The Unexpected Journey-A Prince Harry Fan Fic

Chapter 151

When Maddie woke the morning after the Well Child Awards, she woke with a smile on her face and when she rolled over in their bed to face him, she found one on his face as well.

"Good Morning," she smiled, blinking back the last bit of sleep left in her.

"Good Morning..." He answered in that husky, morning gruff of his. "Mum."

She giggled as he pulled her closer to him, sighed as his lips fell into her neck. "My God...can you believe it? We're going to be parents."

Harry kissed up to her jaw. "I woke up thirty minutes ago and all I've been thinking about was last night...wondering if it was a dream."

"No dream," she shook her head, pulling his cheeks into her hands. "All real. We made a baby."

"We did..." His eyes were so full of warmth and happiness and love that Maddie could feel it in the lump in her throat. "Tell me. How do you feel?" His hand slid down over her stomach.

"I feel wonderful," Maddie smiled, watching as his eyes raked over her.

"Can I get you...anything?" He looked back up at her, bringing his arms around her.

"Mmmmm..." Maddie thought for a moment, her teeth biting at her lip as her eyes twinkled. "Do we have anymore cake?"

"Ha!" Harry laughed. "No love. I think we finished off the cake last night. However..." He bent to kiss her again. "If you want me to I can make a call to the baker myself; order up another."

"You would do that for me?"

"I would," he kissed her cheek, her jaw. "I'd do anything for you."

"As much as I love the thought..." She sighed, pressing his lips closer into her neck. "I think that a specially ordered wedding cake remake from the palace might just tip somebody off to something..."

"You're probably right," Harry groaned and pulled back from her neck, smiling down as he leaned over her.

"But I suppose that does raise the question..." Maddie's fingers ran lightly over his chest. "What are we going to do about this new secret of ours?"

"What are we going to do about it?" Harry chuckled, settling into the bed, tucked up against her.

"I mean who do we want to tell? Who do we need to tell?"

"Well..." He chuckled into a sigh; scooping her hand into his, kissing her fingers. "There's definitely a part of me that wants to tell just...everyone who will listen."

"Well a lot of people would listen if you did that," she snickered.

"And..." He sucked in a breath. "There's a part of me that wants to tell no one; that just wants to keep this to ourselves. At least for a while." He kissed her hand again. "What about you?"

"I think maybe I'm leaning more towards option two," Maddie felt a little nervous as she thought of what would happen when word leaked to the world.

"Me too," Harry agreed.

"You know," Maddie turned closer to him. "A lot of people wait until the second trimester before they tell anyone."

"That would give us what...seven more weeks?"

"Yes." She nodded. "Of course...we would need to go to the doctor in there and...How do we even go about seeing a doctor without..."

"Well..." Harry dropped her hand and reached to tuck her hair back from her face. "I usually go through Thomas for stuff like that so...I suppose that would put one person on a Need-To-Know list."

"That makes sense," Maddie agreed easily. "Who else would need to know?"

"I'd like to let Jim and Arthur and the rest of the protection detail know. I mean, they're going to figure it out pretty easily once they are around us for any extent of time."

"Fair enough," Maddie shrugged. "What about the family?"

"Well..." Harry took a breath. "If it's okay I think I'd like to wait for a bit. I mean...we can tell yours if you want but so very little is ever just mine and..."

"Okay," she cut him off. "That's all you need to say. We'll be in Colorado for Kyle and Amy's wedding towards the end of the first trimester. We can tell them then."

"Yeah?" His eyebrows went up, eyes hopeful.

"Yeah," she ruffled his hair. "So, we'll let in Thomas, the doctor, the protection detail...and everyone else can find out in seven weeks?"

"Yes," Harry grinned as he nodded. "Except."

"Except?"

"I think we should let in one more person...probably two."

"Who?" Her eyes narrowed as she watched him.

"The only other person that knows there's an actual chance..." His fingers drifted down her body, back towards her stomach.

"You want to tell Ella." Maddie grinned.

"Mmmm," he nodded, flattening out his hand and smiling up at her. "And Bishop. I just feel like she's probably dying holding this in..."

"She is," Maddie snickered, knowing his assumption was correct.

"Is that okay? If we tell them?"

"Of course it is," Maddie nodded happily. "They'll be so happy that we're having a baby..."

"Yes. Finally," he exhaled with a grin. "After all of that trying..."

"You loved the trying," she eyed him.

"True statement," he kept his hand on her stomach as he moved to kiss her mouth; longer, softer, sweeter. "I adored the trying."

"Me too," she smiled against his lips, pulling his mouth back to hers as he moved over her. "In fact..." She snuggled in closer. "I don't think that the trying should have to stop..." She pulled her leg up over his hip. "Do you?"

"No..." He shook his head, his hand running down her hip, over her thigh; cupping her knee as he pulled her leg higher and closer. "Not at all."

"Thank God," Maddie breathed as he settled himself between her legs. "I would hate to think that now that you're making me a mother, you find me somehow...untouchable."

"No, no, no," his grin flashed wicked as he pressed against her; his hands smoothing over her cheeks, into her hair. "In fact, if possible, it's increased my...need...to touch you."

"Well by all means..." She pressed up against him, holding his eyes with hers as she did. "We should meet those needs."

Harry chuckled, low and warm and then very slowly, very deliberately, his hands moved from her cheeks. They slid down her neck, down her collar bone, rounding over her breasts in a hot way that made her arch out, made her moan for more contact. Which he was more than happy to give her. Flashing a smile as he moved, he bent to kiss her there, to press a hot, wet, open-mouthed kiss to the fabric that covered her already hard nipple.

"Harry..." She breathed.

"Mmmm..." He answered, sliding over to pay the same attention to the other.

Maddie's fingers stuffed into his hair, holding him closer to her as she settled into this amazing feeling that washed over her; the fire that always gathered at her center when he loved on her like this. His hands moved down her stomach and back up, pulling up under her shirt finding her skin hot and eager for his touch. He grinned as his lips followed, kissing up her stomach as he pulled her shirt higher and higher.

Her fingers left his hair so that he could rid her of her shirt and when they returned to him, they were greedy to rid him of his. She watched with wide, hungry eyes as he sat up and pulled his own off and discarded it just as quickly.

"You know Captain," Maddie groaned, her fingers stretching out to dance down his chest, along the soft trail of hair that lead south. "You are going to be the sexiest father in the country..."

"Oh?" His eyebrows rose as her hands pushed into the band of his boxers.

"In all of the land..." She grinned, her eyes flashing wide as she found him hard and ready.

"Is that so?" He growled as she wrapped her fingers around him.

"Mmmm..." She nodded, her skin flushed, her body washed with this constant want she had for him. "God Harry, I think this baby of yours has amped up my hormones. I need you so bad..." She groaned as she stroked at him.

With a loud, ridiculously happy laugh, Harry pulled her hand from his boxers, moving it to the pillow next to her head. "What do you say we meet those needs?" His eyes flashed dark, his smirk devastating as he leaned back in and captured her mouth with his.

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Telling The Bishops

Maddie had to hand it to her best friend; she really went all out in her efforts to remain true to her word. The day she had handed over the pregnancy test, she had sworn she wouldn't say a word, she had sworn she wouldn't press for answers or ask any questions. She had handed it over and let it go.

And she was about to be rewarded for her efforts.

Though they both wanted to guard this news as only theirs for a while, keep it between just them, Harry had felt the slightest celebratory obligation to alleviate the anxiety and stress he knew Ella must be sitting with. She knew there was a possibility Maddie was pregnant and she had no idea what the results were and she had sworn herself to secrecy. He couldn't help but suggest they do the right thing and let her in; ease the tension. Clearly she could be trusted to keep a secret.

So Maddie agreed and two nights later they were sitting with Bishop and Ella in their dining room with little Buckie in his bedroom, sleeping through dinner. Though Harry had threatened to wake him up, dying to play, he had backed off when Bishop warned of potential future payback.

"So listen," Harry began, clearing his throat and leaning in as he looked to their two friends across the table. "There's something we need to tell you."

Ella's eyes flashed wide for a split second before she pulled it back together. Maddie smiled as she jumped in with her husband. "It's something that truly nobody knows, something that we don't want anyone to know..." She looked to Harry who met her smile with a sweet one of his own.

"But we thought that you should be in on it since..."

"Hold on," Bishop cut in, holding his hand up to stop them. "If you're going to tell me about another deployment, you can stop right there. I don't even want to hear it."

"I'm not being deployed again," Harry chuckled at the look on Bishop's face. "I swear it."

"Are you sure?" Bishop looked from Harry to Maddie.

"Easy darling," Ella ran her hand over her husband's shoulder. "Maybe you should let them speak."

"Do you know what they're going to say?" Bishop's eyebrows lifted as he looked to his wife.

"No," Ella blinked, shaking her head. "Of course not. But...he just returned from Khundu. Surely they won't send him back and..."

"Hold on," Maddie's hand reached out to Ella's, her smile wide as she saved her friend from having to hide something from her husband. "Harry's not going anywhere."

"I'm not," Harry's grin spread across his face. "In fact..." He nodded to his wife who sucked in her breath and for the first time since telling Harry, she whispered the truth.

"I'm pregnant."

As Bishop and Ella vacated their seats, as Harry's pride filled the room, Maddie wasn't sure who among them was the happiest, who had the most 'happy tears' in their eyes. But, as she received hugs and kisses she knew that her heart had never been fuller.

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Trooping The Color

Maddie stood in front of her full-length mirror checking her hair one last time before the cars outside were ready to take them to Buckingham Palace for the Trooping The Color. As she smoothed her hands down over her skirt, her eyes graced over her stomach and though she clearly wasn't showing, wouldn't be for a long time, she couldn't help but let her gaze settle there with a smile.

A baby. Their baby.

With a happy sigh, she ran her hands over the material once more and looked up from her stomach and she caught his reflection. Harry, dressed in uniform, was standing just behind her and off to the side, watching her with adoring eyes.

"Hi," Maddie's cheeks blushed at being caught; her hands pulling up. "Are we ready to..." She moved to turn towards him, but he moved quicker.

Stepping up behind her, his arms moved around her, his hands sliding over the small of her stomach—where hers had just been. "I know it's crazy..." His voice was low as he dropped a kiss to her shoulder. "I know it's much too early to see anything but..." He hugged her tighter to him. "I can't stop looking."

Maddie laughed, her hand moving to stroke his cheek as he leaned on her shoulder. "Well you're going to have to stop looking Captain." She turned around in his arms, turning to face him. "Because we're about to go out in front of your adoring public."

"My adoring public?" He snickered.

"And people will see you looking at me with that face..."

"What face?" He lifted his eyebrows.

"That I-impregnated-my-wife face..." She tipped up to kiss him. "The one you've had on your face since I told you."

"I'll do what I can," he shrugged noncommittally. "But I'm making zero promises."

"You still want to wait to tell the family?" She moved closer into him, loving the warmth he exuded.

"Yes," he gathered her in. "I like that this is just....ours. It'll be everyone else's soon enough, it's nice that it's just us for now."

"Well...us and the Bishops," Maddie reminded him; her hands smoothing over his backside as her grin stretched.

"Yeah, but they aren't talking," he kissed her upturned lips and nudged her nose. "Okay love, are you ready for a parade?"

"No," she bit at the corner of her lip with a slight giggle. "But I am ready to take this suit off of you and call you Captain while I..."

"Shhhhh..." Harry pressed a light finger to her lips, whispering. "There are people right outside this door and while I love this newfound..."

"Lust?" Maddie supplied.

"Drive," he laughed as he finished. "I don't know that the household staff wants to hear about it."

"Fair enough," Maddie shrugged, patting his ass before she stepped away. "Come on Captain. Parade time."

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Royal Ascot

"I think you're getting bigger," Harry's eyes were fixed on Maddie's stomach as they drove to the races. The month of June had nearly flown past them and his obsession with his wife, with his growing child hadn't diminished even a bit.

"Well thank you darling, what a lovely thing to say," she snickered.

"You know what I mean..." He pulled her hand into his and kissed her fingers. "I think you're getting...bigger."

"And I think you're seeing things," she leaned across the back seat to kiss him. "It's been a week. I'm..." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I'm six weeks along Captain. I doubt I look bigger."

"More round," he had to keep himself from touching her, his eyes dancing as he held her eyes.

"Wishful thinking," she tapped his nose with her finger.

"You're beautiful," he kissed her again before sitting up; sighing as he pulled away from her, as he tore his eyes from her. "You're so beautiful it hurts sometimes."

"Ha!" Maddie's head tipped back against the leather seat. "You're such a sap."

"Sorry?" He turned narrowed eyes to her.

"Since the day I told you, you've been mooning over how beautiful I am, you can't take your eyes off of me and your hands..." She lowered her voice and smirked. "Who knew you'd be so turned on by..."

"You," he cut her off, reaching over to stroke her cheek. "I'm turned on by you. And you are...beautiful." He leaned over once more as the car slowed to a stop. "Even before you were carrying my baby you were beautiful." His lips pressed to hers. "Come on Mum, let's go to work."

"And that," Maddie whispered, smoothing her hand down the front of his morning coat as he pulled away. "You're going to have to watch that."

"Or what?"

"Or the whole world is going to figure you out."

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Meeting Baby Tindall

The newest member of the royal family, little Mia Tindall, came in the middle of the night, gracing the world and the family with her presence. Maddie and Harry waited a few days, waited for the initial madness to die down before they sat out to Gatcombe Park to meet the sweet little girl and deliver a gift.

It was truly a test of Maddie's will, of her strength, watching Harry cuddle the tiny little baby in his arms, kissing her cheeks, smelling her hair—all while holding onto this great big secret. And when Maddie took little Mia into her arms, Harry was damn near a ball of mush. Blaming it on lack of sleep and a post-deployment, hectic schedule, he managed to cover for the way his eyes mooned over his wife. They stayed for a while, passing the baby back and forth until all three of the Tindalls were yawning and then they excused themselves and headed back to London.

Maddie loved it when Harry was allowed to drive. She loved it because he loved it; he felt free and independent and in charge. She loved the look in his eyes and the smile on his face and, as she did this night, she loved tucking her arm through his and watching as he navigated them home from their visit to meet new baby Mia.

"Harry..." Maddie's voice was soft; just like the air between them, just like her hand on his arm.

"Hmmm?" His hand moved from the steering wheel to her leg, smoothing his thumb over her knee.

"Do you have a preference?" Her eyes tipped up to look at him.

"A preference?" He lifted his eyebrows, his eyes trained forward. "For what?"

Maddie smiled to herself, her hand moving his from her knee to her stomach. "For our baby."

Harry's head snapped towards her, looking down at where she had placed his hand before turning his attention back to the road. "Oh wow..." He chuckled, his hand rubbing against her belly. "God no...I don't think I do."

"You wouldn't prefer a boy? A little red-headed namesake?" Maddie held his fingers to her as she let her mind drift.

He chuckled. "Would we really call him Harry?"

"Maybe Henry," Maddie smiled over at him. "Or would you rather a little girl with curls and a talent for wrapping her daddy around her finger?"

"Oh God," Harry groaned happily. "She would have me wrapped around her little finger."

"She really would," Maddie agreed.

"Her mother certainly does," he moved his hand back to her leg and squeezed.

"No preference?" Maddie asked again, letting his clear attempt at woo pass her by.

"Absolutely not," he shook his head. "I want a healthy baby....two if they're in there."

"You shush your mouth," her hand smacked at his arm. "Let's see if I can make it through one before you start ordering up doubles."

Harry laughed at her then. "I have no preference Madeline. Do you?"

"Nah," she shook her head slowly, looking down at her stomach. "I'm with you. Just one healthy little baby..." She sighed. "With your red hair."

"Oh God," Harry groaned again. "Poor kid."

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The Big News

"There's something I need to talk to you about." Harry's voice in the doorway to the living room drew her eyes up from her book. He had been gone the entire day; had just stepped from the shower and dressed before he made his way down to her. His hair was still wet as he moved into the room.

"Yeah? You okay?" She sat her Kindle to the side; pulling her feet up underneath her.

"I am," he nodded easily; lightly. "In fact I've never been better."

"Oh-kay," her smile inched up on one side, watching him closely as he moved to sit by her.

"I thought you should know that I had a conversation today..." He faced her as he spoke.

"Just one?" She joked.

Though his smile cracked, he stayed on point, "about leaving my active duty role in the Army."

"Harry..." She shook her head quickly but he continued on.

"I would end my time with the Army Air Corps and take a staff position here in London. I would remain a Captain but I would help coordinate big events and projects for the Army and..."

"Harry." Her voice flattened, eyes narrowed.

"Maddie." He volleyed back just the same.

"You're going to be happy in an office?"

"Yes."

"At a desk?"

"Yes."

"No!" She tossed her hands in the air. "Harry. You know you don't have to do this; not for me, not for your father or..."

"My son?" He lifted his eyebrows. "My daughter? My family?" Despite her very best efforts, she felt a lump rise in her throat. "What if I'm doing it for me? What if it's time? What if it helps my career in the Army..."

"Does it?" She had softened so much at the mention of their growing child. "If you took the staff job, would it help with your career?"

"Yes," he nodded. "It's important to have this kind of experience in order to advance any further."

"I don't know Harry," she looked down at her hands. "When I brought this up before you left you were just..." She sighed and looked up at him; wide, watery eyes. "You were so upset at the mention of it, at the thought of it. I just don't want you to feel guilty or obligated or..."

"Maddie love," he reached for her hands. "I don't do things like this out of guilt or obligation. This is something I want; something I want to look into, something I want to talk about. They're going to meet tomorrow morning and have some answers for me towards the end of the week. I just wanted to make sure you were aware."

"Well, I'm aware," she took a breath. "I'm not completely sure where I stand..."

"You're trying to be difficult?"

"I'm trying to make you happy."

"Well you have your work cut out for you my dear," he shook his head with a chuckle. "There's not much that you can do to make me any happier than I already am."

"Jesus..." Maddie rolled her eyes, tugging his hand closer to her. "Do you even know when to let up?"

"It's not likely," he laughed along with her and, for the moment, they let the conversation draw to a close.

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First appointment

"I feel like I'm on a secret mission," Maddie giggled softly as she followed along with Harry; holding tight to his hand as they were lead through back doors and around corners. Harry chuckled as they continued to move.

"You're thinking about how you could have been a spy, aren't you," Harry nodded, waiting as Jim stepped through the last door, looked around and then waved them through.

"Thank you Jim," Maddie smiled as she stepped by him, humored by the fact that their protection detail knew more about them at this point than their families. "I could have..." She mumbled to Harry and stepped into the office.

"I know," he laughed and followed her in.

The office had been closed for the afternoon "for training". While the majority of the staff were out of the building, they were immediately greeted by a nurse; older with a warm smile and a soft, quiet voice. "Your Royal Highness," she did a quick curtsey as she shook first Maddie's hand and then Harry's. "Is there anything I can get you?"

"No thank you, I'm fine," Maddie had a quick shake of her head as she smiled at the nurse; their attention drawn to the side as the doctor entered the room.

"Good afternoon," she smiled at the two of them.

"Good afternoon," Maddie turned to greet her; remembering her from when Arthur was born. "Thank you for letting us come in today."

"Of course," she nodded quickly, taking Maddie's outstretched hand and dipping into a quick curtsey before turning to offer the same to Harry. "If you're ready, we can go on back to the exam room, Your Royal Highness."

"You know," Maddie felt her cheeks flush a bit as they followed her. "I think given what we're about to embark upon together, this would be a whole lot easier on me if you called me Maddie instead of..." Her fingers fidgeted in front of her; slightly nervous as they walked along.

"Of course," the doctor nodded. "I completely understand."

"Thank you Doctor Hall," Maddie let out a breath of relief.

"Though I would have to ask that you call me Sylvia." She stood just outside the door to the exam room, gesturing for them to enter.

"That sounds fair," Maddie agreed easily, stepping into the exam room with Harry right behind her.

As the doctor closed the door and reached for a file, Maddie sat down on the exam table and Harry stood next to her; his eyes travelling around the room that had, until this very moment, remained a mystery to him; a sight unseen. Maddie had to bite back a laugh as she watched him take in the pictures on the walls, the instruments that were laid out; as he processed what they might all be for.

"Okay..." The doctor pulled up her stool and opened up the folder in her hand. "Now Maddie, it's my understanding that you've had a positive pregnancy test."

"I have," Maddie nodded.

"Just one?" Sylvia looked between the couple, smiling up at Harry. "Sometimes we have dads come in here with multiple."

"Yes well, I can't very well send him out for an armful of tests," Maddie laughed.

"No. Though I would guess he would be willing to go," Sylvia guessed.

"Absolutely," Harry agreed with a smile.

"I thought so," she could see that the couple was happy; a bit nervous about the unknown but happy. "Now I just have a few questions for you then I'm going to gather a few samples to verify the pregnancy and after that I'm going to do an examination and we'll do an ultrasound."

"An ultrasound?" Maddie's eyebrows lifted. "I didn't realize you could do that so early."

"It's an internal one," the doctor explained, nodding to the machine off to the side. "We won't see much as far as definition is concerned, but...assuming everything is fine, we will see a heartbeat."

"We will?" Harry's voice dropped to a low whisper as his heart thumped in his throat.

"We will," Sylvia nodded.

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"Okay," Sylvia finished up with her notes and collected the items on the tray. "I'm just going to take these samples out and I'll be right back. Maddie, while I'm gone, I need you to go ahead and disrobe. You can put on this gown here and cover your lap with this."

"Got it," Maddie smiled as she took the items from the doctor.

"And you, Sir," the doctor turned to Harry. "Are you going to stay?"

"Yes," he answered quickly, his lips pulling higher. "If that's okay..."

"It is with me, if it is with you," Sylvia turned to Maddie.

"Oh absolutely," Maddie nodded, unable to imagine Harry missing this. "Of course."

"Great. I'll be back in a few minutes."

When the door closed behind the doctor, Maddie rose to her feet and reached to remove her shoes.

"Okay," Harry's voice dropped low as he moved in closer. "I'm sorry but I have to ask. What on Earth is that for?" He pointed at the tray of instruments.

Maddie looked over and snickered, pulling off her dress and setting it aside. "The specula?" She unclasped her bra and laid it with her dress. "You're a smart man, Captain. What do you think it's for?"

"Oh God," Harry's eyes flashed wide for just a second before he caught sight of her nearly naked and his focus shifted; his smile returning. "Are you going to be okay?"

"Of course," Maddie laughed, slipping out of the last bit of clothing and reaching for the gown. "I've done this before. You however..." She tied the string behind her neck and reached up to hold his cheeks in her hands. "I think maybe you should sit down for this big guy."

"Yeah? You think so?" He lifted his eyebrows, leaning to kiss her; pulling back as a knock at the door sounded.

"Come on in," Maddie called out, stepping back from Harry and returning to the table; bringing the makeshift blanket over her lap.

"Okay," Sylvia stepped back in and shut the door, turning to the two of them with a wide smile. "You'll be happy to know that the blood and urine samples both confirm what your test did. We have a positive pregnancy on both."

Maddie turned happy eyes to Harry's and she could feel the warmth rise between them.

"That's fantastic news," Harry reached for Maddie's hand; squeezing it lightly in his as the doctor moved forward.

"Yes it is," Sylvia agreed. "Now we're going to take a look. Maddie, why don't you go ahead and lay back. I'll just pull out..." She maneuvered the table as Maddie laid back. "The stirrups." As she produced them, Maddie slipped her feet into them and Harry took it all in slowly. "Can I get you to scoot down just a bit...there we go."

"Harry," Maddie tugged on his hand, pulling his face up to her with a smirk. "You okay?"

He nodded easily. "Are you?"

"Yes," she laughed lightly as the doctor moved about; getting into place, selecting instruments. "Come here..." She was soft as she commanded him. Despite his curiosity about how this all worked, about this new layer of knowledge he was gaining there in that examination room, he went to her. All of his attentions focused on her as he smiled down at her on the table.

"Yes love?" His thumb stroked over her fingers. "What can I do for you?"

"Okay Maddie, you're going to feel a little pressure now..." The doctor called up as she moved into place. Maddie sucked in a swift breath, her fingers tightening on Harry's and her eyes glancing towards the screen as it bounced to life.

"Nothing..." Maddie whispered to her husband as she pulled him closer. He leaned over to be with her, his free hand resting on the bed behind her head as his eyes followed where hers were looking. "I don't need anything. I just..." She had to pause to collect her voice, turning to smile at him; his face so much closer to hers. "I just wanted you right here when we see our baby for the first time."

Harry blinked at the tears threatening in his eyes, swallowed at the lump in his throat and wrapped his hand more snuggly around hers, turning to kiss her temple. "Then I'll stay right here until..."

"Okay you two," the doctor clicked a few buttons on the computer, her eyes watching the screen carefully as she made records, as she captured a few screenshots. And then, with a wide smile, she looked up to them. "You see this small circle...right here, the one that looks like it's flashing a bit?" She pointed to the screen.

"Yes," Harry whispered as Maddie nodded, her fingers pressing to her lips as she watched with wide wet eyes.

"That's your baby," the doctor nodded. "The flash you see...that's the heartbeat."

"The heartbeat," Harry echoed in his warm, heavy voice.

"So everything's..." Maddie could barely speak as she watched, as Harry moved in closer, his free hand sliding on the bed to her hair. "Okay?"

"Yes," the doctor smiled; taken by the emotion between the couple, the feelings in the room. "Everything's perfect. In roughly thirty-two weeks, the two of you...you're going to be parents. Congratulations."

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"Okay Captain," Maddie whispered as she snuggled close to his side, under the protective wrap of his arm as they walked along the sidewalk towards Leo's bar where they were set to meet friends. "You're going to have to pull it together once we get inside."

"Pull it together?" He smirked as he looked down at her with wide eyed feigned innocence. "What do you mean?"

"The gooey look, the hand that keeps making its way to my stomach..." She hugged him tighter, knowing that his attentions were a direct result of their earlier appointment, of seeing the very beginnings of their baby on the ultrasound screen. "The way you keep glancing at that screen print the doctor gave you," she nodded towards the chest pocket of his suit coat where she knew the photo was.

"Hmmm..." Harry smiled blissfully, his free hand patting over it. "It was very nice of her to print us two."

"It was," Maddie agreed with a chuckle, thinking of her own copy in her purse. "But once we get into Leo's it has to stop. Our friends will notice."

"Aw come on," he groaned, his arm bringing her even closer. "Nobody pays that much attention to us...except for Bishop and Ella...and they are not here." He kissed the side of her head and reached to open the door for her. "But I'll do my best."

Maddie chuckled as she slipped past him, "Thank you." As they stepped inside, they nodded to the staffer at the door, smiled to the few people who looked up as they passed and made their way back to the table already occupied by a handful of their friends; including Sean and Kiki, Anne and Penelope and Leo, and somebody Maddie didn't recognize.

They all rose to their feet to greet them; wide smiles and cheery words. Maddie hugged Leo as Harry hugged Sean and Kiki and then the bright bubbly blonde Maddie had never met stepped up to Harry, her arms outstretched as she laughed.

"Hazza!" She nearly bounced as she pulled him into a hug.

"Wow," Harry hugged her lightly seemingly surprised to find her there. "I had no idea you would be here, no idea you were even back..." He shook his head, looking past her to Leo.

"I just moved two weeks ago," she sighed happily. "I called Kiki, told her I missed the gang and she invited me tonight..." Her hand moved over his cheek as he stepped away from her; quick and light but enough so that Maddie caught it. "It's really good to see you again. Really good." Harry smiled with a small nod, his body moving magnetically back to Maddie. "How have you been Haz?" The woman kept her eyes on him.

"Wonderful," Harry's eyes met and held Maddie's; the perfect little secret they shared passing between them. "Actually...there's somebody you should meet. Maddie..." He wrapped his arm back around her, careful to keep his eyes from gracing over her stomach. "This is Maddie..." He couldn't help the way his lips formed around the words, the way his voice lifted as he said them again. "My wife." He winked at Maddie and nodded towards the blonde who was watching them both intently. "Maddie this is an old school mate. Cassandra Whitworth."