Freddie

"It's nearly eight o' clock, Danny," Julia called to her son from the floor below. "Lauren and her dad will be off soon."

And Danny replied, "I know, I'm almost ready."

I was nearly through shaving, and half-listening to the voices drifting through the open bathroom door while my mind wandered. Now that I'd basically recovered from the shock of being pulled forty-two years forward in Time, I could take things a little more as they came. Not fully recovered, mind you; to be honest, I still haven't really gotten over it, but I mean, I don't know if anyone could. This isn't like in the films where someone's life can explode right in front of them and they don't even flinch.

Across the hall I could hear Danny singing quietly to himself, some little song I couldn't recognize, but it sounded like it had something to do with Christmas, I heard the word "Santa" mixed in there. He had a sweet-sounding voice, I thought- a bit high, but then, he was young; when I was his age, I myself had quite the deceptive soprano. In spite of myself, I listened closer, trying to make out what he was singing- and my brows rose in surprise:

"He got Dancer and Prancer with an old German Luger,
And he slashed up Dasher just like Freddy Krueger.
And he picked up a flamethrower and he barbecued Blitzen,
And he took a big bite and said, 'It tastes just like chicken,'

The night Santa went crazy,
The night Kris Kringle went nuts; now ya
Can hardly walk around the North Pole
Without stepping in reindeer guts!"

"Well, fa la la la la, to you too," I whispered to myself with a chuckle. I wasn't too taken aback, really. I could very easily picture Julia playing that kind of music for him. Few women I'd known throughout my life had that same kind of dark, offbeat sense of humor that we had- I mean, that she had. That's what I meant to say.

One more stripe of suds remained. As I scraped it off with the razor, I suddenly realized I didn't have the first clue of what I was going to do with myself all day. Of course, I was loath to stay cooped up in the little house the whole time in the first place- but to do it all alone, with just a hyper dachshund and a parrot for company, nary a cat to be found? God forbid. I needed to go work on something, or shop, or whatever, just so long as I got out and about.

I threw a little water on my face, then stood back upright and reached blindly for the towel. After patting dry, I opened my eyes to see the boy in the mirror, peering at me from behind the door. His eyes widened behind the glasses, and he ducked out of sight. Danny Phantom indeed, I quipped to myself.

"It's all right," I said gently. "I'm still not going to eat you."

After a moment, Danny came back, but kept his distance, watching cautiously from the doorway. His mouth curved into a cautious little half-smile as he asked, "You're not?"

"Of course not, I just had breakfast," I winked. "I'm saving you for dinner."

Danny giggled at that, which made both of us feel better. I didn't want the boy to be nervous around me, I made enough people nervous back home as it was.

I guess he was taking me at my word, because he came all the way into the bathroom and hopped up onto the counter. Danny looked me over, feet swinging.

"Why do you have a mustache?" he asked me suddenly.

I pulled the shirt on over my head. "Because I do," I replied. "Why?"

He shrugged. "Only guys I've ever seen with just mustaches are those hipster guys- and you're not a hipster."

"Of course not; I have better things to do than be a, um- hipster," I sighed, trying to sound like I knew what he was talking about, while inwardly I groaned, Okay, add "hipster" to the endless list of words I don't understand. My God. At this rate, I'll spend half my time here with my nose stuck in a fucking dictionary.

Danny clearly wanted to ask me more questions, but he kept mostly silent while I kept going about my business. I had to wonder what Julia had told him about me, if anything. From the way he was acting toward me, it was hard to say. He could have just been a naturally shy boy, but that wouldn't explain the curiosity just barely simmering beneath the surface. That was very like his mother, that curious mind, the sharp determination I could see in his eyes.

And once again, the thought struck me, although it shouldn't have mattered, should hardly have even crossed my mind, Who, and where, is the father?

"Sorry for being a Straker this morning, also," he murmured.

I blinked. "Being a what?"

"A Straker. You looked sort of annoyed when I walked in and stuff, so I'm sorry."

I tried not to laugh. "Um- and- what exactly is a Straker?"

"Mom made it up. She says that's what you are if you interrupt something really important, whether you mean to or not."

Now I was grinning. "Not at all, you weren't a Straker in the least," I told him, and said to myself, Ah, Julia. At least something stuck with you. Wait till Peter hears about- oh, yes. That's right. I won't remember. Never mind.

"Cool," Danny nodded. "I just don't want to annoy you or anything."

"Now why would you be afraid of annoying me?" I asked a little absently, walking into Julia's bedroom to put on my shoes with the boy still following me.

"I dunno, Mom says, um..." he trailed off.

I turned back to face him and sat on the bed. "Your mum says what?"

"Uh... nothing."

I knew better than to believe that. "Did it have anything to do with my temper?"

Danny shrugged and looked at the floor. "Kinda."

"That's it's a bit short?"

"Sorta."

"That I'm a big, nasty monster that goes off if you so much as look at me funny?"

He smiled a little at that. "No, she didn't say that-"

"Isn't that what it, um- basically comes down to?"

Danny thought a moment. "Pretty much. Yeah."

"My dear Mr. Phantom," I sighed, "whatever your mum thinks, I'm really not all claws and teeth. I may be mostly teeth, but, you know..."

The shy smile became a full-fledged grin, and he laughed. "No, you're not!"

"Oh, come on, Danny, you know it's true," I told him. "And look, if you want to ask me things, I don't mind."

"Really?"

"Of course! There's no harm in simply asking- anyway, if we're going to be friends, we should at least get to know each other a little better."

"Friends?" Danny repeated.

"If you like," I said. "I mean, you two are sharing the house with me, we might as well get along, wouldn't you say?"

Danny nodded. "Sure!" He put out his hand to shake mine but thought of a better idea. "No, wait, stand up. Please."

So even though I still only had one shoe on, I stood up. Then he bowed, and said, very respectfully, "Konnichiwa, tomoyo," which means "Hello, my friend."

I returned the gesture, but not the sentiment, only because I didn't get the chance. For footsteps were coming up the stairs, and Julia's breathless voice called again, "Danny, it's time to g-" but when she saw us stand back up from bowing, she smiled.

I smiled back at her, albeit for a different reason. Pencil skirt, white button-up blouse, black stockings, perfect makeup- all of these were nice, to be sure, but I was smiling at the way her hair was already slipping out of its bun and falling in little wisps down around her face. I didn't know why, but I liked that better than all her hair being swept up and pulled back. She looked much more severe that way.

"I hate to, uh, interrupt, but you have to get a move on, they leave in less than thirty," she told the boy.

He blinked. "Minutes?"

"Seconds."

"Whoops!" With that, he hoisted his bag up onto his shoulder, kissed her cheek, and we bid him a quick farewell while he rocketed out of the house, grabbing his lunchbox and slamming the door closed behind him.

"Good news, everyone!" Farnsworth squawked.

"And away he goes," she murmured. "Okay. Hey, Modo, what time is it?"

I jumped when the voice responded, saying it was two minutes after eight a.m., Eastern time.

I fucking hate that thing.

"Why don't you just replace the batteries in the clock there?" I whispered to Julia.

"Why are you whispering?" she whispered back with a little laugh.

"In case that thing thinks I'm talking to it, and not you."

Julia laughed a little more heartily. "Come on, Alex Jones, put on your shoes, we have to get going ourselves."

"Oh?" I sat back down on the bed while she walked toward the closet. "We do?"

"Yup. I just got a text, and apparently the lab rats want me to bring you up to the university with me today."

"Is the Time Machine thing already fixed?"

"Could be," she said. "For your sake, I certainly hope so. But I personally wouldn't count on it just yet. It sounded more like something about your physical con- OW!" A pause- and then she continued, but her voice seemed to sharpen a bit. "What's this doing down here?"

I looked up. "Everything all right?"

"Yes, yes, stay there, hold on, two seconds," she called back hastily. A few more thumps, and scratching, dragging sound, like a metal box was being pushed back across a shelf, and then she came back out, black pumps in hand. "As I was saying, he said it had to do with putting the finishing touches on your temporary ID, or something."

"Oh," I nodded, watching as she plopped down on the bed next to me. "So- what am I to do with myself after that?"

Julia slid her left foot into its shoe. "I don't know, Mr. Bad Guy, I ain't no tour guide," she said cheekily. "You figure it out."

Her skirt had fallen carelessly across her thighs, leaving one a little more exposed than the other. I could see a bit of skin where the stockings ended- not that I was looking for it, of course. But it was a nice little piece of skin at that, so I kept looking at it. True, her legs were terribly attractive in stockings, but I couldn't help thinking that fishnets would have done them much more justice- or even better, nothing at all.

My train of thought was escalating, but it didn't get the chance to reach any really juicy heights. Just as she was about to put on the other pump, Julia glanced up and caught me staring at her legs. Just like that, she pulled her skirt back over her thighs, brows lifted with surprise.

"What are you looking at?" she quipped.

"Sorry, dear, I just couldn't help admiring how shapely your kneecaps are," I replied coolly.

She rolled her eyes. "I bet you say that to all the girls- and boys."

I couldn't tell if that was a shot or not, so I acted like I didn't notice. "Not really. Sexy knees are a rarity- and yours certainly fit the bill."

"Uh-huh."

"I'm serious! I've been all around the world with all sorts of lovely people and nobody- I tell you, nobody- has knees that match these fine specimens here. You are one lucky little woman."

As she laughed, I bent over and, pulling back the hem just a bit, kissed the top of her knee. She had said something earlier about a boyfriend- Stuart or something- but I had decided not to care until I saw the guy for myself. Julia didn't immediately yank my head off of her, so I did it again, this time putting my hand on her hidden thigh and giving it a little squeeze.

"Ah, ah, ah," she warned me playfully, peeling my fingers away and scooting off the bed. "You're cute, Casanova, but we're going to be late."

I sighed. "There's that word again. Cute."

"Cute in a sexy way, of course," Julia added. "Are you ready to go?"

I studied her a moment, but she wasn't even blushing.

"Ready when you are, darling," I smiled, hoping she couldn't see the disappointment in my face. At first I had had the sheer nerve to wonder if this trip was all in fact her idea, some kind of silly plan to kiss and make up after all these years after what she did to me, but now I knew better than that. Certainly not with the way she was acting toward me.

On the other hand, there was the whole matter of that first kiss back in Munich...

Sorry. That was me getting off topic again. Back to the action. My God. I really am no fucking good at storytelling:

As we filed out the door, I saw an impossibly sleek, silver car with a little T on its hood and a license plate that said "ADMS FAM" cruise down the road. "Now, that's more like it," I said. "Most futuristic thing I've seen yet."

"The cool part is, it's totally electric," Julia added. "Danny always tells me he's going to get a Tesla once he learns how to drive. A purple one, he says."

To my surprise, as the Tesla slid past the house, one of the windows rolled down and who else but Danny should lean out and wave like the little kook he was. "Bye, you guys!" he shouted.

"Man, I wish I didn't have to make him carpool," Julia sighed as she waved back, watching her son disappear. "If I had my way, I'd drive him there and back every day, save Wes some time in the morning."

"Wes?"

"Wesley Adams. Our neighbor. Certainly would make things easier for Roxie, too."

I took it for granted that Roxie was the name of Mrs. Adams, or something like that. I personally didn't care to ask at the moment. Now we simply climbed into the car and pulled out of the garage. My fingers drummed against my legs while I looked out at the frosty world around us.

"I look around/ Leaves are brown," Julia hummed to herself softly, "And the sky/ Is a hazy shade of winter."

Then we both fell silent for a moment, with no sound except that of the heater blowing a little too hard into my face. I turned it down, and watched her as she sang a little Simon and Garfunkel to herself. No doubt about it, she was a beautiful woman; I had always believed as much. I thought of telling her so that very second, but I didn't.

These were indeed such awkward moments we shared, in these first days I was there. Not that I had nothing to talk about. I had plenty to say, and plenty to ask, and I believe that she did as well. But I knew once we started moving backward in Time, going over the twists and turns and dips and whatever that our separate lives had taken, somehow one of us would stumble upon those two weeks we spent together- and neither of us wished to be the first to bring them up, for fear of where that would lead us to remember- and what we might feel or do or say as a consequence.

Which is why I suddenly couldn't stand the silence anymore and I asked Julia a stupid question like, "So- is Roxie Mrs. Adams or something?"

"Hm? Oh, no. She's my cousin." With a cold little smile, she continued, "As well as, the other Brazzi Black Sheep, depending on who you're talking to."

"Brazzi?" The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. "Is- Was that your married name?"

Julia frowned. "What?"

"Danny's father, was that his-"

"Oh, no. My name has always been Samuels. Brazzi is my mom's maiden name. Roxie's wild, you'd like her; a bit of a cougar, though, so watch out," she joked.

I chuckled to hide the sudden seasick feeling I had.

Roxanne Brazzi.

Huh. Now, there was a name I hadn't thought about in a long time.

I tried to calm myself. Surely- surely she wasn't the same person. Things were odd enough already. I couldn't have that heaped onto my plate as well. Pure coincidence, was all this was. I decided not to think about it, and lose myself in something else.

"How do I turn on the music?" I asked.

Julia didn't miss a beat. "Hey, Modo, turn-"

"Oh, Good God," I groaned loudly.

Then she turned to me and smiled wickedly. "Just kidding."

She had a good bit of fun with that, laughing that laugh while I rolled my eyes and told her as good-naturedly as I could, to fuck off. At the press of the big button under the square screen (so many screens, my God), some catchy a cappella version of "It's Alright" began to play.

"Do you have any newer music in here?" I asked.

"Some. Most new music is crap, so I don't have much."

"I just want to know what it's like."

Her finger hovered over the console. "How new do we mean? Nineties? 2000's? Twenty-twenties? What?"

"Anything past 1985 is newer as far as I'm concerned."

"Let's just shuffle the deck and see what happens." Julia pushed another button, and the song changed. Her eyes lit up, but a second later she paused it.

"Maybe not that one," she murmured.

"Why not?"

"Because, that's, uh- not the best place to start." She skipped the song.

"Wait!" I pushed the back button and looked at the screen, which said, "Justin Timberlake: SexyBack." A little smirk started.

"I'm game," I said softly.

"I'm just telling you now, it's-"

"Hush. You clearly must like it, so let's give it a try. Have to start somewhere, right?"

"I just think-"

"Darling, I won't listen to anything else until you let this one play."

"Is that an ultimatum?"

I nodded. "I'm afraid so."

She swallowed and bit her lip. "Don't say I didn't warn you."

And she touched the Play button.

The little red car trembled with the heavy bass as bare-bones electronic music pulsated around us. It was incredibly repetitive at first, and although I couldn't help tapping my hand to the beat, a tad irritating. I almost nodded and admitted Julia probably had a point in skipping it in the first place, when the lyrics began, and I saw what they did to Julia.

Let's just say she wasn't acting like that same tame counselor at the moment.

"Aw, yeah," she whispered, eyes frightfully wide, throwing her head around and moving as rhythmically as possible in the driver's seat, heaving every "yes" in the chorus with a hot, whispery voice- the same voice she used after she kissed me that night, the one she used years ago, every time I wrenched away that innocent veil and she transformed into that other person she kept under lock and key.

But she didn't need to know what I was thinking. So I played along, being a tad suggestive myself, watching her throw her hair around (she had let it down so she could move more freely toward the song's beginning) and trying to look like I knew what I was doing, when all the while I was cursing myself for feeling it still, even after eight years of her absence.

"I want a lap dance to that song sometime in the near future," I informed her once the song finished.

Julia was herself again by this point, so all she did was laugh. Silly woman. She thought I was kidding.

As would be proven over the next few days, it seemed I wasn't the only one who had some learning to do.

TO BE CONTINUED...