Chapter Text
Alexander Hamilton has decided to never fall in love again.
When he was 22, in his final year of college, he met Elizabeth Schuyler. They fell madly in love with each other and their courtship only lasted for a short while before they finally decided to tie the knot after graduating.
They moved to Albany after Eliza became pregnant, but Alex stayed in an apartment in Harlem since he was still studying at Columbia Law School. He visited home from time to time to check on his wife and son, but he spent more time studying and working than caring for his family.
That was when Alex made the biggest mistake of his life. His loneliness led him to start an affair with fellow law student, Maria Lewis, and even constantly brought her to his apartment. A year into the affair, Eliza found out.
Initially, she wanted to forgive him, but upon learning that it wasn’t a one-night stand, she broke down. She wanted to make their relationship work for their son, but it was too painful for her to bear and the whole affair took a toll on her mental health. She decided that giving up on their relationship would be the best decision for her, her son, and Alexander.
Alexander didn’t stop her. He couldn’t. He didn’t want to hurt her even more than he already had, so he agreed without any complaint. Eliza deserved someone better, Alex knew. It hurt him, but he knew that what he felt wasn’t comparable to the pain she felt.
Eliza didn’t keep him from meeting their son even after they divorced. She also moved to Harlem to live near her sisters, so it's easier for Alex to meet with his son. They have shared custody over him and after graduating from law school and becoming a full-fledged lawyer, Philip started alternating between his parents’ houses.
That’s how Alexander finds himself in his current predicament. His boss has tasked him to visit a very important client on a weekend, but it’s also the day he gets to spend the whole day with Philip.
Philip stays with him every Thursdays to Saturdays, while he stays with Eliza on the remaining days of the week. He goes to preschool during the weekdays and Alex has work, so they have limited time together then.
Alex always looks forward to Saturday because he gets to play with his son and shower him with love for the whole day. He may be an asshole, but he’s still a good father. At least, he hopes he is.
He doesn’t want to lessen his time with his son, but he doesn’t want to lose an important client either. He sighs and drops down to his couch. He runs a hand through his messy hair and dials a number on his phone. After a few rings, the line connects and a sweet voice says, “Hello?”
Alex sighs again and says, “Eliza, thank God. I’m sorry for bothering you this early in the morning, but I really need your help. Washington, my boss, asked me to visit an important client today. Can you believe it? Of all days, he had to choose today! He could have just made me go tomorrow, but hell no, I just had to—“
“Alexander,” Eliza says gently. “Calm down. I’m pretty sure Pip would understand. He’s only five, but he’s very smart. He’s your son, after all.”
Alexander will always be amazed with how Eliza can remain so kind and sweet despite everything he’s done to her. He really doesn’t deserve her. “I know, Eliza, but I want to spend time with him!”
“It’s work, Alexander. You can’t help it.”
He sighs in frustration again. Why does he always have to choose work over his family? “What do I do now?”
The other line is silent for a moment before Eliza speaks again. “You can leave him with me—“
“That’s exactly what I’m not going to do,” he says sternly. “Pip told me you’re going on a date today. I can’t bother you.”
Eliza’s tinkling laugh sounds over the phone and she says, “He’s my son. He’s my priority.”
“If that’s the case, then I’ll just tell Washington that I can’t visit our client today,” he answers back. “He’s my son. He’s my priority.” He hears Eliza laughing again and his heart warms. He still loves Eliza and he knows he’ll love her until the end of his lifetime, but it’s already become a different kind of love. He’s happy for Eliza and he wishes that she will never lose her smile again.
“You really refuse to lose, don’t you, Mr. Hamilton? Fine, I’ll recommend a babysitter for Pip. I’ve never met him before, but he’s Peggy’s friend. And Peggy’s friend—“
“—is a friend of ours,” Alex finishes. He smiles, even if he knows Eliza can’t see it. “Thanks, Eliza. You’re really the best.”
They end the call and a few minutes later, he receives a message containing the details of the babysitter. He’s a man named John Laurens and he’s three years older than Alex. He wonders why a 30-year old man is still working as a babysitter, but he shrugs, knowing it’s not his business and dials the number anyway.
A groggy voice answers and Alex feels tingles run down his spine when he hears his voice. It's a strange reaction, but it's he ignores it. “Who’s this?”
Alex clears his throat and says, “Hi. I’m Alexander Hamilton, Peggy’s brother-in-law.” Ex brother-in-law, but he’s not going to explain that over the phone. “I was told you work as a babysitter part-time?”
He hears a yawn from the other line before the man named John answers, “Yes. What time do you need me?”
“Daddy?”
Alex’s eyes snap to the the origin of the voice and he sees his young son standing by the bedroom door, holding his bunny plushie and his red curly hair framing his small face. He gestures for him to come closer and his son sleepily walks towards him.
Philip climbs up the couch and sits on his father’s lap, hugging his bunny. He rests his head on Alex’s chest and closes his eyes.
“Hello? You still there?”
“Oh,” Alex says in surprise, forgetting that he’s still on the phone with the babysitter. “Yes, can you come here in an hour? We live in Harlem. I’ll text you the address.”
“I live nearby. I can come earlier if you want?”
“That would be nice, thank you.” He says goodbye to the man named John and ends the call. He quickly texts the address of his apartment to him with one hand while he rubs Pip’s back with his other hand.
“Who was that, daddy?” he asks and opens his eyes to reveal sparkling blue eyes. He looks at him innocently, eyes still only half-open.
Alex swallows before answering slowly, “A babysitter.”
Little Philip snaps awake upon hearing his father’s answer. He sits up and looks at his father imploringly. “Babysitter?”
He feels his heart break at the look his son is giving him. “You see, daddy has to go leave for work for a while—“
Tears immediately well up in Philip’s eyes as he cries, “But you promised to play with me today!”
Alex reaches out and hugs his son tightly. “Okay, Pip. If you want daddy to stay, I’ll stay.”
The little child clings to him and he can feel his shirt getting wet with tears. “But your work!" His bunny plushie lays on the couch, forgotten. Philip brings the plush toy everywhere, always holding it lovingly, so now that he's left it alone, Alex realizes how serious his son is about the matter.
Alex hugs him tighter and promises to him, “You’re more important to me than my work.”
They stay like that for a while, Philip hanging onto his father for dear life and Alex hugging his son protectively. He feels guilty for not having spent time with him when he was younger and now that he has a better schedule, he really doesn't want to miss another moment with him. Philip has become the most important person in his life. He knows the feeling of being abandoned and he refuses to let his son go through the same thing, not when he's at such a delicate age and not even when he'll be all grown up and matured.
He doesn’t know how much time has passed when he hears the doorbell ring. Carrying the little boy in his arms, he stands and walks to the door. He’s already decided to choose his son over his work, but he forgot to cancel on the babysitter. He opens the door with one hand and readies his short speech to explain why he doesn’t need John’s services anymore.
He’s met with a man taller than him by a few inches and face decorated with a smattering of freckles.
Alexander Hamilton has decided to never fall in love again, but the freckled man standing on his doorstep is making it difficult for him to stay true to his promise.