The Crown (Prince Harry fanfic #5)

Chapter Forty-Three

April 2025

Lucy threw off her high heels as soon as she entered her Kensington Palace apartment. She wanted to rid herself of the dress too. All she wanted was her fuzzy pajamas and chocolate. It had a very wet day in London, where she was basically soaked all the way through. She hadn't even spent the day outside, but her whole core felt soaked. It just poured outside now, and it pounded against the windows and roof. The rain was supposed to tapper off before nightfall, but you wouldn't have believed that.

Harry popped his head around the corner, with a smile. The laughter of the boys came from the living room. "How was Scotland Yard?"

"Good," she said with a smile. "They showed me around, couldn't give me too much information, you know? I like the architecture."

"I know you do." His smile remained on his face as he watched his wife carefully. There was mystery behind his eyes. He had a happy secret.

"And I liked to see how it all works," Lucy continued, taking off her jacket. "I find it really interesting, especially with all the CCTV cameras. I go to see the room and I don't know how they do it. There are so many. I mean, I felt like a creep for watching, but we're watched just like everyone else. And they don't care about the small things that may or may not be appropriate. I don't really care. It's just more cameras on top of the cameras already following us." She barely breathed. "And I got to meet a lot of police officers, and I got to try on a hat. As you know, Harry, I really don't like hats. I still don't understand the fascination you guys have with these hats. They're weird." Her eyes met his. "What?"

"Nothing." A lazy smile played on his face. "When you get excited, you keep talking. It's cute."

"I'm sure." She kissed him on the lips and went into the living room. "How was your day, Harry?" Lucy asked as she sat down next to Henry who pushed two blocks together.

"Relaxed with these two. Henry went down for his nap easily, but Freddie likes to be awake all the time, forever."

"Yeah," she agreed.

"Hey, Luce," Harry said slowly, and her eyes came to him, "we have plans tonight."

"There isn't anything on the schedule, is there?" Lucy thought they had the night off.

"No, there isn't, but I made plans for us tonight."

Lucy shrugged. "Where to? What's the event?"

"I was thinking just us, actually. Nanny will be here with them, and we won't be truly be alone. Robert and Simon and Tony will be with us, as our bodyguards, but it'll be us."

Rocking back, Lucy took a deep breath. This was a date: a night out without children or an event. They had time alone, as a couple, but they didn't go out much. Usually the kids were upstairs and they snuggled up together. Most times that they went out at night, it was for an event. Lucy didn't like going out much at night, perhaps the darkness scared her? Either way, this was an actual date night. Lucy had to put on a different dress and she had to wear high heels.

"Something fancy?" she asked.

Harry laughed. "No. I think our lives are fancy enough, fancy is not necessary."

"Jeans and sneakers work?"

"Absolutely."

Nanny showed up later, after Lucy had played with her sons for a little bit. Henry gave up hitting the blocks together and he curled up in her arms to sleep. Freddie ran around like a madman and smashed things into each other. He wasn't even three yet and he was full of energy. Lucy just needed to run upstairs and get ready, as Harry had already changed. The car awaited them when she came downstairs.

April in London meant flowers blooming. The sun hadn't fully fallen yet so Harry and Lucy got to enjoy the blooming flowers still. The colors zoomed past as Harry and Lucy waited in the back of the car until it came to a complete stop. Being let out, Harry wore a baseball cap and Lucy's hair curled instead of straight, they were released onto the public. By now, people should've been smart enough to look for the bodyguards that always looked the same, but the couple didn't.

Harry liked to wear baseball caps and just loose fitting clothing, anything that didn't match his suits. For Lucy, it was easier. It wasn't just the lack of heels or dresses, but it was the lack of makeup or her hair changed. Also, Harry just wasn't recognized a lot with Lucy by his side. It was weird and a little disgusting if you thought about it too hard.

Dinner wasn't a sit down but rather a grab and go by a street cart. Both of them ate and walked, just walking around London. They had been dropped off, with the bodyguards close enough behind them, at a corner, where Harry told them. There was nothing important to do or to see. There was nowhere to go. There wasn't a tourist destination to go.

The couple stayed near the River Thames, because Lucy just liked being near it. She liked to walk past the London Eye and Big Ben. It was her compass. Granted, they hadn't started out there; it was too close to the palaces, but Lucy wanted to walk back. Harry had no problem with that. Their fingers were intertwined. The lights of London guided their way. There wasn't a reason to talk about their duties or their kids, and they didn't. It was like before, when they met, when the world was still fresh and new.

"Did you really say that to him?" Harry asked.

"Of course I did." Lucy acted offended. "He was being a moron; he needed to be put in his place."

Harry laughed out right.

"This guy's ego was... he rivaled old Kanye West, and I wasn't going to allow it to stand. The guy had way too much confidence in his abilities and his dick size. Someone needed to tell him he wasn't that important."

"Imagine if you could say whatever you wanted now."

"The world wouldn't be ready."

"The world would burn."

"Get a marshmallow and roast it."

Reaching Kensington Palace again, the car had already been returned by some bodyguards, and they went through security. Lucy had her I.D., which made her life easily, as well as the bodyguards. They vouched for Harry to be Prince Harry, but just in case he was replaced by a Zygon, he answered some questions. The bodyguards said good night to the couple as Harry and Lucy went inside to release Nanny of her duties. However, the couple found Siobhan sitting at the kitchen table.

"Your highness, your highness," Siobhan said respectfully with a curtsy.

"Siobhan," Harry acknowledged.

"May I speak with you, ma'am?"

Lucy paused. "Is it serious?"

"Yes, ma'am." Her eyes fell between Lucy and Harry. "It isn't about the monarchy, ma'am, sir."

"What's it about?" Harry asked.

Siobhan's eyes came to Lucy. "Ma'am, it's about your friend, Sydney."