Hamilton One Shots

Refused

Requested by: ruff1258

If someone told Alexander that he had a chance at finding another family, he would have either laughed or cried. To him, that seemed completely impossible. There was not a single person who looked at him the way his dying mother once had. No one was going to take in an adult as their child anyways.

After spending his childhood surrounded by constant worry, he never wanted to experience that again. He thought it was best just to fight and not look back. The past was gone and a new path was paved for him. Even if he didn't have any parents behind him, he would make the journey safely.

He had already managed to acquaint himself with some friends, people who were just as worthy of being a family.

Gun shots from outside his tent brought him back to reality. Alexander gripped his desk as the ground beneath him shook. He started to shout for the person to enter, but a flash of
blue stopped him.

General Washington. Letting out a deep breath, he stuttered, "Sir, I-"

Washington shook his head hurriedly. "My apologizes for interrupting you. I know how much you have been working lately." He cleared his throat, turning his head closer to the younger man. What he was about to address would change the hopeless boy's life.

"I appreciate your condolences, sir. Has something happened that needs to be brought to my attention?" Alexander almost tripped over his feet as he stood at attention. A lump formed in his throat, preparing for what was to come. But nothing could have prepared him.

Taking off his hat, an uncommon gesture, the General nodded. "I have come to discuss something that isn't official business. It's more of a personal aspect, son." Personal? Alexander tried to seem interested, more than worried.

"Well, what would that be, sir?"

Millions of mistakes came flooding back into his mind. Alexander couldn't recall what was considered right or wrong. He only prayed that whatever he had done was going to be forgiven soon enough. There wasn't time to argue and place charges on someone else, when there was a war happening right at their feet.

"I'd like to adopt you."

An explosion went off outside. Alexander toppled backwards, unable to meet the General's eyes. Adopt? He had certainly heard correctly, as much he wished he hadn't.

Washington looked upon the soldier, as he took in the news. His mouth went dry with every step backwards and forwards. The man was clearly affected by the question. But he couldn't have put it any other way.

"Listen, we know each other's values and failures all too well, Alexander. Don't deny our relationship, as it takes on a father and son level. You're alone. You need someone-"

"How insensitive are you?!" Alexander pushed the taller man away, feeling himself break down. "I don't need another family." As the General opened his mouth to speak, he shoved past the man.

The opening to the tent fluttered from side to side as he stormed out. There was shouting and guns shots surrounding him by the second. He stumbled on his feet, trying to find somewhere to run to. All he wanted in that moment was his mother. And he couldn't understand why.

One of his fellow soldiers dashed up beside him to pat his shoulder. "Are you alright?" The sound of the voice was drained out by the screams coming from Alexander's head. He tried to shake the hand off his shoulder, while attempting to shut down the screams in his mind.

It's only in your head, he reminded himself silently. The hand on his shoulder was digging into his shoulder, as he familiar female screams increased in his brain. Alexander didn't know what to do.

So he broke down. As he crumbled to the ground, tears stinging his cheeks, Alexander could picture his mother again. Her mouth was wide open, but the screams had stopped. She suddenly burst into dust and vanished from his mind. A sob escaped his mouth before he heard the shouting above him.

"Alexander."

He glanced up to see Washington glaring down at him. "On your feet, son." Before Alexander could even say anything in protest, he felt his body being raised up from the ground by two strong hands. The General's face was gleaming with sweat from both the gazes and weather.

"Sir, I'm sorry-"

"You don't need to apologize. I understand how difficult the subject is for you. It's my own fault to have taken advantage of you and ask something such as that. I noticed you seemed lonely lately and-" Washington let out a long sigh, before rubbing his eyes. Just as much as the young lieutenant in front of him, he was yearning for rest.

"It's just been a while since someone has brought of the subject of family," Alexander hissed under his breath. He could feel stares on his back, slicing like knives.

The General nodded his head. "I'm aware. I don't expect you to even look back on the offer, it was foolish of me to even question you. I believe you are capable of living without a family. But I don't think you're capable of opening yourself up to others."

There was a shrill scream in the back of his mind, head snapping up to face his commander. "Pardon?" A ripple of worry came back and he swallowed hard.

Washington began saying how he distanced himself too often, hid his feelings from others, and forced seclusion onto himself. He seemed genuinely worried. But he didn't even know what it was like in Alexander's brain.

Alexander sharply interrupted. "I appreciate your concern, sir. I'm doing fine on my own, without a family, and I'll stay that way. Good day." And with a firm shove of his feet, he sprinted away.

Breathless, he collapsed beside one of the many tents surrounding the area. A few men glanced over at him, before whispering about how odd the lieutenant was acting. Alexander glared at them, quickly shielding his dampened face from view.

Images of his childhood came flooding back into his memory. He could see his brother huddled in a corner, then his mother on her deathbed, a door slamming shut as his father left, all too much. A throbbing sensation filled his head, and he felt himself going weak.

The one person he needed at that moment was his mother. She always had told him what was right. Where was she to tell him what was right in this situation? Alexander allowed himself to drown and swallow up his tears.

The reality was that his mother was long gone, as her life had ended long ago. That didn't mean he didn't think of her every second. After he had been questioned by Washington, one thing was certain. He wasn't going to replace her. He wasn't going to make her watch from heaven her son be swept away.

He was going to make her proud, and he was going to do that alone.

. . . . . . . . . .
A/N: Thank you ruff1258 for the request! I kind of added a twist to the adoption aspect, so hope you liked how it turned out. And don't worry guys, I'm getting to your requests, I haven't forgotten.