The Time Traveler's Wife

December 2018

Carmilla frowns when she tries to get her bearings. It's somewhere familiar, but it's not Laura's childhood home, and it's not her childhood house, and it's not their house. She scans her surroundings for a few seconds before she realizes where she is-- their old apartment.

She runs over to find a folder and notepad inside it to confirm when she is -- December 2018, the day when she traveled away and left Laura to go house-hunting on her own.

Well, not if there's anything I can do about it.

She gets dressed, looks at the address on the notepad and silently thanks the Universe that Laura is so organized that she kept copies of notes for Carmilla, and heads off.

"I thought you were both supposed to be here today?" Past SJ says from inside. "Buying a house is a pretty big deal. Surely you need her insight?"

"She's traveling. Emergency," Carmilla can hear Past Laura say.

Carmilla turns the door knob and runs in.

"Well, we can reschedule. She really should be here--"

"And here I am!" Carmilla shouts out breathlessly.

Past Laura stares at Carmilla and frowns in confusion.

"Hi, Carmilla. Glad you could join us in spite of your... emergency trip," Past SJ says slowly. "So, we've just completed a tour of the house, but we can do another--"

"This isn't it," Carmilla interrupts. "This isn't our home."

Past SJ cocks her head to the side, perplexed. "You don't even want to--?"

"Nope," she interrupts. "Lemme see the itinerary for today."

Past Laura gives Past SJ a polite smile and gently tugs Carmilla away by the elbow. "Can we have just one moment, SJ? Thanks."

In the next room, Past Laura finally releases her.

"What year are you from?" she asks in a whisper.

Carmilla chuckles. "2020. How'd you know?"

"There is no way your hair grew that quickly from when I saw you this morning," Past Laura says.

"I will always love Laura Hollis deductions," Carmilla comments, making Past Laura giggle. "Anyway, I'm here to help you find our home. Or at least, that's what happened in my timeline. And it's a pretty amazing home, if I do say so myself. So why mess with that?"

Past Laura crosses her arms. "Kinda takes the fun out of house hunting together."

Carmilla pats Past Laura on the arm. "We'll get our kicks some other way, buttercup."

She leads Past Laura back to Past SJ.

"Itinerary, please," Carmilla requests.

Past SJ looks inquisitively over at Past Laura, who nods, so she hands it over.

Carmilla scans the list before smiling at Past Laura. She sees the address for their house, but it's not available until later in the day. "Well, cutie, you got your wish. We still get the fun of house hunting together." She hands the list back to Past SJ. "Do we have time for another quick tour of this house?"

Carmilla grins, already excited to pick out their chaise from one of the houses and seeing their house and balcony again before they bought it. This is gonna be fun.

~*~

April 2020

"Cup-kee, I'm hoooome," Carmilla sings out when she returns.