A week passed and Peggy was returning to New York, she had promised her sister a playdate, and no matter how much she denies it, the children and the death of her husband has changed her.

The woman turns her head to her young twins who were playing around. She felt her heartache, they look just like John and she could see it...it was both a blessing and a curse. She sighs and turns away, the changes about Peggy, her smile would never reach her eyes...she was often cold and her eyes gave off a dead cold stare, she was no longer the carefree spirit, instead, she was a mother.

••••

Eliza...She was preparing for the playdate and the living room, she was so excited to see her sister, it had been five months since Philip's birthday, she was so excited!

Alexander walks downstairs and gives her a quick kiss "I'm leaving for work" he says making her nod "Alexander... don't stay too late" she says sadly

Alexander turns at her and stared at her blankly, they had fought about this a few days back

Eliza shivered "Alexander...please...I need you" she says looking at him with sad eyes

Alexander nods "I'll be back at a reasonable time" he says making her smile

●●●●●

Peggy steps out of the coach, slowly pulling down her hood, her jewels glistened in the sun, her wedding ring looking rather bright, she helps her children out of the coach.

"JJ we are by your cousin's okay? I expect you on your best behaviour" she says in a snappy tone making John Jr nod "Yes Ma" she huffs and walks quickly to the porch, she was about to knock on the door when Alexander opened it, Peggy instantly snapped to the lady she was trained to be, bowing her head, she greets him "Good day to you Alexander"

Alexander looks at her taken aback by this change, the Peggy he knew would've tackled him into a hug, she would've grinned and called out for her sister, he noted her demeanour, silently taking mental notes "Well met Margaret" a nickname he would call her at certain times, she gives him a pleasant smile as he lets her in. Alexander looks down at the twins who hugged his legs "Uncle Alex!" he gives them a pat on the head and left the house.

●●●●●

Eliza hears her sister's voice and made her way to greet her, she hugs the youngest Schuyler tightly "Oh Peggy! I've missed you so!" she laughs happily and saw the twins and grinned "Jewel and John, oh my how big you've grown!" she quickly hugs them tightly, The twins have never felt such affection from their own mother, so this was new to them, unsure how to react they just stood there blushing and smiling happily.

Peggy gave them a look, and shook her head, she holds her sister's hands "How is lil Philly?" Eliza smiled happily "He's growing so fast, It feels just like yesterday..." the older lady shakes her head, nostalgia, not today. "Anyway, kids? why don't you go to the playroom?"

John Jr and Jewel quickly raced upstairs to meet their cousin, leaving the women to themselves, the room became deadly silent.

●●●●●

John Jr Laurens and his sister had a little game they played, it was called 'Peggy' the game was often played with the slave children, where they all took turns to be like Peggy, and the twins, It was an interesting way to see how they were perceived. 

Now, Jewel was the only female around so she stuck to the role to Peggy, like when their mom was tired she would say 'You've got to go to bed now' Her best friend, her personal slave Maria, knew a lot of things, especially about Peggy

 They've decided to be just like Peggy when they grow up, they'll play with the children including their large amount of slave-children, read stories to them take them shopping to Washington with big sissy Francis, even when their step-daddy didn't want them to go, even though their mother hasn't married again, they liked to call him their step-daddy. They'd let the children dress up in their pretty red or yellow dresses and long white beads. Not the long ones that hang down to your waist. No, no, no, not like the lady at the tea shop.

So, they played their little game, pretending to go to dinners and parties, John J. L. pretending to be their daddy, and little Philip silently observing them, Jewel pretends to wear a long yellow dress with really wide skirts, Skirts that spread out like a Chinese umbrella! She giggles showing off her imaginary pearls and sparkling Jewelry and played the scene the say yesterday, the one with Peggy screaming at their daddy because he didn’t want her to go to New York, and then hearing the beds squeak a lot. In their innocence, the only thing they thought was that Peggy and daddy had started jumping on the bed.

The game lasted until they heard their mother call for them, knowing it was time to head back before daddy came home.

(This chapter was done by the amazing Sammy_Seabunny