticed a bit of a change of character in her sister in the past few weeks. Adalyn appeared less stressed and she easily allowed herself to laugh freely. The weight of her heartbreak became less visible as if it were slowly drifting away. Lila knew her sister too well. She knew Adalyn had met someone that would explain her recent altered demeanour.

Seeing a glimpse of the light come back into her sister’s eyes made her heart swell with happiness. Lila laid there with Adalyn’s legs strewn across her thighs, her hand reached out and gave her leg a squeeze.

Adalyn’s eyes darted towards her sister as she sat up snuggling in close beside her. Lila wrapped her arm around her pulling her in securely. Releasing a sigh she gently spoke, “I hope today wasn’t too hard for you…”

Shrugging her shoulders Adalyn answered, “I had my moments. But Elena had fun and found a gorgeous dress so that is all that really matters right?” Adalyn looked towards her sister flashing a quick smile. “Do you still have yours?” Lila stopped, realizing what she had asked her sister.

Adalyn’s face fell into a dark expression. Nodding her head she answered a silent reply. Lila bit her tongue, wishing she had not asked that question. She could see Adalyn’s internal thoughts splashing across her face on display. Inwardly kicking herself she sat there quietly letting Adalyn’s thoughts battle out.

 Adalyn carefully walked down the hallway of her flat in the quiet darkness. Placing her keys on the kitchen counter she reached into the fridge and grabbed a beer. Her gentle footsteps sounded on the cool wood floor as she crept into her bedroom, trying not to wake Ainsley.

Setting her beer on the top of the dresser Adalyn opened her closet doors. Searching through her mass amounts of clothing she found the one item she had been looking for. Digging in far behind in the corner of her closet she pulled it out.

Gently laying it down across her bed she eyed it. It was her wedding dress. The one she had worn that day. The day that had changed her life so drastically; the day that was the end of a chapter but also the beginning of a new one.

Unzipping the clear protective bag she pulled her dress out. Tossing her clothes to the ground across the room she stepped into it, tugging it up over her body. Each hand grabbed a fist full of fabric, picking up the dress from the floor as she walked over to the full-length mirror.

Adalyn’s eyes were closed shut. She still was unsure if she was even ready to see herself again in this dress. It brought up the past, the past she so desperately tried to forget and bury. In the past weeks, she had come to know that she needed to face all the emotions she kept at bay and now was the moment to do it.

She unwillingly opened her eyes taking a good hard look at the woman in the mirror in front of her. Looking closely she realized that the woman had changed. Adalyn stepped closer staring harder into the mirror. Taking a deep breath she held it.

Her eyes welled up with tears as she fought for them not to betray her, willing them to not fall.

Exhaling slowly through a jagged breath she just stood there. Adalyn had remembered doing the same thing the day of her wedding. Standing in front of a mirror in her dress staring at the woman back at her.

Expect that woman was no longer her.

That day had changed her.

She allowed the tears to fall, the ones she had been holding in for so very long. With each drop that trickled down her cheek she felt the anger, the hate, the hurt, the sadness all seep from her body.

Her legs gave out from under her as she slumped onto the floor; the fabric surrounding her as if it was the sea trying to swallow her up, waves crashing over her head.

Struggling to catch her breath through the sobs she gasped covering her mouth as her mind flashbacked to that day.

 *Flashback

Her hands were trembling as he held them tight. The world had stopped, leaving her to believe it was just the two of them standing there at the altar across from each other. 

She glanced up at him, taking one last look, searching for one last dread of hope that it was not true. That this man in front of her who had gotten down on one knee and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her had done what he did so carelessly.

The priest’s words echoed through the church as he spoke of love, faith and… trust.

Gathering the courage Adalyn spoke quietly, only loud enough for him to hear her.

“I know what you did….” She confessed locking eyes with Jake. Adalyn could see the guilt laced in his eyes as he tried to bury it. Opening his mouth he questioned her, “what are you talking about babe?” His eyes narrowed at her.

Adalyn scoffed, he couldn’t even admit it to her. “Fucking my friend for the past year of our relationship… that’s what.” She spat out in a quiet anger. At first she did not believe it was true, that Jake could ever do that to her. But she saw that stolen glance as she walked down the aisle towards him, catching a glimpse of the possible truth. 

Pulling her hands from his grip she let them fall to her side. The priest starred at the two of them, waiting for a sign to continue. Adalyn felt a thousand eyes on her, but she needed to know. She needed to hear him say it wasn’t true before she committed her heart to him. Her mind was foggy unable to really think clearly anymore of what she really wanted. 

The man that she had loved for four years, the man she had been through so much heartache and tears with. The man she had said ‘yes’ to being his one and only for eternity. The man that was supposed to be at her side to care for her and their future children. He was threatening that dream of hers that she so often dazed off into.

He was now the man to break her heart in front of her family and friends. The man who would change her for better or for worse. Standing there in silence he knew the truth that she needed to hear. Was it true?

Seconds passed by feeling like hours as they stood there in deafening silence. His eyes darted to the ground as she watched his mouth open, hanging onto the words falling out of his lips.

“Yes… it’s true.”

She felt the insurmountable pain course through her as her heart shattered. Jake’s eyes glanced at Adalyn hearing heart break in her chest. Her shaking hands tore off her ring tossing it at him.

“I’m done you disgusting, cheating man!” She yelled at him for all to hear as chattered gasps echoed down the pews.

Turning she took flight down the few stairs feeling her feet pick up the pace. Her arm was pulled back hard behind her. “Adalyn! Wait!” He gripped her tightly not allowing her to run away from him.

She could hear footsteps come storming up behind her. “Let go of her! Now!” Reid spat out his hate for him. The two men stood there staring each other down. “Please, just let me go….” Her broken voice pleaded with him felling the tears well up in her eyes. 

Black mascara tears began to fall in a steady stream down her cheek. Her arm was released gently only to see the indents of his fingers bruising her skin beneath. Reid pushed her lightly ahead of him putting distance between them.

Adalyn picked up her dress and ran down the aisle passing by all her close family and friends. Hearing a loud commotion she swiftly looked behind her shoulder as waves of gasps and shock coursed through the crowd. She stopped to watch the scene unfold.

Reid had punched him hard not once, but twice sending him to the ground. “YOU STAY AWAY FROM HER YOU PIECE OF SHIT! YOU HEAR ME?!” Reid shouted before being pulled off of him from Lila’s boyfriend. 

Sensing a hand grab hers, her head darted to her side. “Elena…” she was barely able to force out. Elena squeezed her hand reassuringly, letting her know that she was there for Adalyn. Soon enough her best friend Ainsley was also by her side. 

“Alright who’s the bitch that I need to mess up?!” Ainsley waited for a reply, ready to defend her friend. All it took was for Adalyn to glance in her direction for Ainsley to know who it was.

“That slut!” Tossing her keys to Elena she spoke again. “Take Addy to my flat. I will deal with all of these people.” Elena pulled Adalyn through the doors and into the awaiting limo.

*End Flashback

Adalyn pulled herself to her feet gathering enough strength to stand. “I am done….” She whispered into the darkness. “He can’t hurt me any longer.” Pulling up the dress she curled herself into a ball on her bed. Her tired tearless eyes closed, the emotion too much for her body to physically handle. Adalyn fell into a deep exhaustion as sleep quickly overcame her.

The next day Adalyn packaged up her wedding dress and drove it to a store. Placing the dress on the counter she smiled at the sales person. “Hi I would like to donate this to someone who needs it please.” The shop was a second hand store that had dresses for events or weddings at a very discounted price for under privileged woman and girls that simply could not afford it.

“Wow! This is gorgeous! Are you sure ma’am?” The sales associate asked again. Happily nodding her head Adalyn responded. “It hasn’t brought me such luck but I am hoping it will for someone else!”

Leaving the shop Adalyn was in a wave of smiles. It felt amazing giving the dress away. It would no longer haunt her of her past. She breathed in the cool spring air feeling a sense of burden being lifted off of her.

She was now ready to move on from it all. Grabbing out her phone she knew the exact person she needed to have a conversation with. 

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