In the mess, at the Longfellow bunker, The Tombs; New London, Britannia:
Yukiko: Fakku! My head is killing me…
Zoe (to Yukiko): Damn, Yuki, you look like shit. Want some breakfast? I'm on cooking duty this morning.
Yukiko (to Zoe): That actually sounds pretty good... Thanks.
Zoe (to Yukiko): Dad told me what happened with Victor, last night. I'm so sorry. I take it that's why you look like Death, huh?
Yukiko (to Zoe): ... Yes. I don't really feel like talking about it right now, Zoe. I miss Victor. I mean, my Victor.
Zoe (to Yukiko): I know you do, sweetie. It'll be okay... I think. You'll see.
Yukiko (to Zoe): ... What the fuck ever.
An hour or so later:
Zoe (to Victor): Good morning, big brother... Want some breakfast? I made a sausage & egg scramble. Heh. Don't worry, Yuki has already come and gone. It's safe... relatively.
Victor (to Zoe): Oh. Yeah. Thanks. She innit real keen on me, is she? ...What did you call me? Heh. How do you figure you're younger than me?
Zoe (to Victor): Well, you were here first so I've just always called you big brother... I've never been sure how old I was & my recent change in appearance hasn't helped matters. And, Yuki was in love with you so yeah, she's a little upset right now.
Victor (to Zoe): ... Zoe?!? Bloody cunting hells! What happened to you? Just when I think I have a bead on things, I get knocked on my arse!
Zoe (to Victor): Oh. Heehee. Sorry. I guess Mom & Dad forgot to tell you about me. I had a run-in with a crazy scientist... sort of.
Victor (to Zoe): I'd say so!
Zoe (to Victor): Heh. It's not so bad, really... You know, you should probably talk to Yuki at some point. I know it's confusing for you but it's just as weird for her. She had been off on an assignment for Mom & she comes back to find a different you... It would be like coming back to find out your girlfriend had cheated on you & married someone else.
Victor (to Zoe): I can't even imagine. I'll talk to her. Bollox... I don't suppose she'll want anything to do with me after this, will she? I really liked her...
Zoe (to Victor): I have no idea. I think that's something you guys are going to have to figure out... On the bright side, you guys have found each other before so, who knows?
Victor (to Zoe): Heh heh. Suppose that's true. Hopefully, she'll still think I'm charming. Or at least hot. :-P
Zoe (to Victor): ... And, oh so, very modest. :-p
Victor (to Zoe): Heh. I rather thought that went without saying. ... Thank you, Zoe. For saving Mum and Dad. You're the best over-grown little sister a lad could hope for.
Zoe (to Victor): Heehee. And, I love you no matter how much of a dirty, gutter street rat you are. :-P
Victor (to Zoe): Dirty? Have you seen this kit? I look like a ruddy proper gent! ... Did I go to a lot of weddings and funerals on this side?
Zoe (to Victor): Heehee. No, you just liked to dress very proper to set yourself apart from Dad & his reputation.
A few hours later, outside of Fiona's quarters:
Yukiko (to Fiona): Fi! I need you to spar with me. Get your big Scottish arse out here! Fi! Put down the puff pastry, you know the one, I mean & come spar with me! I'm sure Fox will be there when you get back.
Fiona (to Yukiko): Good heavens, girl! What in the blue blazes are you bellowing about out here? What's gone and crawled under your collar?
Yukiko (to Fiona): It's bloody Victor! It's not him, anymore. I mean it is but it's the other version of him... From the other timeline. No one seems to know why or how or seem to even, bloody care but me... I just really want to hit something.
Fiona (to Yukiko): Well, there's a fine fucking how do you do. Alright, wee bit. Don't give yourself an attack pacing the hallway. I'm coming. So Victor's different, is he? How different are we talking?
Yukiko (to Fiona): He pulled a bloody pistol on me for one! And well, I don't know, he's just different… He's not the man I was engaged to, that's for certain… What am I going to do, Fi? I loved him.
Fiona (to Yukiko): Well, for one, you don't know your Victor isn't rattling around in there somewhere, do you? Our little lord said something about his boy remembering different timelines, didn't he? And if not... Get to know him. The ways he's changed might not be all bad, you know. It isn't as though folks stay the same even when they aren't jumping in and outta different realities. Heh heh. I can't believe he pulled a gun on you. I wouldn't have thought the fluffy lad had it in him. Come along. You look ready to burst. Let's put your mind on something else. Like not getting your arse kicked.
Yukiko (to Fiona): … As if.
A couple hours later:
Winchester (to Fiona & Yukiko): Firebug? It's been bloody hours. Are you through thrashing the littlest ninja, yet?
Yukiko (to Winchester): HAHA, very funny, Fox. You anxious to get in on this?
Winchester (to Fiona & Yukiko): … As much as the idea of a threesome with you two is quite intriguing. I will have to decline. Miss Poppy has an assignment for Fiona & I… Duty calls & all that.
Fiona (to Yukiko): Looks like you'll have to finish pounding on me some other time, Kobayashi.
Yukiko (to Fiona): … Thank you, Fi.
Fiona (to Yukiko): You're welcome, wee bit. Another few hours and you would have started to wear me down. Ha ha ha! Cheers!
Winchester (to Yukiko): See you soon, Kobayashi. (to Fiona) Heh… What was that all about?
Fiona (to Winchester): She and the fluffy lad hit a bit of a snag.
Winchester (to Fiona & Yukiko): Well, they're young. I'm sure they'll sort it out.
Yukiko: Fakku! I smell awful… I need a bath and then, bed.
A short time later, at Victor & Yukiko's quarters:
Victor (to Yukiko): Fuck me! Jesus you scared the bleeding... Oh. This is your room, innit?
Yukiko (to Victor): … Yes, it is. I was just about to take a bath. I've been sparring with Fiona… Why are you here?
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh. This used to be my room. Before, I mean. I wasn't trying to be a bother. Uh. About last night. I'm sorry I pulled a gun on you. I wasn't sure where I was, heh, and to tell you the truth, I thought you were ready to gut me.
Yukiko (to Victor): I was… I thought you were a clone or an automaton.
Victor (to Yukiko): Heh heh. I thought the same. Course, I couldn't work out how someone knew I was seeing you, but didn't know I was an orphan. I thought I was going to faint when I saw my mum an' dad.
Yukiko (to Victor): … Victor, what am I to you? Did we know each other? I have to admit, I'm having a really hard time with all of this. I had been so looking forward to seeing you and it's like looking at a stranger wearing my lov-- Victor's face. I know you're Victor, but is my Victor in there at all?
Victor (to Yukiko): I... I don't know. I'm not sure, this is all so familiar, but damned bloody confusing at the same time... We knew one another in my time too. I met you at Wilkes's place. I wasn't your fiancé. That was some fat, boring twat. But you went on a walk with me at any rate... Heh. You were the most amazing woman I'd ever set peepers on. Heh. I didn't know it then, but I think I was in love with you ... Sorry. Shit. Sorry! With her: my Yuki. Like you said, I'm a stranger, aren't I? I'll let you get to your bath.
Yukiko (to Victor): … Wait. Please stay. I'm sorry I've been acting like an ass. This has to be weird for you, watas-- Victor. When Nate came back from your timeline, it took him and Aiden some time to readjust. We may not be the same as we were but I missed you…
Victor (to Yukiko): I would love to stay... Heh. You're a bit different from the Yuki I knew as well, you know.
Yukiko (to Victor): Oh? How so?
Victor (to Yukiko): Well, your certainly as pretty, of course, but she was very proper; it took a little while before she loosened up. You seem much less concerned with keeping up appearances. Heh. That isn't a critique, you know.
Yukiko (to Victor): Heh. Why should I care about bloody appearances? I was a virginal widow at 17… and a year ago, I died. Well, not literally. In name only. Your parents faked my death because my ex-husband's family tried to kill me. To be fair, I did kill him. And, I've been partnered up with Fiona forever. So, yeah. I'm probably different from your Yuki.
Victor (to Yukiko): Ha ha ha! Wow... Well, that is certainly true, I suppose.
Yukiko (to Victor): … I really want to kiss you. Would that be weird?
Victor (to Yukiko): Utterly bizarre. And probably the best news I've heard today.
Yukiko (to Victor): Heh. Come here… I missed you while I was in Qin. And, you can have your room back, if you like. We were actually sharing it. I can't really sleep in here without… you. I have a little nest made up in the attic of the old house that's topside. I can get cleaned up in one of the other quarters.
Victor (to Yukiko): We were? Really? Mr. Fancy Suits was shacked up with you before marriage? Good heavens. The scandal! Heh. I think I'm starting to like this other me. Despite his stuffy wardrobe.
Yukiko (to Victor): … I liked him, too.
Victor (to Yukiko): ... I wouldn't mind sharing space with you at all. But I understand if it's too strange...
Yukiko (to Victor): I don't know. A part of me really wants to but, I feel a little bit like I'm cheating on his memory if I stay here. I'm at a loss.
Victor (to Yukiko): I understand... I, uh... Heh. I hope you won't hold my offer against me. It's been a right bunter of a coupla days.
Yukiko (to Victor): Is there any part of him left in there? I mean, Nate actively repressed a bunch of stuff to become who he is now, which is different from either of the timelines. Can you say something to reassure me? Please?
Victor (to Yukiko): I... I really wish I knew what to say to make this all better. Honest and for true... I'm sorry. I truly am. This isn't like one of your panic attacks... I don't know what the right... I'm sorry... I'm... What was I saying just now?
Yukiko (to Victor): Ssshh. It's okay, watashi no ai. I'm not going anywhere. We'll get through this together.
Victor (to Yukiko): I am very glad to hear that. ...You've called me that before, haven't you?
Yukiko (to Victor): Yes, I have. It roughly means love of my life. You said that damn Bugs Bunny quote that you always say when you're trying to fix something between us but you don't know how. And you remembered my panic attacks... I'll stay but first a bath.
Victor (to Yukiko): Oh good! Heh. Should you need any help scrubbing your back... Ha ha ha! I'm just kidding ...Well, mostly kidding. We can take things slowly.
Yukiko (to Victor): Slowly is for much, much later... Come with me.
Victor (to Yukiko): Oh? Heh. I do believe I like the sound of that... Lead the way, boss.
