[the madison interlude]

the first thing that came to james's mind was that lizzy needed to get out. he couldn't see her face, but her shoulders were tense and she looked like she was either going to punch him or break down.

he took a defensive step toward lizzy, but stopped right behind her, unsure of what to say. she seemed to relax, though, which made james feel a little better.

thomas stepped forward, too, and grabbed james's hand behind lizzy's back. james squeezed his hand just as hamilton's attention switched to thomas and james.

"madison? jefferson?" he looked shocked. "what are you doing with eliza?" his gaze darted back to lizzy. "what are you doing with them? if they're doing anything to you, eliza-"

"elizabeth." lizzy's voice was sharp, but her eyes were pooled with tears. "my name is elizabeth." almost without thinking, james let go of thomas's hand and reached for lizzy's, but she pulled away.

a hurt look darted across james's face just as a triumphant one flared up on hamilton's.

"eliza... beth," alexander's voice was uncharacteristically quiet, but still held a determined edge. "if they're doing anything to you-"

"we're not!" thomas blurted. james squeezed his hand to calm him, but it didn't really help. "we gave her a place to stay after she saw you-"

"thomas." it was amazing how easily one soft word from lizzy could make thomas go quiet. "enough."

looking chastised, but still angry, thomas nodded. behind lizzy, james leaned into him.

"alexander." that was the first time lizzy had used his name, and james could see the hope flash up in his eyes. he worriedly fiddled with his fingers in thomas's, but didn't speak up.

"i do not want to see you again until i am okay with it. i do not want to hear your voice. do not call me. do not text me. i am perfectly fine with thomas and james and-" here, her voice broke for the first time, and james felt a pang in his chest. "and i would rather not have you destroying it."

hamilton looked so crushed it was almost sad, but james knew what he had done, and couldn't find it in him to feel bad. as hamilton continued to stand there, shell-shocked and staring, thomas stepped forward.

"you heard her. go."

hamilton turned and fled. as soon as he was out of sight, lizzy collapsed into james's arms.