Work Text:
Alex had picked up a new case at work and it had been a long time since he and Henry had been able to be little and Alex felt bad. He knew how stressed he was from the shelter and him grandfather leaning down his neck so he decided a give him a little surprise (pun 1000% intended).
He had had some specially soft plush trousers commissioned for him they were blue and had his favourite character from Bluey printed all over them. Alex opened the box and felt so excited knowing Henry would love them. Of course they were very special as no one really prints children’s television characters onto adult clothing sizes (rude).
He had also bought Henry a matching colouring book and a new pacifier. It was light blue with small pastel beads stuck on, it also had a fluffy blue cord attached to it so it could hang from the top of his shirt.
Alex had got his cute little plate out ready for a snack if Henry wanted it and a small sippy bottle if he wanted something to drink. He had really thought this through stuffies all out on the bed, paint ready in the kitchen for some finger painting, David was staying with June and Nora, blanket, wet wipes anything you could need to look after little Henry.
Just as he set out the last paint brush when he heard a key in the lock he rushed to the door making sure he was completely ready when the door was opened Henry dropped his bags quickly “Alex, sweetheart?” He asked expecting David’s tapping paws. Alex walked to the door and greeting him as per usual. “Hen?” He asked calmly and asked turned around waiting for his question “I know you have been stressed lately so, I sent David for a night with my sister and I’m going to look after you. Is that ok?” Alex asks adjusting the hood of his jacket. “Alex, you don’t need to I’m fine really.” Alex ignores his comment and moves behind him massaging his back “Henry I can feel the tension in you back” Henry sighed as Alex took his bag, Alex knew he was already starting to slip “Please do it for me, Do it for Daddy?” He asked knowing that would help Henry slip fully. And he did.
Henry giggled and babbled for a bit on the floor as Alex helped him take his shoes off. “Hen? Daddy has a surprise for you do you want to see?” Excitement lit up on Henry’s face as he nodded enthusiastically allowing Alex to help him up. As soon as he was upright he scampered towards their bedroom and Alex followed after just loving this giggles his little was giving. “Don’t open the door without me!” He said in a calm but insistent manner he could hear the pout in Henry’s whine.
Once Alex arrived at the door of their bedroom, Henry waited not so patiently on the outside trying to peek through the key hole, Alex hurried him out of the way so he could open the door. The excitement radiated from Henry. As Alex opened the door Henry’s eyes flashed with delight as he was greeted by all his stuffies. Alex had hidden the trousers to add extra dramatic effect.
He managed to calm Henry’s excitement briefly by letting him grab Jon (his stuffed beagle) and sit on their bed. Alex turned his back for a minute and Henry was already chewing on the ear of Jon. “What are you doing kiddo?” He asked in an amused tone placing his hands on his hips over dramatically. Henry giggled and clapped his hands together letting the dog fall from his grasp.
He let go of Jon at the wrong angle and he flopped onto the edge of the mattress just seconds after rolling onto the floor, somehow managing to slip partially under the bed. Alex had his back turned again and only realised what had happened once he heard Henry sniffle a small tear rolling from his face. Alex rushed forward cupping his cheek wiping his tear “Oh baby no, what’s wrong? What happened?” He asked confused and Henry cried again rubbing his eyes with little balled up fists. Although Henry was clearly in distress Alex couldn’t help but think how absolutely adorable he looked. All Henry could muster was to point at the area where Jon had disappeared to. Alex shuffled round and understood why Henry was upset “Little one it’s ok look” he said pulling Jon up “he’s ok, he didn’t go anywhere he just fell ok? Now why don’t you give him some extra cuddles to make him feel better after this tumble?” He concluded and Henry nodded slowly still sniffling slightly.
Alex turned his back to find a comfy t-shirt for Henry to wear. He grabbed on of his old Harvard tops that he knew Henry loved. He turned back to Henry. “Hey Hen, how about we get you changed hey?” He asked knowing that Henry doesn’t really like to, Henry shook his head and poured “I know you don’t like it but Daddy bought you something to encourage you.” He said soon Henry’s attention was completely on him. Jon was discarded in the middle of the bed. Alex couldn’t help but feel bad for the beagle I mean he just took a tumble from a great height and now he doesn’t even get any snuggles, Alex thinks he’ll bring that one up later is Henry gets upset again.
Alex leans behind the door of their wardrobe and pulls out the special blue trousers. Henry’s eyes immediately light up so excited that his favourite character (Bluey of course) were on some trousers he could wear them.
After Alex helps him get changed he brings out the new pacifier. Once again his eyes lit up. Alex was glad to give his thumb a rest. Clipping the small chord onto Henry’s t-shirt and letting him enjoy it for a few minutes Alex asked “Kiddo? Do you want Daddy to make you something to eat?” Henry nodded but didn’t make any verbal response, he was too busy babbling at Jon and pulling at his ears “Hen? You remember that you can do that with Jon and not David because David’s ears are bigger than Jon’s aren’t they?” And Henry nods he seems to have concluded his story about Jon so happily follows Alex to the kitchen. Alex knows the real reason Henry can’t play so rough with David is because his is an actual living thing but he couldn’t say that as Jon (to Henry at least) is very real and has real feelings. Alex would never hear the end of it if he said Jon couldn’t feel things.
Once in the kitchen and Jon safely in his own chair away from Henry’s prying fingers, Alex introduced Henry to the finger painting stuff that he had got out for him. There was 6 colours Henry could choose from and many brushes of all shapes and sizes. Alex reminded Henry about how paint goes on the paper not on the walls, Jon, Henry on Daddy. “Now Hen, Are you going to sit here nicely and paint whilst Daddy makes you a snack? Or are you going to be a rascal and mess around?” Henry giggles before respond “I’m going to be a rascal” he said a cheeky grin on his face. Alex sighs in a jokey fashion “Then I guess there will be no story tonight” he sighs pretending to be disappointed Henry gasps in disbelief “No story?” Alex nods once again pretending to be upset. Henry lets out a defeated sigh “Fine I’ll be good” he huffs but Alex knew he would soon be babbling and giggling in no time once he was allowed to paint. “Good boy” Alex murmurs before standing up kissing his forehead and moving to the kitchen space just across front the table.
Henry sits and mumbles to himself for a bit before turning to Jon and telling him all about the painting he was doing. Naturally it was very messy but he made lots of joke about it being better than the Mona Lisa as Alex came over with his little guys plate of crackers and hummus. Henry huffed when he found it was not Jaffa Cakes and Alex made a joke about there being no Jaffa Cakes left in the world that Henry took to heart. Trying to distract his little for the gross betrayal he asked “What you drawing there, bud?” Henry confidently replied “You, me, Jon and David walking on a rainbow through a kingdom of sweets” Alex laughs looking at the few paint splatters all over the page.
Alex made himself some food and ate it whilst Henry painted, Alex had never really admired his boyfriend in his littlespace before, such a peaceful expression on his face sucking away on his paci without a care in the world.
Soon Alex declared it was bedtime, this was swiftly followed by a series of whines and protests from Henry but he was eventually won over by the promise of a story and Alex doing all ‘the voices’ like he usually does.
That curled up in bed together as Alex read Henry the boom Jack and the Beanstalk. He giggled as Alex said in a funny deep voice “Fee Fi Fo Fum I smell the blood of an English man” before promptly leaning over and fake sniffing Henry secretly indulging in his boyfriend’s babbles and giggle as he does so.
Soon Henry was snoring away. Alex got a text from Bea asking how it had gone, he and told her about it incase there was some British emergency like actually running out of Jaffa Cakes, making sure they knew they wouldn’t be reachable for at least 24 hours. He told Bea all about the evening before sending her a sleepy pic of him and Henry called up concluding a great time for everyone, well everyone except Jon.