Mr Jefferson is Coming Home (Jamilton)

Chapter 25

That winter was a particularly severe season, Thomas and James spent many afternoons sitting by the fire in James's apartment, getting through their paperwork between a shiver and a cup of hot tea. By January's end, thick snow had covered the whole city, and while children waited for the morning only to dress up and go play into the whitened gardens and streets, the grown-ups were glad to finally find themselves under their heavy blankets, trying not to think about the following morning. The air was dry and it snowed for days, with very short breaks in between the choreography of the snowflakes that danced on the roofs of the city.

"It's fucking freezing!" Alexander shouted for the third time while going to work that morning. "I could've just worked from home today."

"Come on, we'll get warm once we'll get in." Burr smiled at his friend's bad mood. "I thought you liked the snow."

"I liked it because I usually got to play with my children." Alexander sounded sad, he was missing his family very much. "But I really hate the cold! I'll freeze to death, Aaron, I can feel it!"

"Don't you think you're exaggerating just a little bit?" Burr laughed and patted him on the back. "Come on, let's run the last mile, so we'll warm up a bit."

"What? Are you serious – hey, wait!"

Alexander began to run to keep up with Burr, who actually was way more athletic than how he appeared.

"I was thinking to organize something for Valentine's day," Aaron said nonchalantly after a couple of minutes.

"Like what?" Alexander couldn't manage more than that, cause he was already panting; the icy air was literally hurting his lungs, but he was getting warmer so he didn't complain.

"What about a dance? We can try to organize something in the presidential house," he proposed. "I don't think my house or your apartment could do with more than five guests."

"Will it be okay for Adams?"

"He's in Quincy again. I guess we could ask Jefferson."

"You can ask him, I'd have no chance to convince him."

"I'll try then." Aaron smiled at him. "Hey, watch out, the street is completely frozen here –

Burr hadn't even finished the sentence yet, when he suddenly lost his balance on the ice-covered street. He tried not to slip by twirling his arms, and closed his eyes to prepare for the fall, but Hamilton's arms reached for him within a second and he found himself in Alexander's grip, his face really close to his friend's. He blinked a couple of times and saw Alexander's face grow redder; but before even realising it, Hamilton had already moved some feet away from him.

"Thank you," Burr muttered, quite embarrassed.

"It's nothing, I'm always tripping up too." Alexander shrugged, still blushing, and pointed at the door. "Shall we?"

They entered the house and finally got to work, comfortably sitting in front of Adams's fireplace.

It was really nice to work in there lately, since most of the staff either worked from home or haven't even returned to the capital yet, and so Alexander and Aaron preferred to seek each other's company at work instead of staying at home alone. But that day they weren't destined to work peacefully, since, after about an hour they'd got there, Burr's door opened again and Jefferson and Madison rushed in, rubbing their frozen hands to get warm.

"G'morning Burr, today we should absolutely discuss how to –

Madison cleared his throat and nodded at Thomas, warning him with a knowing look. Thomas followed James's gaze and spotted Hamilton, who had moved away from the fireplace and was working on McHenry's desk. As their eyes met, Alexander snorted and tensed up. Here comes Jefferson's telling-off – he thought – that I'm no longer part of the Cabinet and can't stay here.