Anthony luvs Johanna

if it makes you happy

2009-08-19T12:14:00.003-05:00

Lux brought Anthony along with her to see how Cher was doing at the facility where she was getting care 24/7 about her blindness and how to cope in the real world.

"I miss you," Lux said as soon as they came in to her room filled with flowers. Lux had brought along some sunflowers. Cher's favorites. "Looks as if someone has beaten me to the flower department."

"Oh, everyday more flowers." Cher smiled. "All sorts of roses."

"From who?" Anthony looked at Cher who seemed to be doing well on her own, in spite of the strangeness of her eyes.

"Leon, of course." She beamed.

"He's been here?" Lux looked at Anthony who just shrugged.

"Yes," she almost giggled.

"What are you not telling us?" Lux glared at Cher even though it did no good. Cher sat there at the edge of her be hanging on to the edge.

"That he makes me happy." She told them.

"I can't get ahold of him," Lux said. "He's been gone for weeks now. What has he told you?"

"We really don't talk about him much," Cher sighed. "But he's amazing."

"I don't think we need to know how amazing he is," Anthony whispered in Lux's ear.

Lux just looked back at Anthony and whispered. "I wonder what he's up too?"

"He says he's going to take me away from here, the first chance he gets," Cher said. Lux could tell from her silly smiled that Cher believed it too.

what she came for

2009-07-09T08:15:00.002-05:00

When Anthony awoke, he saw Lux hard brought him tea. He was ravished indeed.

"How long have I been out?" He sighed as he sat up on his pillows in bed.

"Believe me, you've had a really good long sleep." She smiled setting next to him, handing his tea over as she loving brushed her fingers through his hair. For a moment, he thought he might be her baby the way she was around him. He couldn't help but grin.

"That long, aye?"

"I went to see Drex and Jo." She told him.

"Johanna?" Anthony sipped his tea.

"They haven't seen Jonah." She pressed her lips as if she thought the worst. "Leon never came back. I think he's done something to him."

"How dreadful." That was all Anthony could say of it.

"I just thought Leon would help with Cher, you know." Lux shrugged.

"And how is she?" He was in no hurry to finish his tea. Not even get dressed, especially as he looked over at Lux. Her hand was on his chest and her head edging his shoulder.

"She's gone off to a quality living facility. Rehabilitation, you know." Lux just nodded

"Already?" Anthony winced.

"Well, I can work fast when I have a phone at my fingertips." She kissed him then as if she couldn't wait a second longer.

"How true." He did believe she could be a miracle worker on occasion. "So you're saying, we are alone?"

"Precisely," she breathed in his ear. "All this time travel. I'm so worried it'll take a toll on you."

"Well, we can't have that, now can we?" Her arms were wrapped around him. He struggled to put the cup on the night stand. He'd hardly drank half a cup. It sloshed to the night stand as he turned and he kissed her lips then.

Of course, Anthony couldn't be sure if this was a lovely start of the day or the night. He stared into Lux's eyes. He knew then how it should be. No word of his past of Johanna to be spoken. After-all, Lux's hands were already on him, and he was certain now she was completely ravished when her lips met his and she kissed his chest, reaching for exactly what she'd came for.

what now

2009-05-20T16:56:00.002-05:00

Lux was up early looking at her watch. Naturally, Anthony was sleeping soundly and Cher was still resting too.

"Where is he?" No Leon, where had he gone off too? He said he was going out for a walk, but he never returned. Where could he be?

She decided to just go up to Jonah's. Someone had to be there. Possibly, she should have waited, but she couldn't. She wanted to get to the bottom of this with Jonah. Naturally, he wasn't there, just Drex and of course, Johanna.

Johanna gave her that bewildered look of hers. Lux wasn't buying it though. Something was up, she wasn't sure what. Perhaps Johanna hadn't been completely honest. She was in a rather large housecoat of some sort. Wasn't she suppose to be all sexy for her Drex? Lux imagined. Was there something she didn't want anyone to know. Possibly, even Drex.

"Well, we're back with Cher," Lux informed them. "But she can't see. She's blind.'

"Blind?" Drex blinked, a bit shocked. "How did that happen?"

"I'm not sure. She was a beggar of some sort on the street. It was horrible."

Drex just nodded as he brought Lux tea.

"You all made it back, didn't you?" Johanna questioned. "Anthony came back, right?"

Lux held her breath for a moment. "Yes," she finally said. "He's back. Back for good, I suppose." Lux wanted to put the time travel behind them. They needed to think of their future together. "Cher would have never gone there if it hadn't been for Jonah." She grimaced then.

"I know, I feel just awful about this, what can we do?" Drex then said.

"If you have nothing else to do, perhaps you could at least cheer her up. Let her know you're glad she's back." Lux suggested.

"I'll do that," Drex nodded.

"Yes, we'll come around when we can." Johanna grabbed Drex's hand as if he couldn't be too far from her grasp.

"Very well," Lux backed away ready to leave. "Do you know where Jonah might be by chance?"

They both shook their heads.

Lux remained even lipped. Perhaps Leon had done something to Jonah, but what? She bit her bottom lip then wondering where they could possibly be.

up and down

2009-05-10T02:12:00.004-05:00

It wasn't until they were back into the world they came from that they could actually figure out what was going on with Cher, but it was true. She was blind.

"Who would have done such a thing?" The thought of it made him sick. Jonah should have to pay for this.

Of course, both Leon and Lux got her cleaned up and settled with lots of chicken noodle soup.

"It was awful." Seemed to be all Cher could manage. "She didn't like me, you know."

"Who?" Anthony could only imagine one person.

"Jonah's mother. I'm not sure why we had to go there, really. It was like an experiment, I guess. And then I got lost and..and there were these people who thought were going to help me. Said I could work for them. I just didn't know-" Cher started to cry then. "We'll my eyes ever be better? Can they be repaired."

"We'll, get you to the doctor as soon as possible." Lux assured her. "I'll do whatever I can to help you."

Cher just nodded.

Anthony didn't know if there was a way to get to the bottom of this.

in the dark

2009-05-05T03:03:00.002-05:00

"Cher!" Leon called for her, but he got a dismal response. Instead she shouted out about the posies she had with her.

It was then when he got closer he saw what had happened. It was the fact that she couldn't see him. She'd been blinded.

Leon winced.

"Cher its me," Leon said. "Leon, I've come to take you home."

"Leon?" She almost smiled, but it was as if she couldn't be certain. She almost stumbled then, but he caught her.

"We've come to take you home." He told her.

She almost crumbled into tears then. Of course, it didn't help to have a copper approaching him. All Leon could think to do was run with her to the nearest alley and get back to another world.

Thankfully, Anthony stepped in and told the copper they'd been searching for his sister, and he believed him.

Leon sighed then. Somehow, he hoped he'd see his own bed soon, and he'd find a way to take care of Cher.

the possibility

2009-04-30T08:47:00.003-05:00

Anthony wasn't all that thrilled about meat pies. Last time he'd seen Fleet street had been rather ugly.

"I wish I could spare any of you," Anthony winced as they neared the barber shop and of course Mrs. Lovett's meat pies. "There was a tragedy here, you know. I thought I could trust the man who lived up there." He pointed to the barber shop. "But he was reeking havoc on his customers, evidently. Didn't know of his dark past really. It was quite bloody, indeed."

"Anthony, it doesn't matter now." Lux looked into his eyes so sweetly, "Cher's so close. She has to be near the establishment."

So they hurried. Ran in fact, hoping to spot her, but of course, there was no one. Quite a dreary looking place in fact.

"Perhaps she's been nabbed when they saw the cell phone." Leon mentioned.

"Possibly." Really, Anthony could see much hadn't changed. Mrs. Lovett's was boarded up. "We should have forced Jonah to come, you know. Made him find her for us."

"Obviously, we can't just go back now." Lux insisted. "We've made it this far."

It was then Anthony saw the girl in the distance selling flowers. It was hard to say if she were familiar or not. She looked quite pale and pitiful and her face was so smudged with ash and soot that it was true..she was just a beggar.

"Come on." Maybe there luck had changed. Maybe Cher was here after all.

a chance perhaps

2009-03-06T14:22:00.005-06:00

The phone number went through. No busy signal. No one came on to tell her it couldn't get through. She could here it go through. Lux waited. Another go. Then another.

"God, pick up," she whispered.

Anthony took a listen then. It was going through. Now if only Cher would pick up.

Finally a very weak, "hullo. hullo...."

"Cher!" Lux's eyes lit.

Leon looked around to see if a copper would be on a witch hunt with them if he found the device.

"Who's this?"

"Its Lux. Where are you?"

"I'm not sure. My-my battery is going."

"Just tell me something. Are you near any business. A fountain. The park. Something!" Lux looked around as if they might spot her instantly. Of course, she was no where.

"Meat pies." Cher sounded breathless.

"What?"

"Meat pies."

And then nothing.

"I don't know what to make of it?" Lux looked to Anthony who didn't look too promising with his stare.

"I have a few idea." He sighed taking her hand then. "We'll have to hurry. Hopefully, she'll be by the barber shop." They had to move quickly then. Time was ticking.

suppose it could happen

2009-02-12T01:36:00.002-06:00

This was going to be easier than Lux thought. Jonah's mother knew her. They were friends. It would be all right. It felt more like a vacation now. Lux smiled.

"Its you, I never thought I'd see you again," Lux hugged Jonah's mother. She was just as she remembered. Even tempored and sweet. There was nothing smug about her.

"How did you find me?" She looked at the three of them as if it had to be her imagination at work.

"We've come for Cher, actually," Lux nodded. "Jonah said we could find her here."

"Cher?" Jonah's mother looked puzzled. "I thought she went back with him?"

"No, she didn't." Lux was suddenly worried. "She's been missing. And he said she was here." Lux looked at Anthony then.

"That would be Jonah." Anthony smirked.

"Do you have a problem with my son?" She questioned then as if he'd never done anything wrong in his life.

"Yes, I guess I do." Anthony gave her a stare then. "He's taken our friend, and he won't tell us what he did."

"What are you assuming?"

The next thing Lux knew they were being escorted out to the street.

"You could have been nicer." Lux told Anthony.

"For what reason?" Anthony scowled a bit. "For all we know, it could have been a night of passion gone arye, and he could have disposed of her here just as easy as some horried motel room back in New York City."

"Don't say that," Lux couldn't think of him actually being that vile.

"What gets me as to why his mother would want to be incognito here," Leon shrugged.

Lux jerked out her cell phone then from her coat pocket.

"What are you doing?" Anthony's eyes lit.

"What I should have done in the first place." Lux told him. She was calling Cher.

Frenzy

2009-02-06T01:13:00.003-06:00

They were on the run from the get go.

Leon had tossed the ball of energy into the wall of the basement of the parking garage at Macy's. A wall had automatically opened up for them as a cave of light. It felt like forever to Anthony, but the next thing he knew they were on the other side and out a back alley near the square where it had all happened. The barbershop incident above the meat shop.

It was gray and dismal here. He told Lux to tie her bonnet down. Her hair shined like something of the future. He wasn't so sure anyone would take kind to that. He looped his arms around Leon and Lux as if they might be a threesome of some kind.

Hopefully, no one would suspect them.

"Why did you wear makeup?" Anthony whispered into Lux's ear.

"I didn't know." She breathed as if she wasn't sure she should.

Leon bent down and touched some dirt from the street. He smudged her face just a bit.

"I take it, we'd never be townies." Leon grinned looking around.

"You remember the address?" Anthony could only hope Cher was still there.

Leon gave him the paper it was on. It wasn't all that far from where he'd first seen Johanna. It was a classier neighborhood. Farther from the alley than he expected though.

"Do you thinks he knows what happened to her?" Anthony winced.

"He said he was just teaching her a lesson," Leon remained even lipped.

"A lesson? Humility or humiliation?" Anthony sighed as they walked through the throng of people. "Whatever, he's a bad seed. I wish he were here so we could tie him up and throw him to the bottom of the river."

"Shh." Lux tugged at Anthony. "Someone might hear you."

Anthony just nodded. It felt like an endless walk to get to the household Leon mentioned. But finally they were there. So pristine and white and clean. It positively glowed.

Anthony knocked on the door. A servant answered.

Anthony introduced himself and Lux as his wife and Leon as his partner. He made up something of his business and wondered if he could speak to the owner about it.

Naturally, they had to wait, but the butler let them in to the parlor. Someone would see them immediately which surprised Anthony. It surprised Lux even more that it was Jonah's mother who came down to greet them.

hopeless

2009-02-01T01:58:00.006-06:00

Johanna had not spoke of it to anyone.

She hugged herself now as she sat in the floor of the bathroom. She didn't want to believe it true, but she was having Anthony's child. Perhaps that was why of all the moodiness, accusations, even the lust she felt for Drex. Was that the way it was? She'd had none of this morning sickness until now. It was as if she'd been giddy and free until now. It was as if she'd longed for something so possible. And now Anthony was leaving.

What if he didn't come back? It was if all she had left of him was growing inside her and now she felt worse than she ever thought possible.

Johanna shivered of the possibility that he was gone for good into another world. Why had she been so mad with him? She was sure of it now, pregnancy could make you go mad. Completely.

Funny, how Drex hadn't noticed. She'd wanted him all the more. It was as if sex was a good thing. Something to take her troubles away with him. She really hadn't felt tied down at all. Not with Drex.

With Anthony, it felt so..so dull. It just couldn't work. It felt so mundane. It was as if he was not of this world and never would be and..and still..it had happened.

She winced. Uncomfortable. Cold. Maybe even heartless.

She should have told him, but she didn't. She couldn't. It wasn't something she was ready to share quite yet. It had to wait. She wanted to be sure it existed. First.

Johanna had taken at least a dozen pregnancy test. Making sure to dispose of them properly so as no one would know. Especially, Drex. She'd wait it out. Tell him it was his. Why wouldn't it be?

But she knew it wasn't. It was coming up close to the first trimester. It was really happening, wasn't it?

What a fool she'd been. Not to say anything. Her teeth started to chatter. She felt so cold. It couldn't end. Could it?

its time

2009-01-24T02:38:00.005-06:00

Seeing Drex with Lux was the last thing Anthony expected.

"Where's Johanna?" Anthony looked at the both of them. Could she not bare it? Did she hate him that much not even to wish him farewell.?

"She isn't feeling well." Drex kept his distance.

Anthony didn't want to ask what that was supposed to mean. He then saw Drex go to Leon then. It was as if they needed one final say. Anthony turned to Lux. "Will he help us?"

Lux nodded with a smile. "I don't know whats wrong with Johanna."

"Just a bug going around," Anthony shrugged. "Look, we have to keep together. We need to do this quickly as possible."

"Right." She nodded. He grabbed her hand. Then turned to Leon. "Come on, mate, we have to get going." But Leon didn't budge. He was in a deep conversation with Drex. It was Leon who had the orbs. Anthony hoped he remembered how to use them.

about the trip

2009-01-20T03:57:00.003-06:00

Lux was a bit timid when she knocked on Jonah's door. She didn't want to see him. Really, there was no time, she had to get back to Anthony and Leon before they left without her.

Drex answered the door.

"Just who I wanted to see," Lux said. "I need you and Johanna's help." She made haste to tell them about the situation at hand. How they were going back. How they were determined to find Cher.

"Why would Jonah do such a thing?" Drex just cringed.

"What is it you want from us?" Johanna didn't look so happy to her. "I'd rather have nothing to do with this. Its none of our concern."

Drex squeezed Johanna's hand just a bit. "We can help." He listened as she told him what Leon had discovered. How he wanted to help Cher. She gave him two orbs then.

"Just in case we can't come back, come for us." She nodded. "We'll have twenty-four hours." She needed them to come with her to where they were opening the wall to go back in time in the basement at the department store.

She could see Johanna tense.

"Maybe you'd want to say goodbye to Anthony," Lux then said to her.

"I dunno." She looked as if she could collapse.

"Whats wrong?" Drex looked at Johanna then.

"Nerves, I suppose." She held her stomach then as she ran to the bathroom to throw up.

Drex looked at Lux as if it was so unexpected. They waited. Time was ticking.

"Johanna, are you coming?" Drex called for her then.

"I can't," she murmured. "I'm sick. I'm really sick."

Lux and Drex went to see her hugging herself on the bathroom floor.

"I can't wait," Lux shook her head.

"I know." Drex was coming with her.

getting ready

2009-01-12T01:44:00.003-06:00

"So how did you do it?" Anthony asked Leon as he gave him the costume to get in to.

"You don't really want to know." Leon just squinted as if he had a lot on his mind other than the orbs and the thought of going back to Fleet Street for Cher.

"What did he tell you?" Anthony stared at him as if he had to give him some inkling as to what was about to come.

"Does it matter." Leon was sullen as he got into the pants and zipped them up.

"So did he say where she might be?"

"Not really?"

"We should force him to go with us." Anthony told him.

"Believe me, we'd be better on our own. Jonah cares for no one, but himself. Don't you get that?" Leon scowled.

"He's a lot like you, isn't he?" Anthony gave Leon a bit of a smile as he watched him tuck in his shirt and get into his vest and coat.

"Shut it." Leon looked away then. "Lets just do it, now." They were in the costume loft at the store.

"We have to wait," Anthony grabbed Jonah's arm then. "Lux is coming with us."

"Lux? Why?" Leon winced. "It'll just be more weight."

"She hardly weighs a feather, you know." Anthony told him.

"God, can't you see we have to do this quickly. The gate between here and there doesn't stay open forever."

"All right. I get it." Anthony's eyes lit. "How long then?"

"Twenty-four hours max."

"I really wish I was doing this just myself. I know where to go, you know. And if anything should happen, that's where I belong, all right." Anthony nodded putting on a cap as if he might be the artful dodger now.

"Its too late for that, mate. You belong here now. And so does Cher." Leon told him. Anthony gritted a smile then. He just wasn't so sure where he belonged.

the need

2009-01-06T08:08:00.003-06:00

Johanna couldn't be sure what had upset Drex in the wee hours of the morning. Drex wasn't himself. She'd never seen him this depressed. He wouldn't talk to her. Just this ire silence.

"What happened?" She took him by the shoulders. This couldn't be over just yet. Now could it? He wanted to be with her, didn't he?

They'd had a quiet Thanksgiving, a very calm and uneventful Christmas. It had just been the two of them. Jonah hadn't spoiled it once. They were good together, even Drex had said as much.

"Nothing." Drex could barely spit out before his emotions got the best of him.

"It has to be something? What did I do?" She winced as if he had to tell her something. He was her best friend. Lover too.

"Nothing." Drex kept shaking his head. "Its not you."

"Is it Jonah? What did he do?" She pushed for answers, pushing at his shoulders. "Don't you know we have to share everything. Good or bad."

"I saw Leon coming from his room," Drex's eyes watered.

"Leon?" This was about him. It was true. She could see it in his face. His whole body. He still had feelings for him. "So? It might not mean a thing?" She didn't want to go there and think Leon was capable of such...such an audacity.

"It could only mean one thing," Drex looked at her. He was fighting tears. He was angry. Still in love. Perhaps.

She hugged Jonah then. She couldn't let go.

"Just leave him behind. You have too." She felt herself crumbling then. She'd left her past behind her. No way could she go back to Anthony now. He was her future. Couldn't he be of certain of it as she was?

She felt him choking on tears, but she felt his arms around her, and that was all that she needed. He was all that she needed. Didn't he know? She was all that he needed.

just the right style

2008-12-24T15:31:00.003-06:00

Anthony still thought there best bet was to get to the asylum. If they managed to get to the past. He just knew that's where Cher would be. Hopefully, she'd still be sane by the time they got there.

Luckily, there had been a huge window display of Charles Dickens' Christmas Carol so at least they had the style to go back in time.

"But I want to go," Lux said who was helping find costumes to wear in the Macy's storage room.

"Why? Why would you want to go?" Anthony shook his head as if it would be a bad idea.

"Because." She stopped and stared at him as if he should know.

"I don't even know if Leon has what he was looking for in Jonah's room. I just want to be ready at a moments notice."

"Then I can help. I can come with you and..and.."

"I see." Anthony remembered what Leon had said. Lux really had deep feelings for Cher. This was what this was about. "You're worried. I promise I'll get her back to you as quickly as I can."

Lux bit her bottom lip.

"No." She winced. "Yes. I want Cher back where's she safe. Where she should be. But I don't want you to leave me. I don't want to go on without you."

"You should stay here. We need someone here to, you know, make sure we get back. Someone who can take care Jonah." Anthony told her as he looked through shirts and coats and pants that would work. He was worried about Leon's feet. He wasn't sure how big a shoe he wore.

"Someone else can do that. Let Drex and Johanna take care of that." She sulked with tears in her eyes, holding up a woman's dress then that looked too big for her.

"Drex and Johanna?" Anthony hadn't thought of that. He smiled then. "Brilliant." He assured her with a kiss.

gathering gold

2008-12-07T05:40:00.003-06:00

Anthony was listening intently to Lux talk about Jonah and his family. The time travel orb was something of his great grandfather's that he'd kept in the family.

"Its not like he can use it for anytime period, just where you came from. I think. I don't even know if Jonah knows for sure. But its not like he can end up in the dark ages or with the dinosaurs, you know. It was just something of an antique and his grandfather noticed this energy about it. Says its something an old gypsy gave to him." Lux told him while she scrambled some eggs and made toast for them.

"So its a curse, perhaps?" Anthony questioned.

"No, of course not. Its just this energy that is like a path between here and there. I've never actually gone through it, but he's just talked about it. He was kind of drunk. I think its true."

"Does Drex know?" Anthony reached for a piece of bacon then that was already fried up.

"Not that I'm aware of. Jonah's really a private person."

"Of course," he bit into the bacon then. "I don't know why he thought he needed Johanna, though."

"Probably just an experiment of his." She served up breakfast then.

"Some experiment. Its changed everything for me," Anthony just sighed.

"But you really wouldn't want to go back, now would you?"

"I haven't decided. Its just I'm afraid he's taken Cher back there. And for what reason would he do that?" Anthony looked at Lux then.

"Possibly, to punish me," Lux sipped her coffee then.

"Punish you, its Cher I'm afraid for. She won't know what to do. They may put her away in the asylum ,already."

"The asylum?"

"Yeah, that's where the crazies go, they don't keep them on the streets like they do here." Anthony finished up raking the rest of the eggs on his fork.

"It sounds so ghastly," Lux winced. "Do you think you can find her?"

"I can try." Anthony nodded, but he'd need Leon's help.

its hard to say no

2008-12-04T14:44:00.003-06:00

Johanna wasn't sure why she felt so lost at the moment. She didn't think it was about Anthony. No, it wasn't about that, was it?

Thanksgiving had been rather slow and quaint and just the two of them. Jonah had given them space. So they'd had time. Time just for each other. She and Drex. They had moved into the great room, his mother room that Johanna still knew as her own.

Its just she'd heard laughter in the apartment a few days ago and it was gone now. Jonah had been with someone and now he wasn't. And she knew it wasn't Lux.

"Did he break up with her?" Johanna felt it odd to ask Drex who'd been so steady with his art lately. She wondered if he knew anything other than what came from his fingertips on the canvass.

"Beats me, I really can't say," was about all she got out of him. So she'd left Drex to his art. She snuck a peak at Drex's sketchbook hoping to find herself, but she didn't. Just sketches of Leon which left her speechless, she wasn't sure how she really thought about them.

Yes, she knew Drex had been with Leon, but she hadn't spoke of it. It had been a mute subject. Yet it hadn't been a threat of trust for her until now when she saw the drawings of Leon. Suddenly, she missed Anthony. And it was a heaviness in her chest that seemed to shatter into her being that she'd done the unthinkable.

Anthony would have done anything for her, and this was how she'd repaid him. But she couldn't quite explain to Drex how she thought she was a miserable human being and by the looks of the sketches she knew Drex had loved Leon, and somehow she knew she'd ruined that too.

She felt like disappearing then. She shouldn't be here. Maybe it was she who needed to go back in time...stuck on a page somewhere in a book in her own little world, bleak as it had become because somehow she was sure of it now. She didn't deserve freedom.

Johanna gathered her things.

"What are you doing?" Drex finally looked up from his painting.

"I should just go." Johanna nodded wondering where she could find refuge. Perhaps a church, but they wouldn't even take her if they knew how she'd thrown everything good away in her life.

"No, you can't," Drex got up and went to her side and took her hand. "If you go, I have to go too. I can't let you just leave. Not now."

Johanna touched his cheek. She loved his smile. His way of always making things better...as if anything could be possible.

"I dunno what to do," she finally confessed.

"We'll figure it out," Drex pushed his fingers through her blond hair. His hand then rested on her neck as he watched her. His warmth like a summer's day pulled her in, and they kissed as if this was the only answer she needed which spilled into little kisses that grew. She new she was terribly unhappy, but it was so hard to know when Dress' arms were around her. It felt like a slow dance as she fell into each step he showed her with just one more kiss.

where the storybook ends

2008-11-29T11:46:00.005-06:00

Anthony felt as if he'd fell into something majestic and cushy and had swallowed him whole perhaps.

It was just dinner, wasn't it? Lovely food. Excellent wine. The conversation really wasn't that bad. Honestly, he hadn't intended to enjoy himself. After all, it felt as if he hadn't slept in weeks. Possibly, just days. But work had taken him in. There was the parade. Then getting the store all ready so quickly. The rush of the holidays, he supposed in the city. It took his mind off things and then dinner.

Why had he? He shouldn't have stopped. He shouldn't have came home. Anthony was doing just fine, wasn't he? So yeah, there were moments he kept taunting at himself what had exactly gone wrong with he and Johanna. Obviously, it was never meant to be. He had to tell himself this at every turn. That he could let it so. Let it be. She had found happiness. Obviously. And if he did truly love her, and he did... He had to let go. Just let it fly away. Wasn't that what a cage bird would want? And that had been Johanna. So caged. And now free. He would be happy for her. He would. In all sincerity, he'd give it his best shot. Only he actually hadn't. And push come to shove, possibly not. Thoughts of her were thick as concrete in his head. Or were.

When he awoke it was like bouncing back from a dream. A deep dream. Colors that were golden and from a far off land. Maybe he'd never been here at all. Taken somewhere else, and Lux had lead the way. It was she who he had been with, and he knew it because she lay just so next to his chest. And he cringed to think, that it was beautiful. His eyes lit. Startled. He wanted to fall back asleep. And remember. He had too.

But what had she wanted with him, really? Revenge? Was that her nature? No, it was coming back slowly. She'd been crying. She kept saying, "Don't go. Please tell me, you won't go back in time. You wouldn't, would you?"

And then his smile quicken. She knew. She knew exactly what this was about. Didn't she?

"You know, don't you?" He shook her awake and saw she was a lot more undressed than he expected but so was he.

"Know what?" She murmured.

"Everything." He looked at her as if she'd best come clean if she wanted him around. "Be honest with me."

"I am," Lux promised, but she looked too hurt to smile.

"You know about the time travel business, don't you?" His brow furrowed.

"I wouldn't exactly call it a business. A science perhaps." She nodded pulling the covers over her.

"Well, then enlighten me," Anthony smirked.

French Turkey

2008-11-27T09:37:00.003-06:00

Lux was so in hopes Thanksgiving would be a lazy day. Anthony would be around, but he wasn't. He was working. It just seemed nonstop. He'd helped with getting ready for the Black Friday sale. Had scads of offers for Thanksgiving dinner and still he said he'd have none of that.

"What is the big deal about Thanksgiving, anyway?" He'd said in passing. And Lux had wanted to explain it to him, but she doubted it would do no good. Since he didn't exactly think of her family, anyway.

"I think he wants to go home," Leon had told her.

"But why? He couldn't have it any better. Doesn't he realise that?" Lux didn't like what Leon had told her. She had to find a way to make Tony stay. But how?

"Well, I'm going to make Thanksgiving dinner." She announced to both of them. "So you better be home tonight. Got it."

Of course, any other year she'd spend it down at the ballroom usually, helping feed the homeless. She felt a bit sad about that, but this year she was going to make an effort to do something on her own even if she had no idea how to make a pumpkin pie nor even a turkey.

"If you have anything to do with it, it'll be the worst meal ever, can't we just order out pizza?" Leon suggested.

"No. Its Thanksgiving." He was already putting her in a bad mood.

"Stop doing that," Leon teased about her frown. "You'll put wrinkles in your forehead."

"What should we do then?" She had bought all this food.

"Leave it to me." Leon rolled his eyes. "Well, French the turkey." He gave her an impish smile.

"What?"

"By the time I'm finished with it, he'll want to marry you." Leon smirked as he got busy in the kitchen getting the turkey ready.

"How will you do that?" She put her hands on her hips and pursed her lips.

"First, we'll need an orange, lemon, an onion, a couple of cloves of garlic and a sprig of rosemary." It was as if he was ready to do surgery on the naked turkey. "You'll see. It'll be spectacular. And don't let anyone tell you its Italian. Because its not. Its French all the way."

Lux couldn't help but laugh. Although, she knew it would take more than a turkey to keep Anthony here.

little bird

2008-11-21T22:31:00.003-06:00

Sometimes it's hard to say even one thing true
When all eyes have turned aside
They used to talk to you
And people on the street seem to disapprove
So you keep moving away
And forget what you wanted to say

Little bird, little bird
Brush your gray wings on my head
Say what you said, say it again
They tell me I'm crazy
But you told me I'm golden

Sometimes it's hard to tell the truth from a lie
Nobody knows what's in the hold of your mind
We are all buildings and people inside
Never know who'll walk through the door
Is it someone that you've met before?

Little bird, little bird
Brush your gray wings on my head
Say what you said, say it again
They tell me I'm crazy
But you told me I'm golden

I know what I know
A wind in the trees
And a road that goes winding under
From here I see rain, I hear thunder
Somewhere there's sun, and you don't need a reason

Sometimes it's hard to find a way to keep on
Quiet weekends, holidays, you come undone
Open your window and look upon
All the kinds of alive you can be
Be still, be light, believe me

Little bird, little bird
Brush your gray wings on my head
Say what you said, say it again
They tell me I'm crazy
But you told me I'm golden
I'm golden -the weepies

Johanna hated this guilt she was carrying. It just wouldn't go away. She owed Anthony so much and this was the way she paid him.

Would anyone else have followed her here to find her.

She remembered the Asylmn and how he'd saved her from such horror. But sometimes, that wasn't enough. She wished it had been enough. It was time to stop thinking about it, but she knew now Anthony was the one so much better than her and he deserved someone in the here and now and he had to move on. He had too.

There was nothing that was going to win her back. She needed Drex. Perhaps it was just the modern influence or connecting with someone who could be her friend and lover. Was it just too much to ask.

"I have to apologize to Anthony," Johanna told Drex at breakfast. But even the toast had no taste.

"Are you sure you're ready to face him just yet?' Drex poured cream in her coffee and gave it to her. "Don't you think he needs time. You need time. We need time."

"I can't wait forever. I just lost it. That's all. I dunno why it even happened. I just saw him with her and it came so natural. I really am a horrible person, after all."

"Don't say that," Drex brushed his fingers through her hair and leaned his forehead against hers there in his bed. She put down her cup on then on the breakfast tray and they kissed as if it could all start over again. It could very well start over and it would as soon as she got this coffee off the bed.

a song in his head

2008-11-14T02:42:00.003-06:00

*It stays with you until
The feeling is gone
only you and I
It means nothing to me

This means nothing to me

Oh Johanna -

The music is weaving -
Haunting notes pizzicato strings

The rhythm is calling
Alone in the night as
the daylight brings a
cold empty silence
The warmth of your hand
and a cold grey sky

It fades to the distance.

The image is gone
only you and I
It means nothing to me

This means nothing to me

Oh johanna -

This means nothing to me

This means nothing to me

Oh johanna.

Anthony couldn't help but want to be alone after what Leon had told him. The truth about Johanna. He wanted to be so bitter and hit something, but he didn't. He just broke down and cried alone. Yet his head kept feeling up with music. He couldn't help it. He remembered the melody of the song from before back on Fleet St. and when he first saw her. Yet now the melody sounded like an opera gone wrong, perhaps.

Nothing would stay down. He thought he might be physically ill. Perhaps Johanna was really killing him. Slowly. Sadly. And above all cruelly, he imagined.

What was it with her bending the truth as she did? Making him feel incapable of real love when all along she was the one who was deprived of such a thing. What if she tired of Drex? Then what?

Anthony so much wanted to go in to hiding because he feared if he ever saw Johanna again he might turn in to a horrific monster.

*oh Vienna

between the pages

2008-11-13T02:29:00.002-06:00

Johanna felt a little lost at Drex's. She was in his room. Not her room. The room she remembered spending that time with Anthony. It was a faded memory now and she felt sad about it.

Still she wasn't sure why she was so overcome with bitterness when she saw him with Lux. It was as if she had no control over her mood. It just happened.

"Everything is just awful, isn't it." She couldn't help but weep from time to time. It just wouldn't stop.

"Don't say that, we'll be just fine, the two of us." Drex seemed quite sure of it. He kept his arm around her and he wanted her to see the positive side in all this. "We are together now."

So plain and simple she thought. And now she wondered who had they hurt. Did Anthony know yet just how much she'd hurt him? Perhaps he was swallowed up in the fear that he'd caused it all. A part of enjoyed that. Thinking it was better to blame him. Although, she had to face facts, he'd been attentive enough. Where would she be right now if he'd never taken her out of that asylum. Would she be a complete nutcase by now.

All these emotions kept swirling around her. She felt completely ill.

"Have you talked to Jonah about us?" She looked at him then.

Drex shook his head. Johanna frowned. Drex kept smiling and tugged at her chin with his index finger. "The world hasn't ended you know," He kissed her on the lips then. "Its just a new chapter."

"Yes, I know, but there I fear there are some chapters I know of that aren't quite happy as ours." She tried to smile then as he pushed his fingers back through her bangs.

"You can't dwell on those," Drex kissed her deeply then. Johanna hated the thought of what might unfold next.

keep it coming

2008-11-12T04:43:00.004-06:00

Anthony had walked hours in the cold before it dawned on him that he really had no where to go. Maybe he could sleep in the park. Although, it felt much better just moving. If he stood still then he knew everything was collapsing around him. Where did he go from here?

His heart ached and he was so lost now. He knew he'd never get back into Johanna's good graces after such a row. What was the point?

The tears he'd cried were so warm, and yet he felt they were just ice on his face. The only place he knew to go was Macy's. He still had a job. Perhaps a job he could hardly swallow and couldn't find near the benefits Leon had spoke of. But at least it was a place to go. He was snug in his anarchy A scully cap. Anthony presumed they'd want him in something different once he got on the floor.

But he managed to get to the breakroom for some hot coffee to warm him up. One of window-dressers was about still working on something spectacular for a Christmas display. "You should go for the cocoa," Davy told him. "Its a meal within itself." Anthony detected a hint of something British in his accent.

Anthony couldn't help but want to listen to him longer. He sensed home wondering if he couldn't go back in time, perhaps he should find a way back to England. Davy brought him a mug and sat with him.

"I know I dunno you, but you look like shit, man." Davy then confessed.

"Right, I'm haggard, been an ungodly long night." Anthony said sleepily.

"Well, you can't go on the floor looking like that, smelling rather ripe to, if you don't mind me saying."

"No." Anthony remained even lipped. "I guess they shall fire me then, reckon I'll be deported even." Anthony took a sip of cocoa. Everything was in the crapper as far as he was concerned.

"Where are you from, mate?"

"The Fleet street area." Anthony shrugged. "Sort of. I'd moved to the country before arriving here."

"I don't miss Hollyoaks at all," Davy told him. "Its a frightful mess. Not a job in sight. Tight places to live."

"Almost like here."

"No, its lovely here and you should stay in the states as long as you can. You can't go back, mate. For goodness sakes, you landed in Macy's. You have make something of yourself now." Davy insisted. "We'll, find you something amazing. Something all we'll want to wear."

"Just as long as it's not women's wear."

"Oh, don't you want the skinny look?" Davy laughed. They drank up then. Davy had to find Anthony something smashing to wear.

the perfect boy

2008-11-11T01:49:00.000-06:00

Lux rang Anthony's cell several time over the next few hours. She paced her empty apartment now wondering where he could be.

"Hullo." He finally answered. Immediately, she asked where he was.

"It doesn't matter, now does." He could barely get the words out.

"Come back."

"Can't." It sounded so final in his voice.

"She's not here, I told Drex to take her back to his place," Lux didn't want to tell him anymore. "I'm sure its just a misunderstanding."

"She doesn't have misunderstanding, Lux."

"Johanna just overacted," Lux promised. "Just come back."

"No, I don't have too," he told her.

"Just tell me where you are. I'll send a cab," she said.

"I don't need a cab," his words were sad. "I'll be all right. Honest."

"Tony, I'm not going to be all right if I know you're not here," she told him.

"Its OK, Lux. You'll be just fine. You always have." He hung up then.

Lux felt the warm tears surfaced. She hardly ever cried.

drownding now

2008-11-10T06:20:00.000-06:00

When Johanna got back to the apartment, she was out of breath from all the running. She went to their room first. Thinking she'd see Anthony asleep on his back in a light snor. She thought of him laughing in his sleep. She remembered how ticklish he was.

But there was no one.

She stared at the empty bed. It almost took her breath. She squinted in pain then as she backed out of the room. Drex was there to catch her before she fell.

Johanna looked for signs. Something was wrong. Where were the signs to tell her what to really expect. She was trembling. She looked at Lux's door. Her eyes open wide. She couldn't listen to a thing Drex might be saying to her.

Slowly, she opened the door. And she saw them. He was with Lux. On her bed. Johanna felt bitterness coming up from her throat as is she might be sick.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" She gritted into a sour scawl.

"What?" Anthony squinted a surprised smile. He got off the bed. He was fully clothed. "What's wrong."

"YOU! HOW COULD YOU!" She was screaming but maybe not to him. Perhaps her self. Johanna began to cry.

"I was just giving her a back rub, luv," Anthony was startled by her reactiong, "Believe me if you'd had the kind of day Lux had, you'd need a good back rub to put you to sleep." He shrugged.

"NO." She shook her head, no. She couldn't believe him. She didn't even want to believe herself. "GET OUT!"

"But I've done nothing wrong," Anthony frowned.

"GET OUT! NOW! GET OUT!" She pushed him out of the room. "I CAN'T LOOK AT YOU!" She was trembling. Anthony couldn't even look at her. He choked on his words grabbing his jacket. "I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU EVER AGAIN!"

He just sort of nodded, grabbed his jacket and walked out the door.

out of the ordinary

2008-11-08T09:02:00.000-06:00

"All right," Anthony said he could stay for a little while. "I don't guess you need to be alone."

Lux leaned in then. It was a kissable moment, but he didn't.

"Let me rub your back," he suddenly said as if that was a good idea. He wasn't sure. "Maybe you'd like a bath instead. And, and you could talk to me about happier things. I could just listen. I wouldn't look. Honest." He was embarrassed to even say it. She could shout to him from while he was in the other room.

"Just how good are you with those back rubs," Lux wanted to take him up on his offer.

"Oh, I dunno. I used to give Johanna lots of back rubs where we used to work. She couldn't seem to sleep without them." Anthony was a bit coy with his answer but he remembered the rough times. It was hard work even then wondering if he'd ever be good enough for her.

"Well, if you could put me to sleep I'd ever be so grateful," she almost smiled. "I'll take a shower." Lux finally decided. "Promise I'll be right back and I won't fall in the tub."

Anthony tried to finish his tea while Lux was away. He rang Johanna, again. No answer. Probably on a shopping spree somewhere he suspected. Why was he so worried? He trusted her. Completely. But he hated this sense of falseness. Maybe it was himself he was worried about with Lux.

He couldn't dare let Johanna down now. Perhaps the back rub would be wrong. It was getting late. He should go to bed. Maybe he'd find Leon and see if he was OK. So much was going on in his head, and then he saw Lux in her big fluffy white robe. She was waiting for that massage. He guess he'd have to see too it.

today is more of tomorrow

2008-11-07T01:07:00.001-06:00

"I don't know what to say," Lux blew her nose. "I just saw them, and-" She couldn't sit still, or so Anthony had noticed.

"Maybe its not what it seems," Anthony just said about the trist she had supposedly found the two in down at the ballroom which was actually just a bar for the most part.

"It looked very much as it seems," Lux winced, nodding as she reached for more tissue.

"Well, then, you have to brave," Anthony told her, he couldn't stand all her pacing so he embraced her and thats when she really let it out how she felt inside. The agony in her voice, the waterfall of tears. It was unstoppable. He wasn't sure if it were anger or sadness., but he hugged her until if finally subsided, but then he wasn't sure if she'd let go.

"Lie down for a bit, I'll make a brew, you need to rest." He told her thinking, maybe he'd wrestle up a sandwich or two from the kitchen. Maybe luck would be on his side, Johanna would come waltzing in about how she needed to be a model now, and all would be safe in the world.

But the kettle sang, cheese and cracker sandwiches were made with slices of apples. Time just seemed to be riding so slowly. He took the tray in to Lux and put it at her bedside.

She still had one arm over her face as she laid there still, slowly sniffing through tears. He noticed she hadn't even taken her shoes off. That alone would have brought Anthony to tears, her high-heeled pumps. He took off her shoes and served her tea. He added a bit of bourbon and lemon, something to help her sleep.

"I'm sure it'll be better tomorrow," Anthony told her

She shook her head while sipping the tea. Before he knew it, she was back to tears. He took the tea from her. Maybe a good back rub was just what she needed.

"Well, it would help, I'll go to Jonah. I'll let him know just how upset you are, and he should be ashamed of himself." He got up to leave, but Lux grabbed his wrist instead.

"Don't leave, me, please," Lux said.

Anthony bit his upper lip. He wasn't sure if that was a good idea, but as it was, Johanna wasn't home.

after dark

2008-11-05T13:44:00.000-06:00

Johanna couldn't help but follow Drex up the stairwell there at the art department. She didn't know where they were going. She'd hardly had a chance to drink her coffee. Not that she'd wanted it. Not after the kissing and all the cuddling. It was all so intoxicating, and now they were in some sort of studio. And there was a futon in the very dim room. It was getting darker by the second, yet the street light glissened in.

They didn't talk. She knew if she did everything would stop. She didn't want it to stop. Not just yet. Maybe it was wrong, but she couldn't think that. She didn't feel that when she kept looking at his face and his smile. The touch of his skin. It was so easy to become a part of. ...This. Perhaps transforming into another world.

She'd been so sad and now so happy. What could take that away now? Really.

It was happening. Wasn't it? The touching. The kissing. Then the undressing part. Slowly, yet quickly as things progressed there on the futon. She wasn't nervous at all. It felt completely beautiful as it should be. It was as if they'd put each other in a trance. Not a thought of consequence prevailed. How come it felt so much like going home when she was with Drex?

how could it be

2008-11-04T01:43:00.004-06:00

Anthony felt numb, laying across his bed. It was getting late. This wasn't like Johanna to be out this long. She loved staying in. She loved TV. Especially, old show of That 70's show and new episodes of Gossip Girl.

This didn't seem real. Well, there was a whole lot going on that didn't seem real to Anthony. Perhaps his job was one of them. He was a bit depressed that he'd let some simple job like this get the best of him while he'd spent a large portion of his life living on the sea. He felt like such a simple man then. How did it get so complicated?

His throat was parched. He hadn't eaten. Then hearing news of how Leon had stirred up enough trouble between Lux's girlfriend and boyfriend left Anthony feeling out of sorts.

So now he knew the truth about the secretive job of Johanna's. She was displaying herself in the nude for others to draw what they would of her. It was a little hard to take, but it was her life and he couldn't force her not to endure every opportunity life might hand her. He could not stop her. And if he wished not to tell her, then he would have to deal. And he couldn't let jealousy invade his thoughts. He loved her, but did she really love him. Was it all about the money or was this just about her?

He hated things so complicated.

Anthony heard Lux's bedroom door closes then. He thought her heard her crying. Not so loudly, or such. Just murmers of something sad. Anthony chewed at the inside of his cheek just then waiting. Would this waiting ever stop? Was Johanna ever coming home?

Anthony got up then. He was drawn to Lux's murmers. Anthony knew exactly how she felt.

now that its done

2008-11-02T13:14:00.002-06:00

Johanna felt as if she was frozen each time she had to go into a room full of students just to disrobe. She never looked at any of them. At least not their faces. The tops of their heads, perhaps, but mainly the ceiling.

It was all rather excruciating, emotionally. Oh, were they looking at each blemish, she supposed. This was all so brutal. Couldn't she be anything other than this.

"Why is this so hard?" It was late in the day when it was over and she was sure she needed to do something else. Something that wasn't so raw and quite tedious.

Thankfully, Drex could see what a wreck she was. He'd taken her out for lunch.

"Just hang in there a bit longer, all right." He promised he'd find her something in the paper, a better job.

"Anthony, will not be pleased," Johanna frowned. "How could I have done it?"

"Its not like prostitution," Drex assured.

"I know, but he'll never understand how hard this is for me. I don't know what to do? I don't understand a keyboard, nor a computer. I'm very ignorant, aren't I?" She melted into tears.

"Don't say that," Drex had cuddled her then and she felt better, perhaps too much better. She was sure Anthony would never ever be able to be this close to her again, once he found out what she'd done. And that's when she kissed Drex on the lips.

on the job

2008-10-31T14:31:00.003-05:00

Anthony stood petrified of what the day might bring. All he was instructed to do was act nice, be nice, spray perfume when asked. Nothing more.

Well, what if he didn't know if they'd ask. Should he ask? Would he know what to do? So simple. What was he going on about?

"You'll love it," Johanna had just told him last night.

"Well, how about you? How did it go?" He'd wanted to know yet she was so fickle to comment. She hadn't told him a thing about her job.

Instead, it was all, "I wish I had a job that easy," she'd said.

"Really, well, they could fire me if I don't spray the right pressure points," Anthony was still a bit unsure of those places.

"Pressure points?" She acted as if he might torture someone if perfume didn't enhance the correct areas.

"None near the eyes or any other place that might cause harm." See, he really was worried sick about this job. He could be fired in an instant. He just didn't know how to explain it to her. Perhaps he hadn't even listened correctly.

Oh, here came someone now. Should he or shouldn't he? It wasn't that he was guarding the Queen's palace. Anthony managed to smile. Then he offered. "Of course, not, but do you know anything about a man's purse?" The customer tilted her head and Anthony stared into her ruby red lipstick.

"Man's purse?" What did she possibly mean? "Shall we see if we can find someone to help you with that problem." He was ever so curtest, but really he didn't know where to go.

if looks could kill

2008-10-28T03:26:00.003-05:00

"Are you really really sure about this?" Drex took Johanna where she'd go and meet some of his teachers and for them to get a good look at her before the job went through.

"Yes, I want money, now don't I?" She looked at him innocently.

"Well, I don't want to see you sale yourself like this, if it might-"

"I am doing this for the good of art, now aren't I?" This was the way she saw it. And had he not known what terrible moments she'd spent in her life, especially at the asylum. ...well, she hadn't told him of that miserable reality. It was something she wished to keep to herself and to never let anyone experience such.

She knew if she survived that then she could possibly get through anything. So what if she had to poise in the nude. She knew she could do it. She would do it. Because at the moment, she really knew nothing to do in this modern world.

"So lets get on with it," Johanna was already in her robe ready to drop it when they said when.

"All right then." Drex seemed sad for her.

"Drex, you need to go." Really, she didn't want him looking at her. Not so much at her skim, but the look on her face when it happened. When she shed everything.

So here they all were in the art room. It wasn't exactly a catwalk, but really it felt like it. Johanna took a deep breath and disrobbed. She felt coldness all around her. She pressed her lips then, realising the worst part was trying to act natural without a thing on.

where the pretty boys go

2008-10-24T01:06:00.001-05:00

Anthony had butterflies just thinking about this job at Macy's. Of course, first he had to pass inspection with Lux over the whole ordeal of how he dressed.

"Metrosexual." She informed him, practically undressing him out of Leon's old clothes.

"What?" Anthony winced.

"You heard me."

"Well, if anyone should know the term it should be Leon and well, these are his things." He had his sweater. His jeans.

"He's a slacker," Lux rolled her eyes. "We'll have to put you in a suit. First day you have to make an amazing impression." She looked at him intently as she unbuttoned his shirt.

Anthony backed away. What would Johanna think?

"Style is the most important thing, Tony, right down to the socks."

"Underwear too?" Anthony nodded. "Maybe I should work on a ship or something."

"A ship? Are you out of your mind?" She gasped a bit with a giggle.

"What is this Macy's?"

"Tony, quit trying to play stupid with me," Lux sighed. "I'm calling my stylist right now. We'll have you ready in fifteen."

"I think I'm already supposed to be there." Anthony frowned a bit. He could see himself being fired the first day.

But before Anthony could make a move he was being forced into slacks, a rather dapper vest over a clean lined pale shirt and a tweed jacket.

"And do something with that hair, will you?" Lux informed the stylist. With that, it was pulled back into a neat ponytail.

"Now?" Anthony wanted out of here.

"Well of course, silly, we'll drop you off." And that they did. He was the last to show up in the group about to learn the ropes of how to greet a customer and of course, the test on how to fold shirts, properly.

Naturally, Anthony felt all thumbs. It felt rather ridiculous going through this sort of education, just to work the floor of not your everyday department store.

"You there," A matronly lady who looked to be the Macy's police pointed to Anthony.

"Yes." Anthony stood still like a deer in the headlights, thinking he was in the wrong, already.

"You are rather pretty."

"Pretty?" Anthony winced.

"You shall be our new perfume boy." The lady smiled.

Anthony just stood there wide eyed. "Perfume boy? Well, I'm hardly a boy, you see-I'm-"

"Shh!" She put her index finger on his lips. "Come with me if you want a paycheck, boy."

Anthony hushed then looking around at the others who were a bit peeved they weren't chosen. He'd so hoped he could have been the leader of the pack. Now he was a perfume boy. What did that mean?

before tomorrow

2008-10-21T12:03:00.004-05:00

Drex seemed different to Johanna, somehow. She wasn't quite sure what it was. Something about his demeanor. It was as if he was trying so hard to be something he wasn't. But what was it.

"Did you think it, unusual?" Johanna asked Anthony later after they'd pigged out on egg rolls and stir-fries. They were back in their room and Anthony and Johanna were very cozy in bed without the TV on.

"How unusual do you mean?" Anthony was somewhat oblivious about Johanna's questions.

"Well, how well do you really know this Leon fellow?" She wouldn't let Anthony rest with her in his arms even if he was rather comfortable ready for a snooze on his pillow.

"He's, all right. Possibly not exactly on the up and up, but then if he wasn't then he might have been no help to me at all. If it wasn't for him, things might not be quite as comfortable for either of us. He at least made it simple to blend in. It would have other wise been strange and possibly we'd be locked up somewhere if someone knew our story about how we got here, when actually, neither of us know for sure how that could be. So I'm fine with him. You'll just have to take my word for it." He looked half asleep, already.

"And how do you think he'd treat Drex?" She looked at him seriously.

"I suppose like a mate, what else?"

"I think he's dug his claws in him," Johanna pondered aloud.

"What ever are you going on about?" Anthony slightly scowled.

"I know what I see," Johanna sighed staying close to Anthony as if he was really all she needed. "Drex is very much in love with him."

"And? And what am I to do about it?" Anthony raised up on his elbow then turning toward her.

"You have to find out if its true," Johanna told him.

"I highly doubt it is," Anthony winced. "I don't think Leon is one for falling in love."

"So he is a cad," Johanna said. "I knew it. You know something?"

"I dunno." Anthony gave up. "I need a nap. Don't let me go for Chinese for awhile. All right." He turned from her then ready for sleep. Besides he did start his job at Macy's tomorrow.

celebrating

2008-10-20T03:02:00.004-05:00

It was a celebration more than just dinner with Drex and Leon. According to Johanna anyway.

She wanted to dress up.

"You look fine," Anthony told her. She was in sweater and jeans. It wasn't that fancy of a place according to Drex. "I don't think you have too."

"But I want too."

"All right, but just don't over do it."

"What do you mean?" Johanna looked at him as if he had a problem with this he better spill it.

"You wear whatever you want. Its just why? I want to go now. I've been starving for Chinese all day and I'm hungry." He told her.

She gave him a sad look.

"Just get ready, already." He stared back at her trying to smile. "We'll wait. You're very good at doing that."

"Fine." She still hadn't told him what the job was at the art department. For all he knew she was just an assistant to someones assistant.

So she grabbed her hand bag, and they went to meet Drex and Leon downstairs.

Finally

2008-10-18T03:40:00.003-05:00

"I think I found you something," Drex informed Johanna over the phone.

"You found me a job?"

"Yeah, its at the art department."

"Art? I love art!" She beamed dancing about with her phone.

"Well, it would involve one thing that might put you off. But you'd be making a lot of money, you know."

"Lots?"

"Yeah," he told her of the substantial rate an hour.

"Oh my God! Of course, I'll take it!"

"Only, you'd have to take off your clothes."

"What! I'm not selling my body!"

"No. no..its not like that, exactly. Students would just draw you in art class."

"Really," She smiled. Well, it was all in the sake of art, she thought. "OK, sure, I'll be there tomorrow."

Johanna couldn't believe it. She finally had a job.

for the very first time

2008-10-16T03:22:00.003-05:00

Lux had worked a little magic at Macy's for Anthony. She'd found him employment.

"I think she likes you better than me," Johanna informed him about the matter. As it was, nothing for her.

"Don't say that?" Anthony didn't even know what Macy's was. "I could be just unloading boxes in a warehouse for all you know." He'd made them sandwiches at home. They were really going to have to brown bag it a lot if they were going to make it in this city. She had to understand that. At least she hadn't fussed about the turkey sandwich he'd made her and brought back to their room.

"I just don't know what to do," Johanna scowled as if she was a misfit of some kind and couldn't find anything acceptable in this world.

"I'm sure you'll find something," Anthony wasn't sure how he was to pacify her. He knew if she was working, she'd be upset about that too. Sometimes, she wasn't the easiest to get along with. "You're a very kind and gentle person, luv. Someone will see that."

"I will not wash dishes," she informed him.

"I know." He ate at his sandwich.

"I hate manual labor."

"Very much so." Anthony nodded.

"I have no skills." She looked back at the laptop then. "When is Leon going to show us how to work that thing."

"Soon." Anthony shrugged.

"Do you think Drex likes him."

"Why not?"

"No, I mean, like he finds him 'hawt'?"

"Hot?"

"Oh, don't tell me you don't know that expression." Johanna rolled her eyes and ate at her sandwich then as if Anthony would be no fun to talk about the two of them having a romance.

"Like something...sexual." Anthony scowled.

"No, silly, romantic."

"Well, Leon is more sexual than romantic."

"Really?" She chewed at the hoagie then.

Just then Johanna's cell phone rang. She figured out how to answer it. She was so happy just to do that.

"Its Drex!" She shouted so excited.

"I don't think you should mention-" Anthony started.

"Oh, we were just talking about you," Johanna beamed.

Anthony sighed and went back to his sandwich.

its a date

2008-10-14T01:07:00.004-05:00

"We should do lunch." It felt like ages since Johanna had seen Drex, but he hadn't stopped in to see her. He was here to see Leon. She guessed. Maybe it was Cher because she was giving him hugs and kisses as if they were more than friends. Only, he was giving her the statue treatment. He really wasn't that in to her, Johanna thought.

"That sounds great." He was trying to talk to her while Cher was making over him. Giving hints that she wanted to see him again.

"I didn't know that you and Cher-" Johanna started.

"Um, we..we're just..just friends." Drex remained even lipped as if Cher was giving him a headache by the second. He was practically pushing her off him. "I'd really like to get together sometime," Then he looked up from her and saw Leon coming. He smiled so innocently then before he gave it all away, he bit his bottom lip.

Johanna noticed the attraction immediately as she watched. She pressed her lips together. "How about Anthony and I meet you and Leon for lunch, tomorrow."

"Really."

"Yeah, I think we have lots of catching up to do." She smiled almost winking.

"OK, I guess." He looked at Leon. At least Cher's making over had subsided and she was off talking with Lux now about something slightly important, Johanna guessed. "Johanna wants us to go out to lunch with her and Anthony."

"Sweet." Leon smiled then looked at Johanna. "I can see why he pined so much for you."

"Thanks, I guess." Johanna smirked, thinking Leon possibly flirted with anything coming his way, even Drex, she supposed. Why did she feel the need to figure him out? She had to watch out for Drex. Certainly, his brother wasn't going too.

settling in

2008-10-11T01:58:00.002-05:00

"So, we need jobs," Anthony asked Lux after he and Johanna had done a sight seeing trip around New York City. They'd even taken a trip out to the Statue of Liberty. But enough of being a tourist in the big city. Anthony could only take so many hot dogs from this place.

"A job?"

"Yeah, the both of us." Johanna wanted a say in this. Anthony could see.

"Hum, I don' t know. What do you like to do?"

"I'm not sure," Johanna shrugged. "Please don't let Anthony near any of those cooking places. I don't want him smelling horrible."

"OK," Lux smiled. "I wasn't even going to suggest that. Maybe Macy's."

"Or Starbucks." Granted it was different, but Anthony had roasted coffee beans before.

"No, I don't want you working there." Johanna said.

"Yeah, she's afraid all the boys would be flirting with you and no one would get any work done." Cher laughed who was on the computer doing some work for Lux in their apartment.

"I'll call around. I'll see what I can find for the both of you."

Anthony felt a bit better. He guessed. He hoped Johanna wouldn't be to fussy about the matter.

now what

2008-10-09T03:20:00.002-05:00

"What will we do now?" Johanna asked.

They both laid side by side with their heads handing off the bed looking upside down.

"This could really get some getting used too." Anthony sighed twiddling his thumbs.

"I can't believe we're here." She just couldn't get enough of this feeling. The exitement. The thrill. "I still can't believe it. I feel for sure I'll wake up one day and it'll all be a dream."

"Well, it was a nightmare."

"Not anymore."

"We still don't have jobs." Anthony looked at Johanna. She looked back at him. They kissed.

"It'll be all right," she told him. "You'll see."

"It will once we have jobs." Anthony was certain of it.

"Well, what could we do?" Johanna looked back at everything upside down. She looked at Anthony and made a sad face. "Do I still look happy?" Anthony bursted out laughing.

"I was a sailor, you know." Anthony reminded her.

"Yes, I remember, a sailor who cooked. I remember the smell very well," she reminded him now. "Thank you very much." She rose up from that position then feeling rather woozy now.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"We are in 2008. Remember?" She blinked. "I don't think that will do."

"As if I could find my way about one of those contraptions at the desk." Anthony shrugged.

"Have you not learned anything since being here?"

"I suppose you have." Anthony set up then.

"I can handle a remote control very well, thank you very much." She looked at him.

"As if that would pay the bills," Anthony cracked a grin then.

Johanna was about to give him a scowl but he kissed her before she could.

"We'll think of something." He promised. "Right now, lets just enjoy each other's company. Shall we?" His eyebrow lifted.

She smiled giving him back a kiss.

the happy dance

2008-10-07T01:31:00.001-05:00

Johanna felt as giddy as a school girl. They'd held each other in the elevator and kissed as the plunged down to Anthony's floor. Giggling all the way they ran to Lux's.

Of course, Johanna didn't know the two girls in the livingroom going over something.

"Lux," Anthony was out of breath, "This is Johanna."

"Johanna? Oh, you're girlfriend from London." Lux looked Johanna over as if she loved unexpected guests.

"Yeah, it was a surprise." Anthony pressed his lips together to keep from laughing.

"Well, I'm so happy to meet you," Lux sighed shaking Johanna's hand. "I guess you'll be sticking around then."

Johanna nodded with a big smile, holding on to Anthony's hand.

"Well, then, we have the room. But you'll have to be share the room with you, Tony." Lux told them.

"Not a problem." Anthony couldn't stop grinning. Neither could Johanna. They walked with Lux then. "Actually, it was a nursery at one time." Lux told them. "Its pink. I hope you don't mind."

Johanna was imagining something small with barely a bed in it. But no. It was huge.

"Where did they ever find the baby in here?" Johanna looked around at the big bed. There was even a sofa area and a desk with a laptop too along with a small fridge.

"Actually, it used to be my room." Lux told them.

"Wow." Anthony was still taking it all in.

"Are you really sure about this, Lux?" Johanna didn't want to put anyone out.

"I have my mother's room now and it has everything I want. Who knows, maybe this room has just been waiting for the two of you." Lux said in leaving.

Anthony grabbed Johanna then. This certainly was a time for the happy dance.

on their way

2008-10-05T01:48:00.004-05:00

Anthony just imagined them walking out. No one to touch them. They could do this. And it was all quiet.

Jonah was in his room. Drex was in his. All was clear. Wasn't it.

No, Johanna wouldn't have it that way. She went right up to Jonah's bedroom door and banged on it.

"What are you doing!" Anthony grabbed her away from the door.

"I have too, Anthony." Johanna huffed. "It must be done in order to be free."

She was standing up to him.

"I am going! I am free of you, Jonah! I don't care what you might try, but I owe you nothing!" She held her head high and she gave him a stern stare.

"What?" Jonah half way laughed at her.

Drex came out of his room to see what was up.

"Anthony has came for me and I'm going."

Anthony cringed a bit expecting a fight, but Jonah just gave him an odd look.

"I hope you have a horrible life!" And with that they were out the door and off to the elevator.

a little faith

2008-10-03T02:41:00.002-05:00

Johanna had decided his best way out was through the way he came.

"I'll just talk to them both in the kitchen." Yeah, that should do it. She thought. She have him her phone number so he could call, at least.

"But, we should just meet him head on. The two of us. I could fend for myself. What's he going to say to his brother? Really? We'll leave, Johanna. We have to leave together."

She could see he was as stubborn as he ever was.

"Well, then," she looked about the great room. "Couldn't we just stay another night."

"No." He winced. "We do it now."

Johanna felt so uncertain about this. This had been her home the last few days, weeks..maybe.

"And we have some place to go?"

"Well, there's Leon, but he's OK for a flatmate. You'll see. He'll help us. Please, you have to have a little faith here." His eyes opened wide. She knew he wanted her to do her part. And she would. She would.

the closet

2008-10-02T02:30:00.003-05:00

Anthony hurried to the closet. It was huge. Was she sure it was a closet? He didn't know what could possibly be there to help him. It wasn't as if he could be in complete congnito is a woman's outfit. Now could he?

No, Johanna knew no one but Drex and Jonah. When would she ever leave them?

"What I think we should do is leave in the middle of the night," Anthony told her. "You could stay with me. I'd just tell them you were visiting. No one would never have to know where you were or anything. I could say you decided to stay." It sounded perfect to him.

Johanna shook her head at that. She didn't want Jonah to get suspicious.

"What if he sent me god knows where into the past, Anthony?" She told him about his mother. What he'd done to her. Perhaps.

"I want neither of us to have anything to do with him. I can't just leave you here. Please. I'll never sleep wondering if you've gone off with him to an entire different universe." He grabbed her shoulders then.

"Anthony, nothing has happened yet." She pulled away.

Anthony turned his attention then to closet. Hoping he could leave unseen. Only it didn't look feasable.

a little bit closer

2008-09-30T02:57:00.005-05:00

Anthony was practically in a deep sleep when it was over. Was it over? No, maybe not yet. They had a lot of making up to do. Evidently.

Really, all Johanna honestly wanted was to watch him sleep. It was like having a whole new activity to look forward too. She wondered how many times they could have a go at it a day. Maybe she'd keep a record of it. A diary. That would be better. But where would she hide it so Jonah wouldn't see it.

Jonah.

She didn't want to think about him. Somehow she had to keep her Anthony with her. She didn't want to chance Jonah finding him here.

"Wake up." Johanna shook him.

"What? What did I do?"

"I love you." She told him. "Promise me, you'll stay."

"I want too, but should I?" He looked down at her from the corner of his eyes as she was still having her way with him, and she seemed to think it could happen again. And he was very well fond of how she wanted him. All of him to herself.

"I don't know what to do." She looked immensely sad, but he kissed her lovely lips, and she smiled at him, as if anything was possible.

"Maybe there's a back way." Anthony thought.

"I dunno," Johanna shrugged.

"I should get dress, take a look see."

"No, no you should stay put." She nodded.

"Neither of us can be naked from noon til night." He told her.

"Is it dark, already?" She hadn't really noticed.

Anthony started to put on his jeans and T-shirt then.

"Maybe it would be better if you came with me."

"I couldn't." She shook her head no, just sitting in bed with the sheet wrapped around her.

"What... you mean it, you shan't leave any of this behind. Is that it?" Anthony looked a bit let down now.

"Don't look at me that way. I love you. I just want us to be quiet about this. That's all. We have to figure out where to go from here. We can't just run away. We have no where to run too? And even if we could, would we really run all the way back to those days on Fleet Street?" She looked at him, innocently.

"Well, just don't sit there. Get dressed." He told her.

"Why?"

"Why?" He looked at her blankly. "You'll just make me take everything off again, you know it."

"All right." She got dressed then. It was good thing she did. Drex and Jonah were both back.

a new day

2008-09-27T01:08:00.008-05:00

Anthony couldn't help but wonder if it was just this century or the idea that it could happen with out a second thought. Johanna was talking, she was kissing him. Her tongue pressing in.

"How'd you learn to do that?" Not that he didn't know what it was. He'd been to some exotic places of course, but Johanna. What had she been doing?

"I watch a lot of TV." She breathed into his ear as she touched his neck, feeling inside his sweater. It was definitely getting hot in here.

"Evidently, I've neglected to do so."

"What have you been up too?"

"Well," Anthony grabbed her hand then, looked at her out of the corner of his eye. "Thinking of you always, but I've been busy living just a few floors below you, in fact. I've met a Frenchman who's been a friend. He's gotten me through this."

"You've been here all along?" Her eyes lit.

"Well, I'm sorry. I didn't know what had happened to you."

"Of course." It sounded understandable as she was undressing him.

"Just which channel were you watching?" He didn't mind, but really this was moving much faster than he antispated.

"I want you. And I think it should happen." She nodded.

"Oh." So he was supposed to shut up now. He could do that. Quite easily.

"Well, do somethng," she told him. He guessed taking his shoes off would help.

Of course, she meant his pants. Everything. This was quite do-able. Absolutely, her hand to guide him. It was all beginning to sink in, in the broad daylight. She wasn't one of those lasses who liked everything in the dark.

It was a fit of passion as he took in her pale skin and softness. It was better than he imagined. And she knew what she was doing.

He kissed her back madly as she road atop of him as if this was a done deal, and he better be ready. And he was. He just didn't know it could happen so quickly.

quips and the like

2008-09-25T01:27:00.006-05:00

After the longing embrace and a deep kiss or two she hurried him off to the great room.

"Now how did you get so lucky?" He looked around and wondered if she'd possibly leave it for the likes of him.

"What?" She winced then. "If you think I've gone mad with that Jonah, you are out of your mind."

"Did I say such rubbish?" He shrugged wiggling his plush lip just a bit.

"His brother, Drex has been quiet nice to me." She nodded.

"Oh, has he?" He gave her a stare, "In what way?"

"A mate, of course, nothing more. He's protected me from Jonah." She held Anthony's hand then.

"And must I owe him?"

"Lets not dwell on it, must we." She kissed his hand. "I've missed you so much and I want to be with you. No one else. No one else is the love of my life."

"Good." He smiled a bit impishly. "And how shall we celebrate this?"

"Well, with our love of course," Johanna pushed him down on the bed then and kissed him madly.

ringing up

2008-09-23T01:13:00.004-05:00

Drex had to go out.

"I won't be long," He promised Johanna.

"Take as much time as you need," she hated being this burden. Is that all she was to be to anyone?

She traipsed back to the kitchen and looked inside the fridge. She did so love having an ice box. Big too. Plenty to eat, as well. All sort of assorted meats and cheeses. Juice too. She looked at the bottle of champagne. She wished she had something to celebrate, but she didn't. Only her tummy was rumbling. She grabbed a slice of cheese. All this food and she could only come up with, a slice of orange cheese.

It was frustrating. All this modern convenience and still she was left with this hole in her heart that she could not fill. What was Anthony doing right now? Was he all right? Was he walking the streets at this moment, starving? How could she eat at a time like this? She tossed the cheese in the trash.

Just then the door bell rang. Drex must have forgotten his key. It wasn't like him to ring up. She couldn't think of anyone else.

She opened the door gingerly, expecting to find her housemate. But it wasn't so.

She couldn't help but stare. Did she know anyone who wore shades? Perhaps there was a loon on the lose who thought he was a celebrity of some kind. Maybe Kalso from That Seventies Show had a younger brother.

"Well?" She kept staring at this boy in his skully cap and shades.

"Johanna?"

"How do you know my name?" She was stunned.

"Can I come in?"

"I'm not sure." She pushed the door as if to close an intruder out.

"Its me," Anthony took off the shades then.

"Then for Gods sakes, don't just stand there!" She pulled him in immediately and pulled off his cap right then and gave him a hug.

"That's more like it." He choked, but she wouldn't let go.

the next step

2008-09-21T03:17:00.004-05:00

Anthony couldn't wait. Was he supposed to follow this fellow after his long and leisurily lunch with Lux? Was that the next step? Honestly, it might take all day.

Just then he notice Cher walking toward the library. He immediatly picked up the pace and bumped into her accidently yet with a purpose.

"What are you doing here?" He acted all surprised picking up the books he'd knocked out of her arms.

"Trying not to get mugged, evidently." She looked at him puzzled.

He pushed down his shades on his nose and smiled.

"Oh, its you, Leon's friend?"

"Yes, thats me." It didn't matter if she didn't remember his name.

"Tony?"

"Anthony, actually." He sighed. "Listen, I have a favor, sort of."

"Sort of?"

"I have this surprise for Lux and-"

"And Jonah?"

"Yeah, Jonah, that's his name, I keep forgetting. " He gave her a quick smirk."I keep forgetting his address in the building too. Can you tell me?"

"Sure."

Anthony smiled brightly. He'd finally found his ticket, and he was on his way. He just hoped somebody was home.

oh so very

2008-09-19T01:08:00.005-05:00

Johanna was having quite the fun with all the thrills in Drex's mother's closet. It was unbelievable.

One moment she was trying on striking blue boots. The next moment she was wrapping herself up in a fake fur. The colors were just lovely, she thought at she touch gold gowns and precious fabrics. She didn't know this could make her so happy.

Of course, suddenly she thought of Anthony and felt so sad that she practically wept, but not on the clothes, but on the bed where she hugged a huge pillow.

What would he think if he knew? He'd say she was quite pathetic and had no need for him. This was not true. She'd take him over any of this gorgeous mess. It was enticing. But she really needed her Anthony.

Johanna closed her eyes and prayed. She prayed as hard as she could that nothing awful had happened to Anthony. That he knew he could find her. He just knew he could if he kept trying. He had to keep trying. Damn him, he had to keep trying.

Then she felt horrible that she'd used such a term about him. She didn't mean it. She loved him. After all he was the one for her. No more waiting. Not another second. If she could have her Anthony Hope back, she was waiting for nothing, but Anthony. And she just hoped it was soon. Very soon.

does he or doesn't he

2008-09-17T02:46:00.004-05:00

Drex brought Johanna some pizza he'd ordered in.

"Really, I think you need to get out and take in some sights while you're here," he told her handing her a paper plate of cheese pizza.

"That would be nice," She was pleased with the pizza. It was warm and gooey and so tangy. She bit into it. She still couldn't believe this beautiful room.

"I need to ask you something," Drex then said hesitating to even eat his own slice of pizza.

"Yes?"

"Did my brother ever touch you?"

Johanna chewed her pizza slowly. She thought of being grabbed. His fingers over her mouth. The ride on the horse in the middle of the dark and being ran with through the streets of New York.

She shook her head, no.

"You don't have to be afraid to tell me," Drex said.

"Its so complicated," Johanna told him. "I don't love him. I never will. Maybe he actually knows this, but he thinks he did a good thing, bringing me here. I don't know what he wants of me. Actually. Possibly, he can't decide. You say he has a girlfriend, maybe he really has feelings for her." Johanna nodded.

"No, he only wants her money," Drex shrugged.

on the prowl

2008-09-15T03:31:00.002-05:00

Anthony was pretty sure he was an amateur at this spy stuff. He was sure no one would ever pay him to do it. Although, it was pretty easy to watch Lux from a distance. She wore such a striking outfit, and she was pretty much happy to see everyone.

She sat out in the open waiting at a table for her boyfriend.

Anthony was across the way on the plaza looking through art, people wanted to sale. He saw someone was selling hats and caps they'd actually made. So he handed over the fifty-bucks that Leon had spared him and put a black scully on with the red anarchy A crocheted into it. He just knew the A was for Anthony. He turned then to spot someone sitting with Lux finally.

Anthony almost crashed into some paintings leaning against a wall then. His eyes lit. Could it be who he thought it was? He froze.

What was he supposed to do?

1. walk over and grab Jonah by the throat and choke him until he told him where Johanna was.
2. get a dart gun and poison Jonah immediately and get him to tell the truth that way.
3. stay put and hope to God that Jonah didn't recognize him.

Anthony bought shades then and put them on.

With the money he had left he bought a hot dog and soda. He was going to somehow figure out where Jonah lived in his building.

a room

2008-09-14T01:14:00.004-05:00

"I think its time to have your own room," Drex announced while Jonah went out to lunch.

"But won't Jonah be mad?" Johanna wondered.

"Let him. You deserve your own room. And we've got the room. Its not that often you get this much space in New York."

"But I don't even have a job," Johanna bit her bottom lip. When she thought about it, she wondered what sort of skills she really had. She was sort of well read, only she hadn't read so much lately, had she? It had been ages since she'd picked up a book.

"You're a guest. You should have a guest's room. Except, I'm afraid you're stuck with my mother's room." Drex lead the way down the hall. When he opened the door, Johanna couldn't believe her eyes. It felt like a library. So many books along one wall. Yet the place was still light and airy from the tall windows.

"I can't believe it!" The soft pink carpet was cushy on her toes. She couldn't help but smile as she walked across the floor.

"Well, that isn't all," Drex promised as they past by the huge bed with the delicate quilt in pinks and browns. He opened another door that lead them to the majestic dressing room. A bathroom with a great soaking tub.

Johanna could never dream of a palace or a castle ever having so much.

"Did I mention her closet?"

Johanna's eyes just got bigger. Her jaw dropped. The closet just went on and on. It was unreal. Shoes, boots, purses, coats, dresses. Johanna had never seen so much elegant attire in her life.

"This is like Christmas everyday!" She gasped.

"Maybe you should try some things on. She was about your size."

"Oh, I couldn't." She shook her head, no. "Where is she?"

"I'm not quite sure," Drex sighed. "My brother won't say."

Johanna bit her upper lip then. Was it possible Jonah took people back in time, as well?

at the uni

2008-09-12T04:34:00.003-05:00

"Oh, my God," there went Lux again.

Anthony still wasn't sure what he could say to her. It was just as well to avoid each other. In fact it was really easy to do. He spent most of his time with Leon. Really, he didn't want her to figure him out, that he was presumably a fake. Fake ID. Even his schedule was someone else's schedule at the Uni. It was really easy to skim by. So to speak, except to be in these sticky situations as of now. Put on the spot about God knows what.

For starters he shoved his hands in his khakis. Since usually, Lux had three conversations going at once. She was always on her cell for one thing, and Cher was always nearby like an assistant. It felt as if he was part of a business than anything else. Maybe if he walked on from this conversation on the plaza at the university all would at least be safe for a little bit longer.

"Wait," she called after him, but could barely pick up speed in her stiletto boots. As usual, she wore the extreme fashionable. While Anthony was in one of Leon's itchy gray sweaters with a white t-shirt underneath saving his skin from a rash, he supposed.

Anthony sighed and stopped wishing he had Leon here to save him with some suave crap about how beautiful she was. But really, that was not on his mind.

"Yes?" He did his best to be pleasant enough.

"If I didn't have to meet my boyfriend for lunch, I'd ask you to come along, but as it is, its been ages since I've seen him." It was a good enough excuse for Anthony. He really didn't need one. He was fine on his own. And it really didn't bother him to walk so much, either, he quite enjoyed getting to know the park, the Uni. It was just there was this hopeless thread tugging at him. He might never see Johanna, again.

"I understand completely." Anthony nodded. Now get out of my face, he wanted to say, but as usual there was always more. Always. Once Lux got started. It was if she hadn't a clue of the time nor the rush of things. She was on a Lux schedule so just be patience until she was through.

"You are adjusting, aren't you?"

"Of course," he smiled.

"I just see you with Leon, haven't you met anyone yet?" She seemed concerned.

"Oh," Did it matter if there was someone? He wondered then. Did she think there was something going on with he and Leon? "There's someone back home, in fact. We, uh, e-mail each other, all the time. Constantly. "

"Long distance relationships must be so hard. My boyfriend is in the same building and I rarely ever see him," Lux almost giggled.

"That's New York for you." Something was in his eye then. Yikes, she probably thought he was winking.

"Well, I gotta go." She waved with a smile then.

He put his finger over his eye. "Bugger." He squinted harder. It did hurt. Was something happening to him here he didn't know of? He sneezed then. This was all he needed. A cold. He walked away then going no where. Wishing he had a clue where to go next.

He turned back, he could see Lux in the distance she hadn't gotten very far. If nothing else, he'd follow her. Find out just who the mystery boyfriend was in her building. This might turn out interesting. Anthony had nothing better to do.

warnings and other lies

2008-09-11T03:48:00.004-05:00

"Its against the law," Drex warned. "You didn't kidnap her, did you?"

"Of course, not." Jonah rolled his eyes. "I just don't think you needed to butt your nose in where it doesn't belong!"

"Stop drugging her, for starters," Drex told him. "Joey, is perfectly fine. And frankly, I don't know how she can even stand it here. Especially, if you let things go on like this."

"What has she told you?"

"Nothing." Drex stared at him expecting him to give nothing away. "It would be easier if you just eased up, you know, if she has to be here, then let her have her own life. Don't keep her hostage in your room."

"Fine." Jonah crossed his arms.

"Lux keeps calling. She hasn't heard from you. She sounds desperate. I have no idea why," Drex smirked.

"I'll deal with her. Just let me handle that." Jonah heaved as if he really had no time for any of them. As if they were small fish to fry. He couldn't let the big stuff get away.

"Well, don't wait too long," Drex stared back at his brother. "You still plan on marrying her, don't you."

"In time, in good time," Jonah let it go at that, he was on his way to his room just then.

Drex caught Jonah's arm. "Don't you hurt her, don't you dare lay hand on her!"

"I'm not," Jonah winced. "I just need to get a few things cleared up, that's all. You'll see, we'll be one happy family. We will."

Drex wondered how long Jonah had been believing that lie.

digressing

2008-09-09T03:38:00.004-05:00

Johanna was sure Jonah would go spastic once she knew of her and Drex.

Although, it was quiet innocent. As of yet, he hadn't asked to take her anywhere. As it was, she felt a bit safe at the moment with Drex around. She so wanted to keep it that way. If she ran now, where would she go? She had no sense of direction as it was. It would be impossible to even want to leave, and yet she did, but only with Anthony.

She dreamed he was here. Somewhere close, in fact. If only it were true. She so hoped it was.

At least Drex had gone out to find her a few things. Like a soft pink track suit and comfy socks. He'd been sweet enough to bring her a whole tote of perfumes, soaps, stuff for her hair. It felt like Christmas. And he'd wanted nothing in return.

She so wanted to trust him. She wished she didn't have to count on so much from the kindness of strangers. From what she could see on what they called the "television" she was definitely not a modern girl. Independence was definitely not her middle name.

Of course, it didn't help much to over hear the row Jonah got into with his brother when he found her not in his room, but on the couch in the livingroom watching 'Clueless' on cable.

She'd digressed she supposed so she went running back to his room and faked sleep as she usually did. Really, she wanted nothing to do with him. Nothing. Didn't he know that already?

lucky Leon

2008-09-07T01:40:00.005-05:00

Anthony supposed Leon had taken him under his wing. He showed him all the cool hangouts around. Places he went. Anthony didn't suppose he'd find Jonah nor Johanna in any of those holes ... where they did spoken word on stage or trendy bookstores full of erotica fiction. There was even a shop where Leon loved to do his laundry. You could watch a peep show while you waited.

It was all a bit unsavory, but after all, Leon was French, what else could he expect.

"So I guess you'd never have just the one to wait for then," Anthony didn't want to make a big deal out of it, but Leon certainly didn't seem to care what Anthony knew of him.

"I fucked her already," Leon grinned with satisfaction.

"Really?" Anthony's eyes lit. "Who?"

"Why, Lux, of course, you'd think it never happened, but she gets rather persuasive after a drink or two. She's such a slut. Would you like to have a go at it with her?"

"No, no, I have someone I'm in search of, in fact." Anthony nodded. "Do you know how I could go about such a matter?"

"Hard to say, is she in cognito?"

"Possibly, I'm pretty sure she's with a man by the name of Jonah Heart."

"You think?"

"Well, thats the name he went by when I first met him." Anthony wasn't sure Leon would believe him if he told him about the time travel incident, how he got here to the streets of New York. Anthony supposed he was getting used to this place. Maybe. But it would never be home until he found Johanna.

back in Jonah's room

2008-09-06T01:25:00.002-05:00

Honestly, Drex had been a godsent, Johanna believed.

It frightened her at first to find him, but he'd brought her hot tea and cheese toast. Still she wanted nothing to do with Jonah. Yet, she felt sure she would have to answer to him once he got back.

"I feel as if I'm in a strange land. Its so different. I'm not sure what to make of it, you know. I must have forgotten a bit." There was so much she wanted Drex to know, but she wasn't sure she could trust him, completely.

"Well, this is New York City, you know," Drex said. "It can be rather hectic if you're not used to it. So where might you be from, London?"

Johanna just nodded. Her head still felt thick of drugs and sleep and she still felt week.

"I hope I fine someone soon," she then told him.

"Who?"

"A very old friend. I'm hoping he made it here," Johanna said. "Anthony Hope."

"A promising name, but I've never met the real one, only someone on broadway, perhaps playing his part in a musical." Drex smiled.

"A musical?"

"Yeah, Sweeney Todd, ever heard of it?"

She nodded. She didn't want to tell him that she'd met the real one.

getting covered

2008-09-05T02:53:00.006-05:00

Anthony wasn't so sure he could play the part. A student, perhaps. College?

It was baffling. He felt lost, even if Leon had given him jeans and nifty t-shirt to wear. Even sneakers. It all felt annoying and comfortable at the same time.

"What?" Leon looked at him.

Anthony had noticed all the stuff Leon had in his wallet.

"I'm afraid I don't have one of those."

"Did you lose it?" Leon looked at him while he was surfing the Internet.

"Precisely," Anthony winced wondering if Leon could do something about that.

"Are you telling me, you have no identity?"

"Quite possibly," Anthony nodded.

"You English," Leon just smiled liting a cigarette. "You know, my kind is your enemy. We French hate your wicked guts." His accent was thick. Suddenly, it was as if Leon could be himself around him. "Only we are the foreigners and we must stick together. I will help you with your problem. I, Leon LaCross will be your loyal friend."

He clicked into a computer program on his computer then and began a series of clicks and type ins.

"Well, thank you, Leon."

"So you need, what? The works?"

"Evidently."

Leon just smiled and went to work.

"But who are you?"

"I am Anthony Hope." Anthony told him.

"Anthony Hope? Why does that name sound so familiar?" Leon squinted, as he put a bit of ash in his glass ash tray.

"I'm not famous."

"No, no someone in literature. In a book, yes, I know I've seen that name in a book." Leon sounded so certain.

"Well, its not that it only belongs in a book, is it?"

"No, Anthony Hope it shall be," Leon gave him a smirk. "Remember, you'll owe me. But I got you covered."

stranger within a stranger

2008-09-04T01:37:00.004-05:00

Drex wasn't so sure he knew his brother, Jonah anymore. He'd been doing peculiar things, lately. Being away for weeks on end. Never saying where he'd been nor what he'd been up too. Now he had a girl in his room.

It was very hush hush.

Jonah would mention. "Jo's a bit sick from our travels. I think it would be better if you didn't wake her." But that was days ago. It was quiet. Drex was beginning to wonder if he'd drugged the girl. Maybe there was dead girl in his room.

It gave him the shivers. He was not so sure how to react to this situation. After all, classes at UNYC had just started up. He had no time to worry about his brother's excursions.

So now he'd acquired a foreigner of some kind.

"I don't know why she's so special, don't you have a girlfriend, already?" Drex questioned his brother.

"Johanna is not ordinary, like some around here. She's above all that crowd, you know what I mean?"

Evidently, not. But Drex didn't dwell on it. If he could just have half a chance to get her alone. His brother had to be out sometime. But as it was, he spent most of his time with Johanna behind a locked door.

Drex found himself listening intently through the walls. Were those murmurs of discontent? He didn't want to believe it, but he couldn't be sure. He just wanted Jonah to go to a class or something.

Finally, one day they left together for class. Drex was on his way to figure drawings while his brother needed to get to philosophy. They'd stopped for coffee at the nearby Starbucks. Drex didn't even ask if Johanna had classes. He knew his brother would lie to him. He'd figure out as much.

So they said their goodbyes. Drex decided to be late for class. He had to go back to the flat. He had to find out who this Johanna was. But unfortunately, his brother's room was locked.

This really unnerved Drex. Something was up.

He took the only skeleton key he remembered in the silverware drawer. It was time to figure this out. And without hesitation he unlocked his brother's bedroom door.

There was the beautiful pale blond, asleep on his brother's bed.

Drex touched her hand. She was cold. But she was breathing. He looked around and saw his mother's sleeping pills. Evidently, Jonah had been doing a bit of doctoring.

Drex frowned with a squint. He really knew nothing about his brother. He was a stranger to him doing strange things to obviously, strange women. Evidently. Drex didn't know what to do.

the bitter sweet end of it.

2008-09-03T01:40:00.002-05:00

Anthony felt a bit out of sorts. Not at all sure where to go first. Did he cross the street or would they have gone the other way? It was awful and his head was pounding. This was so not what he would be doing right now back at the roadhouse.

He'd be getting a fire going in the kitchen. There would be coffee beans to roast. And lord knows, now much bacon to slice. A bit of him was glad to be here instead of there. Maybe. She had to be here. Johanna had to be, but it was at a loss. He felt like a crumb lost in an ants nest. So many people. So much noise. It was a little horrifying. Strange, to say the least. Just where had he ended up, anyway?

Finally, Anthony managed across the street and found a Starbucks. He just looked at the sign thinking it peculiar. He decided to walk on a few blocks. There was another. Had he just been here?

His heart was pounding. This was infuriating. It would be quite impossible to find a solution to this dilemma. Yet he, had to catch on like the others. Look straight ahead. Not to bother with a smile nor a question. Just move on. It was quite ridiculous in his book. Really, were they zombies, had they been cursed?

Anthony was at his wits end. Thinking, he'd go into this Starbucks, or perhaps he'd just sit and think at the steps of the Brownstone nearby. What was he to do? What could he ask without it seeming odd or perplexed.

Was he lost for good?

"Oh my God," A young lady approached him who came out of Starbucks carrying a large drink in her hand. "You finally made it, didn't you?"

"I suppose." Was that a good enough answer?

"Well, where are your bags?"

"My valise?"

"Oh my God, you are such a foreign exchange student, Tony, I'm gonna love listening to you." She smiled. She walked up the steps then and opened the door to the brownstone.

"Well, what are you waiting for, come on up?" She waited.

Anthony gave her a slight shrug and wondered what he was getting himself into. She seemed to know someone named Tony, evidently. He didn't want to dare tell her he preferred to be referred to as Anthony.

They road up the elevator together. Anthony thought his knees would completely buckle. He felt butterflies in his stomach. He wasn't exactly in an attire for travel, now was he? Just an undershirt and suspenders with the only black pair of pants that he could call his own.

"Lux?" She nodded. "Remember talking to me on the phone?" She stared at him intently.

"Of course," he went along with what ever she said.

She lead him into the flat then. There was a girl with dark hair tapping away feverishly on her laptop and a silly looking lean fellow with a cigarette behind his ear, reading a book on the sofa.

"Our foreign exchange student finally made it, guys!" Lux said with enthusiasm, but the other two paid her no mind.

"That's Leon," Lux pointed to the young man on the couch with his book. "He's just Canadian. And here's Cher, who I've known since fifth grade."

Anthony just nodded.

"Leon, Tony's bags didn't make it, you think you could help him with some clothes and things?" Lux looked at Leon as if he better have the right answer.

"Of course," Leon looked up at Tony then. Got up and shook his hand.

"You'll be sharing a room with Leon." Lux then nodded.

Leon then lead Anthony across the pink room where the glass French doors were. There was a study with a library of books and just beyond that was their room and a bathroom all in a sharp lime green. It was much more modern than the front room. It almost felt like a different apartment.

Really, Anthony couldn't believe his luck. The room was big enough for the two of them. Of course, he'd be sharing it with Leon.

"I don't believe I've ever met a Canadian, before," Anthony then said.

"It must be your lucky day." Leon grinned and handed Anthony a pack of cigarettes. "She won't let you smoke in the livingroom."

tomorrow's promises

2008-09-02T02:44:00.006-05:00

Really, Johanna wasn't that amused with Jonah Heart. Honestly, he was no Count, definitely not anything to put Sir in front of. She thought him more of a thief. And it pained her to think Anthony thought she'd been taken in by him.

She was certain he'd stolen silver from the roadhouse. She'd wanted to take care of it herself. But evidently, Jonah had something else in mind, and it all seemed so horribly complicated at the moment. Why had she gone to his room after Anthony had gone to sleep?

Really, it was impossible to sleep here for starters. And she hadn't really meant to go to his room. She'd heated warm milk and he'd wanted some.

What a start to a sleepless night.

"Oh, you, thank me," Jonah had told her with that impish grin of his. Before she knew it, he was carrying her out the door. It was the worst night of her life. Or was it? Johanna was beginning to think, possibly she didn't deserve a marvelous night. She was no princess, after all.

She'd prayed that Anthony would come for her. He was there. She saw him in the shadows. She saw him. He was there.

But now that world was gone.

Now the racket of the bombardment of noise invaded her ears. She could hardly stand this hell Jonah had brought her too. And no Anthony in sight.

How could this have happened?

Jonah wouldn't let up with the brisk walk they took once they got out of the manhole. They passed shops with bright lights. A couple of Starbucks. A flower shop, past a book store and on they went. She hardly had a chance to look. But he seemed to know where he was going. The brownstone. It looked so ancient yet modern.

And then there were the stairs. Lots of stairs. It was never ending with the winding stairs. And he would not let go. Would not.

Johanna was out of breath. She could barely move. Finally, he pushed her inside an apartment at the top of the stairwell. She fell to the floor weak and in a sweat while he snapped all the locks in on the door.

"Welcome to my world," Jonah said with a cruel smile.

Johanna just looked up at him, dizzily.

"You'll never want to go back. Never." He told her.

She was too weak to answer. All she could think of was Anthony. She prayed he was somewhere out there. He had to be. It was all the faith she needed. And then she collapsed.

deep in the city

2008-09-01T01:20:00.005-05:00

At first Anthony felt gravity catching him. Almost. It was a slow fall in to the burning light, and after while it felt he'd sucked in to a hole of sorts. All he could bare to do was keep his eyes shut.

It felt as if his body was shattering into pieces yet coming back together.

The next thing he knew he was at the bottom of the dank sewer. He thought he was back underground London town. It was quite disgusting.

Anthony picked himself up and looked around shivering from the dark sight around him. What had he fallen into?

He could hear something above though. A noise he couldn't quite decipher. It wasn't horses hooves. Exactly. It was a noise. A great noise. He kept looking for a possibility above. Finally, he found a metal ladder and pushed himself up toward the street. He hesitated to find out his future though, just behind the round metal shield. But he couldn't waste time here. How far ahead were they? Did they end up in the same sewage system he did?

Finally he forced himself up into the bright daylight.

Anthony was wide eyed as he got out of the street hole. He'd never imagine so much activity, and he'd been to many busy streets in different countries. But these were cars with motors and tall buildings about. It made him dizzy as he turned around.

"What is this place?"

He was definitely not in Merry Old England, anymore.

There's a hole in my heart

2008-08-31T01:05:00.007-05:00

Anthony crept behind them like a spy. They'd gone off the beaten track and whom ever held on to Johanna muffled her voice. He could hear her trying her best to get away, but it wasn't happening.

Finally the highwayman lit a torch. His face shown. It was Jonah Heart. Anthony could see that Heart warned her with the fire to keep quiet. He was sure Johanna's face might burn. It grieved him so and with a sigh he went on to follow the two into a hole in the ground. Perhaps more or less a cave, a crack in the mountain, as if.

It was quite breath taking and horrid at the same time. Anthony couldn't take his eyes off the place. Perhaps, Jonah Heart was about to show her what he was made of. All his gold and riches. He would win her over, and Anthony was quite sure he'd never hear of Johanna again. Had she been that blind by him? Was she none other than a materialistic girl at heart.

He shuddered to think as he watched and quietly went down the path behind them. Somehow he'd find a way to get his love back. He had to. There was no choice in the matter. They'd come this far.

But as they went down the path, it was the golden wall that took him most by surprise. What was that? An oracle of some kind. Glowing like a glistening door.

It hurt his eyes to watch.

"In God's name stop!" Anthony finally made known that he was here and this could go no further.

But he just saw the sinester grin on Heart's face.

"I can show her a real life," Heart scowled. "So much more than that petty hell hole you call home, Hope. Give it up! She's mine!"

"How dare you say you own her!" Anthony bit back. "She is not a thing! Let her go! She is not to be handled that way!"

If only Anthony had had his pistol with him, Heart would be dead by now.

"Get a life! Hope!" And with that they vanished together into the glowing light.

Anthony ran up to the shimmering door, and stared into space with a grimace. He took a deep breath. Where ever they were going, he was going too.

onward

2008-08-30T15:41:00.004-05:00

It was deep into the night, possibly morning when Anthony awoke. He noticed the bed was colder than usual. Suddenly, it set in that Johanna might be ill. He'd hoped it wouldn't happen. She did live a shelter life away from diseases. It was quit possible that she didn't have the ammune system than he had built over time from going to foreign places and trying new things. But he had hoped she would have been healthy enough to endure.

He lit the candle and saw that she was gone. She had left in the cold black darkness of the night. How was that possible? She was a sound sleeper and fell asleep fast after their long days.

Was she that angry with him?

He dressed quickly and hurried up the stairs. No one was awake yet.

Anthony hated to feel in complete doom, but then he heard footsteps outside. Then he heard a horse about too. So he ran to the door opened it quickly and yelled, "Johanna!"

It was then in the moonlight he saw the traces of blond hair from the rider who was gallaping away. Someone had kidnapped Johanna.

Anthony's heart raced. What the hell was happening? Who would have taken his Johanna? It didn't seem real.

Quickly, Anthony found the first stead in the stable and took off on him bareback. No way could he let Johanna go this easlily. If he'd fought for her once, he'd fight for again. He must find that horseman before it was too late.

But there was only so much light from the moon. Anthony squinted hard and the stallian kicked his heels and went at top speed over into the damp meadow. Anthony was not all that far behind, but still he wished he was closer.

Finally the horse dropped its speed as if it had a certain place to find. Anthony quietly rode his mount closely behind. Where were they going? And what would they do once they got there?

where did our love go

2008-08-29T03:14:00.004-05:00

A terrible storm came. Anthony was sure it would blow them away, but instead the huge wooden door flew open and a stranger appeared.

He looked to be as old as Anthony. Perhaps older. He called himself, Jonah Heart. Of course, Anthony assumed he must be famous or at least rich by the coat he wore. He acted as rather a cad too. But Anthony didn't mention that to Johanna. Instead, his friendly manner made Anthony all the more furious.

Johanna had to wait on him and bring him lager and meat pies. He made her giggle. Actually, Anthony hadn't seen her smile like that in a very long time. It was rather annoying to have to contend with it. At least the master wasn't slapping her buttocks or pulling her into his lap from time to time when he enjoyed himself to much with the pub spirits.

Anthony supposed this too would pass. A stranger blowing through with the storm, no doubt. Still Anthony found him a little dark in his humor and especially, the way he looked at fair Johanna.

"I really wish you would not-" It made Anthony so sick he couldn't finish his sentence that night when he and Johanna went to bed. "Hopefully, he'll be gone by morn, and we'll never see that Jonah again."

"He wasn't that horrible, now was he?" She smiled handing him over a nugget of gold he'd given her. "And please don't say it was charity?"

"Of course not." Anthony sighed wondering where this was going? Is this all that would make her happy?

"I promise as soon as we can, we'll leave this place. I don't want our children growing up here," Anthony told her.

"Our children? Really, you want children?"

"Why, of course?"

"But we have to be married first." She made it sound that it couldn't possibly happen until then. This gave Anthony little hope that they would ever consummate their love until then.

"I just want us to be happy." Which was true. But really, he wasn't all so sure the marriage part was going to make him that happy, especially when they already shared a bed.

"Aren't we?"

"Are you daft? We are quite far from our happily ever after, now aren't we?" Of course, it was half the battle to keep her satisfied, it felt most of the time. She did have her priorities. And this was one sailor who wasn't nearly as lucky as his comrades sailing the seven seas these days.

"Are you saying its my fault?"

Honestly, he didn't want go to bed with an angry woman.

"Never." Anthony sighed. "I'm just saying we should be happy with what we have and throw caution to the wind." He kissed her pale neck then. She slightly flinched away.

"Its true then? You really want someone all dandy, in wigs and nice rings and a gold stitched coats." Anthony looked at her rather cross then and even lipped.

"You smell of meat fat and garlic," Johanna winced. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to be unkind."

They undressed into their undergarments and got in bed. Anthony rolled away from her and blew out the candle. Fat chance of rekindling anything tonight.

as the days go by

2008-08-28T03:04:00.005-05:00

It wasn't easy, getting in to a schedule. Getting up way before the crack of dawn just to get the fires going for pies and bread. Never mind roasting beans for coffee. It was never ending.

Anthony was afraid Johanna would grow ill quickly. She was not accustom to such short end of the stick, so to speak. It was a long day to surly endure. Sometimes, the tavern would have all night dances as well.

But at least there was a place to rest their head. Food in their belly's. Truly, it was not an easy task to survive in merry ole England.

"We should have hopped a ship or something to get us far far from here," Johanna complained laying next to Anthony in their straw bed.

"If there was a chance I could, I'd surly take it, luv," At least they had each other as the days grew cold, and there bodies still warm. He loved what little time they had together. Although, she usually went to sleep on him before anything good ever happened. And he kept telling himself, it was just as well. They were not man and wife. Hardly a boy and girl, or so it would seem to the master he'd been indentured too.

Still it worried him that some day the master would take his hand and take Johanna away from him. It was a nightmare that woke him from time to time. He'd lift his head just to see if Johanna lay next to him. When would such a feat end. Would it always be this way?

a job

2008-08-27T03:57:00.003-05:00

They'd found a roadhouse that was in dire need of help. At least they'd have room and board that way.

Johanna would be the chamber and beer maid and since Anthony had some experience in the kitchen, well, he was possibly the number one bottle washer and cook when needed.

"I dunno, will I get my hands dirty?" Johanna was none to pleased to see that Anthony would have to wear an apron, either.

"We've got to eat, hadn't we?" Anthony could very well buck up to that sort of work. It wasn't that awful.

"But you're a world traveler," Johanna reminded him.

"A world traveler who's a jack of all trades, sweetness," Anthony perked up one eyebrow to his darling that she'd better hush and get with the program.

"But I've never made a bed before?" It was true. She really hadn't had to do much in her simple life but be a caged bird for the most part.

"You'll catch on quick," Anthony promised. She'd see, even if the hard work existed, at least they had each other.

"We'll have our own room." Anthony told her even if was under the kitchen. "Its a start?"

what would you do

2008-08-26T03:49:00.001-05:00

Dear Mr. Todd,

I take it I won't be hearing from you, but if I could, could you tell me, what would you do in my shoes?

I am but a sailor and I know not of your wit or perhaps even will. But I have this wish that every man dreams of. To be in love with one true love.

But what to do? How does one focus on the future with such a calloused life? What skills do I know other than knots? So easily can I bind them, but to untie them is rather a different, story entirely.

I am at a loss, except not at sea just at this tide of life bringing me back to who I was...just a boy in a grim country that offers no one much of an inheritance when you come from hoodlums and gypsies.

I dare not tell this tale to lovely Johanna or she might break in to. She thinks, me brave and must have the caviler of captains that I've only stood before to clean their decks and listen to their disgusting stories.

I was never a pirate. Always the last ship's mate who stayed on deck when the others went ahead to eat, drink and be merry with the seven deadly sins, or rather tarry until they were too stupid to come back to the ship. Even then it was all work to sober them up, to get on with things.

Yes, I've done my share of slopping the poor fools after mead had got the best of them. For all I know ...is how to make a descent shepherd's pie in the galley kitchen. I can feed two hundred and five on a good day.

And the rest of the time, I can just give them the nasties if they don't behave themselves.

What will become of me on dry land?

If you could think of an answer, I'd surly listen.

Mates Eternally,
A. Hope

little love note

2008-08-24T04:40:00.003-05:00

Dear Lord,

Who will I write to in these days ahead? No one? For I am starting a new life with Anthony Hope.

I must have been mad.

Well, I was in a mad house.

He makes me want to sing. I can't help myself to be drawn to him. I thought it true last night while I was in the hay with him. It was brilliant!

I was not a bore. Yet not a harlot, but he does maketh me quiver. Ah, if only I had been educated properly instead of sent to live in that horrible man's house all these years I might be a romance novelist by now.

I should not pity myself. Because I could have had a rather wretched existence in a workhouse with orphans.

Tis true, I have been blessed by my Anthony Hope. I shall never give up Hope, for I have kissed it and I shall honor it.

Just get me to a priest quick, a country preacher would do.

I feel a burning desire to be with no other. Where will this little journey take us?

I heart Anthony,

Johanna

a most uncertain time

2008-08-23T19:24:00.003-05:00

"How did the story go?" Anthony still wasn't sure if he knew all of it. Just parts of it. He knew what he wanted and he knew how to get it, but that seemed so out of the question now.

"Remember how frightened I'd been in that horrible place up above the meat pie establishment?" Johanna shivered.

"Well, that was only yesterday, you know." Anthony shrugged as they walked on from the throng.

"It was a massive blood bath," Johanna shivered more and Anthony gave her a good hug.

"Well, that's all over, we shall forget of ever being there." Of course, they hadn't a place to call their own and damn if they didn't miss their carriage to take them away from all this.

But as it had been, she'd ran out on him. He didn't make it in time to get back to Mr. Todd's. The coppers were all around.

God, he just about broke out in song when he didn't find her. It was as if all this was for nothing. How could it have been.?It was so awful. Then to find the meat pie establishment was just as well, human sacrifices.

Oh, it turned Anthony's stomach when he heard the entire ordeal. And then to walk the streets hoping to find the blond lass who was the love of his life, it was torture.

"I really was afraid you were gone for good? Next thing you'd be in the workhouse, and I'd never see you, again, luv." That he knew.

But as luck would have it, he'd passed by a carriage house just beyond the market and he thought it was time to take a rest since there was no way he felt like eating or the like. And...

"Aren't you glad I manage to wait at the stables. It was just a hunch, you know, and who would find me? You." Now it was a sigh of relief.

"A lady in waiting, at a stable," Anthony grinned then not having a clue how far they'd walked from the city, nor where they might be going. "And I took it, you the posh type, you know. It was rather refreshing."

"You almost fainted." Johanna pushed her hand into his as if they were meant to be. And they were, weren't they? They'd left all that bloody London stuff behind them. Hadn't they?

"As if I had time to eat with so much to do to make way for our great escape?"

"And where was it, we'd be now?"

"Puking our guts out, I suspect on a ship destined for America."

"Or Spain, some old place where we could grow old, don't you think?" She smiled, dreaming a dream to avoid being fatigued.

"But we must marry first? Before its too late."

"Of course, that is what you've saved your money for," Johanna shot him a look. "I certainly don't ask for much, you know. Just you. You alone."

"As if I travel in pairs, luv," Anthony smiled. "Then we shall be married at the first opportune time."

But as it looked in the misty valley before them, they'd have to keep the stride up for the rest of the day with only a few crumbs to call their own. Why did traveling by land have to be so ghastly?