Chapter Text
Alex's pov
"Babe, kids, I am home", Alex yells happily as he walks through the door.
He expects three energetic, curly-haired little kids to rush up to him, but instead, he's met with silence.
He closes the door behind him and walks into his home to find the love of his life sitting on the couch with a cup of tea.
She's wearing one of his hoodies, which makes Alex feel all fuzzy inside, even after all these years.
He walks in and asks her if he can kiss her, she's been distant lately so he just wants to make sure its okay.
She nods so he kisses her sweetly and sits next to her on the couch.
"Where are the kids, baby?' He asks confused.
"They're at Pez's. I wanted some alone time", Henrietta explains.
Alex smirks. He loves their kids to death but he won't say no to some alone time with his wife.
It's been a while since they had sex.
Henrietta hasn't wanted to undress in front of him for months.
It makes his heart break to think she might be insecure, but of course, he respects her boundaries.
He can't say he doesn't miss their intimacy though.
He'd never push her, of course, so he's been waiting patiently for her to feel comfortable getting naked around him again.
He wiggles his eyebrows at her. "Alone time, huh?"
She shakes her head with a tight smile. "Not that kind of alone time, Love."
Alex nods. "That's okay. We don't have to do anything. I just want to spend time with you."
Henrietta squeezes his hand. "Actually there is something important I want to talk to you about. That's why I had Pez pick up the kids.'
Alex flinches at that.
The truth is that Alex is terrified that his wife, his baby, the other parent to his kids, and the love of his life, is going to ask for a divorce.
When he's honest with himself there have been signs for a while;
He should have known something was wrong when Henrietta stopped asking him to join him in the shower, their very active sex life turned non-existent and she stopped smiling in awe whenever Alex called her his wife.
There were signs, he just refused to see them because he can't handle the idea that he's going to lose the love of his life.
And that his kids will have divorced parents just like he did.
Henrietta promised they wouldn't end up like his parents.
Alex really thought they'd grow old together but now she's asking if they can talk and he's holding his breath, because he doesn't think he'll survive it when she breaks his heart and tells him she no longer loves him.
He doesn't realize he's having trouble breathing until he notices Henrietta has kneeled in front of him and is gently cupping his face.
"What is happening, darling?" She asks kindly.
God, Alex can't do this.
He can't lose his best friend; the love of his life, and his highschool sweetheart.
He won't survive it.
Okay fine, he'll probably survive it, but he doesn't want to know what life without his soulmate is like.
"What can I do?" He chokes out.
Henrietta frowns. "What are you talking about, darling?"
"What can I do differently to change your mind? How can I make you fall in love with me again?" He chokes out.
"Alex", she gasps.
He shuts his eyes. He can't bear to see the heartbreak in her eyes.
"Alex, darling, look at me", she says gently.
When he finally looks at her she's crying too.
"Oh my darling, I love you so much. You will always be the one I love the most", she promises.
"But you're not in love with me anymore?" Alex asks terrified of the answer.
She frowns. "Of course I am. I love you so much. I am still and always will be in love with you, I am afraid."
"Then why are you divorcing me?" Alex chokes out.
Henrietta hugs him. "Oh, my darling, I am not divorcing you."
"But you've been so distant. Of course, it's fine if you don't want to sleep me with anymore. I could be perfectly happy if we never had sex again. But you've been acting so different. Every time I compliment you look like you're going to be sick. You sleep fully clothed instead of naked like you have since we were still high school sweethearts. Every time I call you my wife or I refer to you as my wife you look like you want to die", Alex says as he furiously wipes his tears.
"I am so sorry for making you think I was planning on divorcing you or that I no longer loved you. You're right, I have been acting distant and I was just about to tell you why", Henrietta tells him gently.
Alex drags her up onto the couch again. "Okay. I am listening. Just so we're clear... You're not leaving me?" He asks softly.
"Never", she promises.
Alex pulls her into his arms. "Hen, I don't want to offend you, but I have to ask, you're not having an affair, are you?"
She kicks him from where she's lying on top of him. "How could you even ask me that?"
"Sorry. I am sorry. I've just been breaking my brain trying to figure out why you went from always wanting to sleep with me to never wanting to sleep with me. We don't have to have sex ever again if you don't want to, I just couldn't understand why you were suddenly acting so different around me", Alex admits.
"It's got nothing to do with you", she says softly.
Alex's heart breaks at the confirmation. "Baby, you're so beautiful. Of course, your body doesn't look the same as it did when you were 16. Neither does mine. That's normal. Plus you birthed 3 kids, of course you look different. But you're still so fucking beautiful".
She winches at that.
Alex frowns. 'What did I say wrong?'
She sighs. "Nothing. You're perfect, darling. I just have to tell you something and I don't know how."
"Baby, It's me. You can tell me anything. As long as it's not 'I am pregnant with another man's baby' or I am divorcing you nothing you can say will make me walk out of that door. Nothing", Alex promised.
"Nothing?" She asks quietly.
"Nothing", he promises again.
"I have a secret that I've been keeping from you", she admits.
Alex strokes her hair. "You were behind your grandmother's death? Yeah, I figured as much."
She snorts. God how he loves making her laugh.
"I am trying to tell you something extremely serious", she sighs.
"Sorry. I am listening, baby", he says before kissing her forehead.
"I've known this for a long time but I knew as long as my grandmother was alive it wouldn't be safe for me to live my truth", she whispers.
"Oh, baby, why didn't you kill her sooner then?' Alex asks gently knowing it will release some of her stress.
She giggles before swatting at his chest.
"Come on, baby, you can tell me. It's me. And if you don't like my reaction you could always just kill me. You seem to know how to do that after all.'
She rolls her eyes at him. "Mary was a thousand years old, Alex. I did not kill her. Although with the way she threatened me, I probably should have."
"What did she threaten you with?" He asks concerned.
"She told me you'd leave me if I told you about my devil tendencies. I told her that wasn't true, that you love me for who I am"
"I do", Alex nods approvingly.
'So then she told me that she'd simply prevent me from telling you by threatening that if I told you she'd have you or me killed before I was able to ruin my perfect heterosexual marriage."
"Heterosexual? I am bi, babe", Alex reminds her.
She smiles. "Yes, I know that, dear."
"Did she really threaten to have you murdered?" Alex asks as he tightens his arms around her.
She nods.
"You don't have to tell me your secret", Alex says gently.
"I want to. I've just been scared", she admits.
"You can tell me anything, hen", he promises.
"I am trans", she whispers.
She says it so softly he's not sure he heard it right until she starts to sob so hard it breaks his heart.
"Oh, baby. That's okay. I am so proud of you for telling me", he says as he rubs her back.
They lay in silence for a while, Henrietta keeps crying and Alex keeps promising this changes nothing between them.
"So, pronouns?' He asks after a while.
He looks up with red-rimmed eyes. "He/him, if that's okay."
"Baby, of course, it's okay", Alex says gently.
He rubs his back some more. "So you want to transition then?"
He nods. "I've always known I was a boy, I think. At least I've known for a really long time. But I've wanted to transition since I was 16 and came out to my dad. Possibly before that. But I won't do it if it means losing you.'
Alex kisses him then. "I am not going anywhere, silly. You're the love of my life."
Then he frowns.
"16? So right when we started dating? Why did you never tell me, baby? You could have talked to me, I'd have supported you when I was 16 just like I will now.'
He groans. "I was scared and like I said Mary found out that I came out to my dad before he died and threatened me not to ruin my relationship with that boy I was dating. So first I was scared of that. I also knew deep down that you'd be supportive, and I didn't think I could take it if I could only be out to you and still had to keep my identity a secret from the rest of the world. Then I got scared our kids would think their mom was a freak."
Alex shakes his head. "They won't think you're a freak. We raised them better than that. They love you so much. They will have no problem switching from papa and mommy to papa and daddy.'
"You really think so?" He asks hopefully.
"I know so", Alex promised.
'What about you?' He asks then. "Won't you miss your wife?'
Alex shrugs. 'My partner will still be here, won't he? You'll still be you, just more confident and happier. I am excited to meet the real you that's free to be himself."
Henry starts to tear up again. "Christ, you're perfect."
Alex wipes away his tears. "So are you, baby. Have you thought about what name you'd like to go by?"
"Henry. I like Henry because it won't be a major adjustment so more chance people will get it right. And it's what my dad wanted to call their 3rd child if it were a boy. Which they didn't yet know it was."
"I like Henry", Alex smiles.
'Yeah?"
"Yeah."
Henry bites his lip. "I am sorry we haven't been intimate in a long time. Ever since Gran died and I accepted that I could finally live my truth I've felt so uncomfortable in this body.'
Alex waves him off. "I understand. It's fine, baby. You never have to apologize for not wanting to have sex. Plus I can wait. How can I help you feel more comfortable in your own skin?"
Henry sits up straight. "I'd really like to get rid of my long hair now if that's okay with you."
Alex rolls his eyes at him. "Babe, stop asking me for permission. It's your body".
Henry nods. "You're right. I'll grab the scissors."
Alex gasps. 'You want me to do it?"
"Yes. I've waited more than a decade. I am not waiting a second longer. You can do it. I trust you", Henry says before getting up to get the scissors.
Alex grins. "I can't promise I'll be any good."
Henry giggles. "That's okay. I can always go to a real barber tomorrow. I just need to get rid of it. Like now."
Then he raises an eyebrow at Alex. "What's got you smiling like that?"
"You're just so happy. I like it", Alex admits softly.
He's halfway through cutting Henry's hair when he asks. "Hey, babe? Does this mean that you're gay?"
Henry hums.
"Heterosexual marriage my ass", Alex giggles.
When he's done cutting his husband's hair he kisses him excitedly.
"You'll need a professional to fix the edges but you look so handsome, baby."
Henry smiles fondly. "Thank you for your support."
Alex kisses him sweetly. "Of course, baby. Always. Go look in the mirror!"
Henry excitedly looks in the mirror and then immediately starts to cry.
Alex kisses his cheek. "What do you think?'
"I think this is me. And I can't wait to transition", Henry whispers.
"I am so happy for you, baby. And so proud of you. What's next?" Alex asks.
Henry brings Alex's hands to his chest. "I want to get rid of these. But would you be okay with that? You love my breasts."
Alex shrugs. "I won't deny that I have had a lot of fun with them and that yes I love them, but mostly I just love you. Plus I am bi, babe. I am attracted to people without boobs, too. Plus it's you. You will always be hot to me."
Henry kisses him then. "You're sure you're okay with it?"
Alex rolls his eyes at him. "Of course! It's your body. You're the only one who gets to decide whether you should transition or not. Plus I am excited to see how much happier you will be, when you feel at home in your body."
"I love you so much", Henry cries.
"I love you more, babe", Alex says easily.
'I can't believe you thought I was divorcing you", Henry says with a sassy eye roll.
'I am glad you're not", Alex says as he tightens his arms around his husband.
Henry smiles fondly at him. "I would never. But Alex if I am really going to transition it won't be easy.'
Alex shrugs. "But it will be worth it. And stop worrying about the kids. We raised them right and they love you so much. They just want to see you happy. I'll talk to them tomorrow. It's going to be fine, I promise. They were raised by the most supporting, loving, woke, amazing, respectful people I know."
Henry laughs at that.