This could either be a really good story or a really bad story...So, let's just wait and see. And look, people who don't like/haven't watched/haven't read Rent and Harry Potter! It's not a crossover! Warning: strange mix of musical history and actual history. -C

   The first time Aaron Burr stands in Weehawken, clutching his gun, he knows what he's going to do. Why Hamilton is so bent on making him feel bad is beyond him.

   He has no real reason to suspect Hamilton will aim for the sky. His whole life, the man fights for everything. He gets George Washington's esteemed job on the army, but Aaron gets heat stroke and sent home. Alexander gets a Schuyler, but Aaron is fine with Theodosia. Despite the fact Alexander cheats on Elizabeth with Maria Reynolds, his wife is the one who dies. He gets everything.

   So why wouldn't Alexander aim at him?

   Raising his gun, he tries to pay attention to the numbers flitting in the air.

   One: "Pardon me, are you Aaron Burr, sir?" College days flash in his head. It was quick, but he saw Alexander. After awhile, Alexander leaves him for the three revolutionaries.

   Two: "Burr, close the door on your way out." The way the general dismisses him immediately. However, he has a strange mix of both pride and anger aimed at his friend. Alexander could do it well, though Aaron believed it would be better, and he can't tell his friend it's stupid.

   Three: "If you could marry a sister, you're rich, son." The way all of the ladies and gentlemen twirl around makes Aaron smile slightly. Then, he remembers how every Schuyler seemed to gravitate towards Alexander, and he was left on the sidelines. It was fine in the end because-

   Four: "What are you trying to hide, Burr?" Aaron can still remember the excitement in Alexander's eyes when he first hears of Aaron's affair. The way he gets nudged and poked and prodded, grinning all the while.

   Five: "How do you write like you're running out of time?" Alexander was impressive, and Aaron felt a little like a younger sibling. He just ogled over the work that Alexander would produce. Maybe, one day, he could compete with that.

   Six: "You get nothing if you wait for it." If one were to ask Aaron, he would have been honest. He didn't expect that out of Alexander's mouth. No apology comes from him. The two of them stare at each other, and that's what strengthens Aaron's determination and places cracks into the bond the two had formed.

   Seven: "Hey! At least he was honest with our money!" In the mouths of Jefferson and Madison, it's a taunt. It's a jeer at him. In the mouth of Aaron, it was the disappointment and the last try to save Alexander. But the one person you can't save someone from is themselves...And Alexander brought his own downfall upon him.

   Eight: "Jefferson has my vote." He has known their friendship had been sucked away, but he was always sure that they could reconnect. Aaron now knows that it's a pipe dream to assume that.

   Nine: "I can't apologize because it's true." Aaron's fists ball at the mere thought of the letter given to him. How dare Hamilton say that? Give the election to Jefferson and then rub his face in it? Aaron hates Hamilton for that.

   Ten.

   Aaron turns around and aims his gun, purposefully. He will kill Alexander for all he has done-

   No.

   "Wait!" Aaron cries, dropping the gun and staggering forward as if to beat out the bullet.

   Alexander's form, arm raised towards the sky, convulses as the bullet slams against it.

   It strikes him right between his ribs.

   Then, everything turns monotone. Aaron watches in horror as everything starts rewinding, his own limbs of their own violation. The bullet gets swallowed by the gun, and he goes closer to Alexander than farther.

   Everything blinks one last time, and then it's gone.

   Aaron is not an idiot. He knows that he has already stood at Weehawken, eyes bright with hatred. He knows that even as he fiddles with the gun's trigger that he has already murdered Hamilton.

   He's not doing that this time.

   He tosses the gun at the ground, forcing it to settle. "Hamilton! I apologize!"

   Alexander's eyes are much more hardened than Aaron remembered. The flame of hatred burns within him too. "I don't accept it. Pick up your gun and draw."

   "I won't do it," Aaron whispers out, desperate. The image of his friend staggering backwards is impressed into his brain. There's no choice.

   Snorting, the fiery man brandishes his gun. "We are dueling. You were the one who challenged me, after all."

   "I won't-"

   "Yes and ruin your career more! Jefferson will never let you do anything, as you deserve! Jefferson will never let you in your precious 'room'. What did waiting get you?" Hamilton spits out.

   Aaron crosses his arms and shakes his head. "Don't be like that-"

   "We. Are. Dueling."

   Knowing that protestation makes little sense, Aaron swoops down and picks up his gun.

   He closes his eyes.

   One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine. Number ten paces! Fire!

   Aaron doesn't do anything as Alexander discharges into the air. This time, Aaron's bullet doesn't fly towards the short man. He simply shrugs a little at his friend, smirking.

   He shoots at the ground. "I missed-"

   "Second round, I'm not satisfied," snarls Alexander.

   Aaron's eyes snap open. Why is Alexander so desperate to still fight? He...Does he want Aaron to kill him?

   This time, the answers go unanswered. The second round of shots, one bullet drills into the ground. The other bursts through Aaron's forehead, and everything goes painfully blank.

   Third times the charm.

   This time, he presses the gun in van Ness's hand before stalking to Hamilton. Aaron shoves him slightly. "Why are you so bent on someone dying tonight?"

   "Isn't that the purpose of a duel?" Alexander flippantly responds, giving his best easy smirk.

   Aaron clears his throat. "I don't want to duel anymore."

   "We're dueling."

   "Why? So you can aim at the sky and I can shoot you and be labeled as a murderer for the rest of my life?" he hisses at the old secretary.

   Alexander's eyes grow big. "How did you know?"

   "It matters not," drawls Aaron. "Is it because of your son? That he died not so long ago...To a parent, even twenty years feels short-"

   "Just get in your position."

   Mentioning Philip had to have affected something. There's no way to escape the duel, Aaron muses. However, he can escape the death of Hamilton.

   He wonders if his precious Theodosia watches. He wonders if she is rooting for him to win or lose. Either way, she would get a benefit. Win, he gets his honor and life. Lose, he's with Theodosia for the rest of time.

   It matters not. Aaron is doing this no matter what.

   One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine. Number ten paces! Fire!

   Bringing up the sensitive topic of Philip Hamilton does make a huge difference.

   The bullet goes through his heart this time in an explosion of pain and numbness. Then, just like that, Aaron Burr is no more.

   Fourth time he tries to get back on the boat. Van Ness grabs his arm. "Don't tell me you're chickening out, Burr! Where's your usual bold personality?"

   Bold? What a joke! Despite being his second, van Ness knows nothing about Burr.

   "Just don't have the desire to fight anymore. Let's go." Aaron practically shoves his second back into the boat. "Come on."

   He blinks at his second, who scoffs. "It's just a duel, Aaron. You've missed before. If you don't want to, you could always apologize or delope."

   Apologize doesn't work. It led to death just like not doing anything. Deloping doesn't help. The second round will be something Hamilton insists upon. And the second round is where Burr will go down, and there's no choice.

   "We should just leave, okay?" Aaron snaps, annoyed.

   William laughs a little before shoving him away from the boat. "Hamilton has been looking forward to this, and you need to get this bitterness out."

   "William, this is a mistake-"

   "Come on, Pendleton! Time to discuss!" His second walks away, a little too excited about the fight.

   He makes eye contact with Alexander.

   Once again, he ends with a bullet through a vital organ and dies.

   The fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth time all blur into one another. However, Aaron knows the two words that can sum out those seven beautifully.

   Failure and death.

   The thirteenth time brings the scariest change yet. Aaron knows what he can do to change this. Maybe time will advance. Maybe he can see his beautiful Theodosia rather than waking up next to William van Ness. Maybe he can stop having the dread of repeating the pain over and over looming over his head desperately.

   He walks over to Alexander. "Can we not duel?"

   "Why? Are you scared?" taunts Alexander.

   Aaron raises his head. "You're doing this to kill yourself, aren't you? It just won't be a suicide, huh?"

   "I-"

   "You did almost get your wife to divorce you. You did have your son die. You did have your enemy into an office of supreme power. Is this your way of getting to die almost nobly?" mocks Aaron, mimicking his tone just like Alexander did all those years ago.

   Alexander shoves him away. "You don't understand anything."

   "You don't deny it?" He raises his voice, drawing the attention of both seconds and even the doctor there to save whoever gets shot.

   "Shush!" hisses the man, panic starting to flood his eyes. "What are you even playing at, Burr?"

   "If you want to kill yourself, do it yourself." Aaron moves to walk away. Before he can go all the way, fingers curl and grab at his wrist.

   Alexander yanks him hard enough to spin Aaron around. "We are dueling. I've wrecked my life...Imagine what I can do to yours."

   "Is that a threat?"

   "It's a promise."

   "If that's so..." Aaron breathes in hard, scared to actually follow out the action. However, he has died enough times to feel desperate enough to do this.

   He places the barrel of the gun to his temple. Immediately, concern and fear flashes in Alexander's dark eyes. Alexander throws himself forward, but Aaron scoots back.

   The words haunt him as he pulls the trigger, the first time free of the duel of infamy.

   Alexander screaming it makes it all the more ironic. "Wait!"

   But Aaron is too far gone now, and his legs crumple out from beneath him.

   The fourteenth time, he says goodbye to Alexander for real. It's clear that he was wrong about all of it, killing himself or getting killed. Maybe it was the world's way of showing him.

   His waiting means nothing.

   Aaron wants a different ending. Maybe he should have tried earlier to have changed things. Now, there's no option left.

   If they meet again in a different life, Aaron will do right by Alexander. He promises himself that, hoping that will relieve the guilt that will follow him throughout the rest of his life.

   "Goodbye, Alexander," he whispers under his breath.

   One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine. Number ten paces! Fire!

   He aims the gun, and the bullet spirals out. Alexander aims at the sky like he had all those times ago.

   Aaron drops the gun as the bullet strikes him between the ribs. He staggers forward. "Wait!"

   And history plays out as it should.

   And Aaron Burr resigns himself to getting forgotten by history besides of being the man who shot Alexander Hamilton.

   And no amount of rewinds changed that for him.

   Nobody ever knows what Aaron Burr discovered that fateful day, and they don't know what he lived through.

   But that's the burden he carried through his entire life.