Henry can feel his stomach flutter in a way no one else has made him feel when Alex brushes his hand against his own. And if he wasn’t such a coward about his family finding out, Henry might’ve grabbed his hand anyway. Instead, he just gives his hand a gentle nudge back, a smile playing at his lips.

   “I think David will love all of the attention. He’s certainly enjoyed going to the games I’ve brought him to so far. He would look cute in one of those little uniforms, I saw some in the shop.” Henry made a mental note to grab one the next time he was there.

   When they got to the school, Henry had to distance himself a little from Alex. It made him jealous more than he’d like to admit to see the other couples in the hallway, straight and gay alike. Students didn’t seem to mind much so long as there wasn’t any drama going on. If anything, Henry wasn’t used to all of the acceptance that America had compared to where he was from. “I’ll see you later, yeah? I can give you a ride home if you’d like.”

"Yeah, we can do that." Alex knows it's AS MUCH as they can do without getting outed, even if most of their friends know, but he'll take what he can get when it comes to Henry. The thought of not being with him, even in secret, makes his chest tighten in a way he can't explain, and also doesn't want to think about too hard, really.

"Hey, it's not BAD at all," he nudges the other's shoulder with a laugh. "It's actually pretty fun, it really brings people together, and motto week is fun. Some people come up with the weirdest costumes." He's looking forward to it, actually, and there's some things that are already planned, but he can work with putting Henry in the mix, too.

"I think you'll like it," he then adds, brushing his hand against Henry's between them as they walk, just for a brief moment, and it's enough to make electricity shoot up his arm. "We can take some photos, maybe get David to pose too, you know?" He pauses. "Before we go to school, I mean."

   Henry can feel his insides going off soft and jittery, but in a good way at Alex’s words. Much more so at his blush too. It makes him happy, delightedly so to know that the other man wants him as much as he wants Alex. In fact, it sort of feels impossible that he wants him that much. “I honestly don’t know what I did to make you feel that way about me, but I’m glad. Because I feel the same way for you, love.” And he means it. There is no one else for him. There never has been, really.

   “Do you even really need to ask?” Henry says with a grin, just before leaning in and diving in for a kiss. It was soft and gentle, demanding and loving all at once. No one else had ever made him feel this hungry for another person either and he knows that he’ll NEVER be able to get enough of Alex.

   Their tongues meet and Alex always tastes like the sweetest fruit of candy that he’s never had. He marvels in it, in the way their noses slot perfectly together and the way his hands automatically find their way into his hair. LOVE. The love that he feels for this man knows no bounds and if he had the ring on him, he might’ve proposed right then and there. There’s no doubt in his mind now that Alex would say yes. “Forever,” Henry says, breathless as he rests his forehead gently against the others. “You and me. Always and forever, huh?”

Up until NOW it hadn't really been a thing they had talked about, and Alex' heart stumbles when Henry brings it up, because...well, because he hadn't really known how to bring it up before. Because Alex had never really been someone to think about marriage before meeting Henry, and when his whole world had been flipped upside down, multiple times, he hadn't quite known how to deal with it either. What if Henry doesn't want to marry him? But apparently that's something that's on the table at least.

"I...yeah. I mean. Duh." Alex ducks his head with a slight chuckle, before shaking it. "I mean...of course I fought for you, and of course I wanna get married to you, you're the love of my life. I didn't even like...KNEW anyone could make me feel the way you make me feel."

He's never been shy about showing emotions, but he still feels a slight blush rising to his cheeks at the confession, even if he's sure Henry knows all these things about him. "Anyway, I love you. Is the point." He then laughs, "Kiss me?"

   “The couch sounds absolutely fine, darling.” If his sister were to see them, she’d probably wrinkle her nose and call them love birds. He supposed he could not blame anyone for thinking that of them because really, it’s what they were. They were sappy and romantic with each other and Henry wouldn’t have it any other way.

   “I love you too, Alex. You are my whole world.” And Alex may even mock him for saying that, but it was true all the same. He smiled softly at him, leaning in to kiss him some more before shifting a bit so that they both could get out of the bath. Now cleaned and dried off, Henry took his time getting dressed in comfortable clothes before joining Alex on the couch, offering him the remote.

   “You get to pick what we get to watch. I chose last time.” More often than not they were watching cooking shows, Henry had delighted in the fact that Alex liked them as much as he did too. They did enjoy rom-coms when they weren’t watching them though. “What do you say to a proper London tour? Before we go back home in a few days at any rate. I didn’t get to really show you around the first time you were here with me.” That felt like such a long time ago and Henry was glad that they were on better terms now.

“I don’t know, baby, I think I might have some idea,” Alex teased right back, smiling against the other’s lips. He loved to see this side of Henry, loved to see the other relax and feel comfortable teasing him. It wasn’t something Alex had ever been entirely sure Henry woudl feel comfortable with, so the fact that the Prince now seemed to be was a big win, in Alex’s books.

He hummed softly against the other man’s lips as Henry pulled back a little, leaning down to kiss his neck softly. “I think it’s worth getting pruny to be close to you, sweetheart, but we could always cuddle on the couch after?” He pointed out with a smile, leaning into kiss Henry again. “Whatever you want, baby."

Alex loved their lives, but getting to be like this with Henry, unrushed and relaxed was probably his favourite, and before Henry he hadn’t ever considered himself to be the sort that would be happy as someone’s domestic partner… but with Henry? It was different - it was good, even. It wasn’t something he’d ever trade for another life. “I love you so much."

[ Henry > Alex ]: You are ridiculous. [ Henry > Alex ]: you do look amazing in chinos, I’m looking forward to seeing those on you. [ Henry > Alex ]: now you’re trying to make me blush. Honestly. Smh. [ Henry > Alex ]: seriously tho, I’ll take any pictures you have and return the favor. 😉

[ sms - h ]: well not literally. but from undying thirst for me? Totally.

[ sms - h ]: and i wasn’t wearing pants yet, you didn’t get to see that. got a new pair of chinos that make my ass look amazing.

[ sms - h ]: awww babe, I’ll be sure to send you the whole fit so you can jerk off to it later xoxo

   “God, that would be nice,” Henry said with a wistful sigh. He leaned into Alex’s kiss, kissing him back with a tenderness he’d only ever given Alex. “I didn’t know you were such a sap,” he said, teasing him with a gentle grin. “But I feel the same way. Goodness knows I sleep better with you around too.” Alex was his person. That much he did know. It helped to know that Alex clearly felt the same way.

   He rested their foreheads together, noses brushing soft against each other as well. It was so sweet, the softness that they had with each other. He wouldn’t give this up for anything. “It’s been … well, it’s been, I suppose. Gran isn’t happy I’ve not accepted any dates of late. She grows suspicious, but I can’t … I just want to be with you, Alex.”

Alex sank into Henry’s touch, letting out a small breath of relief, pressing his nose into the other’s shoulder and smiling at the familiar smell of the other. Being with Henry made it seem like a person could be someone’s home, not a place as Alex had always previously thought. Nothing ever felt completly right when they weren’t together, and he wondered if the other felt the same.

“Mnn hmm. Preferably in the same building,” He agreed, leaning up to kiss Henry back with a soft moan. “You always make my week better, sweetheart - just by being you.” he nudged their noses together, smiling a little. “What about you? How’s things been the other side of the pond?”

   Henry could feel himself feeling all warm inside when Alex kisses the back of his hand. This, this feels more normal. Back in New York they might’ve occasionally taken a weekend away trip there too, just to get Alex’s mind off of school and his off of work. It had been so domestic that it made him feel so soft. Sometimes he wondered if it was Alex that made him feel that way and really he didn’t mind it. In fact, he enjoyed the feeling of just letting go of the day to day stresses with Alex around.

   “Sweetheart, you can afford anything you want,” he told him with a wry smile. He wasn’t sure if Alex thought of that much with having him for a boyfriend and one day, soon, hopefully as a husband too. “Oh god, yes. We can stop by there and get them before getting into the hotel, yes?” His lips quirked up a little. “He’s probably there every day, just waiting for the chance to meet you again. Maybe I should be jealous,” Henry said with a light chuckle.

   They end up getting the crepes and the guy is there, Henry buys a few extra to take back to the hotel with them, but they take their time. That’s something they get to do this weekend, take their time about everything. “That was good. Almost better than jaffa cakes.” He grins over at Alex. They’ve gotten to the hotel now and Henry grabs some of their bags from the car. Though he knows that the PPO’s are more than willing to help. Part of him just wants to pretend that none of them are there and that he and Alex are a normal couple on a weekend getaway. The fact was that they weren’t a normal couple, but it didn’t hurt to pretend. “Come on, let’s check out the place.”

Alex can't WAIT to get away from the palace for a bit if he's being honest. It has nothing to do with the people who work there, most of them anyway, or even Shaan or let alone David, but he just...doesn't really feel himself there, but maybe that's a HIM thing and has nothing to do with the surroundings. What he does know, however, is that he can't wait to get to Paris and, for a weekend, pretend that it's just Henry and him, and not a whole ass country depending on his significant other.

He glances down to where Henry has taken his hand and brings the other man's up to his lips, pressing a kiss to the back of it. It feels a little easier to breathe here, which he thinks is a good thing, and maybe he can finally shut his brain off long enough to just...exist for a bit without that weird feeling of anxiety creeping into his body. "Yeah, that sounds NICE."

He agrees, leaning his head back against the head rest, not letting go of Henry's hand unless he absolutely has to. "You know what I really want though? And can also afford?" He chuckles, "One of those crepes from that little stand right outside Notre Dame. They're the best. The guy better be there or I'll riot."

henry's threads have all been moved over to the new blog. I will check here every once and awhile for replies. that being said, everything is being continued to the new blog. @waehles

it's majorly a wip and it's late now, but I've moved henry over to @waehles. when I have time tmrw I will move over threads there and follow everyone there tmrw. I expected to have more time to move things over like I wanted to do but at least I got things started, but once things get rolling it will be fine. thank you all for the patience. and I will be continuing everything that I have here over there. I needed to start over because half of my tags haven't been working here for awhile and I'm hoping that now they will.

I will be updating this blog tonight! aka, rebooting tonight. I got too tired yesterday and ended up falling asleep so I never even got on to make an update about it. so I'm gonna get on after dinner and do all of that, which I am excited to do.

I probably won't have time til later tonight to reboot the blog, but I will get around to it when I can. and when I do I'll shift over drafts and things to the new one. plus I'm planning on making a new theme background, maybe a new pinned post too.

   “I’m rather surprised that you didn’t just call me a sap,” Henry replied with a soft smile on his face. “It seems that I must have given some influence over you, huh?” Alex REALLY didn’t know how lucky he was, because Henry had an idea of what his life would’ve been like had he never met Alex and honestly, it wasn’t a very happy one. “Suppose I can’t complain though. I love it when you’re all sweet with me.”

"I always like to see you TRY, sweetheart." Alex chuckles, feeling goosebumps break out on his skin just from the simple kiss to his palm. Henry has a way of doing that to him, of making him feel like he's floating, and sometimes he wonders if, with everything that had happened, they had been destined to end up together. He doesn't really know if he believes in that, but maybe he HAS TO at this point, because Henry's here, in his arms, and Alex is the luckiest fucking person in the entire world. "Yeah," He agrees, his voice a little quieter. "Sometimes...I can't believe you're mine..."

over the next couple of days I'm going to be rebooting henry's blog to a new one. some tags like the ooc one for example just will not work and it has been frustrating to say the least. I'm hoping with a restart things will work properly. that being said, I will let the queue continue and continue threads/drafts on the new blog as they are, so I will not be dropping anything.

I may or may not revamp my graphics here for the new year. but then, I'm particularly attached to my dash banners, so if anything I may just revamp my theme background at some point instead.

anyway, happy new year! and happy 2024! it's 2024 and no one knows that they're engaged! <3

“It’s 2024, and nobody knows they’re engaged. Granted, they’ve only been engaged for about three hours, but Henry is curious to see how long they can go. It feels nice to keep a secret that doesn’t have to be a secret. It’s more that they’re keeping it like a pet, or something especially beautiful from the garden that they’ve coaxed into a jar. A record is spinning on the turntable, one of Alex’s, maybe the Joni Mitchell he borrowed from Bea. They’ve shoved their phones under the couch cushions and ordered a pizza the size of the moon, and now they’re sitting in the center of the living room floor, demolishing it. They kiss, then eat more pizza, then get distracted kissing again. Henry licks a streak of pepperoni grease from Alex’s forearm, which is a fantasy he didn’t know he had until he’s living it. They tangle up on the rug, and Henry decides he’ll take Alex sailing next weekend, or even out to the edge of the river, just to see him against a horizon.”

— Red, White & Royal Blue; Henry’s Chapter

   Henry woke up when he felt Alex press himself into his hair. The feeling was a soothing one. In a way, it made him feel that everything was indeed okay, even though he knew that it was far from that. Still, Alex was staying by his side when he could have chosen to run off months ago. He could have moved on. But here he was, stuck in the palace with him when he knew it was the last thing that either of them wanted.

   “Morning, love,” Henry says back, voice soft from sleep, eyes peeling open as he lingers into that kiss on his cheek. He nods and says, “Mhm, don’t worry. You didn’t wake me.” Not really. Henry had been in and out of waking after the first time he’d originally woken up. It felt weird being back in his old bedroom in the palace, even if Alex was there with him. This wasn’t home, not anymore. The brownstone where they’d made everything to their liking was.

   “Y’hungry?” Henry asked, shifting up a little to stretch. He ended up slipping an arm around Alex’s shoulders, pulling him in closer while David moved to lay in between them. He was surprised the dog had been brought to London too, but then, he would be if he was expected t to stay here. Not for long though. “I contacted Shaan,” Henry said, fingers playing gently at Alex’s curls. “Last night, I mean. I asked him to prepare for us to leave, regardless of what my gran of the Firm says. We’re leaving on the next flight out of here. Alright?”

Alex HATES this. Hates all of it, really. Hates himself for being so weird, and for not being able to keep it together right, and for not fighting a little harder for Henry to stay by his side. ( He's not sure if he could have done anything, really, but he could have tried more, he thinks ). He focuses on whatever is playing on the laptop, and the way Henry feels pressed against him, ALIVE and breathing, and it helps a little.

He doesn't know WHEN he drifts off, but does so eventually, or at least that's what he assumes anyway. He wakes up at some point during the night though, or early in the morning, when the sun's not quite up, but on its way. Henry's asleep next to him, and it soothes the accelerated beating of his heart a little. Alex takes a deep breath and buries his face in the other man's hair, just taking in the familiar warmth and scent.

He considers going for a run, but he can't quite bring himself to leave Henry, not yet anyway, so he cuddles closer and drifts off to sleep once more, waking once more when the sun is up. He FEELS a little better too, or maybe that's his brain tricking him into feeling that way, but it doesn't matter, he needs to be better, needs to do better. Leaning in to press a kiss to Henry's cheek, he closes his eyes for just a few seconds longer. "Morning baby," He mutters softly, "Are you awake?"

All I want right now is to kiss his entire body. Like, from his hips, to his stomach, to his chest, trailing up to his collarbones, then to his neck. Just hearing him whimper the entire time. Leaving soft pale pink and purple hickies along his torso, and everytime I see them, I know he’s mine. Watching him bite his bottom lip, his head back, and pure ecstasy in every moan he lets escape from his mouth. Feeling him beneath me, trying to desperately grind himself against me, each movement becoming more and more obvious until he’s practically bucking his hips against me. Finally kissing his lips, and feeling him pull me closer. His hand holding the side of my face as I run my hands along his body again. He shudders at certain spots, and I let my hand linger, enjoying the fact that I know he wants me more than anything right now…

   The only time Henry had ever been one to lay around and not do much of anything in a day was when his depression had been really bad. Now though, laying in bed all day sounded more appealing than sad because he’d never really had the chance to do it with someone he cared about. For he was sure Alex would jump at the chance of not getting out of bed for hours were he to suggest it.

   He kisses Alex back, smiling softly at him when he pulls away. There’s a lightness to being with the other man that he can’t quite explain. He doesn’t protest to breakfast though and they both amble into the kitchen, David at their heels. Henry gives him bites of eggs for his breakfast, laughing when Alex goes in for even more kisses. Yes, this was something he’d never had before. He’d been a fool to think what he’d had with William had been something special, naive even.

   “Unless you count you as plans, no.” He grinned and tapped him on the nose once hey arrived back in bed. They’ve got a tray with them and the coffee and Henry piles it onto the bed and bedside table, tugging Alex back down onto the bed with him. “I feel like I should just have you move in with me at this point. We both spend so much time together here, you’d think we both lived here anyway,” Henry said, grabbing for a piece of toast and offering it to Alex.

Alex had been SO USED to waking up alone, with his mother always out early, and June having moved out, the house had. been empty, and there hadn't really been anything to keep him in bed, but with Henry, things had changed. He could spend the whole weekend in bed with the other, and he'd be a happy man. ( Well, someone would have to get up and make food, but aside from that he could stay here, with his arms wrapped around Henry, and be happy ).

"We could make breakfast, and coffee, and go back to bed," He suggests with a slight grin, it's not like they have to be anywhere. He leans in to steal another kiss, before swinging his legs out of bed and pulling Henry along with him.

Breakfast does take them SLIGHTLY LONGER than planned, before Alex keeps gravitating towards Henry, kissing him and pulling him into his arms. He does, however, manage to finish the bacon and eggs, along with some sausages for the English breakfast feel, trusting Henry to make the coffee, and take care of the toast. "Any plans for today?" He then asks as they make their way back upstairs, "Besides being in bed with me, I mean."