The Time Traveler's Wife - The Other Side

The List

April 17, 2010

Laura's excited for several reasons.

FIrst of all, it's spring break. While college isn't anything she couldn't handle, it's nice being back in town with the rest of her friends. Danny and her had patched things up enough to go through with their plans to be roommates in college-- mostly because she was the only non-time traveling person Sherman trusted Laura to live with-- but Perry and LaFontaine had gone to a different university, and so had Kirsch and SJ.

Turns out they made better friends than they ever did as romantic partners.

Second of all, Carmilla is supposed to be visiting today. It's getting late into the night, but Laura knows better than to doubt it if Carmilla gave her an exact date.

And third of all, there's a new episode of Doctor Who.

The theme has just ended when there are footsteps on the staircase.

"Home for spring break?" Carmilla asks, fully clothed.

Laura squeals and bounces out of her seat, throwing her arms around Carmilla. "Yep!"

Carmilla smiles and gives her a small squeeze before they both let go. She sits down on the couch beside Laura. "Wild spring break you've got going on here," she says dryly.

Laura narrows her eyes in a playful glare. "I'll have you know that watching this new episode of Doctor Who is very wild."

Carmilla laughs and settles in, since it's the middle of the episode. "You're right, you're right. Always a wild time."

"You'd better not spoil this one for me like you did with Buffy," Laura comments, regarding her suspiciously.

Carmilla hums. "Isn't this the one where the Doctor and Amy meet Winston Churchill in World War II? And they find the--"

Laura clamps her hand over Carmilla's mouth. "Shh! Spoi--" She gasps and removes her hand. "You got 'spoilers' from River!"

"Or you did. Not totally clear on that," Carmilla murmurs. "But I'll be quiet."

It isn't until the credits are rolling that Laura realizes Carmilla is staring at her with an endearing look.

"Wh-What?" Laura chuckles nervously.

"I was just thinking how the first time I met you, you also covered my mouth and screamed 'SPOILERS' at me, like River Song in Doctor Who. Guess some things really don't change."

Laura giggles. "I heard it from you, first."

Carmilla crosses her arms. "We've really gone and fucked up this whole chicken-or-egg timeline, haven't we?"

Laura laughs at that and shrugs. "We're keeping things interesting."

"Yeah, I hear that's the secret to a successful marriage," Carmilla jokes without thinking. She freezes when she realizes what she's just said.

Laura's eyes widen and she looks like she's about to faint. "Wh-What?"

"Fuck," Carmilla curses.

There is no way Laura heard Carmilla correctly.

But Carmilla's horrified expression says otherwise.

"Oh my god! Am I your wife?" Laura squeaks. "Or, will I be?"

There's a squeak of a door hinge. "Jeepers," a voice says.

Carmilla and Laura both turn to face Sherman.