Requested by: ruff1258

"One beer, please."

Tapping the edge of the bar, Washington waited for his drink to be prepared. Drunken men were cheering about nonsense, raising their glasses about. He held back any sort of reaction when one of them broke a glass.

"A beer for you, sir." The bartender shoved the glass of liquid across the counter. Washington nodded his head politely before taking the beverage. His hands involuntarily shook as he took a quick gulp. Once he had downed part of the drink, it seemed like all his worried washed away.

The more he thought of his newly married soldier, the more he wished to see Martha. So long had it been since they'd seen each other.

Consulting himself, the General kept his place at the bar. He barely flinched when some men tried to grab him and push him towards their section of the pub. Being as gentle as he could, he declined their offer.

Only a few seconds had passed, when the door to the pub slammed open. He couldn't hide his curiosity, so he looked over his shoulder at the men who had entered. When he recognized the quartet of men, he stifled an amused laugh.

Arms draped over his friends, Alexander sauntered into the pub. It was clear that he had been already drinking before he arrived. His friends helped him to a seat. The four of them continued hooting about his marriage when they had managed to sit down.

Washington forced himself to mind his own business. But the young men were talking awfully long, so he believed it wouldn't hurt to eavesdrop.

"You're married!" One of them couldn't seem to believe it. Alexander calmly smiled and just nodded his head. It was obvious he couldn't believe it either.

Another one chimed in, hitting the newly wed's shoulder playfully. "You have a whole life ahead of you with her. A family, a legacy to leave behind. This is the woman you're going to spend the rest of your life with." There were some more hoots and hollers.

The General heard some whispering between the men. He resisted the urge to get up and walk over to them. If anything, their attitudes would change the second he interrupted. So it was best to just stay put.

"Let's raise a glass, my friends. To my future with Eliza. And to the future of our to be freed country!" The entire pub erupted in cheers at this. Not a redcoat in sight to disrupt their celebration.

Washington took a longer drink from his glass, patiently listening. Alexander was giving a toast, most likely different to the one he had given only an hour or so ago. He spoke of independence to come and the destruction of the pathetic redcoats.

Even though he agreed, he couldn't help but worry for the newly wed. If he kept talking with such passion and excitement about the subject, someone would surely shut his mouth. And he didn't want the boy to face it the difficult way.

Pushing his glass back, wrapping his coat around his shoulders, the General rose from his spot. He kept his face hidden as he headed towards the door.

But just as he reached the door, inches from the knob, Alexander said something that caught his attention.

"May Washington guide us in the direction of this freedom! The future is in his hands, as much it's in ours. He's the man who will forever be remembered in our history, even if our narratives are demolished."

The future is in his hands. Washington found himself frozen in the doorway of the pub. The conversation had moved on to talk of their marriage again, but he could still hear the words clear as day. Alexander was right. He was the one who they were depending on to make the decisions.

He pushed his way out of the pub before he heard anymore. Walking faster with more purpose, the General felt his head pounding all of a sudden. Stuck in the position of keeping hundreds of people safe, promising them a future without the British, and maintaining an organized military, he was lost.

The thought of failure struck him. He could just as easily fail as win. But that wasn't the way to think at all. It wasn't the mind of a proper General.

Washington covered his mouth as he walked, to lessen his heavy breathing. He never wanted to be in this position. To be the one who made the final call. To whom everyone relied on.

All he really wanted in that moment was to see his dear Martha again. She was the one thing in the world that made him feel alright. But until he'd see her again, he was alone in the land of right and wrong, with only his instincts to save him and the future of the country.

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A/N: Thank you ruff1258 for the request! I really liked writing more of Washington, building him up from part one, and of course just getting to continuing this one shot.