Y/N's POV

   I was repeatedly banging my head on my coffee table. Why? Well, the day had come for a cabinet meeting.

   And, as always...

   Both Thomas and Alex had asked me to side with them.

   Perfect predicament.

   I sighed as I heard a knock on my door.

   Thomas, waiting for me. Expecting my unconditional loyalty to his cause.

   And the worst part was that I wasn't sure if I would be able to provide that for him or not. We all know how the last meeting went.

   I opened the door, and Thomas was standing there with an idiotic grin spread out across his face. I couldn't help but feel guilty, because I couldn't help but notice the expectancy in his brown eyes.

   "Hey, Y/N!" he greeted, his hands behind his back. "You ready?" He offered a hand to me.

   I nodded, exhaling nervously, starting to walk with him to his fancy carriage.

   Thomas took notice of my nervous expression. "What's wrong, little lamb?"

   I blushed at the nickname. I exhaled again. "I'm just nervous about hurting you or Alex's feelings...You know what happened last time..."

   Thomas stood in front of me, preventing me from walking any further. "Listen. I'm not gonna be stupid like last time. So don't hold back, okay, hun?"

   After a few seconds of me going over every negative scenario that could possibly happen in my head, I nodded, a hesitant smile spreading across my face.

***

"We're here, lamb~," Thomas purred, once again offering his hand to me.

What a gentlemen.

I smiled and took it, anxiety building up in my chest.

Alexander...

Thomas...

My anxiety levels spiked, but I held it together on the outside.

I stepped out of the carriage, beginning to walk towards the courthouse, my and Thomas' hands intertwined.

"Y/N!" I heard a familiar voice chirp.

Alex rushed up to me, immediately embracing me. "How've you been? Thanks for watching Philip a few weeks ago. Honestly, I-"

Alexander stopped his rambling, as he noticed Thomas standing next to me. He took a few seconds to glare at Thomas, Thomas returning it. After a bit of awkward silence, Alexander "greeted" Thomas.

"Thomas," he deadpanned.

"Alexander," Thomas returned the deadpan.

"Okay, guys," I broke the stare-down, grabbing both of their hands and pulling them into the courthouse. I noticed that Thomas was staring at Alexander with a look that could kill. Probably because of our intertwined hands.

When we got there, I saw my dad sitting at the judging table thingy. "Hey, Dad!" I smiled, waving.

Dad smiled as well. "Hello, Y/N. You're gonna help me judge, okay? And also break a fight if it should happen."

I nodded, swallowing a lump that had formed in my throat. I already had a hunch that I would be helping, and I'm pretty sure Thomas and Alexander felt the same way, since they asked me to side with them.

   Thomas kissed my cheek, and I blushed. "I love you~," he smiled.

   He was moving fast. But...that wasn't necessarily a bad thing...

   "I-I love you too," I responded, weakly smiling.

   Thomas' eyes lit up, and he did a little happy dance. He whooped and smirked at Alexander, who scoffed and rolled his eyes. James laughed, patting Thomas on the back. (He was there too.)

   "Ladies and gentlemen!" my dad proclaimed as I took my seat next to him at the judging table. "You could've been anywhere in the world tonight, but you're here with us in Virginia! Are you ready for a cabinet meeting, huh?"

   A cheer erupted from the spectators.

   "The issue on the table: Secretary Hamilton's plan to assume states' debt and establish a national bank. Secretary Jefferson, you have the floor, sir," Dad finished.

   My heart leapt at the mere mention of my boyfriend's name. I exhaled, preparing for one hell of a time.

   Thomas had a smirk on his face as he began...

   "Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We fought for these ideals, we shouldn't settle for less. These are wise words, enterprising men quote 'em. Don't act surprised, you guys, 'cause I wrote 'em!"

   Small "oh"s erupted from the crowd. I bit my lip, awaiting the rest of Thomas' speech, positive that it would get more insolent the further into it he got.

   Thomas then made this "ow" type noise, which made me snort. Dad glared at me, immediately putting me back in line.

   "But Hamilton forgets, his plan would have the government assume state's debts. Now, place your bets as to who that benefits. The very seat of government where Hamilton sits," Thomas went on.

   "Not true!" Alexander interjected.

   My heartbeat quickened. I had heard Hamilton's financial plan, and...it sucked. There was too much government control.

   And I would have to choose between the two most important people in my life, one of them's plan completely delusional.

   Not counting Dad.

"Ooh, if the shoe fits, wear it! If other states are in debt, why should Virginia bear it?" Thomas smirked. "Uh, our debts are payed, I'm afraid. Don't tax the south, 'cause we got it made in the shade."

More "oh"s.

Thomas went on and on, and I could see where he was coming from. If you read in between the lines of what he was saying, he had pretty good reasoning.

"Imagine what gon' happen when you try to tax our whiskey," Thomas finished, earning some thoughtful hums from the crowd.

"Thank you, Secretary Jefferson. Secretary Hamilton, your response," my dad said coolly.

While over in my corner, I was a mess. The time was drawing nearer and nearer for me to choose who to hurt.

"Thomas, that was a real nice declaration. Welcome to the present; we're running a real nation!" Alexander started, beginning to fall into one of his rambling spirals. "Would you like to join us, or stay mellow? Doing whatever the hell it is you do in Monticello!"

The crowd "oh"ed again as Thomas crossed his arms and rolled his eyes.

"If we assume the debts the union gets," Hamilton continued, "a new line of credit a financial diuretic! How do you not get it? If we're aggressive and competitive, the union gets a boost, you'd rather give it a sedative?"

I nodded to myself, seeing where Alexander was coming from as well.

After a bit, things got really out of hand.

"Sitting there useless as two-" It was a naughty word that I prefer not to use, but it rhymes with "fits". "Hey, turn around, bend over, I'll show you where my shoe fits!" Alexander snapped.

I felt like I needed to intervene. "Excuse me!" I said over the loud whooping of the crowd.

The noise died down as I stared at Alex with a look that could kill. "Madison, Jefferson, take a walk. Hamilton, take a walk. We will reconvene after a brief recess. Hamilton?"

"Y/N?" Alexander responded nervously.

"A word," I growled.

Alex was gonna be an obedient little beansprout, but, of course, Thomas and James had to ruin it.

Alexander was walking over to me, but Thomas and James stood in front of him, blocking him from me. "You don't have the votes," James teased in that deep voice of his. Thomas followed along, repeating the same phrase.

"Ahaha ha ha," Thomas laughed mockingly.

Alex scowled.

"You're gonna need congressional approval and you don't have the votes," James and Thomas chorused in unison.

Alexander attempted to push past the duo, put their tall figures blocked him in. Thomas smirked. "Such a blunder. Sometime it makes me wonder why I even bring the thunder."

"Why he even brings the thunder," James repeated.

Alex finally managed to push past the two. I pulled him to somewhere private.

"You wanna pull yourself together?" I demanded.

"I'm sorry, these Virginians are birds of a feather..," he grumbled.

"Young man, I'm from Virginia, so watch your mouth."

"So we let Congress get held hostage by the south?"

"You need the votes."

"No, we need bold strokes. We need this plan."

"No, you need to convince more folks!"

"James Madison won't talk to me. That's a non-starter."

"Ah. Winning was easy, young man, governing's harder."

"They're being intransigent."

"You have to find a compromise."

"But they don't have a plan, they just hate mine."

"Convince them otherwise!"

"And what happens if I don't get congressional approval?"

I thought for a moment. "I imagine they'll call for your removal."

Alexander froze. "Y/N."

"Figure it out, Alexander," I said. "That's advice from a friend."

When we emerged, Thomas was eagerly awaiting my return. "Y/N! I've been waiting for you!" he smiled. "Have you decided on who you're gonna side with?"

I looked at my dad. He shook his head. "The final decision will be in a few months."

Thomas and I nodded at him.

I still wasn't sure who I was going to side with. Both men had very good arguments.

Thomas grabbed my hand and led me into the carriage. "I hope you want mac and cheese for dinner~."

I nodded. "I do indeed."

My mind flicked between the two men.

Alexander or Thomas.

Alexander or Thomas.

I decided to not worry about it until the time of the final decision.

I wondered how they would react if I sided with the other.

And I didn't want to find out.

Sorry for the sucky ending! But yo. 200+ reads now?! I'm having a mental spasm! Seriously, thank you!