This time Henry gets a POV - in the second Chenry Fanfic, Surprises. Hope you like!
Henry was overjoyed. It was one of the happiest moments of his life. He looked down at Charlotte when she said it, and waltzed her around the room. He couldn't believe he was to be a father. It didn't seem real.
He wiped the grease from his forehead, concentrating on the wires that made the invention work. He was tired, but also ablaze with excitement, for he knew the look on Charlotte's face would be priceless. He grinned at the invention and held it up with pride. He marvelled at his craftsmanship, although he usually wasn't one with patience and detail. He set it back down and leaned on his desk. He was overwhelmed by how fast the month had gone by. The moment when he realised Charlotte loved him was the most painful. For in that moment, he realised that after all those years, he was never by her side once. He realised the mistake he had made in seeing through her love, in thinking that she didn't care for him, and also the mistake of hiding away, avoiding her at the best of times, because it was just too agonising. His eyes closed as he reminisced that conversation, and realised how much of a stupid fool he had been in that moment. He remembered the memory of him looking into her eyes, and seeing the years flash past as if all in one go. He remembered feeling special and loved that night, and remembered the moment when he felt like he had to make up the wasted five years.
He looked at his watch. He had been down in the laboratory for most of the afternoon and as his promise to Charlotte struck in his head, he took the invention and paced excitedly to his bedroom. There, he opened the door quietly, for he knew Charlotte was most likely asleep. There she was, curled up into a ball, her hair spread across the pillow. He stood there, and appreciated the sight. So many times she had doubted his love for her. So many times she had to tear him away from the crypt at night. So many times that she had to be strong. And he felt as if he was the weakest creature on Earth compared to her. He walked over quietly, and knelt down before her.
With gentleness, he shook her shoulder.
'Charlotte?' He whispered. He shook her shoulder a little bit more, and her eyelids opened. Her smile made his heart flutter, and her face was more beautiful than any setting sunset he had ever seen, or glorious angel that rested above.
'Im sorry to wake you Lottie. I just have something to show you.'
She sat up and smiled. 'Okay.'
He lifted the invention from the floor and placed it in her hands. She gasped, and he beamed.
'Henry, it's beautiful!' She cried, examining it closer.
'I thought that it could go above the cradle.' He smiled sheepishly, touching the metal frame of the mobile. It was round, with the lettering 'Charles Fairchild' upon it, and runes dangling from the frame.
'I was going to ask you if I should paint it.' He said. And he spun the top of the mobile, so that the runes rotated round and round.
'Green. You should paint it green, with black runes. It will match the blanket Sophie knitted.'
'Do you like it?'
'I love it Henry! Charles will too.'
She reached up to his cheek and kissed it.
'Thank you so much. It's beautiful. I love it.' She said again, beaming up at him.
'I'm glad you do. Hopefully the others will like it too.'
'I'm sure they will. We can show them at dinner.'
He walked round to the other side of the bed, and took hold of Charlotte's hand. It was warm and smooth, with ink smudged on her fingers. He stared at her, his eyes reflected in her dark brown ones. He embraced her, and held her there, his head rested upon her shoulder. Time passed by and he wished he could freeze the moment forever, but he knew it was dinner time, and so he helped her up. He took her hand and led her down to the dining room, where Jem and Tessa already sat in two of the chairs. Will, Gabriel and Cecily arrived a few minutes later, looking flustered and tired, probably from all the training they were practicing. Sophie and Gideon carried the food in, and then everyone started eating.
'Henry has made something.' Charlotte said, smiling at him.
'Does it explode?' Will inquired, and Henry felt his face turn slightly pinker.
'Of course not Will.' Charlotte replied, and she held up the mobile that spun gently around.
Henry felt embarrassed. He didn't know why, but he did. They all leaned in for a closer look.
He heard the praise they gave him, and thanked the angel that nothing went wrong, for usually his inventions backfired. He smiled at it, and carried on eating, feeling the stares that gazed upon the mobile.
After dinner, he took Charlotte's hand, and walked down to the crypt, where he started to paint the mobile carefully, while Charlotte watched him.
Finally, it was finished and he stepped back, as though appreciating a work of art. It was bright green, with the black painted runes shiny and polished. Charlotte kissed his cheek, and his blush grew redder.