Day Seven and Eight:

On Day Seven they finally saw the last of the rain. They woke up to sun and heat and Maddie didn't even need to say anything to Harry before they were out in the water; soaking up the warmth of their last few days in paradise. Then they packed those last few days to the brim with activity.

On Day Seven they took the boat out again, finding a small, uninhibited island where they anchored the boat and swam ashore. Exploring the island was amazing. Being in a place where there were literally no other people was a beautiful experience. They spent an entire afternoon on that island; laughing and hiking and laying together in the warm sun. It was only when Harry's stomach began to growl that they swam back to the boat and turned towards home.

On Day Eight, they rose early and went to meet their chartered boat for their scuba trip. It was a husband and wife operation; the husband, Nick, handled the boat and the wife, Lissette, was the scuba guide. Maddie laughed good-heartedly when Lissette recognized her and Harry; her hand clamping over her mouth as she tried to control her reaction. And Harry was sympathetic and apologetic when Nick admitted his wife had set an alarm so that they could watch The Royal Wedding. Though they were clearly aware of who they were, and she was somewhat of a fan, they were good natured people and quickly moved past the "celebrity" of it all. Maddie and Harry were hardly the first "famous" people they had come across while running this operation. Though they admitted in hushed tones that so far, they were their favorite.

So they gathered their gear, loaded the boat and went out to Fish Head to dive. It was amazing. Maddie couldn't believe her eyes, it was so beautiful. The hours slipped away so fast when they were underwater that she was amazed when they came up to the boat and it was time to head back. They climbed aboard, they peeled off their suits and they laughed with Nick and Lissette the entire way back to shore. Finally, before they parted, Maddie and Harry gladly posed with the young couple for a photo and signed their guest book on their boat.

Day Nine:

On Day Nine, their final in the Maldives, they returned to that private island they had explored on Day Seven. Only this time, Harry had insisted she dress up. And this time, they were met by a smaller row boat to take them to shore. And this time...there was a candlelight dinner waiting for them.

And this time Maddie felt her breath catch in her chest. It was a little overwhelming, the vast beauty of it all, the fact that it was the last night of their honeymoon, the idea that he had planned for this stunning surprise.

The day had been perfect; the weather had been clear, the water calming and now, the night air was soft and sweet and it only made Maddie more emotional. Her hand had tightened on Harry's when she first took it all in and, when he pulled her chair out for her and smiled through the warm light from the candles, from the torches, Maddie felt butterflies in her stomach; just like she had in the beginning.

"I feel so silly right now..." She whispered to him as he rounded the table and took his seat.

"Silly?"

"Like I'm on a date..." She took a breath. "Like a first date. I'm nervous and...anxious and..."

Harry leaned across the table and lowered his lips to hers; kissing her fully, strong and deep and full of purpose. "Don't be nervous," he kissed her again.

Maddie sighed, relaxing, and let him take her hand in his as dinner was served before them. She hadn't even noticed there was staff there with them. As plates under silver where laid before them, Maddie looked around her; checking it out. There was a tent further up the beach, she assumed that was where the staff had been, where the food was. Just off to the side was a low couch with blankets and pillows and...she assumed they were going to be here for a while. As Harry popped the cork on the bottle of champagne, Maddie looked out over the water and let out a breath. It was time to relax and enjoy her evening.

And she did. The meal was wonderful; flavorful and filling. The champagne was crisp and light and went straight to her head; making her happy, giddy; her cheeks flushing pink. When they finished dinner, Harry held his hand out to her and nodded towards the couch.

Wordlessly he asked her to join him. Wordlessly she went.

Maddie tossed her shoes to the sand and Harry, with the bottle of champagne in one hand and her hand in the other, lowered to the couch—pulling her with him. Maddie giggled as she sat down, sighed as she leaned back against him; his arm wrapping around her shoulders. She was happy, content; serene as she sat next to him, her eyes tipping up towards the sky, shining with stars.

"Still nervous?" Harry's smile was crooked as he held the bottle out to her. Maddie giggled again as she took it from him.

"Little bit." She took a long drink and shrugged, her fingers playing with the label. "I'm a little bit nervous."

"About the date?" Harry lifted his eyebrows, his fingers stroking her hair.

"About tomorrow," she smiled weakly; her lips twitching shakily.

"Tomorrow?" Harry was a bit surprised. "Why tomorrow?"

"Because..." She sighed, her eyes gazing out over the water towards the horizon. "I was barely learning how to be a Prince's girlfriend and now I'm..."

"Madeline..." He breathed with a shake of his head, already mounting his dissent.

"A Duchess..." She turned a lazy smile to him and took a deep breath and another drink. "Tomorrow we go back to...the real world."

"The Real World?" Harry laughed, taking the bottle back from her. "I would hardly call what we're going back to...the real world. You've lived in the real world and trust me baby...this isn't it."

"You know what I mean..." She nudged his ribs lightly with her elbow. "We go home and right away there's the Trooping of the Color, there's the Royal Ascot and then it's Polo Season and..." She trailed off with a chuckle. "And I'm nervous."

"There is absolutely no reason for you to be nervous."

"And after that the meat of it starts." Her mind began to churn; thinking back to her last meeting with Thomas before the wedding, knowing exactly what meetings and events awaited her when she returned. "I go back to work." Harry was quiet for a moment, watching her fidget; watching her process.

"Okay...look at me..." He was gentle with her, calming as he sat the bottle of champagne on the low table before them. Maddie took a deep breath and did as he asked. "You are going to blow this out of the water. The speeches, the charities, the ceremonial stuff, the meaty stuff. All of it." He shook his head; his eyes wide and open and honest. "You're going to blow this out of the water. I promise. I promise." He couldn't be more convinced of it.

"Of course you feel that way," she met his eyes; shy. "You're biased and drunk."

"I'm not," he shook his head again. "You're going to be an amazing Duchess, Maddie."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Maybe," she shrugged, pulling her knees into her chest as her arms wrapped around them; hugging them close to her. She turned her head, resting on her knees as she smiled at him. "You know I'm giving a speech in two weeks."

"I know."

"At the announcement of my involvement with Walking With The Women."

"I know."

"There's a dinner, a photo call and I'm giving a speech." She repeated it all as though she were letting it sink in.

"I know," his smile twinkled in his eyes. "Do you think I haven't been reading my memos?"

"Hmm..." She laughed lightly. "I'm about to be busy again."

"Yes you are."

"That will be nice at least..." She shrugged. "I did have two jobs before I said yes to you. It will be nice to have at least one again."

"It will be," he agreed. "And you're going to love it. Don't get me wrong, sometimes it will feel incredibly weird and out of sorts but..." He leaned forward feeling a little silly, a little embarrassed about what he was about to admit to her. "It feels odd...that people want to take your picture, shake your hand or stand next to you. That part feels a little odd. I mean, I've been doing it my whole life and it feels odd to me, so I'm sure it will feel odd to you. But...Maddie you're going to love the other part. The part where your presence helps raise money for a charity that helps the people you want to help; the children, the veterans, the families..." He squeezed her hand. "You're going to love that part and that part makes the other parts completely tolerable." Maddie pondered that for a moment, her mind at work as he played with her fingers.

"Yeah..." She squeezed his fingers in return. "And you'll be there with me, right?"

"Absolutely," he nodded. "That'll be my favorite part."

"I suppose you're right..." She sighed, sitting up a bit.

"Maybe just this once," he winked. There was a long pause, a content sort of silence as both of their minds moved into the future; glancing forward at what was to come.

"I am excited to meet the team of women who I'll be going with."

"I bet."

"I'm not so excited about meeting with the trainer..." Maddie cringed, a chuckle slipping through her lips. Harry's head tossed back in laughter.

"He is going to make you run." He was absolutely certain about that.

"Ugh."

"Run. Run. Run."

"Well there had better be somebody there to chase me," she leaned into him then, settling into his side as his arm moved back around her; the tension easing from the moment.

"Maybe I'll be there to chase you." His eyes raked over her suggestively.

"Well then I am in," her voice dropped as she turned her eyes up at him. "I just hate running."

"I know baby," his head lowered to kiss her cheek. "But you're going to be skiing miles every day and they want to build up your endurance and..."

"I know, I know..." She sighed; her fingers toying with the buttons on his shirt. "Isn't there a better way to build up my endurance?" Her bottom lip pulled into her teeth and Harry caught her intention with a laugh. "Something we can both enjoy?"

"Ha!" His fingers moved into her hair, tipping her lips up to his. "Well, I can promise you that I'll do whatever I can to help."

"Good," she leaned up to kiss him, a hand slipping into his shirt. "Anything for a good cause?" She kissed him again.

"Absolutely," his voice dropped low as his lips took hers; deeper, longer.

"There is one bad thing about the trip in April and all of the training that comes before it," she pulled back slightly. "Other than the running I mean."

"Oh?" He breathed, his mouth posed for protest as she moved away from his side. He silenced when straddled his lap and sat closer. "What's that?" His hands found home on her body, running from waist to hip with a soft grip.

"Well..." Her hands moved to his face as she looked down at him; her eyes wide and innocent and full of love. "You know...you are a Duke now."

"I am..." He searched her face for clues but found none.

"And..." She took a deep breath and smiled sweetly; genuine. "I'm a Duchess."

"Yes," he nodded. "You are."

"That only leaves one thing..." Her eyes twinkled as she held her breath; watching, waiting for it to hit him.

And then it did.

His breath sucked into his lungs, his hands griped her tighter, and she could feel him warm and begin to harden below her. It made her flush, giddy and excited, at the numerous ways his body reacted to the possibility.

"Baby..." He whispered; eyes locked to hers.

"Baby." She smiled and, suddenly felt nervous, shy; her eyes shifted to look at the beach over his shoulder for a split second. His arms wrapped all the way around her then, pulling her close to him; his face leaning to kiss her chest, just over her heart, before he looked up at her.

"You want to make a baby..." His smile made her heart thump in her chest. Biting her lip, blinking back tears, Maddie nodded. And his smile stretched even further. "Tonight?" He breathed, his own heart swelling.

"Yes..." Her voice cracked, the tears pushing through the dam she was building; her arms wrapping around his neck. "I mean...of course my answer is yes. If we could make a baby tonight..."

"We can."

"We can't," she shook her head, wiping at her tears with the back of her hand; laughing at herself as she did. "We can't."

"Why can't we?" His eyes were scattered as he searched for an answer.

"Harry..." She ran her fingers over his forehead, across his temple; loving him for his willingness, his excitement. "I'm about to start training for the trek to the Arctic. And then I'm going to be there for weeks, putting my body through the craziest workout imaginable. I can't be pregnant yet..."

"I hate that you're so reasonable," he shook his head.

"Me too..." She sighed. "But I want to talk about when. I am ready to talk about when. Can we talk about when?"

"Yes," he responded immediately. "Absolutely yes. Yes." He nodded to her; giddy. "You tell me when." She laughed at his eagerness.

"I want to...I need to wait until after the trip; at least until next May."

"Okay," he nodded. "Okay. Let's see..." Maddie watched as he settled in his mind, really thinking about it. And then she watched as he laughed, his eyes alive as he looked to her. "I'm trying to be responsible right now. I really am trying."

"But?" She grinned.

"But all I can think about is..." He swallowed. "I know I should be suggesting that we wait at least a year, maybe two. I know I should be suggesting that you get your head around this new life of yours, that we get you adjusted to this royal role, these royal duties and then..." He laughed again, pulling one of her hands from his shoulder so that he could kiss it; his lips warm and soft. "But all I can think about, all I can think about is making a baby...with you and..."

Maddie's lips brought his words to a close; his thoughts to a halt. With her hands on either side of his face, she pressed her mouth to his and kissed him; full and warm and aching with love and desire. He responded in kind; his arms tightening around her waist and groaned into her mouth.

"Okay..." Maddie was breathless as she pulled her lips from his, allowing only inches between them as she tried to be thoughtful, purposeful. "Okay. How do you feel about two years?" Her eyebrows lifted. "I'll finish the trip. I'll get back in normal shape. I'll be a Duchess for a while. I'll get used to the press..."

"You'll never get used to the press," he shook his head, grinning as she kissed him again.

"...and then, in two years, we..." Her voice failed her as the emotion held heavy.

"Two years?" His hand ran up and down her back.

"Two years." She nodded, nudging her nose to his. "Do we have a deal?"

"We have a deal," he chuckled and then, as Maddie held her hand out to his as if to shake on it, he shook his head and pressed his lips to hers. "I refuse to seal this deal with a handshake."

"Oh?" Maddie giggled. "What did you have in mind?" His hands were soft as they ran over her body, his eyes sweet on her.

"Maybe a little bit of practice?" His eyebrows waggled suggestively.

"Here?"

"No..." He shook his head; wanting to make slow love to his wife. "Back at the house."

"Hmmm..." She sighed. "I like that." She kissed his lips quickly and, stepping from his lap to stand before him, she held her hand out. "We just have one last thing to do before we leave."

"Like what?" He was confused, but followed her from the couch.

"Well, you know what they say..." She began to walk backwards, pulling him with her.

"They?"

"Bishop, Kiki, your friends..." Maddie shrugged towards the water. "A party isn't a party until everyone ends up fully clothed and in the..."

"Water..." Harry finished her sentence with a wide grin.

And then, holding tight to Harry's hand, Maddie turned and took off running. Neither of them stopped until they were waist deep in the crystal clear water of the warm, beautiful ocean. They were soaked; clothes, hair—soaked.

But they were smiling. They were laughing. They were ready to go home to all that awaited them—a solid, unified, blissfully happy union.

And they were in love; so in love.

Day Ten:

Maddie had thought that it would be difficult to leave the Maldives. The whole time leading up to the wedding she had thought that the rest and relaxation would be so wonderful that she wouldn't want to leave it. When they had arrived on Day One, seeing the water for the first time, feeling the warmth of the sun and the sweetness of the breeze, she had thought that on Day Ten Harry would have to drag her from their paradisiac home; kicking and screaming.

But that wasn't the case at all.

She would miss the calmness, the serenity that the sun, sand, and water provided. She would miss those moments with Harry that had drawn them closer as a couple, those first days of husband and wife.

But, on Day Ten, when Jim stepped through their door and nodded to them, signaling their departure time, Maddie slipped her hand into Harry's and walked—willingly, happily—from their honeymoon.

She was ready to go home, ready to begin her new life, their new life—their new journey.

Together.