Another day, another Cabinet meeting. After making introductions, Washington declared, "The issue on the table: France is in the middle of their own revolution. Do we commit aid and troops to this alliance or do we declare neutrality? Remember, my decision on this matter is not up to congressional approval. The only person you have to convince is me. Secretary Jefferson, you have the floor, sir."

Jefferson got to center of the room and began his speech. "When we were on death's door, when we were needy, we made a promise, we signed a treaty. We needed money and guns and half a chance, uh, who provided those funds?"

"France." Madison answered. He didn't like public speaking, yet he was called to do so a lot.

Jefferson, with a smile, continued, "In return, they didn't ask for land. Only a promise that we'd lend a hand, and stand with them if they fought against oppressors, and revolution is messy but now is the time to stand!" The treaty only covered threats to France's colonies in North America, but it was France's taxpayers who supported the army. "Stand with our brothers as they fight against tyranny! I know that Alexander Hamilton is here and he would rather not have this debate, I'll remind you he is not Secretary of State! He knows nothing of loyalty. Smells like new money, dresses like fake royalty. Desperate to rise above his station, everything he does betrays the ideals of our nation!"

Jefferson lacks self-awareness, if you couldn't tell. Alexander, who took advice from Hercules Mulligan, was a very smart dresser. And he was as loyal as he could be. I said 'As he could be', not that he was. And Jefferson, as you know my dears, dressed like the French aristocracy, and didn't care that two of the women he was lusting for were married.

Jefferson turned to the president, "Hey, and if ya don't know, now ya know, Mr. President."

"Thank you, Secretary Jefferson." Washington politely said. Then he turned to Hamilton, "Secretary Hamilton, your response."

Alexander got up and went to the center of the room. The other Cabinet members were whispering and making rude comments about him. Alexander ignored them, and stared Jefferson dead in the eyes. "You must be out of your Goddamn mind! if you think, the President is gonna bring the nation to the brink, of meddling in the middle of a military mess, a game of chess, where France is Queen and Kingless. We signed a treaty with a King whose head is now in a basket. Would you like to take it out and ask it?" He mimed pulling a head out of a basket, "Should we honor our treaty, King Louis' head?" he said to the imaginary head. Then he pretended to be the head, "Uh… do whatever you want, I'm super dead!"

Washington could sense the tension building. "Enough. Hamilton is right."

"Mr. President—" Jefferson started.

"We're too fragile to start another fight." Washington interrupted. It was true, their military was week, they were in massive debt, and the government was barely held together. "Besides, the treaty only said we would help if their colonies were invaded."

"But sir, do we not fight for freedom?" Asked the slave holder Thomas Jefferson, who owned 600 slaves and would only free the ones he was directly related to either by marriage or blood.

"Sure," Washington answered, "when the French figure out who's gonna lead 'em." Louis XVI's execution started what's known as 'the Reign of Terror', where France had no clear effective leaders. That's why one must always have a strong government to replace an old one when overthrowing a tyrant. Also, don't be tyrants.

"The people are leading—" Jefferson started.

Washington interrupted, "The people are rioting. There's a difference." It's true, they were. The revolution of 1789 gave the country a constitutional monarchy, like what we have. But in 1792, Georges Danton organized a mob that overthrew the elected legislator and the King. Also, despite Lafayette's best efforts, the French army was in shambles because the effective leaders were hated, and the liked leaders were bad at leading armies. This kind of mob action was exactly what Washington and Hamilton wanted to avoid. "Frankly, it's a little disquieting you would let your ideals blind you to reality." Then he turned to Alexander, "Hamilton."

"Sir!" Hamilton answered, full of confidence and pride.

"Draft a statement of neutrality." Washington ordered. Alexander nodded, then Washington closed the meeting.

When Washington left, Jefferson approached Alexander and told him, "Did you forget Lafayette?" The man had been imprisoned by the Prussians earlier that year while fleeing France.

"What?" Hamilton was caught off-guard.

"Have you an ounce of regret? You accumulate debt, you accumulate power. Yet in their hour of need, you forget." The only way Alexander got to where he was, was because Lafayette and France supported him and the colonies. Lafayette did it because he truly believed in their ideals. The French did it to take revenge on Britain after the 7 Years War.

Alexander crossed his arms. "Lafayette's a smart man, he'll be fine. And before he was your friend, he was mine."

Jefferson rolled his eyes, "So quick witted."

"Alas I admit it."

"I bet you were quite a lawyer." Jefferson, who was also a lawyer remarked.

"My defendants got acquitted." The two remembered well the Croswell case, where Thomas accused a man of libel. Hamilton defended the defendant by saying that all of the words were true, and thus couldn't be libel. Also, through the Federalist Papers, Hamilton arguably got the Constitution ratified, as well as Madison but the two had fallen out.

"Yeah. Well, someone oughta remind you."

"What?"

"You're nothing without Washington behind you." Jefferson smugly remarked. Everyone knew of Alexander's low birth (even though his parents were technically aristocrats with James Sr being the 4th son of a Scottish noble and Rachel was his common-law wife), and the only way he got to be so high up was because Washington was so fatherly towards him.

Alexander was about to reply, when the President called.

"Hamilton!" Washington called.

"Daddy's calling!" Jefferson smirked. There were a lot of rumors about Alexander and Washington. None of which Alexander liked, but he was forced to swallow his pride, except for a few corrections about his parentage.

Alexander glared at Jefferson and went to Washington.


Burr was sitting in his office, reading one of the books his late mother's late father Jonathan Edwards had written. Fun fact, Edwards was a Puritan pastor who was too Puritan for the Puritans. Yes, he got kicked out. It was on June 22, 1750 by a vote of 200 to 20, and they had no clear successor. Because they thought him a fanatic who went too far. You'll learn all about this later, but we must get back to the story you were all so desperate to hear.

There was a knock at the door. Aaron looked up and said, "Who is it?"

"A hopeful client." He heard a woman's voice answer.

Burr put his book on his desk and answered the door. He saw a beautiful blonde woman in a red dress, and she showed signs of abuse. "Hello madame."

"Hello sir." The woman replied, "I was wondering if you could help me. I wish to divorce my husband."

"Those bruises and scars are probably from him." Burr thought. "Of course." He stepped aside, "Please come in."

The woman entered and sat at the chair in front of Burr's desk. Burr sat behind it.

"So, what's your name?" Burr asked.

"Mariah Reynolds." The woman answered, "And my husband is James Reynolds. Perhaps you heard of him?"

Burr thought about it, "Yes, wasn't he imprisoned for forgery last year?"

"Yes." Mariah answered, "Along with Jacob Clingman, his partner in crime. And the man I want to marry."

"Why?"

"Because he's kind." Mariah answered. "As you can see, my husband's not the kindest person. And, he doesn't like honest work, claims there isn't enough. And the things he's done, and forced me to do…" She teared up and hid her face in her hands.

Burr went to comfort her. "Hey, hey. Don't worry. Everything will be alright."

"I'm sorry for doing this." Mariah said through her tears, "I know you have better things to do than console a poor crying woman."

"No, it's alright." Burr replied, "We can use this in your divorce case. A neglectful husband isn't a good one, and I'm sure that anyone will agree to divorce someone who's married to a criminal."

"Oh thank you sir!" Mariah was so happy, something she rarely was.

"No problem."

"Do you think I could get custody of my daughter? I can't stand the thought of leaving her with him for more than a day."

Burr immediately thought of Theo. He would rather die than leave her with an abuser. "I'll do my best."

"Thank you!"


Lafayette stared at the celling. He had been imprisoned for a year. His friend Angelica Church and her husband had tried to help him escape, but the attempt failed and he had been recaptured. As punishment, he was kept in Solitary confinement. The U.S. had tried to help him be released, but they were unsuccessful.

The only consolations he had were that his son was safe in hiding with his tutor, and that the U.S. government was able to send him and his family money due to his time in their army. That money which his friends were able to give him, kept his confinement comfortable, and his wife and daughters able to get by while they were under house arrest.

"I hope Bertie is still able to get his allowance." Lafayette thought, "Hopefully he and Carol can get by. There's no way I can send them the money now without causing a stir. I hope Adrienne has forgiven me."

Adrienne, although not quite 100% forgiving, was still in love with him. He was the father of her children, and the reason she was able to get by. If you love someone, or just feel a strong emotion towards them, it can be hard to change those feelings. Regardless, Adrienne felt that she and her husband had been unjustly imprisoned. She did all she could to free them, or at the very least, be with him. Although she couldn't stand him, she still wanted him.

OOO

Charlotte Corday had admired the French Revolution at first, but the violence and terror that had erupted were uncalled for. The King and Queen were dead. Anyone who opposed the government were tortured and/or killed.

Something had to be done, so the only logical thing, at least to Charlotte, was to kill the most radical of the radicals. And that person was Jean-Paul Marat. He had a newspaper, and used it to spread his influence.

"That man is threatening the Republic." Charlotte thought as she left her room at the Hôtel de Providence in Paris, "He'll no doubt cause a Civil War. He won't make this country like that of Ancient Greece or Rome." She made her way to Marat's residence. She was going to kill him in front of the National Convention, but since he was confined to a bathtub due to a skin infection, she had to settle for his house.

She knocked on the door, and a woman answered. "Hello mademoiselle." The woman greeted, "What is your business here?"

"I have some knowledge of a planned Girondist uprising in Caen." Charlotte lied.

"You do?" The woman skeptically asked.

"Yes, and I would like to speak privately to Monsieur Marat."

"Privately?"

"Yes, privately. We wouldn't want to risk any spies."

"No one is allowed to see him privately." The woman replied, "He's such a public figure, we can't take the risk."

"Do you not think I'm trustworthy?"

"No." Then the woman slammed the door in her face.

"Rude." Charlotte said to the door. She left the house and returned that evening. Luckily, she got in. After giving Marat her 'information' while he soaked in his tub, she plunged her kitchen knife into his chest.

He called out, "Aidez-moi, ma chère amie!" and then died.

Marat's fiancée, Simonne, ran into the room after hearing the shout, but she was too late. She summoned the police and Charlotte was arrested. She was guillotined four days later.

Unfortunately, the murder had the exact opposite reaction than what Charlotte Corday expected. Instead of the Reign of Terror stopping, it increased.


The road was bumpy, and filled with people leaving. Philadelphia had its first Yellow Fever epidemic in over 30 years, and everyone was scared. It had been an incredibly hot and dry summer, and then the outbreak started.

Alexander and Eliza had unfortunately come down with the disease, and as a precaution, sent their children away to their grandparents house in Albany. As the six children rode on in the carriage, they couldn't help but think.

"Are Mama and Papa going to be ok?" Five-year-old James Alexander Hamilton asked.

"Of course." 11-year-old Philip answered, "They're outside the city now, and Uncle Ned is taking care if them. He is a doctor."

Do you remember my dears about Alexander's foster brother Edward Stevens? Well, he became a doctor and moved to Philly. When he heard that his foster brother and his wife had taken ill, he rushed to their house to care for them. Since he had grown up in St. Croix, where yellow fever was common, he knew just how to treat the disease. Which thankfully didn't include bloodletting. Instead he encouraged rest and nutrition, just like doctors today.

"Ok." James answered. Then he stared out the window to look at the sights.

Angie, who was carrying one-year-old John Church Hamilton, leaned over and whispered to her older brother, "Do you really think that?"

"It's good to stay positive." Philip whispered back.

"I know, but, you can't be sure."

Philip cupped his nine-year-old sister's cheek. "Everything will be alright. Uncle Ned is used to yellow fever, he knows how to treat it. Even if the worse does happen, we'll have each other and the rest of our family."

Angie smiled, "Always each other."

"Always." Philip repeated. Then he kissed her forehead.

"Where's my kiss?" Eight-year-old Fanny Antill sarcastically asked. Her father died in battle two years after she came to live with the Hamiltons, and was practically adopted by them.

"You're too far away." Philip smartly answered. They were sitting across from each other.

"So?" Fanny asked. Then she reached her hand across to him, it didn't quite reach.

Philip sighed and leaned over to kiss her hand. "Satisfied?" He asked after he kissed it.

"Yes."

"Can I kiss you?" seven-year-old Alexander jr asked Fanny.

Fanny turned to him, feigned a look of thoughtfulness. Then she leaned over and kissed his cheek. Alex was momentarily shocked, but smiled and kissed her cheek.

Philip and Angie smirked.

"Looks like we've got some kissing cousins." Philip remarked.

"Maybe the future Mr. & Mrs. Hamilton." Angie added.

"Shut up!" Alex and Fanny told them.

"Make us." Philip answered.

Alex, balled his fists and kicked his older brother.

"Hey!" Philip shouted. He then kicked him back.

In order to stop a fight, Fanny and Angie quickly moved to restrain the boys. They did this by wrapping their legs around theirs and leaning against their torsos. This was a more difficult for Angie as she was holding baby John, but she managed it.

"Get off!" The boys yelled.

"Not until you calm down!" Angie yelled back.

"We are calm!" Philip and Alex replied in an uncalm manner.

"You don't sound calm." Fanny replied.

"Yeah." James squeaked.

Philip and Alex rolled their eyes and glared at everyone.

OOO

Alexander laid awake. His childhood friend/foster brother Ned had told him to rest, but he couldn't. He turned to his sleeping wife, his dear Eliza, who's arm was wrapped around his. He got sudden flashbacks to when he was 12. He no longer saw the beautiful Eliza, but his dear mother, holding him, both sick with the same illness that was plaguing them now. He no longer was in his bedroom in his summer house, but back in St. Croix, as a 12-year-old. It wasn't Ned who was looking after them, but James jr and their cousins.

"Alex," He heard his mother say, "Alex."

"Yeah." Young Alex answered.

"I love you." She kissed his head, "I love you and your brothers. Don't forget that, and say strong." She was looking very sick, and her eyelids looked heavy.

"Mother?" Alex asked.

"Alex?" He heard his full brother say. He turned and saw him, but then he turned into Ned. "Alex?" Ned asked.

Alex looked shaken, as if he had just seen a ghost.

Ned, full of concern, went to his side, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, just…."

"You can tell me."

Alexander sighed. He couldn't hide anything from him. That fact had been proven time and time again. "Are you sure Eliza will live?"

"Yes." Ned answered, "I know what I'm doing. She won't die like your mother."

"I just can't help it. When we were sick, she was holding me, like what she's doing."

Ned put a hand on his friend's shoulder, "Alex, everything will be fine. Trust me."

"Ok." Alex answered. Then he relaxed a little. But he still felt anxious.

"Something else bothering you?"

Alex looked nervous, and stared at his legs. He was still ashamed of his affair with Maria Reynolds, and there was a small part of him that wondered if this was his punishment.

"You can tell me." Ned said, "I promised you I would always be your friend."

"Even if I did something stupid and shameful?"

"Of course. We're there for each other, that's what friends are for."

Alex turned to the sleeping Eliza, who was peacefully curled up against him. "I don't want to break her heart."

"She's asleep." Ned stated, "She won't hear."

Alex sighed again. He rubbed his wife's arm, she slightly stirred, "Ned, Eliza, you both know I've done things in my past I'm not proud of."

"Yes." Ned replied.

"Well, during the Whiskey Rebellion, I did a terrible thing." Then Alexander told his best friend and his sleeping wife about his affair with Mariah Reynolds.

"…and last I heard, Burr was helping her divorce him."

"Wow." Ned said. "Why didn't you sleep? You know your brain needs it."

"I was too focused on work." Alex answered, "You know how I get."

"Why did you go back to her?"

Alex shrugged. "I keep trying to figure that out."

Ned sighed, "For your sake, I hope this stays between us."

"Me too." Then Alex looked at his wife again. Her eyes partly opened, then closed again.

OOO

Since they were traveling by carriage from Philly to upstate New York, which takes hours by car, trust me, the Hamilton children and their driver had to stop by an inn to stay the night. Well, in 5th grade I traveled with my Girl Scout troop to upstate New York, and it took hours. And we're from suburban Philly. Now imagine taking a similar journey by the slower horse-drawn carriage. Yes, now back to the story.

The room they were given had two beds, a large one for the children, and a small one for the driver and a fellow traveler who arrived at the same time they did. It was the 1700s, way different than it is now.

"So, how will we sleep?" Alex jr asked.

"John and James in the middle." Angie declared, "With us on the edges."

"Ok." Alex answered.

"Me and Alex will be on the edges." Philip ordered, "Angie and Fanny, you two will be on either side of the boys."

"I'm not so sure about that." The driver said, "You don't know what the stranger will do, so it would be safer if the girls slept on the side away from my bed."

The children all looked at each other. They were silently making up their minds. When they made them up, Philip turned to the driver and said, "You will be defense enough. We will sleep the way we want to."

"But sir, I insist." The driver stated, "I'm sure your parents –"

"Would want us comfortable." Philip interjected.

"Besides," Angie added, "we can defend ourselves."

The driver tried to dissuade them, but they wouldn't listen. So, he gave up. Then they all got ready for bed. Fanny slept next to Alex, James slept next to Fanny, John slept next to James, Angie slept next to John, and Philip slept next to Angie. It was a sweet sight the next day, with Philip and Angie cuddling with each other, as well as Fanny and Alex.

OOO

It was a lovely morning. Eliza said to her husband, "Alexander, I had a weird dream last night."

"What was it?"

"I dreamt that you had an affair with a woman who looks like Peggy and got blackmailed by a guy who looks like my father."

Alexander's eyes grew big. She heard, and wasn't asleep. "That is a weird dream." Alexander nervously answered, "I wonder why you had it."

"Why are you nervous?"

"I am?"

Eliza glared at him, "Yes."

"Well, I had the same dream." Alexander lied.

"When?"

"Uhh, last night." Alexander, desperate to change the subject, he said, "You know, the human mind is fascinating. Humans, no matter their origin, or condition, have the ability to come up with amazing things, but also to contradict them. Like, you want to do one thing, but you end up doing another."

Eliza knew something was up, but she didn't want to pry. She would find a way to get it out of him. And if she didn't, well, it couldn't be that bad, could it?


It had been a week since the Hamilton children arrived at the Schuyler mansion. Angie and Fanny shared a room that was next to Philip and Alex jr's room. Everyone was worried about Alexander and Eliza, but they knew that everything would end up fine.

It was a rather fine, although hot summer day, and Philip, Angie, Fanny and Alex were taking a stroll around the gardens. Philip and Angie were arm-in-arm, as well as Fanny and Alex.

"It certainly is a beautiful day." Angie remarked.

"Yes it is." Philip replied, then he turned to his sister, "Just like you."

Angie blushed. "And you." She replied. The two stared at each other and giggled.

"I wonder if we can have our lessons outside?" Alex asked.

"Probably not after yesterday." Angie answered, "The bugs were so bad, we hardly learned anything!"

"I learned something." Fanny stated.

"Oh, and what was that?" Angie asked.

"Swear words!"

The four of them laughed. Their tutor was so annoyed by all the buzzing and the bites, that he would yell and mutter all kinds of swear words. Of course, the children knew not to say them in front of the adults, but it was fun to think them and to say them amongst each other.

Then, their aunt Catharine , who was only a few months older than Philip (yes the same Catharine that Peggy rescued), ran towards them, with a visiting Bertie close behind. "There you are!"

"Hello Aunt Catharine ." The children said in unison.

"It's almost lesson time!" Catharine scolded, "We've been looking for you everywhere!"

"We haven't been gone long." Philip replied, "I'd say about half an hour."

Catharine folded her arms, "It's been more than that. And we've got guests."

"Don't we already?" Alex asked. It seemed that there was always at least one guest at the Schuyler home.

"Three more just arrived." Catharine answered, "And I know you won't want to miss them."

"Who are they?" Angie asked.

Catharine tool on a mischievous grin, "Bertie Robinson, his mother and her youngest sister."

The children's eyes lit up. They all loved the Robinson family, and treated them like their own family. And Angie and Fanny did have a crush on Bertie.

"When did they arrive?" Angie and Fanny asked in unison.

"A few minutes ago." Catharine answered, then she smirked, "You don't want to keep them waiting."

"No we shouldn't." Angie agreed, then they all went back to the house. Although, Philip and Alex felt like they were being dragged.

"I know you're excited Ange," Philip said, "but could you slow down?"

"No." Angie replied, and continued her pace. "You're strong, keep up."

"I'm trying to." Philip answered.

"So am I." Alex stated.

The girls rolled their eyes.

"Maybe both are in a hurry to impress someone." Catharine suggested.

"Are not!" Angie and Fanny stated in unison.

"So you say." Catharine sing-songed with a smirk.

Angie and Fanny rolled their eyes.

When they entered the parlor, they found Peggy, Cordelia (the 2nd youngest Schuyler girl), Caroline and Mary taking tea.

"I found them." Catharine said.

"Wonderful!" Peggy said, "Now to see where Bertie went."

"I'm sure he'll be here soon." Caroline replied, "Unless he starts chatting with someone who's taken his fancy."

The women chuckled.

"So," Mary asked the children, "What are your lessons going to be today?"

"Reading, writing, mathematics, history, science, music, fencing and marksmenship." Angie answered.

"Fencing and markmenship?" Mary asked, she found it odd that they were being trained at a young age. Caroline didn't bother to teach her until she was a teenager.

"Yes." Angie answered, "Just because Aunt Catharine, Fanny and I are women, doesn't mean we won't find ourselves in a position to defend ourselves."

"And Cordelia and I might be asked to join a hunting party." Catharine added, "We are the youngest daughters of a rich war hero."

"True." Cordelia replied.

Then Bertie entered the room. "I see you've been found."

"Bertie!" The Hamilton children exclaimed, and ran towards him. They all had a group hug.

"We've missed you dear cousin." Philip told him.

"And I you." Bertie replied, then he looked Angie in the eyes and said, "All of you."

Angie blushed slightly, and Fanny found herself getting jealous.

"I can't wait for fencing!" Alex said, trying to change the subject.

"Neither can I." Bertie replied, "And who will my partner be?"

"Me." Philip, Angie, Fanny and Alex all said at once.

"Catharine?" Bertie suggested.

"Alright." Catharine answered, "Then we can draw lots."

"Seems fair." Angie said, "Although, I don't want any of you to go soft on me, especially the boys."

"Same for me." Fanny said.

"And me." Catharine said.

"Ok." The boys replied. Then they left for their lessons. And when it was time for fencing and marksmenship, the girls changed into more appropriate attire. And my dears, Bertie, Angie and Alex were the best of the six.


Angelica was having a nice breakfast with her family. She loved her children, and she was fond of her husband, but she didn't love London. She liked being social, and her husband's status did help with that (he was a member of Parliament, and the Churches seemed to be at at least one party a week), but no matter how hard she tried, she missed her family, felt incredibly lonely, and found that she no longer loved her husband. She had eloped with him because she loved him and didn't care what her father said, but, her feelings had changed. No matter how hard she tried, the love wasn't there anymore.

The only thing Angelica had to look forward to were her children, letters from family and friends, and the chance that the next party or event would help her. At least she and her husband were still on good terms, and she could always pretend he was Alexander.

Then one of the maids, Anna, entered the room. "Mr and Mrs Church?"

"Yes?" Angelica and her husband John answered.

"There's two men at the door." The maid said, then she handed them a letter, "They have a letter of introduction."

"Thank you." Angelica said as she took the letter, it had Lafayette's seal on it.

"What's it say?" John asked.

Angelica opened it, and read aloud:

Angelica,

I write you this letter in haste. As I'm sure you know by now, the state of France is terrible. Hopefully I am well, and my wife and daughters are too. If you're reading this, then my oldest son, Gorges and his tutor are at your doorstep. Please take them in and protect them. It would be a huge favor which I hope to repay.

Yours Truly,

Lafayette

P.S. Please send my love to Alexander, Caroline and Bertie. I miss them all, and probably won't be able to send word to them. Also, Georges should have a box of Caroline's letters to me, please keep them safe.

"Georges is here?" Angelica's oldest son Philip Church asked. He remembered he and his siblings playing with him and becoming friends with him while staying in France.

"Yes, it appears so." Angelica answered.

"Isn't Lafayette in jail?" John asked.

"He must've written this before then." Angelica answered, "I think he might've mentioned this. John dear, do you remember?"

"I think." John Sr answered, deep in thought. "Yes he did."

"Alright then." Then Angelica turned to Anna, "Send them in."

Anna curtsied and left the room.

"Wait," Angelica's eldest daughter Kitty asked, as something had just occurred to her, "didn't the letter say, 'oldest son'?"

Angelica was caught off-guard. She hadn't told her friends' secret to anyone, not even her husband and children. Well, she did tell her third son, Richard Hamilton Church, but he was a baby, and only lived to be a year. Oh how she missed him, and desperately wanted to strike out the "Church" on his grave stone. Oh how she hoped that her fourth son, Alexander Church, who was a baby, wouldn't succumb to the same fate.

"What's wrong?" the 14-year old Kitty asked, noticing how her mother's eyes grew wide.

"Oh, nothing." Angelica lied, "I just didn't expect the question that's all. It was probably a slip of the quill."

"Why is Georges bringing Aunt Lina's letters here?" 12-year-old John Church Jr asked.

"Probably because he didn't want them damaged." Angelica answered, "France is very uncivilized right now."

Before any more questions could be asked, Anna brought Georges and his tutor into the room. Georges was a handsome young man, looking very much like his father, and he held a wooden letter box.

"Monsieur and Madame Church." The tutor, who was dressed rather plainly, addressed the couple in a thick French accent, "A pleasare to zee you again."

"And you Monsieur." The Church family greeted.

"Am I to assume zat you shall give my pupil and I zelter?" The tutor asked.

"Of course." Angelica answered. "Any child of Lafayette is welcome here."

"Thank you." Georges and his tutor said.

"Georges?" Angelica asked.

"Yes Madame?" Georges asked.

"Your letter of introduction said that you have a letter box for me?"

"Yes." Then Georges held his box out, "Here it is."

"Thank you." Angelica said as she took the box. She looked fondly at it, knowing that within it was all the letters her dear friend Caroline wrote. As soon as she had a privet moment, she would read them, to remind her of home.

"Are you two gentlemen hungry?" John Sr asked his guests.

"Yes." Georges and his tutor answered.

"Well, pull up a chair." Angelica said, then she said to Anna, "Please bring two plates for our guests and prepare their rooms."

"If you don't mind," The tutor interjected while one of the other maids, Helen, was bringing one of the chairs from the back of the room to the table, "we would like the same room."

"Of course." Angelica answered, then she turned to the maid, "Just one room for them."

"Yes Madam." Anna replied, then she did a quick curtsey and left the room. Helen had finished with the chairs, so everyone sat back down.

While they were waiting for the plates, Angelica asked her guests, "When did you arrive here?"

"About an hour ago." The tutor answered, "Georges and hiz father zaid we were to find you if we arrived in England, so we looked for you."

"Was it hard?" Angelica's oldest son Philip asked, he knew how big London was.

"A little, but we managed." The tutor answered.

"Everyone seemed to know we were foreigners, and glared at us, and were a bit rude." Georges answered. "But we did manage to find people who knew were you lived."

The older Churches shook their heads.

"It's a sad truth I'm afraid." John Sr replied, "Most people will always view outsiders as dangerous and untrustworthy. Even my father-in-law."

"Fortunately I'm not most people." Angelica replied with a smile.

John turned to her with a kind and loving smile. "I know. And I'm grateful for that everyday." He was very fond of his wife, and loved her about the same as when they had eloped. However, he sensed that his wife's feelings for him had changed ever since moving to London. He also saw the look in her eyes whenever she read a letter from her brother-in-law Alexander. He even had suspicions that his third and fourth sons were actually Alexander's. But he didn't truly care, he still loved them, and bore no ill will towards his wife and brother-in-law.

The two seemed quite in love, and they genuinely were when they eloped. However, feelings can change. Luckily my dears, you have a loving home with four doting parents who love all you dearly, and each other. Right?

Anna brought in the extra plates, and Georges and his tutor helped themselves to the food that was laid in front of them. Angelica looked at the box Georges brought her, and noticed it was locked.

"Georges?" Angelica asked.

"Oui Madame?" Georges asked after he took a bite of eggs.

"Does this have a key?"

"Oui." Georges answered, and then he grabbed the key that was on a chain around his neck and gave it to her.

"Thank you." Angelica answered. Then she placed it around her own neck. Then a thought came to her. "Georges?"

"Oui Madame?"

"Have, have you opened this box?"

Georges looked scared. He knew was wasn't supposed to, but he felt a need to read them, to figure out what had caused the riff between his parents.

"You have, haven't you?" Angelica answered.

Georges hung his head.

"Oh." Angelica went to comfort him, "I know it must be hard to process this," she quietly said, "but, please don't judge anyone too harshly. Caroline is a dear friend of mine, the only one I know who is more trusting and kind is my sister Eliza. And I'm sure your father tried his best, but war can do strange things to people."

"I've seen people act strange even when there was no war." Georges replied in French.

"What's going on?" John jr asked.

"Georges just needed comfort, that's all." Angelica answered.

"Is it about Aunt Lina's letters?" Kitty asked.

Angelica sighed. She couldn't hide this forever. "Yes, but I'm sworn to secrecy."

"Even from us?" John Sr asked.

Angelica nodded her head. "I'm sorry. But a promise is a promise."

"Georges, did you promise?" 15-year-old Philip asked.

"Non."

"Do you mind telling us?" 10-year-old Eliza Church asked.

"Promise not to tell?" Georges asked.

"Yes." Everyone answered.

"Very well." Georges stated, then he told them what he knew. "While my father was in America, he had fallen in love with a woman who disguised herself as a man, and they had a child, my brozer, Bertie."

"Bertie?" Kitty asked, "Cousin Bertie?"

Angelica covered her mouth. Her children were so smart.

"Was that the reason Caroline and Lafayette were so close during Alexander and Eliza's wedding?" John Sr asked.

Angelica found herself nodding her head. She didn't want to, but she did.

"Did Aunt Lina really elope with Paul Robinson?" Philip asked.

Angelica shook her head. She couldn't take it anymore. Before anymore questions could be asked, she got up, took the letter box and said, "I'm going to my room now." Then she left. When she was in the peace and quiet of her bedroom, she sat down at her desk and sighed. Being a good friend was hard. She grabbed a pen and a piece of paper and wrote Caroline a letter:

My dear Lina,

I must inform you of some news. Bertie's brother has arrived today with his tutor and the box of letters you wrote his father. It was locked and he has given me the key. I haven't read the letters yet, but know they are safe and sound in my bedroom.

Also dear friend, Georges has told me, his tutor, my husband, my oldest four children, and one of my maids that he has read them, and what they mean. I have kept my promise to you, and remained silent, but my family were able to piece together the Truth using their brains. Everyone's agreed to keep your secret, but I must remind you that people aren't always trustworthy. I shall do my best to hold them accountable, but I make no guarantees.

I wish I could be in New York to comfort you dearest Lina, and tell you everything would be alright. But sadly, I cannot do that. Georges has said he holds no ill will towards you, little Bertie and their father. I sincerely hope it's true.

Please write to me and tell me what you wish to be done with your letters. I shall not harm them, or risk them getting lost, or in the wrong hands unless you tell me to do so.

Yours faithfully,

Angelica


Olympe de Gouges sat in her cell. She had been there for three months without an attorney, forcing her to defend herself. She tried to get herself a lawyer, as it was her legal right, but the judge thought that she was more than capable to defend herself, as she had done so in her writings. The feminist who opposed the death penalty, the increasing violence in the once promising Revolution, and favored constitutional monarchy. She had been imprisoned for simply having a different view of the government than the one it projected.

"Oh how far has this once great nation fallen." Olympe thought, "And oh how the Revolution has fallen from it's great potential! They are murdering people everyday! Soon there will be no more people left! When will this all end? Will the people rise up? Will the government realize their mistakes? Reason and logic seem to have fled the country!"

"Madame." The Guard said to her.

"Oui?"

"It's time for your trial."

Olympe nodded her head. She was soon lead to the court room, where her trial would be. Unfortunately my dears, she would be found guilty and guillotined.


Philly was a ghost town. The Yellow Fever epidemic had caused most of the residents to either flee, or to hide away. Farmers stopped coming, so the only food left was what could be grown in gardens, or stolen. Some of you may recall the book Fever, 1793, which captures the state of the city almost perfectly.

Don't worry my dears, I'll read that book to you soon.

Luckily, Alexander and Eliza had made a full recovery. However, they thought it best for their children to stay in Albany until the frost came, as frost always kills epidemics. Frost is the sign of cold weather coming, and since organisms that transmit disease, like the dreaded mosquitoes and fleas, have a hard time surviving the cold, the epidemic sorta stops. Also viruses and most bacteria have a hard time with the cold too.

Anyway, Alexander and Eliza were both very grateful to Ned, you know, Dr. Edward Stevens, that Alexander wrote a letter to a newspaper to glorify him. However, the Democratic-Republicans claimed that the Hamiltons were faking that they had been sick to promote Ned's business! Yes, the personal is always made political.


"Where are we going Mama?" Susan Reynolds asked her mother as they were packing their bags.

"We're going to live with Mr. Clingman." Mariah answered, her divorce was almost completed, and Burr had gained her trust enough for her to leave the finalizing to him. "Now make sure you pack the clothes Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Burr gave you." Alexander and Aaron were so kind, that was one of the reasons Mariah was so fond of Alexander, oh and Burr too. They would give little Susan the dresses that their daughters had outgrown, and yes I'm including Fanny. And Burr once bought some clothes just for her, although it was a birthday present.

"Ok Mama." Susan answered and packed her bags.

Soon they departed for Virginia, using the money that Burr had graciously given them. They made sure they left no trace, no way for James to follow them. He took the divorce bad enough, the last thing anyone wanted was for him to find them leaving him and take his revenge.


Dolley Payne Todd cried. The epidemic had taken her husband John Payne, younger son William, mother-in-law, and father-in-law. Sure she didn't really love her husband, but she loved her sons. How would she support herself and her surviving son? Sure John had left her money, but due to the coverture law, the legal system that strictly limited women's ability to own property and wages, only men could be the executor of that money and, as such, her husband's brother was the executor. Unluckily for her, her brother-in-law withheld the funds that her husband had left to her, so she had to sue him for the $19 she was owed. Unfortunately, this was apparently the injustice many women at the time faced, as well as the accumulating expenses of both caring for her child and paying for the funerals of lost relatives.

OOO

The city rejoiced. The first frost of the year had appeared in and near the city of Philly. The frost meant that the epidemic was over, as the cold weather killed all of the mosquitoes. Also it helped kill fevers. Trust me, when your skin's hot, ya need to be cold.

The markets reopened, prices were low, and everyone was chatting and celebrating. Since this was before Thanksgiving had become a national holiday, people were having thanksgiving feasts that week because they were feeling grateful and relieved. Indeed, the city was being revived. However, it wasn't until George Washington returned to the current capital that it was fully revived. Such a sight it must've been, the president and his entourage returning to the city in a wonderful procession, followed by people who waited until his return in order to come back to the city.

Alexander, having fully recovered, happily joined in. He waved to the crowd as he followed his commander to the Presidents house. Everyone was in such a happy mood, if only they could've known about the dangers and troubles ahead.