Day 2: Arlington, VA

The feeling in the car was serious. A somber sort of humility had settled over them as they drove through the streets of The District. And when they passed through the gates to Arlington National Cemetery, Maddie could already feel the lump building in her throat. Her eyes watched as the meticulously planned rows of white stone sprawled out before them. She took a deep breath and focused on the Robert E Lee Mansion—flag at half-staff.

And she surrendered to the truth she had known since she had dressed that morning. Her hands shook slightly as they smoothed over her skirt, tugged at the hem to the jacket she wore over her blouse. This day was lining up to be the most emotional of the trip and it was only the beginning.

They were still in the car.

Maddie looked to Harry who was looking away, out his window; though his mind was focused well beyond that. He hadn't spoken since they had all loaded into the car. He had been simple all morning, pressing kisses to her lips as he wished her good morning; offering her compliments once she was dressed. But once the business part of their day had begun, once Thomas brought in the uniform, once they began to prepare, he had grown quiet.

It was with the same stoic reflection that he now sat; next to her but much further away.

He had wanted to be there for her today. This was her first tour, her second day standing next to him in their representation of Her Majesty. He had wanted to be able to offer wisdom and guidance and hold her hand as she walked through a day he knew would only evoke feeling after feeling from the both of them.

But he couldn't. His mind was somewhere else entirely. And Maddie understood; without words, without thought. She understood.

Harry was a soldier. Above all else, he was a soldier.

Not a Prince. Not a Duke. A soldier.

And today, they were honoring the hundreds of thousands just like him who had taken up arms and taken a stand. Throughout the course of the day, they would come in contact with many of these men and women; having served time in a war, just like him. But they would also spend part of their day honoring those who were unlike him, those who hadn't returned to their loved ones or if they had it had been not nearly as whole as they were when they left. This was going to be a day full of soldiers; The Tomb of the Unknowns, Walter Reed, the reception that evening at The White House. The entire day was devoted to service men and women; those still standing and those who had fallen.

And as she watched Harry next to her in full military dress, she felt waves of that reality wash over her.

Tearing her eyes away from him, a purely self-preservational move, she took a deep breath and drew from her pool of emotional strength. She sniffed defiantly at the tears and tried to distract herself; making a mental note to thank Ms. Libby Florence for knowing her well enough that she had wordlessly handed her a hanky before they left the room that morning and Ms. Winnifred Ellis who had the foresight to put pockets in everything she had designed for the trip.

And then she made a mental note to pull it together, to think of something light and cheery; something that would keep her from losing it. But she knew that it was truly in vain. They were driving up the small, winding roads, passing headstone after headstone and already she was teary, already her chest was heavy.

And they were still in the car.

As the car began to slow, the people inside moved to duty; Libby adjusting in her seat, Thomas checking over his notes once more before sliding his folio to the side and scanning over the two of them.

"Ma'am," Thomas' voice was quiet as he cut into the silence. Maddie looked up to him. "Is there anything you need?"

"No," she smiled at him with a soft shake of her head. "Thank you, I'm fine." It was the crack in her voice at the end, the nearly undetectable waver that drew Harry's attention. His gloved hand reached for hers and Maddie's eyes snapped to his.

Those long white fingers wrapped around hers and he squeezed and she saw it all in his eyes; deep and blue. With the tiniest turn of her lips, she offered a smile and she squeezed in return. He had asked in the best way he could. And she was answering. "I'm fine." She whispered to him.

The car came to a stop and Harry turned away from her—a self-preservational move on his part—and their doors were being pulled open. Stepping out into the sunny, summer day, Maddie thanked the driver and stood tall and proud as her soldier rounded the car to join her; their entourage joining them. And just like that, they were on; no waiting, no hemming. They were what everyone else was waiting for.

They were greeted by Staff Sgt. Kevin Brandt, the 1st Relief Commander at The Tomb. He was younger than she was, Maddie guessed. He stood tall, alert, and at the ready; a military man all around. He offered a salute to Harry and a warm smile, a strong handshake and nod to Maddie before he turned to lead them up the walk to where they would be starting. Harry smiled at his wife, his own nerves settling now that they were out in the air, in the sun and together, they fell in step with the Staff Sergeant as he escorted them through the massive crowd that had gathered. Though the numbers had certainly increased when compared to the day before, the spirit was drastically different. There were no signs, no feather boas. This was hallowed ground, this was a sacred place. Everyone stood in a muted silence; hats removed as they passed, as the flags that walked with them passed.

They had gone over the course of events numerous times; once in London before the trip, once on the flight over, and once that morning. Maddie knew exactly how it was going to unfold. Even still, her feet fell into step with the natural cadence the soldiers around her walked with. Her back straightened, wanting to walk tall and proud in this moment—when they honored the fallen.

And as they took their place next to the Staff Sergeant, overlooking the Tomb of the Unknowns, overlooking Arlington, The District, all eyes turned in their direction—all except for the Tomb Guards who never wavered in their duties. Maddie had read up on them long ago, and again refreshing her mind before the trip, and she had been awed and humbled by the amount of time and training it took to take this revered position. And she had been drawn to tears when she read personal accounts from Tomb Guards who viewed this as such an amazing honor.

And it was. It was an honor to pay respects to all that these men and women had laid down in battle. Though she had expected the announcement, the loud, powerful voice of the Staff Sergeant at the bottom of the stairs startled her and she snapped to his attention.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, may I have your attention please!" Maddie was certain even the chirping birds quieted at his request. "The ceremony you are about to witness is the Army Wreath Laying Ceremony to be conducted by Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Sussex. In keeping with the dignity of this ceremony, it is requested that everyone remain silent and standing. All military personnel in uniform will render the hand salute. It is appropriate for all others to put their hands over their hearts upon the command 'Present Arms'. Thank you."

And with that perfected, poignant click of his heels, he was moving. With her hands folded in front of her, Maddie stood next to Harry who stood at attention next to Staff Sergeant Brandt and not one of them was looking anywhere but at the bright, white marble that stood before them. Upon the Sergeant's command, all three stepped forward; left foot first. And they were walking down the stairs.

Though she wasn't a soldier, far from it in fact, she fell into their steps quite easily. She fell into the moment quite easily. Though there were cameras everywhere, video and photo, documenting this moment for the world to see, Maddie felt none of that, she saw none of it.

Because before she had any time to register any of that, they were standing at the bottom of the stairs, the wreath before them.

The moment was like nothing Maddie had felt before. She was standing next to her husband, a wartime solider. And together they were standing before the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier; a monument to the faceless men and women who had given not only their lives, their identity in order to preserve something so precious.

What she wanted to do was hold on to Harry.

At the direction of the Tomb Guard, she and Harry moved forward with the wreath, with a stunning silence and then they turned and took their positions.

And there they were; Harry standing at attention and offering a salute. Maddie gulping back the surge of emotion as her hand rested over her heart. As the bugle sounded out with the distinct notes from "Taps", Harry's heart clenched and Maddie lost her battle; a few small tears slipped from her eyes; silent and simply. It was always the music that did her in.

He knew she was crying. He knew she was crying the same way she knew that the cousins in London would most definitely poke gentle fun at her for another round of tears.

But she didn't care. And he couldn't hold her hand. He was a soldier in formation. He couldn't hold her hand.

And she understood. She understood better than Harry could expect her to, better than most civilians did. This moment wasn't about her tears, any more than it was about Harry's salute. It was about something so much bigger than them both; an ultimate sacrifice that was paid, the men and women that had come before them, those that would come after them.

And she understood; she really did. As the breeze whipped around them, Maddie sucked in a breath and let it out. She understood why he put up such a fight to stay in the Army when everyone pressured him to step out. She understood why he would take whatever kind of bullshit was printed about him; a toy soldier, making up for his wrongs, trying to sway the press back in his favor.

It wasn't about that. It had never been about that. This had nothing to do with The Duke, nothing to do with The Prince.

He was a soldier. A soldier.

This was the side that gave when every other hand gave to him. Taps came to an end and Harry's hand returned to his side and, at the direction of Staff Sergeant Brandt, they turned away from the Tomb and moved back up the stairs; the same cadence, the same reverence.

After they made their way through the group, shaking hands and posing for pictures, Harry and Maddie were being escorted back to their car. And they were both walking with significantly more ease than they had when they arrived. Though Maddie had hoped they would be able to see more of the cemetery, they were on a tight schedule that morning and were expected at Walter Reed National Medical Center.

Once they were settled back in their seats, once the car began to move, Harry's white gloved hand reached out to her; taking her hand into his—pulling it into his lap. With a wide smile, he met her eyes and squeezed. With the slightest of winks, she squeezed back. They had made it through the morning.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

If their morning at Arlington was about Maddie watching Harry with admiration, their afternoon at Walter Reed was the reverse. Harry watched with a pride that was evident to anyone who saw as Maddie stepped up and moved with great ease. Having shed her jacket in the car, she looked lighter, more springy, as they were greeted by Hospital personnel and escorted up the stairs.

There was something about her that afternoon; something about the way she moved among the injured and the staff, the way she included the family members in the moment. Her smile was completely genuine, her interest in the people was full of authenticity. As he watched her, he remembered. He remembered where she was when he first met her, he remembered those first days, weeks, months of their courtship; how she had spent hours upon hours serving the people of Bendal. He remembered the night she had lost two clients, the two little boys who had died in the violence that surrounded them. He remembered the sorrow she had felt, the way it had taken over her heart.

He remembered with a vivid detail the night she had been shot.

He had told her before that her time in Bendal could often be likened to that of a tour of duty. Just because she wasn't fighting, just because she wasn't bearing arms, didn't mean it wasn't a warzone. It didn't mean there weren't casualties; physically, emotionally and mentally. And now, as she walked among injured soldiers and their families, she seemed so at ease; at home. She smiled for photo after photo after photo; she listened to story after story. And then, when she met a man who told her he had heard they shared similar injuries, she grew quiet and moved closer; taking a seat next to him as they began to share stories of recovery.

It was clear to Harry that she was a natural at this, that if he had purposefully gone through life looking for a partner better equipped with the kinds of qualities one needed to be successful in this role, he would not have found a better fit than Maddie. But even he was surprised when she pulled up her sleeve just so, showing her own scar to the bed ridden soldier who shared the same injury.

"Oh wow," the young man sighed. "That looks fantastic. It healed up very nicely."

"It did," Maddie smiled, letting her sleeve fall loose, and moved in to share something with only him. Her hand rested on his good arm as her words drew a smile to his face. And when she stepped back, he squeezed her hand.

She wished him great luck in his recovery and was quickly ushered away. As she stepped in line with Harry as they were escorted down a corridor, she could feel his hand rest low on her back; warming at the contact. When she turned her face to his, he was smiling wide.

"Doctor," his voice was barely above a whisper as he took her in.

"Captain," she whispered in return, sharing the briefest moment of eye lust for the other before they were shown into another room where more people were waiting for them.

Harry's hand fell from her back as he was introduced to another patient. And Maddie's smiled pulled higher as she stepped up to his side. And so they were for the remainder of their time there that day.

In truth, they had blown their itinerary. They had stayed an hour and fifteen minutes longer than had been scheduled. Thomas had only allowed it as it ate into their down time before the reception at the White House. But, when he finally stepped forward and gave the two of them the nod, they regrettably said their good-byes and stepped away.

"May I tell you how great you were today?" Harry's arm moved around her as they descended the stairs. "How impressed I am?"

"You absolutely may," Maddie nodded with a grin, her fingers reaching for the black fabric of his uniform; stepping closer to him.

"Or better yet," he flashed a smug smirk, his hand glinting over her backside ever so quickly. "Maybe I can show you?"

"Ooooh. I doubt we have time for that but at least you're speaking my language," she laughed lightly, offering a wave to the crowds that had gathered as they slipped into the open and waiting car.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

"Well, well, well," Maddie let out a low whistle as she stepped from their private bathroom, joining Harry in their bedroom. "Look at you." Her lips curved up in a wide smile and she could barely help the flush to her skin that came every time she saw him in his tux; especially after he spent an entire day in his uniform. It was, regrettably, a great weakness of hers.

"You know, if you're going to keep looking at me like that..." He caught the pink in her cheeks and took advantage of the moment, moving in on her. "You look stunning." His eyes sparkled as they raked over her long gown; his fingers moving to stroke the soft bare skin of her shoulder.

"Yeah?" She bit at her bottom lip, trying to hide her automatic excitement to his touch; her eyes sweeping over him lustfully. His hands clasped at her waist, tugging her close.

"Yes," he nodded. "It makes me want to send my regrets to the President and..." His head dipped down, his lips pressing to her neck.

"You'll hear no complaints from me..." She leaned into him, her chest pressing to his in an act that was shamefully flirtatious. "Captain." Her voice dipped and she lowered her lashes.

"Ha!" His head tipped back in laughter. "You're working too hard there Madeline. Are you nervous? Trying to get out of that speech?"

"No," she shook her head, her hands pressing into his shoulders; holding him close. "My speech is ready. My nerves are...okay..." She admitted to a slight flutter in her stomach as she thought of how she would soon be addressing a roomful of soldiers and their families—not to mention the President and First Lady.

"Well...just in case..." He stepped away from her then, crossing the room to an ornate table that ran the length of the room where there sat a tray with glasses and decanters and as Maddie giggled, he flipped over two shot glasses and reached for the crystal decanter with the honey colored liquid in it.

"Tequila?" She raised her eyebrows, moving across the room to join him; her skirt flowing behind her as she walked.

"Why mess with a good thing?" He shrugged, handing a glass to her and lifting his own. "I know of no reason to doubt you're going to blow them away tonight."

"Yeah?" She lifted her glass to clink against his.

"You have this." He was absolutely certain that Maddie was going to do wonderfully; and absolutely certain it was going to make him want her even more than he already did.

"How much tequila have you had?" She countered, smirk in place; eyebrow arched.

"I speak the truth," he nodded to her and tipped his glass back. With a soft chuckle, she did the same; the liquid burning down her throat. Taking the glass from her hand, he sat them both down on the table and reached for her hands. "You were amazing today, Madeline. At the Tomb..."

"I cried at the Tomb," she cut in, feeling slightly embarrassed at the memory.

"You're supposed to cry at the Tomb," he countered; eyes serious. "It's supposed to hit you in the gut; the monument, the music. It's supposed to make you feel that way."

"It worked," she whispered. He pulled her closer to him.

"And at the Hospital, with the wounded," he grew soft as he looked down at her wrapped up in his arms. "They loved you there."

"You think so?" She snuggled into him, wishing for just a moment that it was the end of their day, that she could step out of the gown, wash off the makeup and just be with him.

"I know so," he ran his hands over the fabric of her dress. "You know, you never told me what it was you said to that man...with the same injury as you..." His fingers traced the scar on her shoulder.

"I know," she smiled.

"Well?" He lifted his eyebrows and she laughed.

"If it had been meant to be heard, I would have said it aloud," she leaned up on her toes to kiss him then; tasting the tequila on his lips. "Come on Captain. We have a date at the hottest club in town."

"With the hottest woman in town," he looked her over appreciatively as she stepped away from him.

"Now look who's working too hard," she reached for