Chapter Summary -

Alexander and Eliza both adjust to becoming parents, but will those seeking revenge threaten to destroy their happiness?


Eliza lay peacefully in her bed, with her son nestled against her chest.

Alexander was in the corner of the room, writing with great speed, in order to inform everyone that they knew, that their son had been born. Every so often Alexander would turn his head and watch as Eliza gently rocked baby Philip in her arms. He could not have found a better wife, nor it seemed a better mother.

Both of them snapped to attention as a little knock on the door broke the silence.

Ruth stuck her head around the door and smiled.

"Forgive me intruding Ma'am, but my Immanuel wondered if he could see the baby, he's been at it all evening"

Eliza smiled and quickly replied, "of course he may"

Ruth opened the door a little wider and Immanuel wandered in, holding a little bunch of daisies tied together with string.

"I got you these Miss Eliza," he said, proudly holding out his little bunch of flowers.

"They are beautiful Immanuel, thank you, if you pop them on my vanity, then I will put them in water later" smiled Eliza.

Immanuel nodded and wandered over to the table, bumping into the bed several times, as he couldn't take his eyes off the tiny bundle in Eliza's arms.

"Come and see" she called.

Immanuel's face lit up.

"Slowly now" called Ruth, "don't you be jumping on that bed, Miss Eliza is still in pain"

Immanuel nodded and gently climbed onto the bed, resting on his knees.

"This is Philip," said Eliza, uncovering his little face.

"He's real little Miss Eliza" whispered Immanuel.

"Yes, he is only a few hours old" replied Eliza.

"He looks sweet" smiled Immanuel.

"Would you like to hold him?" asked Eliza.

"Oh, can I" exclaimed Immanuel, "oh please let me, Mama, I won't drop him, I promise" he begged.

Ruth chuckled, "Come and sit on that chair here, I'll bring him to you"

Immanuel jumped off the bed, making sure he didn't hurt Eliza and speedily ran to the chair.

He tapped his legs impatiently as Ruth gently lifted baby Philip from his mother's arms.

"Now you hold him sensibly you hear me?" ordered Ruth, holding Philip in front of her son.

"I will Mama, I promise" urged Immanuel.

"Hold his head and support his back," said Ruth, gently laying baby Philip in her son's arms.

Immanuel followed the guidelines and soon held the baby all by himself.

Philip had been asleep, but after being moved around, he soon opened his eyes.

"Miss Eliza, he looking at me" exclaimed Immanuel.

"Yes, he will be very curious" replied Eliza. "he's only seen a few people"

"Hello Philip, I'm Immanuel, you won't know how to say that yet, but one day you will" he whispered, "your Mama said that I get to play with you when you are older, and I can teach you things"

Whilst Immanuel talked to Philip, Alexander had spun around on his chair. He was glad of Ruth and her son, he was happy that his son would always have a companion several years older than himself. Despite having a burning hatred for his brother, Alexander was glad to have someone to look after him and play with. He was confident that Immanuel would be a wonderful playmate for his son.

Immanuel laughed as little Philip stretched out his arms, his tiny hands like little starfish trying to grab Immanuel's finger.

"Papa come and see"

Eliza looked up and saw Samuel and George peering through a gap in the door.

"Don't wait out there" called Eliza with a smile, "come in, come in"

"We did not want to intrude, Ma'am," said George apologetically.

"Not at all" replied Alexander, rising from his chair.

George shook Alexander's hand, "Congratulations Sir"

"Thank you" smiled Alexander.

Samuel had walked around the bed and gently kissed Eliza's hand, "I wish you all the happiness in the world, Miss Eliza"

Eliza smiled and gently rubbed her fingers against his hand, "thank you"

"May I have my son for a moment dear boy?" asked Alexander, approaching Immanuel.

"Alright," said Immanuel, rather sad to have his newest friend taken away.

"I'll bring him back, I promise" whispered Alexander with a wink.

Immanuel chuckled and happily released baby Philip.

"Here you are George" proclaimed Alexander, proudly showing off his son.

"Look at this handsome young man" smiled George.

Alexander passed Philip over to George, who gently rocked him in his arms.

"You are gonna be good for your mother aren't you hmm?" said George softly, "you have got to sleep at night and stay awake during the day, eat between the hours of eight in the morning and nine at night"

"Here's to hoping" chuckled Eliza, "Mama said newborns can be a terror, for the first four months"

"Your mother speaks the truth, but sometimes you get lucky" replied George.

"Come along now, let's leave Miss Eliza in peace" ordered Ruth, ushering all but Alexander from the room, who had had little Philip placed back in his arms.

"There now little one" he whispered handing him back to Eliza.

Eliza pressed a kiss against her son's tiny head, her mother was right, she had never known love until this child had been placed in her arms.

"You are very precious my darling, did you know that?" smiled Eliza, talking to her son as his little eyes wandered over her face.

"Both of you are," said Alexander, gently climbing onto the bed beside her.

"I love you" she replied quietly.

"As do I," he said, kissing her head.


Philip's christening took place the following week, surrounded by family and friends.

After the service, the whole family met back at Alexander and Eliza's home.

"Eliza he is gorgeous" exclaimed Angelica, gently carrying her nephew around the room.

"Oh Eliza, let me hold him" begged Peggy, rather desperate.

"Peggy, do not worry" hushed Alexander gently, "you will have your turn"

"Do let Mama see him Angie" urged Eliza, seeing that their Mother was stretching in order to get a proper glimpse of her only grandson.

"Here Mama, he's as light as a feather" smiled Angelica, handing over baby Philip to her mother.

Their mother smiled as she held him, "Your sister is correct Elizabeth" proclaimed Mrs Schuyler, "he's positively angelic"

"Peggy, get our present for him" ordered Mrs Schuyler.

"Mama, you shouldn't have, he's already spoilt rotten" protested Eliza.

"He's my only grandchild" smiled Mrs Schuyler, "I am allowed to spoil him"

Peggy, barely able to take her eyes of baby Philip for more than a second, handed Eliza a soft package, wrapped in brown paper.

Eliza gasped as she opened the paper, "Mama, I can't have this!"

"What is it?" inquired Alexander, "looks like a blanket?"

"That my dear son, is the Schuyler baby blanket" replied Mrs Schuyler, "John had it, then Angelica, then Eliza and then Peggy, it now belongs to you"

"Mama are you sure?" asked Eliza.

"What other use will it have?" replied Mrs Schuyler, "I would rather know that this beautiful boy is being warmed with it, rather than it collecting dust in a box"

"Thank you, Mama, it's wonderful" smiled Eliza.

Sensing that Peggy was going to take hold of her nephew by force any moment Eliza chuckled, "Now Alexander would you give Peggy our son before she explodes"

Peggy had a huge grin on her face as Alexander gently placed Philip in her arms.

"He's so tiny" she whispered, gently tapping his nose with her finger.

"Well he is only a week old" mused Alexander, winking playfully at Peggy as she pretended to scowl at him.

"He was so well behaved at the service, he did not make a sound," said Mrs Schuyler.

"In fairness Mama, he fell asleep after the first five minutes" mused Angelica.

"This is where you all are then!" exclaimed a voice.

"Papa come in and see!" exclaimed Peggy, "he's so beautiful"

Mr Schuyler smiled as he walked into the drawing room, greeting Alexander happily.

"Congratulations again my boy" he proclaimed.

"Thank you Sir" replied Alexander

"Hello, Papa" called Eliza, trying to get out of her chair.

"Oh no my darling" urged Mr Schuyler, "don't get up on my account, you must rest"

Eliza sighed at him playfully, as he bent down to kiss her.

"How are you my sweetest Eliza?" he asked.

"Still a little uncomfortable, but I am getting better" replied Eliza.

"I am glad to her hear it" smiled Mr Schuyler.

"Now then" he proclaimed walking over to Peggy, "let's have a look at my grandson"

Peggy reluctantly gave up baby Philip, and Mr Schuyler chuckled as his grandson gurgled against his chest.

"Handsome young man, I must say" he laughed.

"Aren't you hmm?" he whispered, smiling as baby Philip opened his eyes.

Alexander noticed out of the corner of his eye that someone was lurking in the hallway, on a closer inspection he saw it was Eliza's brother, John.

He tapped Eliza on the shoulder as nodded his head towards to door. Eliza saw and made eye contact with Angelica who quickly exclaimed.

"John my dear, is that you hiding out there?"

John, seeming rather surprised to have been spotted quickly emerged from the shadows and came in the room.

"What were you doing hiding in the dark boy?" asked Mr Schuyler, handing baby Philip back to Alexander.

"Nothing Papa, I was just finding the opportune moment to enter" replied John quietly.

"Opportune moment indeed" scoffed Mr Schuyler.

"Well, John," asked Peggy, "don't you want to see Eliza?"

Trying to hide his obvious embarrassment, John made his way across the room and gently embraced and kissed his sister.

"I hope that you and your son are well?" he asked

"We are, thank you" replied Eliza, "here you must hold him"

"Oh no" stammered John, "I am not very good with babies"

"Nonsense" exclaimed Mrs Schuyler, "you love children!"

John sighed and Alexander reluctantly gave his son to his brother in law.

"Well then," said John, clearing his throat, "Hello little man"

"At least pretend like you are enjoying yourself John" urged Peggy, "he's not a spider, he's your nephew"

"I don't want to disturb him that's all, he's peaceful at the moment" hushed John.

Unfortunately for John, little Philip's peace did not last long. As he started to cry John hastily handed him back to Eliza and moved away.

"Hush hush my darling" cooed Eliza, gently rocking him in her arms.

"He sounds hungry Eliza, go and feed him, we will wait and talk among ourselves" ordered Mrs Schuyler.

Eliza sighed, "I think you are right Mama, excuse me"

Alexander pressed a kiss against Phillips' head and smiled at Eliza, "call me if you need anything"

Eliza bowed her head and smiled, "I will"

Conversations dwindled for a moment after Eliza left, but soon Mr Schuyler asked, "John where is Anne?"

John cleared his throat, "She wanted to go back to the house Papa, the service tired her out"

"She is a sickly woman I must say" commented Mrs Schuyler.

"An unfortunate trait for a wife," said Mr Schuyler.

"Well it's not like I had any choice in the matter" retorted John, under his breath.

It did not go unnoticed.

"Would you care to repeat that?" exclaimed Mr Schuyler.

"I was simply stating the truth Papa" replied John.

Angelica swooped in as she saw her father take a dominant step towards her brother.

"John, Papa, that is enough," she said firmly, pushing in between them both.

"You forget yourselves, this is Phillip's day, your grandson and your nephew, don't ruin it by arguing, especially not when Eliza is within hearing distance".

Mr Schuyler nodded, "forgive me, Alexander," he said turning back to face his son in law, "that behaviour was selfish of me"

"It is quite alright" assured Alexander.

"You will find Alexander" began Mr Schuyler taking steps towards him, "that sons can often be terribly vexing"

John scoffed loudly, before he stormed out of the room, slamming the front door behind him.

"Insolent child" spat Mr Schuyler.

Peggy jolted as the door slammed and Mrs Schuyler placed a reassuring hand on hers, "it's alright my dear"

Angelica sighed and shook her head as she watched her brother storm down the road. She knew he did not mean to cause offence, their father had pushed him too far.

"Forgive us Alexander, but I think it is time we left," said Mrs Schuyler, beginning to usher quite a nervous Peggy out of the room.

"Of course, I understand" replied Alexander, bowing politely.

Alexander and Mr Schuyler exchanged glances before they bowed and turned in separate directions.

"Forgive him Alexander" whispered Angelica, "John would never intentionally mean to ruin the day, but Papa pushes him sometimes, he can't take it"

"He's a grown man, he should learn to control himself" replied Alexander.

Angelica sighed, "just please promise me, you won't hold it against him"

"I can't promise that. The way he has been acting recently leaves me angry, now more than ever" replied Alexander, "I am only glad that Eliza was not here to see her dear brother act in such a way"

Angelica went reply but a loud voice and her father's angry tone caused her to stall.

"Til next time sister" added Alexander before stepping aside.

Angelica gave a single nod and walked past him, following the sound of her father's angry voice.

Alexander waved their carriage off before he sighed deeply, he was not used to family gatherings.

Instead, his mind turned to Eliza, he quickly hurried up the stairs and peeked around the nursery door.

He smiled as he saw Eliza, gently humming a tune, whilst a blanket disguised their son, happily suckling at his mother's breast.

Eliza looked up at the sound of movement and smiled.

"Does Mama want me?" she asked.

"No" replied Alexander resting against the door frame, "they have just left"

"They didn't say goodbye!" exclaimed Eliza.

"They did not want to disturb you my dear" hushed Alexander.

He was relieved to see that Eliza had not heard the drama taking place in her absence.

Eliza nodded contentedly, "I was just admiring the park, it's such a beautiful view from here.

"From where I am standing I disagree, I would happily ignore the trees if instead, I could see my wife feeding my son, now that is a beautiful view" smiled Alexander, walking over to her.

"Our son needs feeding more than ten times a day, it is a sight you'll get used to" mused Eliza.

"He needs to grow up and be strong," said Alexander, gently lifting up the corner of the blanket.

"Alexander" exclaimed Eliza, "let go of the blanket, I'm not decent, I'm feeding"

Alexander chuckled, "Philip, don't let your Mama be embarrassed, your Papa is enjoying the view"

Eliza gaped and playfully smacked Alexander's hand, "My sweet boy, take no note of what your Papa just said, he is being impertinent"

"Eternally so" replied Alexander, leaning to kiss her.

Eliza chuckled as Alexander kissed her, she was beyond happy to have him home.

"I thought I heard the door slam shut, was everything alright?" she asked once they had broken the kiss.

Alexander sighed, "Your brother left in quite a rush, your father overstepped in your sister's opinion"

"Papa does that quite a lot," said Eliza, "I thought his relationship with John was getting better"

"Well my dear, let us not dwell upon it, we have our beautiful boy to look after" replied Alexander.

He was happy to see that her mind turned back to her son, rather than her frustrating brother.


"But do you think he will be alright, in here by himself?" asked Eliza nervously.

"Eliza the doctor said that after a week, he must be left in a room alone to sleep" reminded Alexander, "besides, if he does start to cry, our boy has a pair of lungs, we will hear him"

"But he's still so small," said Eliza, gently tucking the blankets around her son.

"Eliza, we must do this" replied Alexander, "you and I both need sleep"

Eliza sighed, "if he is in here alone, how can I sleep!"

"Sweetheart, you need rest" hushed Alexander.

"We will leave his door closed, I don't want a draft coming in," said Eliza, finally walking towards the door.

Alexander followed her and stopped her turning back.

"But-" she protested

"Eliza, come, my love, you must rest" he repeated, closing the door behind him.

She nodded and sighed, "I haven't been sleeping well"

"No, I know you haven't" replied Alexander, guiding a very tired Eliza into their bedroom.

"Lie down my dear, I will be just a moment" ordered Alexander softly.

"Very well, but I won't be going to sleep until you get back," she said, climbing under the covers with a sigh.

Alexander chuckled, "we shall see"

As expected when he returned from changing into his bedclothes, he found his bride fast asleep, curled up under the heavy duvet.

"My Eliza" he whispered against her hair, before he pressed a kiss against her dark locks, "sleep well my darling"


"Philip!"

Eliza awoke in the darkness.

She had been dreaming about Philip, she dreamt he was crying and she couldn't find him.

"Alexander" she whispered, relighting her gaslamp

"Alexander" she whispered again, going to tap him awake.

Instead, she found an empty bed.

Alexander being absent did not concern her, often he was blessed with an idea in the dead of the night, and couldn't rest his head against his pillow again unless he wrote it down.

However this was different, she normally awoke to crying, but she had awoken to something far worse, silence.

Her mind rushed through various scenarios, what if Philip was just asleep. But what if he was hurt? what if the blanket had gotten wrapped around his face?, what if he had cried himself out?

Immediately she jumped from the bed and flew out onto the landing. Her son's door was closed which made her panic more. She burst inside and hurried to the crib, she found nothing.

She ran back out onto the landing and just as she was about the yell for Alexander, she heard his gentle voice coming from his office. The golden light of the gas lamp was leaking through the gap in the door, and as she got closer she saw why.

Alexander was lying on the small single bed he kept in his office, with their son lying on his chest as he read off several sheets of paper.

He yawned before he flipped the page over and continued.

"As connected with the subject of revenue, we may with propriety consider that of economy. The money saved from one object may be usefully applied to another, and there will be so much the less to be drawn from the pockets of the people."

Eliza quietly rested against the doorframe, watching her husband soothe their son.

"What's going on in here?" inquired Eliza with a smile.

Alexander let the pages flop over the side of the bed, "I am trying with much success to get out dear boy to sleep"

Eliza chuckled quietly and knelt down beside the bed, gently rubbing her hand over her sons back. "Why did you not wake me?" she asked.

"You looked so peaceful when he started crying, and I saw you weren't waking up so I went myself. I couldn't bear to wake you" confessed Alexander.

"What are you reading to him?" asked Eliza, tilting her head to try and read her husband's writing.

"This is one of my many essays for the Federalist Papers, I was seeing what our son made of it, and well, as you can see he didn't enjoy it" mused Alexander.

"I think this would send most people to sleep" chuckled Eliza.

Alexander raised a disapproving eyebrow at her, so she quickly retracted.

"Forgive me, darling, I'm only teasing you, I am sure that they will make perfect sense to me when I copy them out"

Alexander smiled, "I know, these papers are vital, as without them our very constitution could crumble"

"And yet some people still oppose the writing of them?" questioned Eliza.

Alexander swallowed, "Indeed, can you believe it?. Mr Burr still calls me a fool for doing it"

"I thought you two had made amends after the war" inquired Eliza.

Alexander scoffed, "I will never make amends with that man, he is the exact opposite of myself. He has no passion, no drive, no motivation. You should see him at the meetings of Congress, he sits in silence for hours, that man constantly changes his opinions, he's as slippery as an eel"

"Don't let him vex you my love" hushed Eliza, "you forget, you have the President on your side, or at least you will"

"If George Washington is not voted in as president, then all our work will have been for nothing," said Alexander.

"He's the country's greatest general, of course, he will be voted in" exclaimed Eliza.

"I agree but he is a quiet man, he doesn't enjoy leadership" sighed Alexander, "I will have to help him"

"I'm certain he could find no one more suited for the position" smiled Eliza.

Alexander wrapped his hand around her face, "thank you, my darling"

She kissed his hand and began to rise to her feet.

"Should we dare to move him?" she asked.

"He's asleep, he shouldn't wake up again" mused Alexander, "should he?"

Eliza chuckled quietly, "we will just have to wait and see," she said, lifting sleeping Philip off his father's chest.

Alexander breathed a sigh of relief as Philip didn't make a sound.

"There now" hushed Eliza, gently holding her son against her chest, "you have had a big day young man"

"It's a pity John had to spoil it" commented Alexander rising from his bed.

"Now that's not fair," said Eliza.

"He was positively sour today Eliza, I still have not forgiven him for the way he acted towards you" replied Alexander.

"John is going through a tough time Alexander, don't be so harsh on him" hushed Eliza.

"Aren't we all?" questioned Alexander.

"Anne, his wife just had her fourth miscarriage, do not be so harsh and quick to judge" replied Eliza softly.

"I did not know this fact Eliza, do not maim me" replied Alexander.

"I should have told you, but you have been so busy of late, I hate to burden you with family matters," said Eliza, gently rocking Philip.

"I suppose it explains why John was so distant today" concluded Alexander.

Eliza nodded, "I tried to tell Papa to release him from his duties today, but Papa refused"

"Do not speak more of it tonight my love, I can see it is upsetting you, we must get our son and ourselves back to bed" urged Alexander.

"I agree" sighed Eliza, "our little man will probably wake up again within the hour"

"God forbid" mused Alexander, "how long before he sleeps through the night?"

"Mama said maybe a few more weeks at least" replied Eliza, walking towards the door.

Alexander rubbed his hands over his face, "the Doctor never mentioned this part of becoming a father"

"It certainly feels like a right of passage" mused Eliza.


Within minutes baby Philip was happily tucked up in his cradle.

"He's so beautiful isn't he" sighed Eliza, leaning over the crib to see him.

"Well" mused Alexander, embracing her from behind, "that's no surprise, just look at his mother"

Eliza groaned in mock annoyance and turned to face him.

"He definitely is going to be a handsome boy, much like his father" she smiled.

"And here I was, thinking you married me for my money" teased Alexander.

Eliza laughed but quickly silenced herself as she heard Phillip shuffle.

Alexander kissed her head, "Come along, he's asleep now"

"Sleep well my darling" whispered Eliza, leaning back over the cradle and pressing a tiny kiss against her son's dark locks.

She then took Alexander's hand and they wandered back to their own room, as quietly as possible.

Once back in bed, Eliza snuggled down in the sheets, Alexander, however, had other plans.

She chuckled as she felt him press kisses all up her arm and onto her neck.

Eliza turned to face him and saw the desire in his eyes.

She put a stop to that.

"No, no way," she said, turning back around.

"My Eliza" he whispered, kissing her neck.

"Alexander no," said Eliza sharply.

She sensed his posture change and turned back to face him, he looked more hurt than disappointed.

"My darling, believe me, I want you, but the Doctor said I must wait until I feel ready," she said softly.

"You said you weren't in any pain?" questioned Alexander.

"No, but I am still uncomfortable with anything happening...in that area" she replied, blushing slightly.

Alexander suddenly felt very selfish. After all, she had given birth just over one week ago, her body must still be healing. Surely he could control himself just a few more weeks, without losing his mind.

"Forgive me, darling," he said quietly, pulling her close, "I let my desires get the best of me"

"Don't apologise, Alexander, you are a man, I am your wife. You have needs that I can't fulfil at the present, but in a little while, I can be yours again" replied Eliza, resting happily against his shirt, "That is unless you wish to back to your bachelor ways"

Alexander looked at her with raised eyebrows, "That young boy is gone, I am a husband and a father now and I hope to be again, you are my only love, Eliza, nothing will change that fact"

Eliza smiled, "so you would like more children then?"

"If my beautiful bride is willing, of course" replied Alexander.

"We must have at least one more, I want Philip to experience being an older brother," said Eliza.

"I would love for the next child to be a girl," said Alexander.

"I thought you would have only wanted sons" mused Eliza.

"Oh goodness no, boys get into far more trouble than girls do" chuckled Alexander, "I have always wanted a daughter, I never knew why quite frankly I still don't"

"Sisters are wonderful if my experience with them counts for anything" smiled Eliza. "However, if we did have a girl, I fear the poor little thing wouldn't be allowed out of your sight"

"No indeed" replied Alexander, "no one would touch my little girl"

"And what about me?" asked Eliza playfully.

"Well" smiled Alexander, "no one is ever allowed anywhere near you, not now, not ever"

Eliza smiled and snuggled against him, he, in turn, pressed a kiss against her hair and whispered, "Sleep darling, we will need our strength for tomorrow"


"Are you sure this is a good idea?"

Eliza sighed and placed Philip into Alexander's arms.

"My love, our son needs a bath and I cannot stand for that long, please help me"

"But I don't know where to start!" exclaimed Alexander, "I have never bathed a baby!"

"Just listen to my instructions and I will help you" hushed Eliza.

Alexander reluctantly agreed.

"Now unwrap him from the towel" ordered Eliza, gently testing the temperature of the water with her fingers.

Alexander fumbled with the towel but eventually, he got it off, "Now what?"

"Just gently place him in the water, keep his head out, but his body must go in" ordered Eliza softly, sitting beside the makeshift bathtub.

Alexander lowered a rather wriggly baby Philip and shut his eyes, "Is he alright, I am drowning him?!"

"Well no, actually putting him in the water would be a start" smiled Eliza, tapping Alexander on the arm.

Alexander opened his eyes and saw his son, rather unamused being held just above the water.

"You can't hurt him Alexander" assured Eliza, "now please, before the water turns cold"

"Right," said Alexander, taking a deep breath, "In you go"

Philip did not like water, he kicked his little feet and mewled as Eliza began to gently rub his skin.

"Should his skin be all flaky?" asked Alexander, seeing that his son did not have the stereotypical soft baby skin.

"Yes Mama said it is normal, he is growing new soft skin underneath and he needs to loose the old skin" replied Eliza.

After a while Philip seemed to enjoy the water, his legs stopped protesting and his cries became less frantic.

"See my darling" cooed Eliza, rubbing his little feet, "Mama said it wasn't going to be that bad"

"Do we wash his hair?" asked Alexander, somehow managing to balance his rather slippery newborn.

"Not at the same time, we will dry off his body and then wash his hair" replied Eliza, rinsing off the last remaining bubbles of soap from his legs.

"Now can you place him on that towel please?"

Alexander turned his head and found the towel, lifting baby Phillip he carried him across the bedroom and gently laid down.

"Wrap him up" called Eliza, rising from her chair, "he will catch his death"

"Of course," said Alexander, attempting to wrap us his son in the towel, with minimal success.

"You have missed a leg" commented Eliza, coming to view her husband's work.

"Yes well, he moved around too much" replied Alexander quickly.

"Come on my little man" called Eliza, wrapping him up properly and heading for the rocking chair.

"Oh," she said, "Alexander would you sit with him?"

"Um of course" he stammered.

"I need to see Ruth, she bought special soap for his hair, I must go and get it" she explained.

Alexander nodded and sat down, rather nervous to hold him.

"You managed to hold him last night, don't look so frightened" smiled Eliza.

"Yes, but he was - not wrapped in a towel and he was asleep" protested Alexander.

"I will be two minutes I promise" she hushed, gently passing Philip over.

Alexander's forced a smile and let Eliza go. In truth he was terrified of hurting him, he had been told that the slightest wrong move could cause them pain. So he gently rocked the chair and cradled a rather squirmy Philip.

"Well young man, you are certainly growing aren't you?" said Alexander.

He smiled as little Philip looked up at the sound of his voice.

"Yes, you are almost a man now" mused Alexander, "I must promise you something, you won't understand it but I will tell you regardless"

Alexander's voice became very soft, "I promise you the same thing I promised your mother. I will always love you and I vow to keep you safe. I promise that no harm will come to you and I will add this part just for you Philip, I will be the father to you that I never had"

Alexander's tried to gauge his son's reaction, but at just over a week old he was hardly going to receive a convincing sign of recognition.

"As I said before, you won't understand a word of what I just said, but I will tell it to you every night before you sleep, so whether or not you understand it, isn't really a problem" chuckled Alexander.

"How is our young man?" asked Eliza, coming back in the room with a special bar of soap.

"He is still in one piece" assured Alexander.

"Of course he is, you are wonderful with him" she smiled.

Alexander carefully navigated leaving the moving chair, whilst cradling his newborn son with minimal difficulty and joined Eliza at the makeshift bath once again.

"Now can you hold his body with one hand and his head with the other?" asked Eliza.

"He's a fidgety little one, but I will try" stammered Alexander, moving his hands to the correct places.

"There we are, perfect" praised Eliza, gently picking up water in her hands.

"Now just make sure his head is tilted back ever so slightly, not too much, just so that the water runs off" ordered Eliza gently.

Alexander took a deep breath and estimated the distance, stopping when Eliza gave the word.

"Relax Alexander, you are doing wonderful" assured Eliza, beginning to dampen Philip's little clumps of hair.

"Look at his face" mused Alexander, "he's so sleepy"

Eliza chuckled, "I had better hurry up with this, or else I'll have to dry his hair at great speed"


"He's finally asleep" yawned Eliza, creeping back into their bedroom.

Alexander lay on the bed and smiled, "God willing we will get a few hours before he needs us"

"I'd hope he'd sleep through the whole night" sighed Eliza, climbing in beside her husband.

"All we need is patience" smiled Alexander, kissing her cheek as she snuggled beside him.

She protested as she felt him move, "Where are you going?"

"My darling, I have work to finish" he replied.

"But you promised we would be together tonight" objected Eliza.

"It needs to be finished Eliza, I will come to bed when it's done, I promise" vowed Alexander.

Despite her discontent Eliza, released his hands and let him leave, she snuggled down into the blankets, feeling quite lonely without him.

Alexander quietly closed the door and made his way to his office. He knew the odds of him finishing this work before sunrise was slim but he promised himself that he would try.


Alexander glanced at his clock, 4.38 am.

"God" he groaned, running his hands through his loose hair.

He picked up his last draft and read through the final paragraph.

"This form of government is a convention by which several smaller states agree to become members of a larger one, which they intend to form. It is a kind of assemblage of societies that constitute a new one, capable of increasing, by means of new associations, till they arrive to such a degree of power as to be able to provide for the security of the united body."

Just as he was making some final adjustments, the silence and calm of the night was shattered.

Alexander jumped out of his skin as the sound of two gunshots and the crashing of glass blasted through the house.

Immediately he grabbed his own pistol and flew from the room. He met Samuel rushing down the stairs, carrying the large shotgun that Alexander ordered be kept upstairs.

"Check the lower rooms" ordered Alexander before he burst into his bedroom.

He found Eliza completely terrified, pinned against the bed board in fear.

"Alexander what's happening" she cried, trying to move off the bed.

"Stay where you are" ordered Alexander, "it's not safe for you to move there's glass everywhere"

"But - Philip" cried Eliza desperately, "I think one of the shots was into the nursery"

"Stay" ordered Alexander, before he rushed into the net room, and found baby Philip crying loudly, surrounded by tiny shards of glass.

"Come on my darling" whispered Alexander, picking up his son.

His blood was boiling, as he placed Phillip back into Eliza's arms. Who would dare do this?

Eliza tried to keep calm, attempting to console her son who was as terrified as she was.

"Shh my angel, you're safe, Mama is right here" she hushed.

"Alexander be careful" she begged, as she watched him approach the window.

He nodded and looked out into the night. He saw nothing.

"This was no accident" concluded Alexander.

"What?" exclaimed Eliza.

"This was not the drunken act of a man, this was planned, whoever did this, knows the layout of this house, knows where we sleep and also the location of the nursery," said Alexander.

"It was not a robbery?" asked Eliza.

"No, none of the lower windows have been broken" replied Alexander. "At least from what I can see"

"Miss Eliza?"

Both turned towards the door, Samuel stood with a small handgun.

"This was left on the doorstep, I believe it is the gun they used as the barrel is still burning hot" he explained.

Alexander took the gun from him and inspected it.

"I do not recognise this gun, I have not seen a gun like this since the war," he said.

"May I see?" asked Eliza.

"Samuel would you sit with Philip please?" she asked.

He nodded and took baby Philip into his arms.

"Carefully" warned Alexander, not wanting her to burn herself on the barrel.

With a dim candle as her source of light, Eliza only had to hold the gun for a second before she froze in fear.

"Eliza what is it?" asked Alexander.

She could barely speak.

"Eliza" called Alexander urgently.

"It's the same gun" she chocked, "it's the same gun"

"What do you mean, you have seen the gun before?" asked Alexander.

She nodded, "it's the same gun that I was threatened with when I was attacked"

"Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure" cried Eliza, "it was pressed against my head, how could I forget it!"

"Eliza"

"They said they would come back" she whispered, "this was their message, they coming back again-" she couldn't continue for crying.

Alexander pulled her into his arms, "no they won't"

"Yes they will, they are coming for me, for you and now our son, Alexander they are going to kill our son!"