Royals (A Prince Harry Fanfiction)

Chapter 17

"I'm here to see Prince Harry," Jackie said, a bit out of breath for no reason in particular.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Baker, but His Royal Highness hasn't put you on the visitor's list for today," the Royal Guard in the gate tower said, rifling through a few papers. "Shall I ring him?"

"Just let me in-" Jackie was distracted as a Range Rover approached from the inside of Kensington Palace's gates. Jackie's heart skipped a beat, Harry was behind the wheel, in a baseball cap and hooded sweatshirt to hide his face from the paps that were surely waiting at the end of the drive.

Jackie leapt from her car just as Harry did the same, and the pair met at the wrought iron fence, both breathless.

Jackie opened her mouth to speak. "Harry-"

She was interrupted by Harry. "Jackie-"

They both laughed, Jackie reaching through the bars of the fence to grasp Harry's hands in both of her's. "I need to go first."

Harry's mouth curved into a grin as she began. "I was so incredibly stupid, and I can't believe I said those things to you. I realize it now-" she paused. "I've always known that being with you would be a challenge in some ways. It's more difficult than a relationship with a typical man, but you mean so much more to me than anyone, or anything." Jackie squeezed Harry's hands. "I hope you'll forgive me."

Harry looked past Jackie, causing her to turn her head. She couldn't help but to smile at the sight of all of the PPOs in the gate tower watching intently. "Would you mind opening the gate?" Harry asked, playfulness in his voice.

"Of course, Your Highness, right away."

Jackie and Harry's hands broke apart, as they stepped back to allow the gate to open. As soon as the path was clear, Jackie rushed to Harry's arms, hugging him tighter than ever. "I'm so sorry," she whispered, a sense of relief washing over her as he gently put a hand on the back of her head, resting her chin on his shoulder.

"No. Don't be sorry. I was the wanker, I expected you to drop everything for me. That was selfish. I should have never asked that of you." Harry pulled back and frowned. "If you want to continue working, I'll just have to get over it."

"I'll do what's expected of me," Jackie promised. "I had my whole life planned, but I never thought I'd be lucky enough to have you, so plans change."

Harry grinned and pulled Jackie in for a kiss, then wrapped her in a tight hug. After a quiet moment of embracing, Harry said, "So, does that mean you'll be coming to New York City with me?"

---

"Thank you for helping me pack," Jackie said, once again, as Kate meticulously folded a pair of jeans and settled them in one of Jackie's open suitcases.

"It's my pleasure," said Kate with a smile. "What's the itinerary?"

"Well, he had the trip announced as strictly personal. So he told me that we're going to do a lot of sight seeing, he's also taking me to see Les Miserables on Broadway, we're going ice skating in Rockefeller Plaza, and he's scheduled a tour of Jacqueline Kennedy's old apartment," Jackie said with excitement. "It's just a two night trip, that's all I could take off of work."

Kate wiggled her eyebrows. "That sounds like a lot of fun!"

"I'm excited. It's definitely an adjustment, getting used to all these trips. But I can't say its an unpleasant one," Jackie said with a laugh. She pulled a black cocktail dress from her closet, holding it up to her chest. "How about this for dinner and the play?"

"That's lovely!" Kate agreed. "You could borrow my red wool evening coat to go with it, add a little festivity."

Jackie and Harry's New York trip was spanning December 21-23, and they would then travel back to England, where Harry would retire to Sandringham House to spend Christmas with the Royal Family, and Jackie would spend Christmas alone in her apartment. All members of the Royal Family were expected to spend Christmas at Sandringham, and unfortunately for Jackie, non-members were strictly prohibited by tradition. She understood completely, it wasn't Harry, or the Queen for that matter, who said she couldn't come, it was just how it was. She figured she could stop in at the hospital and see if they needed an extra hand.

"I'll have to give Harry his Christmas gift the day after," Jackie commented aloud.

"Why don't you bring it on your trip?" Kate, who was now lounging on Jackie's bed, asked.

"It can't travel. Well- it could, but it would be messy on an airplane."

"What is it?" asked Kate with a laugh.

Jackie grinned. "A puppy."

"A puppy?" Kate cried. "Did you ask him first?"

"Well, not specifically, but he's talked about wanting one, and his only issue was not being able to care for it all the time. But now, I can watch it while he's gone."

Kate peeked under Jackie's bed. "Where is it?"

Jackie smiled. "He's at your parent's house. Your father went with me to choose one from a shelter last week."

"How sneaky of you. What kind is it?"

"A little labrador retriever. I figured it could be trained to go hunting while we're at Balmoral." Jackie picked up her phone and scrolled to a photo she had taken with the little black puppy at the shelter when she and Mr. Middleton had adopted it.

"How sweet!" Kate cooed. "He's going to love him. Did you pick a name yet?"

Jackie shook her head. "I decided to let Harry pick." She smiled fondly at the photo of the little dog. "He'll be his late Christmas present."

Kate didn't say anything, just flashed a knowing smile.