Midnight (Lams)

                                    

                                          
It was midnight... The kind of midnight when everything is still, everyone has gone home, everyone has left Mr. Hamilton's party... Except one.
                          
"Mr. Hamilton," John called, his voice and footsteps echoing through the silence of the hall
                          
"I've already told you," the dark yet soft voice responded as a figure stepped out of the shadows, "Call me Alexander..."
                          
"Sorry, Mr. Alexander, sir... I had just wondered if er, well, if you could lead me through your plan for the response to Samuel Seabury's attack on congress," stammered John Laurens, his voice increasing in pitch as he became more and more flustered.
                          
"Of course John. Come right this way."
                          


                          
The church tower's bell chimed one as they finished their discussion. 
                          
"You mustn't go home in this dark," Alex said, placing his hand on John's, a hint of worry in his stoic voice, "Stay here tonight, we'll give you breakfast tomorrow and I'll walk you home."
                          
"Thank you very kindly, sir, I mean, Mr. Hamilton, I mean Alexander, sorry sir. I do hope I'm not intruding. I know you're a very busy man Mr. Alexander and I'm sure I would be okay..."
                          
He was silenced the calloused, ink-stained finger of Alex being placed on his lips...
                          
"No more protests, John. It is no trouble, I assure you."
                          
"But you never sleep..."
                          
"I know..."
                          
"You need to sleep."
                          
"But I'm not tired," Alexander said, sounding like a whining schoolboy.
                          
"Then, lay in bed with me so at least you're almost sleeping... Of course I mean in a completely non-romantic way, just as friends."
                          
"Okay," Alexander relented, a slight smile playing at his lips...
                          
So John and Alex laid down in Alex's bed, John trying to get to sleep, Alex knowing he couldn't even if he tried...
                          
So Alex shuffled closer to John and hesitantly put his arm around John's waist... John moved closer to Alex and Alex kissed his forehead...
                          
"Sleep well, mi amore" he whispered as John drifted into a dreamless sleep...
                          
The next morning Alex brought up breakfast... The bread was burned and the egg was overcooked but John ate it with a smile, thanking Alex before Alex walked him home... 
                          


                          
When they got to John's house Alex whispered in his ear, "I felt like we never finished the conversation... Come over tomorrow, at midnight?" 
                          
John just blushed, smiled, nodded and ran inside, slamming the door closed behind him.