If Only
~Chapter 10: Different~
Phillip and Theodosia opened up about their relationship. Angelica pretty much punched Phillip because he didn't tell her first. Eliza and Maria was very much happy about the news, celebrated it with their own way, by making matching scarfs for Theodosia and Phillip. Hamilton and Phillip's brothers was overjoyed with having Theodosia as a sister. Burr was taking it easier than he thought he would which is something Hamilton still found weird. Everything went great.
Nothing lasts long though. The news was a nice break but was soon washed away with the news of Peggy falling sick. Theodosia found when she headed to Hamilton's house at morning to work with Angelica's piano. She found Hamilton talking with a man around his own age. He doesn't look familiar at all in Theodosia's head. Hamilton saw her and called her. She greeted them and they greeted back. Hamilton gestured at the man next to him. "Theodosia, this is Mr. John Laurens, Peggy's husband."
"Nice to meet you Miss Theodosia, Phillip talked fondly of you in the letters." Laurens complimented. Look at her fondly and continued, "Well, his descriptions of you spoke the truth."
"Thank you Mr. Laurens, it's nice to meet you too." Theodosia smiled back. A tint of happiness in her gut, knowing that Phillip talked about her with his family. Theodosia took a good look at Laurens. The man who died before he ever met her in her own timeline. This timeline, he's Aunt Peggy's husband. As soon as she answered, the men continued talking with sadness in their voice. When they stopped, Theodosia cut in, "Mr. Hamilton. Mr. Laurens… is something wrong?"
"Um…" Laurens looked at Hamilton for help.
"Peggy is feeling unwell. She's ill and it worsened this last few days." Hamilton quickly answered. He knew he could trust Theodosia. She was struck silent but Hamilton knew she was listening close, "I will be going to Albany for a legal business and I'll be stay in Laurens' house but we're discussing to whether or not the others should come as well."
"Peggy doesn't want them to come. She said she'll be fine." Laurens complained.
"But we're not entirely sure." Hamilton cuts in. Theodosia was silent between the two men. She didn't want to voice any opinion, more like, she doesn't have any opinion. She doesn't know what's happening. This was all new for her in the timeline. It's something she doesn't dare to play with. Hamilton pressed in, "I'll be going. I'll miss the Winter's Ball this year I guess."
"Okay…" Theodosia answered quietly. Laurens and Hamilton went to continue their arrangement for Hamilton's stay. Theodosia's thoughts were on something else entirely. She thought, 'Something's weird… if I remembered right, Aunt Peggy's death is at 1801… it's years too early for that.'
She raced her mind to think. What could be happening. Why should this be happening. Maria showed no sign of trying to seduce Hamilton and there's no sign of Hamilton trying to overwork himself anymore. The next thing she should watch out for was Phillip's duel. So why is someone else dying faster than she should be.
Theodosia's eyes landed on Laurens. What if he had been living by eating Peggy's original life time?
Theodosia shook the thoughts away. Laurens and Hamilton excused themselves to start working on the arrangements and packing up. Theodosia let them and continued to think about how this is affecting the timeline.
Nothing changed much. It's been months. Aunt Peggy's condition is still bad, it didn't worsen, just bad. Hamilton had been staying at Laurens' house and every day Eliza and Hamilton letter to each other. It didn't help that Eliza was still pregnant with a baby and stress is not good for her. Thank goodness The Winter's Ball came around. It lifted Eliza's spirit. She didn't walk around much, but meeting people she knew, especially Martha, was good enough to make her day.
Theodosia was swarmed by the men. Some thought she wasn't engaged yet and was making move on her but she quickly passed on them. Some congratulated her and hoped her well. Theodosia spent most of the evening watching over Alexander Junior, James, John and William. She finally got some time to herself when Maria offered to look over the kids and said that she needed some time for herself too.
Angelica crossed the ballroom to stand by her sister-in-law's side. Even though it's been months since they announced it, she was still a bit new to the fact that Theodosia is going to be her sister. Not that she hated it, she was just a bit surprised. Angelica wondered what Theodosia had been staring at for the last couple of minutes, so she directed her eyes toward where Theodosia was looking. Phillip was surrounded by three girls. All three looking like they were trying to charm him, maybe even seduce him. Angelica frowned. That's not really a scene she liked to see. But it's not really a scene she can ignore either. Trying to avert her attention, Angelica called on a conversation, "Hey, Theodosia?"
"Yes, Angelica?" but Theodosia eyes' kept looking at Phillip surrounded by the girls.
"Are you not jealous of the girls getting his attention?"
"Hm?" Finally, Theodosia looked at her with confusion. She wondered why Angelica would ask such a question, but nevertheless she smiled and answered honestly, "I am very jealous."
"Huh… the way you said it makes it sounds like you're not jealous at all."
"Well, I don't want him to think that he can't talk to other girls and even so, at the end of the day he's mine." She looked at the engagement ring on her finger. Theodosia's smile was one of the smile Angelica was proud of. She was sure now that she doesn't want anyone else to be his brother's bride but her. Theodosia wasn't too much, or too less… she was just right. But Phillip… is another case. Angelica, after all, knew her brother as long as she was alive. She's close to her and she know how innocent he can become sometimes.
That's why, in all hesitation, she asked, "What if… he decided to cheat on you?"
Theodosia's smile falter in a second as she looked at the ground, "…then… I'm not enough?"
"I didn't mean it like that!" Angelica panicked, "Uh… I mean-"
"I get it, Angelica, I was teasing you." Theodosia giggled and caressed Angelica's back. She tried to reassure her everything was fine with her. Then she answered, "Well, I don't know. One thing for sure though, is that I'll be very heartbroken."
"Of course…"
It was back to silence. The only noises were the music playing in the ballroom. No talking between the girls. It wasn't an awkward silent, it was a comforting one. Theodosia was the one who broke the silence, "Hey, Angelica?"
"Yes, Theodosia?"
Theodosia bent slightly to get close to Angelica's ear, "I'm glad he's mine."
Angelica smiled and enjoyed the rest of the evening with Theodosia.
