(ALEX's Point-of-View)

After several days of working late, I want to make it up to John and Philip. I decide to pick up Philip as a surprise.

I leave work, texting John.

Hey John! I'm going to pick up Philip. You take a break. I text.

Take a break? I could say the same for you. He replies quickly.

I can almost hear him laughing on the other side.

You know you love me….. I text back.

Yes I do. Thank you for getting Philip, I was about to ask, I'm a little tied-up at work. He responds.

Really? And you're texting? I poke fun at him.

Oh relax. I'm about to start. He replies.

Okay. What is the procedure today? I ask, hoping I'll know what he's talking about.

Turtle fin repair. Stupid humans tore it with trash. I can tell he's getting angry at the people. He loves turtles so much, I got him a bunch of turtle presents for his birthday. Including turtle t-shirts and a baby turtle as well. He loved it so much, I got extra rewards ;).

Okay. See you at home. I text.

About to start the procedure. Virtual kisses! He sends.

Maybe I could get some physical ones when you get home. Can't wait! I type.

;). He texts back, I smile, knowing he's blushing on the other side.

I get to Philip's school, and I see him walking out with a girl. Is this the girl John was talking about? Upon further inspection, I realize it is Aaron Burr's daughter, Theodosia.

I watch Philip and Theodosia walk to the car. And although I want so badly to disapprove, I can't help but admit that they do look really cute together.

Philip opens the door, and Theodosia stands back a few feet.

Philip looks really surprised to see me. "Papa!" he exclaims.

"Hello, Philip." I reply.

"Come on, Theodosia, get in." Philip beckons her into the front seat.

"Wait a minute, what?" I ask.

"Theodosia's dad is working, and I need help with a couple of assignments. We are doing a group project, and since today is Friday, I figured we could start. But she has to come with us." Philip answers.

"Why didn't you tell Dad and I?" I ask.

"I did tell Dad, because I thought he was coming to pick us up. Did he not tell you?" Philip says.

"No, he didn't." I say curtly. "Well," I brighten, "I guess it's too late now. Come on in, Theodosia!"

She steps hesitantly into the car.

"So, Philip," I waggle my eyebrows a little bit. "What are you guys working on? Can I help? When do we need to drop her off at her home?"

Philip, who has taken a seat in the back, sighs quietly. "It's about DNA Structure and Function, Papa. No thank you, we do not need your help. Theodosia needs to be dropped off home at eight o'clock."

"Okay." I reply. We reach home, and Philip and Theodosia head off to Philip's bedroom to start working on homework while I start (hopelessly, without John) on dinner.

I text John again, checking to see if he needs anything. I don't get a response, but I suppose he is working in surgery, and can't text me. Almost as an afterthought, I ask him why he did not tell me about picking up Theodosia.

Having boiled the water and poured it into the noodles, I go to check on Philip and Theodosia. They are clearly hard at work. Both of them are lying on the floor, holding pencils at the ready, the eraser in Philip's mouth in thought. Theodosia is absentmindedly tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

I decide not to interrupt, and just watch from the doorway, both of them are too focused to notice me. I notice a blush in both their cheeks, and can't help but smile. They are so cute together! I relent, telling myself I can't keep them apart when they're so cute.

An hour later, when Philip and Theodosia have finished and the spaghetti is ready, I call them to the table. Just as we begin to eat, John bursts through the door, looking really tired and a little discontent.

I stand up from my chair and go to greet him, placing a quick kiss on his lips. He sinks into a chair, and I go over to the pot to put some spaghetti on a plate. As I go, I notice Philip looking a little angry and Theodosia looking a little embarrassed and out of place.

I decide to address it later. I bring John his plate, and we have a pleasant dinner.

After dinner, Philip and I go to drop Theodosia off at her house. I notice Philip gently holding Theodosia hand, like a gentleman from the 1700s, as he guides her up the stairs.

I smile despite myself, remembering how I used to act around John at first, when Lafayette set up. Philip comes back down the steps, and climbs into the car. He sits quietly, looking at his hands in his lap. I decide to bring up the earlier issue.

"So, Philip, I noticed an angry expression on your face when Dad came in. What happened?"

He doesn't answer for a little while, and when he does, the words sound forced out.

"It's just that Theodosia's dad is all alone. Also, she respects you and Dad's relationship, but she's not used to it, you know? Some of your loving remarks just throw her off a little bit. I was mad at myself for forgetting to tell you that it made her uncomfortable."

"Oh." John and I have been together so long, I have forgotten about some of the homophobic jabs we got from passerby when we were dating.

When we get home, Philip goes back to his room to complete his homework. I settle onto the couch, and John is working on his laptop at the kitchen table. I decide to address another issue.

"John, how come you didn't tell me about picking up Theodosia?"

John startles, apparently not having heard me come in. "Lexi! Yikes, you scared me! I forgot to tell you about Theodosia being picked up. I remembered as soon as I entered the surgery room. But they're really cute, right?"

"Yes." I reply, but something sounds fishy about John's reply. I wonder what he could be hiding.

I make up my mind about the topic that has been bothering me all day. Later that night, after Philip has finished his homework, I call him and John into the living room.

John sits next to me on the couch, leaning his head on my shoulder. Philip sits on the ground, my legs around him. I absentmindedly play with his hair.

John looks at us and smiles sadly. I know he's thinking about his daughter. I pull him into a kiss, and when we break apart, smiling and laughing, he looks much better.

John broaches the topic first. "What happened, Lexi?"

"So, Philip, do you like Theodosia? I've been watching you guys." I address Philip.

Philip startles, trying to stand, but I force him back down.

He sits down. "Ummm...yes, Papa. But I know that you won't like that." He responds quietly.

"Why won't I?" I ask gently, a little surprised at how much he knows.

"Because I know that you and her father, Mr. Burr, have some job-related issues, and you frequently argue against one another." He answers.

My brain whirs, how does he know all this?

I go ahead with my statement. "Philip, after seeing the way you two are, I've decided….."

MUHAHAHA! A cliff-hanger, sort of. I would like to take a moment to request suggestions. What is John hiding? What does Alex say? Does he permit them to be together? Does he force them apart? Also, thank you very much to all the people that have requested stories and then given plot ideas or additional information related to those stories, it makes writing easier. Today is a holiday, for some people, which is why I am putting this chapter up at 9:40 AM, when I should be in school. Do you have a holiday today? Please leave suggestions and answers in a review! I love to read them, it just makes my day! And to all the people whose birthdays are approaching, or I put out the first chapter recently, those updates will be a little more sporadic/inconsistent than these, since this is my main story. I hope that is okay with you. Please review! ;)

-HamiltonAsparagus