A Pup's Purpose, Pt. 2- A Ham-Fam fic (Ft. John Laurens)

The warm, wet cloth relaxed his muscles as it gently caressed his fur. So much so, it almost lulled him into an even deeper sleep. He involuntarily let out a small whine.

"There now, shhh. You're alright," a gentle voice said. He opened his eyes to see Eliza and her daughter Angie smiling at him. Angie reached up to gently pet his snout, and he was compelled to lick her palm. She giggled before leaning forward and nuzzling his muzzle with her nose.

"Angie, dear, go help your auntie see if we can find some left-overs for him. Poor thing is just skin and bones."

"Yes, mama," she gently kissed the pup's nose before standing to her feet and bustling to the kitchen. Philip had gone to the den to help Peggy with his baby brother.

"Are you sure this is fine?" a deeper voice in the room asked. And John's ears twitched. Alexander.

"Why wouldn't it be?" Eliza asked, returning to gently cleaning their newest addition. He sighed.

"You'll have three hungry mouths to feed—to care for—plus a new pup. Not to mention taking care of yourself. To be honest, I'm…I'm uneasy leaving you here with—"

"Oh Alexander, stop worrying. I won't be alone. Mother and father will help, and Angelica said she'd stay for a while yet. Besides, we can't just abandon him," she said. Alex sighed and kneeled behind her, squeezing her shoulders. He pressed a warm kiss to her cheek, and she leaned back against him.

"We'll be fine," she said.

…

"Betsy…You, know I can't pass up this opportunity."

"Alexander."

"I-I'd stay if I could but…but you know…"

"Alexander," she ceased cleaning the pup and turned to her husband, taking his face in her hands. A breath.

"Stop. …Sweetheart, I knew you were rambunctious when I agreed to marry you. That you were driven, stubborn, hard-headed to boot." A smile quirked at the corner of her lips. "I wouldn't have you any other way. …And to be honest, I'd be, more than thrilled if you could stay. But you wouldn't be satisfied. So please. Just, hurry back home, and promise me you'll be safe," she said. He sighed, not knowing why he was blessed with such an understanding wife. Suddenly, she grabbed his collar,

"I mean it, Alexander. If you don't come back home in own piece, I'll hunt you down myself. Do I make myself clear?" she said, a spark in her eye. He gulped, a slight shiver going down his spine before laughing and wrapping her up in his arms. He kissed her sweetly.

"Of course dear, I promise," he said, resting his cheek against hers. They both looked at the pup, who was still nestled in the makeshift bed they'd fashioned for him out of some old pillows and cushions. Alex smiled and reached out to rub his head.

"Looks like you're officially part of the family, pup. I'm counting on you to keep an eye on things around here while I'm gone," he said. And John couldn't stop his tail from wagging at the sound of his voice. He lifted his head as much as he could and nuzzled Alexander's palm. The lawyer's face softened. He couldn't put his finger on it but, there was something about this pup.

It was then that the family's Angelicas came back into the room, the littler one trailing behind her namesake. They didn't know that the older Schuyler sister had been listening…that her heart at clenched at Eliza's words, what Angelica had always known…he would never be satisfied. But she took a breath and pushed down the lump she felt in swelling in her stomach as she entered the room with her niece. Both stooped down before the Foxhound and placed some left over scraps of meat before him.

John himself wasn't even prepared for the overwhelming wave of starvation that overtook him as the smell of a decent meal tickled his nose. He couldn't control himself as he lunged off of the pillows and began to practically devour the food. All parties in the room blinked in surprise.

"Oh my…" Eliza started.

"He looks like he hasn't eaten in weeks," Angelica added.

"Wowee! Lookat'm go!" Lil Angie cried. Alexander just stared in shock. …It seemed more like he hadn't had a decent meal in years rather than weeks.

"Aw…well, I'm going to continue packing; then perhaps we should make a trip to the market for more food. Looks like this little guy will eat us out of house and home if we're not prepared," he said. John's ears perked at this and he glanced up at Alex, feeling a bit chagrined. He whined; they must've thought him a glutton. He hadn't meant to—

But the man just smiled.

"It's fine pup. We need you to be healthy too," he said quietly, nodding his approval. John hiccupped and licked the remnants of food off of his lip before bowing his head and diving in again.

He still hadn't had time to quite taken in his new state of being…his new state of mind. He was too sore, exhausted, and hungry to really process anything. But the immense feelings of safety and love he felt since the Hamilton family took him in was enough to soothe his otherwise anxious spirit.

Reviews are welcome!