Congratulations: A Hamilton One Shot

Congratulations

"Angelica!" Alexander grinned as his sister-in-law walked in the door. Relief flooded his system as she walked towards him. She, at least, would understand.

"Alexander," she replied, a tight smile on her lips. She embraced him, and Alexander relaxed into her arms. She was the one person he needed right now, and he felt at ease. At least, he did until she hissed, "Congratulations."

Her grip on his shoulders tightened, and he froze. She pulled away from him, a sneer stretched across her beautiful features.

"You have invented a new kind of stupid," she drawled. "A damage you can never undo kind of stupid. An open all the cages in the zoo kind of stupid. Truly, you didn't think this through, kind of stupid."

He gaped at her. She was supposed to understand. She was supposed to be the one person that he could constantly rely on. She was supposed to support him

"Let's review," Angelica continued, "you took a rumor a few, maybe two people knew and refuted it by sharing an affair of which no one has accused you." She glared at him. "I begged you to take a break, you refused to."

Alexander could hear the tears in her voice as she started to pace.

"You're so scared of what your enemies will do to you, yet you're the only enemy you ever seem to lose to." She rounded on him. "You know why Jefferson can do whatever he wants? He doesn't dignify schoolyard taunts with a response!"

Clearly, Angelica was mad.

"So yeah, congratulations."

Alexander finally found his voice. "Angelica-"

She talked over him: "You've redefined your legacy. Congratulations."

"It was an act of political sacrifice!" he shouted. How could she not see why he'd done what he'd done? She should've understood.

Angelica stilled in her circle around him. "Sacrifice?" she asked quietly. "I languished in a loveless marriage in London. I lived only to read your letters. I look at you and think, 'God, what have we done with our lives and what did it get us?' That doesn't wipe the tears or the years away, but I'm back in the city and I'm here to stay. And you know what I'm here to do?"

"Angelica," he whispered, knowing what she was about to say.

"I'm not here for you," she said.

No, of course not. The one person he'd been counting on to understand, and she was here for Eliza.

"I know my sister like I know my own mind, you will never find anyone as trusting or as kind, and a million years ago she said to me, 'This one's mine.' So I stood by. DO YOU KNOW WHY?"

Alexander flinched.

"I LOVE MY SISTER MORE THAN ANYTHING IN THIS LIFE, I WILL CHOOSE HER HAPPINESS OVER MINE EVERYTIME. ELIZA," she shouted, "IS THE BEST THING IN OUR LIFE. So never lose sight of the fact that you have been blessed with the best wife." She pushed him, hard, in the chest, sending him stumbling backward.

"Congratulations," she spat. "For the rest of your life, every sacrifice you make is for my sister." She leaned closer to him. "Give her the best life."

Alexander leaned away from her. He swallowed and prepared to say something, but before he could, Angelica once again whispered, "Congratulations."

There was a moment's pause and then, before he could move, Angelina's hand connected with his cheek and fire spread across his face.

She turned and stormed out of the room, slamming the door shut and leaving Alexander to his misery.