"Did you hear that!" Alexander yelled at the crowd after George III's message was read to them. "King George doesn't care about us at all!"

That statement started another debate which lasted until the school bell rang. Samuel Seabury left to attend his duties as the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. Lafayette sneaked off to talk to Caroline again.

"Where's he going?" Alexander asked his new friends as Lafayette made his escape.

"The school house." John answered, "To flirt with Miss Caroline Robinson as she picks her siblings up."

"Isn't he married?" Alexander asked.

"Yes, but the heart wants what it wants."


"Caroline, glad to see you again." Lafayette said to the young woman who was picking up her younger siblings from school.

"Glad to see you again, Lafayette." Caroline replied. "And to what do I owe the honor of being blessed with your company again?"

"I just wanted to see you again." Lafayette answered, "I very much enjoy your company."

"As do I." Caroline replied and ignored the looks her siblings gave her, especially Cathrine.

And so that day was spent like the day before, with Lafayette walking the Robinson children home while talking with them. Lafayette and Caroline seemed very comfortable and when they said goodbye for the day, the two were arm in arm.

This happened again on Thursday, with Caroline and Lafayette arm in arm the whole time. And when they said goodbye for the day, they were very tempted to kiss each other on the lips. But they fought that urge.


It was Friday. Alexander, John, Lafayette and Hercules planned on joining the Continental Army that afternoon. Caroline planned on joining that night, she didn't have the heart to tell her family. Everyone spent the morning differently.

The Schuyler sisters hosted a little farewell party for their dear friend Caroline, although it was disguised as a simple tea party.

Lafayette meanwhile, was shopping around for a birthday present for his wife, Adrienne. He came across a jeweler's shop, and saw two identical pearl bracelets. Every other pearl was encrusted with diamonds. Lafayette knew immediately he had to have them both. One for Adrienne, and the other for some reason, for Caroline. Lafayette wasn't sure why, but he wanted her to have something besides a few memories to remember him by.

OOO

"I can't believe you're leaving tonight." Eliza quietly said to Caroline during tea.

"I'll write when I can." Caroline assured her.

"Just stay alive." Eliza said then she gripped Caroline's hand. "Please."

"I'll try."

Eliza fought back tears. She knew better then to try to dissuade her stubborn friend.

"Let's not think about that now." Angelica said, trying to lighten the mood. "Now, let's just enjoy each other's company."

"Agreed." Caroline, Arthur and Peggy said in unison. Then they continued with their party until Caroline had to leave to pick up her siblings from school, and Arthur to his work. Before leaving, however, Angelica gifted her with a pair of gold earrings, and Eliza and Peggy each gifted her with a gold ring. All of the pieces of jewelry had both her address, and the address of the Schuyler mansion in Albany.

"This is too much." Caroline said when she opened her gifts.

"But it'll help you." Angelica replied, "In case you get captured, or in need of essentials."

"We don't want you to be in those situations of course," Eliza added, "but, Papa's told us what to expect." Philip Schuyler was, as you know my darlings, a well respected General. Well, his oldest son was, and is, known as Philip J. Schuyler, as the two had different middle names. Yes, yes, my dears, I know, I know. Now can I please finish the story? Thank you.

Caroline took the rings and placed them on her fingers, making sure that her left ring finger remained bare. They fit perfectly, and shone brilliantly. "Thank you." Caroline said to them and hugged her friends tightly. Tears started to form in their eyes.

OOO

"Caroline," Lafayette said as they neared her house, "I'm sure you remember that later today I'm leaving to join the Continental Army."

"I remember." Caroline replied. "Crap! What if we meet as soldiers?"

Lafayette was oblivious to Caroline's momentary panic. He continued with his speech, "Well, there's a chance that we'll never meet again after today. And I want you to have something to remember me by." He gave her a small box.

Caroline opened it and gasped at the beautiful gift. It was a pearl bracelet with every other pearl encrusted in diamonds. The other Robinson children looked at the gift and also gasped.

"You like it?" Lafayette asked.

"It's beautiful." Caroline answered, still a little shocked that a man she'd only really known for a few days would get her such an expensive present for no other reason than to remember him. "You shouldn't have."

"I know, but I saw it and thought of you."

"Thank you." Caroline replied, then she put the beautiful bracelet on, "I shall always treasure it."

"And I'll always treasure you." Lafayette replied, causing Cathrine to squeal in delight. "I will surely miss our walks together."

"And I shall miss having two men who wholeheartedly see me as an equal." Caroline said with a smile, she wanted to ease the mood with a humor.

They stared into each other's eyes, not sure of what to say, but feeling quite content. They would've stayed like that forever if Robin hadn't coughed.

"Oh! It's getting late." Caroline said. "I, err I guess we should be going."

"Oui, I promised I would leave before sundown." Lafayette replied. "I hope to see you again in the near future."

"As do I." Caroline replied as the Frenchman kissed her hand. When he looked at her face again, Caroline leaned in and said to him in a voice she hoped was quiet enough for her siblings not to hear but loud enough as to not cause suspicion, "I do hope that you'll meet my cousin, Robert Hoodson. He's joining the army soon, and he looks a lot like me."

"I'll keep an eye out for him."

"Thanks. I really appreciate it."

And after a final goodbye, Lafayette left the Robinson children.

"I didn't know we had a cousin named Robert Hoodson." Cathrine said, startling her older sister as she happened to be right next to her.

"Were you eavesdropping?" Caroline asked her 10-year-old sister.

"Maybe."

"You're like half an inch from me and like playing match maker."

Cathrine looked a little guilty.

"Get inside." Caroline ordered, "All of you." The younger Robinson children grumbled as they headed inside their small home to do their chores and homework. Caroline stared at the only home she had ever known, could she really leave it?

"This might be the last time I look at it in the daylight. My siblings need me, but my country needs me more. Winning our independence from the British will help ensure a better life for all of them. I'm sure gonna miss them though. Ever since Mother died, it's been hard to not see them as simply siblings." Taking a deep breath, Caroline entered the small home and stared lovingly at her siblings, who were starting on their homework.

She wished she could stay there forever, but she had work to do. "I'm going to the tavern to help out until closing. If you get scared or hungry, just go to the tavern."

"Ok." Robin replied. "Am I in charge?"

"Of course." Caroline answered. Then she hugged each of her siblings, knowing it might be the last time.

"Why does it seem like this is a goodbye hug?" Robin asked his older sister.

"Because it is." Caroline thought. But, not wanting to break her siblings hearts at that moment, she replied, "I don't know. I'll see you later." Then she left for the tavern.


Caroline sat at her desk in the room she shared with her sisters. The desk had been a Christmas present from the Schuylers, which she used to keep her few possessions. Grabbing her quill and some papers, she wrote letters to her loved ones, in case she didn't make it. One for each sibling, one for her father, one for Artie, one for Angelica, one for Eliza and one for Peggy. When she finished Peggy's letter, she debated with herself over whether or not to write one to Lafayette. She had only really known him for a few days, but they had really connected, and he did buy her an expensive bracelet. Eventually, she decided to write him a letter.

When Caroline finished her letters, she put them in a box, and put that box under the bed she shared with her sisters, and brothers when they got scared. She never understood why they didn't join their father, afterall, his bed was next to theirs.

After that, Caroline packed her bag, bound her breasts and dressed in her training cloths, which were some basic overgrown clothing from Artie and the Schuyler boys that Angelica, Eliza and Peggy had managed to "barrow" from the laundry. As she was about to put her boots on, she noticed her bracelet. "There's no way I can join the army with this expensive bracelet. But I don't want to leave it here, I promised Lafayette I would treasure it, and it would be nice to have something else to remind me of home." Making up her mind, Caroline put the bracelet on her ankle and slipped it into her boot. To her surprise, it was comfortable. Smiling, she put on her other boot. Her rings were on her toes.

Then she cut her hair shorter, grabbed her bag, and kissed her sisters goodbye while they slept. Then she crept down to the front room, placed a note on the table and crept out of the house to join the Continental Army.