The Time Traveler's Wife - The Other Side

The Freak-Out

January 2013

November went by. Then December.

Laura didn't bother to mention the fact that she bumped into Carmilla in the present to her dad when she saw him for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years.

She put Carmilla's clothes in a safe place, and continued with her life to toil through finals and big reports. Her friends knew better than to ask her about where Carmilla suddenly disappeared off to.

In the blink of an eye, it was nearing Laura's birthday. She decided to have a little get-together with her friends and her dad in her apartment. Sherman was quite tickled at the fact that he could still bring some leftover Doctor Who-themed party supplies leftover from years ago.

"Your dad asked if you were serious about the theme for your party," Danny laughs on the phone.

"He's still on that? He already asked me last week and said he thinks he still has some napkins or plates left over if I really want to go through with this, so then I said, 'dad, I'm almost 22 years old! ...Of COURSE I want a Doctor Who-themed--'" Laura lets out a yelp when she turns a corner and collides right into Carmilla—a naked Carmilla.

"Hollis? You okay?"

Laura clears her throat. "Yeah, Danny. Carm just reappeared."

"Holy shit."

"Yeeeeah. I'll call you back," Laura rushes out, walking around her towards another pile of clothes to hand to a frazzled-looking Carmilla. Her dad showing up to the apartment to find Carmilla in a leather corset probably wouldn't go over as well, anyway. "Welcome back."

Carmilla takes the clothes gratefully and puts the t-shirt on, trying not to fumble with it even though Laura's chivalrously turned away to avert her eyes. She frowns after she puts on some sweatpants. "Whoa, your hair's grown a lot. H-How long have I been gone?"

"Uhmmm... a while," Laura mumbles. She didn't want to make Carmilla panic.

Carmilla taps her shoulder to show her she's done putting on the clothes. "How long is 'a while?'"

Laura chews her lip nervously. "Uhm. It's... mid-January."

Carmilla's mouth drops open. "I've... I've been gone three months?"

Laura nods slowly and gives a weak chuckle. "Happy belated Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Year's?"

"This hasn't happened in a while," Carmilla murmurs, sitting down on Laura's couch in shock.

"Take your time," Laura says carefully. "When did you go this time?"

Carmilla starts to open her mouth but shakes her head. "It's not important."

Laura frowns. "Of course it's--"

"Stop prying! God damnit," Carmilla snaps, making Laura flinch.

Oooookay...

The doorbell rings and Laura hovers for a moment before letting out a small sigh and going to answer it.

"Happy birthday, sweetie!" Sherman shouts gleefully as soon as Laura opens the door.

"Thanks, dad," Laura replies warmly, stepping aside.

He walks past her and puts down two large shopping bags, before startling a bit at seeing Carmilla standing there.

"Oh! And here I was thinking I'd be the first guest here. You didn't tell me Carmilla was gonna be here this year!"