There's a loud cracking sound and Alex wakes up, before realizing it's coming from the storm raging outside. He feels Henry squirming and raising his head from its place on his chest.
"You ok, babe?" Alex asks, his words a bit slurry from sleep.
Henry's head comes back to rest on his chest and he nods, pressing a kiss to his skin.
"Yes. The thunder startled me."
Alex's fingers circle around his back in a soothing gesture and Henry's body relaxes under the ministration.
"I used to be scared of thunder," Henry confesses and Alex opens his eyes at that, looking at his husband with a smile.
"Really? You never told me that."
"Remember my room in Kensington? Imagine being a little boy all alone in there while there's a downpour and lightning bolts casting sudden, sinister shadows on the walls."
"Sounds creepy," Alex agrees.
"Believe me, it was. I would run to Bea's room, and then the two of us would go to our parent's room and hide under the covers between them. They never turned us away. My dad would tell us silly stories to distract us until the storm went away. Most of the time we would stay the whole night and sleep with them. Even Pip joined us sometimes."
Alex kisses him on the forehead, indicating he's still listening.
"But when my dad died," Henry continues, the wistfulness in his tone making Alex hold him a bit tighter, "I was 17, and I know it is ridiculous but I was still scared, and had nowhere to run to. I didn't dare to bother Bea, but somehow she knew, and she would come to my room and make us watch silly shows. And then she went away as well, for a while. Well, you know."
"I know. I'm glad she's coming next week to spend some time with us."
"Me too. Anyway," he says, his voice taking on a more cheerful tone, "I'm not afraid anymore now that I have He-Man in my bed."
Alex laughs out loud at that. "He-Man? What the fuck, Hen?"
Henry's hand comes to rest on his biceps, giving it an appreciative squeeze. "Yes. All muscly, and sexy and brave."
Alex honestly doesn't think he has anything even remotely in common with the cartoon character, but he'll take Henry's compliments either way. His husband's praise never fails to make him soft and gooey inside.
"You're ridiculous. Does that make you She-Ra then?"
"The fearless Warrior Princess?I suppose I can live with that." There's a pause, then,
"No wait. She's actually his twin sister. That won't do at all."
Alex chuckles, his mouth hovering over Henry's cheek. He doesn't know what time it is, but he's definitely awake now.
Like awake, awake.
"Ok, you're my own fearless warrior princess then," he murmurs against Henry's ear and grins when he feels Henry shudder beneath him. Alex has intimate knowledge of how that word affects his husband and uses it sparsely but at carefully chosen moments for maximum efficiency.
A lightning bolt illuminates the room, immediately followed by another loud crack and Henry starts, hiding his face in the crook of Alex's neck.
"Ok, not so fearless I guess," Alex says, laughing softly, but his arms still curl around Henry in a protective gesture.
"Shut up, He-Man," Henry utters, his voice muffled against Alex's skin.
Well, Alex thinks, time for some real, good old-fashioned distraction. Pushing down the duvet, he covers Henry's body with his own, nudging his knee between Henry's thighs as his mouth leaves a trail of kisses on his throat and collarbone.
"Come on, princess, spread your legs for your husband" he whispers in his huskier voice, and can't help a smug smile at the low, guttural moan erupting from Henry's throat.
"Better not use that outside of the bedroom, love, or I might not be responsible for my actions," Henry pants but does as he is told to accommodate the welcome weight of his husband's body.
"That bad, huh" Alex says gleefully, marveling at how receptive Henry always is after all these years. He slips his hands under his shirt, warm flesh and soft skin making him groan in appreciation and shuddering at the sensation. As he starts a steady and slow grind against Henry, he's hit by the familiar smell of his husband, a fragrance of clean cotton sheets and citrus fruits, and his heart stutters.
"God, Hen, I love you so fucking much," he whispers in his mouth, and a gasped "Love you, too," echoes in the darkness of the room as Henry bend his leg further and press a hand on Alex's lower back, urging him to thrust a little bit faster.
But Alex wants to take his time tonight.
There's a knock on the door and a little voice can be heard. "Daddy? Papi?"
That sound is more effective than a bucket of ice-cold water, and Alex jumps off of Henry as both mutter a heartfelt "Shit!" and sit down. Alec puts a hand on his racing heart, all previous horny thoughts forgotten.
"I'm coming" he calls out and can hear Henry snort beside him.
"Oh no, you're definitely not, dear."
Alex sighs. "Mood officially killed. Guess who inherited your fear of thunder?"
"Not exactly the legacy I was hoping to pass on."
Alex gets out of bed and opens the door, finding Emma standing there in her Lego Star Wars PJ's and her glossy brown curls in disarray.
"Hey sweetheart," He says, swooping the little girl in his arms. She loops her arms around his neck and makes the cutest little pout and his heart melts.
"The thunder is scary, Papi."
As if on cue, another massive thunderclap resounds and Emma flinches. There's also a 'Holy Frak!" coming from the bed.
(Because if Alex wasn't aware of Henry's knowledge of Masters of the Universe, he definitely knows about Henry's undying love for Battlestar Galactica)
"Yes, your daddy doesn't like it very much either."
He puts her on the bed and she immediately curls against Henry who kisses her forehead. "Come here, my love."
Alex jogs to their ensuite bathroom, quickly relieving himself (sadly, that is the only action his dick will see tonight), and washing his hands before coming back and climbing in the bed next to his loves.
"Fear not, my princesses. Papi slash He-Man will protect you from the big bad thunder," he proclaims in a booming voice and Henry gives him a look.
Alex doesn't feel sorry at all. "We're still technically in the bedroom," he whispers.
Henry rolls his eyes. "Your Papi is a menace," he tells Emma who giggles.
There's another crack of thunder and Emma whimpers. Alex lies back down under the cover, ensconcing their daughter between them. He presses a reassuring kiss on the little girl's hair, so similar to his own, and finds his husband's hand under the covers, their fingers entwining.
"Do you want me to tell you a story?" Henry asks Emma, and he shares a knowing look with Alex over the little curly brown head when she nods enthusiastically.
"Once upon a time, a shy prince met a handsome peasant boy, who said the most ghastly things to him, and…"
Alec smiles, as the thunder fades away in the distance.