The idea of being a surrogate mother both excited Eliza and terrified her. On the one hand, she was so honored to be helping her dear friends become parents, but on the other, pregnancy was this unknown thing, something she honestly did not know much about. Of course, she knew the basics: Weight gain, craving, immense pain, but besides that she knew practically nothing. She could not tell you exactly what or why things were happening, she had never really bothered learning. Eliza was always worrying about the pregnancy. Would everything go smoothly? Would the baby be healthy? The one problem with her constant worrying was that she was not pregnant yet, she had not even told Alexander and John about being a surrogate. Not only that, but they still would need an egg donor. Eliza whined from where she lay on the couch, causing Angelica to look up from her book.
"Are you still worrying about being a surrogate?" Angelica asked her.
"Yes…" Eliza said sadly.
"Eliza, you're going to be fine, there's no reason to panic."
"But, Angelica-"
"No, Eliza. Don't worry about pregnancy when you are not even pregnant yet." Angelica said. She set the book beside her pulled Eliza into a sitting position. "If you worry now then you'll get apprehensive and scared about doing the implant. You can't let that worry sink in." Angelica looked at her and squeezed her hands, giving a reassuring smile. Eliza sighed and looked down.
"Alright, I'll try my best not to worry so much." She told her older sister. Angelica nodded and picked her book up again.
"You still have to tell them." Angelica pointed out. "Are you going to just tell them or surprise them?"
"Oh, I think just telling them will be surprising enough." Eliza said. She twiddled her thumbs, thinking about how her friends would react to the news. She could easily imagine Alexander cheering loudly and John breaking down and crying. John had always been so emotional. He cried when upset, when happy, when frustrated, when angry. Alexander found it cute, but John hated it.
"Well, hopefully they will be surprised when you tell them." Angelica commented. The middle sister furrowed her brows.
"Why wouldn't they be?" she asked. The younger sister gave her a look as if the answer should be obvious. Eliza thought for a moment and then nodded, her eyes widening a bit. "John works with Peggy." Peggy, the precious older sister, was not the best when it came to keeping secrets, and it was a struggle for her to keep her mouth shut around John. She tended to chew on her lip when she was around him, feeling that if she tried to speak, the secrets would come flowing out. Peggy avoided him as much as she could, but she knew she would have to face him eventually. It was easy for most of the day since they were both teaching various classes, and when John came him for his art class with her students, she could just leave. Lunch was when she knew she would have to face him. They always ate their lunch together and John would be suspicious if she did not sit with him, so she had no real choice but to be with him. Peggy waited for him outside the eighth grade classroom. She could hear him inside, talking animatedly about the civil rights movement. John's joy and passion excited the students, making them eager to learn. They gave Mr. Laurens their undivided attention and it amazed the other teachers. No other teacher could captivate the students like John could, they all loved him. He helped the students express themselves and did not silence them. He spoke to them honestly and told them about himself, showing that he faced a lot of hardships that some of them may have faced. He showed them that he was a human who made mistakes and had bad things happen to him too. Right now, he was sitting on top of his desk, talking about how to deal with discrimination and how even though he gave good advice, he never followed it himself.
"I was in a Target store with my husband a year ago a-" He started, but the chorus of his students yelling questions stopped him.
"Mr. L, you have a husband?!"
"You're gay?!"
"You didn't figure that out?" John laughed. "Come on, guys, I thought you were smarter than this. Anyway-"
"What's his name?"
"Is he older than you?"
"Did you meet at a gay bar?"
"Is he cute?"
John laughed more and answered their questions. "His name is Alexander, he's only a year older than I am. We met in college, a roommate introduced us. Yes, he is very handsome. Now will you let me go on with my story?" But the curious students would not let him continue his tale. They fired question after question and John could only answer a few before the bell rang. "Alright, time for lunch. Class dismissed." The students gathered their books and said goodbye to their teacher. As the last student walked out of the classroom, Peggy walked in. John got off his desk and took his lunch bag from one of the drawers. Peggy pulled a chair up to the side of his desk and opened up her lunch.
"You're really great with the older kids." Peggy said, taking a bite of her sandwich. "I don't know why you fought against doing this so much." John shrugged.
"I love working with young kids. They're adorable and sweet, but I've started to really enjoy working with the older kids. They've been thinking about transferring me over to the high school." John told her. He looked at the lunch Alexander had packed for him. There was a spicy pasta, Homemade chips, John's favorite yogurt, a soda, and a little note. He unfolded the letter and immediately smiled.
"Forever in my heart, always on my mind. I am surrounded by nothing but my love for you, John Laurens. I am not wealthy in money, but I am wealthy in the pride of calling you my husband. My heart is eternally yours. Love your dearest, ."
"You're blushing a lot, what did he say?" Peggy asked him. John handed her the note and touched his face, feeling how warm in was. He had not realized he was blushing. It didn't matter how long they had been together or how many letters Alexander wrote to him, it made him blush every single time, made butterflies flutter in his stomach. John loved his husband so much, no matter how many idiotic things the man did when he was annoyed. Peggy smiled and handed the note back to John. "He's so sweet." John took the letter and put it in a folder with a stack of other letters already inside. John saved every single letter that Alexander wrote him. He just couldn't even imagine throwing away such beautiful words. Alexander's love for John was immense and he took every opportunity to show it. John wondered how he had ended up with Alexander belonging to him. Lafayette could have easily snatched him up, Eliza could have done the same, but somehow it was he who had stolen the immigrant's heart. Peggy looked at him with a soft smile. If anyone deserved to be a father, it was John. Oh, Peggy wanted so badly to tell John about Eliza. She knew that John thought it was all over, that there was no hope of ever having a baby. She wanted to bring that light back to his world, wanted to see him smile. Peggy wanted nothing more than to see John happy and smiling. Well, perhaps she did want more, but it was an impossible dream. Peggy had a terrible crush on the man, and it made her feel awful. John was a homosexual, not only that, he was married. Peggy had been trying to move one, but she still fantasized. Everytime she looked at his freckle kissed face, when she looked into those stunning green eyes, she was drawn right back in. Why did he have to be so handsome and sweet? Peggy shook the thoughts from her mind and smiled at John.
"You said they may transfer you to the high school?" She asked, changing the topic. "Would you still come to teach the little ones art?"
"I have no idea, honestly, but I've been thinking about taking the offer." John informed her. Peggy gave a sad sigh.
"I'll really miss you if you go, but I think teaching high school would suit you. So if you transfer, I'll support you one hundred percent." She smiled and John smiled in return.
"Thanks, Peggy. I can always count on you."
Downtown, Hercules was dragging Lafayette and Alexander to a Kay Jewelers location, though he had not told either of them why, though he seemed incredibly excited. Hamilton looked around at the cases of jewelry that he could never dream of affording, looking at the sparkles and the beautiful colored diamonds. Lafayette followed a few steps behind Hercules, hands behind his back.
"Hercules, my friend, what exactly are we doing here?" Lafayette asked. "You still have not told us."
"Angelica's birthday isn't coming for another three months." Alexander said. "You aren't getting her a gift already, are you?" Hercules shook his head.
"This isn't something for her birthday, this is much bigger than that." He turned to smile at his friends. "I'm going to propose to her." Lafayette's and Hamilton's eyes widened and they clapped him on the back, congratulating him, smiled coming to their faces.
"Congratulations, mon amie." Lafayette said. "You deserve to call her your wife."
"When are you proposing?" Alexander asked.
"Tonight." Hercules said, which caused the others to gasp. "I know, I know, I shouldn't have waited this long to find a ring, but I really needed some help and I had to wait for you both to be free." The others couldn't help but laugh. This was such a Hercules thing to do. But they couldn't be happier for their friend. Lafayette and Hercules helped him pick out the perfect ring, a beautiful diamond ring with a white gold band. He paid for the ring and smiled. This was really going to happen. He would hopefully be the second couple in their friend group to get married, Angelica just had to say yes. He started to worry. What if Angelica said no? What if she laughed at him and left him? What would he do without her? Alexander saw the worry on his face and he gave his shoulder a squeeze.
"What are you so worried about? There's no chance she will say no. She loves you, Hercules." Alexander said. Lafayette nodded his head.
"You two were meant to be with each other." He said. "She's going to say yes, you will be married, and she will be Mrs. Angelica Mulligan. Besides, if Alexander can get married, then there's hope for the rest of us." He and Hercules laughed and Alexander faked offense. Even though it was meant as a joke, it was honestly a little surprising. To say that Alexander was obsessed with his work would be an understatement. He was always writing. He wrote during lectures at school, he wrote during meals, he wrote during parties, he wrote on dates. Alexander kept a small notepad and pen in his pockets at all times, and many people thought him crazy. Many potential partners had been chased away by that obsession, that passion. Lafayette had not been able to stand it after one dinner date too many of being ignored while Alexander wrote furiously. Eliza did not last nearly as long as Lafayette. It was John who remained by his side. John let Alexander write to his heart's content. He never made him stop, never threatened to leave if he would not put the damn pencil down and have a conversation. John wasn't going to stop Alexander from doing what made him, well, Alexander. That passion had gotten him a job with the New York Times, it had helped shed light on important situations, it had made John fall for him. Those hands, that mind, had written hundreds of articles, thousands of letters, who else but Alexander could do that? And over time, Alexander had become able to put down his pencil and just be with people, just be with his husband, but that passion still burned. Alexander knew he was lucky to have John in his life, and he loved him so dearly.
When Alexander returned home in the late afternoon, he closed the door behind him and pressed his lips to John's in a loving kiss. John kissed back and hummed. What a nice greeting this was. John pulled back and smiled at him.
"Did you have a good day?" He asked. Alexander wrapped his arms around the taller man and rested his head on his chest, nodding.
"I love you so much, thank you for putting up with me." Alexander said. John blinked.
"Putting up with you? Do you think I'm just putting up with you? Alexander, I love you." He said.
"No, no. I don't think you're just putting up with me, but I mean, I am annoying…" Alexander said. John looked down at him.
"What's bringing this up?" he asked.
"Hercules is proposing to Angelica and is worried she'll say no. It made me think about how nobody but you could stand to be with me forever." He replied. John smiled and hugged him tight.
"I'm here because you are my world, Alexander. I love you so much and I don't care that you write like you need it to survive. That's just what makes you you." John thought back on what Alexander had said. "Hercules is proposing to Angie? When?"
"Tonight, Lafayette and I went to help pick out the engagement ring." Alexander told him.
"Does Eliza know?"
"Hercules says nobody else knows."
"Then I'll keep my mouth shut when Eliza comes over tonight." John said.
"Eliza's coming over?"
"Yeah, she said she wanted to hang out tonight so I invited her over for dinner. I'm making fried chicken and my famous cornbread." John grinned.
"Honey, your famous cornbread is a boxed mix." Alexander said, a smile coming to his face.
"Hush or you aren't getting any."
The two worked together to make the dinner. Alexander breaded the chicken and browned it on the stove before putting it in the oven, John worked on the cornbread and made green beans while Alexander made potatoes. The kitchen smelled fantastic when Eliza arrived. The three sat down to eat their meal and they talked and laughed and planned a little getaway for the upcoming summer. Once the meal was done and the dishes were cleaned, they retreated to the living room to watch a movie. Before they put they DVD in, Eliza cleared her throat. Alexander and John looked over at her.
"Come sit." She told them. The two men sat on the couch and Eliza perched on the edge of the coffee table. "I have something to tell you. I went to the doctor a few days ago, to get some things tested. Everything came back clear and, well, I'm in perfect condition to be a surrogate for you." She looked at her two friends, both of whom were just staring at her, as if they had not understood what she had said.
"W-What…?" Alexander finally whispered. Eliza smiled sweetly.
"Alex, if you find an egg donor and one of you supply the sperm, they can implant the fertilized egg inside me and I can carry your baby." Eliza took their hands. "I can carry your baby, Alex. You can still be parents." The men both stared at her for another minute in silence before yanking her onto the couch between them, hugging her tight and crying with joy. John's shoulders shook as he sobbed and Alexander whispered words of thanks to Eliza, who could only smile.
"Come on, boys, there's no need to be like this. Wipe those tears, we have work to do." Eliza adjusted herself so she was sitting comfortably between them. "You need to find an egg donor. Do you have anyone in mind?" Alexander and John looked at each other and nodded.
"We have someone in mind."
Across the city, Angelica and Hercules walked hand in hand through central park. The sun was setting, painting the sky with beautiful oranges, pinks, and reds. Angelica loved the sunset, she found it beautiful. Hercules stared at his girlfriend instead of the sky, finding her much more beautiful. He stopped in front of a fountain, making Angelica turn to look back at him. "Why did you stop?" she asked him.
"I just wanted to tell you how beautiful you look tonight." Hercules said, a soft smile gracing his lips. Angelica blushed.
"You've said that a few times, actually." she said.
"Well I mean it. You're beautiful, and a genious, and passionate. You amaze me every time I'm with you. I want to feel that amazement everyday for the rest of my life." He got down on one knee and took a small box out of his pocket. Angelica gasped and covered her mouth.
"No! Hercules oh my god!" Angelica exclaimed.
"Angelica Schuyler, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" He opened the box, revealing the beautiful ring that he and his friends had picked out earlier that same day. Angelica started crying and nodded her head, unable to speak through her tears, hands still covering her mouth. Hercules stood and took her hand, slipping the ring onto her finger. Angelica wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her soft lips against his slightly chapped ones in a loving kiss. Hercules wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed back. Angelica, his beautiful love, his fiance, he loved her so much more than words could describe, and Angelica felt the exact same way.