Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The first time Wilbur saw Violet he had accidentally trapped himself into the past. Finding himself dragged away from the time machine and forced on a field trip with her class, he was happy to see a lot of animals and sea creatures that were extinct during his time. It helped that she hid in the back of the line so he drew less attention to himself.

He found that he enjoyed her smile and her ideas on life. He knew he was smitten the moment he saw her eyes light up looking at a rather large Octopus. It was extinct during his time. In fact most sub species of Octopus were gone. Still watching as she gushed over and over about different tidbits and facts, made him think maybe it wasn’t so bad to be stuck in the past.

He was a little jealous though. She had a huge Crush on who he found out to be called Tony Rydinger. Sadly there wasn’t anything Wilbur could exactly hate about the boy. He was nice, and somewhat funny, He made sure everyone was noticed, even Wilbur to his annoyance, and even Wilbur could admit in the right lighting he could be somewhat charming.

Still a challenge was a challenge and he made sure to have this day be the best Violet had ever had.

He told her he was new in town and was accidentally mistaken for one of her classmates, she offered to take him on a tour of the city after school.

Wilbur never thought the 1960s could be fun, they weren’t as advanced as the 3000s, they still had shows in black and white, and things were much, much slower. Still his time spent with Violet made it better, he was even able to get true original milkshakes. The simple chocolate was far better than the fake thousands of flavors in his time period.

She laughed at him when he got a brain freeze from a popsicle. Wilbur learned that he loved hearing her snort with laughter and wanted to keep hearing it.

They had a small debate about whether man could actually go to the moon, and Wilbur had to stop himself from showing her that not only would they go to the moon but they would have an amusement park on mars.

Wilbur never considered the music of the 1960s to be his type but he found joy in watching as Violet softly hummed to the music of the radio. She told him she had a weakness for 1920s back when her parents grew up. She remembered before her brothers were born dancing around the living room on her dad's toes to songs like that.

Violet was able to find a station playing a song she was familiar with from the 1920s and Wilbur had to admit he liked this style a lot better. He was sure his mom would be interested in having her frogs perform some classics.

He wasn’t sure how but they ended up spending most the day at The Happy Platter, just learning about one another. He should have been using this time to fix his time machine, but there was just something about this girl that he couldn’t shake.

Maybe it was the way she carried herself, careful but still cautious, maybe it was the sparkle in her eyes that promised something exciting, or maybe it was because no matter how hard he tried he just could not beat her in chess.

Wilbur prided himself on his intelligence and losing to her 5 times in a row was taking a huge hit to his confidence. Still he loved her smug attitude.

Of course he wasn’t stupid, he would probably never see this girl again after he found away home. Nor was he blind to the way she looked at Tony, yearning and sighing, a girl madly in love.

Wilbur never really considered a relationship, most girls in his time period knew him to be the son of the rich and famous Cornelius Robinson. He knew they weren’t all shallow people that wanted his money, but he always felt like his friends or people who wanted to get to know him only wanted him because of who his family was.

He never allowed himself to crush on another girl because of this, but here in this time line Robinsons inc. didn’t even exist, Inventco. was a small half baked tech firm that held no real power. There was no reason for Violet to talk to him other than the fact that she wanted to.

He appreciated it even if she wasn’t aware of what she was doing. He allowed himself to let his guard down, and notice how pretty she was. She was tall, taller than him actually, her black hair fell down her back while still constantly getting in her eyes. Her eyes were so blue that in some lights it looked like her namesake. She had a cute pudgy nose, but her eyes had bags under them probably due to lack of sleep. Her face had bumps and pimples, her nose was constantly red and Wilbur appreciated how real she looked and felt.

He found himself intrigued by how she explained things, and he was annoyed with how often Tony would just come over to chat. He noticed a lot of things about her. Like when she was embarrassed she would hide behind her hair. When she was confident she would hold her head up, when she was nervous she would smile and bite her nails.

He noticed all of these things, and even tried to impress her by destroying Tony and chess and the games placed around the restaurant. He liked how Violet would shake her head and smiled softly when Wilbur was showing off too much.

When The Happy Platter announced it was closing soon Wilbur was surprised at how dark it was outside, and how cold.

The future was full of bright lights that sometimes night was even brighter than the day. But here he looked up and saw the twinkle of stars a rarity in the future. It was rarely cold in the future, the building created by Robinson inc. off heat at night and in the colder months making sure everyone was comfortable and warm.

Wilbur realized he liked the cold. He also liked the stars; there were so many of them. He looked at Violet who was also looking up.

She smiled and talked about how bad the light pollution was becoming, she mentioned that she loved going camping just to see them better, Wilbur smiled when she offered him a chance to come one day.

They started to walk in an arbitrary direction. He followed her and she just walked, becoming one with the crowd. Wilbur noticed how everyone just walked around, no transport bubbles, no moving sidewalks, nothing. He found himself a little conflicted by it.

They found a park and just strolled along enjoying each other’s company.

She stopped and mentioned to him how embarrassed she felt, when he questioned her she simply said she enjoyed his presence and she wasn’t ready to leave his side yet.

She asked if that was dumb and creepy.

He laughed and said he felt the same way.

They started talking about the stresses of almost graduating and choosing which college to go to. They talked about their family, learning to drive and their passions.

He let her do all the talking nervous that he would say something wrong.

She mentioned how no one listened to her as long and as intently as he did.

Wilbur said he liked the sound of her voice and he was sorry if that weirded her out.

She said she heard weirder, and she liked his voice as well.

They ended their night around a small pond, Violet mentioned the floating candles on the water and how they reminded her of festivals during the summer. She told Wilbur he would love them.

They were quiet for a moment when Violet sighed very loudly.

She wanted to apologize if today felt like a date, that wasn’t her intention. She really just want to show him all the things she enjoyed about the city.

He told her it was ok that she succeeded in winning him over. This place was a lot different compared to his home.

When she asked him about his home he said he’d rather not think about it, and she nodded dropping the conversation.

They quietly watched the water. Wilbur felt a little down, as much as he enjoyed his time in the past he’d been grounded too many times for exploring it, there was no way he could visit Violet without getting into trouble. He also hated that he brought the mood down for the both of them.

He told her he wanted to make up for it and brought her a small flower instead.

She smiled and placed it in her hair.

They spent a few more moments walking around the pond talking before She placed her hand on his arm and grabbed his attention. She had to go home soon, but she didn’t need him to walk her home. She mentioned how much fun she had and she hoped that she’d see him soon.

He smiled and they both hugged each other goodbye. Her perfume lingered on his clothes long after she had left and he had finally fixed his machine.

Wilbur debated against himself even after making a decision in his heart. Violet was part of the reason he was coming back, but he fell in love with the atmosphere of the past, the quiet calm and all the creatures that no longer existed in his time. He would come back.

The more he thought about it the stronger his conviction was made. The blue eyes of a certain girl that kept smiling back at him made him want to come back even more, regardless of the trouble it might pose.

He shook his head smiling at the danger. He was Wilbur Robinson, he could talk himself out of anything.

Chapter Text

Violet woke up alone in the middle of the night, her husband's side of the bed was empty and cold. He never came to bed.

She sighed and looked at the clock on the wall.

3.34am

She knew where she would find him. She slowly made her way down the stairs to the basement where his “lab” was located. She watched as he continued fixing broken machines, tables and tables full of broken bots, and technology.

She regretted giving him a job at NSA She thought it would have been good for him, he loved to build and create, and since Robinson inc. was doing so well she thought a part time job at the NSA would have been like a hobby.

“Hey Will, Please come to bed.”

He didn’t hear her, he was in what he called “The Zone” where he could do nothing else but work.

She walked closer to him and gently placed her hand on his, stopping him from screwing the last part.

He looked at her, his eyes unfocused.

“Wilbur, come to bed.”

He shook his head and smiled at her “Hey Vi. what time is it?”

He looked around moving bits and pieces trying to find the watch he discarded an hour ago.

3.40am

“Oh, I'm sorry Vi. I guess i got a little carried away.” he kissed her hand and smiled. “I’ll come to bed when i finish this last laser gun.”

Violet frowned at him, and he sighed.

“Vi. I have to finish this. The NSA needs this.”

Violet rolled her eyes and pulled him out the chair.

Wilbur opened his mouth to speak, but Violet gently put her finger on his mouth. She held his face, rubbing the huge bags under his eyes.

He leaned into her touch.

“I don’t care.” She whispered. “Please Wilbur Please quit. I can’t do this anymore.”

Wilbur leaned his head on hers. “I can’t.” he replied just a softly

She closed her eyes, she knew why he wouldn’t quit, but she still had to ask. “Why”

“Because” He brought her hand to his lips “it's the only way i can protect you.”

“Wil--”

“I know you don’t need protection. But i can’t stay here and run the business knowing you are out here risking your life and there is nothing i can do about it.”

Violet laid her head on his chest, she felt him lay his chin on her hair. “Fixing the lasers, test dummies, anti gravity bots, whatever, fixing them makes me feel like i'm doing something. If i know their technology is up-to-date. I know that your safe, even just a little”

“And i can’t watch you fade away as you get lost in all this work.” She felt like a broken record. It wasn’t the first time they had this talk.

“ Will, you're shrinking. When was the last time you ate?”

He shrugged and ran his fingers through her hair. “I’m tired, and you're tired. I don't want to have this debate tonight.”

“Then please come to bed.” She rubbed his cheek staring into his tired eyes. Wilbur didn’t have any fight in him tonight. He softly shook his head and she led him through the dark house.

Violet bit her lip. She Knew why he was doing what he was doing, but she also knew the NSA didn’t care about him. He was a machine pumping out so much work and they would use him until he no longer breathed.

She was debating on her decision, it was something she had discussed with her brothers and her parents.

If Wilbur was going to work himself to death to make sure she was safe, then she would quit being a superhero. Jack-Jack agreed. Being one of the only members of the family to not be a hero, he was used to living a normal-ish life. Dash took a lot of convincing, but when he saw his brother-in-law one day, hollow and empty he nearly screamed.

It was true Wilbur was getting smaller, his once bright eyes were now sunk in holes, his gravity defying hair fell flat, and his award winning smile held no weight anymore. Dash agreed if to keep him safe, they would both stop being a hero.

When Violet brought this to her parents she was surprised by the responses. She expected her father to be fully against it and her mother to support her, but it was the opposite. Her father agreed without a second thought, he saw how bad the NSA had become and in his older years his super strength was evading him (even though he was stronger than most men at 60) Bob always valued the protection of his family, and Wilbur was no exception. It took both Bob, Dash Jack-Jack and Violet to Convince Helen. She felt there was so much more she could do in the world. So much more that her family could achieve, She didn’t want to give up fighting, she felt like she had nothing left to offer, washed up and old no longer needed. SuperHeroing was all she had left.

Bob was able to convince her that that wasn’t true, in the end the family put in their final days and Friday was the last. She didn’t tell Wilbur yet, but now was as good as any.

She helped Will strip himself of his lab coat and shoes. The exhaustion hit his body faster than he thought it would have.

She helped him sit on the bed changing him into his pajamas and looked once again into his dull eyes that used to hold the answers to everything.

“Will...”

“Yea Vi.”

His voice sounded so strained and Violet wanted to cry.

“I did something you’re not going to like.”

His eyebrow rose, and for the first time in a long while she saw her husband again.

“I’ve convinced my family to quit Superheroing. Our last day is friday”

Wilbur opened his mouth to speak but Violet cut him off

“I just can't stand to see you this way anymore. None of us can. I know you want to protect me but I want my Husband back. I want you to relax and be happy. I want your inventions and adventures to mean something again. I want you to find joy in building and creating. I miss you so much!”

Violet didn’t realize how much she was holding in until it exploded and all her feelings came out she was screaming and crying so hard her chest hurt.

“I want to take a vacation, me and you. I want to find us again. I want our spark to come back. I want passionate nights and real kisses again. No more pecks. I want to make out with you and feel your skin on mine! I want you to look at me like you used to like i was your world. I want you to tell me random facts about things you find interesting. I want to wake up in your arms again. I want us to be wild and crazy again! I can’t stand this anymore it hurts so much Wilbur! I want--”

Violet wasn’t prepared when Wilbur grabbed her by her waist and rolled her onto the bed knocking the wind out of her.

Wilbur caged her in his arms and wrapped his legs around her so she couldn’t escape, not that she wanted to.

He breathed in the smell of her hair and buried his face in the crook of her neck. “I want that too Vi.” His whole body was shaking with pent up emotions. “I miss you so much. I’ve missed you so much it hurts. I just didn’t know how to tell you to stop. Superheroing is in your blood” he cried “I didn’t….know how…...I just--i just couldn’t tell you to stop.”

He squeezed her tighter the sound of the room filled with soft gasp and sniffs. “Everyday, I was worried that you wouldn’t make it, that you would get hurt or die. I wanted to buy the NSA just so I could shut it down. I would have sold everything if it made sure you were safe Robinson inc. be damned. But i---i couldn’t ask it of you. Everytime you saved someone, everytime you were given awards or cheers and praises. I realized how selfish I was being. Each and every piece of fanmail you got was important. How could I take that away?”

His teeth chattered and he squeezed her more “i don’t know what you feel like anymore. I don’t know what your hair smells like anymore. Have you tried a new toothpaste? I don’t know. I couldn’t bring myself to kiss you because i felt like i was undeserving because of how selfish i was feeling. I’ve missed you Violet...” He cried

“Wilbur” She sniffed slowly, running her fingers in his hair. “I’m sorry.”

“No. Im sorry Violet. I think i started to internally blame you, and that wasn’t right.” he looked up at her and held her face in one hand “i married you because i love you. I should have communicated better. I should have told you how I was feeling. I’ve been neglecting you and myself and I'm sorry.”

Violet sat both of them up, and placed her forehead on his. “It doesn’t matter whose fault it is. We both know where we stand right now.” She smiled “Besides we are the Robinsons we take the punches and the hits and we Keep Moving Forward.”

Wilbur laughed and finally kissed her. A real kiss one they hadn’t had in a long while. He just had to wait till friday, he could do that. He could share her with the rest of the world for one last time. They would make it, and move past this. They were Wilbur and Violet Robinson, They would face any challenge that got in their way.

“Wilbur?”

“Yea Violet?”

“I love you.” Violet Smiled

Wilbur’s eyes shined bright once again. He laid them both down hidden under the cover of night. He’ll start sharing in the morning.

“I love you too”

Chapter Text

Violet was elated, the softness of his lips still engranded in her mind. She would never forget this moment. Never forget the feeling of his hands on her hips, the feeling of his hair tickling her forehead, the wet drip drop of rain as the sky opened up on them. She’ll never forget the feeling of opening her eyes and seeing his beautiful light brown hue.

Tony Rydinger kissed her and she was the happiest girl alive, all the stress and pain and annoyance she felt through the week vanished the moment she felt his warm lips touch hers. She didn’t think a kiss could mean so much, she was so shocked that she didn’t know what to do with her arms or hands. The tenderness she felt when he put her arms around his neck,when he pulled her closer by her hips and deepened the kiss. It made her forget about why she was so angry in the first place.

She knew it was about Wilbur, she was angry at him for some reason but she was so dumbstruck she couldn’t remember.

All she could focus on right now was the curve of his smile, soft and nervous. His dimples shined as the rain fell on them. She loved this man, she had to. She spent all of her teenage years focused on him, from freshman to senior year she hoped for his moment. His eyes sparkled shooting her right in the heart.

Thunder crackled and she looked up, she just kissed Tony Rydinger, she could feel her mouth turning into a huge smile. They were alone as far as she could see, the neon lights of the small stores around them hummed so softly, they bounced off of Tony’s face and she could see his mouth moving.

He was talking to her, but she couldn’t hear a single word from his mouth. She was hyper aware of the situation around them, chalk it up to her superhero training. His eyes were a much lighter shade of brown compared to Wilbur’s.

His brown hair was softer, longer, falling into his eyes the rain weighing it down. It wasn’t like Wilbur’s whose Jet black hair seemed so gravity-defying.

Tony’s hands were softer too, she memorized how they felt when he started to caress her face, still speaking words she was unable to hear. Wilbur’s hands were harder full of calluses due to his never ending inventions.

Even the smell was different, Wilbur always smelled of some kind of motor oil or gasoline, reminding her of his lab and tools Tony smelled of a warm kitchen, of food and comfort. She figured it was due to his family restaurant.

She briefly wondered if Wilbur would be just as soft and slow with his kisses. She doubted it, Wilbur never hesitated in going for what he wanted, he was always so sure of himself.

Tony held both her hands in his, his sweater vest soaked to the bone, he was rambling. She knew that but his voice was drowned out from the thoughts in her head.

Why was she thinking about Wilbur at a time like this? She couldn’t help it though, she always compared the two boys for some reason. She always mentaly pinned them against each other.

Tony was her ideal lover, perfect, sweet, kind, normal. Everyone knew about him, he was popular at school well known in the community. He was safe. Her brothers and parents had long since stopped with their teasing, it felt like they accepted him. If Violet was to date him she had a feeling her family would be ok with it. He was a good friend to her even if he didn’t know her biggest secret. He was expected of her, a nice young man who would take care of her and keep her safe and after years and years of pinning after him he Reciprocated her feelings

Wilbur was unexpected. He was imperfect, always making mistakes, he teased her and mocked her, he was honest with her, they argued and fought, He was always considerate of her, he was far from normal. No one knew about him. He was from the far future...or a different dimension, they hadn’t figured that part out yet. She assumed it was the far future. He lived in a time where technology was so advanced she couldn't even fathom some of the things she saw. Her brothers and parents didn’t even know he existed, she hid him from them. She was sure they wouldn’t accept him. He knew her biggest secret, he treated her just the same. He was an abnormality. He would constantly put her in danger and expect her to pull her own weight. She wasn’t sure what she felt for him.

She remembered the argument they had, he told her he loved her. She told him it would never work. He listed all the reasons it could, all the ways he thought about it. She told him it was impossible.

Nothing’s impossible

Violet’s face scrunched up slightly, who was he to tell her what was and wasn’t possible. What was she supposed to do? Pack up everything and go with him? Or was he gonna pop up out of thin air and live here in her world without any information or background to give to the government.

Nothing’s impossible she grumbled in her mind. She wasn’t even sure if she liked him in the first place. He was abrasive and rash and stupid and constantly throwing himself into danger and dumb and funny and crazy and caring and supportive and stupid and dumb and...and...and.

And she hated him for making her worry all the time and she hated him for that dumb goofy smile he always seems to have, and she hated him for his stupid hair and his nice voice and she hated him, She hated him!

Violet started to cry her tears mixing with the rain, the sudden warm touch she felt startled her and for a moment she wondered why the eyes staring at her were the wrong shade of brown Then she remembered Tony and the kiss.

Tony was smiling and crying too, and for once she could hear what he was saying.

“...I’m so glad you feel the same way. I was so nervous and scared that you would reject me Violet.”

She loved the man before her, so why did it feel like her heart was breaking in two. She was keenly aware of everything going on around her, his sweater vest and khaki pants that were usually perfectly neat and ironed was soaked and wrinkled, his shoes that normally shined to perfection were dirty and muddy. His hair that was styled the same way for years neat and orderly was messy and crazy looking.

He reached her wrist and gently touched the bracelet on her arm, the bracelet from the future. One she never took off ever. The one she matched with Wilbur, on the same wrist and the same tightness. Her only connection to Wilbur throughout time and space.

How would they make it work? She went to the future, she met his family, she loved his family. His aunts and uncles and cousin and grandparents and parents she loved them all in their zany crazy way of life. Franny was like a second mother to her, she adored Violet with all her heart. She loved the future and how colorful and bright it was compared to the past.

She loved the advancements in technology, in her time they just sent someone to the moon for the first time. In his there was an amusement park on mars.

She looked up when Tony touched her under the chin. He was leaning towards her for another kiss.

She sighed mentally, she loved Wilbur. She was having a hard time accepting it but she did, she loved him. But dang it Wilbur it just wasn’t possible.

She leaned in, just barely she heard something hit the ground, it was soft and unnoticed without superpowers. But she was kissing Tony again before she could react to it.

It just wasn’t possible...

/////////////////////////////////////

Wilbur felt his heart breaking. He looked down on the street below and saw the scene play out in slow motion. He knew she was angry at him but…

He came back to apologize, he did kind of spring his feelings on her out of the blue. She was right as usual he didn’t have a long term plan for their relationship, but he knew they could figure it out. He came back to the past to explain things when he stumbled across them.

Wilbur would never forget it. He knew what was happening but he couldn’t look away, it was like he was frozen, stuck to the spot. His heart being slowly and painfully crushed.

“Violet, there's something I've been meaning to do for a long time, and i just hope you won't hate me for it.” Tony took in a deep breath, every part of Wilbur hoped it was something different that maybe she would move away and avoid it. But she didn’t.

Wilbur watched as Tony grabbed her shoulders and placed his lips on hers. It was like nature screamed in protest, the sky opened up and poured down on all of them. He was aware of everything going on. The soft hum of the neon lights, the small sounds of cars speeding in the rain somewhere else.

He watched as Violet’s eyes slowly closed as she realized what was happening Wilbur’s breath tightened as he watched Tony place her arms around his neck and held her hips.

He could feel himself grinding his teeth, feel his nails digging into his hands. But he couldn’t move.

He saw the exact moment Tony deepened the kiss, saw his tongue enter into Violet’s mouth and he felt his breath in his throat. This was no normal first kiss. This was a declaration of love. One Wilbur not so long ago did, with his words instead.

It felt like an eternity before they stopped. The sky reflected his emotions, the thunder crackled and the lightning blinded him in pure rage.

He watched as they both slowly opened their eyes. Tony’s full of nothing but pure love and adoration. Wilbur focused on Violet hoping to see some kind of negative reaction.

The thunder cracked again, and Violet looked up into the sky, her blue eyes glowing in the light of the stores nearby, and Wilbur broke again as he watched her smile. Wilbur could feel the rain soaking his clothes. He never thought about how long his hair was, since it was always styled upwards but as the rain kept coming he could feel his hair sticking to his head, invading his eyes and itching the back of his neck. If Wilbur actually cared enough in this moment he’d notice his hair reached under his chin.

He heard a voice, it was nervous and shaky, It was Tony’s.

“I’ve liked you, for a long time. But everyone always told me to stay away. That you and your family were weird and different, that i would only get into trouble...”

Trouble? Wilbur couldn’t count how many times he and Violet had to evade a near death experience, had to hide because they were in danger, had to fight to stay alive. Trouble? He didn’t know the half of it. Wilbur knew Violet had superpowers, but he trusted her with his life, with his heart. He wondered if he trusted her too much considering how much pain he was in right now.

“....But you're so funny, and cute. I just couldn’t stay away from you. My life is so crazy trying to help my family's business but you. Your life looks so easy and simple. Your mom is a stay at home mom. Your dad is an insurance agent and your brothers are playing sports. I wish my life was that easy and normal, you make it feel like it can be...”

Normal? Wilbur wanted to scream. Did he know nothing about her? Her dad no longer worked as an insurance agent. The NSA gave him a job as a Contractor, something he really enjoyed doing because he was able to use his strength discreetly around others. Her mother did hair since she no longer had children to worry about! Dash hasn’t played a sport since he started being more active as a super and Jack-Jack hated sports.

Wilbur’s jaw clenched why wasn’t she correcting him?? Normal? Violet was the farthest thing from normal and he loved that about her. He loved her powers, and he loved her way of thinking and how she lived. Violet wasn’t normal, she hadn’t wanted to be normal for sometime now.

Tony held both of her hands in his “...I was so scared of what other people thought, i was afraid that by being with you, i would be ostracized from school and the community, i was so worried about what everyone else would think i forgot about what i think...”

Wilbur was never afraid of what other people would think, he took everyone’s opinions head on and challenged them. When he introduced her to his family his parents were skeptical, especially his dad when he learned about her origins, but Wilbur never backed down, they grew to love her because of that. Franny saw her as the daughter she never had and Cornelius apprenticed her way of thinking, and was excited about her powers. They grew closer discovering all that she could do.

Wilbur never hid her from anyone important to him...but she hid him. He never met her family, they had to talk in secret, if they did spend time in the past it was outside the city. Violet told him she wasn’t ashamed of him, she was just worried about her family's reaction...it never hurt him to think about it until now. His clothes were heavy, feeling like a weight pulling him further and further down. His mind was a deep dark abyss, the rain fell into his eyes bleeding in with his tears.

“I was afraid that my family wouldn’t accept us, and i gave up thinking it was impossible..”

Violet’s face scrunched up in slight anger, and mumbled quietly but to Wilbur it was like an explosion in his ears.

“Nothing’s impossible”

Wilbur felt the wind of the storm push him around, but he paid it no mind. How could she say that? When he confessed to her all she could respond with was how impossible the idea was, how impossible they were. Impossible, impractical. Those were the words she kept saying to him.

He responded that nothing was impossible that they could make it happen, they would make it work. But she rejected the idea, and yet here she was telling another man that nothing was impossible. Wilbur would laugh at the irony if his throat wasn’t so dry.

“I know, and i'm done caring about what other people say or think...”

Wilbur looked at Violet trying to find any hope left in his heart that maybe just maybe she would reject him. But then she started to cry, and Tony touched her face wiping away her tears. Wilbur’s hope shattered and he gave up, finally he could move freely. They all were crying. The rain making it hard to see but he could hear the hiccups in Tony’s voice, he was crying too, the difference is Wilbur’s tears were anything but happy

“I love you and I’m so glad you feel the same way. I was so nervous and scared that you would reject me Violet.”

She didn’t say anything, then again she didn’t need to. Wilbur wasn’t owed any feelings returned to him. He realized he read the situation incorrectly. He knew she had a thing for Tony, always did, but this last year of school felt different, like she was finally moving away from her childhood crush, Wilbur thought that she loved him as much as he loved her, but he was wrong. He should be happy for her, and maybe in time he will be. But for right now, he never felt so destroyed.

He didn’t know why he was still standing there, he felt like a creep. Watching an intimate moment in her life, but he couldn’t leave. Not yet.

Wilbur saw Tony briefly touch her bracelet. The one he gave her, a way for them to communicate when they were worlds and times apart. He felt the weight of his on his wrist. It was identical in color, shape, feel. He never took his off, feeling comfort from it even when she wasn’t there. He drew strength from her, that strength was fading now.

Tony touched her chin, tilting her head up and leaning in for another kiss. He saw Violet sigh, and he came to a decision. A rash decision but one he thought was important. He took off the bracelet, and suddenly felt very naked. The skin under was a lighter shade, not being exposed to the sun for quite a long time. He held it up and watched as it glittered and shined in the light of the neon signs.

Thunder crackled and lightning shined, it felt like the world was telling him to stop, but he couldn’t ignore the voices in his head, telling him to do it.

Go

Leave

Find your own happiness

Stop messing with hers

She doesn’t love you.

She's happier here

Tony is the better option.

Wilbur looked up again, one last time to her, and saw her leaning in a well. He watched as gravity grabbed hold to the bracelet, watching as it fell to the earth.

That was the only way she’d be able to communicate with him, he decided it was for the best, he wouldn’t come back here. He would leave her life, he wouldn’t interfere anymore.

He sat in the time machine, and cried, he couldn’t blame it on the rain any longer. She was right, she normally was.

It just wasn’t possible...

Chapter Text

Violet was having a tough day, her feet were sore, she was dirty and frustrated and the mid-day rush seemed like it never ended. Violet worked at a random Diner on the milkshake machine, she looked at the time and saw she still had 5 more hours left on her shift. She sighed and grabbed the dirty plates off the table.

“Can I have a Chocolate Milkshake with whip cream please?”

Violet sighed preparing herself to put on her customer service face

“In one minute sir---” Her eyes widened and she gripped the plates in her hand stopping herself from dropping them.

She’d recognize that Black gravity-defying hair anywhere. Slowly she walked over to him and glared.

“What are you doing here?!” She whisper yelled

She watched as Wilbur dipped his fries and smiled at her “I thought you’d like to see a friendly face.”

“No Why are you in the past? Your father is going to kill you when he finds out you used the time machine!”

She slowly grabbed napkins faking her job while remaining as close as possible to him.

He shrugged, licking the salt off his fingers “When am I not in trouble?”

“Wilbur!” she gritted her teeth

“Besides, you know I love Milkshakes in the past, the future just doesn’t taste right” He smirked in her direction

“Wilbur Cornelius Robins-” She was cut off

“Hey! I don’t pay you to stand around and talk! Get back to work” Violet shrunk back as her manager yelled at her from across the room.

Running into the kitchen she started to wash the dishes and grumbling under her breath about Her job, her manager, and Wilbur.

When she came back into the main area Wilbur was licking whip cream off his straw. She looked around and it had finally slowed down. She smiled at her coworker who skated past them a couple of times, and watched as her manager took a cigarette break.

She wanted to yell at Wilbur, wanted to tell him how foolish he was being, but in all honesty she appreciated him being there. This Job was taking a lot out of her, she walked near him and laid her head down on the counter, she felt the weight of his hand on her head as he rubbed her hair.

“It will be ok.”

“No it won't” she mumbled against the table.

“How’s Tobias?” He muttered, slipping his drink.

Violet groaned, used to his defiant need to never say Tony’s name correctly.

Raising her head off the table she sighed “I don’t know, Tony has been complicated lately.”

Complicated was an understatement. They were dating but not really, he wanted to spend more alone time with her but he had a duty to the community, he wanted to get closer to her family, but he thought they were odd. He wanted his family to meet hers but his family didn’t like hers.

“It’s not at all how i always imagined it to be.” She jumped up and grabbed a wet rag when she saw her manager return. She cleaned around the area until he went into his office. “I thought it would be easy, I didn't know how much of Tony’s time wasn’t his.”

She pouted and stole his cherry.

“Break up with him?” Wilbur questioned

“I can’t, I get a chance to date THE Tony Rydinger and I break up with him because he’s spending too much time helping the community? I would be seen as so selfish. I was already considered odd, and many people hated me because Tony chose me. I’d be burned at the stake if people found out.”

“Hmm” Wilbur frowned, eating the last of his fries. “How's...Your community work?”

“It’s been much better now that I'm doing it solo” Violet had broken from the Incredible family (they still never had an official name for the super family) She decided to do hero work solo and had been much more successful than she thought she would have, in fact she was having fun.

“I’m really happy with it, I don't feel….trapped like I used to.”

Violet walked away taking someone else's order, when she turned around one of her coworkers was sitting down chatting with Wilbur. It rubbed her the wrong way. What if he said something stupid? What if he let something slip?

She walked over to them and forced her customer service smile on. “Hey Nancy, it's been a rough day on your end too?”

“Yea sure” Nancy giggled, staring at Wilbur. “So, how do you know our favorite wall flower Violet?”

“She’s a good friend of mine” She watched as he turned on his Robinson charm. Violet rolled her eyes when Nancy giggled. “She has helped me a lot over the years.”

“Really?” Nancy leaned in closer “I’ve never seen you before, and I'm sure I've never heard about you either. All she talks about is Tony, Tony Tony.”

Nancy slowly slid her hand on his. “Do you go to our school? I don’t think I'd forget your face.”

“I’m from out of town, I came here because of a meeting my dad has.” his lie was so smooth Violet almost believed it.

“Oh? Out of town? Where did you meet Violet then?”

Violet paused thinking of the exact first time she met Wilbur, his time machine was malfunctioning, and happened to drop him here, when she went to go investigate in her super suit, it started up again and transported both of them back to medieval times before completely dying, they both struggled to getting enough power to transport them back to the 1950s

Violet had to hold back the laughter of remembering him wearing an actual suit of armor before going off to some war.

“A museum. I have an interest in history, especially medieval times” he glanced her way, a hidden secret in his eyes.

“Oh history? I love history too” Nancy giggled “Tell me more about the past”

Violet's manager came out of his office and barked another order for her to get back to work, she waited to see if he was going to yell at Nancy too but he simply went about his way.

“Oh you’re so funny” Nancy pushed Wilbur’s shoulder, the fake laughter grained on Violets nerves

The annoyance Violet felt hearing yet another question about history that she was sure Nancy didn’t care about was powerful. She wanted to tell her to go back to her table, but she didn’t want to give off a wrong impression.

Instead she walked away and started to deliver food to different tables. Every time she looked over Wilbur gave off his cocky know-it-all smile and Nancy was eating it up.

Another ‘you’re so funny’ here another you're so smart’ There, Violet started to wonder why Wilbur was even entertaining her, they both knew she didn’t really care about what he was saying.

Finally Wilbur dropped money on the table and gave Nancy a wink goodbye making her face turn ruby red. Violet rolled her eyes at how thick he was laying the charm

“Hey Vi? Is it your break time yet?” he stretched walking over to her.

She still had 30 mins before her official break, but she was just so tired and annoyed, that she walked to the back and placed her apron in her locker and walked out of the diner with him.

They walked in silence simply enjoying the weather. Wilbur always found the past to be better, not as much technology blinding people everywhere like the future.

He walked with his hands behind his head, enjoying the sounds and smells.

He looked over at her, while she frowned, kicking a pebble.

“You ok Vi?”

“Yea” she waved him away. She thought walking with him would calm her down, but in fact it made her even more annoyed, she looked at him and he raised his eyebrow.

“Bubble coin for your thoughts?” He asked

She wanted to smile, his futuristic slang was always funny to her. Instead she started playing with her hair.

“You didn’t say anything...exposing to Nancy...Did you?”

“You mean, How you’re a super and I'm from the future?”

Violet Glared at him and his causal tone

“No, I didn’t give me some credit Vi.”

“It’s just, She’s a bit of a gossip and I don't really have a lot of friends, especially guys, so I can already hear the rumors spreading. I feel like I'm going to have to explain a lot of things to Tony later on.”

He hmm beside her, looking as a bunch of clouds started to appear overhead.

“Besides, she is a huge flirt and I didn't want her getting the wrong ideas about you.”

“Wrong ideas?”

“Yea like you were interested in her or something like that. I mean did you hear how she was giggling, ‘oh you’re so smart’ ‘oh your so funny’ It was annoying You didn’t do anything to stop it either”

“How would you want me to stop it?”

“I don't know I just think you didn’t have to Talk about history, you know she didn’t care, and you didn’t have to wink at her and you didn’t have to---”

“Violet! I was just being polite, calm down. I didn’t tell her any more information then I needed to.” He smiled “If I didn't know any better I'd think you were jealous.”

Violet rolled her eyes and elbowed him. His infectious laugh made her smile.

It started to lightly rain and Violet’s thoughts went astray. Why was she integrating Wilbur like that? He could talk to anyone he wanted. She sighed, it was probably due to a lot of stress

She thought about how exhausting work would be when she returned, How lonely she felt dating Tony, How strenuous superheroing would be later tonight, and even how separated her family was starting to feel now that Dash had his own friends.

She didn’t notice she was hiding behind her hair until she felt Wilbur place it behind her ear.

“Hey, do you want to join me and my family for dinner today?”

Violet looked at him, his caramel eyes shined as a raindrop landed on his nose. She had never met his family, never gone to the future. She could list all the reasons why it was a bad, and horrible idea. But found herself ignoring all logic.

“But i have to get back to work” she spoke her last weak defense

He bumped her hip “I’ll have you back before you have to return. Promise.”

She smiled “Sure”

He dramatically bowed and held out his arm for her. “Your chariot awaits then.”

They laughed together as they walked into the direction of the Time machine.

Chapter Text

It was embarrassing, it was stupid, and it was the worst day of her life. If it was one thing Violet didn’t want mixing, it was her school social life, and her family life. Yet the world had different plans. Her school decided to have a parent/teacher/student dinner dance, to encourage families to take part in their children’s lives, get to know the staff and create a stronger community. Even with all the attempts at hiding that information from her family it all ended in failure. Tony Rydinger just had to mention it to her family when they went to the Happy Platter for dinner one night.

Her mom being the nosy body she was; pressed the poor boy for all the information he could offer, and if that wasn’t the worst part he had just recently asked Chloe to be his girlfriend. It was a losing battle but at least Violet could say she tried. She tried to distract them and hope they’d forget, but at 6pm sharp the Parr family made their way to Western View High.

Violet complained the whole way, her dress was too itchy, her heels hurt her feet, the make up felt sticky. Anything she could think of to hopefully have her family show her mercy. Nothing worked.

Dash for all his annoyance was being unnervingly good and she had a feeling he enjoyed her misery.

Even just taking her first step out of the car made her want to turn invisible. Seeing Tony and Chloe sharing a kiss soured her mood further, Dash’s annoying whistle and pity comfort did not help.

Her mother grabbed her arm and dragged her past them speaking about ‘teenage love’ and ‘how it doesn’t last that long.’

Her whole family knew she had a huge crush on Tony ever since middle school, but what they failed to realize was that her crush had disappeared long ago. Of course her heart was still raw, and she mourned for her middle school self, But Violet hadn’t been “In Love” with Tony for quite a few years.

Between increased superhero work, regular work, Highschool trouble and traveling between throughout time with a new friend of hers, she didn’t have the time to stress over a one-sided crush.

Besides, her heart was becoming fond of someone else.

It was something that irked her, neither her family nor her friends realized how much she had grown, and how confident she had become. How much she had changed. Always feeling the need to “Protect” or “Shield” her. She knew it was out of love, but that didn’t stop the irritation.

Her first smile of the night appeared when she found her group of Friends. Her best friend since 2nd grade Sam, and her other friends Sarah and Vicky welcomed her with praise and affection. They gave her hugs and smiles and for a brief moment she forgot she was here with family.

That was until loudly she heard Jack-Jack and Dash destroy the snack table. Once Jack Jack found the cookie section she could only hope he would put himself into a sugar coma, otherwise an angry super power baby wouldn’t be far behind.

She tried to breathe and ignore it, her friends tried to distract her, yet her father’s voice wasn’t easy to ignore. His voice boomed over the banquet hall, and his tall stature loomed over everyone, and no matter how far away she moved, her mother always found a way to be right by her side. Talking to teachers, students, and other parents, She even tried to get Violet to talk to Tony’s family, and only stopped when Violet threatened to expose them as supers no matter the consequences.

She loved her family, truly she did. But the looks, snickers, and gossip would follow her for the rest of the school year.

“Your dress is pretty Violet” Chloe mentioned passing them, hanging on the arms of Tony who smiled in her direction. “You look nice.” he responded.

Violet painfully smiled back and resisted the urge to look down, she knew what she wore. Her mother forced her into a deep Purple dress. ‘Hoping to bring out your eyes’ at least that was her mother’s thought.

Luckily for Violet her mother didn’t try to match, a simple muted blue was what she wore, forcing the Parr men to wear a black suit and blue tie. Her goal was to have Violet stand out from her family. Violet wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not.

“Your dress is pretty Violet” Sam Mocked. “Ugh the Golden Boy and Perfect Princess”

“You look nice” Vicky gagged “They are so cliche”

“I mean seriously they are just rubbing their happiness in front of everyone” Sarah rolled her eyes

They looked over at Chloe and Tony, Chloe wore the most beautiful silver dress, her black hair had so many diamond jewels you couldn’t help but look at her, when the light shined just right. Her make up made her simmering blue eyes pop, and her lips forming into a graceful smile were bubblegum pink. Tony matched her with a White suit and a Pink rose sticking out of his pocket, beautifully matched.

“Look at me, look at me, I'm Chloe, I'm ‘Little Miss Perfect’.” Sam stuck her tongue out, and the other girls laughed.

Violet simply watched from afar as Chloe was introduced to Tony’s parents and was instantly loved by them. She was Normal, she didn’t have a weird family with powers and secret identities. Chloe could be the perfect girl for their son.

Violet frowned, that small lingering piece of her that held out hope was slowly stomped to pieces with every smile and giggle or wink they threw at each other. They really were the perfect couple.

“I don’t think they’ll last a month.” Sam tried to make her feel better. “Seriously Vi, they are too perfect, something is gonna bubble underneath the surface.”

“Yeah I mean when on earth did they like each other? I’ve never seen them interact.” Vicky added

“They're not even that cute” Sarah finished. “They are just performing, I'm sure none of it is real.”

Violet glanced at Sarah, someone who also had a crush on Tony, she seemed to be taking it a lot harder than expected.

“Way to ruin everyone’s night. The Prince and Princess of Western View High” Sarah toasted in grief

“Trust me. Both of you are way prettier than her.” Sam toasted too along with Vicky.

“Guys, you don’t have to talk down their relationship. I hope they last, at least someone will have a happy High School journey.”

They frowned at her.

“Seriously I’ll be fine, go dance with someone. I’ll meet up with you guys later. I promise.”

Again they frowned but one by one they left the table to go mingle with other students; Sarah looked back at the perfect couple one last time before going off on her own.

Violet sighed she really just wanted this night to end.

She tried to ignore the conversations that would reach her ears, but EVERYBODY knew about her crush on Tony.

They all kept giving her the same sad look on their faces or they’d give her smug looks instead.

“That poor Parr girl i know it must be hard on her” A teacher whispered as she walked past

“Has not one person asked her to dance?” A concerned student muttered

“Go ask her to dance.” a mother loudly stated

“Ew, no ma.” was her son’s response

“Johnathan!” another loud comment from her

“Hmph, her family is too weird to be part of Tony’s anyway.” A member of the science club gossiped

“Did she really think she had a chance? Tony has liked Chloe since forever” An Art student laughed

“I feel bad for her” A cheerleader frowned.

It wasn’t the actual loss of Tony that annoyed her, it was the comments, like her whole identity was devoted to this one crush, it drove her mad.

She wanted to walk out, walk away from it, but she could feel her mother’s eyes on her and knew she didn’t have a chance.

She found her group by the punch bowl and made her way over.

“I just want the night to be over.” Sarah sighed

“Same” Violet stood by her, Sarah looked so miserable.

“I just want something, anything to happen to take the attention off of them. I'm so tired.”

“We could prank the school, Let loose the frogs in the Science lab” Vicky laughed

“As fun as that sounds, I don't think we are allowed to leave without a parent nearby.” Sam sighed

“Maybe a food fight?” Dash appeared out of nowhere

“It could work, i'm willing to get in trouble for it” Vicky gave an evil smile

“Not on my perfect dress! Do you know how long it took for me to get my hair and make up done?” Sarah freaked

The girls giggled at the panicked tone in Sarah's voice. Dash leaned his head on his sister's arm, clearly tired from the night’s activities.

“Hey Vi, i think that’s your free card.” Sam motioned to the sleepy Dash near them.

“Maybe” she hummed

She watched the rest of the party, some dancing, some talking, a few children asleep in corners. She watched as the spotlight landed in the middle of the room, the perfect image of Chloe and Tony Slowly dancing.

Sarah sniffed, holding back tears.

“I guess that’s my cue to leave.” Violet hugged her friends goodbye, and dragged her sleepy brother through the crowd. Just as her parents were in view the music stopped and the lights went dark.

Violet and Dash immediately went on the defensive ready for a surprise attack. When the spotlight landed on Violet, She watched as all eyes went on her, the sound of another spotlight went off and landed on the other side of the room.

Sam rushed over just outside the light “Vi what's going on?” she whisper

Violet shrugged and watched as Sam dragged Dash away from her. The sea of people started to spread and Violet could feel her heartbeat in her ears.

She recognized immediately that Jet black hair, seamlessly floating. That confident walk and that wicked smile.

On the other end of the room walking directly towards her was the one and only Wilbur Robinson buttoning his cufflinks. Somehow he was able to match her perfectly, a dark black suit with a deep Purple shirt and black tie with purple accents. His normally gravity-defying hair was smoothed back, and he wore a brilliant shining silver watch.

He looked at her confidently, his famous Robinson smile on full display. She heard Sam gasp but couldn’t bring herself to look.

He reached his hand to her, and she hesitantly placed it in his, not sure if this was real or not. In a fluid motion he pulled her to him with a spin. Placed one of her hands on his shoulder, one hand on her back, and held the other upright, and he started to move.

Violet wasn’t a dancer; she never practiced, never went to professional classes, and never really cared to learn. Wilbur however, for all his mischievousness and troublesome nature was raised around a woman who could teach frogs to sing. From the moment he could walk, she taught him every single dance move, and being from the future meant there was a lot he needed to learn.

Slowly, she followed his steps. He didn’t say anything, didn’t chuckle or smirk. He simply smiled and danced. She knew there were eyes on her, knew her parents had questions, her friends had questions, Even the whole school had questions. She could hear the murmurs all around her. Still Wilbur spun her around, and they went quiet. Muffled and faded.

She looked around noticing mouths moving but whispers coming out, even the music was muffled and quiet. Finally she looked at him.

His eyes were an easy soft brown, no scheme or planning seemed to be in them.

“Wilbur” she started “What are you doing here?”

“I was wondering when you were going to ask that.” he halfway spun her, her back was to him, leaning his head on her shoulders; he rocked them.

“Well, answer the question.” She blushed. It was an intimate position, she could only imagine how red her father’s face was. “Also why can’t we hear anyone clearly?”

He chuckled, lifting his arm to her, showing her his watch. “It’s not on the market yet. My dad made it about a month ago. He was tired of other people listening in on his conversations so he created this nifty little thing.”

Violet tried to calm herself, hoping that her face wasn’t as red as she thought it was. His arms wrapping around her stomach, his voice in her ear. It was too much.

“No one can hear us, and we can’t hear them. cool right?” he continued

“Yes, Impressive” she rushed out feeling her face hot as the sun “But that doesn’t answer Why you are here Wilbur.”

He sighed Spinning her back, and resuming their original position. She ignored the feeling of his hand along her waist.

“You were complaining about tonight all week. You were even more stressed when Timmy asked out another girl.”

“So you decided to come play the hero? Rescue me from this awful night?” She felt her temper rising

“I decided to be a good friend.” he frowned. They stopped moving and started rocking again. “I can go back in time, prevent me from coming if that’s what you want.”

She sighed and remained quiet. He led them into another spin, he continued to follow the steps ingrained in him since birth.

“I’m sorry Vi. I thought this would make you happy. I know I'm late, but I'm fashionably late” He gave a awkward smile.

“You have a time machine, how are you late?” She smiled, her anger leaving.

He shrugged

“I’m sorry for snapping. It just hasn’t been a good night for me. I can already hear the questions from my friends, families and even classmates. Uggh” she brought her arms around his neck and laid her head on his shoulder. “Being the center of attention is not normal for me.”

He smiled “When has anything been normal when i'm around.”

They were quiet for a moment, as Wilbur started to rock them slowly. Violet closed her eyes, she didn’t want to risk looking into anyone’s confused questioning faces, or worse her father’s overprotective eyes.

She lifted her head up “I thought we’d agree to not meet each other’s families? Because it was only going to cause problems.”

“Eh” he shrugged “Some things are worth the risk.” He placed a hair behind her ear.

She shook her head “Is this where you admit some arbitrary feelings you apparently have for me?”

“I mean…it can be.”

Violet looked at him, her eyebrows raised high upon her face.

He sighed and fiddled with the stray strings on her dress. She had never seen him look so nervous before.

“Look. Violet. I have liked you for a very long time. I never said anything because I wasn't sure if you felt the same. I know you said you were over Tony…”

She gasped as he said his name correctly

“... but I was still afraid. I mean I'm from 2000 years into your future, and you’re 2000 years into my past. How would this work? I’d rather be friends, than mess this up, you know? You’ve always talked about how you wanted a normal life, and I can't give that to you.”

His shoulders slumped and he avoided her eyes. “What i did tonight was more out of selfish reasons if i'm being honest. For one night, I just…wanted to be important to you. For one night I wanted to be the reason people envy you. I wanted an excuse to hold you.”

He lifted her hand and kissed her wrist. “I wanted you to remember this night with me” He kissed her palm “I wanted you to remember this night because of me. I'm not expecting anything out of this. No returned confession, no kiss, not even a rejection. This night is for you. Regardless of how I feel.”

He stopped dancing and grabbed her shoulders, the most serious expression on his face. “But I need you to know and understand that I love you. Violet Parr. I love everything about you. I love your powers, I love your weird family. I love how abnormal you are.”

He sighed, unable to stop rambling “But I wanted to give you normal. For one night. I wanted to give you something normal.”

He shrugged, “What’s more normal than a dance?”

Violet hugged him tightly, and willed herself not to cry. It’s not that she didn’t love him back. She knew she had some feelings for him, but it wasn’t the time nor place for any of that. So she hugged him and felt him squeeze her back. She’ll deal with everything later. She wasn’t as obsessed about normalcy as she had once been; but just for tonight….

She was a normal Girl, and he was a normal Boy, and this was a Normal Dance. That’s all it would be.

Chapter Text

Coffee, the sweet fragrance, the rich texture, its tantalizing taste. You could say Wilbur was a bit of a coffee fan. He didn’t care how he had it, sweet, black, iced, Hot didn’t matter as long as he was able to take that first wonderful taste. It should be no surprise that he was able to drag Violet on board the coffee train. At first it was out of concern, Superheroing had become a lot more stressful in her dimension. Along with Highschool, working and dating she barely had enough time to sleep.

However, as the years went by coffee became a time for them, no shenanigans, no stress, just them and a delicious mug of that elixir. Occasionally Wilbur would treat them to something new, either coffee from the distant past, or even far far future past his own existence. But commonly they’d agree to their own dimensions and time periods.

In his world, they went to a coffee shop on the moon, it was always crowded but they enjoyed the flavor and the view of space. In her world they’d go outside her city to a small little shop squished between two huge skyscrapers.

They had a little corner in the back, and they would spend hours there. It has gotten them both into deep trouble. She’d miss Super hero missions or Dates with her boyfriend. He would miss classes, work, and his parents if they were looking for him.

It was a pain trying to keep their lives a secret from outsiders considering how important they were to one another.

Wilbur looked out the window to the shop, he was waiting for her, the pitter patter of rain giving the shop more of the cozy ambience he loved. They tried dating in the past. It was a mutual break up. Living in alternate dimensions didn’t really count as long distance. They both knew neither of their families would understand or approve. His father was already at his ropes end with Wilbur sneaking the time machine. (which is why he was secretly building one himself).

Neither of them wanted the relationship to end. And he was pretty sure if he asked she would drop her boyfriend in a heartbeat. Her parents kept pushing and pushing for her to date him, never realizing she had outgrown her crush on the city’s golden boy. And his mother was not too subtly asking for grandkids.

“Jeez mom let me graduate grad school first.” he mumbled, taking a sip; Whip Cream getting on his upper lip. A content sigh escaped him.

They both decided it was for the best if they remained friends. Violet was constantly thinking of the longevity if they actually pursued something serious. How would that even work? Which dimension would they live in? If they married how would the family of one go to the dimension of the other? Could they even have kids? How would it affect these hypothetical kids anyway? Especially when their mother has super powers?

It was thoughts like this that he tried to decipher when his insomnia got the best of him; and recently it did. Which is why his coffee addiction was becoming only slightly worrying to him.

The shop bell rang, and he looked to the door and his heart skipped a beat. He still loved her, even after the break up she still owned his heart. He watched as she shook the rain off her, her hair was braided over the shoulder. No headband today; she probably got tired of him stealing them all. Her face was dolled up, but her eyes were annoyed and he knew she had a story to tell.

He had to remember how to breathe when she finally sat beside him with a soft hello, her perfume was blinding, and he resisted the urge to kiss her, he missed the taste of her lips. Somehow the combination of her kisses and coffee was like a drug to him.

“You won’t believe what just happened.” She blew a stray hair from her face, and grabbed the coffee he had set aside for her along with a muffin.

“Let me guess, Travis tried to propose in front of both of your families.” Even as he said it, he pushed the lump in his throat down. He always asked the question, The biggest fear he had was Violet telling him she was engaged, he tried to joke about it, get used to the idea but somehow he knew it would still hurt whenever the situation finally arose.

“No, it's Tony anyway.” she shook her head, pushing him away.

He always did this, messing his name up on purpose, it used to annoy her, but now it was a silent joke between them.

“But he did surprise me with coffee after my meeting today.”

“Really?” he raised his eyebrow, coffee was their thing.

“Sam and I were in the library after doing a 2 ½ hr presentation and he popped up out of nowhere with an iced coffee, and told me he just happened to be in the area, but the stall he got it from was at least 30mins away. I strongly suspect Sam texted him.”

Wilbur nodded; Sam was the biggest supporter of Tony and Violet, being Violet’s childhood friend and all.

“I thanked him, but you know how I feel about Iced coffee.” She continued.

Wilbur knew Violet was always cold; Always. So she tended to shy away from cold foods and drinks. Every now and then she’d get a milkshake or Icecream but her coffee was always hot. Boiling hot, Pour as much cream as you can and fill the rest of the cup with sugar. She had a bit of a sweet addiction.

“Anyway, I was just gonna toss it out, but he sat down with us and Sam would not stop giggling. Constantly going on and on about how cute we were, how sweet he was-- blah blah blah” She sighed before taking the first taste of her coffee, Her shoulders relaxed, her eyelids fluttered and a smile slowly spread across her face.

Wilbur also took a sip, trying to distract his hands from reaching to her.

“He frowned when he noticed i didn’t drink anything and started to ask why, i told him i wasn’t that thirsty, but then Sam ratted me out and said i was just mentioning my coffee appointment with a “friend” and how i was just “dying” to go there” she rolled her eyes. “She’s like “aww Vi isn’t it sweet that Tony brought it to you, now you don’t have to rush for your coffee appointment” I grinned at her, but i really just wanted to throw her somewhere.”

Wilbur chuckled

“I told her i was still meeting someone so i shouldn’t stall because it would be rude, So Tony asked me “Who are you meeting?” and i'm like oh it's just a pen pal, and i'm trying to tell him to drop it but then Sam jumps in and is like “Oh no thats so dangerous.” and I had to tell them we’ve met before and Tony’s like “We’ve never heard of them what’s their name” and at this point i need to leave to catch the bus in order to get here on time, which is why i'm late by the way im sorry.”

“You’re Fine Vi. I can see how annoying it got.” he laughed taking a bite from her muffin.

“Anyway he asked for your name, and i told him he didn’t need to worry about it and i’d text him later but then Sam grabs my arm and ask where we are meeting and I vaguely tell her it's just a coffee shop and she goes on and on about how dangerous it is to meet people online like that. Tony is just looking at me funny.”

“Does he know you're a super?” Wilbur finished off his coffee debating on buying another cup.

“I think he suspects but it hasn’t been confirmed yet.”

Wilbur nodded

“So Tony says he’ll drive me here, and I let him know he’ll be late for work and I'm fine, this isn’t the first time we’ve met. He tells me he’ll take off for the day just to make sure I'm safe, and Sam is calling Vicky and Sarah and telling them about this mysterious stranger I'm meeting.”

“Yikes, you're probably going to get an earful later, I'm surprised they haven’t been calling you.”

She held up her phone “I turned it off.” She took another sip. “So I'm trying to walk away and Tony is following me, so I walk into the girls bathroom while Sam is distracted and….”
“You did not turn invisible and walk back out!” Wilbur interrupted with a laugh.

Violet’s ears turned red and she smiled back “It was the only way to get around him.”

“How are you going to get out of that one? Wilbur bit his lip trying to calm his laughter”

“I don’t know. I did wait for someone to open the door so it wasn’t that weird. But he was just staring at it. I think we're going to have to have a long talk later on.”

Wilbur wiped a tear from his eyes and took a sip of Violet’s drink. “What about your Ice coffee?”

“Oh. I think I left it in the bathroom I don't remember.”

Wilbur shook his head smiling, somehow his arm was around her part of the booth seat and her soft hair tickled his arm.

“I know they’ve already contacted my mother, I have no idea how I'm going to get out of this one.”

“Do you want to slow our coffee meet ups? Make it less suspicious?” Wilbur was slightly hurt by the thought but he didn’t want her to get in trouble.

“No, I'll figure something out.”

“I’ll take you home ok?” He smiled, licking the whip cream off her cup.

“You sure?”

“Yeah it’ll be fun pulling up to your house knowing they can’t see inside the car, and watching Toby’s expression when you pop out.”

“Wilbur….” she scolded

“Let me have this Vi.”

She sighed “Anyway, how was your day?”

Wilbur smiled as he told her about his boring day. He watched her smile and laugh, and felt her against his arm. Even though his heart broke every time he remembered she was with someone else he was happy to know their Coffee time was just as important to her as it is to him

Chapter Text

One thing Violet could admit was that cars in the future were a lot better than in her time period. They were faster, sleeker, and much more efficient and if she was truly honest with herself she loved the way Wilbur drove.

Of course there were flying cars, but it was something about being on solid ground that gave her a thrill. She was still working on getting her license and a bit jealous that Tony Rydinger was the first person in her class to actually get a car. Being the kind person he was, he offered to drive most people anywhere they wanted, and Violet's friends used this as an opportunity to get her closer to him. He was a good driver, obeyed all the rules, never went above the speed limit, both hands on the wheel etc. etc. He was overall trustworthy to most parents.

Which is why Violet’s parents would have a heart attack if they saw the way Wilbur truly drove. If she was being honest they’d have a heart attack if they knew he even existed. Still, around his parents, especially his mom he was a model student; but once he was far away enough he Drove. Violet loved his convertible, he made it himself. He said he spent 4 months on the engine alone. He did the paint job and all the little stuff she didn’t understand. She loved it anyway. She loved the roar of the engine and the wind blowing in her hair once he lowered the roof. The feeling of how soft the seats were, even the pounding of the stereo whenever he wanted to drive to music put a smile on her face. She loved this car. It was something about going 100mph that calmed her.

She looked over at him, His famous gravity defying-hair blowing in the wind. Sunglasses on his face, one hand on the wheel the other hanging outside the car. It was a gorgeous day, the weather was perfect, and he drove them alongside a mountain; a harbor on one side of her and rocks on the other.

Coming to the future was always risky for her, they were far enough that anyone who could have known who she was, was long dead and gone, but it was always the fear that one day his parents would wake up and figure it out. She took extra precaution not to run into any descendants of her family. Even if the Super Gene was gone from them she didn’t want her future to be spoiled. She was 2000yrs away from anyone who might know her, yet she still didn’t want to risk the chance of finding out information and changing the past. Wilbur in all his recklessness didn’t want to ruin it for her either, so he refrained from his curious mind yearning to look into it.

Wilbur was somewhat of a bad influence on her, in a lot of ways. One was behind the wheel. While her mother was teaching her the rules of the road, he was teaching her how to drive. Her mother was teaching her safety and precaution, he was teaching her freedom and exploration. The thought of driving cars from the 1960s gave a frown to her face. She was tempted to ask him to build her one like his.

“What are you thinking about Vi?”

She looked back at him, and watched as he took a sip of his drink. “Driving” She responded

“What about it?”

“I hate driving in the past, you know cars can only go up to 50mph?”

“Ew” he laughed, glancing at his speedometer, noticing he was going more than double that.

“Yeah…I was going to ask if you could build me a car, but I don't think it would be allowed on the roads.

“Probably not” he started to slow down, seeing a line forming up ahead “Still we can modify a car from the past, it's not impossible.”

“That requires you to spend more time in the past, something we both agreed was a bad idea.”

Wilbur had a nagging habit of exploring the past to dangerous results, there were many times he nearly got them both killed or wiped from existence due to his curious nature.

He shrugged as he pulled to a complete stop “I hate traffic.”

“You know for a time period that has flying cars you’d think traffic would be gone.”

“There are still places with no fly zones.” He put the car in park since it seemed like it was going to be a while and turned to her “How has your lessons been with your mother?”

“Ugh” She placed her feet underneath her, and sipped on her drink “She keeps freaking out anytime i touch the gas.”

He chuckled

“Seriously! It’s like “Violet press the gas slowly, SLOWLY! Violet, you're going too fast!” and I'm like mom, I haven't touched the gas pedal.”

“I know that feeling” he grabbed the chips from the back seat and opened them “My dad taught me, and it was a nightmare. I have never argued with my dad more than when he was teaching me how to drive.”

“Trust me, I get it. Driving stick-shift is super hard too.”

“Eh, you have like 20 more years before Automatic gets popular” Wilbur frowned at his empty drink before grabbing Violet’s.

“Ugh, so I'll be in my 30s?” Violet looked up at the clear blue sky “It's easy though, driving feels natural to me. Maybe it's because superheroing has made me less afraid of things, but I've never been scared of driving.”

“I think it’s just freedom” he sipped “Like independence, or Normalcy. It's Normal for us to drive.”

“It’s the one thing that is normal in my life” she smiled “but you're ruining it.”

“How so?”

“You’re a bad influence on me.”

“Eh, More like the exciting option, i mean would you rather be driving with Toddy?” He noticed the cars starting to move and tossed the chips to Violet.

“TONY, and no. I'm too used to your crazy driving. Even when my mom is driving I feel like she is going so slow, I wanna rip my hair out.

He smiled as he took the car out of park, inching forward with everyone else. “Maybe I'll teach you how to fly one day.”

“Do you even know how to fly?”

“Legally no. I don’t have my flying license, can’t get it for another 4years.”

She just looked at him and shook her head. Smiling as he drifted through and around traffic, resuming the natural speed of 100mph.

Chapter Text

Violet gazed at him from across the table. She smiled. They had been here for a few hours, just catching up on life. The years had reached him but not in an unflattering way. He still looked good for a man his age. His normal Pitch black Gravity defying hair now was salt and pepper with streaks of gray around the edges and center. He had a light beard, grey sprinkled around it.
His eyes had crows feet lining it, bags and laugh lines framing his face.

He was no longer the boy she remembered, He looked good…really good.

She snorted at something he said, not really paying attention. His voice had also dropped as he got older, it was the little things she noticed. Little things she was sure no one paid any attention to anymore. Like how he had a cut right above his eyebrow, how he kept rubbing his knees due to over usage or how his neck had a very faded hickey.

She looked out the window behind him and caught her reflection. She wondered what changes he saw that she didn’t anymore. She too had bags and gray hair. She knew that her hair was a mess even though she tried to comb it out. Knew if she stood up she would instantly feel self conscious about the amount of weight she gained from all 3 of her pregnancies.

She wondered if he still thought of her as attractive. Being next to him so well put together made her a bit embarrassed.

She shook her head and took a sip of her Red wine.

“It’s been so long, Vi, Like what 20-30yrs?” He smiled at her “It feels like a lifetime ago ... .You look good.” She blushed.

She didn’t mean to contact him. It was an accident. She was cleaning her youngest child's toys and Clothes when she picked up their communicator bracelet from all those years ago. If she was honest with herself she didn’t even remember it; thinking it was a lost teething toy, she was about to throw it away when she accidentally pressed a Button.

It was an emergency button that they both forgot about, One that was synced up to all of Wilbur's systems to alert him of her. He was in the middle of filing company taxes when the alarm went off and her frustrated face appeared.

“Why won't this Stupid Toy shut off?” She grumbled frustrated at the small beeping and blinking light of the bracelet.

“Violet?” His voice called from the other end.

When she finally looked at the hologram that appeared of her long lost friend she dropped the bracelet screaming his name.

Once the shock of seeing each other for the first time in years wore off and that it was not an emergency they both shared a laugh and she suggested meeting up.

He took her offer and reserved a place in his time since it was a lot harder for him to leave the company at random times.

She tried to not think of it like a date, just catching up. But that didn’t stop her from putting on better clothes than she had worn in years, adding a bit of makeup and making sure her hair wasn’t a rat's nest.

She didn’t think any of that mattered however, Once she saw him outside of her home in an updated model of the time machine. She looked at his face and stopped breathing. He was immaculate, a crisp 3 piece suit, gold tie, hair pressed down neatly, beard nicely combed.

She wouldn’t have known who he was if he didn’t speak.

He Stepped out of the car with that Robinson confidence she couldn’t help but smile at.

She thought back to their hug; the first in decades. It was tight, it felt safe. She almost melted into it. He still smelled of coffee and Oil. But it was hidden under expensive cologne.

She was still taller than him but not by much. She could stay there forever in his arms…

She shook her head and watched him take a sip of his whiskey and saw the golden band on his ring finger. He was married; So was she. Her ring was not nearly as fancy as his.

He was married. He told her about his loving wife, how he met her at a conference and they bonded over music.

She was beautiful, Her eyes seemed to shine through the photos.

“My Mother loved her immediately, They were inseparable before she died.” He chuckled sadly. “They would put on the wildest performances.”

She held his hand in comfort rubbing her thumb along his knuckles. She knew he was close with his mom.

“Anyway” he shook his head “How about you?”

She chuckled Remembering his face when she told him she did not in fact marry Tony Rydinger. In fact she had married Xander Carson. A fellow Super….Well Super wasn’t exactly the word for it.

He was the son of a Super villain.

“You didn’t marry Toto?? Wow. I'm surprised” He laughed; still holding her hand as he took another sip. “I really would have thought you did, but then again he wasn’t all that huh?”

She rolled her eyes, he always had a need to One up Tony. Back then it was due to his jealousy.

She felt her face warm, the wine giving her a nice buzz. His hand was warm. She desperately wanted to interlock their fingers but resisted.

Her thumb glided over his ring. And Violet scratched her neck watching the man next to her. His well pressed suit and put together frame was uniquely different from the boy she remembered. A boy who was always a mess, grease stains here, coffee stains there. But he made it his own. The Wilbur Robinson experience he would call it

The only semblance of him in the man before her was his tie lazily thrown over his neck.

She bit her lip and frowned, the faded hickey was still there. A reminder of his life, His wife.

She remembered why they grew distant. It was love. They were deeply in love with one another. So much so she was willing to give up her powers for him and he was willing to give up the future for her.

She squeezed his hand. She didn’t have any pictures of him ( other than a phone that was long since broken though she was sure he could repair it if she asked.) . Neither of their families knew each other or had even met the other.

They tried to date, But the past and Future kept pulling them to their respective places.

After a while, The unsolvable question that was their relationship started to grow a toll on them. Neither of them wanted to leave their family, friends and life. It was also the question of messing up the timeline too. They had decided to remain just friends. But it was hard when every time they’d met up it was one last kiss. They stopped visiting; To help resist any lingering feelings. They promised to keep in touch but as they got older and older it was harder and harder to do so.

Eventually they just stopped.

“Do you remember why we stopped talking?” he asked, letting go of her hand for a moment to check his phone and placing it right back unconsciously.

“Probably life…School and hero work picked up for me as I got older.” She playfully put a forcefield around his drink as he kept trying to take a sip.

“Yea true. Once I graduated the Company just kept taking off. We have over 300 divisions now. It's very hard to keep track of it all.” he flicked her nose.

“Yea, not to mention growing up, paying bills etc.” Violet shrugged

“Company bills don’t get me started.” He rubbed his forehead. The wrinkles she didn’t notice before had appeared, the stress was constantly getting to him.

Wilbur had inherited his father’s company. He was rich, With a beautiful wife and twins. A son and a daughter both 25. From the outside looking in he had it all. But she could understand the stress he was under.

Violet had a loving husband, 3 sons ages 31, 27, and 5. And a grandchild on the way. Hero work was always needed; and as her parents got older it fell more and more on her generation. Even Dash and Jack-jack were feeling the pressure.

Sadly none of her children received the gift of super abilities. Something a younger her would see as a blessing. Wilbur Laughed at her accident child stating he would not be able to start all over again.

“I mean, you were done, the diapers, the meetings, graduation. You were finished” He chuckled “Now your back again. I couldn’t do it. I'm just waiting for one of my two to make me a grandpa if they want to. I have a few apprentices I could give the company to whenever I retire.”

He shook his head and singled a waiter to fill their glasses again.

She took a sip of her fresh wine. She was sad at how they had drifted so far apart. Grew into new people the other didn’t know. But she supposed that was just life.

“I'm sorry I forgot about you.” She mumbled softly.

He lowered his glass, she watched as he turned fully to her; bones popping, movement slower. All the signs of aging.

“Vi i would never be mad at that.” he started “You grew up, i grew up. We were bound to forget things.”

“But I forgot you, My best friend.” She nibbled her fingernail “I just feel so horrible about it.”

“If it makes you feel any better I forgot about you too.” he smirked “i thought the alarm was a security alarm until i saw your face. We’ve been having a lot of break ins.”

“Crimes are always prevalent in every time period huh?” She shook her head smiling.

“Tell me about it” He smiled at her and grabbed both her hands “I'm not mad you forgot about me. The fact that you recognized me shows you didn’t fully forget. Other things just took priority”

Violet looked into his Brown eyes completely different from Xanders bright blue ones.

She was happy with her life, She loved Xander, loved her children…. but she wondered if Wilbur felt it too? The pull, the spark?

She was a Super, she wasn’t oblivious to most things. She had caught him glancing at her.
She didn’t wear anything “sexy” or “revealing” but she saw how his hands would linger on her shoulders just a bit too long, How his eyes would drop down over her body. How he would look at her lips, lick his and look away. How he was Still holding her hand, and yet she didn’t pull away.

She didn’t feel like she had much to look at. But she guessed it didn’t matter. She wasn’t sure if it was in her head but he still saw something about her to look at…..and want.

He laughed at something, and for a moment she saw him as a teenager; a reckless, danger prone boy who longed for adventure. It sang in her ears and she felt her heart flutter for a moment.

She sighed into her cup. She knew this would be the last time they ever saw or talked to one another. She wasn’t stupid to the fact that he had never given her the bracelet back after he turned the alarm off.

It was probably for the best. They both had families of their own; and neither of them wanted to be a homewrecker to the other.

How would they even explain each other to people? ‘Oh yea this is my friend, he/she is from an alternate dimension/timeline.’

No, There was no need to get messy. She would just enjoy this for what it was a last goodbye.

He Finally let go of both her hands. And grabbed his drink. His thumb touched his ring and he pouted for a moment.

“I meant to ask how the hero's work was anyway? It can’t be easy being a mom?” He asked, still playing with his ring.

“Exhausting. My brothers are growing tired and so am i. Luckily There have been less super villains and more petty crimes but that is still a lot of work to contain.”

She looked at her Ring. “My mother-in-law is a villain….Xander wants her to stop. She said she would if i would stop ....”

“Do you want to stop?” he asked seriously.

“I’ll stop for him.”

“But Do you want to stop?”

She looked down and twisted her ring around her finger…”No.” She looked up at him. “I’m bored. Maybe it's a mid-life crisis but I finally understand what my dad was going through…” she paused.

“But ... .if there is one less Villain in the world…”

“What about Xander?” he looked over at her, taking off his jacket and placing it on her shoulders.

“He’s never been a hero, didn’t want anything to do with Villain or hero work…He was an anti hero before he gave it all up. He was never happy with the Super life.”

“Sounds like someone I used to know” he smirked.

She pulled his jacket closer, his scent invading all her senses. The alcohol making her fall deeper into his charm.

“He was happy when none of the boys had powers, Said they would be better without it.”

“Do you agree?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know.”

They were silent for a moment just taking it in. She knew she was leaning more on tipsy than buzz and resolved to stop sipping. She listened to the soft band playing in the bar and clink and clank of glasses.

She playfully kicked his ankles trying to scuff his shoes, to mark his picture perfect image she was sure was false.

“Why did you stop time traveling? The machine looked barely used.”

“Too dangerous…”

“Your dad did mention that part, didn't he” She smiled.

“Yea well, it was never supposed to go to market.” He called the waiter over for two glasses of water. His eyes, a little wobbly, his speech a little slow.

“No, one of my trusted board members decided to sell the schematics for the time machine and sell it….It was a mess dealing with the constant changes to the timeline.”

He passed her the glass of water and she took a drink. “I decided no one would time travel. So I destroyed them before anyone but me and my dad could see them.”

He sighed. “With my father developing Alzheimer's I'm the only one who knows how to make it and it's up here” he pointed to his head. “I am also the only one in the world with one, and I have it to self-destruct at the time of my death.”

Violet frowned and patted his leg in a comforting manner. “If it makes you feel any better, I'm proud of you.”

He smiled holding her hand again. “Thanks.”

They talked long into the night, until the bar was about to close. Neither really wanting to say goodbye but knowing at some point they had too.

Wilbur’s phone buzzed, it was a call from his wife. “I’ll be right back.”

Violet watched as he moved away from her and his eyes lit up. He smiled at the phone, glancing between it and her.

Violet knew it was time for her to leave, She glanced around the bar, high class, very very fancy. Most likely a place for business deals, meetings and contracts.

She watched Wilbur pace back and forth, the servers around him cleaning things up. She wondered if Wilbur owned the bar. She knew he had more businesses than Just Robinsons inc.

Wilbur came over with a laugh. “Sorry about that, the missus was wondering if i was stuck in the office.” he looked at the clock on the wall. “It is a bit late. I'll take you home.’”

Violet gave him a pained smile and held out her hand. He picked up his Tie from the floor and they both walked out the door.

The Drive was quiet. She didn’t mention how he was taking a long drive around the city before turning on the time machine. And she didn't mention how he arrived cities away from where she actually lived just to drive the night again.

When they finally reached her house the light was on and she saw the silhouette of her husband brushing his teeth upstairs.

“Thank you Wilbur…I had fun.” her smile didn’t reach her eyes.

“Yea, me too. I missed you Vi.” he placed a hair behind her ears. His finger lingering on her jaw line.

Slowly, painfully slow she took off his jacket. No longer warm and no longer surrounded by him she could think a bit clearly.

She looked at him. So many thing she wanted to say:

‘Im sorry’

‘Please don’t leave’

‘ This is it isn’t it?’

‘Why is life unfair’

She said none of it. She grabbed him and hugged him tightly knowing it would never fully convey the library of words and feelings she wanted to state. She buried herself in his neck, her nose rubbing along the faded hickey.

His arms wrapped around her waist. He rose one hand to her back, her bra clips digging into his palm.

“I missed you” She whispered in his ear. And he tightened the hug more.

“I missed you too Violet” his voice vibrated her ears and sent shivers down her spine.

Neither one of them wanted to let go, and it seemed like Wilbur never would. But eventually Violet released him.

“Get home safe ok?” She asked

“I will.” he slowly walked to the drivers side. His eyes never left hers.

She shook her head smiling and shooed him away. Closing the door with her powers.

He smirked, the purr of the engine breaking the silence of the night.

Violet watched as he drove away. Before turning to her front door….

////////////////////////////////////////////////

Later that night Violet laid on her bed, the sound of her husband snoring beside her with the city noise in the background did nothing to dull the pain in her chest. She would never see him again. She knew it. His smile, his eyes, his antics. Never. She didn’t realize how much she missed him until now and by then it was too late. She could still smell him, if she sniffed her hair she could smell his cologne. She stared at the ceiling thinking of all the what if’s and multiple possibilities. And she felt so much guilt. Her husband rolled over and wrapped his arm around her waist. Nuzzling her as he slept, ignorant to the turmoil she was going through.

She loved her husband and her family. She loved her life….but she could feel the burning behind her eyes and in her nose, the rapid breathing she was trying to suppress. She bit her lip and mouthed one sentence.

“Goodbye Wilbur Robinson ... .I love you.” and her dam broke and she silently cried the rest of the night.

Wilbur looked pained. He watched his reflection in his mirror, the room dark but the city casting a glow around his face. His bags were even deeper and darker than before. His Suit jacket on the sink. He could smell her. If he thought hard enough he could feel her body on his as they hugged. And he could still hear her.

He glanced at his reflection. He looked a mess. He could still taste the Whiskey on his tongue, He was much more sober than he had been taking her home. But the mere thought of her made him want to drink for a different reason. He could still smell her.

He tried to bring himself back. Thinking of the here and now. He could feel the cold tiles of the bathroom floor on his feet. The softness of his pajama pants along his legs. But he could still smell her and that smell did things to his body it shouldn’t have. He looked at his shirtless chest right where his heart would be and realized it was aching.

He could hear his wife’s tv show in the next room but that didn’t matter to him. He could still smell her. He closed his eyes and gripped the counter top.

“Shit.” He mumbled to himself. Before hanging his head low, shaking the thoughts of her that would not escape.