Small hopes

Chapter 1: starting the journey

I've noticed how few liberty's kid multi-chapter fanfics there are, so I've decided to write my own. Now, this is a slight AU, with a major focus on both shipping and adventure, so some things will be changed. I will try to keep major events in the show mostly the same, and I wouldn't even dare changing any major historical happening (maybe just the little ones). I may rework the dialog also, but I will keep key words and phrases. There will also be a focus on what is going on behind the scenes, so to speak. The main characters will still be on their suspended growth for the sake of the plot, but I may end it at some point.

This whole thing actually came about from me taking APUSH, and remembering this show as being accurate for the American Revolution. I found the whole series on YouTube, and as I watched, I found myself pleasantly surprised by how original, intelligent, and just plain good it was. I just had to write a fanfic, at least, just one.

I don't own liberties kids.

Sarah's POV

July 1773

Sarah Phillips did not harbor much hope for the future. True, she was an idealist and a born optimist, but one cannot help being sad when you are to leave the only home you've known all your life, London, the center of culture and sophistication in the empire, for a city way out in the boom hicks, living and working for a man she'd only meet twice and promised to marry a man who she'd never exchanged two words with. Her mother sent her, not because she wanted Sarah to make a home for herself in the new world or to experience life beyond England, but because the family was bankrupt. The Phillips were a proud family, and with Major Phillips, her father, vanished in the wilderness, their way of finical support was gone. Rather than save their money, her mother insisted that the keep up appearances of wealth, valuing her pride and possessions more than her daughter's future.

Soon, her mother began to sell their silver, their paintings, and all the fine things Sarah would have gained upon their death. Sarah's mother also began to search for a husband for Sarah, but the family's low income and status, Sarah's fiery temper, and the fact that Sarah was a bit plain, at least by London standards, made this a hopeless effort. All seemed lost until dr. franklin offered Sarah's mother of an option: Sarah would come to Philadelphia, work in his print shop, and when the time came, marry his apprentice, James hiller, who dr. franklin would leave his fortune to when he died. In return, franklin would send her mother 15 pounds per week as Sarah's salary (Sarah would keep 5 pounds for personal expenses), and upon Sarah's marriage to the apprentice, she would receive a bridal payment of 1,500 pounds. All this was kept as quite as possible to save the precious Phillips pride. Sarah's mother willingly agreed, and plans were made for Sarah to leave on the first ship to the colonies in two months, the Dartmouth.

Sarah would be making the long journey alone, due to dr. franklin's need to testify in the trial to appeal the stamp act. The voyage would take 6-10 weeks, and once she arrived in Boston, Dr. Franklin's people (including her intended) would escort her to Philadelphia. A man named Moses was to be the chaperone on this leg, making sure that Sarah and James weren't engaged in any matter that was, "ahem" inappropriate. Aside from dr. franklin, Lady Phillips, her intended, and herself, Moses was the only one to know of their engagement. Once they reached Philadelphia, Sarah would work in the print shop as a typesetter, housekeeper, and cook until her intended came of age or Dr. Franklin died, whichever came first. After such events, Sarah and James would marry, and look after the print shop.

Sarah spent the next two months packing what little was left of her things and saying good bye to her friends. The official story that Sarah's mother told her friends was that Sarah was settling into the Ohio valley with her father. Lady Phillips was to stay at home and manage their London estate while Sarah and Major Phillips founded an estate in the territory. Sarah's mother was so ashamed what had to be done, she would scarcely look at her for the months. To be in debut was one thing, but to be so far in debut that one had to "sell" their only daughter was another. Lady Phillips was a proud lady, and she knew that the idle gossip at court would be tremendous. A proper girl from a good, if not low ranking, noble family working a job and marrying a poor colonial orphan boy? The court's appetite for gossip would have been feed for months, or until a new scandal arouse. Better to let the court think that Sarah was dead in some far off wilderness than married to a moderately well off colonial orphan. Sarah once tried to write her intended a letter, but her mother had torn it up when she tried to mail it.

"You can't trust the mail on matters like this. Postmen are paid to spread gossip by certain parties," her mother explained, "and a proper English girl writing a letter to a colonial boy she'd never meet was cause enough for gossip."

September 1773

The day had finally arrived for Sarah to leave her old life behind and start a new one. Sarah awoke early in the morning, made herself breakfast, and ate it in a timely manner. Sarah's mother walked down the stairs, and seeing her daughter at the table, announced loudly," well, today's the day!" that was all her mother had to say about the fact that her daughter was leaving for the other side of the world and would never see her home again. Sarah went upstairs to pack the last for her things in her bag. The room that she had slept in since she was born was stripped bare. The clothes that had so often been piled across the floor were pack away neatly. The bed that had been so often unmade was stripped of its sheets and curtains, sold save for one quilt that would accompany Sarah on her journey. The writing desk, so often cluttered with paper and pens was bare except for a few ink stains. The desk was to be the last thing to be sold, used to pay for Sarah's passage to the new world.

The carriage arrived promptly at 9:00, and by the time all of her worldly belongings, four bags of clothes and a trunk of books and personal items, were in, it was already 9:30. This was some cause for hurry, because the harbor was hours away, but the cabby reassured the Phillips women that he was the fastest cabby in all of England. Sarah had doubts though, but it was too late to voice them by the time the carriage began its bumpy journey.

"Sarah, even though you're moving the colonies, you must remember all I've taught you about maintaining a proper household. Now, when a maid has stolen something from you…" Sarah was too deep in thought to pay attention to her mother's prattling about housekeeping. Her mother had explained this all before, but this was housekeeping for England, the new world was totally different. She would not be Lady Phillips when she grew older. Indeed, she would not be lady anything. She would simply be Sarah hiller, high class wife of a simple colonial printer. Removed forever from the parties and balls she had gone to since she became of age, her new life would probably revolve around fighting savages and putting up with the strange man would become her husband. Questions had filled Sarah's head on this subject since her mother had agreed to the engagement. What kind of a man was this James hiller? Was he kind? Handsome? Intelligent? Sarah would only know when her ship landed.

"Sarah, are you listening to me?" Her mother's words snapped her out of her thoughts.

"Yes mother." Sarah quickly lied. Her mother shot her a dirty look. "No mother." She sheepishly admitted.

SMACK! Sarah felt the sting of the slap before she could brace herself. "What have I told you about lying?"

"That it is a bad habit, not befitting a proper English woman from a respectable family." Sarah replied. When Sarah was a little girl, she had had a bit of a naughty streak in her. She would run through the mud, rip her dress, and most often lie. Her father didn't mind the first two, but lying was another matter. Sarah had gone to bed without supper for lying so much that she became rather thin. Once Major Phillips had left, Sarah's mother decided that a new punishment would do better. Quite simply, every time Sarah lied, her mother slapped her. After the slap, Lady Phillips would prompt Sarah to repeat a saying that her grandmother had coined. The fear of the slapped was enough most of the time for Sarah to stop lying, but she still slipped up every once and a while. That was the one good thing about going to the colonies: no one would slap her for lying.

"Now, as I was saying, your behavior in the colonies is a reflection of the Phillips family. Dr. Franklin is probably the most famous man in the colonies, and will probably receive many upper-class guests. Now, most of these men rich, handsome men, and if the wish so strikes you…" Sarah couldn't take what her mother was implying! He mother had just lectured her about being honest and proper behavior, and here she was trying to get Sarah to run off with some southern planter!

"Mother! Pardon me saying this, but are you asking me to run off with a strange man?" Sarah was smart enough this time to brace herself for the smack.

"Of course not! I'm just reminding you to keep your options open. Just because one is engaged doesn't mean one is married. A rich, southern planter is better than a well off northern printer! You can only change your status via marriage once, so you should be aware of all your options." Lady Phillips barked gloomily. "I for one was engaged to a wealthy merchant before I meet your father. That didn't stop me and it shouldn't stop you."

Fortunately for Sarah, they arrived at the harbor. Another half hour was spent loading Sarah's worldly possessions onto the boat. At last, the time came to say the final goodbyes. As Sarah gave her mother a goodbye hug, Lady Phillips whispered," remember Sarah: keep your options open." Letting go, her mother added," I have so much faith in you. Don't mess this up." With a pat on her arm, Lady Phillips turned her back on her daughter, and got into the carriage. The last time Sarah would ever even see her mother, she was barking orders at the cabby. Sarah then grabbed her stuff, turned her back on her old life, and walked abroad the ship sailing to her new life.

So that's chapter one! Please comment and fav at your will (although, these things will make me work faster)!