Alexander

I stomped into the house. How dare Washington? It didn't matter that, in the part of my heart that no one knew about, in the secluded darkness of my mind–because that was what my mind was, darkness–I did consider Washington a father.

On the long, long walk home, I'd reflected on why I'd exploded that way. Washington was my father.

Why'd I gotten so mad?

I didn't know. In any case, it didn't give him the right to–

"Alexander," my darling, my love, my Eliza said.

"Eliza, I love you so much," I answered. She smiled.

"I have some good news for you."

"Let's hear it," I answered.

"Come inside. Alex, I… I'm pregnant."

I froze on the spot. Most men would have immediately jumped up, hugged their wives and talked about how excited they were. It was what Eliza was clearly expecting.

What she wasn't expecting, however, was for my face to fall, or for my eyes to widen in fear.

However, that was my precise reaction, and I could tell Eliza noticed. I saw her face fall in a look of obvious disappointment and sadness, and instantly I felt so guilty.

However, while I would have apologized and put on an excited mask, I couldn't actually summon up the energy needed to do it. I hadn't realized how much the war had affected my overall health until now.

Instead, my overeager mouth got the better of me, and I did something I would regret for years afterwards.

I asked, "how long have you known?"

Eliza walked over to me, took my hand, and dragged me to her–our bed. I complied, exhausted.

"A month or so," she said, after addressing my small wounds from the skirmishes with British troops on the way back.

"Eliza, you should've told me," I replied. There was no anger of malice in my tone or expression. I was simply expressing a wish that I knew would never come true.

"I'm not sorry. I knew you'd fight until the war was won–" she started, but–of course, when would I ever be able to shut up–I had to interrupt.

"The war's not done."

She smiled, wrapping an arm around me.

"I know, but you deserve a chance to meet your son. Look around, look around," she started singing, an old lullaby she used to comfort her younger sister when she had a bad nightmare. I hummed along, too worn out to do anything else.

"Look at where you are, look at where you started. The fact that you're alive is a miracle, just stay alive, that would be enough," she sang. I was nearly asleep when she was done, but then she did what I hadn't expected her to do.

"And if this child shares a fraction of your smile, or a fragment of your mind, look out world, that would be enough," she improvised. I smiled, drawing her beautiful body closer and feeling the small heartbeat of the baby.

"I don't pretend to know the challenges you're facing, the worlds you keep erasing and creating in your mind, but I'm not afraid. I know who I married, so long as you come home at the end of the day, that would be enough."

I beamed. Eliza truly was beautiful, she truly was amazing, she truly was… she truly was the love of my life. I couldn't imagine ever living another, other than perhaps John.

"We don't need a legacy," she continued, "we don't need money, if I could grant you peace of mind, if you could let me inside your heart. Oh, let me be a part of the narrative, in the story they will write someday. Let this moment be the first chapter, where you decide to stay… and I could be enough. And we could be enough. That would be enough."

"Eliza, what did I do to deserve a woman like you?" I asked.

It was true. I did not deserve Eliza in the slightest. Why she would ever choose to live with a goddamned bastard like me, I would never know.

She smiled. "You caught my eye at the ball a long, long time ago. Remember that night?"

"I could never forget it. Eliza, remember that you are truly the love of my life, and I do not know what I'd do without you."

"Alexander, go to sleep. I don't want you getting sick."

I leaned against the pillows. Next thing I knew, it was morning.

This was such an amazing oneshot to write. I will likely do more oneshots like these in the future.

Feel free to request a song!

I have the honour to be your obedient servant.