Corset in Congress (A Hamilton Genderbend)

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Schuyler Defeated

Elijah's POV

It's been such a long day. Hell, it's been a long year. Alexandra's never home, I'm trying to raise a whole house full of kids, five, to be exact. I've shipped most of them out to family and friends, and am currently trying to get some time to myself for once.

"Look!" shouts Philip, the only one who didn't leave. He practically vaults over the furniture in an attempt to reach me. "Grandpa's in the paper!" He shoves the newspaper right in my face, and I groan, shoving him off my lap.

Undeterred, he continues, quoting the paper directly, "War hero Philip Schuyler loses Senate seat to young upstart Aaron Burr." He looks up at me, looking more shaken up than I've ever seen him before.

Flopping down beside me on the seat, his expression mirrors mine. "Grandpa just lost his seat in the Senate," he whispers quietly, letting the news sink in after the initial shock. I guess none of us saw that coming.

I slap on a consoling look and attempt to cheer us both up, saying lightly, "Sometimes that's how it goes."

Philip keeps on talking, and says worriedly, "Mummy's gonna find out any minute!"

Yeah, like I don't know that. She'll act without thinking and get us all in trouble. I just can't wait. Instead of voicing these doubts, I keep up my calm facade. "I'm sure she already knows," I say, because she'd better. If Alexandra is blowing off her family for some reason other than work... well, it wouldn't look very promising.

 I snuggle closer to my son and crane my neck around to see the article. "Further down," says Philip helpfully, handing me the paper and steering me away from the other pieces on mundane, everyday events.

Tracing my finger down the lines of print, I mutter, "Further down," scanning for the work. I can't seem to find it; then I spot it. 

"Let's meet the newest Senator for New York," says Philip bitterly, and I poke him gently on the arm. There's no need for a little boy like him to hold a grudge.

"New York!"

Folding the paper, I prepare to read. "Our senator..." I trail off, losing myself in the print. My son drifts away to go find something more interesting to do, and my face contorts in a sort of painful smile. It's a shame, really, I think as I delve into the piece. Aaron was a good man. He doesn't deserve to go out this way. Because my wife will take him out. That much I know.

Burr's POV

This is great. I just got elected Senator. Fight me, bitches!

Actually, no. I'd rather not. I just got these clothes cleaned.

"Burr?"

Oh shit.

"Since when are you a Democratic-Republican?" Alexandra accuses, smashing her copy of the paper directly into my face, her hands trembling with rage.

Chuckling, I push the unrecognizable wad of paper away from me and say smugly, "Since being on put me on the up and up again." 

She nearly ignites. "No one knows who you are or what you do!" She rages, advancing closer and closer to me, flexing her fingers threateningly, no doubt visualizing what my heart would look like being crushed in between her slender yet unusually strong hands.

"They don't need to know me," I start, then hesitate. Then I make eye contact with her, and she gives me the look that says, I dare you, and I impulsively go on ahead and continue, "they don't like you." Or your family. Or anyone who associates with you.

Her hands shoot out, grasping my neck. For a moment neither of us move, neither of us breathe, then she slowly removes them, almost like it pains her. They shake violently in protest, but she manages to restrain herself. She doesn't move them to her sides, however, just keeps them out in front of her, staring at them for a solid ten seconds before saying quietly, "Excuse me?"

"Oh, Wall Street thinks you're great," I assure her, while simultaneously wondering what happened to me, more specifically the part of me that knows when to shut up. I guess she took that from me too, when she decided to break the last straw. "You'll always be adored by the things you create. But upstate--"

"Wait--" she cuts me off, trying to get her bearings, but I don't stop. I've done enough waiting.

"--people think you're crooked. Schuyler's seat was up for grabs, so I took it." 

When she finally speaks, it's low and quiet, with an edge of sadness. "I've always considered you a friend," she whispers, employing her big, brown eyes to emphasize the betrayal.

Yeah, me too. But that didn't stop you.

I don't say that, though, no matter how much I want to. I grit my teeth and lie, smiling awkwardly, trying to salvage this train wreck of a conversation. "I don't see why that has to end."

Laughing derisively, she sneers, "You changed parties to run against my father-in-law!"

"I changed parties to seize the opportunity I saw!" I counter, then shake my head in disbelief. "I swear your pride will be the death of us all! Beware, it goeth before the fall!"

And, turning neatly on my heel, I walk away from her, emotion welling in my chest as my heels click smartly on the cobblestones. Let her stew on that.