Shipped Off... to English Boarding School!

10. Our Story

A/N: Here's the end! Thank you to everyone who stuck with my through the long hiatus. This is a silly little story but I hope you enjoyed it!

The next weekend, Alex and Henry packed up and left Callerton. At the airport, the private royal jet was waiting to take them to London. Henry and Alex decide to come out publicly to the world before that can be taken from (it hadn't been leaked to the press yet). Henry's mom, now queen, was fully supportive of that.

Alex wore his only suit had had packed from home. Upon arrival to the palace, he met Henry's older sister Bea. She smiled at him and shook his hand. She looked nothing like you'd expect a princess to look like which dark circles under her eyes like she never slept and a band tee shirt, and yet she said to him "You're not seriously wearing that?" pointing at his chest. "We'll get you something else. Don't worry." She smirks and then flops herself on the couch in a very un-ladylike way. 

Alex gets a new suit tailored for him before the press conference the next day. The announcement would be made from the palace. Coming out had far bigger impact on Henry's life than Alex's. Alex hasn't lived in the states since his mom was officially elected, and she hasn't even been inaugurated yet, so most people still didn't really know who he was. Henry, meanwhile, has been known to all of Britain, and a lot of the rest of the world, since the moment he was born. And there were traditions and expectations of him and his family, not everyone might be accepting of a gay prince. 

The next day, Henry is sweating and shaking. Alex wishes he could do it for him, but he can't. Then right before he has to go out, Henry pulls it together. He was trained for this kind of thing since birth. Alex followed behind. 

"Good Afternoon, people of Britain. I come before you today to share something about myself you all do not know. It is something I am proud of, though not all of you my see it that way. Regardless, I must be true to myself, even as your Prince, and I would like to share this piece of myself with all of you today." Henry took a deep breath. His shaky hands steadied a bit. "I am a gay man, and proud of it." It was amazing to see Henry say that in front of all these reporters. As soon as he did the clicking of cameras went while, but no one dared to speak over the prince to ask questions. 

"This is the way I was born." Henry continued. "I can not help it, I can not change it, and I do not want to. I hope you all will see this as just another piece of who I am, not all of who I am. I am still your Prince, and love all of you, and I hope you will continue to love me in return and accept me for who I am."

Now Henry paused before continuing. "There is something else I wish to share with you today as I no-longer wish to keep it secret." He turned to briefly look back to Alex. "I am currently in a relationship with Alex Claremont-Diaz, future first son of the United States. While it is still very new, we understand that as two public figures in a queer relationship that our love will be news. We ask you all not to infringe on our privacy as we see where our relationship will go. Thank you all for being here to listen and to all the young queer kids in our great country, know your prince understands what you are dealing with, and supports your love for anyone of any gender. Merry Christmas."

---

It was Christmas time back in sunny Texas. This would be the last holiday they would have in this house for a while, because when Alex came back in the spring, his mother and step-father would be living in the white house. 

Henry came with him (and his bodyguard), partly because he wanted to meet Alex's family, but it also served the dual purpose of getting him away from the response from his speech back in England. Online it had been mostly positive towards the two's relationship, but as always there were some mean and hurtful comments. Back in England people had crowded the palace the day after Henry's speech, coming with gay pride flags and signs. Henry was surprised at the amount of support and over his time in Austin, Alex has never seen him more relaxed. It was like the biggest weight was lifted off his shoulders. 

"Mom, can I speak to you?" Alex pulls him mom aside. "Do you think I could stay Callerton next semester? I can arrange to take my US government exam when I'm stateside again and–"

"Of course, honey. Whatever you'd like." His mom smiled at him and he smiles back. "But you're getting a Secret Service agent."

"Mommmmmm! I don't need one!"

"No negotiations. And by the way, something came for you." She pulls out from behind her back a big fat envelope from Georgetown. 

He grabbed it and rand back into the room with his family and Henry, tearing it open yelling "I got in! I got in!"

Everyone hugs and congratulates him. 

Later it's just Henry and Alex left in the living room, only lit by the lights on the Christmas tree. 

"I have something to tell you." Henry says a bit sheepishly. "I haven't heard back yet, so it's not a guarantee by any means, but I applied to Columbia, and my mom says I can go if I get in."

Alex's eyes go wide. "Oh my gosh, really! New York and DC aren't too far away! I can drive up on the weekends!"

"Don't get ahead of yourself, I haven't heard back yet."

"You'll get in. Your the Prince of England and you're smart. They'd be stupid not to take you." And then Alex kisses him, hard. "Merry Christmas." He smiles. 

Henry smilies back. "Merry Christmas."