Tale of A Widow

Intermission

"Alright," Aspen started as she clapped her hands together. "We'll have a fifteen-minute break now. I recommend saying goodbye to Es since she's going to be leaving us shortly, since we're getting some more people to join us."

Es jumped down from Laurens' arms, running over to Eliza and hugging her tightly. Eliza was shocked, placing a hand on the child's back. "Please," she whispered, looking up at her with tear-filled eyes. "Don't do anything you'll regret. You seem like a really nice woman, and I don't want you to be filled with regret with the rest of your life so, please, heed my warning." Eliza nodded, letting go of the child as she ran over to Washington who held her close to him.

"There's food in the kitchen, as well as drinks," Aspen finished before disappearing into a separate room. The boys stayed close to Es, Philip coming over to join the group.

"So you're my son at... what, 18?" Hamilton asked. Philip nodded.

"You look handsome!" Es exclaimed with a giggle as Philip ruffled her hair.

"You remind me so much of my mother, it's unreal," Philip muttered, taking the girl's hand in his own.

"Can you dance?" Es asked, tilting her head slightly. The son of Alexander Hamilton nodded, causing a wide grin to spread across her face. "Cool! Can we dance?" Philip agreed and so the two started to dance, although slightly difficult because of the height difference. Hamilton watched the two with a soft smile just as Laurens returned with their alcoholic beverages.

"They have beer," Mulligan gasped as he graciously took the drink from Laurens' hands. Hamilton laughed, taking a sip of his beer as he continued to watch his son and Es dance together.

Aspen came back in soon after. "Es, dear, it's time to go," Aspen called. Es nodded, hugging everyone goodbye before going over to Aspen. She looked back at Eliza who was trying to get close to Alexander.

"Beth," she called out, Eliza startling, believing the Esperanza she knew was there with them before realising it was Es. "Remember what I said. Please." With that, light enveloped Es and she disappeared back to where she came from in time.

"Let's get the new people here, shall we?" Aspen grinned, light enveloping the room as voices could be heard.

"Mother? Can you tell me a story about Father?" a voice asked. There was a chuckle everyone recognized.

"Of course, George. What do you want to hear?" the female voice asked.

"The one... after Pip died?" the first voice, George, seemed hesitant to ask. The first voice hummed.

"He... actually changed quite a bit, in that time," she admitted. "Surprisingly he wasn't focused on his work as much, though it was a coping mechanism he had developed during the war that I was well aware of and never blamed him for it. Your father didn't have the... best of childhoods, I'll put it that way, so work really did help him. Anyway, after your older brother's death, he made sure to spend as much time as he could with all of us. Yes, he still had to work, but he didn't focus on it as much as he used to. Now he focused on family, like I hope you do one day, sweetheart."

"I will, Mother," George promised as the smoke cleared, revealing a slightly older Esperanza Martha Washington-Hamilton than majority of them remembered, as well as a young boy around the age of 10. "Mother, where are we?"

Esperanza was immediately on alert, looking around with her back still to the people. "I'm not sure, sweetheart," she replied, standing up and holding the boy close to her.

"Hello, sister," Aspen greeted, causing Esper to turn around and smile at her sister.

"Hello, Aspen," she greeted back. That's when she noticed the people in the room with her. "Jefferson, Madison. It's a pleasure to see you two again."

"As it is you, Mrs Hamilton," Jefferson smiled softly. George grinned, racing over to his uncles, and hugging them tightly. "Hello to you too, Georgie."

Noticing the silence in the room, Esper looked over to where Aspen was stood and felt her heart stop. "A-Alexander?" she stuttered. Alexander smiled, standing with his hands behind his back. "Aaron? Lafayette? Mulligan? L-Laurens?" The four also smiled at her. Feeling George clutching onto her dress, she looked down.

"Who are those people other than Uncle Hercules and Uncle Aaron, Mother?" he asked.

"Right, I forgot. You... weren't able to meet some of them," Esper murmured before clearing her throat. "George, I want you to meet someone very dear to me and those who have met him; your father, Alexander James Hamilton." George gasped, grinning as he looked at his father who stood there with a broad smile. "The man on the left side of your father is John Laurens and the man on the right side of your father is Marquis de Lafayette. He's sent you letters; you just haven't met him."

"Well, well, if it isn't Mother dearest," someone chuckled from behind Esper. She turned around and couldn't help but chuckle slightly.

"AJ, what have I told you about scaring me with my age?" Esper chastised, ruffling the boy's hair as she noticed the rest of her children grinning at her. "Hello you lot." They all grinned, hugging their mother before stepping back.

"Also, Mother, you're not old!" John exclaimed. Esper chuckled, shaking her head. "Huh? Who are they?"

"Hm? Oh, that's your namesake, John Laurens." Esper explained as Alexander joined them, as well as John, Lafayette, and Hercules. "What year are you lot from?"

"1780," Alex grinned, Esper blushing immediately before tucking her hair behind her hair as he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer. Laurens laughed at the blush on her face. "You've gone a bit red, love." Esper swatted her husband's shoulder, playfully glaring at him.

"Oh hush, you," she smiled, resting her head on his chest as he laughed, sending vibrations through both of their bodies. Their children watched with soft, sad smiles as their mother and their father interacted. Even if their father wasn't from the same time as their mother, they were just happy she was able to hug him again.

"Alright, enough sappiness!" James exclaimed, wiping his eyes. Angelica giggled, ruffling her younger brother's hair. "Angie!" Esper laughed, watching as the two started to mess around.

"Ladies, ladies, you're both pretty, but, please, do continue." Pippy laughed, James turning to his younger brother and ruffling his hair. "Gah! James!"

"Suffer, baby brother!" James exclaimed as Philip quickly separated them, taking on the role of older brother immediately.

"Enough, enough," he scolded, pulling them apart and handing Pippy over to Angelica whilst keeping James with him. "Calm down, would you, James?"

"Wait... Philip?" he asked, eyes wide before those wide eyes filled with tears and he was clutching onto his older brother. Angie gasped, rushing over to her older brother, and hugging him as well.

"Uh... hi?" He asked, confused. Before anyone could say anything, Aspen spoke up.

"Sister," she called out, causing Esper to turn to her. "I know you know the story very well, too well in my opinion-"

"Need I remind you that you decided to send me back?" Esper reminded. Aspen paused before nodding.

"Touché," she nodded. "Anyway, we're reacting to Hamilton: An American Musical. We have already reacted to Act 1, and a lot of tears were shed then."

"Good Lord," Esper gasped. "How are they going to react to Act 2?"

"Beats me," Aspen shrugged before gesturing to the seats. Everyone took their seats, George and Maria sitting on their mother's lap whilst Pippy sat on his father's. The other children dotted around the room, though Philip and Angelica sat together. "Now that everyone has settled, we shall begin."

New seating arrangements (left to right):
Madison, Jefferson, Burr, AJ, John, James, Eliza, John, William, Angie, Philip, Lillianna, Esperanza (with George and Maria on her lap), Alexander (with Pippy on his lap), Laurens, Lafayette, Mulligan, Washington, Martha, Elizabeth, Angelica, and Peggy.