(Y/N POV)

"May I present to you: the Hamiltons!"

Whilst the children followed behind their parents, I walked arm-in-arm with Emily. I recognised few of the gentlemen here as acquaintances to Alexander; they had worked alongside him in the field of law. Often they were invited to meetings at our home, hence why I was so familiarized with them. The majority always asked to meet me, knowing of my efforts during the war.

"Alexander wants us to find a suitor and yet they all looks like pigs in a farm..." Emily observed. Although she could still be her irritating self, Emily's behaviour had matured as we had both aged. She prioritised herself with the family, becoming especially close to Junior. However, there was something in Philip that peaked her interest. Maybe it was that, for the strangest reason, he resembled John. He had the same locks, the same freckles that John had. Therefore, she formed an immediate attachment to him, despite his independence and will to only be around Angelica and Frances.

"Hold you tongue, Emily." I chuckled. "We must blend in with the commoners."
Eliza and the children found themselves our table. Alexander excused himself from them, wandering on over to us. "See anyone to your liking?" he questioned.
"No." Emily stated bluntly.
He sighed. "We must try, girls-"
"And we will!" I lied. "We just need time to... look around!"

"Mr Hamilton!" An older gentleman, around my height, approached us with another man. "Allow me to introduce you to my son, Francis."
Francis was presumably around our age. He had a beard covering the entirety of his chin and the sides of his face. He had cold eyes that scanned us both, like he were choosing between two separate outfits. Immediately, I did not take any liking to him whatsoever. Clearly, Emily did not either, a distressed look engulfing her face.

Alexander bowed to Francis in respect. Francis responded in the same manner, though without even a smile or tinge of happiness. "May I ask this lady here for the first dance?" he pondered, spreading his hand out toward Emily. Still linked to my arm, I felt her shudder. 'This lady here'... He was treating us alike objects, a commodity for his own personal use until it was worthy of disposal. I was tempted to draw her back but knew that I had barely any say in this matter.

"Of course! You have my permission." Alexander wasn't a fool; he could identify an unworthy man when he saw one. Yet alas, right now he seemed to be blinded by the perfection of his family. This was everything that he could ever dream for. And I believed that it would take a great deal of strength to draw him back to consciousness.

Francis offered his hand out to Emily; she had no other choice than to accept. She unwillingly placed her hand into his, wandering off at his command. Alexander was distracted in a conversation with his supposed father, so I made a swift run for Eliza. She was organising the children into their designated seats, and since there appeared to be not a single high chair available, she sat James upon her lap.

"That man, do you recognise him?" I asked her, signalling at Emily.
"...No, I don't believe that I do, dear-"
"Please, when you can, keep your watch on him."
"What is it?"
"Just from that look in his eyes, there is something that I deeply despise about him. Emily felt it, too."
"Could she not reject him?"
"Alexander had already given his consent for her hand."
Eliza sighed. "That man..."

"Ma, can I go dance?" Junior asked.
"Of course you can, dear, but stay close to the table, alright?"
"Thanks!" He pounced from his seat and onto the outskirts of the dance floor.
"We're going to dance too, Ma!" Philip announced, taking Angelica and Frances by the hand.
"Be careful, Phil!"

~

I clapped as the dance came to an end. The entire time, I'd kept my focus on Francis. Emily hadn't enjoyed a single aspect of it. Before Francis got the chance to talk with her, she finished with a courtesy and scuttled back to us. "I never want to do that again..." She put her face into her hands.
"Was it... bad?"
"Bad?!" she critisized. "It was much worse than bad... The entire time, he just stared without a word! He wasn't any fun, he was just strict!"

"At least we can understand why he hasn't been courted yet." I joked.
"Sophie, that's not such a nice thing to say." Eliza lectured, chuckling at the same time.
"I'm sorry, but it's the truth! Any man who hasn't been courted at our age I feel has something to hide. There is no hope for us, unless we want to marry a gent born a decade after us. Or one who has lost his wife and is simply searching for a replacement..."

"You should not speak in such a way, Sophie, you're objectifying yourself! We have minds that speak for themselves, men have no control over our say. You demonstrated that in the war."
"Yeah, so all the men just pick the easy option: me." Emily grunted.
"Ah, lay the blame upon me!" I laughed. "Though honestly I deserve it..."

"May I present to you: President George Washington!"

Everyone rose from their seats and broke out into applause. Washington entered with his wife, Martha, greeting a man from across the room. I recognised him... Thomas Jefferson. I had met him briefly as he was about to depart for France, the day that I could only remember because of...

I certainly could not remember him from my time in the future; I only knew that I could once remember him. I was fond of him... Perhaps he was going to be Alexander's friend. Therefore, I should find it somewhere tonight to become acquainted with him.

After meeting all of his peers on the opposite side of the room, Washington led Jefferson over to meet Alexander. They seemed to like each other, as far as I could tell. They both put on smiles that... appeared genuine? Especially Alexander. Jefferson was a popular name around New York; it was unlikely that some people wouldn't know immediately who he was.

"And the Hamiltons!" Washington exclaimed. He kissed Eliza's hand. "You have made a fine job of raising your children, Mrs Hamilton!" James gazed up at him, unsure who this strange man was. "Hello there, little one." Washington tickled the side of his cheek.

Philip emerged from nowhere, tapping the President on the shoulder. As Eliza was about to comment on his rudeness, Philip bowed rapidly as Washington turned to face him. "My father says that I'll be like you someday!" he declared with pride.
"And I'm sure that you will!" Washington smirked at Alexander.

"Though how could I forget these two young ladies?" Washington kissed Emily's hand and patted me on the shoulder. Since my war efforts, he treated me with the honour of a soldier and still the respect of a woman. "How are things?"

"Good." I replied. "Though it seems that Alexander is trying to find us a husband." I murmured.
"Or a 'suitor', as he calls it." Emily added in.
"Hm... Since when did Alexander have a taste in men?" Washington joked. "He cannot even make up his own decisions most of the time, let alone your own. Take it from me: do not listen to a word he says. You are capable of making your own choices now."

He peered back to Jefferson, uninterested in Alexander's conversation. Whatever it was.

"I'd suppose that I should rejoin with Mr Jefferson. Do not hesitate to greet him whenever you would like tonight. I feel that Alexander and he will become close."
"We will, Sir. Thank you."
Washington tipped his head, walking away to dismiss Jefferson with him.

As he turned from Alexander, Jefferson and I met eyesight.

His eyes were unclear... Ones that I could not understand.

~~~~~~~~~~

SCHOOL'S FINALLY BEING CLOSED ON FRIDAY WHOOP-