Previously

"Philip, be good! I'm going to work; I'll be in town meetings all day!"

Those had been his father's words as he ran out the door that morning.

Philip has finished all of his homework, and decides that he'll see if he can play any computer games in his father's office.

Thomas sometimes lets Philip play games on his computer if he's behaving well, so Philip does not think that Thomas will mind.

Philip gently pushes Thomas's office door open, and the computer is switched off.

Philip goes over to his father's computer and presses the "on" button.

While the computer turns on, Philip looks around simply out of lack of anything else to do.

All the drawers of Thomas's desk are shut and locked as usual, since Thomas is extremely organized.

Except for one, which is just slightly ajar. A book with a colorful cover depicting story tales is displayed through the crack.

Curious, Philip gently pulls the drawer open.

It is in the back of his mind that his father is very possessive about his work items, but Thomas has never been anything but kind in treatment of Philip. Philip brushes off the concern when his attention is drawn by the colorful stories and the word "Alexander."

Intrigued, Philip reads about an evil mayor who cursed a town into forgetting their identities and made the citizens miserable.

For some reason, the evil mayor is named "Thomas," which is a name that Philip has heard his father be called from time to time. His father's official title is "Mr. Mayor" or "Mr. Jefferson."

Additionally, Philip notices that the mayor looks like his father a little bit, and is wearing a standout velvet coat. The only person who wears velvet in Washington Heights is his father.

Philip sees the story about the man in the mirror, James Madison, whose story Thomas has never explained to him, but it is written in this book.

It dawns upon Philip that he is seeing the story of Washington Heights, unusual as it is.

As he reads further in, he sees a man named "Alexander," who is apparently the "savior" of the town. And in this book, "Alexander" is his father.

Philip muses over this information.

Suddenly, the front door opens and Thomas's voice calls up the stairs.

"Philip, where are you, darling?"

Philip slams the book shut. Thomas hasn't explicitly said that Philip shouldn't read this book, but for some reason Philip feels like he will get in trouble for this.

He puts the book hastily into the drawer, locks it, and switches the computer off before rushing down the stairs to meet his father.

X

Thomas feels around in his desk. Ah yes, the book he is looking for.

The cover feels ruffled, and some of the pages feel odd. Thomas is unsure why.

He surveys the room critically and frantically. Nothing seems to be out of place. And anyway, only Philip was home, and Philip would not notice such a thing if he were to come in, although there are no signs that he was in here.

Thomas breathes a sigh of relief and turns the pages quickly to the part he was reading before he got interrupted for his daily meetings. Oh yes, the part about someone named "Alexander…."

X

Now

"Philip, come here, please." Thomas instructs Philip.

Philip quickly comes down the stairs at Thomas's behest, feeling a twinge of dread and thinking he knows what this conversation will be about.

"Philip, you actively helped that dangerous man named Alexander. I told you to stay away from him, darling. Why didn't you listen?"

Philip does not know how to respond to this inquiry.

"I want you to obey my every word. Okay?" Thomas insists. "He's going to hurt us. Washington Heights is better without him. I am going to kick him out."

At this, Philip looks up in surprise. "Kick him out? Why?"

"I want him gone. You understand?" Thomas says firmly.

"No. He's trying to save us from the curse that you put this town under. It is all because of your greed!" Philip shouts in Thomas's face.

Thomas looks angry, confused, and hurt at the same time.

"How did you know about that?" He asks.

Philip stares at him. "So you are not even going to deny it? How did I get such a liar for a father?!"

Thomas realizes the gravity of the situation. "Philip, please…."

Philip takes a step back. "No! I read about it in a book that you had in your desk a few years ago!"

Thomas and Philip both gasp and Philip covers his mouth with his hands, afraid that he has revealed too much.

Thomas walks softly toward Philip. "Pl-please let me explain. I-I only lied to protect you, Philip. You must know that...You are my son. I love you!"

Philip is startled at the softness in Thomas's normally brusque manner. He almost softens, until he remembers why he is angry in the first place.

"I AM NOT YOUR SON! And YOU are not my real father! Alexander is! You are just evil!"

Philip runs from the room in outrage and confusion.

Thomas simply stands there in shock as his brain processes this information. He cannot believe this. Philip knew?

As it becomes evident that Philip is not going to return, Thomas feels his anger welling up. After a few moments, he is so intensely angry that he cannot even see clearly. HOW DARE HE! MY SON, GOING THROUGH MY POSSESSIONS? WHEN?

And then he becomes enraged at himself for bringing this upon himself by lying to Philip, because no matter what, he cannot blame Philip for anything, he loves him too much.

Before Thomas can get his anger under control, small jolts of magic beginning springing out and zapping all the furniture, turning the room into disarray and knocking several items off of the mantelpiece above the fireplace. In fact, Thomas nearly lights the sofa on fire before he can control himself.

As he returns to a sane state of mind, Thomas decides that it is not really his fault that Philip is keeping away from him. It is the fault of that wretch, Alexander!

Alexander has destroyed my happen ending and my curse and my perfect story! I must get revenge for this. It is time to really bring pain upon him. Let's see how he handles my next trick….

"James, when is the next time that Alexander will be out in public?" Thomas follows up this question with a malicious laugh that James knows can only spell trouble.

A/N: That is how Philip found out about the curse. I am going to finish this story now; there are probably just a few chapters remaining before I move on to the next story, which I will then complete, in order to keep some continuity. The next chapter will probably be out next week, so please keep a lookout if you are interested in this story. Thank you so much for reading!

-HamiltonAsparagus

Disclaimer: I do not own "Hamilton" or "Once Upon A Time;" I am just messing with the stories. Only spelling and grammar belong to me.