what’s eternal about love // lafayette x reader
a/n: heyyyy. this is the start of a two part story, maybe three part story?? hope you enjoy. please, please, please SEND IN REQUESTS MY INBOX IS DRYER THAN THE GODDAMN MOJAVE.
SPECIAL NOTE: for the sake of the story, Henriette, and Anastasie, Lafayettes first two eldest children were never born and Georges was the first born.
warnings: cheating, cursing, a pinch of smut
You knew about the whores that roamed the rebel camps at night looking to satisfy a man’s needs. You had been told by the ladies that would meet up for tea every Saturday at noon, where gossip and new stories whirled through the air each week. It worried you, to think that your dear Lafayette would give up his fidelity in America when he had a family to come home to.
But you also knew your Lafayette. His heart was too big and full of passion for you that he wouldn’t dare do such a shameful thing. He honored your reputation, and you knew that he would do whatever he could to keep it intact, not wanting you to become a story that one of the ladies told when conversing over tea and fresh pastries.
When Lafayette had left the country to serve for the rebel cause, you didn’t know how to feel. One side of you wanted to shun him for abandoning you without notice, but the other side wanted to take even more pride in his name, proud to say that your husband was going to help win the war for the Patriots. When he comes back from his service, Lord knows when that will be, you knew that he will be one of the most famous men in France.
You wrote to him every day, although you knew that your letters would take months to arrive. The journal that sat on your vanity was filled with thoughts, experiences on your life as an army wife. You wanted to pass the journal on to your children so they may read what your life was like with and without your husband.
“Miss (Y/n)!” Your maid, Jane, called out from below stairs. Both you and Lafayette despised slavery and would grant Jane her freedom in an instant, but your mother owned her, giving you no say in Janes bondage.
You lifted your skirts as you made your way down the large steps that cascaded into the lower level of the manor, looking down to make sure you didn’t trip.
“Do you need something, Jane?” You said as you approached the last two steps. I looked up at the entrance where I saw not only Jane but Lafayette standing by her side.
A second couldn’t fully pass before I was already running towards Lafayette and launching myself towards him. He caught me, picking me up and lifting me up into the air, clutching me close to him. Tears slipped from my eyes as I buried my head into his chest, laughing.
Jane looked at the scene in front of her. She could see the love that radiated off them, flowing up into the air like embers. It reminded her of her own love, who was off somewhere in France. She remembers the last time they embraced each other for the last time, although he promised that there would be a next time. She could feel the same love she felt from the glow of passion emit from the couple standing in front of her. Every night, she prayed to one day unite with her love once again, so she could feel the passion that she has been deprived of.
Jane went to the kitchen to set the table for dinner, seeing that the sun had just set, leaving the couple to revel in each other embraces for the time being.
Lafayette finally set you down gently, smiling as wide as the sky. He leaned down and swiftly kissed you, hungrily moving his mouth with yours, clutching your waist. It was the best kiss you had ever received, kissing back with the same desire.
You both pulled away, desperate for air. You both panted, smiling sweetly to each other. Dinner went by in a flash. Lafayette filled the empty air with his endless stories of victory, defeat, and humorous times with his companions.
One of those companions happened to be Alexander Hamilton. I had corresponded with Alexander a few times, informing me of the injury Lafayette obtained while fighting in the Battle of Brandywine. In his initial letter, he told me that if I was ever in need of a friend in America, his wife, Elizabeth would be happy to write you.
You immediately wrote to Eliza the day you received Alexanders first letter, eager to find a friend whom she could relate to in this time of war. A couple months later, you are given a letter from Eliza, you were happy to receive your letter. The both of you corresponded for months, becoming fairly acquainted with her.
That night you and Lafayette intimately reunited once again for the first time in four years.
You held the little baby in your arms, bundling him up in the silk cloth to protect him from the cool breeze. Georges Washington de Lafayette was born December 24, 1779. And after much debate, you finally settled on his prideful name.
You could see Lafayette in the distance, sailing off to America once again. A single tear ran down your cheek. You smiled to him while he could still see the details of your face. Although you feared that he would depart early from this earth, you knew deep inside that he would make it out okay.
You looked down at Georges, seeing the hope in his eyes. He had the same deep brown eyes that Lafayette had, the same black hair that coiled into tiny curls up top his head. I had a feeling that Georges would grow to be the spitting image of Lafayette.
Georges smiled, his bare gums showing. You smiled back, reaching towards his stomach to tickle him. He laughed, his light giggle filling you with love.
Joy overcame me as the coach came to a halt in front the manor. Paris was abuzz with revelry on the day of Lafayette’s return as a hero. You were out with your family at the Hôtel de Ville when you heard of Lafayette’s arrival. He was already home, waiting for you.
The driver offered his hand, helping you descend from my coach. Lafayette was already outside to greet you. You ran towards him, lifting my skirts. You promptly collapsed in arms when you reached him. It felt wonderful to feel his body again, to wrap your arms around his torso. The oil-lamp street lights illuminated only a bit of the
“Father!” Georges finally came towards you and Lafayette. Lafayette quickly bent down and snatched Georges from the ground, lifting him up into the air. Georges laughed with delight.
Lafayette looked at Georges in wonder and confusion at how Georges knew him to be his father. He looked at you, to which you smiled sweetly.
“I told stories about you.” Lafayette smiled brightly, a tear dripping down his cheek. You spent every night, telling Georges about Lafayette, sharing every story of your husband off fighting for the liberty of thousands of people an ocean away.
You all went inside the estate, Lafayette placing his haversack in the empty chair beside your bed frame. You sensed that Georges was tired, so you brought him to his room, laying him down. He fell asleep after I sang him a lullaby.
Seeing it already late at night, you saw the perfect opportunity. You crept into your room, where you saw Lafayette already hunched over his desk, writing. I closed the door behind you, locking it.
You woke up from the growing warmth of the sun on your bare back. Your eye lids flutter as you yawned. You smiled, and then you turned around quickly to see ruffled sheets instead of your dear Gilbert. You frowned, hoping that he hadn’t gone off to work so soon.
You sat, putting your hands on your back and stretching. The white sheets fell to your waist, revealing your bare back to the door. You smiled as the remnants of last night flooded into your brain.
You began to gather up your hair, preparing to put it into a high queue. You grabbed a little invention of yours: a long ribbon tied into a knot with a big loop to wrap around the hair. You showed the fellow ladies at the tea circle, to which they laughed, saying the entire idea and style was insane and would never go into fashion.
“You don’t want to go around town looking that, do you? If I may be frank, you’ll look like a peasant along with those rags of yours,” She spat. You looked down at the clothes you were wearing, comparing your simple attire to her extravagant one. A lady leaned forward, her face full of sympathy for the insult.
“Dear, all she is saying is that you should look your rank.” I was left alone with my thoughts for a while, thinking about what the older women had said.
I never left the house with a high queue after that day, although I still did wear the same skirts I loved.
The door opened with a creek, announcing the presence of the person who opened it. I turned my head around, my hair still in hand, to see Jane, who had come with a tray of fruit.
“Oh, please excuse me, Miss (Y/n),” she said, keeping her head down.
“Oh, no, it’s quite alright, Jane,” You said as she set the tray down on the bench at the foot of the bed. She rushed out of the room, leaving you to get myself ready. You wrapped the ribbon around your hair, looping it around till it held in place. You slipped on a chemise and walked over the bowl of fruit and saw the fresh berry mixed together.
Fresh fruit was very hard to come by throughout the commons in France, only some of high ranking could afford the delicious food. You tasted the sweetness of the strawberries and the bitterness of the blackberries as you ate. You emptied the bowl, setting it back on the tray gently.
After you finished the fruit, you called Jane back up to help you get dressed for the day. As she tightened your corset, you gripped the bed post to steady yourself self. You've worn a corset since you were fourteen and you still haven't gotten used to it, the chamber taking your breath away with every cinch.
You put on a simple, dark forest green dress and began to fix your hair. You took a piece from each side of your face and pulled them back, tying it with a ribbon and leaving the rest of your hair down. You didn't favor the flamboyant wigs the women would wear in France, and instead opted for the more subtle, simple look of your own hair.
You made your way downstairs and only saw Jane, Lafayette nowhere to be seen. Jane was in the kitchen, baking her famous creamed pear tarts. You could smell her baking from a mile always as the smell was so strong.
"Jane, where is Gilbert?" you asked. Jane looked up from the dough she was kneading. Flour graced her cheek as she wiped the sweat off with the back of her hand.
"He went out Miss (Y/n). I do not know where." You frowned slightly in disappointment. You planned to spend the day with Lafayette after being separated from him for so long. You knew that he was still busy with politics, but it would be nice if he just took a break occasionally.
You grabbed your magenta colored cloak and draped it over your shoulders, securing the clasp in the front. You put on your lace gloves and smooth out your dress, preparing to go out.
"Jane, I'm going to the market, I'll be back before supper!" You called out from the front room. You opened the door and was immediately greeted with the sound of horse hooves trotting on the cobblestone road, and the birds chirping.
Instead of riding in a coach, you decided to walk, wanting to enjoy sounds and things around you. You went to the market, looking around for jewelry, ribbons, and new dresses. You always found that the most beautiful jewelry and finest clothes came from the people who never get enough sales. They always have the most time because the demand for their product is so low, that they always spent to most time to perfect it.
When you approached the market, you saw it full as always. Chickens clucked and pigs snorted. Buyers could be heard bargaining with sellers, and the wheels turning underneath the wagons could be heard coming closer and passing you. There was something about the market that always excited you. New things appeared every week and you couldn't wait to get your hands on them.
You stopped at a small stand of jewelry and admired the blue stones that caught your eye. Each jewel was attached to a silver chain. There were lockets of all shapes, all of them engraved with an intricate and ornate design. You traced your finger over one in particular: a crème colored satin choker with a ruby bauble attached to it. The lady who stood behind the counter watched as you eyed it closely.
"It's a real stone, by the way," She spoke in her native Scottish accent, her voice harsh. You picked up the choker, shifting it in the sun to where the light reflected off of the gem. The lady was the about same height as you, only taller about an inch. She seemed like a poor commoner, her dress covered in dirt, and her hair unkempt.
"Where did you get it?" You asked, still looking at the ruby.
"My brother gave it to me. He works in the mines and managed to hide some in his boot. Most people don't believe me cause I'm a commoner selling a gem at such a high price." Her story seemed believable.
"I'll take it," You smiled, setting it down and bringing out your coin pouch. Fake gem or not, you would still cherish it as if it were. You gave her the money and watched her face brighten at the handful of coins. She looked at you and nodded her head as you took the choker and put it in your pocket along with your pouch.
You looked around some more until it got late, the sun starting to touch the fields in the distance. You began to walk home before it got too late, not wanting Lafayette to worry.
"I'm home!" You called out. Jane passed by you, grabbing your cloak and hanging in the closet.
"Gilbert?" You called once you got to the dining room. When you entered, you found Lafayette hunched, his hands leaning on the back of the chair in front of him. You smiled, his back facing you. He looked troubled, which troubled you. Your smile faltered as you walked up to him from behind and placed your hands on his shoulders. You could feel him tense underneath your touch.
"Is something the matter, Gilbert?" You asked.
"Uh, yes, actually." He stood up straight, taking a step back. You cocked your head to the side, somewhat confused.
"What troubles you?" You asked, stepping closer to him. He took another step backward, his back almost touching the wall behind him.
"I'm sorry, (Y/n)," He whispered. Your brows furrowed, confused.
"I do not understand. Why are you apologizing? You have done nothing wron-"
"I have made a terrible mistake," He interrupted you. You could hear his voice start to quiver. You shook your head, tears threatening to fall.
"What did you do?" You asked, regaining your composure and the tears fading away. He hesitated.
"What. Did. You. Do?" You demanded, your voice sharp and rising in tone.
"I had an affair," He said quietly, his head down in shame. You were in shock, the words hitting you like a bullet. Your brain immediately filled with questions while you body boiled with anger.
"When?" You asked, your eyes not meeting his own.
"While in America." You looked at the table, eyeing the wine glass standing still next to the many plates and bowls stacked on top of each other. No tears escaped your eyes and instead filled with rage. You look at the glass nearest to you and began tracing the rim with your finger.
Then, your anger boiled over.
You quickly picked up the glad and threw it at Lafayette, missing him and hitting the wall instead. Your fists clenched and unclenched, your nails creating crescent moons in your skin. Your chest rose and fell with every deep breath that you took.
"How could you do this?!" You shouted at him.
"My love, please, forgive me!" He pleaded, tears starting to fall down his cheeks.
"How could you do this to me. To us?!" You put a finger on your chest, pointing to yourself. "We have a child, Lafayette!"
"You just what? You just forgot that you already had a wife and child waiting for you at home while you were being intimate with another woman?" Lafayette stood there. His mouth opened, but no words came out of his mouth. Your shoulders relaxed, your mouth agape as you came to a realization.
"You... you forgot about us?" You whispered. Lafayette looked down at the ground again, unable to make the situation any better. Tears ran down his face as he clutched the drapes behind him.
You began to lash out, knocking the plates off the table and throwing the glasses at the wall behind Lafayette. Your chest heaved and the tears just started to fall. You looked at him, your glare piercing his soul. You looked at the ground, seeing the glass surrounding your feet. You turned around and began to walk away when Lafayette spoke, bringing you to a halt.
"I'm sorry, my love. I still love you, (Y/n), and I made a mistake." You took a deep breath, not bothering to turn back around.
"I made a mistake too, my dear. My mistake... was loving you." You could hear his breath hitch as you continued walking. Jane walked passed you with a bowl to carry the broken glass in, but before she could, you stopped her.
"Wait, no. Let him do it. It's the only mess he can clean up." With that you moved on, heading up the stairs and into your room where you began to pack your belongings.
You were greeted by a boy at the front gate, standing straight and patiently. He smiled at you, to which you smiled back. You held Georges hand, practically dragging him because his little legs couldn't keep up with your slightly long strides.
"Hello there Miss," He said, tipping his hat.
"Hello, could you please inform Washington that the Lafayettes are here to see him?" You said, smiling. You spoke in your best English, a language that you had studied yourself. Your voice was still drenched with a French accent, however. He nodded, going through the gate.
You looked down at George, who made eye contact with you and smiled. He hadn't asked why we hopped on a boat and left suddenly, and I hoped he wouldn't for a few years. His big, brown eyes looked at me innocently.
The gate opened again after a few minutes, and there stood the General George Washington.!A wide smile graced his face as he looked down at you. You didn't expect him to be so tall, noticing how you had to tilt your head up to make eye contact with him.
"Miss (Y/n), how lovely it is to see you," He said. You smiled.
"You too, Mr. Washington," You said, bowing your head. He looked over your shoulder, most likely searching for Lafayette in the background.
"Where is Lafayette?" He asked. Your smile faltered.
"He is not here, with me." Washington looked back at you his brows began to furrow.
"I do not understand, miss. Why are you traveling alone?" You looked down.
"He had an affair, Mr. Washington, while here in America. You must understand that I had to leave France, for the mention of his name is too great. I'm sorry for showing up unannounced, but I need a place to stay. All I'm asking is for a place here until I feel that I am ready to return," You managed to stay. You finally met his eyes. His mouth was slightly agape and his eyes held much concern. Grief overcame him quickly as the information processed in his brain.
"I am truly sorry, Miss (Y/n). Of course, you could stay, for the meantime," He said softly. Georges finally appeared from his hiding spot behind you, catching the Generals eye. He knelt down on one knee to Georges level, his arm resting on his knee.
"And who is this?" He asked. He watched the shy boy peer out from behind you. You moved out of the way to fully expose Georges, pushing him closer to Washington.
"This is Georges Washington de Lafayette. Georges say 'hello' to Mr. Washington." Georges looked down shyly and waved his hand instead of actually speaking, Washington's face was indescribable. It held so many emotions at once.
"You named him after me?" He said, looking up at you.
"The one and only," You said, making him chuckle. He looked back down at Georges and smiled, tipping his hat to him. Georges smiled slightly, running back behind you, making the both of you laugh lightly at the young boy's behavior.
Washington opened the gate more and allowed you in, grabbing your trunk. You followed him on the gravel path, looking down when you say the eyes of slaves gazing at you. He promised to show you around the large estate in the morning, heading straight towards the mansion itself. Your hand held Georges', pulling him along.
Georges looked around at the sites around him, all the extra trees and plants somewhat overwhelming him. He was especially looking at the people and kids working in the fields and tending to the gardens, wondering why they weren't playing like he does. His eyes landed on one young girl, who was the same age as him. The girl was walking with her mother. They walked past each other, their eyes locked on each other. Both of their heads turned around as they passed each other.
You finally made it to the house and entered, being greeted by Washington's wife.
You immediately felt her eyes look you up and down but landed on your large belly that was poorly concealed by the thick woolen cloak you were wearing.
"George, darling, who is this?" She asked, giving you a smile.
"Martha, this is (Y/n), Lafayette's wife," He said, motioning to you. You bowed your head, smiling softly at her.
"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mrs. Washington."
"As with you, (Y/n). Your husband has done many wonderful things," She said smiling softly at you. George's smile faltered along with yours.
"She is going to be living here for a while." Martha turned to her husband.
"Oh? On what account?" She asked. George hesitated, so instead, you responded.
"My husband has been unfaithful, so your husband has allowed me to live here until I feel it necessary to return to France," You bluntly said. Martha's eyes held sympathy and pity for you.
"Of course," she said turning and walking back into the house.
"Thank you, Mr. Washington," You said. He smiled softly at me, bowing his head.
"You're quite welcome, Miss (Y/n). Please, let me show you and Georges to your room." You walked along with him, Georges’ hand in yours. The General led you are your son onto your new room, where you would start your new life.
