Horatio Hornblower: Catching Love in an Hourglass.
Summary: Horatio is thrown forward in time while a storm on board to find himself in New York City in the year 2003. How would he find his way back? Would the people he meets believe him and how is the world changing back in his old life? Worst of all the only person that knows he's from the past is stuck at a hospital. What will happen? Find out! ~*~*~*~*~*~
Disclaimer: I don't own anything of Horatio Hornblower the movies or the series. Since I'm from America, I only had the chance to see Horatio Hornblower: Loyalty and now Horatio Hornblower: Duty (If I did I wouldn't be writing this fanfic now would I?)
Thanks for the reviews! Shirty and Arianna Sunrise This chapter goes out to you two. (I might as well dedicate it to both of you the whole story huh?)
So if anything is wrong please tell me and I'll be grateful.
~Lia
~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 3: Trust from the heart
Horatio stared, he couldn't help but not stare. He turned away but looked again. He picked up an eyebrow and looked away again. Prince stood there doing his business as Horatio gave a glance every 5 seconds. Once the puppy was done, it gave a happy bark and went on it's way but Horatio put on the collar back. How he found out how to put it, he had no idea.
"Excuse me sir," He heard as he turned and said. "Excuse me."
"Pick it up." The officer said. Horatio looked back at the poop lying there. "Absolutely not." He said a bit offended. "Okay, maybe you new around here, you have to pick up after the dog's poop,"
"Why?" Horatio said as Prince scratched it's long flopping brown ear.
"It's the law " The officer said now impatient. Horatio sighed and then said. "Are you telling me miss that there is a law where young gentlemen have to pick up after canine bowl movements?"
"Why don't you quit your fancy talk and just pick it up." The officer said. Horatio although refused. "I refuse miss, Respectively "
"I didn't think I had to do this to a man like yourself," She said as she took out a long yellow pad and a pen. She clicked the top and started to write something. "so what's your name?"
"Horatio Hornblower of the Royal Navy."
The woman stopped writing it for a moment and picked up an eyebrow. "Yeah and my name is Archie Kennedy, you're not the only one that read the books."
She went over and looked at the collar of the puppy. "Louis Fuentes huh?" She wrote down everything and gave it to Horatio. "Here, Louis" She headed out and started to laugh. Horatio held the yellow paper in his hand. He shrugged and put it in his pocket as he kept walking.
He looked amazed as he kept walking. He had never seen anything like it.
He kept racing around as he looked all over at all the lights that filled up New York. There was loud music that he couldn't bear in his ears. His mouth was slightly opened as he looked up at the tall building not knowing where the roof was at.
"The crew will never believe I was here," He said softly to himself. He then felt something sink in his knee. He looked down at the puppy there. "Well, you again causing me problems. I forgot you was even here."
The puppy whined as if he understood what Horatio just said. Horatio smiled but the puppy stood there still having his front paws of Horatio's knee. Horatio understood and picked up the puppy.
"You are an unpredictable canine,"
He started walking forgetting he had a place to return to or the group will go insane trying to track him, especially Nicholas. Horatio had no idea how Nicholas knew him so well, maybe he had heard through word of mouth.
He didn't care and he was stills cared out his mind like never before. He had to put down the pup after a while and he was once again dragged back home. He was brave but when you're stuck in a world where he was at you felt trapped and treated like a fool. This canine must have taken him back here because he was to be imprison here. His feelings made no sense but his mind was too frightened to even think.
~*~*~*~*
Where our Nicholas is at....
"He's from the eighteenth century Serene. This is not a joke, I'm begging you just take care of him."
"He's a grown man, he can take of himself Nick."
"Where is he?" Nicholas said lying on the bed. He had a cast around his left knee and another one around his right arm. He looked like a mummy in the bed just alive with skin.
"He's outside walking my pup." Serendipity said leaning against the wall. "I had to go somewhere for an applicatio and then I get a call saying you're at the hospital."
"The phone call was meant for Horatio, not you. Serene you don't understand Horatio has been taken from history books and his destiny will change a lot of thing. Do you know what will happen if the French Revolutionary War is changed?"
"No, I wouldn't know because I wasn't as smart as you. I'm not attending the great college you did so no Nicholas I wouldn't know. "
Nicholas let out a sigh of annoyence. "Serene, you need to believe me—"
"Nick, I did believe once. I believed a year ago that you would find this crack in time and you know what you did? You made me look like an idiot. I had to change my high school because you were too scared to go off and tell it yourself. I was the laughing stock of that school, you know why I did it? I did because I loved you Nicholas."
Nicholas looked at her for a long time. "I'm sorry Serene, but that time is over. Look, here is pictures." He said handing her the film with a lot of effort.
Serendipity took it and looked at the film. "You want double prints because I know this place that gives it off for free."
Nicholas looked at her. "I'm not laughing Serene, this is serious."
She put the flowers and the film by the desk. "You need help Nicholas you really do." She walked out. Nicholas saw her leave. She came back real quick. "Oh, don't worry I'll take care of your little Horatio for you." She said in a babyish voice. She turned and left the room.
As soon as she left, he threw himself back in the bed.
~*~*~*~*~ Late at night....
Horatio looked around he was in darkness. There he saw Serendipity smiling with a whip. "Well, Horatio, you fell for my little trap." The whip made a loud crack on the floor as he was tied down. She put the whip around the back of his neck and she pulled him close by pulling both sides of the whip. She smiled evilly.
"Little Horatio fell for a trap. I consider you smarter."
Then Louis came out with a gun in his hand. She pulled one end of the whip which made Horatio feel a burn in the back of his neck. He pointed the gun towards Horatio. He was begging and pleading. Then he heard a gunshot.
Horatio jumped up. It had been a dream, a nightmare to be exact. He felt cold sweat run down. He was now sleeping in Louis room while he went off to sleep in a sleeping bag. (Louis long time 'wish' since he was nine)
Horatio pulled the covers away from him and got up to walk about. He felt trapped and scared. Could that dream be telling him something? He went and finally reached the kitchen. There was a piece of paper and a pen.
"It's meant for me to write a letter, I knew it all along." He sat down and passed his hand through his curly hair and try to hold back the tears. "I'm captured again. They'll be reading it so I have to make it sound like if I'm normal."
He grabbed the pen and started to write on the paper.
A/N: I know Horatio has no relative or relations but since this is MY fanfic (Did that sound too conceited? LOL) I decided to give Horatio a live father. -cheers- ...well back to my story
Dearest Father,
I've written to tell you that we made a recent change in plans to a different coast and we will not make a stop at England. I'm pleased to tell you that I am always pleased to serve in the Royal Navy and everything is going splendidly. I feel fortunate sometimes to be at sea and I am very happy. The crew is a great body of men.
Horatio stopped and tried hard not to cry.
I wish everyone is doing well and I have been following your footsteps for the longest. I'm proud and will make the best of my service here. I hope it finds you as I leave it, well and in good spirits.
Your affectionate son, Horatio
Horatio looked at the letter and sniffed a bit between a small cry, he couldn't help it. He was trapped and will lose everything. His family, his soon-to-be wife and his home. He didn't even know where he was or how long it will take to get there. He didn't put a date. He buried his hand in his arms and started to cry harder than before.
Serendipity woke up to hos footsteps. She had followed him to see if he was just going to get a cup of water. She had heard everything and found this strange but felt bad for him. She said softly. "Horatio, why do you cry?"
Horatio looked up and cleared his throat. "I'm not crying miss, the night must be tricking your sight and your hearing." He stood up dropping the pen on the kitchn table.
Serendipity walked up to him as she looked up at him for his height. She looked at him. "I do not need to see or hear to know when a man is crying. A man does not need to be ashamed that he is starting to feel pain. You were writing to your father, I taught you had no relatives."
Horatio looked a bit embarrassed. "I didn't know you and when you picked up the communication-"
"It's telephone."
"Yes, the telephone I taught you were going off to-" He couldn't finish his sentence. "There is the letter, please send it to him before he becomes worried."
Serendipity takes the letter seeing tear drops on it and reads the letter. She looks up and said. "You believe we have you kidnapped? This is the type of letter one writes when kidnap but doesn't want their family to think that they are."
Horatio looked away. "Horatio, there is something you are not telling us. Are you really an actor. Horatio, I'm a believer, I know when someone isn't from a place or-well I don't know about time but does this have to do with Nicholas?"
She had to ask to see if Nicholas was telling the truth, she had to know if Horatio was really from this time.
"To be honest, I don't even know who Nicholas is. I went along thinking you were all talking in code."
Serendipity let out a laugh but then regret it as a small moan was heard from Victoria's room. "Come....." She said taking his hand. She opened the window that led them to the fire escape. There was a coach where she told him to sit down. She closed the window slightly and sat down next to him.
"Don't worry, I have the day off tomorrow because it's Saturday, so what's wrong?"
Horatio was red on his cheek and nose from crying. He looked up ahead. "I am from the Royal Navy, I don't know about the eighteenth century and all that, but I do serve. I had since I was 17. Quite embarrassing, I had to learn at 12."
"Why 12? I mean, it's so young to be going out."
"I don't know, my father taught I was ready."
"At 17 I was leaving High school and entering to be a doctor, just to follow my parent's dream."
"You don't want to be a person in medical studies."
"No, more like a news reporter or writer." She said smiling as she turned to him.
"You should be what you want to be, you're smart from the ways the others talk about you and you're beautiful as well."
"Not that beautiful." Serendipity said blushing.
Horatio shook his head. "No, you may have your few thing that are different compare to the other women I have courted with in the pass, but it makes you special."
"What do you see in a woman Horatio, I mean it seems like we're never perfect for men. We have to be so skinny like a stick and be big-breasted like those gorgeous models. That means perfect hair, nice eyes and-"
Horatio chuckled a bit.
"What's so funny?" She said looking at him.
"Back where I come from it's a matter of your society and where you're from." He breathed in and then out. "If I must tell, she has to have beautiful eyes."
"That's it? So, she had to have the blue eyes?"
"Who ever said I meant the color. The eyes because the eyes have everything. What they feel, how they see the world and what's on their mind, it's all in her eyes. If she has beautiful eyes and I don't mean blue or green, if she has beautiful eyes, she's the perfect girl."
"You describe her eyes with her eyes because they stand for both mind and beauty." She sighed as she looked at the buildings with bright lights even at this hour. "You are a romantic Horatio."
He chuckled. "Not what the ladies say back where I come from."
Serendipity smiled. "So you're from the past. Now I know New York has seen everything."
She can see Horatio was thinking deeply. She took his hand and smile. "Do you believe in one's word?"
Horatio looked down seeing she was holding his hand in an affectionate way. He would have pulled away but he couldn't lie and said it made him feel a bit better. "Only if they are worthy of my trust."
Serendipity smiled. "I swear to you, I am not here to capture you or have you under any arrest. I wish I can send you that letter but Horatio we are in America. I-what am I saying?"
She got up and sighed. "I supported Nicholas in his plans to find a crack in time and when I saw I felt like a fool. No, I'm leaving. I need to sleep. Good night Horatio." She turned away when she felt someone tug her arm.
She turned and looked at Horatio. He let go of her arm and said. 'You are worthy of my trust and I believe your word."
Serendipity smiled as she looked at him. "I will help you find your way home then. Don't worry. If you are lying time will tell, if you are telling the truth time will tell as well."
She yawned a bit. "I promise you, if you are truthful, I will help you and I promsie you I am no kidnapper."
She said as she headed towards the window.
"Good night Horatio." She said as she opened the window and walked inside.
"Good night Serendipity." He said softly even though she probably didn't hear her.
~*~*~*~*
"I am a beauty expert." Victoria said pulling back a strand. She had a mask over her face and her red hair were in rollers. Unlike Victoria who was preparing to be beautiful for the day, Serendipity had her hair all messy even if it was loose. She pushed it back to make the back look longer but her hair was short and it wasn't much she can do with it except a low small ponytail.
Serendipity crossed her hands together as Victoria took a sip of her coffee. "I'll make him look like he's from this time, trust me. I still don't get why his family raised him like if he was from the eighteenth century."
"It helped him be an actor." Serendipity said as she looked at her hands smiling in a dreamy way. "A handsome actor with a great voice and a way with words."
Victoria almost choked in her coffee. "What was that?"
Serendipity blinked and then said. "Oh, nothing. I was......reciting! Yes, you know I have a play at school."
"You got to medical school sweetheart." Victoria said picking up her perfectly plucked eyebrow. "Not the Drama Academy."
Serendipity sipped her coffee. "Well, they decided to do a play on what happens in your body when you have heart attack."
"That has something to do with a handsome actor-"
"Yeah, one of the actors of the play are handsome." Serendipity said in a face saying 'Change subject now!'
Victoria then said. "Serene, you are unpredictable for your best friend sometimes, oh yeah and buy my birthday present."
"It isn't for another 6 months."
"Get it for me early, I want a pair of earmuffs, that idiot turns up that rock and roll music up to the skies. I mean it if I have to go through another day, I will get up and take that rock and roll CD and stick up it up his-"
"Good morning."
The girls turned to see Horatio there, his hair was slightly messy and he was wearing the same clothes. Victoria smiled and got up grabbing her cell. "Horatio, we need to change your look, Serene told me everything."
"She did?" Horatio said. Serendipity shook her head while Victoria wasn't looking and said out loud. "Yeah, Horatio, I was just telling Vicky how your grandfather raised you. Riiight?" She said giving a pleading look.
"Oh, right right." Horatio said understanding. He couldn't help but look at Victoria. "That's Victoria?" Horatio whispered to Serendipity while she sipped her coffee.
"I saw her much prettier yesterday." Serendipity from laughter choked on her coffee and said in a rough voice. "She out things on herself."
"Oh, that explains her face been green."
"Hello, Hi Lisa! My love, I know you have the day off but we have an emergency. Yes, a major makeover right now. Where are you?" Victoria said walking around.
"Oh, just a train away. Get over here now and is that Frances? Tell her to come along with you." She paused for a moment and said. "You asking me why should you? I know it's a Saturday but he's a hott guy. Yes, he's handsome but in a need a makeover you'll see why."
The door bell rang. "That train must have been quick." Serendipity said sarcastically.
Victoria placed her cellphone down and walked downstairs.
"Do you want anything Horatio?" Serendipity said as she got up.
"Just a coffee will be fine. Serendipity, it's Ho-ray-tio, soft t not Ho-RA- tio" Serendipity nodded and got his coffee ready. "Get ready to see a bunch of woman, well two. They're here to help you."
"How?" Horatio said sitting down.
"To make you look like this time." She said smiling. "I hate it the way people look at you, it's not their fault but we can prevent it."
"Thank you Serendipity, I feel a bit better."
"I don't blame the way you felt. I would have felt the same. I threw away the letter so no one would know." She went up to him and held his hand again. "Your father will find you well and in good spirits, not your letter."
"What is it with you that I feel safe when you speak?"
"I have a gift." Serendipity said going back to the water that was boiling.
Suddenly the door burst open and then came out the two other girls. Lisa had long blonde hair, so light it was almost like silver. She had deep blue eyes and tall like a model. Frances had long curly brown hair. She was a bit shorter than Lisa with green eyes. When they saw Horatio their jaws dropped.
"He is so good-looking." Lisa said. "Even with a bed head he looks hot."
"Hotter you mean," Frances said. They introduced themselves and what they were going to do to Horatio.
"Actually the name is Horatio, not hotter." Serendipity said laughing as she got up. "I'm going to type up a report I have to do, have fun with him."
Horatio looked as Serendipity left into the room. He then felt been pulled back into a chair.
~*~*~*~
"What is wrong with my hair?" Horatio said a bit offended as he looked at the reflection of himself.
"It's long," Lisa said as she took out the scissors. They had Horatio's hair wet after it's wash. He didn't seem please at all but he was outnumbered. Then he heard the snap and clicks. He closed his eyes as if afraid what will happen.
~*~*~*~
"Miss, my eyebrows? What is wrong with my eyebrows?!" Serendipity who was typing her report heard this and started to laugh. She can hear everything going on next door. She then saw Victoria walk in. "Okay, they are doing his eyebrows, I want you to pick out the clothes."
"Make him wear something casual. Look in Louis's closet-"
"I am not going anywhere near there." Victoria said disgusted. She was the same as always, except now her hair was straight. She pushed back her thick red hair everything in came upon her pale face.
Serendipity got up. "I'm not going there either. I bought clothes for Louis, I guess he wouldn't mind if I took some. Look at the Macy's bag by my bed. There is a white tee with a light blue blouse. "
~*~*~*~*
Serendipity looked at her essay paper proudly. She put it inside a dark blue folder right next to her computer. She got up when Victoria walked in.
"Okay, you should see him! I know you want to see him to and don't give me that look Serene."
Serendipity sighed as if saying 'Why me?' Victoria covered Serendipity's eyes as she led her to the living room. She taught, 'Vicky, why? Just why?'
When Victoria's cold hands had been removed from Serendipity's eye, she opened them and looked at Horatio. Her jaw dropped very slowly but closed it again.
"H-Horatio....wow."
His hair was shorter and it looked like the girl's dyed the color as well. It was jet-black, Serendipity was use to seeing his hair brownish color but it stood curly as usual. He had the white tee under and the light blue blouse which was opened. It looks like Victoria had put a chain on him because he didn't have it before along with a pair of dark pants. He even had sneakers which Serendipity found hilarious.
Victoria whispered something in the girl's ears and they gave giggles. Soon after Victoria said. "Serene, there's a carnival today, let's all go. You me, Horatio, girls you want to come?"
"Sorry, but I had plans already." Lisa said. "Frances and I were going to the club tonight. We bring you Vicki, but you know with the whole carnival thing. Have fun guys."
Serendipity found a sword on the floor. She picked it up and gave it to him. She smiled. "Guess this doesn't look right with you anymore, it's heavy." She said feeling the weight but when Horatio held it, he made it look like he was holding a feather.
"So, how does it feel wearing different clothes."
"I wouldn't mind the clothes, these 'sneakers' are more conformable. I mean it, I feel like a girl when I run with my other shoes. Look at me I'm Horatio Hornblower, see me run like a girl!"
Serendipity laughed and looked at Horatio. She knew she was seeing him with a new light.
Summary: Horatio is thrown forward in time while a storm on board to find himself in New York City in the year 2003. How would he find his way back? Would the people he meets believe him and how is the world changing back in his old life? Worst of all the only person that knows he's from the past is stuck at a hospital. What will happen? Find out! ~*~*~*~*~*~
Disclaimer: I don't own anything of Horatio Hornblower the movies or the series. Since I'm from America, I only had the chance to see Horatio Hornblower: Loyalty and now Horatio Hornblower: Duty (If I did I wouldn't be writing this fanfic now would I?)
Thanks for the reviews! Shirty and Arianna Sunrise This chapter goes out to you two. (I might as well dedicate it to both of you the whole story huh?)
So if anything is wrong please tell me and I'll be grateful.
~Lia
~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 3: Trust from the heart
Horatio stared, he couldn't help but not stare. He turned away but looked again. He picked up an eyebrow and looked away again. Prince stood there doing his business as Horatio gave a glance every 5 seconds. Once the puppy was done, it gave a happy bark and went on it's way but Horatio put on the collar back. How he found out how to put it, he had no idea.
"Excuse me sir," He heard as he turned and said. "Excuse me."
"Pick it up." The officer said. Horatio looked back at the poop lying there. "Absolutely not." He said a bit offended. "Okay, maybe you new around here, you have to pick up after the dog's poop,"
"Why?" Horatio said as Prince scratched it's long flopping brown ear.
"It's the law " The officer said now impatient. Horatio sighed and then said. "Are you telling me miss that there is a law where young gentlemen have to pick up after canine bowl movements?"
"Why don't you quit your fancy talk and just pick it up." The officer said. Horatio although refused. "I refuse miss, Respectively "
"I didn't think I had to do this to a man like yourself," She said as she took out a long yellow pad and a pen. She clicked the top and started to write something. "so what's your name?"
"Horatio Hornblower of the Royal Navy."
The woman stopped writing it for a moment and picked up an eyebrow. "Yeah and my name is Archie Kennedy, you're not the only one that read the books."
She went over and looked at the collar of the puppy. "Louis Fuentes huh?" She wrote down everything and gave it to Horatio. "Here, Louis" She headed out and started to laugh. Horatio held the yellow paper in his hand. He shrugged and put it in his pocket as he kept walking.
He looked amazed as he kept walking. He had never seen anything like it.
He kept racing around as he looked all over at all the lights that filled up New York. There was loud music that he couldn't bear in his ears. His mouth was slightly opened as he looked up at the tall building not knowing where the roof was at.
"The crew will never believe I was here," He said softly to himself. He then felt something sink in his knee. He looked down at the puppy there. "Well, you again causing me problems. I forgot you was even here."
The puppy whined as if he understood what Horatio just said. Horatio smiled but the puppy stood there still having his front paws of Horatio's knee. Horatio understood and picked up the puppy.
"You are an unpredictable canine,"
He started walking forgetting he had a place to return to or the group will go insane trying to track him, especially Nicholas. Horatio had no idea how Nicholas knew him so well, maybe he had heard through word of mouth.
He didn't care and he was stills cared out his mind like never before. He had to put down the pup after a while and he was once again dragged back home. He was brave but when you're stuck in a world where he was at you felt trapped and treated like a fool. This canine must have taken him back here because he was to be imprison here. His feelings made no sense but his mind was too frightened to even think.
~*~*~*~*
Where our Nicholas is at....
"He's from the eighteenth century Serene. This is not a joke, I'm begging you just take care of him."
"He's a grown man, he can take of himself Nick."
"Where is he?" Nicholas said lying on the bed. He had a cast around his left knee and another one around his right arm. He looked like a mummy in the bed just alive with skin.
"He's outside walking my pup." Serendipity said leaning against the wall. "I had to go somewhere for an applicatio and then I get a call saying you're at the hospital."
"The phone call was meant for Horatio, not you. Serene you don't understand Horatio has been taken from history books and his destiny will change a lot of thing. Do you know what will happen if the French Revolutionary War is changed?"
"No, I wouldn't know because I wasn't as smart as you. I'm not attending the great college you did so no Nicholas I wouldn't know. "
Nicholas let out a sigh of annoyence. "Serene, you need to believe me—"
"Nick, I did believe once. I believed a year ago that you would find this crack in time and you know what you did? You made me look like an idiot. I had to change my high school because you were too scared to go off and tell it yourself. I was the laughing stock of that school, you know why I did it? I did because I loved you Nicholas."
Nicholas looked at her for a long time. "I'm sorry Serene, but that time is over. Look, here is pictures." He said handing her the film with a lot of effort.
Serendipity took it and looked at the film. "You want double prints because I know this place that gives it off for free."
Nicholas looked at her. "I'm not laughing Serene, this is serious."
She put the flowers and the film by the desk. "You need help Nicholas you really do." She walked out. Nicholas saw her leave. She came back real quick. "Oh, don't worry I'll take care of your little Horatio for you." She said in a babyish voice. She turned and left the room.
As soon as she left, he threw himself back in the bed.
~*~*~*~*~ Late at night....
Horatio looked around he was in darkness. There he saw Serendipity smiling with a whip. "Well, Horatio, you fell for my little trap." The whip made a loud crack on the floor as he was tied down. She put the whip around the back of his neck and she pulled him close by pulling both sides of the whip. She smiled evilly.
"Little Horatio fell for a trap. I consider you smarter."
Then Louis came out with a gun in his hand. She pulled one end of the whip which made Horatio feel a burn in the back of his neck. He pointed the gun towards Horatio. He was begging and pleading. Then he heard a gunshot.
Horatio jumped up. It had been a dream, a nightmare to be exact. He felt cold sweat run down. He was now sleeping in Louis room while he went off to sleep in a sleeping bag. (Louis long time 'wish' since he was nine)
Horatio pulled the covers away from him and got up to walk about. He felt trapped and scared. Could that dream be telling him something? He went and finally reached the kitchen. There was a piece of paper and a pen.
"It's meant for me to write a letter, I knew it all along." He sat down and passed his hand through his curly hair and try to hold back the tears. "I'm captured again. They'll be reading it so I have to make it sound like if I'm normal."
He grabbed the pen and started to write on the paper.
A/N: I know Horatio has no relative or relations but since this is MY fanfic (Did that sound too conceited? LOL) I decided to give Horatio a live father. -cheers- ...well back to my story
Dearest Father,
I've written to tell you that we made a recent change in plans to a different coast and we will not make a stop at England. I'm pleased to tell you that I am always pleased to serve in the Royal Navy and everything is going splendidly. I feel fortunate sometimes to be at sea and I am very happy. The crew is a great body of men.
Horatio stopped and tried hard not to cry.
I wish everyone is doing well and I have been following your footsteps for the longest. I'm proud and will make the best of my service here. I hope it finds you as I leave it, well and in good spirits.
Your affectionate son, Horatio
Horatio looked at the letter and sniffed a bit between a small cry, he couldn't help it. He was trapped and will lose everything. His family, his soon-to-be wife and his home. He didn't even know where he was or how long it will take to get there. He didn't put a date. He buried his hand in his arms and started to cry harder than before.
Serendipity woke up to hos footsteps. She had followed him to see if he was just going to get a cup of water. She had heard everything and found this strange but felt bad for him. She said softly. "Horatio, why do you cry?"
Horatio looked up and cleared his throat. "I'm not crying miss, the night must be tricking your sight and your hearing." He stood up dropping the pen on the kitchn table.
Serendipity walked up to him as she looked up at him for his height. She looked at him. "I do not need to see or hear to know when a man is crying. A man does not need to be ashamed that he is starting to feel pain. You were writing to your father, I taught you had no relatives."
Horatio looked a bit embarrassed. "I didn't know you and when you picked up the communication-"
"It's telephone."
"Yes, the telephone I taught you were going off to-" He couldn't finish his sentence. "There is the letter, please send it to him before he becomes worried."
Serendipity takes the letter seeing tear drops on it and reads the letter. She looks up and said. "You believe we have you kidnapped? This is the type of letter one writes when kidnap but doesn't want their family to think that they are."
Horatio looked away. "Horatio, there is something you are not telling us. Are you really an actor. Horatio, I'm a believer, I know when someone isn't from a place or-well I don't know about time but does this have to do with Nicholas?"
She had to ask to see if Nicholas was telling the truth, she had to know if Horatio was really from this time.
"To be honest, I don't even know who Nicholas is. I went along thinking you were all talking in code."
Serendipity let out a laugh but then regret it as a small moan was heard from Victoria's room. "Come....." She said taking his hand. She opened the window that led them to the fire escape. There was a coach where she told him to sit down. She closed the window slightly and sat down next to him.
"Don't worry, I have the day off tomorrow because it's Saturday, so what's wrong?"
Horatio was red on his cheek and nose from crying. He looked up ahead. "I am from the Royal Navy, I don't know about the eighteenth century and all that, but I do serve. I had since I was 17. Quite embarrassing, I had to learn at 12."
"Why 12? I mean, it's so young to be going out."
"I don't know, my father taught I was ready."
"At 17 I was leaving High school and entering to be a doctor, just to follow my parent's dream."
"You don't want to be a person in medical studies."
"No, more like a news reporter or writer." She said smiling as she turned to him.
"You should be what you want to be, you're smart from the ways the others talk about you and you're beautiful as well."
"Not that beautiful." Serendipity said blushing.
Horatio shook his head. "No, you may have your few thing that are different compare to the other women I have courted with in the pass, but it makes you special."
"What do you see in a woman Horatio, I mean it seems like we're never perfect for men. We have to be so skinny like a stick and be big-breasted like those gorgeous models. That means perfect hair, nice eyes and-"
Horatio chuckled a bit.
"What's so funny?" She said looking at him.
"Back where I come from it's a matter of your society and where you're from." He breathed in and then out. "If I must tell, she has to have beautiful eyes."
"That's it? So, she had to have the blue eyes?"
"Who ever said I meant the color. The eyes because the eyes have everything. What they feel, how they see the world and what's on their mind, it's all in her eyes. If she has beautiful eyes and I don't mean blue or green, if she has beautiful eyes, she's the perfect girl."
"You describe her eyes with her eyes because they stand for both mind and beauty." She sighed as she looked at the buildings with bright lights even at this hour. "You are a romantic Horatio."
He chuckled. "Not what the ladies say back where I come from."
Serendipity smiled. "So you're from the past. Now I know New York has seen everything."
She can see Horatio was thinking deeply. She took his hand and smile. "Do you believe in one's word?"
Horatio looked down seeing she was holding his hand in an affectionate way. He would have pulled away but he couldn't lie and said it made him feel a bit better. "Only if they are worthy of my trust."
Serendipity smiled. "I swear to you, I am not here to capture you or have you under any arrest. I wish I can send you that letter but Horatio we are in America. I-what am I saying?"
She got up and sighed. "I supported Nicholas in his plans to find a crack in time and when I saw I felt like a fool. No, I'm leaving. I need to sleep. Good night Horatio." She turned away when she felt someone tug her arm.
She turned and looked at Horatio. He let go of her arm and said. 'You are worthy of my trust and I believe your word."
Serendipity smiled as she looked at him. "I will help you find your way home then. Don't worry. If you are lying time will tell, if you are telling the truth time will tell as well."
She yawned a bit. "I promise you, if you are truthful, I will help you and I promsie you I am no kidnapper."
She said as she headed towards the window.
"Good night Horatio." She said as she opened the window and walked inside.
"Good night Serendipity." He said softly even though she probably didn't hear her.
~*~*~*~*
"I am a beauty expert." Victoria said pulling back a strand. She had a mask over her face and her red hair were in rollers. Unlike Victoria who was preparing to be beautiful for the day, Serendipity had her hair all messy even if it was loose. She pushed it back to make the back look longer but her hair was short and it wasn't much she can do with it except a low small ponytail.
Serendipity crossed her hands together as Victoria took a sip of her coffee. "I'll make him look like he's from this time, trust me. I still don't get why his family raised him like if he was from the eighteenth century."
"It helped him be an actor." Serendipity said as she looked at her hands smiling in a dreamy way. "A handsome actor with a great voice and a way with words."
Victoria almost choked in her coffee. "What was that?"
Serendipity blinked and then said. "Oh, nothing. I was......reciting! Yes, you know I have a play at school."
"You got to medical school sweetheart." Victoria said picking up her perfectly plucked eyebrow. "Not the Drama Academy."
Serendipity sipped her coffee. "Well, they decided to do a play on what happens in your body when you have heart attack."
"That has something to do with a handsome actor-"
"Yeah, one of the actors of the play are handsome." Serendipity said in a face saying 'Change subject now!'
Victoria then said. "Serene, you are unpredictable for your best friend sometimes, oh yeah and buy my birthday present."
"It isn't for another 6 months."
"Get it for me early, I want a pair of earmuffs, that idiot turns up that rock and roll music up to the skies. I mean it if I have to go through another day, I will get up and take that rock and roll CD and stick up it up his-"
"Good morning."
The girls turned to see Horatio there, his hair was slightly messy and he was wearing the same clothes. Victoria smiled and got up grabbing her cell. "Horatio, we need to change your look, Serene told me everything."
"She did?" Horatio said. Serendipity shook her head while Victoria wasn't looking and said out loud. "Yeah, Horatio, I was just telling Vicky how your grandfather raised you. Riiight?" She said giving a pleading look.
"Oh, right right." Horatio said understanding. He couldn't help but look at Victoria. "That's Victoria?" Horatio whispered to Serendipity while she sipped her coffee.
"I saw her much prettier yesterday." Serendipity from laughter choked on her coffee and said in a rough voice. "She out things on herself."
"Oh, that explains her face been green."
"Hello, Hi Lisa! My love, I know you have the day off but we have an emergency. Yes, a major makeover right now. Where are you?" Victoria said walking around.
"Oh, just a train away. Get over here now and is that Frances? Tell her to come along with you." She paused for a moment and said. "You asking me why should you? I know it's a Saturday but he's a hott guy. Yes, he's handsome but in a need a makeover you'll see why."
The door bell rang. "That train must have been quick." Serendipity said sarcastically.
Victoria placed her cellphone down and walked downstairs.
"Do you want anything Horatio?" Serendipity said as she got up.
"Just a coffee will be fine. Serendipity, it's Ho-ray-tio, soft t not Ho-RA- tio" Serendipity nodded and got his coffee ready. "Get ready to see a bunch of woman, well two. They're here to help you."
"How?" Horatio said sitting down.
"To make you look like this time." She said smiling. "I hate it the way people look at you, it's not their fault but we can prevent it."
"Thank you Serendipity, I feel a bit better."
"I don't blame the way you felt. I would have felt the same. I threw away the letter so no one would know." She went up to him and held his hand again. "Your father will find you well and in good spirits, not your letter."
"What is it with you that I feel safe when you speak?"
"I have a gift." Serendipity said going back to the water that was boiling.
Suddenly the door burst open and then came out the two other girls. Lisa had long blonde hair, so light it was almost like silver. She had deep blue eyes and tall like a model. Frances had long curly brown hair. She was a bit shorter than Lisa with green eyes. When they saw Horatio their jaws dropped.
"He is so good-looking." Lisa said. "Even with a bed head he looks hot."
"Hotter you mean," Frances said. They introduced themselves and what they were going to do to Horatio.
"Actually the name is Horatio, not hotter." Serendipity said laughing as she got up. "I'm going to type up a report I have to do, have fun with him."
Horatio looked as Serendipity left into the room. He then felt been pulled back into a chair.
~*~*~*~
"What is wrong with my hair?" Horatio said a bit offended as he looked at the reflection of himself.
"It's long," Lisa said as she took out the scissors. They had Horatio's hair wet after it's wash. He didn't seem please at all but he was outnumbered. Then he heard the snap and clicks. He closed his eyes as if afraid what will happen.
~*~*~*~
"Miss, my eyebrows? What is wrong with my eyebrows?!" Serendipity who was typing her report heard this and started to laugh. She can hear everything going on next door. She then saw Victoria walk in. "Okay, they are doing his eyebrows, I want you to pick out the clothes."
"Make him wear something casual. Look in Louis's closet-"
"I am not going anywhere near there." Victoria said disgusted. She was the same as always, except now her hair was straight. She pushed back her thick red hair everything in came upon her pale face.
Serendipity got up. "I'm not going there either. I bought clothes for Louis, I guess he wouldn't mind if I took some. Look at the Macy's bag by my bed. There is a white tee with a light blue blouse. "
~*~*~*~*
Serendipity looked at her essay paper proudly. She put it inside a dark blue folder right next to her computer. She got up when Victoria walked in.
"Okay, you should see him! I know you want to see him to and don't give me that look Serene."
Serendipity sighed as if saying 'Why me?' Victoria covered Serendipity's eyes as she led her to the living room. She taught, 'Vicky, why? Just why?'
When Victoria's cold hands had been removed from Serendipity's eye, she opened them and looked at Horatio. Her jaw dropped very slowly but closed it again.
"H-Horatio....wow."
His hair was shorter and it looked like the girl's dyed the color as well. It was jet-black, Serendipity was use to seeing his hair brownish color but it stood curly as usual. He had the white tee under and the light blue blouse which was opened. It looks like Victoria had put a chain on him because he didn't have it before along with a pair of dark pants. He even had sneakers which Serendipity found hilarious.
Victoria whispered something in the girl's ears and they gave giggles. Soon after Victoria said. "Serene, there's a carnival today, let's all go. You me, Horatio, girls you want to come?"
"Sorry, but I had plans already." Lisa said. "Frances and I were going to the club tonight. We bring you Vicki, but you know with the whole carnival thing. Have fun guys."
Serendipity found a sword on the floor. She picked it up and gave it to him. She smiled. "Guess this doesn't look right with you anymore, it's heavy." She said feeling the weight but when Horatio held it, he made it look like he was holding a feather.
"So, how does it feel wearing different clothes."
"I wouldn't mind the clothes, these 'sneakers' are more conformable. I mean it, I feel like a girl when I run with my other shoes. Look at me I'm Horatio Hornblower, see me run like a girl!"
Serendipity laughed and looked at Horatio. She knew she was seeing him with a new light.