And Peggy

Helpless

Peggy was crying harder than she would have admitted as soon as their wedding vows were over. As the happy couple kissed, Peggy felt her heart swell with pride. She had a brother of sorts now, and was excited to see what that might lead to.

"Alright!" John Laurens, Alexander's best man, walked into the scene, glass in hand. His words were slightly slurred together. "Everyone give it up, for the maid of honor, Angelica Schuyler!"

"A toast to the groom!" Angelica smiled. Everyone- including Peggy, who had walked up to the eldest sister- echoed her words.

"To the bride!"

"To the bride! To the bride!"

"From your sister, who's always by your side."

Angelica looked at Peggy as she said this as well, making Peggy feel truly touched.

"To your Union!"

"To the union! To the revolution!"

Peggy chuckled.

"And the hope that you provide. May you always be satisfied!"

Peggy noticed Angelica look at Alexander as she said her last line. Something flashed in his eyes. She wondered what that was about.

A few speeches later, everyone was dancing and having a good time. Laurens stumbled up to Peggy, holding another glass.

"Hey, Peggy..." He said. It made Peggy rather nervous the way he was speaking and swaying.

"Hello, John..." She tried to inch away from him, but he grabbed her wrist.

"Care to dance?" He asked.

Seeing that there was no way to get out of this, Peggy timidly nodded. "But not for long."

"Wonderful!" He dragged her to the dance floor.

Peggy had to admit, she always laughed the hardest when she was with John. She even snorted a few times, much to the other people's dismay.

"Perhaps we should go outside." She offered after a prissy aunt she had never liked scowled in her direction.

Laurens gave a hearty laugh. "That would be a good idea."

The two walked out into the gardens. Peggy had never been in the gardens so late at night before. The roses glowed in the starlight, the chrysanthemums whispered in the wind. It was altogether, enchanting.

"Beautiful." John whispered.

"It truly is."

But when she turned her head, she saw the gentleman was not looking at the garden, but at Peggy instead. He seemed to realize he was staring.

"Sorry." He muttered as he blushed a deep red.

Peggy smiled. It felt strange, receiving this much attention from a man.

"Don't be. I rather enjoyed it." She took his hand in hers as she said this, her heart lurching. What was she doing? John has made it clear he does not have feelings for her. But had she made it clear she did not having feelings for him?

A waltz began to play from inside, the sane waltz that had played when they first shared a dance.

"Shall we?" John asked. He seemed to have recovered from all his drinks. Or perhaps this was all the alcohol talking. He did not really want to dance, or think she was beautiful.

But she pushed those thoughts aside. For tonight, she could have all she ever wanted.

"I would be delighted."

The two began to dance, John rather rocky at first, but began to find his footing. It wasn't like any other dance Peggy had done. The wind whispered to the music, the moon shone like a spotlight on the two, making them seem as if they were glowing. Peggy had never felt so alive, so free. She realized she only felt on top of the world when she was with John.

Nonsense. She thought. He does not love you. Do not think that way.

But Peggy could not hide her feelings. They danced, and they danced, and they danced, and her feet never grew tired, and she never became bored. That was a first.

Suddenly, the waltz ended, and the couple stopped their dance, much closer than when they started. Peggy could see every freckle on John's face, but she didn't bother looking at them. She was lost in his eyes.

"It isn't just Alexander, you know." John whispered.

"It- it isn't?" She asked.

He shook his head.

"Who else is it?"

There was a pause. Peggy would have crossed her fingers, a childish habit of hers, but they were intertwined with John's.

"You." He whispered.

Peggy did not know what to feel. But she didn't have to. The next part of her story was shared with both John and her. She went slightly on her tiptoes, and he bent his head, their lips meeting in the space in between them. There was no exclusion, there was no Angelica, Alexander and Eliza love triangle, there was no "and Peggy". It was just her and John, in their own world, where only they existed, staying forever in their garden of paradise.