I'M BACK, I'M BACK, I'M BACK
I WAS GOING TO COMBINE CH. 11 & 12, BUT EH. ENJOY!
Eliza unfolded the clothes, laying them out on the bed. They'd brought her her two toned dress, peach on top with a black skirt, her black knee high socks, and underclothes, thankfully matching. She stripped off her dress, folding it carefully and setting it aside, and put on the clean clothes, freeing her hair from it's messy bun. She could brush her teeth later. She exited the room, careful to school her features into a stern expression when she entered the living room.
James, to his credit, managed to look somewhat put together, clothes wrinkled, but clean looking. He smiled uncomfortably at her, fidgeting.
Thomas, on the other hand, looked like Hell. He was still wearing his dress shirt from last night, sweats replacing his pressed pants. His hair was pulled back in a puff, and Eliza was struck by how much he resembled Lafayette. She put the thought out for the time being - she has other things to deal with.
Eliza went over to Lafayette and hugged him. "I'm so sorry about this. We're ruining your vacation."
Lafayette waved her off. "Take me out to dinner, and we'll call it even."
Eliza chucked. "Absolutely." Her small smile vanished as she turned to look at the boys. Her boys. Her stupid, stupid boys, that she loved with all of her heart. "All of you. Come with me. We need to speak privately." She turned and headed back to the bedroom, footsteps on the carpet indicating that they were behind her.
The boys sat on the bed, Eliza leaning against the dresser. They kept their heads down, staying silent, even Alexander. Eliza sighed.
"Why are you also terrible at listening to me?"
All three boys flinched, but said nothing. Eliza pressed on.
"I asked all of you to leave me alone. Why is that so hard for you to understand? Do you just assume you know what's best for me? Or are you to selfish to account for the fact that you messed up and just want to fix it to make yourselves feel better?"
With every word, the boys seem to shrink in on themselves. Eliza paused. She was being cruel, and she knew that. Taking a deep breath, she continued.
"I just don't know what to do." she admitted. "You hurt me. All of you. And you're not giving me any time to process it and attempt to get over it. What do you expect me to do?"
None of them answered, but Eliza was patient. She crossed her arms over her chest, watching them.
"I'm sorry."
Eliza blinked. "Pardon?"
"I'm sorry." Thomas said, louder, his voice scratchy. "We should have told you from the beginning. We weren't honest with you, we embarrassed you, and we harassed you when you wanted to be left alone… I'm sorry."
Eliza opened her mouth, then closed it, nodding slowly.
"I'm sorry as well." James said. "Thomas is right. We should have… we should have told you the truth. We shouldn't have taken you to Charlotte's party knowing… I'm so sorry." James sounded on the verge of crying. Eliza swallowed against the lump in her throat.
"I know I've said it already, but I'll say it again. I'm sorry for what I did to you, Elizabeth. There's no excuse for it. You didn't deserve to go through that, and you don't deserve to go through this." Alexander ran a hand through his hair.
Eliza swallowed again, tears brimming in her eyes. She inhaled, held it, then let it out slowly. "I-I accept all of your apologies…"
"But?" Alexander said.
Eliza turned her head away. "But… I think it would be best if I went home. Alone."
Thomas and James gasped. "Eliza…"
"No! No arguments!" Eliza shouted. "This is my choice, and it's final. I want to go home." Eliza scrubbed furiously at the tears running down her cheeks. "Please."
James stood up from the bed, going over to Eliza and pulling her into a gentle hug. "Okay… Okay. Please don't cry We'll send you home."
"Oh, Eliza, are you sure about this?"
Eliza dug the toe of her heel into the dirt. Truth be told, no, she wasn't. Part of her didn't want to leave. They were sorry, truly sorry. What else was there to say?
'But they didn't listen,' her brain reminded her. 'They didn't give you any time or space to think.'
"Eliza?"
"Yes, Laf. I'm sure. I need to go home. I need to think."
The look on Lafayette's face told her he didn't believe her, but he said nothing, only hugged her one more time. Eliza hugged him back.
"Thank you Laf. For all your help."
"Of course, of course. No need to thank me. We are friends." Lafayette released her, putting his hands on her shoulders. "Be safe, Eliza. And please, don't stop yourself from being happy."
Eliza nodded, and with one last hug, made her way to the car. Harry smiled at her, and she smiled back. Once she was clicked in, they drove off.
The silence was almost deafening. Thomas and James had resigned themselves to the back seat, so Eliza couldn't see them, but their dejection was almost palpable. Eliza slid down in her seat.
The car had barely stopped rolling before Thomas jumped out, stalking to the door. James followed at a slower pace. Eliza sighed, leaning back against the seat.
"Miss Schuyler?"
Eliza looked over at Harry.
"I know it may be none of my business but… Monsieur Madison and Monsieur Jefferson are good men. They aren't perfect, but they try. Please, reconsider leaving."
Eliza looked out of her window at the Jefferson Estate. She'd miss it, she knew. She'd spent very little time it, but she'd still miss it. It was where her boys were. It was where she… where she fell in love with them. She had to admit it. She'd fallen hopelessly in love with James Madison and Thomas Jefferson, her heart betraying her like always. But this time… this time, she wasn't sure her heart was wrong. Eliza squeezed her eye shut.
"I'm sorry, Harry." she said, un-clicking her seat-belt and opening the door. "I can't stay. I can't."
YOU KNOW THE DRILL. R&R! PLEASE AND THANK YOU!