Running Around Royal (Prince Harry #4)

Chapter Six

When Meredith returned home to Kensington Palace, she was ready to pass out. Sticky to the touch and gross on the inside, Meredith felt ready to vomit. A migraine sprung into her head, and they only got worse as time went on. She slipped off her shoes and took off her jacket. "Harry?" she asked loudly.

"Yeah, I'm in the kitchen," he responded. "What do you want for supper?"

"I'm not feeling good. I think I'm just going to head to bed."

Harry came out so quickly that Meredith felt the breeze. Having a concerned look on his face, he touched her forehead, which wasn't feverish. Slime from her forehead transferred to his hand. "Do you have a headache?"

Meredith nodded.

"I'll bring up some water and aspirin."

"Thank you." Meredith kissed Harry on the cheek, and she climbed up the stairs, feeling her knees crack with every step. Her hits hurt too, but it just added onto the list of all things that ached. Her head pounded, and dizziness glassed over her eyes. After a second pause in the hallway, Meredith continued on her way.

In their master bedroom, Meredith shed her clothes, and that helped. Thankfully, it was cold in the flat, how Meredith liked it. Harry preferred it warmer, getting that from his time in the Middle East and Africa, but Meredith loved the cold, from her upbringing. She glanced out the window, where it snowed-- but the snow never lasted.

"I got it." Harry swooped in behind her, ready to hand her the glass of water and aspirin.

Meredith took them and swallowed without looking. Only after gulping did she take the glass of water, and she downed that too. "Thank you, Harry."

His blue eyes watched her with softness and caring. Meredith realized she probably looked worse than she thought, though she couldn't imagine how. "Do you want to get into bed?"

"I need to go to the bathroom." She walked past him and into the bathroom, but she paused. "Can you wait in here until after I'm done?"

Harry nodded. "Of course."

Meredith gave him a weak smile, and then she closed the door behind her. Pulling down her panties, she sat on the toilet and stared at the bathtub, which she wished was full with hot water and bubbles. However, at the thought of becoming more hot, she wanted to run out into the snow in just her underwear and bra. Meredith pulled up her panties and turned to flush the toilet, and there was blood mixed into the rest.

"Oh, thank you." Meredith flushed the toilet, and she finished up in the bathroom.

Coming out, Meredith found Harry on the bed, sprawled out, and he looked very comfortable. She walked over to the bed and rolled in, nudging against Harry as she came in. Harry laughed and curled his arms around his wife. He kissed her on the top of the head, and he pulled her closer.

"Long day?" he asked.

She nodded with her head on his chest.

"Did it get any better after I left?"

"No. It was more and more clothes, and not enough pants." She wanted to eye him on that, but Harry had no power in that department. Meredith had tried to complain to Jessica, but Jessica said pants were more reusable, so they were coming up in the tour. "I think some of the dresses will certainly startle people."

"Like the one I held up today?"

"Yes. Who knew the monarchy loved scandals?"

"I do wonder where you're wearing that one. Did Jessica say?"

"Maybe. I kind of stopped listening half the time when she spoke. It was just country after country, and event after event."

"Mere, are you regretting this world tour choice?"

Yes. "No." Meredith flipped her blonde hair back to get a full look at Harry. "It is a great opportunity to go meet the people in the Commonwealth and others," she mimicked.

Harry laughed, knowing the words clearly enough. "Think of it as a long vacation. Think of all the places we get to go." He tightened his grip on his wife, kissing her on the face, and he felt her skin burn under his touch. Pride surged through him at still making his wife blush.

"But it will be great opportunity," Meredith said. "We can show off the monarchy to the world without colonization."

Harry pursed his lips and shook his head. "That's a good point."

"It is, isn't it?" Meredith laughed and put her head back on Harry's chest.

While her migraine still raged on-- and Meredith didn't know which pounds were her head versus his chest-- it was nice to be back in Harry's arms. Granted, it had only been twelve hours since she left them. It felt like a lifetime. At times like this, Meredith didn't know how she managed two years without him constantly, when she was at university in Superior, Wisconsin, USA, and Harry was over here, in London.

"What are you most excited for?" Harry asked.

"Is it bad to say everything?" she wondered. Unlike him, Meredith didn't have the practice of being chill when it came to new opportunities and things. Harry went into every new situation with a calm and collected demeanor, even if it became uncontrolled when something exciting happened. With the newness of Meredith, every new situation was excitement of trying new things and learning.

"Is there anything specific?"

Meredith had to think about it. "I haven't been many places, so I think it is hard to just choose one thing. I know that I will be filled with too much excitement when it comes to going to other European countries, so you'll have to excuse me on that one," Meredith said. "But, really, Harry, there are so many places, how am I supposed to choose?"

The tour was meant to start in Europe, before they moved into the Middle East, Africa, and then it was up into Asia and across there, before they went down to Australia, and then it was across the Pacific Ocean. This was a world tour after all. There was a start in South America before Central America, and then it was up into North America. While the last stop was Canada, it wasn't a straight return home to London, but it was a break at home in Minnesota, USA.

Throughout this world tour, a few things Jessica had warned about: be prepared for everything and follow the rules, especially some of the more sticky situations. Meredith had to be very careful with her American background, which still caused tension in some places. On top of that, Meredith and Harry meant to go into some very sticky and dangerous atmospheres, and somehow, they were meant to stay composed. That wasn't a problem for Harry, but Meredith brought up a whole new issue.

Meredith tried her best to focus on the positive.