A/N

Decided to turn this into a series of Henry-centric oneshots, because he's my favourite character. He's incredibly fun to work with. This is set during "Edward", right after Ashley talks to Henry about his surgery.

Hope you enjoy.

"You're not dealing with an amateur here Ashley. We've both seen the horrors of the Abnormal world." Henry sighed, shaking his head, "Up close."

Ashley touched his shoulder. "But we've also seen their wonder. Their beauty."

"Beauty?" Henry scoffed, "Ash, you weren't here. You and Doctor Magnus, you keep telling me that I shouldn't run away from this thing, but... You. Weren't. Here." He gritted his teeth and closed his eyes, feeling the beast clawing its way dangerously close to the surface. "Just go, Ashley."

"Dude, I'm not going anywhere. Shouldn't you know me a little better by now?" She hoisted herself up onto his desk, swinging her legs over the side. "Talk to me."

"What's there to say? I'm getting the surgery. I'm getting rid of this thing so that I can't hurt you or anyone else."

"Yeah, yeah, I get it." Ashley rolled her eyes. "Honestly Henry, you're really not all that scary. Like, at all." She flashed him a grin.

"Like I said. You haven't seen it. You don't feel it, Ash. It's... terrifying." He whispered, a lump rising in his throat. "I feel like at any moment I could snap, I could fall off the wagon, you know? What happens if you're standing too close?"

"It's happened before." Ashley shrugged, "Remember when we were kids? I'd bitch at you and you'd get a little... angry. Have I ever thought any different of you for that?"

"Ashley, this is different. I can't expect you to understand. Look, don't push me. My mind's made up."

"Henry, what are you so afraid of?" Ashley demanded.

"Losing myself!" Henry cried, looking at her for the first time, "Ashley, every time I change into the beast, I can't control myself. I don't... I don't want to lose you or me or anyone else."

In way of reply, Ashley grabbed his wrist. "Remember this?" she asked, pointing to the silver band around his wrist. "You melted down the bracelet I gave you and made it into something less breakable. Do you remember why I gave it to you in the first place?"

Henry nodded. Of course he remembered.

"Henry, where do you come from?"

"What do you mean, Ash?"

"Well, I came from Mommy, so I came from here, but you aren't from here so where do you come from?"

Henry frowned. "The Moors." He said, because that was where Doctor Magnus had told him he had come from. He didn't know where that was or why he came from there, but Doctor Magnus never lied to him.

"What's a Moors?" Ashley asked, turning the word over in her mouth.

"It's... It must be a place, because I had to come from somewhere." Henry said gruffly, crossing his arms. "Why does it matter? I'm here now aren't I?"

"I was just curious." Ashley said in a small voice, "Sorry, Henry."

He sighed. "Don't be sorry. I just... You're real lucky, Ash."

Ashley's eyes widened in surprise. "Why?"

"You've got a mom. You know where you come from. I've got a Doctor Magnus and the name of a place I can't remember." He stared at her with sad, dark eyes and shook his head, "I don't have anything."

Ashley punched him.

"Ow! Ash, what the hell?"

She glared at him. "You think you've got nothing? You're... you're... stupid! You have me and Mommy and the Big Guy and you've got the Sanctuary! I don't care where you come from – this is your home and we all love you. Why do you think that you don't have anything?"

"Ashley, I –"

"If you ever say anything like that, I will do more than punch you!" The four year old growled fiercely, advancing on him again, "I swear I will!"

Henry smiled a little. "Okay, Ash, I'm sorry. I won't say it again, I promise." He rubbed his shoulder, "You really punch hard, you know that?"

Ashley straightened up, apparently satisfied with Henry's response. She grinned. "I'm super strong." She said proudly. Henry smirked.

"You think you're super strong?" he roared playfully, sweeping her into his arms and spinning her around, "I'm way stronger than you!"

"Henry!" Ashley giggled with delight, "You're stronger than me, I admit it! Let me down!"

Henry growled. "You're my prisoner, I'm never going to let you go!"

Ashley squealed in mock-terror. "You're kidnapping me!"

"Yes, I'm the beast stealing away the beautiful princess to be my bride!" he declared, as lost in the game as she was. He stopped twirling and bared his teeth at her.

"Oh! I know! You just need the kiss of the beautiful princess to turn you back into a handsome prince!"

Henry's eyes widened. "Oh, no, I –"

Ashley swooped down and quickly pecked him on the lips. She smiled triumphantly. "You can put me down now, handsome prince. You're not a beast anymore."

Henry let her down gently, his face heating up. Ashley frowned, looking at him expectantly. "You're supposed to thank me for saving you!" She told him. Henry gulped.

"Thank you, b- beautiful princess." He stammered.

"You're welcome. Now, take me to my palace. Onwards, noble steed!"

Henry chuckled softly as he dropped to all fours. "I thought I was the prince."

"Now you're my noble steed. Come on, mush!"

Henry started roaming around the room. "You might want to tell me where exactly your palace is, princess."

"I'll tell you when I decide on a place fit for a princess as beautiful as me."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah! Hey, Henry, take me to my room."

"Is that your palace?"

"No, I just need to get something for you."

Henry scampered towards Ashley's bedroom, rising up a little so she could turn the doorknob. The door swung open and she ordered him inside. She hopped off his shoulders and walked over to her desk.

"What are you looking for?" Henry asked, going to stand beside her.

"This!" Ashley said, triumphantly holding a small silver chain up in the air. "I knew it was in here somewhere. Henry, hold out your wrist."

"Jewellery is for girls, Ashley."

"The princess commands you to, so you will do what she says!"

"Yeah, yeah." Henry rolled his eyes, but held out his wrist. Very ceremoniously, Ashley clasped the simple chain around his wrist. "So, what's it for?" Henry asked.

"It's so that you never forget where you come from, and who you are." Ashley smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck. "You're my Henry."

He swallowed the lump in his throat. "I won't forget."

"Love you, Henry."

"Love you too."

Henry sucked in a deep, ragged breath. Ashley placed both hands on his shoulders, staring him down with those big blue eyes.

"If you have this surgery, you might not be my Henry anymore." She said softly. "Think about it."

"If I don't have it, I won't be your Henry anymore either way." He whispered. Ashley pulled him closer, hugging him tightly.

"I don't believe that."

"I do, and that's enough. You can't change my mind, Ash. I'm too dangerous." Henry muttered, shaking his head.

"Love you." She said simply, resting her forehead against his.

Henry concentrated on his breathing, and the sound of Ashley's heartbeat. He was so terrified. He didn't want to lose himself in the surgery, but he couldn't stand the thought of losing himself to the beast, either. What was he supposed to do? Why were they all pushing him to stay the way he was, why were they pretending he wasn't dangerous at all?

"Henry?" Ashley asked softly.

"Yeah, Ash." He sighed tiredly. "Love you too."