"Morning, Ma," Philip said, kissing her cheek as he and Theodosia entered the kitchen. "Sleep well?"
"Oh, yes," Eliza responded. She was busy whisking eggs at the counter and kept her focus that way. Philip gave Theodosia a sideways glance, which she quickly returned. The bags under Eliza's eyes were quite prevalent, and based on what Elizabeth had told Philip that night, it was clear she was lying to save face.
"Ma, Theodosia and I have been talking," Philip said carefully. Then, he paused before continuing, placing his hands on Theodosia's on the countertop. "And we want to move in. Just for a little while."
"What for?" She questioned, continuing to work. "Is something wrong?"
"Oh no, nothing's wrong. We just thought it might be easier for you and Theo to run the business from the same home, Angelica and Elizabeth would love to live together, and…" Philip rambled. He tended to do that a lot; people said he got it from his father.
"Philip that doesn't make any Earthly sense," Eliza said with her eyebrows raised, finally stopping her work. She could see the uneasiness on her son's face as well as his wife's.
"Mom, this isn't easy for me to say," Philip began. "But I feel as if I've earned my right. Theodosia and I don't get much sleep, and due to that fact, we've heard you crying during the night." Eliza opened her mouth to say something, but Philip quickly cut her off. "Elizabeth has been crying too, Mom. I know I'm not exaggerating."
"She has?" Eliza asked, her eyes becoming distracted, swirling her coffee and watching the ripples. "Oh." Suddenly, her face looked incredibly defeated. "I suppose it has been getting bad again. When the summer comes, it always gets a little bit worse."
"Please Ma, just let us stay. It'll be fun for all of us," Philip persuaded.
"Yes, Eliza, please," Theodosia mimicked, her eyes bright and smile wide. Theodosia had never felt comfortable calling Eliza mom, especially due to her own mom's death. Besides, she and Eliza ran the orphanage together. They were partners and neither one was above the other.
"I suppose that would be alright," Eliza said. The married couple smiled and watched as Eliza allowed one to escape onto her face as well.
About a half an hour or so later, when breakfast was ready and all of the kids were seated at the table, laughing and trying to eat before everything was gone, Philip prepared to tell them the news. Alex was grumbling about having to sit with the rest of the family, but that wasn't new for him. He was normally holed up in his room studying or doing god knows what. Philip kept shooting him looks of displeasure, but Alex only rolled his eyes in response. His little brother wasn't so little anymore, and unfortunately he was having a difficult time growing up. When Philip lost his sister and father, he had already grown up and had passed the overemotional teenage phase. When their father died, Alex was by no means stable and ever since had become bitter and guarded, something Eliza had a difficult time dealing with.
John and Alex had been really good friends growing up, but that had since changed. Alex deemed himself to be 'to old to hang out with John anymore' and slowly drew away from him and began hanging out with his jackass high school friends instead. As John got older, he became more quiet and reserved, sticking to his studies rather than speaking. Eliza often joked that she didn't know where his qualities came from, but Philip knew that it was tradgedy that had struck the ambitious kid he once knew.
Angelica and Elizabeth always had to sit next to each other. They had a million inside jokes that not one other Hamilton was clued into. They were always giggling and whispering about one thing or another. Angelica had had a pretty decent life; her parents provided for her every step of the way and guarded her from the evil that surrounded their world. She was a generally happy kid, and every day reminded Philip of Theodosia. Elizabeth, on the other hand, had eyes that looked years older than her small body would have had you convinced. She had felt and seen pain more than any other eight year old should feel in their life. Her sleepless nights had taken a toll on her smile, but she forced herself to seem happy on a daily basis. Nothing hurt Philip more then to see Elizabeth cry. She was his gift from Angelica after her death, and yet he couldn't seem to make her happy. But he sure as hell was going to try. She was his little sister.
James, the smallest of the Hamiltons, was born a year or so before his father died. He was only three, still a child, and the happiest baby they had ever seen. Eliza and Philip hoped and prayed to god that he would stay that way.
"Hey guys listen up for a second!" Forks were placed down on plates and last bites were taken as Philip stood up at the head of the table to make his announcement. "Mom, Theo and I have some news for you." Even Alex waited expectantly for Philip to continue. "Theo, Angelica and I are moving in for awhile."
"Really?" Angelica gasped and quickly turned to Elizabeth with the biggest smile plastered on her face. Elizabeth returned the excitement, though slightly less heightened.
She then turned her attention to Philip, obviously thinking about her episode late last night with him. "Why?" She asked with a look of worry on her face.
"Your Mom and I have some business adventures we're trying to take on at the orphanage and it's going to take up a lot of time. Besides, it'll be like a fun vacation for the summer!" Theodosia explained when Philip struggled to answer.
"Okay, I guess that'll be fun," Elizabeth responded, still uneasy.
"It'll be so much fun," Phillip said warmly, placing a hand on Elizabeth's shoulder. "We'll all be together."