SANITY WARNING

As a warning: this chapter will be a serious mindfuck in places.

Onward's to answers :D

Inside the Lighthouse

Entering the lighthouse, both girls worked together to force the door shut against the howling winds. It took considerable effort, but they managed it between them - like they had everything this week. Once done, they let out relieved sighs, locking the door once more to block out the harsh weather.

"Not gonna lie, I'm glad to be outta that," Chloe commented as she shook a few raindrops from her skin and hair like a dog. It didn't help much.

Max found a light switch and flicked it on, both of them squinting and blinking at the dim light coming from several bulbs dotted on the walls of the round room. To her right, there was a spiral staircase following the curve of the wall high up into the lighthouse. On her left were a bunch of old wooden crates of varying shapes and sizes, bits of fabric, wire and other scraps inside. Dust covered the old flagstone floor, mostly undisturbed. A draft seeped through the gap under the door, the hinges rattling as the storm raged outside. At the far side of the room stood a rickety table and stool. There were three items on the table from what she could see - a fist-sized gray stone in the middle and two things rolled up either side.

Approaching the table, Max couldn't help but grin when she realized what the rolled items were - two dry hoodies. Picking one up, she tossed it to the bluenette with a raised eyebrow, an 'I told you so' if there ever was one. "I'd say this one's for you... unless you think I need to wear both."

"Okay, I get it. I'm supposed to be here," Chloe conceded, peeling off her soaked jacket and shirt. Wiping as much of the water as she could from her skin, she pulled the hoodie over her head. It was a simple navy blue with a large C on the front - yet another 'sign' in Max's eyes that Chloe was supposed to be here. Not really her style, but at least it was warm and dry.

Max simply smirked, stripping off her wet shirt. While changing into her own beige hoodie with a matching M on the front, she could feel the bluenette's eyes on her, suddenly making her very self-conscious. Biting her lip, she wondered what Chloe was thinking now. After what had happened outside - the blue-haired punk had just been confessed to by her childhood best friend she hadn't seen in five years in the middle of a fucking storm literally moments ago - Max had no clue why she was staring. Clearly, Chloe did care about her, both as a friend and... other things, but love was a whole different level. They'd only been back together a week, and then there was the complicated 'Rachel' situation to take into account. Not the best timing... not like she'd had much of a choice, though. It was a 'now or never' kind of situation.

As for Chloe, she didn't even realize she was staring until she caught Max's eye, instantly shifting her gaze to a spot on the wall. What Max had said outside swirled in her mind. In a way, she was happy to hear it. Scratch that, she was really happy. Over the years, she had always wonder if maybe there had been something between them, both too young and devastated by loss when the brunette left for Seattle to explore further. Feelings like that didn't just suddenly appear from nowhere, they took time. And while it had caused a lot of pain, it had brought joy too. If they both survived this, hopefully it would continue to. She didn't want to get ahead of herself, though. There was still a distinct chance they would have to use that butterfly photo to fix everything.

"So, uh, now what?" the bluenette asked, clearing her throat.

Still trying to calm herself down from earlier, Max walked over to the table and noticed the yellowed, dusty envelope marked 'third and final'. "Well, there happens to be another letter. Wonder who it could be from?" she asked with a sarcastic grin.

Rolling her eyes playfully, Chloe shrugged. "Couldn't tell you."

Exhaling, Max perched herself on the table and opened the letter. Chloe joined her, hoisting herself up. Eyes widened in unison as they read the first line of the letter, speechless and stunned.

Hi Mom & Momma,

Damn, it feels so much better to write it like that. Surprise!

It took them a full minute to process that line, Chloe frowning while Max's mouth hung open. They exchanged tentative, confused glances. Instead of speaking, they continued to read. That first greeting line already gave them a ton of questions.

First thing's first, I know things look pretty dire. Not gonna sugar coat it, Arcadia Bay gets pretty fucked up. And there are, will be, have been casualties. Urgh, my past AND future, your present and future... insert brain melt. On the plus side, Momma, Nanna Joyce is ok. Little worse for wear but she's ok. David, Auntie Torie, and Kate are gonna be fine, too. Oh, was that a spoiler? Maybe just a teensy one. Then again, this whole letter is a spoiler, ain't it? Oh, you HAVE to go to Torie's 21st birthday. Let's just say that, from what I've heard, the morning after kinda tells the whole story with those two. So, that's something to look forward to.

"Well, shit," Chloe eventually managed, finding it almost impossible to imagine what this letter was implying.

"Kate... and Victoria..." Max muttered to herself, still stuck on the first line. This was yet another bombshell.

Words can't express just how much I've missed you guys. Feels like forever since we last spoke. Well, from my point of view it's been about three years at the point of writing this letter. In reality, we've never spoken. Hell, technically I don't even exist at this point in time for you, but I kinda do... or have until fairly recently. That is so weird to think about. I do exist, I don't exist, but will exist, and have existed all at the same time. Mom, I can confirm that time travel really does screwy things to your head.

"Yeah, no shit," the young time traveler sighed, already lost. Even a sci-fi nerd like Warren would get confused by all this.

Chloe, who was probably more acquainted with the sciences than Max, also found herself puzzling over the cryptic riddle.

If you thought all that was confusing, make sure you're sitting down now. Truth is, I'm stuck in the past; a permanent loop. Time literally won't let me go forward. So, all I can do is live the same few days over and over. Every damn path I take leads me to the same destination. It's seriously frustrating. Sound familiar?

Well, it should. Mom, you were the one who warned me never to go back to this point, and I did the exact opposite. And no, this isn't pointless teen rebellion. It wasn't even intentional. I let my emotions get in the way and overshot my jump... MAJORLY. Very stupid and careless. And now, I have to do what every little girl hates doing: asking her moms to come rescue her. So glad I don't have to face the music of this mistake. I'd get grounded for a month. Probably still will. There's a depressing thought, getting grounded for something I haven't done, even if I am 19 (technically 22 but shh). And the scary part, Mom could actually enforce it. Yes, you're scary when you're angry. Not that I'll ever tell you that directly. Guess I'll get away with it this once.

Unfortunately, you can't fix this yet. Not for a few years. And don't try to find me, you won't. Just wait, be patient. Pretty soon, you won't be able to get rid of me. Funny really, I jumped back to save you two, but now need you two to save me by saving yourselves. Told you this shit got crazy.

Both Chloe and Max paused here, trying so hard to get their heads around all this. In the space of one page, less than that, their minds had already been blown to smithereens. No words were exchanged. Needing answers, they continued to read.

Remember this date: October 1st, 2035. Seems like a long way off, I know, but for me, it was only a short while ago. There's a name your both very familiar with - Mark Jefferson. He escapes prison and... kills you both, that's the reason I jumped back. Thinking of him made me think of all the things he'd done to you, Auntie Kate and Torie... and I saw red. Before I knew it, I was here. I actually saw you, Mom. Only for a second, and I almost didn't recognize you without the pink hair. There was no mistaking the Polaroid camera, though. Some things never change, huh? Then I got bounced back for a few days, guess time threw a temper tantrum since I hadn't been born in your timeline yet.

But I found a loophole didn't I. Who's your clever girl? Haven't heard you call me that in so long... and I - this version of me at least - never will again. Another depressing thought for the pile. I left as many clues as I could, although I had to be careful, couldn't force things even if I knew they were going to happen. Time's finicky like that. (Splish splash :D ), Oh as an interesting side note, those picture boundaries can be expanded, within reason. But... be prepared for the worst headache of your life. Gimme a hangover any day. Don't judge, technically I'm old enough. Oh, and Mom, stop worrying about your power. I've seen you turn time into a pretzel and nothing bad has happened. Not since this week, you've just been through... well, unless you count a two-day lightning storm. The jury's still out on that one, though.

They reached the end of the first page, turning the paper over in a total daze. There was so much information crammed onto one sheet of paper, all life changing. Seeing Mark Jefferson's name again made them shudder, even more so knowing he would get out and... take his revenge.

I finally got to meet all the friends you spoke about, most are exactly how you described. Well, except Victoria and Kate, they really did change. Guessing Momma was a good bad influence on Kate. Seem's Warren's set to be a geek for life, although his film collection is pretty small compared to what I'm used to.

I've got so many memories of growing up. Never play hide and seek with Mom, she cheats. It wasn't until I was fourteen and my power came out that I figured out how she always won. Oh and Mom, when I'm eight, I get into trouble for eating all the cookies. It wasn't me, Momma ate 'em all, and she bribed me to keep quiet by letting me stay up late while you were working.

I remember all the rewind wars once my powers kicked in, Mom and me trying to one up the other... and yes, ganging up on Momma when she tried to prank either of us. You'd have thought she would've learned by that point: don't mess with a time traveler. Apparently not... Guess she felt left out, her title as Queen of Mischief threatened. And yes, I did use my rewind to sneak out to a few parties I don't think you knew about. What did you expect? With your power, Mom and Momma's influence, it was bound to happen sooner or later.

All things that had already happened in another timeline, but not the one Max and Chloe were currently living in now. It was strange to read about things that had and might still happen.

I couldn't have asked for better parents, or a better life. Just wish I coulda found my own way out of this mess. Guess it doesn't matter now. If you stop Jefferson from killing you, I won't travel back. That should break the loop. Ok, Mom is gonna have few blank spots in her memory, but I figure you won't really mind. Truth be told, I'm not sure how much will change, but any future is better than no future. I actually like existing.

I wish I could have seen you guys one last time, just to tell you how much I love you and miss you, but I guess this will have to do. Now, I have a party to go to. If I gotta go, I'm going out with a bang. Nothing matters now anyhow. It's all getting erased.

I love you both, always and forever, for all of time.

Your loving daughter,

Reap

As they reached the end of the letter, Max and Chloe just stared at the paper, dumbfounded. There were still so many questions and very few answers. When the door gave a violent rattle, they snapped out of their dazed trance.

"Da.. daughter?" Max choked, as she turned to the bluenette sat beside her, a tear rolling down her cheek. "We... have a daughter."

Chloe sniffed, letting the information sink in. "Guess we can safely say she takes after you, huh?"

"Oh, I don't know. I think she has your brains," Max said with a watery grin, placing a hand on Chloe's.

The blue-haired punk shook her head, the pieces slowly falling into place. "I meant with your power. How else do you think she got it?"

"So, I, uh, guess this means..." It only took Max a second to realize it too, biting her lip as she subconsciously placed a hand on her stomach. After a second or two, she met Chloe's gaze, both understanding what this meant.

Blue eyes filling with gradual understanding and a slight flicker of mild panic, Chloe turned to the brunette beside her. "Oh, and not meaning to alarm you or anything, Max, but... it's happening pretty soon. Reap mentioned 2035 - when she first traveled back - and she's supposed to be nineteen then, from the looks of it. So, doing the math, she's born in 2016, and by October that year you'll be..."

"Twenty-one," Max finished softly. It was almost impossible to think that in three years, she'd have a daughter. Hell, she had enough trouble looking after herself.

"You know, I... never thought I'd be in this kinda position - the 'surprise pregnancy' thing... well, at the time it wouldn't have been so much of a surprise, right? I mean, that takes planning and..." The shock gave way to a mischievous smirk. "Guess we shoulda been more careful, huh."

Max rolled her eyes, still stunned. "Unless you've been hiding something from me, I think we didn't... don't... won't? Won't need to be."

"Who can say? I have my secrets. You'll just have to wait and see." The bluenette passed a wink Max's way, watching with delight as her cheeks turned red from the insinuation. "Weird to think how, technically, our... daughter - that's gonna take some serious getting used to - was, is, will be... whatever, older than us while writing this, with all the weird time shit factored in. She did say she was technically twenty-two. I wonder where she is now. I mean, she left us all these clues. She has to be somewhere, right?" Chloe added hopefully. "Maybe we can see her or somethin', all grown up. We still don't know what she looks like or anything. Well, she'll look more like you than me, for obvious reasons..."

Biting her lip, Max slowly shook her head. "I don't think she's in Arcadia Bay anymore, Chloe. She came back, saw me and got bounced back a few days. Why?"

"She reckoned it was somethin' to do with not being able to meet you till she was born," the bluenette recalled, scratching her head.

"But bouncing her back a few days wouldn't change anything. Unless..." The young time traveler's eyes widened with gradual realization.

"Unless?" Chloe prompted, the suspense killing her.

"Unless it was when I first came back to Arcadia, she got bounced back to before I returned." When she noticed Chloe's questioning stare, Max continued that thought. "Meaning we can't be in the same place at the same time. You see it in films and stuff. Something funky always happens if you meet your past self, or family member before your born."

"So, she's not in Arcadia Bay then," Chloe summarized hesitantly, looking a little disheartened.

Max nodded in agreement with the statement. "I don't think so, no."

Considering it, the blue-haired punk thought it over. "So, she's been bouncing back, living the same few weeks over and over until she, what... left?"

"Maybe..." Sliding off the table, Max began pacing the small room, deep in thought.

"Well, she would've had to. Otherwise, you... we wouldn't be here," Chloe pointed out, watching her circle the room.

Mid-stride something caught Max's eye - something that made her heart drop. No, it couldn't be... could it? But then, how? If that was true, then... Swallowing back the emotion, her eyes still fixed on the floor, she managed to sadly mumble, "We won't be meeting her, Chloe..."

Noticing her abrupt halt, Chloe gave her a worried look. "Max... what's wrong?"

Picking something small, and painfully familiar, from the floor. The brunette clutched her hands to her chest, turning to face Chloe. Fresh tears began rolling down her cheeks. "I know... I know who Reap is."

Wondering why that discovery would make her sad, Chloe slid off the table and approached Max, who currently had her back to the bluenette. "That's great... isn't it?"

Sniffling, Max shook her head and turned, opening her hand to show the bluenette what she had found. She almost didn't want to, but... she had to.

Blue eyes fell on the item in the young time traveler's hand, heart dropping, eyes widening as she understood the implications of what Max had just found. The shock of it all, the impossibility, made her gasp. "Holy shit..."

So who's brain has melted...

If it hasn't yet next one should finish you off :D

Peace out :D