~Best of wives. Best of women.~

~Chapter 1~

November 26th, 1780

My dear Eliza,

I know you have been waiting patiently and nervously for information on my return. You have been a strong and supporting figure during this hard time, and I will forever be grateful for that.I am truly sorry for our inability to communicate properly due to the war and distance between us. Do know that I am thinking of you often, and long for both your touch and comfort. I'd like you to know that the general will temporarily move us men and station us in New York as the winter passes.

Please anticipate my return around the 6th of the upcoming month, which is the date we are expected to arrive.

I can not wait to come home and hold you in my arms once again.I love you, always

-Yours truly, A. Ham.

Alexander rubbed his forehead and tapped his pen repeatedly on the makeshift desk in an inconsistent rhythm. His eyes scanned the paper for any errors, any smudges, or any form of imperfection. The letter met up to his standards, much to his relief.

"Who are you writing to?" Asked the man in the corner whilst he was cleaning his gun. He startled Alex, who had forgotten he was still in the tent. John Laurens, his tent partner and close friend, stood up and tucked the freshly polished gun into his uniform's built-in gun holder.

"Oh, no one." Alex grunted dismissively, John wasn't convinced that it was a 'no one'. His eyebrows shot up. John was something of an observant man, and his attention was on Alex the whole time. He knew Alex better than any man on this campus, and he was able to feel the passion that radiated from Alex to the paper in the form of ink.

If it was indeed a 'no one', he wouldn't have taken his time writing the letter. If it was a 'no one', he wouldn't have read it over 20 times to assure himself that the reader would be pleased with each written word. John knew it wasn't just a 'no one'. But he had a clue on who it might be. He smiled teasingly at Alex, eyeing both him and the letter.

Alex rolled his eyes, faking his annoyance. He eyed Laurens with suspicion, seeing the clear smile of mischief on his face. With a quick movement, John snatched the letter from Alex's hand.

"My dear Eliza-" John read in a mocking tone. Alex yanked the delicate paper back, luckily it didn't tear. However, Alex scanned it to make sure. He folded the paper neatly and sighed.

"You really have to start minding your own business, John." Alex said firmly as he tucked the letter in the inside of his military attire, where it sat comfortably between the rough fabric and his undershirt. He loved John, he really did. But having to share a tent with him was sometimes overbearing. John was naturally curious.

It was imbedded in his personality and was a part of who he was. Just like any other person, he acted out on his curiosity. Alex understood that. But that doesn't mean he particularly enjoyed that trait.

"Oh, c'mon! You finally fall in love with a girl, and you expect me to not want to know about it? When I started courting my Martha, I told you all about it;" John smiled proudly. He sat on a wooden box they used for storage, leaning his elbows on his knees.

"Eliza's a nice girl. I'm happy you're taking interest in a girl who actually has respectable morals and not just any woman who would happily court you for your title. And hey, she comes with the full package." Alex shot John a sharp glare and the man raised his arms defensively, "Am I wrong?" Alex and Eliza met a couple of months prior in February in Morristown, New Jersey.

Alex was stationed there with the other men under Washington's aid, and she and her sisters were temporarily staying with her aunt at that time. They all coincidentally attended the same ball, Eliza accompanied by her aunt and Alex accompanied by Washington, who was his whole reason for being there.

Introduced by her eldest sister, Angelica, the two hit it off immediately, and Alex fell smitten by the woman. He had to leave by the end of that month, but they communicated and kept in touch through letters. The platonic friendship quickly turned into something bigger, and by that march, Alex was dining at the Schuyler mansion, introduced to her father as a suitor.

He enjoyed the company of her family, for both their kindness and the comfort of their prominence. Not many men could say that they were wooing the daughter of a wealthy and prominent man. Not to brag, of course.

"I'm not like you, John. I want to have privacy." That was ironic of him to say. Soldiers had no other choice but to bathe and change in front of each other. "You know, romantically."

"I understand that, Alex. I really do, but I view you as a brother. This means this girl is going to somewhat be like my sister-in-law. I've met her one or two times, but I don't know her. So tell me, what about her has got you so smitten?" John urged, his curiosity overpowering any other thought. Alex noticed this and chuckled softly. He wrapped up his writing supplies, making sure they were neatly put away.

"She's... she's smart as a whip. Compassionate, kind, and patient." He took a small pause, thinking of his woman. She was, indeed, the whole package. She had everything he could want in a woman and more. The love-sick smile on his face simply at the thought of her spoke more than his words ever could. "She's worth fighting a war for." He concluded.

John simply nodded, a small smile on his own face. Usually, he would make fun of Alex's cheesy lines. But John understood how it felt to love someone... and for them to love you back with the same passion.

"Are you excited to see her again next week?" John smiled, hoping down from the crate and walking over to his friend. Clapping his shoulder with a grin. Alex couldn't help the smile that stretched out on his face, his eyes dropping to his feet for a moment before raising them.

"Very," he said, his eyes holding a far-off look, a love-sick smile grazing his lips. His mind raced with thoughts of his Eliza. Her smile, her eyes, her laugh, her. She was everything. He needed her like oxygen in his lungs.