(A/N) This is my first fiction that is speculative. I am going to update it as I can. I really went back and forth as to whether or not I could do this idea justice – part of it has been in my brain since S1 and I've just slowly started gaining the confidence to just give it a whirl. This is going to span from pre-season 1 and then do some spec into S3. I hope you like it. Reviews are always welcome – they're major confidence boosters!

Emma Whitmore was tired of bloodlines and lineages. She had sacrificed everything for Rittenhouse, lived in isolation for 10 years, lied, killed, and manipulated for them time and time again only to be reminded that since noble blood didn't flow through her veins, she would never be quite enough. She had just executed two of the remaining three direct descendants of David Rittenhouse – Carol Preston and Nicholas Keynes – and the other pure blood families were furious. She was the figurative and literal red-headed step child, taken in by Carol only to betray her and feed her own lust for power. Now only one person stood in her way to seize ultimate control of Rittenhouse – Lucy Preston.

Emma hated Lucy with a passion. It was jealousy, of course, she knew that – she wasn't so blinded by her pride to recognize that she envied that perfect princess. As a direct descendant of David Rittenhouse, himself, a product of two of the most respected and elite families within the society, Lucy Preston was everything Emma wanted to be, but couldn't. The most irritating thing? Lucy didn't even want that blood right. She actively worked against Rittenhouse and still, she held more clout in the organization than Emma did, despite all the blood, sweat and tears Emma spent to prove herself worthy of recognition and respect.

Rittenhouse had recruited Emma when she was at school. They told her that they saw in her a great potential. Emma's childhood had been an unhappy one. Her drunk of a father and his subsequent abuse of her and her mother had caused them both to make a break from the oppressive situation in which they were living and seek out a new life. Emma Whitmore worked hard for every last shred of success she had. She was top of her class, but she had no friends – she didn't have time for socializing when she needed to get that grade, get in that program, get in that school. When Rittenhouse approached her she was beyond flattered. This ancient, aristocratic society wanted her, the poor kid from a broken home, to be their newest and most promising recruit. She was more than willing to take on that mantel and she would do everything and anything they asked. She wanted to belong. She needed to belong.

Carol Preston had been instrumental in her grooming. She was almost like another mother to her. Emma's own mother had passed away while she was in her junior year at college. Carol oversaw Emma's training in the finer points of Rittenhouse dogma, Benjamin Cahill had secured her position at Mason Industries, and Emma was given elite training in martial arts, hand to hand combat, and marksmanship. She was everything Rittenhouse had wanted in a recruit and then some. Driven, ambitious, willing and fiercely loyal to her new family.

Three years later, Conner Mason had completed his prototype for time travel, and Emma was one of three pilots handpicked to train on it. Stanley Fisher and Anthony Bruhl rounded out the other two. Stanley was the first to jump. His initial mission was a success witnessing the Battle of Waterloo, first hand and Emma was green with envy. She wanted her chance, her time to shine. Anthony Bruhl went next and the jump was another success. Emma finally had her shot. She had no problem with the initial jump, but on the return she miscalculated her landing and crashed the prototype, which put it out of commission for six weeks. She hated herself for making that mistake. Rittenhouse would be disappointed in her and she didn't think she could bear it.

Benjamin Cahill approached her in the locker room after the bad news was delivered. "Emma, we're so happy to have you as part of our organization. You've worked so hard to get where you are and we want you to know that we appreciate your efforts…but this mistake…well, it's put a hitch in our plans."

"I'm sorry, sir. It was an oversight on my part. It won't happen again."

"Yes, well as you know Carol has just been diagnosed with cancer. Our latest efforts to get this time machine operational have been driven, in part, by that very fact. We want to save her, don't we Emma?"

"Yes, sir."

"Well, as it is, we're investing more funds into Mason Industries to speed up the completion of the Mothership. When the Mothership is ready, we will be organizing a mission to reshape Carol Preston's future. As such, it is one of the most important missions we have heretofore undertaken. Of course, with time travel now possible, there will be many more opportunities to change our past and reshape our future. Carol Preston, however, is vital to the project. Hers is a legacy that must be protected and saved. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good. Because we will be selecting the best pilot for this mission. There's more at stake here than just Carol Preston's life. So, if you want to be considered, you need to prove that you are better than what you showed today. I had high hopes for you, Emma. I trust my faith in you wasn't misplaced"

Emma felt her face flush with shame. "No sir. It was just a miscalculation error. I know what I did wrong. It won't happen again."

"See that it doesn't. I'd hate to think we made a mistake bringing you in."

One year later, Stanley Fisher had a mishap on one of the test jumps. He began having strange seizures and visions and was subsequently placed into a psychiatric facility. Anthony Bruhl was noticeably affected by Stanley's accident. He was the better pilot, Emma had to concede, but he was a family man and this mission, these trips, were risky. He was fidgety and nervous and he didn't seem as committed or as driven as had been before. The only joy he seemed to have in his work was that of training his protégé Rufus Carlin. With Stanley out and Anthony Bruhl's disinterestedness, Emma was confident that she would be picked for the mission to save Carol Preston.

Months passed and things were finally falling into place. The Mothership was completed and the plans were being finalized for the first official jump under Rittenhouse control. Benjamin Cahill arrived at Mason Industries and Emma waited anxiously for the meeting that he had called for both her and Anthony. Anthony had just recently been released from the hospital . Three weeks ago, he had gone on another test run and had ended up in the hospital. Upon return from that run he was suffering from migraines and internal bleeding. He had undergone emergency surgery and there for a while, it looed like he might not make it through. He was weak, fading and had seemingly given up on life. But Rufus Carlin, his student, his friend, was at his bedside cracking jokes and reminding Anthony every day that he had a family to live for. Rufus was good like that. Emma was not. Anthony dying would only make her the obvious choice for the first official mission and frankly, that's all she cared about.

Emma entered the sleek, modern conference room at Mason Industries, and she saw, much to her surprise, that Anthony was already seated at the table. The meeting looked to be already underway with files opened and remnants of conversation hanging in the air as she slid into the nearest seat. Emma looked around the room with pointed interest. On the projection screen she noticed a photo of a brunette woman about her age.

"Who's the doe-eyed beauty?" she asked lazily. "New recruit?"

Benjamin Cahill gave her a smile, "No. That is Carol Preston's daughter…my daughter."

Emma lifted her eyebrows in surprise, "Didn't know you two were a thing."

"We weren't. Lucy Preston was conceived by order of Rittenhouse. She is, as a Cahill and a Preston, a culmination of two of the most noble families in our organization. As a direct descendant of David Rittenhouse, himself, she's practically royalty."

Emma felt the wave of jealousy wash over her. What a charmed life this woman must lead.

"So why are we looking at her on the big screen?" Emma tried to ask nonchalantly.

"She will be our lead historian and anthropologist – the leader of these missions. Currently, she's teaching at Stanford just like her mother before her. She had a bit of a wild side that we needed to um…take care of, but now that that has been rectified, we're right where we were meant to be. Carol pulled many strings to get that position for her and she's done remarkably well there, but we need her here. We've made the necessary calls to the current Department Chair and they will be cancelling her tenure meeting scheduled for the end of term."

"Poor Princess", Emma frowned. "I haven't seen her around the headquarters, sir. What, do you keep her locked in a tower?"

Benjamin Cahill grew serious. "No. She doesn't know anything about Rittenhouse yet and that is why I've called you and Anthony in here today."

Anthony Bruhl had been looking at the floor throughout the entire exchange, but at the mention of his name, he looked up. Emma was surprised to see he had tears in his eyes.

Emma stared at the picture of Lucy Preston. Her mother had gotten her the job at Stanford. She had no idea about Rittenhouse, had never gone through the rigorous training and teaching that Emma had experienced and yet she would be the one calling the shots on these missions. All because she was "royalty". Emma inwardly rolled her eyes.

Benjamin Cahill drew Emma's attention away from Lucy Preston and back to the meeting at hand. "Anthony has just completed his first mission for Rittenhouse and it was an unparalleled success. You should be proud, Anthony."

Emma was hit with another wave of jealousy. Anthony had already completed his mission? It was supposed to be her, it was what she had been working for these past four years. "I thought you weren't going to announce that decision yet? I thought that is why we were meeting here today?"

"No, Emma. The reason for our meeting today is to announce the maiden voyage of the Mothership. You and Anthony will be taking this jump together. I also need to impress upon the both of you how utterly important it is that Rittenhouse's involvement in this project go unmentioned – particularly with Lucy. She will be told when the time is right."

Both Emma and Anthony nodded their heads.

Benjamin Cahill approached Anthony with an outstretched hand. "Thank you again for your effective mission, you and your family will be well looked after."

Anthony, again, looked almost ashamed, and exited the conference room leaving Emma alone with her mentor.

"Now, Emma – I know we said we didn't make our decision yet, but I'm afraid we have. Anthony will be our pilot for the Carol mission. I tried to sway the other members of our society, but they were unhappy with your mistake and I'm afraid it caused them to doubt your ability. You would be responsible for the safety of not just mine and Carol's daughter, but of a descendant of David Rittenhouse himself. That's just not something we can risk."

Emma bit back her anger "I understand, sir. But I think I should have the opportunity to prove myself."

"Oh I agree. And we have a very important mission for you, but I'm afraid it is going to require some duplicity on your part and I might add, a change of scenery."

"What's the mission?"

Emma found Anthony Bruhl sitting alone in the employees lounge with his head in his hands. "Anthony, what's wrong? You just completed a successful mission for Rittenhouse. You and your family are gonna be set for life!"

"Yeah, but at what cost?" Anthony said quietly.

"I know what you mean, they've asked me to do something that I'm just afraid I can't do…and - "she began crying "they'll kill me if I don't comply."

"What did they ask you to do?" Anthony looked at her concerned.

"They want me kill Henry Wallace…Carol Preston's dead husband." She laughed through her tears. "Guess they really don't like that guy if I need to go back and kill him when he's already dead."

Anthony jumped up from his seat and grasped Emma's arms. "Emma, you can't do that. Please don't. It's not worth it."

Emma grabbed Anthony's hand. "Well, what am I supposed to do? They're gonna kill me if I don't do it. You know how powerful they are. You know how involved they are in my life. I – I can't escape them."

Anthony shook his head. They were both stuck. Both under the awful power of an organization he didn't even know existed until Conner Mason got bankrolled into developing a time machine. "Emma, we'll think of some way to get you out of this. I'm not as in deep with them as you are. There has to be a way to keep you safe."

Emma was pacing the lounge, biting on her fingernails, brow furrowed in thought. "What's our next jump?"

"Missouri, 1872."

She gasped. 'What if…what if I fake my death? We're doing this jump together, right? What if - I don't know…something goes wrong and only you come back? Do you think it'll work?

Anthony frowned. The idea of abandoning his teammate in the past didn't sit well with him, whether or not she was willing to do or not. She was young, smart, talented and 1872 wasn't exactly the 21st century. "It might just work. But Emma, what will you do? It's 1872 – that's not going to be easy."

Emma laughed, "Anthony, you know the training I've had. This will be like an episode of Survivor. I don't have any family that I care to see anymore. My father is in prison, my mother is dead. Why not live out my life in a new era?"

Anthony placed his hands on Emma's shoulders. "Are you absolutely sure this is what you want?"

"Yes" She looked into his eyes – not a trace of fear or doubt within her own. "Please help me, Anthony."

"Alright" he sighed "let's do this."

The Mothership was far more roomier than the prototype they now dubbed the Lifeboat. Even the jump was smoother – no turbulence, no impact on either the launch or the landing – it was akin to traveling in first-class after riding in steerage for the past three years.

Anthony assisted Emma in finding an abandoned cabin, since being a woman in the 19th century came with a myriad of problems. The two of them had managed to smuggle various supplies, a nice sum of money, and various essentials – particularly medicine - into their gear bags that would help Emma as she settled into a new life in a new…or rather, old century.

"Anthony, I can't thank you enough for helping me." Emma whispered as Anthony made ready to leave. "I don't know what I would've done without you."

Anthony gave her a hug. "Emma, you take care of yourself." Emma cried as his arms tightened around her shoulders.

"But what about you, Anthony? Who is going to look after you?"

Anthony hung his head. "I've already made my deal with the devil.'" He said quietly.

"You never told me what it was they had you do." Emma said, pulling out of the embrace and looking at Anthony's face.

Anthony shuddered. "I'm not proud of what I did…and God, if I had it to do over again, I wouldn't do it."

"Anthony, did they have you kill someone?"

"No, but it was just as awful." He sobbed. "She was just a kid. They wanted to give her a good scare - get her head back on her shoulders."

"Anthony? What did you have to do?"

Anthony walked away from Emma and took in the Missouri landscape. It was peaceful here in the untamed wilderness. He almost envied Emma for the life she was about to lead, away from Rittenhouse, away from the mess he now found himself in. He took in the soft, rolling hills, the beautiful green valley, and his eyes fell on the twisty winding river below. He drew in a sharp breath.

"Do you remember the girl from the meeting? Cahill's daughter?"

"The Princess, you mean?" Emma snorted "Yeah – what about her?"

"Remember when he said she had a bit of a wild side that they needed taken care of?" Anthony was speaking in a voice that was just barely above a whisper.

"Yeah" she snorted "what, did you have to scare off a boyfriend or something?"

Anthony turned his head and closed his eyes. Emma touched his arm, "Oh, Anthony, I'm sorry…I'm not trying to make light out of this. Really, I'm not. It's just she's ya know 'Rittenhouse royalty' and all that so I can't really imagine her being all that wild."

Anthony shook his head, "No, she looked like a nice kid." He looked off again into the distance and spoke almost to himself, "The whole mess landed me in the hospital…should've known better than to try visit a point in time that I already existed"

Emma was beside herself with curiosity. "Anthony - what could you possibly have done to scare the Princess of Rittenhouse?"

Anthony slowly turned to face her, shame written all over his face. "I made sure she drove her car into a river."