Disclaimer: Please see Chapter 1 for the usual stuff.

Author's Note: Again, I would like to convey my sincerest apologies for the long wait. Real life continues to demand copious amounts of my time and attention.

Thanks to everyone who have written and reviewed, your encouragement means a great deal.

To answer a few pointed questions:

Desy – No, Jarod doesn't yet know about Catherine's brief liaison with his father.

bloodymary2 – In the next chapters you will see more of mp / j as well as Catherine

Onisius – It seems that more folks are wanting them to remain in the past….

Allani – Regardless of what happens, they won't be too happy with Ethan. Hate him? Never!

Imag1ne – This chapter will point out further what Ethan is hiding.

Ron – The conclusion of the competition is in this chapter.

Time to Consider
Chapter 23
By Callisto

Chavalier – Arnou International Competition
Arras, France

The final competitor was in the middle of her performance. Words could not describe Jarod's jumble of thoughts and emotions. The other contestants were scattered around and about the auditorium, listening as their hopes for the Grand Prize diminished with each successive cord. Her performance was beyond anything he could've imagined. Never in his wildest dreams could he have conjured up something on this scale. On the piano he was extremely proficient; she was absolutely brilliant. Nothing in her past even suggested this level of talent; the ability to express long buried sentiments or the creative skill to release her repressed or otherwise controlled emotions. She found a place in her concerto for a lot that had occurred in her life and in doing so, explained more than she had the words for on Carthis.

Jarod had long overcome his caution in expressing his emotions. Since his escape, he discovered that there were moments when an occasional tear was allowed, a shout of anger tolerated, a deadly glare necessary. What her performance dredged up from inside of him was almost too much at once. Her loneliness—their loneliness, sense of betrayal and repressed anger was perfect fodder for her piano piece. He stood mesmerized by the sound and lost all track of time until she skillfully built up to the crescendo and eased into the last bar.

The crowd shared Jarod's awe as they sat transfixed waiting for more. When it became apparent that she had finished, they erupted into a deafening wall of applause and shouts of praise. The orchestra came to their feet and joined in on the ovation. Parker looked up at the conductor and was surprised to see that he too was clapping. She gracefully stood, made her polite bow, stood a few seconds staring out at the crowd, bowed her thanks to them again and then turning bowed to the orchestra as well before taking her leave.

Jarod watched as she came towards him. With a slight smile, she approached him and was immediately engulfed in a powerful embrace. Pulling her abruptly to arms length he said over the slowly calming noise from the audience, "You've done something I never thought you would ever do again—you've surprised me, Miss Parker. I never knew you could play like that."

Smiling, Parker lightly kissed his mouth and replied, "So, it's 'Miss Parker' again? I worked very hard to get that piece right. That slave driver of a piano teacher—the one standing just behind you, made sure I perfected it."

"Maritza, you definitely saved the best for last. I must admit that I am pleased you didn't allow your doubts to cripple you," the teacher remarked with a heavy Russian accent.

"Taisia, if it weren't for your constant badgering and endless confidence in my ability, I wouldn't be here today," Parker replied sincerely. She allowed herself to be gently hugged by her jubilant masters-class teacher.

"Now we wait for the judges to make their decision," Taisia replied firmly. To her ears, Maritza out-played and out-finessed the competition at every turn but this confidence didn't allay her nervousness over the judge's impressions and expectations.

Thirty minutes later the awards were given out and to no one's surprise, Parker was awarded the grand prize, which she accepted with a grace beyond her appearance that further charmed the crowd and judges. The party afterwards was a raucous affair. Once her rounds of congratulations were exchanged with her fellow competitors, Parker, wanting some quality time, found Jarod and dragged him away for the long walk back to their hotel.

"Your performance was beyond anything I had ever heard before. I'm very proud of you."

"Now I know I must have really impressed you."

"Your performance suggested depths I never knew existed. It'll be a lot of fun exploring those depths at length."

"Really? Did I come off as being so shallow in our time frame?"

"From where I was standing, shallow isn't quite the right word. You were more of a corporate thug. All the best parts of you were repressed, carefully hidden from the world. Your father took advantage of your attempts to please him and conform to his wishes. He acted more like a corrupted Mafioso than some of the mobsters I know. Tonight I got the chance to get a glimpse of what your true self is capable of achieving."

"A thug? You thought I was on a par with mobsters?" she asked with incredulous heat.

"What else would you call a person who is mandated to hunt down another human being intending to 'retrieve' them against their will and by any means necessary?"

"I call it someone who was given an unpleasant assignment," she replied with faltering surety. She knew how ridiculous her argument sounded.

"An assignment? When you go after someone while armed with a 9mm? Someone who had done you no harm, who was being forced to spend the bulk of his life in confinement and being experimented on despite continuing to do as he was told? And then to have that gun turned on you and those closest to you if your conscious began to bother you—if you started to question your master's motives? I trust we don't have to go into what would result if you ultimately failed in that 'unpleasant assignment'? Look, I don't want to argue the point, I'm just glad we've both left that crazy 'I run, you chase' mentality behind us," he replied. He hadn't intended on picking a fight with her but he knew eventually they would have to discuss it.

"If this is how you felt, what made you want to be with me?" she asked with a sinking heart.

"My feelings for you haven't changed from this morning or last month. The Centre no longer dictates anything for me and although the things that were done to my family and me are still on going, I'll never forget who the true liars and culprits are. The past doesn't change anything for me here. What about for you?"

"I never thought I would win the competition. I knew I was good but not that good. Mama will be very pleased," she replied trying to turn the tide of the conversation.

"I'm sure she will be," he answered softly. Never one to let a question so important to him go unanswered, he asked, "Does knowing what my point of view is change your feelings towards me?"

Turning away from him to stare at the passing traffic, Parker abruptly stopped walking. She remained quiet and still for several moments. "I've never felt this way about anyone in my life, not even Tommy. I guess you're the only one who could ever reach my little hoodlum heart," she replied with light sarcasm.

Loudly and a touch dramatically to cover his true anxiety, Jarod exhaled as though he were holding his breath throughout her answer. "In that case, why don't we get a ride back to the hotel?" At her inquisitive expression, he flagged down a taxi and opened the rear door with a flourish, "There's a fantasy you inspired in me some years back while you were hunting for your past in Maine. It was the only time I can remember when you actually allowed yourself to put on a few pounds."

"I did not!"

"I'll be more than happy to show you exactly where those pounds used to be so deliciously located," he replied with a wolfish grin.

His efforts worked because despite her fighting it, a smile broke free and onto her face as she got into the cab. "This had better be good, Genius."

Before he followed her he murmured to himself, "After tonight's performance, it's nice to know for certain that I'm not the only one."

Kowaris Cannery Present
Anchorage, AK

"We're all set. The last checks were encouraging. The containment field is larger by another 25 and power output is up another 38. Those processors you received from your sister's friend were more than enough to do the trick," Daniel reported with a satisfied nod.

"I'm glad Mr. Broots came through after all. He sounded so nervous when I called him, I thought he was going to have a heart attack," Ethan replied with mild irritation. Broots' preoccupied caution had the same effects on his temper as it did on his sister's.

Daniel looked at his half brother for a few seconds before continuing. "I know that I'm just a carbon copy but in some cases that gives me some insight into Jarod. An insight that only he and I can share. What I'm trying to say is what if he doesn't want to come back? What if he's happy with the years he inadvertently regained?"

"You're more than a 'carbon copy'. You are your own man, separate from Jarod. Someone once told me that it doesn't matter how you got here, the fact is that you're here now and no one can take that away from you—or your individuality," Ethan replied trying to avoid answering the same question that had been floating in his mind since they embarked on this project. His deal with Norwood had been bothering his conscious more than he wanted to admit to himself.

"Thanks. But you know you didn't answer my question. The voices must be telling you the same thing. He doesn't want to come back, does he? What about your sister?"

"They'll both be glad to be back where they belong. What happened to them was a bizarre accident. We need them to come back and they need to be here."

"Why? Without Jarod, we have a chance to move on. The Centre will never find them and will be forced to move on as well. I know you miss them—we all do, but maybe this accident was as coincidental as my being here today to point it out."

"It's what's best. With them back, there won't be any more damage to the timeline," Ethan countered. This was an argument that he often used on those pesky voices.

"Interesting. Have you at least discussed this with them?" Daniel pressed.

Becoming suddenly irritated by the boy's insistence, Ethan gave Daniel a piercingly angry glare and stalked away. He didn't need the chattering of his inner sense taking on the voice of Jarod's clone.

Inter Hotel le Moderne
Arras, France

They spent the rest of the night together with Jarod happily seducing and then methodically showing Parker his favorite parts of her body. Drinking champagne and making love was the hallmark of the evening. Fortunately, Jarod's unwavering attention also kept Parker from drinking too much as well. In the morning they woke hangover free, refreshed and horny. Before he would allow himself to be drawn in, Jarod had a few questions for his lady.

"I want to ask you about this prize you won last night. What exactly did the judge mean when he said you would spend the next 2 years concertising?"

"He meant that as the winner, I have engagements to perform at some of Europe's top concert halls. The prize is being introduced and having the opportunity of working with the most influential and talented conductors and orchestras in the world. Think of it as a long-winded meet and greet. At the end of it, if I'm good enough and lucky, I just might get a job offer."

"When will you return home? Between concert dates?" he asked wondering when he would have the chance of seeing her again.

"Most likely I won't for some time. But I do have about a month before I start on the tour, so most of our plans will still work. We can go back home to the apartment and not leave for at least an entire week, then I was hoping we could go and visit my family, and then your family before this whole thing starts up," she replied as she caressed his chest while staring at his face.

"I didn't realize this would be the result," he stated with a heavy heart. He wanted her to stay but didn't want his possessive side to fully come out and have the temper tantrum that was going on in his mind.

"What's the matter?" she asked suddenly. The closed expression on his face said he didn't like any of her plans.

"To be honest, I didn't expect you to win either. When we made some of our long-range plans before the competition, I was certain that you would be around to enjoy them with me. Now you'll be gone for at least 2 years," he replied quietly.

For a second her brow furrowed, then suddenly relaxing, she gave him a wolfish grin. "Oh, no, Sugar. You're coming along with me for the next 2 years. I'm not letting you out of my sight for a second."

He turned and looked at her, trying desperately to control the relief and pleasure her declaration caused him. "Now you tell me? I was worried that I was on the brink of losing you."

"Well, this way you'll have plenty of time to design that engine your friend, Egan keeps raving about. Then again, you would know about this if you took your head out of that amphibians-for-super-genius' book for a minute and asked, then I would've told you in the beginning. By the way, do you have that formula finished yet?"

"Yep, it's all good to go, but I want to remind you, it won't work outside of the event horizon. Besides, I thought you hated being 18?"

"Nope, it's definitely not my favorite age. Too damn many limitations. But right now, right this very minute, it feels like I'm in the middle of a fantastic dream and I just don't want to wake up," she replied as her hands began to wander purposely along his body.

"I know what you mean, however, neither man nor woman lives by lovemaking alone," he said getting up in a hurry. "Why don't you sit back and relax, while I order us some breakfast," he said, as he pulled on the dress pants he had left hanging across the bedroom ottoman.

Several minutes later, the doorbell rang. Jarod had called down to room service again because they forgot to include milk in his order. 'They're faster than they look' he thought as he left the table laden with food to answer the door.

Instead of finding the bellboy, he opened the door to Catherine Ferrer. He was very shocked but quickly and smoothly recovered. "Mrs. Ferrer, um, Catherine, what a pleasant surprise, please come in." He opened the door wider for his guest, ever conscious that he had left his shirt in the bedroom and was wearing only last night's slacks.

"Thank you, Jarod. I came around to see if Mari was up yet. I wanted to congratulate her," Catherine said with a softly disapproving lift of her eyebrow.

"Yes, I was about to tell her that breakfast was ready," he replied noting Catherine's expression. The doorbell rang again, this time the bellhop was there with the carafe of milk.

Turning he led the way into the living room area, where he had set up the breakfast. "There's enough here to feed an army. Would you like something?"

Before she could reply, Catherine, who had continued walking over to the closed curtains to check out the view, turned in time to see her scantily clad daughter sneak up on Jarod. His back was to the bedroom where the girl had emerged as he poured milk into two glasses. He had just finished doing this when Mari did a very credible job of goosing him.

Jarod must have jumped a foot, spilling most of the milk and giving a startled yell. His reaction was amusing even to Catherine who was doing all she could not to laugh out loud. He was still trying to catch his breath when Mari in a low, very adult and enticing voice, sexily murmured her most insincere apologies. Before Jarod could say a word, the girl pounced, kissing him and running her fingers along the muscular planes of his chest and back. Her left hand plunged into the back of his pants, as he struggled to free himself from his teenaged vixen.

He was thoroughly aroused when he managed to pull away and choke out that her mother was there to visit. This information failed to immediately register as Mari continued her ministrations. When it did, her eyes widened and she looked around him, finally spotting her mother standing in front of the curtained sliding glass windows. Catherine had been unable to hide her smile at the preciously dumbfounded look on her daughter's guilty face. She continued smiling and waved as the girl pulled Jarod's shirt closed around her naked body and ran with impressive speed back into the bedroom.