So This Is Life

Chapter 4

Heyyyyy. Okay, so, um... enjoy this chapter. Oh yeah, so I had a moment in RE today when we were looking at scripture, and we looked at the bit from One Last Time. I teared up a little. Whatever.

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Madison's p.o.v

Washington was waiting for us in the office. His arms were crossed over his chest, and he leant back in the chair, observing us, scrutinising us. Thomas looked about ready to die, and I was pretty uncomfortable.

"So what fantastical bullshit story have you two conducted to keep Thomas off the telly?" he sighed, leaning abruptly forward. The chair groaned like a zombie in a horror movie. "Because I am telling you now, boys, I am not in the mood for it."

I could literally feel Thomas wanting to say we can tell, but he held his tongue. I wordlessly handed over the precious ultrasound photos- I'd been keeping them in my pocket- and a phone number.

"What's the number for?" the President asked irritably.

"If you don't believe us," I replied, taking a deep breath. "Sir, Thomas is, uh, pregnant."

Washington stared at us for a moment before bursting into laughter. We both looked at him strangely as he wiped his eyes.

"That's a good one," he chuckled. I felt more than a little offended, and pushed the number towards him. He stopped laughing, looking at me in confusion. I simply motioned to the number. "Oh, you weren't joking."

Picking up his desk phone, he dialled the number, glancing up at us skeptically.

"Hello?" he was silent for a few moments. "Oh, Franklin! How have you been?"

I was surprised. I didn't know he knew Franklin. "Yeah... look, I'm calling about Thomas Jefferson... yeah, he says he's pregnant..."

He chuckled again, but stopped abruptly. "W-what!?" he spluttered. "H-he's actually pregnant!?"

He was silent again. I crossed my fingers behind my back. Thomas was standing as straight as a poker, and as I looked at him, I could see a small bump just beginning to form. Barely noticeable, but everything to me.

Washington seemed utterly gobsmacked as he thanked Franklin, gently placing the phone back in the receiver. He sat, staring at the floor for a few minutes, contemplating. Thomas was still standing, his body so stiff that his muscles were beginning to shake with the strain as he teetered dangerously forward. I leant a soft hand on his shoulder, and he managed to relax a little.

"I believe congratulations are in order," Washington finally said, looking up at us with a huge grin on his face. "How many weeks?"

"N-9," Thomas stuttered, collapsing in one of the seats and pressing two fingers to his neck to check his pulse. I wasn't phased. He'd been doing it a lot. Washington handed back the ultrasound photos, which I pocketed once again.

"So, no TV interviews," he said, laughing a little. "Will cabinet meetings still be alright?"

"Should be," Thomas replied.

"Would you like to tell everyone else?"

Thomas glanced at me, and I gave him a small nod which said do what you want.

"Sure, why not?" he shrugged. "But no press!"

The Virginian veteran nodded solemnly, and quickly called Hamilton, Burr, Jay and Adams. Thomas called Laf and Herc.

Guess we were announcing, then.

Jefferson's p.o.v

It didn't take long for everyone to get to Washington's office. It turns out that Laf and Herc were out with the Schuyler sisters and Maria, so they came along for the ride. Yeah, Laf's moved over here now. Anyway, James had our mothers on speakerphone, and the office felt very crowded, claustrophobic, even.

"So, um, thank you all for coming," James said nervously, as if he were starting a very important meeting. "Everything you are about to hear is true, and does not leave this room, is that clear?"

Everyone murmured their assent.

"Well, um..." James stumbled on his words. My grip on my cane tightened. "Thomas is pregnant."

There was a moment of stunned silence before shrieks of delight burst from the phone; I could hear my mother jumping around.

"I FINALLY HAVE A GRANDCHILD!!!" she yelled.

"You already have 4, Ma," I giggled.

"Oh, shut your gob," she countered.

"Congrats!" Eliza squealed, bouncing over and hugging me, being careful of my leg and my stomach. "How's morning sickness treating you?"

"Like a bitch," I replied, smiling at her. The other men in the room, except Laf, that is, seemed dumbfounded. Peggy and Maria were fangirling royally.

"Mon ami!" Laf exclaimed, hugging me next. "C'est incroyable! [It's unbelievable!]"

Many more congratulations were given, and by the end of it all, I was utterly exhausted, barely able to keep my eyes open. My head drooped, and I kept nodding off.

"Thomas?" James said quietly as my head nearly hit the table. I jerked up just in time, yawning and whispering about something or other. "I think we better go home, yeah?"

I nodded groggily. James bid everyone farewell, and we went home as I continued to talk to my mother.

"Aw, baby!" she squealed. "How far along?"

"9 weeks Ma," I said, unable to keep the smile off my face. "Why are you not questioning this?"

"You know not to lie to me," she brushed off. "Is the baby healthy? Are you healthy? How's James?"

"The baby's fine, I'm fine, James is fine, we're all fine," I replied, starting the car up. "Look, Ma, I gotta go, I'll call you later, yeah?"

"Okay, baby, talk to you later."

I ended the call and pulled out.

Madison's p.o.v

Honestly? I didn't trust Tom to get us home safely. We barely got out of the car park when I instructed him to pull over.

"Why?" he groaned, pulling over anyway. I grabbed my phone and called Hamiltrash.

"What?" Hamilton growled.

"Hello to you to," I said, raising an eyebrow. "Look, can you drive us home?"

"Drive yourself home!"

"I can't drive, and Thomas is probably going to crash. Please?"

Hamilton huffed, and I could hear him tapping his feet.

"Okay, fine," he sighed. "Where are you?"

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Hope you enjoyed!!