Further Tales of Time City

'Vivian, love, Jonathan's here,'

Vivian groaned at the sound of Mum's voice and snapped off the mirror, where she had been gloomily studying her reflection. Trailing down the stairs of Aeon House, where the Smiths had lived since the arrival of Mr and Mrs Smith in Time City seven years ago, Vivian couldn't fail to miss the tall figure of Jonathan waiting impatiently at the bottom. 'I can't stay long, or I'll be late for work,' he greeted her as she reached him, 'I just came to wish you luck,'

'Thanks,' sighed Vivian, unenthusiastically.

'Not that you'll need it, of course, but…' Jonathan suddenly realised that Vivian wasn't her usual self and paused. 'What's the matter?' he put a hand under Vivian's chin and lifted it so she was looking up at him, 'You're not nervous are you? It's not as difficult as everybody makes out, you know. They're only trying to frighten you. Anyway, you can't be sent out into history, all your chronons would cause the world to explode!' he grinned, but Vivian didn't smile back. She had suddenly realised what a lovely shade of brown Jonathan's eyes were. Pushing away the uninvited thought, she replied 'If they can't send me out into history when I fail, just what are they going to do with me?'

'When you've passed with flying colours, they'll give you that job in Time Patrol which you want so much,' replied Jonathan, confidently, putting an arm around her shoulders to steer her towards the door. Calling goodbye to Mrs Smith they left the house and walked towards Time Close, where Sam was waiting for Vivian, as always. He gave them his usual gap-toothed grin, 'Just like old times having you here, Jonathan,' he remarked.

'I'm making a detour,' replied Jonathan, calmly, 'making sure you get to Duration on time,'

Sam gave him a friendly punch, 'Only time I've been late was when I was with you, looking for the Time Lady,'

Jonathan returned the punch, but didn't rise to the teasing. Instead he turned back to Vivian, 'Good luck,' he said, 'Mum said that she'd hold a celebratory dinner if you pass, so I'll see you about seven, OK?'

Before Vivian could say anything Jonathan bent and gave her a tender kiss on the cheek, which made Sam's jaw drop and Vivian go scarlet. Jonathan took no notice and strode off in his most lordly manner, merely calling over his shoulder 'Don't be late, Samuel!'

In spite of Jonathan's rude remarks Sam and Vivian were in plenty of time. Sam, after wishing Vivian luck went off to his usual classroom while Vivian joined the rest of the students in her own class waiting to take their Leaver's Test, an exam which would determine their future careers, hence the high level of nervousness amongst the students.

Vivian sighed as her test paper disappeared from the desk in front of her. She didn't feel too enthusiastic about her prospects and the last thing she wanted was to discuss the test. There was no escape though and she wearily responded to her classmate's remarks as they made their way out of the building. The tests were timed to finish before the rest of the school, so the small campus was deserted. Vivian soon managed to leave the others as she was the only one of her class who lived in this particular part of the city. She let herself into Aeon House, said hello to the housekeeper, who was coming down the stairs, and as soon as was reasonably polite, escaped to her bedroom. Flicking restlessly through films on The Deck, Vivian jumped as the message alert on her belt flashed. Pressing a stud the message appeared on her arm "Compliments from F. John to V. Smith. Come to Seldom End immediately."

'Damn, damn, damn,' said Vivian, jumping off her bed and smoothing her hair. The results had arrived. By the time she reached the door of Seldom End she felt so sick that she didn't notice that she wasn't even out of breath after the long climb. On entering the familiar, dusty room Vivian noticed that Faber John was looking more serious than usual. 'I have your results here, Miss Smith,' he said, in more of a growl than usual. Vivian tried to look calm, though her insides were churning. 'Get on with it!' she wanted to scream, though she merely swallowed and waited for her tutor to speak again.

Faber John was unable to keep up the pretence any longer. Grinning broadly he said 'You've passed, Vivian, at the top of your class!'

Vivian's legs folded beneath her and she collapsed onto the desk that had once been Jonathan's. 'Passed?' she whispered, her hands at her mouth, 'Oh thank Time for that!'

Faber John smothered another grin, 'You're no credit to me if you've been going around thinking you'd fail,' he said crisply, 'I make sure all my students pass, thank you very much. Now stop thinking like a fool and go and celebrate while I compose a recommendation to Time Patrol for you. History department, wasn't it?'

'Yes. Please.' Vivian nodded, still not quite in control of her voice. Reminding her legs to behave themselves, she somehow got her self out of the room and down the stairs. Walking blindly through Continuum and Perpetuum Vivian emerged into the fresh air of Time City. She didn't feel quite real, a feeling she remembered from her first few days in Time City. She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she didn't hear her name being called, nor did she see Jonathan until he came flying across Aeon Square towards her. Reality kicked in and she ran to meet him under the archway to Time Close. 'Well?' panted Jonathan, breathless with his rush. 'I passed, Jonathan!' cried Vivian, catching at his hands 'I really passed!'

'I knew you would,' Jonathan hugged her, excitedly 'Top of the class!'

'How did you know?'

Jonathan looked startled. 'I didn't. Were you?'

Vivian nodded, smiling and Jonathan hugged her again, 'That's my girl,' he said, 'I knew you would, really,'

'No you did not!' Vivian punched him on the arm, 'Don't you go all lordly on me, Jonathan Lee Walker, you know it doesn't get you anywhere.'

'No,' replied Jonathan, suddenly quiet, 'Not with you it doesn't,'

Vivian's heart unexpectedly plummeted into her stomach as Jonathan all of a sudden took her into his arms and lightly touched her lips with his own. As if it was the most natural thing in the world she reached up and put her arms round Jonathan's neck, returning the kiss. A minute later they realised what they were doing and sprang apart, both red with embarrassment. 'I…er…ahem…' Jonathan cleared his throat as Vivian shuffled her feet against the pavement. They didn't dare look at one another and there was an awkward silence, broken by Jonathan clearing his throat again 'I'd better get back. I told Father I'd only be a minute. Er…I am pleased for you, Vivian,'

'Thank you,' Vivian risked a glance upwards and blushed again as she saw that Jonathan was gazing at her intently. 'I'll see you at dinner,' he said, gently running his fingertips down her cheek, before turning abruptly and striding away.

Vivian stared after him, leaning against the archway for support. She smiled and waved as he turned at the far corner of Aeon Square and raised a hand in farewell. 'Oh damn,' she thought, sliding down the archway until she was sitting on the floor, 'What on earth do I do now?'

'Vivian!' She looked up at the shout and saw Sam crossing the square at a trot. He grinned as he reached her 'You passed!' he said, 'I saw your results up in Duration,'

'I know' replied Vivian. And Jonathan kissed me, she added to herself, and I don't know whether to be delighted or embarrassed and I want him to do it again and again and again.

Sam was struck by her lack of enthusiasm, 'What's up?' he asked, 'aren't you pleased? You were top by miles,'

Vivian forced a smile onto her face, 'Of course I am. I didn't expect to come top and it was a bit of a shock, that's all,'

Sam pulled her to her feet, 'Come on,' he said 'You can treat me to a butter pie to calm your nerves. I've used my allowance for this week or I'd treat you!'

'You and butter pies. I thought you'd grown out of them,'

'Never,' grinned Sam as he led the way across the square.

Jonathan watched them from the window of the Sempiternal Office as they laughed at a shared joke and pushed each other across Faber John's stone. 'We were like that until today,' he thought, sadly, 'and now I've spoilt it all. Damn you and your silly feelings, Jonathan Lee Walker. Why couldn't you leave things alone, you fool?'

Dinner was an awkward meal with Vivian and Jonathan barely speaking and Vivian severely embarrassed over the reactions to her outstanding success in the Leaver's Test. The Walkers, the Smiths and the Donegals were relieved when the meal was over and the three young people left the room for the safety of Jonathan's room. 'What on earth is the matter with you two?' demanded Sam, throwing himself into an empty frame chair, 'I know how the Endless Ghost on Gnomon Hill feels now. It was as much of a struggle trying to get conversation out of the pair of you. What's happened?'

'Nothing,' replied Jonathan and Vivian in unison, both going red and looking anywhere but at one another. Sam eyed them suspiciously before going over to Jonathan's automat and relieving his feelings by kicking it until it gave him a butter pie. He settled back into his chair to enjoy it, 'Well if you won't tell me, I shall ask Elio. He'll know if you're plotting something.'

'He won't because we're not,' snapped Jonathan irritably. 'Now go away before I do a Vivian on you and shove that butter pie down your neck! I want to go to bed.'

Muttering his old refrain of "slant-eyed meanie" Sam got up and went. Jonathan looked apologetically at Vivian, who was biting her lips in an effort not to laugh. 'What's so funny?' he demanded.

'I was just remembering shoving that butter pie down Cousin Vivian's neck,' replied Vivian 'I don't think I've ever enjoyed anything so much in my life!'

Jonathan grinned at the memory and they both suddenly burst out laughing. Breathless, Vivian wiped her eyes and got up, 'I'd better go,' she said, 'You want to go to bed,'

'Oh…er…yes,' Jonathan jumped to his feet, 'I'll see you tomorrow, then. 'Night Vivian,'

''Night Jonathan,'

Once Vivian had shut the door behind her Jonathan let out a string of the worst curses that he knew and kicked the automat in a temper, causing more cursing as it hurt him more than he hurt it and, to add insult to injury, it spat a seaweed chew out at him.

After a good night's sleep Vivian felt much better. She pushed the embarrassing incident with Jonathan out of her mind, along with the lingering regret that it would never happen again, and concentrated on her future. Although Faber John had written a glowing report for the History department in Time Patrol, they still sent for her early that morning for an interview. As she barely had time to feel nervous she managed to acquit herself fairly well, in her own mind and arrived home in high spirits, secure in the knowledge that they had offered her a job. She had barely finished changing out of her formal suit of pyjamas when there was a knock at the door and the housekeeper came to tell her that Jonathan was downstairs.

'Shouldn't you be at work?' demanded Vivian, as she found Jonathan waiting on a chair in the hall. 'Most people say hello,' he replied, in his most lordly fashion, then reverted to his usual self. 'I took the day off. I thought we could go on a picnic on the river. Come on,' He picked up the basket by his feet, opened the door and ushered Vivian out before she could say yay or nay. They reached the arches where boats were for hire before she suddenly said, 'How do you know I'm not busy today?'

'You can't be, my dear, or you wouldn't have come with me,' replied Jonathan, taking her hand to help her into a boat. Vivian fought the urge to snatch her hand away as her heart started to pound in her chest. Jonathan set the basket down calmly, feeling as if Vivian could hear the thumping of his heart. 'To the time locks,' he instructed the boat. 'And transmogue please,' added Vivian, wishing Jonathan wasn't sat so close. He was making her tummy do funny somersaults. It was midday when they reached the time locks and they stopped the boat so they could watch the time-ghosts rush through in a panic. 'That was all my fault,' said Jonathan. Vivian looked sharply at him, 'Not at all your fault. It was the Lees who really caused the crisis. Anyway, Sam and I were in it as much as you were,'

'But if I hadn't taken you out of Twenty Century none of this would have happened,'

'Yes it would. We left time-ghosts all over the place. I had to come here somehow. Anyway, didn't we save Time City from being taken over by the Lees?'

Jonathan smiled, put an arm round Vivian's waist and hugged her gently, 'I suppose we did,'

Vivian sneaked a look at Jonathan, wondering if he was going to kiss her again. To her disappointment he didn't, merely commanding the boat to take them to the Lagoon. But he didn't remove his arm from around her waist.

Once they'd left the boat, Jonathan surprised Vivian by taking her hand and almost dragging her along to a spot screened from most of the lagoon banks by some bushes. 'I like this place,' he explained, 'I was hoping that nobody else was here. Are you hungry?'

'Not especially,' Vivian lay down on the grass and closed her eyes against the sun. 'Me neither,' Vivian felt, rather than saw, Jonathan lie down next to her. He licked his lips nervously and looked at her. She had grown and filled out since he'd first seen her as an eleven-yea-old evacuee and her Time City pyjamas showed her curves to their full advantage. The sun gave her skin a glow that suited her and added an extra gleam to her rich brown curls. Feeling as if he had an entire farm of butterflies in his stomach Jonathan reached out and curled his fingers round hers. To his surprise she sat up, exclaiming 'Oh this is silly!'

'What?….Vivian?...But…' Jonathan's eyes widened and his face went white. Vivian, deciding to take matters into her own hands, rolled onto her front pinning Jonathan to the grass with her own body and kissed him rather clumsily. 'I've been waiting for you to do that all day,' she said, grinning at the shocked expression on his face. Completely speechless Jonathan did the only thing he could have done. Wrapping his arms round Vivian he pulled her close and kissed her tenderly.

Much later they lay curled up together on the grass. Jonathan had one arm round Vivian and the other rested on his stomach. Vivian snuggled against him, her head against his shoulder and entwined her hands with his. 'I was really angry with myself yesterday,' said Jonathan, 'I thought I'd spoilt everything, but I haven't. Have I?' he added, anxiously.

'No, just made me realise something that I was trying to push away, that's all,'

'It feels right, doesn't it?'

'Mmm-hmm,'

It was with great reluctance that the two of them returned to Time City late that afternoon. Feeling suddenly shy they strolled towards Time Close, meeting Sam as he came away from a gruelling session with Faber John. His gloomy expression changed to a grin, which changed to surprise and finally disgust as he saw they were hand in hand. 'Great Time!' he exclaimed 'So that's why you were all hot and bothered yesterday! The next thing will be you getting married and then where will we be?'

'Married, obviously,' replied Jonathan in his most superior fashion. Sam looked helplessly at Vivian and gave a snort, 'You are barmy if you want to marry that thing,' he remarked as they carried on homewards. 'I haven't said that I want to marry anybody,' replied Vivian, calmly, 'you're the one who mentioned it. You'll get used to it, Sam.'

Sam made a noise that sounded suspiciously like 'Ugh,' and turned away from them towards his own house. 'I hope he doesn't decide to get his revenge on us,' said Jonathan, warily, 'He must be about due another butter pie orgy,'

'Well I know what I'll do to him if he steals any of my credit again,' muttered Vivian, darkly. Jonathan grinned as he and Vivian stopped outside the door of Aeon House 'I'll come and see you tomorrow,' he said, 'I want to know how your first day goes,'

'Don't,' groaned Vivian, 'I'm so nervous about it,'

'I was terrified on my first day,' admitted Jonathan, then leaned closer and whispered, 'don't tell anybody though!'

'I won't,' said Vivian, putting her arms around his neck, 'I promise!'

They were in the middle of saying goodbye when Mrs. Smith opened the door. She stared for a split second, her mouth open, then slammed the door shut. Vivian and Jonathan looked at the door, then each other and giggled. 'I think you'd better come in for a minute,' said Vivian, 'I'm not explaining that by myself!'

'Must I?' Jonathan turned an anguished look on her that made him look exactly like his father.

'Oh, yes!' Vivian took his hand firmly and led him into the house.