After spending months always on the move, it was hard to get back into the groove of relaxing. In any case, Meredith didn't want to spend her time home just on the couch. She didn't know when the next time was going to be in Minnesota-- for many reasons and then the largest reason. Either way, Meredith wasn't going to sit by and doing nothing.

Meredith wanted to spend more time with her father, but there was a larger vacation coming up. The rest of the 19 days were all vacation for her really, so it was time to use it before getting back to business.

"Do you have everything?" Meredith asked, coming downstairs.

Harry stood over a suitcase. Thankfully, it wasn't as big as when they were traveling as royals. There were no fancy dresses or suits, and there were especially no tiaras. Her head hurt at the thought of it.

He looked at the open suitcase, having to think what to back for the first time in a long time. "Um... yes?"

Meredith looked in the suitcase. "Where your jacket?"

"It's summer," he argued.

"You're from England. Does it not rain in summer? Is it not cold and windy in summer?"

Harry gave her a look. "You're sassy this morning."

Meredith was sassy every day; it just depended on how much it came out. Walking upstairs, she grabbed his jacket from the bigger suitcases and brought it down. Hers was already waiting for the taking.

When going to Superior, Wisconsin, even in summer, one was supposed to expect that it was going to be rainy and cold. Superior didn't really have a fall and spring. It was mostly winter and some summer. The summer didn't truly start until July. The ice off the lake usually melted fully by the end of May and beginning of June. Maybe they were going to see some ice of Lake Superior too.

In the car, Meredith drove, making her way through the Twin Cities before hitting the road up to Duluth and Superior. It was around 179 miles, and each time, Harry was always amazed by the distance. It was roughly a two-and-a-half hour drive to Superior, depending on how a person was driving. Meredith didn't drive much, if ever, in the United Kingdom, but here, like before, she drove.

They made one stop on the way. At the Kwik Trip, a Midwestern gas station chain, Meredith had to use the bathroom while Harry grabbed snacks. When she came out, she was not impressed by his choices and went around to chose many more, stating that she didn't know what she was going to be in the mood for when the time came. Harry agreed because right now, Meredith had many changes in her appetite.

Harry drove the rest of the way so that Meredith was able to eat. She picked through a bag of pre-popped popcorn and then switched to pickles. Harry had never seen her eat pickles in her life, but suddenly, they were the tastiest thing in the world. Harry had to put down the windows to get the smell out. It still didn't work.

They arrived in Superior, and Harry was glad Meredith told him to bring his jacket. Duluth was sunny and warm, and they entered Superior to the wind and cloud-cover. A smile spread across her face because she knew what it was like. In her first semester here, it had been off putting, but eventually, it gave the town a more homey feeling. Lake Superior looked on, and she had spent so many days and nights on its shores. The days were spent reading, and the nights were spent with bonfires. The best s'mores were chocolate, marshmallow and saltines. Harry was sure that was a pregnancy craving.

Driving through Superior, the town was slowly being rejuvenated. It was going to take time, starting from port town that it once was and moving into a city that was no longer going to be outshone by Duluth. "Duluth is overrated," Meredith said, staring out the window. She watched as her old university came and went, and her old residence hall was torn down. It was probably for the best due to its old age, and while she had fond memories of that place, she also remembered where the paparazzi used to stalk her. Meredith pulled her eyes away.

They chose a hotel that wasn't too close to the water. It was summer so most of the hotels by the water were already taken. It was quite all right with Meredith because she knew where the good places were.

After settling their stuff in the room, Harry and Meredith went to dinner, hitting up one of the local restaurants. Harry was dressed in his baseball cap and jacket. She had her blonde hair lying down. Walking in, Meredith suddenly regretted not bringing a disguise because on the wall was a picture of Meredith and her college friends-- Giorgi, Delaina and Tabitha-- eating here. Hopefully, no one was going to notice.

At the dinner table, Harry and Meredith ordered. Meredith's belly was rumbling again, but for the millionth time that day, she quickly got up and went to the bathroom. When she came back, she slid into the booth across from her husband.

"What's the plan?" he asked. "What do you want to do first-- besides eating?"

"Wisconsin Point tonight." Meredith pulled out her phone and set on the table. She had been busy while in the bathroom. "I've already made plans. Tomorrow," she took a gulp of her water, "is a different story."

"What's the story for tomorrow?" 

She shrugged. "I don't know. I haven't decided yet."

Harry knew his wife planned out everything, so the fact that she didn't have this planned was quite the step forward.

The wood came, and Meredith had fish and chips. Harry went for a burger, and she nearly gagged at the sight of it. Harry chuckled. "How's your fish and chips? Just as good as London's?"

"No." Meredith put more salt on it. "I miss the brown sauce."

"Ew." It was Harry's turn to nearly gag.

After dinner, they walked out of the restaurant. The sky had cleared off, and the wind had died down. It was like it was a new day. The weather in Superior was like that. Meredith drove on their way. She knew where they were going, and she didn't like to give directions when she was able to drive herself. Before they went though, Meredith took a hard left and zipped into another Kwik Trip.

"Wasn't there one just down there?" Harry asked. "And by our hotel?" He then thought if that was the reason she chose that specific hotel; was she hooked on Kwik Trip like a drug?

"There are seven in Superior." Meredith got out and ran inside. A few minutes later, she came out with bonfire snacks-- the usual ones and her favorite ones. She got a few more things too, just in case someone was feeling something else. Meredith was always the mother in this situation, making sure everyone was fed. She stuffed everything in the back and headed back on the path.

At Lot 3, there were several cars waiting. Harry grabbed the bags out of the back, refusing her help. When they came over the small hill, the bonfire was already going strong with other bonfires lining the beach. They were far enough away and it was almost completely dark that no one was going to recognize them. The waves had calmed down, and the moon was moving high into the sky.

Four females waited around it, and Meredith rushed toward her old college friends, hugging each of them dearly. It had been a long time, and it was going to be even longer. They said they were going to come visit-- and she knew they were going to-- but it didn't help that Meredith wasn't around London recently. That was going to change, but she wasn't able to tell them that. They were her best friends, and she trusted them with her life-- but still, she didn't want to tell them. She didn't want anyone to act different, and it wasn't going that be different.

"Want one?" Delaina asked, holding a beer up.

"No, I'm good. I'm the driver," Meredith said. "Harry?"

"Um... I'm good."

"I thought he was supposed to be a partier," Tabitha said.

"You should've seen him at his reception," Kyra said. "Do you even remember any of it?"

"Okay." Meredith stepped in between. "Harry brought snacks."

"Harry did or you did?" Giorgi asked.

"I'm carrying them," he replied.

Harry didn't spend much time around her friends, and when he did, he sometimes felt like an outsider. Meredith didn't know any of his friends when she came to London; she hung out with them anyway. Harry did the same now.

The moon had moved mostly across the sky when the evening came to the end. Delaina and Tabitha put the fire out within a matter of minutes while Giorgi cleaned up. Kyra, Meredith and Harry took everything back to people's cars. Giorgi had driven Tabitha and Delaina out, which was good because they were drunk. Kyra was heading back to her parents' house, which was only a few miles away. Meredith hugged them all good-bye before she and Harry drove off.

At the hotel, Harry was quick to fall asleep, and she fell asleep soon after. However, she only stayed asleep for so long.