Date: Wed, 20 Dec 2000 21:25:48 -0800
From: mistress_n9@juno.com
Subject: The Hands of Time chapter 1

Disclaimer: do I REALLY have to do this again?! Not real, never
happened. I don't know the celebrities in this story. I certainly am not
them. Too proud to be a girl.

Author's welcoming: Hello. I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaak...Thought you've seen
the last of me, haven't ya? I promise this one is better than my first
one. At least, I hope so. -_-;

Oh well...Oh! I almost forgot! This takes place in late 1800s and early
1900s. I also do not know if London was cruel against gay people.

The Hands of Time; Act 1, Scene 1:

*~London, England. 1892.~*
A blonde man looked up and down the dark streets of London and ran
towards and all too familiar mansion. The mansion was mostly empty but
all the candlelights were on. He knocked a secret knock on the door.
Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat. The door swung open as the blonde man was ushered
in. all of the windows were shut with blinds and curtains.

The Latino man that lived in the mansion was immediately pulled into a
passionate embrace. "Oh Howard, I thought the day would not end." The
Blonde man began to cover the Latino man's face with kisses.

"I know, Nickolas." He kissed the blonde man. "I know. Did anyone see or
follow you?" he asked carefully.

"No." Nickolas, again, kissed Howard. "I'm not sure that I would be able
to keep this secret any longer." He grinned. "My boss asked if I had a
woman at home to get to since I couldn't wait until I got out of that
bloody office."

Howard smiled at his lover's situation. "Let us just revel in this
moment that we have together. It is the--"

"Exact day that we fell in love with each other two years ago. I love
you with all my heart, Howard."

"And I you, Nickolas." He held Nickolas tight.

*~1890~*
"Mr. Dorough!" a man called out. Howard Dorough turned around to see a
blonde boy, almost a man, ran up to him. "Mr. Dorough, you dropped your
wallet."

"Thank you, Mr..."

"Carter. Nickolas Carter." He stuck out his hand as he gazed into the
chocolate brown eyes, which belonged to Howard. "I work for Mr.
Scrooge."

"Ah yes, a bitter fellow isn't he?" he laughed.

"Yes, he is. But he has changed since last Christmas." Nickolas
whispered. "He's kinder than Mr. Pearlman."

Howard's nose wrinkled at the mention of Louis J. Pearlman's name. "Yes,
I've worked for him. Cruel fellow. Would you like to come over to just
talk?" he asked.

"Oh, I would!" Nickolas replied joyfully.

"Good." He handed Nickolas a piece of paper. "Here's my address. I'll
see you tomorrow promptly at noon."

"Doesn't your wife that it is too early?" he asked.

"My dear boy, I have no wife." Nickolas noticed that Howard wasn't
ashamed that he hasn't a woman to run his household. He watched as the
Latin man walked away.

That next day, Nickolas waited outside the large mansion to admire it
before he knocked on the door. Knock. Knock. Sure enough, Howard
answered it with a smile. "Won't you come in, Mr. Carter?" he asked.

"Thank you." He entered as Howard took his hat and coat. "It is wondrous
mansion. It is a shame to live without a wife."

"Nickolas, have a seat." He motioned the chair in the living room.
Nickolas sat down and continued to gaze at anything except for Howard's
kind, brown eyes. The exact same eyes that sparked some sort of
wonderful fire within his heart. "So, Nickolas, tell me about yourself.
Do you have a wife or girlfriend of your own?"

Nickolas' attention finally came back to earth. "Um...no. I tend to
prefer..."

"To prefer what?" he asked. He loved the way the young man lightly
blushed, the way that the light had somehow reflected off of his golden
hair, the way his blue eyes sparkled when they met his.

"Um...I tend to prefer men rather than women." Nickolas whispered. "I'll
go now." He got up but Howard pushed him back down before devouring his
lips. Nickolas' eyes closed in the sweet feeling of another man's lips
upon his.

Howard broke the kissed and leaned his forehead against Nickolas'. "It
just so happens that I do too." Howard laughed.

*~1892~*

They heard shouts. Angry shouts.

"Get out of London, you faggots!" shouted angry countrymen. Rocks were
thrown into the once glorious mansion. Bricks shattered the beautiful
glass windows.

"How did they find out?" they whispered to each other with fear evident
in their voices. They both knew that the end for them was near. They
hugged each other tight as the men outside lit their house on fire.

The smoke didn't bother them. They held each other close as their death
came closer and closer. Hot flames danced around them like fire demons.
"Howard Dorough, promise me that you will love me in our next life just
as I will love you?"

"Yes, Nickolas Carter, I will. I will love you forever more." Howard
replied with tears in his eyes.

The townsmen watched as the entire house burned to the ground. They also
saw four angel-clad girls pull out two souls.

*~Gate of Time~*
"What do we do with them now, Vesta?" asked Pallas.

"We put them in the future where they can't be killed because of their
sexuality. Drop off Dorough first. Celes and I will drop off Nickolas."
She opened a portal. "This portal leads to Orlando, Florida. The date is
August 22, 1973. Drop him here." Pallas and Juno threw the soul into a
baby born to Paula and Hoke Dorough.

Celes opened another portal. "This portal leads to Jamestown, New York.
The date is January 28, 1980." She tossed in Nickolas' soul into a baby
born to Jane and Robert Carter.

"Now what do we do?" asked Pallas.

"We wait for Aphrodite's order." Vesta replied. They watched as the two
former lovers grew up. "We also wait for the right time to get them
together."

TBC...

I kno I'm being evil to the ones who read the story. Email me:
Mistress_N9@juno.com
Comments. Suggestions. Food. Life. Big Words. Anything. Just let me know
people are reading this stuff. Write THOT or The Hands of Time in the
subject.