~|Cyrus POV|~
•|1749, Virginia|•

"There's a letter from your father."

I sprinted, fast as lightning, into the house, giddy from my love for my father. I joyously took the letter from my Mother's hands as she danced into the other room. Excited as I could be, I sat upon my chair, intent on finding out more of the wondrous tales my father had to share.

I loved that story he told me in his last letter of the crane he helped escape the battlegrounds - after their wings were damaged - to a peaceful life. He also spoke of the French who tried to kill it. I remembered exactly what he had written: "Of course, being so young and innocent I saw the crane as you, my dearest Cyrus, and so I shot the Frenchman right between the eyes." I ripped open the seal in glee, anticipating the story of tonight. Reading was something I struggled with, but I still enjoyed it. But on this occasion, it didn't take me long to realise something wasn't right. The handwriting was wrong and-

'I am deeply sorry to inform you of that Clifford Wood is missing in battle'

The letter collided with the floor at the command from my hand as I ran for mother. "Mother!" I cried out, tears rolling down my face. She placed her finger on my lip to quieten me.

"Everything will be fine in the end." She told me. "Nothing can hurt you whilst you're at home." She smiled that perfect, motherly smile. I do miss it.

•|1763, Virginia|•

But that was a long time ago, that day I found out father was dead. My mother stopped smiling beyond the reading of the letter, even after Mari was born a year later.

In fact, it was this morning I would go to visit her. I stepped outside the very same door my mother had stood in, waving the letter towards me. I stood in the doorway for just a moment recalling my childhood. Beyond this door was where I and Mari first played together, where my nose was first made bloody by my childhood 'friend' and where I last saw my father before he left for the second Carnatic war.

I walked out and shut the door behind me. I looked up at the cobalt sky and smiled. The day was most beautiful and I was quite pleasantly pleased with my activities for the morning. I hadn't a proper job, really, but I did get a small wage for handing out copies of the Virginia Gazette. I could do this happily as I made my way closer and closer to the destination I required. It had been too long.

"Cyrus?" She called as she pulled me into an embrace. I smiled. Mari was looking as cheery as ever, an unmistakable grin visible as our embrace ended. "But what brings you here, brother?!" She queried, excitedly. She was much like I was when I was 13, except I didn't have quite as much reason to be so happy. She had never met father and so didn't quite feel the same affection to him as I did; his death didn't really affect me very much as the years passed on. It certainly affected my mother most of all.

Nonetheless of the memories which had been flooding my head, I remembered my reason to visit. She was to be courting later in the year. I was rather sceptical at first of her marriage at such a young age, but her enthusiasm for this man on our last meeting had begun to convince me to her thinking.

As much as I hated the position, I was head of my household, even if Mari was already living with her suiter. And thus, I was in his house. I smiled to Mari before I explained, in all my hopelessness,

"May I please speak with Mr. Nelson?"

~~~~~~~~~~

Hey guys! So this story might not seem like much at the minute, but I assure you, it will stay that way, basically! I just need to write this because I am dedicated to this minor character.

But can I just quickly say a big thank you to Starlight0487 for inspiring me to make this. I just finished reading one of her stories, and can I just say that it was absolutely amazing. Even though it isn't finished yet, it has been fantastic so far. So just thank you, again.

Please, please, please read Starlight's History Has Its Eyes On You in case my boi the coachman gets far enough to actually exist. I love him too darn much. This, as far as I'm concerned, is in the same universe as that story. Secondary canon though, I guess. Please read hers it's great. Bai.

Also, please tell me that - having read both first chapters - you've seen the reference I've made.