#henner

It was late at night and I stood there flipping through that very old diary, holding back laughter. Henry looked up from his squatted down position in the corner, his hands carefully placing his book collection in boxes. We were right in the process of cleaning out the office, and part of that operation was clearing out our vast collection of books and administration work.

And, well..my diaries. 

‘What are you laughing at?’ He inquired, looking up with a raised eyebrow.

‘Oh..it’s so silly. My diary from when I was young. The first kiss story.’ I grinned at him and he chuckled in turn. ‘I see.’

‘You can read it too if you want.’ I reached out my diary to him and he blinked, slightly surprised. ‘Isn’t that..a secret?’

‘Hahaha..Hen. I have no secrets from you. In fact I’m quite sure you know me better than I know myself by this point.’

‘Do I now?’ He winked, then stood up and took the diary from me. A small sky blue book with slightly yellowed pages, the front cover completely covered in stickers and labels with “inspiring quotes”. He grinned and turned open the book, flipping through it like I had just moments earlier.

‘Well I never knew you kept a diary.’ He hummed, stopping on a page from one summer later. Us meeting again after he got back from boarding school. Older, less chubby, more confident. He smiled as his eyes glided over the page, his finger caressing the thick paper. ‘Well, now you do.’ I sniffled and moved in behind him, wrapping my arms around his chest.

Quite a challenge as my belly was starting to grow pretty big now.

‘Mmm..this is so adorable.’ Henry sniffled, then started to quote: ‘I baked him a cake today. And I’m pleased to announce it was the best cake ever. At least, he said so..’ - ‘UGH that way too sugary cake? Oh my..I remember that one.’

We both laughed and Henry turned slightly, gesturing me to come lean into his arms instead - far easier as he did not sport a 7-month pregnant belly. Smiling at each other, our faces slowly melted together, lips locking in a familiar kiss, a..

‘Mommy..’ A mousy voice spoke from the doorway, little Sam standing there in his Star Wars pyjamas with a large pout on his face, his tumble of chocolate curls reminding me of his daddy when he was but a young bird. Me and Henry both turned, unlocking from our embrace to turn our attention to the sleepy-though-not-sleepy-enough toddler.

‘I can’t sleep.’ Sam mumbled, his hand rubbing over his eyes.

‘Oh were we being too loud baby?’ I squatted down and opened my arms for him to come closer, but all he did was shake his head, looking back to his bedroom door. ‘Can you..can you read me a ..’ He looked up at Henry. ‘..story?’

Henry sniffled and reached out a hand to pull me back up - a simple gesture that sure was appreciated - his voice warm and soft as he spoke: ‘But of course Samsam. And it’s your lucky night. Both mommy AND daddy are going to tuck you in, how about that, hm?’ With great ease he picked up Sam, pulling him safely in his chest as we all moved to the little boy’s room, a tiny night light the only thing we could see as we walked in.

—

Henry’s voice lulled through Sam’s bedroom as we all listened. Sam was stretched out beneath his duvet, with me sitting on top of the duvet next to him, propped up against the headboard, and Henry comfortable seated in the reading chair.

‘And..Children yet, the tale to hear, Eager eye and willing ear Lovingly shall nestle near.

In a Wonderland they lie, Dreaming as the days go by, Dreaming as the summers die:

Ever drifting down the stream - Lingering in the golden gleam - Life, what is it but a dream?

The End.’

Henry closed the red velvet bound book, a special rendering of Alice in Wonderland, and smiled at me as we both watched Sam happily snoozing beneath his spaceship themed duvet. The hour had grown quite late and I let out a large yawn, stretching myself slightly as I manoeuvred to the edge of Sam’s small bed, careful not to wake him, before my hazy eyes looked at Henry as he placed the book on the little night stand, sitting up as well.

‘Quite a dream indeed.’ I smiled, yawning again as we quietly tip toed out of Sam’s room, closing his door until it was only slightly ajar. Henry hummed and conjured my diary back from his sweater pocket. ‘Now I do have one question, dear wife of mine.’ We continued to walk to our bedroom as it was clear that emptying out the study would have to be continued another time. ‘Mmm..’ I hummed, looking at him over my shoulder.

‘How many of these damn copies have you made?’ He removed a piece of paper that was inserted in my diary.

The Marriage Pact.

I gasped in playful shock and quietly swatted his arm. ‘More than too many, Mr. Cavill.’ He laughed. ‘And why is that, Mrs. Cavill?’

‘Oh you know me, I didn’t want to risk losing you over something as silly as my forgetfulness.’ I winked, making him laugh just a touch too loud. 

Quickly he pressed a hand over his mouth, before peering over his shoulder, a relieved sigh escaping his lips as he didn’t hear any movement from Sam’s room - our baby bear was a terribly light sleeper.

‘Would you EVER forget about me, hmm?’ He continued in an even more quiet voice, our feet now carrying us into our bedroom, the thick carpet silencing our steps.

I sniffled. ‘I don’t know. You better make sure I don’t.’ I winked, making his smile grow even wider. ‘Well, dear wife, did you know that otters hold each others hands when they sleep?’ He placed my diary on his night stand - reading entertainment for another time - and reached out my hand. I slowly shook my head and took his hand in mine. ‘Is that so?’

‘It is.’

‘And why is that, dear husband?’

‘Ah, it’s quite sweet actually.’

‘Mmm.’ I hummed as we slowly closed the distance between us. Closer and closer still, his hands turning us in something similar to a dance stance - albeit slightly more awkward with my large belly in between us.

‘They do so, so they do not drift apart.’

‘Haha..oh..I better hold on tight then, hmm?’

We both sniffled, our feet starting to shuffle on an imaginary tune, eyes locking in great tenderness.

This was it, dear readers. Everything I had ever wanted, and more. That darn pact, the original one, now hanging proudly on our bedroom wall. Because, despite us not ever truly using it for its original purpose, it did bring us something we both had been looking for, for far too long.

A family of our own.  

The real end.

--

Ali