Chapter Text
It had been a week since Henry had run away from Alex in Texas and his suspicions had only been confirmed, yet there was just one thing left to do. Henry hadn’t left his bedroom in that week, barely having the energy to pull himself out of bed. He’d not eaten much but he’d still put on weight. He’d been ignoring every single message and email he’d received from Alex, which was killing him. He hated ignoring Alex, but he needed to distance himself now so it didn’t hurt as much in the future.
“Shaan, can I ask you to go and get something for me?” Henry asked, apprehensively.
“Why do I get the feeling that I’m not going to like what you’re about to ask me to do?” Shaan responded.
“Because you’re not. You’re going to be furious with me.” Henry admitted, looking down at his bed covers.
“Prince Henry, what did you do?”
“I need you to buy me a pregnancy test!” Henry blurted.
“You need me to do what?”
“You heard me the first time. I need you to get me a pregnancy test. Or ten, just to be sure.” Henry mumbled.
“Okay, I’ll go and get you a pregnancy test, but after you take it, we need to have a talk about safe sex.” Shaan stated.
“I think it’s a bit late for that, don’t you?” Henry snarked.
“This pregnancy test may come back negative, in which case, this was a great learning opportunity.” Shaan replied, heading out of the room, closing the door behind him. Henry didn’t want to tell Shaan that taking this pregnancy test was more of a formality, he was already 99% sure he was pregnant. The thought had first occurred to him when he was in Texas with Alex’s family, he knew that some of the food was going to seem unusual but having to duck out of the room to throw up at some of the smells seemed like a bit of an overreaction. The whole having to pee, constantly. And now some of his trousers wouldn’t fasten, Henry knew he’d put weight on, but it was only in this last week since he’d run from Alex’s inevitable confession, and had barely eaten anything that he’d really thought there was no other answer. On the one hand, he hoped the test would come back negative because he wasn’t prepared to deal with the inevitable shitstorm that would follow, he’d have to tell Alex, he’d have to tell his Gran. He worried that Alex wouldn’t stay by his side but telling his Gran was the most terrifying thought in the world. The idea of Alex staying by his side also terrified him, just as much as the thought of him choosing to leave because Henry was pregnant. Alex didn’t deserve to have his name dragged through the mud the way that Henry’s would be as soon as anyone found out about the pregnancy.
“Right,” Shaan started as he reentered the room. “I’ve got you a few. Also, I deserve compensation for the looks I got picking these up for you.”
“You have my greatest thanks.” Henry smiled, cheekily.
“Your thanks aren’t going to cut it this time. I’m being serious, Your Highness. Have you thought about what is going to happen if this test comes back positive?”
“Yes, and I’d rather put off thinking about it until I know for definite.”
“I think you and I both already know what this is going to say, don’t we?” Shaan raised an eyebrow.
“I think so.” Henry agreed.
“Do you want me to leave for a moment?”
“No, please stay in here and wait for me. I’ll go and take all of them and bring them back out into my bedroom. And based on what they say, we’ll see what to do next.” Henry frowned. Henry had just flushed the toilet and washed his hands when Shaan’s voice came through the door.
“What do they say?”
“I’ve only just taken them. We need to wait a couple of minutes.” Henry replied, moving back into the bedroom and sitting down.
“Have you given any more thought to what you’re going to do?”
“Well, I’m keeping the baby if that’s what you mean.” Henry stated.
“I already knew that. You love Mr Claremont-Diaz, I would never see you willingly giving up his child.” Shaan replied.
“No one is taking this child away from me. If I have to leave the Royal family and renounce my name and titles, then that is what I will do.” Henry answered.
“That’s quite a serious statement.”
“If I’m not going to be accepted for who I am here, then I will go and find somewhere that I am.” Henry insisted.
“Of course. You have to do what’s best for you.” Shaan frowned when Henry’s phone started beeping. It was the timer the prince had set in the bathroom.
“I can’t look at them. I need you to tell me what they say. I can’t bear it.” Henry cried, burying his face in his hands.
“You’re pregnant.” Shaan whispered.
“I think I already knew that.” Henry sobbed, placing a hand on his flat stomach.
“I guess that talk is kind of redundant now.” Shaan commented.
“I know how to practise safe sex, okay. We just forgot.” Henry offered.
“That line would be okay if you were just anybody else, but you’re Prince Henry. You know that.” Shaan frowned.
“Look, Shaan, there’s no point in debating this. All four of the pregnancy tests I took came back positive. I’m pregnant. There’s no point trying to deny it. I am just unsure of where to go from here.” Henry offered.
“Well, you’re going to need to get in touch with Mr Claremont-Diaz and tell him that the two of you are having a baby together.” Shaan suggested.
“Do you have any idea how much the thought of that terrifies me?” Henry sighed.
“As much as it would terrify anyone else who just found out they are pregnant with an unplanned baby.”
“We’ve never even talked about kids. I joked about it once but I don’t even know if he likes kids. I don’t want to doubt Alex but I don’t even know if he’ll stay with me. This could be a deal breaker. I could end up alone, cast out of the Royal Family with nowhere to go. On top of being pregnant.” Henry spiralled.
“Your Highness, you need to breathe, think of the baby. Getting this wound up isn’t doing your child any good.” Shaan tried to comfort the prince.
“I think I’m just going to go back to sleep. Try and wrap my head around things.” Henry sighed.
“If there’s anything you need, let me know.” Shaan offered, leaving the room and closing the door behind him. Henry screamed into his pillow before curling up and drifting off.