CHAPTER 13 LOVE, DISTANCE

Henry sat on the couch, the television remote in his hand, flipping through channels aimlessly. He paused as a familiar face appeared on the screen. It was Alex, standing outside the hospital where his father, Mr. Diaz, had been admitted due to a health issue. The news anchor's voice filled the room, reporting on the situation.

"Mr. Oscar Diaz former Senator U.S is currently receiving treatment at St. Mary's Hospital. His son, Alex Clermont-Diaz, has been by his side since the news broke," the anchor said.

Henry felt a pang of worry for both Alex and his father. He wished he could be there with them, but his own condition kept him homebound after the royal palace had announced his pregnancy to the public, leading to a whirlwind of media attention.

The news segment continued, and Henry's heart sank as he heard the next part. "Many are wondering about the absence of Prince Henry. Since the announcement of his pregnancy, there has been no public appearance. Speculations abound about his current condition and whereabouts."

"Hey," Alex said, his voice warm but tinged with exhaustion.

"Hey, Alex," Henry replied, a smile spreading across his face at the sound of his husband's voice. "How's your dad doing today?"

"He's stable," Alex said, "but it's still touch and go. Mom's holding up, but it's been tough on her. I wish you were here."

"I wish I could be there too," Henry said softly.

Alex sighed. "It's just... I miss you. And I hate that you're dealing with all this alone. The media is going crazy, though, wondering where you are."

"I'm not alone," Henry said gently. "I have our little one with me, remember?" He placed a hand on his growing belly, feeling a flutter of movement.

Alex chuckled softly. "Yeah, I guess you're right. How are you feeling?"

"Better now that I'm talking to you," Henry admitted. "I miss you so much. I can't wait for you to come home."

"Soon," Alex promised. "As soon as Dad's stable enough, I'll be on the first flight back. Just hang in there, okay?. So what are you doing now? "

"I will," Henry said. "Hmmm, Now i'm eating Salad and Sandwich with watching the news"

As they ended the call, a few moments later, the doorbell rang. As usual, before opening the door, Henry checked the CCTV feed on his phone. It turned out to be Sean. Henry walked to the door and opened it, greeting Sean with a warm smile.

"Hey, Sean! Come on in," Henry said, stepping aside to let him in.

"Hey, Your highness," Sean replied, returning the smile. "I just dropped off the twins and thought I'd come by to see how you're doing."

Henry led Sean into the kitchen, offering him a drink. "Would you like some tea? And please just call me Henry"

"Tea sounds great," Sean said, taking a seat at the kitchen. " Oke Then".

As Henry prepared the tea, he asked, "Did Alex ask you to come here?"

Sean chuckled. "Of course he did. I'm here in case you need a friend."

Henry smiled, feeling grateful for Sean's presence. "Thanks. It means a lot."

Once the tea was ready, Henry invited Sean to join him in the backyard. They settled into the comfortable chairs, enjoying the cool air and the peaceful atmosphere.

"So, how have you been feeling?" Sean asked, taking a sip of his tea.

Henry sighed, leaning back in his chair. "It's been... The baby has started kicking a lot, which makes it hard to sleep. And there are so many other things that make me uncomfortable."

Sean nodded sympathetically. "I can imagine. But hey, you're lucky to only be pregnant with one baby. You have no idea, I had to deal with twins!"

Henry laughed, shaking his head. "I don't know how you did it. I think I'd die if I had to be pregnant with two babies at once."

Henry and Sean chatted excitedly, sharing stories and laughter. Sean recounted his pregnancy experience, making Henry feel a bit more at ease about his own journey. Suddenly, Sean's phone alarm rang, reminding him that it was time to pick up the twins from school.

"Ups, I have to go pick up the twins," Sean said, standing up. "But I'll come back to keep you company later."

Just as Sean was about to leave, Henry spoke up. "Actually, do you mind if I come with you? I really want to get out of the house for a bit. I'm getting bored alone"

Sean smiled. "Of course, you can come."

Henry quickly fetched his jacket and sunglasses, and they headed out together. They arrived at the twins' school, and while waiting in the car, Henry turned to Sean.

"Have you and Zach ever thought about having another child after the twins?" Henry asked.

Sean chuckled. "The pregnancy experience was unforgettable, but honestly, I don't think I could go through it again. The twins are enough to keep our house in chaos. Zach and I are happy with just the two of them."

Henry laughed. "I can't imagine having two at once. One is already a handful!"

After a while, the twins finally got into the car, their faces lighting up with surprise when they saw Prince Henry.

"Prince Henry!" one of the twins exclaimed. "What are you doing in daddy's Car?"

Henry smiled warmly. "I came along with your dad to pick you up". The twins are exited with Henry's present.

"How about we go get some ice cream?" Sean start the engine.

The twins cheered in excitement, and Sean drove them to a nearby ice cream parlor. Henry was overjoyed to spend time with Sean and the twins. The laughter and playfulness made him feel less lonely. When Sean invited him to dinner at his house, Henry eagerly accepted, especially since the twins seemed thrilled to have him around.

At Sean's house, the twins immediately pulled Henry into their world of imagination, inviting him to build a grand Lego palace. Henry happily joined in, enjoying the creative play. Meanwhile, Sean started preparing dinner in the kitchen.

"Do you need any help?" Henry offered, stepping into the kitchen.

Sean shook his head with a smile. "You're a guest, Henry. Just relax and enjoy yourself. And i'm sorry  about the twins they seem to be having a blast with you."

Henry laughed. "They're not overwhelming at all. It's actually good practice for when our little one arrives."

A while later, Zach came home, surprised to find Prince Henry in their living room. "Your highness! What a pleasant surprise," Zach said, walking over to greet him. "I'm so sorry to hear about your father-in-law. How's Alex holding up?"

"Thank you, doctor," Henry replied. "Alex is doing his best. It's been tough, but he's strong."

Zach nodded sympathetically before joining Sean in the kitchen to help with dinner. The twins continued to play with Henry, their laughter filling the house with warmth.

Once dinner was ready, they all gathered around the table. The meal was filled with lively conversation and laughter, making Henry feel like part of the family. It was a perfect evening, and Henry felt grateful for the support and friendship of Sean and Zach.

As they finished dinner, Zach turned to Henry with a thoughtful expression. "Henry, would you like to stay over tonight? You have a pregnancy check-up with me tomorrow, so I can check on you in the morning right away"

Henry hesitated for a moment, considering the offer. Before he could respond, the twins, who had been listening eagerly, burst out with excitement.

"Please? We've never slept with a real prince before!" one of the twins exclaimed.

Henry looked at the twins, their eyes wide with anticipation, and then at Sean and Zach. "If you don't mind, I'd love to stay. The twins can keep me company."

"Of course, we don't mind," Sean said with a smile. "We're happy to have you."

Henry felt a wave of warmth and gratitude. Sean handed him a change of clothes, and they all settled in for the night. Before going to bed, the twins had one more question.

"Dad said that you and Mr. Alex will have a baby because of papa Help. Is that true?" little Henry asked, their curiosity evident.

Henry smiled and guided the twins' hands to his belly. "Yes, it's true. There's a baby in here, and it's all thanks to your papa who helped us."

Little Henry eyes widened in amazement as they felt a little kick. "Wow! That's so cool!"

Henry laughed softly, feeling a sense of joy and connection. "It is pretty amazing, isn't it?"

Rachel touched Henry's stomach while asking. "So will this be a prince or a princess?"

Henry answered. "Actually I don't know yet whether my baby will be a prince or a princess"

Little Henry was surprised. "Why?"

Henry stroked his stomach. "Me and Alex want this to be a surprise and most importantly my baby is healthy and perfect".

Rachel looked at Henry. "It would be great if your baby is a girl"

Henry looked at Rachel. "Really, why?"

Rachel answered. "Because she can wear a tiara, have shiny hair like you and also wear a cute dress, like me"

They talked excitedly and also the twins were very excited with the baby in Henry's stomach who was kicking, as if being invited to play by the twins. because the night was getting late, Henry read a story book that made the twins fall asleep, they slept hugging each other and also comfort.

- To Be Continued -