Falling Through Time: Basking in Firelight: Book 2

Oath of Office

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Warnings: Threats of violence, fluff, mentions of drinking, cross-dressing.

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"The elections? It's that time already?" Jefferson asked, throwing a newspaper on the coffee table and stalking over to his desk.

"Yep," Hamilton replied without a care in the world, turning a page in his book as he lounged on the couch.

Jefferson snatched some paperwork off his desk, slipped on his reading glasses and stalked over to Hamilton, who immediately lifted his legs so Jefferson could sit and replaced them on his lap. "Just you wait, Alexander, one of these days you'll hate elections just as much as I do."

Hamilton rose an eyebrow, "I thought you were all for a republican form of government? Changing your mind?"

"Don't be idiotic, I just don't like being in them."

"It's not so bad, Thomas," Hamilton chuckled.

"Easy for you to say, your entire life has been about gaining power and influence."

"I think that at this point I can't go any higher unless I wanted to take over the world," Hamilton pointed out.

"You know what people say about reaching your peak," Jefferson smiled.

"Oh shut it," Hamilton threw a throw pillow at him. Jefferson blocked it easily and went back to his paperwork. Hamilton found himself unable to focus on the sentences he was reading and tossed his book aside and sighed, "I miss everyone. I miss Lafayette and Mulligan and Laurens."

Jefferson looked up and smiled softly, entangling his hand in Hamilton's, "Have you texted Lafayette and Mulligan at all since they've been in France? How long has it been? Two years?"

"Three since Lafayette left and four since Mulligan took off on his fashion tour. I would've thought he would have been done by now."

Jefferson chuckled, "Lafayette and Mulligan are very comfortable where they're at. Very comfortable."

Hamilton matched his gaze and grinned, "About bloody time! How long has that been going on?"

"A year?" Jefferson guessed.

"Why didn't I ever hear of this?!"

"I dunno, ask Laf."

Hamilton whipped out his phone and immediately went on rant mood, just like Lafayette had freaked the first time he discovered there was something between him and Jefferson. Meanwhile, Jefferson's thoughts returned to the elections, his gut tightened slightly, there was no doubt that they'd be re-elected, then it'd be another four years of endless, tireless work. As long as he had Hamilton by his side he'd be fine. "Who do you think are going to be the vice presidents?" he asked suddenly.

***

"Congratulations!" Lafayette and Mulligan yelled through the skype call.

Hamilton, Jefferson, Burr, Madison, Peggy, and James Monroe were all gathered in a room celebrating their elections. Jefferson and Hamilton had Burr and Madison pegged as Vice's but Peggy and Monroe were a surprise. They were all laughing and drinking pleasurably.

"Oh!" Lafayette said happily, suddenly remembering something, "There's something I gotta tell you. Big news!"

"Spill!" Hamilton immediately commanded.

"Herc got his memories back!" Lafayette announced, Mulligan grinning semi sheepishly.

"Took you long enough," Burr laughed.

"What the hell are you guys talking about?" Monroe asked.

"What's this about regained memories?" Peggy asked.

The other six froze, they had completely forgotten about Peggy and Monroe in their drunken state, they had no idea what was going on and the six of them just made a massive slip up.

"Oh, Herc had an accident a while back on his tour. Hit his head pretty hard, something went blank, but now he's got it all back," Jefferson lied smoothly, pretty much swapping his own story for Mulligans. The world still didn't know about Jefferson's memory loss, just his immediate group of friends. They aimed to keep it that way, besides, the only person that could really tell was Hamilton.

Monroe and Peggy nodded, buying the story. "Oh! Jefferson! You get to take the Oath of Office again!" Lafayette shouted, "Aren't you excited."

"You bet," Jefferson said before saying under his breath so only those with their past memories could hear, "Does it count as breaking the law if I serve more than two terms over different lifetimes?" This was technically his fourth term. They all chuckled. "What about you, Alexander?" Jefferson asked.

Hamilton's cheeks immediately colored, "Yeah, definitely," he said smoothly. He had something planned and it was a surprise.

"Well, it's not happening for a while, Burr's and Adams' term still has to finish," Jefferson reminded everyone.

"I never thought I'd be relieved to return to the seat of vice instead of president," Burr commented.

Everyone who remembered the past chuckled. How ironic.

***

"Alexander! What's taking you so long? You're going to make us late to the Oath of Office ceremony!" Jefferson called from outside their bedroom's bathroom door.

"Okay, okay!" Hamilton called, "I'm coming." Hamilton set his hand on the doorknob and took a deep breath. He couldn't believe he was doing this. He would never do this in a million years, but here he was, doing exactly that.

A bet was a bet.

Hamilton swung the door open and emerged with a haughty confidence that only he could pull off. Jefferson stopped dead.

Hamilton was wearing a dress.

Then he burst out laughing. "Alexander, what are you wearing?"

"A dress," Hamilton snapped.

"Okay, but to the Oath of Office? You can't be serious?"

"Look, it was a bet, alright? I forgot about it the first time we were elected in, but I remembered this time and I don't break promises."

"What kind of bet was this?" Jefferson laughed.

"One between you and me. I said if you were ever elected president, you had to answer the White House door in your pajamas. Your reply was that if I was ever elected that I had to take the Oath in a dress. I don't think you were completely serious or you were sure I'd never be elected, but either way, we made a bet. You followed through on your end after the election of 1800, now it's my turn.

Jefferson was grinning broadly, "You know, I have absolutely no memory of this, you could have gotten away with not doing it."

"I never break a promise."

Jefferson stepped forward and pulled Hamilton to him, kissing him deeply. "You look marvelous," he finally said as he broke off the kiss. And he really did, Hamilton wore a dark green that almost bordered black fabric that brought out his eyes brilliantly. It was sleek, formal, and composed, Hamilton commanded it with such an air that no one would be able to say anything against him.

"This makes up for being elected again," Jefferson smirked.

"I will shove my heel in your eye."

As they walked out the door, Hamilton muttered, "I can't believe I have to do this."

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