Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/9324296.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Choose_Not_To_Use_Archive_Warnings, Graphic_Depictions_Of_Violence, No
      Archive_Warnings_Apply, Rape/Non-Con, Underage
  Category:
      F/F, F/M, M/M
  Fandom:
      Hamilton_-_Miranda
  Relationship:
      Alexander_Hamilton/Thomas_Jefferson, Gilbert_du_Motier_Marquis_de
      Lafayette/Hercules_Mulligan, james_madison/aaron_burr, Alexander
      Hamilton/Charles_Lee, John_Laurens/Margaret_"Peggy"_Schuyler, Maria
      Reynolds/Elizabeth_"Eliza"_Schuyler
  Character:
      Alexander_Hamilton, Thomas_Jefferson, Gilbert_du_Motier_Marquis_de
      Lafayette, Hercules_Mulligan, James_Madison, Aaron_Burr, Charles_Lee,
      John_Laurens, Margaret_"Peggy"_Schuyler, Maria_Reynolds, Elizabeth
      "Eliza"_Schuyler, George_Washington, James_Alexander_Hamilton, Original
      Characters
  Additional Tags:
      Alpha/Beta/Omega_Dynamics, Alternate_Universe, Alternate_Universe_-
      Modern_Setting, Alternate_Universe_-_Fantasy, Anal_Sex, Blow_Jobs, Non-
      Consensual_Blow_Jobs, Past_Abuse, Past_Rape/Non-con, Forced_Prostitution,
      Violence, Biting, Post_Mpreg, Crying, Crossdressing, Fluff,
      Discrimination, Hurt/Comfort, Government_Agencies, Post-Traumatic_Stress
      Disorder_-_PTSD, Past_Child_Abuse
  Series:
      Part 2 of The_Third_Law_Series
  Stats:
      Published: 2017-01-14 Completed: 2017-12-31 Chapters: 15/15 Words: 21561
****** The Third Ceremony ******
by Red_Shadow_Wolf_19
Summary
     Alexander and Thomas are now engaged, and with three kits, they have
     enough on their plate. But several past issues come bubbling up to
     the surface when Alex's brother shows up and decides to bring back
     Alex's past abuser into the picture.
Notes
     I'm back! Remember to leave kudos, comments, and follow me on tumblr
     (red-shadow-wolf-19)
***** The Quiet *****
There are moments of calm that make one forget the storm.  But the storm is
always there, waiting beyond the shore.
 
It had taken a lot of convincing and downright bribery, and still John Laurens
sat cross armed in Thomas Jefferson’s car staring at the mall in contempt.  “Go
over this again, because I still don’t get how stupid of a plan this is.”
 
Thomas sighed and rubbed his temples.  “Look, you dated him in college and-”
 
“And two weeks after Lafayette’s big bonding ceremony, two months Aaron’s, and
then six weeks after that Eliza’s you want to, on top of having three kits,”
John paused and shook his head.  He sunk further into his seat and glared even
more.  “Do you really think that Alex will want this?”
 
That had been a worry of the Alpha’s when he first conceived of the plan the
day the kits were born.  He had nearly said something the very minute after
Alex had introduced their children to him, but that had seemed silly and not
the right moment in comparison to the three bundles of joy.  That had been
three four months ago and during that time, watching his children and Alex
together, he realized he needed to do something.  It also really hit home
during the overly exaggerated bonding ceremony that Lafayette and Hercules had
thrown together.  Through all the glitz and sequins, Thomas had seen two people
who love one another reaffirm that love surrounded by family and friends.  And
through it all, he imagined Alex.
 
“I don’t know,” Thomas finally admitted to the beta, taking the keys out of
ignition.  “I just...If he rejects it I want to give him a chance to reject it.
 We mated when we weren’t in our right heads.  And no matter his views, Alex
has always wanted a family, so he was never going to…” The idea of saying the
word ‘abortion’ and remembering the terrible choice that was offered to Alex a
year ago in relation to his kits made feel sick.  He felt the beta’s hand touch
his shoulder in support, softening at the obvious emotion.  “I don’t care if he
says no.  I know he loves me regardless.  I just...I just want to give him a
choice this time that his Omega side doesn’t make for him.”
 
There was a silence as the pair watched a small gaggle of teens leave the large
mall, one showing off their tail piercing before a security guard chastised
them and they put it away.  
 
John finally sighed.  “But why am I the one you drag along?!  You know how I
feel about the whole thing.  Why not Hercules, or James, or Maria or any other
alpha?”
 
Thomas climbed out of the car as he chuckled.  “James and Maria are both trying
to keep their significant others from killing them and Hercules is still on his
honeymoon.  And like I said, you dated him in college.  Don’t tell me this
didn’t cross your mind back then.  I know both you and Alex and I remember how
serious you both were.”
 
John slammed his door extra hard in protest but calmed by the time they reached
the entrance of the mall.  “We talked about it.  As a joke.  Freak my dad out,
make him think I was a top beta and when he shows up I would be the one in the
bonding gown.”  The beta shrugged.  
 
They found a directory and after another heated discussion over which store,
settled on vintage jewelry designs.  Thomas nervous stood outside for a few
moments, his nerve slowing ebbing away.  It didn’t help that the mall was
particularly crowded today, and with every person who brushed by him he was
drawn more and more back into the  stale dirty disgusting - can’t breath! Must
get out! Where’s Alex!  He needs to breath!  He needs-
 
“Hey!  You okay?” John tapped his shoulder and Thomas leapt at the touch.  The
beta looked back apologetically.  “Shit!  Do you need to go to the food court?
 Or should we just leave?”
 
“ NO !” he shouted it and several people stopped and stared making his heart
speed up.  “ No .” he said, quieter.  “I just...I just don’t know what type of
gem to get for the band.”
 
It was lie.   They both could see that.  Anyone who stopped and listened the
conversation would have seen that plainly as well.  But John knew better than
to push the issue.
 
“No diamonds,” was all he led the Alpha into the store.  “He hates diamonds.”
 
A few hours, and the realization that John knows far more about jewelry than
one would think, Thomas finally came back home.  The apartment was awash with
the smell of tuna casserole baking in the oven and baby powder.  He couldn’t
help but smile at that.
 
On the floor in front of the television was Alex, already in his pajamas and
feeding the first evening bottle to Johnny.  In his lap, and not patiently
waiting for his bottle was James or as they called him, Jaime.  Rachel, the
youngest, had been lightly dozing in her bassinet carrier before he had walked
in.  But immediately, as though aware of his presence, she stirred and began to
make small whining noises.
 
“Does Daddy’s Little Beta know he’s home?!” he cooed as he walked over join the
scene of tranquility.  The kit gurgled in response.  He laughed and swung her
into his arms as he settled beside his Mate.  Thomas leaned over and kissed
Alex’s forehead as the Omega purred.  “Did they behave themselves?”
 
Alex laughed.  “Well she certainly did.  She’s your little angel through and
through.  These two,” he indicated the two boys, the younger reaching out and
tugging on the older one’s foot to disrupt the feeding, “well, their brothers.
 Things will even out when Johnny comes into his alpha teeth, I think.”
 
“Oh, I think that will makes things worse!” Thomas grinned.  “If Jamie takes
after his Papa at all, he’s going to be bully of an omega.  Johnny will have to
sleep with one eye open!”
 
“I’m not that bad!”
 
“Before we dated, all the alphas in the office were terrified of you!”
 
“And now?”
 
“Everyone is terrified of you.”
 
The Omega gave a small fake indignant huff, but it was ruined by the small
ending slurps of milk that Johnny gave from the bottle.  Alex expertly burped
him and settled him into a pink carrier as the kit began yawn and chirp sleepy.
 “Now your turn, Greedy,” he said settling the younger male kit into his arms
and picking up a robin egg blue bottle.  Thomas smiled, picking up a bright
yellow bottle and proceeding in feeding his daughter.  
 
Once they were fed and settled onto napping blanket in a playpen near dining
table, Alex retreated to the kitchen and retrieved the tuna casserole.
 
“I got the recipe from Aaron’s great aunt when I was helping looking at
centerpieces this afternoon.  She says I’m too skinny for having three kits.  I
tried to tell her I gained weight but she didn’t believe me.  So I hope you
like butter, cheese, and barely any vegetables!” he explained as he placed the
tray down on the table.  Thomas smiled, but said nothing.  While it was true
that Alex had gained weight after the pregnancy, he was still nowhere near a
healthy size.  There were days that the Omega would forego eating in favor of
looking after the kits or helping his friends or doing some ‘small’ task for
the district.  Before they had mated, it had only mildly worried Thomas.  Their
mating, the events of Alex’s pregnancy,  The Trial  had made such things take
back burner.  Now, in the domestic quiet, such things were beginning to
resurface.  
 
But once again, Thomas let it go as he watched serve up a large portion of
casserole to both of them.  
 
“Before we start,” he began, fumbling in his pocket, “I have to do...I mean I
have to ask you something….I mean I have to tell you….I mean….” The Alpha
looked around the apartment for the right words.  He saw their kits playing
waking up from their slight nap and beginning to squirm around the the playpen.
 He saw the collection of pictures of their families they had assembled on the
side table, where the lionshare was dominated by his parents and siblings.  He
finally looked back at Alex, whose mocha eyes looked at him with concern.
 
“Thomas?” the small Omega reached across the table, his hand a lifeline in the
confusion.  He smiled at how his mate’s ears twitched as soon as he took that
small hand in his.
 
“Alex, from the day I met you, I knew how intelligent and passionate you were.
 We may not have agreed on everything,” they both went red remembering how they
had used to fight, “but even as a rival, you were perfect.  And when we began
dating, I learned about how wonderful your laugh was and your large heart and
how far that passion goes.  And when we bonded,” there was a moment of
hesitation, “I was overjoyed that it had happened, because I wanted to be with
you!  A strong, fierce, lovely, intelligent, passionate, sweet, kind, loving
Omega.  And in the process, we created three lovely kits.” Johnny chirped from
the playpen. “But when we bonded, we...we weren’t in the right frame of mind.
 I don’t think we regret it.  But you deserve, a choice.  Something to refuse
or accept.”
 
Alex watched as Thomas slipped from the chair and sunk to the floor one knee
before him.  His heart was pounding as the Alpha slipped out the small dark
emerald velvet ring box from his pocket.  He opened it to reveal a ring with
band of gold and white fiery opal facet surrounded by white sapphires in a near
rose like fashion.
 
The Omega looked up with tears in his eyes.

“Alexander Hamilton, will you officially bond with me?”       
***** Party Crashing *****
Chapter Notes
     Remember to leave a comment or kudo, and you can follow me tumblr at
     (red-shadow-wolf-19)
See the end of the chapter for more notes
It is considerably rude to show up at house without announcing one’s status,
without a gift, and without warning.     
 
“When is the date?”
 
“We don’t know yet.  We were thinking this next winter.”
 
“What is the theme?”
 
“Theme?”
 
“Yes and colors?”
 
“I...don’t know?”
 
“Venue?”
 
“Inside, I suppose.”
 
“But where?!”
 
“Jesus Gilly!  We already had our bonding ceremony.  Thought you would be all
bonding ceremony-ed out!”
 
Lafayette whipped around to face his mate with an exaggerated glare.  “This is
for Alexander!  One of my oldest friends in this country!  I must help him!”
 
Hercules threw up his hands in defense and got up to go to the kitchen.  “Far
be it from me to imply that didn’t want to help.”
 
The French omega hummed in agreement before turning to the smaller one on the
couch.  He looked well rested after his honeymoon in a light blue crop top and
capris.  Well, to be honest, anyone who didn’t have three kits to tend to
during the night probably looked better rested than Alex.  One of the kits in
question, Rachel was babbling happily in Alex’s lap, the boys for once taking a
nap without fuss in the nest with their father in the other room.
 
It had been three days since Thomas had proposed and the group was arriving to
throw an engagement party.  Nothing too fancy, just Hercules and Lafayette
cooking in the couple’s kitchen and everyone bringing over games to play.  The
ground rules Alex had laid down were no gifts, which had been immediately
broken when the first couple had arrived with several bottles of wine and new
stemless glasses.  The Omega knew there was probably more to come but held his
tongue.
 
“Show me the ring again,” Lafayette said breathlessly, fanning himself in
excitement.
 
Alex couldn’t help but smile as he complied.  The ring was lovely and when the
light hit the opal just right it glowed with a fire so brilliantly.   Just like
you , Thomas had explained the night he had placed it in his finger.  The small
Omega purred at the thought.
 
There was a sudden knock on the door and the sound of a heated low argument
from out in the hall.  Hercules came back from the kitchen and went to the
door.  
 
“Ah!  James and Aaron!  How the bonding ceremony planning go-”
 
“Can you please explain the difference between eggshell white and ivory, and
why it’s so goddamn important?!” James Madison walked in carrying a large box
blue and gold wrapped box.
 
“All you need to know is that I ordered ivory and the tablecloths that I sent
back were eggshell!” Aaron followed his arms crossed over his chest.
 
“Hello to you too,” Hercules said, adding, “Can you guys keep it down?  Two of
the kits are sleeping in the other ro-”
 
“But we had tablecloths!  That could fit the tables!  And you sent them back,
because they were the wrong color white!”
 
“I sent them back because they were the wrong color, yes!”
 
“I remember those fights.  You’ll come to miss those fights,” Lafayette said as
he took Rachel from Alex’s lap as she was replaced with the large slightly
heavy gift was holding.  Alex quirked an eyebrow at Lafayette as the arguing
continued until the telltale noises of distress began from the other room and a
curse from Thomas could be heard.
 
The couple stopped arguing and looked around as though they had been unaware
they had been let into the apartment.
 
“I apologise,” James said to the floor.
 
“I’m sorry too.  This is all just...oh you’ll see.  You get this vision in your
mind of how you want things to go and…,” Aaron sighed heavily.  He perked up a
little as he neared the couch.  “May I see your ring?”
 
Alex nodded, lifting his hand to show the beta who began to discuss with the
French omega how lovely it was as Thomas appeared in the doorway of the bedroom
scowling, holding two bawling kits.  
 
The Alpha walked over to his friend, glaring as he said, “When you have kits,
I’m going to wait until you get them down for a nap and I’m standing outside
your apartment with a brass band.  Swear to god, you’ll never know what good
sleep is again.”
 
“That’s why I got you a coffee and espresso maker,” James said, taking Jaime
from his father’s arms to fawn over him.
 
“I haven’t even opened it yet!” the Omega said indignantly, but was promptly
cut off by another series of knocks at the door.
 
“Someone needs to check on the food in the kitchen if I have to play doorman!”
Hercules called into the sea of kits crying and people talking.  Lafayette
popped up from the couch and ran to the kitchen, bouncing an overjoyed Rachel
all the while.
 
Maria, Eliza, Peggy, and John entered, smiling and adding more noise to the
chaos.  Eliza and Peggy immediately went to also inspect the ring, handing off
their gifts (a wedding planning book and a gift basket of spa products).  Maria
sympathized with James about the eggshell and ivory debate, while preparing
(horrifying) Thomas about the wedding planning process.
 
“It changes them, I swear!  One minute you’re getting a perfectly rational
question about what wine to serve, the next minute you’re in the middle a
tearful explanation why it has to be true pink roses, not sunset pink, or
sunrise, or god forbid painted pink roses.  Actually grown, from the vine, pink
roses!”
 
“What’s the deal with pink roses?”
 
Maria and James glared at the other Alpha and the subject was dropped.
 
The party moved at the pace for quite some time.  The ring was demanded to be
shown over and over again that it became nearly automatic that anytime anyone
asked Alex something, he would lift his left hand to eye level.  The kits were
passed around just as much, which they delighted in.  The first course of
dinner was served, warm spicy Thai soup which everyone demanded the recipe for
after.
 
They were settling into the first game of the night, a tabletop adventure board
game when there was another knock on the door.  
 
The group went silent and stared at one another in bafflement, each doing a
mental headcount of those who were present.
 
“Did you invite someone else?” Thomas asked Alex quietly, though in the silence
it almost sounded far too loud.  A kit whimpered at the tension.
 
“Who else is there to invite?  Angelica is in England and can you imagine
Washington coming and playing Mansions of Madness with us?”
 
Thomas shook his head.  That did seem an odd scenario.  
 
“Could be the landlady,” Eliza offered.  “We were getting a little too loud.”
 
Lafayette snorted, “The floor above this one has a party every other day it
seems like or a fight, and that witch hasn’t kicked them out yet. And they wake
the kits!”
 
Alex nodded as he got up from his spot on the couch and went to the door
another knock came.  Hesitantly, he opened the door slowly.  He gasped.  Thomas
was out of his seat, at the door, and by his mate’s side in an instant.
 
“J.J?”
 
In the hall in well-tailored and well-worn coat and suit was a man that stood a
head taller than the Omega but with the same brown hair and mocha eyes.  Broad
and strong arms stretched wide in greeting.  
 
“Hey there Little Brother!  I told you I was coming to town eventually, didn’t
I?  Is this your boyfriend?  Do I smell some curry?  Let me in, I’m  starved !”
Chapter End Notes
     Alexander Hamilton's brother was James Junior. In this story he will
     be referred to as J.J or Jay.
***** Tradition and Company *****
Chapter Notes
     Remember to leave a comment and a kudo, and follow me on tumblr (red-
     shadow-wolf-19)
     Happy Birthday as well to Lin!
The bond between brothers. At best, it is the first and truest friend.  At
worse, it is the first and cruelest enemy.     
 
“Is he still there?” James asked, watching Thomas rub his temples in clear
frustration.
 
The Alpha pulled his eyes from the screen and blank document to his friend,
sighing heavily as he replied, “Most likely.”  It had been two weeks since
James Hamilton Jr, or J.J as he and Alex insisted he be called, had turned
Thomas and Alex’s engagement party into a reunion gathering.  And everyday
those two weeks, J.J had found reasons (excuses) to show up and crash on their
couch, eat their food, and watch their T.V.  
 
The first few times, Thomas had not minded, after all this was Alex’s brother
and they hadn’t seen each other in years.  The look on the little Omega’s face
when his brother entered the apartment was worth all the crumbs in the carpet
and rude jokes told to friends.  But the bloom had gone off the rose a bit by
day four.  Day four, Thomas had found Alex cleaning up a spill that J.J had
caused while the older Hamilton called for delivery, seemingly unapologetic.
 
“He should help clean that,” Thomas had hissed, something making  the Alpha
inside stir.
 
“J.J is our guest!” Alex had hissed back, bouncing Johnny on his hip as he
spoke.  “Besides, it was partially my fault anyway.”
 
Thomas had never gotten a reason why it was partially Alex’s fault, but he had
let it drop.  He shook his head at the thought and stared blurry eyed at the
clock on his desk.  “It’s time to go home, isn’t it?”
 
“You really don’t sound like you want to go home,” the smaller alpha raised an
eyebrow at the sound of Thomas’s voice, almost a whine.
 
“I wouldn’t mind if it was just Alex and the kits.  I would give anything for
it just to be Alex and the kits.  But I know, he’s going to be there, eating
chips and watching some stupid basketball game,” the taller man shook his head.
 He looked around once more and landed on a proposed bill that was going before
the District Congress hopefully in the next month or so.  “I’m going to get
Alex to take a look at his and bring it back in a week,” he said, gathering the
bill and rest of his belongings.
 
“Well have fun and don’t….,” James paused.  The joke lost all effect when he
caught sight of the haunted look in Thomas’s eye.  Finally, he settled for, “do
anything stupid.”
 
The two brothers were laughing at an old television when Thomas entered the
apartment.  Both their ears and tails were out, a sign how comfortable they
both were around one another and how much at home J.J was.  The Alpha felt a
twinge of annoyance but said nothing.
 
J.J swiveled his head around and saw Thomas.  He laughed, “Hey there!  You’re
late!  Doesn’t do well to keep a mate waiting.”
 
Alex playfully punched his arm, “J.J!  We work for the District.  Late hours
are normal, though one could hardly call thirty minutes late.”  The Omega
grinned up at the Alpha, his eyes dancing in mirth.  
 
The taller man couldn’t help but melt at that look and leaned over to kiss the
smaller.  “I ran into a little bit of traffic.  Nothing too bad.  How were the
kits today?”
 
“Positively squirrely!  We should go to the park this weekend and get out of
the apartment for a picnic.”
 
Thomas hummed in agreement.  Maybe, when J.J left that night, he could convince
Alex that it could just be the five of them.  “Are you hungry?”
 
“Ah, this one hasn’t started cooking at all!  Wanted to watch this silly
program,” J.J piped up, making the non-Hamilton cringe slightly.
 
“You wanted to watch it too!”
 
“I said I would watch it while you cook.  You are so forgetful!”
 
“I could cook,” the Alpha said, cutting in.  Something in the back of his brain
was  pacing, growling, giving off small warning signals . He only flicked his
tail in irritation.
 
“Nonsense!” J.J said, waving the thought away, “Alex go make some that thing
you were talking about.  Or maybe something simple like a soup-”
 
“I  will  cook,” Thomas interjected.  His tail batted his legs as tried to keep
his cool.  He took a deep breath and continued.  “I’ll cook and you two can sit
here and watch this,” he gestured to the T.V, “And Alex can read the bill I
brought home.”
 
Alex perked up, immediately going from mate to Secretary in an instant.  “Is
that Bill 2091106?”
 
Thomas nodded, “Washington gave it to Adams first and he did his best, but
prepare for a lot of weak compromises to the Estate Alphas about betas.”  
 
He dug through his briefcase and passed off the thick volume of papers to the
small Omega, who immediately began to flip through it already making small
comments under his breath and tutting noises of disapproval.  The familiar
scene was shattered J.J reached over and plucked the bill from Alex’s hands.
 
“Now what’s this?  You really shouldn’t bring home with you and give to my
little brother to worry about,” the older Hamilton said in a patronizing tone
that made Thomas’s ears hurt.
 
“J.J, I still do work for the District also! And this is a bill close to my
heart.  It allows Runaway Omegas to elect to put their children with a guardian
instead of being given over to the Estate.  You remember the Estate!  You
remember how bad it was!”
 
The older brother shook his head stubbornly.  “All the more reason why an Alpha
should not bring things like this home to their Omega.  You should be more
concerned about your kits and not other people’s!”
 
“Alex is not ‘my Omega’,” Thomas said almost automatically, his eyes flashing.
 “He is my mate yes, but he is my partner.  If he wants, he can work and I’ll
stay home and watch the kits.  He helped write this bill while pregnant with
our kits.  And he is doing this in memory of your mother.”
 
“He’s doing this because he is stubborn and you have let him think what he is
doing is appropriate.  Our mother would have wanted him to stay home and be
taken care of, not working his fingers to the bone for some pushover  alpha .”
 
“Pushover?!” The Alpha was out and stalking over to the couch, his claws at the
ready.
 
The beta saw the challenge and stubbornly rose to meet it, teeth bared.
 
“STOP IT!” The two men blinked and looked around.  Alex looked halfway to tears
and the kits in the other room were beginning to cry.  The Omega rushed to the
bedroom, vaguely giving saying something as an apology.  The Alpha and beta
glared at one another for a heartbeat before Thomas left to follow his mate.
 
He found Alex holding Johnny to his chest as both he and the three little ones
cried.  Thomas approached the nest and knelt beside it nervously.
 
Alex looked up from Johnny’s small head and whimpered, “Why are you fighting
with my brother?!”
 
“He’s disrespecting us!  He’s disrespecting you and your decision to work.
 He’s treating you like...like…”
 
“An Omega?” Hamilton offered, stroking his son’s hair tenderly.  “He’s just old
fashioned and protective.  He’s my family, Thomas!”   
 
“I know that!  I understand that and I respect that, but,” Thomas shook his
head.  “It just makes me uncomfortable to see you being ordered around.”
 
 The Omega’s eyes flashed.  “He’s not ordering me around!”
 
“He-”
 
“Is doing a lot help me around here!  It’s hard being alone here with the kits
all day!”
 
“Have you forgotten Lafayette?”
 
Alex turned away.  “He hasn’t been over in ten days.  Please Thomas, for my
sake, just give my brother another chance.”
 
Jefferson stared at his little mate holding his oldest kit and the helpless
look that swam in his eyes.  
 
Say no!  No! No! No! No! No!
 
“For you, Alexander, I will try.”

NO!
***** The Business Partner *****
Chapter Notes
     Remember to leave a comment and a kudo. And follow me and ask me
     things on tumblr at red-shadow-wolf-19
     Warning this chapter contains one flashback of domestic abuse.
The penalty for harming an alpha is to be harmed.  The penalty for harming an
beta is scorn.  The penalty for harming an omega is a warning.
 
“I just wish they would get along, you know?  He’s my mate and he’s my brother.
 Shouldn’t they get along?”
 
“Shouldn’t you be paper maching?”
 
Alex jabbed a violet piece of tissue paper onto the spherical glass candle
centerpiece and glared at Aaron.  For his part, Aaron just rolled his eyes as
he painted the acrylic over the same glass piece he had been working on.
 
“Quiet you two!” Lafayette said, twirling a pen between his well manicured
fingers before drumming it on the legal pad he brought with him.  “Now, Alex,
as your bonding ceremony planner-”
 
“Self appointed.  I want that on the record!” the Omega interjected, picking up
his own brush of acrylic.
 
“Duly noted,” Aaron quipped, placing his finished centerpiece down and picking
up a new one to begin.
 
The French omega flipped them off and continued, “As your bonding ceremony
planner, I need to know your budget for the ceremony.  How much are you
planning on putting in?”
 
The Omega held up the centerpiece he had been working on for Aaron’s approval.
 The beta nodded and placed it with the other finished, before picking up
another.  As he painted the glass with the undercoat he finally responded,
“About five thousand dollars.”
 
“Only five thousand?” It was Aaron’s turn to raise an eyebrow.
 
“I have three kits!  And not all of us are still in private practice!”  
 
Lafayette waved away the argument, “That’s fine.  How much is Thomas putting
in?  His family is very big in District 10, yes?”
 
“Yes, but everything is in trust and paid out as an allowance.  And,” Alex
shrugged as he laughed, “he’s not very good with money.  So, about three
thousand.  If we’re lucky.”
 
“Eight thousand?  Your budget is eight thousand?”
 
“How much is yours?  We’re paper-maching centerpieces!”
 
“Ten thousand,” the beta looked back to the glass in his hand.  “James is
talking about buying a house in the suburbs.  To start a family, eventually.”
 
“Eight thousand is more than enough,” Lafayette told Alex reassuringly, but
asked, “Is J.J going to help at all?”
 
Hamilton couldn’t help but laugh.  He loved his brother, but he wouldn’t trust
him with money.  Ever since they were kits, J.J had a habit of losing money on
stupid things.  Baseball cards that ended up to be fake, get rich, and pyramid
schemes, the older Hamilton had tried it once or twice and come back hat in
hand asking to be bailed out.  And Alex was usually there, with an encouraging
word and a check for a thousand dollars.  
 
“I think it’s just going to be us, Gil.”
 
The other omega hummed and began breaking up the budget into different
categories, doing a bit of the math on his phone.  As he worked he asked, “Is
J.J coming over today?”
 
Alex looked sullenly down at the glass he had been working on.  “After the
fight yesterday, he said he needed time to cool off.”  That had not been the
case, actually.  He had made a fuss about Alpha egos and then left, leaving
Thomas holding his tongue and Alex calling after him.  “He said, his business
partner might be by and pick up an envelope he left.”
 
“Business partner?” Aaron asked, looking up.  “What business partner?  What
business?”
 
The small Secretary rolled his eyes and shrugged.  “It’s something with to do
with shipping, I really didn’t pay attention.  He sounds happy and he is able
to pay his own way, so I’m happy to help.”
 
Almost on cue there was a knock on the door.  One of the kits who were playing
in the playpen a few feet away gave out a whine, but for the most part kept
quiet.  Alex pushed away from the table the three had been working at and
jogged to the door.
 
“Hello!  You must be-”
 
“No long time no see huh, Alexander?”
 
Alex froze and clutched the doorknob for dear life.  He felt his tail bristle
and his blood run cold.  His heart was beating a rapid tattoo in his chest and
he had paled considerably.
 
“Ch-Charles?”
 
The man who stood before him was tall with a wiry strength and cocksure grin,
the same he had all those years ago when...when..
 
“Is that you, Lee?” Lafayette had left the table and come to the doorway to
see.  “I haven’t seen you since college, before I went back to France for that
year of grad school!  How are you?!”
 
“Good.  Well, better now.  I had a few bumps in the road, and well, long of the
short of it I’m divorced and starting from the ground up.”
 
“I’m sorry to hear that,” the French omega said sympathetically, as the other
turned mechanically on his heels and retreated further into the safety of his
apartment.   But was safe anymore!  If he was here?!  If he had found him?!   
 
The beta was out of his seat and placing himself as a living barrier between
Alex and Charles.  “What are you doing here, Lee?”
 
The man in the doorway swiveled his head to look at the beta.  There was a
flash of something primal and threatening for just a moment, before Lee smiled
as innocently as an angel.  “Funnily enough, I started an toy shipping company
with Jay, Alex’s brother.  He left something here last night and he’s doing
errands for today so, I was the one who needed to come by and get it.”
 
Alex went to the envelope at once where it had been left on the coffee table,
and walked robotically back to Charles, placing it in his hand.  “Is that all?”
he asked, his voice hollow even to his own ears.
 
The man chuckled, “Oh come on now, you haven’t seen me in like ten years?
 Wouldn’t you like to invite me in for old times sake?  I heard you have a few
kits now?  Someone finally made you a proper Omega.  Don’t you think they would
like to meet Old Uncle Charlie?”
 
“No!” the Omega snapped startling Lafayette and Charles.  After a few calming
breaths he added, “We’re in the middle of planning my bonding ceremony and my
Alpha will be home any minute, so I should be making dinner.”
 
Charles quirked an eyebrow but said, “Well, I suppose I should be heading off
then.  If you’re making dinner.  Burr.” He nodded his head at the beta, who
gave a jerky nod back.
 
And just like that door was shut and he was gone.  Alex felt tension he had
been keeping his shoulders release as he nearly collapsed to the floor.  It had
been years.  So many years. Since…
 
The door slammed and Alexander jumped from his place on the computer chair in
alarm as Charles entered the flat with fire in his eyes.
 
“Sweetie, what’s wrong?” he asked, trying to defuse the situation before it
even began.  Too late though.  A fingers had already reached out and grabbed a
fistful of his hair.  He screamed in pain, only to receive a slap across the
face in response.
 
“You little cunt decide to sleep your way into the intern program with George
Washington just to show me up?!  Find it funny?!  To have my omega beat me to
the punch!”
 
“There are more spots on the internship program!  And I am  not your omega !”
 
A hand reached down and began to choke him.  “ One bite, and that could change,
couldn’t it ?”
 
“Alexander?”  The Omega blinked.  Lafayette was stooping low to look him
worriedly in the eye.  “Are you alright?”
 
“I’m fine,” Alex said, giving a small smile of reassurance.  “We’re still
planning right?  And these centerpieces won’t do themselves.”  He walked back
to the table and sat back down to work on the forgotten piece of glass.
 
“Indeed,” Aaron said, also returning to his seat.
 
Lafayette stared at the two for a few moments before sighing and going back to
his place as well.  

He was just as good at lying as they were, after all.
***** When the Night Creeps In... *****
Chapter Notes
     Remember to leave a comment or kudo, and follow me on tumblr at red-
     shadow-wolf-19
Scars bleed more than fresh wounds.
 
One of the few drawbacks to nesting kits was the lack of space and privacy.
 Not that Thomas didn’t know this; he had been born into a large family and
before he was old enough to sleep on his own, he had sleep nuzzled between his
parents and siblings.  Back then, it had seemed safe.  The smells of others so
close was a comfort; knowing they were a touch away.  
 
Now…
 
When he had been released from the Estate, he had been only overjoyed to come
home.  And even more than overjoyed to find in his absence, Alex had carefully
constructed a large nest of blankets, fabric, and pillows.  Again, a nest had
felt safe after his ordeal and each part of it smelled of his mate.  When Alex
had a nightmare, he could be there quick in a flash to comfort him.  And when
the same happened to him, which was happening more and more, Alex was there.  
 
Now….
 
You really couldn’t wake up to a screaming nightmare with sleeping kits, could
you?  And how do you tell your mate that each shift of their daughter and sons
frightened him, bringing back terrible visions?
 
He had taken to sneaking out of the nest as so soon as he heard his mate and
kits sleeping.  Padding his way to the kitchen he would pour himself some milk,
or when the nights called for it a stiff drink, and read in the dim light of
the living room.  Occasionally, a kit would get restless and start to cry, and
Thomas would be there to pluck them from the others and take them to rock,
change, or give them a bottle.  
 
He was considering taking Washington’s advice and taking some paternity leave,
allowing Alex to back to work.  Besides, he was already making it a habit to
take naps during the day when he could.  Whether in the office, which James
found distasteful, or at home when he could take a fussy kit or two to bed with
him.
 
There was a part of him that knew he should probably go see a therapist.  Panic
attacks at crowds and nightmares from being in the same bed as your child was
not normal.  But then Thomas would think of Alex; Alex who had it so much more
worse than he ever could.  Alex, who had dealt with the pain of the Estate and
losing his mother by throwing himself headfirst into everything only to come
out as the Secretary of the Treasury of the district.
 
This night found him flipping through an old mystery book, trying to work
himself into falling asleep or at least being tired again.  He was just about
to the part where the actual killer faked their own death when he heard a small
whimper coming from the bedroom.  
 
Thomas stopped and listened again.  There was a second whimper, distinctly not
a kit whimper.
 
The Alpha was out of the chair in moments, stalking back to the nest.  They
approached the pile of blankets slowly, not to wake the little ones curled up
beside one another.  Their mate was whimpering into their pillow, a few stray
tears streaking down their cheeks.  The Alpha growled at the thought of this
and reached down stroked one of the offending streaks away.
 
Alex awoke at once, the dream  the memory  falling away back into the ether
where it belonged.  He was safe.  He was safe.  As long as he could keep
telling himself that, it was true.  The Omega looked up and saw it was not
fully Thomas who had woken him, but  The Alpha .
 
“Did I wake you?” he asked nervously, daring to keep his eyes trained the
cinnamon orbs that were like slits at the moment.
 
The Alpha tilted his head.  They admired how their mate was brave so to stare
them directly in the eye, but it did not get to the heart of their concerns.
 What had made the Omega cry?  They knew though how stubborn their mate could
be, so they settled on stroking the bonding mark on their neck.
 
Alex smiled at the gesture.  “I’m okay!  It was just a bad dream.  I’m just
thankful I didn’t wake the kits.  Lafayette brought them over some chocolate
milk and…,” he sighed.  He could tell  The Alpha  was not satisfied with that
answer.  The silence and constant staring was becoming uncomfortable though and
bringing up old memories.   Memories with groping hands and laughter as he
struggled.   “Thomas!  Please!  I want….I need…”
 
“I’m sorry!” Thomas was back to himself in an instant, immediately enveloping
Alex into his embrace.  “I heard you and I was worried!  I’m sorry!  Sometimes
I can’t...I can’t shut it off.”
 
“I know,” the Omega said into this chest.  “There are times when the kits do
something or they don’t do something, and I…” He trailed off with a shrug.
 
“You have times when your Omega comes out?” The idea seemed so contrary to
everything Alex, though, he had seen it a few times.
 
“Just this morning, I found myself trying to play fight with the kits.  I know
they're too young, but something inside me said I had to make sure Johnny and
Rachel were able to defend themselves.”  Two brown eyes peered up at him.  “It
sounds silly, right?”
 
“No!  I mean, it’s not the medieval period and people aren’t breaking into
homes and stealing omegas out of their nests, but a defending themselves is
good.  I would also hope you teach these lessons to Jaime as well.”
 
“He’s my best student,” Alex said with a chuckle, ears twitching.  For once,
though he felt them twitch and subconsciously laid them across his head so they
were not noticeable.   You look like an idiot when your big ears twitch like
that.   
 
Thomas saw, but said nothing about it, electing instead to ask, “Do you think
there is anymore of that chocolate milk?”
 
“Are you, sir, saying we drink all our kits’ chocolate milk?”
 
“I’m saying we save some money for the bonding ceremony by making sure our kits
don’t have belly aches.”
 
Alexander giggled, his ears still planted firmly to his head.
***** The Venue *****
Chapter Notes
     Remember to follow me on tumblr and leave a comment.
A good alpha protects their reputation.  A great alpha protects their omega’s.
 
“So?” Alex asked nervously, looking around the fifth place they had looked at
today with wary and tired eyes.  “What do you think?”
 
Thomas couldn’t help but smile.  The small colonial mansion house was on a
westward hill overlooking the sprawling country to one side and the city on the
other, which fit both he and Alexander to a T.  While it was small, it was not
the claustrophobic small that made him claw at his throat.  The gardens were
lush and left in excellent condition, and wrapped around to get full advantage
of a setting sun.  The inside was complete with hardwood floors, scenic
landscape portraits, and a large reception and ceremony hall.  It was old world
romance with new world accommodation.
 
“It’s perfect,” he replied, squeezing his mates hand.
 
“Excellent!” The proprietor said from behind them, surprising the couple as the
rather short squat alpha brought out a clipboard to show them.  “I knew that
his would be an wonderful place for a bonding ceremony, did I not?  This is one
of our little hidden gems when it comes to our historical sites, but it is the
most charming.  Now when, gentlemen, were you thinking of having the ceremony?”
 
“Next winter, in January if that’s at all possible,” Alex couldn’t help at
smile.  Something about actually settling on a place after going from
historical site to historical site looking and turning up nothing made him
giddy.
 
The proprietor fed on that energy. “We have an opening for the sixteenth, but
it is a holiday, so many not want to celebrate.”
 
“That’s perfect,” Thomas said, waving away the concern.
 
“Wonderful!  How many guests approximately?”
 
“Fifty.”
 
That made the man stop short from recording on the clipboard.  “My, but you two
are very prominent in the district!  I know this location appears small but we
have been known to get two hundred people-”
 
“That won’t be necessary,” Alex said, his voice firm.  “We don’t have two
hundred friends or even family.  Fifty, plus us and our three kits.  At most we
may have is sixty but no more.”
 
“If you’re sure,” the proprietor said unsure as he wrote the number down.  “Now
we do have a working kitchen but I do not have a full staff, so you will need
to find a place.  Unless, you have a place in mind?”
 
The couple smiled at one another.  “We’ll send you their details.”
 
“Excellent.  I’ll go get an information packet and draw up the contract and
deposit information.  You two can stay here and enjoy the scener-”
 
“Mr. Kay?” a small nervous looking beta poked her head out from a side hall in
the mansion.
 
“Yes?” the short alpha said, his face still friendly but annoyance was evident
in his voice.
 
“Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Jefferson have a family member to see them.  He says he
wants to see them.”
 
The proprietor relaxed as Thomas and Alex exchanged a look.  They had texted
people the details of their harrowing venture into venue shopping throughout
the day, but no one they knew would come to a location and insist on talking to
them.  The small woman shocked them both when she lead in J.J in his beat up
suit and scuffed shoes.
 
“I’ll let you two do the tour this time while I go get everything,” the small
alpha said, walking briskly away.
 
The three stood awkwardly in one year’s time would be the ceremony room.  Now,
it was made to look a large salon awaiting more visitors for a party that was
severely delayed.
 
“So, no church bonding ceremony for you, huh Alex?  Wanna throw some of your
Alpha’s money into this place?”
 
Thomas growled, but Alex answered, “I was never religious J.J you know that.
 And we’re both paying for this place, which is not that expensive.  And I’ll
have you know that both Christopher Jackson and Daveed Diggs lived here for a
time and had cabinet meetings here.”
 
“Why are you here?” Thomas asked, cutting to the heart of the matter.
 
“What?!  I can’t see where my brother is betting bonded?” J.J asked, the
offense in his voice thick.
 
“That’s not why you’ve come, and we all three know it,” the Alpha sneered, but
the Omega shot him a look.
 
“I need to talk to Alex.  Out front.  Alone.”
 
Jefferson and Hamilton exchanged a look.  A silent conversation happened all at
once.   A question of concern, an answer of nervous reassurance, another
question of concern, firmer reassurance.
 
“Alright,” Alex finally said, moving away from the safety of his mate and to
his brother’s side.  They walked out the building to the large white gravel out
front.  “What do you want J.J?”
 
“I need some money,” J.J said without preamble.
 
The smaller Hamilton shook his head in disbelief, though he had figured it was
something like this.  “You want to ask for money while I’m planning my bonding
ceremony?!  When I am about to sign a contract for a venue?  I have three kits
on top of that, J.J!”
 
“Hey, not all of us have the luxury of some fancy book learning to get us some
cushy District job!” J.J growled.  
 
“You could have gone to Columbia too if you applied!  You’re so smart J.J.”
 
“Do you think I enjoy asking my little omega brother for help?!” the older
Hamilton hissed, grabbing the younger’s wrist and giving it an all too familiar
squeeze.  “You always forget all the things I did to protect you in there.  All
the things we had to do in there.  You always make it seem like it was just
you.  Poor Alexander, always the martyr!  Well, who got you out of there?!  It
was me!  Without me, you would still be at St. Croix, under the boot heel of
some Estate Alpha instead of planning your bonding ceremony, because you
couldn’t keep your neck covered and your legs closed!”
 
Alex bit his lip to keep from whimpering out loud.  There was a honk of a car
horn and two Hamiltons looked up to see Charles Lee in a beat up old car
waiting in the driveway.  He flashed the headlights in greeting.
 
“J.J,” the Omega said nervously, his voice betraying his fear.  “Why is…”
 
“He’s my business partner, remember.  And I, we, need money for our business.
 About four thousand or so.  I’m sure you have some in a rainy day fund
somewhere.”
 
“I…,” Alex’s heart rate was elevated and the vise like grip that his brother
had on his arm had yet to release him.  Charles was staring him down from the
front seat of the car leaning toward the car door- “I’ll have it for you buy
Monday.  I’ll meet you in the cafe outside the District Capital building.  Just
you come.  No one else.”
 
The grip on his wrist eased and J.J broke out into a warm smile.  “Awesome.
 After you can show me around where you work!”
 
“Sure.”   He felt numb, as though he had been sitting out in the cold for far
too long.
 
“Well, we have a few clients to meet.  Business and all,” J.J bounded down the
drive as his brother watched him go, his expression stiff.  “This is a lovely
venue, by the way.”
 
“Thank you.”  
 
He stood in the driveway, rooted to the spot until Thomas came back out,
carrying a small bundle of papers.  
 
“Hey, they need both our signatures...Alex?  Where’s J.J?  What’s wrong?” The
Alpha could sense something was wrong.   They wanted to take their Omega into
their arms and make it all better.  To shield them.  To protect them .
 
The Omega knew this.  But the Omega remembered being alone because the last
time the Alpha protected them.
 
“I’m fine.  J.J just wanted to see the venue that’s all.”
 
“Alex-”
 
“I’m FINE!” Alex growled.  He took a deep breath.  This was eating away at him.
 He had to tell him...but J.J..
 
Without me, you would still be at St. Croix, under the boot heel of some Estate
Alpha instead of planning your bonding ceremony, because you couldn’t keep your
neck covered and your legs closed!
 
“I need to tell you something.  And I need Aaron there to help explain.”
***** The Past and the Plan *****
Chapter Notes
     I'm sorry chapters have been coming in so late. I've been dealing
     with two big family issues and a few things have had to take a back
     burner. On the plus side, I have figured out a few other fanfictions
     after this one, so yay!
     Warning: This Chapter as discussion of domestic abuse, both violent
     and verbal.
The Alpha who can not protect the nest from all threats, real or imagined, is
no true Alpha.
 
The restaurant was quiet and had a few patrons at the small private booths who
stared as they were shown to their own, but for the most part it was almost as
secure as their apartment.  But Alex and Aaron did not want to confide their
secret in the apartment.  They wanted to do it here, in public.  When Thomas
had asked why, the two had exchanged a nervous look and told him not worry
about it.  He had asked James, who had tagged along at Aaron’s insistence, but
he had only shrugged.
 
Thomas watched as the hostess took their drink orders how Alex fidgeted with
his napkin, squeaking out, “Ice Tea, please.”  He reached across the table and
took his mate’s hand, encouraged when it was grasped tightly, as though the
comfort was sorely needed.
 
Finally the hostess came back with their drink orders, and they shooed her
politely away so they could talk.  Once again, the Omega and beta looked at one
another in a silent conversation as both alphas watched.
 
“I don’t know where to begin,” Alex finally admitted to the table.
 
“The beginning, and your way to now,” Aaron said, his voice soothing but firm.
 
After a nod, Hamilton took a deep breath and exhaled, “As you know, when I was
an undergrad, John and I dated for about a year and half or so.  And I dated a
few people before and after him.”  Thomas nodded, now even more confused.
 “Well, when I was in the master’s program at Columbia, and during the time I
got an internship with George Washington and moved here, I had another long
term boyfriend.  A man named Charles Lee.”
 
He paused, looking around at this audience.  Aaron nodded encouragement.
 Thomas looked puzzled and worried.  James just seemed interested.  He sighed
and went to: “I, and nearly the entire group from college, knew Charles
already.  We had hung out several times and we just, clicked.  And we were both
in the grad program, doing the same thing, wanting the same thing, an
internship with Mr. Washington, it seemed natural.  And at the time, I thought
he loved and cared for me.  But…
 
“After a few months, Charles’s behavior began to change.  He would belittle me
in every way he could, from my appearance to my intelligence to me being an
immigrant.  At first he would couch it in a joke, like he was teasing.  But
soon, he began to do it outright.  When people began to notice, he started
demanding I spend less time out of class with friends.  You have to understand.
 At the time, Gil had gone back to France to study and John went back to his
district to do the same.  Hercules was working full time and moving to this
district.  And the Schuyler's were all busy with high society and school
things.  The only one around all the time was Aaron.”
 
“It was awful to watch,” Aaron said, choosing now to cut in, “He would just
insult Alexander and laugh about it, trying to get you to laugh with him.  And
there would be Alex, just standing there nervously laughing along.”
 
“Why didn’t you leave,” Thomas asked, knowing that was probably the wrong
question to ask but the thought of someone insulting  his Omega and getting
away with it made their blood boil.
 
“I couldn’t!  You see, my student visa was about to expire because J.J only got
me one for my undergrad coursework.  And I was in the process of applying for a
new one permanent at the same time I was applying for that internship.  And The
Estate required that I have references from three alphas, six betas,  twelve
other omegas, one of which I live with for the entire process that I promise to
stay with through that process.  When I filed that paperwork, Charles and I had
started living together and I had no reason yet to suspect anything was going
to happen.  But once it did, I was stuck.  So I thought, I was going to have to
put up with his insults and his rages until the process was over.  I thought
that was all he would do.”  Alex looked nervously up at Thomas, his eyes
shining.
 
“That wasn’t all he did, though, is it?”  The Alpha asked, his voice calm as he
spoke.
 
The Omega shook his head as tears began to come to his eyes.  “The first time
he hit me, even as he apologized and said he was sorry and that it would never
happen again, I knew it would.  It was just like how Father would do that to
Mama.  I knew...but the paperwork...and I kept thinking….I know it’s
stupid..that I could change him.”
 
The beta put an arm around Alex.  “Alex would work late at the Poli Sci
Department with me, just so he wouldn’t have to come home.  He would come in,
always wearing long sleeves.”
 
“Finally, one day I got my internship with Washington.  Charles heard and was
furious, saying he was going to make it impossible for me accept.  He
threatened...he threatened…,” the small Omega began to stroke his bonding mark,
both in comfort and to demonstrate.
 
“He threatened to claim you,” James supplied, his voice hush as he sensed the
Alpha beside him tense up even more.
 
Alex nodded sadly.  “I was so scared.  Thankfully, my permanent residence visa
came through that day as well.  So when he went for his evening seminar, I
called Aaron and he helped me move out that night.  I even told campus security
about the abuse and they walked me to and from classes.”
 
“By that time, I was applying to working to a law firm in this district and
Hercules and had moved in temporarily to help us move,” Aaron explained.
 “Charles for all his posturing is a beta, and every time he would try to come
and intimidate Alex, we would have have Hercules open the door.  He lost
interest as soon as we were out of the district.”
 
The two looked for a moment very triumphant, as though the memory of the abuser
being frightened of the tall, muscular, and kind Hercules still a victory they
hold close to their hearts.  They looked back at their respective alphas,
wanting to revel in this past win only to get blank stares back.
 
“While this does shed some light on certain behavior aspects, I don’t see why
you had to tell us this in a restaurant,” James said.
 
The Omega and beta’s faces fell.  Again they looked at one another in silent
debate whether or not to continue.   In for a penny…
 
“Charles is in this district,” Alex said, rushing the words before he could
stop them.
 
“What?!”
 
“He’s in the district.”
 
“How do you know this?”
 
“He came by the apartment.”
 
James gasped and turned to look at his friend beside him.  Thomas was stock
still his mouth slightly agape, his eyes wide.  The smaller man could almost
hear the wheels turning in his head, the connections going a mile a minute.
 Then finally,  a growl . The entire restaurant heard it and a few head
swiveled to look around, while others choose to look pointedly back down at
their plate.
 
“He was at the apartment?” the Alpha hissed, undeterred at the idea of people
staring at them.
 
Alex nervously shifted and nodded.  “He’s apparently J.J’s business partner.”
 
The Alpha growled even more at that.  “I’m going to- ”
 
“To do nothing!”
 
Another growl verging on a hiss at that thought.
 
“Listen to me, Thomas!” Alex was firm and unafraid as he reached across the
table to take his mate’s hand.  Immediately he could tell that Thomas was back
in control though still fuming.  “I’ve decided to go back to work on Monday.
 I’ve already called Washington and arranged it.  I’ve also told him I need a
security detail.  I am going to be protected all the time I am away from the
nest.  And James will be there as well,” he nodded at the smaller alpha, who
nodded back.  “And you will be at home, protecting our kits.  I know you are
worried.  I know you want to protect me.  Or avenge me.  But I need you...I
need you  stay with me.”
 
Thomas took a deep breath.  Alex was right.  He had already gone to The Estate
once because he had protected his mate.  And though  the Alpha would gladly do
it all again for their Little Mate,  Thomas knew he Alex was more than capable
of handling this.  The District Capital Building was already the safest place
in the city, and with the added security and even James there, Charles would
never lay a finger on Alexander.  He needed to be there for his kits, and make
their nest safe and sound for them.
 
“Are you sure?” he asked, squeezing the little hand that was in his.
 
Alexander smiled a warm self assured smile.  “I’m sure.”
 
“What about J.J?”
 
“Oh don’t worry about that,” Aaron said, chuckling as the tension at the table
(and restaurant) eased.  “I will handle that.”
***** A Return *****
Chapter Notes
     I owe you guys an apology for not updating and leaving so abruptly.
     Life happened, all at once. I got married in January, and as soon as
     I said my 'I dos' my husband's chronic eye trouble flared up again.
     We had a scare that he may go blind, and he had to cancel going to
     college for a semester (never mind putting his dream career plans on
     hold). We were dealing with insurance companies and doctors, the
     whole nine yards. Add on top of that a clerical error with our
     wedding license and me starting the next semester of school, things
     have been crazy. While I can promise more updates, I cannot promise
     the daily updates of yesteryear.
     You can still find me on tumblr at red-shadow-wolf-19 and comments
     and kudos are appreciated.
The basic unit of society is family.  The basic unit of the family is the
individual.  Protect one, to protect them all.
 
Alex had to admit that going back to work filled him with apprehension.  He had
spent nearly five months out of work.  First, he had been pregnant, trying
desperately to maintain persona of a politician as hormones and his body played
tricks on him.  Then he had been home caring for his kits, too busy with
playing Papa to really keep up all of the work Thomas had smuggled out to him.
 When he had first conceived of going back to work a week or so ago, he had
visions of being the cliche out of the loop, two steps behind everyone, rather
nest all day, working Omega that everyone expected.  He had nightmares of
slipping into his ‘Papa’ voice when talking to senators and being patronized as
the ‘Little House Omega’ of the Capitol Building.
 
Luckily, that wasn’t the case.
 
Within two hours of being back to work the Omega had caught up with most of his
phone calls, delegated half dozen minor bills to junior secretaries, and began
work on the Runaway Omega Bill, trying his best to work a tax on alphas and
betas who simply abandon their mates between the lines.  He had gotten into a
debate with three senators and scheduled a phone interview with NPR about his
manufacturing bill.  By the time that Washington called for the morning
meeting, Alexander had reestablished himself as the office pain in the ass.
 
Of course, there were some changes.  Namely, the absence of Thomas, who usually
would have debated Alex just so Washington could hear both sides.  Instead,
during the meeting Adams and Madison read off the pros and cons of each
proposal the administration was tackling with the same tone one would reserve
to reading off a shopping list.  Even the president looked bored with the
preceding.  The only time the meeting came alive was in finally, near the end,
someone asked to see pictures of the kits.
 
That went as it did nearly every time someone asked.  Everyone around the table
seemed to wake up and turn enthusiastically toward the small Omega, all nodding
and making similar noises.  “Here let’s see them!  Aw, look at her!  And this
one!  He’ll be a charmer!  Ho ho!  This one will be as feisty as their Papa!”
 Washington took Alex’s cellphone when it was his turn to look and pronounced
they were the loveliest kits he had seen.  Even in the middle of his fierce
debate with the senators, they had stopped mid rant to ask to hear stories of
fatherhood.  It was seemingly to his advantage to give into this request Alex
found, because as soon as his story of Rachel discovering strawberries
concluded, the three seemed more agreeable to his side.
 
By lunch, he was charging his cell because of passing it around so much and
about read to collapse from exhaustion.  He called Thomas at home as he sipped
his horrible break room coffee, that somehow he found he had missed during his
time at home.   
 
“Hello!  Jefferson-Hamilton Residence!” Thomas answered on the third ring
brightly.
 
“Wow, you sound chipper,” Alex marveled, glancing at the time on his computer.
 11:45
 
“I’ve spent my morning talking with three of the most interesting people while
he watched the most fascinating program about medical advancements.”
 
“I told you  Doc McStuffins  is weirdly addictive.”
 
“You weren’t kidding!  Though I found some old  Sesame Street  on Netflix, so I
think I’m going to have them watch that as well.”
 
“You mean you are going to watch it.”
 
Thomas playfully scoffed.  “Are you saying that I would only introduce things
to our children that I like?!”
 
“I’m saying I’ve heard you rap the ‘Rubber Duckie’ song alone in the shower
when were dating,” Alex snickered.  When he had calmed down he said quietly
into the phone, “It’s weird being here and not seeing you.  It’s weird not
being home with kits.”
 
He could almost hear the whimpers and stirrings of a kit, most likely Jaime, as
Thomas replied, “That’s how I felt when you went on pregnancy leave.  And then
once the kits came, I had to fight every instinct not to drop everything and go
home to you four.”
 
“I...I like being at work,” Alex confessed, an edge or worry dropping into his
voice.  “I love the kits, I do.  They and you are my everything but-”
 
“Hey, now,” the Alpha interjected, sounding so soothing, “I know you like being
at work.  And I know you love the kits.  Enjoying work doesn’t make you a bad
father!  You can do both.  Besides, what kind of Dad am I if I don’t change a
few diapers, hmm?”  When the Omega had finished giggling he asked seriously,
“Has Aaron come by yet?”
 
“Not yet, but he should be here any minute.”
 
“Still want to do this?”
 
“I have to!  For the kits, for us, and myself.  I-”
 
“Mr. Hamilton-Jefferson?” the voice on the intercom sounded.  “Mr. Aaron Burr-
Madison is here to see you.”
 
“Send him in,” Alex said into the speaker, before turning back to the phone.
 “He’s here.  I have to go.”
 
“Bring your security-”
 
“I know.  I love you.”
 
“I love you too.”  The click from the call ending neatly coincided with the
door opening.  Aaron was dressed in one of his most professional suits,
sporting his reading glasses to look even more severe.
 
“Ready?” he asked as Alex stood, grabbing his coat.
 
“No, but it needs to be done.”
 
The cafe across the Capital Building was surprisingly cheap and dingy for being
so close to the most important building in the district.  The service was
impeccable but rarely came to the table unless waved over and the lighting was
something out of a noir film.  Meaning it was perfect for wheeling and dealing
of politics.  Or dealing with a bully.
 
J.J had been shown to a booth near the back wall of the restaurant.  He frowned
when Aaron walked in beside Alex, but waved a waitress over and ordered them
all a round of drinks.
 
“No thank you,” Alex told her.  “Just some water for us.”
 
“Oh come on, Alexander!  Don’t be like that.  A little drink never hurt
anyone!”  J.J teased as the waitress took their orders and left.
 
“Every time Father drank he hurt Mama.  And I have to go back to work after
this.”
 
The older Hamilton frowned.  “Did  he  make you go back to work?”
 
“No I wanted to.  And don’t patronize me, talking about how concerned you are.
 You’ve made it  painfully  clear how  concerned  you are about me.”  The
waitress returned with the drinks and a small plate of bread and butter before
retreating leaving the three to the awkward heavy silence.  Finally, Alex
sighed, “We came here for a reason.  Should we get on with it?”
 
Both J.J and Aaron nodded, much to the former’s surprise.  The Omega reached
into his coat pocket and retrieved his checkbook as Aaron dug into his
messenger bag and pulled out a small file folder.  The two friends nodded to
one another.
 
“Here is a check for five thousand,” Alex said, writing the amount, his voice
tight and monotone as he spoke.  He could feel Aaron write the amount on few
forms in the file folder and he felt his heart pound in his chest.  “This is
the last amount I am giving you.  This is the last time I want to hear about
his business.  This is the last time I want to hear about your  business
partner .  This is the last time I want to hear from you.”
 
He passed the check to a shocked looking J.J.  “What do you mean-”
 
“He means,” Aaron said, passing the papers in the folder to J.J, “that he is
filing a restraining order on you and Charles Lee.  By walking out of this
restaurant and cashing that check, you are knowingly extorting money out of
your brother.  While there are no witnesses to the extortion, I am a witness to
Lee’s abuse, which I have outlined in the brief before you.  That should be
pages five to eight of the your copy which I just gave you.  You’ll find your
name on page seven when I talk about you meeting your brother’s abuser and
seeing the bruises on his arms.  I even included your comment.  As long as you
deal with Charles Lee, you are not allowed to step within twenty feet of your
brother or this family.  You are not allowed to contact him, without my
permission.  And I must be present for any meeting.  I have outlined meeting
protocols and exemptions to these rules, which can be found on page-”
 
“You can’t be serious?!” J.J squawked, standing up from the table as though he
had been burned.  “Alex!  A restraining order?!  After all I did for you?!”
 
“After all that, and you decided to threaten me with the man who was just as
bad as the Estate Alphas?!” Alex shouted back.  Heads were swiveling to look at
them but he didn’t care.  “I remember what you did to help me everyday!  I
remember it so very clearly!  The big brother who protected me and did his best
to keep me safe.  Who got me a ….chance  to get off the Estate.   I remember.  
All I want is to back to that.  You can find a new job!  I can help!  Something
that doesn’t involve Charles.  Let me help you!  Just tear up that check, and
let’s start over.  Let’s-”
 
J.J growled and snatched up the check.  The security detail that had sat down a
few tables away were up and ready for anything.  The older Hamilton saw them
and the betrayal in his eyes was almost palpable.  
 
“You could change this right now.  You can make them leave, and we can just sit
here and have lunch.  It can be just like before.  We can be a family.  We can-
”
 
But J.J had turned on his heel, walking out of the restaurant and stuffing the
check into his coat pocket.  Alex slumped in the booth, his mind going
back...back…
 
“Back to fighting with alphas, huh Alex?” J.J used a clean but old dishrag to
clean the Omega’s face of the mud, dirt, and blood.
 
“I won, didn’t I?  They said the strongest will be able to leave and I won.
 Just because I’m an omega-”
 
“How are you to impress an alpha if you keep fighting all the time?” his
brother asked, feigning exasperation.
 
“I don’t need an alpha.  I have you.  You’ll protect me.”
***** Fatherhood and Calls in the Night *****
Chapter Notes
     So I have spring break! So expect some updates
     Thanks for the lovely words of encouragement and congratulations.
     Follow me on tumlbr.
See the end of the chapter for more notes
An Alpha’s duty is to uphold the sword!  A Beta’s duty is to uphold the shield.
 The Omega tends the nest.
 
Hold him down and beat him with a wet noodle.  Tickle him until with a feather,
if you must.  Or simply ask him.  Thomas would tell anyone who asked that he
was taking quite a shine to being a stay at home father.  He had had visions
that first night before Alexander had gone back to work that he would be the
cliche hapless husband, running up and down the apartment complex asking for
help from every dotty grandomega.  But once Alex had kissed him and the kits
good-bye that first day and he was left with his children, something just
clicked.  
 
He quickly developed a rhythm of how the days were going to go for the next few
months.  Play and ‘activity’ time in the morning after a breakfast, followed
closely by the first nap of the day in which Jefferson quickly snuck off to put
on a load of laundry, dishes, and prep dinner (he had fallen immediately in
love with the crockpot).  After morning nap was the second round of play and
activity time, but with a bit more structure.  Thomas and Alex were determined
to make sure their kits were ready for school, so they had splurged on the best
and latest child development toys and games.  Each achievement, from putting
the round peg in the small shaped hole to not pulling your sister’s hair, was
well documented.  Then it was lunch and second nap, which Thomas joined in for
a few minutes, something that was vastly improving his mood and mind he was
quite sure of.  How else in the afternoons, before Alex got home, could he
devote his time to planning out a biography of one of his favorite historical
figures?
 
Maybe it was because he had always loathed politics and dealing with the
pressures of so many people, that he found fatherhood so rewarding.  Maybe it
was because he had always been a homebody at heart.  Maybe he had always been
envious of Alex staying home with the kits while he had gone back to work.
 Whatever it was, the Alpha was absolutely loving the new turn of events,
despite how they came to be.
 
So it seemed, was Alex, judging by the smile he received every day the Omega
walked through the door of the apartment.  
 
“My god, whatever you are making smells delicious!” the smaller man said, as he
put down his messenger bag and shrugged off his work jacket and tie.  
 
“Butter chicken.  I found recipe online and we nearly had everything around
here,” Thomas leaned down and kissed the brunette, balancing the kit in his
arms.  “Laf went got the some groceries for us.  Say good afternoon, Johnny.”
 
“Good afternoon, Johnny,” Alex quipped, much to the delight of baby who gurgled
his greeting.
 
“We had been practicing all day,” the taller man teased.  “I swore he was
saying ‘good’ this morning.”
 
“Sorry, I ruined your presentation.  What about Jaime and Rachel?”
 
“Not ready for prime time, I fear.  Jaime gets stage fright and Rachel is a
terrible flirt with her audience.”
 
“Wonder where she gets that from?”
 
“Probably you.”
 
Alex smiled, a seductive twinkle in his eye.  “Probably.”
 
If there was another drawback to the ‘no privacy’ of nesting, it was there was
no alone time with one’s mate.  Again, at first this hadn’t been really an
issue that concerned either Thomas or Alex.  They were too busy enjoying their
new family and recovering from the pregnancy and birth to really care about
sex.  After a while however, they had quickly realized that parenting and sex
got along as well as fire and water usually.  They had found ways to make it
work.  Asking for babysitters from their friends while they enjoyed an
afternoon together, which mostly had them sleeping unencumbered from children.
 Sharing a bath together which ended quickly because they were both worried
about the kits alone.  
 
Finally they had come to a solution.  No one had commented when the living room
furniture had been reshuffled so that Alex’s pull-out couch had been clumsily
added to the arrangement with Thomas’s leather couch set.  Well, Lafayette had
raised an eyebrow and Peggy had giggled somewhat when it was brought to her
attention, but other then that nothing much was said.  
 
So that night, after they had had a lovely dinner and bathed the little kits
and read them a story, and finally put them down to sleep with light kisses and
lullabies, the couple had tiptoed from the nest in their room.  Thomas pulled
out the bed, still slightly smelling from the last time they had done this as
Alex gathered their worse ‘guest’ blankets and pillows.  
 
Once everything was in place they descended on one another.  Thomas fought with
the buttons of Alex’s work shirt, immediately latching onto the bonding mark on
neck that made his mate submissive and sweet.  The Omega for his part helped
rid the Alpha of his college tee shirt and began working on the button and
zipper of his pants.
 
“Lay back, darling,” Jefferson whispered huskily.  “I got you.”
 
Hamilton nodded and did as he was told laying back against the bed.  He
assisted in undoing his belt and pants, though he allowed his mate to pull them
down remembering the first time they had ever been together.  They had both
been nervous and unsure with one another, afraid to cross the line between
dating and...whatever was beyond that.
 
Now Thomas knew how long to finger Alex before he was open and mewling for
more.  Alex knew that as soon as his mate entered him, nothing made him more
excited than him clawing at his back, allowing his claws out to scrape his
back.  The two crashed into one another a few more times before the Alpha
groaned and came.  The Omega whimpered as he followed suit, both collapsing
back onto bed, panting.
 
“That was amazing,” the taller man said, drawing the smaller one close.  He
frowned slightly the smell of his own cum.  “You are on birth control again?  I
don’t need to run out and get-”
 
“It’s fine, Thomas,” Alex said breathlessly, cuddling into the other’s chest.
 “I’ve been on them since the kits were born.  Three is enough for now!”
 
The older man nodded and kissed his Omega.  “Sorry if that broke the mood.”
 
“Nothing could break the mood when I’m with you, Thomas Jefferson.”  The phone
began to ring and the kits began to cry in response.  “Except that.”  The mocha
eyes winced.  “Do you want to handle the phone call or do you want to deal with
the kits?”
 
“I’ll get the phone and you get the kits.  You’ve been answering phone calls
all day, and if this is some senator from some district wanting to talk about a
deal, well I am going to give them a piece of my mind.”
 
“You just don’t want to put on clothes!”
 
“That too.”  Thomas winked and as Alex rolled off the mattress and retreated to
the bedroom, pulling on pants as he went.
 
He padded over to the side table where both his and Alex’s cellphone sat side
by side the land line that was ringing off the hook.  He clicked the ‘talk’
button and greeted the other person in a pleasant but firm, “Jefferson-Hamilton
residence.  Who is this?”
 
For a moment, Jefferson could hear the sound of several people all talking in
the background and what sounded like cameras going off.  Finally, a meek female
voice answered, “Is this Mr. Alexander Hamilton-Jefferson?”
 
“No, this is his husband,” despite himself he spoke low and soothingly to the
voice on the other end that seemed to wobble with every syllable.  
 
“Is your husband okay?  Is he there with you?  Is he...y’know...safe?”  The
voice seemed very insistent.
 
It made Thomas worried.  “Yes, he’s with our kits in the other room.  What’s
going o-”
 
“Oh thank god!”  The voice seemed to break and sounded like had just shed a few
tears.  It allowed itself a few moments to let out a few collecting sobs before
it continued.  “Sir, I’m Theodosia Prevost.  I work with Mr. Aaron Burr.
 Sir….he’s been attacked.  He’s been…oh my god...you have to understand...when
I found out I go so sick.  I knew that man was bad the moment I saw him at
reception.  I was the one who found him...them...and...I got him good sir….I
did...But I was too late...sir….I...He…I called Mr. Madison...He’s going to the
hospital…sir…he’s been…”
 
The phone was on the floor where Thomas had dropped it, already gathering the
things they would need.  It was going to be a long night with three kits in a
hospital waiting room.
Chapter End Notes
     I will admit this is part of the reason updates took so long. Because
     what is happening/happened is cruel. And I'm the author!
***** Family *****
Chapter Notes
     On a roll, thanks to Spring Break!
We live in several nests in our life.  The nest of child and nest for our
children are the obvious ones, but what about the one we build for our friends?
 
They raced into the family room of the hospital, Lafayette, Thomas, and
Alexander each holding a bawling kit as Hercules held a partially constructed
travel bassinet and diaper bags.  The Burr and Madison clans all seemed
startled at first, ready to fight the newcomers before they recognized Thomas
and Alex.  Immediately people stepped forward and helped assemble the bassinet
in the corner where a few older kits were already sleeping under blankets and
pillows from the giftshop.  James’s grandmother, a plump elderly alpha,
directed the bawling kits and the newcomers to sit down.
 
Alex’s hands shook as he carded his fingers through Rachel’s hair.  Thomas had
told him very little, ‘not wanting him to worry’, but he had heard more than
enough when his mate had gone across the hall to wake Hercules and Lafayette
up.  
 
James’s grandmother barely spoke, her voice raspy when she was able to find the
words to say.  “Aaron was working late on a brief.  That man.  That Mr. Lee.
 He pretended to be a delivery man.  He got into Aaron’s office and...forced
himself…”
 
There was a sharp intake of breath from Thomas and a whispered prayer from
Lafayette.  Hercules swore, before apologizing to the room.  No one seemed to
begrudge him.
 
“He did it because of me,” Alex’s voice was small and watery.  “I cut J.J off
and he made Charles retaliate.  If I hadn’t…”
 
“It would have you been in the hospital and Aaron would be in your position!”
It was Aaron’s grandfather, a stern looking beta who resembled his grandson to
almost startling degree.  “Aaron told me about Lee and what he did all those
years ago.  I had to counsel him not to kill the man several times.  I will not
have you blaming yourself for something a monster did!”
 
“But-”
 
“Charles?  Do you mean Charles Lee?” Lafayette looked around in puzzlement,
suddenly putting two and two together.  “What?  Why?  Why would he ra-”
 
“Not the time babe,” Hercules said gently, pulling out his cellphone.
 “Tomorrow.  Right now we have to be here for Aaron.”  He turned to Thomas and
the still miserable Omega.  “I’m calling everyone else.  They need to know, and
they may want to be here.  Y’know, for James and Aaron.”
 
“I should meet with the police, shouldn’t I?”the small Omega asked, thankful
that seemingly his youngest eyes were beginning to droop after all the
excitement.
 
“Eventually, for right now we are more concerned with your family’s safety,”
the old alpha said, trying to give a small comforting smile but only managing a
grimace.
 
“You don’t have to worry about me,” Alex said, the old spark of independence
coming to his eyes, somewhat undermining by the infant yawning and humming in
his lap.
 
“Thomas has been friends with Jem since grade school.  They were nearly nest
mates!”  Someone said from across the room before going back to looking on the
verge of tears.
 
“And you were Aaron’s first friend in college!” Aaron’s grandfather said, his
eyes narrowing as he looked down at the Omega.
 
“Let them worry about you,” Thomas said quietly, pulling Rachel from his arms.
 “I’m putting them down to sleep and calling Washington.  I’m going to see
about getting security for the apartment.”
 
“Smart man!” the preacher said as the Alpha walked by, “Aaron did say you mated
well.”
 
“He has too, sir.” Alex said looking around at the large amount of Madisons in
the room.
 
Hercules came back into the room and sat down, pulling Lafayette close to him.
 “John and Peggy are already on their way.  Pegs is trying to wake Eliza and
Maria.  Apparently Angelica is in town and invited them to that house by the
lake their father owns.”
 
“Where’s Jam-” but before Lafayette had finished his thought the door to the
family door was once again flung open to reveal a haggered and determined
looking James.  Everyone, except for the kits, stood at attention like soldiers
waiting for their next command.  The small alpha looked through them all, his
eyes red and puffy as though he had been crying.  He looked about ready to
collapse on the spot.
 
“James,” it was Thomas who spoke.  The short man looked around, his eyes dull.
 When they finally met the other Alpha’s , he realized he had no idea what to
say to him.  He simply repeated the other’s name.  He received only a nod in
reply.
 
“Aaron is...going to be staying here overnight.  They say...it's just for
observation.  Standard procedure after...after…”
 
“James,” it was Alex’s turn to say his name, taking a step toward the small
hurting man.
 
James’s head shot up and his eyes seemed to come alive.  He advanced toward
Alex, people parting for him as he went.  Alex for his part backed up, nearly
falling back into his seat before his hand was grabbed.  He waited for the blow
that never came, he as was dragged from the room with Thomas jogging behind the
pair of them.
 
Past rooms of patients and nurses giving them strange looks they went, not even
pausing when a nurse called that James needed to sign a form.  At the door of a
room at the end of a long hallway, they were stopped by a nurse and uniformed
police officer.
 
“This is Alexander Hamilton,” James gave as way of explanation.  Both the nurse
and police officer parted and allowed the pair entry into the dark room.  
 
There was only a small strip of light from the lamp beside Aaron’s bed but it
was enough to illuminate the dark purple and blue bruises of the beta’s face.
 Both eyes were swollen nearly shut and his lip had a deep cut.  Each wheezing
breath was taken from his mouth, his nose appeared to be broken.
 
Alex and James approached the bed, as the alpha spoke to his mate.  “Love?  I
brought Alex.  He’s here.”
 
“Alex,” Aaron slurred.  His lashes fluttered and his left eye opened, the other
too swollen to do anything else but weep.  “Alex!  Y-you..”
 
“Yeah, I’m here Aaron,” Alexander crept closer to the bed.  “I’m so
sorry...what he did…”
 
“Did he get to you and the kits?!”
 
“No!  You know I went back to work.  Thomas was watching them.  Their fine.
 I’m fine!”
 
“He said...he said he had broke in and…,” Aaron began to break down and the
small Omega was quickly over to his side in a moment, holding him in arms.  “I
thought I could fight him off...and then when he said that...I...I...you’re
like a brother to me...I was so…”
 
“It’s okay...it’s okay...shhh,” the Omega climbed into the hospital bed, a need
to comfort and console coming over them.  The beta’s sobs became the small
chirps of a hurt kit, nuzzling into the smaller creature’s neck for comfort.
 
Outside the hospital room, Thomas and James looked on both trying to
desperately from drawing out their claws.
 
“I feel like I could tear him apart with my own hands,” James’s voice sounded
ready to either break or become a  growl.
 
“You probably could, and no one would mourn that bastard,” Thomas agreed.  “But
what happens after you ‘wake up’?  After the alpha has had their fun and The
Estate comes, what will happen to Aaron then?”
 
“It would be worth-”
 
“Nothing is worth that.”  The taller Alpha grasped the other’s shoulders.  “You
have to be strong, sensible, and let the police and The Estate do their job.”
 
“You sound like Aaron,” James laughed humorlessly.
 
“You know why?    You’re mate is smart and strong, and will pull through this
.”  James laughed again, nodding in agreement.  

“Besides,” Thomas added, “where is that coward going to be able to hide after
what he did?”
***** Promises Broken and Secrets Kept *****
Chapter Notes
     Holy crap I'm back! Check out my tumblr at red-shadow-wolf-19 and
     give me some asks or kick my ass for not updating for months. Merry
     almost X-mas
There are moments that are too painful to remember, but too important to be
forgotten.
 
“CANCELLED!?!”
 
Alex flinched, holding the phone away from his ear before answering.
 “Postponed, Eliza.  Postponed.  Please don't let Aaron or James hear you
saying they're cancelling their bonding ceremony.”
 
The female omega whispered on the other end of the line, “Sorry.  It's
just...to put it off so long.  They must feel awful.”
 
“I really think they have other things to think about than a bonding ceremony.”
 
“Yes!  Of course!  I'm sorry.”
 
It had been a week and a half since Aaron had been attacked.  Alex and Thomas
had been at the beta’s apartment nearly everyday, reassuring the usually
collected man they were both okay.  It had been Alex who had suggested to
Aaron's family they postponed the bonding ceremony until he was in a better
state.  The Burr clan, and nearly all of the Madisons, had agreed.  James had
objected somewhat, more out of alpha instinct than anything else.  
 
All the alphas had been acting out of instinct.  Hercules escorted Lafayette
and Alex in and out of their building each day.  Maria made ‘random’ phone
calls to all three of the omegas as well as John.  Even Peggy, a usually laid
back beta, was acting unusually protective, insisting that John stay in her
periphery at all times.  Thomas, for his part, was trying to be clear headed,
though Alex knew his Alpha spent most nights awake and watchful.
 
“Aaron is going to be alright. He's stronger than this.  He just needs time.
 His grandfather is taking him back to their home district to recover,” Alex
said, leaning back in his office chair as he pushed a few pens around on his
desk uselessly.
 
“Is James going?”
 
“He's scared that his alpha instinct will take over.  Try to rebond.  It
wouldn't do Aaron any good until he feels better.”
 
He could almost see Eliza worrying her lip between her teeth.  “He's probably
worried sick about him.”
 
“You can say that. When he hasn't been yelling at everyone in the building,
he's been bent over a waste paper basket throwing up.  Washington is trying to
send him home.”
 
“He should be at home!”
 
Alex shook his head as he spoke, “He should be here. He'll go home and think of
something crazy or try to find Charles.  It's best he spends his energy out
here.”
 
There was a pause.  And then the question that was asked of him at least once a
day since the attack was posed.
 
“Alex...have you heard from Charles or J.J?”
 
Alex felt his heart grow heavy as he looked out his office window.  He closed
his eyes.  “Eliza-”
 
“I'm not asking because I blame you or something like that!” Eliza hurriedly
said.  “I know - and I hope you know, that you have nothing to do with what
happened.  Charles is a monster, plain and simple. What he did, he did because
he couldn’t control you or Aaron.  And that shows how weak and evil he is.  And
after what the police said about what him and J.J have been doing.  About the
fake businesses and the exhortation.  I just...I'm worried about you.  I'm
worried that they'll try to do something else.  And I don't want you...to think
you owe anyone anything.”
 
“Eliza, I know that. I do.  I promised Aaron, Aaron’s grandfather, James,
Thomas, Washington, the police, Lafayette, both Lafayette’s fathers, and I'll
promise you too! If I hear from either of the, I'll let the authorities sort it
out.”
 
“Even if it's J.J?”
 
The Omega sighed heavily.  He wasn't sure how to answer the question to
anyone's satisfaction.
 
“He's my brother,” he said weakly.  Memories of the Estate danced in his mind
as he spoke.  “It's hard to…”
 
“No one is saying it will be easy,” Eliza said gently, using the same type of
voice he used with the kits when they cried.  “No one expects this to be easy
for you.  I know, well I know what you've been willing to tell us, about the
Estate. I know he was there for you.  I know you love him.  But-”
 
“Mr. Hamilton?” Alex’s secretary spoke from the doorway.  “You have another
call on line 2.  They say it's urgent.”
 
He put up a hand to show he had heard and to give him a moment.  “I have to
go.”
 
“Alexander…”
 
“I promise.”
 
“Alexander,” a tone of warning edging into her voice.
 
“I know.  Talk to you soon.”  He hung up the phone quickly, still hearing the
female omega making objections on the other end.  He took a deep breath,
letting it out shakily before he picked up the phone again, switching the line.
 “Alexander Hamilton-Jefferson speaking.  I was told this was urgent.”
 
“My, don't we sound posh?” The Estate Alpha looked over the brothers that stood
before his dinner table with a hungry look in his eyes.
 
Alex blushed, his ears planted to his head.  It felt weird to have them out in
front of one of Estate Alphas.  It felt weird to be dressed in their best
clothes in front of these Alphas in their private quarters.  It felt weird that
his brother had to formally introduce both of them to the Alphas he had been
working for for nearly a year.  He didn't like it.  He wanted to run away and
hide.  
 
J.J beside him bowed his head modestly.  “You've taught me well, sir.  And I
have in turn taught my brother.  He picks up things fast.  He's reading beyond
his age and his writing is impeccable.  He should have a chance to go outside
the Estate and be further educated. And make his way in the world.”
 
The female alpha who sat next to her husband rolled her eyes, covering a yawn
with plump sausage fingers.  “An omega educated?!  That's a waste.  Has he had
his first heat yet?”
 
The beta hesitantly nodded.  The small Omega shifted nervously.  
 
The male alpha laughed, wiping his many chins of grease from his meal. He
hadn't stopped eating through the conversation.  “Are you sure James you want
to see about him leaving here?  We can care for him, have his nest right here.”
 
“Once he has a litter in him, he'll probably have some meat on his body,” the
female drawled.  She snapped her fingers and signaled for her wine glass to be
filled by a heavily pregnant omega.  Emphasis her point about pregnancy, she
patted the omega’s belly as they passed.
 
The young beta shook his head, vigorously.  “I'm sure he would love to stay,”
the lie was plain even to the alphas but they seemed to appreciate it, “but in
memory of my mother, I can't let him remain here.  He should make his way in
the world.”
 
“Well, you know the price.  A night or so isn't too much for a lifetime, isn’t
it?”
 
Alex felt his brother's hand land on his shoulder and squeeze it reassuringly.
 “Alex knows the price.  I told him...that I'll pay for part of it.
 
The fat alpha laughed.
 
“So we're agreed.  Sunrise. Dawn.”
 
“You're on.”
 
“And Alexander?  Come alone.”
 
“Okay, J.J.”
***** Silence *****
Chapter Notes
     I'm still updating! Remember to check out my tumblr and leave some
     comments/kudos!
The job of the Omega is to give peace for the Alpha from the outside world.
 The job of the Alpha is to provide peace of mind for the Omega.
 
Thomas had become weirdly accustomed to the awkward silence filled dinners of
the last week and half.  He didn't want to be accustomed to them, but here he
was, overseeing another quiet meal with Alexander and James.  James, and Aaron
before his grandfather had taken him out of town, had become nightly dinner
guests.  Thomas would make a large comfort food heavy meal for everyone, and
then talk awkwardly into the empty air to fill the void.  Even now as the three
ate, the Alpha continued to talk.
 
“I got the recipe for the tuna steaks from  Barefoot Contessa .  Or was it
Elton Brown?  I don't remember.  I tend to put something on in the background
as I clean up around here, and sometimes, y’know you hear something so good you
want to try it.  There's plenty left, along with the pasta.  I'll make you a
plate for lunch tomorrow, James.”
 
 The other alpha barely managed a grunt.  
 
“I hope Johnny takes after me and enjoys cooking.  What do you think, Alex?”  
 
Alex gave a small nod as he put a fork full of tuna into his mouth.
 
The Alpha gave a forced smile and jabbed at his own plate.  He wasn’t sure how
to change the current mood.  If he strained, he could hear the kits playing in
their playpen, too young to understand the tension.
 
“The police came by again this afternoon,” James finally said, almost
conversationally.
 
Thomas frowned at that as Alex’s fork nearly dropped to his plate.  Silence was
preferable to this.  “James...is this really-”
 
The Omega caught him off, “Did they have any new leads about finding them?”
 
“Sadly, no,” the shorter alpha said.  Both of them were ignoring the other
Alpha’s objections,  which made the Alpha grind their teeth in annoyance.   “It
was more about the whole scheme that they uncovered.  Getting people to invest
in a fake company, before leaving town with all the loot and not paying the
investors to think they were getting some profits by making one person
constantly pump money into the company.”
 
“What they were hoping I would do.  Why they were so mad when I cut them off,”
the Omega’s tone was flat, with no emotion.  His fork moved the food around his
plate in a sad pattern as he listened.  
 
“And apparently Lee's ex wife.  It was one of the causes of the divorce.  That
and,” James waved a hand to indicate he was not going to say what all three of
them knew.  “Apparently the only reason he wasn't put in jail in his last
district was because no one could prove the fraud and it's a good old alpha
district.  All they could get a jury to do is grant a divorce and him to pay
for the bonding mark removal surgery.  Explains why he's confident that he can
do it here.  Especially if he has J.J helping him, trying to get to you.”
 
The Alpha growled.   “I really wish you wouldn't talk about those  monsters  in
our home.  After what they did.”
 
The smaller alpha’s eyes flashed at the warning, their tail flicking as they
spoke.  “Your mate asked to be kept abreast of anything the police asked about.
 And my mate made it clear that I should respect that wish.  I'm sure you both
would like to know this information.”
 
“Thomas,” Alex’s voice was quiet as he spoke, his hand reaching out to grab
his.  “I want to know this.  I need to know this.  And the police won't tell me
because J.J is my brother.  He's just helping me.”  
 
The Alpha looked down to his little mate's hand on his and nodded.  There was
blissful empty silence once more after that.
 
Once the meal was done, Thomas made a large show of boxing up the rest of the
meal for James as he always did.  He loudly proclaimed there was indeed enough
for a lunch or maybe a dinner, but that James was welcome back tomorrow to
share their meal.  The smaller man simply nodded, taking the plastic container
and returning the one from the previous night.  He bid them good night as he
turned to leave, only stopping for a moment to reach into the playpen and
patting each kit on the head as the fond uncle he was.
 
As soon as as the door clicked, Alex turned away and began clearing the table,
his face impassive.
 
Thomas blocked the entrance to the kitchen, arms crossed as he looked down at
the Omega.  “Why are you wanting to be told what the police have found?”
 
“Please, can we not-”
 
“No!  We're talking about this.  Why are you wanting to know?”
 
The Omega hissed and tried to push him, the dirty plates jostling in his arms.
 
“Don't ignore the fucking question!  Why are you getting James to tell you what
the police are saying?!”  Alex growled, causing the kits to chirp.  “Are you
trying to see if they caught J.J?  Are you expecting him to turn himself in?
Are you thinking he's going to act like your brother again?”
 
He watched the struggle and fight leave the small immigrant and he felt the
small body sag slightly against him.
 
“Alex…,” Thomas sighed, weakening hid hard stance.  Weakened it enough that
Alex could finally push past him into the kitchen.  He heard the plates clatter
into the sink before he turned to find his mate staring down at them, tears
threatening to fall.  “Alex….why?  I mean, he's your brother, but…”
 
“Do you know how omegas and betas get off the Estate?” Alex’s voice was watery
but steady as spoke.
 
Thomas felt a shiver go up his spine and a tingling settle in his fingertips.
 “I thought that the Estates just released those who showed promise.”
 
The Omega snorted with contempt.  “That’s how it works on paper.  But Estate
Alphas would rather have servants and bed warmers than let a few omegas and
betas leave.  You had to pay for your way out usually.  Write to relatives and
beg for them to send money to bribe the officials in charge of the lists out.
 Bond with some beta or alpha out of convenience to leave.  Stumble onto
something they didn't want you to know and blackmail your name onto the list.
 Pay for the name on the list be making yourself an alphas favorite…
plaything.”
 
“And you made yourself a plaything?”
 
Alex shook his head.  “J.J did.  For a year or so he was kept by an alpha
couple, trying to get our names on the list.  But they wouldn't.  Finally, one
night they said they would do it if...if they could….”
 
Thomas was across the room in a few seconds, wrapping his mate into his arms.
 “You don't have to say anymore if you don't want to.”
 
But the small Omega continued, his voice dreamily far away.  “I remember waking
up afterward, listening to the fat bitch of an alpha telling J.J there was only
one spot on the list left.  And that they were going to  reward  him for his
service by putting his name on the list.  They were..going to keep me.  J.J
refused.  He made them put me on the list.  He stayed an extra year at the
Estate until I could get the money together to get him out.”
 
“Is that why...you're hoping he'll turn himself in?  Because you feel obligated
to help him?”
 
Wrenching out of Thomas's arms, Alex spat angrily, “I feel obligated to know
what happened to him.  I feel responsible for him.  I am grateful what he did
for me. But I'm not blinded to the fact he  sold  me originally.  It took years
to get me comfortable with my body after that.  And J.J always held his
sacrifice  over my head.  Now he's working with Charles.  I want to know why.
 I want to know...why he would choose that monster over me?  I did everything I
could to help him and he always threw away his chances.  I want to know, why he
hates me so much.”  
 
“Sssshhhh,” the Alpha hushed the Omega, reaching out to stroke the other’s
bonding mark.   The Omega sadly chirped and showed their neck in submission,
eyes averted to show apology and to seek comfort.  The Alpha purred and brought
their mate close to them once more.   “I can't say I fully understand what
you're feeling.  I don't.  I honestly don't.  But I just get worried is all.
 Worried that he's going to trick you.  Worried that he'll find a way to get
you hurt again.  I love you.  The idea of you hurt or him hurting our
family...it's my worst nightmare.”  He wrapped his tail around both of them
protectively.
 
Alex held onto him tightly, pressing his face into the taller man’s shoulder.
 “I will  NEVER  let either of them hurt our family again.”  He pushed away
slightly, avoiding Thomas’s eyes as he did so.  He suspected  the Alpha  was
still present in them, so he put the suspicion he felt aside.  
 
“I have an early morning tomorrow.  Out of town.  I'll need to get up before
dawn,” the Omega’s voice was dismissive as he said this, the way he had spoke
when they had been coworkers and he was waving away trivial details.
 
Thomas frowned, following Alex back to the front room to finish clearing the
table and check on the kits that were starting to cry for attention.  “That
seems too early and dramatic for Washington.  Who is it with?”
 
Alex plucked Johnny from the playpen and ran his fingers through the kit's hair
to soothe him.  “Franklin has finally decided to throw his hat into the ring as
District President.  He wanted my advice and support,  as well as for me to
write a few op ed pieces for him.”
 
“Benjamin Franklin has finally decided to run!  They've been trying to get him
to run since before Washington was even in politics!  He's not popular with the
Estate, but he's beloved by everyone!” Thomas whistled as he gathered up the
tray of pasta.  “Well, I got to warn you as someone who has worked with the old
fart for a few years, that alpha is a charmer and a massive flirt.  So be on
your guard.”
 
“I know,” came the hushed reply as his mate knelt to nuzzle each of their kits.
 “ I'm always careful. ”
***** Discovery *****
Chapter Notes
     MERRY CHRISTMAS (and if you don't celebrate, Happy Late, On Time,
     Early Holiday!)
Instinct: Useless until it’s useful.
 
“You look awful.  You both look awful.”
 
“Babe…”
 
“Thanks.  Just the confidence boost I need from my bonding ceremony planner.”
 
Lafayette shook his head, his new earrings catching the light making Rachel in
his arms squeal in delight as she reached for them.  “There won't be a need for
a bonding ceremony planner if you don't take of yourself.  And need I remind
you dear mate, our vows included the promise of kits.  You haven’t been
sleeping either.”
 
The French omega sat on the floor in front of the television with several suit
and tuxedo magazines laid out before him.  The two male kits were currently
crawling over where the fan of magazines intersected a list of sample menus.
 Thomas and Hercules were sitting on the couch, flicking through daytime
television and passing back and forth the sample pictures that Lafayette handed
them.  They had been yawning every other minute, both sporting large bags under
their eyes.  He knew why; Hercules, just like him, was probably staying up most
nights looking after his mate and their nest.  Straining his ears as well to
see if he heard any distress from the apartment across the hall.  To be fair
though, he could tell Lafayette must have been doing something similar, with
the amount of makeup around his eyes there was.
 
“Babe, we've been over this!  I can't help it!  I'm sure Thomas can't help it!
 It's an inst-” but Hercules was cut off.
 
“You do not think I know about instinct?!  Do you an omega does not have that?
 God, when I saw Aaron after….,” he waved his hand at the things they all knew,
“I was beside myself.  There was a part of me that felt like I needed to build
a nest right there in the hospital.  I didn't want anyone near him!  Not the
nurses or the police or hell even James.  Something told me, only I could do
this.  But then, Eliza and John came and I saw Alex and I realized, I wasn’t
alone in feeling that way.  It's the instinct of an omega and many betas to
nurture and try to heal.  Here we are, in one of the greatest cities in the
world, in one of the best hospitals in the world, and I feel like that we're
back in the wild.”
 
There was a loud ripping noise that interjected Lafayette’s speech.  The three
men turned in time to see Jaime and Johnny’s tug-of-war match with a menu end
with the paper tearing in half.
 
Thomas chuckled, plucking his oldest son into his arms before the tears could
start.  Jaime had already moved on to playing with his half of the menu.  “Well
that's a hard no on  Rossetti. ”  He looked back at the omega who was at his
feet, a determined look in his eye.  “I get it.  We're not in the jungle.
 Hercules and I don't need to do patrols or scent mark the place.  Trust me, I
know where following just my instinct leads me.”
 
“Thomas,” Lafayette’s expression softened, looking apologetic.  “I didn’t mean
to-”
 
“It's fine, Laf,” the Alpha said, standing to bounce his son.  “You’re right.
 We both need to calm down.  The police have been parked outside side for the
entire week, and the security detail that Alex is some of the best.”
 
The French man gave a searching look to the other, before settling back down.
 “I have said my piece.  I just hope that you will be as reasonable when it
comes to tuxedos.”
 
“No.  I'm not wearing a tuxedo at my bonding ceremony.  I am not looking like
some cartoon penguin waiter.”
 
“I wore a tuxedo at my bonding ceremony!” Hercules said, a look of mock
indignation in his eyes.
 
“You designed it!” Thomas shook his head vehemently, making Johnny giggle as he
reached for his father's curls.  “No, thank you!  A simple suit would be fine.”
 
“A simple purple suit.” the omega snorted.
 
“Hey!  You're the planner.  I'm the groom.”
 
“The tacky groom.”
 
The phone rang and the Alpha went to get it, all the while grumbling under his
breath to the amusement of the couple.
 
“The Jefferson-Hamilton residence, Thomas speaking.”
 
“I hope I'm not interrupting a kits nap,” George Washington said on the other
end of the line.
 
“Not at all.  Just in the middle of being mocked by my bonding ceremony planner
and his mate for my color choices and the kits are deciding on the menu,” there
was the sound of further ripping of paper as Jaime began to tear up another
menu, “so not busy at all.”
 
Washington chuckled, “Excellent!  I'm glad.  I'm actually calling to see where
your mate is this morning.  He didn't come in this morning.”
 
Johnny gave a little chirp as Thomas readjusted the phone to his ear.  “He said
he had a morning meeting with Franklin, about him running next election.”
 
“Running?” the president sounded shocked.  When he next spoke, his voice was
directed away from the phone.  “Did you see Hamilton this morning about
running?”
 
A jovial voice in the background laughed, “Me?  In politics?  Heavens no!  And
I think if I would remember having breakfast with a lovely Omega such as that.”
 
Thomas nearly dropped the phone.  “He didn't have a morning meeting?”
 
“He could still have one,” Washington said, though he sounded unsure.  “I mean
there's several bills stalled in committee that he's been stressing about.
 He's been getting quite a few calls about one in particular.  I'm sure he was
just joking.”
 
“You know Alex, sir.  He doesn't joke about that things like that.”  Lafayette
and Hercules were exchanging worried glances and the kits were slowly picking
up the worry in their father's voice.
 
“Again, I'm sure it's nothing to worry about,” the older alpha said
reassuringly.  “I'll just call his cell.  Keep up with bonding planning.”
 
“Sir-” But the line went dead and he was alone with his thoughts.  He turned
back to other two in the room nervously.  “He lied to me.”
 
“Hey now!” Hercules said gently, “I'm sure he didn't mean anything by it.
 Maybe he's going shopping for the ceremony and wanted to surprise you.”
 
“Without me?!” Lafayette gasped in shock.
 
“Gilly, you aren't helping.”
 
“No. No, you're right.  He could be getting me something.  Or the kits.  He's
probably making a deal to screw over my party.”
 
“Without bragging to me?”
 
“Gilbert!”
 
The phone rang once more and Thomas nodded confidently, passing Johnny to
Hercules.  “Probably him now.  Probably going to ask if I want an early lunch.”
 He picked up the phone and greeted the other person on the other end of the
line.
 
“Hello Mr. Jefferson-Hamilton, this is Laurie from Bank of America.”
 
Stifling a groan, the Alpha said quickly, “I do not want a new loan or to
refinance a house I don't own.”
 
“Very good sir,” the woman on the other end said in her professional chipper
voice, “but that's not why I'm calling today.  There was suspicious activity on
your mate's account today.”
 
“And why aren't you calling my mate?”
 
“It's bank policy to double check with the beta or alpha cosigner with
withdrawals above a thousand dollars at a time.  Try to prevent Runaway Omegas,
you see.”
 
“My mate would not run away.”
 
“I'm sure that is indeed the case,” the woman purred, obviously a beta trying
to placate a superior, “but can you think of a reason why your mate withdrew
five thousand dollars in the airport district this morning at-”
 
The phone was thrown across the room and the Alpha was pulling his cell of the
charger violently.  He scrolled through his contacts, ignoring the cries of the
kits and questions of his friends.  He punched the first number and put the
phone on speaker, biting his lip to keep from screaming in frustration.
 
Immediately, “Hey, this Alex.  Sorry I missed your call-”
 
He hung up and went back to the contact menu,  growling as he did so.  
 
Again, barely on the first ring, “Hello this Secretary Alexander Hamilton.  I'm
so sorry were unable to-”
 
“Thomas?”
 
The Alpha hissed as they once again scrolled through their contacts and
viciously jabbed at the screen, leaving a scratch.
 
The phone rang a few times before James Madison picked it up.  “If this is a
call asking me to defend your color of suit, I swear to god-”
 
“Airport district.”
 
“What?”
 
“Lee and J.J are at the airport district.”
 
There was growl on the other end of the line as well as in the living room near
their elbow as the other present alpha caught on.  The omega made small nervous
chirps to reassure the kits, already gathering pillows and throw blankets to
construct a makeshift nest.
 
“I'll meet you there.”
 
The airport district was a collection of fly by night motels and parking
structures.  Since Alex didn't usually drive, the pair had to rely on the
little information they had at hand.  Thomas had calmed down enough to call the
bank again and ask where the money was withdrawn.  It seemed the transaction
had taken place in a small branch across from one of the said parking
structures.  Since the Alpha had arrived before James, he stopped in and asked
the staff of the bank about it.  They told him Alex had been waiting with
another person, a beta, when they had opened.  The beta had been very upbeat
and jovial, but his mate had been very professional.  
 
Thomas watched as James pulled up, his ears and tail out with claws at the
ready as he stepped out of his car.   “Well?”
 
“I think they're over there,” the Alpha indicated the parking garage across the
street.  “They'd probably want to check the money.”
 
The smaller alpha growled.  “I can smell your mate.  He may be close by.”
 
The Alpha did too.  He hissed quietly, “Do not harm him.  Remember one of these
bastards is his brother.”
 
James was already crossing the street in hot pursuit.
 
The parking garage was empty, eerily devoid of smell.  The pair fanned out,
listening and smelling every inch of the ground floor before meeting on the
side where a staircase and an out of order elevator was.  
 
The Alpha stopped in front of the staircase abruptly.  “Mate.”  Indeed the
staircase did smell of his mate.  His mate when he was nervous or frightened.  
 
James was up the staircase immediately with Thomas hot on his heels.  With each
step the smell grew, making the pair quicken their pace.  By the time they
reached the second floor, they were both in a blind roaring red hot rage.
 
“The fuck is Madison and Jefferson doing here?!”
 
“Fuck their claws are out!”  
 
“Put them down!  They're getting in the way.  Damnit Alexander, what did we
tell you?!”
 
“ THOMAS! ”
***** Fallout *****
Chapter Notes
     One or two more chapters until this book/story is done. Remember you
     can follow me on tumblr and comments and kudos are appreciated!
He couldn’t feel anything.  They had tied him down so he wouldn’t fight and
placed special cuff mittens around his hands so he couldn't even attempt to
scratch the bindings.  The cuffs were small, forcing his hand into a fist.  If
he did have his claws out, he would cut into his palm, but he couldn't
necessarily relax his hand all the way.
 
They took him out of the main cell once a day to do this.  He understood why;
if he dies during his month long stay, they are proving that the Estates is
just as bad as everyone thinks they are.  On one hand, he is out of the stink
and packed in dark cell they keep him in.  On the other, he's tied down,
completely isolated.  When there are others present, they would talk about him
not at him: his vitals, his cleanliness, his sobbing.  
 
He felt totally alone.  He was alone.  He was going to die here.  He wanted his
friends!  He wanted his mate!  He wanted out!  He wanted to be home!  He
wanted…
 
“Take off those cuff mits right now!
 
“But Mr. Hamilton, his heart rate has been extremely elevated!  He could have
his claws out and harm himself or yo-”
 
“His heart rate is because you are causing him to have a panic attack!  Take
off the mits at least and I'll get calm enough for the rest to come off.”
 
“Sir-”
 
“Now or I'll tell your superior!”
 
Two figures swam into his vision as he heard the sound of mechanical clicking
and his hands were exposed to cold, empty, and liberating air.  One figure
quickly retreated, an apology muttered as it left.  The figure that was left
looked down at him, slowly dancing in and out of focus.  He felt a hand touch
his making him jump and cry out.
 
“Sssshhhh, Thomas.  It's me.  You're okay.  Everything is okay.”
 
“Alex?” the Alpha croaked, voice sounding dry and brittle.
 
The Omega smiled.  “You’re acting like you weren't expecting me!”
 
“I wasn't!  I mean I thought…. J.J and Lee….”
 
“They're in custody.”
 
“They...are?”
 
Alex laughed, his ears slipping free with how much they were twitching.  “Yep.
 They just had the cuffs slapped on when you and James came bursting in.  The
police were so scared you were going to kill them that they had to shock you
both.  One of you was able to give Charles a good scratch before you went
down.”
 
“James!” Thomas began to struggle in the restraints, that were far looser and
more padded than anything at the Estate.
 
Hushing him once more, his mate pushed him back onto the gurney he was strapped
to.  “He's in the other ambulance.  He's still trying to bite everyone who
comes close, so they're letting him tire himself out before they tell him.  Why
did you bring him?  Why did you come?  How did you know where to come find me?”
 
“Washington called from his own meeting with Franklin, wondering why you didn't
come into work today,” Alex looked down embarrassed and nervous as Thomas
spoke.  “And I was willing to give you the benefit of the doubt, but then the
bank called-”
 
“God damn Alpha Cosign Law!  What was it, Monroe who introduced that fucking
bill?  I'll…,” He shook his head.  He looked thoughtfully far away.  “I was
hoping they would call tomorrow, after I got a chance to tell you first.”
 
“‘Tell me’?!”  The Alpha growled and the Omega whimpered.  
 
“Calm down!  Or they'll put the mitts back on.”
 
Thomas took a few shaky breaths.  “What happened?  When did he threaten you?
 Why did you let this happen?”
 
“J.J called me the day after Aaron was attacked.”  The Alpha scrambled in his
restraints, before being pushed back down.  “And I told the authorities
immediately.”
 
“You….you did?”
 
“Of course!  I promised EVERYONE I would and I did.  So they could trace the
call.”
 
“And they did that?”
 
“They were unable to.  Apparently they were unable to get a good hold on the
signal, so they told me to have him call me back.  Like give him a reason to
keep talking so they could track him.  So once or twice a day he would call,
trying to convince me to pay him and Lee off or just to talk.  God, it was
awful.  Listening to him…”  Alex shivered.  “He kept talking like it was the
old days.  Like he was calling asking for a favor.  Like nothing happened.  He
would ask about the kits, and I had to sit there and tell him something.  I
would close my eyes and imagine him talking to that Estate Alpha, practically
crying to save me.  Then I would open them, and he's asking for money for him
and another rapist to fly out of the country.  Like it's a fucking holiday!”
 
A shaky breath.
 
“Well yesterday, J.J called and asked for the money again so he and Lee could
leave town.  It was our last chance.  Our last chance to get them.  I had them
convinced that I was the thoroughly scared Omega parent; shaking in my boots
and easily scared.  I played on J.J’s memory of always running to him when I
was hurt.  Of me being helpless.  I made them forget who I was.”
 
Alex sighed as he leaned back.  “The police were originally gave the money for
the drop, but Lee wouldn't accept money he or J.J didn't see getting counted so
I had to go to the bank.  I forgot to tell Washington an excuse...sorta hoped
he would think I was going to visit John or something.”
 
“Didn't tell Washington?  You obviously didn't tell Hercules or Lafayette, or
they would have stopped me from leaving the apartment.”
 
“God, they must be so worried.”
 
“NO SHIT!”
 
“Sssshhhh-”
 
“Why didn’t tell them?  Or me?  Why didn’t you tell me?”
 
The Omega barked out in laughter as he pointed at the leather across the
Alpha’s chest.  “I wonder why!”
 
“When were you going to tell me?”
 
“Tonight.  I knew you would freak out and we'd probably fight about it.  Was
sort of looking forward to the make up sex.”
 
“So am I.”  Thomas said with a playful seductive waggle of the eyebrow, making
the smaller man's ears twitch.  “I love when your ears do that.  Did I ever
tell you?”
 
“No you haven't.”
 
“I remember one time when we first started dating, James and I went out
drinking.  I got so drunk and made a sonnet about how cute your ears are.  I
wish I could remember it.”
 
“I think you tried to text it to me.  But I couldn't understand it.”  The pair
chuckled.  “I did want to tell you Thomas, but I didn't want you to worry too
much.  You would have tried to stop me or….this.  Or you could have had an
anxiety attack about the Estate.  I couldn’t let that.  I didn't tell Lafayette
or Eliza because they would have tried to stop me as well or tell you.
 Washington would have been just as bad.  And if I told Johnny or Peggy...well
he would have convince me to duel Lee and J.J or something.”
 
“I've seen the pictures of you both dressed at Lin Manuel Miranda and Anthony
Ramos.  It's why you had me worried.  Why didn’t you tell James at least.”
 
“I promised Aaron at the hospital to make sure he didn't do anything stupid.
 Something I believe you warned him against.”
 
There was a metallic knock before the door to the ambulance was opened and a
small EMT looked in.  “Mr. Hamilton, I need to do an assessment to see if we
can release your mate.  Detective Rubens says if he's calmed down, he's free to
go.”
 
“What about Madison?” his mate's voice was very professional as he spoke.
 
“We were able to take off his mits as well.  He's asking for you.”
 
Alex nodded.  “I'll go and tell him.  But he should probably talk to his mate
first.”  He turned back to the Alpha.  “Do you forgive me?”
 
Thomas nodded, a small smile playing on his face.  “Of course I do.  There was
a mention of make up sex.   And I love you.”
 
The small Omega leaned over and kissed his lips lightly, an almost relieved
smile dancing upon his face.  “I love you too.”
 
***** Bonding Day *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
On their bonding day, the Alpha must be the most collected.  They must be set a
good example for their Omega.
 
“I think I'm dying!  I'm not going to make it!”
 
“Stop being a baby.  It's just nerves.  And possibly a hangover.”
 
“I think I'm having a heart attack!”
 
“Possibly a panic attack, but not a heart attack.  You are not allowed to have
a heart attack on your bonding day.”
 
James’s head shot up from the toilet bowl, snot slightly running from his nose.
 “It's my bonding day!  I can have any type of attack I God damn feel like!”
 
Maria put up her hands in defense, “Fine!  Have a heart attack.  But I'm not
the one explaining to your mate-to-be and their family about how you died in
their church's bathroom instead of bonding.”
 
“My heart is pounding, though.  I think I need a doctor.”
 
“I swear it's just nerves, man,” Hercules said reassuringly.  “Got the same way
on my bonding day.”
 
“You didn't look it.”
 
“Remember how I kept stepping outside to check my phone?  Throwing up into the
bushes.”
 
Maria nodded, patting the smaller man on the shoulder, before turning back to
where Thomas was fiddling with his phone on the other side of the room.  “Your
claustrophobia doing okay?”
 
“If I don't try to pile into a bathroom stall, I'm golden.”  During the seven
months since Lee and J.J had been captured (and three months to his own bonding
ceremony), Thomas had finally decided to go to therapy for his Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder and had been working slowly on his anxiety and his
claustrophobia.  It had almost painful to admit how bad it had been, let alone
Alex.  But his mate had been encouraging and supportive, not blinking an eye
when Thomas had asked Washington if he could work remotely from home instead of
working at the Capitol.  He still skyped in for cabinet meetings, which had
been hilarious the first few times; kits crawling over to the sound of their
papa, the sound of the neighbors arguing from above him, and the connection
mysterious being “lost” whenever Alex got extremely hot headed in the debate.
 But all in all, his life and well-being had become more stable.
 
For Alex’s apart, after he explained his clever ploy to all their friends (and
gone through the mandatory one week of everyone screaming about him for so
reckless) had tried to open up more. It had been hard at first; the Omega was
used to telling people things on a need to know basis.  If he had a nightmare,
he would explain why.  If something bothered him, he would tell you after it
had dug under his skin.  So it had been quite the shock, and almost relief,
when one day during dinner he began to talk about life on the Estate without
being prompted by some sort of trauma.  He talked some about life in
university, life staying with his mother’s old landlord.  The Alpha was fairly
sure there were things the Omega was still not saying and what he did say was
carefully edited not to trigger him.  But for now, it was start.
 
His cell phone chimed and he looked at the message.  He let out a shaky breath
and straightened up.
 
“Duty calls.”
 
“The kits?” Hercules asked, holding James’s tie as the other alpha dry heaved
into the toilet.
 
“Since Johnny got his alpha teeth, he's been terrorizing the others.
 Apparently we have another bitten tails emergency.”
 
“Go, go.  It's better that you go and check then one of bridal party coming.
 Can you check to see if Gil is still feeling I'll from this morning?”
 
“Your mate got me sick!” James sobbed from the toilet, causing his friends to
exchange mirthful glances.
 
The church was rather larger than what Thomas first imagined when Aaron had
announced that his bonding ceremony was moving to family's parish.  He had
expected a small community center style gathering place, not a near sprawling
complex complete with park and elementary school.  The original location of the
ceremony had been a hotel at the Capitol, but the venue had been unable to move
the date.  That had been an ordeal, but the beta has handled it with grace.
 The rest of the caters had more than willing to work with the couple.  And the
Burr clan had been very accommodating when it came into housing the wedding
party as the wedding was moved to another district entirely.  Alex, Thomas, and
the kits had been bunking in Aaron's kindly aunts’ spare bedroom for the last
week.  The room was a third of the size of their room at home, and the rest of
the house had become the ‘getaway’ area for the rest of their friends trying to
escape the panicking couple.  There had been no peace, no quiet, and certainly
no privacy.
 
Which explains why in the middle of the preparation of the wedding his mate
hand texted him to meet in small abandoned music room.
 
“You know, the ceremony starts in less than an hour,” Thomas said casually,
closing the door behind him.
 
“With the way Aaron is freaking out, I give it more than an hour.  Between him,
his aunt, and Lafayette there's enough distraction to even delay it two hours,”
Alex purred, slipping off the high heels he had begrudgingly agreed to wearing
for the ceremony and pictures.  “I just need you.”
 
The Alpha was across the room and holding the small Omega in his arms.  “You
got me.  And I can do with some time away from James’s anxiety and
hypochondria.”  He leaned down and kissed the brunette in his arms teasingly;
lightly and with occasional nips.  He could feel Alex come alive in his arms,
the slight smell of slick and the keening of as the tulle material of the gown
he was wearing was hiked up to his waist.  “My, we are desperate.”
 
“It's been nearly a week in that guest room, and I'm going crazy,” Alex
growled, reaching in the built in pocket of the dress and withdrew a condom,
passing it Thomas eagerly.
 
Frowning, Thomas took the condom.  “I thought you were on birth control again?”
 
“Do you know hectic it is to remember that on top of helping Aaron with the
wedding and Lafayette with...his condition?”
 
“‘Condition’?”
 
“He's pregnant.  He's waiting until after the bonding to tell Hercules.  He
doesn't want to ruin Aaron’s day.  Can we talk about this after?” he wiggled
his bottom to emphasize his point, showing off his lovely ass encased in a pair
of lacy underwear.
 
“I dunno.  You did say we have plenty of time.” The other said, letting his
hard still clothed length rub against his mate, eliciting a low whine.  He
chuckled.  “I got you, babe.  Don't worry.”
 
“I know,” Alex said, his voice sure and pleased.  

They had each other, no matter what.
Chapter End Notes
     So concludes this installment of 'The Third Law' series. I will most
     likely return to this universe in the future.
     My next task is to finish 'The Promises we Make, The One's we Keep,
     The One's we Break', so keep an eye out for that.
     For questions about either series, or just wanna talk, remember to
     check out my tumblr @ red-shadow-wolf-19!
     Thank you, and Happy New Year!
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