Work Text:
Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier de La Fayette, Marquis de Lafayette made his way through the military camp at a- in his opinion- ridiculous hour of the night. It was late November, and it was clear that the weather was determined to make the entire camp miserable. He had just delivered a parcel of uniforms to a camp of soldiers and had finally returned to the military camp late at night. He wandered back to his tent as he wondered what the following weeks would bring.
General Washington was planning an attack across the Delaware River in Trenton, New Jersey. When Washington had confided in Lafayette about his plans, it was an understatement to say he was ecstatic. He schooled his face to mask his excitement, but after the meeting he ranted to Laurens about how he couldn’t believe the general would trust him so readily, especially since he emigrated to America less than a year prior.
John Laurens was already close to George Washington, which surprised Lafayette when he first arrived in America. Why would the most powerful man in the free land confide in such an outspoken and frank young man? John’s relationship to the general was confusing, and it still puzzled him from time to time, but he did enjoy the man’s company.
The only man in the camp Lafayette was closer to than Laurens was Alexander Hamilton himself. The man captured his attention from the moment he met him. Hamilton’s writing was like a wall of meticulously crafted stained glass, beautiful, sharp, and ever so elegant. The way he weaved words with his quill to make his speeches sound like symphonies shocked him time and time again. Although sometimes brazen and shameless to a fault, Lafayette was sure that Alexander would make a name for himself some day outside of the war.
Lafayette felt a sort of camaraderie with Hamilton, for they both were immigrants determined to free America from Britain's rule. He felt a bit warm inside knowing that he wasn’t alone.
The wind blew harder as he rounded the corner towards the oval tents that housed the generals. It still felt weird to call himself a general when he wasn’t granted a troop to command, but he remained hopeful.
The weather worsened as Lafayette quickened his pace, and he had nearly reached his tent when snow began to obstruct his vision.
Fighting through the snow, he noticed that General Washington’s tent flap was open because of the wind. Desperate to find shelter, Lafayette pushed through the sheets of snow to the light given off by- presumably- lanterns in the tent. With one final stride, Lafayette found himself in the doorway of the general’s tent, facing an oakwood desk.
In the solace of the tent, Lafayette entered cautiously, unaware of where the general was. Inching further towards the fireplace in the back of the room, he began to hear a low rumbling of a voice in the bedroom. To his surprise, a second voice followed shortly after.
“My general, it is me, Lafayette, I am terribly sorry to disturb you but the weather was-” Lafayette was cut off by the muffled whispering of the young voice that seemed rather familiar.
A few moments later, the general entered the lounge area and cleared his throat.
“Lafayette, I’m afraid this isn’t a good time, can whatever you wanted to discuss be moved back to a later date? I’m a bit preoccupied at the moment,” George didn’t make eye contact.
Lafayette blinked, “Um, I would take my leave sir, but I believe the snow outside is attempting to swallow us up,”
Washington strode to the tent flap before being pushed away by a gust of wind and snow, “Oh, I see,” he returned to his post protecting the bedroom door.
“You should make yourself at home then, I don’t suppose the storm will be ending anytime soon,” the general turned to tend to the small fire blazing in the fireplace.
Lafayette stood dumbfounded next to an armchair. There were many times that he was utterly confused about the culture in America, but this had to top it all. He didn’t have the first clue what or who could be behind that door, unless…
No, he was certain that Washington loved Martha. She was so kind and generous when she arrived at the camp, perfectly complementing Washington to form the perfect union. From the two times that Mrs. Washington had visited the camp from their mansion, Lafayette was sure that they were completely in love. So why would he betray her? And why would the most powerful man in America want the brief release of bedding a woman? Surely people would cause a riot if they found out General Washington was having an affair with some random maid.
Lafayette blushed at the thought of his general just minutes earlier doing unspeakable acts while actively on duty, protecting America from emanate danger. What would Martha say when she found out about the unfaithfulness of her husband? The general would be devastated if they split up, and then the war efforts would struggle and eventually fail, and King George III would reclaim the land of the free, and everything would go to hell.
Oh God no one can know Lafayette thought.
Washington looked quizzically at Lafayette, he must have looked panicked.
“Son, are you alright? Do you need to sit down for a bit? You look a bit queasy-,” George lamented as Lafayette continued to spiral.
Once Washington knew of the public’s displeasure about his fling with the maid, he would likely move to the countryside and abandon the war efforts, then who would lead the continental army? How would they go on?
Lafayette worried at his upper lip as George finally sighed.
“Laf-”
“Sir, I promise to hold my lips about your love affair, please do not tell the public! I do not want you to move to the countryside,” Lafayette all but shouted. He held his gaze at the ground, unable to meet the general’s eyes.
He was met with silence, before a slight laugh escaped the bedroom. The slight laugh turned into uproarious laughter, and even the general showed a small smile before walking to the door and opening the flap. Deep blue, almost purple eyes met Lafayette’s, and Lafayette stood even more bamboozled than before.
“You do know that the expression is ‘hold your tongue,’ right Laf?”
Alexander Hamilton stood in all his glory in the doorway of the bedroom, “And you didn’t honestly think the general would betray his wife, did you?”
Lafayette just stood with his jaw on the ground. He attempted to school his face but after experiencing the five stages of grief at breakneck speed, all he could do was gawk.
Washington sighed and made his way to Alexander, “I apologize for not telling you sooner Lafayette, but you must understand that I am trying to protect Alexander and myself,”
Lafayette didn't understand, “You are having an affair with the little lion?”
Washington coughed and Alexander burst out laughing again. Hamilton finally smiled, “No no, nothing like that, I am his son,”
Lafayette formed an O with his mouth, “I do agree that he is like a father to all of his aides,”
George spoke up, “Lafayette, you know that I didn’t marry Martha until later in my life. When I was younger, on an island called Nevis, I met Alexander’s mother and we had a brief relationship that lasted no more than a few weeks. Four years later, after I was engaged to married to Martha, Alexander was sent to me by his mother and he has lived in America since. I didn’t know that Rachel, Alex’s mom, had him until he was three years old,”
Lafayette let that sink in. Why did Alexander’s mother give him up at such a young age? He supposed that would be a question for another day.
Lafayette chuckled to himself, “I suppose my ranting was a bit foolish,”
“I haven’t heard you that distraught since I told you that chocolate wasn’t a thing in America,” Hamilton smiled.
Lafayette grinned sheepishly, “Sometimes I forget how privileged I was in my childhood,”
The tent fell silent as the wind outside stopped.
“I suppose I should see you bright and early tomorrow?” Lafayette asked.
“The sun is already coming up, I’d say that I will see you today,” Hamilton quipped.
“Watch your tone son, we will see you soon Lafayette,” Washington deadpanned.
Lafayette gave a slight smile in return and turned to Hamilton, “Au revoir mon ami, bonne nuit,”
“Ciao mon ami,” Hamilton replied.
—
Washington watched the interaction between his son and the soldier he saw as his own. He thought of his past and how none of this would have happened if not for the relationship he used to view as a mistake many years ago. Jacky and Alex were the lights of his life, and thinking about a life without them was unbearable. Losing Patsy was nearing the most heartbreak he could take.
Lafayette exited the tent after bidding the pair goodbye, and Alexander turned back to George.
“Pa, thank you for everything you’ve done for me, I don’t know where I’d be without you,” Alex grinned.
George’s lips quirked up, “You know I would do anything for you, love,”
Alexander groaned, “Pa,” he drew out, “You’re so embarrassing,”
“And yet you haven’t abandoned me,” George returned to his usual schooled expression, “I’m sorry that Lafayette knows about your childhood, you know you don’t have to hide our relations from everyone,”
“I know Pa, but you know I want to make a name for myself, I can’t rely on you for everything in life,”
George felt his heart swell with pride, Alexander was more like Martha every day.
“You better get to bed too, John will worry if you don’t get to your tent soon. I want my aides to be somewhat functional when the morning comes,” Washington led Alex to the tent flap.
“Sleep well Pa, let’s pray that Laf can keep his mouth shut,”
“Don’t sell the Marquis short, I trust his motives,” Washington stopped in front of the flap, “Good night dearheart,”
Washington watched his youngest son walk across a battleground, something he vowed never to let happen, in the dead of night. Alexander was stubborn, it was a good thing he had friends that would stay by his side. General George Washington turned to get to bed, knowing that his family would never be completely safe from harm, but God knows he would die trying to keep them alive.