CNN BREAKING NEWS: Photos have surfaced of Democratic Presidential Candidate Alexander Hamilton's involvement in an extramarital affair- New information revealed an intimate relationship between Alexander Hamilton and Maria Reynolds, an advisor for...
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The Washington's new ranch ended up being kind of an oasis for John. He woke up early every morning, when the night sky became milky in warning for the impending sunrise, and go for a run around the entire estate. He may not have been as fast as he was in high school, but he was proud of himself for having the stamina to run the course at all. The rhythmic thudding of his feet against the grass was therapeutic, allowing for him to just sweat out all of his worries and annoyances.
Once he came back and took a shower, there'd be fresh breakfast waiting for him. Not shitty instant coffee and frozen waffles, real breakfast. He'd sit at the table with Martha, George, and the girls, and talk about any and everything but politics. He was starting to think that was impossible, but the place felt so disconnected from the world that he was actually relaxing and not thinking about the campaign, it was amazing.
After breakfast, he'd play with girls or help out on the farm. It was nice to continue to work out all the stress building inside of him by working with his hands. Or sometimes he'd just sit on the back porch and draw the landscape. He hadn't had much time for drawing lately, so it was nice to take in the wide expanse and draw what he felt. There were no expectations for him here, other than to breathe and relax.
When the sun went down, they ate dinner as a family. After the table was cleared and the kids were put to bed, George would bring the wine glasses and the three adults would have a drink and unwind. It'd been a while since him and his in-laws had met in person without Alex, so they talked at length about their friends, their lives, their plans for the future. John tried to avoid talking too much about Alex and Martha didn't push, thank god. He'd go to bed feeling warm and sated and loved.
That first week was a perfect week, just the vacation he needed. But at the same time, he felt like half of a person, because all the happiness in the world was only a glass half full without Alex to share it with him. There was an emptiness inside of him running just below the surface, a hole only Alex could fill. They'd texted a little the first couple of days, but then John stopped responding to the daily inquires about the family. Feeling that he had too much self-respect to force his own husband to visit sooner, or worse, beg.
But he found that the space from Alex was actually a good thing, at the same time. It gave him the chance to take a step back and think about how they got to where they were, and where they were going. Because really, it wasn't always like this. It took him a moment to figure out where things took a turn.
Things changed, for sure, once Thomas fucking Jefferson announced his candidacy.
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Before that, when their only focus was the Democratic primary and running a good, clean campaign, everything was good. Great, even, in the beginning. Alex had meant it when he said that he wanted them to be a team, and it helped that they already knew how to work together. John was heavily involved in Alex's mayoral campaign, to the point where Alex would jokingly call him his "shadow campaign manager". And that campaign had its moments too, but they never lost sight of the fact that they were in this together. Coming from that place of solid unity, it was no surprise to John when Alex won. He deserved it.
