WELCOME TO 1876.

Leopold glanced at all the people that were at the ball. They were all sporadically staring at him, and they were doing this because in a short amount of time they were all going to listen to him making an announcement, an announcement that would mean he had made the decision of his lifetime: who was the woman he was going to marry.

He didn't want to get married, not for money, and not to any of these women. As he once said to his uncle Millard ("Marriage is the promise of eternal love, and I cannot promise eternally what I haven't felt momentarily"), he believed that love was meant to be real, and the real love he felt was for a woman, a woman named Kate Mc.Kay. A woman that had captured his entire heart. A woman that owned his heart and his being. A woman he was deeply in love with.

But sadly, their love was not meant to be. They were both too different from one another. They wanted different things out of life, and he understood that. Still, he felt completely empty, low and hopeless. Everything seemed to have fallen to pieces and now he was there, in his own time…alone, and about to make a determinant decision.

That decision. No matter how much he thought about it, it always came down to the same thing: wishing he could marry Kate. He wished, so badly, that she was there. He wished he could hold her. He wished he could have been more understanding. He wished he would have listened to her instead of just being caught up in his own pride and desire. He wished that things had been different.

Unfortunately nothing of the sort could happen. Nothing could right the wrongs that had already happened. He was now back in his own time, and in his own reality. A reality that pained, angered and scared him beyond reason: being miserable for the rest of his life, and the only thing left to do was to prepare himself for it. This was something he had to do. So he took a deep breath, picked up his glass, and headed towards the living room. It was time to make his announcement.

Kate suddenly found herself in someplace she didn't know. A place she reckoned to be the 1876's New York. She just stood there…hypnotized, for a moment, by the beauty of a New York she had never seen. But she couldn't let herself be hypnotized for too long. She was here to tell a man the strength of her feelings for him, and that's what she was going to do.

Leopold stood there, in the middle of everything happening in that crowed room, glass in hand, ready to make a toast to his future wife and the next Duchess of Albany.

Kate was running as fast she could. She knew that Leopold was to choose a bride that very same night, and she knew she had to reach him in time., in time to tell him her feelings, to tell him that what they had had been more that just a weekend, in time to know if he felt the same way as she did.

"..so I propose a toast, a toast to my wife-to-be and the new Duchess of Albany.." said Leopold. In the moment he pronounced those words, a very gracious Kate Mc.Kay walked in room.

"Kate Mc.Kay", he said, as he found himself smiling for the first time since he left the 21st century "of the Mc. Kay's of.." "Massapequa" said Kate. "Massapequa" repeated Leopold, heading towards her. At the same time, all other women were giving him looks of anger and disappointment. It was clear that they were not very happy with Leopold's choice.

After a brief moment of silence Kate was the first one to speak "I love you" she said. "and I love you" said Leopold softly. There were silent once more but this time Leopold spoke first "Kate, we need to talk. Please, let's go outside". "Yes, we really need to talk" thought Kate.

As they walked out, it was hard not to see that the people in the room were perplexed, annoyed, and very surprised. Nobody had expected this outrage, specially Leopold's uncle, Millard, who didn't like this one bit. But neither Kate nor Leopold seemed to care, not when they had each other once more

Soon after Kate and Leopold where both outside the house. This time neither of them knew where to start. However, Kate's desire to tell him what she had come to say took over, so she spoke first: "Listen Leopold, I came here because I want to tell you something, something that means a lot to me. Leopold, what we had back there in New York wasn't just some moment, or a passing–by relationship for me. It wasn't just a great weekend. The truth is…that I love you, Leopold. I really meant it when I said it few minutes ago…and.. I'm really sorry about how things turned out. I should have been more understanding.. I'm really…". She stopped, for she wasn't allowed to finish. She was interrupted by Leopold's fingers over her lips. "Kate, please, say no more" he said, rather seriously.

She saw this and began to feel very sad, so sad that she hung her head. Leopold became aware of her sadness, so he did the only thing he could: he lifted up her chin, and started speaking "Kate, please listen and listen very carefully, because I don't get to say this everyday…." said Leopold, looking in Kate's eyes "When I said that I loved you a few minutes ago I really meant it too. I really love you. You've had me all since I first laid eyes on you, and my soul and heart have been completely yours since that day. Believe me Kate, when I say this. It really means the world to me that you are here with me tonight, my love. You bring feeling to my life…and, I would be extremely happy , if you could grant me the honor of having you as my wife." finished Leopold, hoping to get a positive response.

Kate was now smiling "I came this far to tell you I love you Leopold, and having you here makes me realize how much sacrifices are really worth it. Of course I would love to be your wife" she answered, touching his cheek.

Once she finished saying her words, he embraced her, and then…he kissed her. And although it was only for a short time, for them it was like an entire century..

After they broke the kiss they held each other for a while, until Leopold reacted and realized it was time to go back inside, but he wouldn't be going alone, he would be going with his lovely new bride. "I want us to be together, Kate. Forever" said Leopold, as they walked. "So do I Leopold. So do I" said Kate.

Back inside all people were asking all sorts of questions, having all sorts of attitudes, giving all sorts of looks. Kate started feeling a little bit uncomfortable when they (specially Leopold) were being assaulted with all these questions "Where did you meet her?", "To what family does she belong?", "How come no one knows her?"

At this point Kate started to become worried "What am I going to tell people?", "How am I going to deal with them", "Is Leopold's family gonna like me?" She started thinking about it all, so much it was giving her a headache and since all the thinking was only frustrating her, she decided it was best to let things take their own course. After all, she was starting a new life with the man she loved and nothing could go wrong, or could it?.