4.28 Future Time Traveler

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"I'm going to be a time traveler" Gabriel announced to the quads. As expected his words fell flat as the quads continued with whatever they were doing. Crest fallen Gabriel slumped from the room. He should have known better. The quads were useless. He had to tell someone the news.

He had been so excited. With no one to share the discovery that he'd be a time traveler when he grew up was a little depressing. He cheered up some upon seeing Brie and Jordyn waiting for him in his room. "Where is Harmony" he asked "looking around for the older girl.

"In the pool" Jordyn announced "she wants to be on the swim team this year. She practically lives in the pool now."

Gabriel grinned glad the bothersome teenager would be occupied with other things. "How would you guys like to be my travel companions?"

"Oh" Brie clapped her hands in excitement "where are we going?"

"To the park or the beach" Jordyn cried "please say we're going to the beach."

"No" he rolled his eyes at her suggestions "I mean time travel."

"There's no such thing" Jordyn sniffed from her superior seven years.

"I think it sounds like fun" Brie enthused.

"You would" Jordyn looked sternly at the younger girl "you think everything Gabriel does is wonderful."

"I don't" the girl objected.

Before the girls argument could attract unwanted parental attention Gabriel interrupted them. "Jordyn's right. We can't time travel yet. We will in the future cuz I'm going to invent it." He could see the girls eyes look up to him as he climbed on top of his toy box. He could tell they were both impressed with his announcement. They both might be older than him but they followed him wherever he went.

Tapping her finger on her mouth Jordyn seemed to come to a decision. "If you're going to become a time traveler you should start building up your tolerance to tight confined spaces."

He gave her a skeptical look before agreeing "what do you mean?" He jumped down from the toy box interested despite himself.

"Well daddy and I just watched The Time Machine and you never know where you'll wind up when  your traveling through time. So" she looked around the room "we could lock you in the closet or..."

"The toy box" Brie pointed "his closet is too big and has a light. We want it to be dark and scary."

"I'm not scared" Gabriel told the girls "the toy box is full of stuff."

"Brie help me empty it" Jordyn instructed the girl. When they were done the toys lay scattered on the floor "ok get in." Jordyn instructed the boy.

Walking towards the now empty toy box with a dubious expression he asked "how are you going to make sure I don't get out?"

"We'll put something heavy on top of it" Jordyn told him looking around the room for something they could use.

He gave her a confident grin sure that whatever she could put on top wouldn't stop him from getting out. "How long are you going to leave me in here?" he asked as he stepped inside.

"That all depends upon you" Jordyn said "how long do you think it'll take you to get out?"

"Not long" he said confidently allowing Brie to close the lid over his head.

"Help me pile all these books on top of the lid" Jordyn ordered the girl.

When they were done Brie turned to her cousin "he won't get out of there will he?"

"Not for a while" Jordyn nodded with satisfaction "come on let's go swimming."

***

He heard the girls muffled laughter. Then nothing. Silence. He tried to push the lid up. It wouldn't budge. It was dark and uncomfortable. The thought of the girls waiting for him to beg to be let out kept him from crying out. He wouldn't be accused of being a baby.

How long had it been? He swiped at his eyes frowning as his fingers came away wet He wasn't crying. It was the dust. Dust from all the toys that had been in here before him. Yeah he wasn't crying.

He tried again. Pushing with all his might to lift the lid. His arms ached from the effort. He kicked out with his feet to no avail. It had been hours. He was sure of it. "Let me out" he screamed kicking at the lid of the toy box.

Growing tired he fell asleep in the uncomfortable box an annoying lego poking him in the side.

***

"Where's Gabriel?" Andrew asked watching the girls splashing around inside the pool.

"Didn't he come outside with the girls?" Charlie asked scanning the yard.

"I'll go check on him" Andrew volunteered "why don't you help your dad with the barbecue?"

"He's not my dad" Charlie snapped walking towards Zayne and Millie setting up the food.

Shaking his head Andrew watched him go. He knew better then to refer to Zayne as Charlie's dad. He wasn't even though he looked exactly like him. He knew how sensitive Charlie was about it too. He didn't want anyone replacing his dad not even the same guy from another dimension.

Going inside the house Andrew smiled. He liked this unusual house. It was large yet allowed for a large yard where the kids could play. It was built on stilts that made him feel like he was living in a tree house. It was an experimental design by an architect genius who had died before he had the chance to enjoy his design. Andrew and Charlie had gotten a bargain when the house came on the market. Other than them no one else seemed to like the idea of living in the air. Maybe it was the lack of foundation that turned everyone off from the house. Andrew liked it.

He felt safe. Maybe it was a hold over from his time in the future. No mutants could get inside from the ground. They had fire escapes in case of emergencies otherwise they were pretty secure. Walking down the hall he wondered what his son had found so entertaining that he'd prefer to be inside instead of playing with his friends.

"Gabe" Andrew called coming into his son's room. Toys were scattered every where and books were piled on top of the toy box.

Pausing in the doorway dismayed at the mess "Gabe" he called again. He was about to leave when he thought he heard a muffled plea for help "Gabriel are you in here?"

"Let me out" Gabriel cried from inside the toy box "please let me out."

Walking towards the toy box Andrew knocked the books to the floor. Lifting the lid he stared down at his small son "what on earth are you doing in there?"

Blinking up at his dad Gabriel sat up "practicing."

"Practicing for what?" Andrew asked helping the boy out.

Shrugging Gabriel crossed his arms refusing to look at his dad "dunno" he mumbled.

Andrew sat back on his heels considering his son "So you just locked yourself up in your toy box." Gabriel nodded "all by yourself." Another nod "I see" he covered his mouth with his hand "you put all these books on top so you couldn't get out."

"Ye..." Gabriel looked up at him knowing he'd been caught "if I'm going to be a time traveler I need to get used to cramped uncomfortable places."

"Who says?" Andrew asked.

"Jor...dyn" he replied belatedly "please don't be mad. She was only trying to help."

"What gave you the idea you'd be a time traveler?" Andrew asked hoping his anxiety wasn't showing in his voice.

"Well I ah" he looked to the floor "I heard you and dad talking about it." He looked up "it sounds really cool and I know I'd be really good at it."

Andrew couldn't help but smile. He definitely had the courage and the gumption to be a time traveler. "Son you have plenty of time to decide what you'll be when you grow up. You may not want to be a time traveler when you grow up."

"You said one of us has to be one" Gabriel protested "why not me? I'm the oldest. It has be me."

"The decision will be mine and your dad's which we won't decide until you're older."

"But dad that's not fair" Gabriel whined "it takes too long to get older."

If only that were true Andrew thought escorting his son from the room "you'll just have to wait. For now it's time to eat."

"I'm not..." his stomach growled loudly making his next words a lie "fine" he groaned going down the stairs.

***

"It's not funny" Andrew protested as Charlie tried to contain his laughter. His lips quivered as he put his arm around Andrew as he sat on the edge of the bed. "I know you don't want to consider the future possibility...."

"It's a possibility" Andrew frowned "and no I don't like thinking about it. It terrifies me."

"They'll be travelling to the past" Charlie pointed out "it's not like they'll be facing mutants like we did."

Nodding Andrew knew Charlie was trying to pacify him but it wasn't helping. He had so many thoughts and what if scenarios running around his head. One mistake and everything they knew could be gone.

"You're over thinking this," Charlie said gently pulling him close "I know you're worried. All the what ifs will drive you crazy."

"Doesn't it scare you?" Andrew asked "we're being asked to send one of our children into the unknown. Anything could happen." His voice was rising a sure sign of his anxiety level.

"They won't be alone" Charlie reasoned "Quinn will be guiding them."

"She won't be there all the time" Andrew pointed out "she can't be."

"You're right" Charlie sighed wishing there was something he could say or do to alleviate his husband's concerns. "She can't be watching all the time that's true. She did help us survive. She got us home. That has to mean something."

Andrew nodded it made sense. If only it didn't involve his kids. He couldn't imagine choosing one of them to send into the past where they might get hurt or die. He'd never be able to forgive himself if something happened to them.

Charlie watched the flitting emotions pass over Andrew's face. He knew this was difficult and would become more difficult as the years went by and the kids got older. "Honey lets enjoy the time we have. Let's not worry about what the future will bring."

"What about the decision we have to make?" Andrew protested "don't we owe it to the kids to make the best possible choice we can?"

"Of course we do" Charlie kissed his cheek "but they're kids. They're going to make little kid mistakes."

"Like locking themselves inside toy boxes?" Andrew laughed.

Lips quivering Charlie nodded "among other things. They need to be kids."

"I wish we didn't have this hanging over our heads" Andrew bemoaned as he met Charlie's mouth  in an eager kiss "You're trying to distract me" he said as Charlie's finger tips slipped between the waist of his pajama bottoms.

"Is it working?" Charlie asked kissing along Andrew's sensitive skin along his neck to his chest gently pushing him backwards on the bed.

Heart racing Andrew groaned as Charlie's hands sought out places he knew would drive him wild. "I can stop" Charlie murmured as he laid a trail of kisses down Andrew's stomach. Pausing he looked up with a devilish grin "if  you want me to."

In response Andrew entwined his fingers in Charlie's hair pressing down.

"I didn't think you would" Charlie said losing himself in pleasing his husband.

***

Slipping out of bed Gabriel padded towards his bedroom door. He walked silently down the hall past his sibling's bedroom doors. He stopped listening at his parents door. They were awake he could tell. They were making groaning grunting sounds like they were wrestling. His hand hovered on the door handle. He knew he should knock first. If he did then they'd stop and he wouldn't find out what they were doing.

Any time traveler needed to be aware of his surroundings. He wasn't supposed to disturb or change history. He should practice his observation skills. What better way to do that then to sneak into his parents bedroom? His hand pulled the handle. The door opened a crack. Gabriel hesitated.

How many times had he been told to knock first before entering? The look of disappointment on his parents faces when he forgot. He really didn't want another lecture at least not today. One a day was all he could handle. He'd already had his quota.

Carefully he pulled the door shut hoping his parents hadn't heard the soft click as it closed He doubted they could over the noises they were making. He stood outside the bedroom door growing chilly as his bare feet soaked up the cold from the hard wood floor. Shivering he rubbed his hands along his arms.

He should go back to bed. He knew that but...he shivered again. He didn't want to be alone in the dark. He raised his hand knocking on the door. "Dad daddy. Can I come in?" he called.

He leaned his ear against the door listening. The interesting sounds ceased replaced with hushed whispers.

***

"I thought you said they were asleep?" Andrew said reaching for his pajama bottoms.

"I thought they were" Charlie mumbled scrambling to pull his pajamas on "maybe if we stay really quiet he'll think we're asleep."

"I love you" Andrew sighed pushing his husband away "kids aren't known for their patience."

Groaning in frustration Charlie leaned back on the headboard "what I wouldn't give for one uninterrupted moment."

"We had one of those" Andrew smiled at him "that's how we got the quads."

Grunting Charlie closed his eyes "don't remind me."

Shaking his head Andrew reached for his husbands hand "you're a great father. One of the best."

Bringing Andrew's hand to his lips Charlie kissed his palm "I think it's time we ask your parents if they'd mind babysitting. So we can have some alone time."

Before Andrew could respond another knock resounded on the door. "Dad" their son's voice carried to them a distinct whine in it "can I come in?"

Rolling his eyes Andrew said "come in."

The door opened without hesitation "I can't sleep." Gabriel complained crawling into his parents bed "can I sleep with you?"

"What's wrong with your bed?" Charlie asked ignoring the pleading look from both his husband and son.

"It's not as nice as this one" Gabriel said cuddling close to Andrew "this one is soft and warm." He closed his eyes with a faint smile on his lips.

"Son you can't sleep in here" Charlie persisted moving to get the boy.

"Don't" Andrew pleaded "please" he looked down into his son's peaceful face "just this once."

Sighing Charlie watched his boys cuddling close together "he needs to sleep in his own room" Charlie persisted.

Andrew looked up. He could see the softness in Charlie's eyes as he looked down at their son "just this once" he requested "he won't be little forever." He reached a hand out to brush his husbands hair from his eyes "these moments won't come around as often as we'd like once Gabriel gets too old to need us."

"I'll always need you daddy" Gabriel's tired voice said as he snuggled deeper into the bed finding a comfortable position between his parents "I love you."

Realizing his hopes that he'd be able to resume what they had been enjoying earlier Charlie settled in beside his son "we love you too."

Reaching for the light Charlie was startled by his son's next question "what were you and daddy doing before I came? You were making all kinds of noises."

Charlie shared a glance with Andrew who had turned scarlet "I was showing daddy how much I love him."

"Oh" Gabriel's tone sounded confused if not a little curious "mushy stuff?"

"All kinds of mushy stuff" Charlie said with a suppressed chuckle.

"I thought it was more fun than that" Gabriel said "at least it sounded like it was fun."

"You'll understand when you get older just how much fun mushy stuff is" Charlie said settling into his pillow.

"If you say so" Gabriel said sounding unconvinced.