Work Text:
Henry came back from his day of meetings exhausted. He entered the brownstone breathless and sweaty he was expecting David’s fast approaching paws but when he didn’t he felt his heart rate rise again. He called out to his love “A..A..Alex” He was stuttering and scared that Alex wouldn’t be home yet and he would have to sort himself out.
“Henry, baby?” Alex called slight pang of concern in his voice. “Are you ok, darling?” Henry whimpered at Alex’s calling voice. Henry was struggling with his bag even though it was very light as it slipping off his shoulder he felt upset not being able to grasp it. Alex pops his head out from his study opening the door and letting David meet Henry at the door. Henry heard David’s paws and Alex getting up from his chair but he was slipping into a weird headspace he loosely recognised from his grief period after his father’s death. That light and bubbly headspace, feeling like the whole world was lifted off his shoulder, feeling like a child…
Henry had accidentally let himself fall into a little space. He promised himself it wouldn’t happen again. He was worried that Alex would find it weird even though they have lived together for over a year now and he has physically been inside of him but he still held on to that side of himself. The only time around Alex he had even done this was after the emails leaked in Kensington Palace he was with his sister and Alex and he felt so safe yet so overwhelmed at the same time, his sister knew about it and helped him with it being his first caregiver. He had kept the things he used to use to soothe himself in a box that Alex had never seen before and never know about.
He was stood in the hallway of their brownstone giggling like a toddler forgetting his own name. Alex saw him and rushed towards him grabbing him tightly.
“Hen? Everything ok?” Henry nodded enthusiastically giggling still. Alex's expression was confused and concerned all at once. Then something seemed to click for him. He grabbing his phone for a second flicking to a text from Henry’s sister. Henry tried to snap out of his headspace, but Alex could see what was happening. “Henry, baby, it’s ok. You can be a little right now. You’re safe here baby” Alex said softly in his dominant tone that they only really used during a scene, Henry was confused but too tired to care so he nodded.
He calmly followed Alex to their bedroom sitting on the bed like a puppy following commands. Alex pulled a small box out of his bedside drawer that Henry had never seen before, he babbled intriguingly looking into the box. Alex slowly pulled out a small tiger plushy and handed it to Henry “Here buddy. What do you think?” Henry took the teddy excited nodding enthusiastically. He babbled some more. “D..D..Da” he started but quickly swapped his wording around as he hadn’t used that phrase with Alex yet “S..S..Sir what’s his name?” He said a small blush rising to his cheeks. Alex moved a hand to cup Henry’s face stroking a thumb across his cheeks slowly. “Hen? It’s ok. You can call me Daddy if you need to.” He said confidently, and Henry nodded again trying the best he could to communicate his needs in his younger mindset.
“Daddy? What’s his name?” Henry asked curious “I don’t know. What do you think little one?” Alex asked crouching down next to Henry on the bed. “Jon” Henry says cutely stuttering over the words. Alex grabs a few more small things from the box and slips them into his back pocket out of Henry’s view to try and keep a surprise for him. Henry’s stomach growls and Alex leans in threading a tickle “Hey little guy sounds like someone’s hungry, do you want a snack?” Henry nods quickly. “Well then let’s see what Daddy can make for this hungry little one” Henry giggles as Alex interlaces their fingers together and slowly leads them to the kitchen.
Alex pops Henry onto a stool a safe distance from the stove but not far enough away Alex could keep an eye on him and reach him to get him from danger or just tickle him for fun. “Now kiddo what do we want Daddy to make you?” Henry thinks for a minute and starts to stutter and stumble over some words “A..A..Appie slices?” He says and Alex nods “Daddy can make you some apple slices do you want anything with them?” He questions and Henry thinks for a minute again “P..P..Butter” he stumble and Alex chuckles lightly “Butter?” He asks in a teasing tone but Henry is not in the mood. Henry is upset he can’t find the words and starts balling his fists up as he struggles, Alex notices the tension and watches closely even as he cuts up the apple. Henry snaps finally and hits himself on the head with a fist but Alex is on standby quickly grabbing his wrists and looking into Henry’s eyes “Hey, hey, hey shhh it’s ok little one. I know you can’t find the words but Daddy doesn’t like it when you hit yourself, does he?” Alex questions trying to draw Henry’s attention from his frustrations. It works and Henry shakes his head.
“Good boy, now slowly try and tell me what you want.” Henry breathes deeply loving the praise he’s getting and starts on the word again “P..P..Peanut b..butter” he stammers as pride washes over his face at completing the sentence. Henry grins at Alex as Alex grins back at him. “Daddy is so proud of you baby” he says softly hugging Henry “In fact” he says in an excited tone “Daddy has a little gift for you” he says and Henry giggles as Alex pulls out a pack of crayons and a small colouring book for him. Henry beams and admires all the colours in the crayon pack. “Now I’m going to prepare your snack, can you colour a nice picture for Daddy?” Henry nods picking up a red crayon and starting to messily colour a picture of a dog. Alex grins and turns back to the apple and peanut butter for Henry.
Henry sits at the dining room table happily munching away on his apple without a care in the world babbling away. Alex grins wildly at his little man sat across from him. He loves Henry so much and he doesn’t care who knows it. Henry finishes his apple but a huge pout appears on his face “Aww little man, whats up?” Henry grumbles and pushes his plate away “Daddy? I want chocolate” Alex had been told by Bea that Henry often tried to demand sugary snacks but to not give them to him as after eating apples, colouring and a story he is ready for a nap. “I don’t know mister you seem a bit tired, don’t you think? How about a nap?” Henry’s pout only grew he shook his head. “What about if we just lay together?” Henry shook his head again getting out from his chair and trying to run away, David was out and about sniffing around for a walk Henry whispers to David “Doggie come hide with me” in a young and excitable manner. Alex just laughs at him and grabs his plate moving to the sink to give it a quick wash before trying to find Henry.
“Kiddo? Where did you go?” He says in a teasing tone. Henry is curled up under a blanket on their bed with David next to him whispering and giggling and babbling to David. Alex approaches from behind him a grabs the blanket yanking it off Henry a shocked and surprised face appearing giggling. “Noooooo” he said in a whiney voice Alex laughs as Henry tries to scramble away but Alex grabs him quickly “Ahh Daddy’s got you now, no trying to wriggle away, I think it’s tickle time” He says in an excitable tone. Alex reaches forward to pin Henry to the bed as he tickles down his sides. “Fine, Daddy please stop I’ll stay here” he says giggle and Alex nods letting him down. “How about Daddy helps you put some PJ’s on?” Henry nods and they move over to the wardrobe. Alex pics out his old t-shirt and a loose pair of Henry’s shorts. He helped Henry slip into them. “Now H? Story time?” Henry pulls his head out of his t-shit with an excited expression “Stowy?” In a very childish tone and Alex nods as he gets into bed tapping his lap and motioning for Henry to join him. Alex pulls out a pop-up book as Henry moves to sit in front of him so his legs are bracketing Henry’s body and letting him lean back to rest on him. After just 6 pages of the book Henry is snoring softly against Alex’s stomach. Alex pecks a kiss onto Henry’s head before turning off the bedside lamp and settling down.
The sun seeped in through the curtain gracing Henry’s face calmly he wakes from his slumber ready to return to his usual headspace Alex wakes soon after stoking his cheek. “Morning baby, how did you sleep?” Henry yawned “Well thanks, you?” Alex just hummed in response laying his head back on the pillow.
After a morning of calming activities they sat at the dining table for some breakfast eating their cereal Henry asked “Alex? About last night, how did you know?” He was sheepish and cautious but Alex was not he was confident in his response “After the emails leaked and I arrived in Kensington you were already asleep, Bea let me into the palace and to you bedroom you were so peaceful sucking on you thumb and cuddled up with you blankets. I was a bit confused at first but Bea told me what had
happened, when she knew we were moving in together she sent me a text telling me what you like and what you need when you a little.” Alex concluded trying to read Henry’s face. He sighed content with the answer “Thank you, I really needed that” he said after a while. “I loved caring for you, I would love to do it again when you need. Do you want to talk about what was making you stressed?” He asked calmly but Henry just shook his head.
So much for ‘The Prince Of England’s Hearts’ now he’s ’The Prince Of Alex’s Heart’!!