Chapter Text
'I'm sure you've felt helpless before... everybody has. Not quite as helpless as I have been feeling, lately,' Alexander paused, sticking his tongue out, 'I don't know why we're in this strange place, now. I guess I wasn't in control (That's what Peggy says, when something happens that I don't remember) when we got taken. Apparently our dad wasn't really our dad. We've been kidnapped! Isn't that crazy?'
"Alexander!"
Alexander closed his book, setting it on the desk of his room, "Coming, Miss. Washington!" He stepped lightly down the stairs quickly, not wanting to make the woman angry.
Martha Washington waited for the boy to come downstairs, holding a plate of macaroni, "Sit down, I want to get to know you."
'MAC AND CHEESE!? I SMELL MAC AND CHEESE,' Thomas screamed in Alexander's ear as he sat down and watched Martha slide the plate in front of Alexander. The boy disassociated for a long moment, before he grinned, "Thank you, Miss!"
Martha watched the boy take a huge bite, chuckling, mentally taking note of the dissociation; something to bring up with his assigned therapist tomorrow. "I see that you love macaroni, is that your favorite food?"
Thomas nodded quickly, then started listing off everyone else's favorite foods, "We- I also like Alfredo, croissants, and seafood!"
Martha nodded, studying the boy, "So, Alex." Thomas didn't respond for a moment, before jumping, realizing his mistake, and paying attention to the woman, "Do you wish to talk about what happened, or would you like to talk about yourself?"
"I don't remember much of what happened, maybe ask another time, but uh, I like pretty much anything," Thomas shrugged, mentally yelling at himself for not responding to Alexander's name.
"Hm," Martha hummed, "Do you like anything specific?"
"History. Specifically WW2, the French Revolution and the American revolution, I LOVE the musical Hamilton. DID YOU KNOW?!" Thomas raised his voice excitedly, "It was the ONLY thing I've EVER watched!? I LOVE IT SO MUCH!"
Martha jumped, then chuckled quietly, "I see that you're a big-"
Thomas gasped loudly, "YOU AND MR. WASHINGTON HAVE THE SAME NAMES AS- AS THE FIRST PRESIDENT AND HIS WIFE!"
Martha looked surprised for a moment, "I actually never realized that... GEORGE!" George walked up to the railing on the second floor that overlooked the kitchen, "Did you know that we have the same names as the first president and his wife?"
"Yes, I've known," He responded, exasperated, "I've seen Hamilton in person twice, obviously I know about that detail." He looked at Thomas, who was staring, "And that also resulted in Lin-Manuel Miranda personally speaking with me, Alexander."
"WHAT?!" Thomas screeched.
George burst out laughing, holding the railing for support, and it wasn't until Martha asked what was so funny that he answered, "I just realized, one second," He took a moment to compose himself, "So many people think of Hamilton as Washington's son, right? Well we got Alexander right here."
Thomas practically beamed, "ITS CANON! ITS CANON!"
'What's canon?' Alexander came into headspace, trying to hear himself over Thomas' cheering.
'Hamilton is canonically Washington's son because of us,' He responded mentally, grinning outwardly like a fool, "You've met THEE Lin-Manuel Miranda?!" Thomas then asked, looking extremely excited, "I've always wanted to watch it in person!"
"We'll have to arrange that then," George grinned, before disappearing momentarily, reappearing at the base of the stairs. The three laughed for the first time of many that would soon follow, but alas, good things rarely ever stay good.
~~~
Alexander laid in his bed, staring at a shadow the curtains had cast.
Eliza appeared in headspace, 'You alright?'
Alexander nodded outwardly- trying to hide his turmoil as he kept staring at the shadow, and Eliza went quiet. Alexander could see her sit beside the window in a beanbag, staring at the field, which had started to turn gray and depressing. 'Alex- you really shouldn't be fronting right now. Let me take care of it, take care of the memories.'
'Eliza-' Alexander responded, rolling onto his back, breaking his gaze away, 'You know that's not your job. But I guess that's what caused me to remember in the first place. Mariah just HAD to form, didn't she? She just had to! I hate her I hate her I hate her!'
Eliza's lips tightened in a straight line, 'You know it wasn't her fault. And no, it wasn't your fault either. You were five. FIVE! You had no idea of what the man was doing, just like you don't remember being kidnapped. We're here to help you.'
'I just wish I could've been normal,' Alexander responded, hugging his pillow and sobbing outwardly, 'I wish we were just one person. I want to remember things without forgetting and feeling stupid...'
A light flicked on in the hallway, and Alexander quickly wiped his face and turned away from the door. Martha knocked on his door, "Alexander? Kiddo, I heard crying, are you alright?"
Alexander pretended to sleep. When he didn't respond, she pushed the door open, sitting down beside the small boy, running her hand through his long, black hair, moving it from his face and smiling, "It's going to be alright... You're going to be okay. I promise."
Martha pressed a kiss to Alexander's temple, tucking the blankets tighter around the 11 year old, standing up and leaving the room.
'See, Alex?' Eliza spoke, 'You are normal, now go to sleep.'
'Shut up,' Alexander responded, but closed his eyes, albeit begrudgingly.