For Once We're At Peace

Chapter 17

It had been about three months since the revival of those from Esperanza's past. Her and Alexander had decided to date in modern times instead of jumping straight into marriage like they had before. Everyone accepted their plan, although a few did question it. Speaking of the two, a lot of the public were extremely shocked when they saw Alexander and Esperanza spending time together in the park with a toddler on Esperanza's lap. The duo were always seen at the local park – Finn Square. Although the toddler was not theirs and was Lin-Manuel Miranda and Vanessa Nadal's son, the public truly believed the young boy was their child.

"Hey Alex?" Esperanza asked as they walked together, side by side, whilst Sebastian Miranda sat in the pram that Alexander was pushing along the street all the while she was holding Skye's leash as she padded beside the pram. After the revival of the group, Jeffery Seller had decided to give Esperanza quite a bit of time off to spend time with Alexander. Alex hummed, glancing at his girlfriend before looking forward once more. "Do you think we should tell everyone? About the, you know, thing?"

Alex was silent for a moment before nodding. "It would be best," he said as they changed course and headed towards the Richard Rogers theatre on Broadway street. Soon they arrived, the couple's children all racing forward with smiles as they greeted the group of four.

"Guess what! Guess what! Guess what!" Pip exclaimed, jumping up and down excitedly. Esper and Alex chuckled before motioning him to continue. "Jeffery and Lin said that I could play myself in the show!" Esper and Alex gasped, ruffling the kid's hair. "Also, Pippy's got something to tell you both too!"

"Y-Yeah," he stuttered slightly. "I, uh, got accepted to work backstage here." Esper smiled, pulling her second youngest son into a hug.

"I'm proud of you, honey," she murmured before quickly pulling away. "Actually, your father and I have something to tell everyone."

"And what would that be, angel?" Jefferson asked, side hugging the woman he admired so much. Esper chuckled, looking at Alexander with a smile before taking a deep breath and turning to everyone who had gathered before them.

"Well..." she started, Alex's hand finding Esper's before he stood behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting them on her stomach. Pippa caught on almost immediately with wide eyes and mouth open in a wide smile. "I'm pregnant with triplets."

The girls all squeaked in excitement, jumping up and down. Washington started crying tears of joy, knowing he was going to be a grandpa again. Everyone was extremely happy for the couple.

A month had passed since the announcement, and Esperanza had noticed Charles Lee off to the side. Not only that, but she also noticed how he was always excluded from things. She understood why, but felt it was ridiculous. They never did this to Alexander, and he had cheated on her – three times! Not only had he cheated on her three times, but one time was with her best friend and godsister! But no, let's hold Charles to a much tougher standard when the guy had apologised to her a gazillion times not only after the birth of Lillianna but also after the death , though with her death came a lot more apologies. The man had even met the little girl considering he was her biological father.

Excusing herself from the conversation she was having with Jeffery and Andy, she headed over to where she believed Charles to be. "Charles?" Esperanza asked as she walked over to where he was sat on the stage, swinging his legs side to side.

"Huh?" he asked, surprised someone was talking to him. looking over at the brunette he sighed in relief before looking down at his hands folded in his lap. "Oh , it's just you, Ran."

Esper smiled sadly, taking the spot beside him. "Charles, you know I forgave you a long time ago," she said as she took one of his hands in hers. "Why do you beat yourself up over this? You gave me Lillianna; you gave me the chance of having a daughter when I did. Not only that, but through Lillianna, I got to know Alexander more. I got to see the man underneath that façade he always puts up for his friends, his family, his kids, and for me. So really, I ought to thank you, Charles. There's no point in putting blame on someone. Yes, what you did was wrong, but you've apologised so much already. I don't need to ask anything else of you. At least, I don't think, nor do I believe, I do."

Charles sniffed before looking up with a watery smile. "Thank you," he whispered before his eyes widened. Tilting her head, she looked where he was looking to see five seething men, glaring directly at Charles.

"Boys. Boys, no!" she shouted, standing up quickly. "Charles should not be punished like this. Alexander, don't you realise? No one punished you this badly after you had three affairs, one of which was with my godsister who I consider to be my best friend. Yet you'll treat Charles like this?" The five boys remained silent. Little did they know, the children were listening from the other side of the stage, as well as the cast and crew. "None of you have realised yet – which I'm surprised about – that he's apologised a hundred million times. Another thing, Charles was intoxicated. Not only that, but he's met Lillianna before."

"How dare he!" Alexander exclaimed but was silenced with a glare from his girlfriend.

"How dare he?" she repeated. "He has the right to see her. Charles Lee is her biological father, Alexander. Or did you forget?" Alex remained silent. "I'm ashamed of you five and how you're acting. It seems to me that you five are way to overprotective of me. could you simmer down, at least a little bit? I have Skye, need I remind you lot, and she's practically my guard dog at this point. I love you guys, I really do, but you need to simmer down. Charles isn't going to hurt me, nor is anyone else. So please, lay off a bit." The five lads soon relaxed, nodding and apologising to Charles before leaving, though Alexander stayed behind. Charles gave a hug to Esperanza, shaking hands with Alex before pulling him in for a hug as well and disappearing elsewhere. "See?"

Alex let out a breathless chuckle, pulling her closer. "C'mere you," he said before dipping down slightly to kiss her. After that confrontation, no one left Charles out of activities, nor did they treat him like shit which Esperanza was happy about.

Five months had passed since the whole confrontation and Esperanza was in pain. No, scratch that, she was in agony. She had forgotten the feeling of giving birth and it was horrible. It was bad enough doing it once in one sitting, this time she had to do it thrice in one sitting. "You're doing great, Mrs Hamilton," the family doctor, David Hosack, said as he waited at her other end for the babies to appear. "I see a head!" Suddenly the grunting was interrupted by a baby's cry. "A boy!"

"Oh, another boy," Esperanza panted, Alex stifling a laugh beside her, but it was clear by his shaking shoulders he was finding it difficult.

"Unfortunately so, Mrs Hamilton," David chuckled before exclaiming a girl had arrived. Five minutes later, another girl arrived. All three babies were born healthy with no complications to Esperanza. "I'll leave you two to decide on names." With that, the family doctor left the room.

"How about the boy's name could be Aaron Charles Hamilton," Esperanza suggested, Alex nodding in agreement.

"One of the girls could be called Jasmin Peggy Hamilton," he suggested, this time Esperanza nodded in agreement. "I'll pick the first name; you can pick the middle name for the second girl?" Esper agreed. "I was thinking Sasha?"

"I like it," she agreed. "And for Sasha's middle name, how about Ariana?" Alex smiled, kissing the top of his girlfriend's head before placing the three babies in the crib David had provided.

"Aaron, Jasmine, and Sasha," he murmured to himself, thumb stroking over the respected child after murmuring their name. "They're adorable." Esper hummed in agreement, eyelids heavy. Watching her boyfriend interact with the babies happily, Esperanza slowly fell asleep.