Running Around Royal (Prince Harry #4)

Chapter Three

After the church service was over, the entire royal family went out to thank everyone for coming and supporting them. It was all by seniority: the Queen, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with their children, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, the Duke of York, and so on.

Meredith carefully waited her turn and spoke to the people in front of her. Harry was stationed at her side the whole time. "Thank you for being here today," she spoke clearly. In many of these cases, her Minnesotan accent came through. It wasn't like the southern accent of the United States, but even with her clear voice, people had a hard time understanding her. It didn't help that her accent picked her out as not being from here.

"Thank you so much for serving us," the elderly woman said. "It is a great honor and risk to join the monarchy. You are doing a great sacrifice."

Meredith blushed, unsure how to respond. Never having done well with compliments, she found it best to say nothing at all.

"When can we expect a baby?"

"Um." Meredith bit down on her tongue not to respond so quickly. Over the prairie, cameras watched her every move. "Not for a while. Harry and I have a tour coming up. We're very excited for it." Thankfully, the line started to move. "Thank you once again. I hope you have a nice Christmas."

"God bless," she responded.

Clearing her voice, Meredith slid her hand into Harry's as they moved a step forward on this long march around the people here. "Thank you for being here today," Meredith said.

"When can we expect a baby?" asked another person.

Meredith did her best to keep a smile plastered to her face as she recited the same answer over again. As she moved down the line, it was the same question and the same answer. At least by the end, she started to get good at it. With a final wave good bye, Meredith waited to say anything until the car had pulled away from the church. "I am more than child-bearing human," she exclaimed. "Apparently people can't realize that."

Harry glanced over for a second as he drove. "People are excited, Mere."

"We have a world tour coming up. Let them be excited about that." Meredith shook her head. "But I am still more than a female that is just here to have some kids. I mean-- I get that is my technical and historical position, but I am here for more. We all are going to do more. I'm not here to pop out some kids."

He didn't say anything because Meredith knew exactly what his response was.

"I'm not going to sit quietly and look pretty, which I know is exactly what you are thinking because you want to sass me," she responded. "I will not sit around and be belittled. I will not sit and look pretty. I will not just pop out children and hand them over, saying 'Thank you for this opportunity. I am so happy I won the prize to be royal.'"

"You don't think of me as a prize?"

"Do you really want to be objectified?"

"I wouldn't mind right now." Harry shrugged. "You don't give me compliments anymore about my package."

Meredith rolled her eyes. "Ho ho ho, merry Christmas," she muttered, looking outside the window as this car followed the long procession back into Sandringham House. More cars piled behind.

"Mere," Harry said softly, "please do not let this bother you. Please."

"If only it worked that way, Harry." It was the little things that got to her. "It's just, they won't care about anything until I pop kid out."

"You have to pop two out," Harry responded, and Meredith glowered in her seat. "Mere, show them all what you can accomplish. Put them in their places. Show off your magical abilities to charm."

She snickered. "I do believe you mean yourself."

"You're charming as well, just differently to different people." Harry put the car in park, and they exited. Meredith pasted a smile on her face again as they were met with the many faces of other royal family members. William and Catherine's children, among the other children, jumped excitedly at the idea of gifts coming next. They ran inside. Other family members walked in as well. Meredith walked somewhere in the mix as Harry spoke to William.

It was a long day when it finally started to close. The children jumped for joy, and expensive gifts were given out. Meredith felt very much of as a fish out of water in these situations. When she chose gifts, she had Jessica helping and knowing what other members liked. Meredith almost gagged at some of these prices. However, money was less of an issue here.

After a massive supper, some stayed up at the Queen did her broadcast live by watching it on the telly. Meredith moved into her room, where she turned on the television to watch the Queen give the speech. She knew Charles and William watched in the wings, learning every year, like they had done since the year they grew old enough to learn. Meredith sat on the bed and took off shoes as "God Save the Queen" began to play. She rubbed her feet and then took out her earrings as the Queen began to speak, "Twenty-nineteen was a year of...."

A knock came to the door. "Enter," Meredith called, eyes not leaving the television. She was memorized by how easily the Queen did this, how calm she stayed, how perfect she sat. Meredith didn't even realize it was Harry that came into the room until he stood in front of her. "You're blocking the TV."

"You know what she's going to say anyway." Harry held a present in front of him.

"Yes, I know. Now move."

Harry didn't move.

Flipping her hair back, Meredith glanced up to her husband. "Hello."

"I have a present for you." He held it at her eye level.

"Is it your dick in a box?" Now that would be a package, Meredith thought.

Harry moved the present to prove that it wasn't. Meredith moved over on the bed, and Harry came to sit beside her. Handing over the box, Harry grew excited, like he was the one opening it, which made Meredith nervous. She was always underwhelming in these situations. Meredith pulled on the string until it fell, and she pulled off the box. The whole box opened from every side to reveal a bit of surprise on the inside.

"Is this a...?" Meredith held up a dog collar.

"I know how much you miss Emmie, so I was thinking we might get one when we get back from our trip," he explained. "It's your choice. You can get whatever you like, but--"

Meredith leaned over and kissed him. "Thank you, Harry. It's great. Merry Christmas."

"Happy Christmas." He stood up and began to take off his shoes.

"Now, I guess it's yours." Meredith left the dog collar on the nightstand as she went into the dresser. "I didn't have time to wrap it, but to be honest, that would be too much work anyway." Pulling out a massive quilt, she threw it at him.

Harry laughed. "When did you have time to do this?" While a quilt wasn't anything fancy like the dog collar or the jewelry he gave her, Meredith had quickly come to realize that handmade objects with love and care weren't high priorities to the people around him.

"Well, I'm going to be honest, I didn't." Meredith sat down on the bed. "I'm not good at quilting. The tie-blanket, that's something I can do. Quilting is not something I can do. So I sent the materials to Rachel and she got to work on it."

Harry marveled at it. "She had time to do this?"

"She's on bed rest. She was happy to have something to do," Meredith responded. Rachel was pregnant, and due to her small stature, she had been put on bed rest for her remaining months. Rachel itched for something to do in Middle of Nowhere, Wisconsin, and Meredith happily obliged. On each quilt represented different points in Harry and Meredith's life, which Meredith had picked out along with the back.

"I need to call her. I need to thank you." Harry reached for his mobile.

"Or call her tomorrow?" Meredith suggested. "She does have a family too."

"Good point." Harry grinned from ear to ear. "Thank you, Mere. It's wonderful."

Meredith smiled. "Now move. The Queen is speaking." She practically chucked him out of the way as she turned back to the Queen's Christmas Broadcast, taking all of it in. The more the Queen spoke, the more Meredith was invested.