Chapter Twenty-Five – "Back to the Past"

Edmund observed Brooke's despair knowing he could do nothing to help her. At least she was alive again, he thought. Seeking to accomplish that much for himself, he spoke to Zach.

"Before you take the time machine back to the original timeline, would you mind dropping me off in 2002?"

"Any particular date?" Zach inquired.

"My wedding day," Edmund answered. He motioned toward Brooke, who of course couldn't see or hear him. "Our wedding day. It was a turning point, and I'm hoping I'll turn in a different direction this time."

That was the day Maria, still thinking she was Maureen Gorman, had broken into Wildwind to kidnap Maddie. It was also the day Brooke told Edmund, after the ceremony, that Maria was still alive, a fact she had discovered weeks before. And it was also the day Edmund left Brooke at the alter and ran out of the chapel in search of Maria.

"You made a wrong turn that day, Edmund," Zach told him. "Do you think history will be rewritten if you go back in time?"

Edmund didn't really know. "I came back to Pine Valley to find the time machine so I could go back to a timeline where I still exist. I have no idea if I'll make different choices this time around." He looked at Brooke. "I pray I will."

"So do I," Zach commiserated. He set the watch/time control to 2002. "So long, everybody!"

"Good-bye, Edmund," Lily called out. "I'm glad you found the time machine and saved all material reality!"

"I couldn't have done it without you, Lily!" Edmund told her. "You're a first-rate detective!"

"It was fun!" She knew she was blushing but didn't mind because she knew that blushing was part of being alive. "Except for the scary part when we were incinerated, of course. That wasn't fun."

"Take good care of her, Sam," Edmund told his son.

"We'll take care of each other," Lily decided. "Is that okay, Sam?"

"Very okay," Sam said with all his heart.

"Edmund, were you going to leave without saying good-bye?" Opal said indignantly. "After all we've been through?"

"You're not the one he's running out on, Opal," Brooke told her perceptively.

"Thanks for everything, Opal," Edmund said sincerely, trying his best to ignore Brooke and failing miserably.

"I'm glad we could help you," Opal said. "So, Eddy, you're headed back to a timeline where you can live again?"

"That's the plan," Zach answered, fingering the watch/time control.

"Not so fast," Brooke said quickly. "What's the destination, Zach?"

"The past," Zach replied truthfully. "I'm taking Edmund back to your wedding day."

She nodded. "Sounds good to me. I'm coming along."

Edmund shook his head. "Zach, tell her it won't work. It's the past. We won't remember anything that's happened to us. Everything we did wrong we'll do again."

Zach nodded. "Edmund says the more the merrier."

Brooke smiled at Zach, knowing that was an outright lie. "Myrtle's right!" she laughed. "You're a scoundrel!"

"But Brooke, you can't go into another timeline!" Lily realized. "You're alive now. Two identical characters can't exist in the same timeline." She looked at Zach. "Unless they happen to be Galiosican."

Brooke had an idea. "Can I convert?" she asked Zach.

"No, but you can unmerge," he answered, waving his hand over her head.

In the next instant Brooke's spirit was leaving the body she had so recently made her own.

"It was nice being you," Brooke's ghost said to the Brooke she was suddenly standing next to.

"What's happening?" that Brooke asked, wandering off to join Maria and Isabelle at the trenchcoat rack.

"Edmund, I can see you again!" a dead but nevertheless overjoyed Brooke said. "Now we can BOTH go back in time to our wedding!"

"Brooke, this is all wrong!" Edmund protested. "I'll make all of the same mistakes again! I'll leave you at the alter! I'll go running after Maria and divorce you! You're throwing your future away for nothing!"

"Well, ya never know," Zach said pushing the button on the watch/time control. "Sometimes things work themselves out."

--

Brooke was biting her lip. The ceremony had been beyond beautiful. She had married the man she had always loved. This was her dream, and it had come true, gloriously true. And he loved her. She knew beyond knowing that Edmund loved her. She knew also that when she told him the truth about Maria she would lose him. But she had to tell him. How could she keep the love of her life away from the love of HIS life?

"Edmund, she's alive. Maria is alive." There. The words were spoken. Now he would leave her. Now the dream would end and the nightmare would begin. Now. Brooke held her breath and waited.

"No kidding," Edmund said. "Imagine that. After all this time. Alive, you say?"

Brooke started breathing again. Perhaps he hadn't understood her.

"She's probably still somewhere on the grounds. Aren't you going to go look for her? Edmund, Maria is alive! I've known for weeks and I haven't told you!"

He shrugged. "Brooke, I'm sure it seemed the right thing to do. When you think about it, it makes so much sense."

Something he said jogged a memory she didn't know she had. "What did you say?"

"It makes so much sense."

She nodded. "For always and ever," she said slowly, as if remembering a long-forgotten poem.

"For as long as long is," he replied.

"Always."

"Always."

Zach stood in the shadows, watching as Brooke and Edmund found their way back to each other. Grinning, he set the watch/time control for the timeline he knew he belonged in on the planet he knew he would never leave again.

--

Our Adventure is nearly over. All that's left is the Epilogue! Please read on! Reviews are welcome!