Freedom 5

"Missing?" Bea asked, horrified. "Missing? As in gone. Why would he leave? His family are not like ours; he was raised in a loving supportive family. " Henry had relayed to Bea, in intimate detail how Alex had fearlessly come out to his mom, after Zahra had caught them in the hotel room in Brooklyn. How Ellen had been carefree about it all, including the son's change in sexuality. Ellen had been so open with Alex, to even offer her son advice about how to have safe sex, before offering to get him some pamphlets for the two of them to go over. Henry had confided to Bea, how he had instantly felt loved and accepted by both President Claremont and Senator Diaz, both as the HRH and as well as Henry Fox, their son's boyfriend. He'd confessed to her, rather emotionally, that when they'd been at the lake house in Texas, he and Oscar Diaz had done some bonding of sorts and Oscar had begun calling him Mijo, the Spanish word for son. The word that he affectionately calls Alex. Both of them had common interests that surprisingly, did not pertain to Alex. That both he and the Senator shared a love for soccer and baking, even if Henry couldn't actually bake anything. Oscar Diaz had promised Henry, that he would teach him the finer points of baking on his next visit. How Henry had been made feel like one of the family. How he had felt unconditionally loved and accepted by his boyfriend's family. How it had made him feel loved, for the first time since his own father had passed.

Then, he had proceeded to lament to his sister that, just once, he wished someone besides her had been that agreeable to his sexuality in their family. He had felt guilty that although Bea and Alex got along beautifully and shared a wonderful friendship, that his family would never feel the same way about Alex, as Alex's family felt about him. His family would never love and accept Alex as his choice of partner. They would never accept his choice of a man as his life partner. They would never understand the love that Henry has for Alex. How Alex lights up his life and makes it better. Better in a way that it hasn't been for a long time. How Alex makes him look at the world and smile, even if it is for a moment. That even on Henry's darkest days, Alex is the bright light that helps him guide his way through it. That brought Henry to his metaphorical knees, knowing that if his father was still alive, he would be in his corner. Henry just knows in his bones, that the late, great Arthur Fox and Alex would share a similar the relationship, to the one he shared with Alex's father.

"He was last heard from four days ago." Pez delivered the next blow softly. Pez too, seemed to think that Alex's disappearance was out of character for the vivacious man. "Almost immediately after he was papped with June and Nora on the South Lawn. The girls assumed that he and Hazza had argued. Even though Alex had denied the accusation. He had told Nora and June that he was just teary and emotional because he missed him. But his security detail has admitted to June that he requested privacy. That he didn't care he was missing classes, he just needed to be by himself for a while."

"That sounds more like a Henry move, than an Alex move." Bea sighed in reply. "He had just left Kensington Palace and he and Henry were happy. Why would he be missing Henry so soon? That seems so out of place for Alex. He is usually the one who is much more in control of himse - "

The ringing of her cell pierced through her soliloquy mid-rant, and she looked at the caller ID. Raising her eyebrows in surprise, she turned the screen around to show Pez the caller.

Mum. Her mother was calling her, and the location said London, not Gaborone, Botswana. Her mother was in town and reaching out.

"June." Zahra hissed, snagging the first daughter by her sweater as she passed Zahra's office, the following morning. Pulling the older Claremont-Diaz sibling into her office, alongside Cash and Amy, before slamming the door closed behind her.

"What the hell, Zahra?!" June fumed at her, angrily. She had been on the way to meet her mom. She didn't have time to stuff about with Zahra over another briefing. Especially when Alex was missing. She noticed both Cash and Amy had made a move to intervene on her behalf, but before they could, Zahra released her.

"I need you to stop looking for Alex." Zahra hissed out in a whisper. Her tone of voice set June on edge. Zahra had never spoke like that to her before. Three surprised sets of eyes stared back at her. "I have known you since you were almost seven years old, Catalina June Claremont-Diaz. I know that you will do anything and everything on the face of this earth to look out for Alex, to protect him. But I need you to back off. I need you to trust me. Alex is safe."

June let out a huge sigh of relief, before flinging herself into Zahra's arms briefly. She pulled back and realised what Zahra wasn't saying. She knew where Alex was and he was safe. "Is Henry with him?"

"I cannot answer any questions here. You two bring June and Nora to my apartment tonight at nine." Zahra instructed Cash and Amy. "Until then, you and Nora do not leave the safety of the Residence and for the love of all things holy, stay off the internet. Both your laptops and phones. Do not speak with anyone else, except myself or your mother."

"I promise I will answer all of your questions, if you will just meet me." Zahra pleaded with her. She knew that Catalina June was a reasonable woman, she had to be to survive being Alex's older sister. "For the love of god, bring Nora with you too. I know you cannot keep a secret from her to save your own life."

June agreed to relinquish her pursuit of Alex's location and settled for a tell all meeting, off site at Zahra's apartment, as a tradeoff. But, only on the condition that Zahra told her absolutely every. No holds bar.

Henry and Alex woke up in a naked, tangled mess. Surprisingly, they glanced at the bedside clock and saw that it was almost two in the afternoon now. Despite being well rested, they felt like they had barely quenched the lust between them. This morning after they had ended their call with Shaan, the two of them had gotten swept up in their passion and lovemaking. They had realised that, for the first time ever, they were truly alone. No one could hear them, and no one come barging in at a moment's notice.

Alex's tummy rumbled and Henry agreed that they should go in search of food, before they withered away. This time, Henry was on food duty. Henry had tried to protest, but Alex wouldn't have any of it. He had told Henry that he was happy to teach and provide guidance, but all of the cooking in their relationship would not be left to him. Henry had still been hesitant and unsure, before Alex had chuckled and softened his stance.

"We'll start slow, Baby. Today, sandwiches are fine." Alex had told him. Sandwiches. That he could make unassisted. It was probably the only thing he could make without help. As he gathered the ingredients, ready to make the most delicious sandwich that Alex had ever eaten in his life, he smirked over his shoulder at him. "We will start you off easy and build up your skills."

"Perhaps, I ought to have some cooking lessons then." Henry had suggested, seeing Alex's eyes go wide at the sight of Henry in the business side of the kitchen. "Do you happen to know any good teachers?" He quipped, mostly in jest to Alex. But Alex's mind had already gone there. It was a good point. he and Henry would be sequestered together for a while yet and as much as Alex enjoyed cooking, he didn't want it to feel like a chore because he was the only one doing it. The same with the other chores around the house.

Alex's eyes widened at Henry's implication, before he sidled up behind Henry as he put the final touches on their ham and cheese sandwiches. "I can teach you." He whispered, as his hands found Henry's hips and Alex's lips ghosted the back of Henry's neck. "So, your lessons begin tonight. Tonight, you're cooking dinner. Oh, and you will learn to do the laundry too."

As fast as his body was on Henry's was as fast as he pulled away, snatching up his own sandwich and darting out of Henry's grasp. He would not be distracted by Henry. He had meant what he said. Henry needed to learn to do things for himself.

June and Nora managed to grab Cash and Amy and make their way to Zahra's townhouse without any fuss or fanfare. Zahra must have been anticipating their arrival because as soon as they had climbed the seven stairs that led to her stoop, Zahra had the door open and was quickly ushering the four of them inside. "You weren't followed, were you?" She hissed out to the First Daughter and Secret Service.

"No." Nora replied in earnest and took in Zahra's appearance. She looked worried, almost on edge. For as long as she had known Zahra Bankston, the President's Chief of Staff, she had always been collected and in control. Not like this. This was new for the woman. "Just to be extra careful, June and I left all of our electronic devices in her bedroom at the White House."

"You kind of made it seem like a big deal earlier when you ordered us off the internet." June added, seeing Zahra's face warp into a half-pleased look. "Leaving our tech behind seemed like a good idea."

"I know it's against protocol, Ms. Bankston." Cash began ... But Zahra shook her head.

"In this case and this case alone, I'll say it's fine." Zahra reassured the male Secret Service Agent. It was strange for Zahra to see Cash and Amy with June and not with Alex. They had both been assigned to Alex for so long now, it was odd seeing the two of them without Alex in tow. "Where are your electronics?"

"Locked in my Hyundai, a block over." Amy added, looking at Zahra. She too had felt that something big was at play. The whole thing from the moment that they had received the text message from Alex had been fishy. But she had been in the Navy, a SEAL, before Secret Service. She knew how to follow an order, no questions asked. It was ingrained in her, ever since her basic training. "Running through everything I know so far, it seemed to me like it was a good idea to be as non-descript as possible."

"It is." Zahra led them further into the home. Deeper than she had ever let anyone else into her private domain, who wasn't Shaan. When they entered the kitchen area, there was Shaan, making some hot drinks. "This is Shaan Srivastava, my fiancé. He can stay, he knows everything about what I am about to tell you."

"Err, hello." Shaan greeted the newcomers. He had not expected to be introduced. He had seen June Claremont-Diaz from afar, as well as Nora Hollern before, but never up close. However, he had met both Amy and Cash at various times that Henry and Alex had been able to coordinate a visit or hookup with one another. "Amy, Cash, delightful to see you again."

June and Nora exchanged a questioning look. "Shaan is His Royal Highness' personal equerry." Zahra explain for the younger two. "Well for the next twenty-eight days, anyway. He has given his notice, and he will be moving here at the end of the month."

"You're engaged?!" June exclaimed, surprised. She had seen the diamond ring on Zahra's necklace appear last month, but she had never seen the necklace before either and had just put the whole thing out of her mind. Now that said diamond ring adorned the ring finger of her left hand. "Alex is going to lose his shit when he finds out, Zahra. Congratulations."

"Let me reassure you, that Mr. Claremont-Diaz, err, Alex is already aware of the particulars, Miss Claremont-Diaz." Shaan reassured June, remembering how when Alex had learnt of the news, he had hugged Shaan in congratulations. He had then lowered his voice and explained that he would deny everything for fear of his own death, but he did care about Zahra, or Zee, as he lovingly referred to her. He had extracted a promise from the equerry that his intentions had better be honorable because Zee was like a second mom to him, and he wouldn't tolerate anyone messing with her.

"June, please. You're going to be family." June smiled at him, hugging him unexpectedly. "Now that is out of the way. Where the hell is my brother?!"

Shaan smiled to Zahra. He had found that he liked the directness of the female Claremont-Diaz sibling. She was much like her brother. Except that she hadn't threatened him, yet. He also felt a little intimidated and knew that would change, if she didn't get some answers, very soon. "He is safe. They both are." Shaan began carefully.

"So, he is with Henry somewhere? But didn't take his own security?" Nora asked, running the numbers in her head. "Sixty-three percent chance that was Alex's idea and not Henry's. Alex is always a shit, like that. Always has been and always will be."

"You are wrong, Miss Hollern. In this instance, please let me explain." Shaan begged. "It is imperative, for their safety, especially Henry's, that no one know the exact particulars of where either of them are."

"As long as we're on the subject of safety, neither of you are to leave the country on any engagements and both of you are immediately having your security doubled." Zahra interjected. "Do not argue with me, Catalina June. I might not be afraid of the crown, but I will not stand by and allow them to get their hands on either of you, for any purpose. Consider this you're only warning, you can no longer speak to anyone in the Royal Family or connected to it. Yes, that means Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice and Mr Okonjo."

June was about to argue. She had never been told who she could and could not associate with and didn't want it to start now. But Nora had physically held her back. "Chill June." Nora hissed at her, trying to calm June down. June was usually the calm one. "There's a ninety-eight percent chance that the reason will put either Henry or Alex in danger, that's why."

"You are correct, Miss Hollern." Shaan confirmed.

"Perhaps, you should call us Nora and June while you tell us, exactly what you know."

Bea was dodging her own equerry's calls, while she sank back into Pez's sofa and sighed. It was late, and her second night away from the palace. After learning that Alex is missing too, she felt wretched and truly worried for them both. Especially her brother Henry. Whilst she had felt an underlying feeling in the knowledge that Henry was safe because Shaan had gone on his holiday too, she felt like she needed to know more. The earlier call from her mother had gone unanswered, she was afraid if she did answer, she would confess Henry's disappearance to her. Pez had told her should stay as long as she liked.

So that was how, at 3am in the morning, Percy and Bea were watching British Bake off when a knock sounded at the door. Pez and Bea shared a look of curiosity before Pez, wordlessly, ushered Bea into his personal bedroom, and into his ensuite. He was certain that if it was Bea's equerry, she would not search his personal boudoir. Once Bea was secure, he checked his peephole. he was curious as to who could have possibly made their way past his own security. He almost fell over, when he saw that it was Her Royal Highness, Princess Catherine of Wales at his door. Last, he had heard from henry and Bea, she had been working on her climate non-profit in Botswana and living amongst the elephants.

"Your Royal Highness, this is a surprise." Pervy answered with a flawless, precise yet flawless tone. "What do I owe the pleasure at 3am?"

"Percy, I have told you time and time again to please, call me Catherine." She smiled at him. She had always liked her son's friend Percy, despite her mother's nonsensical warnings about the ebony skinned man. "I apologise for the late hour, but I am hoping that you know where either Beatrice or Henry are." She said, as she allowed herself to be let into the apartment. "I have been going out of my mind with worry about them. Then I returned to find neither of them there."

"Catherine ..." Percy began, he could see that her eyes didn't appear to be clouded in the grief that they once were. But he was unsure if he should let their mother in on their secret just yet.

"First off, Percy. Tell me everything you know about the emails in the tabloids and this Alex fellow." She begged of her son's best friend. "I am sure you know the one I am talking about. Henry would have definitely ensured the two of you have met."

Percy smiled reassuringly at his future queen. "Alexander Claremont-Diaz." He supplied the man's full name. "He is the son of President Claremont and Senator Diaz and the younger brother of an actual goddess, Catalina June Claremont-Diaz."

"Did you introduce the two of them?" She asked. Her tone not accusatory, but curious.

"Alas no, it was our dear Hazza whom introduced me to my goddess." Percy sighed. "They first met in Rio, at the Olympics. Had a sort of misunderstanding, from memory. Met again, at various events over the years, before it all came to a head at the wedding last year. Of course, that's all water under the bridge now."

"You mean to tell me that he is the one that henry had the scuffle with into the cake, at Pip's wedding?" She laughed. "How in god's name did they go from that, to exchanging emails? I can only assume they are explicit emails, in nature, or the tabloids would not care about them."

"I am not the person to answer that. That is Henry's story to tell." Percy smiled at Catherine. "Wait here one moment."

Pez disappeared into his bedroom and returned with Bea behind him. "Beatrice!" Catherine exclaimed, in shock and feeling scandalized at seeing her only daughter in her brother's best friend's apartment at this hour of the morning.

"Please, Catherine. This is not what it looks like." Pez hurried to explain, not wanting to impugn Bea's virtue in the eyes of her mother. "I have been hiding Beatrice here, for her own protection. Before I give you any more information, I trust you will deal with your abhorrently abusive son. I do not care for him hurting Her Royal Highness in any way. I may be Henry's best friend; it is my job to protect him and all that he cares for, and I am also Beatrice's friend also. Show your mother, Bea."

Bea winced slightly, she did not like the scrutiny in her mum's eyes. Catherine's eyes narrowed in on the bruising that adorned her daughter's arm. "Pip did that?" She seethed in a low, angry voice.

"It's ok, it's not the first time." Bea automatically defended him, trying to keep her mother calm. But Catherine's ire rose in triplicate. "He has done far worse to Henry than me."

"It is not ok!" Pez exploded at Bea in frustration. "It is not ok that he hurts either of you this way."

"Percy Okonjo, as the future queen of your country, you best tell me everything you know about this, including where Henry is." Catherine ordered in her best regal voice. Catherine paced and waited, as Bea took a seat on the sofa, she had previously vacated. "I am waiting ..."

Pez exhaled a large sigh and looked towards the ceiling in a silent plea. "Well, it all started not long after Arthur passed ..."