King's College (Sequel to Too Young and Blind)

Meeting Frances Eleanor

John

To say I was nervous was a drastic understatement. School had just ended so I was going to meet this small child, this baby, that Alex and I were thinking about adopting. I felt nervous and I had found myself behind Alex as we walked through a high-end orphanage, he had paid for Frances Eleanor to go to a good orphanage since there are hundreds of terrible orphanages around.

I could hear children everywhere screaming and laughing and crying and coughing and talking and fighting and playing. I looked around and felt sorry for most of these children, sure they were alive and being taking care of but they'd lost their family and had little to no support once they turned eighteen.

"This is her room," Alex whispered. I stiffened up and nodded, watching him pushing the door open. I followed him and Alex took my hand, we passed by crib after crib with multiple children inside. We stopped in front of the one at the end and Alex said, "This is her. Frances Eleanor."

I looked into the crib and I swear my eyes widened incredibly. Her eyes were so beautifully green, her hair was curly brown though they were tied back into two tight ponytails. She had tan skin like mine and Alex's since we both have Puerto Rican heritage and she was covered in freckles, "She's beautiful." I mumbled and picked her up gently.

Frances Eleanor blinked, "Mjah." She said and began to pat my chest gently. I felt myself giggled and I held her close, "Hi there." I whispered.

"She looks a little like me," I said and looked at Alex with a smile, "She's so pretty. I love her, I love her so much. Can we adopt her?" I bounced the small child again and she kept smacking my chest but I didn't mind.

Alex nodded instantly, "Yes! Yes, we can!" He walked over and rubbed Frances Eleanor's back, "I mean we'd need to move out of the dorms soon and get an apartment or house and she needs her doctor's appointments and her vaccinations. The orphanage doesn't do those since it's too much money. We can sneak her into the dorms until we find somewhere to live though and this can be my birthday present, really, I don't want anything else." He kissed Frances Eleanor's head after saying that.

I nodded, "Of course." He had planned this for a long time, "Oh and I want her to know Spanish because being born in Puerto Rico is still apart of her life." I don't know why but I feel like making sure she stays near her heritage was important, I don't want to be the reason it's stolen from her.

Alex nodded, "Okay. I want to learn it too. Oh! And an update on In the Heights, it's being picked up at the Richard Rodger's theater and we're doing auditions soon."

"That's great!" I kissed his cheek gently, "I'm so happy for you. This is going to be great but if they make you sign a contract make sure I see it and Washington does too before you sign it. I've heard people have been scammed out of their creations through contracts." I mean it was something I saw on YouTube with what happened with the Battlefield contracts but I'm sure people have signed contracts before about something they did or made and in the end, the contracts probably made the creator come off on the bad end of the stick.

Alex nodded, "I will and don't forget that I'm studying for a law degree, I can take care of myself." He smiled and I narrowed my eyes, "Don't make that face! I'll be sure to show you and dad. I won't do shit by myself." I knew I shouldn't hold up all of my expectations of him coming back for help or advise considering who Alexander Hamilton is.

I kissed his cheek and looked back down at Frances Eleanor, "Your daddy is making a future hit Broadway show! How do you feel about it? It's about people like you! Puerto Ricans and immigrants and Hispanics and people from the Dominican Republic!"

"Daba!" Frances Eleanor shouted in response making us laugh harder than what was expected but that's apparently how she felt about the up and coming In the Heights. I really can't wait to see Nina's songs! She's my favorite character.

I looked at Alex, "Who's your favorite character in In the Heights? Mine is Nina, she's so versatile and her story is hella easy to relate to. Is she still with Benny though? Like do they get married?" I was really curious.

"Uhhhh," Alex hummed a little bit and shrugged, "I like Usnavi which is why I made him the main character of course." He smirked, "But they might be together or not. College relationships are something you know a lot about, aren't they?"

I smiled and nodded, "I know a lot about college relationships actually and you do too." I then kissed him gently and he put his arms around Frances Eleanor and I as he kissed back, I still can't believe this kid has the same name as the daughter I have wanted for years now.

Frances then reached up smacked Alex's chin, her little fingers grazing across my cheek as she did, "Fab!" She shouted loudly and tried to push Alex away from me.

I laughed and separated from the kiss, "I guess she doesn't want us to kiss while holding her. She's very vocal." I told him and kissed his cheek which made Frances Eleanor shout again.

"Aww, she's so mean! I like kissing you though this isn't fair," Alex said and frowned, crouching slightly to be at Frances Eleanor's level, "Why won't you let me kiss my boyfriend?" He asked.

"BWLUAH!" Frances Eleanor shouted back and he started laughing again, standing back up, "We need to get back to the dorms." He decided.

"I don't want to leave her here," I realized and rubbed Frances Eleanor's back, "It's like...it's like I'm leaving my daughter with strangers who I don't know will be concerned for her best interest and stuff." I looked down into her big green eyes, "I want to take her with us."

"We can't," Alex sighed and gently took Frances Eleanor, kissing her forehead as she tried to hug his face making us both smile, "It'll be considered kidnapping so we can't unfortunately."

I sighed, "Come on, let's go sign those papers." We both gave Frances Eleanor a kiss and a hug, we put her in the crib again with quiet I love yous before we left.

I had to actually put my hands over my ears as she began to cry and I found myself wanting to run back and hug her and apologize for leaving her but I couldn't. I wish I'd already signed those damn papers so I could take my baby home.