History Has Its Eyes On You ~ A Hamilton Fanfiction (Book 1, Act 2)

Family Life

(Y/N POV)

It was the usual format that we sat in, except this time with the inclusion of our "guest". Alexander and Eliza were at the ends of the table with the boys on one side and the girls on the other. They made it so the eldest boy (Philip, in this case) would be seated beside Alexander, and the youngest beside Eliza. It was the opposite for the girls, with the eldest - me - seated beside Eliza, and the youngest beside Alexander.

With baby James' need for assistance with his meal and older James' reluctance to be beside his brother, older James was offered a seat between baby James and Junior. It was oddly satisfying to see both sides even for once, instead of three on one side and four on the other. My only hope that was the next child was to be a boy (and if I remembered correctly, it was going to be, should events not disrupt that).

With the meals handed out to us by Gertrude (Frances also helped by setting the table), we sat in silence. The family was back together again, yes, but who would have thought that we would be joined by someone who I'd never considered meeting. Alexander didn't know how to act especially.

'Are you eating that?' Junior broke the quietness, turning to the older James who had barely touched his food.

'...No.'

'Can I eat it?'

'Knock yourself out.' He pushed his plate over to Junior, a huge smirk spreading across his face.

Eliza was visibly shocked by this behaviour and instead chose to ignore it. 'Children, why don't you all share with your father what you have been up to over this month, hm? Philip, you go first.'

Philip gulped. 'Studying.'

'That's a delight to hear,' complimented Alexander.

Eliza smirked. 'Oh, and your poems, you have been hard at work with those, haven't you?'

Laying his cutlery down, Philip's face turned pink. 'N-not that much -'

'Oh, you have. You've seen him, haven't you, Y/N?'

Philip's eyes shifted rapidly over to me and he subtly shook his head.

'No - yeah - erm, he has a bit. He's intent on his schooling, though,' I lied.

'If you say so.'

'Like your father, then, are you?' the older James questioned.

Philip shrugged. 'Maybe...'

Moving along, Eliza glanced at Angelica. 'How about you, Angelica?'

'I've been dancing,' she confessed. 'I think it's fun.'

'Really?' Alexander perked his head up. 'You will have to show me a thing or two, then.'

She grinned at him. 'I think I'm going to dance for the world one day!'

'I'm sure you will, my dear -'

'Ow! Stop kicking me!' Philip winced. He nudged Junior away with his shoulder.

'I'm not!!'

'Junior?'

The boy looked at his mother, a fork of food from the older James' plate in his mouth.

'What have you been up to?'

He gulped. 'I came up with a plan to get to the moon!'

'How's that?'

'I thought that the building stairs to the sky idea was stupid, so you know those rocket things from the future that Y/N talked about?'

By the mentioning of the future, older James glared at me. I put my head down and continued eating.