"I'm your sister."

I released my fists, paralyzed by shock.

How could she be my sister?

I blinked hard, suppressing tears that were pooling up in the corner of my eye. I knew in that moment, if nothing else, I could read on her face that she was telling the truth. I hated her for it.

And another question arose in my mind.

How could she not tell me?

I stared at her, still processing my shock.

I had family left.

"My sister... ?" I took her biting her lip and looking at the floor as confirmation enough; I could see as she was failing to hold back her own tears.

And then it dawned on me.

"The French trader."

I'd heard stories from my mother of a French trader coming from the mainland. Stories of her falling in love with him. To me, the man was no more than a fairytale.

"Mon père," she voiced my thoughts as I backed away from her and crumpled onto the bed behind me. Her voice was shaking; her entire body was shaking. I couldn't bring myself to care. I was trembling under the weight of her words, drawing in shaky breaths in an attempt to stay calm. I tried to push down all the anger I was harboring, but I had never been good at that.

"You're my fucking sister." I silently let the tears fall, glistening as a stream of the sunset cast a glow upon my face. They ran hot as blood, reducing my face to a puffy mess.

I bit my bottom lip, squeezing my eyes shut and trying to process the myriad of emotions that began to hit me all at once, ensnaring my senses and filling my head with a greater anger than I knew I harbored; it was a whirlwind, thieving everything I knew to be true and scattering it across that cabin floor. And finally, I snapped.

"How could you?" I whispered. I stared at my lap, my eyes narrowing to slits as I heard her draw in a shaky breath.

"How could you be the last family I've got and not even care enough to tell me?" My voice rose in a swift crescendo as I raised my head to face her, everything I was feeling pushing the words at her with the force of ten thousand men.

She only stared at the ground, looking as though she was struggling to keep tears in her eyes that were beginning to redden.

"I'm sorry. I'm so s-sorry."

I scoffed.

"Sorry isn't going to do anything here. Sorry doesn't change the fact that I had to find out about this from Laurens rooting through your book."

"It also doesn't change the fact that I tried to tell you, Alex. I really did."

"Oh yeah, and what happened? Did a pack of wild horses come running through?"

She turned bright red.

"No, I just-" she bit her lip, "It was yesterday, when you started talking about... something else."

"Ah, yes! The other thing you kept from us: your relationship with Lafayette."

"We're not in a relationship!" she yelled, and Laf went redder than her as he stood behind her.

"You know what Alex? I could've told you to your face if you hadn't gone through my private fucking journal. We wouldn't even be in this situation."

I looked into her eyes and saw anger beginning to stir within her.

"And we also wouldn't be in this situation if your father hadn't had an illegitimate child!" I yelled.

Her eyes flashed menacingly at my words, and I almost smiled with the satisfaction that my words were getting to her.

"Don't you bring my father into this!" She jabbed a shaking finger into my chest, her stare boring into my eyes with her burning anger.

"And why the hell not? The whore came to an island, slept with my mother, then left!" I yelled. She looked as though moments away from slapping me.

"That asshole only came back because she was pregnant!"

Her eyes narrowed, and I almost knew what was coming next.

Without missing a beat, she swung her already balled fist at my face and struck me square in the jaw. I was thrown to the side with the force of her blow and grabbed onto the coat hook to my right, trying desperately to stay on my feet.

I pulled myself back up, leaning against the wall and wincing at the sharp stinging in my jaw and the pounding in my head. Her eyes were hardly wide enough to contain the immense shock I could see they held. I swallowed hard; I was practically foaming at the mouth.

I walked slowly towards her, doing everything I could to keep myself from hitting her back, and she began to shrink away from me. Her face was inches from mine, wearing an expression I had never seen on her: pure and undiluted fear.

"Get out of my sight," I hissed. She didn't waste a moment before turning and fleeing our barracks. A lump grew in my throat as I watched her retreating figure disappear from view.

My sister.

I stood rooted to that spot, unable to move. I was shaking. I bit my lip hard, choking back the tears that threatened to spill, that threatened to overcome my demeanor and make me collapse.

"Alex-" John started towards me but I raised a hand to stop him.

"Get some rest, John."

Meredith's POV

I sprinted. I couldn't be in there with them. I knew what I'd done. I also knew I had nowhere to go.

I had to have somewhere.

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to focus on figuring out any sort of plan, no matter how bad. It would always be better than having to face them after that. I continued sprinting away and I refused to rest until I was out of their sight. That finally happened when I reached the front of camp and leaned on the thin wooden wall of the stables, trying desperately to catch my breath.

Then it struck me. It was a long shot, but it was worth trying. The worst they could do was say no.

I turned to the stables next to me and threw open the doors before sprinting over to a rearing York.

"Hey, hey, settle down boy. It's just me." I reached my hand up to stroke his neck and stilled his trembling body. I walked around to his side to mount him and took off riding.

As I rode out of camp for the second time that day, I knew that nothing that night would be definite.

That was why, after I reached the right house, I nearly cried hugging Eliza when she told me I could stay with them.

"It's nothing, Mer. Really, come on in."

I nodded as she pulled away from the hug. I wasn't hiding the fact that I was tearing up; Eliza was a blessing.

"Eliza, thank you so much," I whispered.

"Don't worry about it. Angelica and Peggy are upstairs, let me check with Father first. If he says no, just hide in my closet."

I laughed, despite my rough night.

I went back outside to wait for Mr. Schuyler's answer. York stood right where I left him, waiting obediently for me as always. I smiled and walked over to stroke his mane.

"I love you, boy," I whispered as I pressed my nose to his. If nothing else, my father's stallion would always be there for me.

"Ms. Legrand?" I heard Mr. Schuyler's voice behind me and winced.

"Yes, sir?" I put on an expression of innocent curiosity as I turned to face him.

"Please, come in."

I sighed as I felt the tension melt out of my body. I kissed York's nose after tying him to a fence post in their yard, and proceeded to walk up to the front door of the mansion.

"Now, Ms. Legrand, you're a lovely person and I'd be glad to provide a home for you for the night, but I expect to be present when you explain to my daughters why you need somewhere to stay."

I sighed as I walked into the house.

"Sir, with all due respect, I think you might rather not hear the story. I worry it would make you think less of not only me but my father as well." I'd heard enough against my father for one night; I didn't need more from him when he learned that I was an illegitimate child.

"Please, Ms. Legrand. You have my highest respect from what I know of you already. I doubt this story could do much to ruin that."

I would have bet right there and then that he was wrong.

"If you insist, sir. Now please, may I speak with your daughters?"

On cue, Angelica, Eliza, and Peggy came running down the stairs.

"We're here." Eliza grinned at me.

"What could you have possibly done to get yourself kicked out of there?" Angelica muttered to me as she passed on her way to the couch.

"Too much," I muttered back.

They all took seats in their living room, stares fixed on me as though I was the latest show in the opera hall. I sighed and sat down, beginning to mentally prepare myself for their reactions, and then I started.

I started at the very beginning, telling them the story of my parents and how I was an illegitimate child. I couldn't help but wince at Mr. Schuyler's face when I was at that part; he watched me as though I was the one who'd had a scandal. I made sure to note that Alex was my half-brother, though I didn't use a name, before continuing on to the story of the past few weeks. I explained to them how I'd been trying to tell him, but never had the chance.

And then I reached that night.

I grimaced as I told them how the men had been looking through my journal and Alex recognized my drawing as his mother. My expression only grew more uncomfortable as I had to recount the entire conversation to them, up until I punched Alexander. I sighed, looking around at their horror-stricken faces.

"And now, I assume, you all think less of me?" I had accepted defeat.

"You actually punched him?" Angelica looked moments away from bursting into a fit of laughter. I nodded.

"Would you like to see my bruised knuckles?"

She couldn't hold her laughter in anymore and doubled over, not trying to contain the outburst.

"How hard did you hit the poor man?" Mr. Schuyler interjected.

"Hard enough, sir. And that explains why I'm here, asking you for shelter for just a night. They should all be calm enough tomorrow morning for me to return."

I furrowed my brow, confused at the man's next action. He laughed. I had made many assumptions about him at that point, and that contradicted every single one.

"You're insane, Meredith." Eliza shook her head at me.

"He insulted my father. I couldn't just do nothing."

"You take much pride in your family line, Ms. Legrand?" Mr. Schuyler asked. I nodded.

"More than anything, sir."

"Then, Ms. Legrand, you have earned my unwavering respect. God help the next person who dares insult your family." He sat there, still chuckling, and I gave him a perplexed look.

"Thank you, sir?" I wasn't entirely sure how to react.

"You're welcome here anytime."

I nodded. Angelica grinned and ran over to pull me up the stairs, followed by her sisters.

"And Meredith?"

We all stopped halfway up the staircase and turned to look at Mr. Schuyler.

"I expect more stories from camp whenever you visit."

I grinned.

"Of course, sir."

Angelica took off the rest of the way up to the girls' rooms and I followed her as she weaved through several extensive hallways, two bedrooms, and what looked like a massive library, before she stopped at a bedroom, pushing the door open.

She pulled me in along with her sisters before bursting once again into giggles.

"You punched someone? I'm not even allowed to laugh aloud in the presence of company," she laughed.

"It's not funny, Angelica." I rolled my eyes which only made her laugh harder.

"Seriously, I just fucked up my entire relationship with my brother."

"Then you shouldn't have punched him!" Eliza looked exasperated as she sat onto Angelica's bed.

"I dunno, it made a pretty great story." Peggy shrugged, shoulders shaking with stifled laughter.

"Shut up, Pegs." I playfully shoved her and sat down with Eliza.

"So, your brother, what's he like?" Angelica asked as she and Peggy sat with us.

"Well at this point, anything but singing his praises would make me seem like an asshole, so I'll try to focus on the positive."

They all chuckled.

"He is... actually pretty great. He's witty, though only when he wants to be. You wouldn't know how smart he truly was unless he wanted you to. Though, make no mistake, he is just as egotistical as he is smart."

Angelica raised an eyebrow; Peggy just laughed.

"He's actually rather funny so long as I'm including time spent laughing at him. He will tease people to the brink of insanity, but only out of love."

"He sounds like a good guy." Angelica smiled at my description. I got the feeling he and she would get along well.

"Remember, that was me focusing on his good traits." I chuckled.

"He actually sounds a bit like you." Peggy looked at me curiously.

"I'd say he's a tiny bit like me, though our flaws are not exactly parallel."

"You? Flawed?" Angelica joked and I rolled my eyes.

"Yes, yes, I know it's a shock, but I am, in fact, not perfect after all."

I chuckled along with the three of them, before a long, drawn out yawn escaped me.

"Let me show you to our guest room. It's downstairs and a bit of a walk, but it's a very nice room."

I nodded and followed Angelica down the stairs to a large room, clad all around in beige.

"This is the guest bedroom?" My mouth hung agape at the regal interior, adorned with long silk curtains and gilded wallpaper.

"It is, in fact," she laughed.

"Now that you know where the room is, would you like to stay upstairs with my sisters and me for the remainder of the evening? We'd enjoy your company."

I pursed my lips.

"I don't know, Angelica. I probably need to get back to camp rather early tomorrow; I should get some sleep."

Her face fell and I creased my forehead, wishing I could stay up all night with them.

"I'm sorry, Angie."

"No, it's perfectly fine." She sighed but smiled. "You have to train every day as a soldier, no? It just gets a bit dull, every day here with the same old people."

"You know, you could join the revolution with me. I'm sure General Washington would be more than thrilled to have another soldier enlisted."

She chuckled, shaking her head.

"My father would be ready to kill me if I even brought up such a notion. Just try to visit often?"

I nodded and gave her a warm smile, which she returned before she walked out of the room. She shut the door behind her, and I dropped onto the warm quilt that covered the bed behind me. I pulled off my boots, almost completely the color of the mud, and sighed. They wouldn't be easy to clean off. That was the last thought that crossed my mind before I began to drift off, asleep before I even hit the mattress.

I was abruptly woken by a knock at the door. I thought at first someone was trying to enter my room, but after a moment I realized that the person was outside of the house altogether. I ran my hand through my hair, trying to make it sit presentably before I answered the door. It was clearly just after dawn, everything outside my window was still asleep aside from the birds twittering about.

I pulled open first the door to my bedroom, and then found why the knock on the front door had woken me so easily. The front door was no more than two feet from my bedroom, and I cursed the Schuylers' floor plan for ruining my sleep. I rolled my eyes at whoever in their right mind was up at the crack of dawn already knocking on doors.

My eyes were no longer rolling, but widening in surprise when I saw who stood on the other side of the door.

"Meredith? Merde, I was so worried." Lafayette cupped my face in his hands and looked as though he was examining it for any signs of me having hurt myself. "Are you alright? Did you get any sleep? Are-"

"Calm down, it's too early for this." I removed his hands from my face.

"Why are you here? And why are you so worried?" I held his arms, trying to make him calm down enough to explain.

"Last night, after you left, some piqûre started the rumor that redcoats had abducted you off the streets. I was taking a walk around camp, trying to find you, when I heard them talking about it."

I groaned.

"Did you really think any of them were right? They think we slept together, for God's sake," I snapped, grumpy from just being woken up.

"I know, but since you had just run off, I didn't know where you had gone. I was just worried..." he trailed off, looking down. I sighed.

"Thank you, Laf, but I don't need you to worry for me. How'd you find me here anyway?"

His head shot up and he began to talk again.

"I went downtown last night to look for you, clearly to no avail, and then after a long time I found Burr sitting on a park bench reading. I asked him if he'd seen you and he said no, but he'd seen you with the Schuyler sisters earlier in the week, so I came here."

My eyes widened in shock as I realized how disheveled he actually looked.

"My god, were you out all night?"

He nodded, smiling weakly.

"This is easily the stupidest thing you've ever done." I pinched the bridge of my nose, shaking my head. "I appreciate it all the more, Laf."

I hugged him, grateful to have someone who would spend all night looking for me because of a rumor. He flinched at first, but soon wrapped his arms around me as well. He began to twist a lock of my hair between his forefinger and thumb when I finally pulled away.

"Do you want to come in? Have breakfast with us?" I asked. His arms still rested around my back and fiddled with my unkempt hair.

He didn't meet my eyes.

"Laf?"

"The guys don't know I'm here. I left after they were all asleep."

I sighed.

"And you need to get back quickly so they don't know you went to find me?" I finished his thought.

"Meredith, I am sorry-"

"No, no it's alright. Get back to camp. I'll see you later today." I averted my gaze to the ground, rolling a pebble under my foot.

"Mer," he started.

"Really, it's fine. Leave."

"Look at me, Mer."

"Laf, I really need you to leave. Everyone's going to be up soon."

He dropped his arms from my back and I raised my head to look at him, though I instantly regretted it. He furrowed his brows, his entire face screwed up into an expression of hurt. I knew that I'd caused it.

"Fine, I'll leave. Goodbye, Meredith." He turned and began to walk away from me, but I caught his arm

"Wait-"

He yanked his arm from my grip.

"Au revoir," he said, looking at me as though I was a stranger.

I sighed and ran my hand through my hair as I watched him mount his horse. He wouldn't meet my eyes; he took off at a full gallop.

I rubbed my temples as I walked back inside the Schuyler mansion. I couldn't help feeling like I'd ruined another relationship with someone I cared about.

I found Eliza sitting at their kitchen table, wearing a smirk. I didn't ask why.

"What was that about?" She took a sip of her coffee, watching me amusedly as I sat down across from her.

"It was... nothing. He was just worried."

She nodded, her sly smile growing.

"Okay, why are you smiling like that?" I asked, already feeling defeated by the day.

"Was that one of the men from your barracks? I only heard the beginning of your conversation."

"Yes, what does that have to do with anything?"

She giggled.

"Mer, why didn't you tell us you were courting someone?"

My face almost instantly turned to a deep red.

"No, no, my god, no." I hid my face in my hands. "No."

When I felt confident that my blush had subsided, I raised my head to look at her. Her smirk had grown.

"We're definitely not courting, Eliza. That was just a friend."

"Come on, Mer. You can't get anything past me. Just wait till I tell Angelica and Peggy." She wiggled her eyebrows at me and I groaned.

"Just wait till they realize you're wrong."

"You say that as though I am."

I rolled my eyes. She would be the death of me.

"Whatever, Eliza. I need to get to camp. Tell them I said goodbye." I motioned up to the room above us.

"I'll be sure to include everything I heard from your conversation out there too." She winked, giggling, and I rolled my eyes once more.

"Thanks again for letting me stay here, Eliza," I said as I walked to the front door and out of the mansion.

"Hey boy." I walked over to where York stood, exactly where I'd left him. I stroked his nose, coaxing him out of his state of sleep. He whinnied softly.

"I know, I'm tired too. Let's go, big guy." I mounted him but only brought him to a slow walk down the cobblestone streets of town. I was in no rush to get back to camp.

After what could have been an hour, I reached the point where the paved stone streets turned into the unkempt dirt roads of camp. I sighed as I finally had to tie York back up at the stables, preparing for a very unpleasant day at camp.

I walked back to my barracks with my head held high despite my demeanor. I was prepared for their anger; I was prepared for tension hanging thick in the air.

What I wasn't prepared for as I opened the door, though, was nothing. No words, hostile or otherwise, no actions, no acknowledgement of my existence whatsoever.

I frowned as I sat onto my bed and pulled out a book, hoping to pass time to the best of my ability. Luckily, my efforts were not necessary for long when a small, nervous-looking man entered our barracks. All heads turned to look at him; he appeared to be shaking.

"I c-come with a message from the General." Hamilton's ears perked up at that, but I just frowned.

"Yes?" Alex prompted him to continue.

"I-It's for a Meredith Legrand?"

I sighed heavily. Couldn't the world leave me alone for a day?

"Yes, I am she."

"You're to see him i-immediately. H-he says his reasons are classified." He quickly bowed before rushing back out the door. Alex scowled behind me, and I couldn't help but resent him. It wasn't as though I had asked for a meeting with General Washington.

I stood and walked back down the dirt roads to Washington's cabin. My knocking on the tall wooden door was met with a 'come in,' not to mention from an exhausted voice. I furrowed my eyebrows before entering the building. When I reached the end of his hall, I found him nearly collapsed on his meeting table.

"Meredith, thank God. I'm sorry you have to see me like this." He rubbed his temples, leaning on the table. He looked utterly exhausted. The dark bags under his eyes hung heavier than ever; his coat was cast carelessly aside.

"It's fine, sir. What do you need?" I slowly took a seat in the chair opposite him.

"I have something to ask you. Don't answer right away; please, let me explain the situation first."

I furrowed my brow and shifted in my seat, uneasy, as I was clueless about where he was going with that.

"Okay, sir?"

He took a deep breath and folded his hands on the table before looking me in the eye and asking, "Meredith, would you be willing to..."