#Finally finished this pillow I embroidered by hand thought I’d share it with you guys

[worm-f00d]

[madeleineandwilliam-ff]

Chapter Eight: Part One

November 2001

The days leading up to Madeleine’s first trip to St. Andrews left her with a mix of emotions. She was excited to see William, of course. But a part of her was anxious, she didn’t know what to expect in Scotland. 

Would the press spot them? Would they blend in or would someone be looking for William around every corner they turned? And most of all, would this trip turn out to be as wonderful as she’d imagined it would be?

It was Friday and she was nearly done with her five hour and forty-five minute train ride to St. Andrews from London. She was sandwiched in between her two security guards, Olle and Ludvig. They refused to leave her side ever since her father reinstated them, heck they even went on bathroom breaks with her during the train ride. 

Thankfully, Madeleine was able to ignore them for the most part. William had introduced her to the wonderful world of Harry Potter and she was engrossed in the first book. And hopefully, if she finished her book, she and William would be going to see the first of the Harry Potter film adaptations in theaters during her visit to St. Andrew’s. 

The train conductor announced that they would be arriving at the Leuchars Rail Station in five minutes. William was there waiting for her, and it was just a quick ten minute drive back to St. Andrew’s after that. 

Madeleine could hardly finish the last lines in her chapter of Harry Potter at the thought of being the closest she’d been to William in two weeks. She was a mess of nerves and excitement at the mere thought of his touch and the way he made her feel all warm and bubbly when he looked at her. 

She began to quickly pack up all of her things from her seat so she could immediately get off of the train when it pulled into the station. She stood and slung her backpack over her shoulder. She walked to the closest exit and left her suitcase in the hands of Olle and Ludvig as she went to stand in front of the train’s door just as it was pulling into Leuchars. 

Her foot began to tap as she heard the creaking of all of the train’s gears as it slowed down and the conductor welcomed them to their destination. Finally, the doors parted and Madeleine dashed through them, not bothering to wait for Olle and Ludvig who were struggling to get her suitcase out of the overhead compartment. 

Once out of the train, she searched the station for him. It was somewhat crowded as people moved to and from train cars. She stood on her tiptoes, desperately searching for the boy that had captured her heart in a matter of weeks. She smiled as she saw him, leaning against a pole near the exit, clad in his baseball cap. 

Madeleine began to push her way through the crowds, in a desperate rush to get to him. She couldn’t stand it a minute longer. 

He hadn’t seen her yet, but she swore it was like a shock of electricity hit him when his eyes met her’s from across the busy train station. His entire demeanor changed once he saw his Mads. There was a glimmer in William’s eyes and a dazzling ear-to-ear smile as he watched her push through the crowds.

It had felt like months, not two weeks. She was so close to him now and suddenly nothing else mattered. The busy world around them faded away as Madeleine dropped her backpack to the ground and rushed into William’s arms. 

William wrapped her up, gave her a kiss on the cheek and buried his face in her lovely coconut scented hair as he spun her around. “God, I’ve missed you.” 

“You have no idea.” Madeleine replied, grinning from ear to ear as he set her down to the ground. 

“How was your trip?” William asked as he grabbed Madeleine’s backpack that she’d thrown to the ground and slung it over his shoulder.

“Well it got me where I wanted to be, that’s all that matters.”

“No, it got you where you belong.” William replied as he took Madeleine’s hand in his.

“Oh really, so I belong in St. Andrews now?” Madeleine quipped with a smile on her face. 

“No, you’re mistaken. You belong with me, Mads.”

Madeleine’s cheeks grew a shade of red as she looked up into his eyes. “For once since I’ve met you, I’d say that I’d have to agree. I belong right beside you. Now, show me St. Andrews.”

William arranged for him and Madeleine to stay at one of the hotels just minutes away from his university, The Old Course Hotel.

He’d escorted her back to their hotel to drop off her bags, and then decided to show her around campus. 

Madeleine loved everything about St. Andrews so far. It was a small, quaint little university town with gorgeous views everywhere she turned. Like London, it was visually pleasing with it’s view of the ocean and the overall architecture and feel of the town. 

Once they arrived on the campus, William took her to his home away from home first; St. Salvator’s Hall. He was currently in residence in a single room in the hall during his studies and wanted to introduce her to his friends she’d heard so much about. 

“This place is massive.” Madeleine said to him as she followed him through the doors of St. Salvator’s.

“It holds 196 students, so it has to be.” William paused as they passed a massive room containing several students in the midst of conversation. “This is the Common Room, the guys and I hang here a lot to watch rugby.”

“Well, I figured you didn’t play that Grand Piano.” Madeleine countered with a grin as she gestured to the piano that was situated in the far corner of the room.

“No but Liv does, she’s rather good. Maybe I could have her play for you.” William replied as he led Madeleine further down the hall. 

Liv. He’d never mentioned a Liv until now. Madeleine of course assumed that William had female friends, but he’d never mentioned them before. In fact, because he only spoke of his male friends, Madeleine was under the impression he lived in a male-only residence. She suddenly felt a rush of jealousy at the thought of all of the women that surrounded him daily, while she was away in London. But she had to trust him, she had to.

“Mads, you ok there?” William asked as he took her hand in his.

“Oh yes, of course. Just a bit tired after the trip, that’s all.” Madeleine, lost in her thoughts, replied.

“I’m sure. Would you like to eat dinner in our hotel room tonight and explore the city tomorrow?” William asked as he led her up a flight of stairs.

“That sounds good.”

“Perfect. I know this great place we can get takeout from.” William led Madeleine down the hall of the second floor, where his residence was, but before they reached the door they were greeted by a group of men.

“Gus, what’re you still doing here, mate!?” William exclaimed to a tall, husky blonde man.

“Ah, decided not to make my trip home to hell this weekend. Figured I’d save that for next weekend.” Gus replied, turning his attention to Madeleine. 

“You’ll have to get it over with eventually.” William replied nudging Gus in the shoulder, he then turned his attention to Madeleine and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Guys, this is Madeleine. She’s the one I’ve been talking so fondly of the last few weeks.”

Madeleine’s cheeks turned a shade of bright red when the group turned their attention to her. She turned her hand up and gave them a small wave, followed with a shy smile. “Nice to meet all of you.”

William introduced her to each of the four men. Gus turned out to be a nickname for Fergus Boyd. Along with Gus, the other three men, Alasdair Coutts-Wood, Oliver Baker and Olli Chadwick-Healey turned out to be friends of William’s and fellow residents of St. Salvator’s. 

Madeleine and William chatted with the friends for awhile and were even invited to a local pub later that night, which they respectfully declined in order to be with each other alone. 

After they said their goodbyes to William’s friends, William escorted them to the door at the very end of the second floor hallway. William unlocked the door with a key on his keyring and opened the door for Madeleine, gesturing for her to go ahead of him.

“Welcome to my humble abode.” William exclaimed shutting the door behind them. 

Madeleine chuckled. “Nice place you have, dear. I prefer it to Buckingham.”

William rolled his eyes. “You’re so full of it. But hey, the place gets the job done.”

And it seem to be designed for just that. To get the job done, and well simplicity.

Blank white walls were decorated in Welsh Rugby and David Beckham posters. There was a twin bed in the corner of the room with navy blue bedding and an “It’s Good to be Queen” pillow on it. In the middle of the room sat a wardrobe and in the other corner, a desk littered with papers accompanied by a laptop computer. 

Madeleine raised her eyebrows at the “It’s Good to be Queen” pillow and looked over at William. “I wasn’t aware I was dating Queen William of the United Kingdom.”

William picked up the pillow and tossed it at Madeleine. “Oh sod off, for your information it was a going away present from Harry.”

Madeleine laughed as her finger traced the embroidered letters on the pillow. “Well your brother certainly has peculiar taste.”

William fell back onto his bed and looked over at Madeleine. “So what’re your thoughts on my neck of the woods?”

Madeleine cocked her head to the side and smiled at him. “Scotland is very beautiful, and it certainly helps that a certain Prince I know lives here.”

William raised an eyebrow at her. “Oh?”

Madeleine stepped closer to him on the bed as she tossed the pillow at him. “Yes, this Prince makes Scotland more appealing than London.”

William grabbed Madeleine’s collar of her jacket and pulled her beside him on his bed. “Tell me more about his Prince. Should I be intimidated by the power he has over you?”

Madeleine put her face inches aways from his and smiled, as she ran a hand through his blonde hair. “Well, not really. I’m not sure in slightest why I like him. He has quite the ego, he’s rather rude, and well he’s balding.”

William gasped. “I have luxurious blonde locks, you take that back!”

Madeleine rose from the bed and walked over to the door. “Show me St. Andrews, and maybe I will.”

William grinned as he rose from the bed. “You’re an impossible woman.”

Madeleine shrugged her shoulders with her hand on the doorknob. “At least I’m not balding!”

“Oh that’s it, get over here.” William snarled before making a grab for her, but he was too late. Madeleine was out the door and rushing down the hall of St. Salvators, the lovely sound of her laughter filling the halls.

Later that night, after William briefly showed Madeleine around the town, they found themselves back in their room at the hotel with takeout from one of the local restaurants, BlackHorn. 

They were seated at the table near the balcony in their hotel room, enjoying their hamburgers, french fries, and beers. 

“You know what we need?” Madeleine asked as she popped a french fry in her mouth.

“More time together?” William replied.

“No. Music.” Madeleine replied as she walked over to the radio in the corner of the room.

“Fine, but no Spice Girls.” William replied, a smile on his face as he watched Madeleine go through the stations. He liked this version of her with her messy bun in her Swedish National football team sweatshirt and jeans. He enjoyed nights in, and the fact that she did too, made it all the more enjoyable. 

“I love this song.” Madeleine said to him with a small grin. 

It was Norah Jones’ newest song, Come Away with Me. Every time Madeleine heard it she thought of William. 

William grinned as he watched her sway back and forth to the soft melody. He stood up from his chair and walked towards her. “Well then, may I have this dance Princess?”

“My, my you’re such a romantic William Wales.” Madeleine said to him as he put one of his hands in hers and the other on her waist. He touched his forehead to her’s and smiled down at her. 

Together they slowly swayed to the music on the winter’s night in St Andrew’s. It was their ideal day, mainly because they were left alone by the press. They were able to get to know each other more and were falling hopelessly in love with each other. 

“I want to stay right here, in this moment with you forever.” Madeleine whispered to William as she looked into his crystal blue eyes. 

William chuckled. “But why would you want to do that? My dear, things are only going to get better in the coming years with us.”

“You’re quite sure of yourself.” Madeleine replied . 

“Aye, but you and I, we’re going to do wonderful things together. We’ll have many more dances, many more dinners. I’m in this for the long haul with you, Madeleine.”

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say that you’re trying to get me to fall in love with you.” Madeleine whispered. 

“I am. Is it working?” William replied, kissing her forehead. 

“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t.” Madeleine replied. 

“Well then, I think we’re on the same page Mads.” William said to her before softly pressing his lips to hers.

It was the type of kiss that Madeleine would remember for the rest of her years. She’d compare it to all of the other kisses, and she knew nothing would ever measure up. 

It sent a wave of electricity and fireworks throughout her body. When William’s lips met hers she could feel every ounce of passion and growing admiration he had for her. This simple kiss united them in that moment, and gave her some sort of confirmation this wasn’t just young love. But it was the type of love that was undying, and well, as William put it, the type that would last for the long haul.