John looked around, confused. He was in...the Hamilton's bathroom? Cries of agony filled the room. Eliza laid in the bath, which was full of water. Her legs hung over the sides. Alexander had her hand in his, wincing as she squeezed it tightly.
"Come on love, a few more pushes, I think." Alexander encouraged through gritted teeth.
This was the child Eliza had been expecting. He remembered discussing the child with Alexander. It was once while him, Alexander, Hercules, Lafayette and Aaron had been at the bar. Hercules and Lafayette both said it would be a girl, he had said boy and Aaron had said boy with absolute certainty. He said it as though he could see the future.
After another few long hours, Eliza finally stopped screaming. The child had come out. Alexander gently grabbed it and began washing it. Eliza huffed, her head leaned against the wall.
"It's a boy!" Alexander cried, looking at Eliza, a grin on his face.
"May I hold him?" Eliza asked quietly. Alexander nodded, placing the child in her arms.
Eliza smiled at her newborn son. "We should name him Philip, after my father."
Alexander nodded. "Of course."
John grinned, reaching forward to clap Alexander on the shoulder.
But then everything dissapeared.
* * *
The reason the room dissapeared was because it was never there. It was an illusion. John died months after Philip's birth. He should have known it wasn't real.
Where he was now, that seemed real. He was in a nursery. There was nowhere to sit, so he simply stood in the middle of the room, waiting for something to happen.
Gurgles sounded from the cot in the corner. John walked, no floated over to it, peering inside. The baby from the illusion was there.
It was a chubby little thing, with little round fists and tiny feet. Big black eyes stared up at him. A hand was reaching for John's face, so he leant down. The baby grabbed his nose.
"So you can see me little buddy?" John smiled. The baby gurgled in response. "And you can touch me too."
Stopped looking at the child when he heard yelling.
"Alexander! Come for dinner!" Eliza's voice echoed through the house.
"In a minute dear!" Alexander's voice replied.
The baby began to cry. John stood back over the cot, trying to get the child's attention, but his attempts were in vain. Eliza bustled through the door as the baby began screeching.
"Hush, little one." She picked up the baby, patting it's back gently. Bouncing the baby in her arms, she walked around the room a little. "Was there a ghost Philip?"
John startled. "Eliza?" He said out loud, but the woman did not react.
Well. John left the room, wandering down the hallway. Another room was there. It was the master bedroom. John decided to not go in there.
As he continued to wander, he looked in different rooms. Finally he came to a study. Alexander sat at his desk, holding something. John moved closer. It was a small painting of him. Alexander ran a finger around the edges.
"You were the only person who I ever truly loved." Alexander murmured, putting the painting back in the desk drawer.
"I was?" John asked, knowing he wouldn't get an answer.
Alexander's head snapped into John's direction. "John?"
"Hello." John greeted hesitantly.
"I can't see you." Alexander's looked around, confused.
John cursed. Oh course the person he wanted to see him couldn't.
"I truly missed you, my dear Laurens." Alexander smiled.
"And I say the same to you, my dear Hamilton." John nodded his head, even though he knew it would go unnoticed.
Eliza called again for Alexander.
"I must be going. Farewell for now." Alexander walked out, leaving the door slightly ajar. John walked out as well, going back to the nursery.
Philip was back in the cot, sleeping peacefully. As John sat and watched him, he realised something. Did spirits sleep?
Probably not. He hoped not. Personally, even when John was alive he thought sleep was over rated. He developed insomnia. Even hungover John despised sleeping.
Philip gurgled, rolling over in his sleep.
John stroked his cheek. It was unbelievably soft. A rosy blush splotched them. A few freckles were here and there.
After a while, Alexander came into the room. John quickly stepped out of the way as Alexander picked up his son from the cot and held him close.
"John, are you in here?" Alexander asked out loud. Philip was still sound asleep, his pudgy hands curled into fists.
John hesitated. "...Yes."
Alexander nodded. "How are you?"
The simple question caught John off guard. He was expecting Alexander to absolutely bombard him with questions. Though, admittedly, Alexander didn't talk half as much when John was around.
"I'm definitely not alive." John smiled to himself. "How about you?"
Alexander plastered what John knew was a fake smile on his face. "I'm reasonably well."
John nodded. Alexander can't see you, you fool. He made a mental note to speak out loud from now on.
Philip had woken up now. His big, ebony eyes stared in John's direction.
"Is he looking at you?" Alexander asked, followong the child's gaze.
"Yes." John choked out.
Alexander slowly walked in John's direction. He moved Philip so that he could have one arm spare. He held gis hand out.
John took his hand, gently caressing it. Alexander gasped.
"I...can feel you." Alexander announced.
John puller Alexander closer. "Philip is beautiful."
Alexander's breath hit John's cheek.
"I need to do something I should have done when I still had the chance." John pressed his lips to Alexander's. "I'm sorry." He murmured when he pulled away.
Philip stared at John, his hand in his mouth. Alexander marched back to the cot, laid Philip in it and walked to the door.
"Watch him please." He muttered in John's direction, his voiced choked with tears. He quietly closed the door. John could hear his footsteps echoing down the hallway.
There will be a few more parts don't worry.
Sincerely,
M.D
