Standing behind the counter, Eliza whispered to Peggy, "Seriously. Have those two stopped talking at all?"

The younger Schuyler snorted. "No. They haven't stopped eating either. Or drinking coffee. Alex doesn't know yet, but the last five times I've refilled his mug I gave him decaf!" The sisters had been watching the two men for the past two hours, enjoying watching their friends animated discussions. Eliza had never seen either of them look so content.

Eliza leaned over and planted a kiss on Peggy's head. "You're a good friend, little one. Both of them deserve tto be happy, and now they are."

"Of course they're happy. They're dorks who have spent the last hour discussing Star Wars, classical literature, and now Harry potter. Why wouldn't they be happy?" Eliza laughed at Peggy's face.

"You're just jealous they haven't asked you what your house is, aren't you." She teased. Seeing Peggy's pout she giggled and pushed her towards the table. "Here, take this coffee to them and be the Puff we know you are!" Looking up at the sound of the door opening she said "Hey Laf! Its about time you got here!"

The man she was talking to grinned at her." Ma chére, if I had know you missed me this much I would have been in much earlier." He blew her a kiss and laughed when she blushed. "Have you seen my wayward roommate yet today? I woke up and he wasn't there."

Eliza gestured toward the table where Alexander, John, and Peggy were sitting and laughing. "He's here. Peggy invited him to come in to talk and he and Alex hit it off!"

Lafayette looked back at her with surprise, having looked to see where she was pointing. "Oh, now who do we have here? He is cute, non?" He came around the counter to stand next to Eliza, so he could see the table better and not be quite as obvious about observing them. "Is this why John came home in a daze last night?"

Eliza laughed. "Quite possibly! Peggy said they BOTH were a little... Awestruck... Last night." Turning towards Layfayette, she continued." Now... You give me the dirt on how John acted last night, and I will tell you all about Alex."

Knowing this was about to be good, Lafayette leaned in close. "You have a deal! Now, tell me everything!"


What the hell? Is someone watching me?! Alex had been mid sentence when he stopped talking. He looked around, and spotted Eliza and the newcomer watching him. He was giving them a funny look when he realized someone was saying is name.

"Alex. Alex! You OK?" He jumped as John touched his shoulder. He couldn't help it, it was like a spark running through his veins every time they touched. He was so caught up in it he didn't see Peggys smirk.

"Yeah, I'm good. I just felt like someone was watching me. Turns out it was Eliza and whoever that is." The three of them looked up just in time to see the tall, dark skinned man wink and blow a kiss at Alex. Peggy and John laughed, and Alex squirmed a little in his chair. He wasn't sure if he should be flattered or emarassed.

"I was wondering when he would get here" John said. "Laf! Get your weird self over here!" He scooted over to the chair closest to the wall, and Peggy moved to sit next to Alex. "Alex, this is my friend, roommate, and the lead instigator of trouble and mischief, Lafayette. His full name is entirely too long to say right now, so we just call him Laf" Lafayette gracefully bowed before taking his place next to John.

"Its nice to meet you, mon ami. I am glad to finally see who all my employees have fallen in love with." At that John flushed, but the only one who noticed was Peggy.

Alex's eyebrows shot up in surprise."Your employees?!" He took in Lafayette's apperence, the purple shirt that had been fitted just the right amount to his body and skinny jeans that honestly left nothing to the imagination (Not that I'm imagining anything... Well... Maybe a little.), hair natural but pulled back into a neat bun that somehow looked masculine, and the faint sparkle in his eyes- or was it glitter?!-, and judged him to be about the same age as he was." You mean you're the owner of this place? You can't be much older than me. How did you manage this?"

Lafayette smile."Oui. It is mine. Did the French decor not give it away? Maybe I need to redecorate again..." He trailed off, as if envisioning what he wanted to do with the shop in his mind.

"Laf, I swear to God if you remodel AGAIN I will strangle you in your sleep." griped Peggy. "I know where you live remember? And I can get in with no problem."

"You would not do the to me! You love me too much! Besides, you don't have the keys to the apartment."

"No, but I do!" John said, trying, and failing to keep a straight face."I will let her up in an instant if you try to do that again!" Looking. At Alex he continued." Seriously Alex, don't ever let Lafayette decorate anything. When he decorated the apartment, we somehow wound up living in a GLITTER BOTTLE for months! There was glitter everywhere! Peggy,remember that time..."

Alex sat silently, listening to the friends talk about all the misadventures they had had together when it came to letting Lafayette decorate. I wish I had been part of this. Wonder what it would have been like to have friends like these my whole life. Suddenly, under the table he felt something bump his leg. He looked up to see John looking at him intently, as if trying to make sure he was okay. Alex nodded that he was, and was rewarded with one of Johns glorious smiles, the one that Alexander was sure could quite literally light up rooms, or make someone swoon, because he surely was about too.

It only lasted a second or two, but Alex's heart was about to burst out of his chest by the time they broke eye contact, John having heard Eliza ask him a question. Alex shook his head a bit in an effort to focus on the conversation.

"What are you guys planning on doing today" Eliza asked, tucking a lock of hair that had escaped behind her ear. "Mine and Peggy's shift is over soon, and although I'm the only one who has done any work today I think we should all go do something!" She dodged her sisters attempt to swat her with the grace of someone who had years of practice doing exactly that. The group, except for Alex, all nodded in agreement. "What about you Alex. You down?"

All eyes turned to him and he looked slightly embarrassed."well, I don't... I mean, I would love to, but..."

Realizing that he was trying to avoid saying he was broke, Eliza interrupted him. "I was thinking we could go to Central Park for a bit, see the leaves. You should come with us!" A chorus rang out in agreement, but Alex shook his head.

"Why would we go into the park today? Its still raining!"

Peggy laughed. "Alexander. It stopped raining hours ago, but you and John were too busy talking to realize that!" The pair of them looked put the window together, nearly bumping head, much to the amusement of the others. Peggy was right, it had stopped raining.

Alex turned around and grinned at Eliza. "Fine, I'll come with you. But only because you are too adorable to say no to." Still looking at Eliza, he didn't see the look of jealousy that crossed over Johns face. It was gone just as quick as it had appeared, but Peggy and Lafayette had both seen it, and exchanged worried glances.

This may both be as easy as I thought it would be... Peggy thought to herself. She looked up as the door opened. "Oh look, Lizzy! Our replacements are heeeeeere! As soon as we finish up, let's go!" She jumped from her chair and yanked her sister by the arm, nearly toppling her over in her rush to finish their shift work.

While they waited for the girls to finish, Alex, John and Lafayette gathered their things and cleaned up the table a bit. Lafayette went to tell the girls something, leaving the other two alone for a moment.

It was silent for a moment, a comfortable silence, not awkward. "Have you ever been to Central Park, Alex?"

Alex looked up at the taller man, first trying to focus on his eyes, but finding that too distracting, he focused on the multitude of freckles on Johns nose. "Central Park? Nah, I only got here in August and haven't had the chance. Peggy and Eliza keep trying to convince me to go, but I just... Haven't."

"You're going to love it, Alex!" The two jumped as Peggy appeared next to them, pushing them towards the door. "Come one, come on! Let's go! I want to see Balto!" All Alex and John could do was laugh as the little force of nature pushed them out onto the sidewalk. She skipped to catch up with her sister and Lafayette, who put his arm around both sisters.

"Well, Alex, I guess its time you were officially introduced to New Your City, the greatest city in the world. Or so they say! Let catch up to the three musketeers before we get left behind" The two of them caught up to the others and fell in step with them, laughing and just enjoying life as they walked down the sidewalk together.


Authors note

Hi everyone! A couple things. First, I want to apologize. I'm not a huge fan of this chapter, but that may be me being super critical of myself. I've literally written this four times in the last two days and didn't really like any of them. That may be because its been a rough few days with my job...

Second, I want to thank everyone who's reading this. It makes my day that people enjoy it, and even more so when people (yes, this is a shoutout to you, Commander and WizardingWhovian! You two are awesome and your comments make me super excited!) Comment! Not that I'm asking for comments. I just needed somethinnice to get me through this week! I'm pretty sure my best friend is about over me squealing in happiness whenever I see a new comment. Oh well! She loves me too much to care

Third, and this has nothing to do with the story, my 6 year old has managed to learn the first 7 songs from Hamilton, and I am quite impressed lol. Its seriously the cutest thing ever when she breaks out in spontaneous Lafayette parts.

Y