Maddie and Harry eventually moved on from the cheating scandal. Amazingly, the bloggers rose quickly to Harry's defense; having recognized the photos from a year earlier—chastising the magazine on the web for trying to push them off as new. Maddie learned a lot those first few days following the magazine fiasco. First, she was able to witness the power and research capabilities of Harry's slightly obsessive fans. And second, Bishop was right. So, while Maddie handed over five dollars to Bishop because a picture of the two of them had absolutely hit the web, the idea that Harry had cheated on Maddie in the park was all but faded from the meme.

As October gave way to November and the remains of the mild weather gave way to the cold, the two of them settled into their routine. And the press was back to reporting their every move; drinks with his normal crew, reports of late nights at Leo's club, and one picture of Maddie trying on Union Jack mittens just to make Harry laugh—a picture that was so adorable Harry honestly contemplated calling the magazine for a copy. Though he refrained.

It was a particularly chilly night when Maddie and Harry met up with Matt and Ella to celebrate Ella's birthday. With reservations at one of the more popular eateries in the city, they were all dressed up and ready for a fun night together. The waiter had taken their orders and was back pouring champagne into their glasses as Harry cleared his throat and smiled at the three of them.

"In honor of Ella's birthday, I would like to make a traditional Irish toast."

"Aw," Ella's head tipped to the side. "That's sweet."

"I'm glad you think so." With a twinkle in his eye, Harry lifted his glass. "Ella love, May you die in bed at 95, shot by a jealous spouse."

"Harry!" Maddie nudged him.

"You know me so well," Ella laughed.

"Happy birthday," Harry clinked his glass to Ella's as Matt and Maddie joined in.

"Happy Birthday!"

"Thank you," Ella smiled wide as she drank from her glass; eyeing Harry across the table. "That was perfect."

"So Maddie," Matt looked to her. "Ella was telling me about the day the two of you met."

"Oh God," Maddie groaned as Ella burst into laughter.

"Wait," Harry looked between them. "I don't think I've ever heard this story."

"And I don't think you ever want to," Maddie shook her head.

"Oh I think you do," Ella nodded at him.

"I'm going to defer to Ella's judgment on this one," Ella leaned forward; motioning for Harry to do the same.

"Ella," Maddie warned.

"Oh hush," Ella waved her hand. "It's my birthday, remember."

"Fine," Maddie sighed dramatically and took a big drink from her glass before smiling hazily. "Go ahead."

"Way to be a good sport," Harry winked at her; his hand patting her knee under the table, where it rested as he turned to Ella, "let's hear it."

"So," Ella swallowed a sip; her eyes dancing with humor. "I was actually in Bendal before Maddie and, when she was scheduled to come, there was this...infestation in one of the buildings and she had no place to stay."

"Infestation?" Matt raised his eyebrows.

"You don't want to know," Maddie shook her head with a light shudder.

"So," Ella continued, meeting Maddie's eyes for a shared smile. "I had this small..."

"Tiny," Maddie cut in.

"Tiny two bedroom place and, being the magnanimous person that I am, I offered up my second bedroom. And then Maddie arrived."

"My first day was..." Maddie looked to Ella for the right word.

"Traumatic?" Ella offered, drinking from her glass.

"Long," Maddie smiled. "Long and sweaty and... I barely had time be introduced to Ella. So, I was exhausted when I got back and I went to my room and unpacked one of my two little bags and I took a shower before we were going to have a late dinner and get to know each other. When I got out, I lit a candle."

"To get rid of the smell imbedded in your nostrils," Ella suggested with a nostalgic laugh; remembering some of their happier times in Bendal.

"Yes," Maddie nodded. "So there I was in this robe, my hair wrapped up in a towel and I don't really know what I was doing. I was reaching for something when..."

"All of a sudden, I'm down the hall in the living area and I hear Maddie just...screaming...ELLA! ELLA! Help! Help!"

"Help?" Matt's eyebrows went up.

"She was on fire," Ella snickered.

"What?" Harry's eyes swept to Maddie who was laughing.

"When I reached for...whatever it was, my sleeve touched the flame on the candle and started on fire. And when I saw that, I was surprised and lifted my arm up too quickly which lit the towel in my hair on fire and..."

"You lit yourself on fire?" Harry looked to her, a smile creeping through the serious expression on his face.

"I did," Maddie nodded. "But thankfully Ella was there. She came running down the hall and..."

"And there she was in a robe and a towel and there was fire and, acting on instinct..."

"She tears the towel out of my head, strips the robe off of me and is stomping on them and just like that...the fire was out,"

"And Maddie was naked," Ella clapped her hands together.

"What?" Harry laughed.

"Well, I tore the robe and the towel off of her..."

"And I had just gotten out of the shower..."

"So she was naked. But not on fire anymore." All four laughed.

"And there we were just...looking at each other," Maddie winked across the table at Ella.

"Maddie says 'thank you so much,'" Ella reached to hold Maddie's hand. "I tell her that dinner will be ready in five minutes and...."

"We've been friends ever since," Maddie finished.

"Well," Ella shrugged with a cheeky grin. "Once you've seen Maddie naked, you can't help but love her."

"I'll drink to that," Harry chuckled, reaching his glass out to clink with Ella's—who was laughing along with him.

"Hey!" Maddie nudged him.

"Come here," Harry leaned to kiss Maddie.

"Well..." Maddie smiled and raised her glass to her friend one more time, "to the first—of many times—Ella saved my life."

"To Ella," Harry lifted his glass.

"To Ella," Matt followed suit.

"Aw, you guys..." Ella blushed slightly but lifted her glass.

With a clink of glass and warm smiles all around, the waiter returned with their food; dinner had begun.

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

When dinner ended, Maddie led the three of them—along with Harry's Security Officer Brad—back to her place where she had Ella's requested dessert ready and waiting.

"Banana cake?" Harry made a face as he looked at the creation on Maddie's dining table.

"With cream cheese frosting," Ella grinned wide; running her finger along the side, licking frosting from it greedily. "It's Maddie's specialty."

"How do you have a specialty that I don't know about?" Harry looked to his girlfriend who was adding candles to the cake.

"I have lots of other specialties that only you know about," Maddie smiled wickedly at him. "It's okay if you don't know about this one."

"Ohhh..." Harry chuckled; his eyes narrowing at her suggestively. "I like that answer."

"I would like it if you two could hold it together until I leave," Ella tried to glare at him but failed miserably. Matt just shook his head and laughed.

"I'm sorry love," Harry leaned to kiss Ella's cheeks. "I'll try my best. Can I get you anything to drink?"

"Hmmm..." Ella tapped her lips, silently ruminating over how at home Harry made himself in Maddie's place. "More champagne?"

"Coming up!" He clapped his hands together and moved to the kitchen. Though the argument could be made that every last one of them had consumed more than their fair share of champagne at dinner, it was a party and nobody was driving. Locating a bottle quite easily, he popped the cork and reached for some glasses.

By the time he returned to the group, Maddie was lighting the last of the candles.

One round of Happy Birthday, two bottles of champagne and three and half pieces of cake (altogether) later, the four of them were scattered around Maddie's living room; tipsy and giggly. With her head in Harry's lap, Maddie stretched out on one of her couches while Harry played with the fingers on one of her hands. On the opposite couch was Matt and Ella; cuddled together. All of their glasses had been refreshed and music was playing throughout the room.

"Let's play a game," Ella suggested; Harry looked up interested.

"What kind of game?" He asked

"Truth or dare?" Ella suggested with a smirk.

"No way," Matt groaned.

"Next." Maddie agreed; waving her hand.

"Aw come on," Ella pleaded.

"Okay," Maddie pulled herself up slightly to look at her friend. "Ella, truth—who is on your 'free pass' list?" Ella about spit up her champagne.

"Okay. Different game." She held her hands out, palms up, in surrender to Maddie.

"There you go," Maddie shrugged, laying back down in Harry's lap. "How about cards?"

"Now we're talking," Matt perked up.

"I could play some cards," Harry grinned, tapping the tip of Maddie's nose with his finger.

"I'll go grab some," Maddie allowed Harry to pull her back up off his lap. "You guys get set up at the table and I'll be right back." She felt Harry slap at her ass as she walked away, heading to her room to get a deck of cards.

She was only gone for a few minutes and, when she returned to the room, the other three had cleared everything from the table with the exception of their drinks and were waiting excitedly for her to return.

"Okay, what game are we playing?" She took her seat. "Hearts?"

"Cribbage?" Matt suggested.

"Whist," Ella decided.

"Whist it is," Maddie pointed at her best friend, shuffling the cards over and over again.

"Huh, that's weird," Harry muttered to himself; pulling his vibrating phone from his pocket with confusion etched across his forehead. "I'm sorry, I'm going to have to take this." He smiled apologetically around the table as he rose to his feet.

"Go ahead," Ella waved. "I have to powder my nose anyway."

"I'll be right back," Harry's hand ran along Maddie's shoulder, squeezing gently as he stepped away from her into the living area. Maddie smiled at Matt while she began to deal; her eye watching Harry as he held the phone to his ear.

He paced; walking the length of her living room several times, slowly and methodically. And then there was this moment, he was walking and suddenly came to a stop. Turning completely around, his eyes met hers and she knew; something was wrong. He turned away from her just as quickly, but she caught it. In less than a minute, he had disconnected the call and stood still and stoic in her living room, looking up at the painting he had given her for her birthday that hung over her couch for a beat before turning to face them. Stuffing his phone back into his pocket, he rejoined them. Moving next to her chair his eyes stared off into space, as if he were contemplating his next move.

"Harry? Is everything okay?" Maddie reached her hand out to take his; feeling the instinctual need to comfort him. She watched his Adam's Apple bob up and down as he swallowed a couple of times.

"That was my father. There was an earthquake. A 6.5 on the Richter scale."

"Oh my God," Ella gasped from behind Harry. "That's..."

"Bad," Matt supplied and Harry nodded. "Substantial structural damage, foundation shifting...if it's in a populated area, massive casualties..."

"Oh my God," Maddie shook her head at the thought; her eyes looking back up to where Harry stood; tugging on his hand. "Harry, where was it?" With a deep, heavy sigh, Harry lowered down so that he was squatting next to her chair; his hands holding hers, his eyes meeting hers with great gravity. Instinctually, she sucked in a breath just a split second before he told her.

"Bendal."