Eliza couldn't do anything as she finished reading, she was stunned so. All she had wanted was for her husband to live long enough, so his story would contain her; their family. So they were his legacy. And now that would happen. It was only a matter of time.

From both the General's letter and Alex's she couldn't piece together exactly what had happened out at Valley Forge, but she didn't care. Everyone was safe, and her husband was coming home!

Angelica seemed almost as happy as she was, when she heard Alexander would be returning. If she hadn't had so much on her mind, Eliza would've wondered why her sister was so interested in her brother-in-law. It definitely was more than just friendly affection.

Many years later she would find out that this was indeed true.

Unfortunately, the General had not specified when Alexander would get home. All he had said was that he was on his way home; but Eliza had no idea how long he would to arrive, or how soon after he'd left the General had written to her.

Thankfully this time around, the waiting was much more bearable.


"Eliza?"

Eliza's heart leapt. She hadn't known it would be today; the last time she'd heard from him was before the General's reply arrived. But that voice could only mean one thing. Alexander was home!

Her back was to him; he had clearly come through the side of the garden. She stood up and, somewhat ungainly, turned around; she wanted to run into her husband's arms and weep with joy, but she knew that the child she was carrying inside her was an even greater blessing, so she refrained.

As soon as she saw his face, she broke out in a grin. Tears spilled from her eyes and ran down her cheeks.

Alexander, however, looked dumbstruck. All he did was slowly walk across the courtyard towards her and place his hands on her belly.

Eliza thought it might be the most wonderful feeling ever.

"You're…we're…" he stammered. Eliza had never seen her husband lost for words. "How long have you known?"

"A month or so."

"You should've told me."

"I wrote to the General a month ago," she explained. "I begged him to send you home."

For a second Alex looked angry. Eliza couldn't blame him. If he'd kept something this big from her, she would be upset.

"I wanted to tell you," she continued, wiping her eyes; the tears having come to an end. "Believe me, there were days when I felt guilty I hadn't. But I knew you'd fight until the war was won…"

"We haven't won the war yet," interrupted Alexander.

"I know," she nodded. "I thought this would only make things harder for you out there. And I thought you deserved to be told in person."

Alexander relaxed at those words. But a moment later, he sunk down on the bench.

"Alexander," Eliza asked, suddenly confused. "What's wrong?"

There was no response.

"Alexander?"

"This is terrible!"

"What?" she asked, her confusion giving way to terror. "What do you mean?"

Despite his brief anger at her mention of the General a moment, from which he had now calmed down, Alexander had been nothing but amazed since he arrived. Had he been lying? Feigning happiness? Did he care about the war more than his family?

That thought worried Eliza. Ambition was a huge part of who her husband was, and she would not change that for the world. But she had always hoped, always believed, that a family would mean just as much to him as it did to her.

"Do you remember what I told you the day I asked you to marry me?"

"Of course I do," Eliza replied, sitting down beside him. It had been the happiest day of her life. "But what does that have to do with our child?"

"Nothing's changed," he explained. "I'm still penniless. I don't have a command or fame…"

She sighed. It hadn't been any of the things she had worried it might be.

"How am I going to provide for your life?" Alexander whispered, almost to himself. "For his life? We can't live here forever."

Eliza knew ambition was a huge part of who her husband was as a person. But pride was bigger. He wouldn't be able bring himself to live at Pastures forever. And, as much as her family meant to her, Eliza agreed. She still felt like she was playacting at being a wife, but at five months pregnant, she clearly wasn't. She wanted a house of her own, with just her, and Alexander, and their children.

It would make it real, she hoped.

But as much as they wanted that, right now they did not have the means to support their child. Alexander would see himself as a failure if he had to rely on her parents for their livelihood, and she could tell he couldn't see a way out of this.

For the first time, he seemed truly helpless.

"Do you remember what else you told me that day?" Eliza asked.

Alexander just looked puzzled, so she continued: "You said 'we'll figure it out.'"

She squeezed her husband's hand. "And we will. We don't need a legacy. Or money. All I need is you, and our child. That will be enough. More than enough."

"We'll figure it out."


She had been sitting there in the garden with Alexander for what felt like mere minutes, before Eliza heard footsteps.

"Alexander!" cried a voice from the doorway. "You're back."

"Hello Angelica."

He left her side for a moment and walked up to Angelica, bending over and kissing her hand. Eliza could've sworn she saw her sister's cheeks colour.

She knew she should be angry that her sister was acting so informal with her husband – and that Alex was reciprocating – but she couldn't possibly bring herself to be unhappy, given the current circumstances. She knew how much Angelica had been anticipating Alexander's return.

And she had a feeling that if the situation were reversed, Angelica would feel the same way.


That night, when Eliza emerged from the bathroom, Alexander was sitting on the bed, smiling at her. It was one of those soft smiles, one filled with devotion and love.

A smile that no one else would see.

It was so wonderful to be in the same room with him once more.

"You're beautiful," he whispered, walking up to her and drawing her into his arms.

Eliza smiled. Angelica had been right. But hearing it from his lips was nothing compared to the way he proceeded to show her.


Lying in bed afterwards, Eliza realised that, for the first time in several months, she felt comfortable. She had to sleep on her back now; her stomach had become so large. She had briefly wondered if it could be twins.

It had never been a position in which she particularly liked to sleep, but now she wondered if she had ever felt so content in bed. Maybe it was her husband's very presence, or maybe it was just the way he was stroking her hair.

"Alexander, what is it?" she turned her head to look at him.

"Nothing," he whispered. "Sometimes I just forget how lucky I am to be your husband."

He smiled as he softly kissed her nose. "We'll figure it out."