The Immigrant

Chapter 12| November 18 1797

The cold air bit once again. I strayed from the Hamilton household for long periods of time, sick of the constant arguing between Angelica and Hamilton. Philip became quiet, he hardly talked to me as I watched him slink up and down the stairs to his room and outdoors. Burr sent me a letter, saying he would be arriving in seven short months, complaining that his stay would have to close to an end because he said "The king hated our presence." At least I had something to look forward too, how I longed to see Theodoisa again after not having heard form her since their departure.
I kicked a broken pebble that rolled across the street, deep in my own thoughts I herd a loud voice call behind me.
"Hey Ezio, wait up!" A damn cheerful voice pipped up form behind me.
I turned to see Lafayette walked up to me with a big smile.
"How's it going Lafayette?" I exclaimed, happy to see his face one again.
Lafayette shrugged.
" So damn busy, I've been down in Virginia trying to see another compromise between Thomas Jefferson and James Madison about France's conflict with England." Lafayette sighed.
I looked down, pawing my shoe into the ground.
" My apologies for not getting the offer passed through." I murmured.
Lafayette laughed.
"Don't worry about it, I knew you tried your best for France's sake." Lafayette said patting me on the back.
"Anyways, what's been going on with you, it's been a while since I've seen you last?" Lafayette asked as we walked down the street together.
"Eh...not much, just working my ass off down at City Hall for the most part." I sighed rolling my eyes.
Lafayette gave a small chuckle.
" I see, I heard you are under Hamilton's wing for a bit while Burr trips over himself in the Kings presence." Lafayette smiled.
"Sí, Hamilton is teaching me well, I'm glad to have him as a mentor of sorts." I huffed.
"That's good to hear..it's been lonely up here, sadly Mulligan had retreated back to Ireland for a few years." Lafayette sighed.
I looked at him with a sadden look.
"I am sorry to hear that." I murmured.
"Now that France is on the brink of war, I too will have to retreat back to France to aid my country men." Lafayette added, his tone dull.
"Damn if only Laurens was still alive."
I looked at him with a curious, sympathetic look.
"Laurens?" I asked.
Lafayette looked at me with a glimmer in his eye.
"Ah, that's right got never got to meet the guy." Lafayette said with a slight laugh.
"John Laurens was a great friend of me, Hercules and especially Hamilton." Lafayette explained.
" He served in the Continental Army for years, even before Hamilton and I became a part of it, we stuck together like glue, drinking the night away while singing songs at the very same pub you met Hercules and I." Lafayette laughed.
"Sadly he was shot and killed by British troops down in South Carolina a year after the The Battle of Yorktown." Lafayette said quietly.
I looked looked at Lafayette with a glint of sorrow.
"I am sorry." I breathed.
Lafayette shrugged.
"Anyways, I think you and Laurens would of been best of friends if you two ever got to meet." Lafayette said with a smile.
I nodded slowly.
"He seemed like a nice guy." I said.
We walked through the streets, as the pale moon hung high overhead. Our breath swirled around us as we talked amongst ourselves. Lafayette stopped we he got to the city's square.
"Listen, my ship back to France is leaving tomorrow at dawn." Lafayette murmured. 
"I was wondering if you would care for one last glass down at the pub?" He asked with a small laugh.
I gave a sigh, looking back at Lafayette with a sad smile.
"Sure thing." I murmured.
We walked to the pub, stepping inside as our feet creaked under the floorboards. The bar was dead, the only face present was the bar tender. For the first time he gave us a slight smile as he was cleaning out some glasses. Lafayette and I walked to our normal table and plopped down. Lafayette waved over some drinks as he looked back at me with a smile.
"I'll try to drink so much I'll forget everything...I don't like saying goodbye." Lafayette laughed.
I gave a little huff.
"Me neither." I admitted.
A pint of Adams was thrown onto the table as I looked up at Lafayette who was already gulping down his first glass. I cheered at him with an amused look as I downed my first glass. We talked the night away, forgetting about all our worries and necessities. Under slurred words Lafayette told me stories of his time in the war. At one point he told me about his first battle and how he got shot in the leg and couldn't walk for a year latter. Since I had nothing to compete with Lafayette's daring stories I just sat back and listened to him talk for hours. Finally the clock struck twelve, as Lafayette finished his fourth pint as he slammed it onto the table.
"Well, I must be taking my leave." He said with a mature tone.
"Who knows maybe see you in a few years if I don't get blown away by cannon fire in France." Lafayette laughed.
I laughed nervously, praying that he wouldn't get himself killed in a foolish act.
"See you around Ezio." Lafayette said as he sat up form the table giving me a surprising hug.
"See you Lafayette." I replied my voice cracked.
I looked at Lafayette with a smile, watching him wave as he walked away form the table.
"Au revoir mon ami!" He called.
"À toi aussi." I replied with a slight laugh.
I watching him leave the pub. Damn, how I would miss him. I payed for the drinks we chocked down, giving the bartender a friendly nod as I existed the bar. I blinked the fuzziness form my head as I walked back to the Hamilton's quarters. Head low, fast paced I turned a corner and bumped into someone. I lifted my head as I stepped back.
"My apologies..." I trailed off as I recognized the face.
"Ezio what are you doing out this time of night?" Alexander asked worriedly.
" I was wondering the same to you." I replied.
Alexander took a deep breath, as he looked at me we a weakened, tired expression.
"I guess I'm just clearing my head." Alexander sighed.
I looked at him with a glint of sorrow, but still persistent on my own thoughts.
"If you don't mind." Alexander said as he walked down the desolate street.
I followed him toe to toe down the cold , deserted streets. I looked at him occasionally, he held a sullen manner as his head low.
"Life is like a big gamble." Alexander sighed.
"You can't always get what you strive for and when you do you either win or loose." He blinked thoughtfully.
"The choices you make...their consequences." He added with a sinking tone.
I took a deep sigh as I thought for a moment.
" But you learn form your consequences, try to build what has been lost." I replied.
Hamilton looked at me with a slight laugh.
" If only it was that easy." Hamilton said, shaking his head slowly.
I shook my head.
" You're the one who's making it hard, if you just take a breath and think to yourself, you can make it a lot easier on yourself." I said quickly.
Alexander looked at the ground bitting his lip.
"If I may ask, what was your intention setting foot here in America?" Hamilton asked.
I paused, thinking.
"Honestly, what people have said about my skills and my intentions I could strive for." I began.
" I grew up with very little, my parents both died when I was very young." I breathed.
Hamilton looked at me with a sorrowful but thoughtful expression.
"I was expected to just become a farmer or a merchant, an unheard voice across the oceans, but for gods sakes I didn't do that. I didn't want to become another speck of dust in this ongoing world!" I exclaimed, my voice rising with confidence with every word.
"I wanted to become someone who could change this world for the greater good, but I never asked for help or guidance."
"Instead it came to me, my plan wasn't to come to America and get a good education, but I was given the opportunity and I took it." I said with a shaky breath looking up at the bright moonlit sky.
Alexander looked at me with a warm smile.
"Well then go for it." He breathed.
I looked back at him with a slight laugh.
" Thank you sir." I said.
We walked through the streets taking amongst ourselves. The clock struck three when we arrived back at the Hamilton's estate in a commotion of thoughts and ideas. We said our goodnight as Hamilton retreated to his office (where he spent most of his nights now). I walked up the stairs and crept into my room. I was exhausted, my mind blurred as I laid down on my bed. I stared up at the ceiling deep in thought, I finally drifted off to sleep.

Another new year rolled in. The temperatures colder as ever. The snow didn't show any signs of stopping as it covered the roofs of houses and build mounds on the side of the streets. With me hitting the age of twenty, I felt unstoppable in my political career. Inside cozied up by the fire, I wrote and wrote, my knowledge expanded into the folds of the unimaginable. Quick with word and quill, I made quite a mark down at City Hall. A lot of people now eager of what I had to say as I paced the floors, Hamilton and Jeffersons mouths both agape. Philip and I finally got taking to one another again as we bounded for hours as we discussed about events like two birds of a feather.