Chapter One

(Moana's POV)

One moment, I was walking around Motunui, and the next, my parents and I were transported into the 21st century, into the modern world...into the United States of America. Our minds fill with 21st-century knowledge, and we're in front of a house. I look at my phone, which I now have, and it's July 23, 2022.

It's about 11 in the morning. I'm wearing a red crop top, brown skirt, and flip flops. Dad is wearing a blue shirt, khaki shorts and brown sandals. Mom is wearing a red shirt and brown skirt and white sandals.

I see a girl come out of the house we're in front of, and I can just see she's getting the mail.

It's her. My wife, my one true love. Becky.

I guess she senses she's being watched, because she turns around.

"Moana? Is that you?"

"It's really me, kuʻu ipo aloha."

"And what does that mean?"

"It means," I say, blushing slightly, "'my beloved sweetheart'."

"Oh. Oh." Becky blushes.

A moment passes before Becky speaks up.

"So...how did you and your parents get here?"

"I...honestly have no clue...none of us do."

"I see. Would you all like to come in?"

"Of course, honey. Oh, I almost forgot: Mom, Dad, this is Becky. The love of my life. My one true love."

"It's nice to meet you both." Becky says.

"It's nice to meet you as well. Moana has told us so much about you." Dad says.

"Oh, really?" Becky asks, looking at me.

"Uh, yeah. As soon as we got here, I told them all about you. I hope that's okay."

"Of course it's okay, Moana. But...I haven't told my parents about you...yet."

"Because, previously, we weren't real?"

"Exactly."

"So, now what do we do?" I ask, taking my wife's hand.

"I guess you guys could come inside?"

"Sounds like a plan." I reply.

My parents trailing behind us, Becky and I go inside and get to know one another...officially, at least.

Becky tells me she developed PTSD from a past relationship.

Time passes, and, soon, the gut-wrenching moment comes when Becky's parents come home.

How are we going to explain to Becky's parents that she and I eloped...with no witnesses or an officiant?

We sit side-by-side on her parents' couch as the two creators of the love of my life trail in.

"Who's this?" Becky's mom asks.

We stand, and Becky nervously takes my hand. I squeeze her hand to bring her at least a little bit of comfort.

"Mom, Dad, this is Moana, and this is her father, Tui and her mother, Sina."

"And who is Moana to you?"

"Okay, so don't get mad, but Moana and I...even though we didn't have any witnesses or an officiant...Moana and I are wives."

"So...your marriage isn't legally binding?"

"No...no, it's not."

"Moana...I know that name. Isn't there a movie about you?" Becky's mom asks.

"Yes, ma'am, there is. But that movie took place six years ago, when I was sixteen."

"So you're 22 now?" Becky's dad asks.

"I'll be 22 on my next birthday."
"Becky, could we please speak with you for a moment? Alone?"

"Whatever you have to say, you can say to both Moana and me."

"Alright."

"And don't use the whole 'you can't marry a woman you just met'."

"We weren't going to...but Moana is way too young for you."

"She's only seven – almost six – years younger than me! And she's in her 20s! You don't want me dating her, not because of her age, but because of her being an assigned female at birth! Because she's a woman! I'll never be good enough for you, will I, Mom? No matter who I date, I'll never make you happy."

"Being gay is a sin. A phase."

"It's not a phase or a sin, Mom! What will it take for you to accept me for who I am, and who I love?"

"Who you choose to love..."

"Being gay is not a choice, Mom! If it were, who would choose to be discriminated against and oppressed?"
"Oh, please. That's a load of baloney, and you know it!"

"It's not baloney, Mom! It's the truth!"

Becky's mom and dad don't speak for a few minutes, until we hear three heartbreaking words.

"We're disowning you."

Becky's lip quivers and she runs upstairs.

My dad approaches Becky's parents, well, former parents.

"If you hurt Becky, you're hurting family. My family. And Moana, Sina and I won't stand for it."

"She has a week to pack up her things. I don't care where you go. I just never want to see that abomination again."

Dad moves to say more, but Mom stops him.
"We need to go get boxes for Becky." Mom tells Dad. Dad looks at Becky's former parents, seething with rage.

"I hope you're happy. You just broke your daughter's heart. Moana, go check on your wife."

"Yes, Dad."

I go upstairs to find my wife, my dear wife, sobbing on her bed.
"Oh, my love. I'm so, so sorry."

"What are we going to do?"

"We'll find a way back to Motunui."

"Will I be accepted there?"

"Maybe not at first, but, eventually, my people will grow to love you."

"As much as you do?"

"Maybe not as much as I do, but they'll come pretty close."

"Where are your parents?"

"They went to go get boxes so we can pack up your stuff."

"But if we go back to Motunui, won't bringing 21st century things change history?"

"Good point. Maybe we could stay here."

"Here?"

"As in this world, my love."

"Where are we going to live?"

"Well, we could always search for houses. My parents have good jobs and they don't mind us living with them."

"But I'm a burden."

"You're not a burden. Not to my parents, Rebekah Waialiki, and especially not to me."

"Really?"
"Really. Come on, let's get to researching houses nearby so we don't have to travel far, should your parents change their minds."

"We won't tell them where we're going, right? So they can't find us?"

"Of course, honey."

"Okay." Becky grabs her laptop from her desk and sits on the edge of her bed next to me.

She leans on me as she logs on to her laptop and opens up a web browser, and I wrap an arm around her.

"You doing okay, my love?"

"No."

"Sorry. Bad question."

"It's okay, Moana."

We get to researching houses for sale near us. Money's not an issue, since Dad's the head of a company and gets paid the big bucks, and Mom is a nurse.

"Money's not an issue, my love. Pick any house for sale that you'd like, and we can schedule a tour for it."

She picks one that's near a main road, but not too close to her parents.

My parents soon return with boxes and other packing supplies, and the four of us get to packing.

Becky's brought back to when she and her ex started packing her stuff, and Becky's PTSD hits her hard, but I'm there to help her through her flashbacks.