4.16 Feelings

They walked a short distance away from the group. Charlie whispered in Andrew's ear "how far along are you?"

Squeezing Charlie's hand before dropping it to his side afraid Itchy would see them Andrew replied "about six weeks."

Nodding "that's what I figured too" Charlie leaned in close inhaling deeply.

Taking a step back "Charlie don't," Andrew's eyes darted around the darkening yard "they might see us."

"I don't care," Charlie hissed "I love you. You're my boyfriend. I'll show you affection regardless of their stupid rules."

"I love you too," Andrew leaned forward his head resting a moment on Charlie's chest. He jumped startled by the sudden clatter of the gate opening. He tried to pull away only to have Charlie pull him close and hold him fast. While his heart beat an irregular rhythm Charlie's remained calm and steady. Soothing to his frayed nerves.

"What's the matter with you two?" Emmaline demanded coming along side them.

Chuckling in relief Charlie released his death grip around Andrew. "I refuse to let them dictate how I treat my boyfriend. He's mine not their's."

"Charlie you're the one who said we need them to survive." Emmaline looked from her brother to Charlie sighing "are you jealous?"

"No," he grumbled staring stonily ahead past her irritated visage.

"You don't have to be," she insisted "Itchy doesn't like Andrew. He just wants to make a baby. Once he..."

"Oh is that all," Charlie drawled "that guy is not laying a hand on Andrew."

"So you are jealous," Emmaline teased despite the stormy look Charlie gave her "we have months before that becomes an issue." Her voice was light, teasing meant to diffuse the situation.

"This is no joking matter," Charlie growled.

"I know it's not," she hissed keeping her voice low "you have to understand how things are here." She jumped backwards as Charlie growled at her "I know you don't like it but it means their survival and ours if we are to stay here."

Andrew closed his eyes as fear gripped his heart. He had hoped to be home before the baby came. "Charlie" he said his lover's name unsure what he thought he could do "maybe she's right. Maybe we should just play along...."

"No," he said the word with a fierceness that caused both siblings to jump in surprise. "We're not staying here. We're going home."

"What if we can't?" Emmaline asked being the first one to recover from her shock. "We have to be realistic. There's a very real possibility that we're stuck here."

Charlie's mouth set in a stubborn line "I won't give up hope. We were sent here. There's every reason to believe it can reversed. We are going home."

"I hope you're right," she pulled him into a fierce hug "they're getting ready to lock down for the night. I'll buy you a few minutes to say goodnight." Turning to Andrew she ran her hands through his hair "you should wear it down more often."

"I love you too sis," he pulled her close. Once Andrew released her she slipped off towards the house. Turning to Charlie he said "she's right you know. We need to play by the rules until we figure out how to get home."

"I don't like it," he muttered allowing Andrew to pull him close.

"I know but it's only for a little while," Andrew soothed looking deep into Charlie's eyes.

Shivering in Andrew's arms Charlie muttered "just the thought of that guy touching you makes my blood boil." He leaned in close capturing Andrew's mouth pressing their bodies together.

Pulling apart Andrew smiled "so you are jealous," his voice light, teasing.

"Maybe a little," Charlie admitted. Taking a step back he sighed "we better go inside before Itchy comes looking for us."

***

Emmaline skidded to a halt as she came face to face with Itchy's glowering face. That wasn't his real name of course but Andrew's nickname was what stuck in her head. 

"Where's your brother?" he demanded.

"He'll be along shortly," she told him flashing her eyes at him "you and I can be alone for a while."

Pushing her away from him he scowled "if you were older I wouldn't hesitate. You're nothing but a 

child."

"Age is only a number. What difference does it make?" She stomped her foot emphasizing her words. If she were at home any number of guys would have jumped at the chance to sleep with her. What was wrong with this guy?

"Pregnancy for someone your age is almost always fatal," he told her pushing her aside

"Maybe for a girl born to this world it would be. I'm not from this time." She had said it several times before. They never believed her. It was good in a way because the thought of having a baby and raising it here was too awful to contemplate. She understood all too well Andrew's anxiety and Charlie's fixation on going home. Sighing she moved closer to him. Moving the way she had seen her mother do with her father a hundred times. She promised to give Charlie and Andrew time and that's what she was going to do. 

Shoving her away from him she landed hard on the floor. "I told you no," he shouted as his anger bubbled over.

"Maybe you should remember how this feels when my brother refuses you," she snapped as her own anger rose "you don't even like him."

"What is wrong with you people clouding a biological function with feelings and attraction?" he asked mystified.

"If feelings and attraction mean nothing than why forbid my brother and Charlie from being together?" she demanded.

"Girl come here" a female voice from behind them demanded sending shivers down her back. She knew she had been pushing the limits now she was going to pay for it. She turned to the red-head prepared to face whatever punishment she dealt out.

Instead of addressing the young girl the woman said to Itchy "go get the lovebirds." Itchy nodded a slight smirk of anticipation brightening his features.

Emmaline shivered facing the older girl "please don't" she bit her lip as the girl slapped her hard across the face.

"You have helped your brother for the last time. If you persist you will receive the same punishment Charlie will get."

"What punishment?" she cried watching as the leader uncoiled a long weathered whip. Eyes round with fear she gasped "you can't. They've done nothing wrong but love each other."

***

Itchy stood and watched the young couple holding each other. His stomach twisted in disgust. Love, attraction even jealousy were foreign things to him. They had no business in the struggle to survive. As soon as they learned that the better he thought.

They looked up at the same exact moment. Itchy laughed as their faced fell in shock. "You should have heeded our warning," Itchy said sternly "now it's time you face the consequences of your actions." Roughly he grabbed Charlie by the shirt pushing him ahead of him. Andrew rushed forward as Charlie fell to knees.

"Leave him be," Andrew shouted at the man "he's done nothing wrong."

"You poor deluded little fool," Itchy laughed "you've done everything wrong. There's no room for feelings. I thought your sister understood that. I was wrong. Now she get's to share in your punishment."

Gathering his feet beneath him Andrew charged screaming "keep your filthy hands off my sister."

Without thinking Itchy back handed Andrew sending him flying backwards. Eyes wide Itchy hurried to help Andrew up. "Don't you touch him," Charlie yelled pushing the mans hands away as he inspected Andrew's bruised face "are you alright?" he asked cupping Andrew's face tenderly in his hands.

"I think so," Andrew mumbled through a split swollen lip.

"The baby?" Charlie asked in concern "do you think it's ok?"

"I think so," Andrew nodded "I don't think I fell hard enough to hurt the baby."

Leaning down Charlie offered a hand to Andrew to help him up "we've got to get inside" an edge in his voice as the noises of the nocturnal creatures raised their voices in chorus.

Nodding Andrew took his hand accepting his help. Despite Andrew's efforts Charlie refused to release his hold on him as they walked towards the house. Andrew leaned into him drawing momentary strength and comfort from him.

"I've got you," Charlie murmured in his ear "no matter what they do to us always remember I love you."

"That's enough," Itchy growled pushing them apart as they entered the house.

Charlie came to an abrupt stop as he took in the scene that awaited him. The leader was snapping a long leather whip through the air. The two women were setting up some sort of restraints. He swallowed guessing what awaited him. He could feel Andrew leaning into him shaking as he too came to the same conclusion.

"Bring  him" the leader ordered snapping the whip once more through the air smiling in satisfaction.

Itchy forced his way between Charlie and Andrew forcing Charlie forward towards the restraints. Grabbing his arms he said harshly "come on lover boy time for your punishment."

"No" Andrew cried moving in front of Charlie as if to protect him "you can't do this. He hasn't done anything wrong."

"Stand aside" the leader ordered his voice hard and cold "if you weren't pregnant you'd be getting the same."

"Why?" Andrew cried as Itchy grabbed him pulling him away from Charlie as the women fastened him to the restraints.

"We warned you what would happen if you persisted down this course. Feelings are not tolerated. They are unnecessary distractions."

"Love is unnecessary but hate, jealousy and anger are essential?" Andrew asked "no wonder your world fell apart."

"Enough," the man shouted "stand aside or suffer the consequences."

"No I won't" Andrew struggled in Itchy's arms refusing to budge. Flinching as the whip bit through his skin along his left shoulder.

"Andy please," Charlie pleaded "think of the baby."

"I can't let them do this to you" he cried turning to Charlie twisting in his restraints "I love you..."

"I love you too baby," Charlie told him "now move out of the way." He watched the struggle in Andrew's face as he fought his desire to protect him over the desire to protect their unborn child won out "it's ok I understand." Charlie told him wishing he could ease the pain he knew Andrew was in.

Andrew felt a gentle tug on his hand. Looking down he found Emmaline by his side a bruise red and swollen on her cheek "what happened?" he demanded.

Tears flowed from her eyes as she buried her face in his shoulder "I tried to buy you time. It didn't work."

"They hit you," it was seldom anyone ever heard his voice rise in anger. The room fell silent as all eyes turned on him.

"I'm ok Andy" Emmaline assured him afraid he'd do something reckless.

"Emmie get him out of here," Charlie yelled at her urgently trying to protect him and his unborn child.

Caught off guard Emmanline was able to use that moment to pull him aside. As the whip cracked Andrew turned ready to run back to Charlie only to find Itchy blocking his path. Unable to do anything he cringed as the whip cracked the air around them and Charlie's muffled cries turned to screams of agony.

When the torture finally ended Andrew rushed forward ready to catch Charlie before he hit the floor. His back cut to ribbons Charlie tried to stand up only to fall back panting. "Take it easy," Andrew told time "I'll take care of you."

Emmaline rushed to get water to clean the wounds before they could become infected. While she was gone the leader stepped in front of Andrew "this is your final warning. Next time we'll kick you out and you can fend for yourselves out there with the mutants."

"I'd rather take my chances with them than stay here with you monsters," Andrew shouted holding Charlie in his arms "this is no way to live or raise children."

"That's your choice" the leader said stepping away.

Itchy followed the leader saying "you can't let them go, at least not the progenitor."

Shrugging the man looked back at the little group huddled together "you can go with them if you like." His voice was even despite the underlying anger "don't think I missed the broken lip."

Itchy hung his head knowing that he was getting off easy. It was still a capital offence to harm a progenitor. "It won't happen again," he muttered.

"I know it won't," the leader stared straight at him "either they conform to our rules or they have to 

leave."

Nodding Itchy moved away. He could feel his chances of ever having his own child slipping away from him. He watched the girl walk past him with disinfectant and salve. Maybe the girl was right and she could handle a pregnancy without ill effects. What did he have to lose?

Indira felt as if she were living inside a morgue. Her mother was barely keeping it together and her dad was still fighting with the idiots running Moonlight Falls to gain access to some worthless portal. She tried to concentrate on the only thing she could control her classes. Even that was becoming increasingly more difficult as the days lengthened into weeks then months. She could feel her agitation rising as she glanced up from her computer frowning as she found her young cousins watching her. "What do you want?" she snapped.

Looking at her like a couple of scared rabbits it was Connie who asked "how can you study when your brother and sister are gone? Don't you miss them?"

"Of course I do," Indira shouted at them "I just don't see the sense of wasting time when I could be 

doing something constructive."

"Maybe you could give mom a break from sitting with Aunt Drew," Michelle suggested.

"Why don't you?" she demanded "if it weren't for you none of this would be happening."

"We said we were sorry," Connie shouted at her.

"Sorry isn't good enough," Indira retorted "because of you they could be dead."

"I'm sorry," Michelle cried fleeing from the room crying.

"Take that back," Connie demanded watching her sister "It was my fault. I was the one that talked Shell into doing it."

"Then you should know better than to do something you have no idea how to reverse," Indira told her. She had no patience for stupid mistakes or people even if they were related. "This is all your fault," she repeated slamming shut her lap top and stomping from the room.

Taking refuge in Charlie's apartment she sat on the couch that some old lady must have thought was the height of fashion. Wiping angrily at the tears that persisted on falling despite her best efforts to stop them. 

"So the Ice Queen has feelings after all," Randy said coming up the stairs after her.

She glared at him having forgotten he was staying out here. "Despite popular opinions I do have feelings," she glared at him getting up to leave.

"Hold your horses Ice Queen," Randy said blocking her way "I just came up here to see if you wanted to talk."

"Why would I want to talk to you?" she tried to duck around him only to have him grab her arm preventing her from leaving.

"Everybody needs someone sometime," he quipped.

"Spouting stupid lines will get you no where," she growled.

"It's better than taking out my anger on two little girls like you did earlier," he informed her "you should apologize."

"Why should I?" she crossed her arms tossing her head in defiance "if it weren't for them my brother wouldn't be missing."

"So?" he questioned "it's not like you were on speaking terms with him."

"That's different," she mumbled holding her arms tight around herself.

"I don't get you," he flung his arms up in the air "you didn't want anything to do with our family when they were here. Now that they're not you act like you're falling apart without them." He turned to go back the way he had come.

"Don't go," she put a hand out to stop him. The entreaty in her voice and the genuine tears in her eyes had him stopping, turning towards her.

The next thing he realized she was in his arms sobbing, clinging to him like she were drowning. He gingerly wrapped his arms around her at first feeling awkward until it felt natural for him to be their holding her tight. The thought both alarmed and excited him. Distant memories of that faraway kiss filtered through his mind.

"You've always been here for me," she mumbled nuzzling his neck running her fingers lightly up his back.

"As of yet you haven't listened to me," he told her as she pressed her lips to his sensitive skin along his collar bone. Her touched ignited a fire within him that he didn't even know existed.

"I'm sorry" she said softly kissing along his jawline until she reached his lips brushing them lightly with her tongue.

"What do you think you're doing?" he asked feeling his reserves slipping as he filled his senses with her touch and smell.

"Want me to stop?" she asked kissing his soft lips and when he opened his mouth to respond to her question she slipped her tongue inside his mouth.

His hands gripped her small waist as their tongues fought each other. Briefly he told himself he should stop this, whatever this was, before it got out of hand but his defenses slipped powerless to stop her.

4.15 Separation Anxiety

Charlie leaned against the bars separating him from Andrew. He slipped his hand through smiling as he felt the warmth of Andrew's hand grasping it tightly. "What are we going to do?" Andrew asked glancing up with wide eyes that reminded Charlie of a deer caught in headlights.

"I don't know," he moved his head around surveying the room "I don't trust these people."

Nodding Andrew kissed the hand he was holding "neither do I." He kept is voice low afraid of being overheard. He hated being locked inside this iron cage. On display for everyone to see. He bit his lip as it began to tremble. He needed answers to the many questions in his head, answers he knew Charlie didn't have. Where were they? How did they get here? Could they go home? If they could go home, how could they prevent this future from ever happening? A part of him wanted to doubt everything Emmaline told them about time travel. How could his cousins send someone through time?

"I want to go home," the words escaped before he could stop them from forming. He flinched from the angry glare Charlie shot at him.

"Don't you think I want to go home too?" Charlie snapped at him. He regretted his harsh words as soon as they were uttered as he watched Andrew drop his hand cringing like a whipped puppy.
"I'm sorry," he said reaching through the bars to awkwardly pull Andrew into a hug "I shouldn't have taken my frustration out on you. I'm not mad at you." He kissed Andrew's forehead best he could from where he sat outside the cage.

"I know," Andrew mumbled resting his head on the bars wishing it were the comforting shoulder of his boyfriend "I didn't mean to imply it was your fault."

"I know you didn't baby" Charlie squeezed him as tight as the obstructing bars would allow "we'll figure it out. I promise I'll get you home."

Holding a hand to his still flat stomach Andrew nodded "I don't want to raise our child in this place."

Multiple emotions flitted across Charlies handsome face as a weight settled on his shoulders like a heavy cloak. They had been in this place a little over a week. Andrew was still in quarantine. As yet he showed no signs of infection which could only mean one thing. He was indeed pregnant. Pregnant with his child. Under any other circumstances he would have been ecstatic. "Neither do I," he ran his fingers through Andrew's hair.

A loud clatter interrupted them. Jerking his head up Charlie found himself looking into the hostile eyes of the man who had wanted to shoot Andrew the day they arrived here. "Step away from the bars," the man ordered rattling the bars again to emphasize his words.

Ignoring him Charlie turned back to Andrew pulling his face close to the bars. He pressed his lips best he could to Andrew's "I love you" he murmured before the man knocked Charlie away from the cell.

"That's enough Romeo," the man barked towering over Charlie as he struggled to his feet. "If he's a progenitor he's the property of the group not your sole possession."

Andrew gasped backing away from the bars out of easy reach of the man who kept a gun within easy reach. He heard Charlie cry out as the man back handed him across the face. Cringing by his bed he cried out "Charlie don't antagonize him."

Harsh bitter laughter greeted him "it's a good thing he's a progenitor. He's too weak for anything else."

"You leave him alone," Charlie shouted as the man took a step towards the cell door. Charlie stood spitting blood from his split lip onto the floor.

"You're in no position to make demands," the man sucker punched the younger man sending him moaning to the floor. Kicking him in the side, the man knelt beside him grabbing a handful of hair yanking Charlie's head back "you're lucky you got to him first otherwise you'd be last in line."

"Don't you touch him," Charlie shouted through clenched teeth.

"Don't worry," the man hissed harshly "he's of no interest to me in his current condition. Tens months from now it'll be a different story," he released Charlies hair letting his head drop. He stood up straight winked at Andrew before walking away.

"Charlie?" Andrew asked keeping his voice low. Cautiously he moved towards the bars close to where Charlie lay on his side. "Are you alright?" he asked reaching through the bars trying to touch the man he loved but he lay just out of reach.

Panting in pain Charlie grasped Andrew's hand closing the gap between them.

***

Sometime later Emmaline came inside dropping to Charlie's side she shook his shoulder. "You've got to get up," she told him "hurry before they come to get you."

Bleary eyed Charlie moaned lifting his head up. Dried blood crusted his mouth "what's happening?" he mumbled through swollen lips.

"The head honcho wants to go on a raid," she informed him her green eyes worried as she surveyed the damage to his face "he was looking for you."

Weakly he dragged himself to his feet leaning heavily on the bars. Holding his side hoping it would stem the tide of pain that wanted to engulf him. "Ok" he grunted taking a wobbly step forward "better not keep him waiting."

"You can't go," Andrew gripped his hand that held onto the bars "you're hurt."

"Baby I have to," Charlie gave him a lopsided grin "until we know what's happening or find a way home we need these people."

Visibly shaking Andrew looked away unable to watch his only love leave him behind. "I love you," he said almost to low to be heard. He knew they owed these people their lives. It didn't mean he liked it. He shivered thinking about Itchy and how eager he had been to blow his brains out. Even worse were his insinuations of them being together in the future. For that one reason he was glad he was inside this cage. Anything to keep the guy away from him. "Be careful" he said locking eyes with Charlie before dropping his hand.

"I will," Charlie said stepping closer to the cell. Following his example Andrew did the same. He let Charlie's strong arms wrap around him drawing him closer so they could kiss between the bars "I love you," Charlie said stepping back "somehow we're going to survive this. I promise I'll get you home."

Fear knotted Andrew's stomach as he realized the depth of that promise. He knew Charlie would sacrifice himself to protect him. Helplessly he watched them leave telling himself they would all go home together. Holding his stomach he promised the baby he was carrying that he would protect him or her with everything he had until he drew his dying breath.

***

Randy threw his pen at Indira, hitting the side of her head above her ear, bounced off clattering to the floor. She lifted her face from the book she was reading to scowl at him. "Answer the damn phone," he grumbled having grown tired of it's incessant racket. All he wanted was twenty minutes of silence to still his pounding head. It had become abundantly clear it had been a mistake to agree to rent a house with the irritating girl. 

Glancing at the display she set her phone aside "it's just my mother."

"Don't you think you should at least answer it?" he asked "it could be important."

"Doubtful," she mumbled. It had been months since she had seen or spoken to her family. She didn't need them. The sooner they got that through their thick skulls the better.

Thirty minutes later her phone went off again. Indira simply ignored it. Lunging forward Randy swept it up "hello," he growled at the caller. "Yeah she's here," he tried to hand the phone to her but she waved him away glaring at him.

"Sorry she's being her usual charming self," he told whoever was on the other end "I'd like to say I'd have her call you back but that's doesn't seem likely." He nodded a few times as he listened his face tense as his voice lost it's sarcastic tone. "I'm so sorry. I hope you find them. If I or my family can help don't hesitate to ask."

Indira looked up a questioning look replacing her usual disdain. "What?" she snapped as soon as he tossed her phone at her.

He gave her a withering glare "now your interested in what your mother has to say." Walking towards the door he said "call her back." He walked onto the porch slamming the door behind him.

Staring at the place where Randy had stood moments before. Reaching for her phone she pulled up her mom's number. Hesitating she sighed letting the phone drop into her lap. It was probably an elaborate trick to get her to call home. Well if they thought she was going to fall for it they have another thing coming. Picking up her book she went back to studying for her business ethics class.

An hour later Randy came traipsing back into the house. She looked up from the book demanding "where have you been?"

"What business is that of yours?" he growled. Since the night she had tried to seduce him things had steadily gotten worse between them. He objected to everything she did that reminded him of why he didn't like her or ever would.

"I can't sleep when you're out till all hours of the night," she gave him her usual disagreeable look "have you been drinking?" she sniffed the air with distaste.

"So what?" he asked "I can't have my friends over in my own house, now I can't drink with them outside my house."

"I don't like your friends," she told him nostrils flaring.

"What gives you the right to dictate who my friends should be? You don't even pay rent, yet you think you can dictate to me who and what comes into my house." He took an unsteady step forward "you're nothing but a fool who has the utter gull to think she's better than the rest of us." He gave her a piercing look that could have melted the polar ice caps "we'll honey you're not. You can read all you want about business ethics but if you don't have any personal ethics you're a sorry human being."

"How dare you say that to me," she jumped to her feet offended.

"Easily" he slurred "you don't even have the common decency to call your parents."

"They're like children always wanting my attention," she dismissed it "they call all the time."

"You're parents aren't the joke you think they are. They deserve your respect." He walked away towards his bedroom.

Following him she watched as he threw clothes into a duffel bag "where are you going?" she demanded.

"I'm going to offer my assistance to your parents.  Since they're only remaining child is a spoiled brat only concerned with appearances and what people might think." He picked up his bag and walked past her towards the front door.

"What are you talking about?" she asked anger in her voice causing her words to come out cold and harsh "tell me."

"Why should I?" he demanded "your the one refusing to talk to your parents." he put his hands up miming quotation marks "they're too childish to know what constitutes an emergency." He rolled his eyes "they've only been trying to contact you for the past week to let you know your sister and brother disappeared." He walked out of the house leaving her standing open mouthed in the living room.

"Wait" she called as she ran after him "you can't say something like that and just leave."

"I don't see why not. It's not like you cared before. Why should now be any different?" He wondered if he was finally getting through to her inner core.

Crossing her arms she asked "how do I know this isn't some trick to get me to come home?" 

"This is ridiculous" he shouted slamming the car door shut "either come with me and support your family in their time of need or pack your shit and get the hell out."

She stared at him willing him to back down. Tell her it was all a bad joke. As the seconds ticked by something in his demeanor convinced her this wasn't a trick "Fine I'll go but I have to pack first."

Looking at his watch "if your not packed and out here in ten minutes I'm leaving without you."

***

"Sweetie you have to eat," Jennifer coaxed her baby sister into sitting up.

"I'm not hungry," she protested pushing the tray of food away.

"Eat," she ordered picking up the fork attempting to force feed her "you need to keep your strength up."

"Did you call her?" Drew asked for the hundredth time. Lying back onto the pillow ignoring her sisters attempts to get her to eat. Closing her eyes as the tears began to flow.

"I spoke to her roommate," Jennifer informed her "he sounded like a nice young man."

"I didn't even know she had a boyfriend," she mumbled as fresh tears spilled out "what did I do to make her hate me?" She wished Caleb was there to hold her. To tell her everything would be ok. He was her rock "have you heard from Caleb or Chase?" she asked sitting up drying her eyes on the backs of her hands.

Looking to the floor Jennifer slowly shook her head "they're still in negotiations with the vampires. Without Uncle Adam there to speed things along the vampires aren't letting anyone into the castle or near the dimension portal."

"They have to let them. It's the only way" she gripped Jennifer's arms like a vise grip.

"Shh everything that can be done is being done," Jennifer assured her "you need to concentrate on keeping your strength up."

Glaring at her sister Drew let out an exaggerated snort "alright I'll eat." She took a bite of the stale sandwich grimacing as it stuck in her throat "mmm delish."

"Don't complain," Jennifer chided "a chef I am not but it's your fault for letting it get cold."

***

Caleb tried to hide the fascination he felt for the supernaturals assembled in the room of the conference hall. He felt his spine tingle as a werewolf elder growled in displeasure showing several sharp teeth. The glittery wings of the fairy that arrived as the werewolf growled. Witches weren't that dissimilar to humans and vampires had never seemed scary to him before. Somehow he expected them all to be like Adam, his wife's Uncle. Caleb turned questioning eyes towards Drew's Aunt who remained silent as the gathered supernaturals argued among themselves.

The verdict once again was a resounding no. No they wouldn't give them access to the dimension portal. Caleb felt like he had been banging his head against the proverbial wall. He could understand their distrust of humans. They had been living in near isolation for centuries after humans had hunted them almost to extinction. Still that was ancient history, couldn't they give them the benefit of a doubt?

This was too important to hold on to petty disagreements and prejudices. All of their futures hung in the balance. Caleb looked towards Beverly who had touched his hand indicating they should leave. He followed her from the room without a word. Once they left the conference hall though he was unable to keep quiet "why are they being so difficult? So pigheaded? Can't they see we mean them no harm?"

"Give them time," she advised him her green eyes moist with unshed tears "trust isn't earned overnight."

"I know it's just so frustrating" he felt like screaming "I have children somewhere in the stream of time, in a future that shouldn't exist. There isn't time to deal with all these road blocks."

"Oh Caleb," she pulled him into a hug squeezing him tight "I understand more than you know."

He could feel the tremors in her small frame. For the first time he seemed to remember that her husband and son were missing. Coming to Moonlight Falls emphasized how bad things were. Time seemed to be moving differently across sim nation. While he expected that Adam wouldn't age being a vampire he wasn't expecting Beverly to appear so young when she should be an old woman. Her son Keenan was still the same fifteen year old boy he had met when Adam came to help him get rid of Andrew's imaginary friend. Time seemed to have stopped here.  Heath had tried to explain how certain towns closely connected with Moonlight falls like Midnight Hollow and Dragon Valley time had virtually come to a stand still. They hadn't noticed it right away since the majority who lived in these towns were supernaturals with longer lifespans than the average human. 

Caleb looked up shaking his head as Heath joined them "I take it the elders refused your request."

Nodding Caleb could feel his frustration rising again as his hands curled into fists. "I don't know what else we can do. Unless they give us approval to enter the castle and to use the portal there's no hope of fixing this mess."

Heath looked around as supernaturals filtered from the room. Keeping his voice low he said "Alanon is working on something to help us."

Caleb gave his wife's cousin a sharp look of hope and pain. He had to do something otherwise his kids were doomed in a future that shouldn't exist.

4.14 Off Balance

Once the world stopped shaking Emmaline gathered her feet beneath her. Where was she? She wondered looking around her. The air had a stale dead smell to it. The stench hung in the air cloying drenching her in sweat. Where was everyone? She appeared to be in the middle of a deserted street in an abandoned downtown district. There should be people shopping. Working. An angry motorist blasting his horn at the dazed girl standing in the middle of the street. Something. Anything.

Nothing but silence greeted her ears. Sweltering heat and this overpowering stench of decay. Dead. The place was dead. Gulping she swallowed the scream that threatened to escape.

"Where the hell are we?" a man's voice demanded shattering the silence.

"Andrew," she cried turning and running towards her brother.

Andrew opened his arms to catch her as she threw herself into his arms. "How did you get here?" he asked stroking her long pink hair.

"I...I don't know," she sobbed into his shoulder unable to stop the tears "one minute I was standing in our garage and the next I'm here." Pulling away from him she wiped her pale green eyes dry, hiccuping as she brought herself under control. "How did you get here?" she asked looking towards Charlie who seemed to be standing guard. "Are we in danger?" she asked keeping her voice low suddenly aware how exposed they were in the deserted street. What if there were people hiding within these abandoned buildings? How many eyes were watching them? Her mind went to every zombie movie she had ever seen and shivered.

"I don't know," Charlie said keeping his eyes and ears alert, darting from one direction to another. "I'd feel better if there were something around but us."

Nodding she helped Andrew up from where she had knocked him down. That was when she saw it, half hidden by the over turned trash can. A body. Motionless. Dead. Her breath caught in her throat as she pointed in it's direction.

Andrew followed her trembling pointing finger, moving in it's direction. He stopped as a hand fell on his shoulder. "Don't" Charlie instructed in his ear "we don't know what happened. It could be a trap."

Holding a hand over her nose Emmaline said "that explains why it smells so bad around here."

Nodding Andrew moved to put an arm around her. "That's not the only body either," he said as he pointed at other mutilated corpses dotting the sidewalks. "What could have happened that people haven't buried their dead?"

"I don't know," Charlie murmured his voice tense. A shadow fell over them as clouds blocked out the sun.

"We're not alone," Emmaline cringed behind her brother "something just moved inside that building."

Andrew pointed towards another building where a figure stood obscured by ragged curtains. "There's something over there too," he moved closer to Charlie keeping a firm hold on his sister.

"We need to find someplace to hide," Charlie said to no one in particular. "Stay here," he told them as he approached the inert body on the ground.

"What are you doing?" Andrew hissed.

Ignoring him Charlie picked up the large metal pipe that was peaking out from beneath the body. It wasn't much of a weapon. It hadn't helped the poor sap who had it before him but it was more than they had before.

"Charlie," Andrew and Emmaline called out to him panic causing their voices to rise. He ran back to them heart racing he put his back against Andrew's wishing he had another pipe he could give him to protect himself.

"Shouldn't we run?" Emmaline asked crushed between the two men.

"No" they both shouted at her as multiple mutants that once might have been humans surrounded them.

***

"Dad what should I do?" Michelle cried falling to her knees "I didn't mean to hurt anyone."

Kneeling beside his daughter Chase pulled her close "I know sweetie but right now we have to concentrate on fixing it."

Connie rolled her eyes "what's the big deal? All we have to do is get Grandpa to bring them back." Looking around the room at the upset adults and her sobbing sister she shrugged "it's easy peasy."

"It's never easy," Jennifer snapped at the young girl "time is a fragile thing. One change can wipe out an entire family forever." She covered her face in her hands, shoulders shaking "I thought by sharing my past you would have learned from my mistakes."

"Mom," Connie sighed making a face that showed her annoyance at what she thought were mere theatrics "we weren't changing anything. We were just sending Emmaline to the future."

"That's not the point," Chase told her helping Michelle up. Putting an arm around her to help steady her he continued "whether you intended to or not the future changed. The entire future is in flux, rewriting itself as we speak."

Crossing her arms Connie turned away unwilling to admit her mistake. Even if they messed things up she still believed Grandpa could fix it. He was the time keeper after all. That's his job.

"You don't get it do you?" Michelle asked confronting her sister "we destroyed the future. It can't be fixed..."

"Of course it can," she scoffed "grandpa can do anything." Her faith in Emits ability was undaunted by what her twin said.

"What if we sent them so far into the future where Oasis Landing no longer exists?" Michelle demanded "you know grandpa told us about an explosion that destroyed Oasis Landing." Connie nodded eyes growing larger as she recalled what Emit had told them.

"Grandpa was trying to keep that from happening by bringing Uncle Caleb here," Connie's voice began to fade as she began to realize what they had done.

Gripping her sisters wrist Michelle squeezed hard "by sending Andrew and Charlie into the future we destroyed Grandpa's work. Uncle Caleb was brought here to balance our dimension with all the others. Andrew isn't here to produce the next generation required to keep the balance. He might have died wherever we sent him..."

Understanding brightened the girls dark brown eyes "what do we do?" she cried. Both girls turned to their father for an answer.

Chase looked around the room finding everyone looking to him for answers he didn't have. How could he tell them he didn't know? That he was as lost as they were. The only person who might know couldn't be trusted. Before he could voice any of his unsettling thoughts a bright light filled the garage. A form of a man appeared within, friend or foe they were about to find out.

***

The creatures merged upon the small group of frightened young people. One or two creatures stopped to sniff the air. Others growled showing sharp pointed fangs whose mouths were surrounded by dried blood. Charlie readied his makeshift weapon expecting to be attacked at any moment.

The loathsome creatures circled them. Two jumped ahead of the pack sniffing at Andrew ignoring the others. Leaning as far back as he could from the fowl breath as they breathed on him. Andrew whispered "what do I do?" fear making his voice crack. At the sound of his voice the creatures growled showing more teeth. Their fetid breath washing over Andrew making his eyes water as he tried to hold his breath.

The creature closest to him grabbed his arm pulling him away from the rest. Struggling Andrew cried out trying to free himself. The more he struggle the more the creatures claws dug into his skin.

"Let go of him" Charlie screamed swinging his pipe at anything that moved or got close enough for him to hit. The scrunching sound as the metal smashed into the creatures head made Charlie cringe. He didn't have time to think about it though. He had to keep the creatures from taking Andrew. He heard Emmaline scream as the creatures closed in on her. Several shots rang through the air. Four creatures lay silent on the pavement. One or two writhed in pain from their wounds. The others scattered. All except the one who was intent on dragging Andrew off with them. Charging at the creature Charlie swung at it desperate to protect the love of his life.

"I think it's dead," a deep voice said behind him.

Turning Charlie raised his pipe ready to fight "don't come any closer." He waved the bloodied brain splattered pipe around in front of him.

"Whoa take it easy buddy," the older man said smiling easily. Turning to his companions "how's the girl?"

"She's not red eye," a girl said helping the silently weeping girl to her feet "more scared than anything."

Jerking his head toward Charlie "he's not red eye either."

Andrew winced as someone pulled on his injured arm. "This one is wounded." The man stood up 

towering over Andrew's head pointing his gun at him.

"No" Emmaline screamed throwing herself in front of her brother.

"Get out of the way stupid girl," the man gruffly pushed her aside "it's the only humane thing to do. It's only a matter of time before he becomes red eye." He raised his gun finger moving to pull the trigger "this will be more merciful then letting him turn into one those creatures."

"I wouldn't do that just yet," the woman who had helped Emmaline said to the man as she stooped to sniff at Andrew.

"Is he?" the man who appeared to be the groups leader asked her.

"I think so," she nodded "it's too early to tell for sure."

"It's too rare not to take a chance," turning to the other man with the itchy trigger finger "stand down. We'll put him in quarantine until the incubation period is over."

The man gave his leader a disapproving nod. Turning back to Andrew he barked "get up."

"He's hurt," Charlie rushed over to help him up careful not to jar his arm that still oozed blood.

"We'll all be dead if we don't hurry up," the man growled searching the horizon where the red eyes were massing together.

"We best move out," the leader said indicating that Charlie was to go first. As they walked they kept their guns at the ready. Eyes searching the gloomy corners along the buildings and trees. "Take this," the leader said handing Charlie a gun "if he's what I think he is the red eyes want him as much as we do."

Not understanding Charlie took the gun. If felt foreign in his hands but he'd take any weapon he could if it meant he could protect Andrew from these creatures.

***

Lincoln stepped out of the lights blinking as his eyes adjusted to the relatively gloomy interior of the garage. Smiling he approached the blue haired man "you must be..." his smile wobbled as he caught sight of the pink haired male. "Dddad?" he took a shocked step forward.

Shuffling closer his eyes never leaving Caleb's face. He didn't know the woman standing beside him. Breathing rapidly he felt hot tears forming behind his eyes. Anger, disappointment, resentment washed over him. This man was someone else's father. Probably the kids that vanished from this timeline. The ones the future depended on. His brain new this wasn't his dad but his eyes told him otherwise. 

He squeezed his eyes shut wishing when he opened them again the man wouldn't be there. Someone that wouldn't remind him of the things he had lost. The person he lost. It had been over five years since his parents had been killed. He still remembered how his brother had pulled him close keeping him from seeing their dead bodies. Everett couldn't however blot out Alessandro's taunting voice.

A gentle touch on his shoulder a concerned voice asking "are you alright son?" The sound brought him out of his haze and into the present.

"Um," he sniffed rubbing his eyes trying to pretend the moisture was from dust, "yeah I'm fine." 

Turning his back on the man he focused on Chase "your father sent me."

"So he pinpointed the source of the disturbance to here," it was more of a statement than a question.

Lincoln nodded in agreement. Running a hand through his hair as every eye turned in his direction. "He uh ..." his eyes darted toward Caleb then away just as quick.

"Do you have a problem with me?" Caleb asked sensing the boys discomfort.

"Nnn....yyyes" Lincoln stammered "you uh remind me of my dad. I know you're not but" sighing he hung his head wishing his brother were here instead of him.

"We don't have time for this," Drew clutched at Caleb "our children are who knows where and this boy is wasting our time."

"Honey please...." Caleb pulled her close holding her sobbing heaving body against his own "we'll get them back. I promise."

Jennifer moved across the garage taking her sister from Caleb saying "come on sweetie let's go inside and let the men talk." Her voice low, soothing as she smiled up at Caleb's sad concerned eyes, "she'll be alright."

When they were gone the three men stared at each other a moment before Caleb cleared his throat "why don't you tell us why you're here?"

"Oasis Landing is gone," he announced bluntly "only the time keepers home survived...."

"It's a fixed point in every dimension," Chase supplied to Caleb's quick look of confusion.

"Is Peter still there? Has Emit sent him back to his family?" Caleb asked concerned for his friend. What Chase had told him about Emits plan had him concerned for the man's safety.

Shaking his head Lincoln walked a few paces away before saying "Peter agreed to go to my dimension after this happened." Turning he faced the others "what other choice did he have? It's his children's future too that was destroyed. This needs to be fixed before anyone can go home."

"You're from the dimension that Peter was sent to, aren't you?" Chase asked the boy "did my father bring you here?"

"No," Lincoln crossed his arms "my brother and I came here through a dimension portal that our father had discovered in Lunar Landing." He closed his eyes blotting out how his parents had given their lives to keep the portal from getting into Alessandro's hands. 

Chase gave the boy a discerning nod "dimension portals are very rare and the people able to control them are even rarer. The only one I know of is in Moonlight Falls under Adam's control."

"Yeah" Lincoln wiped his nose on his hands "we met Adam and his family when we crossed over."

Breaking into the conversation Caleb asked "your father, who was he?"

The young man turned sorrowful eyes up to him "he was the best father anyone could ask for." He hugged his arms closer around himself "my parents were Caleb Gray and Star Upton."

Chase and Caleb exchanged glances "we need to get you back to your own dimension." They almost shouted it as they realized that the boys dimension was off balance as well. Like domino's one dimension would topple after another than nothing.

"How long will I have to stay in here?" Andrew asked pacing around the small cell he had been thrown into.

"If you've been infected we'll know within two weeks," the girl told him "don't worry about it though. I already know you're not."

"Then why am I in here?" Andrew asked staring at the girl with the livid scar on her face. Despite her rough appearance she had treated him with kindness.

"Pregnant people are immune to the Red Eye venom," she told him with a smile. 

"I'm not pregnant," he scoffed at the idea as the girl walked away from him. Men don't get pregnant unless they've had the experimental procedure that would make it possible. Neither he nor Charlie had even considered it. They had been too busy figuring out their feelings for each other to consider having children. That was a future discussion he knew they would eventually have but at nineteen neither of them were ready for kids.

He threw himself onto the small uncomfortable cot in his cell. Absently his fingers scratched at the bandage around his wounds. He had two weeks to live before he became Red Eye, a mutant. There was no way he was pregnant....unless....

He sat up in shock. It was such a slim remote possibility. His grandfather had been abducted by aliens like his dad before him. Both had been genetically modified to be able to have children. Could that modification have become hereditary? Did he really have a womb? Putting a hand to his stomach he wondered if he really was pregnant. Everyone here seemed to take it for granted that he was. It didn't seem to be absurd to them at all. In fact it seemed that anyone capable of producing children were rare, male or female.

A noise startled him out of his thoughts. He found himself staring into the angry eyes of the man who wanted to shoot him. A nasty predatory smile plastered on his face "if you are a progenitor you and I will be spending a lot of time together."

Before he could respond to what felt like a threat the man walked away. Andrew sat back on his cot unsure which were more dangerous in this world he found himself in, the mutants or the humans.