"Are you ready for this?" Burr asks as we walk through the halls of the big courthouse.

I nod. "I'm so ready to hear that man's punishments. Two months is too damn long to go with a slap on the wrist for the shit he did."

Burr nods slowly. "Right...Just keep in mind, he kind of manipulated the jury, they might not be as harsh as you want them to be.."

I sigh. "I know... I'm hoping maybe a couple of them had sympathy for Eliza and John and got the other jurors to agree with them."

This case has been dragging on for two. Whole. Months.

The jury couldn't make up their damn minds and then Francis got a helluva good lawyer who knew what she was doing and bringing new evidence into the case. Stuff I didn't even know.

John and I's relationship has been doing pretty good I guess, but lately he's been super secretive with me. Like, even more secretive than before this whole case started. I assume he's just worried about the outcome of this, so I kind of let it go.

Eliza and I have gotten even closer than before. She finally moved on and even found a new guy she's been talking to. She refuses to admit that she likes him, but I know Eliza better than anyone else.

Now, however, the jury had finally made a decision. Honestly, I wish he'd get sent to prison for life. I know it won't happen realistically, but I think it's what he deserves.

"All rise." The judge declares and everyone stands up. "The jury had decided that Francis Kinolch is to be convicted guilty of all charges pressed against him. He will serve 6 years in prison with no bail and pay a fine of $3,000, as well as participate in community service."

Francis frowns massively and I sigh. The officers take him away and as he passes me, John, and Eliza, he whispers, "This isn't over."

Eliza hugs me from behind the gate thing and I smile gently at her. "You did it...You won the case." She says happily.

"Thank you, Alex." John says, still sitting in his seat. He was smiling like crazy. "He's finally gone.." I hear him mumble.

"How about we go to dinner to celebrate? Us four, Theodosia, Theodosia Jr.," Oh yeah, Aaron's kid was born two months ago as well, "and anyone else?"

"Can I bring Martha? She knew about Francis and would be glad to hear the good news." John asks.

I smile. "Of course."

"Um...Could I...Could I bring Thomas?" Eliza asks shyly.

"Thomas Jefferson? Hell no!" I say, raising an eyebrow.

Eliza just giggles and rolls her eyes. "No, not Jefferson. Thomas Paine." She says matter-of-factly.

"Oh, you mean the guy you're crushing on? Sure, why not."

She crosses her arms. "I'm not crushing on him!" She defends.

"Come on, let's get going." Aaron says, chuckling gently.

Timeskip brought to you by naptime being centuries long

"Can we get a booth, please?" Aaron asks the waiter. "We have four more people coming."

The waiter nods and brings us to a bigger booth near the back of the restaurant. We all sit down and the waiter leaves us. "So, have you eaten here before?" Eliza asks us.

John and I shake our heads while Aaron just nods. "I've been here a few times with Theodosia. It's a really nice restaurant, kind of classy but not too fancy."

"Just my type, then." I chuckle. "Whenever John chooses, he always chooses either these high class restaurants our take-out pizza. There is no in between."

The other two laugh and John crosses his arms. "Not entirely true!" He says.

"I'd believe it." Eliza admitted.

"Hey, am I too late?" A masculine voice asks. We all turn our heads to see a tall man with an actually pleasant smile. I turn and see Eliza smiling widely.

"Thomas, you made it!" Eliza squeals, scooting over so there was room for him. He sat down next to her and then awkwardly smiled at everyone else.

"Um, hey guys. I'm Thomas." He says. "Uh, I guess you could say I'm a friend of Eliza's."

John sticks his hand out and Thomas shakes it. "I'm John, also a friend of Eliza's." He chuckles gently.

I then shake his hand next, firmly grabbing it. "I'm Alex, her best friend. You hurt her, I will find you." I tell him.

He seems a little worried but Eliza just rolls her eyes and slaps my shoulder. "Shut up, Alex."

"What? It's the truth!" I say, chuckling gently.

"I'm Aaron." Aaron introduces himself as he holds out his hand and shakes Thomas's. "Ah, and this is my wife and daughter, Theodosia and Theodosia Junior."

Theodosia walks up to us with her baby cradled in her arms and a bright smile on her face. She sits down next to her husband and shakes Thomas's hand politely.

"Nice to meet you...?"

"Thomas." He finishes her sentence.

"Hey guys! Starting without me?" A feminine voice calls. We all look at her and John chuckles, scooting over a little.

"Of course not, Martha. You're just in time." He says.

She blushes slightly and then waves at someone I couldn't see. "I hope you guys don't mind but I...I uh...I brought my girlfriend."

Everyone at the table smiles brightly, including me. "Girlfriend, huh?" John teases.

"Shut up, John!" She squeals. The girl we met when we helped Martha move into her dorm shows up next to her and waves shyly at us. "Guys, meet Davina. My girlfriend."

They both blush and I chuckle slightly. They were so cute and awkward together. "Well, there's always room for one more!" I say.

Aaron, Theodosia, John, and Eliza all look at me and raise an eyebrow. "Alex, what's that? Are you.. Are you opening up to people?" Eliza asks, teasing me.

"Yeah, Mr. Don't-Let-Anyone-In is welcoming strangers to have dinner with us?" John asks.

"Shut up you guys!" I cross my arms.

"Can I take everyone's orders?" The waiter asks, interrupting our conversation.

After we all eat and talk, John, Eliza, Thomas and I are the last ones to leave. "So, uh, how long have you two been together?" Thomas asks John and I.

"Um...A few months?" John says.

I shrug. "I dunno, but that sounds right."

Eliza giggles. "Pretty sure it's been more than a few months." She says.

"Yeah, technically we did date five years ago." John says and I send a subtle glare to him. "But you know, we don't talk about that."

I roll my eyes. "That's in the past, I'm more concerned with the present." I smile and kiss his cheek.

"Well, I'm just glad you two are happy together." Eliza says, smiling a genuine smile. I am so glad she was able to move past me, she deserves much better. Which, I guess Thomas is.

We've learned that he's trying to be an author. Writing some book called "Common Sense" and thinks it could be a bestseller. I don't think so, but who knows.

"Well, Thomas, it was nice to meet you. We've gotta get home, though." I say, smiling at the two.

John and I get up and leave the restaurant, walking hand in hand to my car. "You know, you should really get a car." I tell him.

"Why do I need one? The aquarium is walking distance, and I've got my own personal chauffeur to drive me around." He chuckles.

"First off, the aquarium is three miles from our house and second off, I am not your chauffeur."

"Whatever, I just don't think I need one." He States plainly. "Too much money to spend."

"True, true."

"You know what we should spend money on, though?" He asks, out of nowhere.

"I'm sorry, are you French now? Who is this 'we' you are talking about?" I joke.

He turns to me. "A wedding." He says in a dead serious tone.

I tilt my head. "A wedding? For who? Your sister? Listen John, I love you and your sister, but we cannot afford to pay for a wedding that may not even happen between her and her girlf-"

I'm interrupted by him grabbing my hands and kneeling down on one knee. I cover my mouth and he smiles. "I'm not talking about Martha and Davina, I'm talking about us."

I'm unable to say anything as he pulls out a box from his pocket and opens it to face me. "Alex, I know we haven't been together for very long, but I feel like I've known you my whole life..And if it's alright with you, I'd like to be with you for the rest of it. So what do you say, will you marry me?"

I try to say something but find that I can't and just nod excitedly at him. He smiles and sighs a breath of relief as he slides the simple band around my ring finger. He could afford a fancier ring, but he knows I don't like anything too showy.

He stands up and pulls me into a kiss, wrapping his arms around my waist. I kiss him back as I wrap my arms around his neck.

He pulls away and smiles as he looks back at the restaurant. "He said yes!" He squeals excitedly.

I turn my head to see Eliza filming us and I roll my eyes as she squeals and runs over to us. "Did you know?" I ask her.

"Of course I did, I helped him. Anyway, I will be coming over to your house this weekend so we can start wedding planning and I'm bringing Peggy with me."

"So she can help?" John asks.

"No, so she can't plan anything without my authorization. She tends to get a little crazy when it comes to weddings and babies and anything related to that." She says plainly.

John and I laugh at this and Thomas walks over, smiling. "Congrats, guys. I hope you two are very happy together."

I look up at John and smile. "We already are."

1697 Words

Next chapter is the last chapter and honestly, it's not done yet. I'll post it as soon as it's done, but just know it might not be tomorrow. This has been a great book, see you soon in the final chapter :)