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Chapter Text

"I just don't see why I should have to go," Alex said, propping his feet up on the coffee table.

Ellen glared at him from behind the Resolute Desk, eyes darting to his feet, then back to his face, and he quickly dropped his feet to the floor. "For the four hundred and thirty-eight time, Alex, because someone has to go represent the country, and I can't go."

"Four hundred and thirty-eight times?" Alex asked. "Okay, now you're just abusing sarcasm."

"I'm going to abuse my powers and have you sent to Guantanamo if you don't stop trying to get out of going to the wedding."

Alex rolled his eyes. "Guantanamo was closed four years ago."

"Well I'll open it back up," Ellen said. "I'm President. I can do that." She narrowed her eyes, and he braced himself for whatever came next. "Why is it you're so adamant about not going? It's a trip to London, a chance to get dressed up, show off--all things you love."

"Yeah, but it's the monarchy," Alex said, studying his cuticles carefully, rather than look his mom in the eye. "I hate everything they stand for."

"Are you sure it's the monarchy you hate?" Ellen asked. "Or just one member of it in particular?"

Alex sighed. "Look, it's still, what, a couple of months away? That's plenty of time to find someone else to go."

"Alex, for the last time--"

The door to the Oval burst open. Alex whipped his head up to see Prince Henry rush into the room, Zahara and Henry's equerry close behind. "Madam President," Henry said, "my name is Henry George Edward James Fox, and I wish to to formally request asylum."

***

Alex was pacing the length of the Roosevelt Room when the door opened, stopping him in his tracks.

"What's the emergency?" Nora asked, closing the door behind her.

"It's not an emergency," Alex said, starting his pacing again. "I was just pretty sure I shouldn't say anything over text. Or the phone."

"Alex, sit down," Nora said. When he complied, she sat down next to him on the couch. "Spill."

Alex took a deep breath as he turned sideways on the couch to face her. "Prince Henry is in the Oval Office requesting asylum."

Nora blinked rapidly, like the computer she secretly was. "I'm sorry, I could have just sworn you said a prince of England was here requesting asylum."

"That's because I did."

"But why?" Nora asked.

Alex shrugged. "Mom kicked me out before he said anything else. I've been waiting in here for almost an hour to find out what's going on."

"Maybe he got caught spying for another country?"

"Nora."

She gave him a look. "I mean, it has to be pretty bad. England is not the kind of place people generally leave in a way that requires asylum. Especially when they're English royalty."

The door opened again and Alex jumped to his feet as Zahra walked in. She held out some papers to Alex, a pen clipped to the top. "This is an NDA," she said. "Sign it."

When Alex took the papers, Zahra turned to Nora. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave for now," Zahra told her.

"But--"

"Nora, please," Zahra said.

Nora and Alex exchanged a look. Zahra never said please. "I'll talk to you later," Alex said to Nora, who nodded and left.

When the door was closed again, Alex turned to Zahra. "What's going on?"

Zahra just nodded at the NDA. "Sign it."

Alex, who had never signed anything without reading every word, unclipped the pen from the document and signed the last page without reading a thing. He handed the papers back to her. "What's going on?"

"Your mother wants to see you."

***

Chapter Text

Alex pushed the door to the Oval open slowly, poking his head in. His mother was sitting alone on the couch, no sign of Henry or his equerry. "Zahra said you wanted to see me?"

Ellen patted the space beside her on the couch. "Have a seat." When Alex was seated beside her, she asked, "You signed the NDA?"

"Yeah."

"Good. The Prince's equerry was adamant that nothing more be said to anyone without it."

"What's going on, Mom?"

Ellen sighed. "As you heard, the prince has officially requested asylum."

"I mean, can he even do that? Can we give it to him?"

"That's a good question, and one we have people working on right now. But while we work out the details, I've agreed to let him stay here in the White House."

If she was letting him stay there…. "What happened?"

"Before I tell you, I want you to understand that the prince has given me permission to tell you. But you cannot tell anyone else without his permission. Not even Nora. Not even June."

"As if I can tell June anything when she's off in the wilds of Africa?"

"Alex." Ellen eyed him levelly. "You understand?"

He sobered. "Of course. Yeah."

"Good. Apparently the prince's equerry learned that the queen was about to send the prince to conversion therapy."

"Convers--wait, what? As in he's gay and she thought she could somehow convert him to straight?"

"Exactly." The set of Ellen's jaw made him glad he was not Queen Mary. "His equerry clued him in and they made the decision to come here."

"So let me get this straight," Alex said. "An hour ago you were adamant that protocol demanded I go to Prince Philip's wedding. Now you're harboring a fugitive Prince Henry in the White House?"

Ellen nodded. "That about sums it up, yes."

"Should I even ask how much of a political nightmare this is for you?"

"You should not."

"Okay, so next question. Why did he agree to let you tell me?"

Ellen took a moment to answer. "He didn't say," she said finally. "But you were in here when he came in, so you already knew that much. And he's staying here, and no matter how big this place might be, you're bound to run into each other." Her voice softened as she added, "Also, I think maybe he needs a friend right now."

Given their history, Alex probably wasn't his first choice, but Alex was willing to get past that now that he had some idea what Henry had been dealing with. "Okay."

"I know you two have history. Can you do that?"

"Of course. I mean, conversion therapy? That's fucked up."

"Not the words I used with him, but I more or less shared the same sentiment." Ellen stood up and Alex followed suit. "I've put him in the Lincoln Bedroom," she said. "I know normally he would get the Queen's Room, but under the circumstances…."

Alex huffed a laugh. "Uh, yeah."

"If he's not there, he might be in the family dining room. I don't think he's eaten since yesterday."

"Probably afraid the queen might have put something in his food and he'd wake up in a conversion camp," Alex muttered.

"You might be right," Ellen said, "but Alex…just be gentle with him, okay? This is a huge step he's taken, and it's upended his world, and this is not the first time that's happened to him. He needs a friend."

"Yeah, Mom. Of course."

She pulled him into a hug. "Love you, kiddo."

"Love you, too, Mom."

***

Henry was sitting at the table when Alex opened the door to the dining room. The food in front of him sat untouched as Henry stared at an empty spot on the wall.

"You know," Alex said, crossing the room to the table, "I hear the food does you more good inside than going cold on the table."

Henry gave Alex a wan smile. "I'm not really that hungry."

"I can understand that." Alex took the seat across from him. "But you should still try to eat something."

Henry sighed, but he did at least take a few bites, washing them down with what Alex could tell by the smell was Earl Gray tea. "Your mother told you why I'm here."

"She did," Alex said with a nod. "What happened, exactly? If you feel like talking about it," he added quickly. "If not, that's fine."

Henry took another bite, then another drink. "Pez--my best mate, Percy, that is--asked me to go on a last-minute trip with him to scout out some locations for a new project. I was sure I wouldn't be able to go, but Shaan--my equerry--said my calendar was miraculously free. So we got on a plane, and once we were in the air, they told me the truth."

"That your grandmother was going to send you to conversion therapy?"

Henry nodded, his mouth a thin line for a moment before he spoke again. "Apparently Shaan found out, decided that was a bridge too far for him, and contacted Pez, and they came up with this idea to get me out of the country."

"So they kidnapped you for your own good?"

Henry's half-smile was fleeting. "I went willingly," he said. "And they did give me a choice once we were in the air. I could go back if I wanted."

"Not really much of a choice."

"Quite," Henry said with a nod before finishing off his tea.

Alex nodded at the empty cup. "Can I get you some more?"

Henry blinked at him in surprise, but pushed the cup towards Alex anyway. "If you wouldn't mind? I'm not sure I have the capacity to make another at this point."

Alex took the cup and made the tea to Henry's specifications, setting the steaming mug back down in front of Henry before returning to his seat. "Seriously, eat," Alex said, nodding at the plate. "I know you don't feel like it, but it will help in the long run."

"Are you going to be a mother hen the entire time I'm here?"

"If you need me to, sure."

Henry studied him for a long moment. "Why are you doing this?" he said finally. "I could have sworn you hated me."

"That goes both ways, sweetheart." Alex watched the flush that bloomed on Henry's cheeks for a second before adding, "I'm not the one who asked their equerry to get rid of me when we first met."

Henry's eyes widened as his cheeks went pink. "Oh. I, er….I didn't realize you'd heard that."

"And that makes it okay?"

"No," Henry said quickly. "No, it does not, but a number of things suddenly make a great deal more sense." Henry fixed Alex with a sincere look. "I am truly sorry about that. My father had passed away not long before and the last thing I wanted was to be paraded around. But the queen commanded it, so I went. And was a right prick about 95% of the time."

"What were you the other 5%?" Alex asked.

"Asleep."

Alex laughed, and even Henry cracked a smile for a moment. "I didn't know you could be funny," Alex said. "Maybe there's hope for you yet."

Henry's smile faded. "Not unless your mother can work some magic."

"Hey," Alex laid his hand on Henry's where it rested on the table. "If anyone can work a miracle, it's my mom. The look on her face when she was telling me about this made me super glad I'm not the queen."

"Yes, well, gran has a way of getting what she wants."

"So does my mom." Alex realized his hand was still on Henry's and pulled it back carefully. "So why did you let her tell me about all this if you thought I didn't even like you?"

Henry took a drink before answering. "You were there when I requested asylum," he said slowly. "And me being here, doing all this, it's going to affect you. You deserved to know." One corner of Henry's mouth quirked up. "Besides, your reputation for dogged curiosity precedes you. I suspected you would just pester me to death if I didn't tell you."

Alex laughed. "You're right. I would have," he agreed. "So you said your best friend came with you? Why isn't he here?"

"He really is visiting possible locations for his project here in D.C. The official story will be that I ran off to ask for asylum without him knowing. It protects him, at least legally, even if my grandmother may suspect otherwise."

"What about your equerry?"

"Shaan may have his own reasons to want to stay in the States,'" Henry said cryptically.

Alex figured prying into Henry's equerry's life might be too much. Henry had been far more open than Alex had expected already. Push too hard and he might clam up. "So what comes next?" Alex asked.

"I'm not sure, I'm sort of in wait and see mode right now."

"Well, if you want to live to see," Alex said, "You need food." He pushed Henry's plate towards him. "Eat."

Henry looked at him, a smile hovering about his lips, but after a moment, he picked up his fork and started eating.

***

Henry ate slowly enough that Alex had long since finished his dinner by the time Henry pushed his plate away. "I can't eat anything else."

Alex eyed the amount of food on the plate. "I suppose that's enough," Alex said.

"There's that mother hen thing again."

Alex shrugged. "It's a habit."

"What, being an annoying pest?"

"No, watching out for the people I like."

Henry blinked, his cheeks flushing faintly. "Am I one of those now?"

"Enh, jury's still out," Alex teased. "But I'm hedging my bets, just in case. Can't decide that I like you only to have let you starve to death."

"Er…thank you," Henry said, face scrunched up in confusion. "I think?"

"You're welcome," Alex said with a short laugh as he stood. "Come on, I'll show you to your room. Although," he added, cocking his head at Henry, "technically I guess you could call this your room, since before it was the family dining room, it was the Prince of Wales room."

Henry's lips thinned. "Yes, well, I hardly think I will be the Prince of Wales for much longer."

"Sorry." Alex winced. "June likes to joke that I have a chronic case of foot-in-mouth-itis."

"Are you sure she's joking?"

"Ha. Ha." Alex nodded towards the door. "Come on." He led Henry out of the dining room and through the White House until he reached the Lincoln Bedroom. "I'll spare you the history lesson this time," Alex said, pushing the door open, subtly checking to make sure Henry's luggage had made it up there.

Henry stepped into the room, turning to lean against the door as he faced Alex again. "Thank you," Henry said quietly.

Alex nodded. "I'm just down the hall over there," Alex said, pointing to his room. "And I'm a serious insomniac, so knock if you need anything. Actually," Alex said, pulling out his phone. "Maybe don't knock--Mom's on some kick about my sleeping habits. Give me your phone number."

"I, er, um…I don't actually know it," Henry said, pulling his phone out of his pocket.

Alex paused in the process of unlocking his screen. "You don't know your own number?"

"I do, but it's possible that I may have 'accidentally' left my phone on Pez's plane. So anyone from the Palace trying to reach me might be having difficulty." Henry held up the phone in his hand. "Lucky for me Pez had a spare phone on him."

"Mr. Perfect with the burner phone," Alex said, shaking his head. "You're just full of surprises, Your Highness."

"Henry, please," Henry said. "I'm not even sure if I can claim that title anymore."

"Right. Henry it is." Alex held out his hand. "Phone."

Henry unlocked it and handed it over. Alex typed in his number and saved it before sending himself a text message. "There," Alex said, handing the phone back. "Need anything or can't sleep, text me."

"Thank you again."

"No problem." Alex stepped back, giving him a smile. "Goodnight, Henry."

"Goodnight, Alex," Henry said, before closing the door softly.

***

Chapter Text

Alex wandered into the dining room the next morning, bleary-eyed, to find Henry already at the table, dressed in a button down and sweater and sipping a cup of tea. "Did you sleep in those clothes?" Alex asked, as he grabbed the largest mug possible and poured coffee in it.

"Sorry?" Henry asked.

"You're very…put together for this early in the morning." Alex waved a hand at his own t-shirt and joggers. "Compared to this."

Henry glanced down Alex's body and back up before dropping his eyes back to his tea. "I am accustomed to being a tad more formal at breakfast."

Alex took a long drink of coffee, letting out a deep sigh of Satisfaction as the caffeine made its way into his system -. "Give it time," he said. "We'll break you of the habit."

"It's not as if I'm going anywhere."

Alex put his mug down at the place across from Henry's. "Have you eaten yet?"

Henry nodded. "A bit. I wasn't very hungry."

Alex grabbed some food and sat down to eat. "So since you're going to be here for a while, have you seen Star Wars?"

"I'm not an alien from another planet. Of course I have."

"What's your favorite?"

Henry shrugged like it was obvious. "Return of the Jedi, of course."

"Wrong."

"Wrong?" Henry frowned at him. "It's a personal opinion. How can it be wrong?"

"You would think that would be impossible, and yet you have somehow managed it."

They talked about movies and TV while Alex ate. He had just finished and was getting another cup of coffee when Henry's phone rang. Henry pulled the phone out of his pocket, staring at the number. "This isn't Pez," he said, looking up at Alex.

"No one else has the number?"

Henry shook his head. "Only you and Pez."

Alex held out his hand. When Henry handed over the phone, Alex answered on speaker. "Hello?"

The line was silent for a second before a woman with a British accent asked, "Who is this?"

"Bea," Henry breathed, staring at the phone in disbelief for a second before grabbing it. He turned off the speaker and put it up to his ear. "Bea? How did you get my number?"

Alex got up and pointed down the hall towards his room to let Henry know where he was going before giving the siblings some privacy to talk.

***

Alex had changed into jeans and a henley and was lounging on his bed, The West Wing playing on his laptop, when there was a soft knock at his door. He paused the episode and got up to answer , not really surprised to see Henry standing on the other side.

"How's your sister?" Alex asked.

"Relieved."

"Good." Alex pulled the door open further. "Want to come in?"

Henry shuffled forward half a step. "I'm not bothering you?"

"Not at all. I was just watching an episode of The West Wing."

"Oh, I've never seen that," Henry said, as he stepped into the room.

Alex closed the door behind him. "I can start back at the beginning if you want to watch."

"I don't want to interrupt your binging."

"Please." Alex nodded at the couch. "I've made my way through this series start to finish more times than I should probably admit." He brought the laptop over to put it on the table in front of the couch. "So how did your sister get your new number?" Alex asked, as he connected the laptop to his TV.

"Pez," Henry said. "Bea's been in France for the last week. She got home last night, and a friend of Pez's showed up at her door this afternoon with a burner phone with my new number stored in it, saying to call me to find out what was going on."

Alex raised his eyebrows. "And she just believed him?"

"Well, she knew Reggie," Henry said. "But that's a whole other story." Henry's amusement suggested it was an interesting story.

"So what did she say when you told her what happened?"

"Given Bea's penchant for colorful language, I'll spare you the exact words, but suffice to say she was not pleased."

"I can imagine she wouldn't be."

"Yes, well, it took some work to convince her not to go beat down gran's door. But I'm not even sure that the rest of my family knows what I've done yet. The longer we can keep that from happening, the better, at least until I know what the outcome of my request here is."

Alex nodded. "I know my mom will do everything she can for you."

"I have no doubt. I know this is my best chance."

Alex tucked his foot under the opposite thigh, turning to face Henry. "What will you do if she can't intervene?"

Henry's mouth was a grim line as he said, "I'll cross that bridge if I come to it. But I can tell you one thing I will not do--engage in that farce that they call 'conversion therapy.'"

"Good." Alex turned to the computer. "Okay, be ready to be introduced to the world as we all wish it really was," he said, as he queued up the pilot episode of The West Wing.

***

Alex was just starting to wonder how he'd never noticed just how much sexual innuendo The West Wing had in it when his phone buzzed with a text message from Zahra. Oval. 10 minutes. Bring the Prince.

"Looks like Mom might have an update," Alex said, holding up his phone.

"Is there time for me to get some tea?" Henry asked, holding up his empty mug.

Alex nodded. "We can stop on the way."

Refills in hand, they walked into the Oval with a minute to spare. Ellen and Zahra were sitting on one of the couches, so Alex took a seat beside Henry on the one opposite.

"I'm sorry it took this long to get you any information," Ellen said to Henry. "Before I get started, though, I just want to confirm you're still okay with Alex sitting in?"

Henry glanced at Alex, who said, "Hey, I won't be offended if you want me to go."

"No," Henry said immediately. "Please, stay."

Alex nodded, settling back into the couch as Ellen said, "I'm afraid it's not much of an update, but I didn't want to leave you hanging with no information. The short version is yes, you can apply for asylum."

"And the long version?" Henry asked.

"Technically you don't really need it to live in the U.S. You can live wherever you want. The queen can't touch you," Ellen added, "at least not legally."

Alex felt Henry's sigh of relief more than he saw it. "That's good news."

"Well, she can't touch you, but that doesn't mean she can't hurt you," Ellen said. "She can stop your income from the royal family and refuse to give you any security."

"Well the money isn't as much of an issue on its own. I have an inheritance from my father, and I've been considering, ah, moving away from royal duties for other options anyway," Henry said. "But the security could be a problem. I am not unaware of how much that costs, nor am I unaware of how important it will be to have it if all of this comes out."

Alex recognized the grim look on his mom's face as she said, "There are a lot of people who might want to have a word with you once they find out."

"Plus there's also the chance my grandmother might try to have me brought back by force if I'm not protected."

"You really think she'd go that far?" Alex asked.

Henry looked even more pale than usual as he said, "She was going to lock me away in a conversion camp. I hardly think it's a stretch, especially if she thinks it will go her way in the end."

For all that Alex has always been very much in the 'Fuck the monarchy' camp, this was almost too much for even him to believe. The idea that someone's grandmother would think it was so horrible for them to be gay that she'd go to these lengths is ridiculous, but when it was someone who was supposed to be looking after an entire nation, and all its ill-begotten spoils?

His ears were buzzing with a white hot rage that only true injustice brought out in him, which is why he barely even heard himself as he said, "What if we were engaged?"

***

Chapter Text

Three heads snapped to stare at him at once. "I'm sorry?" Ellen's expression had Alex reviewing what he'd just said and doing a mental double-take as Ellen said, "I could have sworn you just asked what if you were engaged to the Prince of Wales?"

He may not have thought before making the suggestion, but he was thinking now. "It makes sense," he said. "We announce we're engaged. That puts a big dent in Mary's plans, since it's kind of hard to deny he's gay if he's marrying the son of the President of the United States. And as my fiance, Henry would be eligible for Secret Service protection. It's the perfect plan."

"No," Henry said, shaking his head. "I'm not letting you do that."

"You don't need to let me do anything--it's a free country."

Henry shook his head again. "It would never work."

Alex studied him for a moment, the way Henry's cheeks had flushed a deep rose color and how he wasn't quite meeting Alex's gaze. Or anyone's. "Can y'all give us a minute?" Alex asked, glancing at his mom and adding, "Please?"

"Sure," Ellen said, eyes narrowed as she looked between the two of them.

"You can use my office," Zahra offered, her tone not nearly as gruff as he would have expected.

Alex guided Henry into Zahra's office just off the Oval, closing the door behind them before turning back to Henry. "You know, it was interesting that you said, 'I'm not letting you do that' instead of 'I'm not doing that.'"

Henry shrugged, picking at a thread on his sleeve. "Same difference."

"No. It's not." Alex put his hand on top of Henry's, stopping the nervous tick. "Henry. Look at me."

After a moment, Henry raised his eyes to meet Alex's. "It will never work," Henry said.

"Sure it will. We make the announcement, the world celebrates how in love we are, and your grandmother has about half a dozen cows but none of them can change the fact that she can't touch you anymore."

"Oh?" Henry raised an eyebrow. "And what about the fact that we're not in love? And oh, there's also the fact that you're straight."

Alex chewed on his lip for a few seconds before the words came out in a rush. "Notsomuch."

"Sorry?" Henry said, his voice squeaking at the end.

"Let's just say," Alex continued slowly, and this time his eyes were the ones that couldn't quite meet Henry's, "that if anyone were to go looking for proof I'm not straight, I could give references."

Henry gaped at him, moving his mouth a little like Alex's grandfather's singing bass wall decoration after it lost its voice. "I--" Henry said finally. "I mean, you…references?"

"As difficult as it may be for you to believe, Your Highness," Alex said, straightening his spine, "it is possible for guys to be into me."

Henry's laughter wasn't exactly flattering.

"Oh, you don't believe me?" Alex pulled out his phone. "I can call--"

"No, Alex, please." Henry grabbed Alex's hand, long fingers curling around both it and the phone effortlessly, causing Alex to swallow hard. "It's not that I don't believe you. I have no trouble believing that whatsoever."

Alex met Henry's gaze again. "Then what was so funny?"

Henry shook his head. "Never mind. It's nothing to do with you personally, all right?"

"Oh." Alex relaxed, but he didn't pull his hand out of Henry's. "Listen, I know we don't know each other that well yet," Alex said. "But once I've decided someone's my friend, I'll go a long way to protect them."

"Even to the alter?"

"If that's what it takes? Yes."

Henry closed his eyes on a deep breath, letting it out slowly before opening his eyes. "Is there any way I can talk you out of this crazy idea?"

"Sure. Tell me that you have a better one, or flat out refuse because you find me so disgusting that you can't even imagine pretending to be in love with me."

Henry shook his head as he huffed out a faint laugh. "You're absolutely sure about this?" he asked.

"One hundred percent." Alex replied immediately.

"All right," Henry relented. "I'll do it."

Alex beamed at him. "Now was that really so hard?"

"You've no idea," Henry murmured, but there was a small smile on his face that didn't go away.

Alex grabbed Henry's hand to pull him toward the door. "Come on, let's go get everyone else's objections out of the way so we can get this show on the road."

He didn't bother to let go of Henry's hand as he led him back into the Oval. "We're getting married," Alex said.

"Engaged," Henry corrected.

"Well yeah, but marriage is usually what comes after that, sweetheart," Alex said, giving Henry his best simpering smile.

"I've changed my mind."

Alex shook his head. "Nope. No take backs."

"What are you, five?" Henry asked.

"Is that a height joke, Your Highness? Because--"

"Alex," Ellen's voice was the kind of tired he usually only heard after she'd come back from a long stint in the situation room. "Can you just…not for a minute?"

Alex sobered, nodding. "Sorry," he said, leading Henry to the couch to sit down, but still not letting go of his hand. He wasn't sure Henry wouldn't get up and run away if he did.

Ellen fixed Henry with a sharp look. "You're okay with this?"

"Surprisingly, yes," Henry said. "It is decidedly better than any other alternatives."

"Nice to know I'm at least better than conversion therapy," Alex muttered quietly in Henry's direction.

"If this is going to work," Ellen said slowly, "no one outside of this room can know."

Alex laughed. "If you think we're getting anywhere with this without telling June and Nora the truth, you have clearly forgotten what they're like."

"All right, if Henry is okay with it, they can know."

"There's also Percy and my sister," Henry said. "They'll have to be told."

Ellen nodded. "What about your mother?"

Henry pulled his hand out of Alex's, closing in on himself just a little. "She…well, it won't be a problem if she doesn't know the truth."

Alex frowned at that, though if Henry was here asking Alex's mother for help instead of his own, then Henry's mother either hadn't been able to help, or hadn't wanted to. He put a pin in that to come back to later. "So then we're really doing this?" Alex asked Henry.

"It would seem so," Henry said, looking a little dazed.

"Excellent!"

***

By the time they finished hashing out the rough details of their plan, it was lunchtime. Alex and Henry grabbed food to take up to Alex's room and went back to Alex's sofa. Instead of The West Wing, however, Alex pulled up the secure video call software on his computer.

"June should be back in her room by now," Alex said as the call rang. "She's usually--"

The call connected, June smiling into the camera. "What's up, little--oh." She stopped as she clocked Henry sitting beside Alex. "Uh, hi?"

"Hey, June!" Alex winced a little at his overdone cheerfulness. "How are the wilds of Africa?"

"Alex, for the last time, Cairo is hardly the wilds of Africa." She raised an eyebrow. "Also, something tells me that you're not calling to hear about the hawawshi I had for dinner. And along those lines, hello, Your Royal Highness."

Henry cleared his throat, cheeks flushing light pink. "Please, call me Henry."

"Henry, then," June said, giving him a smile that hardened into a thin line as she looked at Alex. "Looks like maybe I picked the wrong week to be out of town."

A laugh cut its way up Alex's throat. "Yeah, um, about that…so, Henry and I are engaged?"

June's eyebrows disappeared above the computer screen. "Are you asking me or telling me?" she asked after a few seconds.

"Um…telling?"

June rolled her eyes. "You still don't sound sure."

Alex glanced at Henry, whose eyes were trained on the keyboard of Alex's laptop. "I'm sure," Alex said, turning his eyes back to June. "Surprise?"

He could almost see her mentally sifting through a long list of replies and discarding them one by one until she landed on, "That's one way to put it, I suppose. So when did this happen?"

"Uh…a couple of hours ago," Alex said. "Look, it's a long story and not one I really want to go into on a call. I promise we'll give you the details when you get back on Sunday. But right now we could really use your amazing writing skills."

"I'm listening."

Alex nodded, clearing the nervousness out of his voice before he said, "So, Henry and I are making our announcement Monday afternoon in the Rose Garden. It's going to come as a bit of a surprise to…well, to everyone--"

"You don't say?" June interjected.

He kept going as though she hadn't spoken. "So what we say needs to be crafted with surgical precision by the best writer in existence."

"Flattery will get you somewhere," June said. "Maybe."

Alex flashed her a grin. "Then you'll do it?"

"Yeah," June said. "What do you want it to say?"

***

They'd just picked up their West Wing binge again when Alex's phone buzzed.

bug
???!!!

Alex
?

bug
wth???

Alex
i'll explain when you get home

bug
I mean, it's not a surprise. Not the way you're always verbally pulling his pigtails.

Alex
i am not pulling his pigtails
he has short hair

bug
😒

Alex
can you just not today?
please?
i'll explain when you get here but just can you just help for now and leave the big sistering until you're back?

bug
Fine. But I want details when I get there.

Alex
promise

bug
Ok. I'll go work on a draft.

Alex
🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗

bug
Alex, what did we say about abusing emojis?

Alex
🤷🏾🤷🏾😜🤪😝😘

bug
Asshole.

Alex
luv u too bug

Alex put his phone down to find Henry watching him, a hint of a smile on his face. "What?" Alex asked.

Henry shook his head. "Nothing, just…you and your sister remind me a bit of me and Bea."

"I guess the big sister thing is a little universal?"

"Possibly. Though I've found that it can be a bit stronger with shared trauma involved."

Alex turned his eyes to the laptop, where CJ was pulling Danny into a kiss. Alex cleared his throat and quickly turned back to Henry. "You might be onto something," Alex conceded softly.

Henry settled into the couch, turning a little, eyes soft as he watched Alex. "Care to share? No pressure," he added quickly. "Just…we're engaged," and wow, it was the first time he'd heard Henry say that, and Alex hadn't been expecting it to have such an effect on him. "And you've had to listen to a fair amount of my trauma the last day or so. Only fair I listen to some of yours."

Alex took a deep breath and let it out slowly, which Henry seemed to take as reluctance. "You don't have to," Henry said.

"No, it's not that." Alex stared at his own hands for a moment, thinking. "Just…trying to decide where to start. You know how sometimes two people can get together for all the wrong reasons?"

"Like if one of them narrowly escaped being forcibly sent to conversion therapy against his will and the other one had an enormous savior complex?"

Alex rolled his eyes, but he couldn't help laughing. "I'd say those were some right reasons." He sobered as went back to his story, "Maybe 'the wrong reasons' isn't how to put it. More like there aren't enough right reasons to make it work."

"Some would say that might also apply to my example," Henry said softly.

The degree to which Alex hoped that wasn't the case surprised him. "I think that's up for debate," Alex replied. "But in the case of my parents, love wasn't enough to overcome a massive amount of incompatibility."

"Too different?"

Alex shook his head. "Too much alike."

"Ah. Yes, that can be an issue in relationships. Or so I've heard. I've never been allowed a relationship."

"What about Pez?"

Henry smiled. "Pez is different. He's the big brother I wish Philip had been."

"I thought you were the same age."

"Trust me, darling, Pez may not be older but he is much, much wiser." Henry turned an interesting shade of pink and cleared his throat. "So your parents were too much alike?"

Alex nodded. "Pretty sure my mom has slightly bigger balls, though."

"Well, that would explain why she's the one who's president then."

"Definitely," Alex said with a laugh that faded before he said. "There was a lot of fighting, and it just got louder and louder. And then I went away to summer camp, and when I came home, my dad had moved to California. And the silence was somehow even more deafening, you know?"

"Mmm." Henry sighed. "After my dad died," he said slowly, "the palace was constantly abuzz with people. Plans being made, family members coming from all over. And then the funeral was over and the people all went home, and, well…the silence just screamed from every corner in every room."

Alex put his hand on Henry's arm. "I'm sorry," he said quietly. "Here I am whining about my dad moving away when yours passed away."

"Yes, well, not that it's a competition, but one could say leaving by choice might be worse than not having a choice at all."

The thought brought Alex up short. His thoughts about his father and that time were so complicated he'd never been able to make heads or tails of why it hurt so bad. His father left his mother. But he came back repeatedly for Alex and June.

Eventually.

"I never really thought about it that way," Alex said, finally.

"Tragedy vs. betrayal," Henry said. "The difference between losing something and realizing maybe you never had it to begin with." He inclined his head. "Or at least not the way you thought you did."

Even June and Nora, for all of their combined ability to put up with Alex's weird brain, had never managed to just reach into the constant hurricane in his head and pluck out the center of the storm like that. "I feel like I should be paying you by the hour."

"Hold on, we said marriage, not prostitution."

Alex fell back against the arm of the couch, laughing hysterically. It was just what he needed in the moment, and he marveled yet again that Henry somehow managed that so effortlessly. "You're a regular comedian," Alex said when he'd caught his breath--at least from the laughter.

The suggestion of sex of any kind was leaving him slightly breathless in a totally different way he'd have to examine later.

***

Chapter Text

They were just finishing an episode of The West Wing when Henry's phone rang. "It's Pez," he said, answering as he got up. "Hold on a moment," were the last words Alex heard before Henry was on the other side of the bedroom door, closing it behind him.

Alex paused the episode before leaning back into the corner of the couch and pulling out his phone to find a text waiting from Nora.

nora
Something you want to share with the class, Alex?

Alex
june told you??

nora
No, June WOULDN'T tell me and that makes it even more interesting

Alex counted to five before he hit the call button. Nora answered before the first ring even finished. "So did we surrender to our former colonizers or something?"

"What?"

"Last thing I knew you were pacing the floor over Prince Henry's arrival and then it's radio silence."

"Oh." Shit. "Yeah, um…can you come by a little later? I kind of don't want to go into it on the phone."

There was a long pause before Nora asked, "Is everything okay?"

"Yes." Alex said, praying he was telling the truth. "I just...in person."

"O…kay." Nora said. "I'll be there in about an hour. Is that okay?"

"Yeah. See you then."

He hung up and dropped his phone on the coffee table as a soft knock sounded at the door. Alex heaved himself off the couch to go open it, unsurprised to find Henry on the other side. "How's Pez?" Alex asked, as Henry came back into the room.

"Well, I told him the news," Henry said.

"And?"

Henry looked grim. "He'll be here in half an hour."

***

Pez was waiting in the Mural Room when Alex and Henry entered. Pez jumped to his feet to hug Henry. "Congratulations, Haz," Pez said, with a wide smile. "Listen, I think my shirt got put in your bag somehow, because I can't find it anywhere. It's the yellow one with the splatter color pattern. Can you please check?"

Henry glanced at Alex, then back at Pez. "I can look this evening if--"

"I want to wear it later," Pez said levelly. "If you don't mind checking now, please?"

Henry glanced at Alex again, and Alex nodded. He knew what this was, and he knew he couldn't avoid it. Didn't want to, if he was honest. He was more than ready to answer Pez's questions.

After a long look at Pez, Henry acquiesced. "I'll be right back," he said, the words sounding more like a warning than anything else.

When the door closed behind Henry, Pez turned to Alex. "So, Alexander--"

"Alex. Please."

"Alex, then," Pez said. "I've one question for you: Why are you doing this?"

"You mean why am I engaged to Henry?" At Pez's nod, Alex said, "Because he needs help, and I can help him."

Pez fixed him with a look, then said again, "Why are you doing this?"

"Because what Mary wants to do to him is sick and wrong. He's already lost his father, and I'm not willing to let him lose himself, too. Not when I can help."

Pez studied Alex until he felt like a bug under a microscope. Finally, he said, "Okay," and shook Alex's hand.

Alex let out a long breath and gave Pez a smile.

***

They'd moved to the family dining room by the time Nora arrived in a whirlwind. "Okay can you please--" her gaze fixed on Pez. "I don't think we've met," she said. "I'm Nora."

Pez stood and bowed over Nora's hand with an air kiss to her knuckles. "Percy Okonjo," he said. "But call me Pez, like the sweets."

"Nice to meet you," Nora said, giving him a once over before turning to Alex. "So can you tell me what's going on?"

Alex glanced at Henry, who nodded. "Short version of the story? Henry and I are engaged."

"In what?" Nora asked.

"Engaged to be married," Alex said.

Nora frowned, looking back and forth between Alex and Henry several times. "Nope, sorry," she said finally. "Doesn't compute."

Alex folded his arms over his chest and frowned down at her. "Then you'd better run your calculations again, because it's true."

Nora looked at Henry, who nodded at her. "All true, I'm afraid."

She dropped heavily into a chair, her eyes on Alex. "I need more data."

"Let me explain," Henry replied before Alex could. "My grandmother wanted to send me to conversion therapy. So I left the country and came here to apply for asylum. Turns out I don't really need it, but I do need an alternate solution for security and protection when the news gets out. So Alex asked me to marry him."

Nora stared at Alex for a long moment, during which he resisted every urge to squirm or adjust his shirt collar. "So you just asked him to marry you? " she said. "Just like that?"

"Yup," Alex said.

"Did I fall into a regency romance on the way in here?" Nora turned to look at Pez. "You heard all that, too, right? Does it make sense to you?"

"It makes more sense than sending someone to conversion therapy against their will."

"I mean anything makes more sense than sending someone to conversion therapy period," Nora said. "There is zero science to it. Bigots, assholes and tools are the only ones who would believe it."

"I see you've met my grandmother then," Henry said.

Nora snorted. "I like him," she said to Alex. "He can stay. So I assume you have some great love story concocted to make everyone believe you two or desperately in love?"

"We've been working on that," Alex said.

"I still fail to see why my idea doesn't work," Pez said.

"Because," Henry said with some combination of fondness and exasperation, "Alex is not a skydiving instructor, and I would never jump out of a perfectly functional plane."

Pez waved a hand. "Details. People don't know you well enough to know if it would be true."

"Nevertheless," Henry said, "I think we need something that is a bit more believable."

"Oh! I've got it!" Pez bounced in his seat. "Taylor Swift pulled the two of you backstage at one of her concerts and told you that you would make the perfect couple!"

Henry pinched the bridge of his nose. "Percy, please," Henry said. "I appreciate that you are trying to help, but this is, in fact, the opposite of helpful."

"Sorry, Haz," Percy said, looking contrite. "You're right."

"I mean, you could just kind of lean into the truth," Nora said.

Alex frowned at her. "What do you mean?"

She shrugged. "You met at the Olympics. Everyone knows that. So just take it from there. You hit it off, but given how high profile you both are, you've kept everything very low key. But now that you've decided to take the next step, you need to be a little more open about it, starting with your engagement announcement."

Alex and Henry exchanged looks. "That could work," Henry said slowly.

"It could," Alex agreed. "Anyone who might have witnessed one of our snarkier exchanges, well, we couldn't have the world figuring it out now, could we? So we covered with snark."

"That's believable," Henry said, "And so close to the truth that we won't have to memorize a bunch of lies."

"Nora," Alex said, "I think you solved it! Let's hear it for the human computer!"

"Hear hear, " Pez said half heartedly. "Though I still feel like skydiving was so much more romantic."

Alex shrugged. "We could always go skydiving on our honeymoon."

"Over my dead body." Henry said quickly, sending the others into fits of laughter.

***

Chapter Text

Pez and Nora stayed through dinner, keeping things light. Once they'd eaten, Henry had insisted on walking Pez out--or at least as far as he could.

Nora barely waited until they were out of earshot before turning to Alex. "Okay, blink twice if you're being forced into this."

"Nora."

She peered intently at his face for a few seconds. "Okay, I'm not seeing any blinking."

"Nora, no one is forcing me into anything." Alex tossed his napkin on his plate, leaning back in his chair. "If anything, I had to talk Henry into this."

Her laugh was less than flattering. "You actually talked the guy who you recently swore in a five-minute rant was your bitter enemy into marrying you?"

"Getting engaged,"Alex said testily, remembering how quick Henry was to differentiate that point.

She studied him again, seconds ticking by until she sat back, nodding. "I see."

Don't ask, Alex. Don't ask. "You see what?"

She shrugged. "This all makes sense now."

"What makes sense?"

"You. Henry. The sudden proposal."

Alex squinted at her. "How, exactly, does this make sense to you?"

"I mean you've been wanting him to dick you down forever--"

"What? No!"

Nora looked unimpressed. "Really? All those times you pulled on his metaphorical pigtails weren't just your emotionally unintelligent way of jumping up and down, screaming, 'Look at me! Look at me! Aren't I pretty?'"

Alex opened his mouth, closed it, then opened it again. "Wrong," he said, finally.

One corner of her mouth quirked up in a smirk she usually reserved for handing other people their asses with her vastly superior statistical skills. "What a fascinating and well-reasoned argument from the captain of his high school's state champion debate team."

"Nora--"

"Alex." Nora put her hand on his arm, her voice softening. "If Liam had come here because his parents were trying to put him in a conversion camp, would you have instantly suggested marrying him?"

The question caught him by surprise, forcing him to think for a moment. "I mean…Liam would have other options," he said finally.

"So does a Prince."

"But he doesn't," Alex countered. "His grandmother has too much power. All she has to do is take his money away and then wait."

Nora frowned. "Isn't his friend Pez, like, insanely wealthy?"

"Yes, but he's also a British citizen, with a lot of British business interests. Henry had to make it look like he'd run off without Pez's knowledge as it was. There's only so much Pez could help him."

"Oh, and Henry told you that, did he?"

"Well…no," Alex admitted. "I mean, he did say he made it look that way to protect Pez. The rest is just obvious after that."

"About as obvious as you having a thing for Henry."

Alex shoved his chair back and stood, pacing around the table. "Look, this thing, me and Henry? It's to protect him, all right?"

"Oh, I don't doubt that," Nora said. "But two things can be true at the same time."

"Nora." Alex stopped, leaning on the back of the chair on the other side of the table from her. "Just please let it go? I kind of have enough going on right now, in case you haven't noticed."

She sighed. "You're right, you do," she said after a moment. "I'll leave it for now, but Alex, at least think about why you're really doing this? Do that for yourself, okay?"

"If I promise to think about it, will you leave it alone?"

Nora mimed zipping her lips shut and throwing away the key, and Alex sagged against the chair in relief. "Thank you," he said.

"You're welcome," Nora replied as she got up, walking around the table to put a hand on his shoulder. "But I am here if you want to talk."

"I know," Alex said, giving her a hug. "Thank you."

She pulled back, smiling up at him. "As long as you promise all the delicious details if you do decide to let him dick you down."

"Ugh!" He pushed at her playfully. "Get out of here," he said, smiling to take any real heat out of it.

"Actually, I do need to go," she said. "But you know where to find me if you need an ear."

He nodded, giving her another hug.

"Oh," Henry said from the doorway, "I'm sorry. Am I interrupting?"

"Nothing to interrupt," Nora said, breezing past Alex to give Henry a smile. "He's all yours," she told Henry. "Hopefully that doesn't have you running out of here back to England by morning."

"Nora," Alex said, a hint of warning in his voice.

She turned to stick her tongue out at Alex while Henry couldn't see her, then turned back to Henry. "Lovely to see you again, Your--sorry, Henry," she amended, having agreed to calling him that earlier.

"You as well," Henry said in that polite, well-bred way that made Alex slightly crazy.

She moved past Henry, waiting until she was behind him to throw a wink in Alex's direction, knowing full well he couldn't do a damn thing to react.

"I'm sorry," Henry said. "I didn't mean to interrupt."

"You didn't," Alex said with a wave of his hand. "If anything you saved me from the equivalent of my sister pushing all my buttons."

Henry frowned, looking down the hallway where Nora had disappeared, then back at Alex. "Sister? I thought the two of you were…I mean that you had….."

"Oh God no," Alex said. "I mean, yeah, we hooked up a few times on the campaign, when we barely knew each other, but that was convenience more than anything. Now…she's my best friend. That's all."

"Oh."

One syllable that sounded as if it held a world of meaning, but Alex didn't have the right translator to access any of it. "Yeah, so, um…do you maybe want to go watch some more West Wing? Or we could watch something else--it doesn't have to be that."

"Actually, I was quite enjoying West Wing," Henry said. "It was very illuminating."

More words that made Alex really wish he had a Henry-to-actual-English translator. Alex ignored the feeling, though, in favor of an easy smile as he brushed past Henry to lead him down the hall to Alex's room.

***

Alex had always thought Henry was an open book, but after years of being able to read people, he finally understood the saying 'don't judge a book by its cover.'

The Henry currently seated a few feet away, one sock-clad foot on the couch, elbow hooked around his knee, thumb idly stroking his own bottom lip, eyes transfixed on the computer screen, was several worlds away from what Alex had thought him to be.

Henry turned his head and Alex blinked, looking around the room like he hadn't been just staring at Henry as Henry asked, "Are your state dinners generally this fraught?"

"Fraught?" Alex said, figuring that was enough of a reason to look at Henry again. "No, they're not generally this 'fraught.' Or treacherous, perilous, precarious…."

Henry rolled his eyes at Alex's blatant teasing, but there was a hint of a smile as he said, "I feel so cheated to learn that your life here is not like a television series."

"Just think of The West Wing as modern day Star Wars, but with better dialogue."

"And fewer storm troopers," Henry added.

"And may that remain the case," Alex said, lifting his glass in salute before he took a drink.

When they finished the episode, Henry pushed himself up off the couch with a sigh. "I suppose I should let you get some sleep." At Alex's laugh, Henry frowned for a moment before his face cleared. "Ah, yes. 'Serious insomniac,' I believe you called yourself?"

Alex nodded. "If I sleep before 2 a.m. it'll be a miracle."

"Only 2 a.m.?" Henry asked. "That's barely insomnia."

"I said 'before.'"

"Yes, well, if you hit 4 a.m., I'll probably still be awake," Henry said, as he headed for the door.

Alex jumped up to follow, holding onto the doorknob as Henry stopped in the hallway. He opened his mouth, then hesitated before saying a soft, "Goodnight, Alex," and turning toward his room.

Long after Alex closed the door, he was still obsessing over what Henry had started to say before choosing 'goodnight.'

***

Not long after Henry left, Alex was lying on the bed, reading, when there was a soft knock at his door. He smiled, padding over to the door and pull is it open with a, "Forget some--"

He'd expected Henry, but instead Ellen stood on the other side of the door. "Hey Mom," Alex said."What's up?"

"Can I come in?"

"Of course." Alex pulled the door open wider, letting her inside before closing it.

Ellen stood in the middle of the room for a few seconds before she said, "Listen, sugar…I'm proud of you for what you're willing to do for Henry," she said, her words measured in a way Alex knew all too well. "But I have to ask you before this becomes irreversible. Have you really thought this through carefully?"

"I've certainly thought through what will happen to him if we don't do this."

"I know, honey, and I appreciate that, but I need you to think beyond just the immediate circumstances." She stepped closer, taking both of Alex's hands in hers. "Even if you call this engagement off in a year or two, this will never leave you. It will become part of your legacy. Are you prepared to take that on for life?"

"Yes," Alex said without hesitation.

"Alex--"

"No, wait, Mom. Look…I know it was a sudden offer. But I have had plenty of time to think it through. And I am prepared for whatever happens."

Ellen cocked her head at him. "Really? So you're ready for a media circus about 'America's Gay First Son'?"

"I mean, they'd be labeling me wrong, since I'm bi, but since when does the media get everything right?"

Ellen blinked a few times. "Did you really just use a flip comment about the media to come out to me?"

"I mean you have to admit that's pretty on brand for me," Alex said. "Also, um, surprise?"

She shook her head. "You know I love you, right?"

"Yeah, Mom, of course."

"Good." She pulled him into a long hug. "So," she said when she let him go except for his hands, "does this mean that there really is more between you and Henry…?"

"No," Alex said quickly, looking down at their hands. "I just…I want to help him," he said, meeting his mother's gaze. "Does it need to be more than that?"

She studied him for a long time before slowly shaking her head. "No. I don't think it needs to be anything more than that."

And if he heard an emphasis on the word 'needs' in that sentence, he was sure it was just a trick of his brain.

***

Chapter Text

Alex was surprised to walk into the dining room the next morning to find Henry in jeans and a sweatshirt. "I'm sorry," Alex said, making a beeline for the coffee pot. "I must be in the wrong room. I was expecting a British royal, not some random guy in a hoodie."

"Good morning to you, too, Alex."

Alex dropped three ice cubes in his coffee to cool it just enough to drink right away, taking a long drink before replying, "Good morning," as he took his seat across from Henry. "Did you sleep?"

Mouth quirking up to show he did, in fact, notice the lack of 'how' at the beginning of that question, Henry hedged with, "A little."

"You should have texted," Alex said. "We could have at least kept each other company."

"Your mother has been very gracious," Henry said. "The last thing I wish to do is repay that by encouraging bad habits she's trying to discourage in you."

"Hey, what happens in my bedroom at night is none of my mother's--" As Henry choked on his tea, Alex replayed the words in his head, then said, "Yeah, okay, sorry, I hear that now," he said, ducking his head and laughing.

When Alex looked up again, Henry was staring down into his tea. "So was it the regular garden variety insomnia?" Alex asked. "Or is something in particular keeping you up?"

Henry took a sip of his tea, eyes flitting between his cup, Alex's face, the wall, everywhere as he said, "It's suddenly so real. I mean this," he gestured between himself and Alex, "this is really happening."

Alex nodded, taking a drink before he said, "You know you can still back out, right? I mean…what Mary is trying to force you into is horrible. But…I don't want this to just be a different cage. It is your choice."

"I know," Henry said quietly, eyes firmly on his tea. "I chose this. And I still choose it. It's not a cage," he said, meeting Alex's gaze at last as he added, "it's a key to the door."

"Good," Alex said. "I'm glad."

He watched Henry drink his tea, mesmerized at the movement of Henry's throat as he swallowed, only breaking out of it when Henry said, "You know, if anyone is burdened by this, it's you. Are you really sure you want to do this?"

"Yup," Alex said instantly, stirring his black coffee. "Absolutely. No buyer's remorse here. I mean, have you seen yourself?" Stop talking, idiot! "I just mean, you're kinda hot, Your Majesty." Shut up, Alex!

It was worth the embarrassing babble to see Henry blush and duck his head so beautifully. Alex followed the blush, wondering if it went all the way down to his chest, then realized where his eyes had gone, only to jerk his head up and find Henry watching him.

"Good morning!" June's voice from the doorway was like a bucket of cold water, even though he was thrilled to see her.

"Hey!" Alex said, jumping up to give her a hug. "I thought you weren't getting here until this afternoon."

"I took an earlier flight," she said, pulling back and scrutinizing him like she could somehow see exactly how little sleep and how much coffee he'd had lately. "Couldn't wait to get home."

She moved past Alex to greet Henry, who'd stood as she entered the room. "Your Highness," she said, giving him a small curtsy.

"I thought we'd agreed it's just Henry," Henry said, as he held out his hand

June shook his hand. "It's nice to see you again."

"You as well."

"So," she said, taking the two of them in. "I have the latest draft of your announcement on my computer, which we can go over as soon as I get the real story, not the one you emailed me to use in the speech."

Alex sighed, refilling his coffee cup and getting another tea for Henry without even asking. "You should probably sit down then," he said, taking both cups to the table and dropping back into his seat.

***

Once they'd told the story and gone over the announcement, Henry quietly excused himself. Alex watched him leave before turning back to June, who immediately said, "Are you sure about this?"

"I've already had this conversation with Nora," Alex said. "And then again with Mom."

"Then you can have it one more time."

Alex sighed, drained his coffee, and refilled the mug. "Come on," he said. "If we're going to have this conversation, let's do it where we're not going to be overheard."

Which wasn't really a huge concern in the family dining room, but it gave him time to think about what to say as he led June to his room. Once the door was closed behind them, Alex turned to face her. "To answer your question, yes. I'm sure."

"Really? And you've thought this all through."

"I have." At her look, Alex said, "June. Did I make the suggestion without thinking it through one hundred percent? Yes. But that was days ago. I've had plenty of time to think--and talk--through everything. And I am sure about this."

"So you don't care that from now on guys will be hitting on you?"

Alex raised an eyebrow. "You think they weren't already?"

"Alex."

He sighed, wondering why it was even harder to come out to her than it had been to his mom. "It's possible that some of those guys might have succeeded."

"Like Liam." she said instantly. It wasn't a question.

"How could you possibly--"

"Alex. We both know it wasn't Mom keeping a close eye on you those last few years in Texas."

He closed his eyes, taking a few settling breaths before opening them again. "Right. And it wasn't just Liam--and no, I'm not naming any more names. Just know that guys hitting on me is not a problem, okay?"

"And girls?"

"Also not a problem." Alex cleared his throat. "I'm bi."

She pulled him into a tight hug. "I'm proud of you," she said, as she let him go. "You could have told me before."

It wasn't an accusation, and she didn't sound hurt, but he felt like she deserved an explanation nonetheless. "I wasn't sure. I mean--experimenting is one thing, but I wasn't sure that it wasn't just that until…well, until recently."

"Henry?"

"What?" he sputtered. "No."

"Alex."

He went over to his bed, flopping down on his stomach. "I don't know," he muttered into the comforter.

"Sorry?" June said, "I couldn't hear that."

Alex's groan was met with the jolt of the bed as June flopped down beside him. "Alex."

He turned his head to look at her, lying on her back, face inches from his. "I don't know."

"Don't you think that's something you should tell him before you tie yourself to him irrevocably?"

"It's not like we're getting married tomorrow," Alex said. "We're just announcing an engagement."

"Don't act like you don't know that's tying yourself to him for the rest of your life, regardless of whether or not you actually get married."

Alex took a deep breath, expelling it loudly. "I don't even know if there's anything to tell," he said, still not looking at June. "And even if there was, it's not like I would let him get carted off to conversion therapy because I may or may not think he's hotter than the sun."

"Wow, that hot, huh?"

He turned his head to glare at her. "Please, You've met the man. Like that's not a totally objective description?"

"Doesn't mean it's not also subjective."

"That is, objectively, a stupid response."

"No, it is subjectively a stupid response," June said.

"Don't make me smother you with a pillow," Alex replied.

June shrugged. "We both know I could take you."

"You're probably right." He smiled at her. "I'm glad you're home."

She smiled back, hand landing on his arm. "Me, too."

***

Chapter Text

Alex was finally drifting off to sleep when a thought jerked him awake. Rings.

They needed rings.

How had they not talked about this? How had no one even mentioned it? He checked his phone to see it was almost 4:30. They were making their announcement in less than twelve hours and they needed rings.

Zahra could make that happen, right? He pulled up his email and typed out a quick message.

To: Z
From: ACD
Subject: RINGS!?!?!?!

how did we not talk about needing engagement rings???? can we get some before 4???

He stopped himself from hitting send at the last second, not wanting the lecture about sending the email at 4:30 in the morning. He set the email to send at 6 and put the phone back down, trying to sleep.

The ding of his email at 6:01 am woke him from a light doze. He grabbed the phone to open Zahra's reply.

From: Zahara Bankston
To: Alexander Claremont-Diaz
Subject: Re: RINGS!?!?!?!

Rings are taken care of. And don't think I don't know you sent this in the middle of the night. We'll have makeup on hand for the press conference to cover the dark circles.

TAKE A NAP.

Zahra

Alex sent a thank you, only because he knew she probably had read receipts on and there was no use hiding that he'd opened it. Then he put the phone back down and tried to sleep.

He didn't succeed, but at least he tried.

***

Alex was rubbing his eyes as he walked into the dining room to find Henry and June deep in conversation.

"--I mean that scene at the inn," June said, leaning across the table from what had been Alex's seat until now. "Mr. Darcy was just too sweet!"

"Darcy was a dick," Alex grumbled as he poured his coffee.

"I beg your pardon?" Henry said, eyes following Alex as he walked to the table and dropped into the seat next to Henry.

Alex took a long drink of his coffee. "He basically told Lizzie, 'I love you despite hating you so much I did everything I could not to give a fuck about you.'" Alex eyed Henry levelly. "Guy's a dick."

"Yes, well," Henry said. "Some people seem to think their pride is more important than anything else."

"Yes, well," Alex mimicked, "what's important is that you recognize your deficiencies and are working on them, sweetheart."

Henry's attempt at retaining his haughty expression fell in under a second, a wide grin breaking through that Alex was certain matched the one on his own face. "Cretin," Henry said, shoving Alex's shoulder with his own.

"Sappy romantic," Alex said, shoving back.

"Seriously?" June said. At Alex's confused look, she waved a hand between the two of them and shook her head. "Just…um…never mind. When is Nora supposed to get here?"

Alex checked his watch. "In about an hour, why?"

June muttered, only the words 'witness' and 'insanity' making it to Alex's ears as she finished her drink and stood. "I'll leave you both to," she waved her hand between them, "this."

Alex watched her go, then turned to Henry in confusion. "What was that all about?"

Henry shrugged. "No idea."

"Okay." Alex got up to get some food, glancing down to see only the remnants of toast on Henry's plate. "You want something?" Alex asked.

Henry shook his head. "No, thank you."

"Hey, you gotta eat." Alex grabbed a second plate, adding a little eggs and a few pieces of bacon to it as he added to his own, taking them back to the table. He put the other plate in front of Henry. "Eat."

"I'm not very hungry."

"Come on. Can't have you passing out during our press conference later."

Henry paled a little. "Would you rather I throw up in the rose bushes?"

"Well, no, not that either." Alex leaned into Henry, pressing their shoulders together just a little. "How about you avoid both? Eat now, and if you're feeling a little sick later we'll get you something, but at least you won't pass out. So please eat. For me?"

With a small smile, Henry picked up his fork. "All right," he said, giving Alex a quick glance. "For you."

***

"Okay, so the press secretary will introduce the President, " Zahra said," She'll say a few words and then turn it over to Alex to - "

"Why? " Alex asked.

Zahra's irritated face didn't bother him nearly as much as usual. "Because you're the one who is going to announce -"

"No, I know that," Alex said. It was far from the first time they'd gone through the plan. It was just the first time he'd thought to question this. "Why is Mom speaking?"

"Because she's the President and we want to make it very clear that you have her full support," Zahra said.

"That'll be clear enough when we're doing the announcement in the Rose Garden with her standing right behind us." Alex smiled at his Mom. "I appreciate you're willing to put yourself out on that limb," Alex said, "but you speaking makes this look like a political move." He looked at Henry. "If we are the only ones to speak then it's about us. Not our countries. Much more believable as a love story."

The pink rising in Henry's paler than usual cheeks distracted Alex for a second, but he shook himself out of it to look at Ellen as she said, "Fine, but the press secretary will introduce you. I don't have to say anything, but I want at least one thing to underline that you both have my full support and that this is an official announcement."

Alex nodded, feeling sympathy for the world leaders who went up against his mother. They'd been at this for less then an hour, and he felt like he'd gone a few rounds with Mike Tyson.

Henry, however, had been mostly silent the whole time, speaking only when spoken to. "Does this all work for you?" Alex asked him. "Did you want to speak at the conference?"

"No," Henry answered quickly, which Alex had already assumed, but he still wanted to make sure. "I think it makes more sense for just you to speak. We'll be up there hand in hand, a united front, so it doesn't really matter which one of us is doing the talking."

"The press may direct some questions at you," Zahra said to Henry. "Are you good with answering those?"

Henry nodded, "I can handle it."

He looked very much as if he could not handle it, but Alex was learning that there was so much more going on under the surface there then he'd ever imagined.

"Good," Zahra said as she stood. "Shaan said to let you know he would be back by noon," she told Henry.

Alex frowned, confused as to why Zahra would be passing messages to Henry from his own equerry, but Henny didn't seem surprised, just nodding with a quiet thank you.

"Henry," Ellen said, "could we have a quick word alone?"

Alex opened his mouth to protest, but Zahra stepped on his foot, so he kept quiet as Henny responded, "Of course."

Zahra led Alex out of the room, as if worried he wouldn't leave otherwise. Alex parted ways with her at the end of the hall, but stopped at the top of the stairs to wait for Henry.

A couple of minutes passed before Henry appeared, looking unsurprised to see Alex waiting. "Everything okay?" Alex asked.

"Fine."

Henny started towards his room, but Alex stopped him with a hand on Henry's arm. "Hey, uh… do you want to come watch some more West Wing before we have to get ready?"

"I'm not sure I'd be able to follow the plotlines today," Henry said.

"Something else, then? You have to have a comfort show or movie, right?"

Henny looked a little sheepish. "I generally watch Bake Off, but I'm sure you don't want to--"

"Actually, I have the latest season on my watch list," Alex said. "And Netflix has all the other ones, so yeah, we can totally watch that." Alex tugged on Henry's arm. "Come on."

***

The remains of lunch were pushed aside on the table on either side of the computer, where the contestants were being judged on their showstoppers. Alex watched as Henry smiled faintly at the screen, thumbnail running absently over his lower lip.

The movement was hypnotic. Henry's lips appeared their fullest in profile. Alex wondered what they felt like, if they'd be soft or rough, if the lip balm he'd seen Henry use would taste as good as it smells.

Henry dropped his thumb, his lips moving. He bit the lower one as he turned to Alex.

"Alex?"

Alex started. "Sorry, what?"

Henry's brow furrowed. "Everything all right?"

"Fine," Alex said, hopping up off the couch. "I'm gonna clean this up and take it downstairs." Alex picked up a plate, knocking a glass to the floor where it shattered, despite the carpet. "Fuck!" Alex bent down to pick up the pieces, snatching his hand back with a hiss to see blood on his finger.

Henry was there in an instant, taking Alex's hand in his own and checking to see how bad the cut was. Henry put a napkin against the cut. "Doesn't look too bad," Henry said, his voice low, sending a shiver down Alex's spine.

Alex swallowed. "Yeah," he said. "Um, yeah." Alex pulled his hand away carefully. "I should put a bandaid on it." He hurried around the couch to his bathroom, pulling out the bandaids and wrapping one around his finger.

His phone alarm went off as he finished, a reminder that it was time to get ready for the press conference. Alex walked back out into the bedroom to find Henry near the door, holding his phone up, showing his own alarml. "I'm going to go get changed," Henry said, nodding toward the door. "I'll see you downstairs shortly?"

Alex nodded. "See you soon."

Henry looked like he was about to say something, then shook his head with a small smile and slipped out the door, closing it behind him.

***

Chapter Text

Alex stared at his reflection in the full-length mirror. Nothing in the reflection had changed - the same face, same surroundings he'd long-since grown used to. Nothing new, nothing out of the ordinary.

And yet everything felt different somehow, as if a photo filter had been cast over the image before him, making it sharper and hazier all at the same time.

In contrast, that moment earlier, when he'd cut his finger, stood out in sharp, vivid relief. A byproduct of the bubble they'd been in, obviously. They'd been thrown together in a highly unusual situation and then spent practically all of their waking hours together ever since. Two hot guys in their prime--this was an inevitable outcome.

Except.

There were the hours of conversation, going off on tangents started by West Wing quotes or plotlines, veering into highly personal things either of them rarely ever discussed with anyone, if they'd ever discussed them at all.

It's not like Alex had really had the chance to get to know anyone that well since he'd left middle school. He was the President's son, the resident heartthrob of the White House Trio. Truly geting to know someone outside of his small circle wasn't really possible. Oh, plenty of people wanted to get to know him. But there was never any way to trust the motive behind that.

A knock at his door tore his attention away from the mirror. He crossed the room to find June and Nora standing on the other side of the door. "I'm fine," he said, as he pulled the door open to let them in, before closing it again.

"We didn't ask," June replied, already straightening his tie.

Nora was scrutinizing his overall look. "We just wanted to come give you some moral support."

He loved them both, but he wasn't sure he was up to the two of them ganging up on him. "Maybe one of you could go check on Henry?"

"Oh Pez and Shaan are both in there," Nora said.

"Good," Alex said softly.

June brushed off his shoulders, then stood back to give him a once-over. "Nice to know you were worried about him, though."

Alex shrugged as he pushed past her to pull his shoes off the shelf. "This, what we're about to do…it isn't easy," he said, stepping into the shoes. "Going out there, baring all of this personal shit to the press corps? I mean, I love the spotlight and even I'm nervous. I can only imagine what he's going through."

June and Nora studied him, matching looks on their faces that he couldn't quite parse. "What?" he asked finally.

"Nothing," they said in unison.

"It's sweet, though," June added. "To see you actually considering how he feels."

"What, like I'm a heartless monster?"

June rolled her eyes. "No. It's just…." She shook her head finally. "Never mind."

Nora eyed him critically. "You look good, Alejanrdo."

"Hey, I'm taken," Alex said, mustering up the best version he could manage of his usual cocky grin. "You had your chance."

She held her hands up. "Believe me, he is welcome to you!"

They laughed, but it faded quickly as Alex looked between the two of them. "This is the right thing to do."

"Are you asking us?" June said. "Or telling?"

Alex thought about it for a moment. "Both? I mean, I know it's the right thing to do to help him. I just worry that maybe I pushed him a little too hard. That he's just going along with it because I forced him into it."

"Alex." June fixed him with a look. "That man fled his country, where he's fourth in line to the throne, to request asylum here, to stand up to his grandmother, who happens to be the Queen. I think he could stand up to you if he really didn't want to do this."

"Fair point," Alex said.

"Besides," Nora chimed in, "if he changes his mind, he can always let the Queen's Ninjas take you out."

Alex's breath stuttered. "And thank you, Nora, for a whole brand new nightmare I'll be dealing with for the foreseeable future."

"No one is going to 'take you out,'" June said, hands on both of his shoulders. "You're really okay with this?" she asked, holding his gaze.

"I am."

She smiled, pulling him into a hug. "Proud of you," she murmured into his ear.

Nora put her arms around both of them in a group hug for a moment before they all let go. "Okay," Alex said, "let's go."

***

His mom was waiting in the Oval, Zahra by her side near the door. "Where's Henry?" Alex asked.

"He's with Shaan and Pez," Zahra said. "He'll be in shortly."

She handed him a ring box and he opens it to see a brushed platinum band, a perfect foil for the gold signet Henry wore. "Damn, Zahra, you have great taste."

"I know."

"Where's the other ring?"

"Henry has it," Zahra said, as she held out a black leather portfolio. "This is a copy of your speech, in case something happens to the prompters."

Alex closed the ring box and put it in his pocket to take the speech. "Thanks."

Zahra nodded. "You remember the order and everything?"

"This isn't my first rodeo, Z."

"No, but it's your first engagement." She rolled her eyes. "Just don't fuck it up. Okay?"

He was very much aware of the stakes, but the reminder didn't sting. "I won't."

"Good." She patted him on the arm before hurrying out of the room.

Alex turned to Ellen. "Is it your turn to tell me not to fuck this up?" Alex asked.

"Nope. I know you won't."

"Thanks, Ma." Alex gave her a smile. "Hey, what did you say to Henry earlier?"

"That's between me and Henry." Ellen put her hands on his shoulders. "You know how proud I am of you, right?"

"Of course."

She pulled him into a hug. "Good. I love you, kiddo."

"Love you too, Mom."

Alex heard the door open as his mom let him go. He turned to see Henry crossing the room, dressed in a dark grey suit, paired with a light blue shirt that brought out the color in his eyes. "Wait, you have colors in your wardrobe?" Alex teased.

Henry rolled his eyes, nudging Alex's shoulder with his own. "Grey is a color."

"That's debatable."

"Okay, I'm gonna give you two a minute," Ellen said. She hugged Alex once more, then hugged Henry, saying something in his ear too low for Alex to hear, before she left the room.

"So," Alex said, "you ready to do this?"

Henry nodded, even though he looked as though he'd seen an entire battalion of ghosts.

"Come on, Your Majesty. It's not like you'll actually be able to hear the sound of the million or so hearts breaking all at once when they find out you're taken."

Henry laughed. "I somehow doubt it's anywhere near that many."

"Oh, many a teen magazine would disagree with you," Alex said as he pulled the ring box out of his pocket. He took the ring out, leaving the box on a table beside the couch. "Should I, uh, get down on one knee or something?" Alex joked.

"I beg you to not," Henry said, reaching out to take the ring.

Alex snatched it back. "Let me," he said softly. He took Henry's left hand, signet ring conspicuously absent, and slid the brushed platinum band on Henry's ring finger. The band looked at home on Henry's long fingers, and Alex couldn't help but run his finger over the edge of it, eliciting a shiver from Henry.

Alex looked up at Henry through his lashes, breath catching. Golden hour was clearly defined by the way it made Henry look, adding a glint to his hair and reflecting the gold of the sun off his skin, making him look every inch a prince.

Henry cleared his throat and pulled a ring out of his jacket pocket. "Shaan has the box," he said, taking Alex's left hand in his and sliding a black band on Alex's finger. Alex looked down at the thick band, three princess cut diamonds across the top. It was a beautiful, classic style that Alex maybe wanted to stare at a little longer than they had time for.

His eyes flicked up to Henry's again, Henry's hand still warm around Alex's, thumb brushing across the ring. Alex's eyes drifted down to Henry's lips as Henry's tongue darted out to wet them. Alex found himself leaning in, wondering if they were as soft as--

A sharp knock at the door had them both taking a step back as Zahra came into the room. "Time to go," she said.

Alex gave Henry an encouraging smile. "Let's do this," he said, grabbing Henry's hand and not letting go until they reached the doors leading out to the Rose Garden.

***

Chapter Text

Alex let go of Henry's hand when they reached the doors to the Rose Garden. He gave Henry a smile, taking a deep breath before opening the door and stepping outside.

Ellen was standing just outside the door. Alex joined her, surveying the 50 or so reporters enjoying the late afternoon sun. They'd chosen this time to coincide with the evening news, even if the traditional news cycle wasn't anywhere near as important as it used to be. Slotting the conference into a traditional spot held value even now.

Mel, his mother's press secretary, stepped up to the podium. "Thank you for coming," she said. "Apologies for the secrecy around the reason, but I'd like to turn this over to the First Son, Alex Claremont-Diaz."

The hum of murmured conversation met Alex as he gave Mel a smile. He'd played poker with her more than once on the campaign trail, and her poker face was part of what made her such a great press secretary. But the smile she gave him in return, as she stepped aside for him, was genuine and encouraging.

Alex opened the portfolio that contained the speech and cleared his throat. "Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for being here." He took a deep breath. "Over the past few years, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside some amazing people and visiting incredible places.

"Being the First Son has given me the chance to connect with individuals who have challenged and inspired me in ways I never expected. And getting to know one person, in particular, has profoundly changed my life."

Alex took a deep breath. "That person is Prince Henry of England."

He didn't hear the Rose Garden doors open over the chatter among the reporters, but a moment later, Henry was at his side. Alex took his hand and squeezed it as he gave Henry a smile.

"We're here today to announce that we are engaged to be married," Alex said, giving the murmurs of surprise only a second to settle before pressing on. "I understand that this may be unexpected, as we’ve kept our relationship private until now. Henry and I needed time to navigate our feelings and decide our future away from the public eye.

"But we’ve reached a point where we’re ready to share our love openly and honestly. Our decision to be together was made with careful thought and consideration. We’re both fully aware of the significance of this announcement, not just for us personally, but also for the community at large, and we hope that by going public in this way, we can help others see they are not alone. That they have kindred spirits and representation in high places. And that love is love, in whatever form it takes."

Alex kept his eyes on the reporters, making eye contact with as many as he could, wanting to drive this point home. "However, at its heart, this is simply a story of two people who found love and chose to commit to one another. So we ask for your understanding and respect as we continue to navigate this new chapter. Henry and I are excited about our future together, and we hope that you will support us as we move forward.

"For those of you writing the headlines tonight, and in the days to come, we hope you will reflect on this with the same care that we’ve put into making this decision. Please remember that your words will touch not only us, but also millions of queer people all over the globe. We hope you will keep every one of those people in mind as you choose how you frame this news. Thank you."

The reporters started shouting questions before the last sentence finished. Alex called on the first one he recognized. "Kelly?"

"How long have you and the prince been dating?"

"We met in Rio at the Olympics and hit it off as friends right away," Alex said, telling the story they'd crafted as if it was a fond memory. "Somewhere in 2017 it turned into something…more," Alex said, as he gave Henry a warm smile, one that was immediately returned.

Alex leaned into Henry, lips almost touching Henry's ear. "Pretend like I just reminded you of some private and very embarrassing story," Alex whispered.

Henry laughed and blushed, ducking his head, and really, Alex had underestimated his acting skills, almost as he'd underestimated the full impact that whole look would have on him. "Next question?" Alex said, tearing his eyes away and looking back at the press pool. Alex pointed blindly at a reporter, only realizing after he'd done so that it was the Daily Mail.

Fuck.

"Just wondering if we could get a kiss to seal the royal deal," the man said.

As much as Alex hated giving those assholes anything, he turned to Henry with a smile, leaning in again to Henry's ear. "I'm good if you are," Alex said. "Just imagine how much this will piss off Mary off."

Henry met Alex's eyes for a moment before nodding with a shy smile and leaning in. Alex expected a peck on the lips. Maybe a prolonged touch at most. What he got instead was Henry's hand on his cheek, holding Alex as if he was something precious, as Henry's lips moved against his with a practiced skill that had Alex wondering just where he got that much practice and exactly what else that talented mouth was this good at.

Henry looked a bit dazed when he pulled back, but Alex was sure he looked just as stunned. He came fully back to reality as he was being pushed aside by Mel, who was also so good at poker because she could read other people like books.

"Thank you all for coming," Mel said. "If you have follow ups, you know where to find me."

She turned and ushered Alex and Henry back into the White House as quickly as possible.

***

Chapter Text

Hours after the announcement, the silence from Buckingham was deafening.

They'd all gathered in the family room after the announcement, scattered conversations not quite enough to drown out the lack of response from the Queen.

Pez had given Henry his own phone back after the announcement, since it no longer mattered if people could track him. Henry had pocketed it without turning it on, an action Alex understood completely. Who knew what the Crown might be able to read or hear on that phone?

Through an extended dinner of more pizza than their group could possibly eat, Alex had been fully aware of wherever Henry had been in the room. He was currently sneaking looks at Henry, who was talking quietly with June in one corner, ducking his head as he laughed at something she said. The genuine smile was good to see, and he loved June that much more for managing to bring it out.

The couch dipped beside Alex a moment before Nora said, voice low near his ear, "You're staring."

Alex fixed her with a glare. "I am not."

"Are too."

"Am--nope. Not playing that game."

Nora shrugged. "Suit yourself. Can't deny the truth."

"I was not staring," Alex said, taking care to keep his voice low.

Nora showed him her phone, displaying a picture she'd clearly taken a moment before coming over to talk with him. Alex was, in fact, staring at Henry, and Jesus, if that was the face he was making when he stared at Henry, he probably needed to cut that out if he didn't want to hear a never-ending parade of the 20-something version of "Alex and Henry, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G" from Nora.

Actually, this was Nora. Those were probably the exact words she'd sing.

"I was just glad to see June distracting him," Alex said, looking at the picture to avoid meeting Nora's gaze.

"Mm-hm." Nora dropped her phone into her lap. "Maybe. But that doesn't cause that look on your face."

Alex glanced at Henry to find Henry looking back at him. Henry gave him a smile before turning his attention back to June, color staining his cheeks.

"Fuck," Alex said, eyes finally meeting Nora's. "I am so totally fucked."

"I mean, you could be, if you'd just let him--"

"Nora." The word forced its way through Alex's gritted teeth. "Not helping."

Her sigh was the one that always led to Real Talk, as she put it. "Alex, the two of you are literally engaged--"

"Which he agreed to only to keep himself out of conversion camp."

"You really think that's all it was?"

Alex shrugged. "What else could it be?"

"Alex. You're smarter than this."

"I'm gonna get some more pizza," Alex said, pushing himself up off the couch. "You want any?"

A disgusted, "Men!" was all he got in answer as he headed for the pizza he had no appetite for anymore.

***

Eventually, Pez replaced June in the corner chairs, his head bent low next to Henry's, Pez's occasional laughter the only thing Alex could make out.

Not that he was trying to eavesdrop.

A few minutes later, Pez got up, heading straight for Alex, Henry a few paces behind. "Alexander," Pez said, "it was a wonderful speech."

"Thanks, but really that's all June. She's a brilliant writer."

"That she is," Pez agreed. "But the best speech in the world is nothing without the right delivery."

Alex acknowledged the compliment with a slight incline of his head. "Thank you," he added. "Are you headed out?"

"I am. Busy day tomorrow. But my thanks to you and your family for the hospitality."

"Anytime." Alex shook his hand. "Take care."

"I'm just going to see him out," Henry said to Alex.

Alex nodded. "You coming back after?"

"Actually," Henry said, scratching at his neck and not quite meeting Alex's eyes, "it's been a rather, um…eventful day, so I think I'm going to just head for my room after."

"Oh." Alex cleared his throat. "Uh, yeah, good idea. I'm probably going to do the same."

Henry's smile was pinched. "Right. See you in the morning, then?"

"Yeah."

Alex frowned after them until June poked him in the shoulder. "Ow," Alex said, rubbing his bicep. "What was that for?"

"Just saying hi."

"Could you maybe do that without the pain from now on?"

"Where's the fun in that?" Her smile shifted into something softer. "How're you holding up?"

Alex shrugged. "Fine, considering."

"Considering that you want to rip Henry's clothes off?" she said quietly.

"June."

She held up both hands. "I'm just sayin', that was some kiss out there, baby bro."

"We had to sell it, Bug."

"Yeah, well, you could probably charge to see that, that's for sure." At Alex's look, she held her hands up again. "Okay, I'll stop."

"Thank you."

"For now." That softer smile appeared again as she leaned in to hug him. "I am proud of you," she said, echoing the comments from all of his family and friends since the speech. "You did good."

Alex squeezed her tightly before pulling back. "Thank you," he said quietly. "I think I'm gonna go lie down."

She studied him for a long moment. "You'd tell me if you weren't okay, yeah?"

"Of course."

After another moment, she said, "Okay. Night."

"Night, Bug."

***

Alex was propped up against his pillows on the bed, in sweats and a t-shirt, staring at the same page in his book he'd had open for at least fifteen minutes. He checked his phone for the fiftieth time, but Henry hadn't texted. Not that Henry had any reason to text him, but Alex was a little concerned.

Maybe he should text Henry. Then again, if Henry had somehow managed to fall asleep, Alex didn't want to interrupt that.

A soft knock at the door had Alex tossing the book aside, grateful for any distraction. He opened the door, surprised to find Henry on the other side, also in sweats, only with a long-sleeved t-shirt, somehow managing to make the attire sexy as hell. "Hey," Alex said, as Henry pushed the door open and stepped inside, "are you--"

Whatever Alex had been about to ask flew out of his head as Henry's lips met his. Gone was the sweetness of the kiss in the Rose Garden. This one was fire, and Alex was all too happy to burn.

Henry pushed him further into the room, all open mouths and tongues now, less finesse and more devouring, their hips grinding together in the most delicious way, right up until Alex was stopped suddenly by the couch.

And then fell straight backwards over it, his head stopping just short of the floor.

Henry's loud laugh was worth the embarrassment, his face lit up with joy and amusement instead of the pinched look he'd worn through most of dinner. "Haha," Alex said, even though he was laughing himself. "Very funny." Alex managed to maneuver himself sideways to lay on the couch, watching as Henry came around it. "Here," Alex said, holding out a hand, "help me up."

As soon as Henry got a firm grip on Alex's hand, Alex pulled him down onto the couch. It wasn't exactly a soft landing, and Alex was grateful that Henry's elbow had gone into Alex's hip and not a few inches to the left, or the night might have been over before it really started.

Instead, Alex ended up with Henry covering him, hips slotted right where Alex would have wanted them anyway. "So," Alex said, voice low, "where were we before we were so rudely interrupted?"

"I think we were right about here," Henry said, capturing Alex's mouth in another searing kiss. Alex let his hands roam everywhere, finding nothing but warmth and solid muscle underneath Henry's soft t-shirt. Henry started tasting his way down the side of Alex's neck, his, "You've no idea how hard it was to keep from dragging you into a closet during dinner," causing Alex's hips to thrust up at the thought.

"Oh I have some idea," Alex said, hips pushing up against Henry's chest as Henry kept moving lower, shoving Alex's t-shirt up to nip at Alex's chest and abs on his way down.

Alex couldn't look away as Henry slid Alex's sweats down, eyes flicking up to Alex in surprise. "Going commando in the White House?" Henry said. "Bold choice."

"I sleep better that way," Alex said, voice a little strangled as Henry rolled a condom onto Alex's cock, then wrapped one of his big hands around it, squeezing just a little. "Besides," Alex managed to grit out, "not hearing any--" Alex had to pause for a breath as Henry licked the tip of Alex's cock, "--complaints," Alex finished, voice trailing up at the end as Henry swallowed him down as if it was nothing.

"Holy Jesus fuck," Alex ground out, unable to stop his hips from pushing up to meet Henry's mouth. Henry took it in stride, cheeks hollowing, eyes hot on Alex like he was going for a world record in getting him off.

It was working, too. Alex was gripping the back and side of the couch to keep from pulling on Henry's hair, right up until he had to let go of the couch to push Henry back. "Henry, I'm--I--"

Henry pulled off a second before Alex came, Henry's hand stroking him through his orgasm. Alex didn't whimper when Henry finally let go, but it was a near thing. "Fuck," Alex said, eyes closed, arm over his eyes as he tried to recover. "You're really fucking good at that."

"Thank you. I mean, the sounds you were making did give me some clue…."

The teasing tone warmed Alex, and he started to push himself up to give as good as he got. "Oh, you know what, you can--"

The words were lost as Alex's arm gave out and he fell sideways onto the floor. He felt so good it didn't even matter, as he looked up at Henry, laughing as he peered down at Alex from the couch. "You know," Henry said, "there are less painful ways to tell me I swept you off your feet."

The joke about 'falling for you' was on the tip of Alex's tongue, but he found he couldn't push it out of his mouth. "Nah," Alex said, all false bravado. "Just the easiest way to get on the floor so I could get on my knees."

That stopped Henry's laughter, a much more intense look on his face as Alex climbed to his feet. "I'm all for efficiency in situations such as these," Henry said, suddenly hoarse.

Alex rolled his eyes at the formal speech under the circumstances. "Speaking of efficiency, got another condom in your pockets so I don't have to go get one?"

Henry dug one out and handed it to Alex, who pulled Henry's sweats and underpants down carefully to release Henry's cock, hard and leaking. It was a beautiful cock, which was a weird thought to have, but totally in line with Alex's weird day.

He rolled the condom slowly down Henry's length, eyes meeting Henry's a little uncertainly. "I, uh…." Alex's gaze drifted downward. "I've never actually done this before, so you'll have to tell me if it sucks."

"I mean, sucking is the general idea, isn't it?" Henry teased.

"Oh you know what?" Alex looked up, prepared to be annoyed, but the soft look on Henry's face drove every ounce of annoyment out of him.

Henry ran his hand soothingly along Alex's bicep. "I promise you I'll enjoy it."

As confidence boosters went, it was a good one. "Okay," Alex said. "Just…tell me if I do anything wrong?"

"I doubt that will be necessary, but I will."

Alex dipped his head down, licking at the tip the way Henry had at first. He wasn't crazy about the taste of latex at first, but as he worked his mouth down, slowly taking more of Henry in, he didn't really mind it. Henry smelled amazing, something Alex hadn't expected. And the heady power of having Henry at his mercy, Alex's mouth around his cock was something he hadn't thought about, something that felt better than all the applause at a rally.

The biggest surprise was how right it felt, having that solid, warm weight of Henry's cock in his mouth. Any doubt he might have had about labeling himself bisexual was totally blown away as Alex began to move his in earnest, letting Henry's hands guide his head slightly as needed until Henry was clutching at Alex's hair, pulling the strands in a way that went right to Alex's dick.

Henry was muttering, the words incomprehensible but the tone enough for Alex to know it was good. "Alex," Henry finally got out, hips moving in time with Alex's head, "Alex fuck…I'm--"

Henry thrust up once more as he let out a breathy laugh. Alex could feel Henry's cock pulsing, filling the condom. He wondered what it would taste like if there was nothing between them, instantly dismissing the thought.

That wasn't what this was.

He still found himself reluctant to pull off, but he did, looking down at Henry, sprawled across the couch, eyes closed, chest heaving as he tried to control his breathing.

"So," Alex said, "not terrible then?"

Henry's eyes slitted open, his lazy smile doing things to Alex's stomach. "Eh, 8 out of ten."

"Only an 8?"

Henry shrugged, eyes lit up with amusement, the only reason Alex wasn't smothering him with a pillow. "Always room for improvement."

Alex smothered him with the pillow.

By the time their mock pillow fight came to an end, they were sitting in opposite corners of the couch, pants mostly righted, breathless with laughter. Henry's hair was a mess, his face bright, and Alex wanted to fight Mary and Philip and anyone else who had made him feel less than the beautiful, amazing person he truly was.

Alex looked down at the ring he still hadn't quite adjusted to wearing yet, three perfect diamonds shining up at him out of the black band like stars in the dead of night. "It's a beautiful ring," Alex said, looking up at Henry through his lashes. "Zahra chose well."

Henry blinked a few times, smile softening into something Alex couldn't quite read. "I…." He shrugged, shifting his gaze to the ring. "Yes, it is a very beautiful ring."

It clearly wasn't what he'd been about to say, but Alex let it go. "Hey," he said, grabbing Henry's hand to pull him to his feet along with Alex. "I have an idea."

"Why do those words coming out of your mouth worry me?"

Alex rolled his eyes as he pulled Henry into Alex's 'closet', which was really more of a dressing room, but he refused to call it that. "Wanna really piss your grandmother off?" Alex asked, turning Henry toward the large mirror and standing behind him, phone in hand.

"We are not releasing a sex tape," Henry said flatly.

Alex burst out laughing, head landing on Henry's shoulder. "No," Alex agreed, "though don't think we're not coming back to why your brain immediately went there later. But how about this?"

Alex put his phone on the shelf just beside the mirror, camera flipped to selfie mode. He took Henry's left hand and placed it on top of Alex's right, ring angled to show on the screen. Once Henry's hand was positioned, Alex put his arm around Henry, laying his own left hand on top of Henry's to display their rings close together. "Siri, take a picture," Alex said.

The camera snapped. Alex took a few more, just to be safe, then said, "That should do it." He stepped around Henry to grab the phone, missing Henry's warmth immediately, but staying a step apart as they looked through the pictures.

When they'd picked the best one, Alex put it into Instagram. "Love is love is love," he said as he typed, glancing up at Henry to see him watching Alex's hands. "Thoughts on a spring wedding, at Prince Henry UK? Hashtag royal wedding, hashtag engagement."

He turned the phone around to let Henry see the post. After a moment, Henry met his eyes and nodded, so Alex pressed send. "Damn," Alex said, as soon as it went through. "I should have added a hashtag fuck you Mary."

Henry laughed. "Maybe it's best you didn't."

"Probably. I suspect she'll get that message regardless."

"I'm sure she will," Henry said, eyes on the floor, looking as if he was somewhere else.

"Hey," Alex said, gently. "You okay?"

Henry nodded, eyes almost meeting Alex's as he said, "I should probably get back to my room, though."

"You sure you don't want to stay for another round?" Alex asked playfully, wiggling his eyebrows.

Henry shook his head, but at least he was smiling. "Tempting, but I probably should at least attempt to get some sleep, if my brain will let me," he said, as Alex followed him to the door.

"Well, you know where to find me if the insomnia wins," Alex said.

Henry paused, hand on the doorknob, smiling, eyes finally meeting Alex's again. "I do indeed," he said, voice low as he swayed into Alex's space, then paused, face doing some complicated dance.

Alex rolled his eyes. “For fuck’s sake, man, you just had my dick in your mouth, you can kiss me goodnight.”

Something warmer slid into Henry's smile as he leaned in, kissing Alex fiercely before he slid out the door, closing it softly behind him.

Alex took a deep breath, let it out slowly, Henry's scent lingering in the air in front of him, filling his senses.

This was fine. It was all totally and completely fine.

And if he spent way too much time looking at the picture of their hands together, that was between him and his phone.

***

Chapter Text

"Are you ready for this?" Alex asked, turning to meeting Henry's eyes. They were on Alex's bed, propped up against the headboard, and the heat of Henry's warmth all along Alex's side from shoulder to ankles was…something.

Henry took a deep breath. "Yeah," he said softly, ducking his head. "Let's do it."

Alex pulled his laptop closer so they could both read, clicking on the briefing document Zarah had emailed him of the coverage of their engagement.

News Outlet Response

The Daily Mail (UK)
‘Royal Scandal: Prince Henry and US President’s Son Announce Shock Engagement!’
In a move that has stunned the royal family and sent shockwaves through the British establishment, Prince Henry of Wales has announced his engagement to Alex Claremont-Diaz, the son of the US President. The surprise revelation comes amidst whispers of a whirlwind romance that has unfolded largely out of public view.

New York Post
‘Prince Henry Gets Hitched to Prez’s Son: Love Across the Pond!’
In a plot twist that feels ripped from the pages of a rom-com, Prince Henry, second in line to the British throne, revealed he’s engaged to none other than Alex Claremont-Diaz, First Son of the United States. The couple, whose relationship was a closely guarded secret, dropped the bombshell in a surprise press conference.

CNN
‘Prince Henry and First Son Alex Claremont-Diaz: A Love Story for the Modern Age’
In a historic announcement, Prince Henry of Britain and Alex Claremont-Diaz, the First Son of the United States, revealed their engagement in a move that transcends borders and tradition. Their story, kept private until now, reflects a profound shift in both the monarchy and global attitudes toward love.

Associated Press (AP)
‘Prince Henry, Son of US President Announce Engagement’
Prince Henry of Britain and Alex Claremont-Diaz, son of US President Ellen Claremont, announced their engagement Thursday in a move celebrated by advocates for LGBTQ+ rights. The couple’s relationship, kept private until now, has drawn widespread attention and praise.

Transcript from Hannity

Ladies and gentlemen, this is a big one. Today, Alex Claremont-Diaz, the First Son of the United States, announced his engagement to none other than Prince Henry of Britain. Now, I’m going to say something that might not be politically correct, but I know many of you at home are thinking it: is this really what America needs right now? We’ve got rising inflation, chaos at the border, and what’s the First Family doing? Planning a royal wedding. Let’s be honest, folks—this is a distraction at best, and at worst, a conflict of interest waiting to happen. And let's not pretend this isn’t going to create complications - do you think countries like China or Russia are going to respect us more when we have a First Family that looks like this?

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m sure Prince Henry is a nice guy. But this isn’t about the couple’s ‘personal happiness.’ This is about how their decisions could affect you, the hardworking American taxpayer. Let’s not forget, the White House represents all Americans—not just the Hollywood elite and their progressive friends cheering this on as some kind of victory for ‘modern love.’ And call me old-fashioned, but when I think about leadership, I think about family values and tradition. Does this look like family values to you?

Coming up, we’ll talk to Senator Hawley, who’s already raising alarms about the potential for national security risks. What happens if Britain pushes an agenda that doesn’t align with ours? Will the president stand up to her own son-in-law? We’ll also hear from a panel of experts about what this means for America’s standing in the world—and, yes, we’ll ask the tough questions the mainstream media refuses to ask. Stay tuned.”

Transcript from The Rachel Maddow Show

Today, Alex Claremont-Diaz, son of President Ellen Claremont, announced his engagement to none other than Prince Henry of Wales. Take a moment to let that sink in.

This is a big deal. Not just because it’s the first time in history that a member of the British royal family is marrying the child of a sitting US president—although, yes, that is a very big deal. But because this is also a moment that challenges centuries-old norms about who gets to love whom, and who gets to be a public figure on the global stage while being openly themselves.

For centuries, the British royal family was defined by strict, rigid traditions about marriage. Anyone who wasn’t royal—or at least from the aristocracy—was considered unsuitable as a partner. And certainly, anyone in a same-sex relationship wouldn’t have even been allowed to exist publicly within the monarchy, let alone stand at its side. But now, here we are with a prince of the realm announcing his engagement to a man—a man who also happens to be the son of the leader of the free world.

There will be people who try to spin this as a problem. You’ll hear words like ‘conflict of interest,’ or maybe even ‘un-American.’ There will be hand wringing about whether the president’s foreign policy could somehow be swayed by her son’s marriage. But let’s be clear: this isn’t a scandal. This isn’t a crisis. This is a joyful moment, and it’s one that signals how far we’ve come in recognizing that love is love, no matter who you are or where you come from.

And yes, there are questions worth asking about what this means for the monarchy, for England, and for the US. But those questions can be explored without losing sight of what this moment represents. It’s a reminder that change is possible, even in institutions that seem frozen in time. And that, sometimes, progress looks like a royal and a president’s son standing at a podium, declaring to the world that they’ve found the person they want to spend their lives with.

Coming up, we’ll delve into the historical significance of this announcement, talk to a constitutional expert about how this fits into the modern monarchy, and yes, we’ll discuss what this might mean for the Claremont administration. But for now, let’s take a moment to celebrate what this means for all of us—because history isn’t just something we study. It’s something we live together. We’ll be right back.

Social Media Reaction

@RoyalWatcher92:
This is the modern fairy tale we needed! A prince and the First Son, proving love knows no borders. Congratulations, Henry and Alex! 💍🌈 #RoyalWedding #LoveWins

@EqualityForever:
Henry and Alex announcing their engagement is a historic moment for LGBTQ+ representation worldwide. From monarchies to democracies, progress is possible! 🏳️‍🌈✨ #Trailblazers

@USPoliticsNerd:
Say what you will about American-British relations, but Alex Claremont-Diaz and Prince Henry just created the most iconic alliance since the Revolutionary War. #EngagementGoals

@RedWhiteConservative:
This is a slap in the face to American independence. The First Family has no business marrying into foreign royalty. What happened to ‘no kings, no queens’? 🤔 #StayNeutral

@Royalist4Ever:
A prince marrying the son of a US president? This is NOT what the monarchy stands for. Former monarchs must be rolling in their graves. 👑🇬🇧 #TraditionMatters

@PatriotJohn76:
First the Claremont admin gave us chaos at the border, now they’re bringing royal entanglements to the White House? No thanks. #AmericaFirst

@TheCynicalScribe:
Love is great and all, but does this mean we’re going to have British tabloids and American cable news fighting for coverage for the next six months? 😩 #MakeItStop

@DramaQueen47:
Alex and Henry are the OTP I never knew I needed, but now I’ll die without them. Netflix, where’s my rom-com adaptation? 💕🎥 #Obsessed

@TeaSpiller2024:
Can we talk about how this engagement just single-handedly revived monarchy discourse on Twitter? The audacity of these two. 👏 #ModernRoyalDrama

@ConspiracyBob:
Y’all don’t see it, but this ‘engagement’ is a ploy by the deep state to create a global elite monarchy-democracy hybrid. Wake up, sheeple! 🐑👁️

@FanFicRoyalty:
PRINCE HENRY AND ALEX??? ENGAGED??? Someone pinch me. This isn’t real. This is my AO3 self-insert fanfic come to life and I am NOT OKAY. 😭👑✨

@GayHistoryBuff:
Forget Shakespeare. Forget Austen. Forget ALL ROMANCE EVER WRITTEN. Henry and Alex just obliterated the concept of love stories forever. I can’t breathe. #LoveWon

@MonarchyObsessed:
So does this mean the Claremont-Diaz children will have dual citizenship AND royal titles? Because if they’re not called the Dukes of Democracy, I’m rioting. 🇺🇸👑

@PresidentialShipper:
A British prince and the FIRST SON?! Move over Bridgerton, THIS is the tea we needed. #firstprince ☕🔥

@TheaterKidExtraordinaire:
Give me Henry serenading Alex with ‘Can You Feel the Love Tonight’ at the wedding or I will personally write a Broadway musical about this and make it my life's mission. 🎭💔

@RoyalDoomer:
Mark my words: this engagement is going to bring about the second American Revolution. The colonies didn’t fight for independence just for this. 😂⚔️

@QueerChaosGremlin:
BREAKING: Alex Claremont-Diaz and Prince Henry have single handedly destroyed heteronormativity, the monarchy, and my will to do anything except cry happy tears for the next 3 weeks. 😭🏳️‍🌈

@OverthinkingEverything:
OKAY BUT what do they call the wedding? A state dinner? A royal gala? Will there be a corgi ring bearer? Is the White House lawn big enough for a parade? I HAVE QUESTIONS. 🤯

@PanickedMonarchist:
OMG WHAT IF THIS MEANS HENRY BECOMES PRESIDENT ONE DAY?! Or Alex becomes a prince?! What is the LINE OF SUCCESSION? Is this constitutional?! Someone CALL THE LAWYERS! 🇬🇧🇺🇸

@RoyalWeddingPlanner:
The amount of logistics I’m imagining for this wedding is making me want to scream. Do you seat the President before the Queen? Or is it based on the crown jewels’ weight? 🧐👑

@GayAgendaLeader:
So Henry and Alex really said, ‘What if international diplomacy… but make it gay?’ ICONS. 🏳️‍🌈👑 #PowerCouple

@R0yalFan:
If Henry doesn’t walk down the aisle to a remixed version of ‘God Save the Queen,’ what are we even doing here? #RoyalWedding

Alex turned to look at Henry again. "Could be worse," Alex said.

Henry nodded, left hand picking at the fabric of his pants. "I'm sure Gran loves every second of it."

"Ugh, sorry." Alex hesitated before placing his hand over Henry's own, stopping the nervous tick. "Have they tried to get in touch?"

"I'm not really checking my real phone much," Henry said. "Last time I looked this morning there were 9 missed calls from Philip."

"Just him?"

Henry pursed his lips. "Gran would never lower herself to calling me. She'd make Philip call and order me back to meet with her."

"Did he leave any voicemail?"

Henry nodded. "Haven't listened to a single one yet." He looked up at Alex through his lashes. "Did read a couple of the eighteen texts, though."

"Eighteen?"

"Eighteen," Henry confirmed. "All about being disappointed in me and needing me back in London at once."

Alex slid his hand under Henry's, lacing their fingers together. "Too bad," Alex said. "They can't have you."

Henry shook his head. "No, I've pretty much severed myself from them in the most permanent way I could have found." He gave Alex a small smile. "Of course, I've foisted myself on you now instead."

Alex laughed softly. "That's okay. I kind of like having you around."

***

"I just think," Henry said, gesturing wildly with his fork, "that when it comes to Britain’s positive cultural landmarks, it would be nice if we could stop play acting as if they were all heterosexual. People sanitize Freddie Mercury or Elton John or Bowie, who was shagging Jagger up and down Oakley Street in the seventies, I might add. It’s just not the truth.”

Alex was enthralled, his own breakfast forgotten as he leaned in, shoulder touching Henry's. "Maybe that'll change?" Alex said. "I mean, we have kind of thrown England's queer soon-to-be history into the spotlight."

"That's one way to look at it," Henry said, grinning sideways as he hooked his ankle around Alex's under the table.

"Ugh," June said as she walked into the dining room. "Can you please wait until I've had something to eat before you start that?"

Alex blinked at her, confused. "Start what?"

She stared at him, coffee pot in hand, then shook her head. "Never mind," she said, pouring her coffee.

She'd been acting like that for the last week, ever since the press conference. Maybe even longer, now that Alex thought about it. She always blew it off when he asked while Henry was around, but then he'd never actually sought her out to ask about it when Henry wasn't around.

Not that there was a lot of chance for that. He and Henry had been practically inseparable since the press conference. They were always hanging out together during the day, and while they started and ended their nights in their own rooms, Henry always came to Alex shortly after they'd 'said goodnight,' and always left just before dawn.

It was a good thing they were both used to working on little to no sleep.

Alex's phone rang, a rare enough occurrence inside the White House that it took him a second to realize what the noise was. He pulled it out and glanced at the screen, frowning at the picture of his mother from her Inauguration. "Hey, Mom," he answered, "everything okay?"

"Is Henry with you?"

Alex instinctively leaned closer to Henry. "Yeah, why?"

"We just got a call from the British ambassador. Prince Philip is on his way from the airport. He should be here in about fifteen minutes."

Alex's expression must have been something else, if Henry's was anything to go by. "Um. What?"

"The Prince will be here in fifteen minutes. He asked to speak with Henry alone."

"Uh, that's not happening."

"Darlin', that's Henry's choice." Ellen sighed. "But if you can get him to choose to have you there, I'd feel better about it, too."

Alex put his hand on Henry's arm, giving him what he hoped was a reassuring smile. "I'll make it happen. What about you?"

"I'm not in the habit of entertaining dignitaries who don't follow protocol--in more ways than one," Ellen said. "But if you need me, my cell will be on."

"Got it. Thanks, Mom."

Alex hung up and shoved his phone back into his pocket. "Prince Philip is on his way here from the airport," Alex said, sliding his hand down Henry's arm to lace their fingers together when Henry's breath caught. "He should be here in fifteen minutes."

Henry took a deep breath and blew it out, stubborn chin jutting forward. "Well, then, I guess I'd better go change."

"We should both go change."

"Alex, you don't have to--"

"You're right," Alex said. "I don't have to. I want to."

Henry was no match in a stare down for anyone raised in the Claremont-Diaz household. "Fine," Henry said at last.

"You want me to call Pez for you?" June asked.

Henry thought for a moment. "If you would be so kind, but please tell him not to rush right over? He might take that better from you than from me."

"I'll tell him Alex is meeting him with you," June said.

Henry nodded curtly. "That should do the trick. Thank you."

"Of course," June said. "Let me know if there's anything else I can do?"

Henry nodded again, this time with a hint of a smile. "Thank you." He looked at Alex. "We'd best get going."

***

Alex knocked on Henry's door fifteen minutes later. Henry opened it looking as if an entire team had been readying him for at least an hour. "How'd you manage all…" Alex waved a hand up and down Henry's body, "that in fifteen minutes?"

"A lot of royal appointments and insomnia driven in part by said royal appointments leading to a lot of oversleeping," Henry said with a wry grin.

Alex was just glad to hear him joking. "Shall we?" Alex held out his hand, waiting until Henry took it before starting down the hallway towards the stairs.

Philip was waiting for them in the Mural Room, flanked by two PPOs. Amy stood by the door, watching Philp as if he might try to make off with the silver.. Alex gave Phillip the very barest of nods as he said, "Your Royal Highness. My mother sends her apologies. Had we known you were coming, we would have been more prepared to receive you."

"I believe I asked to speak with my brother alone," Philip said.

"I am a representative of the First Family," Alex said. "It would be rude of me not to pay my respects."

Philip's left eye twitched. "Very well, you have done so. Now you may go."

Alex took a deep breath, prepared to tell him all the ways that wasn't happening, but Henry put his other hand on Alex's arm, stopping him. "We're engaged to be married," Henry said stiffly. "Anything you have to say to me you can say to him."

Philip rolled his eyes. "What are you playing at, Henry?" he asked.

"I'm sorry," Henry said, "I don't understand the question."

"You sneak out of London under false pretenses and then next we hear from you is at a press conference where you announce your engagement. So, I repeat, what are you playing at?"

Henry pulled himself up to his full height, sticking his chin out. "I am not playing at anything, Philip. Alex and I are in love, and we are getting married. I can have someone send you the transcript of the press conference if it will help make that more clear."

Alex wanted to drag Henry into the first empty room and drop to his knees. "Our press secretary would be more than happy to share that with your office," Alex added.

"Henry," Philip said, ignoring Alex, "you must stop this foolishness at once and come home."

Henry gripped Alex's hand tighter. "I am home," Henry said. "And I will not go back to England to be--"

When it became obvious that he wasn't going to finish that sentence, Philip said, "Be what?"

"Alone," Henry replied. "My place is here. With Alex."

Philip's eye was twitching so hard it was like his lashes were tap dancing. "The Queen has sent me here to bring you home," he said. "I cannot leave without you."

"Well that's where we might have a problem," Alex said, stepping forward and to the right just a little, more of a symbolic barrier between Henry and Philip than a physical one, but it got his point across. "This isn't your country. It's America. And the Secret Service doesn't work for you. So you're going to have a hard time getting Henry out of here against his will."

Alex turned to Henry. "Do you want to go?"

"No," Henry said quickly, staring coldly at Philip.

"That settles it, then," Alex said, looking back at Philip. "He doesn't want to leave. So I think perhaps you should go."

Philip's lips pressed into a thin line, a whole muscle in the left side of his face twitching now. "This isn't over," Philip said to Henry, before he turned and stormed out, his PPOs following close behind.

When he was gone, Henry sagged a little against Alex's arm. "I don't think they're going to give up that easily," Henry said.

"Neither are we," Alex replied softly. He reached for Henry, one finger lifting Henry's chin to pull it up until their eyes met. "You wanna get out of here for a few days?"

"Where can we go that's as safe as the White House?"

Alex smiled. "I know a place."

***

Chapter Text

With a little help from Ellen, and the loan of Pez's plane, Alex and Henry were on their way out of DC the next morning.

"So," Henry said, watching out the window as the plane broke through the clouds. "Texas."

"Well, it was either that or an AirBnB in Saskatchewan, but I figured since the Crown kind of owns Canada--"

"The Crown does not 'own' Canada," Henry said, shooting a mock outraged look at Alex.

Alex just raised his eyebrows until Henry rolled his eyes and looked away, mouth softening into a hint of a smile.

"What about Texas?" Alex asked.

Henry's gaze shifted back over to Alex. "Are you excited to be going back?"

"Always," Alex said, hand absently playing with the key to their old house where it lay under his shirt.

Henry nodded at Alex's hand. "Is that what the key represents?"

"Yeah." Alex pulled it out, examining the wear and tear from years of unlocking the door, just one of 10 kids on his street coming home after school, with no idea that he'd one day be flying back in a private plane with the Prince of England.

"It's the key to our house in Texas," Alex said, looking beyond the key to Henry's face, open and listening. "It reminds me who I really am. Keeps me grounded, I guess? I mean, I live in the White House, but it's not home. This," Alex tapped the key, "this is home."

He tucked it back away under his shirt, glancing over at Henry. "What about you?"

"What about me?" Henry replied.

"Got any keys to your palace?"

Henry huffed, mouth in a thin line before he said, "Cages don't really come with keys. At least not for the people locked inside them."

"I'm sorry," Allex said quietly. "I've only been in the spotlight in the last few years. I can only imagine what it must have been like to grow up like that, especially with the kind of pressure your grandmother put on you."

"It wasn't always bad," Henry said. "When my dad was alive, he and Mum did their best to give us some semblance of a normal childhood--or as normal as it could be, considering," Henry said with a faint smile.

"What happened after he died?" At the look on Henry's face, Alex quickly added, "I mean, if you feel like talking about it. You don't have to--"

"It's fine," Henry said, eyes drifting to the window again. "I just…it's difficult to decide where to start, I suppose. Philip became more like my grandmother, Bea completely spiraled, and Mum just sort of…disappeared into her grief."

Alex tried to imagine going from the loving family he grew up with--even with their issues--to isolation and abuse, all the while dealing with the kind of microscope Henry lived under. Even with running for president, and then running the country, Alex's mom was there for him when he really needed her.

"I know," Henry said, cheeks going a bit pink as he glanced in Alex's direction, "poor little rich boy--"

"No," Alex said quickly. "No, I didn't think that at all. I think," he added slowly, "you're kind of amazing, to have gone through all of that and be who you are."

The pink flush spread further across Henry's face. "Thank you," he said quietly, his smile shy. He looked as though he was going to say something else, but then he turned back to the window.

But the smile remained in place.

***

The moment they stepped out of the cars at the lake house, Alex felt like he could breathe. He and Henry had been holed up in the White House for a couple of weeks, so just getting outside helped, but to be at the lake house, with the warm sun beating down on him and that wide open sky, made it that much better.

"You really love it here," Henry said.

Alex gave him a wide smile. "Look around. Who wouldn't?"

Henry took his time scanning the area. "It is very lovely," he said at last. "And warm," he added, running a finger along the inside of the collar of the button down he'd insisted on wearing, despite Alex teasing him about proper vacation attire.

"That's why there is a large body of water over there, Your Highness." Alex cringed inwardly, but Henry didn't react to the reminder of everything they were meant to leave behind in DC.

"Damn, if only I'd brought my trunks," Henry said, sounding as if he was not at all sorry.

Alex grinned. "Not to worry," he said, pulling Henry towards the house. "I've got that covered."

***

They dropped their stuff in the main bedroom, since there was no reason to pretend to sleep in separate rooms. Alex opened his bag and pulled out the special trunks he'd brought, guessing Henry would not have any.

He tossed them over to Henry, who held them up slowly.

"What in the name of Tom Daley are these?"

"Swimming trunks," Alex said, laughing as Henry held them up, staring at them.

"They're very…orange," Henry said. "With…cows?"

"Sacrilege!" Alex said! "They're Longhorns!"

Henry raised an eyebrow at Alex, trunks still in the air. "And you don't have any others?"

"Nope," Alex said, giving him the most angelic look he could manage. "That's all I have, sorry."

Henry studied him for a long moment before shaking his head, a hint of a smile on his face as he started to change without another word.

Alex had to look away, because if he saw Henry naked they were never going to make it to the lake, and he had a very strong desire to swim. And to see Henry soaking wet. In UT Austin trunks.

"I'm going to go dig out the sunscreen," Alex said, heading for the bathroom. He changed while he was in there, and by the time he was back, Henry was tying up the trunks. "Sunscreen," Alex said, tossing it on the bed. "I'm going to get us some drinks, meet you out there?"

"Yeah," Henry said, and Alex went out to the kitchen to poke around in the fridge. He'd made a call to his dad, who'd promised to have the person who looked after the house stock up before leaving them alone, and all the food and drink he'd ask for looked to be there, including a number of Shiners.

Alex dug out a bucket and put some ice in it as he heard Henry walk through the kitchen. "Beer okay?" Alex called out without looking?

"Yeah."

"Great, go on and I'll bring it out."

Henry's footprints faded away as Alex put the beers in the bucket and made sure they were covered in ice before he took a deep breath and headed out.

He stopped on the patio at the sight of Henry standing on the dock, head turned so Alex got Henry's sculpture-worthy profile combined with the full benefit of that gorgeous back, legs and his particularly spectacular ass encased in UT orange swim trunks.

Specifically, Alex's UT orange swim trunks.

Alex fumbled in his waistband for his phone, pulling up the camera and snapping a picture of Henry, unable to resist the perfect moment. He tucked the phone away, took a deep breath, and started moving again.

Henry turned to smile at Alex as he reached the dock. "It really is beautiful out here," Henry said. "I see why it's so special to you."

"Yeah, well," Alex said, sitting the bucket down in the shade of a tree, "the beauty and that it represents a lot of complicated family things. Good, just…complicated.

"I think family is kind of synonymous with complicated," Henry said.

Alex huffed out a small laugh. "I think you're onto something," he said, before forcing a change in the tone. "All right, let's go - last one in does the dishes!" he added, already running for the dock.

***

They swam for a while, or at least Alex did. Henry would swim a little, then get out and lie on the dock, then get back in, then back on the dock again. The combination of watching him hoist himself out of the water, damp trunks leaving nothing to the imagination, then lie there in all his sculpted glory was too much.

Not that Alex hadn't seen or touched just about every inch of said beauty, but there was something about having it covered up but hinted at that was really doing it for him.

Unfortunately, their current situation called for more Secret Service than usual, so he didn't dare do anything like ravish Henry on the dock in broad daylight.

He determinedly closed his eyes and floated on his back, picturing a long parade of old white Senators until his burgeoning erection died.

The sun was hanging low in the sky when Alex grabbed the edge of the dock and pulled himself up in one swift move, ignoring the ladder. Henry's eyes traced the water down Alex's arms before moving back up to meet Alex's gaze. "I bet the stars are really bright out here."

Alex sat down beside Henry, one finger tracing the line of Henry's bicep. "The stars at night are big and bright deep in the heart of Texas," Alex sang.

Henry laughed. "Is that actually true?"

"It's in a song, Henry," Alex deadpanned. "Therefore it has to be true."

"Oh God, so that means Jake Gyllenhaal really has Taylor's scarf in his drawer?" Henry said in mock horror. "That creep!"

Alex threw his head back and laughed. "I mean, to be honest," Alex said, when he'd calmed down, finger resuming its path down Henry's arm, "He is pretty creepy in general. But," Alex continued their previous train of thought, "the stars really are amazing out here."

Henry looked wistful for a moment before he said, "We have a place in Wales. When we were there, Dad would take me out and teach me the different constellations. You can't really see them very well in London, though, and I…I miss them."

"Well you're in luck." Alex hopped to his feet, reaching down to pull Henry up. "By the time we finish dinner the stars will be out and we can go stargaze." He smirked at Henry. "After you finish the dishes."

He grabbed the beers that they hadn't even opened and listened to Henry tell him all the ways he was not washing dishes as they walked back to the house.

***

The last dish was in the dishwasher--the existence of which had earned Alex a smack in the arm when Henry had learned of it--just as nighttime had really kicked in. They'd both showered and put on shorts and t-shirts, but Alex asked Henry to grab them a couple of sweatshirts, since night could get a little cool, while Alex grabbed a blanket and the rest of the wine they'd opened with dinner.
I didn't know you could cook like that," Henry said, as they went back down to the dock, the best spot to see the stars without tree cover.

"I am a man of hidden talents," Alex said.

Henry gave him a once over that had Alex feeling very warm before he said, voice low, "I'm familiar with several of them, and I'm rather fond of them, too."

"No sex outdoors, Henry," Alex said. "Too many agents."

Henry pouted, even as he said, "Who said I was angling for sex outdoors?"

"You did," Alex shot back. "Or at least that voice did. I know your sex voice."

Henry laughed, one of those beautiful, full laughs, head thrown back, smile wide, that sent an extra special zing through Alex when he was the cause of it. He was so entranced, he tripped over something and almost fell.

Henry caught him with one hand on Alex's bicep. "Careful," Henry said. "A trip to the hospital is not on the itinerary."

"Oh, we have an itinerary?" Alex said, as they reached the dock.

"We do," Henry said with a nod, as Alex laid the blanket down. "We're going to look at the stars, and then I'm going to take you inside and take you apart until you see stars."

Alex cleared his throat. "Sounds like a plan," he managed to get out.

They laid down side by side, Henry lacing their fingers together. "The sky out here always makes me feel so small," Alex said. "But, like, in a good way. It reminds me that I'm just one part of a giant universe, instead of the First Son or something. You know?"

"Mmm," Henry said. "Dad always said the stars are there to guide us, but also remind us of our place."

Alex turned that over in his head for a moment. "I like that." He turned his head to look at Henry. "He seems like he was an amazing father."

"He was," Henry said softly. "Every time I look at Orion, it's like he's here."

"Which one is Orion?"

Henry lifted their joined hands, using his index finger to point. Alex followed the line of his finger as Henry said, "See the sort of hourglass up there?" He traced the figure. "That's Orion. The three stars across the middle--Alnitak, Alnilam, and Mintaka--form Orion's belt."

Alex's engagement ring shone in the moonlight, the black background and three diamonds making him smile. "It's like my ring."

"It is," Henry said quietly.

"That's really cool. I wonder if whoever designed it did that intentionally."

Henry didn't respond. He let their hands drop back to the blanket, but he kept his hold on Alex's as they laid there staring at the stars for a while.

Eventually, Henry turned, nudging Alex with his shoulder so Alex would look at him. When he did, Henry leaned in for a kiss. "Shall we go back inside?" he said, voice husky.

"See? Alex said, "there's that sex voice again."

"Yes, Alex, and it wants to go inside and have its way with you. Would that be amenable?"

"Quite amenable," Alex said, in a terrible imitation of an English accent.

Henry rolled his eyes, but he got up, pulling Alex with him, and led him inside.

Later, after they'd slowly taken each other apart, and Henry lay silent, actually sleeping for a change, Alex took a sleepy look at his ring that was so much like Henry's favorite constellation. It gave him a warm feeling, like maybe fate had a hand in all of this, and maybe something good and lasting could come out of it.

He drifted off to sleep still looking at the ring.

***

Chapter Text

The sun was high in the sky by the time they rolled out of bed the next day, thanks to the lack of any kind of schedule, and the fact that there was no one around to hear them if they woke up several times during the night to have sex in a variety of different ways.

Though not in the one way that Alex suddenly couldn't stop thinking about. They'd done just about everything under the sun--and Henry eating Alex out still ranked as one of the most mind-blowing experiences of his life--except actually fucking.

Alex wanted that memory here, in the house that held such a special place in his heart, as if that would keep the memory safe, no matter what happened once they went back to reality. He thought about it as he made breakfast while Henry teased him.

He thought about it as they swam, and as Henry took him out on the boat, hands as confident and sure on the wheel as they were every time they touched Alex. He thought about it as they lay dozing in the hammock, legs intertwined, Alex's ear pressed to Henry's chest, listening to his heartbeat.

He thought about it through dinner and a bottle of wine, as Henry licked mole sauce off his finger, his eyes hot on Alex's face.

He thought about it over and over again. He just didn't know how to ask for it.

After dinner, they moved to the couch, lights down low, music playing softly in the background. Henry had climbed into Alex's lap, all languid kisses and soft movements slowly building the heat between them.

Alex slid his hands down to Henry's ass, fingers moving towards the center until one finger dipped into Henry's crack, fabric preventing him from going too far, but letting him go enough to be a bit obvious.

Henry pushed back against Alex's finger for a moment before breaking off the kiss, eyes searching Alex's face. "Is that a hint?" Henry said, smiling faintly.

Alex licked his lips, tasting Henry there, fingers digging into Henry's ass a bit as he nodded. "I mean, only if you want to."

"I do," Henry said simply. He leaned in for one more kiss before he stood up, pulling Alex up by the hand. He led Alex to the bedroom, pulling him in for a kiss when they reached the bed, hands burning a path up Alex's back under his t-shirt.

Alex broke the kiss long enough to get his t-shirt off as Henry did the same. Their shorts came next, Henry looking even more like a sculpture than ever by the dim light of the one bedside lamp as he pulled Alex back in for another kiss.

They landed on the bed together in a hot haze of kisses, skin touching everywhere, leaving a fire brand in its wake that Alex knew would never leave him, no matter what happened after this.

Henry kissed his way across Alex's jaw and down the side of his neck, teeth nipping at the skin where it met Alex's shoulder. "Fuck," Alex bit out, fingers digging into Henry's back. "I, that…fuck...."

"That is the general idea, yes," Henry said against Alex's chest, voice amused.

Alex responded by digging his nails into Henry's back, arching up into the hiss it elicited. "I don't…."

Henry raised his head immediately, "You don't…?"

"Oh, God, no, sorry, I mean, yes, I do, I want, so much, you have no idea how much--" Alex closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I've never done…this. I mean, with a girl, yes, but not…."

"The mechanics aren't that different," Henry teased. At Alex's look, Henry's face softened. "It's all right. I have actually done this." Henry met his eyes soberly. "Do you trust me?"

"Of course."

Henry's smile at Alex's quick reply was blinding, even in the dim light. "Then let me show you."

Alex watched as Henry opened a drawer in the nightstand to pull out lube and condom packets. "I am fairly sure those were not there before," Alex said.

Henry shrugged. "I may have done some hopeful preparation?" he said, raising an eyebrow at Alex. "Including in the shower before dinner, just in case."

The sudden thought of why Henry had taken so long in the shower sent a shudder through Alex, but it was the fact that they'd been on the same page all day, perfectly in step with what they wanted, that sent the searing heat chasing that shudder away.

Alex leaned up to place a soft kiss on Henry's lips before lying back again. "Show me, then."

By the time Henry had two fingers inside himself, Alex was begging to help. Sliding his finger inside that tight heat alongside two of Henry's was a revelation, and if it was that good just getting his finger in there….

Alex squeezed his eyes shut, willing himself not to come just from the thought.

"Are you all right?" Henry asked, voice soft.

Alex nodded tightly. "Just don't want this to be over before it really starts."

"Well, then let's get to it."

That first tight moment when Henry started to slide down Alex's cock would be forever seared in Alex's brain. He might forget even his own name one day, but not this. Never this.

By the time Henry was all the way down, Alex fully sheathed inside him, Alex was shaking. It was like nothing he'd ever felt before. Add to that Henry's face, jaw slack, eyes narrowed to mere slits, tongue and teeth taking turns working at his bottom lip…nothing could ever match this moment. He was sure of it. The bar was too high.

Then Henry began to move, and Alex had to set that bar higher yet again.

The way Henry moved was pure sin, hips rolling, abs shifting under Alex's fingers, like a Rodin come to life. He seemed almost lit up from the inside out, glowing in the lamplight, eyes burning into Alex's soul, ruining him for anyone else.

They moved perfectly together, as if they were one seamless being, until Alex could no longer tell where he ended and Henry began, or which one of them was making the noises that spurred both of them on, higher and higher, until they reached the sun.

Alex came back to himself slowly, in pieces, as if his body was reforming into something different, something that was made to fit Henry into even the smallest gaps. Like a puzzle that had never quite fit together properly until now.

They were still joined, and when Henry made to lift himself up, Alex held him tighter. "Just another minute," Alex said into Henry's hair. "Is that okay?"

Henry nodded, placing a kiss on Alex's neck and settling back down with a peaceful sigh.

***

Chapter Text

The sun teased at Alex’s eyelids, a gentle nudge pulling him from sleep. Groaning softly, he burrowed his face into the curve of Henry’s neck, seeking refuge.

and this: “Mm, morning,” Henry murmured, his voice still husky with sleep as his hand slid lazily down Alex’s back. “I could get used to waking up like this.”The sun tickled at Alex's eyes, and he tucked his head into Henry's neck to block it out. Henry moved against him, though, stretching languidly, and all thoughts of going back to sleep flew out of Alex's head. He tightened his arms around Henry, pulling their hips together as Alex mouthed at Henry's neck.

"Mmm, morning," Henry said, voice still husky with sleep as his hand slid down Alex's back. "I could get used to waking up like this."

Alex pulled back to grin at him. "Good thing everyone expects nothing else of us then?"

Henry's smile had Alex leaning in to taste it, until the sun was forgotten as Alex lost himself in the all the sensations that made up Henry - the heat of his skin, the press of his mouth, and the way he made the rest of the world disappear.

The sun was high in the sky by the time grumbling stomachs finally forced them out of bed and into the shower, then into the kitchen for sandwiches. Alex forced Henry into the UT swim trunks again, unable to resist seeing it again.

The trunks hung low on Henry's hips after a swim, clinging to those insanely amazing thighs, making Alex want to do all sorts of things to him.

Secret Service, he reminded himself. And PPOs.

So he kept his hands to himself until they were back inside, showering off the lake water. Henry's skin, tinged with pink, was a wonder to behold as the water cascaded down his back and across his rather spectacular ass.

Alex traced the path with his fingers, watching goose bumps rise up in the wake of his touch. Even in the shower, over the soap and the shampoo, he could smell the unique combination of linen and freshly cut grass that would forever remind him of Henry, no matter what the future held.

Henry picked up the shampoo, and Alex took it out of his hand. "Let me," he said softly.

That shy smile Henry always wore when he got something he didn't even know how to ask for had Alex biting his lower lip as he poured shampoo into his hands. Henry's eyes closed as Alex started massaging the liquid into Henry's hair, the fine strands softer than even the bubbles from the shampoo.

By the time Alex was massaging conditioner into Henry's hair, they were both hard. Alex hadn't had the foresight to bring condoms into the shower, but improvisation had always been his strong suit.

He wrapped his arms around Henry, dick sliding between Henry's cheeks. "God, you are so hot," Alex ground out, hand slipping around to tease Henry's dick. "I just want…can I fuck your thighs?"

Alex could feel the groan Henry let out at that as he pushed back into Alex's body. "Yeah," Henry choked out. "Please."

Alex pullied Henry as close as he could, teeth sinking into Henry's shoulder. The water did just enough to lessen the friction of Henry's skin without removing it entirely, and when Henry tightened his legs, closing the space into a warm, slick haven that Alex would gladly live in if he could somehow manage it.

He wasn't going to last long, so he tightened his grip on Henry's dick, wanting to bring Henry over the edge with him. But it was Henry who gave first, thrusting back against Alex, his breathy laugh that Alex would die for echoing off the shower walls enough to have Alex's orgasm crashing into him.

When they'd recovered enough to separate from each other, Alex dried them both off just enough not to soak the sheets and dragged Henry off to bed for a nap.

***

They crawled out of bed again for dinner, Alex cooking while Henry attempted to help. After Henry burned the water he was meant to be boiling, Alex banished him to the other side of the kitchen island, only to get a full-on Paul Hollywood treatment.

"You're putting chili in with the avocado, Alex? Is that good idea?"

Alex almost hated the way it actually made him like Henry even more.

"Careful," Alex said, tossing a slice of pepper at Henry's head. "Or I'll add a couple of the good jalapeños and watch your face turn purple as fire shoots out of your head."

Henry cocked his head and raised an eyebrow. "It would be a shame to go to bed with my mouth too sore to be of any use," he said evenly.

Alex threw another slice of pepper at his head.

But he made sure to moderate the spices.

***

The lights were low, and the bottle of wine they'd opened empty, by the time they finished their food. Henry had put on a playlist from his phone, showing an eclectic taste in music that really shouldn't have surprised Alex by now.

The familiar strains of "Your Song" started, and Alex got up, holiding a hand out to Henry. "Wanna dance?"

Henry blushed, ducking his head, that shy smile back. "I'm a terrible dancer."

Alex made a show of looking around the room. "I don't see anyone watching." When Henry still hesitated, Alex moved over to him and slipped his hand under Henry's chin, lifting his head until their eyes met. "Please?"

Henry rolled his eyes, but that smile grew as he stood, letting Alex pull him into his arms. By the first chorus, Henry was relaxed in Alex's arms, chin resting on Alex's shoulder, humming along off-key.

When the song ended, Alex pulled back just enough for a kiss, which led to another and then another, until Alex gave in and just pulled Henry by the hand to the bedroom.

Later, as they lay there, tangled together in the mess they'd made of the sheets, Alex wondered, just for a moment, what it might be like to get to keep this forever.

***

Chapter Text

Alex managed to avoid commenting until the fourth time Henry shifted in his seat on the plane not long after take off. "Do you need to tell Pez to have the seats on his plane serviced?" Alex asked, blank faced as he could manage.

Henry shot him a look. "Just hope that I'm not walking funny when we get off the plane."

"Oh, God, if you are, I hope someone gets video. Mary will love it!"

Henry laughed, that wide, open laugh that mesmerized Alex every time. "Perhaps Gran will decide to pretend I never existed."

Alex studied him for a moment. "Why do you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Call her 'Gran'," Alex said. "She doesn't treat you like a grandson, and she certainly doesn't deserve your respect after what she's done."

Henry was silent long enough for Alex to wonder if he was going to answer--or if he even had an answer--before he said, "Your mother's opponent in the last election was a real piece of work, yes?"

"Donaldson? He was--and is--a fucking piece of shit."

"Exactly. And if he had won, what would you have called him?"

"A fucking piece of shit." At Henry's raised eyebrow, Alex sighed. "Fine. President fucking piece of shit."

Henry nodded. "Institutions depend on all of us to follow the rules."

"But not all institutions should be allowed to stand," Alex countered. "And we're not talking about Mary's role as the Queen of England. We're talking about her role as your grandmother."

Henry's smile had a hint of bitterness to it. "Yes, well, in the family, 'Gran' is the Queen's title, I'm afraid. There really is no difference. Calling her that doesn't mean she's a grandmother to me. It's just another word for 'Your Majesty.'"

Alex had never thought of it quite like that. "You think Anne Boleyn called your namesake 'Your Majesty' all the time?"

"Probably not," Henry said. "But she also lost her head, so I'm not sure she's set any precedents I want to follow."

"Fair point," Alex said with a laugh. "It doesn't bother you that I call her Mary, though?"

Henry shook his head. "She's not your queen. And you'd never endanger your mother's political standing by calling her Mary in public."

He had a point. Even if Alex didn't know his mother would have his ass if he referred to Mary as anything other than the Queen or Her Majesty where anyone else could hear, he still had enough political savvy to avoid it.

"It sucks," Alex said at last.

"What?"

"So many people do terrible things and we just sweep it all under the rug and adhere to the niceties like it's okay. Maybe we shouldn't. All it seems to do is make the assholes assholier-than-thou. You give them an inch and they take a mile. You give them a mile and they take ten, like it's their God-given right."

Henry considered that. "There has to be some measure of civility for people to coexist in a society, though."

"Maybe, but even Thomas Jefferson said 'a little rebellion now and again is a good thing.'"

"Yes, but he also said 'the reasonableness of mutual sacrifices of opinion among those who are to act together, for any common object' did he not?"

It was Alex's turn to shift in his seat. "That may be the hottest thing you've ever said to me. Also, in a possibly related question, what good is a private plane if you don't use it to join the Mile High Club?"

One corner of Henry's mouth quirked up. "Did I mention the bedroom in the back of the plane?"

Alex was out of his seat before Henry had even finished his sentence.

***

Said bedroom had a full bathroom as well, so Alex and Henry had made themselves presentable once more by the time they landed in DC. If either Cash or Ryan, Henry's PPO, had the slightest idea what had taken place during the flight, they were too professional to show any hint of it as they got of the plane and into the waiting cars.

Henry's hand sat on the car seat centimeters away from Alex's, their hands almost touching. After a moment, Henry reached out with his pinky, brushing it across Alex's. Alex grinned at him as he copied the movement, eliciting a grin from Henry, along with that blush that Alex would say and do the most outlandish things just to see.

The drive to the White House passed quickly. Alex and Henry made it about five steps into the building when Zahra appeared, slightly out of breath, as if she had been running.

"Your Highness," she said, curtseying to Henry in a way she hadn't done since the second day of Henry's stay, when he'd begged her to stop. "The President would like to see you in the Oval Office." Her eyes landed on Alex. "You, too."

Alex met Henry's eyes, seeing the worry there. He reached out to grab Henry's hand without even thinking about it, lacing their fingers together. "I guess we better not keep her waiting then."

They followed Zahra down the hallways to the closed door to the Oval. She opened it, stepping inside and out of the way for them to follow. Henry went first, so Alex felt the sudden tightening of Henry's grip on his hand before he could see what was going on inside. He stepped to the side to see just as Henry uttered a surprised, "Mum?"

Princess Catherine sat across from Alex's mom, a full tea set on the coffee table between them. Zahra had moved to the side of the room to stand next to Shaan, who, Alex noted, was looking at Henry with what looked like concern.

"Henry," Catherine said, rising gracefully from the sofa to meet Henry where he had stopped a few feet from the door. She pulled him into a hug, and he let go of Alex's hand to embrace her before she stood back, hands still on his waist. "You look well, love. America seems to agree with you."

Henry glanced at Alex before fixing his gaze back on his mother. "Mum, what are you doing here?"

"Well, I--" she turned to Ellen. "Might Henry and I have a word alone?"

"Of course, Your Highness," Ellen said, ever the smooth politician.

Ellen glanced at Zahra, who stepped forward. "You can use my office," Zahra said, leading them both over to the door off to the side of the Oval. Henry gave Alex one last long look before stepping through the door and closing it behind him.

***

Chapter Text

"I mean, how great of a mom can she be?" Alex said, pacing the length of his room, staring at the carpet pattern to avoid looking at June, who was sitting on the edge of his bed. "Henry had to come all the way here to ask our mom for help."

"Alex--".

"Seriously, June, why is she here? Now? What, Philip didn't succeed, so Mary sent her?"

He turned, only to be stopped short by June, who'd put herself in his path. "Alex." She took his hands in hers. "You don't know why she's here."

"That's the problem." Alex sighed. "Henry said she hasn't been there for him since his dad died," he confided, knowing it would go no further. "If that's the case then why else would she show up here unless it was because Mary sent her?"

"Maybe seeing Henry take such extreme measures woke her up?"

Alex shook his head. "She's here to take him back."

"She might be," June said. "But have you considered that maybe she's here to take him back on his own terms? And that if she isn't, he's shown that he's quite capable of saying no?"

Alex bit his tongue for a moment, eyes squeezed shut. "But what if he doesn't?" he said finally, quietly.

June tugged on his hand, and he was forced to open his eyes to avoid tripping as she led him over to his bed to sit down. "You don't want him to go."

"No." Alex met her eyes for only a brief second before looking anywhere else. "I mean, I definitely don't want him to go back if it's to be packed off to conversion therapy, but, even if she's not here to do that…."

"You really want him to stay."

He was glad she'd been the one to say the words he'd been fighting in the half hour or so since Henry had disappeared into Zahra's office. "It doesn't matter," Alex said. "If she's decided to be a mother to him again, then what I want doesn't matter."

"The one doesn't necessarily negate the other."

"Doesn't it?" Alex finally forced himself to hold her gaze. "It's not like they can have a lot of quality mother-son bonding time if they're an ocean apart."

"We're well into the twenty-first century, Alex," June said. "Distance doesn't mean people can't constantly stay in touch."

Alex looked up at the ceiling. "Texting and calling--even Facetime--it's not the same, Bug."

"Are we talking about Henry and his mother? Or Henry and you?"

A soft knock at the bedroom door saved Alex from answering. He jumped up, pulling the door open quickly to find Henry on the other side. "Hey," Alex said, pulling the door back to let Henry in.

"I'm gonna go, uh…be in my room," June said, giving Alex an encouraging smile before she slipped out of the room, closing the door behind her.

"So," Alex said, "your mom, huh?"

Henry nodded. "Quite the surprise."

"Sure wasn't on my bingo card." At Henry's quizzical look, Alex waved a dismissive hand. "Never mind. What did she say?"

Henry nodded at the couch. "Can we sit?"

"Of course," Alex said quickly, moving over to the couch to take a seat, leg sideways on the cushions, wondering how bad the news could be if Henry wanted him to sit down….

He ignored that thought, watching as Henry sat at the other end of the couch, something in Alex unclenching ever-so-slightly when Henry folded his knee on the couch seat until it was touching Alex's.

"It seems that Bea told Mum what Gran was up to," Henry said, looking down at his hands. "Mum wanted to put some things into place before she said anything to me about it, so quietly she didn't even tell Bea what she was doing. The short version is that she's fixing it so I don't have to worry about Gran's threats much longer."

"Is Mary abdicating?"

"I don't know what's going on," Henry said, twisting his engagement ring the same way Alex had seen him twist his signet so many times before. "All Mum would tell me was that I wouldn't have to worry much longer."

Alex ducked his head a little, but he still couldn't see Henry's eyes. "So you'll be able to go home if you want, then?"

Henry nodded, glancing up to meet Alex's gaze. "I don't know what this means for--I mean, we're engaged…."

"Well, the engagement did the trick, right?" Alex said, shrinking back into the corner of the couch, pulling his knees up to his chest and wrapping his arms around them. "It saved you until something more permanent came along."

"Alex--"

"Henry, it's okay. You don't have to explain. You should have the right to choose your future free and clear, not for any reason Mary forced on you."

"I don't--" Henry started, then paused for a moment. "Are things going to change between us now?"

Alex shrugged, a nonchalance only a precious few people would see through. "I mean, you're going to be here for a little while longer, right?" At Henry's nod, Alex said, "Good. We've still got time."

Henry swallowed carefully. "Right," he said, then pushed off the couch, folding his arms across his chest. "I should probably go check on Mum."

"Yeah, of course." Alex got up and followed him to the door. "I'll see you at dinner?"

Henry opened his mouth, then closed it before he nodded and walked out.

***