Year 1959

October 3rd

Cassie was washing the dishes and Cole standing next to her did the drying when he suddenly stopped and said, "You ever noticed what's really sick about us?"

Cassie looked at him in surprise, "What's that?"

Looking quite serious, he put away the towel and put his hands on her waist to look her in the eyes. Worried, she placed her hands on his chest.

Cole very gravely said, "Well, considering the years we were born in… I'm dating a really old woman," he'd managed to stay serious, but couldn't stop breaking into a smile now. Relieved, Cassie laughed and softly hit him on the arm. He leaned in to kiss her. Her arms wrapped around his neck instinctively.

"That was my weird way of saying Happy Birthday by the way," he admitted.

"I didn't even bother to think about that," she said, realizing what date is was. She couldn't believe he remembered. "Thank you," she said and kissed him again. She turned back to the sink, "But technically, I'm not even born yet and neither are you so no more old lady jokes."

Later that same night they were lying in bed, Cassie in Cole's arm, both immersed in their own thoughts.

"Does it bother you though? That if the plague never happened we would've never met? Or at least not when we were the same age? I would just be a random lady to you," Cassie sounded worried.

Cole thought about it, "For starters, I don't really like the thought. I can't imagine not knowing you like this. And I don't want to." She clung to him tightly and Cole wrapped his other arm around her, too, "But I don't think you could ever be a random stranger to me." They were quiet for some time. Then Cole said, "You know, I think I even remember you from when you took that blood sample. I don't remember much, it's just a feeling. But I felt so … at home with you. Like I'd known you for a long time," he cleared his throat, "Or maybe my memory got messed up from all that time travelling, I don't know…"

Cassie closed her eyes to take in his words, "Don't diminish it, Cole," she savoured the moment, because Cole didn't express his feelings as directly as this a lot.

"I'm not. I mean… I think, what I want to say is that there is no time where we don't find each other."

"That's exactly what I think. I don't believe in fate, especially not with everything that we've been through, but I can't help thinking that it's what's brought us together."

Half asleep, Cole mumbled something that sounded like "Screw causality".

"Thank god all of this over," Cassie added snuggling up to Cole and settling in to sleep.

A/N: I'm quite shocked no one's made that joke yet. It's not perfect what with them living in a year where neither of them is born yet, but Cassie had it coming don't you think?