“And you came here. This is your time?”
“Y-Y-Yeah,” Damien stumbled. “Don’t you remember?”
“Remember?” Celine questioned, her brow furrowing in confusion.
“Yeah. You remember us, right?” Michael inquired.
“Of course, I do!” Celine answered. “You are responsible for liberating me from my marriage to Marcus. And, of course, allowing me to find true happiness with Gray. How could I forget you?”
“Is that all you remember about us?” Damien probed.
Celine pondered a moment. “I recall that you are a terrible dancer at the waltz, Damien Carlyle.” She grinned, sticking her tongue out at him.
Damien’s eyes went wide, and he glanced at Michael. Michael swallowed hard. “Celine, do you have any more recent memories of us?”
“No?” Celine responded in a questioning manner.
“Do you recall using the name Josie at any point?” Damien inquired.
“Josie? No. I have never used that name.”
Gray appeared across the room. He hurried toward them. “Michael and Damien Carlyle! What a surprise!”
“Yes,” Celine agreed. “They have traveled here using the time portal I opened the night I left Marcus. I had no idea they were traveling here. But we are so glad you did! I hope you’ll stay with us. Oh, we should phone Alexander. He’d love to see you if he can get a flight from London before you leave.”
“London? Stay?” Damien questioned, his mind whirling. “I… I… I…” Damien stammered, scratching his head as he searched for an answer. The room began to spin, and he found it difficult to concentrate. The world began to melt away, and he slid to the floor.
“Damien!” Celine shouted as Michael reached for him, grabbing him before he hit the floor. “He’s passed out! Quickly, Gray, help Michael take him to one of the bedrooms upstairs.”
Gray grabbed Damien’s arm, swinging it over his shoulder as Michael did the same. Together they carried him up the stairs, laying him on the bed in one of the rooms. Celine took his hand in hers, perching on the edge of the bed.
“Damien? Damien,” she whispered to him. Within moments, he groaned, moving his head back and forth. His eyes fluttered open, and he glanced around. Celine smiled at him.
“Oh, Celine. Whew! I had the worst dream. It was so weird,” he muttered.
“There, there, it’s over now. Just rest,” Celine answered.
Damien’s eyes went wide, and he scooted up the bed, sitting straighter. “No. No! You’re still British Celine. This can’t be!”
“British Celine?” Celine asked, her brow creasing.
“He means your accent.”
“I’ve had my accent for several years. My French accent waned years after marrying Marcus. I’m afraid this one never did, despite the time I’ve spent with Gray.”
Gray smiled at her, grabbing her hand. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Right,” Damien answered, swallowing hard.
“Are you quite sure you’re all right?” Celine asked.
“Ah, yep. Sorry, time traveling can be…”
“Taxing, I realize,” Celine responded. “And, without a doubt, you’ll stay with us tonight. After your episode, I should prefer it. Michael, we’ll have the room next door made up for you if that’s suitable.”
“Definitely, and thanks,” Michael answered.
“I’ll see to it now,” Celine replied. “Is there anything else you may need?”
“Change of clothes, maybe?” Michael asked. “Sorry for the inconvenience, we came straight here and…”
“Think nothing of it. I’ll drop some things off as soon as I’ve seen to the room.”
“That should be it,” Michael answered. “Then I think just a good night’s sleep is in order.”
Celine smiled at them both. “I can imagine!” She and Gray exited the room, pulling the door shut behind them.
Damien slouched back on the bed, covering his face in his hands. “I can’t believe this,” he said, pulling his hands away from his face.
“Me either,” Michael responded, shaking his head, his hands on his hips.
“She doesn’t know us other than our 1812 experience! Nothing is fixed, nothing is the same!”
“Nope. It’s a completely different history.”
“No kidding,” Damien responded. “I expected to return home and have everything back to normal. She’s even still got that weird accent!”
“I wouldn’t care about the accent if only she’d have known us. I mean, she was never Josie! She never met us, she’s not your cousin.”
“No. And that’s super concerning. I assumed we’d come back, she’d be back to our Celine because she became Josie, met us, sent us back to help her and the timeline would be corrected.”
“Yeah, I figured the same. I was blown away when she didn’t.”
“I guess those twenty-six years made so much of a difference she never asked to be Josie?” Damien pondered aloud.
“Or the adjudicator thing said no this time?” Michael conjectured.
There was a knock at the door. Celine poked her head inside. “Just me. Here are night clothes and a change of clothes. Is there anything else? Perhaps something to eat?”
“No, no, we’re all good,” Michael responded. “Just going to change and turn in.”
“Well, your bedroom, as I mentioned, is right next door. Either exit to the hall and turn right to the next door or pass through the bathroom there.” She smiled at them. “Good night to you both, sleep well. I’ll see you in the morning. I hope you feel better, Damien.”
“Thanks, good night, Celine,” Damien answered.
Michael nodded. “Good night,” he said. Celine nodded, leaving the room and pulling the door shut.
“Ugh,” Damien groaned. “What are we supposed to do now? We obviously don’t live here. Do we just go home and try to pick up whatever lives we’re supposed to have? Or do we stay here? Or?”
“I don’t know, man, I don’t know,” Michael responded.
Present day, Bucksville, Original Timeline
Marcus stirred the concoction, peering at it through the clear beaker. He poured it into two glasses set in front of him. Handing one to Celine, he said, “Here you are, darling. I will warn you, it is a bit vile tasting.
Celine accepted the glass. “Wait,” Gray interjected. “What’s that for?”
“To prepare our bodies to jump to Alterra. This should prevent most of the adverse effects. Cheers, Celine.” He clinked his glass against Celine’s, downing his. “Satisfied? I would not poison
