YAY, AN UPDATE!

YIKES, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME, SORRY GUYS! TO BE HONEST, I HAD TO TAKE SOME TIME TO OUTLINE THIS STORY AND FIGURE OUT A PATH, AND I'M NOT EVEN DONE! THAT BEING SAID, I'M FINALLY GLAD TO BESTOW THIS UPDATE UPON Y'ALL!

ENJOY!


Monticello. Eliza could not believe how beautiful it was! She pressed her face against the train window, giggling like a little girl outside of a toy shop. She was on a train in France! Across from her, Thomas watched her, smirking, James's head resting on his shoulder. Thomas was used to travel, and was hardly affected by jet lag. James, on the other hand, was not.

"Thank you." Eliza found herself murmuring for the hundredth time, sitting back down. Thomas had said she needed the true France experience, which meant taking a train from their city of landing to Monticello. She couldn't remember the name of the city, but it had been so beautiful that it took Thomas ten minutes to convince her to stop taking pictures. Even now, she pulled out her phone, taking a picture of the two men in front of her.

James yawned, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. Thomas gave him a peck on the cheek. "Hi." James said. "Are we almost there?"

"Almost. Are you hungry, my love?"

"A little."

"Let's go to the dining car then. Lizzy?"

"It's okay, I'll stay here."

Thomas nodded, and he and James departed from their compartment. Eliza drummed her fingers nervously on her book. She was nervous. She was miles from home with two boys she hasn't known for very long. Normally, she would have been wary, but Thomas and James had given her no reasons to worry. Even Peggy liked them, and out of the three sisters, she was least likely to trust anyone.

Her phone vibrated, startling her from her thoughts. She fished it out of her pocket, looking at the screen.

Angel

Eliza hesitated, staring at the phone before pressing the answer button.

"Angelica."

"Eliza?"

Eliza nodded, then remembered her sister couldn't see her. "Yes, it's me."

"Eliza… I didn't think you would answer."

"I almost didn't." Eliza responded flatly. Angelica chuckled humorlessly.

"I wouldn't blame you…" She trailed off, and the girls sat in silence for a moment.

"I'm sorry."

Eliza had expected the words, but there was still a small pang in her chest.

"I was wrong, to do what I did, and I never hope for you to forgive me. I wouldn't be surprised if you slapped me when you saw me again like Peggy did."

"Peggy hit you?"

"Yeah."

Jesus, Eliza thought to herself.

"I'm sorry, I know you're on a trip. I'll leave you alone now. But Eliza?"

"Yes?"

"I love you."

Eliza's breath caught, and she swallowed, hard.

"I… I love you too." She hung up before Angelica could say anything else, closing her eyes and resting her head against the side of theof the car. It was obvious that avoiding her feelings wasn't going to work. Every time she thought she escaped it, she got phone calls, text messages. No one would leave her alone! If someone wasn't begging for her forgiveness, someone else was checking on her. If it wasn't for the boys, she would've gone crazy.

She wasn't sure when she fell asleep, but James was suddenly, gently shaking her awake, smiling/ She stretches, standing, her excitement returning in a rush. She was really here - in Monticello!

Gathering up their bags didn't take long - They were only going to be there for a week, and each only had two bags.

"Come," Thomas says, "I've already called a car for us." They picked up their bags and headed out of the station, weaving past people and luggage.

Eliza nearly rolled her eyes at the sight of a older, white-haired man in a suit, holding a sign that said "Jefferson Party". Thomas however, lit up like a Christmas tree. "Harry!"

"Monsieur Thomas!" The man's cool facade broke, and he hugged Thomas like an old friend. When they parted, his eyes shifted to James and Eliza. "Monsieur Madison! And… a girlfriend?"

Eliza's cheeks and ears got hot, but James laughed. "Very funny, Harry. This is a good friend from school, Lizzy Schuyler. Lizzy, this is Harry Durand. He's the Jefferson family's beloved chauffeur."

Harry strode forward, bowing to Eliza. "Bonjour, Mademoiselle Schuyler, and welcome to France." He took her bags, shooting a dirty look at the boys. "A lady does not carry her own bags."

Eliza was inclined to disagree and take them back - but, she decided, her parents did raise a lady, and it wouldn't kill her to let the men be men.

Harry led them to the car, and after everything and everyone was settled, drove off. Eliza took pictures the entire drive, even taking a less than perfect one when Thomas made a comment about it. This was her first trip, damn it - she was going to document it.

The Jefferson manor was beautiful.

"Welcome to the Jefferson home, Mademoiselle Schuyler."

Eliza could barely believe her eyes. It was huge! Harry helped her out of the car, and she immediately took out her camera.

"Lizzy, if you keep taking all of those pictures, we'll never get anywhere."

Eliza put her camera down, still grinning from ear to ear. She couldn't help it. She was really here. In Monticello! She had dreamed of coming to France since she was a little girl, and she was finally here. She had to admit that she was a little sad that she wasn't there with Alexander - but it was his own fault, not hers, and she was determined to make the most of her trip.

"Sorry, Thomas. I'm just really excited."

Thomas came over and put an arm around her shoulder. "I know, but let's at least get inside first. Then we'll make our plans for the week, alright?"

Eliza nodded, and followed the men into the house.

"Where are your parents?" James inquired.

"Hawaii, I believe. They won't be back for a while, that's all I know."

Harry motioned for Eliza to follow him. "I'll show you to your room." She trailed him up a wide staircase and to the right, down a long hall. Pushing open the two large doors, he called her in.

Eliza gasped.

A large oak canopy bed dominated the opposite wall, a gold duvet resting on top. A large armoire stood against the left wall, and a vanity table completed the set up. The carpet was plush and white. Eliza walked in slowly, turning in a circle.

Harry smiled. "Bienvenue à Monticello, Mme Schuyler. J'espère que tu profites de ton séjour." Leaving her bags neatly by the door, he bowed once more and exited.

Eliza turned and jumped on the bed, humming in pleasure at the softness of the blanket. There was a window above her bed, and warm ribbons of sun lay over her. She could barely believe her life right then - pulling out her phone, she dialed a number.

"Hello?" A groggy voice answered.

"Peggy?"

"Lizzy! You made it?"

"Yes! Oh my goodness, Peggy, it's so beautiful! It's sunny, and my room is gorgeous - royalty gorgeous!"

"Omg, I'm so jealous. You have to bring me one day."

Eliza closed her eyes. "One day." she breathed, stretching out and sighing.

"Hey, you okay?"

"Yeah, why?"

"You sound frustrated a little."

Eliza paused. "Can I tell you the truth?"

"Always."

"It's been a while since…"

Peggy snickered. "Oh, I see." she said, and Eliza blushed. "Well, you could always ask the boys. They seem eager to please."

"Peggy, no!"

The younger Schuyler burst into laughter. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding. Well, it's 7 am here, and I was up late, so I'll talk to you later. I love you, have fun!" She hung up, and Eliza put her phone down. Ask the boys, yeah right. She chuckled to herself. Honestly…

Despite her laughter, she had been telling the truth - she was horny. Sex between Alexander was few and far between (and now I know why, she thought bitterly,) but she couldn't ignore the urge forever. Fingers and toys could only satisfy so much.

There was a knock on her door, startling her from her thoughts. "Lizzy?"

"Come in!"

Thomas opened the door, peeking his head in. "How do you like your room?"

"It's amazing! Ugh, I could lie on this bed forever."

He chuckled, nodding. "Well, I'll be in the shower, but feel free to explore. James will be unpacking in our room if you need him." With that, he closed the door, and Eliza set to unpacking her own bags. Once she was done, she headed out to explore.

Her search of the second floor found four bedrooms, a den of sorts, and two ridiculously big bathrooms. She bounded downstairs, and upon inspection added kitchen, living room, and dining room to the list. She wondered once more about Thomas's financials - but her thought process was forgotten when she spotted the garden outside of the kitchen. She opened the large glass door, taking a timid step out.

There rows upon rows of beautiful flowers, set up in a way she could not decipher from the ground. Her skin tingled at the warmth of the sun mixed with the cool breeze, and Eliza walked leisurely down the rows. Something compelled her to stay silent - what, she wasn't sure.

She stopped in front of a small fountain sitting just outside of the flower beds, and from there, she could see a small pond just past a grove of trees. She started to head to the pond when she noticed a small, worn path veered into the trees themselves. Eliza hesitated, then followed it, down a small slope and into a grove of trees. Something sat at the end of the path, and as she approached she could see exactly what it was.

A shrine.

There was a simple grave marker, surrounded by bouquets of fresh flowers, probably put there that day. She knelt in front of it, reading the engraving:

Martha Wayles

Beloved Daughter and Fiancee

Thomas had been engaged?

"She was the love of his life."

Eliza gasped, whipping around. James held up his hands. "Relax, it's okay. You're allowed to be here." He came and knelt beside her. "She was Thomas's first and only girlfriend, and his fiancee. She died from illness before they could get married… Thomas was inconsolable for three weeks." James leaned forward and gentle kissed the grave marker. "I liked her a lot. She was really nice to me and never tried to stop Thomas and me from hanging out. Sometimes, when it was just me and her, she'd say, "sometimes it feels like I'm sharing Thomas with you James, and he is sharing me. We're sharing each other"."

"What did that mean?" Eliza asked.

"Thomas and I.. we say we're bisexual because it's easier for people to wrap their heads around that than believing we can love more than one person at once. Martha knew we were interested in each other, but she also knew I hung back because I didn't want to get in the way. She knew a lot, and she was so sweet about it. Before she passed, she asked me to take care of him and never let him limit his capacity to love…"

Eliza turn to look at him. He was staring hard at Martha's grave marker, as though he were speaking to her instead of Eliza. He continued talking.

"Thomas loves me and Martha differently. With Martha, she was his whole world. I can honestly say in choice between us both, he'd choose Martha, and I don't fault him. But with me, he's kind of a protector - he stands up for me, he helps me remember my self worth... Sometimes I feel like I'll never be "Martha" but he doesn't make me feel like I have to be. And it's weird, knowing it's possible to love more than one person without hesitation." He turned to her then, and she couldn't help her eyes falling to his lips as he asked, "could you ever do such a thing?"

Eliza wasn't sure, but she could swear that something in her world was shifting. James was staring at her like her answer held the secrets to the universe. She swallowed, and her skin itched again - itching to be touched, by his hands.

What's happening to me?

"I think so," she finally murmured. "I've never… I was always raised believing that monogamy was the only way, but I think I could."

James nodded slowly, and damn it, she was still staring at his lips. What was going on with her?

"Lizzy?"

"Yes?"

"You're really pretty."

She laughs a little. "Thank you. You… You're very handsome yourself."

James smiles, her heart flips, and she's fairly certain she's about to lean forward and do something she regrets when -

"James, Lizzy!" Are you two out here?"

Eliza shakes her head, jumps to her feet and begins walking away, cheeks burning. She can hear James behind her, but he doesn't say a word.

Thomas is standing by the glass door, arms crossed, hair pulled close to his scalp in two loose french braids. He raises an eyebrow at Eliza's face. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. What's up?"

"Oh, I have a surprise for you. Go into the entry hall."

She heads past him through the kitchen, and the dining room, and to the entry hall.

She screams.

"Elizabeth!" Lafayette shouted, throwing his arms open. Eliza rushed to him, throwing her arms around him and hugging him. Behind him stood Laurens and Hercules, grinning wide. She hugged them each in turn (bursting into giggles when Hercules lifted her off her feet, bouncing on her feet.

"What are you all doing here?"

"Did Alexander not tell you? A friend of mine asked me to house sit here in Monticello, so I dragged the boys with me! What are you doing here with Thomas and James? Where is Alexander."

Eliza's heart stopped. "Did… Did Alexander not… tell you?"

All three smiles disappeared at once. "Tell us what?" Hercules asked.

Eliza's throat seemed to close up. She took a step back, crossing her arms in front of her. She could see alarm spreading over their faces, and she was right - Alexander had not told them what happened. "Well… A-Alexander…"

"Hamilton was fucking her sister behind her back." Thomas came up behind her, putting a hand on her shoulder. Lafayette gasped in horror; Laurens looked ill; and Hercules just looked stunned.

"What do you mean?! He, and Angelica… What?"

Eliza nodded. "I caught them in bed one day after class and… I left. I moved in with Thomas and James a month ago, and now we're here. He really didn't tell you?"

"No." Said Laurens. He looked hurt. "We've only talked to him a couple of times in the past few weeks, but… He really cheated on you?"

Eliza scoffed. "I'm just as shocked as you are." She looked away, shrugging. "It's the past now. I came to France with Thomas and James to forget about it for a while."

Lafayette seemed to light up at that. "I think I know the best way to do that. How do you feel about clubbing?"

"Clubbing?"

"Yes! There's an underground club here in Monticello, very Americanized. How would you feel about going with us tonight?"

Clubbing. It sounded… fun enough. She'd never been -Angelica had asked her to go every so often, but she'd never really wanted to.

"Come on, Eliza" Hercules goaded. "You can totally brag to Pegs when you get home, you know she'd be thrilled. We'll even make sure you don't do anything embarrassing."

Eliza turned to find James and Thomas watching her. James's face was unreadable, but Thomas looked excited at the prospect of going out.

Do it, said a voice inside of her. Prove to yourself you can be someone with him.

She turned back to the group of boys. "Sounds fun. What time?"

The boys whooped, and Eliza smiled. Thomas invited them into the living room, where they sat and chat for a few hours. Lafayette regaled them with tales of their latest adventures, while Hercules filled them in on his relationship with Peggy and his success in Fashion Technology school. Laurens had no stories of his own to tell. Eliza told them about her name change, and she was touched at how supportive they seemed.

"I'm going to kill him when we get back." Hercules muttered.

"Only if your girlfriend didn't beat you to it. I made her promise not to do anything until I left, and according to Angelica, Peggy slapped her."

Hercules whistled. "That's my girl." He said, smiling.

"Lafayette, how's Adrienne?" Thomas asked. "Are you two doing well?"

They talked for a couple of hours until the boys left to get ready for the night. "You've got to look hot, Lizzy." Lafayette ordered as he was exiting. "Nothing less than sexy!"

"I'm going to get a little rest before tonight." Eliza told James and Thomas before heading upstairs. She padded to her room, closing and locking the door before falling back on her bed. She took a deep breath.

'Could you do such a thing?'

She was going to kiss him. She had been going to kiss James Madison. Why. An image of his lips flashed in her mind, and she gasped at the goosebumps on her skin. A shift of her legs confirmed she was wet.

"Jesus." she muttered, letting her hand slide down her stomach to her pants line.


SORRY GUYS, NO TOUCHY TOUCHY SCENE JUST YET. FOR THOSE OF YOU STILL READING, YES, WE WILL BE MAKING USE OF THAT M RATING VERY SOON! I THOUGHT THIS WAS JUST GOING TO BE A QUICK SMUT FIC BUT UUUHHH, WHOOPS. FEELINGS. HEHE.

SEE YA!

NOTE: THIS IS A MODERN AU. PLEASE READ THE THE DESCRIPTION.