Chapter Text
“Marcus, you checked everything?” Eliza asked, fastening Philip into his carseat. “Be good for your brothers,” she whispered to Philip, gently booping his nose and handing him his favorite toy.
“He checked everything four times,” Kloe said, fastening her seatbelt.
“I’m sure he did,” Eliza said, coming through the center aisle of the car, “but I need verbal confirmation. Kloe made a “that’s fair” face as Eliza hopped out of the car and walked around into the driver’s seat. As she buckled her seatbelt, Laurens shut the trunk (quietly, so not to disturb Philip) and walked around to the front passenger seat.
“Remind me why I’m in the back?” Alexander grumbled, holding the door open so Marcus and the younger Alex could take their seats in the very back, on either side of Philip.
“Because you’re useful, but not that useful,” Laurens deadpanned.
Marcus spoke before Alexander could reply. “I made sure we have everything, Ma. Extra stuff for Philip, warm clothes, my weighted blanket, Kloe’s retainer, your phone charger. The cooler is full of everything we need for dinner, and I helped Alex-”
“He means me,” the younger Alex clarified.
“-pack to make sure he didn’t forget anything. Same with Kloe. And I’ve got food and milk for Philip with me.”
Eliza grinned at him through the rearview mirror. “My sweet boy. Good job, Marcus. Alright, then. Let’s hit the road!”
Kloe whooped enthusiastically as the car pulled out onto the street. “This weekend is gonna be so much fun!”
“Well, it was until you said that,” Laurens said. “Now we’re all going to leave miserable and tired.”
“Nope!” Kloe said defiantly, sitting up straighter and squaring her shoulders, but maintaining her sweet, youthful smile. “I refuse to be upset or allow anything to ruin my Thanksgiving.”
“That may be out of your control,” Marcus said, leaning forward to get a better look at his sister. “Angelica is bringing her beau.”
“She’s what ?” Alexander squawked. He grabbed the back of Laurens’ seat and pushed his head into the space between the driver and front passenger seat. “Why wasn’t I told about this?”
Eliza sighed. “You were, Alexander. Dad insisted on everyone coming home this year, and said that significant others wouldn’t get in the way of it. Hence why you and John are here and not in Mount Vernon.”
“And what, no one else was stupid enough to invite Jefferson?”
“You say that like he’s the only one coming. Peggy’s bringing Maria, Jeremy and Church are driving up together with Moony, and Angelica is still going to be there. He doesn’t overshadow her existence, you know.”
“If anything, it’s the other way around,” Alex the younger argued.
“That’s just what she does,” said Laurens. “Peggy once got into a fight with Neil DeGrasse Tyson over whether or not the universe rotates around Angelica. Peggy was on space’s side.”
Kloe bounced happily in her seat. “This is going to be so much fun.”
Careful not to disturb the sleeping baby, Eliza liberated Philip’s car seat from the seat belt holding it and handed it to Alexander.
“I’m giving you precious cargo so you don’t go picking fights right away,” she said, closing the car door behind her. Alexander sighed, but made no protest.
“What’s this about precious cargo?” Philip Schuyler’s voice boomed as he came down the gravel driveway, arms open as Kloe and Marcus ran up to give him a hug. “Oh, is it this?” he asked, pointing to the two teenagers hugging him. “Well, I’ve got this all taken care of. I will guard it to the end of my days. Hand to God, Betsey.”
Eliza laughed. “Daddy, I was talking about the baby, not the Babs.”
Philip Schuyler made a disappointed face. “Ah, I see. Can I keep these anyways?” He asked hopefully. Marcus had already let go, but Kloe giggled and snuggled further into her adopted grandfather’s side.
Eliza smiled fondly at the sight. “For the weekend, yes. After that, they gotta come home with me. Sorry, Pops.”
“No she’s not,” Laurens stage-whispered, coming to stand next to Alexander. Eliza shot him a non-threatening glare, which he refuted with a cheeky smile. “Senator Schuyler, it’s good to finally meet you.” Laurens walked towards Philip Schuyler, who was already prepared with an outstretched hand.
Schuyler shook Laurens’ hand firmly. “Likewise, mister Laurens. From what I’ve heard about you from Peggy and seen of your show, you’re nothing like I remember your father being.”
Laurens grinned from ear to ear. “Sir, I think that’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
Schuyler laughed heartily. “Please, call me Philip. ‘Sir’ is too formal. I think we’re going to be good friends, you and I.” He clapped Laurens on the back and turned to face Alexander, Eliza, and the kids. “You guys don’t need to unpack just yet, by the way. You’ve been driving all day; I don’t want you to be more tired.”
Kloe whooped, having dreaded carrying her suitcase up several flights of stairs. “Thanks, Pops! Who else is here, anyways?”
“John, PJ, Peggy, and her girlfriend. And the dog. John’s dog. I got a text about ten minutes ago; Angie should be about a half hour away by now.”
“Just Angelica?” Alexander asked hopefully.
Schuyler shook his head, holding in a chuckle. “Nope. Sorry to rain on your parade, but he’s still coming.”
Alexander sighed. “All right, then. Let’s head inside. I bet Kloe’s dying to give the tour.”
“That I am!” Kloe agreed, grabbing Laurens and Alex the younger’s hands and running inside, effortlessly dragging them behind her. “This house is the coolest!”
As she walked through the front door to her father’s house, Angelica was greeted by the world’s happiest beagle. Moony rain around and between her legs with his tail wagging violently. Laughing, Angelica walked forward carefully, making room for her boyfriend to come through the door without stepping on Moony. Once Jefferson was inside and the door was shut, Angelica knelt down and scratched Moony behind the ears, delighting in the way his little face lit up. She allowed him to give her two kisses on the face before standing up right as Church came in.
“There they are!” he said, coming up to give Angelica a hug and shake Jefferson’s hand. “Everyone’s hanging out in the kitchen. Oh, and the closet’s right there,” he pointed to his left. “For your coat, Jefferson.”
Thomas thanked Church and, after putting away his coat, followed Angelica through her father’s house to the kitchen. Church had not been exaggerating when he said everyone was there. It was a large kitchen with lots of standing room. All the Schuylers in name (save Angelica, for obvious reasons) were monitoring some food item or another. Two of Eliza’s kids were talking to Peggy, who was gesturing animatedly with one hand while mixing what appeared to be a pot of mashed potatoes. The third was sitting on a corner of the counter, reading a book, and the baby was bouncing happily on the hip of Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton, thankfully, had his back turned for the moment. Thomas took a moment to take a deep breath in preparation. Angelica bumped her hand against his. You’ll live, don’t worry. At this point he couldn’t tell if the soothing female voice was Angelica’s or Martha’s. They had begun to blend together in the past months.
“About damn time!” Peggy said, abandoning her post to go hug her elder sister.
Eliza, too, rushed over to greet Angelica. Thomas stepped aside self-consciously. It was already too awkward. Church gave him a pitying look. “It’s always like this,” Church whispered. “Don’t worry, it’s not you.”
“I heard that,” Angelica said in an irritated tone, still hugging Eliza.
Church shrugged. “Well, excuse me for trying to be helpful.”
“Aww, Churchy’s soo sweet,” Peggy teased, pinching Church’s cheek. She turned her bright smile - the one you only saw around friends or family - to Thomas, and he instinctively took a half step back. Noticing the movement, Peggy laughed. “No need to be worried, silly. I don’t bite on holidays. C’mon; selfie time.” And before Thomas could fully compute it, Peggy had pulled out her phone, gotten right next to him, and snapped a picture. “That wasn’t so bad, was it?” Feeling like a child at one of his father’s big parties, Thomas simply shook his head. Peggy seemed to like that answer.
“Thomas, have you ever met my kids?” Eliza asked, having unwound herself from Angelica.
“Not officially, no. But I’ve heard plenty about them,” he replied, thankful his voice was working properly.
Eliza smiled. It was unnerving how purely good her smile was. Her whole face was kindness and compassion, and for the hundredth time, Thomas wondered how on earth Hamilton ever managed to woo someone like Eliza Schuyler.
“Well, now’s as good a time as any,” Eliza said, shaking Thomas out of his thoughts. “Over there is Kloe,”
“Hi!” the girl said, grinning and waving.
“And next to her is Alex.” The boy was less enthusiastic as his sister, but he did wave and smile slightly. “Marcus is over there,” she pointed to the boy in the corner. He raised his hand in greeting, but refused to look up from his book. “And Philip is...” Eliza turned around to see Hamilton still standing with his back to Thomas. The baby’s head was peeking up over Hamilton’s shoulder. Eliza sighed. “Well, there’s his face. Dad, do you mind?”
“Not at all,” Philip Schuyler said. He walked up to Hamilton, grabbed onto his shoulders, and flipped him around. As per usual, his disdain was clear on his face, but it was slightly cancelled out by the adorableness of the baby he was holding.
“There he is,” Eliza said, now satisfied.
Philip Schuyler the elder came up and shook Thomas’ hand. “Sorry about that,” he whispered.
Thomas shrugged. “I probably would have done the same, given the option.”
Hamilton opened his mouth, but was (thankfully) interrupted by the slamming of a screen door. John Laurens and the eldest - and only - Schuyler son (Jeremiah? Jeremy? Maybe both?) came into the kitchen carrying a large tray between the two of them.
“Dead bird coming through!” Laurens called, looking to his sides as he walked backwards into the kitchen. Moving quickly but deliberately, Laurens and Philip Jeremiah (if Thomas remembered correctly) came into the kitchen and placed the large tray, which presumably contained the turkey, on the kitchen island. Once it was in place, both the men took a step back and breathed a satisfied sigh of relief.
“And you’re sure it’s done?” Eliza asked, walking over to the island to inspect the turkey.
Laurens nodded firmly. “The dead bird is now edibly dead!”
Kloe wrinkled her nose. “Do you have to say it like that?”
“Yep!” Laurens replied cheerfully. “Is everything else done?”
Peggy did a quick look around the kitchen and nodded. “Cranberry sauce, potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, stuffing, rolls, and ham are all ready to go. And the pies just need to be heated up, so we’re all set. I think Maria just finished setting the table, so everyone can grab a dish and start moseying on over for dinner.”
Angelica raised an eyebrow in surprise. “You guys got everything done already? We’ve been here three minutes!”
Jeremy shrugged. “There’s a lot more of us this year. Besides, both Dad and Eliza prepped stuff way in advance.”
“There’s nothing wrong with being prepared!” Eliza declared as she went into the dining room, carrying a tray of green bean casserole. Kloe and the younger Alexander followed behind her like ducklings, each carrying their own tray.”
Angelica put her hand on Thomas’ shoulder. “C’mon,” she said gently, “before the food gets cold.”