The next morning I woke up feeling more refreshed then I had in years. Maybe it was that I'd been sleeping on a boat for a month or that I was finally back at the place I'd been wishing for for years; but whatever it was I was feeling like a million euros.

I woke to weak sunlight filtering through the windows and the beautiful, gorgeous silk of sheets. As I climbed out of bed my body groaned with restfulness, and I made sure to make the bed nicely, and lovingly caressed my pillow before putting it to rest. Then I got ready for the day and slipped into something much more comfortable than my usual clothes I wore at the palace; a dusky blue work dress with a white apron.

And I couldn't help but smile to myself as I brushed and braided my hair into a long braid down my back; it felt so good to not curl my hair every morning. Then with a slip of my coffee colored shoes I walked down the stairs to see Josie making breakfast and Oliver talking to her between sips of coffee. "Washington's desperate; he needs supplies, soldiers and a miracle if he's going to make it out there." Oliver said, stifling a yawn.

Josie was half-listening and just nodded. "That's nice dear. Oh good morning Rose! I have breakfast for you." She said, handing me a plate of eggs and bacon. I thanked her and devoured the food, listening intently as Oliver continued to speak. His words had reminded me why I was really here; too deliver the trunk full of supplies that currently rested in my room upstairs to Washington's army.

Maybe Oliver could help me I thought as he continued to ramble on about the colonies, using his hands to gesture a point. "Arnold Benedict's suspicious to me; everyone loves him but I think there's something fishy going on." He mused. Before I could help myself I dropped my fork to my plate with a clatter and stood up excitedly. "Maybe Washington should have a solider spy one day, report any suspicious behavior." I suggested, and Oliver looked at me in surprise.

"You like politics Rose?" He said, and I blushed. "I-I'm sorry. I know I was out of place to speak, but it was just a suggestion." I mumbled, feeling embarrassed at my outburst. I expected Oliver to roll his eyes and disregard me like most of the men from England would, but instead he turned to me with a look of interest etched across his face. "That's a very interesting idea. I'll remember that." He said, pulling out the same pad of paper from last night and scribbling something down.

"You have a smart friend love," Oliver said to Josie, giving me a friendly wink. I felt my insides glow with pride, and I ate the rest of my breakfast with a smile on my face. No one had payed me a compliment like that for a while. After breakfast I stood up to help Josie with the dishes, and as we scrubbed them I couldn't help but wonder what Josie's normal day was like.

"So what's on the agenda for you today?" I asked, and Josie let out a small sigh. "Well, Oliver doesn't have any work today, and I was hoping we could all go tour the town since you haven't been in so long, but I just received a letter that my Women of the Revolution meet was rescheduled too today."

"Women of the Revolution?" I asked, and Josie blushed. "Well, it's sort of like your Shadow Group, but it's not as dangerous. Me and some other women come together every Monday to sew and create care packages for the soldiers in the war. We always meet on Monday's because it's seems to be the less busiest, but of course today is the day it's rescheduled." She said as we dried the plates and stacked them.

"Josie, I'm so proud of you! You're truly helping the revolution." I said, and watched as my friend smiled, which warmed me even more than Oliver's compliment. "Thanks Rose. It's the least I can do while you risk your life everyday in England." She said, and now it was my time to blush. If only she knew how little I did risk and how much I really had.

I tsked and patted her hand, pushing my guilty thoughts away. "Oh stop it Josie. While you're gone I can get some chores done around the house and we can go 'explore' tomorrow. I also have to deliver a letter to the Shadow Group that I arrived safely, so we can do that tomorrow as well." I said, when Oliver stood up and put his coffee mug in the sink.

"That shan't be necessary! Darling, enjoy your meeting. I'll take Rose around the town, show her some spots, and then take her to deliver her letter. Josie told me all about you and the Shadow Group Rose, and I can't say I'm not impressed. And while we're out and about we can brainstorm some ways to get your trunk to New York, too." He said in his cheery manner as always, and I saw Josie's eyes flash with relief.

"Really Oliver? That would be wonderful. Oh, and you can buy some new fabric for me. The calico print specifically, and you can ask Rose is you get confused. She knows what I like." Josie said with a wink, and Oliver nodded his head, grinning at me. "I'll be down in a second, I'm just going to grab my satchel." He said before disappearing upstairs, his coattails trailing behind him.

I tore my gaze from where he once was and turned towards Josie, who was humming a tune as she wrung out some laundry. "Have a fun time today Rose. You deserve it. But be careful; I haven't heard about you're disappearance yet, but you must, must be careful." she said warned, and I kissed her cheek before pulling on my gloves and waiting by the door for Oliver.

While I did I took a piece of parchment and quill from Oliver's desk spot and began to write my letter.

Dear Big Mama,

I have arrived safely. The journey was hard and I had to make a few promises to some sailors that I broke, so if they ask about me I'm trusting you to take care of it. I'm currently figuring out how to deliver the trunk to New York, but rest assured, it will get there soon. I'm also very interested in how you ever covered up my disappearance and how everyone is doing, so please do write back soon.

Greatest luck and sincere regards,

-Princess

I then solemnly folded the letter and put it into an envelope, slightly smiling at my choice of titles for us both, beside the seriousness of the letter itself. I stood twisting the envelope around my hands until a few minutes later when Oliver came down the stairs wearing a new suit and holding his satchel in one hand, holding out his arm to me. I took it and he opened the door, calling "Goodbye Love," over his shoulder to Josie, and I waved to her, and then we were off.

The December chill was freezing, and it iced my insides until I felt like a human ice box. I couldn't help but long for the carriages I used to have that would take me to where I wanted to go, but then I pictured Washington and his army trudging through snow barefoot and I instantly shunned my thoughts away.

"Cold isn't it?" Oliver said in an amused voice, and I nodded. "So Rose, here's where I think we'll go today. First we'll drop your letter off at the post office, then we'll go to the seamstress and buy some new fabric for Josie, then we can get some food from the nearby pub and take it to the garden for a nice luncheon. Is that okay with you?" He said, and I smiled at him.

"Sounds wonderful," I exclaimed, and Oliver suddenly stopped. "Is there something wrong?" I asked, and Oliver laughed. "On the contrary, it's something quite funny. Your accent... I didn't even notice it until you said wonderful like 'wondervul.' Funny how only after you spend an hour with the person do you recognize it." He mused, and I laughed.

We continued to walk, and over the time our arms loosened and were both separately at our sides. The silence was creeping in and I felt quite awkward, but Oliver seemed fine. He was whistling a tune under his breath and looking around at the wintery trees and flurry of snow that began to fall from the sky.

"I wonder how Washington's army is doing." I said, and Oliver let out a long sigh, his hazel eyes scrunching up as he did so. "Well, the answer is not good." He said, and I decided to risk a chance at continuing the political conversation. "We know they need guns and supplies, but the real question is what the world is doing to help them." I said, and Oliver nodded in agreement.

"Exactly Rose. And to be honest, they aren't doing much. Alexander Hamilton is stuck in the office writing and recording for Washington, while Thomas Jefferson's traipsing around in France." He said, and I tilted my head in agreement, and he smiled. "But with people like you and the Shadow Group giving information to the colonies from England we have an even more upper hand." I grinned, letting the warmth of his compliment warm me.

I watched as Oliver opened and then closed his mouth, and I nudged his shoulder. "What is it?" I asked, and he shrugged sheepishly. "Well... Josie told me about you playing a double agent and being close to the King and his family and being engaged to the General of England... and I couldn't help but wonder... how was it?" He asked, and I cringed at the thought of Charlie's dark eyes.

"If you're not comfortable saying that's fine, I was just curious." Oliver said, his eyes widened in concern for hurting my feelings. "Oh it's fine, it was just the memory I didn't like." I said, and Oliver nodded. "Well, being the general's fiance was-" I stopped mid-sentence and looked over at Oliver, who was looking and listening to me intently, as if I was Washington himself, and I decided I wasn't going to lie to him.

"It was definitely not fun. I had to be fake all the time, and Eddie didn't truly love me. He loved his work instead." I said more bitterly than I intended, and Oliver stopped and put a hand on my shoulder. "I'm really sorry about that Rose. That must've been terrible." He said, and I felt my skin tingle when he lifted his hand off my shoulder.

An awkward silence filled beside us, and this time there was no denying the emotion that crackled in the air. When the quiet became so terrible I thought I was about to burst I broke it when I gave him a small, sly grin. "Oliver, tell me about how you met Josie. She never told me." I said, and Oliver grinned even as he stumbled and his boot became full of snow.

"I met Josie in quite a funny way actually. We were at a party and she was in the corner of the room, dancing by herself, and I was earning money by handing out drinks. I noticed she didn't have one so I went over to give her one when I spilled the drink all over her." He said, and I giggled so hard that suddenly I was buckled over, tears streaming down my face.

"I bet she just loved that." I said when I recovered, and Oliver smiled. "Oh yes, she just loved red wine all over her white dress. I apologized about a thousand times before she pulled out a new dress from her purse and smiled at me before saying "I never really liked that dress anyway," and going to change. That's when I knew I loved her, for her resourcefulness and her kindness." He said, and I pushed down a twinge of jealousy at the true love in his eyes.

"So yes, that was how we met." He said simply, and questions bubbled at my lips. I wanted to ask him how he was handling Josie's depression, how it really happened, and more questions about the revolution and his childhood. It was so easy to talk to him, to open up and just idly chat and laugh so un-lady like without him caring. Josie was right; he treated me as an equal, not just like his wife, and that was a quality that didn't come by in a man very often.

But unfortunately for me we had rounded the corner and arrived to the center of the Virginian city, where people and carriages mulled about, picking up packages and rushing to get out of the snow. "Alright, let's get started with our journey!" Oliver said cheerfully, and began to walk across the street, beckoning me with his hand.

I followed him, a little shyly, since I hadn't been in the city for so long and was a little uneasy about the busyness of it after dealing with the quietness of England for years. But after a glimpse of Oliver's confident face I felt myself relax and let him lead me to the post office.

The post office was a large gray, brick building with men and women running in and out, carrying letters and packages to drop off that would be delivered by horses and ships. "Follow me," Oliver said with a wink, and I stifled a giggle at his boyish nature and followed him in. Inside the building seemed more intimidating, with tall walls like prison cells.

Huge buckets lined the walls, bursting with letters headed all over the world. I stayed close to Oliver, and let him take me to the front of the room, where a man with wrinkled olive skin and bushy black mustache sorted through mail with stubby fingers.

"Alejandro! My man." Oliver said, leaning against the glass barrier that separated him and the mailman. "What do you want Oliver?" Alejandro said with a suspicious raised eyebrow, and Oliver laughed. "Why so grumpy Al? Mrs. Garcia got you going crazy?" He said, and Alejandro let out a slew of Spanish words I had a guess weren't very nice.

"Si, she keeps demanding we move in with our grandchildren during the war! But I don't want too, I don't need no one to act like I'm too old to fend for myself." He muttered, and Oliver bobbed his head in sympathy. "Yes, yes Alejandro, tell me about these woman. Now how about I have Josie have a talk with Alyssa and we can get things sorted out, sound good?" He said, and Alejandro gave Oliver a look full of relief.

"Gracias Senor Oliver. I can't take care of her myself. Now how about we get that letter of your friend's delivered to the quickest route, to show my thanks?" He said in a more cheerful voice, pointing at the letter in my hands and Oliver grinned, handing him it. "Excellent. Thank you Alejandro, tale care!" He said, and Alejandro waved as Oliver led me outside as quickly as possible.

"Before he changes his mind." Oliver said with a sly grin, and I rolled my eyes playfully. "You sure know how to get what you want." I said teasingly, and Oliver shrugged his shoulders. "That's my gift. And besides, it's always trouble when it comes to Alyssa." He chuckled, before beckoning me towards the street once more. "Come on, next stop the seamstress!"

I let him take my hand and pull me to the seamstress, where I picked out a nice calico pattern for Josie and bought a satin blue one that would look beautiful on her that I could give her Christmas. Then Oliver took me to some other shops, where we goggled over the expensive prices and swapped stories about England and Virginia between shop-hopping.

I even bought a necklace I planned on sending to the Shadow Group as a Christmas gift, and when Oliver and I were too tired to shop any longer and our throats were scratchy from talking so much he led me to the pub, which wasn't much different from the pub in England. British soldiers still filled the insides, and Oliver had me stay outside while he ordered so that I couldn't possibly be recognized.

Then I helped Oliver carry the plates of food (which I knew my mother wouldn't like, she always said to eat food right when you got it before it would get cold if you didn't) behind the pub and around a few other buildings before we emerged into a beautiful garden with overgrown shrubs and drooping flowers coated in a gorgeous snow and two stone benches in the middle.

"Oliver it's beautiful!" I said, and Oliver nodded proudly. "This is where I took Josie to ask her to marry me." He said, and I felt my stomach twist for an unknown reason. "Nice," I said, coming out a little more forcefully than I would've liked. Oliver raised an eyebrow, and I laughed it off nervously. "Just hungry," I said, and Oliver laughed before sitting down on one bench and patting the other.

"Come sit Rose, the foods getting cold." He said, and I sat down on the other bench and took the plate of food from him and began to eat. The food was good; the meat tender and sweet, and the potatoes crisp but soft. "This is very good." I said as I swallowed, and Oliver nodded in agreement. "One of my favorite pubs."

We sat in a comfortable silence, eating our food until our plates were clean, and then Oliver pulled out a pad of paper from his bag. "Okay Rose, it's time we think of a way of getting that trunk of yours to New York." He said, and I nodded, ready to find a solution to the problem of getting the supplies to Washington.

Oliver sat thinking for a second before beginning to speak. "I think I have an idea-" He began, when a cry sounded from behind the bushes. Fast as lightning Oliver stood up and pulled a dagger from his bag, and I balled my hands into fists, heart pounding.

"Come OUT!" Oliver commanded to the unknown figure in the bushes, and I held my breath as a man emerged from them, twigs and leaves littering his hair. As Oliver's gaze met the man's his jaw dropped, and he dropped his sword and heartily shook his hand. "Ken! What are you doing here? I thought you were in New York!" Oliver said, shaking his head in astonishment.

But Ken wasn't in the mood for pleasantries. His brown eyes were wild, and he pushed his musty blond hair away from his forehead, hands trembling. Instantly Oliver recognized something was wrong, and his eyes narrowed.

"Ken what's wrong?" Oliver said, his voice thick with worry. Ken took a deep breath and then paled as a cannon could be heard from the distance. "Ken what is wrong?" Oliver commanded again, his voice now taut with a mix of anguish and worry. Ken looked at Oliver with fearful eyes, the same eyes that I had when Greg betrayed us so long ago.

"The British are attacking."