Bon and I stood a couple feet apart in the elevator. Neither of us had said a word since we left his hotel room. The pair of us had gotten a few weird looks from passersby but they were mostly directed at me since I was still in pajamas. I really had a bad habit of wandering the streets of Sydney in sleepwear. The bell dinged and the door opened, Bon looking at me to go first. I left the elevator and he followed, hurrying out the front doors of the Christmas laden lobby. 

The looks we got outside the hotel were worse. Bon got a couple of waves from passing men who thankfully ignored me and my getup. A few times a woman or three would run up to him for a hug. I couldn't stand being famous. I've got places to be!

After opening the market doors, Bon stood aside to let me in. This market was crowded with fake Christmas trees and surfboards. Bon led me past all of them, headed straight for the coolers in the back. They too were decorated with tinkling bells over the doors that rang when you opened them. Everyone in the store could hear you making your choice of liquor. "What kind do you want?" Bon asked, scanning the shelves. 

"You're kidding, right?" I asked, Bon knowing good and well I didn't drink. 

"I never kid about my booze," he smiled. It was the first time I'd seen him smile all morning...ever since I explained to him my secret. I told him the truth of who I was and where I came from while he listened in silence. Waiting for his response, I braced myself. He only told me to 'hold that thought' and brought me along to the market. Selecting the largest case he could find, he handed it to me and I took it reluctantly. "This is for our trip," Bon explained, grabbing a second large case. "Need somethin' to keep us busy on the plane, ya' know?"

"Oh, don't I know it," I said as Bon kicked the door closed. The bell slammed against the glass and he led me to the counter. With ease Bon set his case down while I struggled to lift mine. 

"Here ya' go," Bon said, helping me out. The bottles clanked and rattled against each other in the cardboard. 

"Thanks," I panted. The cashier looked over the display of Coors in our possession and glanced at his watch, surely making notice of how early it was to be drinking. 

"Mornin'," Bon smiled at him. The cashier smiled back, albeit in a less friendly way and rang up the bottles. 

"And do you happen to have any ID, young lady?" he asked me. I stood there in shock, unable to stand up for myself and explain they weren't mine. His condescending tone gave me indigestion. 

"Don't worry, I got one," Bon said, pulling his wallet out from his back pocket. I sighed and the cashier and I waited for Bon to pull out his identification. "It's in here somewhere," he muttered, rifling through. "This it? Nah, that's a library card..."

I started giggling but the cashier only sighed. Bon had a shit eating grin on his face the entire time. 

"Ah, here it is," Bon said pulling out a photograph. "Never mind, that's me mum," he said putting it back. "Look a lot alike, me an' her..." Bon ran a hand over his scratchy chin and kept looking. I was full on laughing by now, unable to tell if Bon was putting the cashier on, or if he really couldn't find his ID. "Found it." Bon pulled out a motorcycle license and handed it to the cashier who took it with a grimace. "Sorry, mate."

"No problem," the cashier said, handing the ID back. I took a quick glance and saw Bon with a whole beard in the photo. Looking back at the current Bon, it was hard to believe it was the same person. "That'll be-"

"Wait!" Bon turned around and looked at the tiny shelves behind him. He grabbed something and placed it on the counter. "Can't leave the lady out."

"Wouldn't want that," the cashier said, ringing up whatever Bon grabbed. When he set it down I could see it was a bar of chocolate.

"For me?" I asked. Bon shrugged. "Real authentic Australian chocolate?"

"It's jus' chocolate," Bon said. 

"This is Australia, isn't it?" I asked. "Let me have my fun."

"Forty three fifty," the cashier said. 

"Right, mate, hold on..." Bon pulled out his wallet again and opened it with an extra flair, digging for money. I started laughing again, knowing for sure Bon was doing this on purpose. 

**********

Bon offered to carry both cases of beer back to the hotel room despite me insisting I help carry one. "I know you're strong, kid," Bon said. "But it wouldn't be right."

Right schmite, I wanted to help!

I'd get my chance to help as Bon paid a visit to a post office PO box. He practically held the door open with his teeth so I could come in. "Here for the parcel, Bon?" the man at the desk said. 

"Has it come yet?" Bon asked, setting the cases down. I stood close to them, hoping to grab one before Bon could take both. "Mum said it might be a while."

"Came in this morning," the man said, handing Bon a key. "And you keep leaving this here."

"Ah, that's where I left it!" Bon said, grabbing the key. "'Scuze me a sec, love." He slipped away to find his mailbox and I was left with the man at the desk. My attire proved to be quite a spectacle. 

"You two in a hurry?" he asked, eyeing my pajamas. I shifted my weight and shrugged.

"In a manner of speaking." I was, in fact, in a hurry to get back to the hotel and really talk to Bon about what I told him. Gauge what his true reaction was. See if he didn't believe me. He must have wanted to process all that I told him and by doing so he was able to run a few errands in the meantime. 

The PO office was cute. A little bell sat on the desk like a hotel lobby next to a tiny fake Christmas tree and in the back was a room with the mailboxes. Bon took his time back there and I wondered what his mother sent him. He seemed rather fond of his parents since he kept photos of them in his wallet and expected packages from them. 

"Mum and Dad will be happy to know it came," Bon said, returning with a small box under his arm. Bon's name, written as 'Ronnie', was handwritten on the side. He set his box key on the counter and inspected it. Whoever delivered it left it in pristine condition. The paper was smooth and the string tight and taut. "Now we can get goin'."

"I'll carry the drinks," I said, making to pick them up. They were seriously heavy but I could use the exercise. The bottles clanked around in their cardboard. 

I'd end up needing physical therapy after throwing my back out as well. 

"Easy, honey," Bon said, taking the cases from me. "I'll get that."

"But you're carrying everything!" I complained. Bon effortlessly lifted the cases off the floor with his package resting under one arm. "I want to help."

"You can carry these," the man behind the desk said. Bon and I looked at him to see him pull a box of envelopes out from behind the counter. They were all addressed to Bon. "Had these delivered the other day, almost forgot about them. Wouldn't fit in the PO box."

"Ah," Bon said with a silly grin. "Thanks a ton." 

Happily accepting the box of envelopes, Bon and I went on our way back to his hotel. As Bon walked right out the doors, I backtracked to quickly grab the key he left on the counter. Giving the man a nod, I followed Bon down the street. 

**********

"These are all for you?" I asked in surprise. We were standing at a crosswalk waiting for the cars to finish speeding by. There must have been at least fifty of them. 

"Sometimes friends back home send stuff...ya' know," Bon shrugged. "Ya' get an occasional fan askin' for a shag." He laughed at my displeased expression. "It's not that bad...."

"You're right, it's....lovely," I grimaced. 

"Usually before we leave for a tour friends an' family like to wish us well," Bon said. "Kinda sweet of 'em, don't ya' think?"

Before I could answer I saw one letter in particular with Carol's name on the return address. I shuddered and sighed. "Once again, I'm really sorry about last night," I said. Bon shook with laughter. 

"It's not the first time that's happened an' it sure as hell won't be the last," he said. "Don't worry about it."

Charming. But it gave me peace to know I wasn't the only moron to walk in without knocking. 

Finally the cars pulled to a stop and let us cross the street. Rattling bottles and shuffling envelopes followed us back to his hotel room. I kept an eye out for the rest of the band but they kept to themselves for now. 

"So let's get somethin' straight," Bon said in the elevator up to his floor. We were alone and I was trapped behind the doors. He didn't seem upset but he also wouldn't look me in the eye. Much like this morning, we stood side by side like complete strangers. "You're from 2054?"

"2024," I corrected and Bon giggled to himself. "I'm not that old."

"Nah, you're young," he said, mirth in his voice. "You're a little baby compared to me."

"Am not," I whined. Bon adjusted his hold on the cases of beer and his package and I could tell he was ready for a break. "I'm not baby enough to carry one of those."

"Be my guest," he relented, setting one down. I took it from him, balancing the box on one hand. "The band better drink every last drop. Especially that schoolboy fella."

The elevator dinged open and Bon once again let me step out first before following me. On our way down the hall I noticed a familiar looking man walking our direction. "Hey," Cliff said, stopping to meet us. Bon set his case of beer down and I did the same. 

"Cliff, did ya' know Hannah's from 2135?" Bon asked. Startled that Bon would just announce that in a public hallway, I looked at his face expecting to see humor. He was dead serious. 

"Uh...somethin' like that," Cliff said, shaking the hair out of his face. "One of those futuristic years."

"I told Cliff yesterday," I said. Thankfully he already knew before Bon could surprise him like that. 

"That's some deep shit, eh, Bon?" Cliff asked. "Can I help ya' with those?" He pointed to the cases of beer. 

"That's swell, Cliff," Bon said and Cliff bent down to help himself to a bottle of beer. Bon watched in disappointment. "Thanks," he muttered as Cliff stood up again.

"My pleasure, Bon," Cliff said, lifting the bottle in a toast. "Go easy on her, Bon, she's been through a lot comin' here the way she did."

"Could have guessed that much," Bon said. "We'll be in my room if ya' need a refill." Bon lifted his share of cargo and headed for his room. Cliff tapped my shoulder. 

"Give us time, love," he said. "An' thanks for the free drink."

**********

"What's this?"

"Your mail key," I said, watching Bon inspect the key I handed him. His eyes lit up. 

"Oh! Thanks for that." He stuffed it in his pocket where it sat immediately forgotten again. "An' thanks for helpin' with my stuff. An' old man like me, ya' know..."

"You're not old," I said. I couldn't believe the big joke around here was Bon's age. The man was thirty one and acted like he was twenty one. Or twelve, depending on the day. 

"You've aged me a couple decades jus' this afternoon," he said, sitting on the couch with his package. "You're really all you say you are?"

"I am," I said, sitting next to him. Bon undid the string and tore open the paper, leaving a mess on the floor. "Malcolm's the only one who doesn't know."

"Huh. Good luck with that," Bon said, pulling out a scarf and gloves, both homemade. "Mum's always on top of things, ain't she?" he asked. "She knows her boy gets a little chilly on tour."

"Can't imagine why," I said as Bon wrapped the scarf around his neck, the ends draping over his unbuttoned shirt. I held my chocolate bar and tapped the wrapper with my anxious fingertips. I'd wait until my stomach stopped turning cartwheels to eat it. "Now let's see what this business is all about...." He grabbed the box of envelopes and rifled through them. "Mum, Vince, Val.....a name I don't recognize..."

"I'll open that one," I said with a devious smile. Bon pretended to lick the envelope and handed it out to me. 

"Still want it?" he smiled before setting it down. "Probably a lady friend. Or else I slept with a man named Jane."

Bon was good at easing the tension in a room even if he didn't mean to. He sorted the envelopes in piles based on who they were from. Most of them had tiny, loopy handwriting and I couldn't read the names. "Do you believe me?"

"Hm?" Bon asked, paying half attention. "How do ya' like that, Irene's sent me somethin'...."

"Do you believe that I'm...from the future?" I asked nervously. 

"Not really, no," Bon said with a smile. My hopes shattered to pieces. "But I know you're not lyin'."

"Then....what do you...." Bon opened one of the envelopes and pulled out a tiny slip of ivory paper covered in scribbles. 

"Let's call it shock," Bon said, scanning the letter. I let him read it for a minute before he set it down and cleared his throat. "Any woman who claims to be young enough to be my granddaughter without actually claimin' to be my granddaughter couldn't be doin' it for fame an' fortune, ya' know?"

"I...think I understand," I said. If he meant what I thought he meant, he had a point. Why would a young woman like me follow around her favorite band and claim to be someone too young for them to get involved with? Despite me never claiming I was too young, they figured it out for themselves. But there was still another way I could use them to my advantage. "But claiming to have time traveled to the seventies and making money off of a book is still pretty nefarious."

"That what you're lookin' to do?" Bon asked. He opened another letter and crossed his leg over the other. 

"Not at all," I said. "I wouldn't dream of doing anything like that." I could never publish my fanfictions. They were passion projects that anyone could enjoy. Not something I wanted a living off of. 

"Then I don't see the problem," Bon said, going back to reading his letters. "Go on an' be from....3024 or wherever you said."

I wanted to laugh. By making slight jokes Bon was able to keep my anxiety from putting me into cardiac arrest. But my heart just wasn't in it. I sat there and let Bon read his letters, once in a while hearing him mutter the words under his breath. 

"Brothers," he sighed. "Can't live with 'em, can't survive without 'em." Bon looked at the growing pile of opened letters and I felt my chest tighten. He really missed his family. "Should give everyone a call...."

"I can go back to my room," I said standing up. "Thanks for letting me sleep over." Bon made no move to stop me and watched as I went to the door. Suddenly he snapped to reality and stood up, following me. "And thanks for listening."

"Sure," he said. "Drop by anytime."

"Uh...." Bon's hotel room key swished around in my pajama pocket. "I'll call first." After all, I still had Bon's number written down in my notebook. "Thanks for the chocolate."

"It's a million out there, make sure ya' get it home before it melts," he said and I saluted him.

"Yes, sir." Right when I reached for the doorknob I was trapped in a hug. "What the-"

"What, ya' didn't think I was lettin' ya' go without a proper Bon's goodbye," he said, squeezing the life out of me. 

"That's not even...a thing," I gasped right as he set me down. I stumbled backwards, disheveled. "I think you just melted the chocolate."

"Sorry 'bout that," he said, opening the door for me. "Now you'll have somethin' to drink on the way back."