Alita's POV:
"Princess, is now really the best time to take a walk?"
I gasped & whirled around to see Ulrick behind me. "Ulrick!" I whispered. "Why are you awake at this hour?"
"I was about to ask you the same thing." he said.
"Jane snuck out." I said. "I have to find her & make sure she's safe."
"Are we allowed to do that?" Ulrick asked as he followed me. "I mean, I don't know a lot about real time travel, but on TV you're never allowed to change history…"
"By that same logic, you can argue that Jane lives because we were here to save her." I pointed out. "I don't know, Ulrick. This is all so confusing. Time travel isn't even supposed to be possible, but here we are!"
I stopped & looked around. I couldn't see the light from Jane's lantern anywhere.
"Well, now we have to find her." I said.
"Why?"
"Because I don't know how to get back to the farm from here…"
"…Dos it seem like the sky is a little bit brighter then when we started?" I asked Ulrick, though I wasn't sure if I wanted to know the answer…
"Yeh." Ulrick said. "It's not exactly dawn, but it will be pretty soon…"
"That doesn't give us much time."
"No, it doesn't." Ulrick agreed. "JANE!" he called out.
"Are you nuts?" I asked. "We don't know where other farms are, & people might be sleeping."
"Do you want to find her or not?"
He called her name a few more times, & this time I joined him.
We had to get back before dawn.
"Ulrick, I think I found her!" I said when I saw somebody who looked exactly like Jane just up ahead. "Jane! JANE!"
She jumped & tried to turn to face us. A boy about her age was holding her, & it looked like their kissing would have gotten a little bit more passionate if we hadn't interrupted.
"I can explain." Jane said as we approached. She turned to the boy. "I didn't tell them about us Adam, I swear…"
"You must be Kate's son." I said when I saw him. He looked exactly like his mom. "We have to get back to the farm right now."
"I can explain." Jane said again.
"Let me." Adam said, moving out of their embrace. "I know that this seems a little unusual, but…I'm lucky enough that Jane's father has educated me. I know my reading, writing, & arithmetic very well. I truly feel like I'm able to take care of Jane for the rest of her life. That's why I became part of this war. It's my duty to keep her safe." He reached out & held her hand. "The truth is...Jane & I are in love. Our skin may be different, but I can't imagine my life without her in it. After all, love doesn't have a skin color."
"Aw…That's so romantic!" I said. Ulrick cleared his throat, reminding me that time was of the essence. "But we really need to get out of here right now."
"Why?" Jane asked as the sun started to rise over the horizon.
I tried to come up with a good reason that wouldn't reveal too much…but then I heard gun shots go off, maybe a few miles from where we were.
The Battle of Antietam had begun.
I know it probably doesn't seem like it, but we're starting to get close to the end of story…so I want to tell you about the special Q&A chapter I have planned…
I like to put a special chapter at the end of my fics where I answer any questions you send me, just as a way to thank you for reading the story…Just leave any questions you want answered in your reviews, & I'll answer them in the Q&A! I also have a Form Spring account if you prefer…
Please review!