Kento stood outside of the jeep and stretched. He was growing bored and irritable. His stomach growled in agreement. Kento felt around in his backpack. He’d eaten all of whatever snacks he had. He opened Rowen’s and felt around in there, too. He didn’t have any food either. Kento thought he had behaved himself enough by not saying anything, but now that it was just past noon, lunchtime, he thought it was time to speak up. Instead of just mentioning that he was hungry, he decided to use his infamous whine.

"Guys! I’m starvin’! I’m gonna be a cold corpse by the time Rowen gets back!!"

"You wouldn’t have had this problem if you didn’t leave him," Ryo said.

"Look, flamehead, I can only say I’m sorry so many times. It’s not going to bring him back."

They’d been argumentative and fussy since the night before. Cye wasn’t in the mood for more of it. He reached out a back of trail mix to Kento, hoping to satiate him. "Here, Kento. Have some trail mix."

"I’ve been munching on trail mix since last night. I want some REAL FOOD. I’m talking about 3 hamburgers, a large order of fries, 2 slices of pepperoni pizza, and some Coke to wash it all down with."

"The rest of us are hungry, too, Kento, but we really need to stick around in case Rowen comes back."

Sage spoke up. "It doesn’t take four people to get some chow. It’s my jeep. I drove so I’m going. If someone wants to come with me, fine. The other two can stay at the cave and wait for us to get back."

Ryo decided to go with Sage. Kento and Cye stayed. Kento paced around restlessly.

Cye asked, "Is everything alright?"

"It will be." Kento paused then added, "I know I can be a doofus sometimes, but I honestly didn’t mean to come back without Rowen."

"Don’t mind Ryo. You know how emotional he gets. He’s just worried about Rowen."

"Like I’m not? Rowen is my friend, too."

"Kento, we know that. You gotta try to relax. Rowen can take care of himself."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rowen sighed and stretched out on the blanket. He had taken his jacket and vest off. Being the warmest day of 1753, he and Alexandra had decided to go on a picnic.

"Rowen, how long have you been stranded here?"

He thought. He and Kento had arrived in June of 1752. It was now March of 1753. "Nine months."

"Do you miss where you're from?"

"Yeah, I do. I miss my friends. I know they're worried about me, especially Ryo. He's the worrier. I hope Kento hasn't knocked him out yet."

"Did you leave a lady behind?"

"Only my mother."

"No wife or other woman?"

"None."

Alexa sat up. "What's wrong with those women?"

Rowen smiled. "Nothing. I just hadn't met one that has caught my attention. At least, none like you."

"So you had to come to 1753 for someone like me."

"Exactly."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was two hours before Sage and Rowen got back. Kento barely gave them time to get out of the jeep before he inhaled his food.

Cye shook his head. "Kento, you didn't even give your poor food a fighting chance." He was trying to lighten the mood.

"I said I was hungry like TWO hours ago," he responded sourly, directing towards Sage and Ryo.

"Could you give us a break? It's not like we could just walk across the street you know?"

Kento didn't respond to that remark. He just sat in the grass with his arms crossed, willing Rowen to hurry and get back before one of these guys seriously gets hurt.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Three days after their picnic, a letter came addressed to Rowen. He and Alexa gave each other quizzical looks when Nigel brought it. Rowen broke the seal and read the beautiful cursive aloud.

Alexandra could tell right away that she wasn't invited. Marlyssa had been after Rowen the moment he appeared there. What did she have up her sleeve? Hopefully, it was a dinner party, meaning more guests than just Rowen. She knew Rowen wasn't the least bit interested in her. If he wanted to go, she couldn't stop him. Rowen told her that he would go to Marlyssa's only out of courteousness. He would be there long enough to eat and chitchat, and then he would leave.

Friday evening, Rowen inspected himself in the mirror. He looked over at Alexa. She was leaning against the bedpost, silent. She had hardly said anything to him all day.

"How do I look?"

"Good."

Rowen was wearing a royal blue coat. It was Alexandra's favorite because it matched his hair. He opened the closet and removed his overcoat in case he needed it when he returned. Rowen kissed Alexa, telling her that he'd see her later. Mounting his horse, he rode to Marlyssa's.

At precisely 8 o'clock, Rowen knocked on the door. An old, old butler opened the door. His voice shook as he spoke.

"Mr. Clark? Welcome. Ms. Barnes is expecting you."

Rowen followed the old man into the dining room where Marlyssa was standing, waiting for him. He noticed that her chest was heaving. He hoped to God that it was because she was running to get in her spot for his entrance. Out of respect, he took her hand and kissed the back of it. That was a mistake. She didn't let go when Rowen tried to withdraw it. He nearly had to snatch it from her. He suddenly realized that he was the only guest.

They sat and started to eat. Marlyssa jabbered nonstop. Whenever he said something in response, Rowen could almost swear that he saw drool glistening from her mouth. Not very far into the conversation, he blocked Marlyssa's incessant talking. His mind was focused only on the woman he loved who was waiting for his return. After dinner, Rowen was ready to leave. Marlyssa took his hand and practically dragged him to the parlor.

"So soon? You just got here," she said, closing the doors behind them.

"I know. I'm sorry. I'm tired."

That didn't deter Marlyssa. She moved in closer.

"I think you're cared of me, Mr. Clark."

"I'm not afraid of you," he responded. "I really am tired."

"Then I'll help you get a little more comfortable."

She started to pull his jacket off but Rowen slipped away from her.

"That's really not necessary, Ms. Barnes."

"Oh, I think it is." Her tone of voice changed. "Mr. Clark, I don't know what kind of fool you take me for, but I know you're not Alexandra's cousin."

"How do you know that for sure?"

Now he wished he kept his mouth shut at that part a few months back.

"I know Alexandra's cousins. None of them share her last name."

So, it wasn't his fault. Thank God for her short-term memory. Marlyssa continued, taking upon herself to remove Rowen's jacket. "What will everyone think when they learn that a strange man had been living with a married woman before she became widowed? And for nearly a year, too?"

Rowen's heart quickened. He knew she was the kind of woman to tell all. Rowen pulled away from her.

"If you leave now, Mr. Whoever-you-are, they will find out."

"I thought Alexandra was your friend."

"She is. I love her as though she were my own sister. Yet, those who do wrong should be exposed. Don't you think?"

Rowen didn't answer. What did she want from him? He didn't want to ruin Alexandra's reputation. That's why they lied about his relation to her. All of the odds were in Marlyssa's favor. Everyone would believe her. They've known her longer.

Marlyssa noticed that she struck a nerve. She pushed her chest up against him. Rowen tried to avoid looking at her.

"Since Lexie is my friend, I'm willing to overlook it."

"What do you want from me?" he asked.

"You know what I want."

Rowen closed his eyes. He did know what she wanted. For her silence, she wanted him to sleep with her. He felt her hands working to undress him. He offered a silent prayer for forgiveness.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rowen eased out from under Marlyssa. She was dead to the world. He was glad it was still dark outside. Quickly he got dressed. Alexandra was going to be curious as to why he got back so late. He didn't look at the woman under the blankets on the floor. Guilt was gnawing at his conscience.

Marlyssa was the one that did everything. Rowen didn't offer any encouragement. His major mistake was thinking about Alexandra. That got him aroused enough to please Marlyssa. Rowen cursed to himself. He should have practiced one of Sage's meditation techniques and cleared his mind. Rowen was disgusted with himself. He shouldn’t have even come.

As soon as he got back home, he snuck in. Instead of going to Alexandra's room where he'd been sleeping with her the last four months, he went straight to his own room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

During the next two months, Rowen could barely look Alexandra in the eye. He didn't go into town or to the spring festival because he knew he would run into Marlyssa. He still hadn't told Alexandra. He didn't know how to tell her. He didn't need to.

Rowen and Alexandra were sitting in the library reading. They just had a casual conversation. Alexandra had pointed out that it was eleven months to the day since Rowen had been in his past, her present. Next month would be his year anniversary.

"If you aren't gone by then, we can have a small party. Just the two of us."

"That sounds like a good idea."

"Hey, when was the last time you've been to check on that cave?"

Rowen thought about it. He'd just been there that morning. He snuck out and was back before anyone woke up. He hadn't missed a day yet. He loved Alexandra with all his heart but his guilt from sleeping with Marlyssa was eating him alive.

"It's been months," he lied. "Truthfully, I forgot all about it."

Alexandra sat in his lap. "That proves it."

"Proves what?"

"We were meant to be together."

Rowen smiled. He kissed Alexandra. In the middle of an intense lip locking session, a loud AHEM exploded. They looked to see Nigel standing in the doorway.

"Ms. Barnes is here to see Mr. Clark."

Rowen and Alexandra stood up and straightened their clothes. "Show her in," Alexa said.

Marlyssa glided in the room. She nodded to them both.

"Alexandra. Mr. Clark."

They acknowledged her.

"Mr. Clark, I must speak with you. Alexandra, could you excuse us, please?"

"I don't think my cousin minds my being here," Alexandra answered.

"Very well," Marlyssa said. She turned her attention to Rowen. "Mr. Clark, I just wanted to let you know…"she paused, "…I am with child."

Rowen blanched. He felt the pit of his stomach drop. Alexandra mustered every ounce of strength she had to keep from fainting.

"I think I should leave now," she said. She rushed out the room.

Rowen watched Alexa leave. His heart was hurting. He didn't know what to say. Marlyssa spoke first.

"I'm sorry to just drop this news on you like this. I'm not going to force you to take any kind of responsibility you don't want. I just thought that since it your child, you should know."

"Hold on. I'm not going to deny the fact that I was with you, but I certainly wasn't the first. How can you be positive it is mine?"

She was taken aback. "Mr. Clark, you're the only man I've been with…"

Rowen crossed his arms.

…in a while," she added. "Look. The best thing right now if for us to marry as soon as possible. That way, no one will know…and our child won't be a bastard."

Rowen didn't say anything. The woman he wanted to marry was upstairs hurting because of him.

"When?" he asked.

"No later than the end of next month."

Rowen calculated. In one month, he'd have been there a year. The 16th of June. When was that damned portal going to reopen? He was going on a hope and a prayer.

"June 16th."

Marlyssa nodded. "That's a month away. We've got a lot of work to do."

"I'll leave all of that up to you. I don't care hoe any people, the colors, or the time. You can have and do whatever you want."

Marlyssa gave him a small smile. "Since we are going to be husband and wife soon, maybe you could tell me your real name."

Rowen sighed. "My name is George."

"George what?"

"Washington."

Marlyssa thought aloud, "Mr. and Mrs. George Washington. George and Marlyssa Washington. Doesn’t that have a nice ring to it?"

"Yeah. Real nice." Boy, are you going to get a surprise in 20 years!

As soon as Marlyssa let, Rowen sprinted upstairs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Marlyssa had barely made it to her room when the tears came. She sunk to the floor and sobbed. Marlyssa had to be joking. She hoped, prayed, that Marlyssa was joking. She thought about Rowen. That would explain his peculiar behavior. The first two weeks after that dinner, he wouldn't sleep with her. He barely even touched her. Some days, he wouldn't look at her at all. She was just now getting the old Rowen back, her Rowen. How could he do this to her? She thought he loved her. She always thought Marlyssa was prettier than she was. Maybe Rowen got tired of her and moved on to Marlyssa. Alexandra suddenly felt dirty. He was just using her body for fun until he could get back home. She'd been married, so it's not like he had to worry about tainting her. Her sadness at his betrayal turned into anger. She didn't want to see him anymore.

The door opened. Rowen stepped in quietly.

"Lex?"

She turned to him with a hateful glare. That look scared him more than Marlyssa's news that he was going to be a father.

"Rowen, I really don't want to see you right now."

"I can explain."

She broke down in sobs. "How could you? How could you, Rowen? I thought you loved me."

"I do. I love you more than anything."

He reached to her, but she pulled away. "Don't touch me."

"I did it for you, Alexandra."

"I don't think I understand your meaning."

"Marlyssa threatened to blackmail you…us. Lexie, everyone would believe her over me."

Alexandra stayed silent for a moment. She knew he was right. Although Marlyssa was her friend, she knew the woman would underhand anyone who got in the way of what she wanted. In this case, it was Rowen. Rowen took a step towards her. She turned her back on him.

"I'd rather be left alone right now."

Rowen didn't answer. He left her room and went to his. He paced. What did he get himself into? If being stuck in 1753 mean being without Alexandra and being married to Marlyssa, he'd rather hang himself.