Alex woke to the sounds of gasping and sputtered curses; to a hand gently tugging at his shoulders.

"Shit," a voice added. "I'm so sorry, Alex! I didn't mean to wake you. I'm sorry."

Alex blinked his eyes open. John's face swam in front of him, concern creased into his forehead. The headphone lay discarded on the pillow by his head. The music had ended long ago. The blankets were still pulled high around him. But his shirt, it was wrinkled and pulled down. The too large fabric had moved in the night, revealing more of his chest. His very scarred chest.

John's eyes went back and forth between the scar and Alex's face. "I'm so sorry Alex. I thought…when I saw…I thought you were bleeding. I'm so sorry. I—"

"It's just a scar." Alex wasn't sure who he was trying to convince, himself or John. He sat up and pulled the blankets around his body tightly. John walked across the room towards the couch. He started to sit then paused. "You can sit. I'm not mad, John."

John bit his lip and finally sat. "I'm still sorry. I shouldn't have intruded like that."

Alex shrugged. "Not like this is my bedroom or anything." He rubbed at his eyes tiredly. "I couldn't sleep so came down here. You couldn't have known."

"Still, I shouldn't have reacted like that."

Alex scoffed. "Of course you should. It's ugly." He closed his eyes tightly, hating himself for saying the words as soon as they left his mouth. He hated this. Hated talking about it. Hated himself for talking about it.

"No! That's not why I acted that way at all!" John twisted so that Alex could see his face. "I thought you were hurt. From back there, I just saw the red. I thought you were bleeding. I was worried."

"Oh…" Alex bit his lip and stared down at the floor. His mind whirred with thoughts of how unpleasant the scar looked and the damned memories attached to it.

"Alex, can I ask what happened? Or at least if you're okay? Please?"

"I don't…" He paused, chewing on his lip once again.

"You don't have to, Alex. I don't want—"

"I don't love talking about it," Alex continued, "but I'm okay now." I hope. "I, um, I had a heart defect when I was born. Ventricular septal defect."

"Hole in the heart?"

"How did you—"

"I read a lot of medical books," John replied with a blush and a shrug. "I want to be a doctor."

Alex nodded before continuing. "Um, well, they didn't catch it until I was twelve. I was sick so they ran tests and, well, it was there and really causing a lot of problems. Probably had been for awhile." Alex ran a hand through his hair. "We couldn't really afford a doctors when I was growing up. So it just…they never really caught it til then." His hands shook as he brought them up to the hem of his t-shirt's neckline. "I had surgery when I moved to the states a few months ago. It got infected. And I apparently scar easily anyway." He heaved out a frustrated sighed. "So it looks like this. I'm really sorry it scared you so much." He dropped his hands back to his lap, keeping his eyes on the ground until he felt an arm slip around his back.

"Thank you for sharing that." John pulled him into a one armed hug. "I know that had to be hard." He squeezed Alex's shoulder. "Are you sure you feel okay though? I mean, sounds like the surgery wasn't that long ago."

Alex thought for a moment. I still feel like shit. I always have. "Yeah," he lied. "Things are better. It's better than it was." He tried to give John a small smile. "Thanks for asking."

"You two are up awfully early," George greeted them, rounding the corner of the den.

Alex startled a little at the voice and shifted away from John ever so slightly.

"Yeah Mr. W," John responded. "Figured I'd check to see if we had school."

George chuckled. "You have a snow day. I just checked."

"Yes!" John exclaimed.

"Oh to be young and have snow days," George added with a grin. "Can I interest you two in coffee? Laf and Martha are still sleeping."

"Yes, sir!" John said while Alex muttered a soft "Yes, please."

"Come on then." George motioned for them to follow him into the kitchen. "I can fix breakfast if you two would like. Martha can take care of Laf once he decides to join the land of the living."

John scoffed. "That won't be for a few more hours. He wasn't planning on setting an alarm."

"Shocking," George teased. "Well, I checked the news when I turned on my phone. Schools are going to be shut down for the week. More storms are coming in tonight." George switched the coffee maker on and added the beans. "John, you should walk to your house and pick up some things this morning while there's a break. I can't get the cars down the driveway, but you should be safe to walk to and from if you go before the next storm."

"Yeah, for sure. I called my gran last night. She wanted to thank you for letting me stay. She's stuck in South Carolina for awhile. No plane will fly back with all the storms, so she's just waiting it out at my father's."

"Stay as long as you need," George insisted. "What would you two like this morning? Cereal? Eggs? Oatmeal?"

"Whatever is fine," Alex answered softly.

"Something warm," John asserted, smiling kindly at Alex.

"Hmmm, oatmeal?"

"Please," Alex said to George. He then mouthed a silent thank you to John.

George set about fixing the oatmeal on the stove. John poured coffee for the three of them while Alex watched him. It felt oddly domestic and comfortable. Neither of which Alex ever expected.

"So, Alex, would you mind coming with me to pick up some things? I don't know if I'll need help. I may have to shovel out some snow to get to my door. Could use a hand."

"Yeah, sure." Alex inwardly celebrated at the idea of spending more time with John, especially outside of the Washington's home.

"Good thinking, John," George praised. "Take some shovels from the garage. There should be a sled hanging on the wall too. All your tools and bags should fit in it on the way to and from. Make it easier on yourselves. Walking in the snow will be a chore all it's own."

John groaned. "Don't remind me."

"Is it that hard?" Alex asked timidly.

"You'll soon see," George laughed.

"You're used to sand right?" John questioned.

"Yeah, of course."

"Think that, but worse."

"Can't be that much worse," Alex mumbled.

"Again, you'll see," George teased. He placed bowls of steaming oatmeal in front of each boy. "So, John, did you enjoy the movie with Laf and Herc last week? He mentioned you had gone."

"Eh, was more Herc's thing than mine," John replied. "But the dude playing the lead was pretty cute, so that made up for it."

Alex paused at John's words while George simply laughed. "Of course there was," he continued, much to Alex's astonishment.

George and John continued with small talk filling the space until the bowls were empty. Well, all but Alex's.

"Not hungry, Alex?" George inquired.

"Oh," Alex startled, "um, I'm not usually very hungry at breakfast." It wasn't a lie. He wasn't hungry at breakfast. But he also wasn't hungry at any meal really. "I'm sorry you went to the trouble of—"

"It's no trouble," George interrupted, clapping Alex on the shoulder. He took the bowls over to the dishwasher. "You two should get ready and head over to John's soon. Snow is supposed to hold off until this evening, but you never know when it can change."

"Yeah, probably smart," John agreed. "Feel up to it, Alex?"

"Sure," he answered. "Just let me change."

"Yeah I need to do the same."

"Go on," George added. "I'll grab that stuff from the garage for you both."

The boys thanked George and headed upstairs. Alex layered his warmest clothes onto each other and found a pair of wool socks in one of the bags from George. He donned a thick beanie and clunky boots as well. He knew he would still be cold, but it would be a small sacrifice to make.

He met John back downstairs by the door. Martha and Laf continued to sleep in their respected rooms. George had left their supplies on the porch for them before going to take a shower of his own.

"You ready?" John asked with a grin.

"As I'll ever be."

John laughed a little. "You don't have to come if you don't feel up to it."

"No, I want to come." Alex shrugged. "Plus you'll need help."

"Alright, let's go then." John opened the door and stepped onto the porch first. The cold air smacked Alex in the face, but the sight of the thick piles of snow took his breath away more than the air.

"Holy shit," he gasped.

"Took the words out of my mouth." John clapped him on the shoulder. "Watch your step coming off the porch. There's usually ice that collects there."

Alex nodded and carefully followed John's path off the porch. His feet slid despite the care he took. John noticed almost immediately and grabbed his shoulders to steady him.

"You okay?"

Alex nodded and tried to take another step. He succeeded this time and managed to make it to the end of the yard. John pulled the sled, which Alex was grateful for, as they walked.

"I just live two blocks up. It's not too far."

"That's fine." Alex took a step and sunk into the snow more than he expected. "Son of a bitch," he cursed.

"I warned ya," John teased.

Alex struggled but eventually took another step, sinking in yet again. "Okay, you did. You were right. This has nothing on sand. Damn it."

"You'll get used to it. Here, just walk where I step. That should help. " Alex did as John suggested, only stepping in the footprints John left behind. In doing so, he was able to make it to John's without falling flat on his face.

"Hand me a shovel, please," Alex requested.

John handed him one and took the other for himself. "Watch me, alright?" John demonstrated the best way to shovel. "Just like this. Best way to do it so you don't hurt your back."

Alex nodded and did as he was told. It took some time, but they dug out enough to be able to get into the house. They left the shovels and the sled on the front porch and entered carefully.

John paused at the foyer and slipped out of his boots. "Um, do you care to take off your boots? I just, I don't want my grandmother to have a mess when she comes back."

"Of course." Alex followed John and removed the snow-covered shoes. He then trailed behind John as the other boy went through the house towards his room.

"I'm just up here." John pointed up the stairs before taking them two at a time. Alex was slower in his own climb, but it allowed him to glance at the various pictures on the walls. He paused at a photo of a younger boy with John's unruly curls sitting on top of a young woman's lap.

"That's my mom," John explained.

Alex startled. He hadn't realized that John had walked back down the stairs to his side.

"I'm sorry I—"

"Nothing to be sorry for. They're there to be looked at."

Alex nodded, biting his lip as he thought of what to say. "She's pretty."

John practically beamed at the compliment. "She was. She was the best." John straightened the picture on the wall. "Miss her a lot. Don't get me wrong, my gran is amazing and I'm not sure what I would do without her, but still."

"I get that," Alex replied softly.

John smiled. "My dad, we just don't get along. Don't agree on anything really. And he's a politician. But not like Mr. W. He doesn't exactly put his family first, like George. No, it's all about career and how we can make him look better." John rolled his eyes. "Why I live here. My siblings go back and forth a lot more, but mainly stay here. Just easier."

"I'm sorry," Alex said.

"Thanks, but not your fault."

Alex shrugged this time. "Yeah, but I get shitty dads." His words were barely above a whisper.

John reached the top of the stairs and nodded. "You too?"

"Something like that." Alex didn't elaborate and John didn't press.

"I should probably warn that my room always looks like a bomb went off in it," John stated instead.

Alex laughed and followed him into his bedroom. "It's not so bad."

"You are too kind." John rummaged through the clothes on the floor and grabbed some jeans. He then dug through the drawers for the rest. "Can you throw me that duffle bag over there? The one in the corner?"

"Yeah." Alex grabbed the bag and tossed it to him. "Here."

"Thanks!" John shoved everything into the bag and zipped it up. "Let me just grab my backpack." John didn't realize that the backpack was unzipped. The contents spilled out as soon as he lifted the straps. "Shit!"

Alex leaned down to help him pick up the various papers and books. He lifted a set of loose leaf pages that all contained drawings and doodles. He flipped through them for a moment before working up the courage to speak about them. "D-did you draw these?" He handed them to John.

John blushed and rubbed at the back of his neck. "Yeah, I did."

"They're amazing."

John's blush deepened. "I just like to doodle when I'm bored."

"You're good," Alex complimented, a blush of his own creeping onto his cheeks.

"Thank you," John replied. John cleared his throat. "Can you hand me those books please?"

Alex recovered after a moment and handed everything over to John for his backpack. John finished packing up everything and zipped it tightly.

"We should probably head back," John said after everything was packed away. "Laf is probably awake by now and building up his snowball armory without us."

Alex smiled at that. "We can't have that."

"No we can't!" John replied with a laugh. "Come on." John gathered up his bags and took off for the stairs. Alex lagged behind once more. They slipped their boots back on and made their way out of the house.

John locked the doors while Alex stepped down off the porch. Alex's feet skid on the snow and ice. He fell with a hard thud.

"Alex!" John skid in the snow behind him, helping him up. "Oh my god! Are you okay? Alex?"

Alex took a moment to focus. He back ached from fall, and his hands shook from the shock.

"Alex?"

He nodded quickly to John. "I'm okay. Just didn't expect that. I'm okay."

John ran his hands over Alex's arms and shoulders. "Are you sure? That was quite the fall."

"Yeah," Alex responded, his voice stronger than before. "Yeah, it doesn't hurt that much. It's fine. I'm fine."

"Here, let me help you up." John extended a hand and gripped Alex's tightly. He pulled him up. Alex wavered, falling into John a little. "Easy. I got ya." John helped Alex gain his balance. His hand never let go of Alex's.

"I'm good; thank you." Alex took a deep breath and finally noticed John's bags in the snow. "Oh, I'm so sorry! I made your bags get wet and—"

"I'm not worried about that," John assured. "Just you."

Alex blushed once more. "Thank you."

John let go of Alex's hand to grab his things. He tossed them onto the sled and stepped off the porch. Alex carefully followed. John paused at the beginning of the sidewalk and waited for him. As soon as Alex was by his side, John reached down and took his hand. Alex tried to hide the pleasant surprise from his face.

They walked the rest of the way to the Washington's hand in hand.

xxxxx

John was greeted by a snowball to the face as soon as he stepped foot into the yard.

"Success!"

Alex turned to see Lafayette dancing on the other side of the yard in victory. Another boy high fived Laf and smiled as John cleaned the snow from his face.

"That wasn't fair!" another voice called from the other side of the yard. Alex looked up to see the Schuyler sisters rolling their eyes and shaking their heads at the boys.

"Yeah you ass," John finally replied once the snow was off his face. "You could have hit Alex instead!"

Laf looked remorseful at that and glanced at Alex. "Sorry," he apologized.

"Hey Alex," Eliza and Angelica yelled by way of greeting. Peggy waved at him from beside them.

"So this is Alex," the boy by Laf spoke. He walked over and extended a hand. "Hercules Mulligan. Call me Herc."

Alex looked the larger boy up and down. "Alex Hamilton."

"Good to meet you," Herc said, shaking Alex's hand firmly. "Laf mentioned you would be coming back with John."

"I see you have already met the girls," Laf added, walking over. He squeezed John's shoulder. "Sorry for the surprise attack. I couldn't pass it up."

"Yeah, yeah," John replied, rolling his eyes.

"Yes," Alex said to Laf. "I met the girls at the bookstore."

"Have you started reading anything," Eliza asked as the girls made their way over.

"I started Harry Potter last night," Alex responded.

"Yes!" Angelica exclaimed.

Alex laughed at her excitement. "It's good. I forgot how much I liked it."

"Good." Angelica gave him a kiss on the cheek. "So, now that they're back, can we get on with this 'epic battle' already?"

"What battle?" John questioned warily.

"Can all team up," Herc replied. "There's enough of us."

"There's an odd number of us," Peggy whined.

"Yes, but you can't aim for shit," Angelica retorted. "So it won't really be an advantage if one team has an extra person in you."

"Hey!"

"You can be on mine and Alex's team," John interrupted on Peggy's sake. "Right Alex?"

"Of course," he replied, in shock that John was so adamant about him joining his side again.

"No way I am on their team then! I call Laf and Herc," Angelica countered.

"Can I join your team then?" Eliza asked of John.

"Hell yeah," John called, pulling Eliza into a one armed hug. "You picked the winners after all."

"I beg to differ mon amis!" Laf teased.

"It's on!" Herc yelled.

John ran his bags into the house and returned to his team quickly. Both sides set about building up their armory of snowballs and creating a plan. It wasn't long before chaos broke out on the front yard. Alex didn't even know how he got into this. The boy who had never made a snowball before had now taken part in not one, but two fights with this rather interesting group of people. Not only that, but he was good at it.

"You sure you've never done this before?" John pressed with a smile.

Alex bashfully returned the smile. "Can't say that I have."

"You're good. You're good with strategy," John continued.

"Really?" Alex asked in shock.

"You are," Eliza agreed, squeezing his shoulder. "I've never seen anyone be able to best Herc and Laf."

"Hey!" Herc yelled.

"She has a point, mon ami," Laf sighed. "No one else matches my tactical practical brilliance!"

"Oh god," Angelica moaned.

Alex laughed at their antics. The laughter made his chest ache after a moment. He coughed, doing his best to cover the sound in his arm. However, the moment left him vulnerable and open for attack. Angelica pummeled him with snowballs, one after the next as he tried to recover. He fell under the onslaught, sliding down into the cold snow. The coughing worsened along the way.

"Alex!" someone cried out. He couldn't tell who it was. He was too focused on trying to breath, something that was becoming much worse.

He felt hands pull him out of the cold snow and onto his feet. John. It was John once again.

"Hey?" John inquired soothingly. "You with me? You okay, Alex?"

"I'm so sorry!" Angelica added. "I didn't mean to go at you so hard!"

"I'm fine," he eventually croaked. He cleared his throat. Breathing was still hard but coming a little nonetheless. "Promise."

"You sure? You looked like you couldn't breath for a moment," Eliza questioned, looking him up and down.

"Yes. Just had the wind knocked out of me," he lied.

"Do you feel up to continuing?" Laf asked softly. "Don't feel like you have to, mon ami."

"Yeah," John assured. "We should probably all pack up for the day soon anyway. The clouds look like they are ready to burst any moment."

Alex nodded. "Yeah, I, um, it's pretty cold."

"Go get warmed up," Angelica said. "I'm sorry for covering you in snow like that." She rubbed at his arms.

"It's okay." He bit his lip and thought of something to say that would take their eyes off him. Stop those worried looks. "When you got skin in the game, you stay in the game."

Angelica laughed. "Damn straight!"

Alex managed to catch his balance and walk into the house. He took off his boots at the door and slowly made his way up to his bedroom without anyone noticing how poorly he felt. Or so he thought. He had just gotten his wet clothes off and a warm pair of sweats on when another coughing fit hit him and his door creaked open.

Hands guided him to sit on his bed and rubbed at his back until the fit passed. He looked up to see Eliza staring back at him with concern.

"I—"

"This isn't just the cold air is it?" she inquired. The words should have been harsh, but coming from her they sounded gentle and caring.

"I'm fine," he lied again.

She smiled sadly at him. She continued to rub his back. "You don't have to fake it. Not around anyone here."

"I'm fine," Alex repeated.

Eliza sighed. "You can trust the Washingtons." Alex tensed under her hands. "I know what it's like to feel like you can't. But you can."

Alex just shook his head at her words.

"Angelica and I saw our fair share of bad homes when we were in the system."

"What?" Alex gasped, eyes darting to meet her own.

"Thought that might gain your attention." She smiled sweetly despite her words. "Angelica and I lived in orphanages and foster homes for a few years before the Schuylers adopted us. They thought they couldn't have children, well until Peggy came along a year after we were adopted." She giggled a little at the memory before turning more somber. "Took me awhile to trust them. To feel like I could go to them with things."

Alex stared at the floor. "How?"

"How?"

"How did you get to a point where you thought you could trust them?"

Eliza took his hand in hers and squeezed. "I realized I was tired of hiding and living in fear. That I didn't want that for my life."

"You don't know what I want for my life though," he whispered.

"You're right. I don't pretend to know the challenges you're facing." She smiled kindly. "But I can say that I've been there. And that I can tell that you want this."

Alex swallowed thickly.

"Just, if you don't think that you can tell them something yet, please tell one of us. I know we all just met you, and you us, but we take care of each other. Have for as long as I can remember."

Alex nodded. Eliza kissed him on the cheek, much like her sister had done earlier, and stood from the bed. She left Alex reeling, his head spinning as he thought of her words.

He wanted to believe her. But he just couldn't. Not yet.

A/N: Probably the last chapter for a week or week and a half as I'll be out of town starting Tuesday :)