Valentine's Day

With a heavy sigh, Maddie stepped into their home, shutting the door behind her with another sigh. Yes, she knew she was being overly dramatic; staging a bit of an overreaction. But dammit—she had sacrificed Valentine's Day last year to the British Army, she really hadn't planned on sacrificing this Valentine's Day to the Royal Family.

But this was her life. When the family—or in this case his father—called, they had to go. Now it was just Harry but in a few short months it would be her too. What could she do other than allow herself the briefest moment of pettiness to sulk and then suck it up and move forward?

Dropping her bag to the floor, she kicked off her shoes and turned to face her night alone.

And that's when she saw it. A small box wrapped in a red, shiny foil with a gold bow on top sitting on the middle step of the staircase. Her heart warmed, a school girl giggle coming from her lips as she moved quickly to the box. Taking a seat on the very same stair, she pulled the box into her hands and pulled the lid up.

"I'm so sorry to abandon you tonight—H."

Though she felt the slightest twinge of guilt, she couldn't help but feel giddy as she pulled the tissue paper from the box reveling a long, gold, loop necklace that took her breath from her lungs. It was stunning. As she shook her head, wishing he were there to help her with it, to receive the thanks and love she desperately wanted to bestow on him, her eye caught something nestled on the landing above her.

Another box. Larger, more square, but in the same red foil.

"What did you do?" She called out to him, a bit of a smirk on her face as she rose to her feet and hurried up to the box.

Pink suede Manolo Blahnik heels with a note "I promise to make it up to you."

This time her sigh was sad; missing him. She smiled to herself, wondering if he had some fantasy conjured up in his mind that involved just her in these shoes and necklace. Looking down the hall towards their room, she spotted another small note on the floor. Stretching out to reach for it, she opened it up.

"I sincerely hope your stomach is well and that you are not lying on the floor of your bathroom in your pajamas." There was only a flash of confusion before it hit her. The jewelry, the shoes, the stomach and the bathroom and...

"Harry?" She called out into the house. "Are you here?" Pulling herself up, she picked up the shoes and the necklace and, holding it all awkwardly in her arms, she moved down the hall to their room. Pushing the door open, she scanned the room quickly.

It was resting on their bed; the large, bulky box wrapped in red foil. Dumping the shoes to the ground, laying the necklace on her nightstand, she bounced onto the bed on her knees. Her hands moved to the box, pulling the wrap from it as a child at Christmastime. She tossed the lid to the side with abandon and lifted the note from the top.

"You have one hour."

"Ah!" She clapped her hands together before she took into the tissue paper. She gasped when she saw it; a stunning, luxurious Elie Saab in the softest red flowy fabric.

She was giddy.

One hour. An entire outfit. That could only mean one thing. Without any further deliberation, Maddie jumped from the bed and began to strip her clothes from the day. She had one hour to be ready and dammit if she was going to waste any more time.

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It wasn't just that she felt good in the dress, it wasn't just that it fit her perfectly and flattered her figure in a flawless sort of way that came with this high end kind of craftsmanship. It wasn't just that the dress swooshed around her legs as she moved, that the neckline showed off just enough of her cleavage to tempt him for a comment, but not enough that it would bring one from anyone else.

It wasn't just those things.

It was that she felt unbelievably...sexy.

She felt it from her hair—tosseled and teased—to her toes—cradled comfortably in the pink suede Manolos. She felt gorgeous and powerful and so incredibly well-loved. He knew her so well, knew her body so much so that he could gift this amazing ensemble to her—knowing how it would make her feel. Knowing it would make her radiate from inside.

As she stood in front of the floor length mirror, her eyes sweeping over her makeup one last time, she secured the necklace in place and took a deep breath. Her hour was drawing to a close. Reaching for the gold clutch that had been wrapped with the dress, she quickly transferred her essentials and stepped from their room.

She didn't know where she was supposed to be in an hour or what she was supposed to be doing, but she guessed that it wasn't primping in their bedroom. With an air of confidence and self-assuredness, she took to the stairs.

And right on time, right as the clock clicked to the hour, the doorbell rang. Without a glance in the mirror in the entryway, Maddie pulled the door open.

The car was waiting. The driver smiling wide at the door. Arthur, dressed in his black tie finest, standing off to the side. Maddie pulled her wrap around her shoulders and stepped out into the crisp night; shutting the door behind her.

"I see this plot stretches across a multitude of conspirators," her voice was light, just like her step; her smile a permanent fixture.

"Good evening, Ma'am," the driver smiled, moving ahead of her to open the car door.

"Good evening," she nodded to him gracefully. "Arthur, what do you have to say for yourself?" She looked across the top of the car to him with narrowed eyes.

"Not a thing, Ma'am," he smiled back.

"Right," she drawled out the word with a shake of her head before she sighed and stepped into the car. It didn't matter. Whatever it was they were all 'in' on, it was making her heart soar. "Thank you," she called to the driver as he shut her door and moved to his own.

It was a matter of seconds before the car was in motion and all Maddie knew for sure was that this plan of Harry's made her feel young and free and full of the most exciting kind of anxiety. Careful of her dress, she leaned back in the seat and watched as London flew past her—so happy that she didn't even try to guess their destination based on the turns they took.

It didn't matter. She was ready for anything.

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When they arrived at the airport, Maddie grew nervous; a happy sort of nervous that spoke of butterflies and hair perking on end. Her eyes were wide as they scanned the grounds for him, for a sign of him. And when the car turned around, it all came into focus.

The small, chartered plane.

And Harry—in a tuxedo standing at the base of the stairs, smiling wide as the car came to a halt. She hadn't seen him in a week and her heart reacted accordingly; pitter pattering in her chest. Maddie's hand reached for the door handle but Harry had been waiting for a long time and he beat her to it.

"Madeline," his voice was low and drew a chill to her skin as his hand held out for hers.

"Henry," she echoed his tone, her hand reaching into his; the heat warming her as she stepped from the car. Though everything moved around them—the driver pulling a bag she knew she hadn't packed from the trunk and loading it to the plane, Arthur stationing himself at the base of the steps, talking quietly and causally to Jim who was dressed just the same—for Maddie and Harry the world seemed to pause.

"You look amazing." Though he knew she would, his body, his mind was continuously stunned by her beauty.

"I don't know what to say..." She blushed and glanced down at their joined hands, unexplainably nervous. "This was...is...quite a surprise..."

"Really?" Harry chuckled softly. "I thought once you got to the shoes you would have figured it all out. Were you expecting somebody else?" His eyes gleamed in the night sky.

"Bishop," her voice and her attempt at humor was light.

"Of course," Harry rolled his eyes playfully. "You know, one of these days you're going to give me a complex about..."

"Shhhh..." Maddie cut him off, her hand slipped from his and tugged at his lapels; bringing his lips and his body to hers.

The kiss was hot and steamy and full of the edgy sort of sexiness Maddie had felt since she had slipped on the long, beautiful gown. As her tongue pressed into his mouth, she felt the stun slip from him. She felt him recover and take a step forward; taking control of the kiss as his head tilted over hers, taking control of her body as his arms wrapped snuggly around her.

"Happy Valentine's Day," he whispered to her, his nose nudging against hers.

"Happy Valentine's Day," she sighed; slightly weakened by his mouth, by this extravagant plan. "Should we..." She smiled a bit bashfully under his gaze. "Should we get in the air?"

"We should," he nodded, still not moving an inch away from her. "We do have opera tickets..."

"Yes," her grin stretched across her face. "And Northern Lights?" Her eyebrows lifted curiously.

"Well..." He shrugged easily. "I did promise you I would take you..."

"You're good," she admitted.

"Better with you," he dropped his hold on her then, capturing her hand in his. Pressing his lips to the back of that hand, he nodded towards the plane. "Shall we?"

"Absolutely," Maddie nodded and with a deep breath, her lungs filled with the cold crisp London air and her heart warmed completely.

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Harry had rented an apartment for their weekend stay in Oslo—though, to call it an apartment seemed to be an understatement. The building was immaculate; even the elevator was stunning. When it arrived at the top floor, Harry smiled sleepily at her and nodded towards the penthouse that awaited them. She stepped into the room, letting her eyes travel over the vast opulence as Arthur and Jim went about their business.

"Harry..." She turned a soft smile to him as she moved closer.

"Did you enjoy the opera?" He lifted his eyebrows, his arms encircled her, pulling her into the private space they created with soft voices and a close proximity that shared heat from each of them.

"The opera was beautiful," she nodded, pressing her body closer to his. "This..." She waved her hand towards the place. "...is beautiful. Thank you for this," she tipped her lips up to kiss him.

"We're not done yet," he murmured against her lips.

"No?"

"No," he shook his head, his eyes reanimating; awakening. "Come with me." Taking her hand he pulled her through the room, towards the large windowed wall on the opposite side. "Here..." He reached for one of the large, fluffy, warm coats that hung on a hook next to the door. Holding it out for her, she slipped her arms into the coat; instantly warming even further. After slipping into his own, Harry pulled open the door and beckoned her with a look in his eyes. Following faithfully, Maddie stepped out into the frigid night and, hand wrapped in his, moved with him towards a staircase. The stairs wrapped around the building as they moved up and Maddie stayed focused on her footing, one hand on the railing, the other in his.

And when they reached the landing, the rooftop, she took her first glance up.

"Look..." Harry's voice was low, solemn; his eyes focused outward as his breath made puffs of white from his lips. Maddie's eyes turned to where his were fixed and her lungs hitched in her chest.

"Oh..." It was all she could say; all she could find within her at the moment. It was beautiful. It was past beautiful. It was amazing, a phenomenon, a wonder of the world. She couldn't find the right word—she wondered if there even was a right word. "Harry..." She wanted to cry—afraid her eyes might freeze shut if she allowed tears into them. She had always wanted to be here, always wanted to see the wonder that was the Northern Lights. She had promised herself, more than once, that someday she would get here. But, life happened; things came up. And quite easily that goal had slipped from her mind.

But it hadn't slipped from his. He had heard her tell him once how much she had always wanted to see this, how she had made this a goal of hers. He had heard her, he had listened and now...he had made it a reality.

"Amazing, no?" He held her hand but made no large effort to move her to him, to invade her space, her moment.

"Yes," she nodded, gulping back the lump in her throat. "Thank you...for bringing me here, for making this happen..." She took a deep breath, the cold air stinging her lungs, and turned to face him.

"You're welcome," he smiled and looked off behind them where there was a large, comfortable looking bench with warmed blankets waiting for them. "Want to sit for a moment?"

"Yes," she nodded enthusiastically. They moved to the bench, Harry tucking the blankets around them. Settling against him, nuzzling close to his side, Maddie felt warm and safe and loved. Under the blankets, his hand found hers, his gloved fingers intertwining with hers as his lips pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

It was minutes before he spoke, his warm, deep voice breaking into the silent peacefulness that surrounded them.

"How are you doing Madeline?"

"Right now?" She smiled, her face turning up to look at him. "Or this week?"

"Sure. Right now, this week...with all of it..." He looked to the sky. "The wedding, the planning, the house, the spotlight, the press...how are you doing?" He was checking up on her, checking in; making sure. The things he had learned from studying the past.

"Great," she answered, somewhat surprised by the answer herself. "The wedding is...Well, Joan is a star. The planning is going incredibly smooth and everything seems to be coming together..."

"And you?" He watched her closely for reaction. "You're getting what you want?"

"Well..." She snuggled closer. "Are you still planning on making an appearance?"

"At the wedding?" He laughed.

"Mmm." She nodded.

"Yes. I'll be there."

"Then yes. I'm getting what I want."

"Good then," he couldn't help the wide grin that came with that.

"Renovations started on your mother's place last week. You saw that plans, approved them even."

"Ah yes," he nodded.

"You didn't look them over, did you?"

"I trust you." Was his response; shrugged out with ease. Maddie shook her head, a warm laugh in her throat.

"You know...Thomas sent over an interesting proposition for me today."

"Oh?" That roused his curiosity.

"An organization that would like me as a Chief Patron."

"I thought there was a list of organizations."

"There is."

"What makes this one stick out?"

"It's a branch of Walking with The Wounded."

"Oh?" His face brightened as her words instantly evoked feelings and memories that he had held with him for years.

"It's called Walking with the Women," she explained. "They are women soldiers who were wounded in battle. Obviously they want to tap into my association with you and your association with their founding organization." She took a breath. "They are planning their Inaugural trek for the North Pole..."

"And they want you to go with them?" His eyes were alive.

"They do," she nodded, biting on her lower lip. "What do you think?"

"When will you go?"

"Next Spring. They wanted to gauge my interest and wait to announce after the wedding. Training would start this summer and..." Her eyes scrunched up as she watched the excitement mount on his face. "You think I can do this?"

"I think you're going to freeze your ass off," he laughed. "Of course you can do this. Do you want to do this?"

"I really do," she nodded, her smile pulling her lip from between her teeth. "It's an amazing organization..."

"It is," he agreed wholeheartedly.

"And it's aligned with work I've already done and..." She paused. "Wow. I think I've chosen my first organization."

"Congratulations," he nudged her with his shoulder. "An excellent choice."

"Thanks," she smiled; sighing closer to him, her shoulders relaxing. "I'll tell Thomas when we get back to London."

"Okay."

"When will that be, by the way?" For the first time since she opened the dress, she had questions about the trip. "How long are we staying? Do I have other clothes or is it Elie Saab for the weekend?"

"We're staying for the weekend and yes, you have other clothes. Though..." He tipped his lips into her neck. "...I'm fine with this being a clothes optional weekend."

"Of course you are," she laughed; low and deep as her hand moved around his neck, pressing his lips closer to her. "We should go inside..."

"What about the lights?" His eyes lifted to the sky.

"They'll be here tomorrow," Maddie mumbled, her lips pressing to his cheek. "It's much too cold out here for clothing optional..."

"It is," he grinned against her skin. "Come on." And he was up, pulling her with him towards the stairs in a fit of lively giggles. They navigated the stairs expertly, slipping back inside the warm apartment. Harry's hands were eager as he pulled her coat from her arms, hanging it next to his. His eyes scanned her in the dress, a wide smile of appreciation. "You're so beautiful..."

"It's an amazing dress," she stepped up to him.

"Mmm..." He nodded, dismissing the dress; his head dipping to press a kiss to her exposed collar bone, his hand finding home at her waist.

"Harry..." She breathed, feeling his fingers working their way to her zipper. "Jim? Arthur?"

"Across the hall," he knew exactly what she was asking as his fingers found their mark, tugging at the small slip of metal.

"Ah..." She sighed, feeling the dress loosen around her, feeling the warmth of his palms on the skin of her back. Not to be outdone, her hands pressed into his jacket, pushing it over his shoulders, forcing his hands from her body as it slipped from his arms to the floor behind him.

Before his hands could return to her, she was pulling at his tie, fumbling with his buttons on his shirt. Joining her in her efforts, he helped her pull both from his body before he caught her hands in his and stalled them.

Bringing both of her hands together in front of him, he kissed the tops of them; each in turn. Then he pulled them apart, his lips moving to the inside of her wrist, dropping one hand to focus his attention on the other.

A soft giggle escaped her mouth as Harry kissed the inside of her elbow, her bicep, tickling her in the slightest. Her free hand moved to his side, pulling him closer to her, seeking the warmth his body provided. With nimble fingers and infinite grace, Harry slipped her dress from her shoulders, offering his hand and his steadiness as she stepped from the mound of elegant fabric.

"Wow..." He was stunned into stillness as he looked her over. "Has that been underneath this the whole time?"

"Yes," she nodded, her head tipping to the side seductively, her eyes shining—the sexiness she had felt the whole night had only increased, leaving her with this feeling of euphoria. Clad in the lightest of lingerie and her pink suede shoes, she reached for his hand and took a step backwards; beckoning him with a curl of her finger. "Want to see what's underneath this?"

"My God yes," he nodded; his nerves on high alert, his body ready to follow her anywhere. "Where are you going?"

"I have no idea," she laughed; pulling him with her anyway until her legs hit the couch. "Maybe right here?"

"I can work with right here," his eyes had glazed over, moving into full on predator mode as his hands hugged her