The next day, Alex went through his routine, his painful and painfully boring physical therapy and the usual occupational therapy, he was allowed his free time. So he went to the gym. The recreational gym, where people practiced sports. For fun. As opposed to the torturous physio. There, he spotted someone playing wheelchair basketball alone-someone he recognized as a quadriplegic from his group yoga classes, Phil.

Phil noticed Alex in return. "Hey, Alex." She greeted. "You wanna try?"

"Uh..." Alex blinked. "I can't. I can barely work this one as it is."

"That's because you're not using the right one." Phil said. "You need to be using one that's custom built for you, rather than just the... Standard."

"What's wrong with standard?" Alex asked.

"Oh, Alex. Kid." Phil wheeled over to him. "You have a lot to learn about spinal injuries."

"But you've just become quadriplegic." Alex pointed out.

"My brother's been paralyzed since he was a kid." Phil said. "I know about wheelchairs. You need to get The Right One."

"Why?"

"Efficiency." Phil said. "For one. Protecting your hands. Your posture. You can't sit around looking like Dr Strangelove for the rest of your life. Which will be drastically affected if you don't-you just need one. But they cost a lot."

"I'm a poor student."

"I know you're in with Senator Schuyler."

"Oh."

"Yeah." Phil nodded. "It's fine though. Being disabled is expensive and it sucks more when you're poor." She paused. "So do you want to give it a try?"

"I can't."

"Sure you can." Phil said. "Just let me know if you ever want to do it." She want back onto the court and threw the ball into the net.

Alex shrugged and left for the common area, since it was too cold to go out to the garden.

"Salut, Alex!" Lafayette skipped happy towards Alex.

Alex smiled. "Hey, Laf."

"Martha, Peggy and I are going Christmas shopping. We were wondering if you wanted to come along? We've cleared it with the rehab people."

"Laf, this isn't a jail or a mental hospital. It's rehabilitation for my... Never mind. Let's go."

Lafayette took the handles of Alex's wheelchair and began to push him out of the room. "Remember that time last year where you were-"

"Laf, no." Alex said firmly.

Lafayette shrugged and carried on out of the room. The two friends stopped off at the reception before they left the building.

Alex cleared his throat. "Uh... Hey."

"Alexander Hamilton, right?" The receptionist asked.

"Yeah. That-that's me." Alex nodded.

The receptionist nodded. "Okay. You're free to go."

"That's it?"

"Yeah." The receptionist picked up a book and pushed it towards Alex. "This is the patient log. Just sign out and then when you come back, sign back in." He then turned to Lafayette. "You can use the guest log."

After the two of them signed out, Lafayette pushed Alex to Martha's car, where she was waiting outside with a warm coat and a hat. Peggy waved excitedly from inside the car.

"Professor Washington." Alex greeted politely.

"Alexander, it's good to see you doing so well." She handed him the coat.

Alex took it awkwardly. "Thank you."

"Today we're going to do a little bit of Christmas shopping. And then Lafayette and Peggy are going to see Moana. But we don't have to if you don't want to."

"No I... I want to. It might be nice." Alex nodded.

"You love Disney, don't you,mon ami?" Lafayette said with a massive smirk plastered on their face.

"Laf!" Alex growled indignantly.

"What?" Lafayette shrugged innocently.

"You've had it in for me all day! You almost told everyone about that time I was admitted to the psych ward."

"I did no such thing." Lafayette said, faking hurt.

"Well, you did kind of go a little bit loopy, Alex." Peggy shrugged.

"Stop that right now." Alex gripped the armrests of his wheelchair and dug his fingernails in.

"Okay, everyone stop winding Alexander up. He's still recovering from the shooting."

"Thank you, Professor Washington Ma'am."

"How is your physical therapy going?" Martha asked.

"Uh... Boring." Alex said. "Also really painful. And really necessary."

"I'm sorry to hear that, Alexander."

"I don't want to talk about it." Alex said.

"And we don't have to." Martha said. "Do you need any help getting into the car?"

"Uh, yes please." Alex nodded. "Thanks."

"Lafayette, sweetie, help Alexander into the car."

"What do you need help with?" Lafayette asked.

"Can you lift me up a bit so I can..." Alex trailed off. He cringed and blushed as he spoke. He shouldn't need help.

Lafayette nodded. "How you say, no sweat." They said cheerily.

Peggy opened the car door and moved over to the other side. Alex pushed himself up using the armrests of his wheelchair. Lafayette gently took Alex under his armpits, while Alex grabbed the leather seat of Martha's car. Lafayette then carefully let go of Alex as he shuffled himself onto the seat and then buckled himself in.

"Mon ami, you did that by yourself."

"It's nice to have support in case I can't." Alex shrugged.

"A safety net." Lafayette nodded. They closed the car door and went to put Alex's wheelchair in the trunk.


When they got to the mall, Alex slowly transferred from the car into his wheelchair and him, Lafayette and Peggy were waved off by Martha to go and do their shopping. Inside the mall, Aaron, Theo, Eliza, John and Angelica were waiting. It was the first time Alex had seen Angelica since he confessed about the bullet. And she didn't like angry with him. Actually, it was a surprise to see them all. He was just expecting to go and shop with Lafayette and Peggy and be the third wheel, but seeing most of his friends was amazing.

"Alex!" John ran up to him, enthusiastically giving him a hug.

Eliza soon followed suit and Angelica walked over to Alex, calmly, not really saying anything.

"Angelica."

"Alexander." She greeted. "It's good to see you."

"It's good to see you too, Angelica."

Aaron stared on guiltily. Alex was in a wheelchair now and it was all his fault.

Theo picked up on Aaron's feelings and took his hand. "Aaron, this isn't your fault."

"I know." Aaron didn't really believe his own words.

"Go and say hi." Theo urged.

Before Aaron could do anything, Alex went over to him. Not knowing what to say, Aaron simply greeted him awkwardly. "Alexander."

"Aaron Burr, Sir."

That got a smile out of Aaron. Alex using his old nickname. In fact, Alex was the only one who ever called him that.

"Are we friends?" Aaron asked.

"We never stopped being friends." Alex replied. "Apart from that brief moment when you shot me."

"But that was an accident." Theo interjected.

"Yeah. It was." Alex said absently.

"Alex, are you okay?" Eliza asked. "Is this about..."

"Yes, it is." Alex nodded.

"Prosecute him." John said.

"I can't do that."

"Stop being so yellow and have him done for shooting you." Theo snapped.

"He didn't technically-"

"He was arrested!" Theo pointed out. "You dropped the charges. Pick them back up and have him prosecuted."

"Why does everyone keep telling me to do that?" Alex asked.

"Because you should." Angelica said.

"He wants to kill me and he could."

"Alex, you've got us." Eliza put her hand gently on his shoulder. "As long as we're alive you're never on your own."

Alex rolled his eyes. "Whatever."

"Okay." Angelica clapped her hands. "Let's just go to see the movie."

"I thought we were going shopping?" Alex asked.

"Oh yeah, we're going to the Disney Store after." John said happily.

"Why the Disney Store?" Alex asked.

"Why not?" Eliza asked.

"Well, you're broken from the waist down." John pointed out.

"Thanks." Alex nodded. "Much appreciated, John."

"So we figured you needed a break from reality." John finished.

"Disney is perfect for that." Aaron said. "Forgetting about your worries and your strife."

"No." Alex huffed. "I'm going to see Moana. That's enough Disney for me today, I'm not having you guys quote them too."

"He's talking about-"

"Thank you, Lafayette!" Alex snapped.

"Okay!" Angelica said loudly. "Let's just go to the movie!"


Hercules Mulligan was having a good day. For starters, he'd managed to get his Secret Santa present to James Madison bought and wrapped. He also had his present for Sally. He picked up the little box and opened it. The small metal object inside glinted back at him and he smiled. Come Christmas Day, Hercules was going to ask her a very, very important question. One that would change their lives. Probably.


Meanwhile in the mall, Alex and his friends had left the movie. Theo was practically in tears and Aaron had his arm wrapped around her. Lafayette was pushing Alex in his wheelchair while Eliza and John walked either side of him and Peggy was talking excitedly about the movie to Angelica. It was the same all the way to the Disney Store before Peggy ran in and grabbed a giant plush toy.

"Look!" She shouted. "It's Pua! Giant Pua!"

"That comes with just as giant a price tag." John said.

Lafayette chuckled. "A big price tag is no problem."

"Laf is loaded." Peggy giggled.

"I'll get you that pig if you want." Lafayette offered.

"You are the best enbyfriend ever!" Peggy squealed.

"If anyone else wants anything, I'm buying!" Lafayette shouted. "Just don't choose the whole store."

Aaron and Theo and John, Alex and Eliza went in different directions to Peggy and Lafayette and Angelica as they explored the store. Aaron and Theo ended up in the Star Wars section.

"Wait, who's this?" Aaron asked, pointing to an action figure of a woman wearing dark clothing and carrying a gun.

"Jyn Erso." Theo replied. "She's the star of the the new Star Wars movie, Rogue One."

"I thought The Force Awakens was the new Star Wars movie?" Aaron asked.

"Aaron, honey, seriously." Theo sighed. "I know you're not that much of a Star Wars fan-"

"No, I've been too busy with Alex having been shot by me."

Theo took his arm. "Oh, no. Don't feel bad about at. It was an accident."

"Eacker wanted revenge on Alex and I because we got a dog."

"And Philip was a good dog. Yes he was." Theo rubbed his arm comfortingly.

"He made me shoot Alex."

"Try to convince Alex to press charges."

"I can't do that, it has to be Alex's choice."

"Convince him otherwise."

"I can't do that."

"Then... Incept him or something."

"I can't, Theo. I'm not Leonardo DiCaprio."

"I think it was Matt Damon, actually."

"I'm pretty sure it was Leonardo DiCaprio."

"Whatever. It doesn't matter anyway."

"Theo..." Aaron paused. "You know I love you, right?"

"I love you too, Aaron Burr." Theo took the action figure.


On the other side of the store, Lafayette was carrying around a basket and the large Pua plush. Inside the basket were other plushes and items including, but not limited to; a Stitch plush, a Princess Tiana Animator Doll, a singing Moana doll and several Tsum Tsums.

"Thanks for this. I really appreciate it." Peggy said sincerely.

"Only the best for my beautiful Peggy Schuyler." Lafayette flashed his cheeky Lafayette smile.

"Oh, stop!" Peggy chuckled. "You're making me blush!" She picked up a plush of Pluto carrying a candy cane and wearing a Santa costume.

"I know Pluto's your favorite."

"But I won't have any room." Peggy argued.

"Relax, ma chère there's plenty of room in our apartment."

"But Herc's got to live there too." She pointed out.

"So we'll bring it out at Christmas." Lafayette shrugged.

"It's so cute!"

"Get it, Peggy, get it. Get it! Get it! Get it!" Lafayette whispered into Peggy's ear.

"I'm gonna get it." Peggy grinned and cuddled the plush up to her chest.


Over by the Christmas decorations, Alex was examining a Hulk tree ornament in confusion and disgust.

"I can't believe they did this." Alex said.

"I can't believe he's not wearing a Santa hat." Eliza said. "I mean, what does this have to do with Christmas?"

"Nothing?" John shrugged. "It has nothing to do with Christmas. It's just the Hulk."

"It's weird." Alex said. He put it back and picked up a Black Widow ornament. "This has nothing to do with Christmas either."

"What about this one?" John picked up a large ornament of Belle reading on the edge a water fountain with a sheep reading over her. "There's no Christmas there either." He pressed the button on the bottom and music began playing. "And it sings Belle from Beauty and the Beast."

"How do you know that?" Eliza asked.

"Beauty and the Beast is a masterpiece. And I'm super gay." John shrugged.

"You're in a relationship with me and Eliza, you're not that gay."

John shrugged again. "I don't even know what I am anymore. All I know is that it really pisses off my father."

"Do you ever find it weird that you spent some of your teen years living with Eliza and now you're...?" Alex asked.

"No." John said.

"Not really." Eliza said.

"We're clearly not related." John said.

"Yeah. He's Puerto Rican and I'm Chinese." Eliza shrugged.

"And then there's the fact that Philip Schuyler never fostered me. It's not weird at all."

"I'll take your word for it." Alex put the Black Widow tree ornament back.

"What's going on here?" Angelica asked.

"Discussing the Christmas decorations." John showed Angelica the musical Beauty and the Beast ornament. "Or rather how not at all Christmas they are."

Angelica took the ornament and examined it. "Wow. You could just leave that out all year round and nobody would notice a thing."

"I know, right?" John shrugged.

"They have a Hulk too." Alex grabbed the Hulk ornament.

"Holy non-Christmas Christmas ornaments, Batman." Angelica raised an eyebrow.

"It's weird, isn't it?" Eliza asked.

"Don't let Fox News see that." Angelica said. "Bill O'Reilly will go on a stupid rant about how Disney's trying to destroy Christmas, despite the Merry Christmas parties in Disney World and Disneyland and all the Disney Christmas toys. They have a Santa costume Mickey Mouse doll."

"Yeah, Bill O's just a loud mouthed, foul person. I hate him." Alex said.

John snorted. "Well, what else is new?"

"Shep Smith is decent." Angelica said.

"If he's on Fox, he's not." Alex said.

"Yeah, but he's openly gay." Eliza argued.

"Don't care." Alex shrugged. He grabbed the handrims of his wheelchair and began to wheel himself away.

John let out an exaggerated sigh and held one of the handles, preventing Alex from moving. It drew ire from Alex, but got a giggle from the girls.

"John, let me go." Alex complained.

"No." John said. "You're so stubborn."

"And you're all Foxwatchers."

"Because... We like Shep Smith?" Angelica asked.

"He's on Fox." Alex argued.

"Not every person on Fox is a bad person." John said. "Just because a lot of them are, doesn't mean they all are. I mean, Megyn Kelly, Chris Wallace, they're pretty decent too."

"Shep Smith is the Southern guy who speaks something sensible and goes viral for it." Angelica said.

"I still don't have to like him." Alex said.

"I suppose not." Angelica sighed.

"Hey!" Lafayette and Peggy walked over to the group. "You done?" Lafayette asked.

"Yeah, I guess so." Angelica held up her basket. "I'm paying for this myself. It's a Cinderella Animator Doll for Maria. A Christmas present."

"Yeah I noticed that. Why Cinderella?" Alex asked.

"Because Cinderella is Maria's favorite Disney Princess." Angelica answered.

"I honestly didn't know that about her." Eliza said.

"Or me." Peggy shrugged. "My favorite is Princess Tiana."

"Mine's Ariel." Eliza said.

"Mine's Belle." John said.

"Mine's Belle too!" Lafayette said excitedly. "Because she's French, like me!"

"Mine's Mulan." Alex said.

"Mine's Rapunzel." Angelica said.

"Then what are Aaron and Theo's favorite princesses?" Peggy wondered.

"You could ask them. They're only by the Star Wars stuff." John said.

"Hey, Aaron! Theo!" Peggy called out across the store.

"Yeah?!" Theo called back.

"Who's your favorite Disney Princess?!"

"Snow White! Why?!"

"Just curious!" Peggy shouted. "What about Aaron?!"

"Merida!" Aaron shouted. "She doesn't sing!"

"Nobody's favorite is Aurora." Eliza said.

"Or Pocahontas." John added.

"Yeah, well their depiction of Pocahontas is, shall we say... Less than accurate." Alex said.


Around ten minutes and an argument about Pocahontas later, the eight friends left the Disney Store with Lafayette as their mule. They were left carrying several bags, while Peggy was carrying her Pua plush under her arm. Alex offered to carry Angelica's doll. Carry is a bit misleading. He had the doll in his lap while John pushed his chair. When they reached the outside, Alex knew he was going back to the real world and rubbed the back of his neck nervously.

"Guys. Uh... Thanks. I actually had a decent time today."

"No problem, Alex." Angelica said. "Though it was Aaron's idea to bring you along."

"Aaron, stop feeling guilty."

"I wanted you to come because you're my friend." Aaron said. "Do you remember that day we first met?"

"Yeah. You hated my guts." Alex chuckled. "Which is ironic now because we're friends and you tried to-"

"Alex." Eliza shook her head as if to signal to him to stop.

"Anyway. Yeah, I do. I remember."

"Alex, man, I never hated you." Aaron said. "You get on my nerves, but I don't hate you. I got that dog for you after your breakdown."

"Philip." Alex sighed.

"Aaron, don't bring up the dog." Theo whispered.

"Hey, Philip was my dog too!" Aaron whispered loudly back.

"It was good to spend some time with you today, Alex." Angelica changed the subject.

"Yeah, it was almost like old times." Eliza said. "And soon it'll be new times."

"New times." Alex scoffed.

"Alex, you'll get better." John said.

"I'll be honest, I'm surprised you want me now."

"We all do, Alex." Peggy put her hand on Alex's shoulder. "And we all will."

"Even your friend Ned!" Eliza said happily.

Alex's eyes widened. "Wait, what?"

"Your friend Ned Stevens is coming from St Croix." John said.

"To visit?" Alex asked warily.

"No, to study!" Eliza said.

"How do you-"

"George told me." Lafayette smiled.

"That's... Great!" Alex smiled awkwardly. "Yeah. Really... Really... Great."


A/N: Sorry I haven't updated in a few days. Life happened.

Poor Alex is having a bad day.
Yes, you can actually leave inpatient physical therapy rehabilitation centres. At least in the one I know you can.
Something new's been released about Alex's backstory. He has mental health issues. Which one/s? And more importantly, what happened? You'll have to wait for it. Also, during that part in the original draft, James Madison was mentioned, but ultimately, I cut it out. This was the line:
"Yeah, well at least I'm doing better than James Madison." Alex seethed.
Not all quadriplegics are unable to move their arms, in fact, most simply have difficulty, while others just can't move their fingers, it depends on where about on the spine the injury was.
There are much more references I put in, some obvious, others not so.
I've just seen Moana for the second time and I'm like 'aaaaah!'
Ned Stevens is indeed going to be in the sequel.

All the items are actual items that can be found in the Disney Store. Including the non-Christmas Christmas ornaments.

I hate Fox News, but I actually do like Shepard Smith. He's not so bad. The rest are bad, but he's fine. And he is openly gay. He came out last month, I think. Don't quote me on that though.

If you wanna know who my favorite princess is, it's Mulan. And then Tiana.