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Chapter Text

   “Daddy, Daddy, Daddy! I made another one!”

   “Another one what, my little love?” Henry asked as he stood at the complete holiday decked out kitchen’s island counter wearing a soft grey sweater with black and white striped pajama bottoms. One hand was placing chocolate and vanilla cupcakes with red and green icing precariously onto a silver plastic cupcake stand, the other rubbing his five month pregnant belly over the fabric of his cozy sweater.

   “Another snowflake! Look!”

   His and Alex’s five year old daughter stood beside him with a wide, proud grin as she held up a carefully cut white paper snowflake in the air. Her ash blonde hair was pulled up into two cute little buns with red and green ribbons carefully woven into them by Alex himself. She’d picked out a green tulle tutu skirt to wear for the day, matched with a long sleeved red shirt that had a green Christmas tree on the front with an outline of an angel at the top.

   Maya loved Christmas, ever since she was a baby. The lights had captured her attention almost immediately when she was brought home a week shy of Christmas when Henry gave birth to her. Since then, she carried that love every single year with her with presents, toys, crafts, baking, and more. Alex and Henry were always involved in everything Maya did, and made sure to make each holiday and birthday special.

   “See?! I made another one. I thinks we have room on the window, right?” Maya’s big, round dark brown eyes stayed fixed on her daddy’s hazel green ones. She bounced up and down on her green socked toes as Henry glanced over towards the window in question in the living room by their fully decorated six foot tall Christmas tree.

   “You know what, little love? I think we do,” Henry wiped his hands on a holiday themed kitchen towel with a wide grin aimed at his wonderful, beautiful, spunky little girl. One part of himself, the other part his husband. She was a wonderful mix of both he and Alex, and there was no other way to explain her amazing personality and intelligence.

   “Come, let’s see if Papi can help us put it up,” Henry held a hand down for his daughter who gleefully took it and nearly began pulling him into the living room before she remembered that her daddy was pregnant with her little brother and needed to take slow steps.

   “Papi!” Maya called into the living room where Alex, dressed in a dark blue sweater with the sleeves pushed up to his elbow and a pair of loose fit gray sweatpants, was adjusting the various holiday cards they had gotten atop of the fireplace, David peacefully asleep on his satin green dog bed beside the warmth.

   Letting go of Henry’s hand the second Alex turned his head and hummed, Maya raced over to him in the same manner that she had Henry, holding her prized craft high above her head. “I made another snowflake! Daddy said there might maybe be some room on the window for one more.”

   “Oh yeah?” Alex grinned, scooping up an excitable nodding Maya with both hands under her armpits, adjusting her onto his hip. “I think Daddy’s right. There’s been an empty spot near the bottom I thought I had gotten with my snowflake.”

   Carrying Maya over to the window beside the fireplace, both he and his daughter took in the three stringed chain of paper snowflakes that they all had made and hung up in the front window where everyone outside could see. And as Alex had thought, there was an empty spot on the third chain at the very end. Maya gasped and pointed with glee, bouncing up and down on Alex’s hip.

   “There! You were right Papi!”

   “Hear that, baby? I was right,” Alex glanced over his shoulder at his pregnant husband with a playful smirk, Henry scoffing back and rolling his eyes with jest as he sat on the couch for a quick rest, both hands rubbing his belly.

   “Can you help me put it on, Papi?” Maya drew Alex’s attention back as she held the snowflake out towards the window, almost seeming as though she were measuring if it would fit.

   “Absolutely. Did you put your name on the back so we know it’s yours?” Alex bent at the knees so he and his daughter were both eye level with the bottom of the large bay window. He set Maya down as she nodded and showed him the back where her name was scrawled out in the center of the snowflake in red crayon.

   “Awesome. Let’s get this snowflake hung up, little star. Can you hold it up for me while I tie it on with the others,” Alex grinned, setting Maya down on her feet as he knelt beside her, the pair of them scooting as close to the window frame as possible.

   “Mhm!” Maya nodded with a joyful bounce on her feet, giggling as she guided the snowflake in the right spot, holding it perfectly still while Alex slid the thin white thread through a hole at the top and carefully tied it off with two small knots.

   “Aaanddd there! What’cha think, mi pequeño frijol ?” Alex wrapped his arms around Maya, leaning in to give his daughter a raspberry kiss on the cheek, making her squeal with laughter, gently pushing him away with both little hands on his chest.

   “ Es bueno , Papi. Thank you,” Maya grinned, giving Alex a quick but loving hug before she turned her attention towards Henry on the couch, pointing at the window. “Look, Daddy! They’re all finished now!"

   “That they are, little love,” Henry beamed, propping his bare feet up onto the leather brown ottoman, his eyes sparkling with nothing but pure love for his little growing family. “It looks wonderful, Maya. I absolutely adore it.”

Chapter Text

   “Honestly, darling it’s negative six degree Celsius out, why must we leave the perfectly cozy and warm comforts of our home?” Henry huffed, then pouted when Alex grabbed his favorite sage green scarf and looped it around his neck with a wide grin.

   They were both already fully decked out in jackets, mittens, boots, hats, and now scarves. Alex had already put his crimson red one on, dark curls peeking out underneath the matching dark red beanie. The steel blue jacket he tugged on over a cream colored sweater and deep blue jeans hugged his body perfectly, even through the layers. Henry had on a simple, but warm tan peacoat, chocolate brown slacks, and much like Alex, a matching sage green beanie and scarf. Both had on expensive boots that were made for the harsh and slippery winters in New York, Henry fretting over watch socks they should put on for such cold weather on this fine Saturday afternoon.

   “Because, baby. It’s the holidays, and it’s our first Christmas together as out and proud boyfriends. We need to experience everything together and make it special,” Alex loosely tied Henry’s scarf around his neck and pressed their lips together with a grin. “Plus, we have a child together in a cute sweater that deserves to come enjoy everything Central Park has to offer.”

   David, the child in question, barked as his tail wagged with excitement as he stood somewhat patiently at the front door of their Brownstone home. The beagle was adorably dressed in a navy blue sweater with a matching collar and leash. Alex squatted down with the leash in hand, laughing as David licked his face.

   “My point still stands, love. It’s freezing out.”

   “You can’t tell me that you haven’t had severe, freezing winters in England, baby,” Alex stood back up, handing over David’s leash with a gloved hand towards his boyfriend.

   “Of course we’ve had bloody horrible winters. I just didn’t go out in them,” Henry replied smartly, the corners of his plush lips turning upwards as he looped the handle of David’s leash around his wrist. The beagle was already jumping up and down with his front paws against the door’s glass window, his little doggy claws tapping against it and the expensive, old hardwood floor.

   “Exactly my point. We’re going to go out, have some fun, and then I promise I’ll treat you at the cafe that we both love to some sweets and hot chocolate,” Alex placed his hands on Henry’s hip, pulling their bodies flush against each other for a kiss, his smile never wavering.

   “Hmm…promise?” Henry grinned in their kiss, tilting his head to the side as their foreheads touched, beanie brim to beanie brim. Soft hazel green eyes looked into warm chocolate brown ones, another silent kiss shared in the quiet comfort of their home, with Alex muttering another promise of sweet treats and warm drinks.

   A five minute car ride later, Henry and Alex were walking hand in hand with David leading the way through a very snowy Central Park, its trees adorned with a multitude of bright holiday lights, buildings towering and short decorated with what was probably thousands of dollars worth of both tacky and exquisite decorations. The ice rink also wasn’t short on lights and decor, and as Henry took in the festive surroundings, suddenly he didn’t think the cold was all that bad. He could see why Alex wanted to bring him here during the early hours of dusk. Where everything was colorful, bright, and happy.

   For as many times as he’d had to travel to New York in the past, Henry never once had the pleasure and privilege of spending time with some splendor and beauty. But now he could take all the time in the world to soak it all in. To enjoy and appreciate the beauty of the holidays somewhere else other than the palaces and smog of London. Where there was all the time in the world with the man of his dreams and their dog. No being a prince. No rushing. No obligations to only enjoy what Christmas and the winter season held for just mere seconds at a time.

   The first snowball hit the back of his head as he followed David towards the nearest tree for a potty break. Henry gasped sharply, whipping around to see if maybe it had been a flyaway accident from some kids playing together. When he didn’t see anyone close enough to hit him or any playful children, Henry’s eyes darted right at Alex who had both hands in his coat pocket, shrugging when Henry tilted his head with suspicion.

   “Wasn’t me,” Alex rocked on his heels, expensive boots crunching the snow beneath them. But the thing about Alex was…he often gave himself away simply by the look in his eyes or a twitch of the lips. And oh how his beautiful face gave him away. It was all Henry needed, narrowing his eyes as David tugged gently on the lead after making a small particular patch of snow yellow.

   “Mhm,” Henry smirked and rolled his eyes, knowing full well that Alex knew he’d been caught. So he followed David down a snow covered walkway that led them from the ice rink to a more remote part of the park where there weren't as many people or bustling about. Alex was following them a couple of paces back, giving himself away more than he thought he was. But Henry knew his boyfriend all too well.

   And when Alex wasn’t looking, Henry squatted down by a tree and tied David’s lead securely around the trunk; loose enough to not choke him, but tight enough that he wouldn’t escape and run. Not that David would ever go far from him, but if there just so happened to be another dog in sight, David often ran towards them for playtime.

   “Be good,” Henry whispered, giving the beagle a gloved pet on the head. Not that he would be far from David, but he still liked to praise his beloved dog all the same and no matter where they were.

   Alex gave himself away again when the second snowball hit Henry square on the cheek, bending over with both hands on his knees as his laughter carried itself up towards the chilly night sky, ablaze with stars even though there were a million other fancy Christmas lights to easily outshine them.

   “Cretin,” Henry laughed, eyes crinkling up at the corners as the brilliantly white, gummy smile that Alex loved so much spread across cold induced pink tinged cheeks and the tip of his nose.

   “Who? Me ? Never,” Alex smirked, dodging around a snowball Henry quickly hurled back with ease. “Come on Your Majesty. You can throw better than that.”

   “I play polo , love not baseball,” Henry giggled, then shrieked with both hands covering his face when Alex quickly rolled some snow between his hands and chucked it his way. The ball hit his mitts and disintegrated into powdery chunks that fell gracefully back onto the ground.

   “You don’t need to play BASEBALL to know how to throw a snowball,” Alex spread his arms open, exposing himself fully for Henry to take aim and give it his best shot. “Show me what you got, baby. I’ll give you one free hit.”

   “Oh is that what we’re calling it? A free hit? Pray tell how that’s fair,” Henry cocked his hips and placed a fist over the left, waving his other hand around in the crisp air, his warm breath coming out in puffs against the cold.

   “Target practice, baby,” Alex grinned widely, his own face turning a deep crimson red on the apples of his cheeks, starting to spread slowly to his nose and ears. “Leveling the playing field to make it fair.”

   “Alexander, are you planning on having a full scale snow war with me?”

   “Depends on how hard you hit me,” Alex gave his boyfriend a playful, smarmy look. “Come on, Your Majesty. I’m waiting.”

   “First of all,” Henry bent at the knees, working his hands in the snow until he was in the beginnings of a well rounded sphere. “I've abdicated. Secondly…”

   “It was Your Royal HIGHNESS,” Henry chucked his snowball right at Alex, hitting his boyfriend right in the face who simply just laughed and took a step back. “And how was that for target practice, love?”

  “Eh, mid.”

   “Oh I’ll show you mid, darling.”

   Henry charged towards Alex, scooping up snow on the way with bright laughter. Alex followed suit, quickly packing a ball together before Henry as he ran to the left and threw, hitting his boyfriend’s shoulder. Henry yelped when hit, hiking his shoulder up as if it was going to do anything about the attack that had already taken place.

   “You absolute tosser!” Henry shrieked as his right foot slipped and with it, his snowball that barely made it to Alex’s feet. The ex-prince laughed and allowed himself to fall onto his knees carefully, both hands held out in front of him to break the impact. The rushing crunch of snow told Henry that Alex was rushing over towards him, the deep laughter reaching Henry’s slightly ringing ears.

   “Oh shit. Baby you okay?” Alex reached both hands out to help Henry up, his boyfriend clambering swiftly to his feet with ease. 

   Henry giggled breathlessly, his face red as Alex cupped it and began to pepper kisses all over his cheeks and against his forehead. “Yes, yes, I’m quite alright, Alex. You are an absolute pain in the arse.”

   “Yep, but I’m your   pain in the arse,” Alex echoed with a very poor British accent that made Henry roll his eyes and laugh all the more.

   The snowball fight continued, both Henry and Alex laughing as they took as many shots at each other as they could make. Alex stumbled on his feet a few times, rolling his body against the snow covered ground whenever Henry got a hit in. At one point Henry came close enough to Alex to dump a handful of snow right over his head from behind, squealing and running away when Alex chased him to retaliate. David barked a few inches away as his dads played like schoolchildren, wagging his tail in pure joy at the spectacle he was witnessing.

   “ALEX!” Henry yelled when his boyfriend picked him up with both arms around his legs, Alex carefully slinging him over a shoulder. He gripped tightly onto the back of Alex’s jacket, laughing as his boyfriend walked them over towards a snowbank with David watching on, somewhat ceremoniously tossing them both into the bank, the pair of them landing on their backs side by side in a fit of laughs and red faces.

   “Make a snow angel with me, baby,” Alex scooted a few inches away from Henry, already spreading his legs and arms out, Henry noticing how the now gently falling snow was clinging onto Alex’s beautiful eyelashes. Between the dark skies above and the gorgeous illumination of buildings and holiday lights, Henry felt his breath being taken away at the sight of Alex and the softness of their outing together.

   “Aren’t you already an angel?” Henry asked with a rosy cheeked grin, mirroring Alex with his own arms and legs moving against the New York snow. A snow that Henry swore was much more different and magical than in England. Maybe it was because he lived here with Alex, the love of his life. Maybe it was the way Alex constantly showed him the beauties of the city in every season.

   Laying there in comfortable silence, the snow falling down around them, Henry reached across the short distance between them to take his hand, neither of them disturbing their perfect snow angel art. Sounds of the city surrounded them both in the distance and close by, and all Henry could think was how perfect it all was.

   Turning their heads in sync towards each other, Alex and Henry grinned with their eyes connecting, neither of them needing to say a word. Their love for each other was there, written in their smiles, sparkling in their eyes. Unspoken appreciation and adoration that they knew would transcend beyond this life together. Life that Henry was finding so beautiful, even in the cold of winter.

   “Thank you,” Henry broke the stillness between them, their fingers lacing together.

   “For what, baby?”

   “For bringing me out here tonight. For everything. For our first holiday together and the first truly happy holiday since my dad died.”

   “Even though I’m a snowball throwing cretin?” Alex asked with a wide grin, his eyes displaying gentleness in how Henry spoke of his father.

   “Mh…” Henry rolled over completely onto his side, scooping up Alex’s head between his hands covered in soft mittens. “ Especially because you are a snowball throwing cretin.”

   Alex rolled his body in towards Henry, the combined puffs of air between them joining together in bursts before they both leaned in for a kiss. It was picture perfect, but they didn’t need to take one to remember it fondly. They knew that they would keep this moment, this day, close in their hearts for the rest of their lives. A peaceful, fun, beautiful moment meant for them and them alone. No cameras, no posting…just them in a picturesque New York winter wonderland.

Chapter Text

   Henry was, for a lack of a better term, huge . Like…huge huge. Bigger than their damn Christmas tree this year huge. Not that he’d grown any taller , but by the way his bulkiness was showing, Henry appeared taller. And Alex was absolutely salivating at the new physique of his husband.

   Large, thick biceps that were toned so beautifully, they may as well have been crafted by the gods who had already gifted Henry with a perfect body pre-bulk. His shoulders covered Alex’s own now whenever they hugged, and it was something that Alex didn’t know he needed or wanted until now. And dear god those thighs. Already athletic and thick from playing rugby in his earlier days and as a present day polo player, they just seemed to have grown out all the more with the rest of him, as well as his perfectly delicious ass. Alex didn’t know how Henry could get much hotter and now here they were with him lusting and drooling over his boyfriend more than usual.

   Not to mention, along with all of that, Henry had a beautiful tummy. Not so much rock hard abs as it was more soft and a little rounded out. His hips were in perfect width proportion to Henry’s shoulders, and there were the beginnings of soft love handles growing over his hips, wide and grabbable as the rest of him.

   And all of this change was for a very good reason. Henry was pregnant with their first ever child. And before they even knew, Henry had read up on how important it was to tone up your body and take care of it both healthily and in snack indulgences to assure a safe, healthy pregnancy. So while they were actively trying to get pregnant, Henry worked out with Alex both with early morning runs and at the nearby gym not too far from their Brownstone home. Henry wanted to ensure a positive, healthy pregnancy as much as possible, so he did everything he could to make sure it happened.

   “Darling, do you think you could stop ogling me for a moment to help with the tree?” Henry laughed softly as he rounded the corner of their sectional couch, wearing a long sleeved white shirt that hugged his new physique and a pair of tightly fitted black undershorts. His tawny blond locks were longer these days and Alex was anything but complaining about it. His own curls had grown longer, and they adored these looks on each other. More to play with, more to grab, more to appreciate. And the way that Henry’s bangs split into a perfect curtain of gold as the back reached the nape of his neck…Alex continued to be in awe of his husband every single second that passed by. Every moment. Every day. Every year together. And now that Henry was pregnant and his growing belly was showing, Alex knew for a fact that there was going to be a million to one new reasons to love Henry.

   “I could, but I wouldn’t want to poke holes in your shirt,” Alex smirked and set his festive glass of white wine down onto the coffee table, pulling his phone out. He needed to get a picture. Henry was not only gorgeous in the warm white glow of Christmas lights as the rest of their living room was dark, but gorgeous in general. Glowing for other reasons other than the lights.

   “Are you calling me a tree?” Henry raised an eyebrow and looked up just as Alex took the perfect shot, grinning wildly from ear to ear as he made sure the photo was worthy of sharing. Not that every photo of Henry wasn’t worth sharing, but with how incredible his husband looked, Alex needed to make sure that it was clear on how much he appreciated the way Henry looked. Especially now.

   “I mean…you’re almost bigger than the actual tree, baby,” Alex laughed with a hand gesturing to all of Henry, and then their tree. It was a little flimsy this year, but they wouldn’t have had it any other way. It had character, just like them.

   “Hush before I appoint David as co-tree decorator for the evening instead,” Henry smirked, knowing full well that his beloved beagle was just fine cozying up to their fireplace on his dark green plush dog bed. 

   “Oh come on, baby, you can’t honestly expect me to not stare at you when you look like this hunk of a man who is also pregnant with my little frijole ,” Alex wrapped his arms around Henry’s waist, clasping one hand over his wrist with a grin, his chocolate-honey brown eyes glistening by the lights on the tree. 

   Henry hummed with a slight tilt of his head, setting down the box of ornaments on the couch cushion beside him to cup Alex’s face in his hands. “You are a menace of a man, and I love you all the more for it.”

   “Henry, you look like fucking Hercules with a side of the perfect pregnant Venus,” Alex pressed their foreheads together his hands roaming over Henry’s upper and lower back, appreciating the way those muscles filled out the shirt his husband had on just as well.

   “That’s…quite a combination, love,” Henry chuckled warmly, sliding his newly buff arms around Alex’s shoulders. He turned his head more to the side, his face coming in closer towards Alex’s with half lidded eyes until their lips met in a soft, sweet kiss. The crackling of the nearby fireplace and soft jazzy Christmas music playing on their wall mounted flatscreen encapsulated the moment, making the atmosphere cozy and loving.

   “Mhh, but it’s true,” Alex said between kisses, the sounds of their lips meeting and parting adding to the serene moment, mixing in with the other sounds in perfect harmony. “You’re so sexy, baby. And you’re just going to keep getting sexier once your belly starts showing more.”

   “Hmm. Happy to hear that, love,” Henry cupped the back of Alex’s head, fingers massaging into silky soft long curls. He couldn’t help but to break the kiss with a smile, feeling so loved and adored by Alex. From head to toe, his husband loved every single thing about him, Henry knew. But ever since he began to exercise more and the news of his pregnancy became more, he felt Alex’s adoration and lust for him grow tenfold. Henry would be lying if he said it didn’t play on his ego just a little bit.

   “So are you going to help me with the tree or what? The blasted garland is all tangled up you know,” Henry pulled back from their kiss in order to look at Alex, all smiles and beauty. Handsomeness and perfection in Alex’s eyes.

   “I suppose I can help with the less sexier tree,” Alex smirked, earning a soft slap against his chest from Henry and a well placed eye roll. He laughed when they parted, picking up the cardboard box of said garland as Henry returned back to the ornaments he had set down. “We should make some cookies after this.”

   “I quite agree,” Henry carefully plucked out a bronze colored bulb and stuck it on a high branch where David wouldn’t run into it and risk having it break. “Brown sugar cookies with cut outs perhaps?”

   “Absolutely. I think I have some ginger cake mix, too, we can make some cupcakes while we’re at it. I know your sweet tooth has been going crazy lately,” Alex expertly untangled the first strand of gold garland, walking around their tree as he strung it up high first, working top to bottom.

   Totally not an excuse to stare at his husband some more and up close from every angle.

   Henry hummed, smiling as he hung up more gold and bronze colored ornaments after Alex was finished putting the first round of garland on. “That sounds like a wonderful way to end the evening, love.”

   “Oh yeah? Is that the only way?” Alex couldn’t keep the flirtatious smirk off his face, raising a suggestive eyebrow, earning a huff from Henry who set the ornaments back down and picked up the box of garland.

   Before Alex could ask what his husband was doing, Henry overturned the box above his head, promptly decorating him in heaps of colorful garland, all gummy smiles and bright laughter of which Alex joined in on once he realized what his husband had done.

   “There. Now   who’s the tree?”

Chapter Text

   Henry Fox has cried every single Christmas since his father died. Not a year passed where he didn’t shrink in on himself and cry himself to sleep every night for the month of December. Not a year went by where he didn’t visit his father’s gravesite in London with flowers and strangled words of how badly he was missed. Not a single year went by where Henry didn’t think of his father and all of the wonderful Christmases they shared together. Not a single year went by where his only Christmas wish was unrealistically impossible to have.

   Christmas just didn’t Christmas like it used to since Arthur died. Since Henry lost the one man in his life who loved him more than anything in the world. Who favored him out of all three children because he just knew that Henry needed that extra love, comfort, and joy that the rest of the family, save his mother and sister, just couldn’t give. He came out to his father at the age of thirteen and was greeted with nothing but open arms, hugs, and words of pride. Arthur was the first person Henry ever told that he was gay, followed by his best friend Pez and then … then his sister and other best friend in the whole universe.

   Alex Claremont-Diaz.

   They had been friends since kindergarten, and even though Henry was too young to understand why exactly he favored Alex out of all the other kids around him, somewhere in his little child DNA and subconscious was readying him to realize that he liked boys. He and Alex grew up together, best friends against all odds just two houses down from each other in a quaint suburb just outside of Austin, Texas. Henry’s father was…had been…a very well loved and famous movie star. Alex’s parents were senators. Henry and his father, along with his little sister Bea moved to Texas while their older brother Philip stayed in England and their mother traveled abroad doing animal rescue work. It was…an interesting way to grow up, Henry having both an absent parent, a brother who didn’t like the fact he was gay, and a very present and attentive loving father and sister. But even so, Henry still had Arthur. He had Alex. He had acceptance and love.

   And just like that…cancer took a huge part of that love away from him. And things had never been the same since.

   It was a year later when Henry and Alex confessed their feelings for each other. Arthur had always said that they were meant to be lovers. That the way they looked at each other and spent time together had transcended far beyond friendship. He would always tell Henry to follow his heart because somehow, he just knew that Alex felt the same way and wouldn’t turn him down despite Henry’s worry that he’d ruin their friendship. Two months after his father passed, Henry found himself on Alex’s childhood home doorstep in tears during a particular nasty bout of Texan rain, clinging onto his best friend for everything it was worth.

   Henry remembers being picked up by Alex and carried into his best friend’s bedroom, sobbing loudly and painfully with his face buried into the crook of Alex’s neck as his hands gripped tightly onto the back of his shirt. After slipping off his shoes, Alex had slid them both into his bed, tightly wrapping both the sheet and comforter around them as Henry sobbed and Alex held him through the night. It was two days later when Henry told Alex how in love he was with him and how he was too afraid to say it in case their friendship was ruined and how Arthur had always told him to follow his heart and confess his feelings no matter the outcome.

   And Alex, sweet, beautiful, handsome, funny, kind Alex confessed his love all the same with Henry’s head cradled between large, warm hands. Turns out, they had been in love with each other for years. And much like Henry, Alex hadn’t wanted to ruin the bond they already had. But now that bond was stronger than ever, the pair of them sharing the role of best friends and boyfriends. Nothing changed between them other than romantic gestures, living together, and making love anywhere and everywhere they wanted to and could.

   Now he and Alex were in their early twenties, living together in a two story rental house just a few blocks from their childhood homes with Henry’s beloved beagle David. Bea stayed in the house she and Henry had grown up together in, living with Alex’s best friend Nora as a way to help split the costs of owning a home and to not be so alone now that her father was gone and Henry moved in with his boyfriend. Everyone was still close together, and that’s the way Henry wanted it to be. His family, both abroad and near. There was just one person missing…and that pained him in more ways than he could ever express despite him being wonderful with words and now a published author. Grief had no way of fully executing the right thing to say. It was a pain you had to feel to understand.

   So here Henry was, another December without his father. Another year of missing him with the worst kind of pain that made your chest feel heavy and the tears exhausting your entire being. Christmas, even with Alex, just never felt like the ones before. And Henry knew they wouldn’t. Even for all of the pretty lights, their tree, baking, shopping, and everything else that he and Alex did as a couple, there was only a small amount of joy that Henry felt. And Alex understood that. He never pushed anything, never pressured Henry to do something overly joyful to mask the pain. He did what he could, asked if Henry wanted to do something a little fun or to just watch movies and cuddle on the couch with hot chocolate. Christmas brought on new traditions between the two of them, and Henry was all the more glad for it.

   Alex was studying law at Georgetown while Henry had successfully published two books in the last handful of years they had been together. The third Sunday of the month was their winter break, which meant Alex would be home everyday until two days after New Year’s. Yet another holiday that Henry detested and reminded him of what he’d lost. But he had Alex and Bea and Pez, and everyone else in his life that helped in small ways. Today was his last class and Henry had been sitting on the couch in the living room staring blankly at their fully decorated five foot tree while a string of queued movies played on their wall mounted flatscreen. David had been at his side, being as much of a healthy distraction as possible.

   That’s how Alex found his best friend and love of his life when he came back home. On the couch, wrapped in a festive fleece blanket with red rimmed eyes, tear stained cheeks and wearing his Georgetown hoodie with blue and white plaid lounge pants. He smiled softly, toeing both shoes off at the front door, hanging his backpack and leather winter jacket on the hooks before making his way through their large kitchenette and into the living room.

   “Hey, baby,” Alex spoke softly and gently as he sat down beside Henry with a hand slowly rubbing his boyfriend’s upper back. “Rough day today, huh?”

   When Henry nodded, a new flood of tears pooled his hazel green eyes and escaped, rolling in rivers over his pinkened face. His plush lips trembled and Alex knew that his boyfriend was trying to keep himself from vocally crying. So he removed his hand from Henry’s back and gently swiped his tawny blond bangs to the side and off his forehead.

   “What can I do, baby? Anything you want, anything you need , Henry. You know I’m here for you, and I’ll try my hardest to help you. I know it’s not the same, but I miss your dad, too, you know? I loved the way he was always so happy for me to come over and spend time with you. I’m sorry he didn’t get to see us become boyfriends, but…he still knew, you know? He was pretty cool like that…and of course the best Bond in the universe and I’ll stand by that.”

   A strangled laugh parted Henry’s lips, and with it a corner of his mouth lifted into a halfhearted smile. Alex went back to gently rubbing his back, scooting closer until their knees touched. “I’ll never forget the day you called him a total babe. Quite the thing to say to your best friend. But it was you, so I suppose I shouldn’t have expected anything less.”

   Alex chuckled deeply, wiping away stray tears with his free hand, leaning in close until his forehead touched Henry’s temple. “I know this time of year is tough on you, baby. But…I’m really proud of you. Every year together, we do something new. Something fun or cozy that adds to our own tradition. Every year…even on your darkest days…you still find some joy in the holiday. Something to hold onto that brings a smile to that beautiful face of yours. And I’m always here, baby. I’ll always hold you close, hold you up, and grieve with you. I know I wasn’t as close to Arthur and he wasn’t my dad, but I know how much he meant to you , baby. And as much as it hurts for me to see you in pain, I know it comes from a place of deep, deep love for him. And that’s okay, Henry. It’s okay. You don’t have to be completely happy just because it’s Christmas. It’s hard not having someone who meant so much to you around the holidays. Especially when you spent so many years of it together. Especially with the way your dad made sure you were completely loved and seen and happy. Cancer’s a bitch, and I’m so sorry that it took you from him. That it sucked some of the joy out of the holidays.”

   Alex lifted his head when Henry rested against his shoulder, tucking Henry up under his chin with one hand continuing to rub his back and the other holding onto Henry’s hand. “Just know that I’m here, baby. And it’s okay to cry. It’s okay to sob and be mad and hurt. The world took something you loved so fucking much too soon, and it’s just not fair. It’ll never be fair. But what we can do is try. We can do small things together that make us happy together during the holidays. It doesn't have to be flashy, baby. So long as I can help and we’re together with David. You know I just love snuggling up with you eating a dozen cookies and drinking large mugs of hot chocolate with you while we watch movies or just listen to music while we read. It doesn’t have to be all smiles and happy holidays, Henry. I promise. We can just be. We can both mourn and we can both remember fondly the happy moments we had with your dad.”

   Henry nodded, breaking down finally for the first time all day. He crawled onto Alex’s lap with his face buried into his boyfriend’s shoulder like so many years ago, sobbing painfully as he clung tightly to all of Alex. As Alex wrapped both of his strong, muscular arms around him so tight that it felt like a warm blanket, kissing the side of Henry’s head over and over again with his own heart twisting in his chest. Arthur may not have been his father or as close to him as he was Henry of course being his own son, but Alex had a relationship with the man, too. And damn did he miss hearing stories of being on set of his movies and making sure he bought something for Alex every single birthday and Christmas and showed him some of the more palatable, yummy British foods and baked goods that Alex definitely had cravings for.

   And Henry knew that. He knew Alex wasn’t taking a thing away from him when it came to missing Arthur. His father treated Alex with so much respect and love as if he were his own son. Because he knew that someday, Alex would be his son. A part of his family. Someone who loved Henry so deeply and knew everything about him inside and out. That they would be together forever, married and with a little family of their own. Henry knew that Alex felt sorrow for Arthur in a different way, and it never upset him. They had all grown up together since they were kids, and became joint families. Alex had every right to grieve as well.

   “It’s okay, baby,” Alex swallowed as his voice cracked just as well, hot tears stinging behind his own eyes. “It’s okay. I know, Henry. I know, baby. Let’s just let it out, and then we can get cozy on the couch and do something relaxing, hm? Would you like some hot chocolate? I can make it with the extra whipped cream and some chocolate drizzle.”

   When Henry nodded, Alex smiled softly and hugged his boyfriend all the tighter. He would do anything to help Henry, to make him feel even a modicum of happiness however that looked and felt like. And he would do the same for himself, too. They were together in this, just like they were together with everything else in their lives. Alex allowed his own tears to fall, kissing the top of Henry’s head. “I love you, baby. Thank you for letting me in. I know it's not easy for you.”

   “I…I love you, too, darling,” Henry whispered as his sobs died down, a hand moving up to the back of Alex’s head to find grounding comfort in burying his fingers into Alex’s dark curls. “Thank you..f-...for loving me. And being here. A-nd … completely understanding. I don’t know what I would ever do without you, love. You help me so damn much, Alex. So very much.”

   “And I’ll keep doing it, baby. For the rest of our lives.

Chapter Text

   “Darling, I thought everyone was wearing sweaters,” Henry blinked as their families and friends entered the Brownstone wearing, well, not sweaters. At least not all of them were. He blinked again several times in confusion as they all greeted each other, followed by putting up their coats on the hooks that ran along the wall by the front door.

   “No, baby,” Alex laughed and leaned in close to whisper. “I said we got everyone sweaters. Their gifts tonight, remember?”

   “Ah,” Henry closed his eyes and lightly smacked his forehead with the heel of his hand. “Right. Sweater gifts. Not sweater gathering attire.”

   Alex snorted with an arm snaking around his husband’s waist, kissing Henry’s cheek with a bright grin. “You’re so cute, baby. And you look fantastic. Don’t worry, nobody’s going to notice until we give out the gifts and do the reveal after dinner.”

   “Hopefully not, seeing as how I will be rejecting wine,” Henry wrung his hands together and took a deep breath as he watched everyone greeting each other and of course, David who ran into the foyer wearing a cute blue dog sweater and his tail wagging a mile a minute.

   “Don’t worry, I got that covered, too. I bought sparkling grape juice and will pour it out of sight. It’ll look like wine, but it won’t be. None the wiser,” Alex grinned proudly, pleased that their meticulous two week long planning was pretty much set to perfection. It’s exactly what they both wanted; nobody to suspect a thing, and have nothing but total surprise and joy when all was spilled out into the open.

   “Okay,” Henry nodded with a deep breath, clearly just as nervous as Alex who leaned in to give him a kiss on the cheek and a hand rubbing his upper back.

   It was their first Christmas hosting at their Brownstone home for both of their families and friends. They had spent hours cooking, shopping, decorating the table, planning the gifts, and their outfits. Not that Henry and Alex were wearing anything particularly flashy; fun “ugly” Christmas sweaters with Alex in jeans and Henry in a pair of navy blue Chinos, both of them opting to wear slippers rather than just socks. Henry had even convinced his husband to wear his glasses since it looked so good with the sweater he wore and his gorgeous grown out curls.

   Their guests were in an assortment of dresses, casual suits, and in particular for Amy and her wife, matching pantsuits. Colorful, festive, glowing and bright just like they all were. Happy to be here with Henry and Alex, completely unaware of what was waiting ahead of them after dinner.

   Which was exactly what Alex and Henry wanted.

   Hugs went around along with laughter, compliments, idle conversations, and catching up. And even though Alex knew how anxious Henry was, his husband was grinning brightly with that adorable, beautiful gummy smile of his as he mingled with their blended family and laughed. Henry was truly happy in the company they had over at their home, and Alex couldn’t help but to feel so proud and happy for him. For them. For having a life Henry only dreamt of. Even Philip and Martha were here, Henry’s older brother having slowly come around, realizing that their relationship wasn’t worth the expense of Henry’s happiness and to have that familial closeness. It’s what their father would have wanted, and Henry couldn’t have been more grateful for the progress his older brother put forth in accepting him, loving him, and understanding. Just another reason to make this holiday gathering in their cozy Brownstone all the more exciting and happy.

   Dinner went off without a hitch, nobody suspecting Henry’s glass of “wine” was anything but. With Christmas music playing lowly in the living room, candles lit in the living room, they all continued to catch up, chat, enjoy their food, and share any stories that they have missed throughout the year. David, in his pretty green knit sweater stood beside Alex and Henry at the end of the long, festively decorated wooden table, hoping for a scrap of turkey or two. Which, he was totally snuck a few pieces by Alex for being such a good boy.

   Once the leftovers were split up and put away, Henry and Alex joined everyone in the living room, Henry gently squeezing his husband’s hand as his heart raced and both excitement and anxiety washed over him. They hadn’t put their gifts for David and each other under the tree just yet, knowing they were going to be having this dinner with the family and friends, wanting only their gifts under the tree to make it all the more special. And so far it seemed that nobody had a clue of what anything might be.

   “Okay, so,” Alex clapped his hands together, he and Henry standing in front of the built-in brick fireplace, right beside their beautifully decorated six foot tree. “All of the gifts here are for all of you. And any gifts you have for us will be for Christmas Eve. There was a reason we said we’d only be giving gifts tonight after dinner.”

   Henry smiled, looking over at his husband, twisting his wedding band around his finger slowly. Alex was grinning brightly, eyes shining both with the lights on their tree and with pure joy. It was clear he couldn’t wait, and even though Henry was nervous, neither could he.

   “And everyone is opening them at the same time,” Alex instructed as he knelt and grabbed the two bags for Oscar and Ellen. Henry squatted and picked through the gifts to find the bags for his family and Pez, successfully locating each one, handing them out with a smile. Alex finished off by handing Amy, Nora, Zahra, and Shaan’s, the tree now bare underneath as he went back to standing beside Henry, snaking an arm around his husband’s waist to pull them close together.

   “Ready, baby?” Alex asked with a bright grin, pressing his lips to Henry’s soft cheek.

   “As ever, darling,” Henry beamed and returned the kiss as David shuffled around his dads to plop down onto his dog bed beside the fireplace.

   “Sweet. Open away!” Alex cheered, making Henry laugh with a playful swat against his chest.

   All at once, everyone opened their bags while Henry looked on, gently biting down on his plush bottom lip and Alex softly rubbed his lower back. Everyone had sweaters of the same colors and fun snowflake patterns, but it was on the front of them that was the tip for their surprise gifts.

Best Abuelo Ever ~ Oscar
Sweetest Mamma Ever ~ Ellen
Most Loved Nana ~ Catherine

Best Auntie #1 ~ Pez
Best Auntie #2 ~ Bea

Honorary Lesbiaunt ~Amy
New Bestie ~ Nora

Best Bloody Uncle ~ Philip
Promoted To Aunt ~ Martha

Zio Shaan ~ Shaan
Zia Zahra ~ Zahra

   There was silence at first and Henry was holding his breath, feeling the buzz of Alex beside him who was nearly about to sprint around the living room in anticipation. After another beat, everyone was staring at the couple with wide eyes and growing grins.

   “NO WAY!” Nora shouted and leapt up from her seat with her sweater slung over a shoulder so she could excitedly clap. “For REAL?”

   “Uh…yes. We are quite absolutely sure,” Henry blushed and giggled a little, a chorus of cheers and words of surprise and joy quickly filling the living room alongside a well placed “Well I’ll be damned”  from Zarah.

   Everyone was now on their feet to congratulate Alex and Henry, passing around more hugs, Ellen and Catherine doting on both boys with their heads in their hands, giving featherlight forehead kisses that made both Alex and Henry blush and laugh. 

   The anxiety was gone, seeing how excited everyone was by the announcement, Amy stating how funny her gift was and she absolutely loved it when she hugged them both.

   “Oh Hen, this is so great!” Bea wrapped her arms tightly around her little brother, jumping on her toes when Henry laughed and returned the hug.

   “Thank you. It was quite hard to keep it a surprise from everyone,” Henry grinned when Bea stepped aside and Philip came in for a tight hug, Martha clapping her hands together and bouncing on her toes with Bea by the couch.

   “Dad would have been exceptionally excited,” Philip told Henry softly and with a somber smile. “You’re going to be just like him, you know. You’re meant to be a father, Hen. And you have as every bit of that part of Dad in you as anyone in the family.”

   “Thank you,” Henry’s voice caught lightly in his throat with a smile, going in for another tight hug from his brother, so elated with how far Philip had come and their relationship mended. It meant the world to both him and Alex. “That means more to me than I think you could know.”

   “You’re going to have your hands full with that kid if it’s anything like you,” Zahra smirked at Alex, wrapping him in a warm, tight hug. “Good job, kiddo. You’re going to be a great dad. Both of you.”

   “Aw, Zahra…going to try and make me cry?” Alex laughed when she gently slapped his upper back and rolled her eyes when their hug parted.

   “So,” Henry took a deep breath and leaned into Alex with a hand on his chest, both of his husband’s arms snugly around his waist. “I take it everyone was well surprised and quite clearly excited?”

   “More than that, sugar,” Ellen grinned brightly at her two sons. “Much, much more.”