Ayyyyy final part! THIS CHAPTER IS INCREDIBLY GAY YOU GET SOME LAMS YOU GET SOME LAMS EVERYONE GETS SOME LAMS!!!!

"I am going to fucking murder Lafayette."

Alexander squirmed where he sat in the hard, wooden chair, loathing palpable as he glared at the ropes encircling his wrists and binding them to the arms of the chair, almost like he was hoping his hatred could burn right through them. He squirmed again, knuckles white.

"Alexander." He refused to look up, cheeks darkening when the other man in the room spoke up. "Alex, please, look at me." He obeyed, and was met with the concerned eyes of John Laurens. The freckled man was in a similar position to Alex, sitting directly across each other, their legs bound together and forcing physical contact. It took all of Alex's concentration not to flush again when he met John's eyes. "Do you know what's going on?" Alex bowed his head again, tugging forcefully on the ropes and muttering unintelligibly under his breath. He couldn't help thinking back to how they got into this mess, scowling at the fresh memories.

"Hey, Laf, where are we going?" Alexander looked up questioningly at the Frenchman he'd come to see as a brother. Lafayette just chuckled, raising a hand to the small of Alex's back to steer him in the right direction.

"Chut, mon ami, it is a secret. Come, Hercules and John will meet us there." Lafayette led him far out in the woods. Alex began to fidget nervously the further they got from camp, looking over his shoulder constantly.

"Laf, are you sure this is right? We're pretty far out, what if we get ambushed?"

"We won't."

"But-"

"Trust me, petit lion. It is safe." Seconds later a small cabin came into view. Lafayette gently, yet slightly forcefully with the hand on his back, led Alex inside. He wondered if it could even be called a cabin. It was one room, the interior bare and void of any furniture or decorations except two wooden chairs in the center, facing each other. Lafayette gestured for him to sit, and he obeyed. Lafayette took up position across from him, leaning against the wall behind the second chair. Alex continued to fidget, drumming his fingers against the arm nervously. Lafayette had said Hercules and John would be meeting them, didn't he? So where were they?

Just then the cabin door was thrown open and Hercules burst through, John on his heels. "See, John! I told you they'd be here! Stop being so nervous!"

"Please, have a seat, mon ami." Lafayette stood straight when John took his spot. Alexander couldn't help but squirm. John was so close their legs were practically touching.

"Hey." He drew his eyes to John's confused, smiling face. "Did Laf tell what they're doing? Herc wouldn't budge." Alex shook his head, allowing a tiny smile himself. John sat back with a huff. "Damn. I suppose we just have to wait it out. Hey, where'd they go anyway?"

Alex straightened up at that, suddenly more alert. John was right-Lafayette and Hercules had vanished. His eyes narrowed. "What are those two planning? I don't like it." He made to stand, but then hands appeared out of nowhere, shoving him back down. "What-hey! Laf, get off of me! What are you doing?!"

"Calm down, Alexander." He glanced over his shoulder, and his eyes immediately widened. Panicking, he began to struggle in Lafayette's iron grip as the Frenchman began to wrap rope tightly around his wrists. Distantly he heard John's own shouts of defiance and confusion.

"Lafayette, what the Hell do you think your doing? What is this, what's going on! Fucking answer me, Goddammit!" Alex writhed and bucked in Lafayette's grasp, but, even with his struggling, he was tied down in no time, arms straining around the thick cord. Lafayette then get on one knee, beginning to tie Alex and John's legs together, binding the two men to each other. Hercules joined him after a second, working on the other side. Alex and John exchanged looks before Alex kicked out at Hercules, but the bulky Irishman caught it, pinning it to the chair leg and hurriedly tied his side together. When they were done, Lafayette and Hercules stood, admiring their handiwork. Alex and John struggled fruitlessly, shouting curses in a slurred mix of English, French, and Spanish, respectively.

"Hamilton, Laurens, please, let us explain!" Hercules' tone was bordering on pleading. "We do have a reason for this!"

"Yeah, will it better be a really fucking good one otherwise I will report you to Washington! This is not okay!" Alexander was furious, ignoring the sharp gasps of both John and Hercules at his threat. He continued to struggle, not caring that his wrists were beginning to hurt.

"Alex, wait! Stop moving!" His movements stilled at John's voice, glancing up at his friend's face. John's eyes were wide with barely disguised panic, and Alex felt his blood boil. But then he grinned shakily. "Let's...let's hear them out."

Hercules clapped, making the both of them jump. "Great! Laf, this is your territory, so take it away!"

Lafayette shook his head, smiling. "We have noticed the way you two keep-how you say?-dancing around each other and decided to intervene." Alex flushed bright red but John just looked confused. Lafayette placed a hand on Alex's shoulder, meeting his eyes. "Seriously, Dites-lui simplement que vous êtes amoureux. La tension sexuelle est palpable." Alex didn't know how to respond; he just stared up the Frenchman, mouth opening and closing like a fish, as he turned away and walked toward the door, Hercules grinning at his side. "Work it out, mes amies! We'll be back in an hour or so!"

And then they were gone.

"Alex! Alexander!" He shook his head, knocking the flashback from his head at John's cry. John's freckles practically glowed in the sparse candlelight, making him appear so much younger, a sense of child-like curiosity within his eyes, his head tilted like a confused puppy. "What were you thinking about?"

Alex's face heated up.

My God he's adorable.

He shook his head, adverting his gaze. "Nothing."

John pouted. "Fine, don't tell me." A comfortable, albeit slightly awkward, silence filled the cabin. Alex fidgeted uncomfortably, acutely aware of John's eyes on him. The silence seemed to stretch indefinitely. Alex's mind was running a million miles a second. How did Lafayette and Hercules know about his stupid little crush? What should he say in this situation? How was Laurens so unaware of how adorable he was, with his little smile, and bright green eyes, the way he made a little squeal and shook Alex lightly whenever he saw a turtle because Aren't they the best animal, Alex? For Christ's sake, he was married. They both were! That didn't stop him dreaming though.

"What did Lafayette say to you?"

Alex blinked. "What?"

John was staring off into the distance. "Before he left. He said something in French, then 'work it out' and left. What did he say?"

Oh shit. Alex was never one to be at a loss for words. In fact, he continuously made other people at a loss, too busy talking himself. He never ran out of words. But, when faced with that question, with the cute little head tilt and how innocent John looked in this moment, Alexander Hamilton was reduced to a stuttering mess. "U-um, w-w-well, um, I-I-I-" He was cut off by John's laughter, ringing out in the small space. His blush darkened. "H-hey! Why are you laughing?" John's grin let up the room more than any stupid candles could, his eyes sparkling with something Alex couldn't quite place.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, it's just...I never thought I'd see you like this!"

Alexander immediately bristled. "Like what?"

"This! A blushing, stuttering, lost-for-words Alexander Hamilton. The world must be ending." Alex's eyes widened at the blush creeping up John's face. "Frankly it's...it's adorable."

"I...uh..." Internally Alex was screaming. What just happened?!?! "Um...thanks...?"

Oh my God I am such a moron.

John chuckled nervously, turning his head away. The silence stretched further, the tension between them growing until Hamilton couldn't take it anymore. He felt as if he would actually implode. "Just tell him you're in love!"

John's attention snapped to him. "...What?"

His face was burning. "Um...that's what-what Laf said...before he walked out...'Just tell him you're in love...' O-of course there was more tacked on to it but I'd rather not say that out loud if you don't mind." He smiled sheepishly up at John.

"Oh." John's face was completely slack. Alex felt his heart sink. Slowly, though, realization dawned on John, his eyes widening and his freckles-some day he was going to count all of them-were gradually buried beneath his blush. "Oh...! You...I...But..." He let out a disbelieving laugh, grin splitting his face. "You...you love me?"

Alexander didn't hesitate. "Yes, yes, oh God yes, from the moment a saw you in that bar, you were just so cute and you still are I could go on for day on how much I love your freckles an-and your smile and your eyes and how they sparkle when you're excited and that little noise you make when a turtle wanders into camp you're just so precious I don't want to think of how my life might be changed if you hadn't barged in." He grinned. "Whether I like it or not, you have made yourself a home in my heart and my affections and I don't plan on letting you go any time soon."

He carefully studied John's face. The other man seemed to be in some state of shock, his eyes locked with Alex's. He looked lost and confused, yet that something Alex still couldn't place burned bright in his gorgeous emerald eyes. "...John...?"

A sob broke through the air. Alex immediately sat straight, attempting to reach out to John when he was distinctly reminded of his bonds. "John?! Are you alright?! John?!"

"I love you, too!" Alexander jumped, not expecting the outburst. "I love you, too, love your laugh, love the way passion burns in your eyes when you're writing or talking and oh God I love your voice I could listen to you talk for days and I just love you, Alexander, everything that makes you you, I can't get enough of." John was crying, flushed, panting hard, his soul completely bared for him to witness and Alex had never seen someone more gorgeous than John Laurens in this moment.

"John..." Alex would be lying if he said he didn't shed a few tears himself.

The door chose that moment to burst open.

"Ah, I see you have talked it out!" Lafayette was grinning like the mad Frenchmen he was when he laid eyes upon his two prisoners. "I take it you are both finally on the same page?" Both Alex and John exchanged looks, blushed, then nodded. Hercules clapped happily.

"Finally! Laf and I were losing our minds watching you guys eye-fuck each other when you thought the other wasn't looking! If you're going to mentally strip someone, at least learn to do it more subtly!" He laughed when John's jaw dropped and Alex spluttered indignantly.

"Whatever, Herc," Alex managed to get out. "Just untie us? Please? Bastards." He made a show of straining against the ropes and flipping the other two immigrants off. Lafayette chuckled and drew his dagger sheathed on his belt, making quick work of the ropes.

"There! Now, will you two les amoureux be able to keep this very forbidden relationship a secret or are you going to get caught with your hands all over each other?"

Alexander responded by surging forward and claiming John's lips as his own.

Kissing John was so much more different than anything he'd ever experienced. Eliza's lips were always so soft, so pliable, while John's were hard, steady, yet still held a sense of fragility Alex didn't want to break. He was vaguely aware of John's hands resting on his cheeks, cupping his face, pulling him closer, and he reciprocated the action. They were breathing the same air, sharing the same life. John tasted of cheap military alcohol and...was that cinnamon? Whatever it was, Alex wanted more, more of John lips, more of just John, but not right now. Not here. Right now, he was content to just hold him close, with the sweet press of their lips, reveling in the moment. He didn't know when he closed his eyes, but when they parted for air, foreheads pressed together, and he slowly opened his eyes, he was greeted by the sight of grinning, almost drunk-looking John beneath him and all he could think was how much he loved this stupid, South Carolinian, turtle-obsessed man, and how much he wanted to stay in this moment forever. He didn't care that Lafayette and Hercules were cheering enthusiastically nearby, just watched in complete enrapture as John's eyes fluttered open, how they just seemed to pull Alex in drowning him in love-

That was it. That thing he could never identify in John's eyes when he looked at him. Love.

"Alex?" John's voice was breathy, raw, broken. His warm breath puffed against Alex's cheek, sending tingling sensations all along his spine.

"I love you." Alex's whispered words were for John only.

John connected their lips once more and Alexander had never felt such happiness in his life.