Forbidden - Historical Lams (Sequel to "Win His Heart")

One - I

Life was perfect, it had never been better. Everything was going right, especially for Alex. He had a family now, one he'd wanted for a while, and a beautiful lover who he got to wake up next to every morning in a warm bed in New York City, not a cot in a cold tent.

At the moment, he was sitting with his children, Frances Eleanor, Philip, and Angelica, as well as his partner, at the dining table, eating breakfast. He hummed contently as his children talked amongst themselves, listening in on their amusing conversations.

"Slow down, Frances," John scolded quietly from next to Alex, watching as she ate quickly. Of course, he loved this life as well, but sometimes it got overwhelming.

Frances looked up from her plate and at John, slowing down and dropping some of the food onto the plate from her mouth. Then she chewed slowly, swallowed, and picked up the food she spat out, eating it again.

Alex scrunched his nose as he watched, "No, no," he cut in, "Frances, love, that's gross..."

John chuckled quietly as he watched this interaction, eating his food. He loved how much Alex loved the children, it was endearing, and it also reminded him that he found a good man.

"Alex, let her eat it if she wants to," he teased.

The redhead looked over to the love of his life, furrowing his eyebrows, then looking back at Frances, "But she slobbered all over it," he protested weakly, knowing he should probably just listen to John. She was five after all, along with the other children, which was weird to think about since Alex was only twenty-two and John was twenty-four. Well, not as weird for John then.

John smiled softly, sipping his water and shaking his head, "It's harmless spit, she'll be fine," he teased.

Alex sighed, eating his food once more. He rolled his eyes playfully towards Frances, "Can you believe him?" he teased, the little girl giggling and shaking her head. The redhead leaned in and whispered, "If it's just harmless spit, I'm sure he wouldn't mind if we spit in his food while he wasn't looking."

The blond glanced over to see this happening, listening in and gasping in playful horror, "Alex!" he scolded, though he couldn't make the smile on his face disappear.

Frances widened her eyes and looked at John, mumbling to Alex, "I think he heard us..."

Alex nodded softly, "I think you're right..."

John furrowed his eyes and smiled teasingly, trying to look stern, but failing due to the need to laugh. "You better not spit in my food," he scolded playfully.

The two giggled, as well as the other children at the table. There was then a knock at the door, causing the laughter to settle. Alex looked at John and stood, unaware of who was at the door, "I'll get it," he said, passing John, but not before kissing his temple, causing the blond to smile and make his heart flutter.

When the redhead reached the door, he opened it to see the mailman, handing him a letter, "For John Laurens," the man said, Alex taking the letter and nodding, mumbling a 'thank you.'

He came back into the dining room after shutting the door and handing his lover the letter. "From South Carolina," he said, sitting and already knowing it was from Henry Laurens.

John took the letter, sighing once he saw the address from Charleston. "Of course," he muttered, opening it and reading, dreading the contents inside.

Alex took a few bites of his meal, his eyes never leaving John, awaiting the context of the letter. Once the blond finished reading a few minutes later, he closed the letter and looked at Alex, knowing he wasn't going to like this.