*distant mournful music plays in the background*

Welcome to True ending. Let's start.

My apologies if I make you cry. Also low key Alex/John because bi Alex is historically canon and because I can.

"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven-

A gun is fired.

"Philip get down!"

Too late.

Philip fell to the ground with a heavy thud. The bullet lodged itself right above his hip, blood already leaking out at an alarming rate. He had never felt such pain. It wasn't like the scrapped knees he got as a child, an injury that just a bit of ointment, bandage, and a mother's kiss could fix. This was a scarier reality. This was going to be his end. A scream was heard and he didn't know if it was his or John's.

For the first time in his life, the world moved slowly. The doctor's rush to his fallen body, the sound of Laurens frantically telling into stay awake. So very slow. Was this what dying was like?

His opponent gapped at him from across the way. Why? Why did he shot before the 10? Didn't he see the gun that Philip so clearly raised to the sky? Did he see it as a trick? Did he think that shooting would get it over with quickly? Philip now knew that that he was no man of honour.

He felt his body be picked up and carried. Away from the spot he was struck down from. What was the point? He knew he wasn't going to survive this.

The doctor tried, he really did but he knew that it was a lost cause.

As he waited for his parents, Philip had a hushed conversation with John when the doctor left him alone.

"How funny... I'll be going the same way you did,"

"No... This shouldn't happen... You have a future to pave, a legacy to continue! Why should you have your life shortened by a bullet? Why?" This was the first time the young Hamilton saw Laurens cry with such dispair. It was grieving to watch.

Philip knew that Laurens felt guilty. He felt guilty because couldn't protect the very person he promised protection to. He shouldn't be guilty. Philip was the one who wanted to duel.

Poor Laurens. He was like a brother that only Philip could see, being there when his parents could not, giving him guidance through his life.

They shouldn't have found it surprising that in this time period a life span was short.

What felt like hours later, Alexander Hamilton rushed in, followed by the doctor who was trying to tell his father the situation.

Alexander looked older, John thought. Far too old from the quick tempered young adult with a head full of ideas he had became friends with. God, he wished he had lived longer.

The dying son tried to reassure his father that he did exactly as he was told. A frantic Eliza Hamilton came in, rapidly asking Alexander if their son was going to survive. She looked too old.

Minutes passed and Laurens wanted to sob when Philip's chest stopped.

"Its all my fault... I couldn't protect you,"

"Please Laurens don't blame yourself, you did protect me," He turned around to see the newly dead Philip standing boldly like his father always did.

John hugged him.

"You should have had a longer life. You didn't deserve to die like this..."

"Im sorry, but look," Philip pointed to a glowing door just beyond his grieving parents. "I think it's time we go."

"Wait. Let's say good bye first,"

Philip nodded, and kissed his parents on the forehead.

"Mama... Papa... I love you. Please don't grieve for too long. I'll be okay," tears fell down his eyes, moving back to allow John a turn.

"Alex, I'm so sorry I couldn't stay alive longer. I will forever love you, and no matter how long it takes, I will wait til we can truly meet again. May we find each other once more," He ghosted his fingers through Alex's hair before looking at Eliza.

"Please Eliza, take care of him. And allow him to care for you," he gently kissed her head. He looked at Philip and nodded.

"Let us seek claim to our reward that God has granted us,"

Neither looked back as they crossed into the glowing door.