Dinner with William and Kate was quiet, reserved and told tell of the small, tight, protective circle that surrounded Harry. No doubt, Harry's friends had been protective only in a slightly different way. Meeting his brother, again, and his wife was a wonderful experience for Maddie.

William was warm and welcoming; noting that the last time they had met were not the most ideal circumstances, and congratulating her on her recovery. He was smart and funny and Maddie could sense that, given the opportunity and the right group of people, he could really cut loose. Of course, he had met Maddie before, he had sat at her bedside with his brother sick with worry—so his familiarity with Maddie was on a different level than his wife's.

Kate was the more reserved of the two. She was sweet and lovely and much more beautiful than her photos did her justice. She was soft spoken and slightly modest. Maddie quickly attributed that to the presence of a complete stranger; a newcomer to the circle. And she understood that. Maddie imagined that this particular circle was very careful about who they let in, who they opened up to.

Though Ella had, appropriately, turned down the offer to attend dinner with the four of them, Maddie wished she could have snuck her in, if only so that she would have somebody to turn to, somebody to witness with her what she was witnessing. Instead, she had made plans with Bishop and politely excused herself.

As the dinner ran on, the group eased into friendly conversation with Harry as the willing ring-leader, offering up humorous and harmless tales about all three of them. When Maddie followed Kate into the kitchen to help bring out dessert, Kate smiled somewhat apologetically about her shy demeanor and told her that if, in the process of becoming Harry's girlfriend publicly, she needed anything; to feel free to contact her. Maddie was thankful for the offer that would prove to be incredibly useful in the not too distant future.

And when they finally left, after finishing off a bottle and a half of wine, Maddie tucked her arm into Harry's and sighed with a warm smile. It had not been as immediate as with his father and step-mother, nor as wild and boisterous as with his friends, but the approval of his brother and sister-in-law was there.

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

"Ella..." Maddie's voice called out as she knocked on the door to her friend's room. Harry had left for a meeting and the two of them were heading out to do some shopping.

"Come in!"

"So..." Maddie pushed into the room. "Are you and Bishop like...a thing now?"

"No," Ella shook her head. "We were for two glorious nights, but no. He is a really sweet guy but, I'm a lot to handle."

"Oh I know," Maddie giggled as they made their way downstairs to head out.

"But truly, he is a great guy and...he couldn't speak more highly of Harry."

"Sure," Maddie nodded as they stepped into the waiting cab. "Harry loves him too."

"And...Bishop really likes you..." Ella smiled at her best friend. "He thinks you're a great match for Harry."

"Well sure, He would have to tell you that."

"Na," Ella shook her head. "He meant it. I can tell."

"That's sweet," Maddie sat back in the car. "So, are you ready to do some shopping for Highgrove?"

"Hmmm..." Ella bit her lip. "Yes and no."

"What do you mean; yes and no?"

"Well..." Ella took a breath and smiled, knowing what she was about to say was going to surprise her friend. "I am ready to go shopping. But not for Highgrove. I'm not coming with you."

"What? Why?" Maddie turned her body to look at her.

"Well, my love, there are a few reasons."

"Care to share them with me?" Maddie was not mad; simply curious.

"First...this is time that you should be spending with his family; alone." She hurried before Maddie could cut in. "AND, you're doing really well here. They all seem to really like you and...well, you haven't called any of them by the wrong title and you have the curtsy down pretty well. You just don't need me here anymore."

"Ella..." Maddie began.

"I know that's not the only reason I'm here," she rolled her eyes; reading Maddie's mind. "But those are not the only reasons I'm not coming."

"Continue."

"Yesterday I was at lunch with Bishop and I started talking with this woman who was sitting across from me and she's a flight Paramedic through a hospital here in London. And..." Ella took a breath. "After a long story and a few drinks...she told me the hospital she's working at is hiring a flight nurse. So...tomorrow I am going to interview and then, on Saturday, I'm doing a fly-along with her."

"Ella!" Maddie's eyes went wide with excitement. "You've mentioned that as a possibility in the past but...wow... Wait." Maddie's smile faltered slightly as the car pulled to a stop outside the shops. "You're not going back to Bendal?"

Ella took a breath, looked down at her hands before meeting Maddie's eyes. "No, Maddie. I'm not going back to Bendal."

"Wow..." Maddie tried to process it all; unsure of her feelings on the topic. "And you're going to live here in London?"

"If all goes well," Ella grinned, pulling Maddie out of the car with her.

"I don't know what to say..." She felt a little overwhelmed; happy yet nostalgic and a tiny bit confused.

"How about..." Ella lowered her voice as she linked her arm with Maddie's. "Long live The Queen?"

And then, with muffled chuckles, they hurried into the store; ready to shop for their respective weekends.

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

On Friday morning, Maddie hugged Ella extra tight, kissed both of her cheeks, and then wished her the utmost of luck as she interviewed and went for her flight. Harry helped load her bags into the car that would be taking her to the hotel she was moving into and, with a warm hug, he thanked her for staying with them and offered to put in a good word for her at the hospital; which she quickly declined.

After waving good-bye, Maddie and Harry began packing up to head to the country. Maddie had purchased some wonderful, warm items for the trip to Highgrove. And, as their departure grew closer and closer, she found that she was incredibly excited.

They were loaded and sitting comfortably in the car before long. Holding onto Harry's hand, Maddie watched as the world flew by; the trees, the hills, the homes. England was truly a beautiful place. Without moving to look at him, Maddie spoke.

"Ella's moving to London..."

"It appears that way, yes," Harry nodded; watching her thoughtfully.

"I'm excited for her..."

"But?" He arched an eyebrow.

"AND," Maddie corrected, turning a grin in his direction. "I'm surprised."

"Why?" He laughed; not at all surprised that Ella, who he had known about as long as he had known Maddie, was ready to live in the city and experience something new—it seemed completely like her.

"I don't know," Maddie shook her head. "I suppose that I've just always known her in Bendal. And I just assumed that once they gave us the okay, she would be going back."

"Sure," he nodded and took a deep breath. As the topic of Bendal moved front and center, he suddenly felt slightly uneasy and nervous. "You know...your mandated furlough is almost over."

"It is," she sighed. "I actually have a meeting scheduled with some DWB personnel in exactly one week."

"Really?"

"Yes," she smiled. "Next Friday at noon. We'll be going over my paperwork, doctors' records and the like. She'll give me my options..." Her thoughts trailed off as her eyes caught his; seeing a hint of sadness in there.

"Tell me," Harry cleared his throat. "What are you hoping to hear at that meeting?" Maddie held her breath, her heart pounding in her chest and, in the most honest way possible, she shrugged.

"I really, really don't know." She squeezed his hand then, pulling it over into her lap so that she could hold it in both of hers. "Now you tell me...what are you hoping I hear at that meeting?"

"Hmmm..." He let out a breath tailed by a chuckle. "I really, really don't know." He echoed, smiling sincerely.

And that was the most honest either of them could be in that moment.

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