Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

-1998-

Colton Landry was sitting in his chair with his son Jacob. He had the Landry almanac in his hands and was pointing out some of their ancestor to his boy and telling him stories.

"Hey look, there's another Katherine Landry," the little Jacob said, pointing at the words. Colton's daughter, Kat, was walking down the stairs as Jacob said this, and turned to them.

"Yes, there is," Colton said. "Actually, when me and your mother were discussing names for Kat, I suggested Katherine because of this one."

"You never said this before," Kat said, coming over and looking over her father's shoulder at the name on the page.

"You never asked," Colton responded back.

"So, why her?" Jacob asked.

"It's more a family legend," Colton said, looking at his children. "See, it is said Jonathan Landry, Katherine's father, found a woman being attacked by several men somewhere on our land."

"By attacked, you mean raped," Katherine said.

"Yes," Colton added.

"What's that?" The young Jacob asked.

"Just men being mean to her," Colton gave Kat a look at this. Jacob was only 7, so he didn't want his son knowing this so young. "But Jonathan saved her and brought her home. About a month later they married and after that, their daughter Katherine was born. But if you look at the date of their wedding..." Colton pointed out a date in the almanac – wives or husbands were added with the date of their marriage, after all, "and the day she was born, well there's not enough time for a full pregnancy. The story of the day was Katherine was born premature – even their midwife confirmed it, but family legend says otherwise."

"Katherine's real father was one of the men who attacked her mother," Kat guessed.

"That's the legend," Colton said, as Jacob frowned at this, not quite understanding at his young age. "And Jonathan protected both mother and baby by claiming the baby as his. The two then went on to have six other kids. We're the descendants of their second child, and oldest son, Brandon."

"Who inherited the farm," Kat said, and Colton gave a nod. "So, why name me after this other Katherine Landry?"

"Because whether Jonathan was her father or not, she was a Landry, and if the legend is true, she brought her parents together which led to us," Colton said, giving a smile. "I think that deserves to be honored."

"Cool," Jacob said.

"Sure," Kat said with a shrug. "I'm heading out with El and Nick," Kat turned and went out the door as Colton continued to show Jacob some of their other family members.

-The Way Home-

-September 2025-

The Adult Kat was excitedly busying herself in the kitchen, her mom, Del watching on in amusement.

"I can't believe it's opening today," Kat said as she took some breakfast off the table.

"What?" Alice asked, walking down the stairs. "That time capsule thing?"

"The Port Haven Time Capsule. Buried in 1875," Del said to her granddaughter.

"School's been talking about it. It was buried in spring and being opened now. 150 years and a few months. Seems weird…" Alice said.

"That's what was decided at the time for the opening," Kat said with a shrug. "And each founding family put a box it in to be given to their future family. Rumors say each family wrote a letter. I'm covering it in the paper."

"You're the only writer of the local paper," Alice pointed out, bemused.

"It's still exciting," Kat pointed out to her daughter, Del giving a little chuckle at the interaction

"Considering we can time travel, it not so exciting," Alice said, heading for the door.

"Be in the town center for the opening!" Kat yelled to her daughter, who gave a thumbs up and left out the front.

"I can't believe Jacob is going to be missing this," Del said sadly, her son and Kat's younger brother having gone AWOL a few weeks ago.

"You shouldn't have hidden those threatening letters," Kat countered. "Give him a little bit to get his head straight. He's probably with Elijah in 1816. If he's not back soon, I'll go get him and tell him we got those charges dropped using Susanna's Will." Del gave a nod as the two continued eat.

-The Way Home-

The town square was abuzz as people were waiting for the capsule to be opened. The iron case buried in the ground for 150 years was sitting in the middle, the mayor and some of the more official townspeople around it, and so was Del's good friend, Rita Richards. Kat and Del were up front, along with Elliot while Max Goodwin was there to represent the Goodwin family; his dad seemingly not wanting to come down for this.

"Where's Alice?" Kat asked her mother, looking for her daughter.

"Teenagers," Del countered, but was also scanning the crowd.

"I think she took a little… dip this morning," Elliot whispered, being next to the two so hearing the conversation. "I saw her heading that way." Kat sighed, knowing her daughter tended to lose track of time after a jump into the pond. She would have to have a word with her. Kat wondering where her daughter had gone too, though – her time in 1974 seemed to be at an end and she couldn't be going back to the 90s or early 2000s.

"Okay," it was Rita who had a microphone. "We got the capsule open…" the men who had been working on opening up the capsule took out a box. "And this is… for the Goodwins. Max?" The teenager stepped forward taking the box and opening it. "Care to share what's in it?"

"Junk," Max responded, not totally caring for his family history.

"Is there a letter?" Rita asked.

"Yep," Max said but didn't elaborate as he moved off.

"Okay… And now the Augustines. Come here, Elliot," Rita said, and Elliot took the box. Despite the pride Elliot's father had to their family name, he had neglected to turn up for this event. "Well?"

"Seems to be some personal items and a letter," Elliot said, briefly scanning the letter, "from one of my ancestors, talking about forming a friendship with the new Mrs. Landry and being a midwife." Elliot gave Kat a smile at that.

"Well, last but not least, the Landry box," Rita said, and Kat moved up, taking the box. She opened the box and the first thing that she saw was a letter. She took it in her hand and paused as she saw it, seeing the handwriting and freezing for a moment. "Wow, that letter looks big. It's practically a novella! What's it about?" Rita asked.

"Um… farming," Kat said, folding the letter back up and putting it in her bag fast.

"The whole letter is about farming?" Rita said.

"My relatives took farming seriously," Kat said, grabbing Elliot's arm and making him move away, and Del came to follow her. Rita frowned, but turned the attention to the other things being taken out of the capsule, encapsulating the audience while two of the main Port Haven families left the scene.

"What's going on?" Elliot asked as they moved through the crowd.

"Whoa wait," it was Nick running up; he had returned that day to see the time capsule opened, although did live with Elliot when here anyway. "Where's the fire?"

"The letter," Kat said to the three.

"The one about farming?" Nick asked.

"I lied," Kat said, making the group look at her. "It's Alice's handwriting..." Kat whispered and the group of four looked at each other.

"Let's get somewhere more private," Del said.

-The Way Home-

The group of four had headed back to Landry farm, now sitting around the kitchen table as Kat took out the letter again.

"So, Alice left a letter in the time capsule from 1875," Nick said.

"Meaning she's in 1875," Elliot said. "Must have been where she went this morning."

"And why leave the letter?" Nick asked.

"We'd have to read to find out," Del said turning to her daughter. "Katherine?"

Kat hands were shaking as she looked at the letter. Elliot moved over.

"Why don't I read it?" Elliot asked, and Kat nodded, letting Elliot take the letter off of her. Elliot took a deep breath before he started reading.

"Mom," Elliot said. "This must be so surprising. For you, I left the house a few hours ago but for me it's been months." Kat took a sharp breath in. "If you are wondering why the 150 years and a few months, well, I choose the date. I had some help making it happen."

Del got up at that moment.

"Mom?" Kat asked.

"I think we are going to need this," Del said, taking out a bottle of wine and some glasses.

"Can you grab some beers?" Nick asked and Elliot nodded his agreement, Del taking a case of beer out of the refrigerator as well.

"Continue, Elliot," Del said, having poured her and Kat a glass as Nick opened two beers – one for him and one for Elliot.

"It's a long story on why I needed to do this," Elliot continued reading. "For you to understand, I am going to have to go into some extreme details and not all of it is pretty. You might want to take out the wine if grandma hasn't already," Elliot paused there as the group gave a small chuckle.

"She knows her grandmother," Kat said, and Del gave a smile, but gave Elliot a nod to continue.

"We never really talked about when the pond called out to us.; the dreams, the seeing the phantoms around you of people from the past, the feeling you needed to jump. I had been dreaming of the pond for a few nights and that morning I knew I had to go to jump. I didn't know why or to when. Part of me thought maybe the pond was telling me to find Jacob. So, I left that morning to jump. When I got to the other side of the pond it was cold. Very cold. The pond had already started to freeze over. I didn't know what year I arrived but I learned later it was the end of 1874."

-The Way Home-

-1874-

Alice emerged from the pond, climbing onto the rocks. She shivered in the cold and could see some snow on the ground. Whenever she was, it was winter. She walked over the rocks and headed into the woods planning on walking to Landry Farm, to find out why the pond had sent her here.

She was far enough away from the pond that it was out of sight but she was not yet out of the forest when she came into the clearing where three men were. Their eyes turned to Alice and they clearly seemed drunk. She didn't know what time she was in, but the men's clothes were very old fashion; Alice knew she was further into the past than she had ever been.

"Well, Little Miss, what strange clothes you are wearing…" one of the men said.

"Yeah, um… I was just…" Alice went to point, wanting to get away but the men had moved over to her.

"You are all wet. Why don't we dry you up?" One of the men said.

"I'm fine," Alice said, backing up, planning on going back to the pond, but as she backed up she felt hands of a fourth man who grabbed her.

"We insist," the fourth man said as the other three came forward towards her.

-The Way Home-

-2025-

In the present, Elliot paused in his reading, scanning the rest of the page frowning.

"El?" Kat asked.

"I don't know if you want to hear this…" Elliot stated, looking up at Kat now.

"Alice wrote it for me, I need to know," Kat stated.

"Very well…" Elliot sighed. "Mom, when you hear on the news of a woman being attacked you sometimes wonder why they didn't fight back," Elliot read, cautiously. "Trust me, when four big strong men who are somewhat drunk grab hold of you and rip off your clothes, you do not fight back. You know you don't have a chance. You just go limp and let them do what they are going to do."

Kat gave a cry out as she put her hands over her mouth, Del went and grabbed hold of Kat's hands, while Nick tighten his hold on his beer as Elliot paused the reading.

"Kat, she goes into a lot more details here. Do you need me to skip?" Elliot asked.

"No," Kat said shaking her head. "Alice wanted to tell me this. She lived it. The least I can do is listen."

"Okay," Elliot said going back to the letter. "I wish I could say I didn't give them the satisfaction of seeing me break, but that wouldn't be true. They were harsh and seemed to thrive on my pain. Whenever I grew accustomed to their torment and stopped reacting, they found new ways to make me respond. I remember one instance when one of them used a belt." Kat trembled as Del approached and wrapped her in a comforting embrace. "I shut my eyes to block them out, but their presence was still overwhelming. I could feel their touch, their breath near me, everything they did…"

"I'm going to kill them!" Nick yelled, jumping up. "Kat, take me to that time. We'll kill them."

"You can't," Elliot said as Kat looked up at Nick.

"Why not?" Nick asked.

"Because if you and Kat went back to the past and saved Alice, then she wouldn't be writing this letter you are reacting to," Elliot stated, and Nick didn't seem to have a response.

"We should finish with what Alice needed to tell us," Del responded and Kat nodded, going to take a sip of her wine. "Elliot… continue."

Elliot took a breath as he looked back down at the letter. "I lost track of how many times they changed places with me. My entire existence had narrowed down to that single moment – those men and the suffering it brought. I was unaware of anything else. When I finally heard a new voice, along with the sound of a horse and a gunshot, it didn't register that I was being rescued."

-The Way Home-

-1874-

The man got off the horse, firing his gun into a nearby tree.

"This is my land!" He yelled at the men, who were already backing off and grabbing their pants. "Get off it now! The next shot goes into you." The four men didn't go to fight the newcomer as they ran through the trees throwing on their clothes.

The new man heard the soft cries and turned to the other person in the clearing – Alice. She had no clothes on and there was torn fabric around her, clearly the torn clothes she had been wearing. There was a lot of blood, and just from where he was he could see several large wounds.

"What did they do to you? I should have shot them…" the man whispered.

As he got closer she started to cry out louder. "No, I won't hurt you," the man said, taking off his coat and putting it around her fast. Her hands pulled the coat closer around her and she seemed to try to disappear into the jacket. "You are safe," the man said as he picked her up.

-The Way Home-

-2025-

Elliot sighed as he continued to read aloud.

"I know you are probably thinking as the new man scared away those who had been attacking me I should have run back to the pond," Elliot read. "But my mind wasn't working like that. I couldn't think clearly and, even if I had thought it, I don't think I could have. They had injured me too badly. I was too weak. Even if by some miracle I could have gotten to the pond and jumped in, I don't think I could have swam out and climbed the rocks."

"Yes…" Kat said, nodding thinking on Alice's words.

"When he approached me, I really thought he was just going to take his turn, but he was assuring me I was safe. He put his coat around me and, mom, that coat was everything. I must have looked like a child snuggling into her blankie. He picked me up and I hid my head into his shoulder. I must have gotten so many tears, snot, blood, and other bodily fluids on him, but he didn't complain. I really don't know how he got me to his home. He placed me on a bed and left me alone, but it wasn't long before someone else came about…"

-The Way Home-

-1874-

The door to the small home opened as a pale woman with dark hair came in, pausing as the man within looked up to her.

"You summoned me?" The woman asked, walking in as she addressed the man who had rescued Alice. "Something about an attack? What type of animal attacked who?"

"Not an animal attack," the man said. "I found four men with a young woman in the woods."

The new woman glared that made the man step back.

"Did they violate her?" The woman asked.

"Yes," the man said. "She is badly injured."

"Of course she is. You did right summoning me," the woman said. "Do you know who she is?"

"A stranger," the man said, shaking his head.

"Lead me to her," the woman instructed, and the man nodded, leading her up the stairs and into a room.

There, Alice was placed on top of a bed. She still had the man's coat around her, snuggling into it. The woman approached Alice, putting the bag she had down next to the bed. She went to remove the coat, but the moment she touched it she was surprised by Alice crying out, clearly having a full-on panic attack.

"Go get whatever alcohol you have," the woman said, turning to the man who nodded and went out. "Hello… it's okay," She spoke then softly to Alice. "I am Eleanor Augustine. Can you tell me your name?" Eleanor watched as Alice tried to form the words but was unable to over her cries. "No talking. Just listen to my voice," Eleanor put her hand on Alice's hair and started stroking it, speaking softly. "I want you to think of nothing else but my voice. I want you to breath in and out slowly. In and out."

Eleanor kept directing Alice's breathing and, as Alice did, her breaths slowed down and she stopped panicking – enough so that Eleanor was able to remove the jacket with her one hand while her other continued to stroke Alice's hair. Eleanor moved her hand lightly over Alice's body to take in the damage.

"Woman, sometimes I swear you are a witch," the man said, returning with the requested bottle and seeing Alice had calmed down.

"Common for Augustine woman. My grandmother, Susanna, was accused of witchcraft more than once," Eleanor said, back stepping back and taking the bottle. As she did the man turned. "Stay."

"Eleanor, the young woman is unclothed. It's inappropriate for me to be here," he said.

"You are a gentlemen, but there is time for that – and time when you must put that aside. I am going to need your help," Eleanor said, moving back to Alice with the bottle. "I'm going to need to take care of these wounds," Eleanor spoke softly to Alice again. "And I am afraid it's going to hurt. Take a sip. It will help dull the pain," Eleanor put the bottle to Alice's lip and poured some of the alcohol in, seeing Alice was about to sip it out Eleanor put her hand over Alice's mouth and rubbed her throat to force it down. Alice's cough afterward.

"Good girl," Eleanor said. "Hold her down," Eleanor turned to the waiting man as she said this.

"You sure?" The man asked.

"I am going to need her to remain still," Eleanor said, giving the man a nod and he came up to the side.

He went to put his hands on Alice.

"You are safe," he whispered as he did. "Please remember that."

-The Way Home-

-2025-

Elliot gave a small smile as he skimmed the page of the letter he was on now, continuing to read aloud.

"I understand why they had to clean my wounds, even though it hurt. It felt like I was under attack again. I struggled a bit, but he held me down, whispering that I was safe while Eleanor worked quickly and carefully. Once she finished, the cool compress felt soothing, and she carefully bandaged everything. She checked my whole body, moving me gently to make sure she didn't miss anything. Afterward, I was still in distress, but she managed to calm me again and made me take a sip of that harsh alcohol. It must have been strong, or maybe I was just exhausted, because her soothing voice soon lulled me to sleep," Elliot read from the letter.

"Susanna's granddaughter is taking care of her," Kat whispered. "That makes me feel better. She's in good hands. Susanna has saved both mine and Jacob's lives." Del squeezed her daughter's hand at this.

"Eleanor," Elliot whispered. "She's the one who wrote the letter in my box."

"Well, we know Alice was there when the capsule was buried so not odd," Nick said, looking at his friend and wondering what he was thinking.

"She may have written something from her side of events," Elliot explained, to a nod from Nick there. "Anyway, I'll continue," Elliot said, looking back down at the letter. "Even though Eleanor was there, I must have gotten an infection because a terrible fever struck me. The following days are a blur; I was barely awake and struggled to separate reality from hallucinations. I thought I saw you, Mom, and in that moment, it brought me comfort and warmth.

"Eleanor kept checking on me, forcing medicine down and monitoring my healing. Yet, it was him I remember most," Elliot read. "He was always there, placing a cool cloth on my head, encouraging me to drink warm broth even when I had no appetite. Whenever feverish nightmares haunted me, he would come in, stroke my hair, and softly reassure me that I was safe. His voice could lull me back into peaceful sleep, and in those moments, I truly felt secure."

"I'm really starting to like this guy," Kat said.

"Me too," Del added. "But why hasn't Alice said his name yet?"

"She's about to," Elliot said, and went to continue to read. "It was late at night when I finally got my first real moment of consciousness. My first thought was getting back to the pond and getting home, but I was still very weak…"

-The Way Home-

-1874-

Alice opened her eyes and looked around the unfamiliar room. It took a second for everything to come back to her, and she knew she needed to get up and get home. She pushed the blanket off of her, looking down to find herself in some type of nightgown. She could feel bandages on her skin. Alice didn't want to look at them. She just wanted to get to the pond and get to her mom. Then she could deal with everything that happened.

But as Alice went to stand up and get out of the bed, her legs gave way under her weight and she fell to the floor with a bang. She cried out as she felt more pain than she should. She probably damaged one of her wounds.

She heard footsteps enter the room and saw the light of a candle. The candle was put on a counter as two strong arms picked her up and put her back on the bed.

"You're up," the man said, and Alice knew the voice.

"You… you saved me," Alice stated, looking at him. He was older than her but not by much – he was probably older 20s, lower 30s at the most, had jet-black hair, blue eyes and a strong jawline.

"I did," the man said. "Wish I had gotten there sooner."

"Thank you, but I need to…" Alice didn't finish her sentence as she felt lightheaded.

"You are going nowhere," the man said. "You would be too weak to go out in day light, in good weather, but at night in this storm you'd die."

"Storm?" Alice asked.

"Large snowstorm came in this morning," the man said, and Alice didn't respond but her thoughts went to the pond. It had to be completely frozen over and wouldn't unfreeze until spring. She was stuck!

"You seem to be doing better," the man put a hand on her head. "The fever is gone. I know it would be more appropriate for a woman to check on your wounds, but there is no lady of the house. There hasn't been since my mother passed some years ago and I can't summon Eleanor in this weather. Would you mind if I checked?"

"You've seen everything anyway," Alice whispered, letting the man slowly lift over the nightgown. She flinched at first at his touch but when he whispered 'you are safe' it calmed her. She felt him move the bandages a bit to look underneath them.

"Everything seems to be healing," he said, putting the nightgown back down. "Now, you should get some more sleep and, in the morning, we will get some good food in you. Get your strength back and then I will help you get wherever you need to go."

Alice didn't fight as the man led her back into a sleeping position.

"Thank you," Alice said. "For doing all this. We don't even know each other.

"No thanks necessary, miss. It was the decent thing to do," he said. "As for not knowing each other, we can fix that. I am Jonathan."

"Alice," Alice said back.

"Nice to really meet you, Alice. Now, get some sleep and remember, you are safe here on Landry Farm," Jonathan said, helping Alice get the covers back over her and taking his candle as he left.

-The Way Home-

-2025-

Both Kat and Del gave a gasp at the reveal of who the man was, with Kat giving a little chuckle as she looked to her mom.

"I should have known I was on Landry farm before Jonathan even said it," Elliot continued to read. "It made sense, after all, but I hadn't realized until he said it. I was at home – but in the wrong century. All I wanted to do was get back to you, mom. I knew you would be mad at first, I was gone so long, but I knew when you heard what happened you would be okay. I wanted your arms around me to tell me everything was okay, that I would be safe from now on, but I knew it wasn't possible. There was over a foot of snow outside. The pond was frozen solid," Elliot read.

"Jonathan Landry…" Del said and, looked at Kat but realized the name didn't ring a bell to her daughter. Kat had forgotten Colton's story.

"Something wrong with this guy?" Nick asked.

"No," Del said. "From what Colton used to say, he was a good man," Del looked over at Elliot and they shared a look, both realizing they were the only two starting to sense something.

"My baby…" Kat whispered. "I wish I could take her in my arms. Elliot, you need to continue. Please."

Elliot gave a nod as he went to read. "I didn't know what was going to happen to me. There were months until I could get home. When I told Jonathan I had missed my chance to leave, that I was stuck, I didn't really expect him to offer to let me stay, but he did. He said he could use a housekeeper for the winter. I told him I probably wasn't going to be any good at it. I wasn't the best cook or housekeeper, but he said I could learn."

Kat gave a small chuckle at that, imagining her daughter being a maid in the 1800s. Elliot gave a smile.

"But learn I did," Elliot continued to read. "Jonathan teased me a bit when I didn't know how to do something that should be common, but it was never mean. He's very kind. He helps me. And he loves when I sing. He told me many times I have a voice of an angel. By the way, I think Fynn followed me into the pond. He's not wearing his collar but it's him. Jonathan tells me he showed up at the house the day after he found me and wouldn't leave me alone. I said he was mine. Jonathan's training him to help on the farm more."

The group stopped and turned to look where Fynn the dog was sitting on the floor, not far off from them.

"Different dog that looks like Fynn?" Kat asked but her mind wondered.

"Must be," Del said. Fynn seemed to know they were talking about him as he lifted his head, stood, and came up to get a pet. Del fussed his head, as if on instinct. Elliot looked back down at the note, knowing it was time to continue to read.

"Eleanor comes around to help me a lot, too, and teach me how to keep house and cook. If her grandmother was anything like her, I see why you love Susanna so much, mom. Eleanor is an amazing person. She lives with her younger brother and his wife. Her father never forced her to marry and made her brother promise it as well. She's a healer like Susanna was and also works as a midwife. It brings in enough money for the Augustine family, apparently. She loves to talk about Susanna. In fact, she told me their family myths says Susanna and the White Witch were lovers. Something you forgot to tell me mom? If so I am totally cool with it."

Elliot stopped reading and turned to Kat at that. "Something you'd like to share?" Elliot asked.

"I don't get it," Nick said, seeing Del also looked confused.

"Yeah… I'm the White Witch," Kat said back to that.

"Kat?" Del asked, seeming surprised.

"I had to distract Cyrus and his men so Susanna and Thomas could get Jacob out of the dungeons at Lingermore. I had them chase me to the pond where I jumped in and the White Witch was born," Kat said.

"Oh," Del said seeming to accept it.

"There are dungeons at Lingermore?" Nick asked, turning eyes to him. "Right, not the point, but I think Alice lost the point as well. Why do we need to know this?"

"It does seem she started word vomiting on the page a bit," Elliot said. "Although this is better written then any of her English essays from what I know."

"Continue Elliot," Del said having a feeling she knew where this letter was going.

"As the year turned from 1874 to 1875, I had been there just over a month when morning sickness hit me hard," Elliot read from Alice's letter. "It was Eleanor who connected the dots; when she asked about my last menstrual cycle, it dawned on me – my period hadn't come since my arrival. I scrambled for excuses, trying to blame time travel for my missed period, but deep down, I knew the truth. I was pregnant in an era where healthcare was scarce and women's rights were nearly nonexistent, and the weight of that reality settled heavily on my shoulders."

Kat gasped, putting a hand over her mouth as Dell brought her close.

"I'll kill them!" Nick mumbled, his knuckles going white by how tight he was making a fist.

"Nick, you continuously threatening to kill people who have been dead for over a hundred years is not helping," Elliot said back to that. "Kat, are you okay for me to continue to read?" Kat gave a nod, wanting Elliot to continue.

Chapter Text

-1875-

Jonathan walked into his home, surprised to not smell dinner being made. He had been doing work on the farm, even though it was winter, there were things to do and animals to tend. He didn't hire farmhands in the winter so it was all on him.

"Alice?" Jonathan called.

"Jonathan," it was Eleanor coming from a back room. Jonathan could see as she opened the door Alice was sitting on the floor crying. Fynn the dog was next to her putting his head on her lap.

"What's wrong?" Jonathan asked, moving forward and Eleanor stopped him before he moved in.

"There is an issue," Eleanor said. "We believe Alice is with child."

"Child? But how…?" Jonathan stopped his question as he thought. "The attack!" Eleanor gave a nod. "Are you sure? Did you test her?"

"There is no real test," Eleanor said. "But the symptoms and timeline make it make sense. Normally, I would tell a young woman to wait until she starts showing to be sure, but in this case we need to make plans."

"Plans?" Jonathan asked.

"Jonathan, the town won't react nicely to a young, unwed, mother staying at Landry farm," Eleanor said to him.

"But she was attacked," Jonathan pointed out.

"No one but we know, and if we say it now it sounds like an excuse. Besides, it wouldn't matter to them. She has no husband and no father or brother to protect her," Eleanor explained. "We could try to hide her, but if one person sees her it will be bad for her – and you."

"I will not throw her out," Jonathan said.

"I am not saying to," Eleanor responded, giving him a glare as if insulted Jonathan would even think that. "But we need to think of a plan now before it's obvious to all she has a child growing."

Jonathan gave a nod and then moved into the room where Alice was still crying. He sat on the floor next to her and brought Alice into his arms. Eleanor stayed where she was, but watched from afar.

"I told you that you were safe here and I meant it. You are safe and I will protect you," Jonathan said as Alice now cried onto his shoulder. Jonathan looked down at her for a moment. "Marry me."

That paused Alice's tears. "What?" Alice asked, looking up at Jonathan. Her eyes were big and tears were still threatening to fall. Eleanor stood at the doorway, watching the scene. Fynn even sat up, giving Jonathan a look.

"Marry me," Jonathan said. "We can go to the church and get married tomorrow. I'll claim the child as mine. We can say he or she was born early. We will use Eleanor as a midwife. She will confirm it."

"I… um… I… what?" Alice asked, seeming too stunned to make words.

"Alice, this is the best option for you," Eleanor encouraged her. "Everything else is too dangerous."

Alice looked at Eleanor and then back at Jonathan.

"Okay," Alice finally said, and Jonathan gave a smile as he wiped a tear away from her eyes.

-The Way Home-

-2025-

Back in 2025, Elliot continued reading aloud the letter from Alice, detailing her life since she'd ended up in the 1870s.

"My mind raced. I didn't know what marrying my own ancestor would do," Elliot read "I have been so sure we can't change the past, but at the same time I have never been in the past for so long. Could I? But I also needed to think of my survival. Marrying Jonathan equalled safety for me and for my baby," Elliot read.

"She's marrying that guy?" Nick asked, pulling a face.

"She has to," Elliot said. "The 1800s didn't treat single mothers well. At least ones who were not widowed."

"Even in my time there would be looks and gossip about a single unwed mother; I can't imagine what it would be like in 1875," Del added.

"But… she has no birth certificate or any paperwork. How can she marry him?" Nick asked.

"It's a small town in 1875," Elliot responded. "I am sure it's much easier to make an identity there than here. The world isn't connected like it is now. Besides, once she gets – well, got – a marriage certificate, that would be a form of identity for her."

"She's being responsible," Kat said. "But… our ancestor?" Del patted Kat's shoulder.

"Elliot, continue," Del said again.

"I wore his mother's wedding dress," Elliot read. "Eleanor helped adjust it to me and made sure it hid all my scars from the attack. Mom, I was wearing your ring around my neck the morning I jumped – the men who attacked me only cared about my body, not my jewellery so I still had it. I slipped it on my ring finger so you would be a part of the ceremony in a way. Never really imagined I would get married in a church, but it was honestly a lovely ceremony. Moreover, I didn't picture the excitement the town would have."

Elliot took a breath at this point before continuing to read.

"You know in our time, being part of a founding family seemed silly to me. It was used at times for tourist to get money, but it didn't feel like anyone really cared," Elliot tried not to chuckle as he read this, considering his own father put a lot of faith in being an Augustine, which had put Elliot off as a child. He continued, "In 1875 though, it almost felt like I was marrying royalty. Everyone was excited the only Landry left had finally taken a wife. There was a big party in a large building the town. I think it was the most fun I had since I got here. The music, the dancing, the food, and everyone came, including the Goodwin's of the time…"

-The Way Home-

-1875-

Alice laughed when the song was over and Jonathan led her off the dance floor. She was smiling and it felt like almost like all her troubles were gone.

"It is good to see you so happy," Jonathan said, and Alice turned to him giving him a big smile.

"You have a beautiful bride," a new voice Alice didn't recognize said, as a man walked up with a woman next to him. The two giving a smile.

"Alister," Jonathan said in greeting. "Alice, this is Alister Goodwin and his wife, Judith Goodwin."

"Very nice to meet the new Mrs. Landry. People were starting to think Jonathan would die alone," Alister said.

"Pleasure to meet you," Alice said, not knowing what else to say as she held out her hand. Alister took it, but instead of shaking it, he turned it around and kissed the top of it. Alice shivered at the touch, but Jonathan's arm around her made her feel safe.

"For you," Alister said taking out a small box, "just a little something. If I had known, with more time about the wedding, I would have gotten something nicer." Alice opened the giving box to see a necklace inside.

"It's beautiful, but you didn't have to," Alice said.

"Nonsense, we founding families need to stick together," Alister said, giving Jonathan a smile who nodded.

"It's very thoughtful," Jonathan said, taking the necklace out of the box and then putting it around Alice's neck. "And looks lovely on you," Alice understood. It was better to be friends with the Goodwins than not to.

"You really outdid yourself, Jonathan. A young beautiful wife," Alister said, but then the music turned. "Oh, who decided to play this?"

"Wait," Alice said, seeing Alister was about to get the band to change the song. "I know this song…" before the singer could start the lyrics, Alice began to sing. "This is a tale I'm sorry to tell but draw near and I will tell you. Of when witches were hung for stealing the sun and hung by the light of the moon, my love, and hung by the light of the moon." Alice didn't notice as the eyes turned to her. "She was a healer, or so she had said. My potions and tonics were true, but when fields went a fallow she was led to the gallows that loom by the light of the moon my love that loomed by the light of the moon. When her hanging rope tightened the witch did not look frightened for the night went as dark as a tomb. And when moonlight came back the noose just hung slack. She was gone by the light of the moon, my love. She was gone by the light of the moon."

The place went silent and Alice noticed the eyes on her and she felt embarrassed for some reason.

"Voice of an angel," Jonathan said, and that got the public to clap for her.

"Well, Mrs. Landry," one of the members of the band said. "Would you sing another one for us?"

"I don't…" Alice started.

"Go ahead," Jonathan said, indicating for her to approach the band.

"Well… there is one song that's dear to my heart, but you wouldn't know it," Alice said as she came over.

"You insult us. We know many songs," the band member said.

"No insult intended. My grandfather wrote this song and only my family knows it. If I could have your guitar…?" Alice said.

"It's your wedding," he said handing over the guitar and then Alice started to play a familiar tune to her.

"Love your eyes, how they give me a reason. And how they change in the light." Alice sang. "Hope you know you're everything I wanted in my whole life. You're the reason the garden is growing. You keep us calm like the night. And you shine like a passage on the water, in the moonlight. In your eyes there's a horizon. I can find my way back home. And you know when you find it and then you'll never be alone. Love your eyes how they give me a reason. How they change in the light. Hope you know you're everything I wanted in my whole life."

Alice smiled as she finished the song, and the people of the town clapped as she handed the guitar back to its owner.

"You really did do well, Jonathan," Alister said, patting him on the back.

"I know," Jonathan smiled, holding out his hand indicating for Alice to return to him and she did.

-The Way Home-

-2025-

Both Del and Kat had tears in their eyes upon hearing that Alice had sung Colton's song at her wedding to Jonathan Landy.

"Singing the song about witches made me feel like you were there, mom, and then getting to sing grandpa's song… it was like I had you all back for a moment," Elliot read.

"Sometimes I wonder if dad really wrote that song or if the tune has been in our family so long," Kat mused.

"Wait, I get why that song makes her feel like you are all there, but why does the creepy song about a witch being hung make her think of you?" Nick asked, looking at Kat, and Del turned to her daughter.

"It's about me," Kat said. "And I wasn't hung – just nearly hung. The song is a bit overdramatic…" Del sighed, clearly wanting more answers but knew it wasn't the time, "Elliot, I need to know more."

Elliot nodded at Kat, going to continue to read. "I didn't want that party to be over – not just because I was having a good time, but because it was my wedding night and I knew what was expected of me on this night. Mom, after everything had happened, I swore I would never date or be with a man again. I was going to come home and hide, but now I had married Jonathan. I knew what a marriage for a woman in 1875 was. I was his. So, that night we went back to the farm and he led me up to his… well, our bed."

"Oh, this guy is not going to force her. I'll hurt him too," Nick said.

"Nick," Kat, Elliot, and Del all said together.

"Sorry," Nick said, taking a sip of his beer to calm down.

Elliot didn't need encouragement to continue. "I perched at the edge of the bed, watching as he slowly undressed, revealing more of himself with each piece he shed. A shiver ran through me as the anticipation of the moment enveloped us. He settled beside me, his hand reaching out, and I instinctively flinched, memories of the past surfacing briefly. But his gentle smile reassured me; he whispered that I was safe, that he would pause if I needed him to—right now, if necessary. Looking into his eyes, I knew he meant it. We could retreat into the comfort of slumber, yet I sensed his yearning. After everything he'd done for me, how could I deny him this connection?"

"You can," Kat murmured softly, wishing to shield her daughter from feeling obligated to share herself with anyone, even her own husband.

"I nodded," Elliot continued, "and allowed him to carefully unfasten my dress. He approached with such tenderness, setting aside each piece until I stood before him, vulnerable yet unafraid. He joined me in our newfound intimacy, and as we nestled into the sheets, the weight of the past flickered momentarily, but the warmth between us eclipsed it. He was a world apart from my previous experience. It was clear we were both stepping into uncharted territory, exploring and learning together. It was beautiful, Mom, we…"

'Ugh," Nick said, getting up and turning around.

"She might have gone a little too far there," Kat said, agreeing with Nick.

"I've read worst," Del said, and noticed as the three turned to look at her. "I've been a widow for a while and just started dating…"

"It good to know Alice won't be joining a nunnery, but Elliot, can you maybe skip a couple of lines?" Kat asked, not wanting her mother to explain the comment further or hear too much of her daughter's sex life.

"Let me skim," Elliot mumbled, and looked over the letter for a moment. "Here we go…" Elliot pointed at a line. "I had fallen asleep, basically on his chest – he was more comfortable than the bed. I was woken up by his hand rubbing my back. Took me a moment to realize he was tracing the scars on my back."

-The Way Home-

-1875-

Alice kept her eyes closed for a moment as she felt Jonathan's hands on her back. She opened her eyes slightly when she realized where exactly Jonathan was placing his fingers. She moved her hand to take hold of his.

"I'm sorry, did that hurt?" Jonathan asked.

"It's been a long time since they have hurt," Alice admitted, looking up at her husband. He was looking at her, concerned, and then Alice wasn't sure why she started to cry. Jonathan pulled her closer.

"What's wrong?" Jonathan asked.

"I'm sorry," Alice said.

"What for?" Jonathan asked.

"You have done so much for me and what do you get in return? A damaged, broken wife," Alice said, crying into Jonathan's shoulder.

"Hey, let's have none of that," Jonathan said. "You are scarred, but you are not damaged. All those scars mean is that you survived. And you are not broken. Since you came here, you have made this house a home again. You have brought life into it. To me. To Eleanor. The pregnancy might have cut our courting short, but do not think I wasn't going to court you. I got exactly what I wanted when you said yes. Do not think I do not love you."

"You love me?" Alice whispered.

"I do," Jonathan said.

"I love you too," Alice said, and Jonathan kissed the top of her hair.

"There now, no more tears. We have wed and we are going to be parents. This is joyous time," Jonathan said and Alice snuggled closer to him.

-2025-

Elliot had slowed his reading now, the letter going into a lot of detail but also many revelations.

"I wasn't lying when I said I loved him. Because I did. Well… I do," Elliot read aloud. "And as the months continued, I fell more and more in love with him. The way he takes care of me, the excitement as the baby grows and starts to move – a baby he knows is not even his. Everything about him. I love him. I guess it makes sense. My best friend was my teenage mother, my first love was her friend, I sang with my dead grandfather in two different eras, and consoled the broken heart of a woman who loved him that he didn't love back. It only makes sense my true love would be my own ancestor."

"Her true love?" Nick asked, taking another sip of his beer.

"Nick," Del shushed the man, who shrugged at this.

"But I am rambling now," Elliot continued to read. "It's hard for me to end this letter – it's a link to you, mom, but end it I must. Jonathan and Eleanor are giving me strange looks. And this baby has decided my bladder is a soccer ball. I've had to pee for the last page I have written."

Del and Kat gave a laugh at that.

"I should be with her," Kat said, sadly. "Be there to help her. And when she complains, tease her she did the same."

"Not all mothers are with their daughters when they are pregnant," Del spoke at this, and Kat rolled her eyes.

"But I agree, Alice is rambling," Kat said. "What we need to know is how long she is in the past, so we can cover her absence. And when she gets out of that pond, I am bringing her into my arms and never letting her go. Her, or the baby… oh, she will have a baby. I'm a grandmother!"

"Kat," Elliot said. "The pond doesn't let people go forward. The child was conceived in 1874."

"But the pond will unfreeze before Alice gives birth. She's from here," Kat said. "The child will come with her."

"This is uncharted territory," Elliot pointed out.

"You think she might have to leave her baby?" Nick asked.

"She won't abandon her child," Kat stated.

"No, she won't," Del said, sharing a look with Elliot as she got up.

"Mom, where are you going?" Kat asked.

"Just… getting something," Del said as she moved off. "Elliot, I think Kat needs to hear Alice's own words."

Elliot gave a nod as he turned back to the letter as Del left to get what she was looking for.

"It's strange, months ago I was just waiting for the pond to unfreeze to get back to you, mom. I was just buying time – even when I said yes to Jonathan, it was about survival until I could jump. But now spring is in the air, the sun is shining as Jonathan works on the farm. The pond is no longer frozen… and I have decided not to jump." Elliot paused as he went to look at Kat. She was staring at him stunned, as if she was waiting for him to say 'got you'. Del had returned and was standing with the familiar Landry family almanac in her hands. Del gave Elliot a nod.

"I can't leave. I can't leave my husband," Elliot continued. "I can't walk away from the life I've built here. It's not the life I envisioned for myself, but it has its merits. Mom, I know this may hurt you, but I wrote this message hoping you would understand and perhaps find a bit of happiness for me. Because I have found happiness, despite the unexpected turns my life has taken. Most importantly, I wrote this to say goodbye. I will always love you. With all my heart, Alice Landry."

"She signed it Alice Landry," Nick said, quietly.

"She's Jonathan Landry wife. It's her name now," Elliot said.

"No," Kat said shaking her head. "I don't know what that girl is thinking but…" she began to stand up at that.

"Katherine," Del said, putting down the almanac and opening it up in front of Kat. "Alice's story matches family legends on Jonathan Landy. Colton always said the story was that he found a woman being attacked by men. Not long later they were married. It is said their oldest daughter, Katherine Landry wasn't Jonathan's but a result of the rape." Del pointed at the name, Kat following her finger. "Alice Landry, married Jonathan Landry in January of 1875. They had seven children. You are the descendent of their second born, and eldest son, Brandon. I'm sorry sweetie. She stays," Del had tears in her eyes as well at this information.

"Wow," Nick said, going over to look at the page himself.

"It's incest," Kat said.

"There's not enough of Jonathan DNA inside Alice for it to matter," Elliot said.

"And her own DNA inside her?" Kat asked.

"Weird but still minimal," Elliot said. "Cousins married cousins back in the day, this is no different, in fact, it better as there's generations of other DNA before you. It's the Grandparent Paradox," Elliot noticed the eyes looking at him. "I have read up on every time travel theory since someone told me my future in 1999. The Grandparent Paradox is common in time travel lore. You go back in time and meet your grandparent, fall in love, thus becoming your own grandparent. Or, in Alice's case, great-great-great-great-great grandma," Elliot paused seeming to be thinking. "Did I add one too many greats or leave one out?"

"Not important," Del said

"No," Kat said, shaking her head and got up, going passed her mother and out the door. Fynn barked and went to follow Kat, but Del stopped him with one call.

"She heading to the pond?" Nick asked.

"Where else?" Elliot sighed, and the three looked at each other. "Nick, go watch her. I doubt the pond will take her anywhere, but let her get it out of her system."

"And if she does go somewhere?" Nick asked.

"Wait for her to come back. Either way, bring her to meet me and Del in the graveyard," Elliot said, and Nick gave a nod going out the door.

"Graveyard?" Del asked.

"Graveyard," Elliot said, more forcefully and with a nod.

"Oh," Del said, understanding. "We… we should go get some flowers."

"And I want to stop by the archives as well," Elliot said, the two getting their car keys and bags.

-The Way Home-

-1874-

Alice folded the letter as she went over to where Jonathan and Eleanor were sitting by the box that was going to go into the time capsule for future Landry's. Fynn had been sitting by her side as she wrote, and Alice had petted him every so often. It was nice having him in this time with her – one thing she could have from her own time.

"You wrote a lot more than I did for the future Augustines," Eleanor remarked.

"Yes, what has you so wordy, my love?" Jonathan asked.

"Just giving them a lot of details," Alice said; she was wondering if she went too far herself in a lot of what she said, but writing it all down was therapeutic, and it was the last thing she would send to her mom. "Don't future Landrys deserve that?"

"To me, this is all nonsense," Jonathan said. "I don't see why our future family will care about objects or letters 150 years from now."

"They will," Alice said as she put it into the box.

"You were the one with the very specific date to have this opened," Jonathan pointed out.

"Yes, lucky I managed to get my brother to agree and with us, in agreement Alister. All three founding families agreeing and the town had no complaints," Eleanor said. "You never did say why that day."

Alice had thought about telling the two the truth of her for so long, but it felt unimportant for them to know now.

"It's just a premotion call it," Alice said. "They need this on that date."

"May I read the letter?" Jonathan asked.

"No," Alice said, putting her hands on Jonathan. "It's not for you – it's for them." Jonathan gave a nod and a chuckle as he closed the top of the box and called over a young boy; a farmhand he had hired to help. He gave the boy directions to bring the box to town for the time capsule.

"Where are you going?" Jonathan asked, seeing Alice walking a different direction.

"I have to wee," Alice said as she moved off.

"Again?" Jonathan asked as Eleanor chuckled.

"She's with child," Eleanor said, getting up. "And I must leave you. I have work to do," Eleanor walked out of the house as Jonathan went back to his work.

-The Way Home-

-2025-

Elliot and Del were in front of a grave. They had a bucket, soap, and sponge and were cleaning it up. Del had already put flowers in front of it when Nick came in, dragging a soaking wet Kat. He, too, seemed to be completely wet.

"Nick, I said to wait for her to give up, not go with her," Elliot said.

"Well, I just spent the last hour watching her nearly drown herself. I was afraid she would if I didn't drag her out of that pond. Which, might I add, is really cold," Nick said. "What are you doing?"

"We thought this deserved some love," Del said, and moved aside to show the two the grave. There were two names on it. The first was Jonathan Landry with a date of birth of January 3rd 1845 and the death on January 14th 1907. Below him it was added and his wife Alice Landry. Her date of birth was listed as July 8th but instead of the true year of 2008 it said 1858. It was the date of death that had Kat paused.

"No…" Kat said, kneeling in front of the grave and looking at the day of death. "October 28th… 1924." The date was almost like a joke. October 28th had haunted Kat so many times. Jacob disappearance. The party at Lingermore. And now her own daughters death.

"How old would that make her?" Nick asked.

"66 give or take," Elliot said.

"That's not old…" Nick said.

"Got that right," Del said back, being 66 herself.

"Shorter life spans back then," Elliot said, getting down on his knees too. "Kat, you know the archives go all the way back to the beginning of the 1900s? I found this," he took out a piece of paper; in big letters it read 'Town Mourns Founding Family Matriarch'. "She was clearly very loved back then by this town. The article calls her the town's mother," Elliot saw Kat looking at the piece of paper.

Kat was the one to read aloud: "In recent years, Alice Landry wasn't seen much as she took ill. She peacefully died of natural causes surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren."

"Great grandchildren…" Del mused aloud.

"No, no…" Kat now said, shaking her head tears coming to them.

"I'm sorry, Kat. Alice went into that pond and never came back. She died 101 years ago," Elliot said.

Kat broke down and Del came, bringing her in her arms.

"I get it. I am hurting too," Del said, feeling the pain herself but knowing she had to be strong for her daughter. "Your daughter was here this morning. Your baby left the house and disappeared. I know what that feels like. But you got a gift Kat – you know she lived a happy and beautiful life."

"A life that led to you," Nick said. "Without Alice being there, Colton, Jacob, Kat, and Alice herself are never born."

"Not just them," a voice said, and they turned to see KC Goodwin had turned up.

"You? The ring," Kat said. "You were meant to be Alice's child from the future."

"Kat, Alice had the ring," Elliot said. "She mentioned it in her letter. She put it on her finger on her wedding day."

KC took a necklace off her neck and held up the ring. "She gave it to her oldest daughter on the day Katherine Landry married Lionel Goodwin, the younger son of Alister and Judith Goodwin – along with stories of a magic pond that lets you travel through time. When I ran away from home last summer, I went to find the pond. I thought it was stupid but I had to try and I went back to 1876."

"You saw her?" Kat asked, and KC nodded. "Is she really happy?"

"If I ever look at someone the way Alice looks at Jonathan and get the same look back I will consider myself lucky," KC said. "She's very happy. She was surprised to see me. I didn't even know who she was. She was the one who directed me on things to do – to take your internship, and stop the farm from being sold. She even told me to jump into the pond if I was asked about the ring. Now there is one last thing she asked me to do." KC walked over to Kat and put the ring in her hands.

"No, this has been in your family for generations," Kat said, holding it back up to KC.

"But it was yours first, grandma," KC said, closing Kat's hand around the ring as they turned to walk away.

"Grandma?" Nick asked.

"Wait," Kat called to KC, who did stop. "What is your name? I thought it was Casey but I found the initials KC..."

At that, they turned back to Kat, a smile on their face. "Katherine Coyle," KC stated back, taking Kat by surprise that no other question came to her head, allowing KC to leave the scene.

"Yeah, but Grandma?" Nick suddenly voiced again, breaking the silence.

"Well... Kat is technically KC's many times great grandma," Elliot said. "Alice had seven kids – and we only know of the main Landry line. Who knows how many people out there can trace their lines back to Alice? Back to you. I mean… half this town could be a several times great grandkid of yours."

"Including me," Nick now mused, pointing at himself.

"And me," Elliot added.

The group stood in heavy silence, the weight of the moment settling over them like a thick veil. Kat knelt by her daughter's grave, tears now streaming down her face as she struggled to catch her breath. Each sob was a raw testament to her grief, echoing in the stillness as she reached out to trace the letters of her child's name carved into the stone. The sight of the grave, silent and unyielding, magnified her sense of loss, leaving those around her feeling a profound ache in their hearts as they witnessed her sorrow.

-The Way Home-

-1875-

Jonathan Landry came into the house and up the stairs. The dog, Fynn, was running behind him. Eleanor came out of a room, clearly hearing his footsteps.

"How is she?" Jonathan asked.

"It was a long labor," Eleanor said. "First ones usually are, but she's strong. She got through it and is resting comfortably."

"And the baby?" Jonathan asked.

"A beautiful and healthy baby girl," Eleanor said, and Jonathan gave a smile. "A little small, but babies born a month early usually are." Eleanor gave Jonathan a wink; of course, the baby wasn't born early at all, but Eleanor was letting Jonathan know their lie would work. No one would question if the baby was his or not.

As Jonathan moved to go into the room Eleanor put a hand on his chest to stop him. "Where do you think you are going?" She asked.

"To see my wife and daughter," Jonathan said.

"Jonathan Landry, there is a newborn babe fresh out of her mother's womb in there and you are filthy," Eleanor said. "Dirt on your hands, face, clothes."

"Harvest is coming up," Jonathan explained.

"Yes, well no need to bring that into the house. Go, change your clothes and wash off your hands, at least. Then you can come in," Eleanor said.

"Between you and Alice, I feel like I have two wives," Jonathan remarked.

"You might need it – and take the dog with you. He's just as dirty," Eleanor called back as Jonathan went to go, calling for Fynn to follow him. Eleanor walked back into the room where Alice was resting on the bed. In her arms was the baby, wrapped in blankets.

"Did I hear Jonathan?" Alice asked.

"He came to check on you," Eleanor said. "I told him to clean up before coming in. Beautiful, isn't she?"

"Yes," Alice said. She couldn't take her eyes off her daughter. "She reminds me of my mother..." Eleanor gave a smile. The two woman stayed together silently at that, the one sounds being the cooing of the baby.

It wasn't long before Jonathan returned, cleaner than he had been. Fynn was behind him, wet himself, and he jumped on the bottom on the bed. Jonathan kissed Alice's head and then smiled down at the baby putting a hand on her.

"Hello there," Jonathan said.

"Meet your daddy," Alice said to the baby, letting Jonathan take her from her hold and hold her for the first time.

"Does she have a name?" Eleanor asked the two after a moment of letting father and daughter meet.

"Well, I always liked the name Annie," Jonathan said.

"No," Alice said quickly. "Katherine, after my mom. Please, Jonathan."

"Katherine Landry," Jonathan smiled, looking down at the girl. "I like." After a moment, the baby started to cry. "Did I do something…?"

"No," Eleanor said. "I think it's time to feed her."

"Feed?" Alice said and then understood as Jonathan gave the newly named Katherine back to Alice. "Oh, how do I...?" Alice wished more than ever her mother would just walk in, but even if she did, Alice kind of doubted she had breast fed Alice.

"It's alright, most new mothers don't know how," Eleanor said. "Reason why I am here. I've never had a baby but helped many mothers. I will help you too."

"I need to get back to the fields," Jonathan said, kissing Alice again. "Be back soon." Jonathan left the room letting Eleanor help Alice figure out how to feed her daughter.

-The Way Home-

-2025-

The day after the time capsule was opened, Kat walked down the stairs of Landry Farm. She had spent the rest of the day crying and reading Alice's letter over and over again. She already had it memorize now, but she just wanted to look at Alice's words.

She wasn't surprised to find her mother, Elliot, and even Nick downstairs. They had the almanac out as they drank coffee.

"What are you doing?" Kat asked.

"Seeing how much of Alice's life we can piece together from what's written here," Del said.

"She had seven children and all but one of them seem to be somewhat named after us," Elliot said. "It's not so obvious unless you know," Elliot explained. "Katherine is an obvious one, then in order it's Brandon – who we think might be named after Braden – Eli, after me, Annie is the one we assume her husband picked, and then Colette…"

"Colton," Kat said getting that one.

"Nicholas," Elliot said, and Nick gave a smile, "and last is Rose, who we think might be a hint to Del – both flower names after all."

"Delilah, Rose…" Del explained, to a nod from Kat.

"Yeah," Kat said, remembering she gave the fake name of Rose at the support group, too. Had she ever told anyone that? She didn't think so but it made her smile. "Seven pregnancies in the 1800s. I don't know how she did it. I barely got through one and needed all the pain killers."

"People had more kids in those days," Elliot said. "Kids could die more easily. Case in point, Eli died when he was 7," Elliot pointed out the date, "and Rose died the day she was born…"

"My god," Kat gasped.

"There's a note here that she lived for five minutes in her mother's arms," Del said.

"Sucks," Nick mused.

"My poor baby. Losing two children," Kat said, moving over, her hand tracing the names in the book.

"Still leaves five," Nick said. "We know Katherine survived, married and her line lives to today. A date of marriage is written in the almanac but not who her husband was or any children."

"Woman joined the husband families back then," Del said and Kat nodded.

"And Brandon is obvious," Elliot said. "Collete and Annie both have dates of marriages but like Katherine, nothing else. Nicholas' wife was added along with three children, but after that they stopped being added. Either moved away or just weren't on Landry farm anymore."

"The almanac belonged to Brandon's family. They might not have wanted to add the distance cousins," Del said.

"I'd like to know what happened to Nicholas family. If they are alive," Nick said. "She named a son after me. It… well, I feel honored."

"I'll need to see if I can track her children and grandchildren," Kat said. "It will be hard learning about her life like this, but I need to know."

"Oh sweetie, the hard part hasn't even started yet," Del said, and gave Elliot a look. Elliot gave Kat her cell phone and Kat was surprised he'd had it. "You weren't in the headspace yesterday to plan, so we have been texting Alice with your phone."

"We've also been making calls around town asking if anyone has seen her," Nick said.

"Why?" Kat asked, confused. They knew where – or better wording, when - Alice was.

"Oh honey, you need to report Alice missing," Del said, and Kat's stomach dropped. She hadn't thought of that. Alice might be safe in the past, but her life in the present needed to be finished. It would be another circus of a missing child in the Landry family.

"You should probably call Alice's phone and leave a message," Elliot said. "Just so police can track you tried."

"Oh…" Kat's hand was shaking as she dialled her daughter's number, knowing no one would answer. She almost cried when she heard Alice's voice message, her own daughter's voice. "Alice, sweetie, I love you. I wish you would come home," Kat said into the message before hanging up. It was all true, even if Alice would never get the message.

Her mother was right. The hard part was just starting, and she didn't even know what to tell Brady, but she would need to be strong and deal with this.

Chapter Text

-2026-

Kat Landry stood in the graveyard looking at the gravestone; this old grave was the cleanest one, even at over a hundred years old. Since the time capsule, she had made sure to take care of it, made sure to put fresh flowers over it – she even tried to talk to it like she was talking to her daughter, but part of her couldn't connect to her daughter here. Maybe because it was the grave of the woman she became and not the girl Kat knew.

The search for Alice had ended after a few months. The only thing found of her was her cellphone in the dirt on their land. Brady had hired some private investigators who had also given up once the fee got too high. Brady, though, had his focus redirected when Rachel told him she was pregnant; Kat pushing him to focus on the child and she would let him know if Alice returned.

Kat couldn't tell him the truth. That Alice had been dead for 101 years. She tried, but it all sounded so crazy and she knew her ex wouldn't believe it. Even the media craze over another Landry disappearing was all but gone. The town had started to move on – even her own family had, but Kat felt stuck.

She left the graveyard, heading for the farmer's market where her mother and Jacob were. Her brother had returned a couple of weeks after Alice went missing on his own accord, and now the season was starting for Port Haven. Tourist were coming back and it was time for the locals to get their money.

Her mind wasn't on selling their goods, and even conversations with some of the other locals and tourists didn't do anything to distract her.

"Mom, I'm going to head home," Kat said after only half an hour.

"Are you sure, sweetie?" Del asked.

"I am," Kat said, about to move off when her focused got directed to the stall next to Del, where Rita was with her signs. There was also a large poster in front of it advertising her ghost tour. "Rita is doing that again…?"

"She says she will make a fortune," Jacob said, coming back over, a sly look on his face Kat ignored. Kat could see a crowd forming around as Rita was talking.

"The White Witch is part of this tour?" One tourist asked.

"I have expanded the White Witch section," Rita explained, and Kat nearly rolled her eyes, remembering when she took the tour herself.

"I heard the White Witch abducted a girl recently. Disappeared without a trace," one woman said, and Kat's hand went into a fist.

"Kat," Del said, trying to stop Kat as Kat stormed over to Rita's stall, tearing down one of the posters.

"Kat!" Rita said, but Kat didn't stop as she moved away, also knocking Rita flyers on the floor.

"That was rude," another tourist said. "Who does she think she is?"

"She's the mother of the girl who disappeared!" Del yelled at the tourist, who seemed put off by that as Jacob went to pick up what Kat had knocked over. "Sorry Rita."

"It's nothing, Del," Rita said giving Del a nod. "I know she's hurting," she didn't seem bothered as she continued talking about the tour.

-The Way Home-

Kat was in the cellar of the Landry Farm. She had once made this a place to try to figure out what happened to Jacob, but now she had been tracing Alice's children and grandchildren. It was slow work, but as a reporter she was used to looking into clues.

"Katherine Landry!" It was Del coming down the stairs. "That wasn't nice. Rita didn't start the rumors the White Witch took Alice..."

"She's profiting off them," Kat said back.

"Well, let her. Someone should make something from all this," Del said. "And this," Del pointed at Kat's research, "is not healthy. You need to move on."

"Like you did when Jacob disappeared?" Kat asked back. "I can't forget her."

"No one is asking you to, but Kat, you know she lived a good life. You said goodbye with the letter," Del said.

"No, Alice said goodbye," Kat said. "I didn't."

"Then figure out a way. Because this isn't working," Del said, moving back up the stairs, and Kat groaned as she looked at the letter Alice had sent in the time capsule. She kept it close, always rereading it.

"Goodbye?" Kat said it more as a question, her eyes going to the words of Alice. Kat looked at a long white cloak sitting on the back of a chair. Nick had bought it for her as a joke present for her birthday to try to cheer her up. Kat frowned, taking it and putting it around her. The cloak was long and went down to her feet. She put the hood up, it covering her face.

Kat went up the stairs, noticing her mom in the kitchen with Jacob and Elliot, the three talking, but Kat not listening as she went out the side door. The only person who noticed her was Fynn, who ran after her and followed her as she made the familiar track down to the pond.

She hadn't been here since the day she had received Alice's letter, when the pond refused to take her back. She knew Fern, who she realized was Alice's grandson's wife, had indicated they had met before, so Kat knew she would have to go back, but she hadn't had the heart to take a trip.

She stood on the rock, looking over the pond.

"Okay," Kat said to the pond, "I get it. She belongs there, but I need to see her. Please bring me to my girl..." with that, Kat jumped into the pond and even Fynn the dog jumped after her. This time, she felt the pond take her and knew she was traveling.

-The Way Home-

Rising from the water, Kat coughed up some of the water that got into her lungs before crawling upon the familiar rocks. She paused, looking back at the pond; most of it was frozen solid, and there was only a little water free – what she had just came up from. The cloak around her had kept her clothes under her dryer than normal, and Kat had to wonder if Nick's present was actually practical.

As she moved off, she heard a bark and saw Fynn climbing on the rocks and chasing her, moving past her.

"Oh, you stupid dog," Kat said, the dog now running ahead of her, she following the dog towards the house and grabbing him by his collar as they approached the house. "Quiet!" Kat told him after he barked again. Fynn, for his part, listened.

She saw a handsome man walking out of the house and there was a cloaked woman inside just out of sight.

"A storm is approaching, I can tell," the man that Kat assumed was Jonathan spoke. Was he talking to Alice? Kat looked closely at the same person who was both her ancestor and her son-in-law; he was definitely handsome, a little older than she pictured the guy Alice would marry, but not as bad – almost as if Alice had actually gotten with current Nick. "I am going to go into town and get supplies. Thank you for coming to watch the girl."

"She is in my care," the woman said back. "Don't worry about her."

"We need to be able to call her something else," Jonathan said.

"Until she's conscious and can say her own name, I fear we do not know. I made some inquiries to see if anyone knew of newcomers to town but got nowhere," the woman said, and Kat was assuming this had to be Eleanor Augustine, but she still couldn't see a face from her position. "But while you are in town, collect these – they are ingredients for the medicines I am giving her. As much of each as you can. If it snows too much, I fear we will be blocked from town."

"Will do," Jonathan said, taking the list and then getting on his horse, which was connected to a carriage. He rode off and Eleanor closed the door.

"Come on…" Kat said to Fynn, knowing she had a limited chance here as she approached the house. Fynn followed her calmly; the house wasn't exactly what they had currently, but it was bigger than what she'd known in 1816 – it has been extended, for sure, in the past 60 or so years since her visits. Kat looked through the window, but didn't see Eleanor just beyond the door so opened it, letting her and Fynn in.

The house was empty as Kat quietly went through it; going up the stairs, she grabbed Fynn again and ducked into a room when she saw Eleanor leave another room. Kat was curious how she looked, but stayed hidden, not wanting Eleanor to see her so she only got a glimpse of her from the back.

Kat release Fynn and the dog ran into the door Eleanor just left. Kat following him to see he jumped up onto the bed and made a small moan. There was a person on the bed and Kat knew who it was before she even approached – as she got closer she saw the face she had wanted to see for so long: Alice.

Her daughter was in the bed, laying on her side and her eyes were closed. She was covered in sweat.

Kat put a hand on her head to feel she was very hot. "Fever…" Kat said, remembering Alice's letter. How after the attack, something had gotten infected and she spent the next few days with a fever. She realized that the pond didn't just bring her to Alice, as Alice had barely been gone. It must have only been a few days from Alice's perspective. Kat sat on the chair on the side of the bed as she moved some hair out of Alice's face.

Kat moved some of the covers off of her – she had to see what had been done to her daughter. Alice was in a nightgown that was easy to move, and there were bandages on her. Kat noticed Eleanor must have been applying more medicine to the wounds.

"Oh, my poor girl," Kat whispered. She understood why they had Alice laying on her side, as putting her on her back would probably hurt too much. Part of her really wanted to get Nick and let him find the men who did this to kill them. "My poor baby…"

"Mom…?" The familiar voice said lowly. Kat hadn't realized Alice had opened her eyes. Kat pushing the nightgown back over Alice and put the covers up. "Mom?" It was a little louder and Kat thought if she continued it would draw Eleanor here, which is not what Kat wanted.

"I'm here," Kat said putting a hand on Alice's cheek. "Hey there, kiddo."

"Mom, I'm so sorry," Alice said, confusing Kat.

"Sorry? For what, sweetie?" Kat asked, rubbing Alice's head.

"I didn't fight. I let them. I… I just let them," Alcie said, and tears were coming to her eyes.

"No, no," Kat said, bringing Alice closer to her and rocking her silently. "No baby. None of that is your fault. You couldn't fight back even if you tried. It would have been worse..." Alice cried as Kat held her.

"Take me home. Take me to the pond," Alice whispered, and Kat wanted more than anything to do this, but her eyes went to Alice's stomach. The original Katherine Landry was being formed already and Alice needed to stay. She needed to have Brandon and the others. The pond wouldn't take Alice anywhere.

"I can't," Kat said.

"Please," Alice said.

"I can't take you home because you are home," Kat said to Alice, and Kat didn't notice the shadow in the doorway. "Baby, listen to me. I know this doesn't feel like home, but it will be. You will be happy here. You will be loved and live a good life, but… that life won't include me anymore," Alice gave a soft cry, something that Kat held back as she said it. "I'm sorry baby, but we're going our separate ways. I want you to be strong and brave, though, and know I love you. We'll never be truly separate because you will exist in my heart and I exist in yours," Kat remembered her and Thomas talking about carrying a piece of each other. "We'll carry that piece of each other forever – and you always remember I love you, my precious baby girl."

Kat could see Alice was about to drift off again and Kat knew Alice would never remember this was real. She had said it in the letter – she had hallucinated Kat, but now Kat knew she hadn't. And what Kat had just said would help her. Help her adjust to her life here. She knew it would exist in her.

"Rest now, you need your strength," Kat said, placing Alice down and covering her, a song coming to her head as she began to softly sing: "Love your eyes how they give me a reason. How they change in the light. Don't you know you're everything I wanted in my whole life." Kat had to sing the song to Alice one last time, to lure her into a pleasant sleep. "You're the reason this garden is growing. You keep us calm through the night. And you shine like a passage on the water in the moonlight. In your eyes there's a horizon where I can find my way back home. and you know when I find it then you'll never be alone. Love your eyes how they give me a reason how they change in the light. Don't you know your everything I wanted in my whole life…"

Kat saw Alice was back to sleep and Kat kissed the top of her head. "Goodbye, my baby," Kat whispered getting up, holding back tears, and turning towards the door but paused when she saw the woman standing there.

Kat knew instantly this was Eleanor Augustine.

"Good to know music can calm her," Eleanor said. "The White Witch, I presume?"

Kat knew the cloak of white is probably why she said it, but she was right. "Eleanor Augustine," Kat said back.

"You really are magic. We have never met but you know my name," Eleanor said.

"You look so much like Susanna…" Kat said back to that, and she could see the resemblance between the two – both had dark hair, the same color eyes, the same shape of face and body.

"I have been told that before. I was a very small child when she passed," Eleanor said. "Your daughter…?" Eleanor nodded towards Alice. Fynn was still laying on the bottom of the bed.

"Yes," Kat said.

"But you are not taking her?" Eleanor said.

"I can't," Kat said. "We witches… we have rules. I have read her letter."

"Her letter?" Eleanor asked.

"She hasn't written it yet," Kat said, and was surprised as Eleanor merely nodded, not questioning the information. Kat wondered how much Susanna had told her family. "But I know her destiny and I can't change it, no matter how much I want to. But I needed to say goodbye, to see her again. She can never know I was really here though. It will be harder for her to adjust if she knows I came and left her."

"Then this will be our secret," Eleanor said. "You should go."

Kat nodded, moving passed the bed, away from Alice as Eleanor moved towards her.

"Eleanor?" Kat said, making the woman pause as she turned around to face Kat. "I taught her to be strong. I taught her so much about life. But she doesn't know how to be a woman of this time. She needs someone to guide her, someone to teach her and show her… She needs a friend. I have asked so much of your family over so many timelines. I feel terrible for asking it again, but she needs you to be that person. Please, watch over her."

"You meant so much to my grandmother. Whatever she gave you, she did it willingly," Eleanor said. "As I will take care of her willingly. She shall be my sister in all but blood. I will watch out for her as if she was my own kin. You have my word."

"Thank you," Kat said, "and Susanna means a lot to me. When I see her again," Kat had no doubt she would one day see Susanna again, "I will tell her she has a wonderful granddaughter."

"Thank you," Eleanor said once again, not questioning how Kat would see someone who was dead. "White Witch?" This time Eleanor stopped Kat from leaving. "You say she will be happy here..."

"She will," Kat said, knowing that as fact. Anything she found since of Alice's life in this time showed she lived a good and happy life.

"Then find a way to be happy without her in your own world. Do it for her, because a daughter wants their mother to be happy as much as a mother wants their daughter to be," Eleanor said.

"I will," Kat said, giving a nod.

"I am curious," Eleanor stated, before Kat could move. Kat paused. "It was rumored my grandmother and the White Witch were lovers…"

"It is?" Kat paused, not sure whether to smile now, or not.

"Indeed. I never got the chance to ask her myself, as I was too young when she died, but you are here," Eleanor pointed out.

"You want to know?" Kat asked, frowning. "Well, there is a time and a place to learn this and, well, this is neither," Kat stated, glancing back to her daughter in the room beyond.

"Very well," Eleanor didn't protest as Kat finally began to move. "But, White Witch, do not forget your dog," Eleanor said and Kat now chuckled, realizing the dog was still on the bed.

"Fynn!" Kat called, but the dog didn't move. "Fynn…?" Kat paused. "Fynn followed me into the pond," Kat remembered. Alice said she had Fynn! Kat walked over to the dog and took the collar off him. She gave him a pet. "Take care of our girl, Fynn."

"…or you leave the dog here," Eleanor chuckled, understanding what Kat was doing. Kat gave Eleanor a nod and left down the stairs. Eleanor went to the window and watched as Kat ran through the fields until she was out of sight.

Eleanor turned to Alice, taking a seat beside her and taking a rag to clean the sweat off her head. "You are lucky. Your mother loves you very much. It takes a lot to let someone you love that much go for their own happiness," Eleanor whispered, knowing Alice would not remember the words.

She stayed in the room with Alice, talking to her and taking care of her until she heard the door open.

"Eleanor?" Jonathan called out.

"I'm with her!" Eleanor called, back and heard Jonathan head up to the room.

"I got everything on your list and supplies needed," Jonathan said, and then paused. "Where did the dog come from?"

"Arrived not long after you left. Ran into the house and right here. Won't leave her. I think he belongs to her," Eleanor said, not mentioning the White Witch at all.

"Well, at least someone came looking for her…" Jonathan said, petting the dog as he looked at Alice. "I can't believe someone so young and beautiful has no one coming for her."

Eleanor looked at the look in Jonathan eyes and gave a small smile. She understood now what the destiny was.

"Trust me, someone out there loves her very much," Eleanor said. "Let me go make sure you got the right ingredients." Eleanor got up, leaving Jonathan there with Fynn and Alice.

-The Way Home-

-2026-

Kat swam to the rocks back in her time and climbed up it, resting on the rocks for a moment. The hood of her cloak was over her head, still, and she was looking down as she heard the familiar voice of Rita.

"…now legends from the time say the White Witch used this pond –" Rita stopped as they came up and people saw Kat there and they screamed.

"What are you doing here?!," Kat yelled making them scream more until she got up and put the hood down.

"Kat, what are you doing?" Rita asked.

"This is Landry land," Kat said to that. "What I am doing doesn't matter. Get your tour off my land!"

"Del said I could use the land if needed back when I first made the tour," Rita responded.

"That was two years ago! Have you asked again?" Kat snapped, and Rita paused. "Didn't think so. Get off our land and if I see anyone come near this pond again, I will call the police on trespassers."

"I will talk to Del," Rita said, but directed her group away from the pond. Kat watched them for a moment until she saw them heading out of her family land. She then headed for the house.

-The Way Home-

Ever since Kat had left, it had slowly dawned on the others that she had gone missing, too, and the search was on to find her.

"Well, she's not in the cellar," Del said as she came up to the kitchen, surprised to not find her daughter there. "Elliot? Any idea?"

"Kat and I haven't really been anything for months," Elliot said back to Del; whatever relationship he and Kat had had, seemed to deflate and disappear since Alice. Kat hadn't even wanted to talk about his mom, which he had tried to get Kat distracted with.

"I can go…" Jacob didn't finish as the door opened and Kat came in. She was wet and wearing the white robes Nick had gifted her. Elliot and Del shared a look at this.

"Katherine…" Del began.

"Did you give Rita permission to use our land for her tour?" Kat asked in a loud voice.

"Years ago," Del said, frowning now.

"They saw me coming out of the pond," Kat stated.

"I'll take care of it," Del said, knowing she had to tell Rita she wasn't allowed to use their land anymore, although wondering how this would affect the White Witch tour.

"You've been in the pond," Jacob spoke now. "Where did you go?"

"1874," Kat said softly.

"You saw her?" Elliot asked.

"I saw her," Kat said, giving a small smile. "She'd been there for a day or two, three at the most. She was so sick. She never remembered I was really there and thought I was just a dream. But I got to talk to her, I got to hold her and sing to her one more time."

"Her letter. It made her feel safe and loved," Elliot said. "You gave her the strength to live through it all."

"And I got to say goodbye," Kat said, tears in her eye.

"Which is exactly what you needed. The pond gave Alice what she needed and you what you needed," Del said, put a hand on Kat's shoulder.

"Oh, and mom, I'm sorry," Kat said, and Del looked confused as Kat put the collar she was holding on the table. "I left Fynn with her."

"Of course," Elliot mumbled; Alice saying Fynn was with her when he had been with them.

"Fynn was my companion when I had no one," Del said. "But I have you back Kat and Jacob has returned. Alice needs him more. Come, dinner is ready. Sit and tell us all about your trip to the past."

"I'm not hungry," Kat said. "Maybe later." Kat stated, and then went up the stairs to her room.

Once upstairs, Kat's hand went to Alice's guitar. She hadn't packed up any of Alice's stuff yet, but she knew she had to. She didn't want to tell the others she had spoken to Eleanor, but Eleanor's words spoke to her: "Find a way to be happy..." An idea formed and Kat took out her computer. Alice wrote a letter to say goodbye, while Kat had gone to see her, yet writing was Kat's passion and there was a story to tell.

-The Way Home-

-A Month Later-

The family was gathering in Landry farm, this time upon Kat's request.

"Did Kat say what she wanted us all here for?" Jacob asked as he came to the table and took his normal seat. Elliot came into the house as well but shrugged at Jacob's question.

"She seemed excited when I spoke to her," Nick voiced, having been invited as well, obviously.

"Well, what do I know? After seeing Alice I thought she would be fine, but she's been more isolated," Del said. "Always doing something with her computer and the archives."

"Which I am explaining now," the four hadn't noticed Kat come to them. In her arms were three big stacks of paper. "Sit," everyone took their normal seats and Kat put one in front of all of them.

"Landry Farm?" Del read off the cover. "What is this, Katherine?"

"I wrote a book," Kat said, and noticed the surprised look. "It's about our family – about five different time periods. The tragedies that happened and the people who showed up to make it better. And about the love."

"Five time periods?" Del asked.

"The late 1700s to early 1800s, 1874, 1974, 1999 to early 2000s, and current time," Kat said.

"What are you going to use as proof…?" Elliot asked.

"The almanac with the story of Jacob, and I managed to find some mention of Jacobs in the things Evelyn left to the archives; enough I can use them and family legends to tell Jacob's story – obviously with no time traveling. Alice's letter. I made a copy of it for us and, with the original made it look like age erased things no one else can see. There's enough we can show the world to tell her story plus all the research I did into her life. After that, I can use stories dad and mom told for 1974 and the rest is my personal experience," Kat said.

"And you are showing us this?" Jacob asked.

"You've already got a book deal, haven't you?" Nick asked, a smirk on his face.

"Yeah," Kat said. "The same publisher who helped me republish Susanna's book is interested. They are offering me a big advance. They think this story can be big, but I won't accept it if all of you are not on board. This is as much your story as it is mine."

"It's not really mine…" Nick frowned.

"You're as much part of the family as Elliot," Del stated before Kat could.

"Sweet," Nick smiled at that.

"Although you need to share with Elliot," Kat pointed out, having only three copies, not four. Nick and Elliot both nodded at that, but the group was silent after.

"I need to give an answer soon, so please read it and let me know," Kat backed away and moved off, leaving them alone.

-The Way Home-

Kat was in the cellar, looking over her research when Jacob found her.

"You still doing this?" Jacob asked, pointing at the board.

"I'm not going to let it get obsessive, but I still want to know," Kat said, seeing Jacob had the book on him. "Have you started?"

"I finished," Jacob said.

"Really?" Kat asked.

"My father and Susanna would be proud. They always wanted me to read more but I was never fond of it," Jacob said, and Kat could picture that. "But this… I couldn't put it down. I love it, Kat."

"You did?" Kat asked.

"I did," Jacob said turning the page to start to read a passage: "As for whatever happened to the original Jacob Landry, the boy who appeared out of nowhere, stopping Elijah and Rebecca from leaving the town – the boy responsible for our family legacy here in Port Haven. From documents left to the Port Haven Archives from one Evelyn Goodwin, we know he worked on the Port Haven Lighthouse, and was the designer on it. And we know Cyrus Goodwin hired him to deliver a ship to the British during the War of 1812. After that, it is unknown. There is no record of him ever coming back to Port Haven from delivering the ship, but there is an old family myth: Jacob was working with an infamous rum smuggler named Thomas Coyle.

"There are records of Thomas Coyle coming into Port Haven on a ship on the first day of harvest in 1814, but other records show him in the town," Jacob continued reading aloud. "Was the one who came on the ship really Jacob? After, there are no more records. Thomas Coyle is listed as being executed by the British in 1814 but other records show him alive and well afterward. Was the Thomas Coyle executed really Jacob Landry? Or did Jacob escape using Thomas's name? We may never know these answers, but I prefer an old family legend. My family always said during the time Jacob was away a woman appeared looking for her long lost brother. When Jacob came back and was wanted by the British, it is said his sister whisked him away from danger and back to the people and family who waited so long for him. Some even claim this sister as the original White Witch of the town."

Jacob stopped his reading. "I love the way you did this," Jacob said. "So much heart as you tell the real story. My father and mother, Susanna, and Thomas. You have my permission Kat. Use my story."

"Thank you," Kat said, giving her brother a smile.

"I hope this does bring you peace, Kat," Jacob said and moved off as Kat gave a small smile.

-The Way Home-

Kat was in The Herald, working. Since Alice's disappearance, she had let her job go to the wayside a bit. She got a lot of understanding as to why, but she knew she had to continue.

She heard the door open and saw Elliot; he had Kat's manuscript under his arm.

"You finished?" Kat asked.

"Between grading papers, setting up classes and trying to get this off Nick," Elliot chuckled, taking a seat. He opened the book himself, and Kat figured like Jacob Elliot was about to read a section. "I left town that day in 2007 and only came back once, in 2008 to try to reconnect with my mom, but she wasn't there. After that, I didn't think about Port Haven for years. My concentrate was on my daughter who I named after my long lost friend, Alice. As for my friend Alice, Elliot told me after Lingermore she never returned to Port Haven again. Over the years, Alice has felt more like an energy to me than a real person. Looking back, I wonder if my friend Alice was herself related to Alice Landry? To one of the other four kids who grew up and had families of their own. When her family was falling apart, did she come to the farm looking for something and found us? I might never know but Alice changed my life that summer. I don't know if I would have gotten through losing Jacob and my dad without her."

"I decided to give them some type of plausible explanation on why there is more than one Alice in the story that's not time travel," Kat said, smiling at the sentence herself.

"It's well written," Elliot said. "And this book. It shows a friendship between our families through so many generations. Susanna to Elijah and Jacob. Eleanor to Alice. Rick with Colton. Me and you."

"Our families will always be friends," Kat said.

"The way you talk about Thomas and Brady in this book… the passion and the love. It's not the same as you talk about me," Elliot said and Kat gave a nod. As she was writing she knew she didn't love Elliot the way she does Thomas or the way she did Brady. "We'll always be friends."

"Of course," Kat said.

"Nick loves it. And I do too. Take the deal Kat. This is beautifully written and Alice's story deserves to be told," Elliot said, giving Kat a smile.

-The Way Home-

Kat found her mother sitting at the table with the manuscript in front of her when she got home.

"Did you finish it?" Kat asked.

"I did," Del said. Kat knew her mother would be the hardest to say yes. She had been opposed to Kat writing about Jacob's disappearance for years, after all. "You changed Alice's name for 1974."

"Well four Alice's in the story seemed like too much. And the only one who can confirm or deny it is you," Kat said.

"You know I have been against you telling Jacob's story in the past," Del said, and Kat waited. "But Jacob home. And it's your baby who is missing now, not mine. This was written so beautifully. If this is what you need, I give you my permission. Tell our stories."

"Thank you, mom," Kat said.

"And Kat, you are a good writer," Del said, giving her daughter a smile.

"You really liked it?" Kat asked.

"Every part was well done," Del said, and opened a page she had bookmarked. "That summer was a love story for my father and mother, but not everyone got a happy ending. Evelyn Goodwin left town and rarely returned, her friendship with my dad was never the same. As for my dad summer friend, Lisie, the one who came in and helped dad and Evelyn through Rick's death, dad never saw her again. He always said she was one of the summer folk. Easy in and easy out to never return. He always wondered what happened to her though, and was thankful for that one summer of their life. The summer that gave him his dream."

Kat waited as Del closed the page. "I love it. You told my love story but didn't ignore everything else. It's as I remember but also extra," Del said, closing the page. "Good luck."

Del got up, leaving Kat with the manuscript.

She opened it to the last page. The page everyone had ignored.

This book doesn't end in happily ever after, Kat read off the page. Our Jacob Landry has returned but we missed 24 years with him. My friend Alice is still nowhere to be found and now my own daughter, Alice, has disappeared with no trace. While overall this was a story of tragedy and love and the people who came and disappeared just as easily, Landry Farm has provided for my family for generations. Through all the ups and downs and it will continue to do so for generations to come.

Kat turned then to the dedication: For my daughter Alice, find your way home.

Chapter Text

It was now 2027 as Kat stood in the graveyard, looking over at the people standing before Jonathan and Alice Landry's grave – a lot had happened in the almost-two years since Alice disappeared and over a year since she had written, and got her book, published.

On the time traveling front, she had gone to 1925 with Elliot a few times; met the young Fern Landry and found Elliot's mother. She was surprised she didn't interact with any of her grandkids, however, but she had heard a lot of them, and of Alice, which made her happy. Alice really had had a good life.

Meanwhile, her book had been published and had taken on a life of its own – Kat almost hadn't expected how popular it would get.

"It's sweet, right?" KC Goodwin said this; Kat had had more conversations with KC since learning of Alice's fate; learning that their middle name was Coyle because it was their mother's maiden name, and that Katherine had been a family name on both sides. It was nice being with KC, but they didn't replace Alice.

"What's sweet?" Kat asked KC.

"How everyone comes to visit Alice now," KC supplied.

"They admire her strength," Kat said. Alice's grave had become a tourist spot for those coming to Port Haven because of her book; people admiring how strong she was to live through what she did. They left flowers or other gifts; notes for her, while other sexual assault victims came to see her, too.

"How are you keeping Big Red off the farm?" KC asked and Kat had to almost laugh. Rita had started a book tour for Kat's book to show off locations from the thing, and it had been hard telling her not to bring people to the farm. They actually had to put up better fencing since many people tried to come onto the farm.

"With difficulty," Kat supplied, with a small chuckle.

"Kat?" Kat paused at the familiar voice as she turned to see Braden walking over, and attached to him was a baby.

"Brady," Kat said. She had texted and talked to her ex a few times but hadn't seen him for a long time.

"I should go…" KC said. "Bye Kat."

"Bye KC. See you later," Kat said.

"Maybe, maybe not," KC said, confusing Kat. Sometimes Kat felt KC still knew things KC wasn't letting on as they passed Brady, giving him a smile.

"So, this is Alice Landry grave?" Brady asked and Kat nodded, not sure what to say. Brady was looking at his daughter's grave and didn't even know it.

"Is this your son?" Kat asked, turning the conservation away from the grave.

"Yes Braden Junior. BJ," Brady said.

"Don't call him that," Kat said, shaking her head.

"Get your head out of the gutter," Brady remarked, and Kat laughed.

"Glad we had a daughter," Kat said back to that.

"I was hoping you would stop by and call me while on your book tour," Brady said, going into the diaper bag and taking out the familiar book and a pen as well. "Can I get it signed?"

Kat laughed as she took the book and opened the first page writing: 'To Brady, my first love and father of my daughter. Kat Landry.' Kat finished and handed the book back. "New York Times' best seller. Heard you had a movie deal or something?" Brady said.

"Not exactly," Kat said. "A Hallmark miniseries. Five movies, each set in one of the time periods. I just signed the deal."

"You made it, Kat," Brady said giving Kat a smile.

"Yeah, I did," Kat said, but it didn't feel as good as she thought it would; writing the book originally had been wonderful and she's felt so much love when her family gave her permission to publish it, but now it wasn't making her as happy as she thought. The book tours, the publicity, the fans. It was actually making her feel more empty.

Kat went to play with the necklace around her neck which caused Brady eyes to go there. "Is that our engagement ring?" Brady asked and Kat paused. Since KC had given it back to her, Kat had worn it every day, never taking it off as a reminder to her daughter.

"Yeah, Alice left it in her room. I've been wearing it as a reminder of her," Kat said. "Actually, I got something for you if you'll come back to the farm with me?"

"That would be great. Need to put this one down anyway," Brady said, rubbing his son's back, the boy cooing as Kat led the way out of the graveyard.

-The Way Home-

Once in the farmhouse, Brady took Braden Junior off him and Del, who was sitting there, held out her arms. Brady happily handing him over.

"Alice's guitar," Brady said, seeing the guitar on a stand in the living room. There was a photo of Colton and Alice with it. A little memorial for the two who had played the guitar in their lives.

"Leaving it there for the next Landry who plays," Kat said, leading Brady up the stairs and to her room – the room she and Alice had previously shared. She had packed up most of Alice's stuff and put them in the cellar, except some things she wanted to keep close. She had also gone through things to give close people a reminder of Alice.

Unfortunately, she was unable to find the bracelet Nick had made for her. Nick had wanted it back to remember his first love by, but Kat assumed Alice had it on her when she'd gone into the pond. She had always worn it, so Kat figured it was in her grave with her. There was one thing Kat had found that she had been saving for Brady.

Kat took the other bracelet out and held it out. Brady took it looking at it for a moment. "I gave this to you," Brady said, seeing the familiar bracelet he'd given Kat back when she was 15.

"And I gave it to Alice," Kat said. "And now to you. To remember her by."

"She's going to want this back when she comes home," Brady said, holding it back out to Kat.

"Brady," Kat said shaking her head.

"I have been thinking. You are so popular now. Alice is a part of the book. Her picture it everywhere. We can use that. Set up a phone line for tips. She's out there somewhere," Brady said.

"She's not, Brady," Kat said. "I… I want to declare her dead." Kat could see the shock on Brady's face. "I want to put her name on my father's gravestone. Where Jacob's used to be." She knew Alice's grave was technically already there, but she wanted a place to mourn the girl she knew and not the woman she became in the past – and also a place where not so many people were visiting.

"How could you give up on her? After two years. It took Jacob 24 years to come home," Brady pointed out.

"Alice isn't Jacob," Kat said, simply. "She's not coming home, Brady…."

"No," was all Brady said, tossing the bracelet and it landed on the bed. He turned from Kat, leaving the room to head downstairs. Kat sighed now as she followed him.

"Brady, we need to talk about this," Kat said, heading down the stairs herself.

"Just… give me a minute," Brady said, sharply going out the door and slamming it behind him. The sound made Braden Junior cry, but Del quickly soothed the baby.

"That didn't go well," Del said, rocking the child.

"He doesn't want to declare Alice dead," Kat said. "I just… I can't continue to pretend she's going to come home one day."

"Kat, you know Alice is dead. You know what happened to her. But Brady, he doesn't," Del said and Kat bit her lip at this; it had seemed impossible to tell her ex, but she couldn't blame him for continuing to hope when he didn't know there was none.

Kat gave a nod and opened the door seeing Brady sitting on the porch, head in his hands, obviously in thought.

"Brady, come in," Kat said calmly, Brady looking up and around to her. "We need to show you something…"

"What?" Brady asked as he stood up, following his ex. Brady sat at the table as Kat went to grab some things.

"You remember my friend Alice from 99?" Kat asked.

"Yes, she's a part of the book too," Brady said. "Has she contacted you?"

"No," Kat said. "Brady, this is going to come as a shock, but this is a photo of the night you proposed to me." Kat put the photo down and Brady gave a smile, focusing on him and Kat for a moment.

"Kat, are you sure…?" Del asked, realizing what Kat was doing, but she gave her mom a look which told Del to let it go.

"I never saw this before," Brady said, looking at the young version of him with Kat.

"There's a reason why," Kat said. "Look at the background on the boat…" Kat pointed at the boat where they could see teenage Nick with Alice.

Brady stared at it for a moment and then shook his head.

"Wait. That's… Alice. Is this photoshopped?" Brady asked.

"No," Kat said. "Original image. Our Alice, our daughter, is my friend Alice from 99. She's a time traveler, and so am I and so is Jacob. The pond on our property allows us to travel through time," Brady blinked, looking at Kat. "I'm not joking, Brady. Alice is my friend, she's also my father's friend from 74 – I changed her name for the book; one too many Alice's. And… well, she's also Alice Landry. My ancestor."

"It seems odd, but it is true," Del said to Brady.

"What?" Brady asked and Kat handed over the other piece of paper she was holding.

"A copy of the letter Alice sent in the time capsule, before I took out parts no one else can see. Read it, Brady," Kat said as Brady frowned, but did begin to read; recognizing his own daughter's handwriting.

Kay and Del sat, waiting as he read, the only noise coming from Braden Junior gurgling to himself as Brady read the rather long letter.

"…'my best friend was my teenage mom'?" Brady said the line from the letter out loud when he got there and looked up at Kat, who nodded for him to continue. Brady sighed, but read the rest and then, when done, put it down his hands shaking. "My daughter… you are telling me she's the one who was raped!? She married her own ancestor and… and…"

"Became her own ancestor," Kat said. "Her second child, Brandon is where we come from. She died almost 103 years ago now."

"No, I just… it's… this can't be…" Brady said, putting the letter down as his mind reeled.

"Kat, I think he needs more," Del said, and Kat gave a nod getting up and grabbing her white cloak Nick had bought for her. She wore it every time she time traveled now. "I'll take care of Braden Junior until you return. Leave your cell."

"Return from where?" Brady asked, pausing as he put his cell phone on the table. Despite everything, he trusted Del implicitly.

"We're going to see if the pond will give you closure," Kat said, holding out a hand for Brady who took it – this all seemed crazy to him, but he trusted his ex.

"Bye mom," Kat said to Del.

"Give my love to Alice," Del stated, smiling a little at the thought that Kat was, maybe, finally, going to see her daughter again.

"Come on," Kat said, renewed vigor herself at the thought that the pond might, just might, let her see her daughter one more time as she led Brady across the fields and into the woods towards the pond.

Stopping at the pond, Kat finally let go of her ex's hand as she turned to look at him, half-serious, half-smiling. "We jump," she said, simply.

"Wait, we just… jump?" Brady asked.

"Together, only a blood Landry can time travel, but we can bring someone with us," Kat said as they stood on the rocks. "Ready?" Brady nodded and the two jumped into the water together…

-The Way Home-

Kat knew it had worked the moment the pond dragged them both deeper before suddenly releasing them; she kicked to the surface of the pond, Brady just behind her as he started coughing up water.

"What… was that?" Brady asked and Kat laughed. "It was like something grabbed at me – at us – and then…"

"Time travel," Kat said, swimming to the rocks and climbing up.

"Where are we…?" Brady asked following his ex as Kat helped him out of the pond.

"Technically speaking, we are where we always were. The pond on Landry Farm. The question is when are we," Kat said.

"So, erm, when are we?" Brady asked, shaking off some water.

"Not a clue, the pond takes us where we need to go, not where we want to go," Kat said, and Brady paused to look at her, confused. "The pond has a lot of rules. Our best bet is to walk towards Landry Farm and see what it all looks like."

"What it looks like?" Brady repeated, but Kat didn't answer as she started moving, Brady just following now.

Kat took the lead, heading out of the familiar woods but paused as two boys came at them from nowhere, just as they were out of the trees. They were both holding large sticks. One boy quickly stood in front of Kat and the other to the side of Brady. They had a dog with them who was a little further off, and giving a bark. They appeared to be pre-teens and one of the boys looked so familiar Kat had to give a smile, having an idea on who this might be.

"You are trespassing, this is Landry Land," the boy in front of Kat said.

"Oh really?" Kat said, knowing from their clothes they were far in the past – definitely the 1800s, somewhere. "Sorry about the intrusion. We are just lost travelers."

"You dress very strangely," the other boy said poking Brady with his stick.

"Hey," Brady said, and Kat held out a hand to him to shut him up.

"We mean you no harm," Kat said.

"You are thieves. Trying to steal our crops," the boy in front of Kat said.

"I assure you we are not," Kat said.

"David, grab the rope. We are going to tie them up," the first boy said to the one by Brady – the one Kat knew was now called David took some rope from a cart the two boys had.

"Wait…" Brady started.

"Don't fight it," Kat said, allowing the boy in front of her to tie her hands as David tied Brady's.

"What do we do with them?" David asked.

"Father is away for the day. We'll bring them to mother," the unnamed boy said. "Fynn the Second, lead the way!" The dog barked as Kat raised an eyebrow at the name 'Fynn the Second', who started running across the field, with the two boys walking behind them and pulling on the ropes, forcing Kat and Brady to move forward.

"Does this always happen?" Brady asked.

"This is a first," Kat remarked, but had to laugh at the situation as the house came into view and Kat smiled – it was exactly as it was on her last visit to see Alice.

Out front was a clothesline where wash was being hung up, a woman with her back to them.

"Mother," the one dragging Kat said, "David and I found some thieves on our land."

"Oh did you?" the woman said without turning; the tone and amusement in her voice was of a mother who had heard her son talk of adventures like this before. Kat smiled at the voice as she saw Brady stiffen.

"We tied them up and brought them to you," the boy said.

"You did what?!" The woman said, turning around and wanting to say more but paused as her eyes met Kat and Brady. Kat smiled; she was no longer a teenager, and she couldn't be much younger than Kat herself, but this was her daughter. It was Alice. She was wearing a dress and had a small boy, no older than two, clutched in her right arm. Alice seemed shocked as she looked at the two, her eyes going back and forth between them before giving a small smile.

"Brandon Landry," Alice said to the boy dragging Kat, confirming the identity Kat thought for the boy. "This is not how we treat guests to Landry Farm – especially family."

"Family?" Brandon asked seeming stunned.

"My cousin Kat and her husband Brady," Alice said.

"You never said they were coming," Brandon said.

"I didn't know. We haven't seen or spoken for a long time, but that shouldn't matter. When people wander onto Landry Farm wet and lost, we welcome them and help them. Now untie those ropes," Alice demanded of her son and his friend, and the two were quick in untying Kat and Brady, "and apologize."

"Sorry," both boys said together as Fynn the Second barked.

"Now have you finished your chores?" Alice asked.

"No mother," Brandon said.

"Go back into the fields and finish them," Alice ordered her son.

"Yes mother," Brandon said and moved off, his friend David seeming to go to follow him.

"David Augustine!" Alice called, stopping him. "Thank you for helping today, but can you go home and tell your aunt I have company?"

"Yes ma'am," David said, giving Alice a nod and moving in another direction.

Alice looked over at her two parents again.

"Katherine…" Alice called and Kat was confused for a minute before hearing another voice.

"Yes mother?" A voice said, and moving from the other side of the laundry line, Kat was stunned for a moment as a teenage girl in a dress, who looked so much like Kat as a teenager, that Kat had to do a double take. This had to be Alice's oldest daughter, the product of the rape, Katherine Landry, the original.

"Can you watch your little siblings as I bring Kat and Brady inside to get them into dry clothes?" Alice asked her daughter.

"Of course, mother," Katherine said, holding out her hands, and Alice handed over the little boy she was holding, which Kat realized had to be Nicholas.

"I don't need anyone to watch me," a little girl said – Kat hadn't spotted her until that moment – but Kat wondered if this was Annie or Collete.

"Yes, you do, Annie," Alice said solving that mystery.

"I'll watch her," Katherine assured Alice, who gave her daughter a smile as she indicated for Kat and Brady to follow her into the house.

Once inside and the door was closed Alice's smiled widened.

"Mom!" Alice said and brought Kat into a hug. Kat held on tight to her daughter; the last she saw of her she had been too sick to even remember Kat had been there. "And you brought dad?" Alice stated when the hug was over and moving over to Brady who gave Alice a hug as well. "You two have barely changed! How long has it been for you?"

"Two years," Kat said. "We just came from September 4th, 2027. I had to tell Brady the truth and… well, he needed to see." Alice nodded, understanding. "How old is Katherine?"

"14," Alice said.

"So, it's 1889," Kat said.

"August 25th, 1889," Alice confirmed.

"1889?" Brady whispered himself; he still seemed in shock.

"That makes Brandon 12," Kat said, doing the math quickly, and Alice nodded. "And… Eli…?"

"He's been gone for three years," Alice said, and Kat put a hand on her shoulder to comfort her.

"And that means…" Kat paused; was Rose born in 1889? She thought so. Alice didn't look pregnant though. When was the date of her birth and death?

"If you are asking about Rose, she died a few months ago," Alice said, seeming to read Kat's mind.

"I'm so sorry, two of your babies…" Kat said, going to bring Alice into another hug, which Alice accepted again.

"Yes, but um…" Alice said after it was over. "Jonathan and I have five children. It's more than most."

"I counted four," Brady said.

Before Alice could answer, there was a noise from up the stairs and a voice yelling 'mommy!'. Alice pointed up and went to the stairs but paused. "You two have had your measles shot, right?" Alice asked them.

"Yes," both said together confused.

"Good," Alice said with a nod, heading up the stairs. "Then again, the pond might be protecting you anyway – it brought you to this time for reason, after all," Alice mused as they reached the very same room, she had seen Alice in the last time she had visited, but now standing in the doorway she could see the room was different. There were three beds in the room and one of them was occupied. The little girl in the bed, no older than five, who Kat assumed was Colette, was clearly ill, and Kat understood now why Alice asked them about the measles shot because that was clearly what Colette was suffering from.

"Hey baby," Alice said, sitting on the bed and putting her hand on her head. "Seems your fever broke. I think you are through the worst of it. Time to take some more of the medicine Aunt Eleanor gave," Alice took a bottle from the counter and gave Colette some of the medicine as Kat and Brady watched.

"Thirsty," Colette said after she was done, and Alice reached over to a cup of water and helped Colette drink from the cup.

"Get some more rest and I'll come back up soon with some food," Alice said after Colette was done drinking and Alice put the cup down. Alice pulled the covers up over her daughter who snuggled under it. Alice rubbed her head one more time before going to leave the room, closing the door behind her.

"Measles?" Brady said in a low voice, but obviously shocked.

"It's about a hundred years before the vaccine," Kat reminded Brady.

"It's not the first-time measles has entered this household," Alice said. "Come." Alice moved her hand and brought them to another room and Kat saw that this must be hers and Jonathan room – there was one bed.

Alice took some clothes out and held them over to Brady. "Some of Jonathan's. He's a little bigger than you but it will do. You can change in the boys' room across the hall. Bring your wet clothes down the stairs for us to hang to dry," Alice said, and Brady took the clothes, still seeming in shock, but moved over to the room. "He's not taking this well, is he, mom?"

"Should have seen me when I first got your letter," Kat said, as Alice went and grabbed a dress, handing it to Kat as she went to change. "Alice, um.. you should know…" Kat said as she changed. "That when you were sick, the hallucination of me…"

"Was really you visiting me," Alice said, surprising Kat. "Eleanor told me when Fynn died. I was so upset and I guess I expressed I felt a little guilty, since he belonged to grandma not me. Eleanor told me about your visit and how you left him with me."

"You're not mad I came and left?" Kat asked as she finished putting on the dress.

"You had to," Alice said. "I know that." Kat gave a smile, glad her daughter understood

"Why is the new dog named Fynn the Second?" Kat asked and Alice giggled.

"Jonathan saw how upset I was over Fynn, he one day appeared with a puppy. The kids were used to calling a dog Fynn so, Fynn the Second," Alice said. "Let's hang up your clothes to dry."

Brady was exiting the boys' room at the same time with his clothes in his arms. They went downstairs and Alice took the clothes to hang. Katherine had put Nicholas down and the boy was playing with dirt, it seemed. "You are very pretty," Katherine said to Kat as Kat stepped forward to pick up Nicholas. She wanted to hold her grandson for a bit.

"Thank you," Kat said. "So are you." Katherine smiled.

"Mother," it was Brandon from a bit away. "Can this Brady help me?"

"He's never worked on a farm before," Alice said.

"I can do it," Brady said quickly.

"You sure?" Alice asked.

"Yes," Brady said.

"Then he's all yours Brandon," Alice called to her son as Brady went over to the boy.

-The Way Home-

For the next few hours, Kat watched as they worked on the farm, helping where she could, but she had to admit it was different and harder than farm work in their time – she had helped her father several times when she was younger, but she didn't know if she could do this day in and day out. The lack of machinery didn't help too, with the work being more hands-on than what they did when she was teenager.

Alice and her children didn't complain though; they had years of being used to it and they played games and sang songs as they worked, to make the time move faster.

Kat saw Brady and Brandon goofing off every once in a while; Brady seeming to be having fun with his grandson. She noticed Alice seeing it too, but Alice didn't yell at them. She gave a smile. Alice also disappeared into the house every once in a while, Kat assumed to check on Colette.

Towards the end of the day, Kat was left in charge of Annie and Nicholas as Alice and Katherine made the dinner. When it was done, Alice called Brady and Bradon in from the farm.

"We got it all done," Brandon said as he walked in with Fynn the Second following him, tail wagging.

"It was easy…" Brady said but seemed exhausted.

"Should I tell mom she has a new farmhand?" Kat asked Brady, and Kat had to laugh at the look Brady gave her. "It's not as hard in our time…" Kat whispered as they went in. A large table was set up where Alice and Katherine had placed plates of food.

"Kat, Brady, you can sit near me," Alice said, indicating two chairs by the top of the table as Alice took a spot at the head. The kids all seemed to go to what must have been their normal chairs, leaving the other head of the table empty; Kat assumed this was Jonathan's seat, and she wondered where he was. "Brandon, will you say the prayers?"

That took both Kat and Brady by surprised; they hadn't really raised Alice with any religion, but the group bowed their heads and prayed over the food, so Kat and Brady followed suit. After, plates were passed around for everyone to take some. Kat had to smile at the happy family talking and chatting over the meal until there was a knock on the door.

Annie ran over to a nearby window which would give her view of the front.

"Goodwins," Annie said.

"Which one?" Katherine asked, seeming excited.

"Whichever ones, it's rude to keep them waiting," Alice said, getting up and going to open the front door.

"Goodwins?" Brady asked and Kat knew her ex didn't know much about the other founding families of the town, despite having read her book.

"Explain later," Kat said.

"Alister, Lionel, what a pleasant surprise," Alice said, opening the door for a man and a teenage boy; Alister kissed the back of her hand. Alice stepped back as a third Goodwin, a young girl who couldn't be older than ten, tackled her in a hug. "Sandra, I didn't see you there!" Alice hugged the girl back.

"She always wants to come to see you. Sandra, let go," Alister said and his daughter backed away from Alice but gave her a small smile, which Alice returned. "Sorry to interrupt your evening meal… and I see you have company?"

"My cousin Kat, and her husband Brady, they traveled all the way from the States to come find me," Alice said.

"A pleasure to make your acquaintance ma'am, sir," Alister said, giving them a bow.

"Nice to meet you," Kat returned the gesture.

"Is your husband home?" Alister asked Alice.

"Unfortunately, not," Alice said. "He left early this morning to make a delivery in a neighboring town and has to see about a new horse. He won't be back until tomorrow. Should I tell him you called on him?" That answered the question on where Jonathan Landry was for Kat.

"Yes, I do have some business I need to discuss with him, but it's really Lionel here who wanted a word with both of you," Alister said, patting his son on the back. "Go ahead, son."

Kat noticed this Lionel seemed nervous as his hand shook as he held up a boutique of flower.

"These are for you, Lady Landry," Lionel said, holding them out to Alice.

"Well, thank you," Alice said taking the flowers.

"If I may," Lionel started. "You know the Goodwin annual Gala is coming up."

"Yes, Jonathan and I will be attending. You did get our response, right?" Alice asked, looking to Alister as she said this.

"Yes," Alister assured her, and seemed to encourage his son to continue.

"Well.. um… I was hoping I could have the honor of having Katherine accompany me to the Gala?" Lionel said, and Kat saw the smile on Katherine's face and remembered KC said Katherine married the younger son of Alister and Judith and had called him Lionel.

"Mother, can I?" Katherine asked.

"That is something I will need to discuss with your father when he gets home but providing we can find someone else to watch the young ones I don't see why not," Alice said. "We will send you our official answer soon."

"That is fair," Alister said.

"Thank you, ma'am," Lionel said, bowing his head a bit.

"Now would you care to join us? There is plenty," Alice said.

"You are too kind, but we must be off. Judith is nearing the end of her latest piece of art and must get my approval," Alistair gave a small smile as he said this. "Tell Jonathan to come by Lingermore when he gets back," Alister said.

"Will do," Alice said.

"Sandra, come," Alister said as he and Lionel moved to leave, but Sandra didn't move giving Alice a sad look.

"Go with your father," Alice said, taking a single flower out of the boutique Lionel had given her and handing it to Sandra. The young girl smiled, taking the flower and moving out of the house. "Katherine, why don't you take these?" Alice handed the flowers to her eldest daughter as she moved back to her chair. Katherine smiled as she took the flower.

"Katherine loves Lionel," Brandon teased his sister, to receive a push from his older sister.

"Kids not at the dinner table," Alice said as she patted Nicholas; the two-year-old was sitting next to Alice on the other side of the table where Alice could help him.

"Sandra seems quite attached to you," Kat said as Alice retook her seat.

"She's a sweet girl," Alice said.

"She's dumb," Annie said.

"That's not nice, Annie," Alice said, and Annie tilted her head. "She has some problems resulting from a difficult birth."

"Mom fed her as a baby," Brandon said.

"What?!" Brady asked, taken aback by this revelation.

"She was born at the around the same time as Eli and I wet nursed her since Judith was too poorly to," Alice said. "I also took care of her for the first few years of her life, which the Goodwins paid us handsomely for. Since then, Judith herself took up painting and has sold quite a few good works, to add to their healthy income," Alice explained.

"You… wet nurse?" Brady asked seeming shocked as he looked at his daughter. "That means you breast fed her?"

"Yes," Alice confirmed.

"Mom has wet nursed for a lot of kids in town," Katherine said. "If their mothers were unable to for whatever reason."

"I've had so many kids, it was nothing to add one or two more. Except this last time. I didn't have the heart," Alice said, but paused as she was talking and Kat reached over and squeezed her hand, knowing Alice was thinking of her recent loss of Rose. Alice gave Kat a small smile before moving the conversation along. Brady seemed to want to say more but couldn't bring the words to say it.

After dinner, the group cleaned up, and Alice went upstairs with food for Colette. Kat and Brady sat with their other four grandchildren for a while and just watched them, talked to them but didn't give anything away when questioned about their lives. Brady was adapting to time travel surprisingly well, Kat noticed – it had been a little more difficult for her when she'd ended up in the early 1800s, although she had been badly wounded during that first excursion.

Brady even ended up playing a card game with Brandon while Kat held Nicholas and combed Annie's hair for her; Alice joined them for a while in the night.

"Okay, time for bed for kids," Alice finally said.

"Do we still need to sleep in the parlor?" Annie asked.

"Colette is on the mend, but she isn't a hundred percent so yes," Alice said, and Kat saw the looks from Katherine and Annie.

"I'd rather sleep in the parlor then share with Nicholas," Brandon said. "He keeps waking me up. I thought by two, he would be sleeping better."

"I'd gladly share with Nicholas," Katherine said.

"Me too," Annie said. "And Eli's bed is still in the room next to Nicholas' crib. We would both have a bed."

"And I could take care of Nicholas if he wakes at night," Katherine said. With that, the two girls turned to Alice.

"If Brandon is willing to sleep in the parlor, I do not mind you two taking the boys' room," Alice said, and they looked at Brandon who Kat realized seemed like a deer caught in headlights – but it seems his pride wouldn't let him go back on his word.

"Yes," Brandon said, a little coyly.

"Settled then," Alice said. "Go, get ready for bed."

"Where are Aunt Kat and Uncle Brady going to sleep?" Annie asked; and Kat hadn't realized the girl had decided they were aunt and uncle.

"I don't know if they are staying," Alice said, turning to her parents.

"Yes," Brady said, surprisingly defiant, with a nod and Kat gave a smile nodding as well.

"Then Brady will sleep with Brandon in the parlor and Kat will join me in my room," Alice said, and the three older kids all went to get ready for bed. "I need to get Nicholas ready and check on Colette, but we can have some time alone outside before we retire."

"We'll meet you out there," Kat said as Alice picked up her son and Kat brought Brady to the front of the house.

Taking a seat outside, there being a bench on the veranda, Brady turned to his ex.

"This is nuts," Brady said, now the two were alone. "Alice… our Alice. She's a farm wife in 1889!"

"She's good at it," Kat said. "And aren't her kids wonderful?"

"Our grandkids," Brady said. "Yes, they are wonderful, but they would have been wonderful if she had kids in our time – and we could have been there, seen them as babies and seen them grow. And they wouldn't live in a world where they get measles and their mom has to wet nurse!"

"Brady, keep it down," Kat hissed, Brady's voice having risen as he'd spoken. "There are other diseases in our time," Kat pointed out, "and Alice couldn't have had her kids in our time because if she didn't have kids in this time she would never be born. I need you to understand: Alice is my several times great grandmother. Without her having Brandon, here with Jonathan, my entire line disappears. I wouldn't have met you, we wouldn't have had Alice and the whole timeline would dissolve. I hate it, too, but I've come to accept it: this is where she belongs. It's her destiny."

"She needs to live in a world where she wet nurses for money, which has to be paid to her husband since women have no rights here?" Brady said.

"Okay, wet nursing still happens in our time. It's not an ancient thing," Kat said.

"Why aren't you more surprised about that?" Brady asked.

"Because I knew about it," Kat said, surprising Brady. "It's one of the reasons the townsfolk call her the 'Town Mother'."

"Oh, who told you that?" They heard Alice's voice as she came outside with two bottles, a couple of glasses, and a blanket over her arms.

"They put it in your obituary," Kat said.

"That's… creepy," Alice said.

"The fact we have seen your obituary?" Brady asked.

"No," Alice said. "The fact they put that in it."

Alice held out the bottles to Kat, who took it and Kat noticed this was definitely wine – red and white. Alice handed the glasses to Brady as she put the blanket down. "I love this time at night. The kids are in bed, the animals secure. No more work. Just the stars and us. Jonathan and I often come out here and lay on this blanket, drink a glass of wine, and stargaze."

Kat smiled at the way Alice talked about Jonathan as she sat on the blanket besides Alice.

"Just… give me a second," Brady said taking the bottle of red wine. "I'll leave you ladies the white."

"He's really not handling this well," Alice said as Brady moved off.

"He was when distracted by the kids… well, grandkids," Kat mused. "I'm honestly wondering which is kinder; letting him know where you are or letting him continue to hope you would come home," Kat mused, wondering if she actually did what was best for Brady. But it had happened now and maybe he could mourn his child and move on – not be stuck waiting for Alice to walk through the door.

Before either mother or daughter could say another word there was a new voice.

"So, the White Witch returns," Kat smiled at the voice, looking up to see Eleanor Augustine had joined them, walking up the path toward the house. Kat wasn't sure exactly where Brady had gone but smiled at the woman who looked so much like her grandmother.

"You know my name is…." Kat started.

"Katherine, yes," Eleanor said sitting beside Alice and taking a glass pouring herself some of the wine. "But I prefer 'The White Witch'," Eleanor gave a smirk at Kat, who smiled back at the woman.

Chapter Text

It was a warm evening in 1889. Kat had brought Brady back in time to help him find closure for the daughter he had lost – a daughter who was actually Kat's own ancestor. They had spent some precious moments today with her, now as a grown woman, surrounded by her kids, while also getting to know the earlier Goodwin family.

Now, on the cozy veranda, Kat and Alice were sipping wine, enjoying the fading sunlight, while Brady had taken time to clear his head, to try to wrap his brain around this unbelievable adventure. They had only just been joined by Eleanor Augustine, Elliot's ancestor and Susanna's granddaughter, adding an extra spark to the evening as the past and present mingled.

Alice smile now, putting a hand on Eleanor's shoulder as Eleanor gave a smile back.

"So many years and you have not changed at all," Eleanor said to Kat.

"It hasn't been as long for me," Kat said. "Thank you for taking care of Alice."

"She is my sister," Eleanor said, giving Alice a smile.

"You two seem very close," Kat observed; she could tell from how close they sat together and little looks and touches in just the few seconds Eleanor had been with them.

"Well, there is more than one person who thinks Jonathan and I have taken Eleanor into our marriage bed," Alice chuckle, and Kat actually choaked up her wine to that.

"Doesn't help that Jonathan calls me his second wife," Eleanor added, with a laugh.

Kat opened her mouth, wanting to ask, but then paused deciding against it. If there was something more here, she would let it stay between the three of them. Although the way Alice and Eleanor joked about it though made Kat think it wasn't.

"Have you seen Susanna again?" Eleanor asked and Kat was lost in her thoughts she almost missed the question.

"What…? Um… no," Kat said, missing her friend from the early 1800s very much. "But I remember my promise. When I do see her again, she will know what a great granddaughter she has."

Eleanor was looking at Kat in a way that made Kat feel she was looking into her very soul. Kat played with the ring on her chain, a nervous habit of hers. She could see Alice had the ring on as well, along with another necklace, and Kat gave a small sad smile at that. The fact they both had the ring just proved the time between them.

"You didn't do as I asked," Eleanor said sadly to Kat. "You didn't find happiness in your world without Alice."

"Huh?" Kat drew her attention back to Eleanor.

"Mom?" Alice asked.

Kat sighed. "I tried," Kat said, realizing what Eleanor had said. "I wrote a book. New York Times' best seller, soon to be a Hallmark miniseries."

"Wow! That's great," Alice said. "What is it about?" Kat opened her mouth and then paused, wondering how to tell Alice this. "It's about me..." Alice seemed to get it by whatever look was on Kat's face.

"The Landry Family. Five time periods," Kat admitted. "You are in four of the five time periods..." Alice gave a chuckle as she looked at her mom. "But no, the book didn't bring me the happiness I thought it would. I loved writing it, but afterward…." Kat sighed; Eleanor put her hand on Kat's knee at that, sympathizing with the woman.

"How's Elliot?" Alice switched the topic for Kat.

"Elliot?" Kat said back. "Um… good. He's back together with his ex-wife. They are in the middle of fertility treatments to try and have a baby. Also looking into adoption."

"So, the two of you…" Alice started, and Kat understood why Alice had brought up Elliot. Their doomed relationship had been so long ago, Kat almost forgot Elliot was once more than her best friend.

"No, I don't love him," Kat said.

Alice turned to Eleanor and the two shared a look Kat wished she understood – the two had a silent language with each made over years of being together. "You haven't seen Susanna, which means you haven't seen Thomas," Alice said, and at his name Kat's chest tightened. Kat had long ago come to the realization Thomas was her true love, but she had thrown him away. He was from a different time.

"No," Kat said sadly.

"Mom, you had a choice once much like I did," Alice said, "and you chose to come home instead of following your heart. The opposite choice I made. I know I was a reason you came home, but I am not a reason anymore," Alice reached out and took Kat's hand and Kat saw the bracelet Nick had made her still on her wrist. Kat smiled at that. "It's okay to choose love mom. I made the choice. It felt like a real choice when I made it and it made me happier than ever."

"What do you mean, it felt like a real choice when you made it?" Brady had walked back up, only hearing the latter half of the sentence, after all.

"When I chose to stay with my husband, it was a choice. My choice. I thought I could go home but I didn't. I have since learned the pond won't allow me to go anywhere, anyway," Alice said.

"You tried to come home?" Brady said, hope in his eyes.

"No," Alice said and frowned at the sadness in her dad's eyes at her answer. "I tried to go after Eli, my son."

"Eli?" Kat asked, and then the realization of Alice's words hit Kat. "He didn't die? The pond took him?"

"That is what we realized," Eleanor said, sadly.

"He and some friends were playing on our land," Alice explained. "His friends said he jumped into the pond on a dare and never came up. They tried going in after him, and men searched the pond, but he or his body was never found. The forest was then searched with no luck – the thought being he was injured but managed to swim to the other side and walked lost until an animal found him. But I knew the truth. As far as I can tell, Eli is the first Landry to ever time travel. Jonathan has no stories of his family disappearing or time traveling before this."

Alice paused, taking a sip of her wine. "I begged the pond to let me get my boy. I jumped in so many times, but it did not take me anywhere. Not back to you, not to Eli, not even to granddad. I knew then that the pond was telling me I stay here. I sat on the rocks for hours, crying. I knew how grandma felt when Jacob disappeared. I knew how you must have felt when you got my letter. I stayed there, soaking wet until Jonathan came and brought me home. He thought I was just mourning my son. I was in a bad way until… well, I learned I was pregnant with Nicholas. I knew I needed to be there for my kids and hope one day Eli would walk back in."

Kat took a deep breath in, because she knew Alice would never see Eli again. All of Alice's children had been listed in her obituary – including the two dead ones, with their date of death. They never erased the date of death out of the almanac either meaning Eli never returned home.

"I'll find him," Kat said, turning Alice's eyes to her. "The pond won't let you travel but it will let me. I'll find him like I found Jacob and make sure he's safe."

"Thank you, mom," Alice said, a tear running down her eye, and Eleanor put an arm around her.

"This is nuts!" Brady said. "This pond is messing with the family through generations."

"Congratulations. We might now be divorced but you are finally a Landry," Kat said to Brady with a chuckle.

Brady sighed before giving a low moan.

"Dad…" Alice said, "we only have this night together. You should go home tomorrow and then you'll never see me again. Can you please just enjoy it?" Alice patted the blanket, asking Brady to sit with the three women and Brady did. "Tell me about your life. Have you and Rachel finally wed?"

"Um… no, but we do have a son," Brady said. "BJ."

"BJ?" Alice asked.

"Braden Junior," Kat said, a knowing looking in her eye that made Alice have to hold her own composure.

"Don't call him that," Alice said with a laugh.

"Like mother like daughter. Get your mind out of the gutter," Brady said, giving a laugh, causing both Kat and Alice to giggle more.

"I don't get it," Eleanor admitted.

"In their time," Alice said. "BJ can stand for… actually, you know what, I will explain later."

"Our time, Alice," Brady went to correct his daughter.

"Not mine," Alice said, shaking her head. "This is my time. I have lived almost as much as my life here as I did there and will spend the rest of it here. I think before I die, I will see the beginning of the world I knew as a child and the death of the world I have come to love."

"You will," Kat said, having been to 1925, a year after Alice died. The world was definitely different to the 2020s, but it was starting to shape into the world they knew. Braden looked between the two, but decided not to comment as they continued to talk.

-The Way Home-

It was several hours of talk before Eleanor stood up to head back home, giving Alice a hug before she left; Alice asking her to be there early the next morning and Eleanor gave a nod. Brady went into the parlor for sleep, and didn't wake Brandon as he took off most of the clothes off before getting into the other makeshift bed.

Alice brought Kat up to her room, Alice taking out two nightgowns.

"This feels weird," Kat said as she went to change.

"We have shared a bed many times before," Alice said, going to take off her clothes.

"But this is your marriage bed, where you conceived almost all of your children," Kat said and, before Alice could respond, Kat looked over at her daughter and saw the scars on her from the attack. "Oh Alice… they never disappeared."

"Hum… oh," Alice said putting a hand on her back as best she could.

"But Susanna… when I was shot she healed me and the wound soon vanished. That was in the past to now… how come Eleanor…?" Kat tried.

"Eleanor tried the same recipe that Susanna used," Alice admitted. "Susanna's own concoction, too, but no, it didn't work. I have come to accept them as symbol. The death of the girl I was and the beginning of who I became." With that, Kat sat on the bed and patted the sheet, asking for Alice to sit with her. Alice sat beside her mother and let Kat trace the scars on her.

"I wish I could have saved you from this," Kat said. In Kat's mind as she was tracing the scars she was seeing the girl she knew, the teenager, being attacked by those men.

"Mom, no one could have," Alice said. "It's all okay. I am okay. Mom, everything worked out as it should have."

"Even so…" Kat said sadly.

"Mom, I am Alice Landry, our ancestor, this is where I was always going to end up," Alice went and hugged Kat, and Kat hugged back. The two didn't see the shadow in the doorway of Katherine, and Katherine didn't interrupt the two, even though her eyes were wide in shock.

She backed up into the room she had come from.

-The Way Home-

The next morning, Brady and Kat were in the clothes they arrived in, now they were dry; Kat putting her white cloak around her. Eleanor had come back on Alice's request, also.

"I do like the cloak," Alice smirked.

"That's the White Witch, I remember," Eleanor said lowly, and Kat giggled. She had arrived early, and Nicholas was standing next to her; Eleanor was keeping a hold of him.

"White Witch?" Brady asked.

"I'll explain later," Kat said.

"Do you have to go?" It was Annie who asked. "Can't you stay longer?"

"Unfortunately, not," Kat said.

"You didn't even meet father," Brandon said.

"I would really like to meet your father," Brady said, but Kat shook her head at him.

"The time we're here equals the time we are away," Kat said quietly, and Brady raised an eyebrow but then realized Kat was saying they would be gone from the present as long as they were here.

"Yeah, we better go," Brady said, not having known that and realized he had left his son with Del for about a day. If Rachel had called, although his cell was with Del, what would she have said to his partner?

"I think you will get your wish though," Eleanor said coyly as everyone's attention went to the front of the farm, where a carriage was coming down with two horses attached to it. The carriage came to a stop, and a man jumped off it. Kat knew this was Jonathan.

"Father!" Katherine, Brandon, and Annie said, running to their father. Nicholas left Eleanor and ran behind his siblings.

"Father, Lionel wants me to go with him to the gala! Please say I can," Katherine said after hugging her father, but Jonathan didn't get a chance to reply as the other two kids started to talk as one, and Jonathan picked up Nicholas, who attached to his leg.

"Kids, give your father a moment," Alice said, walking up and Kat saw the look in her eyes as she looked at Jonathan and saw the way Jonathan looked at her; she understood what KC meant now – the last time she shared that look with anyone had been Thomas, and her heart ached for it.

Jonathan kissed Alice hello.

"What do you think of our new steed?" Jonathan said, putting a hand on one of the horses – it must have been the new one Alice said he had been looking for.

"Looks like a fine horse," Alice said.

"We have company," Jonathan said, finally noticing Kat and Brady standing near Eleanor.

"Yes," Alice said. "My cousin Kat and her husband Brady. They came from the States looking for me."

"It's been so long I didn't think anyone would come looking for Alice," Jonathan said, seeming shocked.

"It was not easy for us to get here," Kat said. "It warms our hearts that Alice has found such good people and made such a good family. Thank you." Kat walked over to Jonathan as she said it. "We couldn't have asked for better for her."

"Yes, thank you for protecting her when I could not," Brady said, coming up and holding out his hand. Jonthan put Nicholas down and shook Brady's hand and then brought Kat into a hug.

"Always," Jonathan said, "it is nice to meet Alice's birth family. Will you be staying long?"

"Unfortunately, we need to leave," Kat said. "We must get home."

"You are welcome here anytime. We are family," Jonathan said, and Kat gave a small smile but knew she would never again come to this time. Something in her told her this was now it.

"Kids, say goodbye," Alice said, and Kat bent down to kiss Nicholas.

"Bye," the little boy said; and it was the first word Kat remembered hearing him say. She went to hug Annie as Brady went to hug Nicholas.

Brady went over to Brandon.

"You be good to your mom," Brady said. "And no more tying up thieves," Brandon gave a laugh but nodded as he hugged Brady and Brady moved on to Annie.

Kat gave Brandon a hug and then went to hug Katherine.

"I heard you and mother last night," Katherine whispered into Kat's hear. "I know you are somehow my grandma…" Kat looked at her nodded and put a finger over her lips. Katherine nodded, getting what Kat was saying.

"I think that Lionel will be good for you," Kat responded, as she moved over to let Brady say goodbye.

"I am going to walk them to the end of our property," Alice said to Jonathan. "Eleanor is here to check on Colette and help start the chores."

"Take your time," Jonathan said, giving Alice a smile as Alice, Brady, and Kat moved off, heading toward the familiar woods.

When they were far enough away from the farm and heading towards the pond, Kat turned to Alice.

"Katherine heard us talking. She knows I am your mother, but she is confused on how," Kat said.

Alice sighed. "I will have to tell her."

"You know, KC is a descendant of Katherine," Kat added. "Maybe her family line know more because of this…"

"Possible," Alice said, not thinking too much on it herself as they approached the pond, but Alice paused. "It has been many years since I have been here… since Eli disappeared. I have forbidden all my children from this pond."

"With good reason," Kat said. "Don't you worry, they will all be fine." She knew she wasn't supposed to tell Alice too much of her future, but she had to give her daughter this relief.

"Wait… this is it?" Brady asked, turning to the two women. "I will never see you again?" He asked Alice looking at his daughter sadly.

"It's where she's meant to be," Kat said before Alice could.

"How can you be fine with this?" Brady asked Kat, shaking his head.

"Because I made peace with it. I saw Alice for what I thought was the last time a while ago – this has just been a wonderful bonus," Kat hugged her daughter at this.

"Dad, I have a wonderful family. I am happy. Can you be happy for me?" Alice asked, pulling out of the hug with her mom.

"Happy I will never see you again? Never," Brady said and then sighed. "Happy you are happy… It's the only thing a parent wants." Brady opened his arms and Alice moved to him, taking him into a hug, too. "I love you."

"I love you too, dad," Alice said, and then turned back to her mother and Kat brought her daughter into one more final hug.

"I promise Eli will be safe," Kat said, knowing she would scream at the pond until she found her grandson.

"Thank you," Alice said. "And mom, it's okay to choose love. It's okay to choose to be happy. Please do the same," Kat kissed the top of Alice's head, not responding to that as she and Brady moved over to the pond.

Kat took Brady's hand as they gave Alice one final look before they jumped in.

Alice moved closer and saw the two were gone; she gave a small smile and looked at the pond before turning around and moving to go back to her family.

-The Way Home-

Back in 2027, Kat and Brady rose up from the water, both spluttering against the water.

"Oh, I will never get use to that," Brady said as they came up, swimming to the rocks and climbing out of the pond. Brady moved off to the side.

"Brady…" Kat began, but Brady interrupted her.

"Okay, fine… how do we go about declaring Alice dead? Del, I guess knows…" Brady was already moving off, but Kat was looking back at the pond. "Kat…?"

Kat turned to her ex and then took the necklace with her engagement ring off. She moved over to Brady and put it in his hands, to the surprise of her ex-husband.

"Take it," Kat said. "As something to remember me and Alice by…"

"To remember you by…? What do you mean?" Brady asked.

"Thank you, Brady," Kat said, not answering the question. "Thank you for being my first love. Thank you for the amazing life we had, even if it wasn't for forever. Thank you for Alice. Part of me will always love you."

"Well… the same," Brady said, seeming confused.

"Tell my mom and Jacob I love them," Kat said.

"What? Tell them yourself!" Brady said.

"If I go to them, I won't be able to do what I am about to do," Kat said as Kat dropped Brady's hand she had been holding to that point.

"What are you going to do?" Brady asked.

"Alice chose love. I need to, too. I am going after Thomas," Kat said and moved off, back onto the rocks. "I'm not coming back this time. Goodbye, Brady."

"Kat!" Brady yelled but was too late as Kat jumped into the pond. Brady ran to the edge of the rocks, but Kat was already gone; Brady staring there at the empty water with the necklace and ring in his hand.