"So I told him that I wanna tear down this walls right here and put up a large glass window for the customers to see how our fresh batch were made." Nora explained to Alex, June and Henry as they make a visit to her bakery shop. She had a contractor came by the other day and started on making plans on reopening the shop soon.

Alex had been helping her getting on her fresh starts although she doesn't need him despite having enough savings and inheritance from her own family but Alex insisted to be part of it and claimed he wanted Claremont-Diaz name always be a part of her and he will never let Nora struggle.

She appreciates Alex for his kindness but she warned him that she want to do this by herself and he understood completely. But he figures a little help from him would make him a half shared owner on this shop since he's marrying Henry and Nora finally agrees.

Henry was happier for Nora and him finally getting back to work on the shop like old times. A lot memories brought back as he stood in the middle of the store where they used to hang out, despite Alex's teased about their stolen kisses in the store.

"So this is where you guys first meet?" June asks twirling around to check on the empty space.

"Me and Henry, yes. Him and Alex. Not exactly." Nora replied pointing her manicured fingers at both Henry and Alex. They both smiled, remembered exactly how badly they both met for the first time.

"Henry had been my knight and shining armor since we met. I remembered how I almost got tumbled by the boxes when he came to rescue." Nora continues.

Henry smiled in silence, trying so hard not to burst in emotions from the memories in this place. Since his last appointment with Dr Harrison, he hasn't spoke, only to Alex in soft hush whisper so he could let his throat healed properly. Alex was more than happy to be his voice whenever he needed him too.

"Hey I thought I was your knight in shining armor?" Alex questioned, faking hurt look in his eyes. Nora glared back at him in annoyance crossing her arms over her chest. "You are Alejandro, you still are." June taps his back as she tries to ease the tension between them as Nora refused to succumb to Alex's fake hurts.

June watched as Henry walked around the store before headed to the kitchen alone where the old storage unit caught his eyes. The world surrounded him fell in silence and the banter continues between both Alex and Nora had about the past were muffled now as he walked closer to the closed door.

He stopped when he saw the cold metal door on his right with a familiar dent on the surface. A particular memory resurfaced in his mind as he stepped closer towards the area and felt coldness running through his skin. As soon as the door was inches away from him, Henry stopped, raising his palm and placed it flat against the cool, smooth metal surface scraping his fingernails against the singular dent that made his chest ache.

It wasn't the memory of being shoved against the door was bothering him but the fact that he was locked inside after being haunted by that soulless person bringing goosebumps on his skin. For some reason, once, he felt relieved by not having his gifts anymore that would make his skin crawl each time he had to see such horrible soul walked around him. 

He still remembers the horror filled him that night, the way the soul crept up in coldness and raised terror in his chest before he was pushed inside the dark storage unit. The shivers and the chills still runs down his spine and tremors started triggering on his fingers. His breath caught in his throat as he tried to breathe but somehow Henry felt his throat tightened at each inhaled.

"Are you okay?" A sudden voice disrupts him, he turned abruptly and saw June walking in behind him, alone. "Are you okay? You look like you're gonna have a panic attack." She asks again, voice low as she steps closer towards Henry. He didn't even realized his eyes are filled with tears and his fingers are shaking badly that would make June thinks he might have a panic attack. But he immediately shook his head, wiping his tears with the heels of his palm and put on the fakest smile on his face for her.

"Something about that door that made you sad?" She asks and Henry chuckled lightly shaking his head at her. He wanted to tell her badly about what happened, how she actually was there helping him get through it each day but he knew it was pointless if she doesn't even remember anything.

"Hen, Alex wants to grab something for lunch, wanna joined him or should I?" Nora suddenly appeared from behind June with her phone in her hand and immediately Alex walked in seconds later behind her, surprised by the sudden interaction between June and Henry alone in the kitchen.

But the look on Alex's face dropped as soon as he saw the dent on the metal door and his eyes went straight to Henry that stood beside it.

Henry wanted to tell him that everything is in the past as he saw the guilt look on Alex's face draining him from his smile. But before he could, Alex rushed out of the store leaving June stood there clueless and Nora sighing desperately with her fingers rubbing her temple. Henry didn't waste time but chased after him, leaving Nora and June alone in the kitchen. She heard the door bell chimed twice before June starts asking her questions.

"What the hell was that about?" She asks and Nora took a seat over the chair by the counter facing the same storage unit behind June.

"That dent." She pointed at the door that made June twist her head back and forth waiting for her to continue.

"Alex did that." Nora adds. "He uhm- he shoved Henry against it because he thought Henry was here to hurt me." She could see June eyebrows furrowed in questions surprised at how much Alex showed affection towards Henry all the weeks she had known him, she never thought that was how their relationship were back then.

"Alex was a different person when you were gone June. He was- heartless, broken, cold. But when he met Henry, everything changed." Nora smiled softly remembering the time Henry and him during Christmas and the gift that Henry had gave them. It was the most beautiful thing anyone has ever gave them. That was the time when she saw how much Henry had changed Alex although he desperately trying to deny it. 

"He melt that coldness around his heart and made him the Alex we once knew. Witty, charming, brought back those smile and of course, he brought you back." June inhaled sharply crossing her arms over her stomach trying to swallow the guilt in her heart for treating him this way but deep inside, she knew she couldn't do anything to remember him. Everything that he is, or was, felt like a bedtime story that she never heard of.

"Didn't think he would forgive him that easily." June whispered, scratching the edges of the table with her fingers when Nora slides her palm closer for her to take. She eyed her small hands before placing her own and clasped it together. Their eyes locked and a soft smile crept on Nora's lips.

"That's the beauty of Henry, he is pure hearted and will always think nice of others. Even when life gives him hell, he would not let it destroyed him." Nora explained but June remained silent, only giving her an approving smile on her lips.

.

Henry swore he never chase anyone before but Alex was beyond faster than anyone else. The minute he left the store, his legs dragged him along the pavement in haste with Henry running behind him. He finally managed to caught Alex by his elbow, twisting him around to face him when he realized the tears soaking his eyes.

"Oh darling." Henry pulled him by his neck and crashed their chest together with Alex's arms immediately wrapped around Henry's waist. He could feel Alex's whole body shuddered and sniffled breaks in him as he tried his best to hide further into Henry's neck.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Alex whimpered, wrapping his arms tighter around Henry's waist as Henry stroked his back in soft circles. "It's okay. It's in the past plus I wasn't thinking about that. I forgive you, remember?" Henry whispered but Alex immediately pushed himself back to face Henry with cheeks glistening and wet in tears.

"You shouldn't. Why? Why would you forgive such a horrible person like me?" Alex questioned keeping himself a foot apart from Henry. He could see Henry smiled softly before taking a step closer and raised his palm over his cheek. His thumb stroke the tears that had fallen, wiping it dry.

"Because I love you. I love how you changed your whole life despite everything that happened. You left that world behind because of me. You chose me so you could show me how much you can changed." Henry cupped Alex's cheek keeping his gaze focused in Alex's deep brown eyes.

"The past doesn't make you who you are now Alexander. Know that I will always love you no matter what. We have our whole lives together to prove how much we love each other. Okay?" He asks raising his eyebrow back at Alex before Alex exhaled his breath in relief.

Their forehead touched, with hot breaths ghosting over their lips. Alex's hands firmed against Henry's wrist, "I love you Henry. With all my heart." He whispered softly pressing his lips against Henry's. "I love you too Alex. With all my heart." Henry repeats as soon as their lips parted and later Alex wrapped his arms around Henry's body hugging him.

.

After lunch, both Henry and Alex with June headed back to the loft after dropping Nora at her place. It was a surprised when June decides to head back home with them but Alex loved having her around and thought would give her and Henry an opportunity to bond.

"Wanna watch a movie with me?" June asks Alex and both Alex and Henry turned their heads around to face her in shock. Alex smiled nodding his head at her before disappeared into their bedroom to change into a more comfortable clothes.

Alex made some popcorn for him and June because he didn't trust Henry around those chocking hazard and grabbed the jello from the fridge for him instead. He had purchased like cartons of fruity jello for Henry since Dr Harrison reminded him that he can alternate between ice cream, popsicle or even a cold jello would help Henry to soothe his throat.

They all sat on the couch with Alex laid his head over Henry's lap, cuddling up with a soft cashmere blanket wrapped over his body with his legs stretched out on June's lap.

It was only twenty minutes into the movie and Alex starts to snore in his sleep that made June and Henry laughs. "Poor thing." June says fixing the fabric to cover his legs but it wasn't long enough to cover his entire body.

"Listen." June starts, letting the sound of people chatting in the background filled the silence in her paused before Henry shifts his gaze towards her.

"I uh- I need to say something. I know it's not the best time but with Alex always hovering around you, I don't see when or where I could say this." She continues, words filled with hesitant that made Henry turned his head towards his side facing her. He nodded, giving her the chance to tell him whatever it is has been bottling up inside her that made her isolates herself from them.

Henry watched as she exhaled her breath bravely before pressing her lips together to speak. Her hands fumbled over the tassel ends of the cashmere blanket between her fingers before she finally speaks.

"I know how much you meant for my brother, and Nora. The thing is that, every time I were with them, the only thing I could hear was you." She gestured her palm towards Henry to make her point and Henry felt his chest thumping in nervousness.

"I know you had a big impact on their lives but I was part of it once. Then life weren't that kind to me. Each time I heard them speak so highly about you, how you were doing this or that, or how Alex wished he didn't do what he did to you a year ago, I felt like a fly on the wall. I wasn't there to witness your great friendship bonded and certainly not there when he saved your life, or mine." Henry remained silent, wandering where this conversation would lead and he didn't like the outcome.

"I hated being this person. I didn't want to be this person but honestly Henry if I need to help myself, I needed some time alone with my family." She continues.

"I needed those years that I had lost. I needed time alone with them without - you." The words hits him like thunder cracking up in the sky right now and soon another sets of heavily rain pouring down in entire New York City. The coldness hits Henry again, chills running down his spine as he clenched his fist under his thigh to hide his own emotions.

"I hope you would understand Henry. I can't fake another day in front of Alex anymore and certainly having to pretend that everything is fine when it's not is tiring. You would have know that, I know you fake a lot in front of my brother." Henry snapped his head back at her, eyes glistening and reddened in pending tears but the way she said it to him, coldly, made Henry's skin crawled.

"I know each time you winced it hurts you thousand times more than you showed. You were so used to pain you managed to hides it better than everyone else. Alex might not see it, but I do. I know a pathological liar when I see one and I knew how much you lied to my brother in the early days." Henry's breath hitched at how she can be so bold and cold towards him unlike the June he used to know.

His mouth falls, trying to say something to defend himself but June already cut him halfway before he could say anything.

"I know for a fact that my brother loves us both. But if you'd think, when things were to come between us, who would he chose?" The question hung and Henry felt his chest tightened with sobs tempting to break.

"If I say I would threatened to kill myself, who do you think Alex would choose? Me or you?" She pushed, knowing Henry is at his own limit and ready to break. It wasn't fair for Alex to be treated like this, he deserves more than he should and he certainly shouldn't be treated like a pawn in her game.

But Henry couldn't see himself living his life without Alex. Everything that he does, he did for Alex. He loves him to much and the thought of him leaving would break not just Alex but his life entirely. They had gone through so much to be dealing with another breakup and this time, Henry wouldn't be able to see himself having a future with him.

The ring twirled on his finger as he lowered his gaze and stares at the pale contrast of his skin with the black metal ring wrapped around his finger. The ring felt heavy, heavy as his heart right now in making those decisions for them.

"Think about it Henry. You knew how much Alex needed me and given the choice, I'm sure he would rather choose me than you. His own flesh and blood. After all, it took him what? A decade to look for me? You were just the consolation prize for his hard work."

June stood, lowering Alex's legs over the couch and he shifted, lightly before another snore knocked him out again. Henry watched as Alex's face scrunched like he was having a bad dream but Henry soothed it out by running his hands through his curls and the scrunched disappeared.

"Think about it Henry. The sooner the better." June says as she turned to head to her room leaving Henry and Alex alone in the living room couch with the movie halfway into the credits but Henry is already too occupied making the biggest decisions of his life.

.

The rain continues to pour and Henry watched from the bedside window while Alex falls asleep behind him. His arms wrapped around his waist with the thick blanket covers their bare bodies. When Alex woke up earlier that evening, he was clueless. He slept on the couch for a good solid four hours before he woke up and found Henry alone in the bedroom, staring at the tall window, alone in his thoughts.

June was not at home by the time he woke up, Henry told him that she went out to see Nora and he didn't questioned further but noticed the silenced that filled Henry.

He barely touches his dinner and gave out excuses that his throat is hurting him. He didn't lie on that part, after hours of crying alone in the bathroom when Alex was asleep, his throat felt like knife splitting it opened.

"But if you'd think, when things were to come between us, who would he chose?"

The words repeated like an echo in his mind and Henry couldn't stop thinking about it. He can't deny that June was right, a hundred percent that when it comes to choose between him and her, Alex would always choose her, no matter what.

So he made up his mind, for once, tonight would be only about him and Alex. He didn't want Alex to think that he was at blame for this but he definitely made up his own decision for leaving by tomorrow.

He shifted, turning himself to face sleepy Alex before slowly leaned his mouth over Alex pink lips. His hummed, inhaling his breath deeply before fluttering his eyes opened in the dark. He smiled when he saw Henry running his thumb along his cheek. "Why are you awake darling?" He asks, voice raspy from his sleep that made Henry fell in love more with him.

"I can't sleep." He whispered, voice cracked from the pain in his throat and from the dark Henry could see Alex rubbing his eyes with his finger before resting his arms around Henry's hips again.

"Wanna talk about it?" He asks but Henry shook his head back at him, "No, I wanna do this." He says before he crashed his lips over Alex's surprising him in the dark. He tried to reach for the lights on the nightstand but Henry pulled his wrist back and told him to leave it off. Alex frowned but it didn't stop him from continued on kissing Henry in the dark without knowing the reason why Henry didn't want him to see his eye are practically swollen by now from crying.

Alex felt Henry's hand wanders from his neck down to his chest before slipping it through his waistband and let a gasped escaped from Alex's throat when he wrapped his palm firmly against Alex's hard member.

"I want you." Henry whispered, continued on running his lips over the side of Alex's jaw down to his neck. Alex moaned, letting Henry's hand stroked him faster before he flipped on top of Henry's body and starts pulling his brief down to his ankle.

They both chuckled tumbling underneath the blanket in the dark while Alex tried to reach for a condom by his bedside and a bottle of lube. "No need. I wanna feel you tonight." Henry pulled his arms back and spat on his own palm for lubrication.

"No, Hen. I don't wanna hurt you." Alex told him, eyes furrowed in the dark but Henry had already spat another into his palm and starts rubbing on Alex's hard pulsating tip, mixing the slick that leaked out of his tip altogether. "You're not. I promise." Henry whispered, guiding Alex's shafts towards his entrance and slowly pushing his hip forward.

Henry winced, feeling Alex's width cock stretching him out and Alex kept an eye on him in case he needed to pull out but he knew if he did that abruptly, Henry would be in a lot more pain than just pushed in slowly.

Henry breathed out finally when his base hits Henry's perineum, hands firmed against the pillow besides Henry's head while Henry kept his around Alex's waist. He nodded, lightly letting Alex know he can finally move.

A single thrust felt like a tear in Henry's heart. The way Alex smiled, the panting in his breath, the rippled on his skin or the way his chest moves when he breathes, Henry lived through each moment knowing it might be his last. June never actually gives him a timeline on how long he should gave her time to be with them. Henry just assumed that it would be a while considered how much she had lost.

"Fuck Hen. That feels so good." Alex thrust his hips deeper, harder and he knew Henry enjoyed as much as he does since he could feel his heels digging into Alex's thigh forcing him to go deeper.

"I love you Alex. I love you so so much." Henry whispered in his ears over and over and Alex, he never so much love in him before and continued to thrust deeper into Henry.

"I love you baby. Fuck! I'm gonna come." Alex clenched his jaw tight trying his best not to come so soon and starts stroking Henry's shaft faster. Moans filled in the air, as Alex thrust became sloppier. Henry runs his fingers in between Alex's curls, tugging it from the root as Alex close on his coming.

Seconds later they both came, Alex spilling rope and rope of cum inside Henry and made a mess over his own stomach with Alex's hand that still gripped firmly on his half hard member. "Fuck, that was fucking awesome." Alex breath pants still riding out his coming on top of Henry before he collapsed on his chest, ignoring the mess of Henry's cum sticking on his abdomen.

"You can totally woke me up anytime for spontaneous sex." Alex held up his head to look Henry in his face with the widest grin on his face. Henry hearts sunken deep in his stomach when he look at Alex happiest grin. "I can't wait to marry you darling." Alex whispered leaning closer to kiss Henry on his lips.

Henry's breath caught but he tried his best not to break in tears especially causing Alex to worry and pressed for more question that would break him to tell the truth.

Alex jolted was about to run to grab a clean cloth in the bathroom but Henry pulled him back on his wrist. "Stay." He pleaded but Alex smirked back pressing another kiss on his cheek. "Just a second dear. If I don't clean this up, you're gonna wake up with a rash. You and your sensitive skin won't stand a chance." Alex winked at Henry grinning like a high school boys spending summer nights having sex.

Alex came back with a clean wet cloth in his hand already cleaned himself before he wiped the rest of the mess on Henry's abdomen before tossing it into the hamper by the corner. He flopped back in bed pulling Henry onto his chest and both exhaled at the same time before Alex pressed another kiss on Henry's temple. He looked up, facing Alex's gorgeous face in the dark trying to remember this moment exactly.

His hands trembled in the dark when he tried to raise and stroke Alex's cheek. He was glad Alex was oblivious about it and Henry pulled him for another kiss.

"I love you. More than life, more than my own breath. I want you to know that. It was never your fault Alex." Henry voice cracked, stroking Alex's chiseled jaw with his thumb. Alex took a sharp breath clenching his jaw tight before he nodded. He didn't questioned Henry but only pulled him tighter towards his chest and buried his nose deep into Henry's blonde hair. The scent made his chest spread with warmth and son lulled himself to sleep listening to Henry's breaths breathing calmly in the dark.

.

Henry woke up the next morning rather earlier than usual. He pulled his clothes from the drawer quietly hoping it won't wake Alex up. He gathered his books and placed them neatly into his duffle bag that he thought weeks ago he would never have to see it again. But he was wrong.

He folded his clothes neatly into the duffle bag leaving the rest that Alex bought for him still in the drawer. His hand shook as he zipped the bag closed and tears starts to well up in his eyes. His eyes wander around the room trying to take his last moment remembering the place he thought he would call home, forever.

His eyes caught at the walk in closet that he was trying to avoid since the last time he was there is not a good memory for him. The way Bea's horrid face came into his mind and his heart shattered in pieces again. He never wanted to remember her like this, he wanted to honor her in his life as he should, as his sister.

He took one final exhaled and stood up grabbing the duffle bag in hand when Alex stirred and turned on his back immediately locked eyes with Henry already dressed and a duffle bag in his hand.

"The fuck- where are you going?" He asks lifting himself up from the bed, the sheets falls over his lap as he swung his feet off the bed and sat by the edge. Henry placed the bag down on the floor with a sigh twirling the ring on his finger trying to gather his words to explained to his fiancé why he was fleeing the apartment this early morning.

"I uhm- I don't know where to start." Henry voice hesitated, hand fidgeting in nervousness. "Well start by telling me why are you packing to leave then? Are we going somewhere? Should I send a car for us?" Alex asks pushing his curls from his face, a yawn escaped from his mouth.

"There's no need for that." Henry said lowly, eyes focused on the floor beneath them. "Then what?" Alex stood taking a step closer but Henry took a step back, hands still clasped together. "What's going on? You're scaring me." Alex asks and he could see Henry was trembling in fear of telling him.

"Babe? What is it?" He asks, finally closing in towards Henry leaving an inch apart before cupping his cheek to face him. Henry's eyes are filled with tears and his lips whimpered as he tries not to break. "Oh God, tell me, what is it? What's going on?" Their eyes locked, Henry tears fell on his cheek but Alex's thumb caught it, wiping it dry. "You're too good for me Alex. I don't deserved you. I don't deserve your kindness, your heart." Henry starts, voice breaking in tears.

"What are you saying? What's bothering you sweetheart?" He asks. Henry looked up from staring at Alex's bare chest, finally able to gather some courage to tell him.

"I can't do this anymore." He whispered and he could see the look on Alex's face dropped including his hands that were cupped on Henry's cheek. "What are you talking about?" He asks clueless, voice cold, deeper and filled with hurt.

"I can't marry you Alex. I was stupid enough to think so. I don't fit in this world of yours. This life, is not mine. It was never mine Alex." He could see his words are not convincing enough for Alex when he took a step back, eyes furrowed in confusion.

"You thought of it just now or you have been thinking about it in a while?" He asks coldly.

"A w-while." Henry stammered.

"How long is a while? Was it before I asks you to marry me or was it after?" He asks again.

Henry felt a lump is tightening in his throat as he tired to lie through his teeth again and he could see Alex gaze has dropped coldly towards him.

"WHEN?!" He yelled, startling Henry that made his whole body shook in fear. "After." He whispered lowly and watched how Alex took a sharp breath in before he exhaled through his nose. His jaw tightened, gaze sharp towards Henry stood before him.

"You're lying." Alex says lowly, eyes searching for Henry and the truth.

"You can think what you want of me Alex. I'm not changing my mind about this." Henry adds twirling the ring on his finger to hide the trembled.

"So last night- " Alex paused rubbing his palm over his face before he continued.

"Was that just for final fuck and you won't bothered to tell the truth on my face? We could have TALK, Henry! We could have worked it out as a couple, instead of you bolting out like this!" He starts to raise his voice in anger but Henry stood firm on his ground.

"I can't Alex! I can't. Each time I tried, it would break me! It would make me changed my mind back from leaving you! So yes! I thought of leaving without telling would be a lot easier on my behalf!" Henry half yelled back at him in anger.

"So you'd think it would be easier for you to just pick up and leave?! What about me Henry?! What about me??! How do you fucking think I would live knowing that you left me high and dry like this?! Do you even love me?!" Alex yelled again and this time, Henry stayed silent.

"Just tell me what I did wrong? I can fix it. I can change for us Henry. Please. Just tell me." Alex starts to plead, walking closer to grab Henry by his hand and Henry let him. His eyes fixed on their clasped hands. 

"Please. Don't do this. Don't leave me like this. Tell me what's wrong? Just fucking tell me what's wrong." He gripped Henry's hand tighter hoping he would finally break and tell him the truth.

"I need time." Henry starts, tears running down his face like waterfalls and he couldn't stop. "O-okay. How much time?" Alex asks, voice filled with hope. "I don't know. I just need time, okay?" Henry replied pulling his hand away from Alex.

Alex witnessed how he still fidgeting with the ring on his finger and slowly, Henry pulled the ring off from his finger and placed it on Alex's palm. "I'm so sorry." Henry whispered closing Alex's palm into a fist with the engagement ring inside.

"Don't do this please. Henry I'm begging you. Please. Don't leave me." Alex cupped Henry by his neck, forehead touched against each other with tears running on their cheeks. Henry swallowed his throat painfully, closing his eyes before he let Alex leaned in to kiss him, one last time.

"Goodbye Alexander." Henry whispered, pushing himself off from Alex's grip before he grabbed the duffle bag by his feet and turned on his heel.

"What would I do Hen?" Alex asks, stopping Henry on his track. He turned his head over his shoulder, "Spend it with your sister and Nora, go back to Austin or something. Fix what you lost with her. She needs it." Henry said.

"What are you gonna do then? Where are you gonna go?" He asks and Henry sighed, turning his head back to face the door. "Don't worry about me. I'll survive before and I think I can manage my life on my own." He said lastly before turning on the door to leave.

He walked over the coat closet to grab his jacket and by the time he walked out, June appeared on her bedroom door, just woken up from her sleep. Her eyes fixed on Henry and the duffle bag in his hand with eyes filled with tears. He didn't say anything else except nodding back at her and headed towards the front door.

"Thank you." She whispered lowly that made Henry stopped before he pulled the door opened and left, without saying another word to her.