A Leap of Fate

Harry took Aubrey's hand and smiled slightly as they entered the state brunch. Aubrey was the Duchess of York, she knew Harry a bit growing up. Must like his mother's marriage, Harry's marriage was pretty much arranged. Of course both Aubrey and Harry agreed to it, for the best interest of the monarchy and Aubrey's family but their courtship had involved the a string of formal dates, mostly palace events and a proposal upon the assumption that love would eventually grow between the two. This brunch was for the Sultan of Brunei, who was visiting with his first wife.

"My son Harry and his fiance, Duchess of York." Charles smiled as he introduced them. Afterwards Harry left Aubrey to their seats.

Cady looked at Wiliam. "No."

"That's not a possible answer. If you're pregnant, we have to marry." Will insisted. Cady rolled her eyes.

"No. Let's go to that brunch thing."

"'"

Aubrey glanced at Harry and faked a smiled.

"Can we just talk instead?" Will sighed, having a baby out of wedlock was simply NOT an option for him.

*&*

Aubrey took a sip of champagne. Harry leaned into her ear and whispered, "You look beautiful."

Cady looked at him and twisted the ring on her pointer finger, "no. There is nothing to talk about. I told you that I'm not going to marry you!"

Will glared at her, "Why? It's my baby, isn't it? We've been together for three years!"

"'"

She smiled, "thank you Harry. You look pretty nice too."

"Of course it's your baby. I'm just not ready to get married." She exclaimed.

"Look, I need to go to the brunch." William muttered.

"So let's go." Cady looked in the mirror.

"I meant alone." He said seriously.

*&*

"We have an open schedule after this..." Harry smiled.

"Want to go riding after lunch?" Aubrey said.

"Would love to."

she shrugged, "you're an asshole. I'm still not marrying you."

Will clenched his jaw, "Fine. Bye."

"'"

Harry glanced down, his phone had vibrated.

He received a text from his brother asking him to meet him at the bar of the brunch room when he arrived.

"I'll be right back." Harry kissed Aubrey's cheek and stood as his brother came into the room. The two headed to the bar to the left.

Harry watched in slight shock as his brother got three orders of scoth and downed the all.

"Will...slow down..." Harry muttered. He knew his brother never drank this early.

"She's pregnant." Will whispered. Harry's facial expression turned to shocked again.

"Are you getting married?" Harry asked softly.

Will shook his head, "No. She won't marry me!"

"Ah. That's a bit of a problem." Harry mumbled.

"No shit." William sighed.

"Swearing and drinking before 11am..." He smirked, "I guess she's just not ready."

Will frowned, 'Did you just take her fucking side?"

Harry put his hands up, "I am not picking sides. But you just asked her to marry you because of a scandal. As if she'd really want to marry you."

"No. I love her. It's not because of a scandal." Will lied. Yes, he did love her. But he had just asked her because of the scandal.

Harry shook his head, "don't drink anything else. Go to bed." With that he headed back to Aubrey.

"Everything okay?" Aubrey asked quietly as he sat back down.

Harry smiled, "Just fine. I'll tell you more about it this afternoon. Eat something dear." He motioned to her untouched plate. Aubrey was thin, very thin. Harry didn't feel he knew her well enough to ask her about it yet.

*&*

William took another scotch then slipped out of the brunch. He'd make up an excuse to tell his father later.

Aubrey smiled at him, "I'm just not very hungry."

"'"

Will entered his palace rooms and searched for something else to drink. Then he tried calling Cady about twenty times. She didn't answer though.

Harry nodded, he didn't want to push it. That was something Aubrey really liked about him, he understood where they stood, he didn't push the fact that he was a prince or her fiance. He respected that they had a long way to go. He ate his breakfast and smiled slightly when he saw her eat a bit of hers.

*&*

He ended up in the jacuzzi of his room with a champagne bottle.

Harry finally decided they had made a long enough apperance, "you ready?"

;';

He was excited about the baby. Just not the scandal. There would be so much speculation. His grandmother would be so disappointed.

"Absolutely." Aubrey happily got up and left with him. When they walked down the hall of the palace Harry let out a sigh.

"Glad that's over. I hate those things." He smiled.

*&*

As he drank from the bottle he thought about all the ways he and Cady's future could now unfold.

They went to his room to change clothes.

';'

Will heard his phone ring so he jumped out of the tub, tripping on the rug. After a few more obstacles, he made it to his phone, "Ello?"

"Will? Are you drunk before noon?" Cady asked softly. She didn't sound angry anymore. But Will was angry enough for the both of them.

"You should be my fucking wife! Not, as the American's say, my baby momma. You don't love me!" Will exclaimed.

Cady sighed, "Wow...this is all I have to say, yes. I do love you. But I don't want to marry you when your only reason of asking was to keep a scandal away. Bye Will."

"Do you want to go to that french restaurant you like tonight?" Harry asked as he threw on a sweater over his t-shirt. He liked getting to know Aubrey, though she seemed a bit wary of him.

*&*

"Wait!" Will exclaimed, "Please come over later."

Aubrey nodded, "that sounds nice."

Harry looked over at her and smiled, "We can stay in or do whatever you'd like."

"'"

Cady sighed, "You can meet me." She gave him and time and place, "And be sober."

"Can I decide after we go riding?" She smiled.

"Of course you can. I'll have them reserve a table just in case." Harry texted one of his assistants to do so. "Let's go."

They headed out to the stables, they were staying at one of the country castles.

*&*

Will got out of bed and crawled into bed to sleep it off.

The two of them saddled up their horses and headed out.

They rode for two hours before deciding to tuck into a small clearing.

"Hungry now?" Harry asked, he had had the kitchen prepare them a basket.

"Definitely!" Aubrey smiled. She was very picky about what she ate but she knew it was time to eat.

*&*

William woke up sober with a raging headache.

She was happy to find that mostly healthy things had been packed anyway.

"'"

He groaned and got dressed. Will saw that the tub was still full of water so her pulled out the plug.

They ate a bit then Harry laid back on the blanket. Aubrey rested next to him, her head on his shoulder, she twirled her engagement ring on her hand.

*&*

William cleaned up and dressed. He felt nervous as he made his way over to Cady's.

Harry turned on his side and smiled at her slightly.

';'

Cady answered the door and smiled for a second, "let's go."

He looked adorable. Aubrey leaned in and kissed him, they didn't kiss very often.

*&*

"Where we going?" Will asked.