Hamilton One-Shots: Book 1

Chapter Three ~ At The Steps Of Death ~ Philidosia ~ Historical

It was a beautiful autumn day. The leaves were falling ever so gracefully onto the ground. At least, in Theodosia's mind, they were. To her, each leaf was a dancer in one big presentation that lasted the season long. Maybe it was that she loved Thanksgiving. Or maybe because she was in love.

Philip Hamilton. Quite the rapscallion. But he was the rapscallion that stole her heart. Of course, her father knew his first name. She told him everything Philip and she did together. She just didn't tell him about Philip's family. That would just wreck their chances of ever living happily ever after.

Philip knew Theodosia all too well. Every weekday she goes to the same park, sits on the same bench, and sketches the same landscape. Philip says that they get better and better every day. Theo thinks he just says that to make her blush.

However, this was also the park that Aaron, Theodosia's father, took long walks in to clear his mind of Alexander, Philip's father. Luckily, Theodosia's special bench was right next to a giant oak tree that grew into the fence. That meant Philip could climb it, from both sides.

Philip quickly jumped down from the oak tree when Mr.Burr had begun his walk. Theodosia engulfed him in a soft yet strong hug. He picked her up by the waist, twirled her around and, as he put her down, planted a soft yet firm kiss on her forehead. He quickly reached into the tree and pulled down a bouquet of roses, ranging to colors of red, orange and yellow.

"Oh, Philip!" Theodosia exclaimed, "They're beautiful but why didn't you just bring them to dinner. It's only a few hours away." She looked up at him, her smile white and her eyes bright.

Philip scratched the back of his head and sighed. "Theo...I...Something very, very, very small came up. The tiniest thing. I'm gonna be a little late though." He sighed and waited to be yelled at.

Theodosia chuckled, "Oh my dear Philip. You made it seem like you were gonna die." She said, "Just be there sometime today, that's all I ask." She saw her father coming. "You must leave." She kissed him on the cheek and he was gone.

Aaron came up to his daughter. Thankfully he had not seen Philip, yet. He helped her pack her art utensils and noticed the roses. "Theodosia, darling, where did you get those lovely flowers."

"Oh!" Theodosia exclaimed, noticing the flowers were still there. Philip had left in such a rush, he had left them. "A friend of Philip's said that there were for me. Philip is stuck in exams until later father."

Philip walked out of his home, dueling pistols in hand. Richard Price met up with him, a bit shaken up by the thought of a duel. Not for his own sake, but for Philip's. He knew about Theodosia and the not-so-secret relationship. He introduced them, after all.

"Philip," Price began, "Is this really smart? Getting into a duel the same day you not only make your relationship public but meet an enemy of your father who is none other than your girlfriend's father? It's insane and if you get shot-"

"Who said I was gonna get shot?" Philip interjected, "My father is the smartest man I know, next to me, and he has a foolproof plan that ensures no one gets harmed today. See, that's why he was the right-hand man of our first president."

"Whatever you say, Philip, I just have a bad feeling about this." Price said as they entered the boat that would take them to the dueling ground.

A few hours later, the Burr family had already begun the Thanksgiving dinner, without Philip. Theodosia looked out the window while eating her food. She knew he was gonna be late, but this was way too late. Her father checked his pocket watch, he knew how worried his daughter was.

"Relax my dear," Aaron said, gripping her hand firmly, "He'll be here soon, I can sense it." He said smiling a warm and kind smile. Something Hamilton rarely saw.

Suddenly, a knock was heard at the door. Theodosia, overwhelmed with joy, ran to the door, to find, none other than.

Richard Price.

"Oh," Theo said, sighing a bit, "Hello Richard how-" She gasped mid-sentence. "Your coat, it's...it's covered in blood." She ushered him in to clean him off.

"Theo," he said, "It's about Philip." His sank back. "We...tried. We tried to save him, Theodosia. I'm so sorry." He went to get up, but Theo pulled him down, tears welling in her eyes.

"What do you mean, 'We tried'?" She asked a bit of anger in her voice.

Price had no choice, he explained to the Burrs how George Eacker bad mouthed Mr.Hamilton and Philip took great offense. He asked for an apology but there was no peace to be found. Burr, by now, knew Philip was a Hamilton, but his main concern was his daughter and what one this great Earth happened.

Price explained why Philip brought such nice flowers. In case that was the last time, they were together. He talked to his father who said to "aim his pistol in the air" and that Eacker would retract due to honor. That was not the case, however.

Eacker faced Price in a duel, with neither party being injured. Theodosia was thankful one friend survived, even though her heart had a hole where her soulmate used to be. At the duel, Philip took his father's advice and refused to raise his pistol to fire at the command to shoot. Eacker, following suit, did not shoot either. For the first minute, both men stood, doing nothing, both refusing to shoot. After a minute, Eacker finally raised his pistol, and Philip did the same. Eacker shot and struck young Hamilton above his right hip. The bullet went through his body and lodged in his left arm. In what may have been an involuntary spasm, Philip also shot his pistol before he hit the ground, but this bullet did nothing.

A funeral was later held. After the service four black dresses remained.

One hour after the service, a dress left: Angelica Schuyler-Church, his aunt.

Two hours after the service, another dress left: Elizabeth Schuyler-Hamilton, his mother.

Three hours after the service, a third dress left: Angelica Hamilton, his sister.

Six hours after the service, a dress had to practically be torn from the grave: Theodosia Burr Junior, his soulmate.