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It's You, It's Always Been You

The Bling Thing

The London air was crisp, carrying the faint, familiar scent of damp earth and exhaust fumes. A far cry from the salty Malibu breeze, but to Alex, it was just as intoxicating. He practically vaulted out of the black Range Rover, ignoring the discreet nod from the royal protection officer who held the door. His eyes, scanning the entrance to Nottingham Cottage, landed on the figure framed in the doorway.

Henry.

God, he looked good. Dressed in a perfectly tailored navy jumper that brought out the startling blue of his eyes, and dark trousers that somehow managed to look both casual and impossibly elegant. His blond hair, usually so pristine, was slightly ruffled by the wind, giving him a boyish charm that made Alex’s knees weak.

– H! – Alex practically roared, abandoning all pretense of decorum or the fact that there were, undoubtedly, security personnel and possibly even a nosy gardener within earshot.

Henry’s face, which had been set in a polite, princely neutrality, instantly transformed, a brilliant smile breaking through. He met Alex halfway, arms open, and the next few moments were a blur of motion and raw emotion.

Alex crashed into him, a force of nature, lifting Henry clean off his feet and spinning him around once, twice, before setting him back down, breathless and laughing. Their mouths met in a desperate, hungry kiss that tasted of airplane coffee and pure, unadulterated longing. It was the kind of kiss that made the world melt away, a private universe where nothing existed but the press of their bodies, the tangle of their limbs, and the frantic beat of their hearts. Alex’s hands tangled in Henry’s soft hair, pulling him closer, deepening the kiss until his own toes were curling inside his sneakers.

When they finally broke apart, both of them gasping for air, Henry’s cheeks were flushed, and his eyes, usually so composed, were hazy with desire.

– God, Alex, – Henry murmured, his voice a low rumble against Alex’s ear, his forehead resting against Alex’s. – I’ve missed you.

– You have no idea, – Alex responded, his voice thick with emotion. He pulled back just enough to look at Henry, his hands still gripping the prince’s waist. – I swear, that flight felt like it took a damn century.

Henry chuckled, a deep, rich sound that sent shivers down Alex’s spine.

– Well, you’re here now. And I believe we have a rather important conversation to resume.

He gestured vaguely towards the cottage.

– Come on in, darling. It’s freezing out here.

Alex grinned, his heart soaring. He took Henry’s left hand, intertwining their fingers, and started to pull him towards the door, eager to shed the layers of travel and dive into the warmth of their reunion.

– Lead the way, Your Royal Highness.

As his thumb brushed over the back of Henry’s hand, Alex paused. His grin faltered, then slowly, slowly, stretched wider. A triumphant, utterly smug grin.

– Wait a damn minute.

Henry, who had been about to step inside, turned back, a questioning look on his face.

– What is it?

Alex held up their clasped hands, his eyes fixed on Henry’s left ring finger. There, glinting softly under the muted London sunlight, was the gold band. The one with the tiny stars and the crescent moon. The one with the midnight sapphire. The ring Alex had bought for Henry.

– You’re wearing it! – Alex exclaimed, a note of pure, unadulterated glee in his voice.

Henry glanced down at his hand, then back at Alex, a faint blush creeping up his neck.

– Oh. That. Yes, well.

Alex released his hand, then reached out to gently cup Henry’s, turning it to admire the ring. It looked even better on Henry’s hand than it had in the box, the sapphire a perfect counterpoint to the platinum band Alex wore on his own finger.

– You’re actually wearing it! – Alex repeated, shaking his head in disbelief and delight. – I thought for sure you’d tuck it away in some royal vault, only to be brought out on special occasions, like when the Queen needs to intimidate foreign dignitaries.

Henry rolled his eyes, but the corner of his mouth twitched upwards.

– Don’t be absurd. It’s a beautiful ring, Alex. And it’s mine. You gave it to me.

– Yeah, but… – Alex’s grin was bordering on obnoxious now. – You said you’d keep it as a ‘reminder’. A reminder that I’m ‘one step ahead’. You didn’t say you’d wear it! Like, out in the open!

Henry sighed, a long-suffering sound, but there was a hint of amusement in his eyes.

– Well, where else would I wear it? I hardly think it’s suitable for my pinky finger. And it was rather uncomfortable in my trouser pocket.

– So, you’re just… wearing it, then? – Alex pressed, unable to resist poking the bear. – Like, as an actual engagement ring?

Henry looked exasperated, but his gaze softened as he looked at Alex.

– Alex, we are engaged. We are both wearing engagement rings. Yours is on your left hand, mine is on my left hand. What precisely is the confusion here?

– No confusion, H. Just… vindication. I knew you’d love it. I knew you’d secretly want to wear it. You just had to play all coy about it.

– I was not being coy, – Henry retorted, a touch of indignation in his tone. – I was being… thoughtful. Considering the implications.

– The implications that you’re engaged to the First Son of the United States, and you have two engagement rings to prove it? – Alex prompted, his eyebrows raised.

Henry let out a small huff.

– Precisely. And while I appreciate the sentiment, and the exquisite craftsmanship, I did consider the optics of wearing both.

– So why this one? – Alex asked, genuinely curious now, his smugness momentarily forgotten. – Why not the one *you* gave me? The one with the coordinates to the Red Room?

Henry’s gaze dropped to the ring on his finger, his thumb gently caressing the sapphire.

– The ring you gave me, Alex, is unique. It is bold. It is… undeniably *you*. And it is also, quite frankly, a marvel of design. The coordinates on your ring are a beautiful, intimate detail. But this… this is a visible declaration. A statement.

He looked up, his eyes meeting Alex’s.

– And I want to make a statement. I want the world to know. I want *everyone* to know that I am yours. And this ring, with its celestial elements and its striking stone, does that rather effectively, don’t you think? It’s not just a beautiful piece of jewelry; it’s a conversation starter. And I, for one, am rather looking forward to those conversations.

Alex stared at him, his mouth slightly agape. He had expected Henry to come up with some logical, understated reason for wearing the ring, some practical consideration that made sense only to a prince. He had not expected such a heartfelt, almost defiant declaration.

– You… you want people to talk about it? – Alex finally managed, a flicker of surprise in his voice.

– Well, they are going to talk about us regardless, aren’t they? – Henry said, a wry smile playing on his lips. – Might as well give them something tangible to discuss. And besides, I rather like the idea of wearing a ring that you designed. It feels… personal. It feels like a piece of you, always with me.

He squeezed Alex’s hand.

– Your ring, the one I gave you, is a quiet promise. A secret shared between us. This ring, your ring for me, is a loud declaration. A banner unfurled. And I find I quite like the banner.

Alex felt a warmth spread through his chest, a feeling even deeper and more profound than the smug satisfaction he’d felt moments before. This wasn’t just about winning a petty argument; this was about Henry, in his own quiet, regal way, embracing their future, embracing *them*, with an unexpected boldness.

– Wow, H, – Alex said, genuinely touched. – That’s… that’s actually really sweet. And kinda hot.

Henry chuckled, his eyes sparkling.

– I aim to please. Now, are you going to stand here in the cold dissecting my sartorial choices, or are you going to come inside where it’s warm, and we can continue this discussion without the risk of frostbite?

Alex grinned, pulling Henry closer for another quick kiss, this one softer, more tender.

– Fine, fine. You win. For now. But I’m still taking full credit for your excellent taste in engagement rings.

– Duly noted, – Henry said, allowing Alex to pull him towards the door. – Now, about that important conversation…

They stepped inside, the grand, quiet hallway of Nottingham Cottage wrapping around them. Alex’s eyes immediately darted to the opulent furnishings, the historical paintings, the general air of old-world elegance. It was all very Henry.

– So, what’s the important conversation, then? – Alex asked, still holding Henry’s hand, his thumb tracing the cool metal of the sapphire ring.

Henry turned, his expression suddenly more serious, though a soft smile still played on his lips.

– The conversation, Alex, is about where we’re going to put that second ring box. We can’t very well leave it in your suitcase, can we? It needs a place of honor. Perhaps a display case? Or a tiny velvet pedestal? We must ensure it is properly showcased, as a testament to your excellent taste and my profound good fortune.

Alex burst out laughing, a loud, uninhibited sound that probably echoed through the royal residence.

– Oh my God, you’re insufferable!

– And you, darling, are absolutely perfect, – Henry countered, leaning in to steal another kiss, tasting the lingering sweetness of their reunion.

The second ring, Alex’s ring for Henry, felt like a secret shared, a testament to their parallel journeys towards commitment. It wasn’t the ring that had sealed their engagement, but it was a powerful symbol of their shared love, their individual personalities, and the beautiful, chaotic symphony they made together.

As Henry led him further into the cottage, Alex couldn’t help but glance down at their intertwined hands, at the two rings now gracing their left fingers. One platinum, understated, etched with a secret history. The other gold, bold, a sapphire eye gazing out at the world. Two rings, two proposals, two distinct declarations of love, now united.

The future, with all its royal protocols and American expectations, still stretched out before them, a vast, complex landscape. But holding Henry’s hand, seeing the sapphire glinting on his finger, Alex knew they had not just one, but two anchors. Two compasses. And an abundance of love that was more than enough to navigate any storm. Together. Always.