Meredith was not awake at the crack of dawn today, and she was so happy. At least in Tonga, they managed to pull the curtains close last night before going to bed. The sea breeze still made its way into the room, which was a nicer scent that Harry's morning breath. Outside, birds were cawing, and that made her feel nice too. Even though it was warm in the room, Meredith pulled the blankets up further.

"You'll get trapped in them," Harry said.

"Is that a bad thing?" Her words were all muffled by the blankets. "How long do I have left?"

Harry rolled over and checked. "Four minutes-- now, three."

"That's long enough." She closed her eyes again and brought the blanket over her head.

Settling back, Harry watched his wife under the covers. These were the stolen moments of their days. This moment was the only time in the day that they got to be themselves. It was a rush here and a rush there. Harry missed London because at least they had time alone together. He had known how long this was going to be and how hard it was going to be. He had warned his new wife about it as well. For the most part, Meredith wasn't doing quite fine with it. She was more tired now, but Harry also thought that might've not been pregnancy related.

Suddenly, Meredith asked, "Are you going to join me?"

He arched an eyebrow. "Am I allowed?"

Meredith tried to throw the covers over him, but she only managed to get them to his mouth. Harry decided to help out his wife, and he dipped below the blankets. It was dark, but he managed to make out an outline of his wife. He felt her blonde hair hair across the pillow, curling now. The straightening only lasted so long.

"It's nice down here," Harry commented.

Meredith scoffed. "Can I say something?"

Harry wasn't sure where this was going, but he never wanted her to silenced. "Yes."

"I don't feel pregnant."

Panic flooded through Harry, like something had happened last night, but then he realized, that wasn't what she had meant.

"Like, I expected to feel different, but I don't. I mean, I vomit while having no appetite. I am tired. I have a migraine. My boobs hurt constantly and they're bigger. And I have to pee all the time," she listed. "But I don't feel that much different. I can write those things off."

"Perhaps you're getting used to it?"

That was one way of explaining it. "Now, you have to tell me something, Harry."

He made a face, but then he realized she wasn't able to see his face. "Yes, Mere?"

Her voice was completely dry. "Are you just ready to burst to tell the world?" Harry let out a chuckle as Meredith continued, "Like, I expected you to run out the door and scream it to the world."

Harry snorted, which wasn't very prince-like. "I think you underestimate me." That was not something she did often, knowing how much he managed to reach. Harry didn't like not being able to take care. "But I should say, I did tell Wills--"

She let out a gasp. "What did he say?"

"He said," he snickered, "Mere must've been pissed because she wanted to wait." His chuckles filled the air.  "He probably told Cath-- and she probably told Pa--"

"And Pa told Camilla, and now probably Granny knows, so everyone probably knows by now."

Harry let his jaw drop dramatically. "You're right."

"Hmm."

"Have you told your dad?"

"I should." Meredith knew that well. Her fingers curled into the soft. "I will. I have to."

"What's stopping you?"

The alarm clock went off, and that was when their conversation ended. What stopped her was time. Her father was out there, traveling the world and living life. Meredith was doing the exact same thing. She missed him dearly; after all, she had given up a lot to marry Harry. He knew that.

Leaning over, Meredith kissed Harry, and then she flipped off the blankets and started the day. She knew where she needed to go and what she needed to do.

The Duchess of Windsor wore red today because Tonga's flag was red and white. She had on white pumps. Her hair was straightened, like usual. It wasn't every day that she was allowed to wear such a bright color, and when they put red lipstick on her, she was ecstatic. It reminded her of her university days, when she wore bright colors more frequently. Maybe, the duchess was able to give her private secretary to give her maroon or lavender. She had hope.

The duke, on the other hand, wore a tan suit with a white shirt and his favorite blue suede shoes. They matched his tie. At least they weren't matching, and the duchess was so happy about that.

At their first event of the day, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor met Princess Angelika Latufuipeka, a Tonga princess. Hundreds of schoolchildren, who had been given the day off from school for the arrival of the royal couple, sat and waved flags. The duke and duchess met with them.

Soon, the royals met King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipauʻu Tukuʻaho at the Royal Palace of Tonga. The outside walls with white and the roof were red. Lush green lawns spread out around, and it was close to the sea. The smell was addictive to the duchess.

The duke bowed and the duchess curtsied to the king and queen before having a more personal welcoming. The duke and duchess sat with the royals under a canopy as traditional dances and songs were performed. The performers wore traditional dress as well with large beads and brightly painted tops. A few wore flowers in their hair.

After the traditional dance and music, "Imagine" by John Lennon played for the duke and duchess. They were welcomed to sing along. The duke knew all the words, but the duchess mostly listened.

Her eyes traveled along the crowds of children and onlookers. The children were all dressed the same, and it made something odd come into her mind: her child was going to have to wear a uniform to school. She realized that wasn't supposed to bother her that much because most countries around the world had some sort of uniform. Her own school didn't allow her to wear tank tops, shorts or anything revealing. However, that was because the rules were incredibly sexist because apparently boys weren't handle themselves and a girl's shoulders were distracting. Yet, uniforms were just too much for her. She liked school because she was able to wear what she wanted; it showed off who she was. Much of being a duchess was her wearing uniforms. She was willing to give up a lot to wear one of her old shirts now.

After the lovely music, the duke stepped up to the microphone and gave his speech. People were lined up to listen to him. In a wooden chair with an up back, the duchess watched him and watched the surroundings of the world. She wore a pasted but natural looking smile. When not paying attention, she tended to frown.

"Thank you for having my wife and I here," the duke began before going on to explain that visiting Tonga was like visiting "extended family." The duke explained, "My grandparents have visited a number of times and Your Majesties have been frequent visitors to see my family over the years."

The duchess shifted in her seat, feeling the midday vomit time coming on. She just needed to shove it down. For breakfast, she managed to shove things down, and so far, they managed to stay. The aroma of the strong flowers made her stomach clench. The duchess held onto the chair with her knuckles turning white.

The duke was halfway through his speech now. Queen Elizabeth II had sent her regards to the family, speaking of their "close relationship." The duke talked about it great detail.

In truth, the duchess remembered the royals being at their wedding, but there had been a lot of people. Most of them, she didn't know or remember, but she knew they were there. The duchess also remembered that the duke had traveled to Tonga before-- many times. It was not a place that she had been with him.

Thankfully, the feeling was starting to go away, and the duchess let out a shaky breath. For a second, her smile faltered. She glanced down, and her blonde hair went blowing into her face. It was a good cover for her to look down at her belly, like it had somehow grown. It hadn't. The thought was still there. The duchess ran a hand across her stomach, and then she thought better of it, placing her hand back on the chair. Flipping her hair back, the duchess smiled, like she had been paying attention the whole time.

The duke signed off his speech with "malo 'aupito." The crowd erupted in cheers. Apparently his Tongan wasn't that bad.

The whole day had been spent with the Tongan royal family, which had been a first for the duchess. They said good-bye in their traditional ways, and then the British royals were back on the airplane. It was a short trip in a mixture of many long days. The duchess certainly didn't mind.

Atop of the staircase that led into the airplane, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor waved to the collective faces that had come to greet them and now had come to say good-bye.

It wasn't even dark yet, which was a first, but Meredith didn't mind shedding her shoes once out of the public gaze. It was a short hop to the next country, but she certainly didn't mind letting her hair down for a few minutes.

Harry came and sat beside her. "So, a quiet night in?" He had something else on his mind.

Meredith knew what he wanted. "I'm going to read a book in the bathtub."

"Can I join?"

"Can you read?"

That was debatable, and Harry knew it. "I'll find something else to do." That was the end of that.