February 17, 1963
Amber gracefully landed in a random alley and she could already tell something was wrong as she was the only one there. She'd expected as much with Five and her pushing their temporal powers to save everyone, but it still felt despair in her heart as the portal above her closed. It was a brisk yet warm afternoon but felt cold and almost dead on the inside as she saw the portal disappear.
"Five! Diego! Vanya! Klaus!" Amber called out.
Amber almost felt like breaking down into tears until her thoughts were interrupted by a camera click. She quickly turned to where it came from and it was from an apartment from a skittish man. She couldn't have been the first to fall here and maybe he knew if any of Five's family or Five had landed.
"You alright there darling?" a kind southern voice asked.
Amber shifted her attention to a lone woman at the end of the alleyway. The woman had red hair like hers, blue eyes, pale skin, red painted lips, and was dressed in an orange dress with a white coat, hat, and shoes. At first Amber thought she was seeing her own mother but the voice, eyes, and whole dainty appearance were off from what Amber remembered.
"What's the exact date? I'm a little lost." Amber told her.
The woman laughed softly as she looked over Amber. Amber of course looked younger than she was but the woman didn't appear to be looking down on her. A look of concern flashed on the woman's face and Amber understood why given her youthful appearance.
"February 17, 1963 in good old Dallas. Based on your appearance though you can't be from around here."
Try not from this place in time Amber thought. Out of all decades Five you trapped us in the 60s... well I guess in ways she helped to trap the family in the 60s so Five wasn't all to blame. Still staying here for god knows how long was going to be murder Amber thought to herself.
"I'm afraid not, I got separated..."
"From your husband I'm guessing from the ring on your finger." The woman asked kindly.
Amber smiled a bit but still was wary of the woman. I mean she saw her come out of a portal from the sky with flames and electricity and she was treating her arrival like a normal occurrence. She was too casual with her to be normal and it couldn't just be a Texan thing.
"Yes, I know I look young, but I'm much older than I look. I don't need any pity but I do need to find out where my husband and his family are."
"Older you say? I would have never guessed it. However, you don't have to tell me just yet, but you are old enough for a drink at least yes since you barely look older than 16."
Yeah, since Five and her looked 13 due to...wait what Amber thought?!
"I'm sorry, 16 you said?"
The woman giggled and mentioned,
"Yes, a very gorgeous 16 I may add. You will have to beat men away with a stick you're that stunning though the wedding ring will also help in that if just a little."
It was then Amber realized that she wasn't looking up nearly as much to the woman and they were at eye level. She also felt a tightness in her chest, which she thought was from despair, was actually her chest as it had grown in size. Her bra was barely keeping her chest in. Her skirt felt tight and it almost felt a bit too small on her. Amber concluded that she must have aged herself during their jump remembering some of the temporal equations subconsciously. She'd hope Five would look a bit older too so maybe he wouldn't have such intense body issues. Who knows, maybe they can consummate their love again if they looked like older teenagers and less like teenagers entering puberty.
"Well, my husband's not here to beat them away himself but I'll manage. Anyway, do you happen to know the fellow that lives up there. I worry he might have been a peeper if you catch my drift." I asked.
The woman chuckled and shook her head.
"Oh no Elliot is not the peeping type at all, let alone peeping at teens. He has been losing a bit of his marbles with conspiracy theories over the years but he can't be all that loony if he saw you coming from the sky, right?"
Amber scoffed and wondered if her, Five, and Five's family had already screwed up this man's life. Every little action can cause changes and Amber wondered how Elliot's life was before they had meddled.
"So, you know the gentleman then?"
"He's an old school buddy of my husband. We got together a lot when Elliot was still with his wife. Now with her gone and my husband being busier than ever with his job I don't see him unless it is for his book of the month order. I'm sure if we go up, he will calmly explain himself. Who knows, maybe he's seen your husband's family come down this very alley and he can be helpful."
"Of course. There are some I'm worried about more than others so seeing what he knows will be very helpful, thanks..."
The woman chuckled to herself and shook her head.
"Oh, where are my manners. I'm Joanna Laurens. If we get a bit closer you can call me Jo if you'd like, my husband does all the time. And you are?"
Amber bit her lip since she really shouldn't be interacting with people in this time period, however she didn't have much of a choice. Plus, Joanna was being really warm and helpful so she shouldn't be so rude to her.
"Amber."
"Just Amber dear?"
Her maiden name is one she never wants to utter again and she can't imagine giving Hargreaves would be any better. Amber nodded and Joanna smiled softly.
"That's fine. We have only just met after all. Now let's see if Elliot will explain why he was taking your photo in the alley aside from the obvious."
Amber scoffed and commented,
"Me falling out of the sky is an abnormality or he's a no-good peeping Tom?"
Joanna found Amber amusing and a real spitfire as they made their way to the building and up the stairs to Elliot's door. Joanna knocked on the door and Elliot slowly opened it. He smiled when he saw Joanna, confirming to Amber that they did know each other. Elliot was a squirrelly man, nervous almost with brown hair and matching eyes.
"Joanna, hi."
"Hey Elliot. I have your book of the month and a close up of the young woman you took a photo of. Please prove me wrong and that your only reason to take her photo was just for your conspiracies." Joanna spoke calmly and with such charm.
Elliot blushed a bit but his eyes soon shifted Amber and his eyes lit up and widened.
"Y-You are one of them..."
"Yes, and I need to see if you've been tracking my family. Care to let us in kindly or do things need to 'heat up'?" Amber asked firmly.
Elliot unlocked his door and let the ladies inside. Joanna's nose crinkled at the place but she still smiled at its charm. Amber wasn't nearly as impressed and noticed a huge cork board in the room. She swiftly made her way to it and at first, she smiled.
"Klaus...you made it safe." Amber sighed in relief.
"Ah yes, he was the first one to land in 1960. He was calling out for an Allison, Five, and Amber I think." Elliot answered.
Amber smiled since she did care for Klaus and hoped he was doing okay for himself. Joanna walked up to the board and her eyes widened at the photo.
"Amber you're not running circles with a cult leader, are you?" Joanna asked in a horrified tone.
Cult leader? What the hell did you do in these 3 years Klaus, Amber wondered in annoyance.
"I'm sorry cult?"
"He runs a cult called Destiny's Children. It's a very large following with peace, love, and insightful knowledge or so someday. I would respect him if he wasn't tearing innocent people away from their lives and callings. I guess when you're a lost soul, you want others to be attracted to you to have some sort of completion." Joanna explained.
Amber felt her fire coursing through her since Klaus of all people should have been the one to know how Amber loathed cults thanks to her family. The fact he used the name Destiny's Children already told Amber Klaus fucked with the timeline with stealing pop culture of the future to help enlighten his cult. Klaus better hope she doesn't find him and he better not have stolen lines from her favorite songs or his ass was going to burn. Joanna glanced down at Amber's feet and noticed some smoke burning. She ignored it and they looked to the next photo.
"Allison." Amber softly states as she looks at the photo.
Joanna looked a bit stunned and asked,
"Pardon me, and I don't mean to be rude but what race is your husband?"
Amber gritted her teeth at Joanna since how dare she ask that and why did it matter. She than realized it would have been a reasonable question to ask in this time since segregation was a thing. Interracial couples would have nearly been impossible to live a normal life, if it wasn't downright illegal in some states in this time period.
"He's white and his sisters and brother are all adopted. Why do you ask?" I sneered.
Joanna looked downright horrified for asking that and stroked her arm nervously.
" I have nothing against blacks Amber, just was curious she was an in-law to you. I'm all for them getting rights. I hate this whole segregation nonsense but I'm the rarity, I guess. All honestly if the money is good, I don't care for the skin color all but it's the world we live in at the time. Though she does look a bit familiar."
Because of the time she was in, she couldn't go after Allison. It wouldn't be safe for either of them and Amber didn't want Allison to suffer more than she already had. Amber looked at the last photo on the board and felt her temper rising again. Joanna noticed Amber's anger and asked,
"I'm guessing he's an in-law you don't get along with?"
That would be an understatement and she hoped it would have been anyone else but Luther, but alas his gorilla ass landed in 62. He doomed them all and he of all people landed before Diego, Five, and Vanya. She was mad as hell and wished anyone else landed but him. Amber frowned as she saw that Diego, Vanya, and most of all Five hadn't landed yet. Joanna noticed Amber's eyes were tearing up and offered her hands up.
"You look like you can use a hug dear. I can't imagine what you must be feeling now."
Amber didn't want her pity but she didn't feel like arguing with her as she saw Joanna coming closer and wrapped her arms around her. Amber was probably older enough to be her mother and yet she was just letting her hug her like a brokenhearted teenager. She sighed as she felt Joanna rub her back and she soon felt a smidge better. Joanna pulled away and asked,
"You don't have a place to stay in Dallas, do you?"
Amber shook her head and with the three people who landed before her, none were viable living arrangements. She had no clue where Klaus is but he would be with his cult, Allison in segregated Texas was a huge no, and she rather live on the streets than find and stay with Luther. Joanna flashed a wily smile and offered,
"Well then, you're going to stay with me until we find your husband."
Amber raised an eyebrow at Joanna. She was a stranger and yet she was already offering her home without even asking her husband. There had to be some catch or motive behind her openness to just take in a stranger.
"You sure you're not the one who fell in the alley and maybe hit their head?" Amber questioned.
Joanna shook her head and laughed harder.
"Not in the slightest. We have a guest room for you to stay in and I can even get you a job at my bookstore. How good are you with kids since part of the job is reading to them at story times."
Amber looked to Elliot and questioned,
"Is she always this warm, open, and trusting?"
"Very much so. Truly a southern angel. After all she still helps me from time to time and does a lot for children. You'll be in good hands Amber." Elliot complimented.
"I never want to turn my back on a person in need, especially an interesting lady like yourself Amber."
As odd as it sounded, Amber perhaps should stay with Elliot since it has been proven Five's family end up in the alley near his place. Amber glanced at the board and Joanna shook her head.
"No offense Elliot, I know you're a quirky sweetheart but Amber shouldn't stay here. I don't want people thinking you traded in for a younger gal or have people think you kidnapped Amber despite her looks. You understand right?" Joanna told him.
Elliot nervously nodded in agreement but Amber crossed her arms.
"I need some way to know when the rest of my husband's family and himself get here. I've never been apart from my husband in the years we've been married and it's important I keep watch out for him. He'd do the same for me."
Joanna looked at Amber with a curious smile and asked,
"Never? So, is there no you and him and just a we and us?"
Amber thought for a moment and truth be told from 15 to 58...it kind of did sound that way didn't it. She never spent a day without her husband in 43 years and it was killing her aside to be apart from him as they spoke. It didn't help matters that Five would realistically be the last one to land now since he had the time power, which made her pain that much more immense. The silence was both deafening and spoke to Joanna. She needed to help Amber and it was fate that they met today.
"Elliot has my number for both my bookstore and my house. If he sees more of your family or your husband, he will give us a call. You don't have to waste god knows how many weeks or months waiting for him like a lost puppy. Take this time as a vacation of sorts to find yourself again. It may feel like you're dying now, but in time the pain will lessen and you might want to do things you hadn't before." Joanna reasoned.
Amber looked to Elliot with a stern look.
"You swear you'll call us the moment after you get their photos or get more information on their whereabouts?!" Amber inquired.
"Y-Yes mam." Elliot whimpered.
Amber's fierceness softened and noticed some paper on the table.
"I'll need the addresses to the house and the bookstore I'll be working at. Five needs to know where to find me."
"Five, that's his name? Like the Peanuts character?" she asked sweetly.
Amber nodded and began writing a long note to her husband. Joanna watched as Amber essentially wrote a mini novella to her husband and her heart warmed up inside to Amber's devotion. Joanna knew that something special was going to happen today and she was glad that she had been right. Once Amber finished, she got an envelope from a desk drawer and sealed it.
"Give this to Five when he comes by and you dare better not read it!" Amber exclaimed.
Elliot nodded and Joanna smiled softly to Elliot.
"You have work to do Elliot, so don't let us down. We will be in touch." Joanna told him firmly.
The women left Elliot's and Amber couldn't help but sigh. She looked back to Elliot's, only to have Joanna encourage her to turn around.
"Now you're going to need some clothes before we get you settled at the house. My husband Spencer will arrive in time for dinner and he works all sorts of hours. He will love to have you and it would be like we're a family."
Amber oddly smiled at the notion since that did sound nice if a bit absurd.
"I can't guarantee I'll be here long. Once I find everyone, we will be skipping town."
More like skipping time but she kept that fact to herself.
"Time is not just measured in the days spent, but the moments lived and emotions felt. You'll see for yourself that the time you spend with us will almost feel like a lifetime."
Amber chuckled at that since she had already lived a lifetime of sorts but she did like Joanna's spirit and it oddly reminded her of Maude minus the manipulation and lies.
"Thanks for taking me in."
"No thanks needed. Fate brought us together for a reason and we should enjoy our times while we have it. Now I think green, blue, and yellow are your colors and I know the best places to get the nicest dresses and outfits for you." Joanna informed Amber.
Amber couldn't help but feel she was meddling in Joanna's life and this couldn't without any consequences. She didn't have much of a choice and she'd rather take in the kindness of a random couple than a quirky conspiracy theorist or Luther. She hoped too much time didn't pass by until the day she would see Five again. The absence will only make her heart grow fonder for Five Hargreaves and against all odds, she will be reunited with him.