TPASD 28

"Alex, darling?" Henry asked tentatively. He made a move to touch Alex, but pulled back afraid his boyfriend might recoil at his touch. But Nora was having none of that, she grabbed the prince's hand forcibly, and placed it on her brother in-law's shoulder. "I'm here, love." He murmured. "It's going to be ok."

Nora shot Henry a loving, proud look while Shaan discreetly slipped away from the group. Glancing at Gabriella still sleeping, Henry was relieved she hadn't woken since June had resettled her and the outburst hadn't disturbed her slumber.

At the tilt of her head, Henry excused himself and followed Nora to the back of the plane, where the bathroom was located. "Let's make this real quick." Nora hissed in a low voice. "Miguel recklessly pursued Alex. He was new to discovering his bisexuality. We had just broken up and I wasn't really around. Alex liked him, he was older. Too old for him. Alex never pursued him. It was a kind of fancy, rather than crush on Alex's end, but Miguel was fuckin' obsessed with him. For Miguel's safety, I don't know the particulars, but something happened, and Alex wouldn't let anyone touch him. June was the only person he could trust and to this day, Alex has never told a soul."

"Pillock!" Henry hissed. "Why isn't he in jail? He's a fucking sexual predator."

"It gets worse, has Alex ever told you the story about how he came out as bi?" Nora asked, shaking her head in disbelief. "Miguel Ramos was blackmailing him. It was either come out or get outed. The night before Alex was set to come out, someone …. Who we assume was Miguel, posted anonymous photos of Alex and himself to Reddit."

"Alex always told me that he came out and everyone just kind of said they knew. Which I'll admit sounded odd at the time. But you know Alex, he's flirtatious by nature." Henry replied, quickly. "How bad were the photos?"

"Nothing too graphic. All you could see was them kissing, their naked torsos. They were in a hot tub." Nora spoke quickly, not wanting to upset Alex further; but she needed to know where the prince stood. "After this, if you decide Alex isn't worth it, be honest and tell him now. Don't lead him on, or you will join an exclusive list of people that so far only has a couple of dead people and Miguel fucking Ramos on it so fast, your head will spin. If you think I am afraid of the Crown or your PPOs, just test me. When it comes to Alex, there are very few winners, just losers. I mean it, I will end you."

It was cold, callous and cruel, but as his best friend and sister in-law, it was her job to protect Alex. However, she wanted Henry to make sure he had all the important facts. She didn't think Henry would care about what had gone down or how it came out between them. But she wanted to make sure that the prince didn't screw over her brother in-law and best friend. At least if Henry decided Alex wasn't worth it by the time they landed to refuel, they would be in New York and her and June could just wrap their arms around him, and their niece and take him home with them to their three-bedroom apartment in Lower Manhattan.

"Why would I not want him?" Henry asked her in disbelief at Nora. He had thought he had proven that he cared deeply for Alex, even if they hadn't said the word love to one another yet. "Nora, it's not his fault. He was a child. He didn't do anything wrong. Nora, you have to know ..."

"Then you try telling him that it's not his fault because for the last nine years, June and I have been telling him and he doesn't believe us." Nora ordered, exasperated at the situation. She let her anger at Miguel colour her judgement for a moment and cloud her head. She chose to purposely ignore what Henry had almost let slip to her. When she heard that they were in love for the first time, she wanted it to be because the two men had told each other, and not because the prince had been unable to keep his mouth shut. "Alex blames himself. Even back then, he always took too much upon himself."

"What about Ellen and Oscar? Do they know?" Henry asked and Nora sadly shook her head no. "I can't imagine Ellen knowing and ignoring it. What about Leo? Please tell me he told someone." Henry tried once more, clinging on to a thin veil of hope that Alex reached out to someone.

"June knows the most and it isn't much more than what I have said." Nora muttered, looking over at Henry. In the time they have been talking, Gabriella had woken and Shaan was walking her up and down the aisle, bouncing her on his hip and playing with her. Of course, Shaan was under Alex and June's watchful eye while they spoke to one another in low hissed voices. "June didn't find out until months later. After Alex had stopped eating and socializing. After he had withdrawn into himself and socially isolated himself. It wasn't until June stormed into his bathroom and demanded that he drop his attitude and she found him in the tub, scrubbing his skin raw, cowering from her. June blames herself too, for not protecting him. Alex blames himself, reprimanding himself that he should have known better. Until he can see he is not at fault, Miguel's always going to have the upper hand over him."

"Did Erica know?" Henry asked, wondering why if Erica was his fiancée why she didn't try to help him. Even if she was cheating on him, she still cared enough about Alex to have a baby with him and stay with him. Hell, she had tried to end the said affair. It had been her boss who had taken matters into his own hands that fateful day.

"I don't know." Nora sighed, dejectedly. She hadn't wanted to speak ill of the dead, but it needed to be said. After all Henry was with Alex now and that woman had left her own wounds on Alex. "There's some things you need to know about her. Not just that she cheated, she was manipulative and controlling. She used to gaslight Alex and she was very clever. She had everyone believing that their relationship was perfect. Fucking master manipulator. Did you know that Alex and I have only ever had one fight so bad, it resulted in us not talking? And it was over that woman. She may have been Alex's fiancée and Gabriella's mother, but I do not have nice things to say about her. I tolerated her, I respected her, I was nice and polite to her, but it was all for Alex and nothing else. I was the only one in the family who ever saw her for what she really was."

"Thank you for telling me the truth." Henry whispered, looking over at Alex. It looked like the conversation between Alex and June was wrapping up. Alex's eyes were roaming the cabin in search of Henry.

Returning to Alex and June, Henry crouched down in front of his boyfriend. "Hen?" Alex's voice was soft. It was timid and scared. That of a frightened child and not the full grown capable and confident, somewhat cocky man that Henry knew him to be. "I … I am so fucking sorry."

"You don't get to do that, Darling. Don't say you're sorry. You have nothing to say sorry for." Henry kissed his forehead, taking Alex's hands in his and bringing them to his lips. "This does not change a thing, Alex. Do you understand that? You are still my number one menace. A cretin and yet, everything to me."

Alex nodded weakly against Henry. Henry had rested his forehead against Alex's. It was a motion that he had noticed June did to him and it seemed to soothe him; calm him. He couldn't recall seeing Oscar ever do it, but he didn't need to know if Oscar did it to know that it was a familial trait. Henry bent down and pressed his lips to Alex's softly. It was barely a kiss, just a whisper. Enough to remind the young father that he was here for him, no matter what.

"Hen?" Alex asked, still not one hundred percent sure he was hearing Henry correctly.

Surely the prince of England's of hearts wasn't saying to him that he didn't care about something of this magnitude. That he still cared and wanted to be with him. Alex's heart felt like it was going to over-explode with emotion.

"Alex, Darling." Henry held him close to and ran his fingers up the nape of Alex's neck in a comforting manner. When Henry had done this in the past, Alex would always get a blissed-out, relaxed look on his face and in that instant, there was no exception. "It does not change a thing. I am still crazily attracted you and I still want you."

June rose her eyebrows in surprise, in all the time she had ever seen Alex with a partner, she had never seen Alex relax under their touch to that magnitude. Even Erica whom she had once believed was the love of Alex's life had never managed to get that reaction out of her brother. It made June feel like maybe everything that Alex had ever gone through, in the romance department was meant to be. That he needed to wade through all of that shit before he could find his forever; his happy ever after.

Alex smirked at Henry. "Well, fucking have me."

"No." Henry said firmly. "We are going to process this in a healthy way. I am not going to do you, or to myself. Alex, love, you need to fight back; the Alex I know isn't afraid of a fight. He doesn't back down from a fight. You don't get to hide that part away anymore. You get to stand strong and fight. You have so many people in your corner Alex. What happened to you; what that man did to you, was not your fault. You were a kid."

"Hen, Baby? Do you … " Alex whispered. The beg was evident in his tone and Henry thought his heart might explode. Not in happiness and love, which he was realising he was falling further into every day. But in worry, and hurt, fear and frustration that this was something he couldn't take care of for Alex. Alex had to do this for himself. This was his fight. All Henry could do was stand by him, love him and support him.

"Vaguely yes, love. Nora told me what she knows." Henry replied, before reiterating. "Alex, you were a bloody child. It is not your fault. It doesn't matter that you felt like you were an adult, or that you had already slept with someone else. The bottom line is Alex, in the eyes of the law, you were not the legal age of consent. What he did to you, and I am assuming here, is assault in the least, and rape at most. Nothing about this is your fault."

"You were only seventeen, Alex." June added, frustrated. "It happened on dad's campaign trail in California. I've already told you that the legal age of consent in Cali is eighteen. This is why, you need to tell someone. So that asshole doesn't do this to another person."

"What do I do?" Alex asked in a small voice, and Henry secretly hated that something of this magnitude had happened to his beloved. However, he realised it could just as well have been him in this position. He'd lost his own virginity in less-than-ideal circumstances. "It was around the time that I was figuring myself out… I didn't…."

"Shh, it's ok, Alex. There is nothing wrong with experimenting or exploring your sexuality. YOU did nothing wrong." Henry comforted his boyfriend gently. He too, had to bear that particular burden in the past, and he knew first-hand how painful it could be. He would do everything he possibly could to help Alex navigate this particular minefield. "First off, I think you need to confide in your parents. Which I know is easier said than done. Next, we're going to gather all of the evidence you have. Nora said... he blackmailed you."

"I… I just needed to know, ya know? Needed to know whether it was just Liam, or others too." Alex admitted, his voice tinged with regret. It had been a confusing time back then, and Alex had been tying himself up in knots over it. Miguel had been older, ok in the looks department and had promised Alex he would never tell a soul. "The evidence is on my private cloud."

"It's ok, Alex." Henry reminded him in a murmur. "You're ok, I've got you. June's here and Nora too. Soon we will be safely in New York. We'll refuel and fly on to Texas. We'll speak with your parents, and we can start making a plan of attack. We need to make him pay."

Of this, Henry was certain!

June had encouraged Alex to try to sleep through the rest of the flight, offering him one of her over the counter, all natural sedatives to calm him down. He was reluctant. But Nora and Henry had been adamant with him that it was a good idea. Henry had even gone as far as to promise he would personally take care of Gabriella. Even though it was June, Nora and Shaan the other people there and he trusted them all. (Not counting Henry's PPOs who regularly rotated, so he didn't know them)

Alex stirred gently when they were landing in New York, but Henry was able to lull him back into slumber. However, when they took off from New York, bound for Austin, Texas, Gabriella started screaming, and no one was able to calm her down. No matter what they tried. It was enough to rouse Alex from his slumber. But with Gabriella being his sole focus, it seemed that Alex had shoved the mess with Miguel Ramos to the back of his mind.

Nora had moved with Shaan, down near the PPOs, they were still monitoring the socials and taking notes. She had Alex's phone, for safekeeping; not that it mattered. He had his hands full with a crying, sulky Gabriella. He tried a pacifier to help his little girl with her ears, he tried her sucking a fruit or yogurt pouch, to no avail. Finally, Alex reclined the seat, snuggled up with Henry a bottle of warm milk for his daughter, together, they cocooned her, and she settled. Only momentarily. A quick diaper and clothing change and he was on the floor with her, playing with her. Luckily the flight from New York to Austin was just under four hours.

Soon enough, she was back in her seat for landing, sucking that pacifier to help keep her ears unblocked. Alex muttered to Henry at one point that it could have been a very difficult flight if she had of cried from London to New York as well.

No one mentioned Miguel to Alex and when Alex had asked, in his usual colourful language why the fuck Nora was sitting with Shaan and working on his laptop? It had been June who had told him that they were challenging each other to see who could complete the New York Times crossword faster. That June had exiled them to the back of the plane because they were disturbing his and Gabriella's rest.

Alex smiled, remembering a time when he and Nora would do that, and then he remembered that he would always lose. "Maybe Shaan can actually whip the pants off Nora." Alex mused, not really paying the two of them any further attention. "Bring her down a peg or two."

Landing in Austin, Texas, it was warm. Alex had forgotten how warm it could be and was deeply regretting not changing into some chino shorts or linen pants. Henry had changed into a linen suit, and alight blue shirt, with his sleeves rolled up and Alex had felt like he had almost swallowed his own tongue when he had seen Henry emerge from the bathroom.

June and Nora had both changed too. June into a sundress, and Nora into a skirt and tee. He had changed Gabriella into a tee and some shorts too, lathering her skin in SPF 50, before tossing Henry the bottle and strongly encouraging him to do the same.

Alex took advantage of the fact that it took a little bit longer to load the cars, than it had in London to load the plane and he stretched his legs, taking his daughter with him. As they walked, Alex told her that Austin was home, and told her about all of the places and people he couldn't wait to introduce her to.

Like Sal Pietro who owned their favourite greengrocer near the Lake House. Or Giovanni Natali who owned their favourite pizza place that only delivered to the Lake House, as a favour to Oscar because his wife used to babysit Oscar when he was a small boy. Mrs. Marshall who used to watch Alex and June after school when both Oscar and Ellen were working. If there was time, maybe he would even introduce her to Liam, and his new husband. Alex and Liam had buried the hatchet when Liam had social media stalked him six years ago, coming out to Alex as gay. They had talked at length about what had transpired between them back then, and how it had all been a really confusing time for Alex. Apologies all round had been made and occasionally the boys would DM one another.

But mostly, he wanted to take her to where Erica's parents and sister, Gabriella's grandparents and aunt were buried in Austin and show her that she had a whole other family, besides his crazy family. Even if they weren't alive anymore.

Of course, the extended Diaz family were scattered throughout Texas and New Mexico, as well as back in Mexico. The Claremont family were far and few between. Many of them had died out and the few that were left were really scattered. Not that many family members on either side had reached out, or stayed in contact much, once he left for the UK with Erica. Mostly it was June who told what he needed to know regarding certain family members. He always did have a sneaking suspicion that Erica had a lot to do with it, but he never could prove it, so he kept his opinion to himself. Putting it down to being a little paranoid.

"Alex," Henry called out. He had been watching Alex speak to Gabriella in low and soft tones. His face was alive, and there was a fire and passion in his eyes that previously had not been there. Henry had been watching him from a distance and he thought Alex looked more beautiful than he had ever seen him before. "We're ready to go."

Once he had come over, Henry gave him a wide smile that had made Alex blush. "What?" Alex asked, smiling wide.

"Texas looks good on you, love." His boyfriend smiled at Alex. "Your shoulders relaxed, and you found your smile."

"This is my home, Hen." Alex beamed at him, as he had finished strapping Gabriella into her seat. "When we drive through Austin, on the way to dad's lake house, we're going to drive past our old family home. The schools we went to. Where I had my first job. I've got a lot of history here; this is my roots, and I didn't realise how much I have missed being home until we landed."

As Alex climbed into the back of the SUV with the blackened windows, Gabriella between him and Henry, Henry noticed Alex's eyes were full of shine, becoming watery. "How long has it been since you were in Texas last?"

"Five years." Alex murmured, in a small voice. "Since Erica and I left. She didn't like coming back here. Too many painful memories for her. Everyone would come to visit us, instead."

Henry grabbed Alex by the hand and kissed it. He could see the joy and elation that being back in Texas was giving Alex and he was smiling. Henry didn't think he had a place in the whole world that made him feel like Texas made Alex feel.

Then he thought of Llwynywermod, and all the happy family memories he had there. Memories of just being the Fox family, Arthur cooking pancakes for breakfast. Catherine preparing the Sunday roast for dinner. Long walks with his mum. Family sleepovers in the living room when the temperature dropped below zero overnight Picnics with cheese and pickle sandwiches in the highlands. Barbecuing burgers in the summer, by the small stream that fed into the main river at the foot of the mountain range. The yearly game of cricket where Bea would always cry because Philip would always bowl too fast. Arthur would always chastise Philip for intentionally trying to hurt Bea, much to Philip's protests. Catherine would always intervene when Philip would inevitably turn on Arthur, those teenage hormones in full effect by that point. Arthur would always help Henry with the bat and carry him when he would run so Philip wouldn't get him out, just for spite. When Philip would get Henry out, just for spite; then Bea would hit Philip and the game would be over.

Llwynywermod, it was a family home. There was no royal business, no PPOs, no staff. No movie contracts, or rehearsing lines. No paparazzi. It was just the five Foxes, being a family and they had loved every minute of it. It was the Fox family home.

Thinking of Llwynywermod always made him miss his father more. They all hadn't been there together since Arthur passed. Henry had been -with Pez. With Bea. Philip had taken Martha and the boys. His mother had hidden herself away in the throes of her dark, grief as a way to feel close to Arthur in his death.

Nora and June were in the other SUV with Shaan, and one of Henry's, as well as Cash, one of the security guards that Oscar and Ellen had hired. Amy was the one with Alex, Henry and Gabriella. While there was one PPO in each vehicle.

Gabriella was wide eyed an alert for the whole car ride out of Austin and onto the Lake House, Alex and Henry just prayed that she slept tonight, and jet lag didn't decide to catch up with her.

Pulling up to the lake house, Alex let out a breath he hadn't realised he had been holding and Henry took his hand, as Gabriella babbled between them. Alex gave his daughter a wide smile as Henry unbuckled her from her seat, and the climbed out of the SUV.

Ellen and Leo were waiting to greet them. When Ellen came forward to greet Gabriella and hold her arms out to her, Gabriella buried her face inside Henry's chest.

"Ma, she loves you but don't rush at her." Alex chastised her. He knew that Ellen had meant well, but as a mother, she should have known better. He guessed she just got swept up in the excitement of seeing her again. Ellen hadn't seen Gabriella since before she left the NICU. She was effectively a stranger to Gabriella, even though she had seen Ellen over face time calls. "She's jet lagged and has been cooped up since we left London. She needs to have something to eat, a big play, tummy time and hopefully she will stay awake until we can start her bedtime routine."

"But -" Ellen protested and Leo stopped her with a gentle hand on his wife's arm. A reminder that Alex was the parent, not her.

"Alex." Leo beamed, hugging him tightly. Gabriella stayed tightly buried inside Henry's chest. Shy at seeing all of these new people.

"Mijos." Oscar greeted them, coming out of the house as the second SUV carrying Shaan, June and Nora arrived. "Welcome home, Ale. Welcome, Henry." Oscar wrapped the three of them in a hug, pulling back to release Henry and Gabriella and hug his son once more. This time tighter.

In his father's arms, safe and sound, that was all it took for Alex's let his guard slip. First it was gentle, if Oscar noticed, he didn't react. But then the first sob came, Oscar hugged him tighter, assuming Alex was just overcome with the emotions of being home again. Alex's floodgate of tears opened, and it came pouring out of him.

June took Gabriella from Henry's arms and Henry moved to help Oscar comfort him, leaving his hand on Alex's back, so he knew he was there. Oscar was speaking low in Alex's ear in Spanish, and Henry felt a twinge of envy rip through his own heart. That he could never have Arthur comfort him like that.

Alex reached back and pulled Henry's arms around his waist while Oscar's arms were around his shoulders. He was surrounded, and when he was physically surrounded, was when he felt the safest.

But Henry looking up and seeing the hurt and longing on Ellen's face, hit him in the feelings, he pulled back and allowed Alex's mom to comfort her son. When smelt the familiar fragrance of Ellen's preferred perfume, he pulled back and tugged her into him, into a three-way embrace.

"Why don't we all head inside?" Leo offered, looking at his wife crying now too, and Oscar's watery eyes, as they held Alex. June's eyes were tearful too, and Henry put his arm around Alex's sister to comfort her. Nora had a murderous look on her face and Leo was fearful that Nora would do something rash.

He knew she would always go to the ends of the earth for Alex.

Shaan went with the PPOs, as Amy and Cash lead them to the guest house where they had set up their security hub and sleeping quarters for the PPOs. Shaan would be staying in the guest suite, in the attic that Oscar had renovated, with the help of Raf, Alex and Liam, the summer before Alex turned sixteen. He would have his own private bathroom up there, and a small living room, so he could escape the family chaos if need be.

Oscar showed Alex that the room he had previously used as his office was now Gabriella's room, and the extra walk in storage closet across the way had been converted into an open office for Oscar to use. As always, June and Nora were in their room and Leo and Ellen in the guest room. "Hope it's ok, Mijo. I put Henry in your room with you." Oscar smirked at his son and Alex gave him a concentrated effort not to roll his eyes at his father.

As soon as their bags arrived, Henry was unpacking Gabriella's things. Setting up the baby monitor and the portable block out blind on the window so she could nap in there. He unpacked and sorted her clothes, emptying the diaper bag of supplied and set up a makeshift changing station.

Oscar and his son had been talking softly by the door as Henry had gotten down to work. The soft, gooey expression on Alex's face, watching Henry do something as simple as set his daughter's room up had made Oscar hope.

Hope that the prince would not break his son's already fragile heart.