Bet We Could Make Some MORE (History Huh?)

3: Choices (Henry)

Henry didn't expect Alex to jump like that. He could tell this is what Alex really wanted, and he knew that Alex meant it when he said it was for the kids, not for election. But it bothered him more than he cared to admit that Alex was still so blinded by his love for the people, that he wasn't really seeing the person he was supposed to love the most. But Henry knew he had a lot going on. 

There had been something a bit off about Alex since the campaign. It was probably just the stress and the rush of it, but Henry had the suspicion that Alex was skipping his therapy sessions. They both respected what each of them shared to their respective therapists was private, and that they were under no obligation to tell each other about their therapy. But Henry knew that Thursdays were Alex's therapy day, and usually that time of the week Alex was so deep into campaign work that he forgot to eat, so he probably was forgetting his therapy too. 

Henry wasn't sure if he should, or how he would, say anything to Alex about it. It had been hard enough to finally convince Alex to go to therapy. Even after multiple breakdowns where Alex told him he thought of himself as a complete failure or that he didn't know how to go on, Alex had been stubborn that he was ok. He had "gotten himself this far on his own" and "could handle it." It took Henry breaking down and telling Alex that he just couldn't stand to see him suffer like this, like he does, without getting some professional help. So Alex went, and it helped. Henry could see the difference in the quiet moments at night, where Alex was more sure of himself and started getting better sleep. Their sex life also improved again after the downhill turn it had taken while Alex was struggling through law school, which was an added bonus. 

Now, they hadn't had sex since the campaign started. And while that was frustrating in itself, it was the other changes that disturbed Henry more. Alex had always pulled the occasional all-nighter, but they were getting more frequent. When he did come home, Alex would toss and turn in the bed and then get up to go do work in his home office. Alex thought he didn't know, but Henry knew. There was the sporadic eating, and the forgetting to eat, and the skipping breakfast which they used to eat together each morning. It was worrying Henry, and really not helping his own anxiety. He told his therapist about it today. 

Henry had to get a new therapist when he moved to New York full time; the crown arranged it for him. Lindsay was a well-educated psychiatrist, a good listener, and most importantly, highly discrete, with a secret back entrance to her office. She has recommended for the second week in a row now to tell Alex how he was feeling. 

She was also concerned about the public wedding. "Are you sure this is what you want?" she asks.

"I'm torn," Henry admits, "I really do see the value in it; but it's not what I had envisioned for us."

"And do you feel confident that you can handle the crowds, the cameras."

"It's nothing I haven't done before," Henry says although she knew exactly who he is. "I've been grateful to be less and less in the spotlight recently. Until the campaign that is. It seems I was destined for this life: between my birthright and my soulmate, everything has put me in the spotlight."

"But that has never been where you are comfortable. Actually that has seemed to put a lot of stress on your life you wouldn't otherwise have."

"I gave up the crown, but I can never give him up. This is what I must endure. At least this time, I chose this life."

-------

The shelter mostly runs itself these days, but Henry still likes to be hands-on and spend time with the kids. As he walks into the Brooklyn building covered in rainbows, he's met with a surprise.