Mr Jefferson is Coming Home (Jamilton)

Chapter 26

A/N: 

Okay, so this chapter is more like two chapters together... It was quite difficult for me to write it, so please let me know what you think about it! ♡

Also, tomatoes were considered poisonous in the US until mid-1800s. It seems like a strange thing to say here, but you'll understand it later in the story.
Here are the links if you love tomatoes:
https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/archives/parsons/publications/vegetabletravelers/tomato.html
https://www.monticello.org/site/blog-and-community/4-foods-jefferson-helped-popularize-america

***

Alexander was confused. In the weeks that followed the winter's ball, he felt almost pressed between Thomas's shameless avances and Burr's awkward friendship. He was flattered by Thomas's perseverance; however, if, at the beginning, he'd resisted him because he was still angry and wanted Jefferson to toil for his attentions, now he was scared of being completely honest with him. They had already tried to be together, and when it'd ended it'd been terrible for both of them – too terrible to endure it a second time. Alexander still loved him, but he'd finally found his balance, even though that was the darkest hour of his life: Eliza didn't hate him, even if he hadn't seen his family for many months; he'd found a friend he could share his lonely moments in Philadelphia with; and finally, despite his continuous clashes with Adams, work was going great. He was so scared of being miserable again, that couldn't bring himself to try and be happy.

The next months will most certainly pass by in a blur – he'd written to Eliza in his last letter – I'm campaigning to have Timothy Pickering preferred over Adams; we can't afford to have that madman as our president for another four years, nor to have the Democratic-Republicans rule the country. He'd voluntarily omitted Jefferson's name in the letter – I hope I'll be able to see my Betzy and my beloved children very soon, I miss you all very much and I pray for you every day.

He and Burr were spending even more time together now. They were both campaigning for their factions – Burr for his position as vice president, and Hamilton for Pickering's as president. Sometimes they took turns, making their speeches in front of large crowds in parks, theatres or on sidewalks. They were both skilled orators and – even if Burr was more succinct, while Hamilton could spend hours and hours only to talk about the first point of his agenda – they were usually voiceless by the end of the day. Alexander really liked that, despite the fact that he and Burr were literally working one against the other, they were still able to be friends. They often headed to the pub together after a long day of work and cured their sore throats with a couple of beers. Burr had never tried to get information from him, but Alexander couldn't help but think about Thomas's warning – was Burr using him, taking advantage of their friendship, even only to mitigate Hamilton's criticism on the press?

"What are you thinking about?" Burr gently nudged him with his shoulder. "You spaced out again."

"Shit, I'm sorry I'm being such a terrible company lately." Alexander smiled awkwardly, trying to focus on his friend again. "What were you saying?"

"I was asking you if you want to go celebrate tomorrow."

"Celebrate what?"

"Our efforts!" Burr said cheerfully. "Come on, it's been a couple of rough weeks, we should treat ourselves and go out for dinner or something."

"But we always dine together," Alexander joked. "Look at this place, what more could you ask for?"

"Lovely," Burr laughed, casting a sarcastic glance at their surroundings – it was not the worst pub in Philadelphia, but it wasn't even the fanciest. "What about City Tavern? We could eat something more nourishing and maybe take a stroll in the park later."