DC Headcanon's 6: Sparkle Sparkle!

When You've Lost it All

It'd been two days since Kentucky and the twins showed up at Alabama's house, finally escaping Georgia for some relative safety as General Sherman got closer. Alabama knew the family couldn't stay too long; once the danger passed they'd have to get out to Kentucky or another border state, and with a fake note of passage from Alabama they'd be able to get out of the Confederacy safely and without much trouble.

The weather was uncharacteristically warm that November morning, and Alabama had taken the twins down to the lake to swim. DC was happy enough to kick his tiny feet in the lapping waves of the shore while IDC wanted to be dunked, thrown, and splashed around. The state was trying to keep the babies distracted; Kentucky had felt uneasy for the past couple of days and clearly wanted to go back to Georgia to get his husband. Alabama tried explaining how unsafe it was, how after Sherman left they'd send for Georgia and the family could escape. But Kentucky was ready to run out and grab him, and Alabama was struggling to keep him home.

DC was picking up rocks on the shore, cuddling a pile close to his body and reaching for another when he heard footsteps approach. He looked up and smiled.

"Papa, papa!" DC called dashing to his father. "Papa, look! Rocks!"

"They're beautiful, darlin'." Kentucky said softly, clutching DC close to his leg and glancing up as Alabama came out of the water with IDC, dress soaking wet.

"Papa!" IDC greeted wiggling out of Alabama's arms and hugging Kentucky's other leg. "Uncle Bama says I swim like a fish."

"I'm glad baby." Kentucky said before glancing up at Alabama. "I need to talk to you." Alabama nodded and gently pulled the twins away.

"Why don't y'all go dry off in the grain fields?" Alabama suggested. The twins nodded and dashed off, leaving the two states alone.

"Kentucky you can't go!" Alabama yelled a little while later back in the house.

"I have to Bama! He's not answering any of my letters!" Kentucky pointed out.

"In case you haven't noticed, we're in a war. Of course the mail is slow." Alabama said as Kentucky groaned, tugging at his hair.

"Now look, you know the plan, after Sherman leaves Atlanta we'll go back and get Georgia." Alabama said slowly.

"Have you heard the news coming out of Georgia?" Kentucky yelled. "Sherman is laying waste to the city, it's like he's possessed! Georgia is in danger and I can't wait."

"What about your babies? If something happens to Georgia you'll be the only thing they have left." Alabama pointed out.

"If something happens to Georgia, and I can't stop it I will never live with myself." Kentucky hissed. Alabama groaned and sat down, head in his hands.

"Look, I swear, I swear on their lives I'll come back." Kentucky said slowly. "I swear it. But I need to know, I need to know if Geo is safe, or if he's dead. Please. I need to do this." Alabama picked his head back up, there was no fighting him.

"What am I going to tell them?" Alabama whispered.

"Tell them I went back to my state for state matters." Kentucky explained. "It won't take me more than two days." Alabama sighed and leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair.

"Bring him back." Alabama ordered. Kentucky nodded, a hard look on his face.

"I guarantee it."

The twins were upset the next day when they woke up and Kentucky was gone, but Alabama was able to talk to them and reassure them that Kentucky had only left for state matters. Alabama spent the next two days working to distract the twins; from having them help with the chores, playing with them, or doing basic school lessons with them to prepare for school. The twins weren't able to think of their dad, save for Alabama who couldn't help but worry for Kentucky and Georgia, praying hard that they wouldn't run into Sherman.

Alabama was in a southern state meeting, or a Confederacy meeting as South Carolina called it, when the news came down.

Atlanta had burned.

Instantly South and North Carolina and Virginia vowed revenge, Alabama and a few other southern states saw the writing on the wall. The south had all but lost the war, they only had a few more months anyway with their current supply chain, once that ran out their people would starve.

Alabama prayed that Kentucky got out of Georgia before it burned, either with Georgia or without, for the sake of the twins.

It was two nights later, and Alabama was fanning the coals of the fire trying to keep the house warm as the cool night air fell around him. The twins were already in bed asleep, after a full day of playing and some simple lessons before bed.

IDC was getting better at writing D's. DC was still struggling with his E's.

Alabama rubbed his hands for warmth and went back to his chair, picking up his Bible and beginning to read before he went to bed himself. He had just picked a section to read when his front door opened, and Kentucky entered the house.

"Ken!" Alabama said with a smile, jumping up but freezing. Kentucky looked like he had seen a ghost; his face was pale, eyes were glassy, and he looked like his soul was sucked from his body.

"Kentucky?" Alabama whispered.

"He's dead." Kentucky whispered, dropping his bag to the floor. Alabama's heart clenched.

"Geo's DEAD." Kentucky wailed, falling to his knees on the floor. Alabama quickly fell in front of him, gathering him in his arms and letting him sob.

"MY HUSBAND IS DEAD." Kentucky yelled, tears soaking Alabama's shirt. Alabama held him tight as his body shook, wondering how they were going to tell the twins, how Kentucky would survive as a single parent, and how he would survive this.

The Union took everything from him, but Georgia, Georgia did not deserve to die for the cause.