Sneaky Harry
A/N- It’s been a while since I have posted anything on here, but I wanted to at least get up the one-shots I already had.
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“Come on Lia, let’s just go. No one is watching it’s the perfect time!”
“Harry, we could get into so much trouble doing this.”
“Lia, you always talk about how you want one date where ‘the shadows’ aren’t following us around. Well, here’s our chance!”
Lia looked at her boyfriend of a year as they sat together outside on the lawn of Kensington. Lia, along with her parents had accompanied Harry, Charles and William to a polo match before returning to London for an relaxing evening of stories and laughter. Lia and Harry grew tired of the boring adult stories that seemed to be bragging about their offspring more than anything of vast importance and after being excused had wondered out to the tourist free area of the Palace lawn.
“So?” Harry questioned. His blue eyes silently begging for her to say yes. Lia who had always been the ‘good child’, with the good markings and good behavior, finally wanted to rebel just this once. And it was with a wide smile and bright eyes that she responded an excited ‘yes’, surprising Harry and a small part of herself.
With Lia’s hand in his, the couple raced to the part of the tall fence they knew they could sneak through. With Harry’s help Lia slipped through first waiting anxiously on the other side for him.
“So where are we going?!” Lia asked as they ran in the direction of Hyde Park.
“Remember all those times you said you wanted to go lay about in the park? Just the two of us?”
Lia smiled at his acknowledgement, it was just like him to remember the little things that she’s always wanted to do. Yes, they’ve gone to the park before in the daylight as opposed to twilight time that they are going now, but it was always awkward with the shadows watching their every move. She knew what it meant to date someone of Harry’s status but to her, someone who has known him for years; it was easy for her to forget. And just like everything else in life, you can never forget for long before life throws the reality right back in your face. And to Harry and Lia, the shadows were just that.
“Jump on my back!” Harry said excitedly stopping at the entrance of the park. He bent his knees just a bit allowing Lia to jump onto his back with ease. Her laughter hit his ear as he began twirling with her on his back, her arms holding him close to her.
The moment was light and care free, there were no stress or worries about people witnessing their moments of PDA. They felt normal, like teenagers who were in love and enjoying a relaxing night in the park were supposed to feel like.
“I love you, did you know that?” She asked him, her cheek flush against his. She felt his cheek pull back and she knew that he was smiling, that he was happy.
“I did, but you know what?” Lia shook her head. "I love you significantly more than you love me.“
“Oh that is not true and you know it,” Lia protested with a small chuckle.
“Oh, but my love, it is. You are the North Star in my sky, the light that guides me home…you are my home. You are my sanity in this life full of insanity I was born into, you always have been.”
Lia’s arms wrapped tighter around his neck, her lips kissing the skin at his neck and cheek.
“And you are my best friend, my protector, the love that fills my heart and soul during the times that I am uncertain about the good in people. You help keep me on the path that will lead me to the goals and plans I have always wanted. You’re the only person who understands me, who gets me.”
Harry walked to a tree off to the side, away from the scattered groups of people around the park. Placing her on her feet, he took her into his arms bringing her down with him. Lia took a seat between his legs as he leaned back against the tree.
“Lia, you’re an amazing person. It’s not hard to get who you are, but it’s not always easy for people to understand why some are so driven, so determined. Unfortunately, a lot of those people are people who we…who I, were brought up with. It’s easy to remain closed minded and shut off to the world around you, and before I met you I was most likely on the road to being one of them. But once I met you and saw how driven you were, you really have made me want to be someone who my mum would have been proud of,” He told her, his arms holding her close to him.
“Harry, she would have been proud. She was always proud of you, you could tell by looking at her. You and Will were her life. You know she’s smiling down at you right now,” Lia stated turning in his arms to look at his face. She knew that in the few short years since Diana had passed in the car accident that it had weighed on the brothers, but with Harry…Harry struggled a lot afterwards. The woman that he has grown up so close to and admired was gone; a huge part of who made him who he is was gone. And Lia stood by his side, holding his hand, being his shoulder when he needed it no matter what time of day or night, but most of all she became the person who would listen to him. Lia knew that that was one thing Diana would always do with him, she would listen to him no matter how crazy his ideas were.
“You really think so?” Harry asked her a small smile tugging at his lips.
“Absolutely. You were after all her Ginger Monkey.”
Lia giggled causing Harry’s eyes to narrow at the recall of his mother’s nickname for him, a nickname very few knew.
“Yes, well, that’s a lot coming from a Bun, isn’t it?” Harry teased back knowing Lia had begun to dislike the pet name her father has so affectionately called her for many years.
“A Bun is a lot better than a Ginger Monkey.”
“Oh yeah?”
Lia gave a firm and solid nod, her teeth biting her lip in hopes of holding back the growing smile. She saw the look flash in his eyes, the look of trouble that she often saw in his eyes when he teased Will.
“I know that look,” She told him inching slowly out of his arms.
“Then you know that you should run,” Harry retorted with a devilish smirk.
Jumping to her feet, Lia began running away from Harry, who waited at the tree and counted to ten, before racing after her. His long legs quickly worked to bring him to where Lia was running. With his arms catching her around her waist, he spun her around loving the sound of her laughter that rang loudly in the open space surrounding them.
“I love hearing you laugh, you know that? I love knowing that you’re happy and that I am the one making you happy,” Harry told her, his breathing matching hers in pants from the laughter and fun that had just taken place. Lia rotated in the arms that were wrapped loosely around her waist.
“Of course you make me happy. How could you not?” Lia asked him. Harry looked into her sparkling blue orbs that always showed him her true emotions and right in that moment they screamed of her love for him. Dipping his head, his lips met hers in a soft kiss, their lips rubbings against the others as her arms wrapped around his neck bringing him closer.
“What do you say about a trip to the eye?” He asked her out of the blue, her eyes lighting up at the suggestion. Although Lia grew up in England, she still enjoyed going on the Eye and Harry knew this.
“When have I ever passed up a chance to go on the Eye?”
Harry laughed taking her hand in his. “Alright then, let’s go.”
Making their way out of Hyde Park, hand in hand, they made their way down the streets of London to the part of town where the Eye sat. Being that it was at night the Eye was lit up in the darkened sky, the breeze off the water cooled the air enough so that it was now comfortable to be outside. As they got closer to the base of the Eye Lia noticed the stares from the people passing them.
“Uh Harry? Is it just me or are people looking at us?” She asked; her eyes on the passing pedestrians whose eyes followed the young couple who held hands. Lia noticed a couple of people stopping to point at the ginger haired Prince and blonde haired teen causing her to become increasingly uncomfortable.
“Yes, but I am sure it’ll be fine.”
Lia’s other hand moved to grip Harry’s arm noticing that a small group had begun to form behind them.
“Harry, I think we should head back to Kensington. People are following us,” Lia said, her voice shaking a bit nervously. Harry looked back to what she was looking at with scared eyes he saw the group growing progressively and automatically went into protective mode of the girl beside him.
“Yes, perhaps that’s best,” He nodded taking a side street that lead to the gate of Kensington. With quick, wide strides the couple made their way back to Kensington.
“Stop. You cannot…Your Royal Highness,” The guard at the gate said with a bow of his head upon realizing that Harry was the male with the blonde at the gate. “I was not made aware of any plans you had tonight.”
“It wasn’t planned. Can you please let us in?” Harry asked impatiently. The guard nodded opening the pedestrian gate for the young couple. Together the couple walked through the palace yard to the flat where the door was already opened and three angry looking adults were there to greet them.
*****
Lia and Harry were seated on the sofa in front of 3 very upset and angry parents. Charles, Jessa and Ellis stood before their children with different body positions and facial expressions written on their faces. Currently, Charles was pacing in front of the young couple as Jessa continuously shook her head glaring and Ellis…well, Ellis hasn’t said much but the red face and crossed arm stance was enough to know what he was thinking.
"Henry, you KNOW better than this! You know you cannot slip away from you PO’s, and it goes without saying that you are both 17 years old!” Charles continued, his posh control being taken over by his fatherly angry voice.
“Angelia Elyse, we expected so much more from you than this! I had hoped that in the past 17 years we had instilled in you the knowledge if proper decision making and how to say ‘no’ to peer pressure,” Jessa said angrily.
“Mum, Harry didn’t pressure me into going, I wanted to,” Lia told her. Lia’s hand gripped onto the ginger haired teen that sat next to her. “We just wanted to go on a date without the shadows for once. We didn’t go out in the day time; we thought it would be fine.”
“There is a reason for the ‘shadows’ Angelia; your boyfriend is a Prince of the Country you live in. There is need for protection and you know this!”
“I don’t care if I am a Prince! I didn’t choose to be one so why do I have to be so closely protected? I don’t like having protection officers following my every step if I am not inside a palace wall,” Harry said frustrated. “Just as you said Pa, I am 17 and sometimes I would like to just be 17 years of age.”
“Henry, you were born into the British Royal Family and third in line the throne, you do not really have a choice in the matter of protection outside the palace walls,” Charles stated with a pointed look. "But we will discuss that more later. For now we must discuss a matter of punishment.“
"But…” Lia started but stopped once she saw the look on her father’s face.
“I think that firstly, the two of you have been spending far too much time together. You’re only 17, and you are far too serious for our liking,” Ellis said finally. Much to Lia and Harry’s frustration Charles and Jessa nodded their heads in agreement. "As of today, you will see each other only on the weekends and during the week during school holidays. Charles, your mother and I have agreed that this is the best solution. Now I can only speak for Angelia for now, but you will be grounded for a period of 2 weeks. You will go from school and back home, you will focus on your studies, on family and you will help me in the yard on the weekends.“
"Daddy, you really can’t-”
“This is not up for discussion, Angelia. Now you will stand and say ‘goodbye’ to Harry and apologize to Mr. Charles and then we are leaving.” Ellis sternly told her. Lia nodded standing from the sofa, Harry followed.
Lia turned to Harry, tears streaming down her face. ”I love you, Harry. I’ll see you soon.”
Harry nodded, his hands holding hers as she stood up onto the balls of her feet to kiss his cheek..
“I love you to, Angel. I’ll call you as soon as I am allowed,” He whispered to her, wrapping his arms around her hugging her to him. “Goodbye.”
Lia turned to Charles, wiping her tears as she did so.
“Mr. Charles, please accept my sincere apologies for the trouble my inappropriate hi-jinx has caused tonight,” Lia stated with direct eye contact.
“Apology accepted, Angelia,” Charles said kissing Lia’s cheeks. “Harry will call you once your parents say it is fine.”
Lia nodded walking to her parents where Harry was offering his apologies. With one last look, Lia followed her parents out of the room and house.
Harry stood watching Lia’s fading figure until he couldn’t see her anymore.
“Harry, I know you are upset and you feel as though we are reacting too harshly, but please see things from our point of view,” Charles stated sitting in the arm chair across from the sofa. “Please take a seat.”
Harry did as he was asked, his face showed the frustration and anger he felt.
“Harry, you know what you did tonight was an incredibly careless thing to do. Not only could you have gotten hurt, but Angelia as well,” Charles stated watching as Harry nodded. “That is why you are grounded for 2 weeks. There will be no Polo, no phone calls, and no going out. I understand living the life of a Prince limits your life, Harry, but we have to have the PO’s for our safety. You are excused; please go to your room.”
Rising from his seat on the sofa, Harry made his way passed his brother who chuckled as he did.
“Sod off, Will,” He said walked to his room where he flopped onto his bed. His heart was pounded a mile a minute and he could only imagine how red his face was flushed at that moment. Two weeks with no contact to Angelia, they would prove to be a long two weeks. As he turned to his nightstand, his eyes met the photo of Lia that he always loved and his heart ached.
Two weeks…just two weeks.