Peter agreed to allow Elias to come over so that Doloris could have an at home date. He had been thinking of lifting her punishment early and this would give him time to see how she acted with a little bit of freedom. Peter wasn't pleased when Elias came over so late and woke everyone up.
"It's late Elias, don't stay too long," Peter told him as he went to get Doloris.
"Sorry sir. I guess I was so excited to see her I didn't realize how late it was," Elias said.
"Wait here while I go get her."
Doloris rushed out of her room, forgetting to put a robe on over her pajamas.
"Elias I'm so happy to see you," Doloris greeted as she gave him a hug.
"I can't stay long but I just had to see you," he said dipping her as he gave kissed her. "Hmmm I've missed you."
Enjoying the feel of his arm around her, Doloris said "I've missed you too"
Giving her another kiss Elias let her go. "I better go before your Dad changes his mind about our date night."
"Yeah I guess so," Doloris said following Elias to the door. "See you tomorrow."
"Goodnight sweetheart," Elias said turning to the door. Then he stopped and grabbed Doloris for one last kiss before leaving.
The following evening Doloris was anxious that everything would go smoothly for her date. "Adam can you go do something else?"
"I'm in a middle of a game," he protested "I just got home from work and just want to relax."
"Relax some place else. Elias is coming over and I want you gone."
"No way I want you making out on the same couch I sit on to watch TV."
"Well too bad, besides Mom and Dad already do."
"That's different and they've moved that out to Brian's old car." Adam said as he shut down his game. He wandered down stairs and changed to practice board breaking.
He just received a letter from Windy and had a lot of bent up frustration that need release after reading it. She had been all excited about some dance she had been invited to and how she hoped he didn't mind her excepting. She was careful to include that she and this boy were just friends and she appreciated the trust he had in her.
"Son, how about taking a break," Peter suggested "Come play a game of chess with me."
Adam nodded agreement, noticing his hands were sore. He hadn't realized how much force he had been using until he stopped. He followed his Dad to the chess board. After deciding who had white they fell into an uneasy silence. Each absorbed in their own thoughts.
"Dad can I ask your advice on something?"
"Sure, what's on your mind?" Peter sighed in relief. He had felt something was bothering him but didn't know how to bring it up.
"Well um you see," Adam stopped trying to figure out what he wanted to say. Sighing deeply he plowed ahead "I received a letter from Windy and well she's going to a dance with some boy she met. She says they're just friends but ..."
"But you think she's not telling you everything."
"Yeah I guess. I want to trust her, I really do."
"But she doesn't have the best track record. Son, why do you like Windy?"
"I don't know. She's just always been a part of my life. I don't want to lose her."
"I can appreciate that but there has to be more to your relationship than it being comfortable and the only thing you know. Do you love her?"
"I think I do. I know I should."
"Son you either do or you don't. You can't love someone because you think you should out of a sense of duty. It wouldn't be fair to you or to Windy."
"So you think we should break-up?"
"I'm not saying that either. You have to decide for yourself. You have an opportunity to learn who you are without Windy around all the time. Get out there and meet people. Have some fun. When you graduate and Windy comes home you can decide what's next."
"Ok but it would be so much easier if you would just tell me what I should do."
"It might but it's a decision only you can make_"
"Dad, can I talk to you?" Doloris interrupted.
"Is your date over already?" Peter inquired.
"Yeah, Elias had to be home early because of being out late last night." Doloris turned to Adam "Do you mind? I need to talk to Dad."
"Honey, Adam and I were in the middle of something. I'll talk to ..."
"It's ok Dad. She can take my place."
"If your sure, we can talk later."
"I just want to be alone for awhile to think."
As soon as Adam got up, Doloris scooted into his vacated chair.
"So what's so urgent that couldn't wait?" Peter asked trying to stifle his irritation he felt at the interruption.
"Keep an open mind but Elias has tickets to our favorite band and he wants to take me. Please Daddy can I go? I promise I won't be late again."
"Whoa slow down. Where is this concert? In town?"
"Well no Daddy but it's not far. I figure we could stay a night or two with Grandpa and Grandma."
"No absolutely not. You are not going to Bridgeport for a concert."
"But Daddy I'll be good and come home right after."
"Honey do you have any idea how far away Bridgeport is?" Doloris shook her head silently. "It's an eighteen hour drive. It's out of the question. You're not going."
"That's not fair," Doloris protested.
"I said no, end of discussion." Peter got up and went upstairs. He couldn't believe Doloris would even think he would even entertain the idea of letting her go to Bridgeport by herself with a boy. What was she thinking?
"Hey Dad, is everything alright?" Corina asked
"Everything's fine, sweetie," Peter replied "How was work?"
"Ok I guess. I'm going to change to exercise."
"Have fun."
Corina went downstairs to use the treadmill. She didn't use the ballet bar much anymore. She had lost interest in ballet; although she still enjoyed exercising. She couldn't figure out how Doloris maintained her weight when she never exercised. One day she was sure, it would catch up with her. Secretly, Corina couldn't wait so she could tell her "I told you so.
Brian couldn't sleep one evening and decided to go for a walk. He had intended to just walk around the yard but his thoughts were so troubling he kept walking into the woods behind the house. As he walked he thought about why he still hadn't found a girlfriend yet. It seemed the harder he tried the worse it got. He went to school dances and asked girls to dance and they all laughed at him. He didn't have many friends either and his best friend graduated last year and was away at University. At least when he was around he didn't feel so lonely.
He was on his way back to the house, when a car rolled up beside him. A bright light flooded the area around him and an authoritative voice said "Stop right there."
Brian stopped holding his hands in front of his eyes to shield them from the light. He dimly watched a figure in black approach him. 'Great just what he needed to top off his night, a cop.'
"What are you doing out so late?" the officer demanded.
"I, um I couldn't sleep. So I went for a walk."
"I think you robbed the grocery store. You fit the description. Not too smart to be caught walking around the neighborhood."
"What I...I didn't rob anyone."
"Tell it to the judge. Up against the car." Brian felt his face grow hot as he leaned against the patrol car being frisked. He was glad it was late so that nobody would see him. He knew he would never live this down if anyone found out. As the officer finished and was putting the handcuffs on him the police radio went off announcing the arrest of the grocery store robbers.
"Seems to be your lucky night, your off the hook."
"So I can go?" Brian asked as the handcuffs were removed.
"No that means you get a free ride home instead of jail."
Peter was up waiting for Brian to be brought home. The officer walked Brian to the door so that she could speak to Peter.
"Mr. Van Winkle it appears to me you have a delinquency problem. You need to take a firm hand with your kids. Discipline, good old fashioned discipline."
"Thank you officer, I'll take that under advisement." Peter said through gritted teeth. Peter turned to Brian once the officer had left.
"Brian what's up with you lately?" Brian just stood there staring at this feet. "Well I'm waiting for an answer?"
He shrugged mumbling "nothing."
"Nothing? Sneaking out of the house at all hours of the night and you say nothing." Peter felt his blood pressure rising, he just didn't understand what had gotten into his kids lately.
"Jeez calm down. I couldn't sleep, so I took a walk. No big deal."
"No big deal. A cop brought you home Brian. You could have been hurt."
"That cop's a jerk. I was just in the woods behind the house. I wasn't that far away. The cop could've just givin me a warning but she had to prove a point."
"The cop was doing her job. You're avoiding the issue. Why couldn't you sleep? Why did you sneak out? What's going on? Just talk to me Brian."
"Nothing. Nothings wrong," Brian's voice rose "I'm going to bed." He stomped down the hall and slammed his door. Peter watched him go, shaking his head. "Why won't he talk to me?"
Adam was up early the following morning. Sensing that something was a miss, he thought fixing breakfast would be something helpful he could do. It was a silent breakfast, he wondered what was up. He knew that Doloris was mad at their Dad for being grounded but he couldn't figure out why Brian was mad. He was somewhat enlightened when he heard his Dad ask "So Brian, are you ready to talk?"
Brian stopped eating long enough to look at his Dad and shake his head.
"Alright if you won't talk. I have no other choice but to ground you for two weeks."
"Fine," Brian said pushing away from the table and left.
Nothing more was said and eventually everyone drifted away from the table. Adam roped Elliot into helping with the dishes.
"Tell me again why I have to do the dishes," Elliot whined.
"Because you want to help right?"
"I guess. But I hate doing dishes. Why can't you do them?"
"Stop whining. Washing dishes won't kill you."
"You're not my boss."
"No I'm your big brother and that's pretty close."
Brian decided to exercise to work some of his frustrations out. His family were the only one's who knew he enjoyed ballet and he hoped to keep it that way. He was teased enough already at school for being too sensitive and artsy. Maybe he thought, he should change his image and become more of a rebel.
"Brian I'm bored, come play chess with me," Doloris said after watching Brian workout for a while. She couldn't understand why he liked ballet so much. She detested it.
"It's so unfair being grounded," Doloris complained "It's not like, I did it on purpose. I was almost to my car and this stupid cop catches me. Impounds my car. Now I have to pay the impound fees on top of being grounded."
"Well that same cop caught me last night out walking in the woods behind the house. She told me I fit the description of some low life who robbed the grocery store."
"You?" Doloris laughed "You wouldn't hurt a fly."
"It's not funny. She frisked me. I was never more horrified in my life."
"I wish I could've been there to watch."
"I'm glad you weren't. Then she had the gall to tell Dad that his kids were delinquents as this was the second time she had to bring one of us home."
"No wonder Dad was furious. But why won't you talk to him? What's up with that?"
"I don't know, it's hard to put into words."
"Tell me, maybe together we can find a solution," Doloris suggested.
"Alright, I guess I have to talk to someone. Looking directly into Doloris' eyes Brian asked "Am I ugly? Repulsive? or Deformed in some way?"
"What? No are you crazy?"
"Then why don't I have any friends? Why won't the girls give me a chance? I see how the girls look at Adam. Why don't they look at me that way? What's wrong with me?"
"There's nothing wrong with you. You have friends but lately you've been pushing them away. Now I know why. They all have girlfriends and you don't."
"I feel like a fifth wheel, like I don't belong or something."
"Do you feel the same way at home?" Doloris asked in concern.
"Yeah, I do. Elliot will probably have a girlfriend before I do."
"He probably will if you keep wallowing around in self-pity. Do you really think a girl would be interested in someone who walks around with his head down all the time? You need more self-confidence."
"It's not that bad is it?"
"Practice smiling and walking with your head up. Be confident that you have something to offer. Like who you are and others will notice."
"I don't think it'll be as easy as that but I'll try."
The following morning Adam was relaxing in the lab reading a book. He had splept poorly and was up early due to having the same dream about Windy cheating on him. He couldn't shake the feeling that Windy was avoiding his calls. He closed his book in disgust, knowing he wasn't paying attention to what he was reading.
He got up to put the book away, when his parents came into the lab. They obviously didn't know anyone was in there as they could barely keep their hands off each other. Walking past them, Adam said "Why don't you get a room?"
Giggling a little Jean mumbled "I thought we were in a room."
"I think he meant our bedroom," Peter stated the obvious, chuckling a little at Adam's discomfort.
"Seriously though," Jean said stepping back from Peter "I thought we were going to talk."
"We are," Peter smiled pulling her close again "I'm just distracted."
"Maybe we should go to our room so we can take care of that distraction."
"That's a thought but Elliot is watching cartoons in our room. So I guess I'd better behave."
"Yeah I guess you should."
"So what did you want to talk about?" Peter asked.
"Well," Jean started then stopped. She hesitated to suggest having another child, but she had to know. "I was thinking that with Adam going to college soon we would have room for another child..."
"A baby? You really want another baby? I thought we agreed 5 kids, 6 if you count Windy was enough. What about our plans to travel?" Peter had been looking forward to the time when he and Jean would be alone, without the worry of raising children. Especially since he had been so young when he started his family coupled with the unexpected side effect from the cancer treatment he received his biological clock was reset, so he was barely older than his own children. He still felt older mentally but physically he had the energy and stamina of someone much younger.
"I know we discussed traveling and we still can but..." Jean stopped lifting her eyes, pleading with Peter to reconsider. "Won't you even think about it?"
"What is there to think about? No, my answer's no."
"I don't understand. Why not? We're still young enough."
"It's not that. I was looking forward to enjoying time together. Just the two of us."
"We can still have that. Please won't you consider it, for me?"
Peter wasn't ready to drop his plans for the future. He felt like he was being pressured to give in just to make Jean happy but what about his needs? He didn't want to have another child. However looking at Jean and the sadness in her eyes he didn't have the heart to tell her no. "I'll think about it."
The twins were upstairs in the middle of another heated argument.
"Why didn't you tell me Elias called?"
Shrugging Corina replied "I'm not your answering service. Besides he'll call back. What's the big deal?"
"What's the big deal? I could have met up with him hours ago. Now I'll be lucky to get an hour before I have to be home again."
"It's not my fault you left your cell phone lying around and missed his call."
"But you answered it," Doloris said her frustration rising. Why couldn't she have simply told her? "You're so inconsiderate!"
"Me? What about you? You're impossible, always demanding special treatment."
"I don't. If one of your boyfriends had called I would have told you. It's the considerate thing to do. You used to be nice, what happened to you?"
"Things change. Get used to it. I'm not the 'good girl' anymore."
"You can say that again. You must be taking lessons from Vallari."
"I'm nothing like that woman," Corina said wanting to make her sister eat those words. Just because she wanted a little fun didn't mean she was evil. Neither did forgetting to tell Doloris about Elias' phone call made her bad. "You better get a move on or you won't even have an hour with your lover."
"I'm so mad I could scream," Doloris yelled as she ran to her room to change. She hated losing an argument even worse than not finishing one. But she didn't want to waste anymore time on her idiot sister than she had already.
Elias was waiting for Doloris outside the book store. The store was closing and Elias knew that this date was more because he wanted to see Doloris than anything else.
"I'm sorry I'm late," Doloris said as she ran up. "My stupid sister didn't tell me you called."
"It's ok, you're here now."
"It's not ok. I've been waiting for your call all day and when it comes I miss it."
"I thought you said it was your sister's fault."
"It is. She knew I was waiting for your call."
"Why? Did you tell her you waiting for my call?"
"Well, no. But she should've known. I'd have told her if one of her 'boyfriends' called. It's the least she could have done."
Elias could tell she was winding herself up again when he said "As much as I would love to here all about how awful your sister is. That isn't why I wanted to see you."
"Oh? Then why?"
"Well I've been dreaming of doing this," Elias pulled Doloris close and brought his lips to hers and kissed her softly.
"Mmm this is better than talking about Corina."
"I thought so," Elias chuckled.
"I'm going to miss this when you graduate,"
"Who says we have to stop?" Elias asked "Your parents know we're dating. Will they make us stop, just because I'll be eighteen?"
"They haven't said anything and I haven't asked."
"Then we'll continue as we are until someone says otherwise."
Elias smiled as he once again brought her close "But right now all I want to do is kiss your luscious lips."
"Look at the time," Doloris said as she realized it was past curfew. "I have to go."
"One more kiss before you go?" Elias asked hopefully.
"One more."
They parted, each going a different direction. Doloris was almost to where she had left her car when a patrol car pulled up beside her.
"Stop right there young lady," a voice commanded. The police officer got out of her squad car shining a bright light at Doloris. "Do you have any idea how late it is?"
"Yes Ma'am," Doloris answered politely "I was on my way home. My car's right over there," she waved towards the car parked in the corner.
"Well it's your lucky night. You get a free ride home and," the officer said enjoying her own joke "you get to enjoy my company."
Inwardly Doloris groaned as she slumped in the passenger seat beside the officer. Would she ever shut up? They arrived at her house and thanks to the officers call, Peter was up to meet them.
"Thank you officer for bringing my daughter home."
"Just doing my job," the officer stated "Here is the impound ticket. You'll need that to retrieve her car. Good night sir."
Peter glanced at the impound ticket "$500, $200 for towing and $300 for storage fees. This is coming out of your allowance young lady."
"I'll never get that paid off. My allowance isn't big enough."
"Then get a job," Peter stated.
"A job! That'll take too much of my time. I already don't have enough thanks to school and homework."
"Welcome to the real world. But you'll have plenty of time now that your grounded for the next two weeks."
"That's not fair."
"Four weeks. Want to try for six?"
"Dad how was your trip to the future?" Adam asked early the next morning.
"Short. Emit is still concerned with fluctuations in the timeline. So we didn't stay long."
"Too bad, I know mom would have enjoyed exploring."
"Yeah, maybe next time. She did get to meet Emit though and that was what she wanted."
"Good, Emits' a pretty good guy."
"He's a good friend. But it seems to me that there's something bothering him though. I wish I knew what, so that I could help him."
"I'd like a chance to repay him for helping us too."
"I hope that whatever is wrong isn't related to having helped me."
"I never thought of that. I sure hope not. Hopefully we can help if he asks. Do you think we should go to the future and find out?" Adam asked concerned.
"No I'm going to trust he knows what to do. Also I think he confided in Jean and if so, he must think she's the one who can help."
Adam looked at his Dad, wondering if this was truly the best course of action to take. Shrugging he decided to accept that there was nothing he could do for now. He decided to work out on the treadmill as a way to work through his frustrations.
Brian had a different set of frustrations to work through. He still hadn't figured out why he couldn't get a date. So he poured his heart out through his music. He loved playing the cello more than the guitar and spent more time practicing it than anything else.
He was seriously considering making his imaginary friend real, at least he would always have his best friend. But he couldn't help but wonder if Pat would be like Windy and that thought kept him from following through. He wouldn't want to regret that decision once it was made.
Peter got dressed and went outside to play tag with Elliot. Elliot was bouncing off the walls, he was so full of energy. It had snowed for days and he was tired of being indoors. When Peter went outside he glanced up and noticed Vallari in her front yard. She was staring intently at Elliot in a way that set Peter's teeth on edge.
Peter wondered what she was up to and why she was watching his son. He wanted to believe that with her advancing age that the threat to his family would diminish but so far it had only intensified. He could feel the hate emanating from her and every ounce was focused on him and his family.
"Hey Dad you can't catch me," Elliot yelled running around the side of the house.
"Ready or not, here I come," Peter yelled back giving chase.
While Adam exercised, Doloris gathered up the laundry to wash. Feeling out of sorts, Doloris found Adam exercising irritating while she slaved away doing laundry. Why couldn't he help? Why did she have to do everything? After she loaded the washing machine, she glared at Adam's back.
Seeing that glare in the mirror, Adam quit running and confronted Doloris. "What's the look for?"
"Because your a lazy, good for nothing brother who doesn't do anything."
"Hey I do stuff to help out all the time."
"Like what? Come on tell me. If you do so much you should be able to tell me," Doloris challenged.
"I don't have to prove anything to you," Adam said refusing to rise to the bait.
"That's because you can't."
"No it's because I don't want to. Besides it's about time you did something around the house anyway."
"I do more than you," Doloris said feeling put upon and irritated because Elias hadn't called to ask her out.
"You only did the laundry because you don't have anything else to do. I bet Elias is tired of arguing with you and decided to stay away for awhile."
Doloris' eyes narrowed and she restrained herself from scratching Adam's eyes out, saying instead "At least my boyfriend isn't an evil clone of Vallari. Have you heard from Windy lately?"
"She's not a ... just leave her out of this," Adam said stumbling over his words.
"She hasn't called has she? Maybe she found someone else and no longer needs you," Doloris continued knowing she was deliberately hurting her brother. She didn't care, he deserved it after what he said about Elias.
Adam balled his hands into fists and walked towards the bathroom to shower. Slamming the door shut Adam let himself digest what Doloris said. Could she be right? It had been several days since Windy called. Could she have met someone else?
Corina had left the house early to meet up with Dakota. She was feeling pretty good with her juggling skills and so far neither of her boyfriends had made a fuss or demanded she to choose between them. She wondered briefly why Dakota wanted to meet in this far off park. It was pretty but she hoped that by the time she got there she wouldn't be frozen to death.
Upon seeing Dakota waiting for her, Corina quickened her pace and gave him a hug.
It's good to see you," Dakota said happy that she had been willing to meet him. He felt lucky to be able to call her his girlfriend, even if it meant sharing her with someone else. He didn't think he would be able to get anyone else.
"Hi Dakota," Corina said taking his hands in hers "Why'd you want to meet here? I thought we were going to the movies."
"Well um I," Dakota stuttered "Chase told me if I was going to take you out I couldn't take you anywhere that people could see."
"What, why?" Corina asked laughing.
"He said he had a reputation to maintain and he didn't want people to think you would date someone who looked like me."
"Chase really shouldn't talk, he's not much to look at either," Corina said laughing harder.
Smiling sadly, Dakota hung his head "So you think I'm ugly too."
Seeing how sad and dejected Dakota looked, Corina took her hands and gently lifted his chin and gave him a kiss. "Now would I do that if I thought you were ugly?"
Meanwhile Adam was getting ready to go out with Brian to the movies.
"Dad don't wait up for us. We're going to the late movie, then we'll come straight home."
"Ok just call if something happens and you'll be later."
"Sure Dad. Thanks for trusting us out past curfew."
"No problem. Have you decided on a college yet?"
Groaning inwardly Adam replied "Not yet."
"Your running out of time. I don't want to push_"
"Then don't," Adam said cutting him off. "Sorry but it's my decision."
"Yes it is. I didn't mean to imply it wasn't," Peter said then added "I hope you're not stalling for Windy to make a decision."
"What if I am? There's nothing wrong with wanting to go to the same college as your girlfriend," Adam stalked off lost in his thoughts. The conversation he had with Doloris earlier that day had left him filled with doubts and he hadn't been able to get a hold of Windy all day either.
Peter kept his promise to take Jean into the future to meet Emit. It had to a be a quick trip, just long enough for the two to meet and talk. Upon stepping out of the portal, Jean was astonished by all the things she saw and wished they could stay longer to explore it all.
Peter guided her to the kitchen, where he planned to introduce Jean to his good friend Emit.
"Hey Peter long time no see," Emit warmly greeted Peter "Who's this?" Emit asked even though he already knew the answer.
"Emit this is my wife, Jean."
"Hi Emit. I've wanted to meet you ever since Peter told me what you did for him," Jean gushed in awe of the time traveler. She wasn't sure what she expected but it wasn't this young man with wild blue hair. There was something familiar about him, she just couldn't put her finger on it.
"It's nice to finally meet you too, Jean," Emit smiled "I hope you enjoy your time in Oasis Landing."
"Oh I will but according to Peter, we can't stay long. Something about the time line being in flux and we might mess it up by being here too long. To be honest I didn't understand it."
"Peter is correct. You never know what one thing might change the whole fabric of time."
"Oh I'll try not to do anything to cause problems. But I so wanted to thank you in person for helping Peter."
"You're very welcome. This whole timeline depended upon Peter being well and healthy. I only did my job.
"Was that all there was to it? Just doing your job," sighing heavily, Jean looked down at her plate. Somehow she imagined that Emit had gone out of his way to save Peter's life. Knowing it had only been to correct the timeline, was somehow disappointing.
Emit stood when Jean got up to bring the dishes to the counter. He followed her, wanting desperately to explain that it was much more than just his job. It had been a matter of life and death, his very existence was in jeopardy and still was. He had changed his name so that no one would be able to trace his family line back to the beginning. He thought it was the safest course to take, knowing that every generation of his family line throughout history would be in jeopardy if someone wanted to take control of time travel. Correcting the time line had never been so personal before as he had been responsible for saving the very founder of his own lineage. Could he trust Jean to keep his secret? Would she help him correct his error?
"Jean I know you are disappointed by the idea of it only being my job. I need it to appear to be only that to protect the people I care about."
"I don't understand. Are you telling me that you saved Peter because of personal reasons?"
"Yes I believe I am. Come over hear away from the crowd so that we can talk. I need your help before everything I've tried to protect will be lost forever."
Emit went on to explain how he was a descendant of Peters and he may have inadvertently put his existence in jeopardy by warning Adam about Windy. He had known the sad history of Adam's life with Windy and it was worse than that of Vallari and Peter. He had wanted to protect Adam from that fate. But by doing so, he failed to realize that he was potentially wiping himself out as he descended from both Windy and Adam. Now he was facing the worst timeline paradox he had ever encountered. If Windy and Adam do not have children, time travel would not be discovered and Peter would not be saved because he would not be around to bring him into the future.
"Oh no you can't allow this to happen. Peter would have died without your intervention. I can't bear the thought of losing him again. What can I do to help?"
"Then don't hinder Adam from pursuing Windy. I know it will be difficult. He deserves better but she may have changed from her experiences in Military school. In the previous timeline she hadn't been sent away, so there may be hope that things will be different."
"I'll do whatever has be done and I'll be there for Adam when he needs me. Is there a particular child that they need to have to insure your existence?"
"They only had one child in the previous time line, a boy."
"So after that they could divorce if things got bad between them?"
"Yes and please Jean don't tell Peter I'm his descendant. I broke my one rule of time travel, to never get involved with family. But the day I met Peter my time portal malfunctioned and I landed in his front yard. I knew I shouldn't have gotten involved but I liked Peter and well time travel can be a lonely job at times." Emit glanced at his watch "Excuse me but I have an appointment I need to get to. It was nice meeting you Jean."
Jean watched Emit walk briskly away. Then went to find Peter and located him watching someone playing a video game. Jean smiled faintly seeing how engrossed Peter was in watching the game.
"Honey are you having fun?" she asked.
"Huh what?" Peter said dragging his attention away from the game.
"I asked if you were having fun," Jean repeated.
"This game is intense. Did you have a good time with Emit?" Peter asked, the game completely forgotten.
"Yeah, it was ok," she shrugged "He seemed distracted."
"He probably had things to do. I'd imagine keeping the timeline straight is a consuming job." Peter yawned "I'm tired. Are you ready to call it a night?"
Jean nodded and followed Peter to a room where they could sleep for the night.
"Just wait until you try these dream pods, Jean," Peter enthused "I wish we had one of these at home."
Laying down Jean turned to Peter and asked "What do I do?"
"It's easy," Peter explained as he brought up the menu.
"Can we try this one?" Jean asked "Sharing dreams is an interesting concept."
"I haven't tried it. I'm game if you are."
They were soon fast asleep, enjoying the same dream.
The next day once they arrived at home, Peter and Jean snuggled together on the couch.
"So was your trip to the future all you imagined it would be?"
"Not really. I wish we could have stayed longer."
"So do I but Emit suggested we wait awhile before we make any extended visits to the future."
"He's worried about repercussions in the timeline," Jean said.
"I wonder what has him so concerned."
"What do you mean?" Jean asked.
"Nothing really, it's just that he seems familiar."
Jean felt bad that she couldn't tell Peter that Emit was his descendant, through Adam and Windy. Emits' entire existence was at risk because of his warning he gave to Adam. She didn't know how she could help Emit, when she disliked Windy so much. It hurt her to know that she was participating in the unhappiness of one of her children. She was supposed to protect them not hurt them. What was she going to do? She couldn't tell Peter because she promise Emit but he was already suspecting, so she needed to distract him somehow.
"What are you thinking about?" Peter asked.
"Oh how much I love and admire you," Jean said leaning in to kiss Peter; which effectively diverted Peter's attention.
Jean felt guilty that she had to keep this secret from Peter. As much as she disliked Windy she would do what was necessary to help Emit. It was the least she could do to help repay him for what he did for Peter.
