Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The plane back home was dead silent. Alex thought he could’ve heard a drop of rain hit the ocean. It wasn’t his fault that the awful ‘prince’ of the UK couldn’t keep his mouth shut for more than ten seconds when around Alex.

When they landed, and his phone had internet again, Alex looked through the headlines. So many bad ones and he knew that he was going to be asked to do damage control. He didn’t like damage control.

Once at the White House, Alex was swiftly escorted to the Oval Office.

“Look, Ma, I didn’t mean to!” Alex was quick to defend himself.

His mom, the President of the United States of America, turned around in her chair with a disapproving glare. “Not meaning to and still doing it fall under the same category, young man.”

“But, he pushed me!”

“Did you touch him first?”

“I don’t know, Ma!”

“Do you realize you sound like a child right now?”

“Do you realize that this isn’t helping anything?”

“Alexander Gabriel Claremont-Diaz, you have put the UK out of so much money and you come in here saying ‘it’s not my fault, Ma, he pushed me’ and you really think that I’m gonna care? Find a way to fix this. You’re not getting my help.”

Alex stared at his mother, hoping for any sense of regret in her eyes. But, as normal, she was certain in her decisions. Alex took a deep breath before turning on his heel and walking away. When he reached for the door, he heard his mother’s southern draw one last time.

“Ask Zahra for his number, Alex.”

Alex couldn’t bring himself to argue any longer.

Zahra waited outside of the room and immediately handed the First Son a small slip of paper. It took every ounce of self-control that Alex had in his body not to crumble it as soon as it was in his hand.

He went to his room. He ignored the homework on his desk and went straight for the bed. The bed that had welcomed him on his first day, held him through long nights, and now supported his weight as Alex felt the world’s weight on his shoulders.

He pulled his phone from his pocket without lifting his head from his pillow. Hastily, Alex typed the number that he had no business knowing into his phone. He titled the new contact as “HRH Prince Dickhead 💩”

(Alex): fuck you
(HRH Prince Dickhead 💩): Ah, Alex. I was wondering when you would text me. I was wondering if I would have to message first.
(Alex): fuck you II
(HRH Prince Dickhead 💩): Let me know when you’re past whatever this is.
(Alex): fuck you III

He didn’t have it in him to be mature; whatever that word meant. In the back of his mind, he briefly wondered how Henry had known it was him; and more than that, what he had him in his phone as.

He wanted to be alone and didn’t want those horrible thoughts tainting his brief alone time.

Alex stood up and walked to his desk. He decided that if he must stay awake, he would get shit done.

That is, until he looked at the first thing. He felt all of his motivation instantly leave him. He didn’t want to do any of it anymore.

~~~

Alex was shaken awake roughly. His arm tingled from resting on it and he realized that he must’ve fallen asleep at his desk. He stood and stretched before looking at whoever had woken him up.

“Bug, what the actual fuck?” Alex asked his sister.

“You’re needed. The front door actually.”

“Who the hell needs me at the front door?” Alex asked, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.

“Your significant troublemaker.” June said as if it were obvious who she spoke of. “God, Alex. Henry.”

Alex instantly sat back down. “No. I don’t want to talk to him.”

June walked around to stand behind Alex. “That’s way too fucking bad. Maybe you should’ve thought about that before you destroyed a very expensive cake at a very important wedding.”

“It wasn’t my fault!” But Alex could barely get his argument out before his rolling chair was moving out of is room. “Jesus Christ, June! What are you doing?”

“I have no clue!” She said. “You should stand up and start walking with me so that we can know!”

Alex crossed his arms. “I refuse.”

“Suit yourself, motherfucker.” June pushed him faster, to the point that she was running.

Alex felt very sick.

Finally, they made it to the front door and June stopped suddenly. They both had to close their eyes to stop the dizziness, motion sickness, and just overall momentary hatred for the other.

June opened the door, pinching the bridge of her nose, and in walked Alex’s least favorite person.

“Now, I knew that Americans were notorious for being lazy, but I didn’t imagine it was this bad.” Henry said.

Alex didn’t like being that much shorter, so he stood suddenly; the chair falling down behind him. Alex didn’t even flinch. He realized that, irritatingly, that Henry still had a good inch or two on him.

“Henry,” Alex said, not realizing that he puffed out his chest slightly.

“Alex,” Henry said, his tone expressing the hatred that his American counterpart tried to hide.

“What in the world are you doing all the way over here?” Alex tried to sound innocent, but it came out more mocking.

“Well, you see, this horrendously annoying American rowed across an extremely large pond and destroyed something of theirs and now an angel from across the pond has been sent to deal with the annoying American.”

“Angel, my ass.” Alex said, rolling his eyes.

“In all actuality, I was sent because apparently this is our mess and we have to find a way out of it. I was practically banished from my country until it is fixed.”

June, who Alex had forgotten was watching, suddenly spoke up. “You could stay in our wing. There’s no need for you to get a hotel if you’ll just stay here most of the day.”

“I don’t think that’s the best idea, Bug.” Alex said, trying to find fault in it before she could—

“And why is that, Alex?”

Fuck. “Because he’s- he’s- he’s—”

“The spare to the throne that you fought to get away from hundreds of years ago?” Henry supplied unhelpfully.

“Okay, fuck you for the fourth time.” Alex said.

Henry looked down to the floor with a smirk.

“And for the fifth.” Alex rolled his eyes before looking back at his sister. “Because he’s him and I’m me, June!”

“So what? Nora and I can deal with having a fucking prince in our house for a few days.”

Henry coughed. “It’ll be more than a few days. I’m not even allowed to try to come back for a month.”

Alex mimed a stab to the heart. “This wounds me, June! I don’t know if I can handle this for that long!”

“Suck it up, buttercup.” June said before offering her arm to the prince standing in front of him. “I can be helpful, Your Highness. Right this way.”

“At least one Claremont-Diaz can be kind.” Henry said softly, taking June’s arm. Alex, once again, felt horribly sick.

Chapter Text

Maybe it was his face.

Maybe that’s why Alex couldn’t find it in himself to be a mature person around the prince. Maybe Henry just had too perfect a face for Alex to handle. Maybe his blue eyes were simply too blue and his blond hair simply too blond.

Alex stared at the picture in his hands. He’d taken if from a newer magazine. The last time he’d done it was years ago. Now, he looked at the man in the picture. He was muscular and wearing clothes far too tight to be socially acceptable.

Alex pinned it to his dartboard and gathered darts. He threw one and landed it on Henry’s left eye. He was about to throw again when the door suddenly opened. Alex’s eyes widened at the same time that Nora’s did.

“You were throwing darts at his picture again, weren’t you?!”

“No!” Alex hid the darts behind his back even though he knew that it was far too late for that.

“You know what I’ve always said about that.” Even if you’re throwing darts at the picture, you still printed out the picture of him, you unhinged asshole.

Now, Alex knew that he was bisexual, he’d known for years at that point, he just didn’t want to accept the fact. He was out, but it felt as though he could be out to everyone in the world, but never quite to himself.

Alex sat down at the base of his bed. “You were the one who walked in on me doing it.”

“You were the one still doing it.”

Alex couldn’t shake the knowledge that his sworn enemy would be but two doors down for at least a month. It haunted him.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Nora asked, sitting down next to him.

“It’s difficult.” He said. “It’s a lot of this and then a lot of that and then a lot of this again and I just hate all of him. He’s so cocky and British and his stupid accent makes me want to punch him.”

“I’m just saying that you could maybe find a way to put up with him so that June, Amy, Zahra, and I don’t have to hear all of your whining about hating him so much. It’s really annoying. Did you know that when you whine, your voice gets super high pitched and it makes your face so much more punchable.” She paused. “Y’know, in hindsight, I see why you hate Henry so much.” She stood up. “Stop throwing darts at his picture and stop mopping. You’re better than this, Alexander.”

Alex wanted to believe her, but couldn’t. She left without saying anything else. Once again, leaving Alex to sit in his own thoughts.

Eventually, he decided to get to work on his homework; and surprisingly, he actually did. He wouldn’t say that it was his best work, but it wasn’t his worst by far.

He skipped dinner and just went to bed that night. He hated every aspect of his life; except for the fact that he had all the amazing opportunities that he did. Maybe he only hated his neighbor two doors down.

~~~

The next morning, he was starving. For a moment, he couldn’t remember why. Then it all came rushing back. He knew that he needed to eat in order to be able to at least be semi-appropriate to the prince that day, but all he got was a coffee before heading to an empty meeting room.

Henry was already waiting there. Because of course he was.

“Nice of you to join me.” Henry said, daintily stirring his tea, the spoon clicking against the teacup in an annoyingly even manner.

“You’re not calling the shots here.” Alex said.

“Says who? I outrank you.”

“You’re in my country.”

“You destroyed an expensive cake.”

“You pushed me into it.”

“You were an asshole at the Rio games.”

Henry looked taken aback. “What?”

“I introduced myself to you and then you turned to your assistant or whatever—”

“Equerry.” Henry supplied.

“Equerry and told him to ‘get rid of me’. I think I win the who was an asshole to who games.”

“For the record, my dad had just died and I wasn’t ready to be socializing like that.” Henry said before pursing his lips. “Though, I do suppose I owe you an apology. I shouldn’t have acted like I did there.”

Alex scoffed. “Damn right.”

“Why don’t you sit down?” Henry asked, pushing the chair across from him out from under the table with his foot.

Alex begrudgingly took the chair offered to him.

“I have an idea and I think you’ll like it.” Henry said, pushing his teacup away and resting his elbows on the table.

Alex glanced at them before looking back at him. “How improper of you, princess.”

“I’m in the states, love, I can do what I want.”

Alex couldn’t help but blush at the nickname. “What was your stupid idea?”

“We make a big show about how much we hate each other. Huge. We play pranks on each other, stuff like that and then it all looks okay. The cake incident meant to be harmless and went too far on accident.”

Alex smiled slowly. “I think I like that.”

“Since I have to stay for a while, I don’t think finding ways to play pranks on each other would be too difficult.” Henry said, smirking at Alex. “In fact, I have an idea right now.”

~~~

Alex soon found himself recording as he walked into a room.

“Hey guys. I just want to really apologize for what happened with the cake; even though it wasn’t my fault. I should’ve tried to be the bigger person, but I just couldn’t. Henry and I hate each other a lot and we usually play harmless pranks on each other. Henry hadn’t planned for the cake situation to get as disastrous as it was.” Alex moved to sit down. “Anyways, I just really wanted to apologize to the entire royal family.” He sat down on a chair and a whoopee cushion made a…loud noise. “Except for Henry. Where the hell is he? Henry, I swear to God, you’re fucking dead to me, you asshole!”

Alex stopped recording after he stood up and looked around for a moment. Henry came out from where he was hiding with his own recording of what happened.

They stood next to each other as they uploaded the videos to their own accounts.

Alex was going to enjoy this.

Well, except for the Henry part. The pranking Henry part was fine, but being around Henry was iffy.

Chapter Text

After a week of food dye on toothbrushes, saran wrap around doorframes, and shampoo swapped with hair dye, Alex and Henry sat on the couch and just breathed. It had been hard for them to keep up with the pranks; and recording them was a whole other story.

They laughed for a while about the worst ones and explained how they executed the best ones, but ultimately, it seemed as if they were becoming what Alex had least wanted—friends. Sure, they were friends that recorded each other being embarrassed, but what friend group didn’t?

“So,” Alex started as casually as he could. “Do you have a girl back home?”

Henry scoffed. “No.”

“Why? You’re a prince! You could have anyone you wanted.”

“Not anyone.”

Alex hated mysteries. He hated mysterious people. He hated mysterious answers most of all. He felt that they had no purpose and they were like the ‘irl version of clickbait’.

Henry sighed. “It just that I want some people and I can’t have them. The people I don’t want are the ones that I can have.”

“Dude, fuck that.” Alex said, shoving him away gently. “Whoever said that, fuck them. I don’t understand that!

“Yes. Fuck my grandmother.”

That…hadn’t been what Alex meant.

“What would you hate?”

“In what context?” Alex asked, looking at his friend.

“In our context.”

Alex stared; well, until his eyes flicked down to Henry’s infuriating lips. “I would hate so many things, Henry.”

Henry scooted closer, his voice low. “Like what, Alexander?”

Alex grabbed Henry’s shirt and pulled him practically in his lap. “Like you continuing to do whatever this is and not kissing me.”

Henry took that as a offer and leaned down. He kissed and kissed and kissed. Henry’s lips were soft against Alex’s.

Alex hummed and felt everything. Not only the physical touches, but also the emotions and excitement radiating from both of them.

Henry pulled away. “Alex,”

“Henry,”

They kissed once again. Briefly, it occurred to Alex that they were in a public room, but he quickly disregarded his observation.

Henry’s hands found their way around Alex’s head and Alex’s found their way around Henry’s waist. They held each other tightly as they kissed.

Alex hadn’t ever been kissed like that before. He loved all of it; the holding each other, the lips, and the quietness.

Tilting his head away from Henry’s lips, Alex started breathing more heavily.

“Are you okay, love?” Henry asked, gently kissing down Alex’s jaw.

“I’m fine,” Alex said, “Just need to breathe.”

Henry smiled softly. “Okay,”

Alex hummed. “Would you hate kissing my neck?”

“No,” Henry immediately did just that. He was gentle and careful as he absolutely destroyed Tomorrow Alex’s pride.

“Baby,” Alex breathed. Henry’s lips stuttered for a moment before going back with a different feeling; more possessive.

“Alex! Where are you?” Alex started at the sound of his sister’s voice.

Henry scrambled off of Alex and handed the latter a pillow.

“Alex!”

“In here!” Alex called, thanking any god that would listen that his voice was even.

June walked in with Nora right behind her. They sat down between Alex and Henry; both looking embarrassed to have had that close of a call.

“Will you stop acting like you just made out?” Nora asked before opening her folder. “Alex, your mother wanted me to give you the bad news that you’ve been requested to accompany Henry to the polo match at three today.”

Alex’s eyes widened. “Nora, I can’t. I don’t want to watch a bunch of snobby white guys play with horses, balls, and sticks.”

Henry coughed and the girls smirked.

“Oh for fucks sake, grow up!” Alex said, rolling his eyes. “You know what I meant. I’m not going.”

Henry looked at him behind the girls with pleading eyes. Alex wanted to look away, but couldn’t.

“Make me,” He mouthed.

Henry stood up suddenly and walked over to where Alex was laying. He took the pillow away and picked up Alex.

“Don’t worry, I will.” Henry said, carrying Alex out of the room. Alex was too shocked to even try to fight it.

Henry carried Alex to his room and dropped him on his bed. Alex moved up to sit against the headboard, his legs spreading instinctively. He couldn’t help but blush.

Henry raised his eyebrows, but climbed to Alex anyways.

~~~

At two forty-five, Henry and Alex left the White House in separate cars. Upon arriving, Alex waited for Henry to get out before snapping a picture of him. He posted it online with the caption: can’t wait to watch you lose @princehenry

Just fifteen minutes into the game—match?—Alex felt like killing himself. Not only was it mind-numbingly boring, but Henry’s uniform was tight and he looked like Adonis himself. Alex wouldn’t have complained if he were magically transformed into Aphrodite, Persephone, or even fucking Dionysus; the last of which was most likely due to his extreme madness when it came to Henry.

Alex felt slightly disappointed when he left. He couldn’t just wrap Henry up in a hug and he had to leave without saying anything.

He posted a picture of the gravel as he was driven back home. The caption read: fuck @princehenry I guess you win. Fuck you VIIII

Henry found Alex in the latter’s room. Alex stood and moved to wrap Henry in a hug. He kissed just below Henry’s earlobe before whispering. “That was incredible, Hen.”

Henry smiled as Alex pulled away. “So you like polo?”

“Oh, God no.” Alex said, walking away in what he must’ve thought was a sexy way. “It’s so fucking awful, but your pants were most certainly not.”

Henry followed Alex. “Oh really? You like my polo pants?”

An unearthly noise came from Alex’s throat. “I love them.”

Henry smirked. “Yeah?”

They moved back and Alex was pinned against the wall. Alex’s mind went back to a secret he’d discovered on his first day in the White House.

Rule #1: Don’t get caught

He knew that between himself and Henry, they wouldn’t, but when he was younger he went down rabbit holes as to who may have written it.

Who else had secrets that no one could know about? Who else was daring enough to be on the roof? Who else was brave enough to have secrets at all?

“Are you okay, love?” Henry asked. “Do you need to stop?”

“No, I’m fine.” Alex said, blinking back the far off look he’d gained while thinking. “Just had a thought.”

Henry pulled away, making Alex suddenly very cold. “What about?”

“Just some thing that doesn’t really matter.” Alex said, reaching for Henry.

“Everything you say matters.” Henry said, his hand disappearing in Alex’s hair.

Alex smiled softly at the pure sugar sweetness from Henry. “When we first got here, after Mom got elected, I went on the roof.”

“Of course you did.” Henry rolled his eyes lovingly.

“When I got up there, someone had written on there. I assume it was a former first or second child. It said that rule number one was to not get caught. I’ve thought about that since.”

“Are we to not get caught?”

“When have we in our lives been given the liberty of not getting caught?”

Henry shrugged. “I mean, you got on the roof and didn’t immediately get in trouble, so,”

“You’re the worst.”

“The worst at being bad.” Henry said, leaning forward to kiss Alex.

Alex smiled into Henry’s lips.

When they pulled apart, neither of their eyes opened for a moment.

“Alexander, you are truly incredible.” Henry whispered, his warm breath spreading over Alex’s face and sending chills down his arms.

Alex opened his mouth to say something, then looked frustrated. “Is there a longer version of Henry?”

“I believe Henry is the name that get’s nicknamed, love.”

Alex pulled out his phone and googled it. He wasn’t going to let it go.

“Does Harrison count?” Alex asked triumphantly.

“Sure, love.” Henry said, wrapping his arms around Alex’s waist.

“Restart, restart!”

“From where?”

“Well, you might as well kiss me again.” Alex said.

Henry didn’t need a second invitation. He immediately leaned in and connected their lips. Alex moved his hands up around Henry’s neck as they kissed.

After a while, Henry pulled away again. “You are truly incredible, Alexander.”

“Says you, Harrison.”

Chapter Text

After Henry had kissed Alex, both found it extremely difficult to be mean to each other in public. They knew that they had to, but not going to each others stuff and not being there was painful.

Henry walked into Alex’s room unannounced far too early in the morning. He shoved his phone into Alex’s face.

“What’s this?” Alex asked, reaching out to steady Henry’s hand.

“People are saying that there should be smutty fanfics written about us.”

Alex fell back on his bed and laughed. “Baby, I’m sure there already is!”

Henry looked horrified. “What?”

“Henry, I’m like ninety-nine percent sure that that beautiful body of yours stars in more than one porn fic.”

“Porn?” Henry’s eyes were wide.

“Hen, baby, it’s okay. They’ve been writing fanfic since the beginning of time.”

“Not about me, though.” Henry whispered.

Alex sat up and grabbed Henry’s hands. “Sweetheart, yes they have.”

Henry pursed his lips. “Have you read them?”

Alex smirked. “One of them, but they messed something up.”

“What’s that?”

Alex reached out and gently brushed his thumb against Henry’s lips. “This. The little crease right here. They never put that in, but it’s one of my favorite things about you.”

Henry couldn’t help but smile, moving Alex’s finger off of his lips.

“It’s okay, baby. You’ve probably just not looked at it.”

“Do you look often?”

“Nora, June, and I do weekly counts.”

Henry rolled his eyes. “Of course you do.”

Alex pulled away. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You seem like the person to read fanfics.”

“You seem like the person who would log onto it once. You probably have a secret account, don’t you?”

Henry blushed bright red. “You asshole.”

“You do! Oh my God, this is so exciting!” Alex stood up and wrapped Henry in a hug. “You have an account! You have to join us during our counting today!”

“That’s today?”

Alex nodded and grabbed his phone. “I’m running a bit late.”

Henry sighed and nodded. He let Alex pull him through the hallways down to a living room.

“Sorry we’re late! I had to convince him to come!” Alex said as he walked in. He sat down on the chaise of the couch and Henry sat in his lap.

Within Alex’s family, they were out as a couple; earning several eye rolls and ‘told you so’s’

“Does he have an account?” June asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Apparently.” Alex said, grinning.

Henry blushed and bit his lip.

“Let’s get started.” Nora said, pulling her laptop onto her lap. “Henry, we look for fics about ourselves.”

Henry nodded slowly. “Okay,”

~~~

A few hours of reading some horrible works and some literary masterpieces, Henry fell asleep on Alex’s shoulder. Alex’s heart felt like exploding.

Alex put his phone down and wrapped his arms around Henry. He kissed the top of Henry’s head before turning his head to try and get some sleep as well.

He saw June and Nora leave with little smiles on their faces. Nora turned off the lights after June put a blanket on Alex and Henry.

Henry’s hair fluttered softly with Alex’s breathing. They both hummed at the same time. Alex worried for a moment that Henry wasn’t asleep, but the latter just moved to adjust and was very much still asleep.

~~~

“Alex,” Henry whispered as they woke.

“Hmm?”

“Where’d you get the key?”

“What key?” Alex asked.

Henry gently pressed a chain into Alex’s chest. “This one.”

“Oh, that’s the key to our lake house in Texas.”

“Why do you wear it?”

“A piece of home.” Alex said softly. “I love it here, but Texas will always be home.”

Henry hummed. “Yeah, I understand that.”

“We’re going down next weekend. Do you wanna come? There won’t be any cameras or anything.”

“I would love to come.” Henry said. “Will it just be the four of us?”

Alex nodded. “My dad might want to come, but if you don’t want him there, we’ll tell him no.”

“I want it to just be us.” Henry said, pressing his face in Alex’s shoulder.

“Okay,”

“Okay,” Henry’s voice was muffled and Alex loved it.

“Okay,”

“Okay, love, we’re not John Green characters.”

“You started it,”

“No, I literally didn’t!” Henry sat up, the blanket falling off of his shoulders and gathering on his legs.

Alex took his hands. “You also said that you didn’t start the cake incident and we all know that you did.”

“The British tabloids say it was you!” Henry exclaimed.

“Well, the American ones say it was you!”

“And why should I believe you Americans? Must I remind you of Benedict Arnold?”

“William Wallace?”

“All countries have traitors, Alexander!”

“Then why’d you point out our biggest, Harrison?”

“Because you seriously think that you’re going to win this argument!”

“I’m named after a famous politician that has a musical! I’m gonna win, sweetheart.”

“I’m named after several influential people!”

“And how many of them were racist, Henry?”

Henry coughed and looked down.

“Mhm, that’s what I thought.”

“That’s not fair.”

“It’s entirely fair, baby.” Alex gently pushed Henry off of his legs so that they could both be sitting. “You look lovely when you’re so worked up like this.”

“This is the last thing I was sent here to do.” Henry said, studying Alex with a small smile.

“Well, maybe I’ll be the last thing you do, baby.” Alex whispered. He pulled Henry forward into a kiss.

“Maybe,” Henry mumbled between kisses.

And they kissed. Maybe it was wrong of them to do, especially since Henry couldn’t tell anyone, but maybe it was also the very beginning of something just purely beautiful. Something that encapsulates not only the pretty petals of the flowers, but also the roots, the stems, and the leaves.

Chapter Text

On their way to the lake house, Alex got gradually more and more stressed about it. It was scary to take Henry to the place he’d loved growing up. What if he didn’t like it as much?

Henry noticed Alex’s obvious anxiety and reached over to interlock their hands. Henry brushed Alex’s hand gently with his thumb.

“Are you okay, love?” Henry asked quietly.

Alex looked at him and nodded. “Of course.”

“Was that a lie?”

“Does it matter?”

“It definitely matters, Alexander.” He nudged Alex with his shoulder. “Tell me what’s going through that pretty head of yours.”

“It’s nothing.” Alex said, squeezing Henry’s hand.

“Love,” Henry sighed.

Alex looked at him. “I promise it’s nothing. If it becomes something, I’ll let you know.”

Henry nodded. “Okay,”

June and Nora glanced back at the men in the backseat.

“Are you two done being sappy? We’re gonna play music.” Nora said, pulling her phone out.

Alex grinned at her and nodded. He felt the air rush against his face as the drive progressed. Henry moved to hide his face from the wind.

Alex felt an overwhelming amount of just emotion. It was amazing.

All too soon, the drive was over. Henry slowly got out of the car, checking for cameras. Alex took his hand and Henry flinched away.

Alex smiled. “Henry, it’s okay. They’re not allowed here. Even with long range cameras, there is no way that they could get a good shot of us.”

Henry slowly relaxed; first his fingers, then his shoulders, then his face. Alex loved Henry’s expressions when he was at ease.

“Come on, lovebirds!” Nora called as she walked into the house.

Alex pulled Henry along and they entered the building. Alex watched Henry as the latter looked around at the place that Alex had associated safety to years ago.

Henry walked mindlessly to the living area. Alex collapsed on the couch and Henry put a hand between Alex’s shoulder blades.

“Lord in heaven, Alex, love, is that you?” Henry pointed at a picture frame.

“Maybe,” Alex looked up at Henry and kissed his chin.

“Oh my God, you’re so adorable in that picture!” Henry leaned back and Alex tugged him onto the couch with him.

“Yeah, well, I like to think I’ve stayed that adorable.”

“Mm, you’re not adorable anymore.” Henry said, squeezing Alex’s hand to let him know that he’s teasing. “You’re so fucking hot.”

“Oh my God! Guys, he can swear!” Alex called out to June and Nora.

“I am genuinely shocked.” Nora said in a monotone, holding a hand to her chest. “I simply will not believe it.”

“Agreed,” June said, sitting next to Nora. Nora wrapped an arm around June.

Henry pushed Alex off of the couch.

“And he’s capable of violence!” Alex all but screamed.

June moved as far away from Henry as she could. “This is monstrous. Get this away from me!”

Alex stood and took Henry’s hand. “Come on, sweetheart, it’s okay, we’re gonna be okay. Let’s get you to the bedroom.”

Henry was hesitant until the last part, at which point, he stood and started off in the direction he assumed the bedrooms were in.

Alex followed with a smile, waving at Nora and June. Once in the bedroom, Henry closed the door.

“Will you just hold me, Alex?”

Alex tilted his head. “Of course, baby. Are you okay?”

Henry walked over to the bed and laid down. “Yeah, just need to be held.”

Alex walked over and wrapped his body around Henry.

As much as Alex loved to be held, to hold someone’s hands close to his own stomach, to feel safe, to just be, he loved it more to hold someone else, to make them feel all the things he felt. He was slightly smaller than Henry, but he hoped that Henry was getting what he wanted and needed.

Henry took a deep breath and held it for a moment. When he let go, his whole body relaxed at once.

Alex rubbed his arm. “There you go,”

Henry’s breathing quickened slightly and he rolled over to face Alex.

Alex pulled away slightly to look at Henry. “Are you okay, baby?”

“I’m fine.”

“I would call you out on lying, but you called me out on lying earlier and I got mad.” Alex whispered with a small smile.

Henry took another deep breath and once again held it. Alex gently rubbed Henry’s back.

Eventually, the steady rhythm of everything in the room lulled both men to sleep.

Nora and June knocked on their door a few hours later to no reply. They exchanged a look, rolled their eyes, and went to get their own dinner.

~~~

The next morning, Alex was the first to wake up. He left their bedroom and put on an apron.

He started making pancakes like his father had taught him all those years ago; batter then toppings not the other way around like his mother tried to do once.

Suddenly, there were arms around Alex’s stomach.

“Morning,” Henry whispered.

“Good morning, baby!” Alex said reaching down to squeeze Henry’s hand.

Henry took a step back and leaned against the counter. “Who are you and what have you done with Alex Claremont-Diaz?”

“What do you mean?”

 “Usually you’re not…like this before, like, ten.”

“Well, I’m trying something new.” Alex said, turning back to his pancakes that were in desperate need of flipping; the bubbles forming at the top told him that they were screaming in agony on the one side.

“Mhm,”

“You’re ridiculous, you know that, right?”

“That’s why you hug and kiss me?”

“Exactly why.”

Alex put the pancake with the ones that were already finished.

“What type of pancakes are you making?” June asked, rubbing her eyes as she walked into the kitchen.

“Blueberry and chocolate chip.” Alex said, smiling at his sister and silently noting the hickey on the side of her neck.

June nodded to Henry while she got a cup of water. “Is the prince helping you?”

“No, he couldn’t cook to save his life.” Alex teased, sticking his tongue out at Henry.

Henry immediately stuck his out back before shrugging. “I guess you’re right.”

“Have you ever had to cook anyways?” Nora asked.

“Had to and have are different.” Henry said before answering the question. “I haven’t ever had to cook, but I did try once. Simply put, it didn’t end well.”

“You couldn’t have burned down the palace, so it couldn’t have been that bad.” Alex said.

Henry shrugged. “Not everything gets told to the press, Alexander.”

“You burnt down a palace?”

“There is a burn mark in a kitchen in a palace.”

Nora rolled her eyes. “That’s not even close to as cool, Henry!”
“I call him Harrison when he frustrates me.” Alex said quietly.

“Okay, but David was getting in my way and I dropped a hot pan on the counter and it burned it.”

“Who’s David?” Alex whirled around and stared at Henry.

Henry’s eyes widened. “My dog! David is my dog!”

Alex pursed his lips. “You named your dog David? The most human name to name in the naming world?”

“Well, it’s after Bowie.” Henry shrugged.

Nora nodded, her face pulled into an expression of respect. “That’s acceptable.”

Alex turned around and flipped the final pancake.

Henry walked over and put a hand on Alex’s back. “I’ll show you a picture of him later. I promise that David is my dog.”

“I believe you.” Alex said.

Henry sighed. “Okay.”

“That was not me saying I don’t want to see pictures of your dog.” Alex grabbed Henry’s arm.

“Okay,”

“Now who’s being a John Green character?”

Henry rolled his eyes and walked over to the table; June and Nora followed him closely. Alex brought the plate of pancakes over before getting syrup as well. They ate quietly.

After a little while, Henry pushed his phone across the table. A handsome beagle took up the screen.

“Is this David?” Alex asked, his voice soft and in utter adoration.

“Yes,”

“He’s adorable!” June squealed.

Henry nodded in agreement. “He really is, isn’t he?”

“I think that I am now jealous for completely different reasons.” Alex said.

Henry grinned at Alex.

“So, we were thinking about going swimming tonight!” June said.

Alex shrugged and looked at Henry for his agreement.

“Sure,” Henry said.

They all went to their rooms to change; and simply revel in the bodies of their partners that were suddenly revealed.

“Holy shit, baby.” Alex breathed, rubbing his hands over Henry’s bare arms.

“You’re being weird, Alex!” Henry said, wrapping him in a hug.

“You’re so fucking hot, Hen.” Alex tried to kiss Henry, but the latter was holding him too tightly.

“Says you.” Henry swung Alex up so that he was holding him bridal style.

“What are you doing?” Alex asked, his arms tightening around Henry’s neck.

“I need to breathe, love.” Henry said as he walked to the door.

Alex loosened his grip and repeated his question.

“I’m carrying you, Alexander. What does it look like I’m doing?”

Henry carried Alex all the way to the lake before just tossing him in.

Alex swam back to the surface, breathing heavily. “You asshole!”
“Arsehole, love.” Henry said, sitting on the dock with his toes in the water.

“Fuck you and your British lingo.” Alex said. He swam over to take Henry’s hands.

“If you pull me into the water, I swear to God, I will brutally murder you.”

“And how would you go about that?”

“I’d force a toilet heart attack.”

“That’s a thing?”

“Yes, and oh God, how embarrassing. First Son Alexander Claremont-Diaz dies at age twenty-two following a heart attack while on the toilet.”

“I kinda thought you would kill me slower than that, a pillow softly suffocating me.”

Henry coughed. “Yeah, well, that would mean that I don’t get a fun headline to remember you by. It would just be devastating.”

“Aww, baby, are you saying you’d miss me?”

Henry pushed Alex away. “Shut up, you insufferable arsehole.”

Alex splashed Henry, who immediately kicked water back.

A few hours later, they both laid under the sun on the dock.

“It’s nice to not worry about appearances.” Henry murmured.

Alex looked over and smiled. “It’s freeing, isn't it?”

Henry nodded. “Would you mind a metaphor?”

“From the great Henry Fox? Never.”

Henry rolled his eyes. “It’s like I’m a garden. Everyone loves it when I’m taken care of and all pretty, but when they see the weeds or grass, it’s just disgusting. It’s as if when we’re away from the cameras there are chances for the weeds and grass to turn me into something that is far more beautiful than I would be in the spotlight.”

“I’m pretty sure there were some similes in there, but I understand what you mean.” Alex said. “I use flowers as a metaphor for love, but I like that quite a bit more.”

“You sound like me.”

“What can I say? Hot boys rub off on me.”

Henry grinned and looked over at Alex. They both leaned forward at the same time and kissed.

“Your lips taste like lake water.” Henry muttered as they pulled away.

“Was that a complaint?”

Henry rolled onto his side. “No. Never.”

“Henry, can we talk?”

“We were talking, love.”

Alex smirked. “I’ve taught you well, young padawan.” Alex smiled for a moment longer before shaking his head. “I just wanted to ask you something.”

Henry sat up. “Metaphorically, shoot.”

Alex breathed a laugh. “Stop, Henry! It’s serious.”

Henry nodded. “Sorry, continue.”

“Alright, are we dating?”

Henry cocked his head to the side. “What do you mean?”

“Are you, Henry A-Million-Names, dating me, Alexander Claremont-Diaz?”

“No, no, love, I understood the question, but I didn’t realize that it was a question in need of being asked.”

“So, yes?”

“Of course!” Henry exclaimed. “I wouldn’t call you ‘love’ otherwise!”

Alex sat up and covered his face with his hands. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I just wanted to make sure that we were on the same page!”

Henry leaned in and kissed Alex before he could say anymore. “You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”

“That was strangely poetic, Harrison.” Alex whispered.

Henry sighed and looked down. “It’s from Pride and Prejudice.”

“I think I fell asleep every day in which I was forced to read that in high school.”

Henry’s eyes fluttered shut as he looked up at the sky. “Of course you did, Alexander.”

“What? I couldn’t figure out what any of it meant!”

“It’s my favorite book, Alex. I love it. I love Jane Austen.”

“You probably like the Brontë sisters as well, don’t you?”

“I’ve thought about reading their works, yes.”

“You haven’t?”

Henry shrugged. “Don’t have the time, nor the motivation anymore.”

“But you have the time and motivation to read Pride and Prejudice?”

“It’s different to reread something over and over than it is to read something with characters you’ve never met before.”

“I imagine that’s why there’s so much fanfiction, Henry.”

“I don’t want to talk about fanfiction right now, Alex.” Henry laughed and reached out for Alex.

Alex let himself be pulled into Henry’s lap and together they just existed in their garden of pure unfiltered beauty.

Chapter Text

All too soon, they were forced back to Washington. Henry and Alex were forced back into their hidden room.

Both were out, but their relationship had never been more hidden. They weren’t in the closet, but rather under the bed.

Henry moved all of his stuff, slowly but surely, into Alex’s. So long as the press didn’t know, they could be as affectionate as they wished.

“Morning,” Henry whispered as Alex woke up.

Alex smiled sleepily. “Mornin’,”

“How’s the homework going?”

“How’s stuff with the shelter going?”

“Same old,”

“Same.” Alex reached out and tucked a piece of Henry’s hair away from his face.

Henry’s hand rested soothingly on Alex’s waist, connecting them.

“What do you want to do today?”

“Nothing,” Henry whispered.

“Yeah?”

Henry nodded.

“What if I got our laptops and we worked from bed?”

“I would love you for that, but I would hate every moment of it.”

Alex smiled, blinking slowly to wake up more. “How ‘bout we wait a few minutes?”

“Lovely,”

Alex nodded and gently pulled Henry’s head closer to kiss him gently on the forehead. They laid in bed for a while longer.

Alex was steadily getting more and more worried about Henry. Since getting back from Texas, Henry had been staying in bed longer, being sleepier, and just not being his usual snarky self.

Alex rubbed Henry’s arm. “How are you feeling?”

“Empty,” Henry whispered.

Alex’s eyes widened and his heart dropped. “What, baby?”

Henry sat up suddenly. “Nothing, never mind.”

“No, sweetheart, no!” Alex grabbed Henry’s arm. “Baby, no. I heard you. I just wanted you to expand on that. I want to understand.”

“It doesn’t matter, Alex.”

“Yes, it does, love. Tell me what’s going on, Hen.”

Henry turned, his eyes widened in fear. He shook his head. “No, no. It’s okay. I’m fine.”

Alex reached out and gently brushed Henry’s cheek with his thumb. “Baby, no you’re not. Tell me what’s going on.”

“It’s nothing, Alex. I just need to get to work.”

“Henry,” Alex whispered. “Please,”

Henry shook his head and Alex felt everything slow down. He could see the pain in Henry’s eyes.

“Can you tell me why?”

“I’ve never told anyone.”

“Can you tell me?”

He shook his head. “I can’t.”

Alex felt his heart break at Henry’s tone. “Baby, you can. You don’t have to, but you can.”

“I just- my dad- I- Everyone expects this perfect piece of me, including my family, so I don’t show the not perfect part.”

“Show me the not perfect part. I won’t leave you because of it. I literally can’t.” Alex lowered his hand and took Henry’s. “Please, Hen.”

Henry sighed and laid down. Alex followed, holding Henry’s gaze.

“Sometimes, I just don’t have the motivation to do stuff; specifically anything that revolves around getting out of bed. Grandma and Philip made me, but I don’t have that push to force me here. I don’t have good reasons.”

“Good reasons that revolve around work or good reasons that revolve around other stuff?”

“I just don’t want to do anything and I don’t know what to do.”

“Henry, baby,” Alex whispered.

“I’m sorry, Alex. I’m sorry.” Henry pulled away. “I’m going. I’m going.”

“No, sweetheart. I told you earlier, no leaving yet. I want to talk to you.”

Henry sighed, but stopped fighting.

“I think that you’re an incredible man and I am so unbelievably proud of you. I think that you have faced more than most people our age and I think that you’ve kept that mostly quiet. I think that you should maybe talk to someone. Would that be something you’d be interested in?”

“Do you talk to someone?”

Alex nodded. “I have since I was a teen. Too much stress with school.”

“Do you think it would help me?”

“I think it would do you some good.” Alex said slowly, his thumb brushing on Henry’s arm. “We don’t have to do anything today, or even this week, but I wanted to mention it to you.”

“I appreciate it.” Henry said, moving closer to Alex.

“Will you think about it?”

Henry nodded before leaning his head up to kiss Alex’s neck gently. “I will.”

“Okay, I’m gonna grab our laptops.” Alex said, pulling away.

Henry smiled and took a deep breath. “Okay,”

“Okay,”

“Okay,”

“Okay, Julie.” Alex stood up.

“Julie?”

“Well, you’re acting like Augustus Waters, so I feel like I gotta have a nickname for you for these moments.”

“And you got Julie?”

“Would you prefer Julius?”

Henry rolled his eyes as Alex walked across the room. “Oh God no.”

“Then roll with it, baby.”

“Will you tell me where you got it from?” Henry asked, accepting the laptop that Alex held out for him.

“Gaius Julius Ceasar Augustus, motherfucker.”

“That’s a lot of names.”
“Remind me how many you have?” Alex raised an eyebrow.
“A lot.”

Alex nodded solemnly. “That’s what I thought.”

“Says Mr. Alexander Gabriel Claremont-Diaz.”

“I would say your full name, but you have far too many.” Alex said, settling into the bed.

“His Royal Highness, Henry George Edward James Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor.” Henry said with a small smile.

“God, how big is your birth certificate?”

“You don’t even want to know.” Henry deadpanned.

Alex opened his laptop with a small smile. “You’re ridiculous.”

“You love me.”

Alex was easily distracted and Henry was not helping. “You’re so fucking right.”

Henry leaned in and kissed Alex.

“Okay, stop!” Alex said after a moment. “I need to focus! Mom’ll kill me if I don’t finish this report!”

“Aww, does your Mommy make you do your homework?”

“Okay, shut the fuck up.” Alex said, shoving Henry. “You’re lucky I’m letting you be in my room.”

“What? Would you rather I go to my room and pretend to do my work for hours and then not eat lunch and pretend for hours longer to do my work and then skip dinner and then read for hours and just not sleep?”

“Okay, Henry.” Alex said. “No need to guilt trip me. I’m not gonna kick you out.”

Alex nudged Henry’s foot with his own.

“I love you,” Alex whispered, leaning his head to rest on Henry’s shoulder while he worked.

“I love you too,”

Alex smiled and actually started reading the essays he was supposed to analyze. After a few minutes, he glanced over to Henry’s screen.

A snake traveled across his screen, collecting eggplants.

“Is that supposed to mean something?” Alex asked quietly.

Henry smirked. “What do you mean, love?”

Alex shook his head and went back to what he was doing. “Never mind.”

Henry nodded. “Okie dokie. Let me know if it comes back to you.”

Alex couldn’t hold back a laugh, and the sound of his laugh set Henry into a laughing fit of his own. Their laughter together was like a choir. Alex’s fit in everywhere that Henry’s paused and vice versa.

“Okay, okay, okay, stop!” Alex got out between laughs. “We need to focus.”

“Right, your report and my snake that’s eating eggplants.”

“Okay, you’re just being immature at this point!” Alex said, feeling tears fall down his face from laughing so hard.

“I am not being immature. I find that eggplants are quite a mature thing to eat.”

Alex closed his laptop and pushed it off of his lap. “Henry!”

“What? Most children that I meet don’t enjoy it!”

“Okay, Hen, no need to bring the children into this.”

“Too far?”

“Entirely.”

“Apologies.”

“Accepted.”

“Mind if I retry a joke?”

“Please don’t. I need to focus. It’s due tomorrow and I haven’t even started.”

Henry nodded and leaned over. He kissed Alex’s cheek gently before looking back at his screen. He paused the game and switched tabs to actually work.

They sat in silence for a while before Alex’s stomach grumbled.

“We need to get food.” Henry said.

Alex shook his head slowly, staring at his screen. “I’m in the zone. I’ll eat later.”

“Can you get in the zone later?”

“Nope,”

“What if I bring you food here?”

Alex nodded and Henry stood up.

Twenty minutes later, at least that’s the time Alex estimated, Henry was back with a mug of coffee and a bagel.

“Breakfast of champions, love.” Henry said, handing it to Alex.

“Did you eat?” Alex glanced up from his screen.

“Yeah,” Henry said, honestly. “I wasn’t very hungry so I just had an apple.”

Alex nodded and looked back at his laptop. “Thank you, Hen.”

“Of course.” Henry crawled back under the blankets and snuggled up next to Alex. He watched Alex work for a while before falling asleep.

Chapter Text

Alex, Nora, June, and Henry were all called to the Oval Office not long before Christmas.

They all walked together, worried about what the president was going to tell them.

President Claremont was sitting with the back of her chair to the door. The White House Quartet, a nickname Leo had affectionately coined though was not approved by the media team, walked in.

Ellen turned in her chair and tried to look at the four people, but her chair span too far and she was back where she started. She laughed as she slowly turned.

“Sorry, everyone. Please, sit.” Ellen said, holding her hands out to the couches in front of her.

Nora and June took one and Alex and Henry took the other; Alex on Henry’s left.

“To my children, and my Vice President’s child, are you three having your New Year’s party this year?”

“Why wouldn’t we?” Nora asked.

Ellen shrugged. “Just wanted to make sure. I think it would be great if you offered Henry an invite for one of his friends so that he can be with someone from home.”

“I already extended one to Pez.” Alex told Henry.

Henry smiled at Alex. “Thank you.”

Alex blinked. “Of course, baby. Why wouldn’t I?”

Henry shrugged and took Alex’s hand. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” Alex said, nudging Henry’s shoulder with his own.

“Anyone else miss when they hated each other’s guts?” Nora asked, raising her hand. The two other women in the room raised their hands before Zahra walked in and also raised her hand.

“Why are we raising hands?” She asked.

“Do you miss when Alex and Henry hated each other?”

“Every fucking day.” Zahra said, putting a folder on Ellen’s desk. “I’ve got everything ready for the party. After that, we’ll have to start getting ready for Prince Henry’s departure. The English want him back.”

Henry’s mouth opened a little bit; a tell Alex had picked up on meaning that he learned something new.

Nora stood up before realizing that she stood up and sitting back down. “He’s leaving us?”

Zahra nodded. “He’s leaving with Percy after the party.”

Henry glanced at Alex and found him staring. “I didn’t know.”

Alex squeezed Henry’s hand. “We’ll figure something out later.”

“Once back, you’ll be expected to continue ‘pranking’ each other.” Zahra said.

“How are we supposed to do that?” Alex asked. “There’ll be an ocean between us.”

Zahra shrugged. “Figure it out.”

Alex took a deep breath. There was suddenly a lot that he was going to have to figure out. A lot they were going to have to figure out. He wasn’t going to do it alone.

“Dismissed.” Ellen said. The White House Quartet stood and let the room immediately.

“Why do you have to leave?” June asked.
“I mean, I was only promised a month here.” Henry said, squeezing Alex’s hand.

“Yeah, but there’s no way that they want you back already. We haven’t convinced everyone that it was supposed to be a harmless joke.”

“We don’t have to convince everyone; just the important ones.”

“That’s bullshit.”

“That’s life.”

“Fuck that.”

“Agreed.”

June and Nora looked between the men. None of them locked eyes. They just existed with each other; in a watched garden.

All four of them walked back to their rooms together. It was tempting to all go to the same room, but June and Nora decided to let Alex and Henry have some time to talk.

Alex sat down on the edge of the bed immediately. Henry quickly followed.

“I feel like we knew you would have to leave.”

“We did.” Henry whispered, taking Alex’s hand carefully. “However, I think that we’ll be able to figure it out. I mean, we were able to maintain a small feud with each other even without seeing each other for several years.”

“Truly a miracle.” Alex sighed and fell back. Henry smiled before doing the same. He looked at Alex with adoration.

“I love you and you love me.” Henry said. “We’ll be fine.”

“I know, but I want to be close to you.”

“Permission to be obnoxiously cringy?”

Alex grinned. “Permission granted.”

Henry took a deep breath, grounding himself, before blinking at Alex. “Don’t worry, love, I’ll always be close to you, in your heart.”

Alex pushed Henry away.

“Hey! You said I could be cringy!”

Alex laughed. “I did, but I am taking it back. You were too cringy!”

“I don’t think that’s a thing.” Henry said, rolling over onto his side and kissing Alex’s cheek.

Henry rested his head on Alex’s arm and very nearly fell asleep. In fact, he was so close that he could practically feel it.

Then, his phone rang. He immediately moved closer to Alex. He didn’t want to answer it. Alex noticed that and grabbed Henry’s phone from his pocket.

“His Royal Highness, Prince Henry’s phone. He’s out of the room, this is Alexander Claremont-Diaz speaking.” Alex said.

Henry felt his heart just…fill at his full title being said by Alex. That Alex had taken the time to learn.

Alex nodded. “Yeah, mhm. No, not until after our New Year’s party.” There was a short pause before Alex shook his head and evidently interrupted. “No, I’m sorry, sir. Henry will not be returning until New Years with Pez. Any sooner and we risk ruining things. This is the plan that the White House and Kensington Palace agreed on.” Another short pause and another interruption. “No. No, Henry’s not coming back any sooner. No.” Alex sighed. “No. It’s only another week and a half. He can’t come back any sooner. I’m sorry. Goodbye!”
Alex pulled the phone away from his ear and hung up without waiting on a response. Henry snuggled closer.

“‘m sorry.” Henry mumbled.

“No need.” Alex said, rubbing Henry’s arm carefully. “It’s nothing.”
“Who was it?”

“Philip,” Alex rolled his eyes. “Prick. He called you some names that I’m not going to repeat.”

Henry sighed. “I’m sorry, Alex. I know that you’re not going to accept the apology, but I’ll feel bad if I don’t say it.”

“Why don’t we get some sleep?” Alex asked, changing the subject.
Henry nodded and they moved to lay vertically rather than horizontally across the bed. Alex wrapped as much of himself as he could around Henry. It made Henry feel protected.

He remembered that the last time he’d been held like that was before his father had gotten sick. Before his father had left him and his family in shambles. Before his world crashed and began to burn.

Henry never claimed that something was burnt; only that it was burning. That because he felt that if something was burnt it was complete. Over. Done. Cake was always burning, cookies were burning, love, love especially, was burning.

Henry took a deep breath and Alex started rubbing his back.

“I love you,” Alex whispered, his voice making the hairs on Henry’s neck stand up.

“I love you too.” Henry whispered back. Something about the whispering made it feel even safer.

With that, Henry was pulled into a realm of sleep. Not his favorite one, but rather one that was simple and concrete. Henry preferred that his sleep was heavy and colorful, but the simplicity was also calming.

He didn’t think about it too much while awake; only when he’d just woken.

When he did, Alex was already up.

“Hello, sleepy.” Alex said, pushing hair out of Henry’s face.

“Hi,”

“I ordered your presents while you were asleep.”

“Yeah?”

Alex nodded. “I’m rather proud of it.”

“It’s a gag gift isn't it?”

“One is. I got you two things, because I didn’t know how a gag gift would go over.” Alex said.

Henry’s heart felt like exploding. His heart was truly going through it that day. Alex was being so sweet.

“That’s okay, right?”

Henry nodded. “It’s perfectly fine.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.” Henry said, moving to wrap his arms around Alex. “I gotta order your gifts now!”

“That you do, Mr. Fox.”

“Must you call me that?”

“Well, you have forty million names, so unless you want me to list all of them-”

Henry interrupted Alex with a kiss. “Mr. Fox is fine. It’s my favorite of all of them.”

“Good,” Alex said.

Henry smiled and just held onto his boyfriend.

Even if nobody ever knew about them, he was content with it. He was content with just existing with who he was quickly realizing was the love of his life.

Chapter Text

Waking up on Christmas morning was always Alex’s favorite thing. It was that sweet sense of just excitement and the way his chest tightened in anticipation for the excitement.

When he was little, he was excited all year for Christmas, keeping a countdown from December 26 up until Christmas Day.

When he was a teenager, he felt like some of the magic was lost. He saw the way his family fought about it all and the way his gifts were just there. He saw the panic in his parents eyes as he and June opened their presents. He saw the way his mom worried about the food she’d baked.

Since he was an adult, the magic had come back in some ways. He got to experience giving everyone presents gifts that he’d paid his own money for and he’d worked for.

Because he woke up next to Henry, he was purely giddy. It was as if he was a child again. He was excited to give Henry his gifts and for a moment he forgot that he only had six more days with Henry.

“Morning,” He whispered when he noticed Henry stirring.

“Good morning, love.” Henry whispered back, wrapping his arms around Alex.

“Merry Christmas.” Alex said.

“Mhm,”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“You okay, baby?”

“This is the first time I’ve spent Christmas away from Bea.”

Alex frowned. “Oh, I’m sorry, baby.”

“No,” Henry said, “It’s really okay. I don’t mind. It’s just strange. I’m happy here with you.”

“Are you sure?”

“So sure that I’m going to suggest that we get up right now and get ready to go.”

Alex smiled and pushed the blankets off of them. Henry shuddered, moving closer to Alex.

“That’s not getting up.” Alex teased lightly.

Henry took a deep breath and rolled away. Together, they put on pajamas before heading down to a family room for the first and second families.

Alex squeezed Henry’s hand before they walked in together.

June and Nora were already there, but the others were still doing whatever.

“Morning,” Nora said, handing Alex a cup of coffee.

“Appreciate it.” Alex said, sitting down on the couch. Henry sat down next to him and made Alex wrap an arm around his shoulder.

The door opened and the president and her husband walked in; as well as the vice president close behind them.

Alex nodded at her.

“Sorry we’re late.” Ellen said. “Let’s get started.”

Oscar wasn’t going to be at their Christmas that year for several reasons; most of them revolved around Ellen being there.

June slipped off of the couch and started passing out gifts.

Henry and Alex had agreed earlier that they would exchange their gifts for each other that night.

When June made it back to her seat, Ellen looked at her. “Thank you, sweetie. Do you and Nora want to open your gifts first?”

Nora and June exchanged a glance before nodding. “Sure.”

They both started opening their gifts; the ones from Alex and Henry were at the bottom of the pile. When they made it to that, they glanced up at the men.

“Should I be concerned?” June asked as she pulled it into her lap.

“Henry wouldn’t let me buy anything too bad, so no.” Alex said, rolling his eyes.

“Well, thank you, Henry.” Nora said, opening her present.

June had gotten a shirt that read World’s Okayest Sister. June read it and laughed. She showed it to everyone and Nora fell back laughing before she could open her own gift.

Ellen blinked at it. “Is this supposed to be funny?”

“Yes, Mom.” June said, still laughing. “It’s hilarious!”

Ellen shook her head and sighed. “Okay,”

“Henry and Alex have to go next!” Nora demanded as she finished unwrapping her gift.

Henry had gotten her a shirt that had a joke on it that Alex didn’t understand, but Nora did and she laughed again.

“Okay, okay, okay,” Nora sat up straight. “Gentlemen, you must open your gifts from us first.”

Alex looked at them skeptically as he handed the correct gift to Henry and put his in his lap.

“Go ahead, baby.” Alex said, looking at Henry.

Henry nodded and opened it slowly. Inside was a collection of stickers. Henry giggled as he looked through them. Alex looked over his shoulder to see some of them. They looked like something Henry would like, but Alex didn’t recognize them.

Henry looked up at Alex and showed them off. “They’re Jane Austen stickers.”

Alex smiled down at him. “So you like them?”

Henry nodded vigorously. “I love them.” He looked at Nora and June. “Thank you so much!”

They nodded before watching Alex eagerly.

He cautiously opened his gift. He felt the laughter bubble in his chest before he even knew what it was. He held up the shirt and let the laugh escape.

“It’s great!” He said, showing the shirt to Henry.

It read ‘World’s Okayest Brother’. Henry grinned.

“Holy shit, that’s perfect.” Henry breathed, squeezing Alex’s calf.

Alex and June cackled together as everyone else watched.

The rest of the day just flew. Henry had received some bookmarks from Ellen and Leo. Alex got a pin for his lanyard that had his pronouns in a fancy font. Both men loved their gifts.

All too soon, the day was drawing to an end. Henry and Alex sat at the bottom of the bed and held the gifts they’d gotten to the other.

They stared at each other before smiling shyly.

Henry handed over the two gifts and Alex handed over his.

Alex opened his first, absolutely destroying the paper. He gasped when he saw the potato.

“What the fuck is this?” He asked, laughing.

Henry smiled. “I don’t entirely know. Should I make something up?”

“That sounds like a wonderful idea.” Alex reached out and took Henry’s hand. “Please explain what this potato is.”

“Well, you see, a potato can power a lightbulb and lightbulbs brighten rooms. Similar to you. You also brighten any room that you walk into. It’s like magic and I love magic.” Henry said, rubbing Alex’s hand.

“Baby, you’re gonna make me cry!” Alex said, moving to be practically in Henry’s lap.

“So my explanation was good?”

“It was incredible.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“Open your gifts!” Alex said.

“You still have my real gift to you.”

Alex sighed. “Right, sorry. I forgot. I’m excited for you to open your gifts!”

Henry shook his head and made Alex start opening it.

Alex smiled down at the wrapping paper. He, once again, tore it with no regard to what’ll happen to it later.

Inside was a small ring box.

He looked up at Henry shocked. “Baby, you’re not proposing, are you?”

Henry shook his head and opened the box. Inside was his signet ring. “I was thinking that you could wear this on your necklace, next to the key, so that you could have a piece of me with you.”

“Two homes right next to each other.” Alex whispered, leaning forward and kissing Henry. “You’re too perfect for your own good sometimes.”

Henry pulled away with a smile. He opened his gag gift first; a bag of gummies shaped like dicks.

“Alexander Claremont-Diaz, what the fuck are these?” Henry asked, inspecting it.

Alex fell back laughing. “They’re literal gag gifts.”

“I think you’re underestimating how small these are. They’re almost smaller than yours, but only barely bigger.”

Alex sat up with a gasp. “Rude!”

Henry giggled as he set them aside. “We’re going to have fun with those.”

Alex agreed and pressed his serious gift into Henry’s hands. “Please, I might die if I have to wait a moment longer.”

Henry put it to the side and wrapped his hands around Alex’s cheeks. “Even if I kiss you?”

“Yes!” Alex said, though he sounded more unsure.

“What if I let you fuck me nice and slow?”

Alex hummed. “Baby, open the gift. I already assumed we would later.”

“Fine, potato, only because I love you, though.” Henry picked up the gift.

“Holy fucking flashback.” Alex said.

“What?” Henry asked.

“When I was in school they gave these dating violence presentations and they showed this video. In it, they just said ‘because I love you’ a bunch of times and good to know that it snaps me out of it.” Alex shook his head. “Not that I’m worried about you hurting me. You should open your gift.”

Henry shook his head as well. “Jesus.”

Henry slowly unwrapped it, taking care to not rip the paper. Alex sat impatiently. He didn’t understand why Henry was being so careful with the wrapping paper that they’d never see again after that night.

When the gift came into sight, Henry’s care for it was quickly lost. He tore the rest off and ran his hand over the book. He looked up at Alex with tears in his eyes.

“Do you not like it?” Alex asked, his heart dropping. He hadn’t considered that.

“No, no. Alex, I love it! This is the nicest thing I’ve ever gotten. I love it so much.” Henry put the new, beautiful, copy of Pride and Prejudice to the side before opening his arms for Alex. “So much, Alex.”

Alex grinned as he moved to sit in Henry’s lap. He let himself be held.

“I love you.” Henry whispered.

“I love you.” Alex whispered back.

They didn’t end up having sex, but rather cuddled through the night. Maybe that showed their relationship more than making love would’ve. It showed that they were comfortable with one another’s bodies in that they could just have the vulnerability of sleeping next to each other.

Maybe that’s a horrible explanation, but maybe, just maybe, it shows Henry and his potato in a way that fits them perfectly.

They were just two people. Side by side. Encompassing tens of thousands of miles between their houses, but just two inches from their homes.

Chapter Text

The week between Christmas and New Year’s was always strange. It was as if it had no structure and no reasoning. However, that year, Alex filled every second of it.

If Henry was going to leave after the party, then Alex was going to spend as much time with him as he could.

By the time it was New Year’s Eve, he was sure that Henry was tired of him.

“Jesus Christ,” Henry said while packing up his stuff.

Alex sat on the edge of the bed and watched. He couldn’t bring himself to be helpful. “What’s up?”

“Why is there so much? I don’t remember packing this much when I was on my way here.”

Alex smiled briefly. “Baby, I think most of that is my clothes.”

Henry looked down at his suitcase and back at Alex. He quickly closed the suitcase. “Nope. That isn’t it.”

Alex’s smile grew bigger. “Sure it isn’t, baby.”

Henry pulled Alex down to the floor and kissed him. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“I’ll text you when I land.”

Alex nodded. “Okay.”

“I love you.”

Alex’s voice thickened. “I love you too, baby.”

“I don’t want to leave.”

“I don’t want you to leave.”

They laid on the floor, holding each other, for probably far too long. They were getting old after all; think of their backs.

Eventually there was a knock on their door telling them they needed to get ready for the party. Alex didn’t want to.

The sooner he got ready for the party, the sooner the party started and the sooner the party started, the sooner it ended and the sooner it ended, the sooner Henry had to leave.

Alex didn’t want that.

Eventually, Henry, being the responsible one he was, made them get up and ready. He may have watched Alex get undressed and dressed in a suit, but it was his right as Alex’s boyfriend.

Plus, Alex watched Henry do the same.

“I don’t understand why you have to leave. Couldn’t you make something up for staying here?”

“It’s for the image. If I stay here, rumors may start revolving around our relationship and around how the Royal Family treats their family members.”

“Oh,” Alex knew all of that, but he hadn’t thought about it.

“It’s going to be okay, right?”

Alex nodded absentmindedly. Henry took his hands and pulled him back.

“It’s going to be okay, Alex. It’s just different, not wrong.”

Alex took a deep breath and nodded again. “Okay,”

“Okay,”

“Okay,”

“Okay,”

“Okay, Julie.”

Henry let go of Alex and rolled his eyes. “You’re ridiculous. Nobody understands that!”

“Maybe, but you and I do. Similarly to how you’ve been calling me potato. Nobody else understands that.”

“No, but it’s a fucking vegetable. Everyone knows what a potato is.”

“I could make a Lord of the Rings reference.”

“Oh, please spare me.”

“No. I will spare myself from remembering the proper quote.”

“Well, thank you. I do appreciate you.” Henry pulled Alex into a hug. “I really love you so much. Please don’t respond, just know it.”

It was hard, he wanted to tell Henry the same thing, but he refrained.

A few minutes later, they made their way to the party. They let go of each other’s hands right outside the door. They couldn’t let anyone know about them.

They walked in together and were greeted by…absolutely nobody.

“Where is everyone?” Henry asked.

Alex looked, unfortunately, up at him. “They’re not here yet. The party doesn’t start for another ten minutes.”

“Then why are we here already?” Henry whined.

“Because,” Alex nudged Henry’s shoulder with his own. “The host has to be at the location before anyone else.”

“We don’t for royal stuff.”

“Well, that’s different than a party.” Alex said, looking around for June and Nora.

Alex’s tux was maroon; a fucking lovely color in Henry’s opinion. Henry’s was a simple black. Alex had tried to convince him to do something special, but that was making a statement and the Royal Family wasn’t allowed to make a statement.

Nora and June walked up behind them. Both wore midnight blue dresses, though different styles. Their hands were intertwined. They didn’t care if people knew about them; though it helped that neither were a princess that the other had made abundantly clear that they hated.

Henry’s fingers brushed Alex’s and a shiver went through both. It was static and alive.

They had one more night together and they couldn’t even spend it together. About-fucking-right.

All four of them made their way to the bar. They ordered their drinks and quickly got them.

Henry and Alex clinked the glasses before drinking.

Guests started arriving and they moved away from each other at the same time; though, their knees still touched.

Alex could see Henry’s confidence falling with every person that arrived. Henry’s hands shook slightly in his lap and his back was rigidly straight.

Alex wanted to reach out and just hold Henry, but he couldn’t. That made him angry.

He took a deep breath and continued studying Henry for another moment before finally looking away.

The room was busy with people and music and just noise.

After about an hour of ‘partying’, Henry stood up and walked to the door.

Alex waited a moment before following. They made their way out to the garden.

Henry didn’t say anything. Alex didn’t push.

“I don’t want to leave, but I also don’t want to be stuck here.”

Alex nodded. “That make sense.”

“I mean, my family is over there, but you’re here. They know a lot of things about me, but you know the most important ones.”

Alex hummed; he didn’t know how to respond.

“Alex, I really love you. I know I say that a lot, but I can’t stop. I don’t want to to stop.”

Henry pulled Alex into a kiss. His hands wrapped around Alex’s head and held onto his hair in a way that made him understand the difference between rugby and football.

When they pulled apart, there was a sense of understanding between them.

That was goodbye.

Not goodbye as in breaking up, but goodbye as in ‘see you soon’.

Henry took a step back, not taking his eyes off of Alex.

Alex was the one to break the eye contact. He couldn’t do it anymore. He looked down at the soft snow on the ground.

What was the saying?

Snow makes everything more romantic.

Not in this case. It made everything feel much bigger. The little, unique snowflakes made everything feel much realer.

The footprints in the snow as Henry walked away, the crunch of the snow underneath his feet, the colors reflected in it from inside.

And Alex was just outside.

Chapter Text

Alex didn’t want to go back inside, but he forced himself to. He looked around for a while, but found neither Henry nor Pez.

They must’ve already left.

Alex felt a hollowness fall upon his chest. Even though the room was packed, it felt empty without Henry. Even though it was bright, it may as well have been pitch black. Even though it was loud, it felt silent.

All that Alex could feel was the pulsing beat of the song; he couldn’t tell which one.

He tried to remember that Henry wasn’t leaving for good. It would only be a little while. They were still together.

Alex felt life surround him, though he felt dead. It was as though a vine too pretty to disturb grew over his feet because he hadn’t moved.

Eventually, he forced himself to leave the party. Nobody could see that side of him. It was his burden to carry.

Besides, if someone asked, Alex knew he would tell. He couldn’t do that to himself or to Henry.

It was as though he teleported to his room, then to his bed. Once his head hit the pillow, he couldn’t remember how he’d gotten there.

Alex curled up around himself and let his mind wander back to everything. Back to the first time he’d seen Henry, then to the cake incident, and then to every moment since.

Tears flowed steadily down his face. He was grieving someone who wasn’t even dead, which was a dangerous game to play.

Alex found that he slept when he woke up the next morning. He reached over for Henry before the heart crushing realization that he wasn’t there was thrust upon him.

Alex felt the knot of a sob break through him. He sobbed for too long.

He hated that he sobbed. He hated that he was sobbing even though they were still together.

His phone vibrated in his pocket. Alex realized that he hadn’t showered the previous night.

He pulled his phone out.

(Henry): the gummy dicks are consoling me
(Alex): I have a craving for a potato
(Henry): I miss you
(Alex): I miss you too
(Henry): send pics
(Alex): excuse you
Have some decorum young man
(Henry): 😒 I meant of you right now
(Alex): [photo attached of Alex in his bed.
There are still tear tracks going down his face]
(Henry): are you okay, sweetie?

Alex stared at Henry’s text. How could he respond to that honestly?

(Alex): are you still on the flight?
(Henry): no?

Alex called Henry as soon as the text came through.

“Hello?” Henry whispered.

“Baby,” Alex breathed.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” Henry’s voice was soft, but Alex couldn’t tell if that was because he was being gentle or if it was because he was being quiet.

“I miss you so much and I can’t stop crying. I don’t know why, though. It’s not like we broke up or anything.”

“Oh, my potato,” Henry whispered, definitely being quiet then. “It’s okay. It’s going to be okay.”

“No, Henry. I miss you so much.”

“I know, love. I miss you too. I miss you too.”

“I wish I could’ve come with you.”

“I wish so too.” Henry sighed. “I need to go. Philip needs me for something.”

“Yeah,” Alex whispered. “I love you, talk soon.”

“Talk soon, love.” Henry hung up before Alex even moved the phone away from his face.

Alex sighed as he forced himself to get out of bed. He didn’t want to. He wanted to wallow in self-pity, but he had a job to do; people depending on him.

He made his way to his mom’s office, after getting dressed, and found Nora already in there.

“Hey,” Alex said, sitting down next to her.

“Hi, we’re working on campaign stuff.” Nora said, nodding to the papers in front of her.

“Okie dokie. Anything I can do?”

“Are you willing to write a few speeches?”

“Isn’t that June’s job?”

Nora shook her head. “She’s not working with us on this campaign. She wants to do her own thing without being tied into this.”

Alex nodded. “Right. I remember her saying something about that.”

Nora nodded. “I wish she were. It would be slightly more bearable.”

“Hey, you love me!” Alex said, shoving her.

Nora shoved him back. “I loathe you, you potato.”

Nora didn’t know. She didn’t know. She didn’t know.

Alex’s smile still fell.

“Oh,” Nora said, looking at him. “Is that not okay anymore? I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s fine.” Alex looked down at the paper in front of him. “I’m sorry, Henry just calls me that.”

“Your boyfriend, whom you love, calls you a potato?”

“There’s good reasoning behind it.” Alex said. “Also, like you and June don’t have weird nicknames.”

“Not as weird as that.” Nora said, shaking her head.

Alex shrugged. “I like it.”

He stood up and walked to the pencil sharpener on Ellen’s desk. He sharpened it until the point was sharp enough to draw blood.

He walked back over to the desk and put it on the paper. The point immediately broke slightly so that it was a little duller. Alex nodded. He knew what it felt like.

Slowly, agonizingly so, he wrote a speech. It was horrible compared to the flowing words that June was able to just whip out in an hour, but it worked.

Nora looked over it before handing it to Ellen to check off on.

“It looks good.” Ellen said. “Beautiful, Alex.”

Alex shook his head. “It could be better, but it’s the best we’re getting.”

“I’m serious, Alex. It looks great. I’m really proud of you, sweetheart.”

Alex took a deep breath. “Okay,”

“How’s Henry?”

“Working.”

Alex didn’t want to talk about Henry. He’d been hoping that by working, he could distract himself, but he saw Henry in everything.

He didn’t even want to make a list of all the things that reminded him of Henry.

That is, until he got an email. The familiar sound came through his laptop and he immediately switched tabs.

He smiled as he saw Henry’s email.

“Why don’t you take a break?” Ellen suggested.

Alex nodded and hurried to close his laptop and run to his room.

Once he made it to his bed, he opened the email and just read.

Wishing

Henry

to A

Alex, love,

I want you to know that I miss you dearly and I deeply apologize for having to cut our call short. Philip wanted to discuss my role as prince because apparently being exiled from my country, without any say in it, was a problem that I caused.

Please tell me what you’re doing right now. I truly want to know. It’s sort of killing me to not know. I wish I were with you.

Love,
H

Alex’s fingers were moving before he realized what he was doing.

Re: Wishing

A

to Henry

Hey baby,

It’s really okay. I don’t mind. I know that we both have lives that are probably too busy for our own good. (Woohoo! Familial ties that lead to potential trauma!) I’m sorry that Philip is making it sound like it wasn’t entirely his fault.

Well, I was reading your email and now I’m responding.

In all actuality, I was working on the new campaign stuff (Claremont 2020, Claremont 46, etc.) with Mom and Nora. Did you know it’s actually extremely horrible to write? I hated it. I don’t understand how June writes for fun and for a job! My hand was cramping after only fifteen minutes.

I wish you were with me too. I feel like we’re saying that a lot; not that I’m complaining, just noting.

All the best,

A

Re: Wishing

Henry

to A

Alex,

We truly are too busy. It’s a pain in the arse to do everything so perfectly all the time. I sometimes wish that I could be just anyone.

If I were, I would be an author, I think. I would tell stories. Stories that people read and people love and people talk about.

What about you?

Campaigning sounds difficult. Do you have to work on it? If June is so good at writing, why isn’t she? Do you think your mum will win?

Love,
H

Re: Wishing

Alex

Baby,

I used to be just anyone; before Mom became president. I was just anyone. It was nice, but I know that I would do it anyways. Even if Mom hadn’t become president, I would’ve done something similar.

It’s not really that I want to be president, but I want to help people. Maybe I’ll be a lawyer, maybe a congressman.

Unlike you, my life isn’t really defined by my parents. Sure, there’s differences between me and some of my friends from say high school, but I can do whatever I want.

Speaking of which, I can move away from Mom’s campaign. June is. That’s why she wasn’t writing the speeches. She wants to do what she wants to and not be held back by Mom’s campaign. If she works with Mom, then she has a bias and nobody will want to hire her. Nora is still working with Mom and I, though.

Trying to predict an election is a dangerous game to play. If you win, then you get to be excited, but if you lose and you were thinking you would win, then there’s this horrible feeling in your gut that you just can’t shake.

All the best,
A

Henry didn’t reply again, but Alex didn’t worry much about it. He felt lighter with the responses that he did get.

Alex had a smile on his face for the rest of the day. For it only being New Year’s, didn’t know how the year was going to go, but he had a feeling it would go better than he thought it would only a few months earlier.

Maybe things were looking up.

Chapter Text

January and February flew by and suddenly Alex was wondering through London with June.

They were there for some official thing that Alex had stopped listening to after he heard London.

June knew what they were doing, so he just followed her lead.

“We’ll get to the hotel and drop off our stuff and then we’re expected at the palace.” June said.

Alex nodded. “Right. The palace.”

June looked over at him and suddenly the car they were in felt far too small. “Where Henry will be. Surrounded by his family. His family that is not exactly notorious for being great to him. You’ll hold it in, right?”

“I make no promises.” Alex said honestly.

June shrugged. “That’s fair.”

“You’re amazing, June. Has anyone ever told you that?”

“I am constantly told that.” The car slowed and June got out.

Alex followed quickly. They got their bags from the trunk, thanked the driver, and went into the hotel.

“What are the chances that I end up having the room to myself?” June asked when the got to the elevator.

Alex shrugged. “Fairly good.”

June nodded. “Good to know.”

“Are you hoping to?”

“I hate sharing a room with you. You know that.”

Alex sighed. “I know.”

They got to their room in practically record time. Alex couldn’t be still as he waited for June to get ready to go to the palace.

Alex couldn’t wait to be in Henry’s arms and to hold Henry in his.

June eventually left the bathroom and Alex jumped up.

“Ready?”

June nodded and she smirked at the amount of energy that Alex had.

They hurried out of their hotel room and back to the street. That time, there was an official car there to take them to the palace.

“Did you get Henry to do this?” June asked.

Alex shook his head, shrugging.

They got in and saw Henry already sitting across from them.

Alex immediately moved from next to June to next to his boyfriend.

They hugged as best they could inside of a car.

Shaan looked back. “Please get buckled.”

Alex shook in his seat excitedly as he did as he was told. Henry put a hand on Alex’s thigh.

“Good surprise?” Henry asked.

“Wonderful, baby.” Alex said, looking at Henry. He leaned into his side. “I missed you so much.”

“I missed you too.” Henry said, rubbing Alex’s arm. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

June coughed.

“Hello, June.” Henry smiled as he looked at June.

The car started and they were off.

Alex’s chest tightened, but not in anxiety or fear, but rather pure excitement. Henry squeezed his thigh and Alex grinned.

He couldn’t handle it. It was so exciting!

They were on their way to meet Henry’s family.

“Um, I don’t know how much Mom will say.” Henry said quietly.

Alex nodded. “It’s going to be okay.”

“Philip will probably be rude to you.”

“Hen,”

“Bea will adore you. You’re sorta similar.”

“Henry, it’s gonna be okay.”

“I’m just nervous.”

“I know, baby, but you don’t need to be. Even if your family is rude, I’ll still love you because you’re not your family.”

“Like Luke Skywalker,” Henry mumbled.

“Hm?”

Henry shook his head. “Luke Skywalker is proof that it doesn’t matter who your family is or where you come from.”

Alex’s lips tilted up. “Yeah, exactly.”

“I love you.”

Alex stared at Henry for a while before winking. “I know.”

Henry shook his head. “Fun fact, I actually really hate that scene.”

Alex rolled his eyes. “You would.”

“It’s so stupid! She said that she loves him and then he just says that he knows. Like, if you know, then say it back.”

“You think Han should’ve told Leia that he loved her too in front of Vader and a bunch of stormtroopers?”

“I would tell you that I love you in front of all those people if I was about to be frozen in carbonite.”

“Even if my dad was right there and already saw us kiss?”

“Especially, since your dad was the one who wanted me frozen.”

June watched them bicker with a small smile on her face. She was happy that her brother was happy. She wanted to sneak a photo, but was sure that she wouldn’t be able to have it on her phone for long, so she didn’t.

When they pulled up to the palace, Henry started tapping on his own thigh. Alex noticed, but didn’t say anything.

“Hen, baby, do you want to pretend we’re not dating?”

“No, love, I don’t.” Henry took Alex’s hand and squeezed. “I want my family to know that I love you.”

Alex couldn’t help but smile. “Okay,”

The car stopped with a small jerk. June got out first, then Henry, then Alex.

Henry looked around for a moment, checking for cameras no doubt, before taking Alex’s hand.

“I know that I said I want my family to know, but-”

Alex squeezed Henry’s hand and interrupted. “I know, baby.”

“One day maybe we’ll be just anybody and we can.”

Alex smiled at the thought, even though he knew just how unlikely it was. “Maybe,”

They walked into the palace together, June following closely behind.

Alex gawked at the palace in a way he hadn’t allowed himself to do at the wedding. He paid attention to all of the delicate details inside.

Henry watched Alex look around with a fondness. He couldn’t remember the last time that he’d looked at the palace with that level of interest.

Henry led Alex through the halls, picking the ones with the cooler designs. Alex didn’t know any better. He didn’t know that Henry was stalling a little bit.

Finally, they were outside the door that they needed to enter. Henry didn’t want to go in.

Alex opened the door, oblivious to Henry’s internal debate. Henry withheld a sigh and followed Alex in.

They sat next to each other; across from Bea and Philip. June sat next to Alex and across from Cathrine.

Queen Mary sat at the head of the table, stirring her tea slowly. The spoon clicked and it brought Alex back to the meeting he had had with Henry before they kissed; the one in which they decided to prank each other. That was not something Alex wanted to remember in present company.

Henry squeezed Alex’s hand under the table.

“Have you too decided how you wish to go about announcing your relationship?” Queen Mary asked as if it was the simplest thing in the world.

“Pardon?” Henry stared at her.

She looked away from her teacup and up at Henry. Her eyes looked like they could kill, but Henry didn’t look away. “When are you going to announce your relationship?”

“Um, well, we weren’t planning to.” Henry said.

“Don’t say ‘um’, darling. It’s improper.”

Alex felt all of his muscles tighten. Why did she get to say all of that to Henry with no consequence? Alex looked to Cathrine, hoping that she would say something, but she just stared blankly at the wall behind June.

“Yes, sorry, Grandmother.” Henry said, taking a deep breath. “Alex and I were not planning on announcing our relationship. We actually just discussed it today before getting here.”

“Is that why you were late?”

“The car was moving slowly.” Alex interjected.

“I’m sorry, but in this household, we do not speak unless spoken to.” Queen Mary said.

Alex took a steadying deep breath. June reached over and took the hand that Henry wasn’t holding.

“There was no need to talk to him like that.” Henry said. “He was just speaking.”

“Out of turn,” Philip said.

“You’re one to talk.”

“Enough, Henry.”

Henry’s lips pursed. “Fine.”

“Your relationship isn’t something that you, as two public figures, necessarily have the right to hide.”

“Yes, we do. We hide plenty of stuff. Like, our Nazi uncle, Dad’s cancer until the end, Bea’s addiction. We hide stuff all the time when it hurts us, but when it doesn’t, when it fits your needs, then it’s perfectly fine.”

“That’s not what I’m saying, Henry. You’re twisting my words.”

“No, I’m not! Alex and I do not wish for our relationship to be public now, or possibly ever.”

Alex nodded in agreement.

“Well, the royal family needs to do something. Everyone is speculating that something big happened. We need something and your relationship is perfect.”

“Philip and Martha are the ones that are married. Could you have them announce something?”

“No.” Philip said. “Nothing’s happened, so we’re out.”

“Well, Alex and I are out. Figure something out that doesn’t revolve around Alex and I.”

Henry stood up suddenly, pulling Alex with him, and together they left the room. June followed closely behind.

She pinched the bridge of her nose. “This is so fucking shitty. You two need to be super careful. She’ll probably do anything to announce your relationship.”

Both men nodded. Their relationship was theirs, not anyone else’s.

Henry led the siblings up to his room. They sat down on the floor. For a while, nobody said anything.

Then, “Alex, do you think you want to announce your relationship ever?”

Alex looked between June, who’d asked, and Henry, who watched him. “Um, I don’t know. I always imagined having a person beside me, but I don’t know how I would feel about someone beside me in pictures as well.”

Henry reached over and squeezed Alex’s knee. “I want to tell people about you. I want to scream your name to everyone, but I am scared. I don’t know what will happen. I mean, you saw the disaster that was my coming out.”

“Oh, actually, I’m sorry, baby, but I didn’t actually see that. I was still too far into hating you.”

Henry smiled slightly and nodded. “Well, it was a disaster. I’ll tell you about it another time.”

June watched them with interest. She liked seeing her brother so happy and so caring of another person.

Before they knew it, the sun had set and the stars were out.

June left, but Alex stayed. Henry pulled Alex through the halls to go outside.

When they were outside, Henry pointed at the sky. “Right there, the three stars in a row, that’s Orion’s belt.”

“Where?”

“Kinda near the moon, love.” Henry pulled Alex as close to him as possible so that he could follow Henry’s pointing.

“Oh, yeah. I see it.” Alex smiled and looked at Orion’s belt. He wanted to undo Henry’s so he didn’t really appreciate it as much as Henry clearly did.

“Did you have any plans tonight?” Henry asked.

Alex winked at him. “I had a few.”

“Cancel them.” Henry said, completely oblivious.

“Baby,” Alex started.

“No, I want to show you something.”

“Baby,”

“Alex, please. It’s important to me.”

“Henry, I was teasing when I said I have plans. I was just going to suggest sex, but whatever you want to do is clearly more important.”

Henry groaned. “Yes, you’re right, but we are absolutely having sex while you’re here.”

“Oh, absolutely. Now, baby, take me anywhere.” Alex took Henry’s hand and let himself be led across the brick road to a car.

Henry got in the driver’s seat, which Alex almost got into before realizing it was not in fact the passenger’s seat.

They drove in silence, letting a lit up London fill the space with open windows. Alex’s hand moved over and found Henry’s.

Eventually, Henry pulled over in front of a very large building.

“Baby, I think they’re closed.” Alex said as Henry got unbuckled.

“Huh, well then I guess it’s a good thing that I have a key.”

“You own a key?”

“It’s the only one. All other doors just open for me when I ask.”

“Oh my God, that is quite possibly the most pretentious thing you’ve ever said.”

“Big words coming from you.” Henry got out of the car, walked around it, and opened Alex’s door.

Alex quickly unbuckled and got out. They walked side by side out to the door and Henry pulled out a key. He pressed it into the lock and twisted it.

A little click told them that it was unlocked.

Henry pushed the door open. “Welcome, my love, to the Victoria and Albert Museum.”

“Welcome to the V&A.” Alex repeated in a horrible parody of John Hammond.

“I knew that would happen.” Henry said sighing.

Alex grinned as they began walking through the museum. “Why here?”

“Because I can come here after hours. I can enjoy the art without people gawking at me and without worrying about seeing all of the important things. I can look at whatever I want without making a statement.”

“So you aren’t just looking at the sculpted dicks?”

Henry glared back at Alex. “I try to do something nice for you and this is how I get repaid?”

“Okay, sorry.” Alex said, holding up his hands. “Show me your favorite piece.”

Henry grinned, his eyes quickly softening, and took Alex’s hand. They ran between several statues before landing in front of one in particular.

“Tell me about it.”

And Henry did. Alex didn’t know how much he would be able to commit to memory with the way Henry looked as he talked about it.

“I used to dream of bringing a boy I loved here and dancing with him, but I grew up before I could make that dream come true.”

“Baby, growing up doesn’t mean dreams disappear. They just change slightly. For example, if you wanted to bring a boy you loved here, what if you brought a man, who is the love of your life, here and you danced with him?”

“Mm, too bad I haven’t found him yet.” Henry teased, wrapping his arms around Alex’s neck.

Alex put his hands on Henry’s waist. “It’s truly a shame.”

They swayed slightly.

“All of these are small pieces of history.” Henry said. “Whenever I come, I think about how they probably didn’t know just how influential they were. And thinking about that makes me wonder if I’m more influential than I think and if I am, then how I’ll fit in with history. If I am written into history, then I want your name written in next to mine.”

“History, huh? I bet we could make some, baby.”

Henry smiled. “You’re so cheesy.”

“Says Mr. Bring-A-Boy-And-Dance-With-Him-In-A-Museum-Hours-After-It’s-Closed.”

“That’s a mouthful.”

“You are.”

Chapter Text

Alex’s whole body was on the verge of exploding with the amount of love he felt for Henry.

Alex drove back, following Henry’s practically shouted instructions. There were a couple of hiccups, but truly it wasn’t as bad as Henry made it sound.

“Jesus, I thought I was going to die.” Henry said as they got out of the car.

“Oh, come on. It wasn’t that bad.” Alex rolled his eyes, though his heart was racing.

“I should’ve driven. I should’ve known that you can’t drive.”

“Are you stereotyping me, Harrison?”

“Are you proving stereotypes correct?”

They walked inside, continuing to bicker, though quieter since people were sleeping.

Once inside Henry’s room, they collapsed on the bed and almost immediately fell asleep. It had been a long day.

The next morning, Alex woke first. He looked out of the window over Henry’s body and saw rain. He couldn’t help but feel a little bit of excitement at the classic London look.

Henry stirred and Alex rubbed his arm. “Mornin’,”

“Good morning, baby.” Alex said.

“Is it raining?”

Alex nodded.

“You’re excited.”

Alex nodded again.

Henry wrapped his arms around Alex, pressing his face into his chest. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” Alex rubbed Henry’s back as best he could.

It was like they were in a little bubble that kept them safe. They weren’t going to be let go of.

But, bubbles can be popped.

Both of their phones started ringing at the same time. They sighed and reached to grab them.

“Alex Claremont-Diaz,” Alex said.

“Prince Henry,”

Both of them got the news at the same time and stared at each other.

“Hello, sir, I regret to inform you that your relationship has been leaked by a member of the security team at the V&A.”

Henry dropped his phone without hanging up.

“No,” Alex said into his phone. “No.”

“There are recordings of you both embracing and talking.”

Alex took a deep breath, hoping it would calm him; it didn’t. “How’d they get the videos?”

“They were part of the security team.”

“Okay,” Alex didn’t say goodbye before hanging up.

He looked at Henry, who had made himself small.

He wrapped him up. “Oh, baby,”

Tears wet a spot on Alex’s chest.

“I know, baby.” Alex felt his own eyes well with tears.

It was their choice how, if at all, they were going to going to announce their relationship and just in a blink, it was torn from them.

“I know,”

There were knocks on the door, ringing and buzzing phones, cries of outrage, and creaks on the old wooden floors from people running around.

Henry and Alex stayed in their room until lunch, when the realized they both probably needed food.

Henry’s whole body was tense and his breathing was shaky as they walked, hand in hand.

“Baby, can you take a deep breath?”

Henry shook his head quickly.

Alex took a deep breath of his own. “Yes, you can, baby.”

Henry shook his head again. Alex saw him lock his knees so that he wouldn’t fall.

“Baby, let’s sit down.”

“We’re in the middle of the hallway.” Henry protested.

Alex led him over to the wall and helped him sit down. They just sat there in silence.

It wasn’t fair. Nothing was fair about any of it.

“Let’s take a deep breath.”

“Alex, I don’t know if I can do this. I don’t know if I can do any of this. I don’t want to do it anymore.”

“Don’t want to do what, sweetie?”

“I don’t want to be here anymore. I wanna be with you and not here.”

“Henry,” Alex tried.

“No, no, Alex. I want to be in the States with you and not have to worry about everyone here.”

“Hen, baby, what does that mean for you?”

“I don’t want to be a Senior Royal anymore. I want to abdicate and be an anonymous person. I want to feel that freedom.”

Alex took a deep breath. He couldn’t help but feel a little guilty, even though he knew that it wasn’t his fault. “Okay. How would we go about doing that?”

“Um,” Henry sniffed. “I- I’d have to get permission from Grandma and then it’d be a lot of paperwork.”

“You have to get permission from the person you’re running from in order to run from them?”

Henry nodded, leaning into Alex’s side. “It’s really stupid. Can we be anonymous, Alex?”

“We can be anything, baby. Anything you want.” Alex moved in front of Henry. He wiped away tears.

“It won’t ruin anything?”

“I said last night that dreams don’t disappear, they just change. You won’t ruin anything, baby.”

“I don’t want to force your dreams to change.”

“Henry, baby, my dreams have been changing since you kissed me.”

Henry looked up. “Yeah?”

Alex nodded. “You’re not ruining anything.”

“Promise?”

“I promise. Do you feel like we can get lunch now or do you want to sit for a little while longer?”

“I’m ready.”

Henry stood up and took Alex’s hand. Alex squeezed Henry’s and they made it all the way to the dining room.

They ate lunch quickly, hoping to not run into anyone who would bother them. Unfortunately, Philip walked in just as they were finishing up.

“Honestly, it’s your fault for taking him to the museum.” Philip said, sitting down.

“It was the guard’s fault.” Alex said. “Nobody in this room had anything to do with it.”

“Not until Grandmother walks in.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Henry asked.

“I just mean that until Grandmother walks in, nobody in here had anything to do with it.”

“Philip! God, could you be helpful for once in your life instead of just putting everyone down?” Henry burst out.

The queen walked smoothly in, followed closely by Bea and Catherine.

“Young man, there is no need to- to explode at Philip!” Mary said.

“Did you fucking out me?” Henry asked, turning to face his grandmother.

“What?” Mary put a hand to her chest.

“Did you take part in leaking the fucking video?”

Alex stood and walked to be next to Henry.

“Why would you accuse me of that?”

“Because you were the one who mentioned me announcing the relationship yesterday. I said no and not even a full day later, my relationship is out there for anyone to see!”

“Well, yes, but it also isn’t my fault that you went when there were obviously going to cameras.”

“I went after hours, Grandma!” Henry looked at Cathrine. “Mom, please!”

Something must’ve clicked inside Catherine’s mind because she turned to Mary. “If you outed his relationship, then not only have you put your own grandson in danger, but also his boyfriend, who is the president’s son. Do you think that Parliament appreciate you putting the son of one of closest trade partners in direct danger?”

Mary stared. “I didn’t do anything!”

“I don’t believe you. I will protect my son and anyone that he brings to meet us. If you think that you can get away with this, you are horribly mistaken.

“I’m abdicating!” Henry suddenly exclaimed. “I’m abdicating and then I’m going to the states with Alex.”

Everyone went quiet and stared at Henry. His hands shook.

“I can’t be here anymore. It’s just impossible for me.”

“Oh,” Catherine whispered.

Bea ran over and wrapped Henry in a hug. “I’m so sorry, Henry.”

Mary pursed her lips. “I will have the paperwork ready by the end of the day.”

Henry took a deep breath. He hadn’t planned on it being that fast, but also, he wasn’t upset.

“I expect you out of the palace by tomorrow this time.”

Alex reached over and took Henry’s hand. He squeezed lightly. Henry tore his hand away.

Bea pulled away from Henry and looked between the two men. “Let’s get you both freshened up before everything, yeah? There’s a crowd outside that I believe would love to speak to you.”

Henry let himself be pulled out of the room. When the door shut, Alex addressed the room.

“For the record, that’s the bravest son of a bitch, no offense Your Highness, that I’ve ever met.” And Alex left too.

He quickly caught up to Bea and Henry. He wanted to reach out and take Henry’s hand, but was afraid of being pushed away again.

“I didn’t mean to say it like that.” Henry whispered.

Bea, on his arm, shushed him. “It’s okay.”

It took a special superpower for Alex to not feel jealous; even though he knew that Bea was Henry’s sister and Henry was as gay as a maypole.

“I wasn’t planning on doing it so soon.”

“Do you feel comfortable with it?”

Henry paused before ultimately nodding. “Yes, I really want it. I want to be anonymous.”

“Then maybe it’s a good thing.”

Alex let Bea console Henry rather than trying to do anything and possibly make it worse.

They walked to Henry’s room and that’s where Bea left them.

She said she would be back in fifteen to help them get to the crowd.

Henry fell his knees in the middle of the floor right after she left and the door was closed. Alex followed his lead.

“Hey, baby, I’m right here.”

“They kicked me out because they outed me.” Henry cried, his voice breaking.

Alex wrapped his arms around Henry. “I know. It’s going to be okay. I’ll call my mom and let her know and we’ll be back in the states before you know it.”

Henry just cried and didn’t try to say anything else.

***
When they were led to the outside after the abdication announcement and Henry signing the papers, there was a lot of loud cheering. It didn’t sound happy, though.

One voice in particular rose above others. “Is this the history that you want to be seen made?”

Henry looked around to find where the voice had come from. Alex stopped walking and they just stood there. Surrounded by people that they assumed hated them.

One protester walked up to them. “Where are you going now?”

“I’m going to the United States.” Henry said.

The protester nodded. “Good luck, sir.”

Henry’s brow furrowed and a look of realization fell over Alex’s face.

“Hen,” Alex said, tightening his hold on Henry’s hand. “Hen, they’re not mad at us.”

Alex pointed at an obviously homemade shirt that read his words back to him, ‘history, huh?’.

Henry looked at Alex, then back out at the crowd. “Woah,”

“Baby,” Alex said. He waited for Henry to look at him again to say anything. “Baby, they’re here for us.”

Henry leaned down and kissed Alex. A cheering rose, though Henry couldn’t tell if he’d made it up or if it everyone.

When they pulled apart, both couldn’t hold back giddy grins and loud laughs.

“I love you!” Alex screamed over the crowd.

“I love you too!” Henry wrapped Alex in a hug. “I’m fucking free!”

Alex threw his head back and laughed, even though it really wasn’t even that funny.

“Alex, Alex,” Henry said. He pulled Alex’s head up gently. “Alex, I’m going to wear colorful suits and ties with designs and I’m going to scream your name everywhere.”

“Do it, baby!”

“I AM DATING ALEXANDER GABRIEL CLAREMONT-DIAZ!” Henry immediately screamed with a laugh.

Alex grinned, holding on tightly to Henry. “I love you so much,”

“I love you too,” Henry leaned down and kissed Alex again. “Let’s go.”

Alex nodded with a deep breath and walked with Henry.

They walked, hand in hand, literally to a plane, but metaphorically to a new life; an anonymous one. One in which they don’t have anything to prove to anyone.