(A/N, Sorry for the late chapter, exams and Christmas are coming up soon and I've been busy but I might make i one shot Christmas fix to make up for the late post, no guarantees though. Anyway ipenjoy the chapter)

"Alex.. Who did this to you?"

Alexander sat there not really knowing what to do, if he told John this could be done and over with but his freckled acquaintance could just end up getting hurt. John however was sitting beside Alex patiently waiting, even though he doesn't expect an answer. Then, John noticed the shaking, he quickly took Alex's Hand and sung the same lullaby from before.

"Los pollitos dicen, pio pio pio. Cuando tienen hambre, cuando tiene frío. La gallina busca, el maíz y el trigo. Les da la comida, y les presta abrigo"

Alex felt himself calming down, he remembered how his mother sound this to him whenever he was scared. For him, this song was how his mother treated him, because despite all the challenges she had always kept him and James warm and fed. Until she.. until she… through all the commotion of his memories he didn't notice Laf leave the dorm.

Just as Alex was beginning to start balling the last verse of the song started, and he couldn't help himself from singing along. Though, it was more a mumble than singing.

"Bajos sus dos alas, acurrucaditos. Duermen los pollitos hasta el otro días."

He smiled weakly at John, because somehow he always knew how to make him feel better. John would have been mesmerized by the smile if it had not been so forced, it was almost as if he hadn't smiled in years, which broke his heart. However he still smiled back, hoping it would encourage the man to smile more often. "So Alex, you gonna tell me who beat you up yet?" He tried to make it sound casual as to not make Alexander uncomfortable again.

Alex stayed quiet, he was thinking of the consequences of telling and not telling, until that stupid voice in his head had to ruin his thought process.

Do not concern John into this matter

He doesn't really care, he just feels socially obligated to ask

You wouldn't want to be the reason HE gets hurt would you?

Everything about you is terrible

I mean you can't even deal with your own problems.

Alex had decided to not say anything, John need not concern himself with his problems anyway. It was his own fault anyway. "N-no o-ne" he then noticed John sigh "Alex, you have to tell someone. They could end up seriously hurting you if this continues!" John hadn't meant to yell at the end, he was just getting frustrated. He also assumed Alex would have another panic attack but he was wrong "JOHN THIS ISN'T YOUR PROBLEM AND YOU CAN'T KNOW OR ELSE HE WILL HURT YOU!"

Alex and John were both dumbfounded, Alex had also grown fearful eyes before John started to reassure him "Alex don't worry, it's okay. I'm not going to hurt you in any way, In fact I'm taking a few steps back and if YOU want to close the space you can but please don't run off" the desperation and sincerity surprised Alex almost more than him yelling, he took a few steps forward after John took his 10 paces back. Slowly he closed the gap.

One step

Two steps

Three steps

Four steps

Five

Six

Seven (no Philips were hurt in the writing of this fanfic, can't say the same about the musical though, I'm sorry [no i'm not])

But then he stopped, what was he going to do. Even with the sincerity in his voice how did he know that John wasn't just a really good actor, but the look on John's face told a different story, there was no malice or hate, just tenderness and love. He took those finals steps, and inched closer until he wrapped arms around John. He also took the precautions of whispering "please don't hug back, I'm not good with physical contact to begin with"

It might have took all his self control but John hadn't so much as put his arms down, suddenly he felt tears wet his shirt. Was Alex crying?! He almost didn't know what to do but decided to talk "hey Alex, are you alright?" and That's when Alex broke down into a sobbing speaking mess "I just.. it was J-Jefferson, he-he did this t-to me. B-but I c-can ha-andle I-it o-on my, my own. D-don't worry a-ab-bout m-me."

John didn't know wether to feel happy or sad, because he finally got Alex to open up a little but Jefferson had already started to pick on him. He decided to just whisper sweet nothings into his ear "it's alright, everything is fine, you don't have to fight this on your own, Herc, Laf and I are all here for you, don't worry.."

Meanwhile Jefferson was ranting to his best friend. "Jemmy I don't know what to do?! How do I apologize to him? I was just angry that he said he hated me and I wasn't thinking, but what if he told someone? I don't want to become like them!" James Madison, one of Jefferson's only friends listen intently "well why'd you hit him in the first place?" Thomas stopped pacing in the moment "because, because I didn't want him to turn his back on me, so figured if I never look him facing forward he wouldn't have the chance. Still, you have to understand that I didn't mean to, I know there were better ways to deal with this and that I shouldn't have done what I did"

Thomas halted his words, he looked at Madison for an answer "Tommy, I think you need to find him tomorrow and just give an honest apology. However I can't guarantee that he'll forgive you, and you can't keep letting the past affect the future. You need to learn to forget about George and Charles, they weren't real friends."

Jefferson had been 'friends' with Charles Lee and George Frederick for 2 years until they both suddenly turn their backs on him and started to beat him up everyday and spread rumours that seemed like only teenage girls would believe. Although according to the rest of the school he was the "psychotic freak who tries to murder his friends." And it really stung, since then he has had a hard time being nice to anyone except Laf and Jemmy.

In that moment Jefferson decided he would make it up to Alexander, he didn't know how yet but it was time for brainstorming with James.

Back to John and Alex

"Alex, Laf is friends with Jefferson so I can get him to have him stop." Alex had then reacted "You, you can't tell him! Because then Jefferson will know I told And he'll, he'll" soon he was sobbing again "I.. I just don't want to drag you into this" and John's heart broke in two, he sympathized the man, though he knew how much it would probably annoy Alex if he told him so he stayed silent.

It was a few minutes before one of them even dare speak "Alex, don't worry Jefferson won't be able to come near you or me when Laffy-Taffy gets a hold of this story" Alex couldn't help but giggle at the nickname and John seemed to take notice, mainly because it was the first genuine smile he's seen from the man "oh you like the nickname? Why don't I give you one how about, hmm Lexi?" John thought it sounded cute, and he couldn't wait to have their group of friends all calling him Lexi.

Alex however had a hard decision to make, Lexi was the nickname his mother and brother had called him. He thought that no one else would bring up the nickname but, maybe he might allow John to call him that. It was the least he could do, John has been so sweet and kind to him just like his mother and brother. "Only you" he mumbled, but John didn't hear him "what?" At this point Alex was blushing realizing how it sounded like those couple pet names when John called him it "O-only you can call me Lexi" John seemed a little disappointed though he quickly got over it at realizing that it was special for him to call Alex a cute nickname.

"So Lexi, about Laf.." Alex had sighed, he would end up calling Laf anyway, no point in fighting it off. "Fine, Jacky" He figured that he could give John a cute nickname too until he saw John looking fearful, "W-what d-did y-you c-c-call m-me?" Alex had looked uncertain but repeated himself nonetheless "Jacky…" next thing he knew John was bawling "Lexi, I know you just wanted to give me a cute nickname but not that. I have some bad memories from that one so, try and think of something else?" Alex had reluctantly agreed, he knew how it felt but had like the nickname. Know he would have to find a new one or wait until Jacky wasn't such a painful one. After the whole nickname ordeal, John was calling Laf

Ring ring

-"hey Laf, he's fine now. I mean I don't know where you went but we need you heere"

-"okay John, I just went to by some comfort food because I figured 'who doesn't want to eat junk food when they're sad'"

-well, come back soon, we need you to take care of someone

Laf was soon at the door, he waited for an explanation of what he needed to do. "Laf we need you to make sure this never happens again, because it was one of your 'friends'" Lafayette was shocked at John's malice tone when he said friends, Alex as well. However Laf listened to the entire story, grinding his teeth as he heard Alex describe the beating, he nearly broke his tooth by grinding when he heard who did it. After story time Laf had left again

You are so dead you macaroni fucker.