Washington was sitting at his desk, scribbling at a piece of paper in front of him. A pair of glasses sat at the bridge of his nose, and he looked up as I stepped inside the room. He got up, and my heart pounded, staring at awe at the person in front of me. He was just as much powerful as everyone described him -- how could he not, in his navy blue suit and sword at his side -- and I got chills as his eyes met mine.

"Who are you?" Washington asked suspiciously, drawing his sword, and I snapped back to reality. "I am Rose Indenza, messenger from the Shadow Group. It is my greatest honor to meet you," I said, curtsying. Washington glanced at me and then his butler (that's what I assumed the man who led us up here was,) who nodded in confirmation. 

Washington's face then broke in a grin, and he bowed to me, Josie, and Oliver before beckoning us to four arm chairs by the stacks of bookshelves and fireplace in his suite. I sat in one of the soft, plush seats and fought the temptation to fall asleep. Josie and Oliver sat beside me, and the butler stayed in the room, busying himself by cleaning up Washington's desk, but I had a suspicion he was staying so he could hear what we were going to talk about.

Washington then sat on the chair opposite Oliver, and gave us a smile creased with worry lines, and it was then I noticed the dark circles around his eyes and the worry that hollowed in his pupils. That's when I knew I had to make this journey quick; not only because of my newfound popularity (in the worst way) but because Washington needed to get back to his army as soon as possible, and I wasn't going to stop him.

"I want to thank you for coming here today. I know it is not easy to travel during these times, especially with Miss Indenza's face on every wanted poster here from England." Washington said kindly as we settled, his fingers tapped together. "You probably know who I am, but it would be quite rude if I didn't introduce myself. I am General Washington, leader of the American troops." He said, and I bowed my head.

"A pleasure, General. I am, as you already know, Miss Rose Indenza, former fiance of General Cornwallis, daughter of Maryanne Indenza, and esteemed member of the Shadow Group." I said, and Washington cracked a smile. "Fiona has told me plenty about you already in our letters Miss Indenza, and your just as she described you; determined and passionate." He said, and I blushed.

Before I introduced Josie and Oliver I snuck a glance at they're faces and saw they were both in the same sort of shock of meeting the General Washington, as I was. Josie was looking at Washington with a look of shyness she always had around new people, while Oliver looked at the American General with a look of awe and utter respect.

"Thank you for having us here sir, it is such an honor. I am Mr. Oliver , and this is Cornwallis, Miss Josie Lockwood, soon to be Josie Cornwallis." Oliver said, and I forced a smile on my face. Josie had never mentioned Oliver's last name, and this was the first time I heard it, and the irony was such a punch in the gut it took my breath away.

I knew Cornwallis was a popular name, but I couldn't believe that the man I was falling in love with last name, out of all names, was Cornwallis, the same one of the man I just escaped.

Oh the irony.

"An honor, General." Oliver said earnestly, and Washington shook his hand, shaking me out of my thoughts. "A real pleasure to meet you," Josie said, her voice trembling but eyes calm and cool. Washington nodded at her, and then turned to me once more. "Excuse me Miss Indenza, we shall catch up, but before may I take a look at the package you have brought me from Fiona and the Shadow Group?" Washington asked, and I nodded.

"Of course Sir," I said, handing him my trunk. My heart pounded as Washington looked through the supplies, wondering if  we had covered everything he needed. But too my delight Washington's eyes lit up as he saw all of the supplies we had given him, and I felt that well-anticipated pride fill my insides until I was glowing.

"Thank you again, this will help our army so much." Washington said, and I nodded. "Mind to tell me a bit about your journey? I am quite intrigued and I don't have to go back to the troops until tomorrow, and I will just spend the night worrying if I don't have something to chew on." He said, and I nodded.

"We can all tell it," I said, and the others nodded. Washington settled back in his seat and gave me his full attention, and Oliver, Josie, and I took turns telling about the full story. I started from how my family became close to the royal family and how General Buckingham had manipulated me into engagement and how I then found the Shadow Group and joined and about the betrayal and how I eventually boarded the ship to Virginia and joined Josie here.

Josie then went on to tell about how the soldiers cornered us in the square, how Oliver and I helped save her, and Oliver talked about how we all ended up on a carriage with Ken to New York to deliver the supplies. Washington stayed silent and deep in thought the whole time, occasionally muttering something about my ex-fiance or letting out an "ah," during key points of the story.

After we were done telling our tale Washington discussed politics with us as the candles died so that we could barely see our faces. The main topics we talked about were how the army was doing, (not what the American army's next move's should be, and tactics in battle. Oliver looked like he was in heaven the whole time, while Josie occasionally put a two-sense in, but mostly listened. I could tell she was growing tired, but I wasn't ready to leave just yet.

I still couldn't believe that I was in General Washington's suite, (General Washington's, the busiest man on earth,) talking politics with him, (which as a woman that didn't happen often) and having him listen to me. It was the best feeling, and even though I knew we had too leave soon I didn't want too. But soon it grew so dark we couldn't see, and a dreadful feeling filled my stomach as I sighed and prepared myself for goodbye.

Just as I was about to make to leave, Washington stood up and began to pace, and for a fleeting moment I wondered if he already knew what the "secret weapon" that Fiona had given him was. I was dying to know but wasn't going to ask, and was hoping he was going to tell us.

I was interrupted from my thoughts as Washington pounded his desk, making me jump. My eyes flitted to his desk, where ironically, the letter and "secret weapon" laid open, the note inside crumpled. Well now he knows what it is, I mused, resisting the urge to grab it and read it's contents. I looked up at Washington instead, who was pacing.

"That's it!" He said, eyes flashing with triumph. "I know what we have to do to get a leg up on the British." Washington cried, and Oliver's eyes shined with anticipation while Josie's grew dark, for a reason I didn't understand. "What is it General?" I asked, but Washington was already throwing his coat on, too in deep with an idea that he didn't respond.

"Will you stay here for a week? I know this is sudden but I need you too stay here for a while if my plan's going to work." He said, his fancy formal manner now turned into a slur of boyish words. I turned to Oliver, who nodded eagerly, and to Josie, who nodded as well, though less enthusiastically. "Yes, of course." I said, and Washington threw on his hat and grabbed his sword.

"Wonderful." He turned to his butler, and beckoned him forward. "Seamus, please find them a room." He demanded, and the butler bowed his head. "Yes sir," he said, and Washington nodded. "Good. Now I must be off to my army, I have to tell them my plan as soon as possible. I will return tomorrow to talk to you all about the plan and what to do." He told us before leaving the room, coattails flying out behind him.

"Come with me," Seamus said as soon as Washington was gone. We filed out of the room--I noticed Josie's lips pursed in a frown and couldn't figure out what her deal was--and let Seamus lead us to an empty suite with three plush beds and a desk. "The outhouse is down the stairs and behind the building. I'll send breakfast for you tomorrow," Seamus said.

"Oh, Mr. Seamus, we have a friend waiting for us outside in a carriage. Can you inform him what's going on and give him his own room?" I asked, and Seamus nodded before bowing and leaving the room, leaving Josie, Oliver, and me alone.

The moment Seamus left Josie threw her hands up in the air and rolled her eyes. "What's wrong Dearest?" Oliver asked, a slight edge to his voice. Josie whirled around, and I spotted a few tears in her eyes. "Oliver, we're supposed to be home by now. We're supposed to be waiting for the war to be over, waiting until we can get married." She said, eyes narrowed, and I felt my stomach squirm.

I had an idea I probably shouldn't be hearing this conversation.

I sat on the bed hastily and began quietly sorting the clothes out of our trunks that Oliver and Josie had covered up, occasionally sneaking a glance at the couple's fiery faces. Oliver's cheeks were turning red, and I felt butterflies flutter inside of my stomach. He's quite cute when he's angry, I mused, then instantly regretted the thought as Oliver slammed his fist on the wooden desk, making the ink bottle rattle.

"Josie, we are not doing this again." He warned, and Josie angrily pulled her hair out of her bun, letting it cascade down her back. "Oliver, you are playing the same game you promised you wouldn't do after my parent's died. You are making rash decisions and not thinking about the consequences!" She said, voice rising.

Oliver wringed his hands, eyes flashing. "Is this about 'me being too obsessed with my work' again? Josie, I give you all of the attention you could possibly want. How much more do you want from me?!" He asked, and tears began to roll down Josie's broken face.

"All I am saying is that we should be on our way home by now, before someone gets hurt or worse, and you're putting us in danger." She said, voice trembling. Oliver spun around, locking eyes with his soon-to-be wife, and I could tell she had hit a nerve.

"Oh so I'm the bad guy now? I'm putting us in danger? Josie, we are in the middle of a war. People are going to be in danger! And I refuse to sit around and let the war rage on around us without doing my part and helping because you're too scared someone is going to die ever since your parent's death and your sulking depression!" He lashed out, and Josie lifted a hand to her mouth, tears streaming down her face.

"Josie..." Oliver began, and I watched with wide eyes as Josie threw her trunk across the floor, and fixed her gaze at me. "Rose, if you need me I'll be in the other bed in Ken's room." She said flatly, before throwing her ring on the floor and leaving, slamming the door behind her. An awful silence filled the air, and Oliver stared at the spot on the floor where Josie's ring lay, eyes glazed over.

"I didn't mean it." He whispered, letting out a sigh that seemed to take the life out of him. I stood up, heart hammering, and knew I should go after Josie. Knew she was already feeling self-conscious about leaving Oliver alone with me, knew she was crying, knew she needed me more than Oliver did. But Oliver seemed so broken, so upset, and I patted the bed opposite of me. "Sit down." I invited, and he did, running his hands through his hair.

"It's just... she's so frustrating sometimes!" Oliver said angrily, eyes blazing. "Does she think I don't want to get married? I was the one who said we should do it now! She was the one who wanted to wait! How does that make me in the wrong?" He asked, and I let out a sigh.

"I'm sure you've noticed that Josie's fallen into depression." I said, and Oliver's eyes clouded over with sorrow. "Yes, I have. It's because of this fight she and her parents had, and then them dying shortly after." He explained, and I nodded. "I know. When it comes to Josie, you have to be patient. She's been through so much lately..." I swallowed, forcing back the tears that threatened to spill out of my eyes.

"She used to be so carefree. When we were younger she'd always be the patient one, the one who always had a solution, and it's killing me to see it be the other way around." I confessed, and for a fleeting moment Oliver's expression turned into one of happiness. "That's the girl I fell in love with Rose, the carefree, beautifully strong woman who I spilled wine on."

He said, and we exchanged a glance full of longing for that old Josie, each for different reasons, and for a second I forgot all about him being Josie's fiance and leaned closer to him. "Tell me about your childhood." I asked, and Oliver sighed. "Well I grew up in the slums Boston, and my father died of a malaria outbreak when I was seven." He said, and a hand flew to my mouth.

"I'm so sorry," I said, and Oliver shrugged. "I didn't know them very well, but it was quite a tragedy for my older brother. We were very close, and when the school house teacher recommended taking me to a house he disagreed and got a job to save up money to take a boat to England. Our family had no money, so by the time he saved up enough money I was eight.

And ironically--I still kick myself for this today--the day the boat was supposed to leave the teacher had me stay after school to clap erasers, and when I got home my brother and mother was gone.

They'd gone on the ship without me, and I ended up staying in Boston until I was seventeen, where I saved up enough money to board a ship to Virginia where I could find work in the fields." He said with a wistful sigh, and I could tell he was lost in his memories like I often was.

"That sounds rough. If it's any better, my childhood wasn't that much better." I said, and Oliver cocked his head. "But you had Josie." He said, and I sighed. "It's more complicated." I said, and Oliver looked at me with his hazel eyes, making my heart melt. "Tell me." He said, and suddenly I was pouring out my entire life story to him, and he was listening.

It was so easy to talk to him, so easy to just let everything go, and when I was finished he had an understanding expression on his face, and his eyes glinted in the moonlight, reflecting the sympathy in them. "I didn't even realize how hard Josie's depression must be for you Rose, especially since you're like Josie's sister and with everything you've been through without her. I've been selfish, and I hope you can forgive me." He asked, and I gave him a tender smile.

"Of course, but I think Josie is the one who needs the apology. She was in the wrong for lashing out of course, but I think we need to cut her some slack. Her parent's death's are still fresh, she's just been told she wouldn't be able to go home for another week, and she's just escaped nearly dying." I said, and Oliver nodded in agreement.

"You're right Rose, you're right. It's just hard too, you know? I love Josie, but to be completely honest Rose, I'm holding back. I want to give her everything, I want to be the husband she's always wanted, but it's so hard when my heart is tugging in a different direction." He said, and as he did his eyes locked with mine, and without thinking I took his hand, watching as his gaze settled on our fingers laced together in the dim candle light.

"Josie's just needs some time, she'll come around." I whispered, and Oliver looked me in the eyes, an unreadable expression on his face, and I shivered as I realized Oliver hadn't pulled away from my hand. "I...I know. And I'll apologize. I just need some time too..."  He paused, and my heart hammered in my chest as he fixed me with his hazel gaze. "Figure out my feelings."

And then he was coming closer, and suddenly his fingers broke from mine, and they moved to my cheek, where they caressed the edge of my lips with a thumb, before letting a strand of my hair fall through his fingers like Charlie used to do to me... and suddenly my mind was a whirlwind of the toxic love Charlie and I had shared, and my heart was suddenly bursting with a feeling so different from what that was, and then my eyes were closing and our lips collided.

His were soft and light, and tasted like spearmint. The kiss was light and brief, but it made my heart fly and head spin with a feeling I was completely foreign with, a feeling I didn't know well.

Love.

But just as quickly and beautiful as the kiss  came it went, and when we broke apart Oliver raised a finger to his lips, eyes wide with a mix of love, regret, and sorrow. "Rose..." He began, but I stood up abruptly, head spinning.

"I have to go." I said swiftly, and like coming out of cold water, I left him standing there, ran into Josie's room, where she was fast asleep on one bed and Ken sat on the edge of the other. "Hi Rose. Did Josie and Oliver fight?" Ken asked bluntly, and I nodded blindly. "I'll stay here, you can sleep with Oliver," I said blankly, and for once Ken didn't give me a scathing look, but instead left without saying anything, sensing the distraught and wonder that engulfed me.

When he left I put my head in my hands, peeking through my fingers to look at Josie's graceful sleeping figure, and a wave of guilt so powerful crashed over me that I clutched my stomach, feeling sick. I kissed your fiance; the words bubbled at my lips, begging to be said, but I swallowed them down and flopped onto the bed instead.

I lay awake for hours, a mix of feelings keeping me awake until exhaustion took it's course, Oliver's hazel eyes the last thing I thought about before I drifted into sleep.