Chapter Text
He didn't even know Thanksgiving was in 3 days until Eliza asked him what he was doing for it.
“Oh.” He said quietly, a shocked expression taking over his face. “I hadn't noticed. I haven't thought about it.”
Eliza laughs at him, squeezing his shoulders as she walks past him to sit at the island.
“I don't blame you, you're a busy man.” She stirs her tea and hums an unfamiliar tune.
George stares at her quietly. A questioning look on his face.
“Well I think.” She says finally, taking a poised sip of her tea. “We should celebrate it on our own, just the 5 of us.”
“Five?” George raises an eyebrow.
“You, me, the girls, and Alexander. Unless he has somewhere else to go. I never know, he barely talks about his family, I assume he doesn't have any here.” Eliza says sweetly, placing the tea cup down and rubbing at her hands.
She always does this when she is nervous.
“No.” Washington says, voice a little horse. “He doesn't have family here.”
Eliza looks up.
“Has he told you anything about them?” She asks, a sudden eagerness over taking her.
Washington realizes that Alexander hasn't told Eliza anything.
“Has he not told you about his family.” He asks for clarification and the girl shakes her head.
“He only told me he was from the Caribbeans. And that his brother is in jail. That is all I really know about him.”
Washington's mouth flings open for a second but he closes it back up quick.
He remains silent at the new information.
Alexander told him he had a brother.
Just not that he was in jail.
He thinks it over. Alexander didn't tell Eliza anything. The two have been dating for about a week and sure maybe it's short but he thought Alexander would have shared something with Eliza by now.
Figures the brother information was all he could get out to her right now.
“I didn't know his brother was in jail.” Washington says instead, deciding to hold back on the information Alexander told him.
“I didn't know he was so secretive.” She exhales a dry chuckle, running her fingers through her hair and looking down.
“He just has a hard time opening up to people, he will come around eventually.” Washington tries to hide the newfound tightness in his throat when he says this. He doesn't know why it's there.
“How long did he take with you?” Eliza asks.
Washington shakes his head.
“It's just, I want to help him. Be apart of him. I want to know everything about him. But it's so hard.” She says.
“It's only been a week.” Washington replies.
“A week. And we’ve went out everyday. He knows pretty much everything about me. Why can't I know everything about him?” She asks and Washington shrugs.
“Some people aren't meant to be figured out so easily Elizabeth. Some people are afraid of being exposed.”
Of burning everything.
Eliza’s sigh snaps him out of it.
“I understand. I'll wait. He’s worth it.”
Washington swallows.
“I'm sure he is.”
____________________________________________________________
He meets John at the coffee shop.
He stares at his mug but doesn't attempt to pick it up for a drink.
“Do you always stare at your beverages? Or did I catch you at the wrong time?” Comes his voice and Washington fixes himself and puts his armour back on.
“My apologies. I was thinking.” He says seriously and John laughs.
“Apologies forgiven, my good man.” He replies with a fake British accent and Washington puts on a light smile at that.
John sits and Washington notices that the bruises he sported on his face earlier are now pretty much gone.
He brings it up.
“Your face looks better.” He nods to him and John shrugs.
“It's skin. Skin always heals.” He says simply and Washington makes an agreeing sound.
“Do you want anything? Are you hungry?”
John stares at him.
“Sorry.” Washington sits back. “It's just, when I did this with Alexander, he was always hungry.” John looks away.
“He used to give me his food.” He replies tightly. “Guess he thought I couldn't eat without his help.”
“Can you? I'm assuming you can if you're not hungry now.” John laughs at that.
“Yes George. I'm eating just fine.” He gives him a toothy grin and Washington nods.
“Good.”
For some time the two just talk about things that are completely random.
John asks a lot of questions to George. Like wheres he from, why did he come to New York.
“Why are you so kind?” John asks with an eyebrow raised and Washington shrugs.
“Just how I was raised I suppose.” And John scoffs.
“Yea, don't give any credit to your actual character. So George Washington that is.” And He crosses his arms.
“Sorry to disappoint you with my answer.” Washington says and there's no bite behind it.
“So, what did you want to know?” John asks and Washington looks back down at his cup.
“You said something about a Jefferson before. The man the did that to Alexander's face-your face. He's only here on the weekends and he basically owns people. I need more though.” Washington recaps and throughout the entire thing John keeps perfect eye contact.
“Yes well, there's not much I know about the man. I haven't even really gotten a good look at him if I'm being quite honest. Whenever he is around it's mostly dark in the room. All I know is that he is a Virginia man, just like yourself. He’s one of those rich fellows ya know? The ones with the shiny shoes and nice Range Rovers and big rings. He never collects the money, he sends his right hand man to do that. Sally Hemings, one of the workers. She's a big request every night. Anyways he's kind of like a mob boss from what I gathered about him.” John leans closer into Washington, voice barely above a whisper.
“Are you sure you wanted to come here to talk about this? Aren't you worried someone will see us together and get ideas?” Washington suddenly asks voice filled with worry and John shakes his head.
“We’re in the back, besides no one comes into this place. It was only Alexander.”
Washington nods.
“So if I want Alexander out what do I do?” John shrugs.
“I don't really know. No matter where he goes Jefferson will probably find him. Guy does not play when it comes to his property, he likes his money.”
“How did Alexander meet him?” Washington asks and John takes a sip of the water he ordered.
“I'm not really sure. I know it had something to with his school issue.”
Colombia .
“School issue? What school issue?” Washington asks brows furrowed and John shakes his erratically.
“Can't tell you, I have already said too much about it.” Washington deflates at that.
“I'll take what I can get.” He finally says and John gives him a slick smirk.
“What if I call the police. Get him arrested.” And John makes a disapproving noise.
“No good. No good, you'll get everybody in that house arrested. Including me and Alexander. No good.” And Washington shakes his head.
“What if I make Alexander go away for a while. Have him disappear for sometime and let Jefferson forget.”
“Alexander was one of his best performers. He's not going to forget Alexander that easy.” John says and Washington tries not to feel so sick at that.
“Well if he let him stop working why won't he let him leave.” He says a little frustrated and John drums his fingers together.
“Alexander is still paying him, almost double of what he was giving while he was working. He lets Alex go he loses his worker and his money. And I don't know Jefferson all that much. But I know he doesn't like to lose.”
They sit in silence for a few minutes.
“Alright.” Washington sighs, “I'll figure something out.”
“Yea, you do that.” John scoffs and he’s up, putting on a coat.
Washington realizes it's the coat he gave Alexander.
The first time they met.
It seems so long ago yet, it was only a month ago.
“Hey!” He says and John bursts out laughing.
“I was wondering when you were going to notice, fits me good doesn't it?” He winks and George shakes his head.
“At Least it's in good use.” He puts on his own coat and hears John giggle.
“Oh you bet so it's being used. I feel so warm and cuddly.” He holds himself and Washington suppresses a chuckle.
The bell to the outside door rings as they walk out.
“Well this date has been quite lovely Mr. Washington, really I appreciate it. You and your 5 dollar check. Paying for my water like a real gentleman.” John jokes and Washington chuckles.
“Anytime John, same time next week?”
“If I have new information then ya, you bet!”
They part and go their separate ways.
George goes back to Manhattan and the bright lights.
John to the whore house, and torn nights.
____________________________________________________________
Alexander cuts his finger while cooking the turkey.
“OW FUCK!” He spits grabbing his hand and Washington shakes his head.
“Language! Do you have to curse so much? You sound like a sailor.”
Alex rolls his eyes.
“Maybe you should try it, feels good.” He smiles and Washington, who is currently cutting vegetables makes a disapproving noise.
“I used to curse, I feel no different now that I don't.” He says simply and Alex scoffs.
“Yes of course you don't. Liar.” He says under his breath and Washington looks back at him eyebrow raised.
“What did you say?” He asks.
“Nothing, dad.” Alex mocks and Washington turns to hide the small smile on his lips.
“And come on, Thanksgiving is tomorrow, not next year. It shouldn't take this long to mince!” He wipes his hands on the towel and goes over to Washington.
“It's harder than it looks.” The older man simply says and Alexander laughs.
“Yea I bet.”
Suddenly, Alex’s arms snake around Washington's waist, tiny and delicate. He gives George’s hip bone a squeeze and then his hands are on his.
“Like this.”
And slowly he begins to chop, fingers slightly damp and warm on George's own.
They both go quiet.
Washington's eyes look at their hands as they move a synched pace. The bright oranges from the carrots and lively greens from the celery blinding his vision from a sort of relaxed emotion.
Alex is barely tall enough to see over George’s shoulder, yet he makes it work. Cutting it all up blindly.
And if Alex’s finger gets a little too close to the silver of the knife, Washington moves his hands back, and Alexander follows and the process starts over again.
They do this until the carrots are gone.
And finally, as light and quick as he came.
He pulls away.
And the tops of George’s hands are exposed to the winter air and they go cold.
He's covered in goosebumps but he just doesn't know if it's from Alexander or the air.
He hopes it's from the air.
He knows it's from Alexander.
They continue their own work. Alex at the oven, baking and boiling. And George at the chopping board, cutting and skinning.
They go into a comfortable silence with that. Full house playing blindly on the living room t.v.
“Has Peggy found her gown?” Alexander asks suddenly and George chuckles with the memories of it.
“She sure has.” He says a smile on his lips.
Alexander looks up eyebrow raised. “Really? Is it nice?” He asks and Washington shakes his head.
“....It's different.” And Alexander laughs at that.
“Yea well she's different. Do you know what you will be wearing?” Alexander asks and George shrugs.
“Lafayette doesn't want to wear black, but it's tradition so I'm going to wear it.” Alexander hums.
“Yea, seems like Laf to not want to wear black.”
His skin warms to the sound of Alexander calling Lafayette by the nickname he calls him.
“Are you going with Eliza?” He asks tightly. He's been avoiding this for the longest. Not yet ready to accept the fact that Alex and Eliza are really a thing now. Are together.
But Alex shocks him.
“No actually. I'm sitting this one out.” He says, stirring the stuffing.
“Why not?” Washington asks. And he feels bad for feeling so good to know Alex won't be on her arm the entire night.
“Parties aren't really my thing. Plus I don't want to intrude, overstepping my boundaries here.” He jokes but Washington can see the little hints of sadness and uncomfortableness in his eyes.
“You aren't over stepping anything. Peggy loves you, they all love you.” He tells him and Alex rolls his eyes.
“Even Angelica?” He looks at him pointedly and Washington shrugs.
“She doesn't like things she doesn't understand.” And Alexander continues to stir.
“She doesn't understand you. She likes to over complicate things, it's in her nature I suppose. Got it from her mother. Anyways I tried to tell her there was nothing very different from you. That you were just a boy but she doesn't agree.”
“Just a boy.” Alex says quietly to himself, some of that sadness poking out onto his face. Washington wonders if he said the wrong thing. “Yea that's all I am.”
He goes silent for a few seconds and Washington says his name.
“Alexander?” He says in hopes of bringing the boy back down to Earth.
“Did you know Catherine?” The young boy chooses to say and Washington tilts his head at the brazenness of it.
“Sorry.” Alexander whispers. “But did you know her?”
“We have been friends since we were children.” George chooses to say and Alexander looks at him.
“Was she nice?” He asks and Washington chuckles.
“She was Angelica.” He chooses to say, and smiles when he hears an ‘ Ahhh’ from Alexander.
“Meaning she was nice, when she wanted to be. But for the most part she was just a strong hardworking woman. She taught Angelica everything she knows. Peggy and Eliza, they were daddy girls, still are but it was Angelica who was with Catherine the entire day. Catherine was a lawyer. That's where Angelica got it from.”
“She must have been devastated.” Alexander says quietly and George hums shaking his head.
“It absolutely broke her.” He wipes off the counter as he says this, finding things to do with his hands so he isn't forced to stay there and stare at the floor recalling the memories of one of his most beloved friends.
“She seems alright now.” Alexander says lightly and George shakes his head.
“You didn't know her before. Yes she was Angelica, smart and witty, but she was also happy. So happy and explosive. She's lost a few of those fireworks in her eyes.”
“I think we all did.” Alexander says quietly and Washington's looks back at him.
“Everyone that has lost someone has lost a few fireworks.”
“Are they still pretty?” Comes Alexander, broken and watery and for a second Washington thinks he's crying but he isn't.
“Angelica has the most warm and welcoming brown eyes I have ever seen. And while they are missing some fireworks, they excite the audience nonetheless.” Washington says seriously and Alexander looks away.
“Eliza...she...she said they came up here because their dad was losing his mind. They needed a break.” Washington shakes his head as he speaks.
“Losing the love of your life can do that to you.” He says and Alexander hums.
“Is that how you were? When you lost Martha?”
He doesn't expect it.
But he replies anyway.
“To an extent.”
“Can you describe it?” Alexander asks and it's a weird request but Alexander is a weird boy.
“It isn't going to be as pretty and poetic as yours.” He says lightly and Alex rolls his eyes smiling.
“Just try.”
And so he does.
“They told us she had cancer 8 months before she died. They said she had a year but she didn't. She only had 8 months.” He takes a seat, ruined dreams and broken words caught in his eyes.
“She was fine at first. But around month 6 things started to go wrong really fast. Before I knew it, I was running away from work to be at her side. Scared to be apart from her because I didn't know if she was going to be there when I got back. At first I spoke to her, she laid in bed and I was at her side, sneaking her peppermints because she liked them so much. And though she looked tired she was still pretty, still gorgeous. But as she continued to get worse, I stopped talking, scared that if I talked too much I would miss her telling me something. Telling me goodbye. I didn't know when she was going to die. The doctors were wrong about so many things, how could I trust them now? I was so scared that she would be gone if I blinked so I didn't. I stayed awake, I stayed with her.”
He pauses and realizes Alexander is in front of him now, eyes glassy.
“And then one day, on a Tuesday. She died. She was talking to me, talking about some old ‘I love Lucy’ episode. And then she just begin to go quiet. I asked her if she was alright. And she shook her head ‘yes’. But she was lying. To this day I still don't know why she lied. But she did, because after she got quiet she went to sleep and I sat next to her. I told her I loved her with everything in me and she said she loved me with everything in me as well. She said she didn't have enough in her to show the amount of love she had for me so she used my body instead and it was fine I was fine, I thought she was fine. But she never woke up. And I thought it was so funny, how I spent 2 months of my life running back to her so she wouldn't leave without saying goodbye, yet it still felt like I wasn't there when she left, even when I was right by her side. I laughed at that. And as I was laughing in the hospital hall, watching everyone running in and out I could feel it. I didn't have a lot of fireworks in my eyes to begin with, but I felt them all die out in that hall. As I laughed, the fireworks she lit up in my eyes blew out and I had nothing.”
He didn't realize Alexander was holding his hand until he was finished.
But he wasn't finished.
Not yet.
“When people die, a little bit of us dies with them. And by the end of our own life, we are already dead. If we live that long we have nothing in our soul because someone else took it when they left. It doesn't hurt. That I know. Nothing is going to hurt more than watching her die. Watching her leave me when we weren't finished. Letting her take those fireworks when I still wanted to light up my nights. Nothing will ever hurt more than that. And no I don't know how Angelica, Eliza or Peggy felt like when they lost their mom, I don't know how you felt like when you lost your mom. I just know that you all lost some fireworks. And I don't know your pain, but mine hurts a lot right now. And nothing will ever hurt more.”
Alexander hugs him so fast, the cup on the island next to them falls.
And the young boy has a few tears coming down his face but Washington isn't crying.
Hes got nothing in his eyes to cry out.
They don't say anything.
Not for a while.
They just stand there and hug. Harsh breaths and wild emotions whipping against their skulls in an erratic motion filled with memories they don't want to have.
“That was beautiful George.” Alex whispers into his shoulder. “You are beautiful.” The young boy continues and George holds him a little tighter.
“You are beautiful too Alexander.” He says suddenly and he can't control his voice right now, not the words coming out.
He was broken.
He wants to be broken right now.
Because he hurts.
So fucking much.
_____________________________________________________________
And Washington realizes it.
What he said and what it meant.
On the night of thanksgiving.
The girls come over dressed in their respective signature colors.
Alex and George dress down for the very first time, in jeans and beat up shirts.
Alex doesn't even bother to wear shoes.
They break out the beat up plates and old forks.
Peggy puts on a Christmas movie and lights a pumpkin scented candle.
They sit in the living room, beers scattering the room.
And they talk.
About everything and nothing.
They laugh at their own jokes and tease each other.
They talk about life.
Peggy talks about her flowers. Angelica talks about her new favorite book. Eliza talks about a new dress she bought, Alexander talks about why the country is in financial ruins and George just listens.
And he realizes it.
What he said.
And he realizes that for a tiny second, he might be wrong.
Because when Angelica runs off to the bathroom, and Peggy falls asleep on the couch he watches Eliza and Alexander.
How they dance, to the sound of some sappy music playing in the background.
How they're bodies sway in the air. How Eliza's brown hair runs down Alexander's arm from her head being on his shoulder.
Alexander barefoot on the carpet and hair out and wild and George just knows that he was wrong.
Because this hurts more.
Watching Alexander dance with her. It hurts more than everything else right now.
And he’s in the corner, watching them dance and it hurts, more than losing your fireworks.
And George doesn't notice Alexander staring back at him.
Because he's too busy dancing on his own.