5 Months Later

Angelica was sitting on her bed, the skirt of her pink gown spread completely out. She felt like she was almost drowning in it. She was currently reading Common Sense for the hundredth time. Trying to get as much of it read before they had to leave. There was a knock at her door.

"Angie?" Eliza called quietly, opening the door.

"Yeah?" Angelica responded, setting the pamphlet down.

"Can you help me with my dress? The back is messed up and-"

Angelica was already up helping her. The baby blue dress complemented Eliza wonderfully, bringing out her eyes and her long brown hair looked wonderful laying on it. Like a reversed waterfall

"Thank you, mom would have killed me if I went to the ball looking like a mess."

"Of course 'Liza. Plus, whenever you or Peggy get in trouble I do too as result so I'm happy to help."

"You get in trouble too?"

"One of our parents always ends up lecturing me about how I need to be more responsible and need to help you both. Cause I'm the oldest and therefore responsible for everything."

"Oh."

"There we go," Angelica mumbled as she finished fixing the dress.

"Thanks Angie." Eliza said, spinning around to face her older sister.

"Of course, now we should probably get downstairs before we both get scowled for taking too long."

Angelica was sitting by the door, Eliza and Peggy lined up after her. Her mother and father sat opposite to them. She was staring out the window lost in thought.

"Angelica Schuyler are you listening to me?" Her father snapped and she snapped out of it, quickly turning her head giving him her full attention.

"Yes father."

"What was I just saying?"

"That we must act with complete elegance. This is a pristine event. Washington and his men will be there, we must make a good impression and keep a good name for ourselves." She said smoothly. She hasn't been listening at all but it was the same lecture he gave them anytime they went to any event, she just added in the Washington part out of assumption.

Her father raised an eyebrow, "Right. And try not to make any crazy statement no one asked for. Just, try to be a lady tonight. Good etiquette"

"So don't speak any of my opinions?"

"If you're asked for it, sure. But don't be rash."

Angelica lightly put her hand over her chest, "I would never be rash." She said with fake softness in her voice. Eliza nudged her, telling her to cool it. Thankfully the carriage came to a stop and the door opened so she was able to escape inside.

Peggy headed to the center of the ball room right away, spinning around, looking for men. Angelica had walked to a back corner, though not before getting a small glass of wine. Eliza was making conversation with another women, both of them giggling and glancing at different men. Angelica smiled lightly before leaning her head against the wall, sighing quietly.

The ballroom was beautiful, a huge crystal chandelier hung over them. Glistening tiles on the floor. In the back of the room there were doors leading to a balcony. Angelica took a sip of her wine before closing her eyes.

"-Angelica? Angie Schuyler?" She heard a man say, she opened her eyes to see a tall man only a little over a year older than her, smiling widely and she smiled back, setting her wine glass down.

"Hercu-" she was cut off by him pulling her into a bear hug. Even though she couldn't see his face she could feel his smile and was sure he could feel hers. He pulled away eventually and she looked up at him.

"God, I've missed you so much." He said, lightly placing his hand on her cheek. She leaned into it slightly, putting her hand over his.

"I've missed you too. You got taller."

"You've gotten even more beautiful. I didn't think that was possible."

"Still the flirt." She commented and he dropped his hand from her cheek.

"You're father around?"

"Probably talking to some old men about the war."

"Think he'll see us?"

"Probably not. Even if he does, he probably won't recognize you."

"Well in that case," He reached his hand out, "May I have this dance?"

Angelica grinned, laughing slightly and took his hand, "Yes. Yes you can." And with that, they headed out to the dance floor, starting to dance to the slow music.

"How long has it been?" 4, 5 years?" She asked after a moment.

"I'm sorry I left so suddenly. I-I should have wrote to you."

"It's alright Hercules. If my father had found us he would have killed you."

Silence.

"So..what have you been up to?"

"Graduated from King's College about a year ago. Got that aprintiship at the tailor shop downtown, bought a small apartment for after the war."

"Speaking of which, isn't Washington supposed to show up?"

"He should be here soon, with some soldiers. And his right hand man."

"Have any friends?" She asked jokingly.

He grinned, "The right hand man, and Lafayette who's on his way to being a commander. Laurens and Burr as well."

"Nice."

The music ended and Herc lead her off. A carriage pulled up.

"That's him- I should probably go meet up with them. I'll see you later?"

"I'll be here." She said, he quickly kissed her hand and left.

A few minutes later a group of young men walked in, led by Washington. Everyone clapped, a few men hollered. Angelica wondered who was his right hand men. After things died down she went to go find her wine glass. A tall man with poofy hair tied back started to walk towards her but was quickly cut in front of by a shorter man. He had slick black hair that was tied back, piercing intelligent violet eyes, a nicely fitting suit, though it was a little obvious it had been someone else's before his. Angelica's breath hitched.

Who gave him permission to be this attractive???

"Hello." He said with a small smile. Angelica was

still desperately trying to breath normally.

"You strike me as a woman who has never been satisfied."

Angelica raised an eyebrow at this. Great.

"I'm sure I don't know what you mean. You forget yourself." She said plainly, starting to turn around, to try and go find Hercules.

"Wait-" he said, putting a hand on her shoulder, spinning her around. "You're like me. I'm never satisfied."

"Is that right?"

"I have never been satisfied."

"My name is Angelica Schuyler." She said abruptly, not knowing what to say.

He bent down swiftly, grabbing her hand, placing a light kiss on it, "Alexander Hamilton."

"Where's your family from?"

He tensed slightly before swiftly standing up straight. They were the same height due to her heels.

"Unimportant, there's a million things I haven't done. But just you wait."

Angelica smiled slightly, he seems to know what he wants- wait- Is this the same man she saw downtown?

"May I have a dance?" He asked, still holding onto her hand.

"Of course." She answered and he led her out to the dance floor.

For a short while, neither said anything.

"I saw you enter with Washington."

"You probably did. We impress you?" He asked with slight cockiness.

"Washington impresses everyone. There's no doubt with that. Did you not hear all the clapping?"

"The clapping is simply respect, everyone respects Washington. But I wasn't asking about him."

Angelica raised an eyebrow, "I heard that his right hand man would be coming with him. You know him?"

"I would sure hope I know myself."

Oh

"Congratulations, you seem young to be his right hand. It's an impressive position anyways."

"Why, thank you Ms. Schuyler."

"Just call me Angelica. I prefer to be known as the person I am, not the famous name my father made."

"Understandable. A legacy of your own is important. At least I believe so."

"You're not alone in that belief."

"Good to know."

"What type of legacy do you want to leave Mr. Hamilton? What do you want to be remembered for?"

"Alexander, please. I want to be remembered for helping in the war, being important in it. Leading a battalion. And later being a lawyer or working in the government. What about you?"

"I-"

"Hamilton!" A commander's voice cut in. Alexander turned to look and so did Angelica, just to see Washington approach with her father.

"Sorry for interrupting the dance Ms. Schuyler." Washington apologized, looking at Angelica for a short second before turning to Alexander.

"Hamilton, I'd like you to meet Mr. Philip Schuyler. A former Contental army general and supplier for the war."

Angelica stepped back away from Alexander as he shook her father's hand.

"Pleasure to meet you Mr. Hamilton."

"I'll leave you alone to talk." Angelica said, quickly turning around and walking away before Alexander could stop her. She headed outside onto the balcony. She leaned against the railing.

"The stars are beautiful tonight." Hercules said as he walked up next to her. Angelica quickly snapped back to reality.

"Huh? Oh, yeah." She said, staring up at them.

Another thing is beautiful but he's currently inside

She thought.

"I saw you dancing with Alex."

Angelica's face turned a slight tint of red when he mentioned Alex and she was thankful for the dark night covering it up.

"He's..quite a person. Why didn't you say he was the right hand man? A guy who's around our age is right next to Washington, not some man like my father."

"You seem rather taken with him." Hercules teased.

"Oh shush, he's intelligent, witty.." She trailed off, smiling up at the sky.

"Very taken with him." Hercules joked again, lightly pushing her side.

"Shut up." She responded, pushing right back.

"Tsk tsk tsk, now would a proper lady act like that?"

"Good thing I'm not a proper lady."

"You gonna come back inside or stay out here fantasizing about Alex?"

"I'm not fantasizing about Alexander."

"Whatever you say. You coming?"

"Nah, I'm going to enjoy the fresh air some more."

"Suite yourself." And with that, she was alone again.

Angelica had her hands on the railing, leaning against it as she closed her eyes, thinking. His intelligent eyes. His hunger-pang frame.

He had set her heart aflame...every part aflame.

"You're father talks a lot." Angelica's eyes shot open and she whiped her head to the side, just to see Alex standing beside her.

"I-uh," She cleared her throat and looked forward again, "Only so much as he sees fit. He's a smart man, and, er, a good person to discuss things with. He-"

"You can cut the act when you're around me Angelica. He's annoying and pretentious. I can tell you think that too, don't pretend you don't."

"He would lock me in my room for a month if he ever heard me speak bad about him to someone besides my sister's. If it was my sister's it'd only be a week."

"Why is he so strict?"

"He has-er-traditional views when I comes to women. Not to speak out of turn, meant to be in the house, that type of stuff."

"Tradition is just pressure from dead people."

Angelica broke out laughing at that and Alex chuckled. She quickly calmed herself down and hoped her dad couldn't hear her inside.

"Sorry." She said, pushing a stray piece of hair behind her ear.

"Don't be."

She looked at him for a moment and smiled before looking back at the stars.

"You don't agree with your fathers opinions." It was a statement, not a question.

"Not at all. I believe that women should be aloud to pursue whatever type of career they want. Be a writer or lawyer, work in business. Be aloud to speak their minds."

"Agreed."

"What?" She asked, looking back at him.

"I said I agree with you."

"Oh. Sorry, not used to being told someone agrees with me. Most of the time the men I speak to don't really agree-well, actually most of the time they're too busy trying to flirt with me to listen."

Alexander smiled at her, "Most people that inconsiderate?"

"They have the same opinions as my father." She said with a shrug, "When I start to talk about whatever book I'm reading at the moment it tends to catch them off gaurd, though."

"You like to read?"

"Love to, I've read Poor Richard probably 50 times." (Poor Richard was a book by Benjamin Franklin. I just needed something other then Common Sense for Angelica to have read especially considering common sense was a pamphlet, not a book. And the discription of Poor Richard on the website I found seemed to be something she would read).

"It's a wonderful book."

Angelica smiled at him. "Glad to know I'm not the only one who loves it."

"Have you met people who don't?"

"Well, nobody really talks about books with me."

"Not even Hercules?"

"Heh, maybe if he- Wait, what?" She asked, confused.

"Herc, you guys are friends right?"

"Yeah, he's talked about me?"

"He's mentioned you a few times, we used to live together at school and he mentioned your name. After I got away from your dad I went and asked him if you were-well, you. Which he confirmed and told me you were out here."

"Oh."

"Were you two-?"

"Sorta, it was complicated.."

"If you don't mind my asking, in what way?"

"Well..we were young and stupid. My dad didn't exactly like him that much but I hung out with him the most I could and snuck out to hang out with him. We sorta kissed but nothing happened… he left about 3 years ago, never wrote- this is the first time we've seen each other."

Alexander nodded, "I imagine you're happy to see him?"

"Very. Though, I have none of those feelings anymore. Honestly, I don't think I was really in love with him..rather the freedom I felt when I was with him."

Alexander smiled at her and she glanced back at him, smiling a little before glancing down and back out at the stars.

"You must think I sound crazy."

"No. No not at all."

Angelica looked back at him and grinned before sliding a little closer to him.

"Sooooo, what about you?"

"Me?"

"Yeah, what's your story? I mean I told you like part of my life story with Hercules and my dad. Talk about yourself some."

"Well..what do you want to know?"

"Where are you from?"

"Charlestown. It's part of the island Nevis, part of the West Indies."

"So you're not even from the colonies."

He shook his head, "Nope."

"So how'd you get here?"

"There was a hurricane when I was 17, I wrote this poem that got some attention...some of the people there gave me enough money to send me to school."

"That's..incredible. How long ago was that?"

"8 years ago. I graduated from college and enlisted in the army. Now I'm here as Washington's right hand."

He was 25, just a year older than her.

"You're going places. You'll have a story to tell at some point Alexander." She paused, smiling at him for a second, "What was the island like?"

"Well, I probably didn't have one of the better experiences."

"What do you mean?"

"My dad left my mom and I when I was 10, both my mom and I got sick when I was 13..I got better, she didn't. I moved in with my cousin who killed himself. I got a job clerking for my mother's old landlord, trading sugar, rum; essentially, all the things I couldn't afford."

So they've lead completely different lives so far. He's grown up poor struggling for everything, she's lived comfortable and rich. Though, there is one thing they both have in common.

They want out

"I'm sorry."

"No. Don't say that."

"What?"

"Don't say you're sorry for something that A, you can't control and B, if I hadn't gone through, then I probably wouldn't be here today."

"You were right."

"About?"

"Me never being satisfied, being like you in some way. I want out of my life so bad, away from my father and all the responsibilities I have."

"And I want out of my life, to do something, to have responsibilities." He said, then added, "Though, not the same as yours."

Angelica chuckled at that.

Her responsibilities..they were unspoken but still known. It was her job to marry rich. Her father had no sons so she had to social climb. Alexander is penniless-there was no way he would accept her marrying him.

No. Stop.

Why are you thinking about marriage??

"Are you okay?" Alexander asked and Angelica snapped back into reality, realizing she had started to stare off into space. Literally.

"Y-yeah. Sorry, just, got distracted."

"It's fine. You want to go back inside? It's starting to get cold."

"Uh, yeah. Sure."

He started to walk inside and held his arm out to Angelica, which she took as they walked back in.

The night seemed to soar after that, and soon it was time to leave. Angelica and Alexander exchanged goodbyes, and he promised to write to her which made her heart flutter.

"So how'd your not fantasizing about Alexander go?"

"Shut up." Angelica said, elbowing him in the side.

"Hey- chill." Hercules said, chuckling, "He seemed to like you."

"Maybe, yeah. He said he was going to try writing to me the most he could."

"So he definitely likes you."

Angelica rolled her eyes, about to respond before her father walked up.

"Ah, Angelica, there you are." He said and then glanced at Hercules, questioningly.

"Mr. Schuyler." He said respectively.

"Hercules." He looked back at Angelica, "Angelica, let's go. We're leaving."

"Yes father. Bye Herc." She said, smiling at him for a moment before walking away to the carriage.