From: @soulsearchingalltheway
To: @divergencethreatensthesystem
Angelica can not begin to think of all the times that she has had to bid farewell to her family and country. After John decided to move their family to England, she knew the times that she would see her family would be few and far between. John had never hidden how much he had not wanted to return, and had continuously admonished her in private, for staying so long on the few trips she made on her own.
But now, as she watched from the deck of the ship that was transporting her family and herself back home, she wanted to do nothing more then scream with delight and rush into the waiting arms of her family. Angelica was especially ecstatic that the first face she would see would be Eliza’s.Â
“Mama, how much longer?” Her daughter Elizabeth asked, coming to stand next to her mother.Â
Angelica smiled, holding her youngest daughter’s hand, “Not much longer. Are you excited to make your home in America?”
Her daughter smiled, “I can only imagine what it’ll be like with so many cousins, both big and small, to be around.”
“You’ll learn that they’re a rowdy, lovable bunch and love them dearly.” Angelica said, looking back to the harbor, her smile growing wider as she saw the beginnings of New York come into view, “Look, we’re getting close to home.”
Both mother and daughter stood on the deck as they drew closer and closer to the harbor.
To say that settling into New York those first few months were difficult, was an understatement. Angelica could barely keep straight how many ladies she had called upon, how many parties she had hosted and been in attendance to, and how many people whisked in and out of her home. For what it was worth, Eliza came regularly to give her sister some peace-of-mind, knowing all too well how busy the life of a wife to a politician could be.Â
 Although, with so many things to keep her mind busy, Angelica couldn’t help but be pulled to thoughts of Alexander. While they had seen each other by now, both with their spouses present, it did nothing to quiet the rapid beating of her heart that had never really gone away. Not even after his marriage to her sister, an act that Angelica both had relished and regretted, her own marriage to John, and their completely different lives that they had led across an ocean and on two different continents, Angelica still felt as drawn to him as ever.
She noted how the years had been kind to him, still as equally handsome as she had remembered him; with his vivid emerald eyes, charming smile, the way he still cut a dashing figure in his more elaborately colored clothes as he did as a soldier, and his encompassing presence. Angelica noted this all, even as she cared for her family and watched in awe as her dear sister was the soothing balm to the burn that was Alexander Hamilton.
What she noted as well, was that, that burn she felt, was now soothing and warm. Instead of hurting, she felt only warmth and tenderness that she related to the feelings she felt for her brothers.
Perhaps, she noted one night in her home’s study, this was what had always needed to happen. After the years had worn on their them, from marriages, children and the tribulations that came with day-to-day life, her feelings had simmered to loving, and wanting only the best for her dear sister and brother-in-law.
Until, suddenly that tender love she felt, became raging, burning flames of anger.
___________________________
“Alexander, what have you done?” Angelica seethed, closing the door to Hamilton’s office.
He sighed, staring down at the pamphlet that was now making it’s rounds across the entire country, at this point, “It was an act of political sacrifice, Angelica. You don’t understand what it meant to have those slanderous rumors running around town about me.”
“Sacrifice?” She choked out, “You want to stand there, having ruined my sister’s reputation, having made your children question your every motive, and sullied Mrs. Reynold’s for life, and speak about sacrifice? Political sacrifice is knowing when to concede to the victor. To understand that the law you want passed, won’t be happening. It’s not…Whatever this, is, Alexander.”
For his part, Hamilton’s cheeks colored red and turned towards the large windows facing out onto the busy street below, “What else was I to do, Angelica. You know as well as I do that I had to quiet the rumors. I’m sure John has done similar.”Â
“He didn’t make our family the laughing stock of the country, Alex,” Angelica sighed, “He compromised. No one else knew of these slanderous rumors you feel were so important. You could have ignored their school yard taunts and let it rest.”
Hamilton stayed silent, not once turning to face his sister-in-law. Angelica sighed, at once understanding and not what he had done. For a man with the ego to match only that of Jefferson, she understood why Alexander felt the way he did. But to have gone about it the way he had, well, Angelica was sure everyone involved would be able to weather the storm, but not without life-changing consequences.Â
“I’ll only say this once, Alexander. My sister deserves better then this. You deserve better then this. I don’t know when or how this will eventually settle… But my sister is the best thing in your life, Alexander. You have been blessed with the best wife. Every sacrifice you make is for my sister, so give her the best life you can,” and with that, Angelica left.
