The sun was slowly sinking behind the horizon, as Vickie and Robert walked back along the beach, arm in arm.

"You okay?"

Vickie looked up at him. She reached up and gently pulled his face down and kissed his lips.

"I'm fine."

She leaned against his shoulder, as they continued to walk along the sand.

"That song you did earlier was absolutely beautiful."

"Well, I can't take credit for that one. It will be written by a guy from England, called Paul McCartney. He will be part of a band ..."

He stopped and laughed slightly.

"You know what? Its best for you to discover this as it happens."

"What was it like in 1981?"

Robert kissed the top of her head. "You really want to know?"

She nodded.

"I think so."

Robert took a deep breath.

"The world is in turmoil. It seems that communism is falling but countries are facing civil wars and political unrest. Ronald Regan is President."

"The actor?"

Robert nodded. "Yep. Everyone was shocked, but Bonzo is in power. The age of classic rock is over. Disco has taken over. The dollar is only worth 88 cents. John Lennon is dead. Led Zeppelin is dead. Elvis is dead."

Vickie stopped.

"Elvis is dead?"

"Yea. Died in 1977. He got heavy into drugs and ..."

Vickie walked ahead of him.

"I don't want to hear anymore. Its too depressing."

She stopped and turned.

"I wish now I had not asked."

He walked to her.

"Most people would love to know the future."

"But I will feel so useless. How could I react knowing what will happen, waiting for it to happen and not being able to do a damn thing about it."

Robert nodded.

"I understand."

She walked back to him, putting her arms around his waist, looking up at him.

"I don't want to know any more. It all sounds like bad news."

"Its not all bad."

She shook her head.

"No. Let's just let the future happen, as it is suppose to."

They sat in silence for about a half hour.

"I have to go soon," Vickie finally said.

Robert looked down at his watch. It was nearly one a.m.

He stood up and helped Vickie to her feet.

He kissed her gently. "Will I see you tomorrow?"

"Of course," she smiled, kissing him back.

Vickie suddenly realized that Robert had absolutely no where to go.

"What will you do tonight?"

"I will stay here. Its not that cold and i love the beach. I will keep the fire going."

Vickie shook her head.

"You can't. Its not good for you."

Robert stroked her cheek.

I long ago stopped worrying about what was good for me. Rock and roll in the 80s is so much more different. Drugs, alcohol, groupies, long nerve wrecking tours and for some, death.

It was good once, but that time is gone. Bands live and die in the words of a song. 

One song can make or break your career. Its all about money."

He smiled slightly.

"I was lucky. I was in a band with my brother and best friends and we decided that we were going to concentrate on our music and ignore the flash of rock and roll. We are truly a family affair."

Silence fell upon them, except for the whisper of the waves as they broke softly on the beach.

Vickie was confused. More confused than she had ever been in her life.

Why was she chosen as the center piece of this puzzle? So many pieces were missing, even the framework was undone.

She looked at Robert.

How confused must he be as well? This must all seem like a bad nightmare.

When was it going to end?

Then it hit her. She started walking away.

"What's wrong?"

She answered without looking back at him.

"Nothing?"

He caught up with her and they continued on.

A tear rolled down Vickie's face. There had been other boys in her life, but no one like Robert. 

She had never allowed her guard down to a point that she gave herself to any of the boys. Not like she gave herself to Robert.

Making love had never been a subject she had given much thought to, as she was of the mentality that it was to be saved for marriage.

But Robert had made it a beautiful thing. A gentle, loving experience, unlike the stories she had heard.

She wiped the tears from her face.

It was the most beautiful experience she had ever had.

Something or someone, had brought Robert into her life. Brought her what she was sure was the perfect man. At least for her.

Her life was beginning to feel full and complete, but ...

what had brought him here, could just as easily take him away again.

He did not belong to this time. He was from somewhere else, brought to her by some unknown force. The frightening part was he could go, just as quickly.

Where would she be then?

Things finally seemed to be coming together for her. But would the dream shatter as quickly as it began?

Would he even be here when she returned in the morning?

There was still a fire on the beach, just ahead of them, but they could seethe only a few of the teenagers remained and they were on their feet, preparing to leave.

Vickie stopped him.

"Wait for me here. I have to talk to my sister."

Robert sat on the sand, watching Vickie as she walked to the other teens.

It was all strange to him. He had promised himself that the music would come first and that when the music was over, he would then look at the other aspects of life. A wife, a family and a home.

There had been women, over the years, but they made no impact on him. They were just a part of the rock and roll dream and suddenly he felt sorry for having taken advantage, feeling the way he did, right now.