Chapter Text
“Philip, you could have told me you were going to go visit Elijah,” Alexandra sighed as she stood on the balcony with her son. “Do you know how a mother feels when she doesn’t know if her son is safe?”
“I’m sorry, Ma,” Philip said, looking up into the night sky. “I had all that I wanted of him anyway.”
Alexandra’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean, Philip?”
Philip kept his gaze on the stars. “Angelo was there, as well. He told me what happened between you and Elijah Schuyler. That he cheated on you.”
Alexandra nodded. “He did. I kept a grudge against him all these years and refused to let him see you because of that, but I am thinking it is time for me to forgive him.”
Philip was surprised. Alexandra wasn’t one to forgive. “Why is that?”
“You deserve to have your father, Philip. Your real father.”
“Aaron is my father.”
“I know, but maybe it would be a good thing for you to get to know Elijah,” Alexandra said, a sentimental tone in her voice.
“Ma...are you and Aaron having issues?” Philip asked.
“He and I...yes, we are. We never agree anymore, and it’s gotten to the point where we’re unhappy with each other,” Alexandra looked down in anguish. She looked like she was about to cry.
Philip hugged his mother tightly. “It’s going to be okay, Ma. It’s all gonna be okay. If you and Aaron divorce, you’ll be fine. You’re an amazing woman. I couldn’t ask for a better mother.”
“Thank you so much, Philip,” Alexandra whispered through her tears.
…
Aaron had agreed to a divorce, but Theodosia loved Alexandra so much that she decided to stay with her.
And finally, they met Frances Laurens.
“How was the trip?” Philip asked as he took Frances’s belongings into the house, walking with her.
“That ol’ ship kept rockin’ everywhere,” Frances replied in a thick Southern accent, “I was afraid I wasn’t gonna make it up to New York.”
“Well, we’re glad you did,” Philip smiled as they entered the house. He took Frances’s belongings upstairs, into her new room that used to be Aaron’s office.
Alexandra was playing piano as Theodosia watched, when she saw Frances and her heart jumped. She looked so much like John, from the curly hair to the freckles. Theodosia raised an eyebrow.
“Hi y’all,” Frances beamed, “I’m Frances Laurens.”
Good lord, she had John’s beautiful smile, too.
Alexandra stood, and so did Theodosia. “I’m Alexandra Hamilton.”
“My new mama,” Frances kept smiling.
“I suppose,” Alexandra laughed.
“I’m Theodosia,” Theodosia smiled.
“It’s nice to meet all of you. I assume the gentlemen who took my things upstairs is Philip?” Frances asked.
“Yes, that is him,” Alexandra nodded.
“Great,” Frances smiled.
“Theodosia, could you go get dinner started? I’m sure Frances is hungry from her trip. I know from experience that they don’t feed you very well on ships,” Alexandra said. Theodosia nodded and went into the kitchen.
“Um, Alexandra, I know I just got here, but I have a few questions to ask you,” Frances said, sitting on the sofa.
Alexandra took a seat beside her. “Yes?”
“What was my father like? My mama would never tell me.” Frances looked sad at this fact.
“Your father…” Alexandra took a deep breath, “was a great man. He hated slavery. Did you and your mother have any slaves?”
Frances shook her head. “No, ma’am, Mama didn’t like that.”
“That’s good. Also, your father was very outspoken, and very amusing. He was also very kind and cared about everybody,” Alexandra said, tearing up.
“You must really miss my Daddy,” Frances observed.
“Your father and I were very close. We worked together and even lived together at one point.”
“Did you love him?” Frances raised an eyebrow.
Alexandra looked at Frances. “Why do you ask?”
Frances sighed. “I found letters between you and my father in his things that were in the attic back home. Y’all loved each other more than anything. Why weren’t you together?”
Alexandra sighed shakily. “Looking back at it, I don’t know. I was foolish, I guess.”
They sat in silence for a while until Philip came back downstairs. “Frances,” he addressed his new sister, “you play piano?” He gestured to the piano.
“Yes,” Frances nodded.
“Come on, let’s play, then,” Philip said. Frances went to the piano with Philip.
Alexandra smiled. Her son could always sense tension and ease it just as fast.
…
Maryanne and Theodosia were walking the streets of New York together.
“Theodosia, I have some big news to tell you,” Maryanne beamed.
“Really?”
“Yes. Henry proposed!” Maryanne squealed. “I said yes!”
“That’s great, I’m really happy for you!” Theodosia smiled.
“Oh, thank God, you’re not being negative about this. By the way, how’s Joseph?”
Theodosia sighed. “I haven’t seen him in a while. I imagine he’s gone off and married some Manhattan snob by now.”
“Wait, is that jealousy I hear?” Maryanne grinned.
“Of course not, of course not,” Theodosia shook her head.
“Okay, if you say so,” Maryanne laughed.
…
Someone knocked on the Hamiltons’ door. Alexandra opened it and saw John Laurens.
“J-j- John? ” Alexandra asked in a shaky voice.
“Hello, Ali. It’s been a long time.”
“I thought you were dead ,” Alexandra whispered in a still shaky voice.
“That’s what they thought, too. The truth is, I couldn’t stand to come back here and see you with someone else, so I faked my own death so I wouldn’t have to,” John said, looking down.
Alexandra slapped John.
“Ouch,” he said, rubbing the spot where he’d been slapped.
“How dare you!? How-how dare you leave me like that?” Alexandra’s words were lost in the tears streaming down her face.
John pulled Alexandra into a tight hug. “I’m so sorry, Alexandra. I am so, so sorry. I’ll never leave you again. These nineteen years without you have been hell. I’ll never leave again, I promise.”