A/N
So this is a story idea I have and well. I would like to know if you'd want me to write this as a full book or continue it as a oneshot. Please tread this and tell me what you want!

MelissaS16
-lafayette-
thefailedcanadian
You guys
H e l p m e w i t h t h i s
Trigger warning: Abuse

       "Please stop!"  Maria's voice cried.
Slap.
"You're my tramp. A tramp that can't me any money!"
Kick.
     She had just told James that she had let Alexander get away and the Reynolds Pamphlet had just been published. Maria knew she was messed up. She knew she wasn't a victim in some situations. But every time she tried to leave, he would tell her that he loved her, that he wouldn't hurt her, that he was going to get better. He would hit a sweet spot in her that made her stay. That's all he had to say. "Stay?"
      Maria felt blood trickle from her nose and pain sear through her skin. Her vision was blurry and a fuzzy vision of a bruise was forming on her arm. She squeaked as James grabbed her face and punched her again and again. Finally it all came to a halt and she heard the front door slam.
   This was it. She had enough of this. Maria shakily stood up and went to her room. She pulled out her makeup and patted it on, covering up the cuts and bruises. She pulled out her suitcase and put her clothes in it. She wrote a note and put it where James could find. Maria went to the hidden floor board and got money out of the jar that was hidden under it.
     A terrified Maria walked out with her face hidden under her wide-brimmed hat and her suitcase handle in her gloved hand. She made her way to nearby boarding house and that's when she knew that there were many demons that she would have to face.

     That was a year ago. Maria was now divorced, 18, and walking up to a house on account of hearing that there was request for housework to be done. She walked up and knocked slowly. There was a middle aged woman that opens the door.
      "How can I help you, dear?" She asked.
"I'm here because I heard there was housework that needed to be done here." Maria answered and the woman perked up.
"Oh, yes! Right this way. Monsieur Lafayette will be pleased to hear that you came!" She said cheerily. "I'm Amelia Todd, but Mrs. Todd will do."
"I'm Maria Lewis, but Maria will do." Maria said, mimicking her saying in a cheery way.
      Mrs. Todd led her to a part of the house and said, "Stay here, I'll go fetch him."
So Maria stood in awe over the beautiful house. She then saw a man walking in with kind eyes and a bright smile.
"Bonjour! Mrs. Todd told me your here about employment." He asked in a thick French accent.
"Yes, sir. I'm Maria Lewis, but please call me Maria." She held her hand out to shake his.
He shook it and gave her a white smile.
    "Well, are you willing to stay here? And I can't promise it will be too permanent because I'm going back to France after the war. Unless you want to go to France." He said.
"Can I think about the moving with the job part while working?" Maria asked, eager to provide for her own self.
"Oui, and about staying on the premises?"
"Yes, I can do that." Maria didn't mind that at all.
She would much prefer the beautiful house then a drafty boarding home.
      "Then it's settled! You're hired!" He said and Maria smiled.
"Thank you! When do start?"
"This Thursday, if possible."
"It's settled then.

         Maria fixed her hair and straightened her apron. Lafayette was coming home, victorious, from winning the war. She fixed his favorite meal with Mrs. Todd's help. Though, she wasn't on the premises as much because she had a son to care for since her husband was also out to war. So her son, Andrew, came in every once in a while and helped with house work. Even if it wasn't too applicable for a young man, it couldn't hurt for him to learn how to do a few things.
      "You look very pretty Ms. Maria." Andrew said sweetly.
"Thank you Andrew! Oh, I got something for you when I went into town today." Maria reached into the pockets of her apron and pulled out a cookie wrapped in paper to keep it fresh. "Here you go." She said as she handed it to him.
     "Thank you, Ms. Maria!" Andrew hugged her and scampered off.
Mrs. Todd chuckled as she walked over to Maria.
"You're good with him." She said fondly. "You'll make a fine mother one day."
"Thank you," Maria smiled.
      "Maria!" A voice rang out.
It was Henry. He was the gardener.
"Yes?" She asked, peering around the corner.
"I have a lovely red rose for you!" He said as he handed her a scarlet bloom.
"Oh my... It's beautiful." She said as she took it and put it in her hair.
        He was French also and came with Lafayette to continue working and was going back to France with him. So was Gabriel, who was currently out picking up Lafayette because he was his carriage driver. Mrs. Todd was staying in American and caring for her family.
      "Where are you planning on going, dear?" Mrs. Todd asked Maria.
Maria sighed.
"Well, there's nothing here for me here. So I'm going to France. It's a free ticket for a fresh start."

Edit: Okay, so I made this a book. It's called a Rose With No Thorns. Go check it out!

Thanks