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Desert Love	By : Krayzee_Aussie Category: Celebrities - Misc > AU - Alternate Universe Views: 4321 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction! I do not know Prince Harry of Wales, Prince Charles, Prince William, Kate Middleton, Queen Elizabeth, Camilla Parker-Bowles or Prince Phillip, Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith VC and I do not profit from this story.

Chapter List
- 16
- 17
- 18
Harry discussed with the family further protocols involved with the presentation ceremony the next day, enjoyed a meal and spoke with Desiree in regards to her accompanying him to the retirement ball with him.
He was certain Desiree’s mother was more thrilled about the ball than Desiree herself was. As they were about to leave the restaurant, Desiree’s father pulled Harry aside.
“Listen here, Captain, I want you to understand something. Desiree hasn’t been out with anyone in eight years. I need you to understand, socially, she can be a bit awkward. She also has a hard time allowing her emotions to come through, which you already should have realised. I would usually be telling boys not to push her to do something she’s not ready for, but I’ve come to realise, it’s time she took care of herself and not everyone else all the time.”
Harry was shocked by the Colonel’s revelations but nodded in understanding. “Yes, sir. I’ll ensure she has a good day and night.”
“Don’t play coy with me, Captain. I’ve seen many men look at my daughter. Only one other man has looked at her like you do. I’m not sure she’s realised that yet, or remembers what that feels like.” Harry was silent, he didn’t know how to respond to Desiree’s father. The Colonel clapped him on the back. “Hey, don’t think too much about it, just remember, you hurt her, I break you. I don’t care if your grandmother is my boss or not.”
He laughed heartily as he walked away, leaving Harry to watch his retreating back, stunned.
******
                The next day, Desiree woke early. She had barely slept a wink and looking in the mirror, it clearly showed. She texted her mother quickly, requesting help. In an instant her mother was in her room with her own uniform and gear to help Desiree. She gave Desiree a once over with some face cream after she showered and she instantly felt refreshed.
“Are you sure you don’t want to put some make up on? You’re allowed to in ceremonials, you know?”
“Yes, mum, I know. I just don’t see the point though,” Desiree replied, sighing.
“I’m just saying, there’s going to be a lot of cameras there. And you admitted it yourself, you had a shit night of sleep. At least let me do you some light make up to help hide that.”
Desiree sighed again, before plonking herself down next to her mother’s make up bag on the table. “Go crazy.”
Half an hour later and her mother was finished, Desiree hurried to dress and change carefully, she had to avoid getting the make up onto her white coat. She called the concierge to have her cutlass pulled from their safe and sent up while she helped her mother dress Ryan.
“My, doesn’t he look handsome in a suit. We are going to have to find you another occasion to wear one,” her mother said, winking at Ryan. Desiree raised an eye brow at her mother, who winked at her too. Desiree shook her head and sighed, getting up to answer the door when the door bell rang.
“Your cutlass, ma’am,” the concierge said, handing the royal purple bag that contained the officer’s cutlass that was given to every officer upon graduation at RMC. He looked her up and down with raised eye brows before bowing his head slightly and leaving.
“Thank you,” she said, before closing the door. She pulled the cutlass from the bag and then unsheathed it. She checked the blade, seeing if it needed polishing.
“You’re not going to have to draw that today, you know?” Desiree’s mother murmured, slipping her tunic on over her shirt and fixing her medals onto the front.
In truth, she was trying to focus on anything else but the medal ceremony. She felt her stomach twist whenever she thought about it, and her throat constricted at the thought of greeting the Queen.
“It still doesn’t hurt to keep it maintained,” Desiree replied, sheathing it again. “Let’s get down stairs.”
“Hang on, Ryan has to get his shoes on and fix his hair yet,” her mother argued. “Off you go, dear,” she said ushering him away to his room. She turned to look at Desiree, concern sweeping across her face. “Are you okay, Des?”
Desiree tried to look like she wasn’t sure what her mother was talking about, but her mother looked at her pointedly and folded her arms, which when wearing a tunic was never an easy thing to do. Desiree sighed and leaned against the lounge. “I’m really nervous, mum. I don’t even know why, it’s just a medal ceremony, right?” She had a chest full of medals as it was, proof she had been to a few ceremonies already. So why was she nervous?
“Well, it could be one of two things making you nervous right now,” her mother said slowly, moving to stand next to her, she reached up and put a hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “You’re nervous because you’re about to receive the highest accolade a serving member can receive, not to mention the highest a civilian can receive at the same time. That’s a pretty big deal, especially for the first and only Australian female frontline soldier.”
Desiree laughed nervously, shaking her head. “Well, that’s one way to put it. So what’s the other thing that could be making me nervous then?”
Her mother smiled slyly, looking at her square in the eyes. “This medal ceremony has your very close friend Harry there and one of the most important women in his life there, who also happens to be your boss and the Queen of the Commonwealth. That kind of counts for meeting the parents, right?” she joked.
Desiree looked gobsmacked at her mother. In truth, she wished she had something to peg at her right now, that wouldn’t cause bodily harm of course. She smoothed her hair and checked her bun had no fly aways. “Mum, you live in a really wonderful make believe world, don’t you?”
Her mother winked at her. “Just remember, baby girl, mama knows best.”
Finally they headed downstairs. They disembarked from the main elevator and waited patiently for the elevator down to the car park. Desiree and her mother put on their hats carefully. Desiree could feel people staring at them, she looked around the hotel. All eyes were on them standing by the lift, she wondered if it was because they recognised her from the news stories about her and Harry or if it was simply because there were two people dressed in ceremonial military uniforms. She hoped it was the latter. She saw bulb flashes from coming outside too. She fidgeted with her cutlass that she held in her hand, she hadn’t attached it to her belt yet, she would only need to unhook it to get in the car anyway.
Ryan turned around and looked up at his mother. “Mummy, you look so pretty in your uniform today. I like it when you wear your ceremonials.”
Desiree looked back down at him in surprise. He smiled back up at her, taking the edge off her nerves. That smile could melt her heart in any moment. “Thank you, honey,” she said, leaning down and giving him a peck on the cheek.
The elevator soon arrived and they got in, riding it down to the underground car park. Her dad and brother were waiting there. As they approached, her dad and Dan turned around to greet them.
“Good morning,” her dad said, kissing Des on the cheek and pinching Ryan on the cheek. “It’s a good day for a medal ceremony, isn’t it?”
“Shut up,” Desiree replied, removing her hat to get into the car.
“Well, someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning,” her dad said looking taken aback. Her mother shook her head at him and ushered him to the other car, a flag flying on the hood to represent his high rank.
Dan climbed into the car with Desiree, helping Ryan with his seat belt before smoothing his hair and trying to get comfortable in the seat. Desiree watched as he fidgeted with his tunic buttons, undoing them. She raised her eye brows. “I see, you’re going to work at the bus depot later today?”
“Shut up,” he scoffed, playfully punching her in the arm.
“Hey! I’m wearing white, dude. Take it easy,” she said quickly checking where he had punched her.
“See, this is why the tunic rocks and your whites are shit,” he retorted.
                The cars drove out of the car park, headed to the palace where the ceremony would take place. Desiree could see the media throng still lingering near the front of the hotel, although it seemed a few had thought to tail their motorcade. The police kept them in check as they zoomed along the roads of London towards the palace.
Ryan stared out the window in wonder as they passed through the gates, passed the royal guards wearing their tall bear skin hats. Desiree felt her stomach begin to knot and her breathing began to quicken.
Dan looked over at her with concern. She knew the panic must have been showing on her face. “Hey, relax. It’s just like any other medal ceremony, right?” he said, grabbing her shoulder. She leaned her head forward, placing her head against the pummel of her cutlass that was upright between her legs. “And before you argue, like i know you will, you do deserve this. You deserve so much more than this. And while we are on the subject, you deserve to be happy too, trust me, your son will be happier when you’re happy. Not that he’s not already happy, he’s about to pee his pants, I swear.”
Desiree gave a little laugh from her position. She was shocked by the seriousness in Dan’s voice at first, she sat up and looked at him, before rolling her eyes and looking out the window, taking a big breath as they pulled up behind a line of cars, awaiting to be unloaded of their passengers.
Her anxiety only worsened as they had to wait for the car door to be opened, Dan continued to try and soothe her, but it only had minimal effect. Dan squeezed her shoulder again as she started to breathe heavily and quickly again. “I’ve gone against every kind of terrorist and extremist you can imagine, faced and completed a course designed to knock out most men that try to complete it and been held at knife point and shot by Islamic extremists. Yet i’m freaking out about a bloody medal ceremony.”
Ryan turned around and looked at his mother in surprise, hearing what his mother had said. “Mum, why are you freaking out? It’s going to be great! We get to go into Buckingham Palace!”
“Not helping, Ryan,” Dan hissed at his nephew, making Ryan look confused. Desiree laughed and hugged her little boy. His innocence was enough to make her forget what was going on for a moment.
The car door was opened, surprising Desiree. She instantly composed herself and stepped out behind Ryan, putting on her hat and attaching her cutlass to her belt. She greeted the staff waiting for her and regrouped with her mother and father. They were led inside, Ryan held tightly to her hand, his head moving around as he stared in awe at everything around him.
They were led into the ceremony hall, where lines and lines of seats were set up. Desiree removed her hat and looked to one of the staff members. “A few people expected?” she asked, trying to sound as relaxed as possible.
“Oh, yes! You’re the first person to be presented a Victoria Cross AND a George’s Cross, and at the same time no less! Nearly all of the nobility in England and even some from Australia have come out for this event. You’re a Commonwealth hero, ma’am,” the staffer said excitedly. Desiree felt her throat constrict and her stomach flip.
They were led to the front of the ceremony hall, where she started to recognise faces. The two shooters who had been at the hostage siege stood fast along with three other soldiers she didn’t quite recognise, but knew there had been other soldiers present on the day. She moved along, shaking their hands and having small conversations with them.
She then spotted Samantha, the formerly pregnant woman who had helped her save the children during the siege. She stood up to greet Desiree, but instead of shaking the hand Desiree offered she forcefully hugged her, tears in her eye. Desiree looked down at the woman in surprise.
“Sorry,” Samantha murmured, pulling herself away. Desiree gave her a small smile. “I just never got to say thank you, because of you, my baby boy had a chance.”
Desiree was flattered, wrapping an arm around Samantha’s shoulders. “It was nothing, I was just doing my job. And congratulations, a boy was it?”
Samantha smiled back, motioning to a man who was sitting behind her seat with a sleeping baby in his arms. She recognised him as also being a soldier, although not from her unit. He stood up carefully, although Desiree motioned he should sit back down.
“Thank you so much for saving my wife, I don’t know what I would have done without her or if we had lost our baby,” he said, his voice wavering as he spoke.
“It was nothing,” she said looking at the sleeping baby.
Ryan peered at the baby on his tip toes, his grandmother and grandfather also looking over at the baby. “What’s his name?” Ryan asked.
“His name is Desmond, or Des, for short. In honour of the woman that made sure he could be here today,” Samantha answered, proudly.
Desiree was taken aback, and stood shocked for a moment. Dan put a hand on her shoulder, squeezing it a little. She composed herself and smiled at the couple. “Thank you so much, I’m honoured you would name him after me.”
*******
                Harry waited impatiently for the rest of his family to appear in the waiting room of the palace. He fidgeted while looking in the mirror. He hated his ceremonials, but it was the uniform he was to wear for events such as this. He wondered what Desiree looked like in her ceremonials, and if she hated hers as much as he hated his.
William and Kate were already there. Kate helped William with his ceremonial pieces, and attached his medals for him.
“Stop fidgeting,” Kate scolded William, as he tried to help her with the clasp.
“Sorry!” he said exasperated.
“There, you’re done,” she said, patting the medals and brushing some dust from his front. She looked to Harry. “You alright, Harry? Need some help?”
“If you don’t mind?” he said, fiddling with the clasp for his medals. She moved over to him to help him. “My fingers are too big for this thing.”
“I would say that maybe you should go out and get some more medals then, but considering today is the day you retire, it would be a bit insensitive, wouldn’t it?” she said. Harry looked at her incredulously and then realised she was smirking.
It was a joke. He smiled. “Well, I could always ask grandma for one just because,” he answered back in the same manner. She gave a laugh, before fiddling some more with the clasp. “It’s really difficult, isn’t it?
She jiggled it a little and then pushed the clasp again. “It is, but,” she bit her tongue before standing up. “I’ve got it. There you go. Done.”
Harry looked back in the mirror, he was ready as he was ever going to be. “Thanks, Kate,” Harry said, picking up his hat.
“No worries, now relax. Your hair’s red enough as it is, you don’t need your face to match,” she said patting his arm.
Harry looked at her in confusion as William moved to stand beside her. “You look anxious, mate. You need to relax. It’s just another medal ceremony.”
“Well,” Kate began to argue. “It isn’t just another medal ceremony. He’s witnessing the presentation of a Victoria Cross and Georges Cross to the woman that saved his life twice. That’s kind of a big deal.”
Harry was about to argue that he wasn’t anxious when they heard footsteps from the stairs above them.
“It is a very big deal indeed,” came their grandmother’s voice. They looked up as her assistants hurried down the stairs before her. She walked down, with their father walking beside her. “Today, she is recognised for putting her life on the line for others, there are a lot of soldiers out there that never gain that recognition in their lifetime.”
“Good morning, ma’am,” the three awaiting her said in unison, bowing and curtseying their greeting.
“Good morning, how are we all this morning?” she asked, stopping at the bottom of the stairs and looking each of them up and down.
“Excellent,” William answered, Kate nodding in agreement.
“Good,” Harry answered when she looked at him. His father raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
“Excellent, excellent, good. Why only good, Harry? You get to reward your friend for her deeds today.”
“Well, I also have to retire from the military today too,” he muttered.
“Oh come now, you’re still not upset about that are you? You’ve seen more action than your father and your brother ever have, you shouldn’t be too upset about it,” the Queen scolded before turning to her assistants who were waiting by the doors that led to the ceremony hall. “Off you go.”
They began following her down the corridor, careful to stay a few steps behind her. The only noise coming from their footsteps, and the odd sound of their sword’s sheaths hitting their legs as they walked.
When they arrived at the ceremony hall doors they stopped and waited while an assistant slipped inside. Harry took a deep breath, on the other side of the doors were about one hundred and fifty people, but all he could think about was one person.
He had studied the seating plan the night before, he knew where every single one of the dignitaries was seated, in particular Desiree. She was front and centre.
They heard the bugle player trumpet inside, announcing their arrival. There was the sound of moving seats and a hushed silence as everyone stood inside. The assistants opened the two doors wide, allowing them to walk through onto the stage. The Queen smiled as she entered, nodding to the bugle player and standing before a seat on the stage.
Harry looked into the crowd as he walked out. There was Desiree, standing strong and confidently in the front row, straight and tall. Their eyes met and he gave her a small smile. Her face didn’t move, but he saw something change in her eyes, like they smiled at him.
He moved to his seat next to Kate and stood, waiting for his Grandmother to sit down. Once she did they too sat and the Master of Ceremonies asked the hall to be seated.
“Welcome to today’s medal ceremony. We have come together today to present to several people some of the highest accolades to be presented to both civilian and military members. To enlighten us of these events I ask his majesty, Prince Charles of Wales to step forward.”
Harry’s father stood up, moving to the podium and after a moment began to talk.
“Good morning, your majesty, royal guests and honoured guests. I have been asked to enlighten you of the events to which these outstanding people before you have earned these accolades. The stories that I have been told from eye witness accounts and recommendations from superior officers will astound you, and I apologise as these stories may take a while.”
And take a while, they did. However, no one in the hall seemed to mind, they were riveting stories. Harry would glance at Desiree every now and then, to find quite often, she wasn’t looking at his father, that she had her eyes averted to the ground. His heart panged with the urge to comfort her as he saw her reach up to her eyes, seeming to wipe away tears.
He watched as Ryan caught on to his mother’s mood and reached across, hugging her. Her father put an arm around her shoulders. Harry wished he could comfort her too, leaning forward slightly. He caught movement in the corner of his eye, his Grandmother had leaned forward to look at Desiree too. He saw the fleeting look of concern on her face. She reached into her purse, pulled out some tissues and passed it to a nearby assistant, motioning towards Desiree.
The assistant descended the stairs quickly, reaching Desiree and kneeling before her, offering her the tissues while murmuring something to her. Desiree looked up in surprise, her eyes were glassy, like she had fought back tears, as she looked back up to the Queen, nodding her thanks and thanking the assistant.
Harry gave her a smile when she looked up and met his eyes. She gave a small smile back, her cheeks going a tinge of red.
After another half hour, his father finally finished telling of the siege in Sydney. He turned to look to the Master of Ceremonies who approached the podium.
“We will now present the recipients of the George’s Cross. These medals will be presented by his majesty, Prince Charles of Wales.” The Master of Ceremonies looked to the Ceremony hands, who walked over to the podium carrying trays of medals. They stood behind his father and waited patiently. The Master of Ceremonies continued. “I call to the stage the following people. Mrs Samantha Durbridge, Lance Corporal John Evans, Corporal Shaun King, Private David Kraig, Private Michael McKenna and Private Damian Michaels.”
The six recipients stood and walked to the stage, the five military personnel standing fast on the stage, lining up along the front in order and facing towards the royal family. Prince Charles picked up the first medal and moved to Samantha. Harry recognised her as the pregnant woman from the siege.
“The George’s Cross is presented to Mrs Samantha Durbridge, for bravery shown during the siege in Sydney, at which point with the assistance of defence personnel was able to safely evacuate the children caught up in the horrible ordeal.”
Prince Charles carefully pinned the medal to her chest, quietly talking to her. Harry couldn’t make out the words, but he could see Samantha beginning to tear up, she curtseyed. Charles shook her hand and congratulated her one more time before picking up the next medal.
“The George’s Cross, presented to Lance Corporal John Evans, for bravery shown while off duty, to protect the civilian population and assist in the uprising from within the Sydney siege and also performing a rescue of another defence member held hostage during the siege’s take down.”
Charles pinned the medal to the soldier’s chest, chatting quietly with him as he did so, before shaking his hand and congratulating him and picking up the next medal.
“The George’s Cross, presented to Corporal Shaun King, for bravery shown while off duty, to protect the civilian population and assist in the uprising from within the Sydney siege and also performing a rescue of another defence member held hostage during the siege’s take down.”
Once again, Charles pinned the medal to the soldier’s chest, chatting to him, he then pointed at the previous soldier, apparently asking a question. The Corporal answered it with a smile, the Lance Corporal also nodding. Charles laughed and congratulated them both again before picking up the next medal.
“The George’s Cross, presented to Private David Kraig, for bravery shown during the Sydney siege, to protect the civilians and evacuate them from danger during the active take down of the siege.”
Charles pinned the medal to his chest, shook his hand and congratulated him, before asking a question. The soldier nodded and replied. Charles nodded again and patted him on the shoulder before picking up another medal.
“The George’s Cross, presented to Private Michael McKenna, for bravery shown during the Sydney siege, to protect the civilians and evacuated them from danger during the active take down of the siege.”
As he did before, he pinned the medal to the soldier’s chest, engaging him in small talk and congratulating him. Harry was starting to get restless again. Charles picked up the next medal and moved onto the last.
“The George’s Cross, presented to Private Damian Michaels, for bravery shown during the Sydney siege to protect civilians and evacuate them from danger, as well as offering first aid to the injured on site.”
Charles pinned the medal to the final soldier’s chest, shaking his hand and congratulating him, before asking him a question. The soldier answered him, causing Charles to look rather shocked, he shook his hand again and patted him on the shoulder before stepping back next to the Master of Ceremonies.
“I present to you, these George’s Cross recipients, these people have shown great bravery above and beyond what is necessary and saved many lives in one day. May you hold your heads high and with pride.”
The six recipients turned and faced the crowd on the Master of Ceremonies direction, and the hall of ceremony was filled with applause. Desiree clapped loudly, smiling proudly at the six people standing on the stage. Media stepped forward and took photos of the six, before they were allowed to step down from the stage.
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Desert Love