This is a longer one. Without Lincoln's assassination playing out, things in 1865 take an unexpected turn and the Team are there for a little longer than they'd like.

Lucy had just told the officer that John Wilkes Booth was a conspirator in tonight's close call so he's one to look for. In the chaos after the first gunshot, Lincoln had been hunched over but it wasn't until Flynn had leaped off the Balcony and disappeared through the stage curtains that she saw the President's arm was the only thing injured and everyone seemed positive he'd be fine, a prognosis Lucy was very confident in herself. The eldest Lincoln was helped out of the theater but still able to walk on his own clutching his arm to his side. Robert, her escort tonight had gone with his father but not without a look back in her direction. His eyes were filled with adoration, asking her to wait for him to return. She told Wyatt and an ecstatic Rufus when they came down the street. They hadn't seen any of it happen so it was news to them. Lincoln was alive and already being attended to.

"You changed your mind? You saved him?" Rufus' toothy grin covered half of his face and before giving her a chance to correct him, he hugged her and kissed her on the cheek and then walked off toward a group of black union soldiers who seemed just has hyped.

"Good job, Luce." Wyatt gave her unearned praise. "Proud of you."

She started to tell him what really happened when Robert appeared from the doorway of the Doctor's office across from the Theater. He looked out scanning the crowd and his eyes finally fell on her and his entire face lit up more beautifully than a sunrise. She could swear everything about that man was perfect. There's not a single thing on him that she would change. Not even that mustache of his. It was actually quite nice on him.

Every time he laughed or leaned over during the play and whispered a comment to her, she'd wanted to be able to join him in his amusement. But the dreaded anticipation of Booth's arrival had made her barely able to go through the motions. Robert must have just thought his father made her nervous. A completely reasonable thing to assume. Had Lucy been able to relax, she would have leaned her head closer to his as he spoke with that mischievous glint in his eyes. He was so good natured yet knew how to revel in the fun around him with grace and humor. And he didn't lack a strong sense of responsibility and duty. All of the good qualities she had admired in men over the years were pouring out of this one. She'd learned a fair amount about him on their stroll to the performance.

"Juliet!" He called and made his way past the onlookers. "Juliet!" Robert reached for her hands and clasped them with his. Lucy couldn't help but return his exultation. He was bruising on the side of his head from the butt of Flynn's gun but otherwise in great condition.

"He's going to be fine! He's going to be better than fine, Juliet. As a matter of fact, I tell you, he's going to walk right out that door in no time at all." Lucy was breathless as his joy was utterly infectious. She didn't know what to say other than, "Robert, I'm so happy for you." Beaming her own smile back.

"Oh! You wonderful woman!" Robert growled as he grabbed her around the waist, lifted her up and spun her around making Lucy squeal in surprise and laughter as she looked down at his face. History had already dramatically altered and there was nothing she could do about it now unless she was planning to kill the President herself and she certainly was not. Plus, this was such a nice moment to let herself get caught up in so Lucy let it take her away.

He slowed to a stand still but didn't let her down so she did the only thing any woman in her right mind would do in this situation. She leaned down and kissed President Abraham Lincoln's handsome son. And that man was a damn good kisser. Her fingers slid into his hair as he slowly let her slide down his body until her feet touched the ground and they both needed to take a breath. This man is just knock-you-on-your-butt fantastic, Lucy mused, a little shocked by her complete disregard for eloquence. Didn't make it any less true though.

If Lucy didn't know any better she would say he'd fallen in love with her in one day. Screw the obvious Shakespeare reference, this was a chapter right out of a Harlequin Romance Novel. Lucy was a strong and independent modern 21st century woman but everyone had guilty pleasures and Robert Todd Lincoln just might be one of hers. It was too bad she would have to leave soon.

"You are amazing." Lucy blushed. "No, really, Juliet. If not for you, my father and General Grant would be dead now."

Wait, what? "Robert, no. I really didn't-"

"Your humbleness and modesty astounds. Juliet, I know you are not a prideful woman. That's one of the first wonderful things I learned about you. But I'll give credit where credit is due." Lucy could tell Wyatt, Rufus and the black Union troop were subtly moving closer to hear. "The way you startled the gunman so his first shot missed my father- that was incredible. And as if saving your President weren't enough, you dare to wrestle the heathen so his aim on the General even fails. Myself and Grant may have fought him to relent to the stage but you're the reason two good men are alive tonight."

"My father told me moments ago, Ms. Shakesman, that if I didn't marry you, I would be a mad man with no sense or reason that he should disown." Lucy laughed at what she thought was a joke but suddenly stopped when his even gaze held steady. Okay, now I feel like I'm going to pass out. He can't be serious.

"I knew the moment I saw you in the theater that you were something special. It took a set of very specific circumstances to align to not only put us in each other's path twice but to also make everything else around it fall into place. I meant what I said about not believing in coincidences. Especially not in our case. I am of a firm mind that you and I are fate, Juliet. I'm not a man to take to his whims so when I ask you this, you should know that I mean it to its fullest devotion..." Lucy felt like she lost her ability to breath as his thumb stroked her cheek before he knelt down on one knee and drew out a ring. Where the hell did he get that from so fast?! "Juliet Shakesman, with the blessing of my Mother's ring, will you marry me?" Well that answers that.

They may have saved the other three men who Flynn newly targeted but Lincoln was never suppose to live. In her mind, their mission hadn't been a success. She'd lost her sister, she was apparently engaged to some guy in 2016 and there's another man she has to chase through time and try to stop the carnage he wants to create. Lincoln surviving could have thrown everything so far off that their world would be unrecognizable when they returned. And the man in front of her was one stone's throw away from a knight in shining armor. How are you suppose to say 'no' to a man like him? How are you suppose to say 'no' when there's a throng of people around waiting to hear your answer? How are you suppose to say 'no' when the man asking is the son of arguably the most popular and famous President of the United States of America? Lucy panicked. "Yes, I will marry you, Captain Robert Todd Lincoln," was her breathy reply as she gave him a smile. He quickly rose to his feet to kiss her again.

Rufus and Wyatt stood with their mouths open and looked wide-eyed at each other in alarm as whistles and cheers erupted from the previously silent eavesdropping crowd. A noise that grew to a thundering roar when President Lincoln, his arm bandaged and in a sling, walked out with his wife and First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln. Hats were thrown in the air. The celebration of their slave freeing Commander-in-Chief narrowly avoiding death and his soon to be married son with the heroine of the day.

"Lucy!" Wyatt hissed as the Presidential Carriage was being pulled forward and the doors opened for them. Lucy shrugged at him as if to say 'What do you want me to do?!'

"Uh, Ms. Shakesman, may I have a quick word?" Wyatt spoke up.

"Not just now, Soldier. Incase you missed it, this newly engaged woman is my fiancé and we are off to celebrate." Robert gave her that Million-watt smile of his and assisted her in. "I believe you men have revelries to get to yourselves. Congratulations on a war well fought and won!"

"Yes, Sir." Wyatt said through clenched teeth and backed away.

The carriage doors closed and Lucy sat next to Robert with his parents in the bench seat across from them. A very round, yet petite Mary Todd smiles at her. "How romantic. Do you like your ring, dear?" The giddiness fills this woman to the brim which surprises Lucy. She'd always thought of the First Lady as stoic in these years.

Lucy looks down at the ring she didn't remember putting on her finger. "I love it, Mrs. Lincoln. Thank you so much for allowing Robert to propose with it."

Mary sighed. "To think the two of you met just this morning and the winds of love and chance just wouldn't let you go. I simply don't know what I would do without my Abe." Fall to pieces before finally ending up forcibly committed to a sanitarium in a decade because your children don't know what else to do. But she didn't dare speak it aloud. "Thank heavens you were there, Juliet. What a wonderful daughter-in-law to have and such a beauty too! You and I are going to be such close confidants, I just know it."

Her prattling garnered a barely perceptible look of annoyance on the President's face and Lucy had to stop herself from bursting into laughter. It didn't escape her 'future Father-in-Law's attention. He gave her a glance that said 'It's our secret, hold it together'. And just like that, the panic and worry evaporate. Lucy Preston and President Abraham Lincoln had an inside joke and Lucy wanted to squeal so bad. Suck it, Stanford Department of History! You can take your tenure and shove it up your-

"Juliet?"

"Yes, Mrs. Lincoln?"

"Did you hear what I said?"

The President had a slight smile at the corner of his mouth. He was making fun of her. 'You've done it now' she could hear him say.

"No, Mrs. Lincoln. I'm so sorry." Considering how fanciful the First Lady seemed, Lucy needed to sell this to stay in her good graces. "I just can't believe how fortunate I am to find a man like Robert. I suppose it's all just so overwhelming. You raised such a miraculous son and I don't know what to do with myself when everything I've always wanted but never thought I would get walks right into my life." Mary gasps in response and fans her face trying not to cry.

Lucy looked to 'Honest Abe' for his opinion. A slight forward tick of his head is all she gets for a nod of approval.

She felt Robert turn more fully to look at her. Uh-oh. Sold it too well. He didn't say anything but sat there staring so Lucy finally turned to look back and was hit by a fact she hadn't realized before. Not that she would, but were she to stay, this man would lovingly stand by her for the rest of their lives and be everything a woman could ever want if she let him.

Even though life as Lincoln royalty would be one full of history she could see first hand, people she could meet and happiness with a pure and decent hard working man, there was something missing. It wasn't the era. She didn't need smartphones and snapchat to be content. The slower pace here and the customs are beautiful. The advancements thus far in 1865 suit her just fine (mostly). It was that she would get bored of all this goodness. If everything were perfect, it would be unsatisfying. If there were no challenges, if no one pushed her- how empty would the 'happiness' become?

Lucy was surprised when it dawned on her that she needed the grit. She needed the ugly and the undesirable, the unpredictable. And, even though it terrified her every time she got into that Lifeboat, she was getting a taste for the adventure. Even with all the fear. Even with the close calls. Lucy didn't want to let that go and she didn't want to stop fighting to save lives. She felt an uplifting and fulfilling sense of purpose for the first time in her life and Amy would be so proud.

As the carriage clopped onward, Mary remarked how good it would be to get home and out of these messy clothes. Then she happily held up the entire conversation talking about the new dresses she and 'Juliet' would get fitted for and...

Now, to come up with a plan of how to escape the family of Abraham Lincoln. Ya know, respectfully.

It was morning and Garcia was helping Anthony with getting the Mothership prepped when Karl walked in holding a newspaper that looked like it was made out of parchment. He was dressed in his modern clothes while the other two were already in their 60's garb.

"Flynn," the operative called. Garcia looked up, noticed Karl wasn't in his period appropriate attire.

"What are you doing? Get dressed. We're leaving for '62 Vegas soon."

"Lifeboat hasn't come back from 1865 yet."

"What are you talking about? Lucy was at her engagement party last night at her Mother's house." Garcia was still distracted with some of the couplings he was detaching from the outer rim on the bottom side.

"No, she didn't. The party started but Lucy Preston never showed up and eventually everyone left because no one could get ahold of her. I think they're about to call the police in."

"What?" Garcia rolled out from under the Mothership and felt a paper plop down on his stomach.

"The morning edition from D.C., April 15th, 1865." Karl informed.

"I don't need to read the news, I was the news."

"You were some of it."

Garcia huffed a breath of impatience and pulled the ancient paper in front of him. After skimming for a few lines, he found what Karl much have been talking about. There, drawn in black and white was an illustration of Robert Todd Lincoln on his knee in front of a stunned Lucy Preston, holding out a ring, surrounded by spectators. The headline for that section read 'Presidential First-Born to marry Ford Theater Heroine!' The following section was filled with the story about how Captain Robert Lincoln and actress Juliet Shakesman met and fell in love in one day followed by an evening of thrilling action where they fought side by side to disarm a gunman and save President Lincoln and General Grant.

"The Groom-to-be describes his upcoming nuptials as fated" Garcia read out, irritation growing. "The Lincoln family are rumored to be planning a ceremony that symbolizes the miraculous victories of this past year from the Union surmounting the Civil War until the stars aligned to lead to wedded bliss. Jesus Christ, Lucy!" Garcia tossed the paper and the wrench he'd been working with across the room.

"Maybe she's really in love with the guy," Karl shrugged. Garcia pinned him with a glare. Anthony had bent down to pick up the discarded paper to read the rest with a small chuckle that Garcia ignores.

One thing about Karl that he both found useful and frustrating depending on the situation was that the man didn't really care about anything. Nothing got to him, nothing phased him and he just rolled with it all. Usually a convenient trait, especially in their current work. Now an annoying one.

"Man's father doesn't die, he's happy, woman that helped save him is there, he's already started courting her, takes it as a sign and pops the question. Not a stretch. Lucy stands there and feels like she can't turn him down because of how kind he's been and who he is. Also, not a stretch." Garcia drew it out, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"She's staying in the White House. You think Carlin and Logan will get her out?"

"On this one, I honestly don't know. Which means we won't be going to Vegas yet. We're going back to D.C. minus almost a hundred more years." Garcia got up to change clothes again.

"What's the plan, Boss?"

"I've got a Goddamn Historian to kidnap."

To Be Continued...