Original Publishing Date: 12-15-19 (I'm still v behind lol)
Author Note: Day Nine of Hamliza month: At the Beach
"Am I allowed to take off this blindfold yet?" Eliza asked with a smile as she felt the car come to a complete stop and heard her husband push the gear into 'park.'
"Not yet, my turtle dove!" Alex insisted, laughter lacing his words. "You'll just have to trust me for a little longer, okay?"
"I always trust you, but I want to know where you've brought me!" She exclaimed in a similar tone, but she didn't fuss as he retrieved something out of the back of the car before opening her door and helping her to stand.
The scent of the ocean was too strong to deny as soon as she got out into the open air. She inhaled deeply and let it out in a happy sigh, and she could only imagine her partner smiling as he took her hand and led her toward the sound of crashing waves. The sand was cool between her toes as they trekked forward, and she could not help but grow nervous that he may be taking her to touch the water. They were well in the month of October, after all, and they were here too late in the day for there be a chance of the sun making it pleasant to feel. She was bracing for impact when they suddenly changed directions, walking horizontal to the tide for only a couple of minutes before they stopped all together.
"Are you cold?" Alex inquired as she stood alone for a few moments while a cold breeze swept through, causing her to shiver.
"I'm quaking with anticipation!" She exclaimed playfully. "Can I take it off now?"
"Not yet, not yet!" He laughed, but she felt the heavy weight of some kind of blanket over her shoulders before he continued rustling around somewhere ahead of her, and this made her content to relax patiently.
It took a few more minutes of excited anticipation on her part, but at last he retook her hands and led her to stand on some kind of heavy fabric before encouraging her to sit down and get comfortable. The blanket or towel beneath her was much warmer than the chilled sand, and she found herself able to readjust the blanket or coat to rest more casually against her in response. She heard her Alexander settle in front of her, and the unmistakable click of a lighter before he finally placed his hands on either side of her blindfold.
"Alright, we can take it off now," he said, sounding quite pleased with himself. "Three…two…one!"
It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the darkening night that fell over the country while she was unable to see, but she let out a thrilled gasp once they did. They were sitting on a thick quilt, one that she recognized as being from her mother, and there were lit tealights all around the edges as well as larger candles burning in mason jars on the blanket. A large picnic basket was neatly set off to the side, and she could already see all kinds of delicious food inside, such as grapes, a thick loaf of bread, cheese, and chocolates. Plates were already arranged between them along with silverware and napkins, and in the spectacular colors adorning the sky and the sparkling candlelight, her most beloved spouse practically glowed before her with his adorably nervous smile and bright eyes.
"Do you like it?" He asked nervously.
She grinned so broadly that her face ached as she threw her arms around him, closing the small space between them as she laughed in delight and kissed him passionately. The two of them rolled around, trying to be conscious of their flames while also losing themselves in the others' embrace and lips. When they finally sat back up around five minutes later, both of them were rumpled but laughing breathlessly, and she carefully maneuvered herself back in place as he gave her an expected but adorable pout.
"You don't want to sit in my lap and watch the tide?" He whined lightly.
"I'd much rather sit so I can watch you," she replied with a smile.
The two of them adjusted so that they could face each other at an angle while still looking at the darkening horizon. They then ate their feast, laughing and talking like it was their very first date rather than their hundredth or so. Even in the short year and a half she'd known him, Eliza felt as though she'd been with her husband all of her life, and she knew confidently that he felt quite the same. It was why they were engaged after ten months and wed on their first anniversary, and certainly why their family was beginning to grow already.
"Thank you for bringing me out here," she finally murmured as the last of the sunset fled from the sky. "This was…really special."
"And it's not over yet!" He took her hands in his, kissing them gently before helping her back to her feet. "Will you join me to the hot tub?"
"A hot tub? In this weather?" Eliza laughed but wrapped herself into his arm again. "Besides, we would need to be renting one of these beachside condominiums to use their facilities."
"Well, I suppose that ruins that surprise~" Alex drawled mischievously.
Immediately Eliza perked up, twisting around to look at him properly. "You didn't! Oh my goodness, Alexander, but your job-?"
"Took off," he interjected with a smile, his hand lowering to her belly before he gave it a kiss. "I took off the entire week to spend here with you before our baby is born. You always want me to take breaks, and I would not rather take one with anyone else in the world."
Thanks to her being an online college student, she moved to the next issue, albeit with hopefulness that he had really taken care of everything. "What about packing?"
"Already did it and got Angie and Peggy to help me," he confirmed. "And the hot tubs are inside, so we can still use them without freezing our asses off."
Life was unpredictable with being wed to Alexander Hamilton; in that she could trust as much as she did for him overall. She helped him pack up their dinner as much as she could with her ever-growing belly, then slipped her hand in his and hoisted up the bigger latter he'd produced as they blew out the candles. "Let's get our break started, my Hamilton."