Mar 19, 2025
seen from Malaysia
seen from Australia
seen from Puerto Rico
seen from Malaysia
seen from Netherlands
seen from United States
seen from Malaysia
seen from Brazil
seen from Puerto Rico
seen from Argentina
seen from India
seen from United States
seen from Estonia
seen from Mexico
seen from United States
seen from Malaysia
seen from United States
seen from Russia
seen from Germany
seen from United States
Chapter 31: Ice, Ice baby
Carol tried to find out where she was going. She read some of her mom’s texts to see if Harry had sent something, she asked everyone about it, she tried to see if she needed a visa to visit the place but no one told her where it was. She was frustrated, being a very curious person was one of her strongest traits and she didn’t like to be kept in the dark. She didn’t know how this trip would work out. Harry had said “see you on the 27th” but he was in London and she was in São Paulo. He asked her to pack for a cold winter, so it was an international trip to the north hemisphere. Hailey had packed her clothes and locked her bag. She said Carol didn’t need to see what was in there, but it surely was heavy. She was growing frustrated with all the secrecy behind her until the morning of the 27th.
She had woken up early and she got ready not really knowing what to do. Her family were asleep when she went downstairs and fixed herself breakfast. Everything was ready to go, she just needed to know when and where. She paced the kitchen for a while and thought about waking her mom up to ask if she was on time but Harry soon texted her. He was making fun of her, of course, saying that she was probably nervous and wanting to kill him. He only said, on the second text, that she needed to open her front door.
She ran there and opened the front door. Nothing was there and she let out a frustrated sigh. She then walked the path and opened the front gate and there he was. Holding a lilies bouquet and with that mischievous smile that was so characteristic of him. She looked from the flowers to him before hugging him tight. She had missed her friend and he was going out of his way to surprise her and ask for her forgiveness. He gave her the flowers when they parted and she invited him inside. This was the first time he went to her new house and when he was inside, he noticed how they had already made it a home. He asked her if she was ready and she said she was.
“Then, let’s go. We’ve got a long road to go.” he said grabbing her luggage and waiting for her while she said goodbye to her family upstairs. She woke them up quickly and said they didn’t need to come down, Harry’d understand. After all he did appeared at their door at 7:00am.
She was surprised to see he had no bodyguards with him.
“I told you it was going to be just the two of us.” he said while driving the rented car to the airport.
“But is it safe for you to be travelling without security?” she asked looking at him concerned.
“To where we’re going, yes. Besides, I’ve fed the press with false but believable tips that I’d be going to Africa for the new years. So all paps might have headed there.” he said with a smile. “I even booked a couple of different hotels in there.”
She laughed at him and then looked at the road.
“You do know you didn’t have to do all of this, don’t you?” she said.
“I know. But I wanted to. I was an ass to you, again. And we do need to talk.”
“We do.” she agreed putting on her sunglasses.
“But not now. We’ll talk, but first, we have a flight to catch.” he said speeding up and following the GPS commands.
(…)
She didn’t expect he’d actually give her ear plugs when they arrived at the airport. He asked her to stay inside a bookstore while he checked them in and sent away their baggage. She waited there only because she found some interesting titles and ended up buying a couple of books. He gave her the earplugs so she didn’t listen when they were called to the gates. She learned now that Harry had a passport issued with his names scrambled around so no one would know it was him. He had booked them executive seats. She was uncomfortable because that was for sure a splurge of money, but before she commented on it, he stopped her. He was using his private money and he would use it the way he thought was best. They were sat side by side on the two seats row in the right side of the plane. They chatted for a while and she didn’t listen when the commander talked to the crew. He let her hold his hands on the take off and discovered she was afraid of flying. He thought his plan had gone wrong because of that, but as soon as the plane had stabilized in the air, she was calm again. He let her take off the earplugs and they stared awkwardly to each other.
“So…” she started. “Where are we going?”
“I won’t tell you.” he said smugly and kissed her knuckles. Her first instinct was to retract her hand from his hold and while she did that, she saw in his eyes how it had hurt him.
“I’m sorry. I acted out of instinct.” she whispered.
“And since when your instincts tell you to retract from me?” he asked staring into her eyes.
“I don’t know, Henry. I really don’t.” she whispered and he shook his head. He wasn’t going to start a fight with her with less than an hour of their 12 hour flight. The steward came and served them breakfast and they ate in silence. Both stealing a few glances of the other.
They did what they could to kill time on the plane. They watched a movie, they talked about non senses, she read a book and he slept. She napped while he was playing on his laptop and when she woke up and knew they still had four more hours to go – after a two hour connection somewhere -, she began to grow impatient. But if she really wanted to know where they were going, she could simply go to the bathroom and ask a steward for the information. But she didn’t want to spoil the surprise. She just wanted to be out of this plane as soon as possible.
“Are we going to China?” she asked when she sat beside him again. He laughed and looked at her before answering.
“No. Not today. Why?”
“This flight is taking forever…” she was annoyed.
“We’re almost there darling.” he said kissing her temple and she side hugged him. He enjoyed the moment by hugging her back and being comforted in the feeling of having her on his arms. He made sure she was comfortable and he ended up in a uncomfortable position. But he didn’t care, he simply held her and made her “cafuné” the way she liked.
They landed in Akureyri, Iceland at 1 am local time. Harry and Carol had put on lots of layers of clothing to be able to face the -4°C/24°F weather. They walked through security and custom fastly enough before getting a taxi that would take them to their hotel. The ride was a short one and both of them were tired. Harry had checked them in while Carol was waiting seated on the lobby’s sofas. She was yawning now and then and she only wanted a shower and a comfortable bed to sleep properly. Harry was the one who carried their luggage to the room, he opened the door and she stayed on the corridor.
“Aren’t you coming in?” he asked after finding their belongings a place.
“Where’s my room?” she asked suspiciously.
“This is your room, Carol. Come on in.” he said opening the door even more for her.
“Harry… I’m not kidding. Where’s my room?” she said crossing her arms.
“This is your room. They hotel’s fully booked so we’re going to share a room. Come on.”
She only raised a eyebrow at him before entering. Their room was actually a suite with a living room and a bedroom. It was comfortable but more importantly, warm. She started taking off the clothing she was wearing and folding them to leave it on the couch.
“I didn’t think you’d be uncomfortable with us sharing a room. But since you are, I’m sleeping on the couch.” he said taking off his scarf.
“I just don’t want you to mix things Harry.” she said tired.
“Let’s not have this conversation right now, ok?” he said looking at her. “Go take a shower while I make my bed and we can finally rest. Tomorrow’s a full day.”
She only nodded and went to grab her luggage, she entered the bedroom and opened it to find her pajamas. Hailey had truly well packed her suitcase, because she saw that there were lots of warm pieces for her to wear for the next 8 days. She got the things she needed and entered the bathroom. She took a quick shower while trying to push away the feelings and the things she had to make clear with Harry. But she didn’t want to dwell on it right now. She wanted to rest and to be comfortable and to sleep.
She put on her pajamas and went to the living room to see Harry sitting on the couch waiting for his turn. She touched his shoulder and he looked up at her.
“I’m all done. You can go now.” he nodded and got up, she waited for him in the living room while snacking on a few biscuits and drinking a cup of tea. He came back wearing his pajamas and the tension between them grew. She knew she had to make things clear for him. She’d hate to be the one breaking his golden heart. Harry was a wonderful man who deserved to be happy and to have the family he always wanted. But at this moment she couldn’t be this woman to him. She didn’t want a relationship, she had gotten quite scared after her relationships. She had this huge block in her mind that commitment was truly and unbreakably linked to heartache and betrayal. And she couldn’t have one more of those. She wouldn’t be able to handle another one. She couldn’t keep crying for the same reasons all the time, so instead she’d have to remind him that he was taking their friendship to a level where she wouldn’t follow him to. She felt that Harry was starting to see her with other eyes and before it grew to something more, she’d have to stop giving him hopes.
“So… goodnight.” he said laying on the make shift bed he made on the couch.
“Good night, Harry. Sweet dreams.” she said entering the bedroom and closing the door. The bed was a king side bed with the most comfortable mattress in the world. She got more blankets and turned on the heater. She closed her eyes and tried to sleep. Her body was tired but her mind was racing thinking about everything. She kept turning in bed and got up a couple of times to go to the bathroom, she brushed her teeth twice and huffed annoyed when the clock was showing it was already 3 am and she hadn’t slept a bit.
“Damn it.” she cursed when she realized that her own body was taking control of her mind. It was a cold night and the room, even though the heater was on, was a bit cold. But it wasn’t something unbearable. She could sleep in the temperature, but her body was looking for warmth. Her body wanted his arms around her body, she wanted to feel his breath on her neck and the feeling of safety she felt whenever she was near him. She fought those urges for a couple of minutes before getting up and going to the living room. He was sound asleep on the couch and snoring. She laughed a bit by the scene. Harry slept like a baby and looked cute at the moment. He was peacefully sleeping and she watched him for a couple of minutes. She wondered what would it be like to be able to sleep with him every night but soon she took those thoughts out of her mind.
“Harry” she whispered and he didn’t even move. “Harry” she called again she ran her hands through his ginger hair and caressed a bit before calling him a little bit louder.
He opened his eyes and looked at her. He rubbed his eyes.
“What happened Carol?” he whispered sleepy.
“It’s too damn cold and I can’t sleep.” she said looking at him and she bit her lip.
He didn’t say anything. If she wanted something from him, she’d have to ask.
“I was wondering if…” she said and stopped and was considering the pros and cons of her request. “I was wondering if you could sleep with me. Because it’s… it’s cold and I can’t sleep when the room is this cold.” she said looking down and he smiled and got up. He got his pillow and blankets and noticed the room wasn’t as cold as she was saying. They entered the bedroom, that was even more warmer than the living room and he made the bed again. She laid on the left side of the bed and he soon followed.
“So… if you’re cold you have to come closer.” he said looking at her and watched in her eyes while she was fighting herself before she slides on the bed and was closer to him. Her body immediately recognized his and the warmth she wanted, now was coming from within. She turned on her side and he snaked his arms around her waist and she put her hand on his face and caressed it. They stared at each other for a while before he asked: “Better?”
“Yes. Now I’ll be able to sleep. Thanks, Harry” she said snuggling closer while he was making sure she was well covered. He kissed her temple and used his other hand to make her cafuné. He kissed her temple a couple more times before closing his eyes. He noticed her breathing slowing down when he said: “You can sleep tight now, darling. I’ll be here holding you.”
(…)
They woke up next morning at 10 am. Harry was spooning Carol’s body and she was pretty much glued to him. She had slept like a baby in his arms and when she got up the next morning she was between regretting calling him and loving that she had fought her pride to do so. He was looking at her still laying on the bed when she went to the bathroom. He couldn’t deny he was happy she had asked him to sleep with her.
“Morning.” she said smiling when she got out of the bathroom.
“Morning.” he answered sitting on the bed. “You slept well?”
“I did. Thank you.” she said making a bun with her hair. “So, where are we going today?”
“We have to go pick our car and then we’re headed to Iceland’s longest fjord.” he said.
“Well… that’s interesting.”
“I know. I planned this trip and it came out fucking amazing.” he said proud of himself.
“You did this all on your own?” she asked.
“I did.” he got up and went to fetch a change of clothes for him.
“Impress me then.” she said smiling and he only smirked.
(…)
They got out of the hotel and walked around the city center that looked more like a miniature town. It was colorful and they were close to the sea, that was actually part of a fjord. Harry and her walked around with a map on their hands to find the renting car place. The wind was blowing non stop and it was the worse part of being out in the open, even though day time wasn’t much of all day. They knew it’d get dark sooner than in London, but they were having the time of their lives to try to guess what the words on the street signs meant.
While he was getting their car, Carol found a store where she bought things for them to eat on the road trip. She took forever to understand what was what but she was satisfied with her choices. She met him and he opened the car door to her. They were in silence for the first minutes of the ride. She was admiring and taking photos of the landscape the road trip was giving them. Harry was stealing a few glances in her direction while driving.
“So… should we talk about the elephant in the room now?” she asked looking at him and saw his face tense.
“I’m sorry for the way I talked to you. I was in no right to say what I said.” he offered looking at her.
“Apology accepted.” she said. “I just don’t understand why you got so jealous.”
“You’re a smart girl, Carolina. You understand why, you just don’t accept it.” he said and she was silent. “And I know you’re going to say we’ve talked about this when we were in Rio. That we’re friends and friends only. That sometimes we fuck and have a great time at it. But yeah… after my grandfather passed and I came home to see you there waiting for me, I thought something in you had changed. But I was wrong.”
“Did something in you change?” she was studying him.
“Yes.” he simply answered and she was shocked for having him confirm her suspicions so clearly and fearlessly.
“Harry…” she breathed.
“I know. I’m not forcing anything and you aren’t giving me false hopes. I’m a grown man, Carol. I can take a few bumps here and there.” he sighed and sped up a little bit more.
She didn’t know how but she started crying. She was wearing sunglasses and she didn’t want him to see, but locked in a car with him made the task a bit more impossible.
“I’m sorry, Harry. I’m so sorry.” she whispered and he could see the tears in her face.
“I didn’t plan on it, Carol. But it happened. And I don’t regret it. If I have to be in love with someone, might as well be with you. You’re a fucking great woman. You are beautiful, warm, caring, you’re intelligent and independent. You care about your family and you have the ability to overcome the hardships life throws at you.” he said looking at her and saw when she was crying even more with his words. “And I fucking hate that I arrived at your life after that douchebag of your ex-boyfriend. Because unlike him I’d honour and cherish our relationship. I hate that he came before me and made you suffer and cry. He came and messed with you and now it’s not like you’re not giving me a chance because you think we’re not going to work or because you think you wouldn’t feel the same for me. You won’t give me a chance because you’re afraid and I don’t judge you. It’s completely understandable.”
He parked the car once they arrived at the island of Hrisey. He turned off the engine and looked at her. She was fully crying right now and that was the image he was trying to avoid. He didn’t want her crying, he wanted her smiling and being the cheerful and chatty self she was. But he had to be honest with her. He couldn’t lie that he had fallen for this amazing woman. She had to know what he thought and what he felt, because he knew what she thought and felt and he’d be willing to accept whatever she wanted to give him. Either be a new relationship or just a friendship or just fucking whenever she felt like it. He’d have her. As much of herself she’d be willing to give him. He held her hand and kissed it non stop, he didn’t say anything else, he simply waited for her to let it all out.
“I’m.. I’m s-s-o sorry, Henry” she stuttered looking at him and taking off her sunglasses. “I don’t want to make you suff-fer. I jus-s-t can’t gi-ve you what you want.”
“I know, darling.” he leaned his body to be closer to hers, he cupped her face and kissed her tears away. “I’m not asking anything of you. Not anything more than what we already have. If you want to be only friends, then we’ll be only friends. If you want to try, we’ll try. If you want to be friends and have sex whenever, then we’ll do it. I’m not asking anything or imposing anything. I just want you to know how I feel.” he said looking in her eyes and she saw nothing but sincereness in those deep blue ones.
“But whenever we’re together I’ll think I’m giving you hopes and breaking your heart.” she said looking at him.
“No, you’re not. I know what I’m signing up to.” he said looking at her. “I’m not asking anything of you, but let me show that we can work.”
She had a puzzled expression on her face and he kissed her knuckles again.
“I chose to come here because it’s not likely people would recognize me and because we can be just Harry and Carol. I don’t have to have a protection officer and we can be just us. Let’s use this week to run away from our fears and responsibilities. Let me show you how you deserve to be treated and then, when we come back, you’re back in Brazil and I in London, as friends. Best friends.”
“You’re insane.” she laughed and shook her head.
“Come on. It’ll be fun.” he smiled and looked at her with those pleading eyes.
“I don’t see how it’ll help the fact that you just told me you’re in love and the fact that we agreed to be just friends.” she pointed out now that she stopped crying.
“Just because I’m not forcing a relationship doesn’t mean I can’t show you how fucking amazing it’d be if we were together.” he said with a smug smile.
“Ok, Your Royal Smugness. Let’s see this Icelandic fjord before it gets too dark.” she said getting out of the car and waiting for him. She put on her sunglasses again and adjusted her cap and scarf. He walked around the car and put an arm around her shoulder and they followed the signs to walk around the fjord and admiring the small city that was built around it. The landscape was breathtaking and Carol soon started to snap a lot of pictures.
A/N: I'm so very sorry for taking too long to update. But that happened for two reasons. One of them is that my laptop went crazy and I can't even type on it anymore. It gave me hell to proofread this chapter and post it after I tried for days.
The second one is that I'm facing something every writer does: I'm blocked. I do have a few chapters written that haven't been posted yet, but at the same time I don't want to let go of them because I know I couldn't come up with anything more after that. Does it make any sense??
If you guys have any ideas to help me I'd very much appreciate.
A hint: the chapter I've blocked at is when Carol meets Princess Sofia.
Let me know what you think of this chapter now that Harry has poured his heart out to Carol.
Carol's outfit for the trip.
See ya next chapter!