wishing-to-be-blue-like-daddy:

wrapped-in-shadows:

wishing-to-be-blue-like-daddy:

Happy to hear such words, knowing how much they reflected his personality and feeling like she was home again, Gail nodded against him. Her father in the future was probably going to flip but she didn’t care. He was too awesome to stay away from now that she had a chance to talk to him.

Pulling away from the hug to peer up at him, she chuckled and pounded her fist into her palm. “Don’t worry about us. This is what I’ve been training for – in case anyone messes with us. Uncle Mets trained me sometimes and I’m strong. Doofus tends to get in plenty of trouble but that’s why I followed him here. He’s a lot like mom was.”

Jack, who knew all too well the kind of trouble Katelynn could get into, tried not to shudder. “Then it’s good he has you here to look after him.” It didn’t reassure him much, though. Even if, from the sound of it, she had Metro Man training her (and she called him ‘uncle’? It sounded like a strange future!), Gail herself only had a normal person’s strength and ability. How would she fare against the threats that were around in this time?

He hugged her one last time. “Still, take care. And maybe introduce me to your brother sometime?”

Smiling with the warmth of the hug and trying to soak it up as much as possible, Gail closed her eyes as she allowed herself to enjoy it. To think she had a chance to meet him young like this; she just couldn’t stop being happy about it.

“I’ll let him know about you first. I know he’s going to tease me about breaking my own rule but…sure dad. I’ll give you his address and phone number and mine too and we can arrange something.”

It actually excited her because it almost felt like a reunion and it almost made her feel sheepish for the way she had treated the past version of her mother. She was going to have to apologize for that.

Jack nodded. “That sounds like a good idea. I-I can imagine this must be pretty weird for you two as well,” he said, with a weak chuckle.

He gave Gail one of his business cards (a very old-fashioned version compared to the ones he used in the future), and had her write hers and Ulric’s contact information on another. “I hope I’ll hear from you two soon?”

wishing-to-be-blue-like-daddy:

wrapped-in-shadows:

wishing-to-be-blue-like-daddy:

Her hands clenched into fists so hard her nails were leaving indents, Gail stared at the offered hand and feeling it quite strange to see her father doing such a thing. It just wasn’t the way she was used to greeting him and despite knowing it wasn’t him, not yet or ever as her real father was in the future where he belonged, she couldn’t help moving forward and snuggling up against his chest, clinging to him and feeling her eyes mist over slightly.

Fuck it, it’s dad. He even smells the same. I missed you dad… she thought and hoped she wasn’t freaking him out too much. In the future of course he was used to it, always having warm arms for her to jump into ever since she was a baby and always telling her about those times when she would be quite the mischievous little thing. But perhaps not this one.

“Thank you..for being you..” she whispered against his chest, heart pounding within her chest.

The hug caught Jack off-guard, but only for a moment. It was exactly what he’d wanted too. Even if she wasn’t technically his daughter yet, he still liked the young woman … and he hoped the future she’d shown him a glimpse of would still happen, someday.

So he wrapped his thin arms around Gail and hugged her close against him. “Always. Gail … while you’re in this time, be careful, please? I-I don’t know what the future’s like, but things are very dangerous right now. So keep y-yourself and your brother safe, okay?” I hope I’ll have a chance to meet him too.

Happy to hear such words, knowing how much they reflected his personality and feeling like she was home again, Gail nodded against him. Her father in the future was probably going to flip but she didn’t care. He was too awesome to stay away from now that she had a chance to talk to him.

Pulling away from the hug to peer up at him, she chuckled and pounded her fist into her palm. “Don’t worry about us. This is what I’ve been training for – in case anyone messes with us. Uncle Mets trained me sometimes and I’m strong. Doofus tends to get in plenty of trouble but that’s why I followed him here. He’s a lot like mom was.”

Jack, who knew all too well the kind of trouble Katelynn could get into, tried not to shudder. “Then it’s good he has you here to look after him.” It didn’t reassure him much, though. Even if, from the sound of it, she had Metro Man training her (and she called him ‘uncle’? It sounded like a strange future!), Gail herself only had a normal person’s strength and ability. How would she fare against the threats that were around in this time?

He hugged her one last time. “Still, take care. And maybe introduce me to your brother sometime?”

wishing-to-be-blue-like-daddy:

wrapped-in-shadows:

wishing-to-be-blue-like-daddy:

Flipping the wallet closed and putting it away, Gail pondered his question a moment and tried to stay where she was as her arms were really itching to hug the man before her and not let go. He was here, young and still the same father she remembered; gentle and nurturing despite not being a father yet.

“You can ask him,” she replied, not wishing to share her brother’s problems. It wasn’t her place to do it but she would be there for him through it. “I’m only staying for as long as he is and we send emails and letters back home so they won’t worry. I actually just finished university so I hadn’t really started my life yet. I have a job as a personal trainer here and saving up to buy an apartment. I really am nervous being here though to tell you the truth.”

Giving a slight chuckle, she finally looked him square in the eye. “And it just seems a lot like Back to the Future..and even though it scares me..I really am glad I could see you dad…”

“I have to say, it scares me too,” he admitted. Jack met her gaze, smiling nervously. “B-but I’m very glad to have met you too, Gail. While you’re staying in this time … y-you can come talk to me again, if you want. Any time. I know it’s probably not safe for me t-to know too much of the future, but I’d still like to see you again.”

With a shy smile, he reached out a hand to her. He wanted to hug Gail too, but he’d settle for a handshake right now.

Her hands clenched into fists so hard her nails were leaving indents, Gail stared at the offered hand and feeling it quite strange to see her father doing such a thing. It just wasn’t the way she was used to greeting him and despite knowing it wasn’t him, not yet or ever as her real father was in the future where he belonged, she couldn’t help moving forward and snuggling up against his chest, clinging to him and feeling her eyes mist over slightly.

Fuck it, it’s dad. He even smells the same. I missed you dad… she thought and hoped she wasn’t freaking him out too much. In the future of course he was used to it, always having warm arms for her to jump into ever since she was a baby and always telling her about those times when she would be quite the mischievous little thing. But perhaps not this one.

“Thank you..for being you..” she whispered against his chest, heart pounding within her chest.

The hug caught Jack off-guard, but only for a moment. It was exactly what he’d wanted too. Even if she wasn’t technically his daughter yet, he still liked the young woman … and he hoped the future she’d shown him a glimpse of would still happen, someday.

So he wrapped his thin arms around Gail and hugged her close against him. “Always. Gail … while you’re in this time, be careful, please? I-I don’t know what the future’s like, but things are very dangerous right now. So keep y-yourself and your brother safe, okay?” I hope I’ll have a chance to meet him too.

wishing-to-be-blue-like-daddy:

wrapped-in-shadows:

wishing-to-be-blue-like-daddy:

Thoughts of her idiotic brother immediately sprung in her mind as she crossed her arms over her ample chest, lips pursed in annoyance and wondering how much she was allowed to reveal. She didn’t want to spoil the surprises of his life and events to come but now even Ulric wouldn’t be able to escape him.

“I only came because my stupid brother, your second child, decided to come here and escape something,” she admitted, hoping Ulric wouldn’t kill her for sharing such intimate details.

Reaching back into her back pocket for her wallet, ever the non feminine one, she flipped it open to show him a picture of the four of them in a family photo, the only time she had been roped into wearing a dress as she despised them. In the photo was Ulric standing back to back with Jack and Gail sitting with Katelynn, all of them smiling for the camera man. She pointed at Ulric. “This is him. I live with him in his apartment until I can get my own place.”

Jack’s eyes widened as she mentioned a brother. We have two children? One of each? In his heart, that was exactly the family he’d dreamed of having. This was probably the most bizarre way to find out what his future might hold, but even so, he couldn’t help being happy.

He studied the photo. He recognized himself and Katelynn (an older version of Katelynn, but still just as beautiful), and Gail as well. The boy standing next to her was bald and blue, but from the look of it, he had Katelynn’s soft brown eyes.

Jack bit his lip. Now that he knew it was possible, he wanted this future so badly. Please don’t let them coming here have changed anything.

“How long are you planning on staying? I-it’s not that I’m not happy to meet you,” he added quickly, “but don’t you have lives back in your time? You said your brother’s escaping from something. C-can I ask what, or will that change things?” God, he wished he knew as much about science as his dimensional counterparts, so he could figure out the mechanics of time travel.

Flipping the wallet closed and putting it away, Gail pondered his question a moment and tried to stay where she was as her arms were really itching to hug the man before her and not let go. He was here, young and still the same father she remembered; gentle and nurturing despite not being a father yet.

“You can ask him,” she replied, not wishing to share her brother’s problems. It wasn’t her place to do it but she would be there for him through it. “I’m only staying for as long as he is and we send emails and letters back home so they won’t worry. I actually just finished university so I hadn’t really started my life yet. I have a job as a personal trainer here and saving up to buy an apartment. I really am nervous being here though to tell you the truth.”

Giving a slight chuckle, she finally looked him square in the eye. “And it just seems a lot like Back to the Future..and even though it scares me..I really am glad I could see you dad…”

“I have to say, it scares me too,” he admitted. Jack met her gaze, smiling nervously. “B-but I’m very glad to have met you too, Gail. While you’re staying in this time … y-you can come talk to me again, if you want. Any time. I know it’s probably not safe for me t-to know too much of the future, but I’d still like to see you again.”

With a shy smile, he reached out a hand to her. He wanted to hug Gail too, but he’d settle for a handshake right now.

wishing-to-be-blue-like-daddy:

wrapped-in-shadows:

wishing-to-be-blue-like-daddy:

Wincing as her shoulders bunched together, she still refused to look at him and wondered if it was too late to smile, make a fanfare and cry ‘Just kidding!’She swore to herself she wouldn’t approach them and yet someone had pushed him on her and she wanted to kick the walls and scream.

What if this messes something up in the future? Fuck… She looked down at her hands and hoped she wasn’t going to disappear.

“Yeah..I dunno if you believe me..I know it’s a shock, all right?! But I guess you knowing isn’t going to stop me from being born unless you break things off with mom..”

She hoped to high hell that wasn’t the case but her father always seemed so in love with their mother that she highly doubted it. They were always making googly eyes at each other and it made her sick. Now she counted on those looks to continue if she wanted to keep existing.

“I …” Jack still had no idea how to respond to this news. He watched Gail closely, trying to spot any clue that this might be an act, but seeing none. And, really, why would someone pull this kind of act on him? He was no one special. There would be nothing to gain from it.

He took a deep breath before speaking again. “… I do believe you. I-it sounds crazy, but … I believe it.” Perhaps because, on some level, he wanted to know that he and Katelynn would have children someday. Despite Gail’s fears, he had no intention of breaking things off with his fiancee. He loved her, without question – it would take something much, much worse than anything that had happened so far to change that.

“B-but what are you doing here? Why did you come back?”

Thoughts of her idiotic brother immediately sprung in her mind as she crossed her arms over her ample chest, lips pursed in annoyance and wondering how much she was allowed to reveal. She didn’t want to spoil the surprises of his life and events to come but now even Ulric wouldn’t be able to escape him.

“I only came because my stupid brother, your second child, decided to come here and escape something,” she admitted, hoping Ulric wouldn’t kill her for sharing such intimate details.

Reaching back into her back pocket for her wallet, ever the non feminine one, she flipped it open to show him a picture of the four of them in a family photo, the only time she had been roped into wearing a dress as she despised them. In the photo was Ulric standing back to back with Jack and Gail sitting with Katelynn, all of them smiling for the camera man. She pointed at Ulric. “This is him. I live with him in his apartment until I can get my own place.”

Jack’s eyes widened as she mentioned a brother. We have two children? One of each? In his heart, that was exactly the family he’d dreamed of having. This was probably the most bizarre way to find out what his future might hold, but even so, he couldn’t help being happy.

He studied the photo. He recognized himself and Katelynn (an older version of Katelynn, but still just as beautiful), and Gail as well. The boy standing next to her was bald and blue, but from the look of it, he had Katelynn’s soft brown eyes.

Jack bit his lip. Now that he knew it was possible, he wanted this future so badly. Please don’t let them coming here have changed anything.

“How long are you planning on staying? I-it’s not that I’m not happy to meet you,” he added quickly, “but don’t you have lives back in your time? You said your brother’s escaping from something. C-can I ask what, or will that change things?” God, he wished he knew as much about science as his dimensional counterparts, so he could figure out the mechanics of time travel.

wishing-to-be-blue-like-daddy:

wrapped-in-shadows:

wishing-to-be-blue-like-daddy:

I dunno if this counts as strange… The only people in the entire city who could turn her from the strong, fists-in-your-face woman to the little girl who used to jump onto her father’s back for hugs was her parent’s. Even if he wasn’t, technically, her father, he still had the same power over her.

Placing a palm over her eyes to hide her embarrassment and not wishing to see his reaction, she finally dared out with the truth.

“Fine…I’m…your daughter from the future…” she whispered, biting down on her bottom lip afterward.

That was … actually, that was just what he’d been wondering, in the back of his mind. Jack had pushed the thought back even before he was really aware of it, trying to assume that if Gail did have a connection to his family, it was through some form of dimensional weirdness. But now, as he looked at the young woman again, he realized why she’d seemed familiar.

She looked like Katelynn.

Like Katelynn, except for the same green eyes and long, elfin ears he saw in the mirror every day.

“… Oh my god.”

Wincing as her shoulders bunched together, she still refused to look at him and wondered if it was too late to smile, make a fanfare and cry ‘Just kidding!’ She swore to herself she wouldn’t approach them and yet someone had pushed him on her and she wanted to kick the walls and scream.

What if this messes something up in the future? Fuck… She looked down at her hands and hoped she wasn’t going to disappear.

“Yeah..I dunno if you believe me..I know it’s a shock, all right?! But I guess you knowing isn’t going to stop me from being born unless you break things off with mom..”

She hoped to high hell that wasn’t the case but her father always seemed so in love with their mother that she highly doubted it. They were always making googly eyes at each other and it made her sick. Now she counted on those looks to continue if she wanted to keep existing.

“I …” Jack still had no idea how to respond to this news. He watched Gail closely, trying to spot any clue that this might be an act, but seeing none. And, really, why would someone pull this kind of act on him? He was no one special. There would be nothing to gain from it.

He took a deep breath before speaking again. “… I do believe you. I-it sounds crazy, but … I believe it.” Perhaps because, on some level, he wanted to know that he and Katelynn would have children someday. Despite Gail’s fears, he had no intention of breaking things off with his fiancee. He loved her, without question – it would take something much, much worse than anything that had happened so far to change that.

“B-but what are you doing here? Why did you come back?”

wishing-to-be-blue-like-daddy:

wrapped-in-shadows:

The way the girl’s expression changed from startled to pitiful just left Jack even more determined to find out what was going on. “M-maybe I would,” he said. “Strange things happen a lot in this city.” He gave her a gentle smile. “Try me.”

I dunno if this counts as strange… The only people in the entire city who could turn her from the strong, fists-in-your-face woman to the little girl who used to jump onto her father’s back for hugs was her parent’s. Even if he wasn’t, technically, her father, he still had the same power over her.

Placing a palm over her eyes to hide her embarrassment and not wishing to see his reaction, she finally dared out with the truth.

“Fine…I’m…your daughter from the future…” she whispered, biting down on her bottom lip afterward.

That was … actually, that was just what he’d been wondering, in the back of his mind. Jack had pushed the thought back even before he was really aware of it, trying to assume that if Gail did have a connection to his family, it was through some form of dimensional weirdness. But now, as he looked at the young woman again, he realized why she’d seemed familiar.

She looked like Katelynn.

Like Katelynn, except for the same green eyes and elfin ears he saw in the mirror every day.

“… Oh my god.”

wishing-to-be-blue-like-daddy:

wrapped-in-shadows:

wishing-to-be-blue-like-daddy:

‘Oh shit he had to ask that, didn’t he?’ Gail thought with a bite of her lip, wondering what the best course of action was. Knowing her mom she’d figure she couldn’t keep it a secret and would inform him of their existence. “Gail Flora Maple,” she replies hesitantly, adding the middle name to make the distinction between her late aunt and herself. ‘I scolded Ulric for this crap and I’m breaking my own rule – son of a bitch; complications.’

As soon as he heard the name “Gail Maple” (different middle name or not), Jack’s first thought was that this was some kind of cruel joke. Yes, the young woman was nearly the same age his sister would have been if she’d lived, but her looks were all wrong.

Then he heard the rest of her words, and realized something else was going on. For a long moment, he just stared at her, trying to ignore the nagging (and impossible) thought that had jumped into his mind.

“… Complications? Wh-what do you mean?”

She hadn’t realized she had spoken her thoughts out loud until he questioned it, looking quite like the deer caught in headlights. What did one say to the situation? “Hey I’m your daughter from the future”? Yeah that’d go over well. When mom was in Ulric’s apartment it had been a huge, awkward situation.

Realizing she was taking too long to answer, she turned pitiful eyes upon him. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” she whispered, rubbing her arm for something to do with them.

The way the girl’s expression changed from startled to pitiful just left Jack even more determined to find out what was going on. “M-maybe I would,” he said. “Strange things happen a lot in this city.” He gave her a gentle smile. “Try me.”