Chapter 3: Morristown

September 7, 1776

She was stationed at Fort Amsterdam after six months of training. The men she bunked with barely ever spared her a glance. As long as she could shoot a gun, swing a sword, and run like hell, they didn't care about the unusual cracks in her voice or the too-large uniforms she wore. They were holding back the British weakly and when night fall, the battling ceased as they crowded around the fires. Normally, she sat near some of the more familiar bunk mates - the ones who she had shared a word or two with. But tonight, they were getting drunk to raise morale and she didn't want to partake in that in case she would slip.

So she sat nearly by herself, aching to see a familiar face. She couldn't count the times she felt regret for leaving her family and friends for this life. Blood was on her hands and she couldn't undo it. Genevieve lost herself in her thoughts, looking into the shitty food they served as rations before looking up. A man with a smooth ponytail followed by a bulkier, darker man crossed her vision and she did a double-take.

Alexander and Hercules! She thought excitedly, springing up with renewed energy and walking over to them. Despite her barely knowing them, at least it was something. By now, she had managed to get the voice down easier, holding the low tone long enough for a short conversation.

"Hamilton," she hissed and he looked at her quizzically. Hercules paused as well, staring at her.

"Sir?"

"You are Alexander Hamilton, correct?" She asked carefully and he nodded, extending a hand. "Oliver Smith."

"Smith, this is my companion, Hercules Mulligan - now is there something you need or is it just pleasantries while everyone is getting drunk?" Taken aback, she shook her head.

"Where're you going?"

"The British are on the move. We're scouting their movements." Hercules inputted and Genevieve adjusted her jacket lapels. Nodding, she gestured to the direction they were going. "You coming?"

"Lead the way."

September 15, 1776

A week after, they lost Fort Amsterdam. And Kips Bay, and the Battery. Hell, they were losing everywhere and had lost so many men that Genevieve thanked the Lord everyday that she was still alive. The British were taking control of Manhattan and New York too quickly for them to handle. They barely had enough rations to eat and many starved or deserted the army.

Finally, they had orders to rally to Harlem Heights. Genevieve marched beside Alexander and Hercules as they spotted George Washington's white horse gleaming amongst the battered and morale-low troops. "There he is," she growled out of exertion. Alexander's eyes lit up at the figure of authority out of respect.

"Halt!" Their sergeant yelled. "Camp!" Immediately, they dispersed into their duties to set up camp as the senior officers went to congregate near Washington.

"So much for 'hope'," Hercules mumbled dryly as they began to set up fires and tents. Genevieve shook her head and gritted her teeth, carrying the heavy rolls out of the wagon. Her muscles screamed out of exhaustion but she ignored it. "Alex,"

"Yeah?"

"Have I ever told you how much I fucking hate this?"

"Too many times." Genevieve and Alexander both grunted out their answers as night began to descend on them

August 28, 1777

After a year of fighting with little victory but the Battle of Trenton among others in the sea of defeat, Genevieve felt the total effects of the war. By now, any fat she had left was replaced with lean muscle wrapped around her bones and her cheeks were sunken from lack of food. She was either constantly hungry or tired. However, when you were friends with Alexander Hamilton - the right hand man of George Washington - there were perks. The three of them tented together and she occasionally saw Aaron Burr too - although he rarely smiled.

"Lafayette and John are coming. They should be here in two days time." He announced one night and Genevieve immediately sat up without thinking. Lafayette, she hadn't thought that name for more than a year. The mere idea of seeing him again… her heart was fluttering wildly in her chest as Alexander settled on his cot.

The two days couldn't come soon enough. The three of them welcomed the newcomers warmly as they rode their horses into camp. Once dismounted, they were escorted to George Washington's tent. Hercules retreated to their own tent with Genevieve and they waited, fiddling with quills and paper until Alexander pushed open the tent.

"Here are your other bunk mates," he was saying. Standing up, they held out hands to shake. John Laurens grasped her hand firmly, eyes searching her green ones.

"Oliver Smith." she enunciated carefully and shook his hand before he pulled away and Lafayette took his place. Her gaze scanned his face and she was shocked by how different he looked. Although still well and healthy, the life in his eyes was as if muted by a shadow.

"Lafayette," he said stoically and his eyes barely managed to lift to hers. "Marquis de Lafayette."

"Oliver Smith." She repeated and he just shook her hand loosely. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, of course." The Frenchman waved it off and settled down on the bunk in front of hers. "But it has been a long trip."

"Of course," Alexander leapt into their conversation again. "Go to sleep, Laf. We'll talk tomorrow morning, alright? Get some sleep, men. We travel again tomorrow morning."

January 2, 1780

Genevieve's teeth chattered as she wrapped her jacket tighter around herself. Her green eyes narrowed against the cold wind that stung her eyes. Her gut was hollow with cold and her bones weak and brittle, aching to snap. Alexander urged her onward as she fiddled with the gun at her belt. How badly she wanted the warm embrace of death…

No. She promised she would return to her family if she could. And they were finally finding a city to be stationed in. Hopefully they could relax with the winter ball being hosted and maybe get some decent food. The brunette spat out any hair that flew into her dry mouth and she reached for the water skin in Alexander's hand. "Any left?" Her voice was nearly gone. He shook his head and her heart plummeted. Up ahead, Washington's horse plodded on ahead, carrying his owner weakly. The storm howled in her ears and she felt numb.

"Morristown!" Someone screamed up ahead but it was more like a whisper against the wind. Still, the two of them perked up and managed to trudge faster through the deep snow. Soldiers gathered at the crest of the hill and some were crying in joy. Washington was smiling wearily as he unsheathed his sword and pumped it into the air. Turning his horse around, he surveyed his troops, all battered, weary, and frostbitten.

"Men," he began, "we have reached salvation. We will dine tonight!" They roared in response and their general turned around again, leading the way down to the city. Alexander breathed out a laugh and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"We're going to be fine." He growled almost to himself as they made a breakthrough to the town. Choruses and cheers greeted them as many came out to see the famed George Washington and the Continental Army.

January 24, 1780

"Smith," she raised her head when someone called her 'name'. It was John Laurens, someone she hadn't seen in years. "Thought it was you."

"We only met for a few days, sir, and even then it was three years ago." she stood and grasped his hand to shake it firmly. "It's uncommon to remember someone like that."

"Guess so," he shrugged and his mouth stretched into a grin, "but Alex said you've survived. Quite the persistent one, you are." She shrugged back and ignored the fact that she could count the ribs and how her cheeks were only just beginning to fill completely again. She ignored that her breasts practically ached all the time from their bondage. Genevieve never had the privacy or the time to free them. The periods where she could untie it and have them free lasted at five minutes where she needed to change the dirty clothes and put on her shirt.

"It's quite good to see your face again." Her eyes drifted over his shoulder as they let go only to see someone she hadn't seen or heard from in three years. When all thoughts of her family and the Schuylers were worn out, she had turned to him - fantasizing what he'd be like, what meeting him again would be like… "Excuse me." She murmured and John quirked an eyebrow at her as she brushed past him. Lafayette was speaking to an officer about some military tactics or other when she approached him. Then did she notice his own differences. A scar running horizontally just under his eye and the energy lacking in his eyes. Once they finished, she came closer and he turned to see her. For a moment, when his eyes met hers, there was a flash of life but then he looked away.

She knew that she still looked like a woman - at most, she could pass as a young teenaged man as how she was in the army, but more often than not her voice could convince them that she was a male. "Monsieur Lafayette," she bowed and he sighed.

"Who are you?"

"Oliver Smith, we met briefly three years ago."

"Ah, of course." The marquis smiled but it didn't reach his eyes. Her green eyes narrowed at him and he stared back. "Are you in Alex's company?"

"Yes. He speaks highly of you."

"Alexander is a good man. You are lucky to serve under him, monsieur. Until we meet again, Oliver Smith." Lafayette murmured and he turned around when Washington called him. Genevieve frowned at how lifeless the Frenchman was. She did not remember him that way back in New York. Shaking her head, she turned back to her tent, unaware of John Laurens' intuitive gaze.

February 2, 1780

By now, they had set up an easy defense around Morristown. It was easy to defend against surprise attacks and strategically located. The winter wasn't dying down still but the storms had mostly faded away. She patrolled the streets frequently to pass the time and one day, she learned of something that gave her hope she hasn't had in a long time.

"Did you hear the Schuyler sisters are going to attend the Winter's Ball?"

The Winter's Ball. Essentially an event held to raise morale for everyone including the citizens. She had decided long ago that she'd attend as a soldier rather than a woman. Her hair was too short and the state of her figure wasn't something to be envious about. But then, when she had picked up that Eliza, Peggy, and Angelica were going to be there, she quickly walked over to the woman who had said as such.

"Excuse me, ma'am," she said kindly. The woman wasn't afraid but wary. "Can you point me in the direction of where the Schuylers are currently staying? I just need to inform them of any security details about our current situation."

"Of course," the woman was none the wiser and gave directions politely to where her friends were. "We appreciate all you try and do," she said at the end, "truly."

"Thank you," tipping her hat towards the woman, she smiled and set off down the street. Watching a few children out in the cold, bundled up in warm clothes as they played in the snow, she just took her time and enjoyed that today was one of the warmer days. It snowed softly and the wind wasn't biting but merely swayed anything in its path gently.

Once she reached the address, she swallowed. She hadn't seen the sisters in four years. They would all be different by now as she was. They possibly might not even believe that she was Genevieve. Steeling her nerves, she climbed the steps and knocked on the door three solid times. The brunette wasn't sure if her hands were shaking from the cold or from the anticipation. A woman opened the door, her brown ringlets flying around her face as she kept it only a sliver open. The heat from the house escaped and she could feel it tingling at the edge of her fingers as Genevieve looked into the woman's sharp brown eyes.

Peggy…

"Yes?" For a moment, she was overwhelmed by the emotions flying through her. Nostalgia, pride, sadness, elation. "Is there something or someone you're looking for?"

"Ms. Schuyler," she began in her deeper voice, "may I come in? I'm here to inform you and your sisters of our current security situation." Might as well keep up the story until they were in private. Peggy nodded carefully and let her in with a wary aura. She heard a shift and knew that Peggy grabbed the parasol in case as a weapon.

"Peggy?" Eliza. That was definitely Eliza. "Who was it?"

"An officer. Can you bring Angelica as well?"

"Of course," the two of them appeared at the stairs, staring at the blue-jacketed soldier in their entrance hall. "Hello," Eliza was just as beautiful as she remembered. "Is there something you need?"

"Can we go to the dining room?" She requested and Peggy nodded, letting it fall back into its metal holder, leading the way as Eliza and Angelica descended the last of the steps. Brushing past Genevieve, the three sisters conversed quietly as they entered a large dining room. They walked around the table to act as a barrier before leveling her with identical stares. "So… here I am." she used her normal voice, something she hadn't used in a long time. It sounded foreign to her and she cleared her throat.

"You're a woman?" Eliza asked in surprise and Angelica narrowed her eyes at the woman before her. Peggy raised a hand over her mouth as Genevieve removed the hat from her head and undid her hair. It sprung back into its usual lax curls.

"Yes and I haven't seen you three in a long time," she whispered in a reminiscent tone. "Do you know how my brother and sister are? And my father?"

"Genny?" Peggy inquired softly. The brunette nodded earnestly but the hard gaze in the sisters' eyes didn't let up. "No - the Genny we knew disappeared four years ago."

"Then let me prove it to you."

"What are your siblings' names?" Angelica leaned forward, hands planted on the dining table as Eliza drew back, unsure.

"Harriett and Bennett but everyone calls Harriett Ettie." Genevieve answered quickly. "My father is William Alcott, he's a widower - runs the tavern in Albany. I'm his oldest child, I look the most like my mother except I have my father's nose. That's what people who knew them say, anyway." The brunette sighed, glancing down at the floor. "It's me - see it in me that the truth is there. I'm sorry I left and I've prepared myself that you would not recognize me but-"

Peggy gasped and she ran around the table to hug the weary woman. "Is it truly you?"

"Yes." she said tiredly, burying her nose in the woman's hair. "After fours years, it is me."

"We thought you were dead." Angelica murmured as Eliza joined her sister to hug their long-lost friend. They broke apart when the oldest sister spoke. "Your father - he said you just left without a trace. We thought you were dead. You… you stupid fool!" The eldest Schuyler slapped Genevieve harshly before embracing her as well. "We never thought you'd do it." The green-eyed woman winced at the stinging slap and the bone crushing hugs but squeezed her friends back.

"We had our suspicions-"

"-but we never had anything to cement it."

"I'm alive. And I've missed you so much," she whispered and she realized that they were all crying. "Now," she sniffed, "can you please tell me how my family is doing?"

Her father still ran the tavern. He was still hopeful since he did not read her name in the papers. Her siblings focused on their studies and rarely talked anymore to anyone but her father. Genevieve felt a huge pang of guilt when she heard of such, it was her fault. After the first few months of her disappearance, Angelica told her that her father said something about how a Frenchman kept reappearing in hopes to see her. Every time, William had to turn away.

"Lafayette?" She whispered in wonder and they seemed to nod. "He was looking for me?"

"And you were never there," Angelica affirmed quietly. "Have you really been on the war front this whole time? Tell us, how did no one figure you out?"

And so she told stories of how she fought and killed, travelling through any weather as they suffered losses and how she could reload a gun faster than most. She told how they were here to hold down the fort and that they were staying at the Ford Mansion. She told how much hunger ate away at her, how she stayed hidden among the crowd of men - showing the bindings and undoing them - and how the war wasn't over yet. Once it was done, she was thoroughly tucked out Eliza offered a place to sleep for the night.

"It gives you some freedom you need and we can talk about the Winter's Ball. Maybe you should go with us, as a lady for a night." Genevieve settled down on the bed and looked at the middle Schuyler sister.

"I don't know."

"We insist. We'll get some gowns for you and maybe you'll see that Lafayette again," there was a twinkle in the woman's eyes and the brunette flushed.

"One night. Then I have to return to service," she murmured and laid down on the bed, immediately falling out of consciousness.

February 20, 1780

"This is a bit much," she muttered as the seamstress helped her into the dress. The sisters laughed and she glanced at the low neckline and cream-white color. "I look like I'm to be married."

"Which you are," Peggy teased and she shot the sister a sour look, "to that beautiful Frenchman."

"Not funny, Peggy! I look like a fluffed up peacock." She bunched up the smooth fabric of the skirt in her hands as the seamstress backed away to admire her work. "This is too much." She complained.

"This is the Winter's Ball, Genny. You need to have one night where everyone can see how truly beautiful you are. Besides, no one will miss you in the army," Eliza added when the seamstress left. "Look how beautiful that skirt is." The petticoat did layer beautifully against the woman's legs, ruffling under the gown. The bodice flaunted every curve she had regained since their restock and her hair was growing longer again.

"I seriously hate you guys."

"You love us." They chimed and she looked down at the dress again. The thought that maybe Lafayette would notice her made heat crawl up her neck. Her square jaw was defined by the low neckline and the light colors help bring out her eyes and dark hair. "You're both soldiers - you will click and see there is more than his looks." Peggy added quietly and Genevieve looked up.

"Thank you," she whispered sincerely and they embraced her again.

"You'll have thanked us when you dance with Lafayette." Eliza quipped and they all laughed, carefree. The war wasn't so bad after all.

A/N: The return of the Schuyler Sisters! Woohoo! Thank you Brackenfern, Dulharpa, Shadowrose96 and prydain for following, and to RiseUpWiseUp and Dulharpa for leaving a review! I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and stay for more! :) Follow, favorite and review! I especially love communicating with y'all.

REVIEWS:

RiseUpWiseUp: I'm so happy that you're loving this chapter! I actually checked out your stories and I'M SO DAMN MAD THAT YOU DID WHAT I THOUGHT YOU WOULDN'T DO IN "AROUND FOR YOU". I don't think I can handle reading "Unimaginable" but I'll try because I'm that sad. SHAMELESS PLUG LIKE HOLY Y'ALL CHECK THIS WRITER OUT!

Dulharpa: Gosh, I'm so happy that you like my writing and are actually encouraging me to write more. Mostly, fans are never that happy about an OC with a main character so I was super hesitant about posting this. But, thank you for leaving a review and I hope you keep reading as we proceed through the Revolution!