(A/N): Happy Father's Day, everyone! Thank you for so much support, I didn't think people would actually read this! I appreciate the positive comments and I just want to thank everyone! This chapter is a little longer than the other two, but not too much. Concerning the actual story, it's not exactly historically accurate (I mean, the plot's purpose is to change history after all). However, I mean things such as dates and small details. Examples in this chapter are how many Schuyler siblings there are during the events of this chapter, since I'm not exactly sure which ones were born and who wasn't and all that- Also, there are mentions of the Laurens-Hamilton letters, and I'm aware Hamilton was the one who mostly spoke of love and whatnot, but I made it as if Laurens replied the same way. I hope you don't mind too much. I'm also not exactly sure which battle Burr had dashed into to save Hamilton since it was in a biography I read, but I'm about 70% sure it was Bunker Hill. Now, on with the story! (Wow that was a long author's note.)
It's been a while since I first met Alexander. Now, we were both soldiers that shared a tent with Laurens' and Lafayette's next to us. I've begun to grow closer to those two, but I still doubt they consider me more than an acquaintance. Still, I didn't let that stop me from hanging out with them as if we were friends.
Alexander and I often discussed the aftermath of the war since we both had no doubts we would win (our egos probably weren't a good thing, but oh well). We also knew starting a nation from scratch wouldn't be easy. Laurens joined in on conversations about slavery. He made it clear if he died before the war was over, it was up to us two to make slavery a thing of the past. In addition, I suggested we included women's rights. Laurens was all for it, but Alexander...not so much. That's why some nights when Alexander and Lafayette left to the bar, we stayed behind to discuss it.
During the Battle of Bunker Hill, Alexander led his men and stole British cannons to fire back at them. While he and his men got surrounded, I dashed in on horseback and attacked the British defenses. We may have lost the battle, but at least I didn't lose a friend.
Then one day, General Washington called everyone outside to deliver news. It wasn't good.
"As you all may know, the British currently have 32 thousand troops surrounding us in New York Harbor. With my workload and Congress not trying to help our cause, I'm going to need some extra help as of now." With that, he walked off to his tent. 'Wait for it,' echoed in the back of my mind, but I pushed it aside. I followed him not too long afterwards and passed through the tent flap into his quarters.
"Your excellency."
"Ah, Aaron Burr," he greeted. "Just the man I wanted to see. Well, I was also going to request Hamilton's presence as well. What do you need?" He...wanted to see me? Now I wanted to know what for.
"Yes, sir. I think I could be of some assistance. I-"
"Let me stop you there," Washington cut me off. "I'm fully aware of your capabilities, Mr. Burr. That is actually the very reason I was about to call you here." I wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing. Alexander then decided to walk in.
"Your excellency, you wanted to see me?"
"Hamilton, come in," the Virginian responded. "I wanted to talk to the both of you actually." The two of us met eyes, mentally asking each other if this is about us taking Lafayette out for his birthday last week when he drunkenly barged into his excellency's tent.
"Is this about last week week?" I summed up enough courage to ask. "Because I can assure you the Marquis is really sorry-" Washington then started laughing. We kept glancing at each other, unsure of what this was about.
"No, none of that. I know it was just boys having fun." He calmed down a bit, before taking on a more serious tone. "As you may or may not know, I noticed both of your work while we were still downtown. Stealing cannons, running straight into enemy lines, and whatnot. I know you want to fight, you share a hunger. I was just like you two when I was younger. Head full of fantasies of dying like a martyr."
"Yes," Alexander replied, making me want to facepalm. Washington stood up, towering over us.
"Dying is easy young man, living is harder."
"Why are you telling us this?" I questioned. He sighed before switching his eyes back and forth between us.
"I'm being honest, Congress has sent us less than we needed. I'm dealing with multiple things at once and need people like you to help me out. I've added two new available spots in my group of aide-de-camps and decided no one is better for the job than the pair of you. So?"
Two specific people started chanting outside. "I am not throwing away my shot. I am not throwing away my shot. Ay yo, I'm just like my country! I'm young scrappy and hungry-!" They cut themselves off as the three of us exchanged confused glances until the general shrugged it off as nothing and coughed to gain our attention.
"Oh! Right, sir," Alexander said, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head.
I swung an arm around my friend's shoulders and replied for the both of us. "We are not throwing away our shot."
"Are you sure you can't spare ONE night?" I asked for what felt like the bizzilionth time today. As usual, Hamilton was being stubborn again and scribbling like a madman on the paper in front of him.
"You know how important this is to me. If I'm late finishing this report, I could lose my title and be moved back down to the average soldier." I rolled my eyes at his exaggeration.
"You take the definition of a 'hyperbole' to the next level. Besides, even Washington is going. Plus, wasn't he the one who suggested the ball to you?" I raised an eyebrow and his quill stopped. All soldiers at our camp were invited to a ball hosted by the Schuyler's, one of the richest families in all the colonies. For the past hour, I have been trying to convince Alexander to join Laurens, Lafayette, Mulligan, and I tonight. As of now, no such luck. "It'll be fun, and who knows? You might find the wife you've been constantly daydreaming about."
"Ugh. I don't 'daydream,'" he retorted. "But I'm willing to make a deal. If you stop pestering me about it, I MIGHT go, okay?" I sighed but eventually nodded.
"Fine. But if you don't, I've heard Lafyette is quite the talented prankster." He gave me a defeated look and silently went back to writing. I decided to get ready for the winter's ball.
"I will never be satisfied..." I heard a women's voice say a few feet from me. I glanced her way before approaching.
"Well, if it isn't Angelica Schuyler. A pleasure to meet you again." Said women slightly widened her eyes at being caught off guard before trying to force a smile.
"I remember you. The pleasure is mine, sir," she said, putting up a facade.
"You know," I leaned in towards her ear. "If you're trying to get courted, most men would prefer someone enjoying themselves." At her shocked face, I smirked. "It doesn't take a rocket scientist to read someone." Angelica sighed.
"That's the exact opposite of what I wanted." I softly chuckled. Her eyes lit up for a moment. "Hey, I was looking for you after Seabury's speech. I didn't quite catch your name?"
"Oh, I apologize," I responded somewhat sheepishly. "Aaron Burr, miss." Angelica smiled. We chatted a while longer before I invited her to dance. We parted for the night after she said she'd be heading home. I maneuvered through the crowd before finally finding the group I was looking for.
"Mom ami, this is not the way to handle this!" I heard Lafayette say, trying to persuade Laurens.
"I have no idea what you're talking about..." Lauren's muttered, ready to take a swing of a second pint of Sam Adams in front of him as he sat at one of the tables in the corner with Mulligan and Lafayette standing near him.
"What happened?" I whispered to Mulligan, both of us watching on as Lafayette uttered comforting words in Laurens' ear.
"The Lams ship can no longer sail," he replied, gesturing to Alexander locked in a conversation with Angelica's younger sister, Eliza. I approached Laurens and rubbed his back in small circles.
"If God decided it wasn't meant to be, it means there's someone even better out there for you," I whispered, only getting a solemn nod in response. The three of us shared looks before trying to start a conversation through small talk. However, the discussion went quiet as Alexander approached.
"Hey guys, you'll never believe who I danced with tonight," he boasted, his ego almost radiating off his skin. Laurens' stood up loudly and abruptly, quickly making his way out of the room.
"Smart move, mon ami. Very smart move," Lafayette remarked before yelling in French, most likely swearing. However, I didn't stick around too long before chasing after the runaway abolitionist. As I exited the building, it didn't take too long to spot him.
Laurens was leaning against a half wall. He appeared to be stargazing, but his eyes seemed too unfocused to actually be examining them. I walked up to his side, joining him in his position. We stood there in a comfortable silence, letting one another's eyes wander.
"I sometimes felt as though the feelings were mutual," a voice grabbed my attention. I turned to see Laurens still staring off ahead of him. "As if I wasn't the only sinner in God's eyes. As if... he understood me." He sighed. "But it was too good to last. I mean, I knew once I fell there was risk that something would go wrong. I mean, there's always risk in love. But... I allowed myself to fall for him anyway. Even if I knew there was no way we could ever be together. After all, he wouldn't want to ruin his publicity and all that."
I sat there and listened as he talked, only listing his regrets and mistakes. It pained me to hear how heart broken he sounded. It's cruel what the world has done to him, someone so undeserving of all this.
"There were letters, y'know," he let out a few broken chuckles. "Of our love. Or, at least, my love. I let him know how much I cared. I put my heart and soul into that ink, exposed to the one man who had unintentionally stole them. He responded just the same. At least, I thought he had. I guess it was all apart of some sick joke. If it's not, how could you explain my closest friend saying promises of companionship to another before my own eyes?" More silence covered the air before I broke it again.
"This is Alexander we're talking about. You have to remember, someone so invested in how the world views him such as Alex means he acts completely different around us than those of higher status. He doesn't think through these things before he acts, he just...acts. That often causes those close to him get hurt in the process." I snuck a glance at his face, seeing nothing but a blank expression.
"Even so, why does he have to be so darn desirable?" frustration laced the other's voice.
"Mrs. Washington didn't name her tomcat after him for nothing." We shared light-hearted laughter before exchanging goodbyes for the night. As I headed back towards the entrance to the ballroom, I was stopped by a familiar face.
"I didn't realize you had such a soft side, Mr. Burr," Angelica commented, slowly approaching me.
"What can I say, my friends are like family to me. Nothing is more important than family." She nodded.
"I know what you mean."
"Hey, will you promise not to tell anyone about Laurens? He would appreciate that."
"About what?"
"About-oh." I stopped mid-sentence after noticing her smirk. I chuckled and received a wink.
I then realized something.
"Wait, I thought you left a while ago?"
"I was just about to. My sister pulled me aside to rant about the handsomest guy she met. You know how siblings are."
"Don't I know it."
"Really? How many?" We began to walk side by side through the courtyard as chatted.
"Only one. A younger sister. You?"
"Believe it or not, six and they're all younger. Two brothers, four sisters."
"...wow." After more chatting, we shared goodbyes for the last time that night, each desperately yearning for bed.
I could only hope Lafayette hadn't murdered Alexander while I had left them alone.