Laurens grinned at the lover that laid at his side, fingers brushing through the soft, red hair of the Caribbean man. Hamilton had been cuddled close to Laurens's chest, keeping warm in the cold winter. 

Aides (and others of high status) were able to stay in these cabins freely, while most of the other men simply stayed in tents, using what little material they had to stay warm, and the constantly burning fire. 

Had it been their full plan to set up that late? Not at all. 

Winter set in fast, and the brittle army had already been suffering. It hadn't been too cold that winter, the evening itself held fairly still, but it had been the first in a while to drop temperatures as low as these were.

Temperatures that Hamilton hadn't quite been prepared for. So Laurens offered to lay beside the man, allowing him to gain from his own body heat. 

Hamilton had been quick to accept the offer from the Carolinian man, laying at his side, just happy to have someone to be close to. 

Laurens had simply been happy that, for once, Hamilton had been resting instead of pushing himself to work, pushing himself to be ahead. He pressed a kiss to the smaller man's forehead, resting his eyes as his arms rested firmly around the other. 

As he drifted, he could've sworn he felt Alexander pressing closer. 

...

A couple of thuds had caused both men to rise from where they had once laid. Laurens sighed, breath fogging in the cool air of the cabin. Hamilton grimaced at the sight. "Did the fire die down?" 

"Must've..." The blonde answered tiredly, letting a soft sigh follow. He looked towards Alex, nodding his head to the side, asking the man to stand. 

Hamilton stood from the bed, the cold quickly finding its way through his thin stockings. It felt like he was walking over ice and snow with bare feet, though many men have had to do that. There's been some cases, that he could recall, where the men's feet had been blistered and frostbitten to the point they bled into the snow. 

The thought only caused him to shiver more.

"Why must the ground's temperature seem colder than the air?" Alexander muttered to himself, wrapping a blanket around his shoulders. He hurriedly moved to get his boots, but froze when he heard a thud, followed by Laurens groaning. 

Turning around, he seen the blonde ducking down, clutching a certain spot on the top of his head. The support beams of the ceiling ran low, and it was fairly easier for those who were taller to knock their heads against them. 

Amused, Alex couldn't help but laugh. "What was that? Fourth time this week?" 

Laurens sighed, shaking his head, soft laughter following soon after. "Yes, and it seems to hurt more each time I do it. You'd think I'd learn." 

"Well, yes. If you hit the same spot excessively, it's going to hurt," The redhead mentioned, "and, to be fair, it's not quite locked into your memory yet. I do believe the tents seemed to be easier to navigate." 

"Seemed to be? They were most definitely easier to navigate-... And at least I didn't hit my head on the ceiling each time I had risen." 

"You have to see, though, that this is a privilege the higher-ups get. Staying in cabins during the winter."

"Yes, poorly insulated ones."

"Really? It doesn't seem much of a bother to you-" 

"I'm used to the cool weather. I went to England for awhile. Granted, I had only gone for education. I came back to join the Patriotic cause." 

"That makes sense." Alexander offered his blonde comrade a smile, sitting back down on the bed, quick to tuck his feet back under the blankets before the heat had completely gone. 

Laurens nodded, soon settling himself back down beside Alex, slipping his boots on. 

"Are you going outside?" 

"Going to go see what's going on out there. Maybe check out and see if there's anything worth eating."

"Be careful. We have no idea if the ground is icy or not-" 

"There's a good inch or two of snow out there. Plenty enough to support my weight." Laurens explained, adjusting his overcoat. He slicked a hand back through his hair, pausing, debating upon if he should tie it back, or simply leave it down.

Cool weather is bound to leave him with frostbite or an ear infection. He thought for another second, quick to leave his hair down.

"I'll be back in here in a bit. I might run into Marquis, you know how talky he can be." 

"Particularly talkative when he's excited." 

"I sometimes can't comprehend how Washington can so easily handle the man." Laurens chuckled, grinning softly at the image that popped into his mind. "Well, I have an idea." 

Hamilton leaned back against the bed, laughing. "Mind to give me a rundown?" 

"That-... Alexander, you know what I have in mind. Or you should, anyway." Laurens stood again, ducking his head low enough to avoid smacking into the ceiling. He sighed quietly, looking to Alexander with a cheeky grin. 

The redhead had began laughing, just having a good time. "I must say- that would be one hell of a way to control a Frenchman."

"I'd say so." Laurens grinned, "As well as a certain redhead that I'm quite fond of."

"Oh- hush-!" Alexander laughed, making Laurens smile. 

The blonde reach the door, pulling it open. 

"Oh- wait! Jack!" 

"Hm?"

"Mind to hand me my ink and quill as well as a few papers? I have some correspondence to catch up on!"

"Oh, come now, Alexander. You can wait until later. This is the first day we've been work-free in ages. Take some time to relax. With the amount of time you spend overworking, you're practically bound to get yourself sick- or in trouble." 

"In trouble?" 

John perked a brow as he glanced back at his lover, an unamused glance across his expression. Alexander glanced away, appearing in concentration. 

"I could easily get in trouble, hm?"

"You could... Now, go get some rest. You don't have to sleep darling, but I do wish for you to relax. For just today."

"For you Laurens, and you only." Alexander smiled, leaning back on the bed. 

Laurens smiled, looking away. He stepped out of the door, feet soon hitting the couple inches of snow, giving a satisfying 'crunch' in return. He hated to admit it, but he loved the sound, he had since childhood. He pursed his lips, avoiding wetting them, fearful of them becoming chapped and sore do to the cold. 

The blonde tucked his face into the light scarf that draped his neck and he smiled at the small bit of warmth that it granted as he walked. The snow around the cabin seemed clean and untouched, and it easily reflected the light of the sun, almost making it blinding in certain spots. 

"Ah! Monsieur Laurens! Comment ça va (how are you)?" 

"Monsieur La Fayette. Greetings! I am well." Laurens greeted the man, offering his hand to the other, shaking it. "How are you?"

"Je vais très bien (I am very well)!" The Frenchman grinned, almost shaking in his spot. Laurens laughed at this, simply shaking his head. 

"You're awful happy, Marquis. Speaking more French than English! What has you in such a... exuberant, giddy mood?"  

"Oh! There's much to be excited about Monsieur, very much! I mean! Look around us; how spectacular!" Lafayette cheered, his green eyes tracing the sky above them. A clear blue, not a single cloud touching it. 

"Why, yes. I do say that it is incredibly lovely. You are quite the chipper one, aren't you?" 

Laf only shook his head, and grinned. "Do I not have a reason to be happy?" 

"Well, with the way things are looking, we're in a supply shortage..." Laurens began, "And I'm not too sure on how well Nathanael Greene and his hunting party have been doing."

"General Washington, however, has been contacting the Congress, has he not?"

"He has, but there's no more to expect from those lazy bastards than a poor retort. This military will have to fend for itself unless General Washington gets on his hands and knees and begs for the supplies. Even then, that congress wouldn't supply it."

"Ah..." Lafayette hummed, now looking towards his blonde friend. "Where's Petit Lion (Little Lion)?" 

"Alexander? He's still in the cabin, resting I assume."

"Resting? Alexander? Incroyable (Unbelievable)! How'd you manage?" 

"A little bit of convincing never hurt. It took convincing to get him to the Patriot cause... Convincing can get the man to relax." 

"Clever." 

"Not quite." Laurens grinned, now walking alongside the Frenchman. It was interesting, how quickly Marquis could sink from someone so chipper, to a stern commander. It was easy to tell when he meant business; arms tucked firm behind his back, chest puffed, a firm glare that practically screamed he was in charge. And, not to mention, the man's fighting ability itself. 

"So, Monsieur Laurens, I take into mind that you are out instead of resting. Had you needed something?"

"I was going to see if we had much to eat, though I must assume we have to resort to skipping a meal for today."

"From what I've seen, we have little today... So, take a small ration, just enough for you and Alexander, oui?" 

"Wasn't planning anymore." 

"Get along then. Alexander is probably wandering what's taking you so long."

"I let him know that we'd probably come into contact, so there really is no rush, Marquis." Laurens dismissed, offering a smile to the Frenchman. 

"Come now, I'd hate to keep Alexander waiting." He insisted, "Go fetch some food, and return to your quarters."

"Is that an order?" Laurens grinned, meeting the man's green eyes. 

"My words are an order." Marquis returned the same devilish grin.

Laurens chuckled, soon walking on. "A'ight then. I will do as ordered, Monsieur. We'll resume our conversation at a later date." 

"I look forward to it!"

Laurens waved to the man, soon stepping into one of the many tents. A few men stood inside, each talking quietly to one another. "Good morning, gentlemen." 

"Mornin'," A man responded. 

"Good to see you, Mr. Laurens." Another spoke. 

Laurens hummed at the lack of response. A majority of these men looked tired, run-down even. As if they didn't care. He pushed that thought to the back of his mind, and he began to look at the few selections he had. For himself, he got some turtle; likely mud turtle that the men had found while digging around for roots. As well as some breads.

For Alexander, he got some venison that had been from a previous hunt, able to be stored fairly easy due to the low temperatures; though it was freshly cooked. And to add onto that, he grabbed a hoe cake (Johnny cakes). He cringed at how the cake looked, almost under-prepared. Though, he knew they had to make due with it. Looking at the tray in hand he pondered if he could carry both drinks. 

He could try, anyway. Two mugs of cider would do just fine. 

Moving around, Laurens sat the tray down long enough to get cider from one of the barrels. He grimaced when there was barely enough to fill the two mugs. He'd give Alexander the one with the most cider. 

He turned back around, considering getting a couple more things, maybe a small bowl of porridge, though he did decide against it. He assumed that the most of the food they still own was the mush, pap, and hasty pudding. Many men had grown used to eating it, it's a common breakfast meal, but it's not appetizing after having to eat it over, and over, and over. 

So, there's many times Laurens has passed up on it, simply because it would make him sick to eat it. 

He moved both mugs into one hand, adjusting them between his fingers to get a well enough grip so he could lift the tray with his other hand. Once set straight, he grinned, steadily easing from the tent, and into the snow.

He followed his original footprints, stepping onto the bits of snow beside, careful not to slip in the slush in ice gathered in the footprints before. 

"Laurens-?" A voice called. 

Laurens was quick to glance over his shoulder, catching Marquis in his sight. "Sorry, I can't talk right not, this stuff is becoming a hassle to pack- and I-" He yelped, as his foot slipped against some ice, sending him into a slipping fit. The boots they wore weren't the best for traction, and if he fell, he'd have to throw the food to the side to catch himself. 

Luckily, he felt a hand grab his coat, and easily pull him back into the deeper snow. Turning, he was almost surprised to see the General.

"General Washington... Thank you." 

"No problem... Just try to be more careful, hm?" The larger man perked a brow, soon turning to his original path and walking off. 

Laf hurried over, a smirk on his face. "Is that frostbite, or did two seconds of eye contact with the general make your face flush?"

"Oh, hush- I gotta get this stuff inside before I spill it." 

"Alright then! A bientôt, M. Laurens (See you soon, Mr. Laurens)!"