Work Text:
Everything felt so magical.
The gigantic mirrorball contraption, suspended so high up in the air.
Alexander pressed closer to Thomas and shivered. Thomas wrapped an arm around him, smiling down at him.
"Are you cold, darling?"
Alex hugged himself in his jacket, pulling it tighter to his body. His teeth chattered, "A little. But it is so worth it."
In his twelve years of living in New York, this was Alex's first time participating in the NYC Square New Year's ball drop.
2022 was ending in two hours. And soon 2023 would begin
It felt surreal.
Alex pondered over the past few years. How far he had come was astonishing to think about. He allowed himself to cuddle further into Thomas's embrace and let his thoughts drift back in time.
The pandemic is starting to wind down.
Further back .
Alex remembers…
Curled up next to Thomas on the couch with Jackie, the kitten stretched lazily across Alex's lap.
All of their close friends are over at their new house, on the floor or on the couch. Presents are being passed around from under the Christmas tree.
Tears are shed and gratitude is shown for the emotional ones and there are snorts and shrieks over the ridiculous ones.
Hercules slowly stands and hands Alex a present, a sad smile on his face. It was heavier than he had anticipated. Alex noticed that his friends were looking around at one another with knowing smiles.
Thomas hugged him closer as Alex started tearing through the wrapping.
"A box." He said with a sarcastic, silly smile, "Just what I wanted, Herc! Thanks!"
It was an overused, dumb joke. It had been repeated dozens of times already, and everyone just rolled their eyes as Alex started opening the box.
He heard Thomas inhale sharply, and Alex's hand stilled.
Three full sized sketchbooks and two leather bound journals. Alex was frozen, in shock as he reached in and grabbed one of the journals. His thumb gently brushed over the name that was engraved on the spine.
John Laurens.
He looked up from the box, tears in his eyes. His eyes blurred, but he found the vague shape of Hercules on the floor, leaning on the chair behind him, between Lafayette's legs.
"H-Herc-" He choked out, "Oh my god, thank you." He whispered, "Thank you."
Thomas's grip on him was tight, protective, loving, and supportive.
Alex allowed himself to be hugged close. He gently reached down and rubbed behind Jackie's ears.
Alex hoped Jackie was going to be alright with the fireworks later that night. The kitten was usually skittish around sudden, loud noises.
Alex finds Thomas's hand and squeezes it tight, intertwining their fingers.
Thomas helps him into the car and closes the door behind him before walking over to the driver's seat. It would be a long road trip before they reached Thomas's family home in Virginia.
They would be visiting for Thanksgiving, and Alex couldn't wait to arrive at their destination.
Alex loved the Jefferson family, and they adored him.
Thomas lost his father when he was fourteen, but his mother was a strong mother with an incredible will.
As soon as the wheels started turning and they were on the road, Alex connected his phone to Bluetooth and scrolled through his albums.
Thomas sighed and playfully rolled his eyes, knowing exactly where this was going.
Alex clicked on the first song in Taylor Swift's Midnights album. Thomas always scoffed at first, but Alex would occasionally see him nodding his head to the beat or mouthing the words silently.
When they arrived and walked into the house, Alex was bombarded by adult siblings, young children, and the amazing smell that had to be dinner.
Jane Jefferson came out of the kitchen with an apron to greet them with kisses and hugs, mothering them and inspecting the state of them both.
"You two can get settled. Food is almost on the table!"
After a week, Thanksgiving day arrives and the food is just as fabulous as it was last year. Alex assists in the kitchen alongside the family, following orders as well as he can.
They are sent on their way with hugs and snacks and well-wishes.
On the way back home, he lets Thomas pick the music.
Alex glanced at his wrist before huffing, irritated. His old watch had been shattered and he hadn't bothered to get a replacement yet.
He tugged Thomas's sleeve.
"Babe, what time is it?"
Thomas hummed and pulled out his phone before slipping it back in his pocket.
"10:30, my dear."
"My legs hurt." Alex mumbled. His legs did ache, from standing for so long.
"Laf, what the hell is that?"
"You said to find options, non?"
"That's -... that's indecent!"
Alex was red in the face as he stared at the laptop screen.
He had enlisted Laf's help this Halloween as he searched for a costume. Alex had always been a procrastinator, and Halloween costumes were no exception.
"Hm…How about that one?"
Alex looked over the Chandler costume with a raised brow. Then he shrugged.
"It looks pretty. Do you think it would look good on me? Will Thomas like it? I won't have time to change my mind."
"Of course! You should buy this one, mon ami. You will look dead drop stunning!"
Alex smiled at his friend's grammatical mistake, choosing to not correct him, just this once. Laf looked up at him with a smile of his own.
"You don't smile as much as you used to." Laf said. Alex looked back at the screen and slowly nodded in agreement. He heard a soft whine from the floor.
He looked down to see Jackie padding towards them. Alex scooped up the cat and held him in his lap.
"There's just…been a lot going on this year."
"Do you want me to hold you for a bit? I wouldn't mind."
"Are you sure? I don't wanna-"
"C'mere, Lex. I really don't mind, darlin'."
Thomas squats down, trying his best not to accidentally bump into a nearby stranger. Once Alex has his legs wrapped around Thomas's waist, Thomas stands, his elbows supporting Alex's thighs.
Alex is staring at his phone in disbelief. He's on lunch break, his fork frozen in midair as he processes the headline.
Queen Elizabeth II, at age 96, is dead.
Holy shit.
When Alex comes home, he's not sure how he feels. Sure, he didn't live in the UK. But as he thought back, the queen had been ruling his entire life. And suddenly a stable figure was gone.
Thomas came home half an hour later, a bundle of blankets hugged to his chest.
Alex looked up from his phone to study this lumped shape in his boyfriend's arms.
"What is that?" He asked skeptically.
"Well-...I know we're moving into a house next week…So we'll have enough room-"
"Thomas what is it?"
"And I will take full responsibility if-"
"Thomas what is in the blanket?"
"And we have been talking about-"
Mrrrow…
Alex's eyes opened wide and his face split into a huge grin. "Oh. My. GOD!"
Two small, pointed, fluffy triangles peeked out from the blankets. Then two fluffy cream colored paws. The cutest pink nose Alex had ever seen, and then thel Siberian kitten made his first appearance.
"Oh that is- Oh baby-" Alex cooed, directed at the kitten. He tossed his phone aside and walked slowly to the kitten.
The kitten burrowed further into the blankets but looked up curiously at the new person. He cocked his head to the side and mrrow ed again.
Alex's heart melted, and he was in love.
"What's this cutie's name?" He whispered. He gently whispered and reached towards the kitten. Alex very tenderly stroked the kitten's head with two fingers, careful to not hurt him.
"I thought you should name him."
"Oh my god, I have to call the guys. Oh my god, Thomas thank you, thank you, I love him so much. Where did you get him? Did you get supplies? Oh my god what should I name him? This is such a big deal!"
He scrambled to his phone and called his best friend first. He had facetimed John just yesterday, but this was too exciting to wait.
John Laurens never picked up.
The next day, Alex was bundled under blankets, shaking and sobbing and screaming. He shouted at Thomas to leave him alone. He said nasty, terrible things that he knew he would regret later.
Kitten batted at the blanket and slipped under the covers and crawled into Alex's lap.
Alex felt silent tears slip down his face and his fingers absentmindedly found Kitten's soft fur. He stroked it as gently as he did the day before.
The next week, Alex cried again, sick with a stuffy nose and nauseous. The funeral was tomorrow. Alex was lying on the bed. Thomas was in the kitchen.
Kitten jumped on the bed and curled up on his chest. Kitten started to purr, gently kneading at Alex's shirt.
And it was then when Alex knew what to name him.
Thomas and Alex watched the music performances together and watched the hosts walk around the crowd with microphones. Alex nuzzled into Thomas's neck and hugged his shoulders tight.
"I love you lots, Thomas."
Thomas leaned his head to the side, to rest against Alex's, if only for a brief moment.
"I love you too, Alexander."
Alex drove to work, just like every day. He looked out his window at the elementary school as he passed. Little kids of varying ages had backpacks and lunch boxes, ready to begin their school year.
He had been dating Thomas for three years now. He often wondered if Thomas would be open to the idea of marriage. Or children.
Alex used to be terrified by the idea of being a father, but now the idea made his heart flutter. The chance to raise a child with the love of his life now seemed like a dream come true.
He was unsure of how to drop hints to Thomas about his desired future.
Maybe Alex should propose to Thomas.
Alex felt the small box, heavy in his zipped up hoodie pocket. Thomas didn't seem to notice the strange out of place shape in his jacket, or maybe he assumed it was Alex's phone.
Alex was waiting for midnight.
And instead of their usual tradition of kissing when the new year came, Alex would be down on one knee, asking Thomas to be his husband.
The mask mandate would be lifted soon in NYC.
Alex was walking home from the grocery store when he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He maneuvered his bags around until he could grab his cell and hold it up to his ear.
"Hey John! How are you doing?"
John was moving soon. He was planning on going to the west coast for a better job opportunity.
"Hey man. The guys and I are planning a get together for tomorrow night to give me a chance to say goodbye to y'all before I leave."
It was bittersweet. Alex had been friends with John since freshman year of college, and they dated for a year and a half in senior year before they ultimately decided they were better as friends.
They were still insanely close, and Alex knew he would miss his best friend.
"Oh, I'll be sure to tell Thomas. We'll be there!"
"Awesome! Tell Thomas I say hi. I'm looking forward to seein' y'all."
Thomas and John used to have a rocky relationship, but now they have a cordial friendship. Thomas knows about Alex and John's past relationship, and he has never shown insecurity or discomfort about their continued friendship.
"Okay. See you then. Love you, man."
"Love you too, Lex. See ya."
A microphone is in front of them.
The woman holding it flashes a huge smile and directs their gaze to the camera.
"Happy New Year, you two! I can tell you two are very close. What are your names and where are you from?"
Alex straightened up a bit as Thomas moved him up higher so the hold was more comfortable.
"I'm Thomas. And this is my boyfriend, Alexander."
"We're from right here. New York City." Alex added.
Alex blushed as the reporter looked at the camera with a smile, "Awe, what a wonderful date night!"
Thomas looked over his shoulder, up at Alex with a loving look in his eyes.
"Oh, it's perfect."
"So, what are you most excited about, heading into the new year?" The woman asked.
"Hm…I haven't thought much about it. I would love to travel more this year."
Alex smiled at Thomas's answer and cleared his throat before saying, "Yeah, me too. I also really hope I can deepen relationships throughout 2023."
He looked at Thomas as he said this, aware of the ring that seemed to be yearning to be pulled out.
Roe V. Wade was overturned and the media is having a field day over the Depp V. Heard trial. Ridiculous, really. Serious accusations were being addressed and jokes were being made.
Abortion rights stripped away from so many people who mourn this step backward.
Alex scrolled through news articles, and headline after headline only brought worse news.
People were hurt and everything seemed to be falling apart.
"That is so sweet. Well, I hope you two have a magical midnight! On the count of three shout ' Happy 2023' to the camera alright?" The woman asked.
Thomas and Alex both beamed and agreed immediately.
"Three…two…one!"
"HAPPY 2023!" The three announced together.
Alex sat in bed, in the middle of the night, while silent tears ran down his face. His stomach felt sick with horror. Everything felt numb and broken.
How could anyone do this?
They were so innocent and young.
19 children, Alex thought, drained and defeated.
2 teachers. They died protecting innocents.
What kind of monster?
Alex curled closer into himself as he continued clicking through tribute videos for the victims and testimonies of the survivors.
He scrolled through memorials, posted comments that expressed his condolences, but he couldn't do anything. Not really. Nothing he did would ever make up for the loss that was suffered.
Thomas walks into the bedroom, holding two glasses of water.
"Oh, honey." He whispered, walking quickly towards him and giving him one of the waters. Thomas sat next to Alex and hugged him as they looked through the posts and stories together.
It was cold. Alex could see his breath in the chilly air every time he exhaled.
"Mm..I think I'm okay to stand on my own now."
"If you say so. But tell me if you get tired again."
"I will." Alex promised.
No he won't.
Neither of them were super religious, but in April they went to church on Easter Sunday. Thomas was raised Christian and Alex had always gone to church with his mom whenever she went.
So it became tradition to go on holidays. They would put on their masks and sing the hymns and listen to the scripture readings.
Then they would go home and have lunch before going over to a friend's house to spend time with their friend group.
They had a silly Easter egg hunt in Angelica's backyard, set up by the Schuyler sisters. It was ridiculous and full of laughter.
It was wonderful, spending time together after the two previous years consisted of an isolating quarantine.
At the end of the day, Thomas and Alex were up late watching a movie.
Alex hugged Thomas's arm and leaned into him. "I know we haven't talked about it. But I was thinking - Do you think we could get a house together someday? And a cat? I know we both love cats."
Thomas looked over at Alex, amused.
"We'll see what happens, darlin'."
It was 11:30. So close to the end. This year flashed by. It was insane how quickly it all moved. It was hard to keep up. Tragedy after tragedy but also so many lessons were learned.
Good memories were made throughout the years, even if it was difficult.
Alex looked up to see Thomas taking a sip from their water bottle. Alex found his other hand and held it. Thomas looked down at him and offered the bottle.
Alex politely declined before hugging Thomas's arm.
Alex and Thomas walked down the sidewalk together, their arms linked and their masks on. As they were walking, they talked about work and dinner plans. Suddenly, Alex stopped. "Oh, look, Thomas-"
They stood in front of a pet store. Cats, dogs, birds, and reptiles all looking for homes. Alex pointed at a poster that depicted a variety of different cats.
"That's my favorite," He said, as he pointed at a Siamese cat, "Aren't they adorable?"
Thomas nodded in agreement. "They most certainly are. God, I love cats."
"Me too- I want one so bad."
Thomas laughed it off, squeezing Alex's hand lightly. "Maybe one day, darling."
"I really hope Jackie will be alright with all the noise there is bound to be tonight." Alex said.
"Oh, he will be. We'll just make sure to give him lots of cuddles if he gets scared."
"If we can coax him out from under the furniture."
Russia invaded Ukraine. Only two months into 2022. Alex had a friend who lived in Ukraine.
Thomas and Alex sat together at a restaurant. They were on a date, but all Alex could do was stare at one of the many television screens. Some played sports, but the one Alex was watching showed updates on the state of Ukraine.
It was frightening.
Especially when the civilians did nothing wrong.
Thomas noticed his discomfort and tried to hold his hand across the table.
Alex appreciated the gesture, but it was difficult to shake off the overwhelming feeling of grief.
11:50. Ten more minutes. It was exciting. Exhilarating. Magical. Alex could not believe that in just ten minutes, the year would be over.
Just ten more minutes.
"Happy Birthday, Alex!" Thomas announced, walking into their bedroom with a tray of breakfast foods. Alex set his phone on the bedside table and sat up.
"Oh, Thomas, thank you!"
Thomas gently and carefully set the tray over his lap.
Waffles, eggs, bacon, and a cup of coffee.
"You are the sweetest." Alex said.
He waited for Thomas to lean in so he could give a chaste kiss in thanks.
Alex's palms were becoming sweaty as he unzipped his hoodie pocket and slipped his hand inside. He gently traced the box with his finger, rubbing at the material.
One minute left.
"Five!" Their friends screamed. They were probably breaking COVID mandates, but it was a small party with only a few (Ten. Okay, no more than fifteen. Or sixteen.) close friends Couples found one another. Everyone faced their partner expectantly. Some singles were clinging to platonic best friends and some singles just rolled their eyes.
"Four!" 2021 was almost over.
"THREE!" Everyone was getting louder. Excitement was through the roof. Alex pressed closer to Thomas.
"TWO!" The countdown was almost over. Alex went on his tiptoes. His hands were placed firmly on Thomas's shoulders. Thomas's arms were tight around his waist.
"ONE!" Everyone screamed and the friends without partners clapped and whistled as kisses were exchanged. Confetti poppers were set off as the NYC Square ball had finally descended all the way.
"Next year," Alex said when he finally pulled away from Thomas, "I want to go in person. Wouldn't that be amazing?"
"That sounds like a perfect date night."
John hollers from the other side of the room, "Alright y'all! Still more booze in the kitchen! 2022 has begun and it's time to get FUCKING WASTED!"
Everyone cheered and laughed, ecstatic.
Everyone around them started chanting the numbers, counting down to the end.
Thomas turned expectantly to Alex as they got louder and louder.
"THREE! TWO-"
Alex pulled the box out and dropped to one knee.
"ONE!"
Thomas stood, staring at him in utter shock and disbelief.
He clapped his hands over his mouth, and doubled over. "Oh my god."
Alex could barely hear him over the roaring crowd, most celebrating the new year. Some strangers have started noticing the proposal. They nudged one another, and now they had onlookers, waiting for Thomas's answer.
Thomas started nodding, slowly at first but then he knelt down in front of Alex.
Alex leaned in and asked, since it was too loud otherwise, "Will you marry me?"
Thomas held out his hand and nodded again.
"Yes. Thank you- God, I love you. Oh my god, yes yes."
Alex slipped the ring on Thomas's finger. When they stood and finally shared a kiss, the onlookers watching clapped politely.
Alex pulled away, holding Thomas's hands tight in his own.
The last year had been so hard.
But he had Thomas.
He had his friends.
He had Jackie.
He had his house and his job and so much else to be thankful for.
And now he was on his way to getting married. He hoped 2023 had good things in store for them both.