A Pup's Purpose- A Ham-Fam fic (Ft. John Laurens)
A Pup's Purpose
Series: "Alexander Hamilton: An American Musical"
Genre: Family/Friendship
A Ham-Fam fic
Summary: How do you find your purpose in life?
Written by: Rikareena/FoxieSango
Posted: June 29, 2017
A/N: Partly inspired by chiscribbles4smiles Ghost!Laurens AU on Tumblr. The plan is to do a few short oneshots in this AU. I've got a couple of ideas in my head, but we'll see if I even get around to writing them.
Alexander blinked incredulously at the two pairs of eyes that were begging for him to acquiesce their pleas…pleas that were only made possible by the aunt that was currently kneeling between them, an arm around each shoulder and fixing Hamilton with her own pair of pleading orbs.
"PLEASSE PAPA?!" his children whined.
"Yeah, please papa?!" their aunt mimicked their voices in a child-like whine of her own and gave a pout, causing Alexander's right eye to twitch.
"Peggy, please…don't…" it just…sounded awkward from her. She smiled, rolled her eyes and stood, gently patting her niece and nephew's heads before plopping down on the couch, taking her place to the left of her dear Eliza. Angelica sat at the other end of the couch, to Eliza's right.
"Oh c'mon, Alexander! Have a heart, huh? What possible reason could you have to be against this?" she asked, looping her arm with her sister's. He frowned and folded his arms,
"Well, fiscal responsibility for one! Or how about responsibility in general?! We can't afford to feed another mouth right now what with little Alex Jr. still new to the world, and I'll be leaving for Philadelphia in a few days! Who's going to take care of it? They're way too little, and I won't have Eliza burdened with such—"
"Hey! We're not too little!" His five year old daughter protested with a pout and a stomp of her foot. "We'll take good care of him!"
"Yeah! You and mama won't even have to do anything, we promise! Pretty please?!" That was his son.
"How can you say no?!" Angie added. He sighed. For crying out loud, the two five-year-olds could barely hold the squirming bundle in their arms. It was almost as big as they were!
Hamilton took a deep breath and ran a hand through is hair before kneeling before his kids.
"Look, Philip, Angelica, we…simply cannot afford to–"
"C'mon papa! We'll work really hard! We promise!" they insisted.
Hamilton bit his lip. It was a fruitless effort. He should've known he was in trouble as soon as their aunt Peggy burst through the door and bestowed them with their gift.
—
-About 30 minutes ago-
"Auntie Peggy! Auntie Peggy!" two little bundles of energy practically knocked the woman over as Eliza opened the door to welcome her into their home.
"Now, now…Angie, Philip, be gentle! Peggy, it's so good to see you!" Angelica Schuyler said, coming forward to embrace both of her sisters in a tight, family hug at the door. Angelica was visiting for a few days, and she and Eliza had been expecting their younger sister to join them…but they hadn't been expecting the little package that was currently shifting in her arms. Angelica and Eliza furrowed their eyebrows, and the children tugged insistently at Peggy's skirt in curiosity.
"Peggy…what on earth?" Angelica started, pulling back a corner of the cloth that covered whatever was in her arms. She then gasped at the sight,
"Oh my word…"
"Peggy, where in the world did you—" but Eliza was cut off by her children,
"What is it?! What is it, mama?! We wanna see!" Little Angie Hamilton started.
"Yeah! What'd you bring us, Auntie Peggy?" Philip added. Meanwhile, the man of the house, having heard the commotion from his study, came in to see what all the fuss was about.
"Philip, Angie, stop harassing your aunt. Peggy! It's so good to see you! You've been severely missed since your last visit. We—" but he also paused upon seeing that she was holding a shivering something wrapped tightly in blankets. He raised an eyebrow skeptically. She…hadn't been with child…at least, not that they were aware. She hadn't mentioned anything in her letters. But…no…the moving mass seemed larger than a baby. He tilted his head, as his vision was still obscured by the blankets it was wrapped in. What was it?
Angelica hugged Peggy's shoulders, keeping her close to her side as she and walked her into the living room; Peggy began to explain,
"There were some hoodlums….just…terrorizing the poor thing! I, I couldn't let them get away with it, so I chased them off with a bat! But then I couldn't leave him alone either! He was defenseless!" Peggy said, tightening her hold on the shivering animal. Angelica couldn't help but to smile at that.
"That's so you…but the poor thing looks terrified…" Angelica said, gently rubbing the white and brown pup's head. He whined and snuggled more into Peggy's hold. The dog couldn't be more than a couple of months to a year old himself. Angelica noticed for the first time that her sister was breathing heavily.
"Are you alright?"
"Huh? Oh…y-yeah, yeah…they just…I had to run them down and I'm not as young as I used to be," she laughed. Then her faced turned somber as she looked at the pup. "It's this little guy I'm worried about," she said.
"Can we see?!" Philip asked. He and his sister were dancing on the balls of their feet so much, one might've thought they were about to pee their pants! Peggy sighed and smiled, "Alright but very gently. Be careful," she said, bending to her knees so that the two children could see the tiny pup. The kids gasped, cooing at the cuteness.
"Oh wow…" Philip whispered.
"He's so little! Oh, but…but he looks so sad too," Angie added quietly, reaching up to gently run her fingers over the pup's ears.
"C-Can we hold him?" Philip asked. The adults looked at each other and Peggy sighed,
"Alright, but again, be very careful. He's hurt a bit. Hold out your arms, don't squeeze him…" Peggy said, softly placing the pup in Philip's hold. Angie continued to gently rub the pup's head; he whined, gently licking her palm. It was then the two children turned their own puppy-dog eyes to their father.
And Hamilton knew then, he didn't stand a chance.
At present, the siblings walked closer to their father and then lifted up the bumbling mass of fur into their father's arms. The brown and white pup immediately cuddled up to Alexander and began licking the scruff on his face with a soft whine. Alexander looked into the puppy's eyes and his heart stopped as the dog then licked his nose. The lawyer had to bite back a whine of his own as he looked toward his wife helplessly, begging for some sort of relief from the turmoil he was being currently put through.
She only smiled at him from her spot on the couch between her two her sisters, arms folded tightly across her torso and wrist bent just so to hide her snickering mouth against the back of her hand.
He glanced back down at his children and sighed. There had to be a law against such an aggressive tactic of cuteness.
"Oh, alright. We can keep him," he said. At this, his children practically barreled into him as they gently knocked him onto the ground, squeezing the air from his lungs and barraging him with "Thank Yous!" and "You're the best papa evers!"
He glanced over at Eliza to find that she was giving him bedroom eyes that held promise for later that night, no doubt a reward for beaming rays of sunshine he caused to now grace their children's faces. His heart warmed as he wrapped his arms around his children, and he resigned that….if there was ever a case to lose, he was glad it was this one.
"Eliza, love, can we boil some warm water? He looks like he was bruised him pretty badly. Peggy, what did you say happened to him?" he asked. She frowned,
"Some teens were being viscous monsters and kicking the poor thing for no reason other than to get a laugh out of it!" she said, a tightness in her voice. Alex frowned. He hated bullies.
"What kind of meanies would kick a poor, defenseless puppy?!" Angie asked, stomping her foot again and balling up her hands at her sides. Philip brought his hands up into fists.
"Lemme at'm Aunt Peggy! I'll teach'm a thing or two!" he said, throwing a couple of punches in the air. Eliza had to fight back her grin and fixed her face with a stern look,
"Now Philip, what have I told you about picking fights?" He pouted and shoved his hands in his pockets,
"A real man uses his words, not his fists…" he sang from memory. But then glanced at his dad as his secret addendum echoed in his mind, "but no matter what, do what you can to defend your family and its honor, even if by force! …But don't tell your mother I told you that!"
"Okay, okay. The little one is safe now," Angelica said, standing. She made her way over to Alexander and leaned over his shoulder to gently pet the pup while Eliza stood and made her way to the water pump in the kitchen. She worked on filling one of their pots with water that she could hang above the hearth to boil. While she worked, Peggy went to fetch Alex Jr. from the nursery, as it was almost time to feed him.
"But what should we call him?" Angelica asked.
"A really pretty name! Like…Mr. Fluffles!" Angie giggled. Philip stuck out his tongue in disgust.
"No way! He needs a tough name! Something like Rex!"
"That's stupid! Rex is like a dinosaur and they're not around anymore!"
"Well, he can't have a name like Fluffles! He's a guy!"
"So?! He doesn't have to be a girl to be named Fluffles, right papa?! Auntie?!" she asked. Alex couldn't help but to smile. That statement was the work of his revolutionary sister-in-law if he ever saw it. He glanced over at the older Schuyler sister who smiled and nodded in approval.
"That's right, Angie. But, how about we pick a name that both you and Philip will like? Hmm…what kind of dog is he, anyway?" Angelica asked.
"Ah…an English Foxhound I think…" Alex mused.
"Hmm…" Angelica looked deeply into the dog's eyes and was suddenly struck with an idea "…so how about Jack then? It's simple, and I think it suits him." Angelica said.
"What do you think, guys?" Alex asked. The two siblings looked at each other before shrugging.
"I like Fluffles better."
"Yeah, and I really like Rex."
"Well, those can be your nicknames for him. But I think Jack is a great name. I agree, he sort of looks like one," Alexander said. The two kids pouted before agreeing. In the end, they were just happy they'd get to keep the dog.
The puppy who had slowly begun to close his eyes after feeling an immense feeling of warmth, comfort, calmness, and safety fill his very being.
A feeling he hadn't felt for a very, very long time.
—-
-Flashback-
A little smile twitched at the corner of his mouth as he stared and one of the few glowing orbs of light that allowed him to keep watch over his friends and family since he'd passed on. He raised is index finger and lightly caressed the orb, his smile growing. At this moment, he was watching Eliza Hamilton sing a lullaby to her one-year-old son while her husband wrapped his arms around her from behind, his chin resting on her shoulder.
…he'd be lying if he said he wasn't more than slightly jealous.
But still, it was a sight that warmed his heart.
He'd seen it all. The devastation Alexander had felt after hearing about his passing, and how the man had unhealthily thrown himself into his work as a method of coping with his grief. Alexander had produced some truly monumental, life-altering documents as a result, but the other-worldly being could tell that Alex wasn't the same as he'd been before the spirit's passing.
He'd watched little baby Philip and baby Angie both take their first steps, say their first words.
He'd watched as Alex steadily began to make a name for himself in the law field, going toe-to-toe with Aaron Burr and always being at least one step ahead of him.
He'd seen everything…
And yet…
"You keep vigil over them rather diligently, John," a booming voice echoed, one with which he'd become will familiar with since his earthly career was terminated just five years ago. He sighed.
"I just…want to make sure he's happy. That his family is well cared for. He deserves it more than anyone." He replied softly. A pause.
"Do you wish for more?" Laurens gasped.
"Sir?"
"…I can grant you another chance at life if you like. It won't be the same but…you'll be able to keep closer watch over him and his family."
"…H-how?"
"They will not know it's you. And you will have to adjust to the form that will be bestowed upon you. It will not be the same as when you last knew him…but you can stay by his side. Would you accept this offer?"
"I…" That was a tough call. To have another shot at life. …To be by his side…his and his family… he swallowed and nodded.
"Are you sure? Once done, it cannot be reversed…" ah…that raised the stakes a bit. He'd been an ethereal being for so long now…going on six years; was he truly ready to live life in the flesh again? And in a different form no less? Once this was done, he couldn't take it back. He closed his eyes, the vision of his kindred friend filling his mind. He took a breath, a very shaky 'yes' squeaking past his throat. Would he be ready for this?
"Very well." He didn't have the chance to think about rescinding his answer. He suddenly felt a flood of warmth shoot through him before he was hit with a strong spell of disorientation, quickly followed by a repetitive pain in his ribs, and his stomach. He yelped at the sharp jabs…they weren't as severe as the pain felt in the final moments of his previous life, but it was still a throbbing ache that only got worse overtime.
Then, he heard voices,
"You stupid runt! You're nothing but a weakling, GET UP!"
"It can't! It's a mindless twerp! It can't understand anything!"
…he couldn't get up…even if he tried…the weight that he could usually shift to his two legs felt extremely off….no wait…not two…four? And he….
"HEY! HEY GET AWAY FROM HIM! YOU RUFFIANS! HOODLUMS! YOU JERKS! LEAVE HIM ALONE!" A voice cried, and suddenly the repetitive pain stopped…but the throbbing ache was still prominent. John groaned as his ear twitched at the sound of screaming and rapid feet pattering past and away from him. His breathing as labored, his head sore, his lids felt heavy. But it was when he heard the tell-tell clacking of heels and the lightest of strokes atop his head that he looked up, and a blurry vision triggered a distant memory.
1780…a Ball. Winter. Three sisters. One he had spoken to for quite a time. She had been fun to converse with–unpredictable. He remembered enjoying her presence.
"Hey…oh, your poor little one. They beat you up pretty badly huh? It's okay. It's going to be alright, I've got you," she gently scooped him up and held him close to her chest, nuzzling his head an pressing a soft kiss between his ears.
"I'll take you somewhere safe, where you'll be well taken care of. Come on, Peggy's got you. No one's going to hurt you while I'm here."
And as she carried him, he was able to somewhat push past the pain he felt to focus on his new senses for the first time. Smells were more potent, sounds were sharper, and he mentally traced that he had extra limbs, more than he was used too.
He didn't quite understand what was going on, why he was being offered this second chance, but felt it would all make sense in due time.
—-
Reviews are welcome! Consider this Pup!Laurens AU.