The Immigrant

Chapter 56| June 16 1804

The sun shown brightly from the sky as I made my way uptown to the Hamilton's estate at the Grange. People strolled down the street merrily and carriages clicked down the old cobblestone street. Birds chirped from tree to tree as they sang their beautiful songs. I couldn't help it as a smile was planted on my face as I looked around at the tranquil setting.
I hid a bouquet of flowers behind my back as I walked up the stairs of the Hamilton house and knocked on the door. There was movement inside before the door opened.
"Come in Ezio!" Eliza greeted as she gave me a smile.
"Good afternoon Mrs.Hamilton." I smiled as she opened the door and I walked in.
"It's so good to see you again." Eliza said as she walked ahead of me eyeing the bouquet of flowers but did not question about them.
"I always enjoy visiting, it brings great joy to me." I laughed as I followed Eliza into the living room.
I smiled warmly as I sat down the bouquet of flowers on a table. Many of the furniture was brought over form the old house but one key thing that was different was the piano. It was much larger as it was laced with silver, its pearly white ivory keys glistened by the window.
"It's such a beautiful piano." I said softly.
Eliza hummed as she suppressed a sad smile.
" I think Philip would of loved to play it." Eliza said quietly.
I nodded slowly with a small smile.
"I think he would play it till his hearts content." I laughed softly.
Eliza face a small chuckle looking up at me.
" I think he would.." She hummed.
Both Eliza and I stared at the piano deep in thought. Suddenly a burst of noise exploded into the house as the Hamilton boys ran in, their faces red and bright as they laugh and shouted, running around the living room unaware of my presence.
"John, James, Alex, William...we have company over be respectful!" Eliza scolded as I couldn't help but smile.
The four boys stopped in their tracks as they looked up at me with curious eyes.
"Good day Mr.Auditore." They chorused as I smiled brightly at the boys.
"Hi." I greeted.
From the corner of my eye I saw Hamilton approach his wife and gave her a kiss on the head as he looked down at his children with a proud smile. Before I could greet him there was a tug on my tail coat.
"Mr.Ezio, look at what I found!" Alex said as he held up a kite.
"That's wonderful!" I laughed as I had the kite shoved into my arms.
"Lair! I found it first!" James yelled as he looked angrily at his brother.
"Did not!" Alex said sticking out his tongue at James.
"Well whomever found it, it's a marvelous kite." I interfered with a smile.
The two young boys beamed up at me.
"The boys found the kite, I was the one who got it out of the tree." John said proudly as I laughed at his comment.
"How about you four go up and get ready for dinner." Eliza said stepping in as she smiled at the boys.
The boys cheered as they ran up the stairs tripping over themselves. I laughed to myself as I watched the energetic boys.
"Thank you for coming Ezio, we all enjoy your company." Hamilton said as I turned to his gaze.
"Certainty, I'm glad I can come visit." K smiled.
Suddenly their was a wail from across the room. Baby Philip Hamilton, proudly named after his eldest brother was waking up and wanted attention.
"Oh dear." Eliza sighed as she rushed over to the cradle picking up Philip and trying to comfort the fussing babe.
"Shush...there..there..it's alright." Eliza cooed as she rocked the baby.
I smiled as if filled my heart up with tender joy. Eliza walked over to us as she looked at me with a smile.
"Do you want to hold him?" Eliza asked cradling Philip.
"I..uh..sure." I stammered as I held my arms outstretched.
I tensed up as Eliza handed me the baby. It fussed and cried as I held it. I slowly sat down on the sofa behind me as I began to cradle it in my arms.
"There you go." Eliza smiled as I looked up at Hamilton and Eliza who looked down at me with great fondness.
I smiled as I looked down at the baby as it stopped crying and laughed, opening his hazel eyes, looking at me with an adorable smile.
I looked down at the babe as my heart tightened with joy. Thoughts of having my own children wandered through my head as I smiled down at the now sleeping Philip. Carefully and quietly Eliza picked up the baby and walked back to its crib. I looked up at Alexander as he gave me a heartfelt smile, his eyes saying everything.
"Hello papa!" Elizabeth greeted as she walked down the stairs eyeing me with a smile.
"Good afternoon darling." Hamilton turned his head as he watched her daughter with a smile.
"If you excuse me, I must finish preparing supper, I hope that you two can keep occupied in the meantime." Eliza said with a laugh before walking into the kitchen.
"So what are the flowers for?" Hamilton asked me with a smile.
"They're for Angelica." I smiled as I eyed the bouquet.
"You care about her don't you." Alexander said his eyes beaming.  
"Very much so, I do worry about her declining health." I said my smile fading.
"Thank you, you are her sunshine in her life right now." Hamilton said his voice breaking with emotion as he looked at me his eyes started to water.
A few moments passed as Eliza walked out of the kitchen whipping her hands on her dress as she approached the bottom of the stairwell.
"Dinner is ready!" She called up to her children.
I looked up in amusement as the Hamilton children came bounding down the stairs. First the tangle of boys then Elizabeth helping her older sister Angelica down the stairs. I grabbed the bouquet of flowers and hid them behind my back as I approached the young women. Angelica caught my eye as she gave me a soft smile.
"Good evening Mis.Angelica, you looked very lovely this evening." I greeted with a deep bow, she smiled, her eyes saying everything.
"I got these just for you Mis.Hamilton." I smiled as I brought out the bouquet of flowers from behind my back as the children gathered around us awed at the flowers.
Angelica took them kindly.
"Thank you." She whispered.
I gave her a loving smile as she walked past me with the help of her sister to the dinning room. I looked back at Hamilton and Eliza who had tears in their eyes as they smiled joyfully at me. I gave them a slow nod as I turned to the dinning room.
The children got situated in their places as I took a seat in the middle of them as Hamilton as Eliza took both ends of the table. We feasted on a wonderful diner of turkey and duck as the littler children giggled as they told jokes to one another as Hamilton, Eliza and I ate quietly amused at their silly behavior.
I kept an eye on Angelica. For the first time sense we've dubbed together she was eating tiny pieces of food slowly. I took that as I wonderful sign as we ate down the delicious meal.
Afterwards we all gathered around the living room as the children told tales as we laughed and shared a memorable moment together.
Soon the children were ushered to bed as Eliza made sure they were all in bed.
"Ezio, can I speak with you in my office?" Hamilton asked with a soft smile.
"Certainly sir." I said as I followed down a short hallway and into his office.
Hamilton paused as he looked down at some papers then looked up at me with a sad smile.
"I can't thank you enough.." Hamilton started his voice kind but small.
"Everything you have done for my family and everything you have done for me."
I smiled. I wasn't sure why he was telling me this now but I appreciated his kindness and thoughtfulness.
"Of course, thank you for your encouragement and leadership towards me and my career." I said with a gleam in my eye.
Hamilton nodded slowly.
"You've been a big influence for me, weaving me out of dangerous situations and been guiding me in the right direction, even though I can be suborn and ignorant at times." Hamilton laughed.
Hamilton paused as he looked at the flickering candle besides him.
"..I remember the day I first met you, and I thought looking at your encouraging smile that you were going to soar...and I was right." Hamilton said his voice quivering with emotion as he looked at me his eyes watering.
"Thank you Ezio, for being a leader and for being a friend through it all..." Hamilton smiled as he hugged me.
Surprised by his gesture questions fluttered through my mind as I hugged him back.
"No problem Mr.Hamilton." I sighed.
Hamilton rummaged through his desk as his smile faded giving me a letter. I looked curiously at it.
"What is this for?" I asked.
Hamilton paused as he looked up at me.
"You'll understand latter."
Hamilton led me out of his office as we walked back to the living room. Eliza was walking down the stairs as she met her husband giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"Thank you once again for coming over." Eliza smiled.
"Of course, I'm always happy to stop by." I said looking between the couple.
"I'll see you sometime soon." I added as I noticed Hamilton's smile face as he looked down at the ground.
"Thank you again." I waved as I opened the door and walked out into the night air.
Questions littered my head as I tucked Hamilton's mysterious letter inside my coat pocket as I turned to the Grange making my way back to the Burr's residence with a warm smile. The room shone overhead as stars sparked miles above.