The Unexpected Journey-A Prince Harry Fan Fic

Chapter 45

The days immediately following the nude photo fiasco were long, emotional, and full of an outpouring of support from all around. Before she left Harry to return home, she had received calls from Sophie and Eugenie and after she had showered and dressed for the day, she spent half an hour on the phone with Khenda and Collins. Talking to them was exactly what she had needed before she headed back to the hospital to meet with her boss.

Sitting across from him in his office, she was mentally prepared for the worst. But instead of reprimand and talks of leaving, he surprised Maddie by telling her about the new protocol that had been worked out in response to what had happened the day before. He informed her that the hospital was private property and the press simply couldn't be there. A strongly worded statement had been delivered on behalf of the hospital and, should they show up again, security would be called. Maddie almost burst into tears when he reached out to pat her hand and offer his, and the hospital's, support with matters such as this. Though Maddie assured him she had legal counsel, she thanked him and thanked him again. And then, with a smile that took over her face, she hurried to her office—her office—where she called Harry with the news. His shout of satisfaction was followed by a sigh of relief—thankful that his life hadn't taken from her something that was so essentially a part of her.

And three days later, when Christopher Michael called to tell her that three independent professionals had studied the photos and could prove, beyond a doubt, that they were fake, Maddie pulled Harry into her bedroom to show him just how happy she was that he had known on first glance, and without a doubt, that the moles on her body were different than the moles in the photo. The website turned over all copies of the photos, which Maddie promptly destroyed in the fireplace at Ella's after a bottle of wine. They were forced to print an apology and, though there were still people—conspiracy theorists mostly—who thought the almighty hand of the British Royal Family had stepped in to prevent these photos, people began to focus their attention away from the incident altogether.

But the support continued. Maddie received a lovely handwritten note from Kate, the next time she saw Charles he had hugged her tight; wishing he could have prevented the incident. And even William reached out and invited her to lunch. Though it was to bring her in on the planning of Harry's upcoming birthday with him and Bishop, it was in public, it was photographed and it was a strong sign of support. And when she thanked him for the gesture, he left her speechless with his retort,

"Think nothing of it," he had smiled warmly. "I know that you had to sacrifice a great deal to be with my brother. And I know that the sacrifices only increase along the way...your privacy, your pride, sometimes your sense of self...but I've never seen him happier. Never in my entire life. So thank you, for that."

Maddie never told anyone what Harry had said to her that night on the roof of Kensington Palace—not even Ella. Though they didn't talk about it after that morning, the feeling continued on with them; in the way he held her, the way he touched her and Maddie had made a decision. This journey, however long or short it might be, was going to remain exclusively theirs—for as long as she could keep it that way.

As Maddie returned to work, to normal; the planning for their trip to the US was underway. Her boss had approved the time away and Harry let Thomas know to go ahead with the plans. Her mother about fell over when she told her she was coming; going immediately into planning mode. She agreed to only let the immediate family know, to keep it as quiet as possible and to work with Harry's Security Team who would be contacting her to make sure everything was ready for their visit. Maddie implored her mother, at Harry's firm and persistent request, not to curtsey to him when they met. With the slightest bit of trepidation born from a lack of understanding about how it all worked, her mother agreed and promised to inform the family.