[PHILIP's Point-of-View]
It actually turned out amazing. That was the best Thanksgiving ever! Theodosia actually liked the Halloween thing, so I forgive Papa.
I'm really excited for Christmas, especially the pageant at my school. My school is having a holiday pageant to collect money and toys for children that can't afford them. I am playing the piano and Theodosia is singing.
It came up quickly, and it's actually tomorrow night. Theodosia is coming over to practice.
I answer the door when Theodosia arrives, and quietly lead her to my room where I play and she sings. I have to try really hard not to swoon and mess up the keys, her voice is so pretty.
Theodosia and I actually (sort of) coordinated clothes to avoid more embarrassment. I haven't told her, but I have asked Papa to rent me a tuxedo.
After she leaves, I practice the keys a couple more times and then decide to turn in.
When I leave to tell Dad and Papa, I hear them having an animated discussion in French.
"Oh mon dieu, Lafayette est très français, il m'a manqué. Quoi faisons-nous la cuisine pour Lafayette, Hercules, Elizabeth, et Adrienne?"
[Oh my god, Lafayette is so French, I have missed him. What are we going to cook for Lafayette, Hercules, Elizabeth, and Adrienne?]
"Je ne sais pas. Quand sont-ils viennent?"
[I don't know. When are they coming?]
"En janvier."
[In January.]
"D'accord. Mais demain est la fête. Allons."
[Okay. But tomorrow is the party. Let's go.]
"Philip, nos amis viennent en janvier. Est ce-que tu aides?"
[Philip, our friends are coming in January. Will you help?]
"What?" I ask in English. "Sorry Dad, I do not speak French."
"Oui." He replies, shaking his head. "Our friends are coming over with their wives in January, will you help?"
"Oh. Certainly." I answer.
"Okay. Why don't you get in bed? You have a big day tomorrow." Papa suggests.
"Yes." I answer.
I go into my room and pull the covers over myself. Both Dad and Papa come in to give me a good night kiss, and then tease each other into sharing a kiss. They leave my room laughing and turn off the light.
I fall asleep with thoughts of Theodosia swirling through my mind.
I wake up the next morning, my thoughts completely focused on this evening.
Mr. Burr and my fathers have planned to have dinner together tonight, before the pageant. I wait impatiently, and the day drags on way too slowly.
When it finally becomes evening, I dress into my tuxedo, with the black coattails touching the floor. Papa helps me with all the fancy stuff like my tie and cummerbund.
We drive to the restaurant, and when we arrive, Mr. Burr and Theodosia are already standing there.
I hug Theodosia hello. She smiles, and then I look down at her dress.
It's so pretty. I almost fall over. Just in her presence I couldn't play yesterday, how on Earth will I do it now?
[THEODOSIA's Point-of-View]
Philip comes over.
Oh my god, he is so hot. The tuxedo suits him perfectly, oh...
He gives me a hug, and I swoon a tiny bit. He grabs onto me and lifts me back up, not mentioning the swoon.
[ALEX's Point-of-View]
Just friends indeed. And friends have Theodosia swooning. But Philip does look very handsome in the tuxedo.
I address Aaron. "Thank you for inviting us. Shall we get a table?"
"Certainly." He answers, gesturing to a waitress who comes over to guide us to a table.
Theodosia and Philip are still talking when we sit down, and I think back to how many times John and I embarrassed Philip earlier.
X
"You know she won't care how you're dressed, right? It's what's under that matters." I jabbed at Philip this morning.
He blushed. "PAPA!"
John came in. "What if she's singing and falls in your lap? I'd expect a kiss." He kissed me then, and I smiled.
Philip turned even redder. "DAD! We are close friends! Please stop embarrassing me!" He turned away to fix his tie in the mirror.
This had continued for the whole day. Luckily, he hadn't taken it too hardly.
X
He was still talking animatedly to Theodosia. I turn to Aaron.
"So, how are you felling about Theodosia's first dance? Did you try to make it perfect?" I ask, laughing. Aaron is a perfectionist. John and I requested a tuxedo, made reservations, etc. weeks in advance, we kind of obsessed over making this night perfect.
[AARON's Point-of-View]
Alexander asks if I tried to make it perfect. He's laughing, so it's a joke, but he doesn't know. I made dress reservations, restaurant reservations, and took all precautions months ago to make sure this night goes perfectly for Theodosia.
I know it is so odd, but I just love Theodosia so much, I want everything to be perfect. I briefly reflect that it figures that people who are so opposed, like Alexander and I, have children that care so much about each other. John is pretty cool, though. He's not as annoying as Alexander, but something about him always seems a little guarded.
I notice that neither John nor Alexander purchase alcohol, which hints that they also are obsessing over making this perfect.
"Yes." I answer semi-casually.
"Wow, Aaron, I didn't know you could be casual-like." John teases.
I smile. "Well, Happy Holidays!"
"Happy Holidays!" They chorus happily.
John kisses Alex, and I can't help but smile. Two people whose wives died, yet they have each other. I didn't get that chance.
The dishes arrive, and we talk pleasantly for a few minutes while we eat.
It is then time to go to Theodosia's school for the pageant/party.
[PHILIP's Point-of-View]
We arrive, and I seat myself at the piano. Theodosia puts the toys in the donation box, she is so kind all the time, and moves to the middle of the room. She sings so beautifully that I again have to focus on the keys.
After her songs, there is a dance.
Everyone has come together, and Theodosia and I dance to jovial Christmas tunes, like "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree."
I go to sit down after a little bit and Theodosia goes to get some water, and that's when the worst possible thing happens.
George Eaker, the school bully, comes up to her. "Hey, Imma take you for a spin, how 'bout that?"
He grabs Theodosia roughly and drags her toward the dance floor.
I watch almost helplessly.
Then, I steel my resolve and walk up to George. He ignores me, but Theodosia turns desperate eyes on me. I step in front of George. He looks at me, ferocity evident in his eyes.
I instruct him. "Leave her alone."
"Oh yeah? Who's gonna make me?" He laughs in my face.
"I am." I land a solid punch to his stomach. He bends, and Theodosia rushes over to me.
People cheer at seeing the big bully finally taken down. Others rush over to check on him and take him to the nurse.
Still holding gently onto Theodosia's arm, I move to the other side of the room and place her in a chair. Then I go over to talk to Stephen. I see Papa talking to Mr. Burr in the corner. I wonder what they are talking about.
[ALEX's Point-of-View]
"So, Aaron, this is really an interesting experience. Theodosia is a very bright child. She and Philip are wonderful together." I remark.
"Yes. So is Philip. I am very proud of Theodosia. They act very nicely with one another." Aaron answers.
I'm pleasantly surprised that Aaron is being so cooperative, he never acts like this in the office. We keep talking for a little bit, and then my attention is distracted by Philip walking over to Theodosia.
[PHILIP's Point-of-View]
A couple songs later, I'm about to go over to check on Theodosia.
And that's when a slow song comes on.
Couples grab hands and twirl onto the dance floor.
I realize this is the perfect opportunity. I see another dude go up to Theodosia, but she shakes her head.
I walk over to her, and bow patiently, my coattails still sweeping the floor.
[THEODOSIA's Point-of-View]
"Miss Theodosia, may I please have this dance?" I hear Philip ask me.
"Certainly." I acquiesce, and he lifts me from my chair.
We walk out to the dance floor and get caught up in the dance and twirling.
[PHILIP's Point-of-View]
I love dancing with Theodosia. She has the most wonderful laugh and dancing style.
The music suddenly slows more, and Theodosia and I stop to spin in place.
Everyone gasps, and I look over, confused.
Everyone is pointing at the ceiling. I look up, and that's when I see it.
Theodosia and I have decided to stop directly under a sprig of mistletoe.
Everyone is expecting us to kiss.
Theodosia sees the mistletoe as well.
I don't want to overstep boundaries. Theodosia might get upset if I kiss her. I feel the blush rising to my cheeks.
[THEODOSIA's Point-of-View]
I look up to see that Philip and I are standing under a sprig of mistletoe.
Philip looks so nervous. I want to convince him that it is okay.
I whisper, "Kiss me, Philip. Kiss me."
Philip still hesitates, and people are getting antsy.
I decide to take it myself.
[PHILIP's Point-of-View]
Theodosia whispers for me to kiss her. But I respect her so much, I wouldn't want to make her uncomfortable.
I debate whether or not to kiss her. I've never kissed her before...
I'm so deep in thought that I startle when Theodosia leans up and connects our lips.
But it feels so nice. I love Theodosia so much, and I press my lips against hers. We stand there in a passionate kiss. People around us, probably including my Dad and Papa, cheer and clap, but I can't hear them because I am so enamored by Theodosia and her sheer amazingness.
The song ends, and I wrap my arm around Theodosia as we walk toward my fathers and Mr. Burr.
"Great performance, Philip!" Both my dads joke, smiling broadly.
"That was very nice, Philip. It was a beautiful dance." Mr. Burr says, stiff as usual, but seeming a little calmer.
Theodosia and I put on our jackets, as do my dads and Mr. Burr. We walk out to the car, and I gently put Theodosia in the backseat, sliding in next to her. Dad sits next to me, and Papa drives with Mr. Burr next to him.
Theodosia leans her head on my arm, and I smile. This was so amazing.
I carefully lead Theodosia and Mr. Burr up the steps to their home, before coming back down to the car, where Dad has climbed to sit up next to Papa. They are kissing, and I smile at how the holidays bring magic and peace.
"That was a wonderful evening. Thank you, Philip." Papa says as we drive to our house.
We go inside, and I quickly shower and get dressed for bed.
Papa and Dad come in to kiss me good night, and I thank them for such a fantastic evening.
They smile appreciatively and leave the room.
I fall asleep reliving the kiss and pondering how the holidays are such a magical time.
Happy Holidays to everyone! I am really proud of this chapter, it includes several requests and some of my own touches as well. It took a long time to write. Lafayette and Hercules are coming! Sorry about all the point of view switching. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed this story! This is my last update before the new decade, but several of those chapters will be coming soon. I might also write a story relating to Downton Abbey, the stories overlap very well. I will be traveling, but I have my computer, so I will have time to write (airplane *wink wink*). This might start wrapping up this story, since Philip and Theodosia are together, but I have a quick additional thing planned. Happy New Year to everyone! Please be safe and spend time with your families.
Hamilfan 321: I can certainly do that as the next chapter! I will update the summary for that. Also, I started writing your story a couple weeks ago, but something still doesn't read properly. I will fix up that issue, and after my new year chapter of this story, I will put that one out first.
Annie Samsons: Thank you for the information. I was curious, did you want the next chapter to start with the trial? Or where should I start? Two-shots, I now realize, are really hard. But it's a fun challenge.
Batgirl'66: Is your story a two-shot? I know yours comes after Hamilfan 321's, and I remember something about a two-shot, so I am just curious. Please do not hesitate to tell me your plan again.
Amy Deems: Welcome to my stories! Thank you for reading! I reply to reviews in all sorts of places, so I hope it does not confuse you. That's a really cool birthday! How old are you now? I will be pleased to write that story, except I do not know anything about Hunger Games, so I will request as I do to all my readers, that you please explain a bit about the story and first chapter, so I can base my writing on that.
To the people who responded to my statement about violence, I thank you for considering that as well. Thank you all so much for reading and reviewing! Happy Holidays! Please review! ;)
-HamiltonAsparagus