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Alexander crumpled to the ground with a broken scream.
Samuel Seabury stayed in the shadows, choking on a sob he fought to keep silent, before rushing away lest anyone spot the sobbing man and question where his loyalties lay.
He wouldn't have an answer.
For years, he watched Alexander from afar, becoming best friends with his wife without his knowledge. He watched the man from afar, yearning for his gaze with all of his heart. Eliza had listened to him rant about Alexander; her eyes not filled with anger that he was enthralled with her husband, but of understanding.
He stopped at the river, bending down and splashing water on his face, allowing himself to sob, tears rolling down his face as he remembered everything. Eliza had finally stepped away, and they had been so happy together!
"I couldn't have this one thing?!" Samuel screamed out to the sky, as if questioning the universe itself, "I've given my entire life to the monarchy, and the one time I want something of my own it gets ripped from my hands?"
Arms wrapped around Samuel's waist, a head falling onto his shoulder as the person sobbed. Instinctively, he brought his hand up, quickly realizing it was Eliza.
Eliza sobbed against Samuel's shoulder, not caring that mud was getting on her dress, "The doctor was too late... I should've been there! He died before I could even say goodbye! He had to get into a duel, he just had to! And now look at where that's gotten him? Dead, that's where!"
Samuel brought his hand up, tangling his fingers in her hair and rubbing her head in what he hoped was a soothing manner, doing everything possible in his power not to break down in front of his best friend.
Eliza shook, shifting to be in front of him, practically in his lap as she sobbed harder, and Samuel broke down as well, clutching her tightly, tears rolling down both of their faces, soaking each other's clothes. He knew she would feel just as badly, he knew that she still had feelings and pushed them down for Samuel's sake, and goddamnit if he didn't regret using her in the first place. They were amazing friends, and he knew the guilt would forever lay on his shoulders that he had once used her.
"I'm so sorry- I know you wanted to stop him- I know you need to sustain your royal duties Samuel. I should've known to stop him. He would've listened to me," Eliza apologized, "I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry!"
"Hey, don't apologize," Samuel responded, tilting his chin up, looking at her through tears, "I don't blame you. You barely even knew. You had only 30 minutes before the duel, and you know how Alexander is... That would never have been enough time..."
"You mean how Alexander was..." Eliza responded bitterly, "All because of his pride..."
Samuel started sobbing again, and this time Eliza was being the comforter; running her hand through the Brit's hair as he sobbed, his shoulders shaking with every single gut-wrenching sob.
"Hey, messenger boy?" Eliza said softly. Samuel looked up, responding to the old name with a bittersweet smile, "We still have each other, and someone has to take care of the kids, and Lord knows I can't do it alone."
Samuel laughed weakly, pulling away and wiping his face again, standing. He helped Eliza up as well. "I guess it's back to what we were in 1788?"
Eliza grinned, standing, "Thought you'd never ask, messenger boy." Samuel gasped at Eliza, and she laughed, "I'm just playing, you're just my best friend, but now you're helping me parent the kids and continue his legacy!"
"Right, right, obviously." Samuel breathed out a sigh of relief, old guilt releasing itself from his shoulders. At least this time he wasn't using her, and they could be friends that co-parented, without the old, previous guilt.
END