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A/N: I received an overwhelmingly positive response to my story "Share," during which several of you asked for a continuation. So here it is! The chapters in this story are more like moments in time and won't be in any particular chronological order, though some may end up following each other.
I wanted to mostly highlight the relationship between Theo and the Hamilton women, as well as Philip, but all the rest of the Hamilkids, Alex, and Aaron will be around, as well.
Finally, I want to dedicate this story to my mother-in-law, Kathy, and sister-in-law, Jenny for making me feel like one of the family long before I officially joined up.
Disclaimer: I don't own.
Fitting In
Modern AU. A look at Theodosia Burr's relationship with the Hamilton family throughout the years. Eventual piece to my story "Share."
Prologue: Sprinkles
At last, the day of the ice cream social arrived. Theodosia Burr watched as the other mothers came and picked up their daughters for the event. For a moment, she wondered if her mom was coming at all.
"Don't worry, Theo," Philip Hamilton whispered, "she'll be here soon." Much to the child's relief, Eliza Hamilton walked into the kindergarten classroom a few moments later.
"Ready to go?" the woman asked, smiling.
"Yeah!" The girl started to run down the hallway. "Let's go!" Eliza laughed and called out to her.
"Slow down a bit, Theo. I can't go quite as fast as you because I have little James with me, see?" The three-week-old infant was nestled in the small, strange-looking backpack.
"Oh yeah." Theodosia had forgotten all about Philip's new little brother. "Think James will want some ice cream too?" she asked, coming back to walk alongside Eliza.
"I think he's too small just yet. But what kind will you get?"
"With hot fudge, and whipped cream, and sprinkles!"
The ice cream was set up buffet style, with the attendees able to make their own sundaes. True to her word, Theodosia brought back a bowl that was more toppings than ice cream. The pair sat down at one of the tables, and Eliza began chatting with a few of the other women and tending to the baby.
"How nice of Philip to share you with little Theodosia," one of the mothers said. "You must be very proud of him for being so mature and selfless." The little girl frowned. The lady wasn't wrong; Philip had offered to have his mother attend the party so his best friend-who had no mother of her own-wouldn't be left out of the fun...but all the same, it bothered her. She wasn't really hungry anymore.
"Oh yes," Eliza answered, "I am proud of Philip. I'm proud of all of my children. And I'm very excited to be here with Theo." She glanced over to see the five-year-old distractedly swirling the spoon inside the ice cream, looking quite sad. "Hey, if you don't eat your ice cream, it'll melt." No answer.
"What's the matter, sweetheart? Are you sick?" Eliza reached over and felt Theodosia's forehead, but the girl wrenched away.
"I wanna go home," she mumbled. "Don't want ice cream anymore."
"What? How come?"
"You're Philip and Angie and AJ and James' mom," she stated. "Not mine." The woman nodded. "So I should go home. I don't have a mom." Eliza drew the girl in for a hug, cursing Aaron Burr's penchant for observing and internalizing, which poor Theodosia had obviously inherited.
"Yes, that's true. But I like spending time with you, too. You and Philip are best friends, so that makes you kind of like part of the family. Even if I'm not exactly your mom, see?" The child shrugged. Time for a new approach. "You sure like sprinkles, huh?" Eliza asked, gesturing to the quickly melting bowl of ice cream.
"Yeah, I like sprinkles."
"Okay. So think of it like an ice cream sundae. Mr. Hamilton, Philip, Angie, AJ, James, and me are like an ice cream sundae with no sprinkles on it. Still good, but sprinkles make everything better, don't they?" Theodosia nodded.
"Yeah."
"So then that means that you're like the sprinkles, Theo. You fit right in with our family and make it even better than it was before. And that's why I'm so excited to be here with you right now. You're important to me, just like Philip and his brothers and sister, understand?" The girl sighed in relief. So the woman really was glad to be there, after all.
"Mrs. Hamilton?" she asked.
"What?"
"I wanna stay and finish the ice cream." Eliza nodded, smiling.
"I thought you might say that." Theodosia knew that she'd never look at sprinkles the same way again.