Stuck In A Moment

"Ugh, you again."

Peggy and Stephen hadn't told anyone else about the wedding yet. They were going to hold a dinner to tell all their friends and family in a few days. They did start wedding planning though, and Eliza was ecstatic. Laurens was still on his usual schedule. He went to his classes and then walked back to the dorms. The walk was only about ten minutes. No big deal.
That is... until someone else showed up.

"John?"

Laurens turned around to see someone he didn't want to see. Not now. Not ever.

"Henry?"

"Can I talk to you... wait, did you just call me Henry?"

"Yes." Laurens stated. "You had the chance to be called dad and you blew it. Now what do you want and don't make me call the police."

"I'm not gonna hurt you, I swear. I just... wanted to talk somewhere." Henry said.

"Why should I talk to you?" Laurens spat. "After everything you've done to me and my family?"

"Please John. I need to do this." Henry replied.

Laurens thought for a minute. Trying to see what the best option was.
"Fine. I know a place we can talk."

Laurens and Henry went to the coffee shop which, at this time of day, was packed.

"Jeez, why'd you have to pick a place with so many people?" Henry complained.

"What's wrong, you don't like witnesses?" John asked.

"I told you, I'm not trying to hurt you." Henry replied.

"Yeah, and you didn't threaten to slit my throat either." John deadpanned.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't completely in my right mind. That's why I wanted to talk to you." Henry continued.

"And?"

"I wanted you to know, I have a nice two bedroom apartment. I haven't had a drop of liquor in a year. I am looking for a job, and I now have medication." Henry answered.

"How do you have an apartment but not a job?" Laurens questioned.

"It's a long story."

"Did you steal something to come up with the money? Did you kill the person who lived there before?" John joked.

"No, I really am trying here!" Henry snapped at him. "I don't want the child of the love of my life, my own son, to be afraid of me. That's a horrible thing to live with and I don't want it anymore!"

Laurens was silent for a moment. "I'm sorry. I thought you weren't really being serious."

"It's fine. You have every right to be upset. I know that. I just wanted you to know that I'm not a useless drunk anymore." Henry began. "And I don't expect to just be in your life again, but I needed to let you know that I'm doing the best I can."

"Well... the only advice I could give you is to get a job, and then maybe you could get your life back together." Laurens responded.

"Ok, I'll look into a job recruiter. Although my reputation doesn't help me." Henry said. "Thank you. For letting me talk to you."

"Yeah, I'm sorry for not taking this seriously at first." John apologized. He didn't forgive Henry, but at least he was trying to be better.

"I'll let you get going before your parents get worried."

"Yeah, I'm actually going to my ex girlfriend's house for dinner tonight because she has something exciting she wants to tell us."

"Ex? You got a girlfriend? When?" Henry laughed.

"One, ouch. Two, it was right before you almost killed me the second time." Laurens answered. "You know, when you got a second chance at being a father and failed once more?"

"Well, hopefully third times the charm." Henry rolled his eyes.

"You mean now or when you kidnapped me?" Laurens joked. "Too soon?"

"Too soon."

"Ok."

Laurens left a little while later. He made his way to Schuyler Manor. This should be fun.

"Hey." Peggy greeted him. "Where have you been?"

"Oh, I just stopped at the cafe. Just needed a shot of caffeine." Laurens fibbed. I mean, kind of.

"Ok, well come on. We were waiting on you to tell everyone." Peggy said as she tapped her glass to get everyone's attention.

"Tell everyone what?" Laurens asked.

"Stephen?" Peggy called and the man came over and stood by her. "Ok everyone. May I have your attention please!"

Everyone in the room stopped what they were doing and looked over at the couple. Peggy and Stephen had invited everyone they knew. The room was packed.

"Me and Stephen are engaged!"

Laurens died...

...on the inside.

He hated Stephen because of how much Stephen hated him. Stephen didn't want Peggy and him to be friends, and even though Peggy broke his heart, Laurens still wanted very badly to be friends with her. Now all that will go out the window for Mrs. Stephen Van Rensselaer. He was very depressed.

Everyone else in the room was very happy for them.

"Peggy, I'm so happy for you." Adrianne said as she walked over. "Have you thought about a date?"

"We were thinking June or July maybe?" Peggy looked over at Stephen. "Right babe?"

"Hmm? Oh, yeah sure. Whatever you think is best." Stephen said and turned back to the person he was talking to.

"Summer wedding sounds great to me." Jane added.

Alexander looked over at Laurens. He could tell he was happy for Peggy, but still upset at the same time. He went over and talked to him.

"What's up?"

"Stephen hates me. If he and Peggy get married I guarantee Peggy won't want to be friends with me anymore." Laurens sighed. "I don't know why I bothered. She broke my heart before, why wouldn't she do it again."

"I don't think she would. Stephen might want her to, but she's not Stephen, and you know she has a mind of her own." Alexander tried to cheer him up. "But if you really think so, maybe you should talk to her and ask for yourself."

"No, I'm sure you're right. I guess I'm just used to bad things happening that I always just assume the worst." Laurens said. "I do think she will be happy, and I guess that's all that matters."

"Good man!" Alexander joked. "Come on, let's get something to drink."

Laurens drowned his sorrows in rootbeer that night, feeling happy and upset at the same time. But he had no idea what was about to happen next.