Lost in thought, a knock on the door behind her caused Stevie to whip around quickly, and a blush formed on her cheeks as she brought her thumbnail back up to her mouth to chew on nervously. Claudia smiled gently back at her from the doorway, wrinkling her nose a little to show her amusement.

"How're you doin, McFly?" she drawled, and Stevie huffed out a sigh as she flicked her eyes around the room she stood in. The bedroom that they'd offered her would eventually belong to Zoe in the future, but in the moment she was in right now, it was just an unoccupied room, decorated sparsely in soft floral prints that Stevie supposed were meant to be calming and welcoming, but it was throwing her off-balance. Her own room was currently Claudia's, while Steve was in the bedroom that Stevie had always known to be occupied by her mother. Perhaps the weirdest thing of all to Stevie was that Myka and Pete had their own separate rooms that displayed no indication of ever being shared. The rearrangement of everything she held dear was starting to make her stomach churn, and she figured it was probably best to just communicate this to Claudia.

"I, um, I thought I was doing ok," she mumbled, blowing out a shaky breath. "But everything that's supposed to be familiar, it's actually all wrong, and I'm trying not to panic, but..."

"Hey, hey, take a breath!" Claudia cried, darting into the room quickly and taking Stevie's hands in hers. Stevie was quickly startled back to attention by the very fact that Claudia was touching her.

"I didn't think it was possible to be homesick when you're standing in your own home," Stevie whispered, and Claudia's face softened into an expression of realisation.

"Oh my God, we're so stupid," she murmured condescendingly. "Here we all are grilling you for information, and not one of us stopped to think how overwhelmed you must be right now. I mean, look at you. You're just a kid."

"I'm twenty-one," Stevie told her quietly, reluctantly pulling her hands away as she took a step backwards. Claudia gave her a knowing look, but didn't say anything further. Stevie hung her head as she wrapped her arms around herself.

"Even after all my time in the Warehouse, I honestly never expected time travel to be an actual option," she said, chuffing out a disbelieving laugh. Claudia offered her a wry grin.

"World of endless wonder," she parroted, shrugging her shoulders.

"It's just a lot to process," Stevie murmured. "I mean, never in my life did I think that I would be the same age as my m..." Her eyes went wide as she caught herself just in the nick of time. Claudia was watching her expectantly.

"My, my mentor," Stevie stuttered out, toying with her ponytail nervously. A proud grin slowly crept over Claudia's features.

"I'm your mentor?" she asked incredulously, her eyes sparkling. "Really?"

Stevie could feel her heart pounding in her chest, and even though it made her feel slightly ill to have to so blatantly lie, she nodded her head as she sank down onto the bed. Claudia looked positively giddy.

"I'm a mentor," she murmured goofily. Stevie offered a cautious smile in reply, and Claudia blinked a few times before shaking her head as if to clear it.

"I don't really have much in the way of sleepwear, but I brought you some pyjamas," she said, nodding at the cotton shorts and camisole that she'd dropped on the bed on her way into the room.

"That's thoughtful, thank you," Stevie mumbled.

"I spoke to Myka, and she said that you can take something from her closet if you want clean clothes tomorrow," Claudia continued, "though, to be honest, I'm not sure if you'll find anything that's your style."

Suddenly aware that Claudia was assessing her attire, Stevie flicked her eyes downwards. It had been such a long day that she'd almost forgotten what she was wearing. Her short skirt was made of deliberately distressed dark denim, and her sneakers were an old pair of practice shoes that her team mates had stolen one night and decorated in team colours. Her tank top was cropped and tight, decorated in a geometric pattern of greys and yellows. Knowing Myka's wardrobe, Stevie could see the point that Claudia was trying to make, but she still blushed despite herself.

"I can usually make something work," she said with a half-hearted smile.

"Honestly, you're probably coping better than I would if I was in your shoes," Claudia commented, returning the smile. "I'll leave you alone for now, unless you want me to stay?"

Stevie was suddenly torn. All she'd ever wanted was for Claudia to want to spend time with her, but now that it was happening, she couldn't help but feel like she was pushing boundaries on the unknown.

"You can go if you want to," she finally said softly. "I think I'll be ok."

Claudia nodded towards the door.

"I'm just across the hall," she murmured, "and Steve's a few doors down, so if you need anything..."

"I know where to find you," Stevie acknowledged, and then watched as Claudia made her way out of the room.

"Try and get some sleep, McFly," Claudia said soothingly, her hand resting on the doorknob. "Things will all make sense in the morning."

"Good night," Stevie murmured back, waiting until Claudia finally closed the door before she allowed herself to fall backwards onto the bed, bringing her hands to her face as she fought to try and bring some order to her brain. It was almost too much to take in, and she was so mentally unprepared for what had been presented to her. Her parents, her proper, un-emotionally damaged, flesh-and-blood parents, were in the same building as she was. She'd had a full, albeit stilted, conversation with the father she thought she'd accepted she'd never get the chance to meet. In all of her wildest dreams, Stevie could never have imagined being in the position she'd found herself in, and even if she had, she could guarantee that she wouldn't have pictured herself there alone. Stevie would be the first to admit that she had never had to face anything on her own before; Pete, Myka and Miles had never really given her the opportunity to be alone, and Stevie had always just accepted that it would always be the case. Sitting up, Stevie put out a hand to take the clothing Claudia had left behind into her lap. The pyjamas were surprisingly some of the most familiar items she'd come across, closely resembling the sleep attire Claudia still wore in the future. Stevie felt her heart rate start to come down as she exhaled loudly and started to piece her thoughts together. She'd found herself in an unfathomable situation, but even with the panic still surging through her veins, Stevie had to admit that the opportunities it presented were undoubtedly of the positive variety. Claudia was emotionally reachable for the first time in Stevie's life, and Steve was suddenly there, so that she could learn everything about him. Stevie drew her lower lip between her teeth as she tried to stop herself wishing that Miles was with her. The Warehouse had always looked after her, there was no denying that, and as such, Stevie supposed that despite the unease she still felt in the pit of her stomach, she should trust that she was in good hands, and seek to take advantage of just where she'd ended up.


Claudia had raised an eyebrow and smirked when Stevie descended the staircase the next morning, making some of the courage Stevie had managed to muster overnight retreat ever so slightly.

"Did I do something wrong?" she asked, pausing tentatively a few steps away from the base of the stairs.

"No, you did not," Claudia grinned. "I just don't think that Myka would ever dream of utilising that shirt quite the way you have."

Stevie glanced down at her attire. Myka's wardrobe consisted mainly of jeans, smart dress slacks, and button down shirts, none of which were really to Stevie's taste, but the blonde time-jumper had unearthed the dark pink tee that she now wore from the depths of the closet. Opting to keep her own skirt and shoes for the time being, after pulling on the shirt Stevie had found it far too loose for her liking. Stevie had rolled up the sleeves, and then gathered the bottom of the shirt into a knot fastened on the left side, revealing her belly-button and the toned stomach that hours of dancing and acrobatics had produced.

"Claud, don't tease her," Steve chided gently, walking towards the door while swinging a set of car keys around his finger. He offered Stevie a half-smile, which she returned as she finished her descent.

"Aww, come on, everyone knows it's what I do," Claudia shot back, already herding Stevie out of the door. Her gentle ribbing continued when they stopped at the Univille coffee house, where Stevie ordered and then practically guzzled the biggest coffee that was available on the menu.

"I'm just saying!" Claudia laughed as they entered the Warehouse office through the umbilicus door. "You barely drew breath! That was a scalding hot coffee, and you put it down faster than Pete with a plate of cookies. And then you ordered another one!"

Stevie clutched her takeaway coffee cup in one hand, and placed the bag of muffins they'd bought for Artie onto the research table.

"Caffeine gives me life," she grinned, bouncing on the balls of her feet. "I got it from my aunt. She'd put Americano's in an IV if she could."

"Reminds me of Myka," Steve commented, and Stevie tried to hide her wince. Amid the noise, Artie bustled into the office, grunting at Claudia even as she handed him his own cup of coffee.

"Guess what Artie, in the future, I'm a mentor," Claudia chirped happily, flopping down on a desk chair and swinging casually from side to side. Artie turned to Stevie and raised a bushy eyebrow.

"I see that your efforts to keep quiet went well," he narked. Stevie pouted.

"Hey, it's hard!" she whined defensively before taking another sip of her coffee. Artie grunted again as he shuffled past Steve to the research table, subtly drawing the bag of muffins towards him as he sat down. Even with his hand inside the bag, he nodded towards the stack of books on the far side of the research table.

"Time travel is not supposed to exist," he started gruffly, holding up a finger when Claudia opened her mouth to protest. "I effectively erased time with the astrolabe, and HG's machine required the inhabitation of another body. What we're dealing with here, is something new, for our time at least."

"Wait, are you saying that Artie Neilsen doesn't have all the answers?" Steve asked incredulously, folding his arms over his chest. Artie glared at him.

"No, Steve, that is not what I am saying," he barked. "What I am saying is that without knowing the exact artifact that sent our young visitor here back to us, my resources are limited."

"Am I stuck here?" Stevie asked tentatively. "Am I ever going to be able to go home?"

"One day I'm going to be able to finish what I'm trying to say without being interrupted," Artie muttered. "These books, they are the journals of some former agents, as well as other men throughout history, who have recorded what they claim were efforts in travelling through time. I spent most of last night trying to put together how it is we are supposed to keep you safe while you are in this timeline."

Stevie sighed as she glanced around and then realised that rather than looking towards Artie, both Steve and Claudia were watching her, clearly making sure that she was handling the barrage of information. Her heart skipped a beat. Without knowing it, her parents were acting to protect her, and suddenly a little part of Stevie wondered if maybe she shouldn't be so focused on getting back to her own time.

"From what I was able to decipher, these travellers documented interactions with their relatives and people who would influence their own lives, but wrote these journals within their own timelines," Artie stated. "My concern is that none of these stories ever list what allowed the writers to travel through time. Without more thorough checking, I can't even confirm if the stories are true."

Stevie bit her lip.

"So I am stuck," she murmured, feeling tears brim in her eyes. Without even thinking about it, she leaned towards Steve, and rested her head against his shoulder. It was only when Steve's arm snaked around her waist and pulled her against his side that her breath caught in her throat.

"My advice, Miss McFly, is that you try to keep your revelations about the future as vague as possible," Artie said gruffly, pushing himself to his feet. "No lottery numbers, no political elections, no dates on the death of the well known. We, and I do mean we, will keep working on finding you a way home."

Stevie nodded as she sniffled slightly. Artie glared towards Claudia, who was looking slightly devious.

"Do not grill her for information on your own future," he barked authoritatively. "There is still a very big risk involved with her presence here."

Claudia scowled at him.

"You are the captain of the fun police," she muttered. Artie continued his glare.

"I could use your help," he said pointedly, and even though she rolled her eyes, Claudia got to her feet and followed Artie out of the office. Stevie and Steve stood there in silence for a while, neither moving, and then Steve cleared his throat softly.

"If I let you go, are you going to be able to stand on your own?" he murmured, which was when Stevie realised just how heavily she was leaning against him, just savouring his warmth. Letting out a bashful laugh, she pulled away from him, sticking her thumbnail between her teeth nervously. Steve stuck his hands in his pockets.

"Do you think maybe now you can at least tell us your name?" he asked, his blue eyes searching hers. Stevie stared back at him from a moment, and then winced, shaking her head as she directed her line of sight to the floor.

"I, um... my name..." she stuttered. "Steve, I was named after somebody, and if I tell you what my name is, it'll tell you more than you should probably know."

Steve had raised his eyebrows ever so slightly, and Stevie knew she was blushing again, which she was really beginning to hate. Away from the Warehouse, she exuded confidence, took chances, and was generally happy and free-spirited, and she wanted Steve and Claudia to know that side of her and not some flustered, insecure girl barely out of her teens.

"So, someone died?" Steve asked cautiously, and Stevie nodded, wrinkling her nose in defeat. After a moment, Steve shrugged his shoulders slightly.

"So McFly sticks," he acknowledged.

"Thanks for understanding," Stevie murmured, fiddling with her necklace. A look of recognition suddenly flickered across Steve's face.

"Claudia gave that to you, didn't she?" he asked curiously, taking a step forward. "It's her favourite. She must really love you to have passed it on."

Stevie bit back the sarcastic comment that automatically bubbled against her lips, but she was unable to stop the lump that formed in her throat. Steve's words stung. The urge to just blurt out the truth was overwhelming, especially when Steve was still looking at her the kind of fondness she'd always imagined he would. Instead, she nodded towards the pile of books that Artie had left on the research table.

"I wonder if maybe Artie would like it if we did some research," she rasped out, trying to keep her voice steady. She was already sitting down before Steve had the chance to respond, and she noticed the confused look that crossed his face, but he sat down beside her and handed her a book. Stevie smiled half-heartedly and busied herself with the journal, but she looked up when she felt Steve's eyes on her.

"McFly," Steve murmured. "You know you're safe here, right? Claudia's already adopted you, and I promise you that I will look after you the best I can. At the end of the day, you're one of us, and we look after each other."

Cursing internally as she blushed again, Stevie gave him a genuine smile which only grew wider when Steve reached over and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. It was such a subtle gesture, and she wasn't sure that he'd ever know how much it meant to her. Stevie turned her eyes to the book in front of her, but she couldn't stop herself from glancing towards Steve from time to time. She still couldn't believe he was there, but as long as she was, she'd keep as close as she possibly could.