Cecelia sat silently for a long while after Gunther had finished telling her about the legend. Gunther grew uncomfortable as her narrowed eyes scrutinized his face. Finally she let out a long sigh and spoke. "Can you prove it?"

"That I'm from the future? Yes. Here is my cellphone. I'll turn it on. It's been off, because I don't have a charger here and it doesn't get service anyway," Gunther reached into a pocket and held out his phone.

Cecelia inspected it with a bemused expression. "I've certainly never seen anything like that before."

"You wouldn't have," Gunther shrugged. "It's from the future. So, do you have anything to tell me?"

Cecelia handed the phone back and stood up. "Not really. I...I told him to go back to his home country," Cecelia replied slowly. She hugged her arms around herself and looked forlorn.

"You did?" Gunther swallowed nervously. That was what CeCe had told him. Or anyway it had been along those lines. "What did he say?"

Cecelia shook her head. "Nothing. He just...he turned away and left. He didn't really care."

"That's not true!" Gunther stood up quickly and walked across the room. He reached out his hand to turn Cecelia's face so that he could look into her eyes. When her eyes met his, he was shocked by how familiar and warm they were, dark brown and filled with fire. "He wanted you to tell him to stay. He wanted you to demand him to stay. He loved you." Gunther was more than a little surprised by his sudden outburst of emotion. He hadn't even known everything that was going through his mind until this moment.

Cecelia gazed at him for a long moment, then turned away with a sigh. "I know that you aren't the Gunther that I know. Whether you are from the future or not, I know you are telling me the truth. He felt what you felt, I am sure, but I didn't want to stop him from being successful and being with his family and ... and..."

Her voice trailed off and Gunther watched as her hands started to shake, until she brought them together and curled her fingers around each other to steady them. "Some things are more important than success and doing what your family expects," Gunther softly responded. "I think you're more important to him than this opportunity."

When Cecelia turned around, her eyes were shining with held back tears and hope. "He wants to stay?...With me?"

"Yes, I want to stay," Gunther stepped forward and took her hands firmly in his. "I mean, he wants to stay with you and I want to stay with CeCe." He laughed gently at his mistake.

"I want him to stay. I'm sorry I didn't say it and I hope it's not too late," Cecelia cast her glance down.

"It isn't too late," Gunther pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around her, holding her against him. At least he hoped it wasn't too late to change the past.

A/N: Back to the future in the next chapter! As I said in my other story, I was delayed by a surprise family visit. Thank you for all your support. :)

~CoS