I Can Stop Your Hurts (A Red White and Royal Blue Fan Fiction)

Chapter 6

Henry: Age 26 – Alex: Age 25

It had taken a lot for them to get where they were. In fact, it had been hell. The days after the leak had been some of the worst in Henry's life, besides the passing of his father. But that was all behind them now. For the last few years, Henry and Alex had been living out their lives together and had recently moved into a brownstone in New York. It was all Henry could have ever asked for.

"Hey Babe, I'm home!"

"In here Love!" Henry called from the kitchen.

Alex stepped in and smiled at him. "Have I ever told you how cute you look when you're cooking?"

Henry rolled his eyes fondly. "You may have mentioned it once or twice."

"Well then, I'll say it again." He went up and planted a big kiss on his cheek. "You're very cute. I especially love the apron."

"I would hope so since you were the one who gave it to me."

Alex laughed as he sat down at the table and watched Henry work, "So, what are you making?"

"Shepards pie." Alex pumped his fist in excitement. "I thought you might like that. Don't worry, I just need to finish up dicing these carrots, and then it'll be ready for the oven."

"You know, so much of your food over there is terrible." Alex mused. "But I have to hand it to you Europeans. Shepard's pie is fantastic."

"Oi!" Henry looked up and glared at him. "Not all British food is bad!"

"Beans on toast?"

"Beans on toast are very good when you give them a chance!"

"Uh huh. Suuure."

"It's not like all American food is good. In fact, I think- Ah!" suddenly, he dropped the knife. He hadn't been paying attention and had accidentally cut his finger. "Oh honestly..." he grabbed a towel and held it to his hand. "Sorry about that. Give me a moment and I can finish up." He looked up to give Alex a smile, but instead, Alex was staring at him in horror.

"You..." it was then Henry noticed that Alex had a matching streak of blood dripping from his fingers. "You're my soul mate..."

"Oh yes. That..." Henry reached into the drawer, and pulled out a bandage for himself, and one for Alex. "Here, let me." He went over and wiped the blood from his fingers and applied a bandage to his cut.

"You... you don't seem surprised." Alex continued to stare at him.

"No, I... I've known for quite some time." He took a seat next to him.

"How long?"

"Sense one of the nights we stayed over in a hotel."

"But that... that was four years ago!" he was getting upset. "Why wouldn't you tell me?!"

"Because if I told you we were soul mates, then we would have to discuss other things." Alex didn't seem to be getting it, so Henry took the towel and wiped at the back of his hand. When he was finished, he displayed an old scar in the shape of a heart, that had previously been covered in foundation.

At this, Alex froze in terror, "You... you're my soul mate... that means..."

"Yes." Henry looked down. "That night, when I saw the scars on your legs, I had known exactly where they came from. That's why I've always insisted on us... doing... it... in the dark." He said with a slight blush.

"Hen..." Alex was in tears. He launched himself at his boyfriend and wrapped him in the tightest hug he could. "Wh-why would you- do that...?" he was sobbing as he ran his fingers through Henry's hair.

Henry took a deep breath, as tears started to form in his eyes as well. "I... it started after my dad passed. I was just so... depressed. Him and Bea were the only ones who were ever really there for me growing up. I didn't know how I was supposed to keep on living after that. Honestly, if not for you, for the fact that if I commit suicide, you would die too... I probably would have killed myself..."

Alex squeezed even tighter.

"It was really bad for a year or so. But then it got a bit better once I started seeing a therapist."

"And then New Years..." Alex said through tears.

"Then New Years..." Henry took a deep breath, "I was so afraid that I had ruined whatever relationship we had. But... I didn't..." he smiled "We got together, and everything was wonderful..."

"What about the night of the leak?"

Henry was sobbing, "I'm so sor-sorry. I caused you so much... pain. I hurt you so much that night. By that point... I knew you were my soul mate. I just..."

"Hey hey... it's ok. Breath with me Hen..." Alex rubbed circles between his shoulder blades. "It's ok. I understand. At the time, I was more worried about you. I... didn't think you were going to stop."

"I... don't know if I would have..." he said quietly. "I thought... that perhaps there was a way for me to kill myself, without hurting you. I just began to ponder what would happen if I... drank some bleach... That wouldn't have been an injury, so you would have been ok. But then... you sent me this..." he looked down at his hand "I realized that you were hurting too. And... I would have just been making it worse. I'm sorry you had to... deal with me for so long..."

"Don't apologize." Alex kissed him. "I love you, and I care about you. I care about you so, so much. And I want you to tell me if you ever get to feeling like that again."

"I haven't done it sense that night." He defended.

Alex gave him a fond smile, "I know love. But I'm sure you've probably thought about it. Right?" Henry didn't respond, which was answer enough. "So from now on, tell me when you get the urge, and we can work through it together. Ok?"

"Ok." They both smiled and embraced each other. "Now what happened when you were nine and got a black eye, because my grandmother was very displeased."

Alex laughed, "I ran into a tree on my bike. How did you break your wrist? I was up to bat in my very first Tee Ball game and I never got to swing you ass hole!"

Henry chuckled, "I'm so sorry Love. I fell off my horse during one of my first riding lessons."

"You ruined what probably would have been a home run." Alex huffed.

"Can you score home runs in tee ball?"

"If you hit the ball hard enough!"

"Can a 5-year-old hit that hard?"

"I was going to!"

The two continued laughing and recalling various injuries they had gotten over the years, for the rest of the evening. In the end, all that really mattered was that they had both finally found their soul mate...

The End. 

(A/N - Well guys, that's it! I hope you liked it! Thank you so much for reading!!)