A/N: Here's chapter Four. Decided on some teenage drama for a change, and I had fun with it. Enjoy lol

Chapter Four

Acclimation

2022, Crystal Springs High School, One Week Later..

It had been a week since Veronica and Sameera had confronted Bianca, their therapist, about her true identity and met Nick's previously unheard of twin sister Erika. Sameera has calmed down from it all, reasoning that Nick wouldn't shock them with the information ahead of time, and since Bianca seemed to be working on the first time-traveling Nick's orders, then Erika being kept a secret must have been for the protection it would afford her, as Nick's protection was with Rhiannon. From what, they weren't yet sure, but Veronica wanted nothing to do with the now youngest member of the Fitch family, even if it was her own niece. In fact, Veronica had fully hijacked Rhonda's body and opted to stay out of school the past week, until Sameera had dragged her out to her van (with Leon's help) and brought her anyway, with Rachel acting as security, tasked with using her taser on Ronnie if she tried to run. Once again, Veronica was reminded of just how scary Sameera could be.

Now, they were in the cafeteria as Erika approached the table. "Hey, guys." She greeted. "You guys mind if I sit with you?"

Most of the group assembled nodded except for Veronica. "No, you can't sit with us."

Sameera bopped her best friend over the head. "Either stop the attitude or give control back to Rhonda, Veronica. This isn't Mean Girls." She smiled at Erika, who visibly relaxed. "Of course you can sit with us, Erika. Don't mind your grouchy aunt." She winked as Erika took a seat next to her, opposite of Veronica.

"Why do you have such an issue with me, auntie? At least I'm not prone to incestuous thoughts."

Veronica went to lunge across the table as Rachel zoomed in between the girls. "Stop it, Veronica. You know as much as we do that you've had that going for you since you confessed about it. It would only make sense, due to all this Doctor Who bullshit going on, so stop being so sour and just fucking talk to the girl!"

It was no wonder why Rhonda had seemed more attached to the wolf Head after the Pizzaplex, since if it wasn't Sameera being the voice of reason towards both Rhonda and Veronica, it was Rachel. But, that made Sameera turn to Veronica. "Why is your mind sending you on a hormonal rampage, anyway?"

"I don't know!" Veronica said, throwing her hands up. "But what I do know is that my sister meddled in my affairs, whether I wanted her to or not."

"Mom never wanted to keep me a secret from all of you, especially you, aunt Ronnie. But, dad warned her that if I showed up out of nowhere during either of the Afton incidents, it would only send you all for a trip you weren't ready for. I never understood what that meant, still don't. But, I know that he wouldn't want me to stand by when my brother's girl and their baby might need an extra pair of familial hands. I wanted to come to you all ages ago, when Nick was still here, but mom wouldn't let me. She still would rather see me not talking with you guys, not until one of you came to me about it, but I don't care. Nick was, is my twin brother and throughout both times he had to deal with Afton, I felt everything he did. Christmas Eve? I woke up at midnight screaming bloody murder because of whatever Afton was trying to do to Nick. If Afton knew about me, he would have targeted me long ago and I might not even be here at all right now. So, if I can tell you anything, I will, but I don't have all the answers. Nick was the one chosen to undo everything Afton is, not me, and while I hate not being able to helpy own family, I still understood that some things couldn't change. And that includes letting Nick deal with both the Pizzaplex and the Cult without me, the only other person in this time who could help."

"That's not true. Veronica technically sacrificed herself for him. She's the reason we even won that fight."

Veronica looked proud of that, puffing her chest up with a smirk directed at her would-be niece. "Yeah, we didn't need you, anyway."

"If I had been there instead of you, auntie, then aunt Rhonda's mind wouldn't be fractured as it has become from your actions."

Aw, I'm an aunt to her, too! Came Rhonda's voice from inside her mind as Veronica sighed. "There's no possible way you could know that. This is already a changed timeline, and nothing happened out of order when it came to both conflicts, so how could you possibly know Rhonda and I wouldn't be in the exact same position as we are now if you had been there to finish Afton off with Nick?"

Before Erika could answer, however, a new voice entered the conversation next to the newer girl. "Hey, cutie. Been seeing you around." The group all turned to find Russell Yoh standing there. "What are you doing sitting with these freaks?"

Despite Veronica being the angry one usually, Erika turned to the boy with a look that would have sent Giratina running back into the Distortion World. "I don't know who you are, but these guys are as good as family to my brother, and that makes them family to me, too."

Russell looked at Erika, confused. "You have a brother? Well, I don't see him around, unless it's the shrimp over there." He pointed to Leon, who rolled his eyes and held Rose's hand under the table. If anything could be said about the teenage women in Crystal Springs, they were usually the first to start a fight.

Sameera chuckled. "No, Russell. Trust me, I don't think you have a chance, not with what Nick would do if you touched his twin sister." She said, absentmindedly eating a fry as she spoke.

Russell froze hearing Nick's name, remembering how the currently-missing teen almost brought him to unconsciousness over Sameera months earlier. "Wait, she's Nick's sister? And you said twin? How come none of us knew she existed?"

"Because her parents wanted it kept that way, that's all you're getting out of us. Now either make nice or get gone." With the annoyance radiating off of the pregnant girl, Russell swore he could see her hair floating behind her with nothing to keep it in that state.

"Well, where's Nick, then? Surely his twin sister would know."

"Oh, we all know where he is. He won't be home for a while, that's all you need to know. Will that be all, you brainless neanderthal?!" Veronica said angrily.

Russell finally got the hint as he backed up from the table. "Alright, fine. Jeez, a guy tries to get a date around here.." He muttered as he walked off.

"Oh, go find some little whore to spread their legs for you, asshole!" Veronica shouted after him as both Sameera and Rose covered her mouth.

"Ronnie! Come on, where's all this rage coming from all of a sudden? Are you really that upset over not being connected to Nick so intimately anymore? I thought you would want the motherly connection severed?"

Veronica sighed. "I do, okay? I just hate the situation at hand. Nick should have told us about this shit when we were getting the truth out of him on the damn computer last week, not make us figure out everything ourselves because our minds are literally overwriting themselves where it's necessary. I remember when I agreed to Bianca's plan to take up the mantle of mothering Nick, but I also remember Nick was not up for that. In fact, he hated the thought of changing time more than they already had been. Or involving anyone we couldn't be sure we're even around these days. Which reminds me, Erika; Where were you and my dear sister all these years?"

"Mom raised me in Arizona, although that was after she came back home to give birth to me and Nick, of course leaving him here with aunt Rhia. When dad called her the night you all wound up fighting Afton in the Pizzaplex, she drove us straight back and we've been here since. Also, are your powers still working?" She then asked Veronica, who looked surprised at the question before bowing her head.

"No, they aren't." She said, holding her hand up and trying to will the golden aura to appear like it had during Christmas Eve, but it didn't appear. "Not since I stopped Afton from overtaking Nick's body."

Erika hummed. "That's odd, since mine seem to be working just fine. Maybe getting thrown back to the past made your powers act up. Or maybe they went away because you aren't in your own body anymore like it was before Nick went back. You got thrown back with Nick to the nineties, and since you have your real body there, then it only goes to further prove that Rhonda isn't in the best condition at all right now."

"And how do you propose we start fixing that issue, then? I can't just detach myself from her, you know. I've already tried."

"I figured. I don't really know what to do to help, because the way you're attached to Rhonda is quite possibly something never seen before. That at least would explain why mom put you two down as D.I.D."

Veronica just hummed, turning her focus back to her lunch tray. She didn't want to talk about any of this anymore, not when she was still pissed at her sister for keeping both herself and this girl a secret from her for what was just a few months shy of a year, since they had moved back to town before the Pizzaplex Incident according to Erika.

Sameera turned to the girl then. "So you really have that twin sense thing?"

Erika nodded, smiling. "Yeah. It only seems to work one-way- Nick to myself- but that could be due to the fact I know about him but he doesn't know me."

"I guess that could make sense. In reality, it makes the most sense out of pretty much anything these days. So, just for curiosity's sake, why did you choose now to approach us?"

"Because I'm tired, Sameera. Tired of being nothing but some huge secret. There isn't even a reason to keep me hidden anymore, you know? Big bro completely annihilated Afton from this world at Christmas, I could feel it. Yet, mom wanted me to keep quiet and away from you all unless you came to me first. But I say fuck that. My brother isn't the only one who turned out stubborn as hell." She smirked. "Plus, I meant what I told that Russell guy. You guys are family to me, even if I haven't had the chance to interact with you all yet. Not to mention, you're the closest to family as it is, because of the little one." She said, pointing to Sameera's stomach.

The older girl rubbed her belly. "Yeah, I just hope he manages to find his way back to us. Before I give birth and otherwise can't curse him over it." Both girls shared a laugh as Leon decided to interject.

"Erika, you and Nick are twins conceived by him and your mom, right? Or is the Nick that fathered you and our Nick technically different people?"

"Umm.. I don't really know, actually. I know the circumstances, but not the exact reasoning or other results. I just know that whatever the case may be, Nick isn't related to Veronica anymore, least of all by blood. But that's only because mom was adopted."

"Another thing orchestrated by Nick but even further back in the past then the nineties." Was Veronica's response.

"Yeah, which makes all this time travel talk even more confusing, so can we please stop talking about it? Out of all of us, I'm probably the only one not keeping up fully with each new conversation we have about the topic." Rose said.

Leon nodded. "Yeah, she's probably right. Plus, people already think we're freaks because of Nick and his connection to Afton, if that's even actually a thing anymore. We may not care for others' opinions, but I think we should stop adding that fuel to the fire. Especially since Russell is probably going to blab Erika's identity to someone."

"Oh, joy." Veronica said, showing her actual age as the others laughed at her continued attitude.

Meanwhile..

Rhiannon looked up and her eyes widened as she recognized the woman in front of her. "Bianca?! How long have you been back in town?"

"About a year, now. We came back just before the kids went to the Pizzaplex."

Rhiannon raised her eyebrow. "We? Does this mean you finally found a husband?"

Bianca laughed heartily. "Oh, you. Of course not. I'm talking about me and my other child."

Nick's adopted mother perked up. "Wait, you mean Erika is in town, too?"

Bianca nodded. "Duh, she's still underage. I have to bring her with me wherever the work is."

Rhiannon shook her head with her own laugh. "And the work is with your son's friends. Although, please enlighten me as to what exactly your therapy is supposed to help those teenagers with?"

"Always a cynic with me, Rhia. I'm hurt." Bianca held her hand over her heart but smirked playfully. "Even though your son is fighting time itself to make sure Afton never kills Veronica in the first place.."

Rhiannon sighed. "I know, alright? I remember what you and the two of them told me this time around about what happened the first time. Although I still get a headache just thinking of it all."

"I know, and we apologized to you profusely about it after all was said and done. He says hi, by the way, the Nick you did give birth to."

"You still have contact with him? How does that even work? It's one thing for his cell to have worked in nineteen ninety-eight, there were some cell towers. But back even further? He shouldn't even be able to have rigged something together E.T. style to talk to you. How does that work?"

"No idea, but I'm not hating it. Granted, he isn't really my Nick, but he has the memories and knowledge of what we all needed to do to make it this far. As he figures it, there may not be a need at this point for the current Nick to go back further, because you know he had a choice that night."

"Yes, he did, and he chose to make sure Veronica wasn't killed, and look how that turned out."

"I know, I know. But, we have reason to think Nick is going to beat this stupid time loop and come back to us all. This time, at least. Whether or not my sister decides to make herself a permanent fixture of the present."

Rhiannon laughed. "She isn't already?"

Bianca giggled. "Alright, I guess you have a point there. But, this splinter shouldn't have been around, and that entails there's still things we don't know about whatever powers Nick, his sister and Veronica possess."

"Bianca, with everything those teens have gone through and what Nick has had to do even to this point, time loop or not, is full of unknown's. And being honest, I don't like it."

"Well, I don't have any appointments for the rest of the day. When do you get off?"

Rhiannon looked at her unamused, but nodded all the same. "Fine. I guess everyone needs some therapy now and then, right? I get off in a little while. Will Erika be joining us?"

Bianca shook her head. "No, I'm letting her out of the house, so I believe she'll be with the rest of those teens by now, and we remember high school, the amount of parties that go on at this part of the year?"

"Let them have fun, especially Sameera. Plus, Ronnie won't let her go anywhere near something that could hurt her or the baby. And I think Erika may need a party or two to help her fit in a bit better, don't you think? You kept her hidden from everyone her entire life, she deserves to enjoy herself."

Bianca frowned. "Yeah, I get that. I'm just worried because, like Veronica and Sameera, that girl has quite the comparable temper." That made Rhiannon laugh again as Bianca turned to leave, waving goodbye to her old friend.

1998 (Resuming Last Chapter), Rojas Mansion..

Nick and Veronica had just walked into the mansion of who would become Leon's mother, Kat Rojas. Nick had always thought it was Jason who had made the family rich and infamous in town, but it seemed his mother hadn't been a passive onlooker to the fortune, either. Veronica could tell Nick was nervous, even though this was his idea. "You sure you're okay, love?" She whispered in his ear.

Nick nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. I just don't want to say something I shouldn't. I mean, I know enough about the nineties to fit in with the culture, especially seeing as I listen to that era of music more than most of what they play in twenty twenty-one and I've watched enough movies but a few of those could still be future to these teens, so I gotta be careful, right? I'm gonna have a look around, find somewhere quiet for a minute."

Veronica looked at him, worried. "Are you sure? I'd feel safer staying with you."

"You'll be fine. Stick to Bianca until I come find you, alright?" Reluctantly, Veronica nodded as Nick walked off, back towards the doors. He nodded to one of the obviously jock teens guarding the door, motioning he'd be right back as he walked towards the side of the looping driveway, towards a small koi pond lit up with solar lamps around the perimeter. He sat on one rock and watched as a koi swam over and looked at him, it's mouth gaping open and closed at the surface of the pond.

Nick wasn't really troubled, at least not with anything Veronica needed to trouble herself with as well. Even when she was the trouble. Because, as adamant as Nick was and as loyal as he always had been, especially when it came to his relationship with Sameera, but he couldn't help but still feel so attracted to the girl who belonged to the past. The past in which he found himself stuck with no other way to go home. He sighed, looking up at the sky. It amazed him that even in the city, as small as it could be, the sight in the sky always seemed like he had lived in the country, and the stars twinkling above him usually helped him clear his head. But there was too much swirling around his head.

He needed to figure out why he was here, again even. If Afton wasn't the real issue like he initially thought, then what was? Who was the issue he was here for? Was he even here for a reason anymore? "Shouldn't you be in there, enjoying the party, Nick?" Came a voice Nick recognized but couldn't place until he looked over and saw the History teacher.

"Mr. Tyme? This isn't the place I'd expect to see a teacher."

"Ah, well. I like to keep an eye on my students. But, son, Tyme isn't my actual name." Nick looked at him, confused. "I'm sure you know my real name, though, coming from when you do." He held his hand out to Nick. "Nice to meet you, Nick. I'm Henry Emily."

Meanwhile..

Veronica was biting her thumb, nervous about why Nick hadn't come back into the party, yet. It had been almost twenty minutes, and the still-present motherly instincts were in overdrive in worry. Luckily, she wasn't alone in her spot in the living room the rest of their friends (and Kat, who had already been coerced into Jason's lap) had settled into as Bianca noticed the gesture.

"Hey, come here, sis." She said, dragging Veronica away from the others and into a surprisingly empty hallway. "What's up with you?"

Veronica looked down at the floor. "I.. I can't stop myself from being worried, Bianca. For all of you still alive. I didn't make it the first time this all happened, and I can't shake the dread that something is coming for at least one of you. And knowing what I know of the future? I can't put any of you in danger like that. But, I don't want to die again! I can't live another life being someone's slave. I refuse to even give him the chance, even if that means sacrificing my life for Nick again."

There was something unspoken that Bianca could already recognize. "But you want to live your life with him, as well, because even if he is your son in some way, you love that smart idiot with everything you are, don't you?"

Veronica was teary-eyed, chuckling as she wiped at those threatening to spill. "Yeah, I do. God, I do, and I hate knowing there's a reason why I shouldn't. You really should be a therapist, Bia. Seems you were made for it."

"I've just always been good at reading people, and you are usually a lot easier than you have been since Christmas. But I see how you look at him, okay? To you, Nick is everything, isn't he?"

"Yeah, he is. It's stupid because I know as I am right now I'm not his mother and all but that doesn't stop the love I feel and remember from that first life. I just want that happiness back, but I know Nick's too invested in being the ever-loyal knight he is to Sameera. I mean, she is already having his kid and whatever."

"Well, that isn't now, sis. Yes, he's with Sameera, but that's still the future. I know you've thought about the possibility of going back to the future with him, it's obvious. Not to mention, it seems this Sameera isn't the most judgemental of people. She probably already has thought about what could happen if you were to show back up in that time with your physical body again. Or maybe not, I mean who can tell, right?"

"Yeah.. But, I couldn't do that to her, Sameera's been the one who kept me sane once I had my mind back. I feel like I would be betraying her trust."

"Well, according to you, it does still happen, Nick and you. So, in the spirit of helping you try and change time itself, go get him."

"I don't know, I.." She paused as she opened the blinds slightly, seeing Nick sitting and talking with.. "Isn't that Mr. Tyme?"

Bianca looked outside and saw that Nick was indeed talking to their history teacher. "Yeah, it is.. Why would he be out at a teenage party?"

Veronica shrugged. "Maybe it's like a neighborhood watch kind of thing?"

"Maybe, it would make sense when children are going missing again to keep an eye on any large gatherings. What would he need with Nick though, I wonder?" Bianca turned toward her sister to find Veronica gone, walking off towards the front door as she smirked. And there she goes.

Once outside, Veronica approached Nick and the school teacher. "Everything alright, Nicky? What's Mr. Tyme doing here?"

Nick, who had been mostly silent by way of feeling dumbstruck by what the teacher had told him, and he looked at her with a look of dread. "Oh, Ronnie. We were so wrong. About everything."

Veronica frowned as the now revealed Henry chuckled. "Ah, there's young Miss Fitch. I was just filling your friend here in on some important information. But, I must be going, as I think this party is in good hands, should something go wrong." He winked at Nick. "I'll see you both in school on Monday." And with that, the mysterious elder teacher walked off, leaving Veronica and Nick alone.

Veronica sat down on the low brick wall Nick was already positioned on, looking at him with a mixture of worry and curiosity. "What did Mr. Tyme have to say?" She asked finally after about a minute of surprisingly awkward silence between the two teens.

"That's not his real name, for one thing. I'm amazed Afton never knew he was right there the whole time."

"Wait, what do you mean? Nick, who is our history teacher, really?"

"The only man with enough knowledge about Afton to stop him for good. Ronnie, our teacher has been the Henry Emily this entire time. As in, the literal co-founder of Fazbear with Afton."

"Wha.. Really? Then what did he tell you?"

"The truth. Veronica, this really is a time loop, but a limited one. This is only the second time I was sent back, the first time being when we first met, in your first lifetime. He.. Henry told me that I couldn't save you, or more like you decided to martyr yourself like back on Christmas Eve. I went back even further to change things, to try and save you. Or, that was initially the plan apparently. Once I was back there, I searched Henry out and told him about everything we'd all been through. He didn't believe me at first, until I brought up my somehow being related to William, to which he went and did a DNA test about it. Fun fact, Henry Emily has at least that much knowledge of the medical field. Weirdly enough, though, it turns out I'm not related to Afton. Like at all, actually. I just happen to have abilities similar to those he has as Glitchtrap, or at least the opposite of them.

"But, as it turned out, I am somewhat related to him as well, albeit very strangely. Apparently, it wasn't my father who was Afton's mysterious lost child, but my mother. Well, in that initial trip, at least, because her DNA actually gave me these abilities in the first place. But then I had to change things, including my parentage if I wanted a chance at saving you, the real lost Afton."

Veronica looked at him like he had grown those four extra hands he had hallucinated during their game of Never Have I Ever, which felt like a lifetime ago in and of itself. "What the hell are you talking about, Nick? Bianca is the adopted one, not me."

Nick shook his head. "Not from what Henry told me. He said when I made my way back to your parents' teenage years, I had already figured it out and I had to ask him where I could find you. You were probably only about a year old or so, so I wouldn't figure you would remember those days, but I went to where your mother was staying and tried to explain the situation without sounding crazy. I think what got through to her was that I wanted to hide you from William. She was wary of me, but I understood why. She didn't know me, I was just a random guy who went to her with some ridiculous sounding story. Then I went to find your parents, who had already had a daughter and wanted another one, but your adopted mother had complications with Bianca's birth which left her otherwise sterile.

"After a while, I got them to agree to making you and Bianca think she was the adopted sister, which made her total difference in likeness to that of William Afton couldn't be seen. Then came this loop, which Henry says may be the last time I have to fling myself through time like I drive a DeLorean."

"But, if I'm the missing Afton child, and whatever happened during that first life has been overwritten, then why do you still have your powers?"

Nick sighed, chuckling. "Because, Ronnie. I am still blood to you, but because my father is technically myself, while my mother was planned to change from you to Bianca, which means that you get what you keep wishing for."

Veronica looked away. "I didn't want it like this, Nick. Don't get me wrong, I'm ecstatic about you not being my son technically anymore, but why did we have to change things in the first place?"

"It's the only way I can attempt to save you, Ronnie. It might seem like a fool's errand, but it's what I wanted, what I want. And it kills me.."

"Because you have Sameera back home, I know. You know, Nick, you're too loyal for your own good sometimes." Veronica sighed, leaning her head on one shoulder.

"Ronnie.."

"No, Nick. I need you to listen for once, alright? Because I can't keep my feelings bottled up like this. It hurts me, Nick, to know you're at least attracted to me while I feel the exact same way but can't do anything because you refuse to live in the moment. You've survived Afton and death multiple times already, and when faced with the situation of being otherwise free from your present-day relationship and you won't take the chance why? It already happened when we were mother and son, technically, so why not now that you've made yourself a new mother in the form of my younger sister?"

"Honestly? I don't know, Ronnie. It's probably because I was always so in love with Sameera that ever since that relationship blossomed, I haven't been trying to be a dick like most other guys. I have a reputation to uphold of being an upstanding specimen of the male species, you know."

Veronica giggled. "Yeah, I know. Old memories, remember?" She said, smiling at him as she tapped her forehead.

Nick rolled his eyes but smiled. "Okay, Axel. Well, what does this all mean, though? I mean, I am attracted to you. Living with you and your family for the last few days had been a blast, and it's nice to see you smile instead of just a ghost overshadowing my ex."

"Oh, shut up. You were so still into Rhonda. You may be loyal, but you at least know what you like. I'll give you that."

"Yeah? Alright, mom. What's my type, then? Since you obviously have it all figured out."

Veronica was fully laughing now as she managed to answer. "You like sweet girls who can go from zero to a hundred when they're threatened. I admit, I think I have that trait more from being a part of Rhonda, but I'm a lot feistier now. And I like it, actually." She smirked. "Oh, and you also have a thing for the more.. exotic types. I mean, you're like full on white combo, right?" She giggled. "And Rhonda is Mexican, which is a good thing if you realize they have kids like mad."

"Hey! Rhonda had a small family, you know. It wasn't my fault she wanted ten kids, I didn't put any such notion in her head." Nick waved his arms in the air.

Veronica giggled behind her hand. "Hush, you. I didn't mean anything by it, but the fantasies.. Whoo, boy. But, back on topic, then there's Sameera."

Nick pouted. "Alright.. She's Pakistani, so what? She's also my childhood sweetheart, we just kinda seem made for each other. But, I will admit I felt the same way around Rhonda."

Veronica smirked at him again. "And what about me? And be honest! I'll know if you're lying because I know your tells from being half of Rhonda." She stuck her tongue out at him, but Nick just blushed scarlet, somewhat hard to see in the dim lighting around the koi pond.

"Well, I did when you were still part of her, for the record. But, the time I've spent with you in this time.. Yeah, I've been feeling it since that night we stayed up watching the stars."

Veronica smiled brightly. "Oh, Nicky." She threw her arms around him and pulled him close. "You know, if I'm not your mother now, there's really nothing stopping you from enjoying your time here." She whispered in his ear before leaning back, pushing her boobs together while still giggling. "With me. Sameera already knows it happens, and I didn't see her laying the smackdown on you over it." She winked before getting up, about to run towards the house.

Veronica only got a few steps away when she felt Nick's arms wrap around her and pull her back, leaning her body against his. "I want it, Ronnie, and I know you're testing me. I hate knowing I still shouldn't, but you've been focused on seducing me since you found me, whether it's subconscious or not."

Nick gripped her hips and squeezed lightly, but Veronica bit her lip as she put her arms up around his head. "Then just do it. The others will be fine without us for a little while."

Nick only managed to keep control of himself. "You're sure Sameera seemed alright with this?"

"Well, I did die that time, so I'd think she thinks it'll happen again. Maybe."

"That's true. Well, you have been telling me to live a little, right?"

"Don't say no, just live more." Veronica quoted, surprising Nick.

"The only reason you know that song is because of Rhonda, isn't it?"

She giggled, looking up at the sky. "Yeah, but I've heard it on your headphones once or twice, too." So, what are you going to choose, Nick?"

Nick sighed. "I shouldn't, if I manage to save you and somehow bring you to the future with me after all this mess, then Sameera would be pissed."

"Maybe. Maybe not. It's one of life's risks, hon. And you can't have fun without sometimes taking some risks, can you?"

Nick laughed. "I can't argue with that logic. Alright, fine. But only until we figure a way out of this time. And we will, because I won't stay here forever when you know and care just as much about mine and Sameera's future child. I need to be there with them, Ronnie, whatever happens."

Veronica nodded, her face serious. "And you will, Nick. I promise. I won't let you die or have to go back further in the past. We'll get you home, hopefully together. You kids are just as much family to me than anyone."

Nick smiled. "I know, Ronnie. Home wouldn't be home without you, although a complete you would be preferable." Veronica laughed as the two kissed, just living in the moment. Nick knew he could focus on whatever else Henry had told him before this girl had walked back outside for him. He just hoped there was a way out of this.

Inside the mansion, Bianca had kept an eye on the two from the window her and Veronica had first seen their teacher from. She smiled as she watched them kiss, even knowing it may not be something permanent. "You go, sis. We're in this together, you and I. Sisters to the end, no matter the time." She turned back towards the living room where her friends were, seeing Kat making out with Jason like no one else was around while Rhiannon was wheezing from laughing so much at the ridiculousness of the scene. And then Bayek was facepalming as he sat with the woman who would be Sameera's mother, the girl leaning into the bigger man's side as he held her close with one arm.

Bianca smiled. Her friends were everything to her, and she hated knowing something was about to truly shatter the carefree attitude of the students. Here's to hoping Nick and Ronnie can stop whatever is going on before it's too late.. She thought, taking one last look outside and seeing Veronica run into the woods, Nick chasing after. Oh, and there they go. Ugh, sometimes hormones are the worst part of life. She giggled to herself as she joined the others, starting with separating the messy make-out session that was the future Solaris'.