Christmas 1783,

Eliza smiled as Cathy, her youngest sister ran into her room. Alexander frowned at her as he pulled the blankets over himself. They were staying in Albany for the holidays.

"Presents!" The 2 year old squealed as she pulled Eliza up. Philip toddled in after her.

She groaned, of course she would wake Philip up too.

"Get dressed and meet us downstairs", Eliza envied Alexander as he rolled over falling back asleep. She yawned as she brought the toddlers downstairs. Cathy bounced up and down at the door to the parlour. Their mother had told her all about the presents that would be there in the morning.

"You have to wait until everyone is up. We'll have breakfast first", she sat them in the kitchen. Eliza served them oatmeal, with a drop of honey.

The joy of Christmas as a child was always the highlight of the year, the new clothes and dining Christmas carols.

"Why didn't you wake me?" Peggy asked as she came down wrapped in a blanket. Eliza smiled at her.

"I would much rather be asleep right now", Eliza laughed as she drank her coffee. They were up late the night before getting midnight mass.

"Cathy woke Philip then woke me up", Eliza explained. Peggy nodded as she played with Cathy.

"We have to wait until everyone is up to go into the presents", Cathy told Peggy.

Peggy smiled, agreeing with her.

"I'll go wake Alexander up", Eliza smiled as she left Peggy with their sister. She picked Philip up, bringing him with her.

"It's such a wonderful time of the year", she sang as Philip jumped on Alexander. He groaned but it quickly turned into laughter as he tickled Philip.

"Good morning", Eliza climbed into the bed.

"Merry Christmas, my Angel", Alexander sat up before giving her a quick kiss.

"Merry Christmas, I love you", Eliza smiled at her family. "No working today". Alexander laughed.

"Okay, okay I won't work today", he lifted his arms up in surrender.

"We better get dressed, Cathy is waiting to open her present", Eliza took out her new dress. She grinned as she prepared her corset. Alexander watched her.

"You're so beautiful", he commented. Eliza blushed slightly. She wasn't even dressed yet.

"You're too good to me, dearest", Eliza smiled at him.

…

Cathy squealed with joy when she was finally allowed into the parlour. She raced over to the presents sitting in the middle of the floor.

"Not all of them are for you", Catherine reminded her. Philip sat beside her as he picked up a small present. They were all wrapped in newspapers.

"Bring that over to mommy", Alexander told his son. Philip gave it to Eliza. She frowned at Alexander before opening it, revealing a silver necklace with a blue pendant on it. Eliza grinned.

"I love it. Thank you. Will you put it on me?" She asked him. He nodded as he helped her put it on. She played with the pendant. She saw a letter in with the present. She placed it on her lap.

Alexander grinned as he gave Philip another letter to hand to her.

"Thank you", she smiled at her son. She glanced at Alexander before opening this one. It was a card from Philip, coloured in with crayon and signed by Alexander in Philips name.

"I'm sorry but this tops the necklace", she joked with him. He grinned.

Eliza watched as Philip opened his present her parents had gotten him. It was a wooden truck with 3 blocks on top. He immediately played with it. Cathy opened her present and got a naked doll. She could make clothes to go on the doll.

…

"Dinner is almost ready", Eliza took off her apron. Alexander turned to her. Her father headed into the dining room.

"Step outside with me", Alexander took her hand. Eliza frowned.

"It's snowing out", she complained. He gave her his jacket. She glanced back, wanting to be near the fire when she felt the cold air hit her.

"I always loved snow", he told her as he kicked some of the snow with his boot. He smirked at her as he picked up some of the snow.

"Alexander don't you dare!" She shouted at him, although she couldn't help but smile. He laughed.

"Oh I won't, my angel. I can't speak for them, though", he said as her brothers hit her with snowballs. Eliza yelped with surprise before making a snowball, throwing it at Alexander.

"I know this was your idea", she laughed as she hit him straight in the chest

…

Eliza stopped in front of Alexander, holding her glass of wine. He smiled at her. She glanced up at the mistletoe above them.

"You better kiss me so", she bit her lip, giving him an innocent look. He smirked as he kissed her.

She grinned before sitting in the parlour. Alexander sat down beside her, taking a sip of his beer.

"I like this Christmas", he told her. She cuddled into him.

"What was Christmas like before this?" She asked. He shook his head.

"The only good part was the carnival. Did I ever tell you about the Christmas that I was presumed dead?" He was quick to change the subject. Eliza frowned. When was he presumed dead?

"No?" She turned to face him. He smiled at her.

"Sit back down. It was during the war. We were crossing the river to destroy British supply. A few of us fell into the water. Now I am not exaggerating when I say it was Baltic. I didn't give up. I couldn't survive a hurricane only to drown in a river", he laughed. Eliza shook her head in disbelief.

"I returned to camp two hours after the rest of the men made it back. They were drinking to my memory", he finished his story.

"You were reckless during the war", Eliza laughed.

"Maybe that's how I survived. If I want something I'll take it. I see no use in waiting for something to happen. If you want something to happen you've got to take it", he shrugged his shoulders.

"I'm glad you survived", Eliza laughed. He kissed her hair.

"Do you want to dance?" He asked her as her mother started to play piano.

"I've had too much wine", she laughed. She was pretty sure if she got up, she would fall back down.

"Come on, I'll hold you. We're married. No one cares if we're not acting socially acceptable", he always hated social etiquette. Eliza gave in and stood up with his help. She giggled as the room spun for a second. He wrapped his arms around her as they danced. Eliza rested her head against his chest.
Thanks for reading x it felt weird writing christmas in September