Chapter Four

Emmett went down to the kitchen after he managed to collect himself and found Althea already cooking up a storm. She had Beatles music playing, and he stood in the doorway watching her dance around to "I Want You," by the Beatles. It was one of their sexy, bluesy tunes that never got much play on the radio but he could tell she was into it. It was also a very appropriate song to be playing due to the circumstances. He eventually made his way into the kitchen and came up behind her. When she turned around he offered his hand. "Shall we, Princess?"

She blushed and nodded. "It's been a long time since anyone's called me that."

He took her hand and wrapped his other arm around her waist as they swayed back and forth. When she rested her cheek against his chest and sighed contentedly, Emmett felt immediately like they were transported back to 1667 when they last danced. He was just glad it was a long song so they could enjoy it for a while.

"What made you choose this song?" He asked her as he rested his chin on top of her head.

"I didn't. It just came on. I think this is the Beatles channel on satellite."

"Ah yes, of course."

"It's quite appropriate, don't you think, Emmett?"

"Yes, quite so."

When the song sped up a bit, Althea turned around with her back to him and he wrapped his arms around her waist to keep her close as she shimmied against him. He took her hand and twirled her around to face him once more and she giggled nervously. "You've learned a few new dance moves," he whispered as he pulled her against him once more. Then he dipped her backwards, pulling her back up very slowly.

"I don't know where from," she whispered as she wrapped her arms around him. "House doesn't dance so it's been a long time."

"Oh I seem to remember you and I had quite a few dances."

"Yes we did. And you're still very smooth, Emmett," she grinned.

He dipped her backwards again.

"Like that, do you?"

"Yes!" she laughed as she wrapped her arms around his neck, which was difficult due to the fact that he was considerably taller than she, so she settled for placing one hand on his shoulder while she held his other hand.

"Those were the days," he said as they continued to sway back and forth. When it sounded like the song was almost over, he called out "Alexa, repeat the song."

"Now playing on repeat, I Want You, by the Beatles," an automated female voice said from the speaker.

Althea looked at him in wonder. "How did you do that?"

"Oh that? It's just a little something I'm working on for a company called Amazon. One day, in the not too distant future, everything will be voice activated. This guest house is kind of an experiment. For example, kitchen lights, down to fifty percent."

And on command, the lights dimmed around them and Althea was completely amazed, and delighted. "If I didn't know any better, Dr. Brown, I'd say you were trying to seduce me."

He smiled at her. "Is it working?"

"Like a charm. You're one of those…what do you call them…" she said as she searched for the words. "Hopeless romantics, aren't you?"

"On the contrary, Princess. Hopeful is probably more accurate."

"I've been thinking alot about the past these days. When you were in my time."

"Oh? And what were you thinking about?"

"My eighteenth birthday."

"That was quite a night."

"Yes it was. This reminds me of it, except the music is a lot better. And there's something I can do now that I couldn't do at the time."

"And what might that be?"

Althea stood up as high as possible, wrapped her arm around Emmett's neck and brought his head down, softly brushing her lips against his. It was just a quick kiss but it sent them both reeling. He rested his forehead against hers and sighed.

"If you'd done that with your father present, he'd have my head."

"Without a doubt. Why do you think I came looking for you later?"

He arched an eyebrow at her. "That was it? To steal a kiss?"

"You were the first to ever really kiss me, Emmett."

His eyes widened. "You're kidding."

Althea shook her head. "No, really. I mean, I'd been kissed before but I don't count those. You literally took my breath away that night. And you've been with me ever since. I knew that if I never saw you again, my last thought…before I died, would be of you."

Emmett didn't know what to say but the chime of the oven timer saved him and she extracted herself from his arms to see to dinner.

"I'll get some candles, just in case. Sometimes the wind knocks the power out," he told her.

"How romantic," she smiled at him over her shoulder as she took dinner out of the oven.

Emmett lit a few candles and placed them on the kitchen table. "Want me to turn the lights back to what they were?" he asked as he sat down.

"No, I like it. It gives…what's the word…."

"Ambiance?"

"Yes, that's it."

They ate dinner, occasionally sneaking glances at each other, neither really knowing what to say or do next. There was a thick sexual tension in the room but Emmett didn't know what to do about it. So they talked about other things.

When they finished eating, they took their dishes to the kitchen. "I don't think there's anything for dessert," she said, apologetically.

"I'm too full, anyway."

"Then let's go see what's on TV," Althea said as she took his hand and led him to the living room where they sat on the couch and channel surfed for awhile until they agreed upon something to watch.

At some point, they'd stretched out together on the couch. Emmett lay next to her and she was curled up against him, half asleep with her head against his chest.

He looked down at her lying there and wondered when the hell he had gotten so lucky. He gently slid his hand up and down her arm and she stirred, snuggling back against him even more.

"This is nice," she murmured as she reached for his hand, and their fingers intertwined. "Sometimes, moments like this are better than sex."

Emmett gently nuzzled her neck, and then a spot behind her ear, taking in the smell of her hair. "I don't even think I remember how."

Althea shifted so she was lying on her back, looking up at him. "Really?"

He looked a little embarrassed by that and nodded. "It's been a long, long time." When he didn't say anything else, she glanced up at him but he wouldn't look at her.

"Emmett? What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I just…hope you don't have any real expectations..."

"I don't have any expectations, Emmett. And there's no rule that says we have to do anything. Not tonight, or tomorrow, or a year from now. I'm not going anywhere. I came here because you and I were good friends once and I was hoping we could pick up where we left off. Yes, we lost touch for a few years, but what matters is I'm here now."

"But you were with House..."

"So?"

"Well, forgive me for saying this, but he was a bit of a man whore."

"The key word is was. He's not so much anymore since the infarction."

Emmett looked surprised. "Really? So then what brought you here?"

"Really. Someone came into the place where I worked that reminded me of you, and that's when I realized how easily we lost touch. I wanted to see you but I didn't know how."

"And yet here you are."

Althea smiled up at him. "Only because I asked House where you were. I knew you two still kept in touch."

"That must have been difficult, asking him for help."

"It was, but he was okay with it. He's got his new girlfriend whom he also works with. He doesn't need me anymore. She seems more than happy to take care of him now. So where does that leave me in the grand scheme of things?"

"But you loved him, didn't you?"

Althea shrugged. "I might have in the beginning. I think I loved the idea of him. I don't regret coming to 1999, but I do miss back home more than I imagined I would."

She gently reached up and stroked his cheek. "None of this would have been possible without you. And I'm sorry we lost touch."

Emmett reached for her hand again and held it. "It happens sometimes. But that's all in the past."

"I like this," she said softly as her other hand continued to stroke his cheek, which had now become stubbly.

"My five O'clock shadow?" he asked with a smirk.

"Just being with you like this. Although you look better clean shaven. I've never seen you with a beard and I don't know if I want to."

"Duly noted." He glanced at his watch. "Well, Princess, I should head back to my place. I have an early morning conference call so I need to get some sleep."

She didn't want him to go, but she knew why he wanted to.

"Emmett?" she asked as he stood up.

"Yes?"

"Do you think you could ever be happy with me…in my time?"

It was a good question, and one he'd been secretly pondering since she turned up on his porch.

"Althea, I think I could be happy with you no matter where or when we were." With that, he took both her hands in his, brought them up to his lips and kissed them softly. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight," she said as she saw him to the door and watched him walk across the lawn to his house.