Day 3: New York NY

Arrive in Manhattan from Arlington
Wreath at Ground Zero
Visit Firehouse in NY
Down Time.

The flight to New York was early but quick and before they knew it, Maddie and Harry were being ushered into another opulent hotel suite overlooking another amazing city.

"Look at this view," Maddie let out a breath as she gazed out the window. "God I love this city."

"I forget that you lived here," Harry stepped up next to her as the staff moved around them; unpacking, settling, assigning duties and rooms.

"I did," she grinned, remembering her doctoral work with fondness and the hint of stress that always came along when she remembered the rigor of the work she had done here. "The city's been good to me."

"Do you have anyone you would like to meet up with tonight? Anyone from back then?"

"Other than Ella?" Maddie grew excited as she thought of her best friend. "Not really. We could go for a walk on campus later. Maybe I could show you an old pub or two?"

"I'm in." He loved the idea of seeing where she had been when she finished her education; even more so if it meant he was going to get some time alone with his wife in a dimly lit bar and a few drinks. The trip, the few days they had been on, was going magnificently but so far all of their time had been accounted for. This was going to be their first night on their own for any significant amount of time. And he was ready for that.

"Great," Maddie turned from the window as Thomas and Libby stepped closer, Thomas clearing his throat. "Libby! I'm so excited I get to wear pants today!"

"Yes Ma'am," the young woman smiled with a nod. "You have the obstacle course race this morning at the Fire Station."

"Ah yes," Maddie grinned, remembering that the Fire Fighters were going to pit her and Harry against each other in an obstacle course they traditionally used to haze new inductees. Her face lit up as she turned her competitive nature to her husband. "The obstacle course. You're going down Captain." Her voice dropped in warning.

Harry returned a smirk and leaned closer to her, "well not right now. We have something we have to do. But if you're up for it later..." His eyebrows waggled on his forehead and Maddie rolled her eyes.

"Nice." Though there was definitely something about the upcoming challenge that made her want to jump on him.

But first, it was time for work.

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"Oh come on!" Maddie groaned into a chuckle when, hours later, they returned back to the room. "I beat you fair and square." Her eyes flickered with the joy of victory as she kicked off her heels and everyone filed in around them.

"Please," Harry rolled his eyes. They had laid a wreath at One World Trade Center, they had met with people there for a bit of time before they had continued onto the Fire Station where they had raced. "It was not fair."

"Such a sore loser, Captain." Maddie loved the look in his eyes; the bite in his voice. It was twisted how turned on she was.

"Not at all," he shook his head. "The match simply wasn't fair."

"What are you even talking about?"

"We were in a Fire Station full of men...by the way..." Harry turned to the staff who were watching their back and forth with amusement. "I would like to thank whoever came up with the genius idea of taking my wife to a Fire Station full of male firefighters." Maddie laughed at him as he swung a pointed finger around the room. "Thank you for that. As if I don't have enough problems around here." The group around them chuckled.

"What are you even saying?"

"I'm saying..." He pulled his shoes from his feet, dropping them to the floor. "That they must have weighted my suit down or something because there is no way you beat me today."

"No way?"

"You don't even run!"

"I swear, when we get back to London, I'm going to run laps around your ass."

"Please," he laughed at her; loving how easily she slipped from work mode to relax mode.

"Excuse me," Thomas took the pause as his chance to step forward. "Is there anything else you need?"

"Oh, no," Harry shook his head, looking to the staff with less of an accusation. "Thank you. We're on tomorrow for the Baseball Training Clinic?"

"Yes Sir," Thomas nodded. "We'll be here at eight, car by ten."

"Great. Thank you."

"Yes," Maddie slid to Harry's side, smiling to the staffers as they began to file out. "Thank you." And when it was just them and a few Security officers, Maddie turned soft eyes to Harry—who she continued to fall for more and more with every event they attended, with the way he was so amazing with people.

"What do you say love," he wrapped an arm around her shoulder, smiling down at her. "Want to take that walk across campus and go meet Ella at the pub?"

"I don't know," she grinned. "Think you can stop crying about losing long enough to have a drink? Or do we need to give you a few more minutes to grieve?"

"Wow," he shook his head, biting the side of his cheek, pulling her into a tight hug; both of his arms strong around her. Through screams of laughter, he brought his lips to hers.

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"I didn't lose!" Harry exclaimed; Maddie was quick to roll her eyes as Ella laughed into her glass. They had finished their walk and were so far inconspicuous in a back booth of a bar Maddie used to frequent when she was a student in the city. With their security detail in the booth next to them, they all seemed casual enough to blend in to the normal crowd. Ella had met up with them and the reunion was everything they had thought it would be; hilarious. They had ordered food and a Big Bucket of Beers and they were relaxed in a way they hadn't been since the trip began; catching up and poking fun.

"Oh here we go again," Maddie shook her head.

"You did lose," Ella reassured him with a grin. "I saw it on the news before I met up with you."

"Lovely," Harry groaned into his bottle with a slight upturn of his lips. He was certain the media was having a great time with the pics and blips he and Maddie were handing them.

"You know what else I saw on the news? You with your hands...all over her ass," Ella pointed from Harry to Maddie.

"What?" Maddie laughed.

"Yes! They have like...five different shots, from DC and even today in the city, of his hands on your ass." She winked across the booth to Harry. "Apparently you're quite the ass man."

"See, all I heard just then was you talking about my wife's ass." He grinned back.

"Of course that's all you heard," Ella laughed.

"Maybe you need to watch where you put your hands," Maddie nudged Harry under the table.

"No way," he shook his head. "I am your husband. I am a loyal husband. I am doing my royal duty and I have served my country in a war. Twice. If I want to put my hands on my wife's ass, I will put my hands on my wife's ass."

A moment of paused silence filled the booth before all three of them burst into laughter. Maddie's side hurt as she giggled for what felt like the hundredth time that night.

"Too much?" Harry asked with a naughty grin, finishing off his bottle and reaching for another from the bucket full that sat between them on the table.

"Little bit," Ella held her fingers apart about an inch.

"It was the war part," Maddie sighed, wiping at her eyes and taking the bottle Harry was offering her.

"Yeah, I thought maybe it might be," he winked at her and offered a bottle to Ella.

"Oh no," she shook her head and nudged her glass of ginger ale. "I'm good."

"What?" Harry's lips twitched higher. "You haven't had a drink all night. What's the problem, love? Are we expecting?" He smirked across the table and took a drink.

"Actually...Yes." She nodded; head high as she brought the table to a standstill. "Yes. I'm pregnant."

"Wha..." Maddie's eyes grew wide and Harry's bottle stilled at his lips.

"And..." Ella took a deep breath; diving in. "It's Bishop's."

Harry nearly choked; beer sputtering from his mouth and nose.

"Jesus," Maddie snapped out of her trance, reaching for napkins to mop up the beer Harry had spilled. Her eyes flashed from her husband to her best friend. "Ella..."

"You can't tell him," Ella spoke to Harry who was trying to gather himself as he wiped the front of his shirt, his chin.

"Are you sure?" Maddie spoke up. "You're really pregnant?"

"Yes," Ella smiled, her eyes growing soft. "I took a test and...yes. I'm sure." She turned slightly wet eyes to Harry. "You can't tell him before I tell him. I know he's your best friend but...this is something he should hear from me, don't you think?"

"I..." Harry's hand rubbed at the back of his neck. "Yes. Of course he should hear it from you...Jesus." He shook his head; amazed at the news he had just been handed. "When exactly is that going to happen?"

"I'll be in London in less than two weeks," she spoke softer as everyone relaxed back into their seats. "I know it's been a long time but...I don't know," she shrugged, seeming shy. "I could have called but I thought it was better to do this face to face. You would want to be told face to face, right? If you were going to be a father..."

"Wow." Her words hit Harry in the gut; the mere thought of that kind of news pulsed his heart. "Yes. Yes. I would want to be told...Wow..." He sighed; settling back further into the seat. "Bishop's going to be a dad."

"He is," Ella nodded and then Maddie watched as her friend—once cold to the idea of this kind of forever—grew teary and smiled wide.

"You're going to be a mother," Harry couldn't help the smile that tugged at his lips; God he wanted babies so badly.

"I am," Ella's eyes welled up even more and Maddie could see; she was happy, settled.

"How are you?" Maddie's hand reached out to Ella's pulling it into her own. "Are you doing okay? Feeling okay and..."

"Yes," Ella nodded, squeezing Maddie's hand. "I'm feeling really well actually. I was...nervous at first but God...the more time that passes, the more I just..." She swallowed and laughed and shrugged lightly. "I really want this. With Bishop." They all shared a light laugh at the thought, at the reality. "Can you believe that?"

"Yes," Maddie smiled wide, shaking her head as she did. "Yes. I can absolutely believe that."

"Yeah?" Ella raised her eyebrows.

"Of course," Maddie patted her hand.

"You would have a baby with Bishop?"

"Oh no," Maddie shook her head with a giggle. "Harry would never allow me to do that."

"Damn right," Harry sat up, his hand patting her thigh under the table as he smiled at the two of them. "But you," he pointed to Ella with a wide grin. "You can have as many of Bishop's babies as you want."

"Well thank you, Your Royal Highness," Ella smiled at him; relieved that they knew, relieved that they were okay. She had been nervous about telling them but just as the news had made her happy, just as the news had brought unexpected resolution to her life; it brought smiles and excitement to them. And the mood shifted to celebration; disbelief, but celebration.

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Eventually the night gave way to early morning and eventually the Royal couple was no longer incognito. Harry could tell when they had been discovered; cell phones had been pulled, people were pointing in what they thought was an inconspicuous manner. But people were respectful, giving them their space. There were a few Graduate students who were at a table not too far from where they sat and, when they spotted Maddie they very politely asked if she would take a picture with them; as an Alum. Feeling giddy from the drinks and from the celebration, Maddie agreed. One of the men let her wear his Columbia hat and she posed for a photo.

The next morning when the photos from their night out were all over the internet, they would see this particular photo and one very similar to it—with Harry off to the side snapping away on his own phone. They would also find, thanks to Harry's inebriated cheekiness, another shot of Harry's hand sneaking across Maddie's ass as they left the bar. Just for fun. Just to mess with them.

They slipped into the car and saw Ella home with plans to see her at the Polo Match in Connecticut and one more time before they would be leaving her. But she would be in London soon, bringing Bishop in on this great big, wonderful secret. And then, who knew how things would shake out. By the time Maddie and Harry made it back to their room, it was late—or early—and they were both just shy of delirious.

"You know I was thinking..." Maddie was a bit giggly as she and Harry slipped into their room; drunk from the beer, from Ella's news. "Remember today when we were at the Fire Station?"

"Oh bloody..." Harry groaned. "What do you want from me Madeline? You beat me. There. I said it. You won, fair and square." He grinned down at her as she pressed her body close to his; his arms wrapping around her. "My beautiful, sexy, crazy wife kicked my ass in the obstacle course today..." He kissed her lips. "I admit it."

"Well..." Maddie sighed, running her hands up his arms, to his shoulders. "There's that but...I was actually going to make a suggestion."

"A suggestion?"

"Mmm," she nodded, biting at her bottom lip.

"What kind of suggestion?" He watched her cautiously.

"That maybe..." Her fingers ran along the collar of his shirt in what he knew to be a move she pulled out when she wanted something. "I don't know, maybe we could get you your own uniform."

"My own..." His eyes narrowed curiously for a split second before it registered; and a cocky grin spread across his face. "You want me to get a Fire Fighter's uniform?"

"Hmm..." She warmed at the mere thought of it. "Maybe."

"Maybe?" He arched an eyebrow; his hand tightening on her body. He leaned in closer, his stubbly chin rubbing against the skin in her neck as she squealed. "You want me to dress up as a Fire Fighter, storm into the house..." He kissed up her neck to her ear. "Swing you over my shoulders and take you..." He kissed along her jaw. "To my bed?" He grinned wickedly as he pulled back.

"Well," Maddie took a deep breath, turned on more than she would ever care to admit. "It is almost my birthday."

"Yes it is," he nodded.

"Yes it is," she grinned.

"Well, I'll see what I can do." And with that, Harry lifted her from the ground, into his arms and turned towards their bed. It had been a long day and they had yet another ahead of them.

"Also..." She looked down at him. "I told you I would take you down on that obstacle course."

"Oh for Heaven's sake," Harry groaned; dropping both of them onto the mattress. He was quite certain he was never going to hear the end of it.

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Day 4: NYC
Manhattan/GREAT campaign/Baseball training session with young players
Reception and Dinner benefitting the American Friends of the Royal Foundation

"Will says hello," Harry called out to Maddie as he ended his phone call with his brother; handing his phone to Thomas as the four of them stepped into the awaiting cars on their way to the Youth Baseball Training Clinic.

"Yeah?" Maddie smiled brightly, slipping in next to him. "How's Arthur?"

"Perfect," Harry's hand found home on her knee, the car pulling into motion with Libby and Thomas in the car behind them.

"Man," Maddie laughed, laying her hand over his. "There are just babies everywhere right now..."

"I know," Harry agreed, his thumb rubbing over one of her fingers.

"You want one don't you," her voice was low as she turned her head to him.

"You know that I do," he pulled her hand to his lips; pressing a kiss to the top. "I just can't believe that Bishop is going to be a dad before I am. I mean...I married first. I grew up first."

"Is it some kind of race you two are having?" Maddie smirked, watching the competitive side of her husband emerge.

"A race I'm losing," Harry sighed dramatically, turning sweet, puppy dog eyes to Maddie.

"Aw come on, don't look at me like that." She narrowed her eyes and her tone. "She's nearly two months along. There's no way for you to beat him now."

"Maybe there is," he shrugged, enjoying the light banter on their short trip to the clinic.

"Ha!" Maddie's laughter rang out in the car. "Harry!"

"I'm not sure you know how powerful my Windsor..." Maddie's hand clamped over his mouth in effort to save the driver and security from the rest of that sentence.

"Henry Charles," she warned with a smile. He met her eyes, kissed her hand, and eased up.

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"I cannot believe you did that!" They had spent the morning with the kids who worked with the Youth Baseball Clinic. They had participated in the trainings, in the drills, and then they had stepped up to hit a few pitches. And then it had happened. Though Harry had recovered in the moment, to the outside world, from what Maddie had done, in truth he had held it all in until this moment when they were back in the car, away from the ears of the press.

Maddie giggled and Harry shook his head.

"I cannot believe you bloody did that. Are you trying to make me look bad?"

"How does that make you look bad?" She rolled her eyes, her smirk never fading.

"You stepped up to the plate and pointed..." He held his arm out, acting out the moment for her. "You pointed off in the distance like that baseball player..."

"Babe Ruth," Maddie offered. "You're talking about Babe Ruth. We are in New York! I had to do it!"

"And then you bloody hit it there!" His eyes went wide, his voice high.

"Well if you don't hit where you point, you just look ridiculous," Maddie shrugged, loving the effect this was having on him.

"I can't believe you."

"I grew up with boys, in the country. We played. What did you want me to do? Pretend I don't know how to play baseball?" Her shoulders shuddered at the idea. "I don't even know how to be that woman. And you should know that."

"I know," he sighed, his head tipping back against the seat. "I'm just never, ever going to hear the end of this. First the obstacle course, then this. I can see it now; Mike, Will...fuck. Even Dave's going to have something to say."

"Ah come on Captain," Maddie's eyes turned sweet as she reached out to ruffle his hair. "The kids loved it."

"Of course they loved it," Harry sighed, smiling despite himself. "It was fucking amazing."

"It really was," Maddie agreed, leaning to kiss his lips before they settled back in their seats. Though Harry was making a fuss, though his ego was slightly roughed up, he loved it. She was right; the kids had come out of their seats, cheering for her when she did it. She had smiled wide and tossed her bat to the side and high fived all of them as she rounded the bases. Harry could already see it playing out in the media; the news, the press. Yes, it meant some teasing for him back home, but he would be a liar if he said that watching Maddie that afternoon hadn't turned him on.

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"You look beautiful tonight," Harry leaned to Maddie's ear, telling her for at least the tenth time that night.

"I'm starting to