Hello again! It's time for chapter 3!
Alfred's arrived in Philadelphia, and historic events await!
Thank you very much to PrussianGurl, my sole reviewer for chapter 2. You're amazing too!
Thank you also to Ashynarr, jka039, Lilyflower1987, Sora Moto, mangosmoothie1, Blood of the Dawn, and SpiritMusician for your favorites and alerts. You don't know how happy it makes me whenever one of those lovely emails appears in my inbox~! \(^_^)/
I disclaim, and own nothing. Please enjoy!
_V~-~-~V_
Little over a month later, Alfred F Jones found himself standing outside a rather important-looking building in Philadelphia, dressed in the slightly-too-large nice clothes of Josiah Mather, and receiving many curious looks from passerby.
His arrival in Philadelphia had gone well. Finding the Mather printing business had been simple, and the family had been very nice so far…
As with everywhere else he'd traveled, Alfred found people in Philadelphia to be surprisingly accommodating, kindly giving directions to the address Thomas had left him with, and even offering to take him to his destination. Not wanting to be a bother, Alfred had refused, but nonetheless people would walk with him for a block or so, just to make sure he got where he needed to be.
Standing outside the printing shop, letter in hand, Alfred knocked tentatively. Moments later, the door was opened, and left Alfred staring at the prettiest girl he'd ever seen.
Long red hair, green eyes, looking somewhere around his physical age. She'd welcomed him in, introducing herself as Rose Mather, and had led him to meet her parents, Josiah and Brita. He'd successfully untied his tongue enough to introduce himself and hand over the letter. Josiah, a slightly portly older man, had read it thoughtfully.
"From what my brother writes about you, you're far too qualified to be just a printer's assistant, that you are," he said, and Alfred had to stifle a laugh at the sound of Thomas's speech pattern coming from his brother's mouth. "Furthermore, I don't really have the space for another employee at the moment…"
Josiah glanced up at Alfred's face, and immediately tried to amend his statement. "Not that I wouldn't be glad to have you, boy, but your talents could be useful elsewhere! As a matter of fact, I know just the man… an old acquaintance from the printing business, that he is…"
Walking through the doors of the rather magnificent building, Alfred expected to be intimidated, or at least nervous, but he felt strangely calm. There was a sense of right about the place that he couldn't explain, as if his sole purpose in Philadelphia was to be here. Alfred stopped a passing man wearing a suit. "Excuse me, but do you know where I can find a Benjamin Franklin?"
The man gave him an odd look, but directed him anyway to a small office on the second floor of the building. Entering, Alfred came face-to-face with a balding, gray-haired man wearing spectacles, sitting behind a desk piled high with papers. He gave Alfred a severe stare, but then shocked him by smiling.
"Ah! You must be the boy Josiah spoke of!" he said, rising to meet Alfred.
Hastily, Alfred bowed. "It's a pleasure to meet you, sir. My name is Alfred Jones, and I'm told I can find work here as your assistant."
"Normally, I don't hire anyone," Franklin said, "and I wasn't really planning on an exception." Alfred felt his heart sinking. "Why do you wish to work for me, young Mr. Jones? Surely you could find an acceptable apprenticeship elsewhere, even in Boston. But you chose to come to Philadelphia. For what purpose?"
Alfred paused, wondering if this man would accept anything but honesty. Meeting the other's gray eyes, he decided that this Mr. Franklin definitely wouldn't. "Truthfully, I don't know, sir. I was working in a coffee shop in Boston, but then… I just felt a need to be in Philadelphia, like something big is going to happen here. I can't quite explain it, but this building… gives off that same feeling. I think I need to be here, and you seem to be my best chance of that, sir."
Franklin's eyes widened, but then his gaze sharpened. "An inexplicable need?" he mused. "Tell me, Alfred, were you born in the colonies?"
"Yes, sir. I've always lived here."
"Have you gone anywhere before, due to these 'needs'?"
"I went to Boston on a whim, sir. I'd been farming in Connecticut before that."
His eyes narrowed again. "How old are you, Alfred?"
Alfred felt his heart skip a beat, but replied, "Nineteen by my best guess, sir."
"Your best guess? Do you not know your proper age?"
"No, sir. I was found by my parents at a young age," he said, omitting the fact that he'd actually looked nine at the time, and hadn't exactly been young, per se.
"Parents?"
"I was raised by Franklin and Sarah Jones of New Haven, sir."
The other man leaned sat back in his chair, readjusting his spectacles with a satisfied expression, leaving Alfred feeling like he'd just passed some sort of test.
"If you ever have these inexplicable feelings again, would it be alright to inform me?"
Slightly surprised at the man's interest, Alfred agreed. "That wouldn't be a problem, sir."
"Then welcome to Philadelphia, Mr. Alfred Jones."
_V~-~-~V_
Alfred got used to his job as Mr. Franklin's only assistant very quickly. He would walk Rose daily to her job at a nearby coffee shop, having gotten over his initial awkwardness around the pretty redhead, then head to his workplace. They would chat about anything on their minds, and occasionally she'd make him lunch. It was a comfortable routine, just as his work soon became.
After he got over his initial reaction that Franklin Jones was who people were referring to when they said, "Mr. Franklin," he found that he was very comfortable working for the man. However, just because he was comfortable didn't mean it was easy.
As the only assistant, he was working sunup to sundown every day. Benjamin Franklin turned out to be even more important than Alfred had guessed, one of the only colonial diplomats sent to England and France. Alfred remembered telling Arthur Kirkland of the Oversized Eyebrows that he would hate to be a politician, with all the paperwork involved, and he had a good laugh at the irony of it all.
But in addition to the burden on Alfred, Ben was a former printer and current eccentric inventor. Not all of his creations worked as he hoped, but Alfred got used to him bursting into his room at all hours of the day, spouting something about a new idea.
Not only was he eccentric, but when he'd realized that Alfred had little to no formal education, he took it upon himself to tutor him whenever he had the time. When he wasn't around, sometimes he convinced a man by the name of Jefferson to do a lesson or two, but Alfred preferred Ben's lessons to those of the quiet redhead.
Benjamin Franklin also had a theory, one that he shared only with Mr. Jefferson. It was for this reason alone that he had him tutor the boy, in order to give him an unexpected second monitor. During one of his lessons in April of 1775, Alfred abruptly gasped and passed out. He woke up moments later, confused as to why he was laying on the floor, but that moment all but confirmed Franklin's theory.
Alfred F Jones was definitely more than he seemed.
_V~-~-~V_
Despite working for Franklin, Alfred continued to live at the Mather's household, paying an extraordinarily inexpensive weekly rent with the wages he got from Ben. Josiah and Brita were kind, and Rose was, for no other acceptable adjective, beautiful. And curious, with a completely unexpected fiery personality.
"What's it like working for Benjamin Franklin? He's very famous, right? Surely, he has a lot of important things to do?"
Alfred replied, "He does have an awful lot of paperwork, but I don't think he's all that used to having an assistant yet. He does most himself."
They would often talk late into the night about the current affairs of the colonies, something Alfred got to know a lot about working beside Benjamin Franklin, and occasionally about their dreams.
"I want to be a doctor of medicine, but mother says such a thing isn't possible for girls, because girls are meant to, 'keep house,' and 'cook and clean'." She spoke the examples in a mocking tone, sneering out the window in a way Brita would surely never allow.
"I think you could do it."
Rose turned, looking surprised at Alfred's answer. Alfred blushed, then elaborated.
"I mean, you have the determination, and are one of the smartest people I know… so I bet you could do it."
"You think so, Alfie?"
Alfred winced, the memory of another voice replacing Rose's. "Please, don't call me that."
"But do you really think I could be a doctor?"
"Of course!"
Rose had grinned broadly, and then wrapped Alfred in a hug that left him even more red-faced than before. "Thank you! I'll definitely try my best, that I will!"
_V~-~-~V_
The building soon to be known as Independence Hall was dark as Alfred made his way through the corridors, holding a candle aloft for light. Ben had sent him to find Jefferson, who apparently was killing himself with overwork, and convince him to get some sleep.
Alfred yawned, wondering how Jefferson's sleeping habits had managed to get him woken from a perfectly good (if a tad strange) dream about rabbits and plumed hats.
He arrived outside Jefferson's office door, unsurprised to find a light shining through the cracks at the edges. Alfred knocked, hoping the redhead wouldn't be too mad. While he was usually quiet, if you tripped his temper he was a sight to see.
"Mr. Jefferson? Sir? May I come in?"
Alfred took the muffled reply from within as a yes and cracked open the door to see Jefferson bent over a pile of papers at his desk.
"Mr. Jefferson, sir, Mr. Franklin thinks you should really get some sleep. You have been looking tired lately."
"What do states have the right to do, Alfred?"
"Excuse me?"
"What do states have the right to do? Free states?"
Alfred wracked his brains, hoping for a right answer. "Er… trade, I suppose… and make alliances?"
"Good, good. Anything else?" Jefferson replied, scribbling something down on the paper before him.
"Er… declare war, I guess."
"And peace, Alfred. Don't forget peace."
"Yes, that too," Alfred agreed, sighing. "But really, sir, is asking these sorts of questions really what you should be doing? It's past midnight!"
"One more thing, Alfred…"
"Yes, sir?"
"What is the most important quality of a human? Something you would defend at all costs, first and foremost?"
"Uncle Franklin? Why do heroes save people?"
"Why do you ask, Alfred?"
"Even if they don't know people, they save them… why?"
A smile, and a hand ruffling his hair. "Because saving them is the honorable thing to do, of course. What kind of hero would let people be hurt when he could do something to stop it?"
"Honor, sir."
Jefferson looked up from his work, his expression one of slight surprise. Then he smiled and bent back over his paper to resume writing. "Honor… our sacred honor… you're completely correct, Alfred."
_V~-~-~V_
Jefferson did go to bed after that, and the next morning he produced what would later be considered one of the most extraordinary documents in American history.
Alfred was ecstatic.
"I can't believe we're finally going through with it! Declaring independence… it's brilliant! England will have to accept it, I mean, we have been fighting for over a year now, but this will give the people such confidence it's extraordinary! We have a country, a real country to fight for! The Unites States of America… amazing!"
Benjamin Franklin watched this rant with amusement. "Of course, that's only if we can get the rest of the people here to agree. Not all the representatives approve of Jefferson's ideas, after all."
"Like what?" Alfred asked, calming down slightly. "He's brilliant, they should just send it over to the king right now…"
"Many of the southern delegates have a strong disapproval for his anti-slavery clause, as well as his proposed methods of running a new government," Ben said calmly. "A new country has many problems to iron out if we want to be the sort of revolutionary democracy that the people want."
"But you'll get it right in the end! America will be an amazing country, the land of the free, with no bothersome kings or foreign taxes! Someday, we'll be the best!"
The enthusiasm of Franklin's assistant was contagious, and after much bickering and compromising, the final draft of the Declaration of Independence was signed at Independence Hall, Philadelphia, on July 4, 1776. The following morning, Alfred woke to discover he'd had yet another overnight growth spurt.
_V~-~-~V_
Alfred was re-tailoring his clothes a few days later when Ben found him.
"Alfred! I was looking for you!"
Smiling, Alfred set his work aside. "It would seem that you've found me, sir."
"Indeed I have, my boy…" Noticing the clothes, he asked, "What's the occasion?"
"No occasion, sir, I just grew a bit. The ankles of my pants got a little short, so I figured I'd let out the hems."
Ben's eyes twinkled behind his spectacles in the strange way they did when he knew something Alfred didn't, but he was pretty used to such a look by now.
"You can't get the lovely miss at home to do so?" Ben asked teasingly, smiling as Alfred turned a rather alarming shade of scarlet.
"Rose is not the 'young miss at home'!" he exclaimed. "And why would I bother her when I can do it perfectly fine myself!"
"I see you can," Ben said, leaning over to inspect his work. "Who taught you to sew?"
"My Aunt Sarah," Alfred replied. "She maintained that it was a useful skill for everyone, and unfortunately, Uncle Franklin, agreed, so I had to sit through lessons with my sister."
"A sister?" Ben looked surprised. "You've never mentioned a sister!"
Alfred shifted uncomfortably, as he did whenever he remembered her, because it inevitably brought up the memory of leaving. "… Her name is Emeline. She'd be fourteen or fifteen by now."
"Charming, charming…" Ben said softly, trailing off for a moment before once again addressing Alfred. "The new government proposed to make me the first ambassador to France of the United States of America."
"Ambassador? That's fantastic, sir!"
"Indeed," Ben replied. "Of course, I would still have room for an assistant, if you wish to join me."
Just as the words of assent were about to pass Alfred's lips, he suddenly wondered how he would feel elsewhere, and an empty feeling of dread settled over him. Leaving America was unimaginable, not now, when so much was going on! And he'd never expected, nor had the desire to leave the colonies. He wanted very much to say yes, but something told him that wasn't the correct answer.
Alfred closed his mouth, feeling unsettled. How had he ever thought, even for a moment, that he could leave? "I'm sorry, sir…" he said slowly, "but I honestly can't imagine leaving America, even temporarily."
The knowing twinkle was back. "Yes, I quite understand. Long ship voyages across the Atlantic are most disagreeable with some, myself included."
"Yes… disagreeable ship voyages…" Alfred muttered.
"Out of curiosity, what would you do here?" Ben asked.
"I don't know. Maybe I'd take Josiah up on that apprenticeship offer…"
"There is a war going on, you know," Ben said. "Thus far, you've only experienced the political side, but there are many young men dying every day for American freedom. I'm sure you can feel it, but it's a cause that impassions many." He gave another of his enigmatic smiles. "I'll leave you to ponder that, young Mr. Jones."
_V~-~-~V_
"Have you decided?"
Alfred was working on some of Ben's paperwork. He'd slowly been trusted with more over his time as Ben's assistant, and as a result often stayed up just as Jefferson had done.
"Not yet, sir," Alfred said. He hadn't turned down Ben's offer to remain his assistant through his job as ambassador outright, though he was leaning on the side of denying it. Rose, however, was adamant about him taking the job, telling him it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Alfred chose not to enlighten her on the probable length of his lifetime and let her think that.
Eyes twinkling in a different fashion now, Ben said, "On another subject, July 4th will forever be celebrated as the birth of a new nation." Alfred nodded absently, wondering where his employer was going with this change in topic. "You are in need of a birthday, aren't you, Alfred?"
"Not in need of, no, but it's true that I don't really have one… we'd just celebrated it on November 15th at the Jones's, the day Aunt Sarah found me…"
"Why don't you make your birthday July 4th?"
Alfred looked up, shocked. "But that would be presumptuous of me, sir! Making my birthday the same day as the birth of our country!"
"You've been around longer than the country, and have no real birthday. I feel like it's a justifiable decision." Alfred still looked scandalized, so Ben decided to leave him alone for a bit. "When you've decided, do tell me."
Alfred did give it some thought, and he decided the day, July 4th, had the same feeling of right as Boston and Philadelphia had, and by now, Alfred wasn't one to question his instincts. In 1776, Alfred celebrated his belated birthday in secret. The following year, he would arrive sheepishly at Ben's doorstep on July 4th, asking the man to please wish him a happy birthday and good luck, because he was turning down his offer and enlisting in the Continental Army.
_V~-~-~V_
"The Army?"
Alfred resisted the urge to cover his ears, but really, Rose's voice was shrill. Instead, he smiled sheepishly and held up his palms in a placating gesture.
"Calm down Rosie, it's not like I'm joining the British army…"
"Of course you're not! There's no one more patriotic on this continent than you, Alfred Jones! But can't you be patriotic in a diplomatic setting rather than running off to get yourself killed? Are you stupid? And I will most certainly not calm down!"
This was why he had saved her for last. Ben had wished him luck, Josiah had said he'd always known such a thing would happen eventually, and Brita had promised to bake him some special cakes before he left. But Rose was another matter. In the last year and a half, she'd become mighty protective over the adopted member of her family.
"I have to go, Rosie. It's like when I came to Philadelphia, I can't explain it, but I need to be there. I am the right age, after all." Not. But he wasn't about to let her know he was anything more than twenty.
"What about your illness?" she shot back, making Alfred wince. It was true that he'd been feeling almost perpetually under the weather ever since he'd collapsed during Jefferson's lesson, his only respite being the day the Declaration was signed.
"It's getting better now. I told you it would go away someday, and besides, if I really was sick the Army wouldn't accept me."
"But you're safe here, Alfred." She was tearing up, which made Alfred nervous. An angry Rose he could deal with, but a crying one was a whole different kettle of fish.
"I'll be fine! I'll become a hero for thousands of American citizens, and come back here so you can congratulate me afterwards!" Rose gave a hollow laugh.
"You don't get it, do you?" She reached up, roughly yanking his head down.
And she kissed him. Square on the mouth, her fingers wrapped around the hair at the back of his head.
Alfred had a moment to be shocked before he felt his cheeks flame.
"What—you—what?"
"You're an idiot, Alfred F Jones," came the muttered reply. Rose's face matched her hair as well. "Just don't… Make sure you come back, okay? Promise you'll come back?" Alfred smiled.
"Promise."
He didn't mention his uncertainty that he could.
V/~-~-~\V
Another chapter done... I really don't like writing romance. I do, however, sometimes enjoy reading it, so I put a bit in (I hope it's okay). Plus, I like tragedy and angst, so expect some more of that later. It is inevitable, you know, when your main character is immortal for reasons he can't explain.
Also, woah for writing historic events. In the scene where Thomas Jefferson is up too late, he's writing the last paragraph of the Declaration of Independance, from where I got the lines. I had to memorize it in fifth grade, and curse my brain for still remembering. I'm sure it's taking up space that could be used for other more practical things. Ben Franklin also did become ambassador to France, but I figured Alfred can't leave just yet. He's got a war to fight, and all.
...Which brings me to Chapter 4, which will concern itself with the Revolutionary War, and will be the longest yet. The war will be split into two parts, and the rating will go up for Part II for language and blood. Obviously. It's a war, what do you expect? Also, expect some more Nation cameos next chapter (I bet you can guess who~)!
Thank you for reading, and if you have time, please let me know how I'm doing with a comment or review!