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The Marquis de Lafayette sat with his dear friends, his military family, as Washington would say. As their previous conversation faded out into comfortable silence, Lafayette could not help but allow his mind to wander.
He thought about how dear these moments were to him. His thought about his friends—the friends he'd made in America—which were so pleasantly different than the ones he'd made in France.
He thought about what danger they were all in. Naturally, of course. It was war. They could not expect peace.
He thought about what would become of them after the war. He knew it would not be the same, as is the inevitability of change. But he hoped that they would stay close.
Lafayette was suddenly snapped out of his thoughts by none other than one of the friends he was thinking about, Alexander Hamilton.
"Gilbert! Are you alright? You've just been staring off into the distance for a while." Hamilton said, holding his hand out to Lafayette. Lafayette took Hamilton's hand quickly and allowed Hamilton help him up.
"I am alright. I was just… thinking." Lafayette replied quickly, awkwardly.
"About what, my friend?" Hamilton questioned. It was only then that Lafayette realized everybody else was nowhere to be found. They had already gone to their tents, presumably.
Lafayette did not respond for a few moments, merely walking alongside Hamilton.
"About you." A pause. "And everyone else, obviously." Lafayette added quickly, flustered.
Hamilton grinned. "Obviously." He teased. "But tell me, surely that was not the entirety of it? I am sure you thought about other things."
"I was thinking about what will happen after the war. To our friends. To us." Lafayette stated, turning his head to look away.
"If we make it to the end of the war." Hamilton muttered.
"Hamilton. Do not say that." Lafayette replied.
"I have no plans for my future after this war."
"That is a lie."
"My dream is to die on the battlefield, in glory." Hamilton said, solemnly, which was slightly alarming to Lafayette.
Lafayette's breath hitched slightly. "You told me a few days ago of your studies and how you wished to become a lawyer. Surely you cannot have such contrasting opinions from that day and now." Lafayette said, nearly in disbelief.
"It's complicated." Hamilton replied.
"Alexander. Promise me you are not serious. Please." Lafayette urged, voice quivering.
Hamilton nearly looked shocked. "What?"
"Do you not realize how much you mean to me? How much you mean to Laurens? How important you are to Washington? You speak as if we are irrelevant, as if we do not care about you." Lafayette said, hurt.
"I suppose I haven't thought about it."
"Promise me you do not mean what you said minutes ago." Lafayette repeated.
Hamilton looked at him for a minute before responding. "I promise." He whispered, reaching out to hold Lafayette's hands in his.
"Thank you." Lafayette said, voice still quiet.