Forbidden Love [DISCONTINUED]

IV

Aaron eyed Theodosia as she pushed around her food with her spoon, barely making a dent in it. "Theo, sweetheart, when James said we're going out to eat he intended for you to actually eat something," Aaron groaned as Theodosia shrugged, setting her spoon down before leaning back in the booth. "Theodosia..."

"I'm just not hungry," Theo said coldly, looking back and forth from Aaron, to Thomas, and then to James, all giving her pleading looks. "Sorry guys, I just can't eat right now. I feel like hurling already."

 Aaron sighed, leaning on Thomas, who rubbed his back comfortingly. "We can't force her to eat, Aaron." He said quietly in Aaron's ear.

"But she won't eat!" Aaron exclaimed, a little too loud. "If I'm stating this correctly, eating is on the list of basic human functions that apparently my eighteen-year-old daughter can't do!" Thomas looked down at his anger filled friend, surprised at the outburst.

His surprised look turned into a stern one as he processed what Aaron had said. Aaron's eyes widened after the words left his mouth. He immediately turned to Theodosia, a soft apologetic look in his eyes. "I'm sorry Theo I-"

 "Save it, father," Theo said, getting up from the booth, an expression of sadness and anger written on her face. "I'm leaving." All Aaron could do was stare in guilt as his daughter walked away and out of the restaurant, leaving him, James, and Thomas alone in the booth. Aaron turned to James, who looked extremely infuriated.

"Aaron Pierre Burr how fucking dare you!" James bellowed, making Aaron and Thomas flinch. "You've crossed a line- No, you know what, didn't just cross the line, you've jumped a far distance over the goddamn line." Aaron shrunk back in guilt. "Seriously, how could you say something like that about your own daughter?!"

"I-I never meant to," Aaron stuttered, looking at James with a soft expression.

"I'm going after her," James said firmly.

"We'll go with you." Thomas offered, only to have James turn back to him, furiously shaking his head. "No, you two are staying here," James demanded before rushing away, leaving Aaron and Thomas alone. Aaron slumped against the table, burying his head in his arms.

"What I have done?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Where the fuck could she be?!" Aaron screamed as he paced around the living room of his house, letting his frustration out by yelling at his friend, much to the annoyance of James, who had a headache from the loud noise filling his ears.

James shrugged, rubbing his temples, wishing he and Thomas could just ignore the large problem named 'Where the fuck is Theodosia?' on their hands. "Didn't you go look for her?!"

"You mean after you said something incredibly disrespectful and offensive that made her leave in the first place?" James said firmly, looking up at Aaron with a furious expression.

Aaron looked down, his face painted with guilt, knowing that Theodosia leaving was primarily his fault. James noticed Aaron's sudden change of expression and his eyes softened.

Thomas leaned back on the couch, holding his arms out. "Aaron come here." Aaron shook his head, fighting back tears, afraid that if he took another step towards James and Thomas he wouldn't be able to hold back tears any longer.

"Aaron," Thomas said, his arms still outstretched. "We know you, and we know that you desperately want to cry. You can cry Aaron, just come here," Aaron sighed before walking to the couch, taking a seat between James and Thomas, immediately embraced by his strong-armed friend.

"Come on, let it out, we know you want to." James insisted, rubbing Aaron's back, looking over to see tears rolling down his face. "There it is." James smiled softly as Aaron let out choked sobs into Thomas's chest.

"What if we don't find her? What if something bad happened to her?" Aaron asked between sobs, trying to compose himself.

"Don't talk like that. We'll find her." James consoled, "She's not going to stay mad at you forever, you know. She's just hurt and offended, but she'll most certainly pull through. She's strong like her mother and I doubt she'd just give up."

Aaron nodded, letting his friends hold him while he composed himself, wiping his tears away with his sleeve. They stayed silent, the three almost having heart attacks as a loud knock came from the door.

Thomas insisted on getting it, letting go of Aaron. "What the fuck." Thomas held a confused and somewhat relieved expression as he saw Frances Laurens standing at the door, Theodosia in her arms.

"Oh hey, Tommy!" Theo slurred, grinning sloppily. Philip and George shook their heads, huffing.

"We're guessing you've been looking for this?" George asked a blank expression on his face and a hint of annoyance and amusement behind his bland tone. Thomas nodded, stepping out of the door for the three to enter.

"Where did you find her?" Thomas asked as Frances set Theodosia down on the couch. James wrapped his arms around Theodosia, relief washing over him at the sight of his niece. Theodosia giggled, hugging James back tightly. "Is she... drunk?"

"Definitely," Philip said nodding. "We found her outside a bar, apparently she's had a few too many drinks." Thomas sighed, shaking his head as he looked at Theodosia, who seemed to be laughing at absolutely nothing. "Well, we're going to go so-"

"No!" Theo shrieked, bolting up to wrap her arms around Frances' waist. "Please don't go, Franny!" Frances raised an eyebrow, as did Philip and George, all three of them knowing of Aaron's clear distaste for the Hamiltons.

But apparently, it disappeared as Aaron watched his intoxicated daughter hugging another woman. Theodosia looked up at Frances with pouring lips and her big hazel puppy dog eyes that gave Frances an odd feeling, that she brushed off, refusing to acknowledge it. "Please?"

Frances turned to Aaron, Philip, and George, who just shrugged, not really knowing what to say. Frances sighed, squeezing her eyes shut for a second, trying to compose her thoughts.

"Fine, Theo." Theo squealed happily, grabbing Frances by the hand, pulling her towards the couch, before shoving her down forcefully, then proceeding to sit on Frances' lap, wrapping her around Frances' neck.

Frances looked back up at Philip, Aaron, and George, who were dumbfounded by Theo's behavior.

"No tengo ni idea, hermana," Philip shrugged, his eyes going back and forth between Theo and Frances. "¿De verdad te encargas de cuidar a un adolescente borracho? No es lindo." George mumbled in agreement, eyeing the two warily.

"I suppose," Frances said, gently rubbing Theodosia's back. "I'll be fine."

"Okay, Frances," George said, still nervous by the thought of drunk Theo with Frances if it didn't seem like the best combination. Yet he let Philip drag him towards the door, eager to get rest after a stressful day of bullshit.

After Philip and George took their leave, Thomas and James decided they would leave as well. Leaving just Aaron, Frances, and Theodosia.

"Good luck," Aaron said as he walked up the stairs to his bedroom. Frances rolled her eyes, looking down at Theo who was looking back up at her smiling.

"Good luck? I don't need luck. How hard can this be?"