Chapter Text
November 2022
“Martha was just showing me the interview you did with Rachel Maddow.” Henry’s mother tells him as he first walks through the door. It’s been weeks of his mother being alert and engaged, and Henry is still surprised every time.
Martha looks a little guilty. “I didn’t want to overstep, but Catherine was asking about it.”
“It’s fine. Of course it’s fine,” Henry assures Martha. He’s not brave enough to look at his mother.
“I just couldn’t believe that my little boy was so grown up, so composed, and so eloquent!” Catherine continues, “And so, so brave. Your father would have been so proud of you. I’m so proud of you.”
Henry tears up. It’s stupid, but hearing that from his mom makes him emotional every time. Catherine has been taking every opportunity to praise him lately, so he’s emotional a lot. “Thanks, mom,” he mutters, then focuses his attention on little Lizzy.
The toddler turned one just a few days ago, and Catherine had attended. It had been a small party, although a photographer had been present to document the occasion for the press. Henry was just grateful they hadn’t put Lizzy through more of a media spectacle. Now she’s happily curled up in her grandmother’s arms and it melts Henry’s heart.
“If you’re here to read from your next book, can I stay?” Martha asks. Henry had told Philip about publishing a book a few weeks before George’s Ghost came out. Pip clearly thought it was a terrible idea but managed to bite his tongue and offer support. He really was making an effort to be a better brother. And Henry always assumed that what Pip knew, Martha knew.
“I wasn’t actually planning on it. I think Mom has heard anything that is remotely ready for an audience.”
“That’s a shame,” Martha says.
“You could borrow my manuscript for Cosmic Cruise,” Henry offers. “It’s set to come out in April.”
“Really? I’d love that!” Martha tells him. “I adored George’s Ghost. It really helped me process my grandfather’s death. It was validating to see all those feelings of grief and anger and frustration expressed by someone else. When he died, I just kept thinking there was something wrong with me, and I wasn’t grieving properly.”
“His writing is so brilliant,” Catherine agrees. “The stories are just so vivid and relatable. He gets all that from Arthur.”
The blush on Henry’s cheeks is magenta, but he’s grateful for the comparison. “I’ve just had a lot of inspiration lately.”
Martha snorts, “Is that what we’re calling it now? Inspiration?”
“Inspiration, huh?” Catherine glances between the two of them. “I’d love to hear all about him!”
“Pip says he’s lovely,” Martha offers, when she sees that Henry is too flustered to respond.
That Henry can answer. “Pip did not say that!”
“Well, what he actually said was that he, personally, doesn’t get the appeal, but is thrilled to see you so happy.”
“And I’d very much like to meet this young man who makes you so happy,” Catherine adds.
“Well… he’s going to be in London next month.”
“We should have dinner!” Martha declares. “I’d love to meet him too!”
Henry thinks about that. “Last year, Bea and I started celebrating the Solstice again.”
“Oh, Hen,” his mother mutters, grabbing his hand.
“We could have dinner together this year,” he offers. “Get the whole family together, for once.”
The proposal is met with enthusiastic support.
~~~
December 2022
On the morning of the 21st, Henry, Bea, Pez, Alex and David gather around a tree and exchange presents. They’re all wearing matching pajamas that Pez had gotten them the day before. They look ridiculous, and Henry knows that he’ll be getting the pictures from today framed.
The atmosphere is festive, but Henry feels selfish for getting Alex more dress shirts. He’d gotten the shirts last year because the cheap, rough shirts that Alex used to wear had bothered him when they made out. Getting him the exact same thing this year just feels lazy. He’s never been good at getting gifts.
But Alex loves them, and kisses him enthusiastically, and spends the rest of the morning running his fingers over the material. Henry can’t wait for a time when he can replace all of Alex’s clothes with something soft and well-made.
They have a relaxed lunch and a quiet day. Alex makes excuses for them and drags Henry to the bedroom after lunch, ignoring the wolf-whistles from Bea and Pez. Not that Henry is resisting.
He was expecting a lethargic, exhausted Alex when he arrived from Texas. His boyfriend does not do a good job taking care of himself during exams. It makes Henry very glad that they are planning to live together when Alex is taking the bar.
However, this time, Alex had shown up at Kensington cheerful and full of energy. He’d quietly confided that Atkins’ court case had been wrapped up and he’d been found guilty. Henry hadn’t even realized how much that bastard had been dragging Alex down, until that burden had been lifted.
There’s a new found confidence in Alex. His smiles are a little brighter, and he stands up just a little taller. Henry hopes that Atkins rots in hell for dimming some of Alex’s light.
Right before dinner time, Alex gets a little nervous about meeting the rest of Henry’s family. Not that he has anything to worry about. As soon as she arrives, Catherine pulls Alex into a hug with a, “Henry’s told me so much about you! Thank you for taking such good care of him!” Alex is blushing and stammering, and Henry can tell his mom already likes him. The knot in his shoulders loosens.
By the time Pip and his family show up, Alex is deep in conversation with Catherine and Pez on the nuances of Constitutional Law. Alex is animated and passionate, and his mom is loving learning something new. There was nothing that bored the Crown Princess more than small talk and well-worn conversation tracks. Arthur had to smooth so many feathers when Catherine would simply walk away from a boring discussion, Henry remembers with a smile.
Pip shakes Alex’s hand, and Martha seems happy to meet him, but it’s Lizzy who absolutely adores him. She stares at Alex with wide eyes, fascinated with every move he makes, and in a matter of minutes is reaching her hands over to Alex to be picked up.
“Oh, you don’t have to,” Pip mutters, flustered. Alex ignores him and scoops Lizzy up with a smile. Henry’s niece giggles as soon as she’s in Alex’s arms. “She’s usually much more reserved around strangers,” a bewildered Pip adds.
Lizzy is not at all reserved around Alex. She pokes him and seems fascinated with his curls, burying her fingers in and holding on. Alex handles having a toddler digging into him with aplomb and manages to juggle entertaining Lizzy and holding a conversation with Martha and Catherine easily.
Henry hadn’t known that it was possible for him to be more in love with Alex. Turns out, watching how good his boyfriend is with his niece melts his heart, and makes Henry fall a little deeper. He can’t imagine his life without Alex.
Bea catches the soft look on his face and sends him a wicked grin. “I’ve already agreed.” She mutters quietly. Henry blushes and elbows her in the ribs. Only years of practice maintaining public decorum stop him from smothering her with a pillow. She doesn’t need to bring that up every time!
Settling for dinner is a bit of an adventure. Lizzy refuses to let Alex put her down, and weeps pathetically every time he tries. In the end, Alex is settled in a chair, Lizzy on his lap.
“Only because it’s the holidays,” Pip tells her seriously.
“Oh bollocks,” Martha curses. Everyone turns to look at her. Martha is usually too well composed to curse. Right now, she looks flustered. “For some reason, the nanny only prepared the pea ones,” she explains, holding up a jar of moss green baby food.
“Elizabeth does not eat the pea ones,” Pip adds.
“Let’s see if we can get her to try a few spoonfuls,” Alex tells them, holding out his hand for the jar. “Otherwise, Henry’s kitchen has a decent blender, we might be able to whip up something.”
Turns out, Lizzy will eat peas if Alex is feeding them to her. She seems far too busy watching Alex adoringly, to worry about what’s going in her mouth.
“Watch out, sometimes she blows spit bubbles with the food!” Martha warns.
Lizzy ignores that dire warning and continues eating her food with all the decorum of, well, a princess. Her parents are beyond bewildered by her perfect manners.
“Well, if the barrister career doesn’t work out, you can always fall back to being a nanny.” Pip says dryly. Alex just laughs.
Dinner goes off without another hitch. Catherine gets acquainted with Alex and re-acquainted with Pez. Alex charms her the way he does everyone, and Catherine always did like Pez.
Henry feels utterly content. All his most important people are all in one place. Happy and getting along. He’s so grateful that Alex is here, making everything better, and bringing out the best in everyone. He hopes that Alex is as content.
The thought sends a spark of melancholy through him. Alex can’t have his most important people here today. Henry has never met them but feels like he knows them from all the stories. Liam, who has a prickly exterior that hides a soft romantic heart. Spencer, who is kind and gentle and always working so hard to make sure that nobody feels left out. Jenny, who is smart and fierce and sounds like she would be great friends with Bea. Briar, who’s greatest satisfaction comes from sowing chaos and bewildering his contemporaries and whom Alex adores and respects.
Maybe next year, Henry thinks. Next year, they’ll be able to combine their worlds and have everyone who matters to both of them at the table. He makes a mental note to add ‘enormous dining room’ to the must-have list his realtor in New York is working from.
At the end of the night, Alex heads out to Pip’s car to tuck Lizzy in, and Catherine takes the opportunity to pull Henry aside. “Why haven’t you proposed to him already?” she demands.
“I take it, you approve?” Henry asks instead, then adds, “And I haven’t proposed, because we’re not ready to go public. And Alex showing back up at school with an engagement ring, might spark some questions from his friends.”
“So don’t propose with a ring,” Catherine tells him, with a roll of her eyes.
She never did tolerate stupidity well.
~~~
Henry hasn’t enjoyed a Christmas in Sandringham this much since his father passed away. Aunt Georgiana and her children are still awful. Aunt Lottie and her family are trying to stay out of the line of fire. But Henry’s family are presenting a united front. He’s used to having Bea defend him and Martha drawing him away from more unpleasant conversations. This year, though, he has his brother and mother as well.
When Georgiana snipes to her sister, “You must be so proud! A homosexual in the family! That’s what you get for marrying an actor!”
Catherine responds very calmly. “I’m quite proud of Henry. He inherited all his composure from Arthur.”
“I hear you’re mucking around with the homeless now,” a cousin mocks Henry’s plan for working with Pez’s organization.
“Oh, Henry is doing fantastic work at a shelter in New York!” Pip steps in smoothly. “I’m sure he’d be happy to give you tips on how to find a cause that matters.”
It infuriates Mary to see Philip siding with his family. She retaliates by doting on Edwin. Georgiana preens and tries to lord it over Catherine that her son is now the favorite of the Queen.
“Still a pedophile,” mutters Bea to Pip and Henry when Georgianna gets particularly insufferable. Henry tries so hard to keep his laughter in, his stomach hurts. Pip is generally unbothered by the loss of his grandmother’s esteem. He, like Henry, melts under Catherine’s affection, and Catherine seems to be trying to make up for years of neglect.
Mary also pointedly ignores Henry. Henry rather counts that as a win.
This Boxing Day, the conversation he has is much more satisfying. His mother pulls him aside and hands him a small box. Henry opens it, only to find Arthur’s watch. His breath catches.
“I gave your brother Arthur’s wedding ring, and I’m saving some of the jewelry your father got me for Bea. But I thought you should have this. It’s what Arthur would have wanted.”
Knowing the story behind it, Henry wants to cry. He knew his mom liked Alex, even thought he should marry Alex, but this is beyond anything he could have imagined. “Are you sure?” he asks quietly.
“You’re entirely too much like me, Henry,” Catherine says. “From the moment I met him, your father was the only one for me. And I see the way you look at Alex.”
“He is it for me, too,” Henry agrees. He closes the box, slides it into his jacket and then hugs his mother. “Thank you.”
“I’m just sorry Arthur never got to meet him,” she tells him. “Your father would have loved Alex.”
~~~
Even with his mother’s blessing, Henry still needs to check with his siblings. The Watch meant a lot to his dad, and Henry can’t even think about proposing with it, unless Bea and Pip agree.
Bea squeals, hugs him, and tells him, “Finally! I’ve been expecting you two to elope for over a year!”
Pip is more reserved. “Are you sure this is what you want?” He asks.
“Yes,” Henry tells him firmly.
“You know this is going to be difficult, right?” Pip questions. “He is an even more controversial choice than Dad was. And he’s not used to the exposure. Dad was already a movie star when he and Mom got married. He was prepared for the circus that followed. Alex won’t be. And he will be in the spotlight because every media outlet, in this country and others, will lose their minds.”
“Pip, I love him. I can’t imagine my life without him. I don’t want to.”
“Grandma will also be furious. And he’s going to face so much censure and racism from a good part of our social circle.”
“I know. But Alex is tough. He’s faced worse. And it’s half the reason I’m planning on mostly living in the States from here on out,” Henry tells him honestly.
“And the other half?”
“I don’t want to have to live with the bigots and narrow-minded idiots of our social circle.”
Pip sighs heavily. Henry would hate to do it, but he offers anyway, “I could propose with something else? We can leave the watch for your kids.”
“Don’t be stupid,” Pip tells him sharply. “I just worry about both of you. And your kids also deserve to have family heirlooms from their granddad.” Then he leers, “Don’t think Bea didn’t spill the beans on the ‘favor’ you asked for. The day you met him too!”
Somedays, Henry’s not sure if he wants to hug his siblings or strangle them.
~~~
January 2023
On New Year's Eve, Alex and Henry watch the fireworks from the roof of Kensington and kiss at midnight. It’s a spectacular firework show but doesn’t even compare to all the colors that Alex makes him see in bed later that night.
In the first two weeks of January, Henry rather misses their first summer, when he’d had Alex all to himself. He’s thrilled that his family likes Alex, he really is. It’s just that he might be getting a little tired of having to share him. Pip and Martha bring Lizzy by nearly every day, and Catherine always comes with them.
The one good thing about so many people monopolizing Alex is that it makes it easy for Henry to sneak away and plan a proposal. Gavin helps him plan and agrees to help set up the chapel.
“Your Highness, did you know that I once complained to Alex how hard it was to find good peanut butter in London? And now every time Alex is in England, he swings by with a few jars of the really high-quality stuff?”
“So, if I muck this up, you’re going to have to kill me?” Henry asks with a grin.
“Nothing so dramatic.” Then Gavin claps Henry on the shoulder with a lot more force than necessary. Henry gets the message.
When he gets back to Kensington, it’s to find that his family have invited themselves over for dinner. Pip and Martha have an announcement.
“We’re expecting again!” Martha tells them once they’ve all sat down. “This one is due in late July!”
There are rounds of congratulations and hugs. Pip mutters something about having to tell Gran next, “She is getting to be particularly difficult,” he confides to Henry quietly. “Keeps telling me I need to keep Elizabeth from undesirable influences.” A significant glance in Alex’s direction indicates who his grandmother considers undesirable. Alex is talking to Lizzy through her bear, using a hysterical high-pitched voice that’s making Lizzy giggle loudly. “Undesirable, my arse,” Pip adds, watching his daughter with a fond smile.
In the little bit of time that they have to themselves, Henry shares the listings his agent sent over.
Alex takes one look at the prices, and pales dramatically.
“Henry, I really, really can’t afford to pull my fair share on any of these,” he whispers.
Henry knows he has to tread carefully. “I’m not asking you to live with me because I want to split the rent. My dad left me more than enough money. I never have to worry about the cost of any of these. I’m asking you to move in with me because I want to be with you.”
“Are you sure you want that?” Then he puts his finger to Henry’s mouth to stop him from replying. “I’m a lot. I’m awful to live with. I get really obsessed with things. And I have all these traumas and all this baggage. I don’t want you to be disappointed.”
“My only disappointment is having to be apart from you.” Henry places a gentle kiss on Alex’s ridiculous head. “You’re wonderful and I can’t wait to move in together”
It’s a little easier after that. Alex offers opinions and highlights features that he thinks Henry will like. He doesn’t necessarily point out elements that he likes, but Henry notices the way his eyes linger on pictures of well-designed, well-lit kitchens, large bay windows, and private patios. Henry dismisses any places that lack those features and sends an updated list to his realtor.
A few days later, she sends along a listing that Alex falls in love with. He doesn’t actually say anything, but his fingers caress that paper, and a small smile graces his face as he studies the photographs. It’s a brownstone that is close to Pez’s shelter, gets a ton of sunlight, and is on a small, quiet street. Henry makes sure that there is room for guests, a decent space for him to write in, and a large enough dining room, then orders the realtor to put in an offer.
As Alex’s departure approaches, Henry asks him out on a date. “I want to take you dancing at the V&A, just the two of us. We haven’t been in over a year.” Alex agrees enthusiastically.
When they get to the museum, Alex drags him around some exhibits first. They check out the Middleton Collection, and Alex wants to see a few of his favorite medieval pieces, and the temporary exhibit that Jim put together, before he resigned to take an assistant director position in Texas. Henry loves watching the way Alex’s face lights up. They’ll have to make it a point to come back here together, once they’re living in New York.
When they finally make it to Renaissance City, Alex looks at the LED candles and flowers, and teases Henry, “This looks familiar.”
“I wouldn’t want to mess with what works,” Henry says and offers him a hand.
They dance for a few songs. Alex is relaxed and pliant in his arms. This is everything that Henry could ever have dreamed of.
“I want to show you something. My mom found this recently,” Henry tells Alex, as he pulls out the box with his father’s watch and pops it open.
Alex runs his finger over the crown. “It’s beautiful.” It is. The watch has a round, cream face and gold accents. It’s simple, although the day cutout has small gold stars in the background.
“It was my father’s. He wore this in his first James Bond film,” Henry says. “In the movie this button detonated a bomb,” he adds with a grin. “And this scratch is from when he fell twenty feet on set during a stunt that went wrong. He smacked his arm into a support beam on the way down.”
“Your dad was so badass. It’s so cool that he kept it,” Alex adds reverently.
“He didn’t, actually. It was his first major movie, and when he asked to buy the watch, the crew turned him down,” Henry explains. “Then years later, when he was dating my mom, he mentioned that this was actually his favorite watch ever, and how sad he was that he didn’t fight harder to keep it.”
“Did your mom get it back for him?” Alex asks. “That’s so sweet.”
“She did. They were dating, and Mom wanted to marry him. She was completely in love and knew that there would never be anyone else for her. They weren’t quite ready to weather the media storm and Mary’s disapproval, so Dad was keeping the engagement ring he picked out to himself until they were better prepared.” Henry smiles. It’s always his favorite part of the story. “Mom didn’t like the idea of waiting to become engaged. So, she tracked down this watch and bought it back. And then she proposed to him with it.”
“Wait! Catherine proposed?” Alex demands. Henry nods. “That is so epic! I knew your mom was awesome!”
“She never did believe in doing the traditional princess thing,” Henry agrees. “Of course, Dad wore this watch every day for the rest of his life. Every few months somebody would have an article about Dad and how he only wore this one watch. Everyone had a theory: maybe he was really loyal to Patek Philippe watches, or he was really nostalgic about his James Bond days, or he was secretly broke and couldn’t afford another watch. At least once a year, some rag would come out and claim how the watch was a gift from his lover.”
“Technically correct,” Alex grins.
“It always amused both my parents to see that. As kids we all loved this watch and hearing the story behind it,” Henry smiles fondly.
“I can see why,” Alex sighs. “It’s so romantic.”
“I’m glad you think so,” Henry tells him honestly. Then he steps back from Alex and drops down to one knee and holds up the watch box.
“Henry, what are you doing?” Alex whispers.
“Alex Salazar, you are the love of my life. The first time I saw you, I thought you were the most perfect man I have ever seen. And yet, the more I get to know you, the more I realize that you’re somehow even better than I first believed. Your bravery, your endless lists, your kindness and color-coded binders, your humor, and your love, all those things make my life so much more amazing than I ever thought possible. I want to spend the rest of my life making you as happy as you make me. Will you marry me?”
Alex is crying. “Henry, I…” he takes a shaky breath. “Henry, are you sure?”
Henry studies him. Alex is an idiot sometimes. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.” He says firmly. It’s almost exactly the same conversation they had a year and a half ago.
“That’s a lot of confidence.”
“Of course it is. I have you in my life,” Henry tells him. “So, let me keep you?” He offers the box up again.
This time Alex nods and says “Yes.”
Henry sweeps up for a kiss, and then wraps his arms around Alex to lift him and spin him around. They’re both laughing as they kiss. Henry imagined this moment hundreds of times, but hearing Alex agree is better than anything he could have come up with.
He pulls back to fasten the watch on Alex’s wrist. Alex hesitates, “Your brother won’t mind? Bea won’t mind?”
“I’ve already asked both of them,” Henry assures him. “They’re very excited for us.” With that, he finishes securing the buckle and pulls back a little to admire it. The gold looks good against Alex’s skin. For a heartbeat Henry feels his father’s approval and pride.
Then Alex lunges up to kiss him again, and that’s all Henry can focus on. He loses track of time. When they come up for air, Alex mumbles, “It’s a shame I don’t have an office here anymore.”
“I have a key to an unused storage closet,” Henry tells him.
Alex, smart man that he is, doesn’t even question how he got it.
Henry leads the way.