Through A Glass Darkly

Author: Arla
email: arlaj@shaw.ca
Rating: M
Classification: Nathan/Kristin Romance
Archive: NKAdult & my site only. All others please ask first.
Disclaimer: seaQuest and all its characters belong to Amblin Entertainment. I am only borrowing these characters for awhile and will return them undamaged when I am done. This is a work of amateur fan fiction and no infringement on the owner's copyright is meant. The lyrics are not mine they are from the song. "Love of My Life" by Jim Brickman.
Summary: The seaQuest crew find themselves on an Earth they don't recognize. Can they restore what went wrong before it's too late?

The day onboard the UEO flagship, the seaQuest started out as fairly ordinary with the ship deep in the Atlantic on a exploratory mission. Having just finished the never ending mound of paperwork, Nathan Bridger, Captain of the seaQuest, decided it was time to take a break. After checking in with the bridge and finding everything in order, he got up from his desk and stepped out of his small office.

Each crew member that he passed on his journey through the ship greeted him with a nod or a salute and Bridger responded in kind as he made his way to the officer's mess. He entered the ship's Galley minutes later and automatically scanned the room for the presence of one particular person. Nathan wasn't exactly sure when he had begun to look for her every time he entered a room, he only knew that it was something that he did all the time now. A soft smile crossed his features when he spotted the woman alone at one of the back tables.

Doctor Kristin Westphalen, the seaQuest's Chief Medical and Science Officer sat, as usual, with a cup of coffee in one hand and her russet head bent over reports. Bridger poured himself a cup of coffee and then made his way across the room to stand beside her table. "Mind if I join you?" he asked quietly.

Westphalen looked up and her smile added a twinkle to her sable eyes. "Nathan, no. Please join me." she responded, her crisp British intonation adding a subtle sensuous cadence to her smooth voice.

Nathan returned her smile and pulled out the chair opposite her. When he was seated, he took a sip of his coffee and then gestured to the paperwork in front of her. "Busy day?" he asked her with a sympathetic grin.

"You wouldn't believe how busy." she replied, returning his grin. "My life would be so much easier without all this bloody paperwork." she muttered.

Bridger chuckled. "I know what you mean. Every time I get my desk cleared off I get back to find another stack waiting for me."

"Um hmm." Kristin nodded and then looked down at the watch on her slim wrist. "I'd better be getting back or Joshua's going to send out a search party." she added with a sly grin.

"I'll walk you." Nathan offered as he downed the last of his coffee. Kristin flashed him a smile and a nod as she began gathering up her files. When she was done, Nathan followed her from the room and then fell in to step beside her as they headed through the ship to the Med bay.


The couple were just rounding the final corner when, suddenly, the ship lurched violently. The action sent Bridger slamming into the bulkhead and only his quick reflexes kept Kristin from being thrown to the deck. When the ship stopped its shuddering, Nathan became consciously aware of just how close the doctor was to him. She was pressed so close that he could feel every curve of her slender body and the exotic scent of her perfume mingled with the sweet fragrance of her hair filled his nostrils. Her body was soft and warm against him and Nathan marveled at how right it felt to have her in his arms.

Very gently he set her aside but kept his hands on her shoulders. "Are you all right?" he asked as he looked down into her eyes. "I'm fine thanks to you. If you hadn't caught me... but I'm more concerned about you. You hit your shoulder pretty hard against the bulkhead." she said, casting a concerned and not quite professional eye over him.

"It's all right." Nathan responded and to prove his point, flexed the limb in question. He couldn't hide the wince and the pain the action caused.

"Sure it is." Kristin muttered dryly. "You need to let me take a look at that."

"Not now Kristin. I have to get up to the bridge and find out what happened."

"Nathan!" she scolded him gently.

"I promise that when I find out what is going on I will come by Med Bay. Okay?"

"All right." she acquiesced. "But if you don't, I'm going to have to send the hounds out after you." she added with a teasing lilt to her voice.

"I'll be there. I swear, on my honor." Nathan responded, raising his hand and flashing her a boyish grin.

"Okay." Kristin smiled. "I need to get inside." she added. "I'll see you later." she said as she turned away and disappeared inside.

Nathan watched her go with a soft smile before spinning on his heel and heading toward the bridge. As he walked, Bridger pulled out his PAL. "Ford?" he spoke into the unit.

"Ford here Captain." the ship's X.O. responded immediately.

"What the hell happened?"

"We hit something, sir."

"I know that Jonathan." Bridger said, "What I want to know is what we hit?" his voice held no ire, only worry and curiosity.

"Unknown, sir."

"I'm on my way."

"Aye, sir." Ford replied and the channel closed.


Minutes later Nathan stepped onto the bridge and saw that it was buzzing with activity. "Report!" he questioned Ford as he strode up to his executive officer. Ford turned at the sound of his Captain's voice and his dark face was marred by a frown.

"We can find no physical reason for what happened, sir." Jonathan stated worriedly. "The W.S.K.R.S haven't picked up anything behind us. There isn't even the smallest piece of debris. I can't explain it."

"Damage?"

"Nominal, sir. Medical reports that there were 10 minor injuries due to crew members being tossed to the deck. The ship's systems are functioning properly. It could have been a lot worse."

"I know that Commander." Nathan stated quietly and then turned to face his Chief Engineer.

"Do you have anything to add to the Commander's report, Lieutenant?"

"No, not really, sir." Katie Hitchcock started. "There's no damage to the hull, it's just that...." her voice trailed off and her face wore a puzzled expression.

"Just what, Lieutenant? If you have something, anything to add, I want to hear it."

"Yes, sir. Well, just before we hit, whatever it was, I picked up a very odd energy reading. It was very faint, barely there and it's still there, only behind us now. It's as though we passed through it and it's a barrier of some kind."

Bridger paused a moment in thought. "Are there any military bases or research facilities in the area that are working on something that could account for what Hitchcock is reading?" he asked Ford.

"Not that I know of, sir. There's nothing but clear water ahead of us."

Nathan turned to his communications officer. "O'Neil, put in a call to Secretary General Noyce. I want some answers."

"Yes, sir." Tim nodded and turned to his console.

After a few minutes, O'Neil turned back to face Bridger and he was frowning. "There's no reply, sir."

"You mean, you can't get through?"

"No, sir. I mean there's no reply. I'm not picking up any signals from the surface. There's no radio, no television, no satellite, no microwave. There's nothing, the airwaves are completely silent."

"How is that possible? There has to be something." Bridger questioned him worriedly.

"I know, sir but I'm not picking up any signals from the surface. It's as though everything were gone." O'Neil told him quietly.

Nathan frowned. "All right people, I want some answers. O'Neil, I want you to continue to scan the airwaves, try to pick up something, anything. Hitchcock, I want you to get a probe launched. Fill it with every piece of sensing equipment that we have. I want surface readings. We need to know what is going on up there and use Lucas if you have to, I want answers yesterday. Ortiz, I want all the W.S.K.R.S. you have out of the boat and I want every millimeter of the ocean around us searched and searched thoroughly. There are answers out there somewhere, we just have to find them."

Everyone responded with a crisp "Aye, sir." and immediately set about their assigned duties.


Twenty minutes later, everyone was asked to deliver a progress report.

"I'm still not reading anything, sir." O'Neil said quietly. Nathan nodded and turned to face the back of the bridge when Hitchcock called to him.

"The probe will be ready to launch in twenty minutes. Lucas is doing the final status checks now."

"Very good, Lieutenant. Carry on."

"Captain?" Ortiz called from where he was monitoring the data being relayed via the W.S.K.R.S.

"Yes, Mr. Ortiz."

"Mother is picking up something about 1000 yards ahead of us. It looks like it may be a shuttle of some type."

"Active?"

"No, sir. It looks like it crashed."

"Ford put together a rescue team and be extra cautious. We don't know what is waiting for us over there."

"Yes, sir." Ford responded, then turned and strode quickly from the bridge.

Hitchcock's probe had been launched and Bridger anxiously paced the bridge while they waited for it to complete its mission.

"Captain, I have Commander Ford on a visual link." O'Neil reported minutes later.

"Put him on." Bridger ordered and the bridge's main view screen lit up with a view of the rescue shuttle's interior.

"We're approaching the shuttle now sir. This is very strange." Ford muttered softly.

"She looks like one of ours."

After another moment or two, Ford spoke again. "We're docked, sir." he stated and then crossed over to the airlock. "We have a seal, but I'm not reading any life support at all on the other side. It's an airless vacuum. We'll have to use environment suits."

Several more minutes passed while the team got into their suits and then they moved to the airlock. Opening the door, they stepped into the connecting tube and when the door shut behind them, Ford proceeded to equalize the pressure.

"Captain!" Hitchcock called anxiously as she ran onto the bridge with the probe report clutched in her hand.

Nathan held up his hand. "Not now, Lieutenant."

"But, sir...." she protested.

"Your report will wait until the Commander is finished his search." he told her quietly.

"Yes, sir." Katie replied and stopped behind him, her eyes settling on the view screen at the front of the bridge.

Ford's team stepped from the connecting tube and into the airless vacuum of the crashed shuttle. The interior was pitch black and the team's flashlights glowed eerily as they cut through the inky darkness. Ford quickly scanned the passenger compartment. "Nothing in sight." he reported although there was no real need. Everyone on the bridge was seeing the same things as he. "We're heading for the cockpit."

All eyes followed the rescue team's silent trek to the front of the shuttle. As they entered, the Commander's flashlight immediately illuminated the two corpses slumped in the pilot and co-pilot's seats.

"We have two bodies, sir."

"Check them out Commander and then bring the bodies back for Dr. Westphalen to examine."

"Aye, sir."

As Ford moved up to the co-pilot's chair he was suddenly seized with a sense of unease and foreboding. The slumped figure seemed strangely familiar. Jonathan reached out and pressed a hand to the man's shoulder. With a gentle push the corpse flopped back in the seat, his head lolling to the side.

There was a collective gasp of shock from those watching as the man's features were revealed.

Ford stood frozen in horror as he looked down into his own lifeless face. There was no mistaking the features although they seemed somehow older.

Bridger's quiet voice over the intercom spurred Ford to action. "Commander?"

"I... I'm all right, sir." he said and quickly recovered from his shock. Ford stepped away from the co-pilot and moved to the second body. Now it was Nathan who felt the unease skip up his spine. He couldn't hold back the soft gasp when Ford reached out and pushed back the second corpse, revealing his own face.

Nathan took a deep breath. "Commander, tow the shuttle in and then turn the bodies over to Dr. Westphalen. Once the shuttle is in the bay, I want a team to go over it inch by inch. Maybe it holds the answers we are looking for."

"Aye, sir." Ford replied. "Rescue team out." he said and the view screen image winked out.

"Sir?" Katie's quiet voice sounded behind him and Nathan turned to face her.

"Yes, Lieutenant?" he asked softly.

"Uhm, I'm not certain but I think that my report may explain what the Commander found. Then again it may only bring up more questions."

"What did you find out?

"Well, Tim was right in assuming that there is nothing up there. Everything within the probe's range is a nuclear wasteland. The radiation readings are so high they were almost off the scale. There's nothing left up there, sir." she stated softly and there were tears in her eyes.

"But how? That isn't possible! I spoke to Noyce at the UEO not 10 hours ago!" Nathan said incredulously.

"I know, sir but I ran the data twice. There's no mistake. The world we knew, the world we woke up to yesterday, is gone."

"What happened? There was no warning of a nuclear attack."

"I can't explain it, sir."

"Is there anything alive up there? Is there anyplace where some people could have survived?" he asked her softly.

"There is only one place. It was at the edge of the probe's range, so I'm not entirely certain. Here are the coordinates." Katie said and held out the report. Nathan took it from her and read the data. He let out a sharp gasp when he read the coordinates.

"What is it, sir?" Katie asked with concern.

"These are the coordinates to my island, Lieutenant." Nathan stated softly . He turned from Hitchcock and faced O'Neil. "Has Commander Ford reported back yet?"

"Yes, sir. They've just finished docking."

"Good." Bridger said and then turned to face the helmsmen. "Bring us about and set a course for the following coordinates." he said and read off the coordinates to his island. "What's our ETA, Lieutenant Shan?" he asked.

Shan looked at his readings and raised his brows in surprise. "Two hours and forty minutes, sir."

"How is that possible?" Bridger asked in shocked surprise. "Our last location was at the other end of the Atlantic, several thousand miles from the Caribbean Sea. Even we can't cover that distance in two hours."

"I know, sir but our coordinates are showing that we are no longer in the same position that we were before we encountered the phenomenon. We are now only several hundred miles from your island."

"So somehow this thing, whatever it is, not only landed us in a world that we no longer recognize but it also put us down several thousand miles from our last location?"

"It would seem so, Captain." Shan replied quietly.

"What the hell is going on?" Bridger muttered under his breath. "Very well, Lieutenant. Carry on." he finished and then turned back to Katie. "Hitchcock, I want you down in the docking bay going over that shuttle. I want some answers as soon as you can give them to me."

"Yes, sir." Katie nodded and she strode quickly from the bridge.


Kristin took a deep breath before pushing open the door and stepping into the ship's morgue. As she entered she immediately saw the two shrouded bodies laid out on the morgue's two main autopsy tables. Each man's personal effects had been set out on a small instrument table to the head of each body. Kristin approached the first body and her eyes quickly scanned the items on the small table. There was a standard issue naval dive watch, a wallet, a Naval Academy graduation ring and numerous other small items that people usually carried with them.

When she looked inside the wallet the ID card she found there identified the man as Jonathan Devin Ford. Kristin shivered slightly and it wasn't entirely due to the coolness of the room. She stepped away from the table and turned to the body itself. Reaching above the table she turned on the tape recorder and then pulled back the sterile white sheet.

"The deceased is a Negroid male, approximately 45 years of age. Height of the body is 6'2 and its weight is approximately 200 to 210 pounds. The personal effects found on the deceased identify him as Jonathan Devin Ford. The decedent is in excellent physical condition and there are no scars or other physical deformities visible. The deceased has a large bruise on the left temple. This injury suggests and underlying hematoma and probable skull fracture. There are no other visible signs of trauma."

Kristin paused and then reached for the x-ray envelope that was tucked under the body's left heel. She moved to the wall mounted light board and pulled out the x-ray. After attaching the film to the light board, she switched on the light and continued dictating. "X-rays of the deceased reveal a massive hematoma and skull fracture extending from the frontal bone to the temporal bone. Given the extent of the fracture the cause of death was an injury to the brain due to blunt force trauma. Since the cause of death is determined no formal autopsy is required."

Kristin ended her dictation with a sigh and returned to the body. She pulled the sheet back over the body and paused for a moment before stepping over to the second autopsy table. She looked down at the items resting on the small table and took a deep breath to try and ease the restless fluttering in her stomach. Her eyes scanned each piece of this man's life. As with Ford's body, there was a wallet and a dive watch, and a Naval Academy graduation ring that was very familiar. There was also a plain gold wedding band. The fluttering in Kristin's stomach increased as she reached out and picked up the wedding band. Almost instinctively she turned the ring over and glanced at the inscription inside.

"July 23, 2019," the inscription began and next to the date, the letters N and K were delicately intertwined. Next to the letters was the saying "Whoso loves, believes the impossible."

With a deep breath Kristin slipped the ring into the pocket of her lab coat. She reached out to pick up the wallet and almost as though she knew it was there, pulled a photo from it. She looked at the picture and couldn't stop the wave of grief that washed over her as she looked down at the wedding photo. In it she and Nathan stood with their arms around each other. He stood behind her, his arms wrapped around her waist and her hands covered his. Her head was tilted back so that she could see him and they were laughing, obviously very happy and very much in love. This too, she slipped into the pocket of her lab coat and then returned the wallet to the table.

Kristin took another deep breath and steeled herself for what she knew she would find. She pulled back the sheet and even with her mental preparation, she couldn't stop the lurching of her heart as she looked down into the still face of the man she loved. "No!" Kristin protested with a shake of her head. "This isn't my Nathan. He is alive and well somewhere on the boat. Get a hold of yourself, Kris. This is just another body and you can get through this. This isn't Nathan."

Calling on all her professional training, Kristin pushed back her unease and began with a visual examination. "The deceased is a Caucasian male approximately 65 years of age. The height of the body is 6'1 and the weight is approximately 190 to 200 pounds. The personal effects found with the deceased identify him as Nathan Hale Bridger...." Kristin dictated and couldn't stop herself from faltering over the name. She took another deep breath and then continued as she had with Ford's body, finishing with an examination of the x-rays.

"The x-rays show no head trauma but do show a fracture of the cervical spine at the C3 vertebra. The spinal cord has been severed. This injury is no doubt the cause of death and no further autopsy is warranted." Kristin finished and then after taking down the x-ray she returned to the body. She reached out to pull the sheet up and paused to look down at the lifeless features once again.

Even though she knew, logically, that this wasn't her Nathan, Kristin couldn't stop the pain and grief that rose up inside her at seeing this vibrant man reduced to a cold, lifeless piece of flesh. Nathan was warm and gentle, not this. He could never be this.

Kristin was just reaching out a hand to touch his face when she heard the door open. She lifted her head and her eyes met familiar blue. She quickly pulled the sheet over the body and moved around the autopsy table.

"Uhm, how did they... die?" Nathan asked softly as he pulled his eyes away from the shrouded bodies to once more meet her gaze.

"They both died about five years ago." Kristin started to tell him.

"Five years?" Nathan questioned in amazement.

"Yes. The airless vacuum and the freezing temperature of the water outside the shuttle preserved the bodies remarkably well. He.." Kristin said and nodded to Ford's body. "Died from complications of a skull fracture. My guess is he hit his head on the console when the shuttle crashed."

"And... uhm... him?" Nathan asked and nodded to the other body.

"He died from a broken neck. Death was instantaneous, for both of them. They didn't suffer if that's what you're concerned about." she told him quietly.

"It's not." Nathan replied.

"Well, I'm done here. I'm afraid I didn't find out much. I don't know how or why they came to be in that shuttle or why the time discrepancy." she finished with a frown.

"I know and we're no closer to finding an answer then when this first happened. Katie and Jonathan are going over the shuttle right now and hopefully when they are finished they can shed some light on this dilemma."

Suddenly wanting to put all this unpleasant business behind her and wanting to make him smile for at least a moment Kristin gave Nathan a smile. "Can I buy you a cup of coffee?" she offered.

"It would be my pleasure, Doctor." Nathan recanted with a grin and held his arm out to her.

She took it with a light laugh and they slipped from the room, leaving behind the specter of death.


"A penny for them?" Nathan asked quietly as he looked across the table at his silent companion. When she didn't answer him right away Nathan frowned and slid his hand across the table, taking her hand in his. "Kristin?" he said softly and his voice was tinged with concern. Kristin started at the sound of his voice and then gave him an apologetic smile.

"I'm sorry Nathan. I was just thinking."

"That was obvious. You were miles away, where were you?" he asked softly.

"Oh, I was just thinking about all that has happened. This is all so very strange."

"I know. I can't stop thinking about it either."

"Who do you think they were? I mean, how could they be here, how could he be you and yet not you?"

"I'm not sure." Nathan responded with a shake of his head. "I've always discounted the theories of alternate realities and time travel. But maybe, just maybe they aren't theories. Maybe they are from another reality or maybe they are from some point in our future. Until we have more information there's no way to be sure."

Kristin shivered involuntarily at his words.

'What is it?" he asked softly and gently squeezed her hand.

"It's just that, I hope that they are not from our future." she told him in a quiet whisper.

"Why?"

Kristin did not answer him right away. She reached into her pocket and pulled out both the ring and the picture.

"The other Nathan was wearing this." she told him and held it out to him.

"A wedding ring." Nathan stated as he took the ring from her. He turned the ring over and looked at the inscription. "June 23, 2019." he began "That's eight months from now." he said and looked up to meet Kristin's whisky-hued eyes.

"Yes."

Nathan pulled his gaze from hers and returned his eyes to the ring he held. "N and K, Nathan and Kristin." he continued and then read aloud the rest of the inscription before meeting her gaze and passing the ring back to her.

"There's also this." Kristin added and passed him the picture.

Nathan looked down at the happy smiling couple, he and Kristin. It was a strange feeling looking at an image of yourself doing something you know you never had. "This is all so strange." he murmured and slid the picture back to her. "None of what has happened today makes any sense. Is this what is going to happen? Is this our future?"

"I don't know," Kristin murmured as she looked down at the photo. "But I hope that it isn't."

"Why?" Nathan questioned curiously.

"Because." she began "If those two are from the future, from our future then you're... he's dead and she... that other me is alone without him. The strangest thing about all this is. I know exactly how she feels. I know how I'd feel if it were you." Kristin stated softly and then shyly turned her eyes away as if she'd revealed too much.

"Kris..." Nathan spoke her name softly and tenderly caressed her hand. "I....." he began.

"Captain to the bridge. Captain Bridger, please report to the bridge."

Nathan sighed. "Walk with me to the bridge?" he asked her softly.

"All right." Kristin nodded and got up from her chair and Nathan met her on the other side of the table. He slipped an arm around her waist, his hand settling gently in the small of her back and guided her from the room.


"Report" Bridger ordered as they stepped onto the bridge. Miguel turned around to face them.

"The W.S.K.R.S. have picked up something that I know you'll want to see."

"Put it on the screen Mr. Ortiz."

Kristin gasped as an unmistakable image appeared on the screen. She took a step and rested a hand on Nathan's shoulder. "Good Lord, Nathan. It's the seaQuest." she stated in a stunned whisper.

"Is there any sign of life?"

"No, sir. She's dead in the water."

"Are you going to send over a search team?" Kristin asked quietly.

"No, I don't think so , not right now anyway. If there are answers out there, they lie on the island." he responded softly.

"Sir?" Ford called from the back of the bridge and Nathan turned to face him.

"What did you find out, Commander?"

"Katie and I went over that shuttle from stem to stern and it didn't yield much. Except maybe more questions. The shuttle's systems had been cannibalized. There were only the bare minimum of systems left. There was basically just enough to run it and no more. That shuttle was held together with chewing gum and duct tape. It's a miracle that it held together as long as it did. Katie estimates that the shuttle is at least 10 years old, maybe more. The kicker is, Katie said that almost all of the jury rigged repairs look like something she did herself."

Both Nathan and Kristin shared puzzled frowns before he turned back to Ford.

"Were there any clues as to why she crashed?:

"Yeah, it looks like the nav-systems just finally gave out. With the back-up systems gone there was no way to stop her from going down. They didn't stand a chance."

"Sir, " Shan called out and when Nathan turned to face him he added. "We've arrived."

"Thank you, Mr. Shan." Bridger reported quietly and then turned back to Ford. "Jonathan, we need some answers and I think the only place to get those answers in on my island. I'm taking a team up to the surface."

Ford looked like he was going to protest but he merely nodded his head. "Aye, sir."

"Have Ben and Crocker meet me in the launch bay."

"Yes, sir."

Nathan gave Ford a nod and then turned to Kristin.

"Nathan, I'd like to go with you." she told him quietly.

"I thought that you might." he responded with a tender smile. "Let's go." he added and then fell into step beside her.


Lucas and several others were waiting for Nathan and Kristin when they stepped into the launch bay. Krieg and Crocker were part of the assigned team but Lucas and Katie were not.

Bridger addressed the two potential stowaways with an amused smile. "And what are you two doing here?"

"We'd like to go with you, sir." Katie stated hopefully.

"And what would happen if I took everyone that wanted to go?" he countered with a mock frown.

"Please, Captain. This is soooooo very cool." Lucas wheedled.

Nathan gave the young man a tolerant grin and nodded. "All right join the team."

"Thank you, sir." Katie replied, flashing a smile.

"Softy." Kristin breathed in his ear as she followed Katie. Nathan couldn't stop the grin that appeared as he followed them.


The shuttle ride to the surface was quiet and subdued with everyone lost in their own thoughts about what had happened and what they would find. Nathan turned his head to look at the woman sitting very close to his side. Smiling softly he reached out and gently took her hand. Kristin turned her head to look at him flashed him a smile. "Worried?" he asked softly.

"Contemplative." she responded.

"About what?"

"I was just thinking that if we found yours and Jonathan's doubles, it only stands to reason that the rest of us will run into our other selves."

"And this bothers you?"

"No, I wouldn't say it bothers me. It's more like, I just wonder how I'll react seeing her and how she'll react seeing me and...."

"And what?" Nathan prodded gently.

"I just wonder how she'll react seeing you again." Kristin added in a soft whisper.

Nathan did not answer he merely drew their linked hands up and pressed a kiss to the back of her hand.


Several minutes later the shuttle broke the surface of the water and moments later they were on the beach. Before opening the door, Nathan stood and addressed the assembled crew members. "All right everyone, listen up. We're in uncharted waters here and we have no way of knowing what is waiting for us outside these doors. Let's stay alert." He received an chorus of Aye, sir's in response. With a nod, Nathan turned and moved to the airlock.

The lock cycled open and the shuttle quickly filled with fresh fragrant air. Nathan was the first one through the door and was followed closely by each member of his team. There was a soft gasp from someone behind him and Nathan suspected it was Katie when he saw the woman who was waiting with two others

The woman was most definitely an older version of his Chief Engineer. She was dressed in casual but clean and well worn clothes.

"Welcome." she smiled. "We've been expecting you."

"You have?" Nathan asked with a puzzled frown. "But how...?"

"We didn't know the exact time or day that you would arrive but we knew that eventually you would come and so we've had people watching the beach night and day." Katie explained with a smile. "Now, if you'll follow me the others are waiting and there is much to discuss." she finished and motioned for everyone to follow her.

They followed Katie a short distance up the beach and then she turned down a path that led through the thick vegetation. Nathan noticed as they walked that the path was lined with tall poles on either side and each pole sported an unlit torch which would light the path once darkness came.

Several minutes later they stepped from the path an into a large clearing. The small village consisted of many log structures each with a thatched roof. Because of their size, Nathan assumed that they were homes. Each building was constructed to form a circle stretching around the clearing and in the center was a larger building that Nathan suspected was some type of central gathering place. Next to this building was one that was a little bit smaller and was obviously the hospital.

Katie paused and turned to face her small group of followers. "Welcome to New Hope." she smiled "The others are waiting for us in the community center." she added and turned to indicate the large central building.

Just as she was about to move toward it, she was stopped by a small child running towards her.

"Mamma?" the little girl called and Katie smiled as the child reached her. She reached down to pick the child up and hold her close.

"Meggie, these are mommy's friends." Katie told the girl and then turned to face the group. "This is Meghan." she introduced the child.

"Hello, Meghan" Nathan smiled at her.

"Nobody calls me Meghan, 'cept mebbe Captain Nathan but he's gone." Meggie told him then paused and studied him. "You look like him."

"Yes he does." Katie replied softly then looked her child "But he's not the Captain Nathan you know, remember, Mama told you."

"Yep, you said that Captain Nathan went to heaven with Uncle Jonathan." she answered quietly.

"Yes, that's right. Now, sweetie, Momma and the others have to speak with these people. It's very important so why don't you run along and play."

"But I was 'posed to help Auntie Kris in the hospital." Meggie complained.

"Auntie Kris needs to speak with these people too." Katie told her quietly.

"Katie?"

The woman turned when her name was called and she smiled when a young woman of about 17 approached. The girl was tall and slender and her head was crowned with a riotous tumble of russet curls. As the girl drew closer Nathan clearly saw her delicate feature and sable eyes filled with mischief. Nathan looked away and met Kristin's gaze. They shared a silent message, both realizing that this young girl was the child of Nathan and Kristin Bridger. The features were unmistakable.

As she stopped beside Katie, the girl's eyes widened when she saw the assembled group then the dark eyes settled on Nathan and Kristin. There was a quick flash of pain in her eyes before it was quickly masked.

"Hello, Sammy." Katie smiled at the young girl. "I believe you know our visitors."

"Yes," Sammy nodded and flashed them a smile before turning back to Katie. "Kyle and I and some of the older children are going out to gather fruit. Meggie is welcome to come with us." she told Katie and her voice bore a hint of her mother's rich accent.

"Can I Mamma, please?" Meggie pleaded.

"All right but only if you promise to be good and mind what Sammy tells you."

"I promise." Meggie smiled and gave her mother a kiss before Katie set her down. After slipping her hand into Sammy's, Meggie waved and the two moved away.

"This way." Katie said and led the group across the compound to the community center.

They entered and found their counterparts already waiting. "Please have a seat." Katie told them as she moved to the front of the large room.


It was a strange feeling walking past people who, despite the illogicalness and improbabilities, were older versions of yourself. Kristin mused on this as she moved down the aisle beside Nathan. They took a seat on the front row, sitting close together and she slipped her hand into his. He grasped it tightly and gave it an affectionate squeeze before pulling it close.

Everyone's eyes were drawn to the front of the room as a side door opened and a woman stepped through.

Kristin gasped and Nathan's grip on her hand grew tighter when they saw that it was Kristin's double. The older woman wore her hair pinned up and the rich auburn tresses were tinged with grey. The sable eyes that scanned the group were still bright and intelligent but bore the presence of a deep, hidden pain. That grief and pain rose momentarily when those eyes settled on Nathan and Kristin.

She quickly pushed the pain away and took a deep breath before speaking. "Welcome." she started. "I'm sure you all have thousands of questions so let's get started."

"Just what exactly has happened?" Nathan asked her quietly. She gave him a soft smile and then explained.

"I'll tell you all that we've been able to figure out." she began and released a heavy sigh before continuing. "A little under 19 years ago, 18 and four months to be exact. About eight months from when you left your time-line there was a nuclear war. It was quick and brutal and decimated the entire population. Those who survived the initial blast died later from radiation sickness. The seaQuest and her crew were spared because we were deep in the Atlantic when it happened. We received the initial distress call and before the UEO was destroyed, Bill Noyce ordered us to stay where we would be safe. We were the last remnants of humanity. Since it was not safe for us to return to the surface and wouldn't be for many years, we found an abandoned research complex and settled there. We lived there for almost 12 years. Every so often we would send out probes to see if any of the surface was habitable. About six years ago we found that this island was safe and came here. Because of the many probes we had sent out we became aware of the rift in time about the same time that we moved to the island. We sent a probe through and discovered that the opposite end opened up into a point in time before the holocaust. We knew then that we had to send someone through the rift to warn you. We had to stop the holocaust, at all costs."

"So that was the shuttle we found" Nathan said quietly.

"Yes, and since they never returned we knew that they were dead but we always hoped that somehow they had got the message through" the older Katie said softly.

"I'm sorry to say they didn't. We found the shuttle on this side of the rift. " Nathan replied. "There is still a chance to stop the holocaust. Tell us how it happened and we can go back to stop it."

"Yes, that's what we were thinking. The nuclear war began at 5:15pm GMT on August 20 but the events leading up to the war began months and weeks earlier. About two weeks before the war a terrorist group led by Shaun O'Connell broke into a nuclear weapons repository and stole several atomic warheads. They went into hiding and we assume they were trying to sell the warheads to one of the other Confederations or at least another terrorist faction. Something went horribly wrong and the warheads detonated prematurely, taking with them more that half the Middle East. Due to the fail safe mechanism still in place, the Confederation's defense system automatically launched it's own warheads in retaliation. This started a chain effect until all the Confederations were destroyed and the populations decimated. Later we discovered, quite by accident that the world wide net was still operational. Lucas was able to hack into the system and discover that 8 months prior to the war, in fact three days from the time you left, Shaun O'Connell and his gang robbed a military armory. It was a sneak attack and they got away. Lucas believes that if they are arrested for this robbery then the events leading to the nuclear holocaust will never happen." Kristin Bridger explained.

"So , then all we need to do is make sure O'Connell and his group are arrested for the armory robbery and stay in prison. Then we can avert the nuclear disaster." the younger Katie said.

"That's our theory, yes." the older Lucas said.

"Very well, we don't have any time to waste. We have to get back to our own time line and stop O'Connell." Nathan stated and the others nodded.

"You also need to seal the rift to prevent anyone else from coming through." the older Lucas said and his eyes met those of his younger self. "A torpedo at full charge should do it." they said in unison.

"It will be done." Nathan replied.

"Thank you. One more thing. Since you found the shuttle we assume that you have the bodies aboard your seaQuest. We were wondering if you would return them to us." Kristin Bridger stated softly.

"Of course. I'll have it done right away." Nathan said and pulled out his PAL "Ford?"

"Ford here, sir."

"We'll be returning shortly but I need you to have Dr. Levine prepare the bodies for transport and send them up to us ASAP."

"Aye, sir." Ford stated and Nathan closed the channel, slipping the device back into the pocket of his uniform.

' "Thank you." Kristin Bridger said with a grateful smile.

"You're welcome." Nathan replied softly.


As the meeting broke up, Nathan watched as everyone who had come with him sought out their counterparts. His eyes followed his Kristin as she approached her older self and continued to follow them until they disappeared outside.

Kristin followed her older self outside and moved to walk beside her. "This must be difficult for you" she told the other woman. "Especially....."

"Seeing Nathan." Kristin Bridger finished.

"Yes."

"It was, at first, but I know if you succeed and repair the time line then all this...." she waved her hand to take in the entire compound. "Will no longer exist, at least not in this form. I will become you and you will become me. Nathan will still be alive and through you I will find Nathan again."

"I never thought of it that way."

"I've done nothing but think about it the last 5 years. It was horrible knowing that he would never come home, that he would never hold me or kiss me, that we'd never make love ever again. I learned to cope. It still hurts and I miss him terribly and seeing your Nathan brought all those feelings back but in some ways, I feel more sorry for you."

"Why?"

"Because you don't know the Nathan Bridger that I do. You don't know what it feels like to have him as your lover, your husband, your best friend, the father of your children. I do. I know what it feels like to fall asleep in his arms, to feel his heart beating so close to mine. I've seen the color of his eyes when he's aroused. You know it's almost the same color that his eyes get when he's angry, only it's darker, deeper, more rich. And I've felt his hands; God the things that man can do with his hands... and his tongue..." Kristin Bridger's voice trailed off and she blushed when she realized that she was revealing details that were far to intimate to repeat even to someone who was essentially herself. She cleared her throat and gave her younger self a smile. "That's why I feel sorry for you. Don't let another moment pass by without telling him how you feel. Life is too short, too precious to waste and it can all change in a heartbeat."

"I won't, I promise." Kristin replied softly then she reached into her pocket and pulled out the picture and ring.

"I thought you might want to have these back." she said quietly and held them out.

Kristin Bridger reached out and first took the wedding band. She closed her fist around it then took the picture and pressed it close to her chest. "Thank you." she whispered, tears choking her voice.

"You're welcome."


Sometime later Katie and Kristin Bridger led the seaQuest group back to the waiting launch. Just as they were nearing the shuttle Kristin drew Nathan aside. "Take a chance Nathan. Make every day, every moment count for they'll never, ever come again. She loves you very much. Don't be afraid to love her."

"I won't, I promise." he told her in a soft whisper.

Kristin smiled then reached out and rested a hand against his cheek. She leaned forward, pressing a kiss to his lips that was passionate despite it's brevity. "Come back to me Nathan." she whispered and stepped away.

Nathan watched her walk away until she had disappeared down the path then he turned and stepped into the shuttle.


Nathan stepped onto the bridge and was followed closely by Katie, Lucas and Kristin. "We found out what we need to know, Commander." he told Jonathan. "Bring us about and take us back through the rift. Prepare a torpedo, 100% charge."

"Aye, sir."

Several minutes later Shan turned to face the back of the bridge. "We've come about, sir and are proceeding through the rift."

"Thank you Mr. Shan." Nathan responded and then knowing that the turbulence would be the same as it had been when they entered, he sat down and turned on the intercom. "All hands, brace for impact." he said and as he finished activated the collision alarm. "Take us in, Mr. Shan"

As before, the ship lurched and shuddered as they moved through the rift. Once they were clear Nathan ordered. "Report!"

"The ship is clear and all indicator lights are green. There's no damage."

"Good, take us another 500,000 meters in and then bring us about and launch the torpedo. I want it on a timer so it detonates the exact moment that it reaches the rift."

"Aye sir."

All eyes watched as the torpedo moved swiftly through the dark ocean depths on a collision course with the rift.

"Impact in 10 seconds," Ford stated and then began to count down. "9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1.."

A blinding white light flashed in front of them and they waited as the shockwave dissipated.

"Sir, the energy readings I picked up earlier are gone. It appears as though we were successful. The rift has been sealed." Katie reported.

"Good work, people." Nathan praised them and then he turned to O'Neil. "Mr. O'Neil, I need to speak to the Secretary General ASAP. Transfer the call to the Ward room."

"Yes, sir."

Nathan got up from his chair and moved to the back of the bridge where Kristin was still waiting. He gave her a smile "Care to join me?" he asked softly.

"Yes," she replied and returned his smile as he slipped an arm around her waist and led her from the bridge.


Three days later Nathan sat in the wardroom going over reports and jumped slightly when the high whistle of the intercom startled him. "Bridger."

"Sir, I have the Secretary General on the link." O'Neil told him.

"Put him through." Nathan stated and turned to face the large view screen.

"Hello, Nathan." Bill Noyce smiled.

"Bill. What can I do for you?"

"I just wanted to let you know that Shaun O'Connell and his group did try to rob an armory late last night. They all were killed resisting arrest."

Nathan nodded. "What about retaliation from anyone loyal to his cause? We have to prevent anyone from getting a hold of those warheads."

"We're prepared for that, Nathan. All nuclear missile storage facilities are, as we speak, being cleared out and all the missiles world wide are to be stored in one high security facility known only to the top ranking officials of each Confederation. This location is being kept highly classified. Every possible action is being taken to avert a nuclear holocaust."

"That's good news, Bill. Very good news." Nathan smiled.

"Once again the seaQuest has saved us from disaster. Good work, Nathan and I authorize the seaQuest and her crew to one week's leave starting tomorrow. Congratulations, you've earned it."

"Thanks, Bill."

"Anytime." Noyce replied and closed the channel.


Nathan got up from the table and stepped out of the ward room. Before heading to the bridge to make the shore leave announcement, he made a detour. He stepped into Med Bay and spotted Kristin talking to one of her nurses. She finished her conversation and when she saw him she flashed a smile as she made her way towards him.

"Nathan, playing truant, are we?" she asked with a grin.

"Not exactly." he replied as he returned her smile "We did it Kris." he added softly and when a puzzled frown crossed her features he elaborated. "Noyce called.." he began and told her exactly what Bill had told him.

"That's wonderful." she smiled.

"Noyce also granted us a week's leave." he put in.

"Really?"

"Yes. So... uhm, do you have any plans?"

"Since you just told me about it, I think it's a safe bet to say that I don't." she replied with a smile.

"Well then, why don't you join me for dinner and we can discuss it?"

"I'd love to."

"Great, my cabin, eight o'clock."

"I'll be there."

"See you tonight." Nathan finished as he reached out and brushed her cheek with gentle fingers before turning away and striding from the room.


Nathan looked across the candle lit table at his dinner companion. He smiled softly as he studied her features. The candle light added golden highlights to her rich auburn hair and played across the skin of her face and bare shoulders like a caress. She was wearing a short strapless sheathe dress that clung to every slender curve and exposed the long elegant expanse of her legs encased in black stockings, the same midnight hue as her dress. She was stunning. Almost as though she sensed his warm perusal, Kristin lifted her head and met his eyes. He looked deep into them, realizing, not for the first time, that they were the same color as warm Irish whiskey. They were so rich and so deep, Nathan knew that he could easily drown in their warm, sensual depths and knew that he was forever lost. He pulled his eyes from the intensity of her gaze and rose from the table. He crossed over to the small stereo unit in the corner and turned up the volume on the CD that had been playing softly in the background. Moving back to the table, Nathan stopped beside her and held out his hand.

"Dance with me?" asked softly and she nodded before slipping her hand into the warmth of his.

Nathan gently pulled her to her feet and gathered her close against him, moving with her in time to the soft gentle tones of the love song.

I am amazed
When I look at you
I see you smiling back at me
It's like all my dreams come true

As the singer continued, Kristin lifted her head from Nathan's shoulder and met his gaze once more. They held each other's gaze as they danced, hearing and feeling the power and passion in the lyrics.

I am afraid
If I lost you girl
I'd fall through the cracks
And lose my track in this crazy lonely world

Sometimes it's so hard to believe
When the nights can be so long
And faith gave me the strength
And kept me holding on

You are the love of my life
And I'm so glad you found me
You are the love of my life
Baby, put your arms around me
I guess this is how it feels
When you finally find something real
My angel in the night
You are my love
The love of my life.

Now here you are
With midnight closing in
You take my hand as our shadows dance
With moonlight on your skin

I look in your eyes
I'm lost inside your kiss
I think if I'd never met you
About all the things I'd missed

Sometimes it's so hard to believe
When a love can be so strong
And faith gave me the strength
And kept me holding on

You are the love of my life
And I'm so glad you found me
You are the love of my life
Baby, put your arms around me
I guess this is how it feels
When you finally find something real
My angel in the night

You are my love
The love of my life.

As the song finished, Kristin saw in the ocean blue depths of his eyes that he had chosen the song specifically to tell her how he felt. She smiled softly and pressed a tender kiss to his lips.

"What are you thinking?" he asked softly, continuing to dance with her as the next song began

"I was just wondering how different things will be now. We've changed the future. I was also thinking about what Kristin said to me just before we left."

"Anything you'd care to tell me about?" Nathan asked curiously.

"She talked about you." Kristin began, then paused for a moment. "More accurately, she talked about her Nathan and how difficult it had been for her since he had died. She told me how hard it was losing him and knowing that he would never come home, never hold her, knowing that they'd never..." her voice trailed off. Nathan's hand rose from where it rested in the small of her back, to brush lightly over her bare shoulder

"She also said that she was sorry for me." Kristin continued.

"Sorry for you, why?"

"Because I don't know you like she knew her Nathan: as her lover, her husband, the father of her children." she finished softly.

Nathan smiled and tenderly cupped her cheek. "Is that what you want, Kristin?" he asked her softly. "To know me like that? To know me as your lover?" he finished, his voice growing huskier with each word.

"Yes." she replied in a low whisper.

"Me too. Nathan responded in an equally low whisper before leaning forward and pressing his lips to her forehead. His lips trailed a gentle path down to her cheek then moved over one closed eyelid, then the other. He moved to the tip of her nose and her other cheek then skimmed along her jaw to her chin and then settled at last on her lips.

His kiss was light at first, lips barely skimming across hers, teasing. Then his lips settled more firmly against hers and he tasted her lips, deepening the kiss as his tongue pressed for entrance. Kristin's lips parted to the gentle insistent brush of his tongue and she drew it inside to entwine with her own.

Nathan's hands exerted gentle pressure at the small of her back, drawing her closer against him. As the heated kiss continued and grew more hungry, Kristin's hands brushed through his hair while Nathan's hand moved from the small of her back. His hand slid around to cup the weight of her breast, his fingers caressing it through the material of her dress. Kristin released a low moan and pulled her lips from his and looked into the smokey sapphire of his eyes. She smiled softly when she realized that Kristin Bridger had been right, his eyes were almost the same shade of blue as when he was angry.

"Nathan." she breathed his name in a breathy whisper.

"Kristin." he replied " Do you have any doubts about this? We can stop if you're not ready." he told her quietly.

"I have no doubts, none at all. I love you Nathan Bridger and I always will. I want us to be together in every way. I'm very ready." she spoke this last in a low purr and Nathan did not miss the double entendre.

"I love you, more than I thought I could ever love again." he said and reached up, slowly pulling the pins that bound her hair. He removed them one by one, dropping them to the carpet until the silken strands fell free and tumbled over his fingers. "I love your hair." he murmured huskily as he pressed his face to the fragrant strands, inhaling the delicate fragrance. He shifted until his lips were pressed to her temple and once again trailed his lips over the soft curves of her face. His lips moved to the hollow of her throat and skimmed across the ridge of her collar bone, tasting the salt of her skin before moving lower and brushing across the exposed flesh, revealed by the low neckline of her dress. His lips trailed a path back up the smooth curve of her neck, pausing to nibble the sensitive spot below her ear.

Kristin moaned softly and threaded her hands through his hair and pulling his lips back to hers.

Tongues tangled together and as the kiss grew deeper, desire flared to life and engulfed them in its white hot flame. Hands caressed and explored as bodies joined, becoming one , hearts and souls melding as they made love long into the night.


They lay together, bodies intimately entwined, exhausted and sated savoring the warm sweet afterglow of their impassioned lovemaking.

Nathan pulled Kristin tighter against his side and his hand absent-mindedly stroked the long smooth curve of her naked back. After a long moment, Kristin lifted her head from his shoulder and looked down into his face. She smiled softly and trailed a long manicured nail along his jaw.

"Penny for them?" she said softly as her finger moved to gently brush across his lips.

Nathan kissed her finger before taking her hand in his and brushing his lips across he back. "I was just thinking about how much I love you and how very lost I'd be without you." he finished softly as his fingers wove through the heavy curtain of her hair and pushed it back from her face.

"I love you too." Kristin replied and brushed her lips lightly over his. "And just for the record, I'm not going anywhere. You're going to be stuck with me for a very long time." she finished with a playful smile.

Nathan returned her smile then pulled her close and brushed his lips over her cheek before trailing them along to her ear. "Marry me." he whispered.

Kristin pulled back so that she could meet his gaze. "Nathan." she questioned softly.

"Say yes."

"This is so sudden. I love you more than my own life, but are you sure?"

"Yes, I've never been so sure of anything in my life. I want to go to sleep every night with you in my arms and wake up every morning to find you beside me. I want to be with you every day for the rest of my life. Please Kris, say yes. Do me the honor of becoming my wife."

"With a proposal like that, how can a girl say no?" she replied, tears shining in her eyes.

"Is that a yes?"

"Yes." Kristin whispered. "Yes." she finished and lowered her lips to his for a passionate kiss and they were once more lost in sweet desire.


Epilogue: 19 Years Later

The sound of the door slamming reverberated throughout the beach house.

"SAMANTHA KATHERINE BRIDGER! How many times have I told you not to slam the door!?" Kristin Bridger called as she stepped out of the master bedroom to greet her recalcitrant 17 year old daughter.

"Sorry Mom." Sammy apologized as she crossed to her mother's side and leaned forward to press a kiss to her cheek. "But Sally and Jessica are picking me up in twenty minutes and I still have to change and pack."

At her mother's puzzled expression Sammy added. "For the concert. Remember Mom, you and Daddy said I could go and that I could spend the night at Jessica's."

"Oh, that's right. All right well have a nice time darling and remember to call when you get to Jessica's so that we know you got there all right, no matter how late it is."

"I will, thanks Mom." Sammy smiled and kissed her mother again.

"Have you seen your father?" Kristin asked as Sammy headed towards her bedroom.

"Yes. He's with Kyle. They were down with the dolphin's the last time I saw them."

"Thanks, sweetheart." Kristin added and watched until Sammy had disappeared into her room before crossing to the patio doors and stepping out onto the deck.

Kristin stepped up to the railing and her sable eyes scanned the beach. A soft smile touched her features when she spotted Nathan and Kyle walking back to the house. She studied the two, father and son and, at 18 years old Kyle was nearly as tall as Nathan.

Although both their children had inherited her fair complexion, having her hair and eye color, Sammy favored her and Kyle was the spitting image of his father.

As their neared the house, Nathan looked up as saw her watching them. "Well hello there." he said, flashing her a grin.

"Hello." Kristin smiled. "My two favorite men." she added as they stepped onto the deck.

"Kyle, I trust you were able to keep your father out of trouble?" she teased lightly.

"I tried Mom but it wasn't easy." Kyle joked playfully and gave her a warm hug.

"Good." she replied and brushed a kiss over the top of his head before releasing him.

After that Kyle excused himself and moving inside the house. Kristin watched him leave before turning to her husband.

"Troublemaker, am I?" Nathan said playfully as he closed the distance between them and pulled her close.

"Absolutely." Kristin smiled as her hands settled onto his bare, sun-warmed shoulders. Nathan grinned and ran a gentle finger down the bridge of her nose. "And you, Kristin Bridger, are a brat." he teased as his finger traced the outline of her lips.

"I know." Kristin countered "And you wouldn't have it any other way."

"You're right." Nathan replied and bent his head to kiss her.

When they parted they moved inside and settled down onto the sofa. When Nathan had pulled her close to his side, Kristin asked. "Did you lose your wedding ring?"

"No." Nathan frowned and held up his hand to show her that it was still in place on his finger. "Why do you ask?"

"Because." she replied and reached into the pocket of her blouse. She pulled out a ring and held it up. It was identical to the one Nathan had on and he knew that if he looked, the inscription it bore would also be identical. "I found it when I was cleaning and thought it was yours. I don't understand how it's yours and yet not yours?"

Nathan was puzzled for several moments and then he smiled. "I think I might have an explanation."

"What?"

"Well, do you remember that phenomenon we encountered almost 19 years ago?"

"You mean the one that tossed us into an alternate future?"

"That's the one."

"Good Lord, I'd almost forgotten about that." Kristin murmured. "And I remember just before we left I gave my other self back her Nathan's wedding ring. You don't think this is it, do you?" she asked him.

"Yes, I do. It's the only plausible explanation?"

"But how could it be here if we changed the future and that time-line never happened?"

Nathan smiled and pulled her head onto his shoulder, brushing a kiss across her forehead. "Sweetheart, I don't even pretend to understand the mechanics of alternate time-lines and everything that goes with that, I have no idea how or why it is here. Let's just accept it for what it is. More proof that we fixed what was wrong and we know that horrible future never happened. Do you realize that today we are at the same point in time as when we arrived in that future?"

"You're right." Kristin murmured quietly and lifted her head to look at him. She was about to say more when Kyle stepped back into the room.

"Mom, Dad? Would it be all right if I spent the night at Jeremy's?"

Nathan and Kristin shared a glance and then they turned back to their son.

"Sure, son. Go ahead." Nathan responded.

"Thanks." the young man smiled.

"Have a nice time, Darling." Kristin added as Kyle turned and headed back to his room.

He emerged several minutes later with a small bag and waved goodbye as he headed out the door.


As the door closed behind their son, Nathan and Kristin turned to look at each other. They both smiled.

"You know what this means?" Nathan grinned.

"We have the house all to ourselves." Kristin added as she shifted closer "So what should we do with all this solitude?" she smiled.

"Oh I'm sure we'll think of something to occupy us?" Nathan responded with a feral grin.

Kristin returned his grin then rose and straddled his thighs and sliding onto his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck. "What exactly did you have in mind?" she purred.

"Well, how about making love until the sun comes up and we have no strength left." he suggested huskily.

"Mmmm that's the best idea you've had all day." Kristin muttered as she lowered her lips to his kissing him passionately as desire awakened and they did indeed make love until the sun came up, then fell asleep, exhausted and wonderfully sated in the warmth and comfort of each other's arms.

FIN


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