!!Warning!!

(Charles POV)

°~Flashback~°

"I don't... plan on having children, anyway." Y/N mumbled. "It's hard for me to explain it, but I just... can't."
"Are you... unable to...?" I asked sympathetically.
"It's not that. I could, but if I did... Everything would be put to risk.

So what about you?" she asked.
"Me?"
"Yes. Would you start a family?"
I searched for something to look at, anything but her. "Well... uh... if my wife wanted to, then..."
"No, I'm asking for your personal opinion. Forget everyone else: if you could start a family at any given moment, would you?"

I scratched the sweat from my hands. For as long as I could remember, my father had treated me like a man. I was no boy in his eyes. I took care of my mother and sister whilst he worked. Though, once he'd returned home, he'd tutor me on my compulsory future. I'd be a "chivalrous gentleman", with a "fine wife", alike my mother, and to "produce vigorous offspring".

There was nothing more I aimed for than to be like him. Y/N... She reminded me of her. Of my mother. The kind of woman I was expected to marry. To have children with. I loved her more than I could ever love myself.

But... There was nothing that I would force her to do.

"...Then yes."

"I'd love to."

°~End Flashback~°

I'd never played Rolling The Hoop before. Joining the Dame, nobody wished to befriend me. Nor I befriend them. Therefore, the only reassurance I had was Valentino. Yet still, at the start, she had merely one friend.

Whilst my sister and I shared consolation, I shared my privilege with Y/N. Just as I'd treated the others, I paid no heed to her, hence why I put her in the hands of Valentino.

Some would say that was a dreadful decision, whilst others would say it was simply faultless.

Valentino forced me to endure the suffering of communication; she saw something in Y/N that I hadn't the ability to see. Not until the day she came back from the war that I truly realised. The day that I...

...Enough of it. Of this day, I was a man of 19. Valentino was blossoming into a young woman, having turned 13 in March. She crossed the outline of sticks set within the street, winning the game. She wielded her hoop around in victory and bounced back to me. "Did you see that, brother?!" she squealed. "Did you?!"
I chuckled. "I saw it, Val."

The others joined in another round, but Valentino laid her hoop down. She sat beside me, with her head rested on my shoulder. "You should join us! Instead of being so... miserable..."
"Val, I'm grown now. When we can afford it, we'll move into a house of our own. Meanwhile, you still have time."
"Oh, imagine all of the games we can play in our home!"

Sighing, I wrapped my arm around her. "Val... You're maturing into a woman. Games... They will be of no benefit to you. Society will... take advantage of your innocence and merriment, and that's the last thing I want for you." A sharp pain was sent through my back. I scrunched my eyes. "Why don't you try reading a b--"

My throat suddenly became blocked. I jostled away from my sister and coughed. The back pain relatively increased, and with every cough, my chest burned. "Charles?" Valentino put her hands beneath my arms. As if someone were choking me, my throat tightened. I found it harder to catch my breath, spluttering over my hand.

The blood.

"C- Charles?!!"

I closed my quivering hand away from Valentino, but I couldn't hold my breath for long. I fell to my knees, gripping the edge of the brick wall as I coughed. Droplets of blood painted the street. "L- Let's go inside-!" Valentino slid her arm under mine. I bowed my head down to shield myself from the children, latching myself to the door.

I'm sorry, Y/N.

~

(Y/N POV)

"Letters for you, Miss." the man announced at the door.
"Thank you." I kindly took them from him. I quietly made my departure back into the house.

"Anything for me?" Emily asked eagerly.
"No..." I presented the two letters. "For me and Alexander."
"Who from?"
"We'll have to find out." Eliza was gardening, and Alexander was in his office... writing. Nothing unusual about that.

I traced the red stamp on my letter as I tread up the stairs. Directly in front of me, the door to the office. Three knocks. "Come in." Alexander permitted. I smiled as I entered, placing his letter beside him. He dipped his quill back into the jar of ink, focused on the letter.

"Any idea who it could be from?" I wondered.
Like I had, he traced the red stamp. "...If my four years as aide-de-camp have proved valuable, this is from General Washington." He glanced to check mine; the very same form of letter.
"...What can he want with me?"

We broke the stamps in half, unravelling the letters for ourselves.

Miss Hamilton,

I wish you have been well over these months.

I took a seat on the opposite side of Alexander.

Our previous convocation, as suggested by your behaviour, was not as salubrious as you may have anticipated. For that, I take all responsibility, and find it crucial to apologise. To Mr Fernández, also, for I pray I did not exasperate him that night. He is a striking gentleman.

I believe that you are aware of the situation in which L. Col. Hamilton was redirected back to your home. Mrs Hamilton bares a child, and I could not be as gratified as I have became. Congratulations to your family! I should hope to become a father of my own family soon.

In other matters of our discussion, there is an offer that I am willing to present to you. It has been conversated across Congress, with arguments to the effect of the reputation of our country. Alas, a conclusion has been made, under the agreement of Congress.

You may not wish to continue with this, however this conclusion has been made on the survival of our nation. Nevertheless, if you do choose to carry forth, this will not affect your personal representation. You will be assigned under the protection of Congress, and I will be there to lead you as I once did.

Therefore, could we tempt you with the option to accompany us in war?

We require an urgent response as soon as this letter arrives.

- G. Washington