Walked into the room you know you made my eyes burn.
- Blue Jeans

I opened my eyes. The shades were drawn, and it was dark in my room. It must have already been late morning, if I had my way, I would never roll out of bed before noon.

My head pounded and I shut my eyes, ignoring the gentle shaking of my mother next to me.

"Alex." She whispered.

"Five more minutes, Mom." I moaned, covering my face with a fluffy pillow.

"You will be late; I was sent to wake you." She replied. Why was she talking like that?

"I had a bad dream." I told her, my voice slightly muffled by the pillow. It smelled weird. "I dreamed I was in a ball room, surrounded by Civil War soldiers, and I was wearing a...a…corset. I guess that's what you get for waking up in Vegas." I chuckled at my own joke. I'm just so funny.

"Vegas?" She repeated. "Alex what are you speaking of? Are you alright? It's quite normal to where a corset, you know."

I opened my eyes and tried to look at her, but all I could see was her silhouette. Still half asleep I managed to smirk at her, "Right."

"Well, your nightmare is over now." She said dismissively, managing to sound cheerful at the same time. "You are safe and sound in the Shaw Residence of 1861 Boston, Massachusetts."

That made me sit up in bed so fast I hit my head against the bed post, don't ask how, it's a secret known only to the village idiots. I fell out of bed and ran to the nearest window, yanking the heavy drapes to the side. Bright, early morning light streamed into the window, and I shrunk away from it, like Dracula. Everything…everything…felt new and different, and yet, like I've seen it all before.

I looked down at myself. First of all, what on earth was I wearing? And second, when I turned to look at my 'mother' I found Susannah smiling back at me, her thick, blonde hair in a pleated braid and a perplexed look in her eyes.

Then I remembered.

We're definitely not in Kansas anymore.

Susannah stood up and grabbed my shoulders, firmly. "Alexandra, are you or are you not in health?" She asked.

"I'm okay." I mumbled.

She arched an eyebrow. I had slipped again. I wasn't sure she knew what that meant."An Italian term I presume? I take it that you are."

I fought a smile. I lost. She grinned back gleefully and produced something from behind her back. It was a uniform. Sort of.

"I apologize for forcing you to wear trousers," she said, "but I thought since you were in Robert's regiment now, it would be easier for you to walk in trousers rather than a gown." She flashed me a dimpled, apology.

"You thought right."

She looked relieved. "I will step out into the hall while you become decent."

I unwrapped the package after she left.

I produced a pair of black pants; they were tight and had the same denim-y material as jeans did. On the back pocket a piece of leather was stitched on with an imprint of "Levi Strauss and Co." I smiled, at least something was familiar. There was also a white T-shirt. I frowned, too futuristic, and a navy blue coat, with silver buttons. But the best part was the navy blue kepi with crossed rifles on the front and a black bill. It was so cool. I wondered if I could bring it with me to the future as I put it on, delicately as if it may shatter or melt away.

Suddenly the Communicator buzzed.

"Yellow?" I said.

"How's it going?" Said Marty's voice from the other end of the line, coming in loud and clear. "Did you like the outfit I picked out for you?" he asked.

"What are you talking about? Susannah..."

He cut me off.

"Where the hell would Susannah get a pair of jeans in the 1860's? The first pair of Levi's was invented on May 20, 1873, or was it the company? Can't remember. Anyway, and do you really think that t-shirts are available in your point of history? Especially figure-hugging one's for chicks? They weren't available in the 80's let alone now! Believe me I should know." He explained. I rolled my eyes, it sounded like he was chewing gum or something.

"But she brought them."

"She thinks she did."

"Whatever." I muttered. This was too complicated to make sense. "What about shoes?" I asked.

"Your Converse will do just fine, shouldn't stick out so much." He replied simply.

"Are you crazy?" I gasped. "Of course they'll 'stick out'."

"Yeah but they won't say anything because they're all too polite" He replied.

"Forbes will." I shot back.

I could feel him shrugging on the other end.

"Whatever. He's an exception. We've got limited funds."

I changed the subject. "I woke up not knowing I was still in a different time era." I sighed.

"I know how that feels, I did that a few times before." He replied.

"How did you get me back in time?" I asked him.

"Something that has to do with light and radiation. Doc's people did it. The DeLorean was overrated." He laughed quietly to himself, like he was thinking about a fond memory.

I rolled my eyes. "Oh you're funny."

"Listen, got to go, over." He clicked the phone off and the line died in my arms.

Susannah knocked on my door and I tucked the Communicator into my jacket pocket. "Are you ready?" She called in.

"Yes!" I backed out. Stepping out of the room she led me downstairs and into the dining room where the Shaws, along with Forbes, were having breakfast. I chose a seat at the long rectangular table between Forbes and Susannah, with Robert across from me, his eyes rising at me. Sarah Shaw was at one end of the table, and Robert's father, Francis Shaw was seated on the other end. Robert's other sisters, Josephine, Anna, and Ellen were seated in a neat row two on Robert's left, and one on his right. It was pretty awkward, being late for breakfast, especially with my futuristic guy-ish get-up, I looked like a complete nut job.

Sarah Shaw rose from her seat.

"Alexandra, Susannah!" She exclaimed, "good morning my dears." I smiled and thanked her, sitting down next to Forbes.

He leaned into me.

"You look very splendid and feminine this morning." He smirked.

"So do you." I shot back, in a violent little whisper.

He choked back a laugh, and snorted through his nose. Robert frowned, unaware of what we were going on about. "Good morning, Miss Janeiro." He said.

"Alex." I corrected him, pleasantly.

"Miss Janeiro." He replied firmly. I raised an eyebrow but said nothing. What was that about?

After breakfast, the rest of the Shaw family led us outside, Sarah in tears, to say final goodbyes. We met up with Thomas, and he and Forbes and I stood together in a group, watching Mrs. Sarah Shaw hold onto Robert and cry in his arms. Robert awkwardly patted her on the back, glancing at us every so often. He tried to comfort his mother, whispering something in her ear. She drew back and smiled at him through her tear-streaked face, the love and pride that seemed to glow in her eyes and radiate to Robert was beautiful.

I wanted someone to look at me like that someday.

"I'm so proud of you." She told him.

He slid a foot in the stirrups of his reddish-brown horse, and swung a leg over its side. He looked heroic, seated atop the saddle, and for the first time I seen him, he fit in with the history books.

He made my eyes burn.