Chapter Five

"Olivia, dear, please don't chop those like that. Must I show you again?" Tom looked up from the celery to see Olivia chopping the carrots in far too large chunks. She was trying to help but seemed to be more of a hindrance than helpful. "Here." He took the knife from her. "Just let me."

Olivia threw up her hands and stepped back, amused. "Fine, fine. I know when I'm not wanted. I had no idea you were such a chef, Tom." She said with a teasing grin. "I officially hand my apron over to you and bow to superior cooking."

Tom chuckled, "It's only a few things I saw on the television." He waved it off and started chopping the carrots correctly. "Nothing too fantastic I assure you."

She smiled at his modesty, "Well, thank you again for saving me."

"Of course, dear." Tom said absently, continuing his chopping.

"If you don't need me I'm going to go get ready for the party." She said, knowing she was not helping at all and was more in the way if anything.

"Go ahead, dear, I am quite at home here." He told her with a smile as she left. He was enjoying feeling useful again, even if he was just cooking, he was doing something productive. He honestly did not understand why Olivia had so much trouble with cooking. It seemed rather simple to him.

"Stephen! I do not want to see this!" Jack exclaimed in the other room. Tom smiled, another television dispute. He had grown rather used to them, and so he continued with his work keeping an ear open for the tell-tale sounds of a crash which usually meant they would all have to hide some broken object quickly before Olivia noticed.

Stephen held the remote in his grasp, refusing to back down. "Come now brother, it is merely a simple surgical procedure."

"Stephen! His heart is exposed! They have opened his insides like poultry!" Jack glanced at the television, turning slightly green at the sight of the exposed organ. "And is that what a heart really looks like?"

"Indeed." Stephen stared at the television, stuffing his mouth with popcorn without ceremony. "Fascinating that a man can survive such a procedure."

Jack sighed, knowing there was no way he was going to convince his friend to change the channel. Blakeney had recently discovered a Miss Corin's computer and was not paying attention, rather he was playing a game called "minesweeper", avoiding certain squares on a screen through a system of numbers. "Stephen, that is positively disgusting." Jack said, referring to the surgery on the television as the doctor removed a man's heart.

"Hm." Was the only reply he got as the good Doctor was glued to the screen. Jack swore he was not even blinking and was quite certain he had not even heard what he had said. He sighed, considering finding a book or some music from Miss Corin's selection when the door to the apartment burst open.

"Guess who!" A young woman called as she burst in without so much as a knock. People seemed to do that a lot in this place and Jack found it rather rude, but Miss Corin never seemed to care. He turned to see who it was, expecting it to be Kate. He was shocked however to see who it was, or appeared to be. So shocked in fact, that he dropped his drink, spilling on the carpet and not even noticing.

It was Sophie. Or at least appeared to be a modern version of her, a Sophie of younger years than the wife Jack had not seen for a terribly long time. There were slight differences in this woman. Her eyes for one thing were a light brown rather than the blue of Sophie's and her blonde hair was cut terribly short. A style women in this time seemed to enjoy that Jack found odd and most unattractive on a female. But in most other aspects she was the exact replica of his wife. It was terribly unnerving to meet someone who looked so much like her, and he could not help but react in confusion and alarm. He rose to his feet, staring in shock at the woman who was staring right back with no look of recognition whatsoever.

"Um…. hi?" She raised an eyebrow, obviously confused by the look Jack was giving her. She then turned to the hall again. "Kate, I'll be back in a minute, don't lock the door damn it!"

Stephen looked at her interested. She most certainly looked a great deal like Sophie. He saw it too and wondered who she was. "You are a friend of Kate's?"

"Yeah, I'm her roommate, Alanna Aubrey, but everyone calls me Lannie." She looked around. "So… does Livie still live here or what?"

Jack and Stephen both exchanged a look and slowly the pieces seemed to come together in Stephen's mind. Indeed he would not be surprised at all to learn that this Lannie Aubrey was descended from Jack's son, George. It certainly explained her resemblance to Sophie. He was about to reply that she was in the right place when a shrill cry bounced down the hall and a fast moving blonde creature tackled the young woman.

"LANNIE!" It cried.

"LIVIE!" She replied.

Both proceeded to jump up and down giggling out of control. "AHHHHHH!"

The shrill screaming brought Tom rushing out of the kitchen. "What is it?" He exclaimed, staring in utter confusion at the two women.

Olivia grinned, "Tom, this is my friend Lannie. Lannie, Tom." She introduced.

"Wait… Tom… dude that email Kate sent me was TRUE?" Lannie exclaimed, her eyes wide in surprise. "I thought she was just making up shit like usual!"

"Kate emailed you?" Olivia groaned. "That girl cannot keep her mouth shut! What'd she tell you?"

"Oh nothing much… just that your apartment is jammed full of British guys from 200 years ago, some of which are rather hot but hands off the one you hooked up with." Lannie shrugged. "Oh yeah, and that you're pregnant."

"Well," Olivia rolled her eyes at the thought of her friend adding her own twist on recent events. "The pregnant part is bull, the rest is true."

"Wow. I thought it was the other way around… that the rest of it was shit but you were pregnant if anything." Lannie said casually. "Are you guys playing a joke on me?"

"No Lannie. We're telling the truth and you have to keep your mouth shut about all this okay? We don't know how this happened and I don't want the government or something involved."

"Oh yeah… I forget they're out to get you." Lannie rolled her eyes and turned to the confused men who were only following about half of the conversation. "Livie is paranoid about government types. Seriously, she refused to let FBI agents into her apartment to ask her simple background check questions on one of our old neighbors. We think she may be a drug lord or something."

"Okay, first of all," Olivia whacked her friend quite hard in the back of the head. "Shut up Lannie! Second, don't you think they'd think we were all crazy and ship us off and accuse the guys of being terrorists? This is post 9/11 America! Paranoia is fashionable! And finally, it's not my fault I'm paranoid. You would be too if you grew up with a Grandmother yelling about Nazis, Communists, and Lord knows who else every hour. Heck I still get a little nervous around the color red."

"Okay, okay geez! Yes, I know you had a seriously screwed up childhood. Down girl." Lannie held up a hand in defeat. "I'll keep my mouth shut and duct tape Kate's mouth to keep her quiet too."

Olivia smiled slightly. "Thanks Lannie."

Tom however, was still lost and stuck on one signal thing Lannie had said. He stared blankly at Olivia, his eyes slightly wide. "You're pregnant?" He asked her dumbfounded.

Olivia blinked, "What? No! Tom, how the Hell would I be pregnant?"

Tom blushed furiously, relieved at her answer but still very confused. "My apologizes, Olivia, I was merely caught unawares."

"That's okay, dear. Lannie has that effect." She smiled slightly.

Lannie returned the hit Olivia had given her earlier. "Thanks Liv." She threw a bag at Olivia. "I just wanted to let you know I'm back for the week and that's something I picked up in Jamaica for you."

Olivia looked in the bag, "It's beautiful Lan, thank you. But when were you in Jamaica?" She asked.

"Um, like last week." She replied.

"I thought you were in France last week?"

"No, I left France last week." Lannie replied with a grin. "Gosh Corin, can't you keep up with my bouncing around the globe?"

"Aubrey, no one quite knows where you are. You live on a difference plane of existence entirely. Now go away so I can get dressed." Olivia said.

"Haha it's sexy pool party time! Bye Liv!" With that Lannie turned promptly on her heels and took off with a wave to Jack, Stephen, Will, and Tom.

Olivia snickered slightly. "Lannie Aubrey, insane cellist who is double majoring on bass and cello. She's spending her summer traveling with her family. That girl travels more than anyone I know." She explained to them.

"Ah." Jack said, still shaken by the encounter. "Do you suppose she could be?"

"Could be related to you?" Olivia shrugged slightly. "Could be. I never thought about it to be honest. Aubrey's not exactly an unusual name."

"She did have an uncanning resemblance to Sophie, m'dear." Stephen said thoughtfully. "I trust you saw the same?"

"Indeed." Jack shook his head slightly with a bemused smile. "What an odd thing."

"Who's Sophie?" Olivia asked curiously.

"My wife." He replied, looking very far away at the moment.

Olivia paused, his tone was remorseful, and obviously his encounter with Lannie reminded him of his family back 200 years ago in England, a family he may never see again. She had no idea how she should respond. "Oh." Was all she could manage.

A beeping sound suddenly filled the air quite loudly and they all jumped in alarm. Olivia included. Tom smiled slightly, "Oh! The pineapple is done!" And he quickly headed back into the kitchen to rescue his dish from the oven.

Olivia blinked, surprised. "My oven has a timer? No way!" She then turned and headed back to her room to get dressed, "Wow. Learn something new everyday."

Tom was not entirely sure how it came to be that he and the other men were given the task of setting up for Kate's party. The poor girl had come in the apartment like a storm, commanding attention. She had run out of time and they were not entirely sure of what exactly she had said because she had been so sudden and quickly spoken they only caught about half of it. The next thing they knew, all four gentlemen had some sort of dish in their hands with instruction to set up the two picnic tables outside the apartment complexes and to make sure everything was ready. Where exactly Kate had disappeared to no one knew. Olivia and Lannie had apparently had a very in depth conversation over what they were each wearing and had both gone off to change.

It did not take them long to set the table. Stephen had been more in the way than a help, for the others had gone about the task with a certain naval efficiency, while the good Doctor seemed to have a bad habit of running into the others in Kate's small kitchen. There was quite a bit of food to set out, and various other items that Kate had instructed, or rather ordered them to take outside. He had to admit he was rather surprised by Kate's sudden change in personality from her usual good-natured flit from one thing to the next to a focused and commanding character, running the party preparations almost like a ship.

They had almost finished everything Kate had commanded of them when she reappeared, her eyes immediately scanning the scene and hands on her hips, looking like a displeased Captain. Tom resisted the urge to salute as she stalked by the table and exchanged an amused look with Blakeney, who was closest setting out the plastic knives, forks, and spoons. The Captain was attempted to set up the badminton net with the "help" of the Doctor. It was not going terribly well, and to count they had heard five various swears and oaths which ought not be uttered by a gentleman.

"Will, put the napkins back in the basket sideways so they don't blow away." Kate ordered, without a so much as a please. "Jack, move the net away from the grill or we'll have a melted shuttlecock deally. Tom, go upstairs and make sure Olivia's set the bar up in her kitchen like I asked. And for God's sake make sure she puts enough ice in the cooler with the beers."

Jack rolled his eyes but did not argue. He had already learned that Kate could not be made to see reason, and she seemed rather stressed about this event she was planning. "Come Stephen, and do mind the hammer if you please."

Stephen grumbled, not particularly liking the fact that he had to pull up the progress he had made and start over again, but also did not argue. He had already had a round with Kate earlier that morning and did not have the energy for a second. These modern women were the most stubborn creatures he had ever met.

Blakeney, amused at Kate ordering his senior officers about, smiled at the woman, happy to follow his orders and even gave her a little salute, "Aye sir." He joked, his eyes shining with mirth.

Tom could not help but chuckle at Blakeney, and turned to head back upstairs to relay Kate's orders to Olivia. He dashed up the stairs and into the apartment, finding the refrigerator door open in the kitchen, Olivia was hidden behind the door kneeling to pull something out.

"Olivia?" He asked, making sure she was actually present.

"Yeah?" She sounded slightly distracted, and the clank of bottles filled the air as she collected them to set out. Tom noted that she had set several various bottles on the table and had quite the set up already. "Wait, let me guess, you have word from almighty Kate." He could almost feel her grin, knowing Olivia found her friend's bossy nature highly amusing.

"As a matter a fact I do." Tom chuckled. "She wants to make sure you're…. Good God! Olivia, what are you wearing?" Tom's train of thought was completely interrupted when Olivia stood and closed the refrigerator door, offering him a full view of her outfit, if one could call it that. What she was wearing, in his opinion, barely covered her nakedness. He knew clothing was far more revealing in this time, but that could not possibly be considered clothing. It only covered her bosom, her midriff, back, and shoulders completely exposed, certainly leaving very little to the imagination indeed. Tom turned furiously red, blushing to the bone, and adverted his eyes automatically, certain his lady was not finished dressing.

Olivia however, had not noticed his shock, distracted by the bottles she had arranged on the table and looking for a particular one rather than looking up at Tom. "What? Oh, yeah this wrap is what Lannie gave me from Jamaica. It's pretty isn't it?" She pulled at the piece of colorful cloth that was perched jauntily around her waist, its slit showing off her legs.

His eyes widened at her complete ignorance of her immodest clothing. "Olivia Corin, you cannot possibly be considering wearing that in public."

Olivia finally caught his tone and looked up, raising an eyebrow. "Why not?"

"Why not?" Tom exclaimed. "You are barely dressed! Why not just parade down the street naked?"

Olivia stared at him a moment, then a small smirk spread across her lips. "Parade naked, now there's an idea. Shall I start now?" She asked innocently, reaching for the strap of her top.

Tom's eyes widened and, if possible, he turned an even darker shade of red. "No! God above, Olivia keep your clothes on!"

This was too much for her, and Olivia burst into peels of laughter, leaning against the counter for support, very amused at the poor man who was terrified that his future wife was going to strip off her clothes in the middle of the kitchen.

Tom, however, felt a headache coming on, and he rubbed his temples, giving Olivia a mild glare. "I see nothing amusing here, Olivia, and I insist you change clothes."

"I am not going to change, Tom. Don't be silly." Olivia crossed the kitchen and put her arms around his neck. "You know women in my time dress differently." She said smoothly, toying with his tied back hair gently with her fingers.

He knew exactly what she was trying to do; she was luring him into compliancy to get her way. She had a damn fine talent for it too, but he was attempting to resist her, and refused to put his arms around her waist as he normally would, stubbornly gripping her wrists and gently removing them. "Olivia Corin, don't."

"Don't what?" She asked, her green eyes looking up at him in a picture of innocence. An innocence he knew was not entirely accurate.

"You're using the fact I find you attractive against me." He stated, doing his best to look just above her head, so as not to notice how damn desirable she looked. However, he knew from the start he was doomed.

"Oh Tom," She pulled her wrists free from his grasp and put her arms once again around his neck. "Really, I'm sure you've seen native women wearing far less." She lightly teased, her body nearly brushing against him.

He removed her arms again and moved back a step. "I'm not marrying a native woman, now am I? Neither are you a common whore. Must you insist on dressing like one?" Tom asked with a sigh, knowing already he had lost the argument.

"Yes I must." Olivia replied with a grin, knowing she had won with flying colors. "Because I know deep down, under that gentleman routine, you like it." She raised an eyebrow. "Or do you not find me at all pretty, Mr. Pullings?" She asked sweetly, for a final time attaching her arms around his neck again.

He sighed again, looking at her once more, giving up. "Olivia, you know you're very pretty." He said. She was too. He had to admit that after the initial shock of it all, he rather liked it, he was only a man after all. The green in the cloth of the wrap and her top seemed to accent her lovely eyes even more than usual, giving them an even brighter dimension of color, and her hair was down, brushed so it spilled over her shoulders in an attractive style that he never had seen on her before. She looked like a native queen, the most attractive sight he had ever seen. That was the problem. She was too attractive. Enough to bring any man to his knees, and he knew she had won him over and certain brought him down on his this day, so he gave up.

Tom gently put his arms around her waist, feeling the soft skin of the small of her back against his sailor callused hands and let out a small sigh, enjoying the feeling of holding her so close and feeling how soft her skin was in spite of himself. "What am I going to do with you, Olivia?" He asked softly. "God help us should we have daughters." He sighed, kissing her as a sort of apology for their minor fight, well, if you could call it a fight.

Olivia laughed, "God help us if we have any kids, Tom." She said lightly.

Tom frowned slightly, not sure what she meant, but never had the chance to question her. For that moment Kate burst into the apartment in a storm of 21st century female wrath.

"Olivia Corin! Tom Pullings! Quit hugging and getting all touchy feely and get that cooler outside! People are showing up and they don't have any damn beer!" She shouted, stomping her foot for emphasis.

Olivia broke away from Tom, rolling her eyes, "What am I? Your bitch?"

"Yes! Now hurry up, bitch!" Kate snapped back.

Tom raised an eyebrow. "You two use that word far too often. I'm not entirely sure you know what it means." He commented, as usual, slightly taken back by their bad language. He would never get used to the casual way they threw around insults at each other, as if it were nothing at all to be called 'bitch' and 'ass' and the one he was not quite sure what it was used for since they used it constantly back and forth, 'jerkass'.

Olivia snickered, turning to get the cooler. "Help me with this thing, will you Tom? It's heavy with all the ice in it."

"Of course dear." He turned to help her.

"OW! DAMN IT ALL STEPHEN!" The shout came from outside and Kate let out something between a groan and a growl, turning and storming outside once more.

"JACK AUBREY! I TOLD YOU NOT TO LET HIM USE THE SLEDGE HAMMER!" They could hear Kate shouting as she ran down the stairs.

Tom and Olivia exchanged a look, then burst out laughing at what most likely awaited them downstairs. This day was turning out to be amusing, to say the least.

A/N: Sorry sorry sorry a million apologizes! I was hoping to get all of 4th of July done this time around but it's turning out to be so dang long I've broken it up again. Anyway, this semester is evil. Evil! Keeping me from writing! But I promise the next chapter will come sooner than this one because it's already half done! I feel so bad it took so long. And I can't believe how long 4th of July is going to be. It's an eventful day! Anyway, haha Olivia makes Tom uncomfortable. This chapter was rather pointless but I thought it was funny so it's here. Oh yeah, and Lannie looks like Jack's wife…. How strange….. couldn't resister that either. Granted some of her features are different, but it happens. And no, Lannie is NOT Sophie. I just thought that'd be interesting to remind Jack that "oh yeah! I have a wife and kids and junk!" Me and my odd brain. Again guys, sorry about the long wait. Darn school. Everyone should write my professors and tell them to lay off so I can write on this more often!

Sakai213: Haha thank you! I enjoy being insane! I'm sorry I kept you waiting on the update. Next time hopefully won't take me as long! Thanks for the review!

Mary: Haha got to love remote wars! I couldn't resist the scene. It was one of the ones I couldn't wait to write! They're such kids. Thanks for the review m'dear! Hope you enjoy the rest of it!

Sten: Hehe well someone has to cook in that place! I figured he could make himself useful. Tom Pullings with his own cooking show hahahaha. The Tom Pullings Cooking Extravaganza! With your host! Tom Pullings!

Audience: (applauds)

Hehehe too funny. Hope you enjoyed the chapter m'dear! And thanks for the laugh!

Anyana: Haha yeah well, they all get their TV channels eventually. Tom's discovered his. As for me, I can't cook and don't really watch the Food Network so you'll forgive my ignorance to its programming. Hope you enjoyed the chapter and sorry it took so long to post! Thanks as always for reviewing.

ArcherofDarkness: Haha the Tom Pullings comparison to Martha Stewart just sort of happened…. I don't think anyone else has ever compared the two before. Mwahahaha. I'm impressed that you run. I hate running. I prefer swimming and only run when I can't swim, but I dislike it… mainly because I have allergies and being outside tends to make me die on its own… much less add running to that mix. Swimming is nice. No pollen in water. Where will Tom and Olivia end up? Hm… not telling you! Mwahahaha! And you're operating on the belief they'll stay together…. They could be split up again… or they could break up…. or Olivia could get another guy… or one of them could die…. Or.. or..or… haha I'm mean and trying to throw you off track. Anyway! You'll just have to be patient…. Or email me asking specific questions which I will answer for your reading pleasure somewhat vaguely… or in detail… depending on my mood. Haha anyway m'dear! As always your reviews are a pleasure! Thanks! And sorry for keeping you waiting so long!

Sancti: Haha Will having a crush on Kate? That probably won't happen, but Will will eventually meet a girl of his own…. Eventually. Hehe. Because playing with characters is fun! Thanks for the luck wishes. It is confusing at times. This year alone I've had three homes…. Home home were my parentals and animals live, study aboard school in England, and now I'm back at my usually school. Too much packing involved. But it's all good! Now that I've fallen back into school life I've worked out more time to write…. Hopefully. Anyway, I'm going home home this weekend… but I may only stay one night. Really I just need to get some stuff from previous years I left there for classes this year. Eh. How confusing. But that's life eh? Anyway m'dear! Extreme apologies for taking so long to update and thanks for the lovely review and good wishes!

TheMusingFit: Hahaha… oh my. I hope you mean the dude on the TV show and not actually cook naked. Or… does the dude on TV cook naked? I've never seen the show myself… but that seems like it would be dangerous… and on a different channel entirely.. haha. Anyway! Sure he can be the naked chef… but only if he's clothed. Hey. He's naked under the clothes right? Thanks for the review and a million apologies for my slowness. Until next time m'dear!

Calliope-Elven-Agent: Haha Tom probably ate your chocolate. He probably ate all the chocolate. Silly man. As for Chef Tom, he's discovering a hidden talent. And cooking is easier in modern times I imagine… haha yay for refrigerators and stoves! Thanks for reviewing m'dear and hope you enjoyed this much late update which I am extremely sorry for. Happy reading!

Wing Pikepaw: Hahaha I like your reaction to Chef Tom. But he is a man of many talents… and what else does he have to do all day while Olivia is at work to pay for food and rent? He can help out around the place a bit eh? Cooking is the least he can do! Haha he's becoming a housewife!

Tom: HEY!

Me: (snickers) Sorry Mrs. Corin…

Tom: (death glare)

Haha Olivia laid things out in plain English there for him. He's a bit slow at times. And she's a busy lady. A girl can't drop everything for her man after all! Blakeney will do a bit in the next chapter, and he'll have a whole little subplot of his own…. Eventually. Man this story is going to be long. Sigh. I have so much planned and so little time to do it in! Haha. Seriously… I'm seeing this as becoming a regular saga. As for your updates, don't feel bad. I know all about being busy. I won't be mad at you if you forgive me my slow updates deal? As always m'dear your review was a joy! Thanks so much!

Miss Flossy: Haha don't worry, the author here can't cook so Tom can't talk about ingredients unless it's for chicken and dumplings… which is one of the rare things I can in fact cook well. As for everyone knowing about Olivia's "roommates", they're about to find out. It's summer and summer in college communities is a bit dead since most people go home. She doesn't because she obviously prefers to stay away from home, which will become very clear in future chapters. As for Olivia thinking they'll stay in her time… well she's given him the "let's see what happens" talk. Haha will they go back to his time? Will they stay together at all? I seem to recall playing this game with someone earlier….. Olivia might decide Tom is driving her crazy and tell him the wedding is off! You never know…. Haha I can just see Olivia faced with high society though…. what a disaster that would be… I hope you beat up Tom and Will for eating all your chocolate. Bastards. Thanks for reviewing as always m'dear! And I hope you enjoyed this late late update! Until next time! Keep writing! Please! I want to read what evils you have in store for Tom and Will and the rest!

Crystal: Hehe I'm glad you enjoyed the fireworks. Haha and and I understand the weird looks from roommate thing completely! Hehehe funny. Aubrey scenes in this are just too much fun to write. These guys are completely out of their element here. Hope you enjoyed this late update and accept my millions of apologies! Thanks for reviewing!

Serena: Haha yep. Chef Tom. Gotta love it! Anyway, hope you didn't lose all hope for the update and enjoyed it! Thanks for reviewing!

Elessar King: Hehe of course he falls! He's still a puppy! PUPPY TOM! Haha thanks for being my listening post for the bikini incident! You rock! Tell Lancey to behave or I'll keel him so dead! SO DEAD! Hehehehehe! Ta m'dear!

Thanks for the reviews guys! Now… let's see… if you review this chapter I'll have Tom bring you some of that food he's cooking for the party! It'll be good! I promise!

Tom: You're a slave driver.

Me: Yes. Yes I am.

Tom: Grrr….. if you didn't have the power to kill of Olivia or me or someone I'd hurt you.

Me: But I do. So cook!

Anyway! Review and Tom will bring you party food! Because I'm making him! Thanks guys!