From the very moment she had stepped foot on the dry, honey colored ground of Bendal, she had known the importance of this experience. She had specifically sought out Doctors Without Borders. She had worked meticulously on her application, she had gone through a series of interviews, signed the contracts, received the vaccinations; all with the knowledge that this journey would be one of the most impactful of her life. And she was ready for that.

She needed that.

She had wanted to leave, to escape all that had happened at home; wanted to be as far away from her life as she could possibly be. And this, this warm, rural countryside of Bendal was exactly that. Though, when Madeline "Maddie" Forrester had taken this position, less than a year after finishing her PhD in Child Psychology, she had never imagined the unexpected road this journey would take her down; or who would be on that road by her side.

Ten months into her year-long contract, Maddie had become a part of the community. Though her blonde hair, pale skin, and "American accent" had initially caused her to be the center of discussion and a fair amount of curiosity among the children, her unassuming position and sweet personality had won over the community leaders she worked with and the children she served. They had accepted her as one of theirs and she felt more at home with them than she had in her own home just before she had left the states.

Later in life when she would remember that morning, she would remember that it had been unseasonably warm. She woke to find the heat already invading the small flat she shared with Ella, a nurse out of the Ireland office. Ella had grown up in Dublin and had wanted to see the world. She was bubbly and bright and an instant friend to Maddie. This particular morning was the start of a big day in the community. Despite the recently growing violence among two long-feuding tribal sects, leaders in the small, rural area were coming together to open what Maddie would call a Food Bank; a Co-op of sorts where people could come together and trade, barter or exchange services for goods. Though it was a local initiative, it had backing from big names across the country and through outside charitable organizations. Just the night before Maddie had listened loosely as Ella had, for the fifth time that week, listed off a multitude of famous names involved with such groups. Though Maddie had very little interest in such things, she would smile and nod—because Ella loved it and she loved Ella.

Maddie was excited for the Food Bank. It was something that brought purpose to the community; a sense of identity and unity. Many of the children she worked with were working to prepare for the Grand Opening that afternoon and the confidence she saw in them as they worked was priceless. Pulling on a loose pair of Bermuda shorts, a t-shirt, sunglasses and sturdy sandals, she tied her hair back in a curly mess of a ponytail and set out for the building that would house the food bank. There was still much work to be done.

When she arrived, she was pointed to a truck loaded with boxes that needed to be moved from the truck to the building. Hopping up onto the trailer of the truck, she went straight to work. About midway through, she heard a voice call up to her from over the side of the trailer. She smiled down at a man; late twenties, tall; dressed casually with a ball cap on to shield his eyes. He must be new; she thought. Maybe he was with the Peace Corps or here on a Gap Year excursion. Taking a moment to pause from her work, she leaned against the side of the truck and called down to him.

"You look a little lost." She watched as he looked around for a second before turning his head up to see her.

"I suppose that I am," he grinned. "Do you think you might be able to point me in the right direction?"

"Well, if you're here to help, I have a whole truck full of boxes that need to be moved inside." She gestured behind her. "Think you can handle some heavy lifting?" There was a moment, a tiny brief moment where he seemed slightly startled; confused. But he recovered quickly and nodded.

"I believe that I can."

"Fantastic! Now...get up here."

"Yes ma'am."

"Wait, I'm sorry, I didn't get your name." She shielded her eyes with her hand as she looked down at him.

"I'm Harry," he smiled, reaching his hand up towards where she stood on the back of the trailer.

"Nice to meet you Harry. I'm Maddie," she returned his smile and his outstretched hand.

"It's a pleasure, Maddie." His handshake was warm and firm and put her at ease.

Seeing the light freckling across his nose and the wisps of red hair sticking out from under his cap, she hoped he had been generous with the sunblock. So many of the newbies had suffered from a scorching sunburn. It was almost a rite of passage. "Now...how about you stop standing around and help me unload this food?"

"Absolutely," he grinned; instantly falling victim to the elation he felt when he encountered somebody who had absolutely no idea who he was. He glanced around with slight paranoia for a sign of the group of people that usually followed where he went. Finding that they had been successfully distracted, he lifted himself up onto the truck and, with a sigh of relief, did as he was told.

^^^^^^^^^

They were about half way through the boxes when they fell into step with each other. Finding the silence to be slightly disconcerting, she went for small talk.

"So..." Maddie smiled at him as they moved past each other. "Where are you from?"

"Um..." He lifted a box into his arms. "I'm from England. You?"

"The United States."

"How long have you been here?" He asked as he followed her to where they were stacking the boxes inside.

"Ten months," she smiled; surprised at how fast the time had passed. "You?"

"I arrived today."

"I guessed as much." He grinned at the way she smiled at him; couldn't help it. "Well, welcome to Bendal."

"Thank you," he nodded, returning to the truck. "I appreciate that."

"Of course," she stepped aside so that he could walk past her with another arm full. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ella moving quickly in her direction. Deciding it might be time for a quick break, Maddie hopped off the truck and met her friend.

"Ella love, how are you?" She smiled sweetly, but Ella shook her head and reached for her friend's arm. "What is going on?"

"What are you doing?!" Ella's voice was hushed as she pulled Maddie to the side. But something about the tone made Maddie feel like she was being yelled at.

"I'm...I'm unloading the truck," she glanced back towards the trailer in confusion.

"No!" Ella's teeth clenched; her eyes growing pointed. "What...are...you...doing?" The long pauses between her words were meant to drive home her point.

"I am unloading...the...truck..." Maddie mimicked the pauses, but Ella was not amused.

"Do you have any idea who that is?" Though Ella's eyes didn't move in the slightest, Maddie knew exactly who she was talking about.

"As a matter of fact, I do. His name is Harry. He arrived today. He was standing around looking lost, so I put him to work. It's not a..."

"You put him to work?!"

"Yes of course. He said he was here for the opening and asked for direction and..."

"Ohmygod," Ella's words ran together as she whispered frantically to her friend. "He's coming over. He's coming...Oh God. Do I look okay?"

"You look fine," Maddie snickered. "What is wrong with..." Her words trailed off as he joined them. Maddie could feel Ella's fingers digging into her arm and she desperately wanted to pull her friend aside and splash some cold water in her face. Maybe the heat was going to her brain. She smiled up at him apologetically. "Harry, this is my friend, Ella. Ella, this is Harry." And as she turned towards her friend, she prayed that she had pulled it together. And she had; mostly.

"Ella," Harry's eyes were dazzling as he extended a hand. Ella managed to take a breath before she held out her hand and uttered the words that would bring Maddie's world to a halt.

"Your Royal Highness."

And in the split second that followed, three things happened all at once. Ella—well versed on the ways of the Monarchy—dipped into the slightest of curtsies. Harry—realizing he was no longer incognito—hid his disappointment with a well-trained smile that had been the result of a lifetime of publicity. And Maddie—Maddie who was normally witty, intelligent, at the top of her game—felt absolutely thrown.

"I'm sorry," her headed moved quickly as she looked from Ella to Harry and back again; the confusion causing her to feel slightly off balance. "Did you just say..."

Her brain kicked into overdrive just as her words seemed to fail her. Looking back at Harry, she finally saw it. The red hair, the light freckles, the deep blue eyes and the million-dollar smile. It was surreal. She had never, in her wildest dreams, expected to see him here. "I'm sorry. You..." She shook her head in disbelief. "Are you Prince..."

"Harry," he finished for her. This he was used to; people discovering who he was. "Yes."

"THE Prince Harry?"

"One and the same."

"Of course," Maddie could feel the flush of embarrassment warm her cheeks. "Well I feel incredibly foolish."

"Please don't," he reached a hand out to her; hating the discomfort that went along with moments such as these.

"I just ordered the Crown Prince of England to unload a truck full of food." She was having a hard time believing it, even as she spoke the words out loud.

"Yes," Ella whispered with narrowed eyes. "Yes. You. Did."

"No," Harry shook his head. "You didn't order me to do anything. I asked, you answered and..." He sighed and rolled his eyes. "And I'm not a Crown Prince. We don't really..."

"Oh God..." Maddie groaned; her hands moving to her stomach.

She hated this feeling. She was educated, well-read and, by most accounts, had an understanding and appreciation for the world outside of the country she had grown up in. Yet here she was, so daft that she hadn't recognized one of the most recognizable faces in the world. It was just short of humiliating. And he was being so nice about it; it almost made it worse. Taking a deep breath, she forced her nerves to calm down. Turning to him with pleading eyes, she smiled. "I have to apologize."

"No, you don't." He was quick with the protest.

"But I insist."

"As do I." His voice lowered and he leaned closer to her. "Please. There is no need for you to apologize. I should have told you but I...I actually prefer it when people don't recognize me and...and I was happy to help with the truck."

"But, I..." Maddie began again. But before she had a chance to explain, she was interrupted by a small group of men with urgency in their step and relief in their voices.

"Sir!" One of them looked Harry over and let out a breath. "We've been looking for..."

"It's quite alright," Harry assured them all with a smile. "I was just speaking with Maddie and Ella." He nodded to the two of them and Maddie could have sworn she heard Ella squeal just a tiny bit.

"Hello," the gentleman nodded at the two of them and turned his attention quickly to Harry. "Sir, they are ready for your briefing now. We really should be going."

"Of course," he nodded. "Ella, it was lovely to meet you. And Maddie," he turned his eyes on hers, hoping she would see that he was being genuine. "It was truly a pleasure working with you this afternoon. Thank you." And with a blink of an eye, he was escorted away from them; taking all of Maddie's humility with her as he left.

"Oh my God..." Ella muttered as her friend let out a breath; finding no better words to describe the moment. Prince Harry of Wales had stepped into their day, unloaded box after box, and then—with grace and aplomb—he had stepped out; leaving behind an elated Ella and a shaken Maddie in his wake.