Breezy Point, May 13th 1709

Joanna Bogg couldn’t hear the comical voices of the Punch and Judy puppets, but she laughed hysterically along with the other children when they began to beat each other with sticks. She didn’t mean to wander too far from her father, but Jeremiah was taking awfully long conducting his business affairs with the secretary to the landlord of the Marina. The process bored her. As the sweaty, red-faced, man rifled through documents, she could see her father’s impatience with him growing. When the conversations seemed to get heated, Joanna tugged on his sleeve, asking to be excused to play outside. Jeremiah was so caught up he waved her away and they continued the tirades in the stifling, little office.

When Joanna stepped out onto the cobblestone streets, an immense freedom overwhelmed her. She had to look at her own hand to make sure no one was holding it. She ran gaily to the man selling candied apples and bought one. She wandered past a toyshop and put her nose to the window. Her tears began to fall quietly when she saw the beautiful porcelains staring back at her with vivid eyes and colorful dresses. Phineas had yet to apologize to her and she humbly told her parents not to replace the doll. ‘Rebecca’ was irreplaceable and she started to feel that maybe her brother was right. However, the pain of his rejection was still great inside her.

She had finally wandered to the middle of the bustling square, where the puppet show was beginning and took her seat next to some other children. Just seeing them happy, made her the same. In the meanwhile, Joanna didn’t realize Gavin was watching her, and he was trying to follow through the crowds to greet her. When the show ended, Joanna felt hungry and decided to go to the Samson Bakery. She and her mother had been there often to buy delicious cakes and breads, Phineas always loved the big braided ones and she liked the filling, round rolls. Right now she really wanted one of the little cakes they had on display in the window.

She didn’t get a chance to go inside, she noticed Gavin waving her over to his gaudy wagon, and he was holding little gemstones. Joanna quickly ran to him with a smile, and he kept his arms wide for a hug. She returned it, but an uncomfortable feeling welled up inside her and she pulled away quickly, picking up his Jewelry box and marveling at the jewels.

“Hello my little poppet! Did you enjoy the show?”

“Yes…it was…funny.”

“Ahhh, Punch and Judy, two of my favorite characters…you know poppet, you look very sad, do you care to tell your friend Gavin what troubles you?”

Gavin lifted her up to sit on the open edge of the wagon and she tinkered with the baubles that hung from the sides. She finally looked up at him, but this time her eyes were angry.

“I…no…no, I can…not say.”

“Oh, come, come, tell me. What notion can be so black? We are friends, and you can tell anything you want to me. I promise to keep it a secret!” Gavin crossed his heart with flair and raised his right hand high to the heavens. Joanna giggled, then became downcast.

“My…my brother doesn’t like me…no mo…more, he is…mean to me.”

“Oh my dear! I’m sorry to hear that! Do you want to know why he is so mean to you? Because I know.”

Joanna looked at him quizzically, but let him continue. “The boy is jealous of you! Ever since you were born you have taken his place in your parent’s hearts and he is finally admitting it to you. I bet he wishes you were never born at all. I bet he wishes that you would just…go away!”

Joanna gasped at the thought. Phineas always showed love to her and they had a lot of good times together. He was the one to get into trouble with their parents and they scolded him much more often. She remembered the big fight from the other day, could Phineas really despise her that much?

“You…think so? I love... Phinnus! My mama…and papa…love me…to!” She announced loudly.

Gavin gave her a broad smile and threw his hands out. “Of course you do poppet! But if he doesn’t love you back, what is the use? I’ll tell you this. If you ever feel slighted or hurt by your brother again, I will be around and you can come talk to me.”

Gavin put out his hand and she shook it.

“You know; I have some toys inside that just might make you feel better. Perhaps you would like…a dolly?”

Joanna looked around the inside and sure enough he had rows of pretty dolls stacked up high in the back. She pointed to one in a green dress.

“No poppet, why don’t you take a closer look, it’s okay, you can feel them and see which one is best.”

-O-

Kayla wiped the sweat off her brow and rubbed her hands on her apron. She was finally finished kneading the gigantic lump of dough and forming a dozen bread loaves. After leaving Phineas, she came to the village exhausted and hungry. After hours of tears and confusion, Kayla decided that she would have to start focusing on her life if she was going to be stuck here in the Eighteenth Century. The husband and wife owners of the bakery took pity on her and allowed her a place to stay. Kayla impressed them by having the entire bakery cleaned and polished in the morning and they gave her a job. They were getting on in years and needed someone young and energetic to handle the workload.

She washed her hands and removed the apron; she really needed a break. Two women were spending an unreasonable amount of time trying to decide which pastries to buy. Kayla finally stepped in and asked what the occasion was. It was nothing more than a friendly garden party by a few wealthy women in Breezy Point. Kayla suggested the strawberry cheesecake squares and lemon tarts. She overheard them mention Sonora Bogg and how she would probably show up with her delicious blueberry pie.

When she peeked out the window, something disturbing caught her eye. It was Gavin, the peddler, and he had Joanna Bogg ready to go into his wagon. Kayla shouted to Mr. Samson that she was getting some air and ran from the bakery. She looked to her left and saw Jeremiah strutting to the square; he was angry and worried, no doubt searching for his daughter. She waved him down.

“Captain Bogg! Captain Bogg! You’re daughter is there with that jerk again!”

Jeremiah looked up and saw Kayla running toward him, she had flour on her face and in her hair. He looked to the direction she pointed and saw Gavin about to close up his wagon. He broke into a run and put a firm hand on the door. Joanna saw her father and climbed out quickly. Jeremiah’s temper was high and he yanked the peddler by his collar off the wagon.

“What do you think you are doing with my daughter? How dare you bring her into your wagon alone, you fiend!” He shoved Gavin hard and the man pretended to fall to the stones. He grabbed his arm in false pain.

“How could you Captain Bogg? And I thought you were a respectable man! What right have you to hurt a poor peddler only trying to make a living selling his wares? It’s so easy for you rich ones, isn’t it? You just step on us like we are cockroaches! Is this the kind of violence you show at home? No wonder your son runs off to the seedy villages and your daughter feels unloved!”

Joanna felt sympathy for the man and went to help him up. Jeremiah held her back.

“You cannot pull tricks on me. Anyone here that knows me also knows my nature and my family!” He knelt down with a fire in his eyes.

“You just stay away from me and what’s mine!” Jeremiah stood up before he felt tempted to kick a man when he was down. He grabbed Joanna’s hand and stormed away from the square, back to his carriage. He secured her on the seat and jumped up, grabbing the reigns. He looked resolutely at his daughter.

“Joanna, I do not want you to go anywhere near that man! He is a liar and a con artist and he has bad intentions to hurt you. Do you remember what your mother and I told you about strangers?”

Joanna nodded glumly and looked back. Gavin was packing up his wagon sorrowfully and stared in her direction. He gave Joanna a small, reassuring smile and she returned it. She looked quickly back at her father.

“Yes Papa…I won’t talk…anymore…I’m sorry.”

Jeremiah kissed her head. She always had a way of calming him, just like her mother. He held her hand.

“Thank you sweetheart. Let’s go home, it’s almost time for dinner.”

-O-

Kayla didn’t expect much gratitude from Captain Bogg, but she felt very slighted when he never came back to at least acknowledge her help. The man looked like he had many important things on his mind at the moment anyway. She finished sweeping the threshold of the bakery and locked up tight. She went to the small room the Samson’s provided for her in the back of the bakery and lay down on her cot. Kayla wondered if the Bogg family had gotten over their squabbles and how Phineas was faring since her departure. A surge of tears hit her. Tomorrow Sonora would not be home, and Jeremiah would be working on his ship, it would be a perfect opportunity to visit Phineas.

“I hope he doesn’t hate me!” She thought. She didn’t know what she would say or do, but maybe she could try to explain more about the omni and Voyagers. “Maybe I shouldn’t…and let things happen the way they happen!” She decided again. Her last thoughts before she drifted to sleep were that maybe there was still a chance for her happiness with Phineas here and now.

-O-

May 14th 1709

Breakfast at the Bogg Manor was silent, except for the clinking of forks to plates and an occasional loud chewing of the bread and ham. Phineas had been punished for the last three days, he was not allowed off the grounds of the manor for one week. His spirit was completely restless. Vinchenzo was not exempt either, after his work he was to go straight back to his quarters at the manor. Phineas looked at his mother, the hurt and disappointment in her eyes were tearing him apart. He was about to speak up when she did.

“Phineas, I must attend Eliza Jameson’s tea party this afternoon and will be gone until the early evening. I would like it if you and Vinchenzo kept an eye on Joanna.”

Phineas looked at her, then back at his eggs. “Yes, mother. I’ll watch her.” He mumbled.

A loud ‘NO!’ startled everyone at the table. Jeremiah looked up from his map logs at Joanna.

“Excuse me, young lady, that was very rude.”

Joanna banged the table with her fork. “NO! I don’t like Phinnus…no more! I don’t…want him to…watch me!” She forced her words out and they were very clear.

Sonora gave her a sharp look. “You have to stay with your brother. This nonsense of you not speaking to one another must stop.” She looked hard at Phineas. “And you must apologize to your sister, and don’t tell me for what, either!” She demanded.

Phineas threw down his own utensils. “Okay, Joanna, I’m sorry I broke your doll, alright?”

Jeremiah shook his head sadly. “That was the most insincere apology I’ve ever heard. When you really mean it, then you will say it. Not another word about this, and you are going to watch your sister today, you and Vinchenzo. I have to make sure my ship is loaded with the right supplies and that inventory could take all day. No nonsense while I am gone, do you understand me?”

“Yes, papa.” The maids would probably tell on him either way, he thought angrily.

After his parents left the manor, Phineas and Joanna stood in the drawing room facing each other.

“Look Joanna, you don’t get in my way, and I won’t get in your way. I don’t need you hanging around me all day. Just stay out of trouble and do not go near the old well.” Phineas insisted.

Joanna looked at him in surprise, holding back her tears. Gavin was right; Phineas hated her. She stomped her foot and ran away from him. Phineas watched her run outside and forced himself not to chase her. He truly was sorry for being mean to her; he was just so frustrated with everything going on. He really missed Kayla and wanted to see her again. He made a vow that as soon as his punishment was over he was going to find her, no matter how long it took.

-O-

The day dragged on and Phineas and Vinchenzo spent a few hours’ playing cards and sulking around the manor with bitter complaining. Phineas would peek at Joanna from time to time and he noticed how she kept herself busy. She set up a blanket and a few stuffed animals and dolls. She was holding a tea party with real desserts and cranberry tea. He started to laugh when he remembered how he had been present at these parties, sometimes play-acting various silly characters with outlandish hats and costumes. He was tempted to join her, but his pride got the best of him again. He threw the deck of cards onto the floor.

“Hey man! What is this? A new game?” Vinchenzo asked, surprised.

“Yes, it’s called forty-eight pick up. I’m done with cards. I can’t stand being in this house for one more second!”

“It’s not that bad Phineas.”

“Oh yes it is, what would you know? At least you have gotten to get out and do some work on the ship, I have been a prisoner here for three days!”

“And you will be prisoner for the next four, the week is not up. Why don’t you forget all this nonsense, apologize to your sister and try to win back your parent’s favor?”

Phineas paced the room, unaware of the wagon pulling up. It parked under a great Oak tree and it’s driver came down, moving sneakily toward the garden.

“It’s not just that Vinchenzo, I’ve been thinking about…”

“Her…Kayla.” His friend interrupted. “Usually you have gotten over your fancies by now, but she’s different, right?”

Phineas picked up the cards and began to shuffle again. “Different isn’t the word, there is something so…exotic, mysterious about her! It’s like she is bound up with secrets that she’s afraid to tell me. Well I want to know! I want to know everything! I’ll be darned if I spend my life like this stupid knave!”

Phineas pulled out the lowest valued card of the deck and tossed it on the table. Vinchenzo got up with a stretch. “Remember what she told you my friend, you were meant to be a hero to all. I would take her word for it. Now, I’m hungry, let’s go raid the kitchen, aye?”

-O-

Kayla stood at the giant gates to Bogg Manor with trembling hands. She knew that neither Sonora nor Jeremiah were home now. She took a breath and walked in, seeing they had been left wide open. As she made her way up the path she noticed the wagon that belonged to the creep Gavin pulling away. She ran as fast as she could and saw Joanna’s doll tossed on the ground, her picnic blanket disturbed. The back door of the wagon was ajar and when it pulled out she saw the terrified little girl within.

Joanna had been too afraid to scream when Gavin threatened her with his blade. He had enticed her to go inside and she foolishly obeyed, only to be pushed into a cage fit for an animal. She yanked and pulled on the bars, but they would not budge open. She saw a woman running toward her just as the wagon started to ride. It was Kayla. Her confidence was restored and she began to shriek and yell. The wagon rumbled faster ahead.

“Help! Help! Phinnus! Vinny!…Kayla!…Help me!”

Kayla tried to lunge for the back of the wagon, but she landed in the grass. She staggered to her feet and ran faster, grabbing onto the door. She forced herself up and rolled inside, banging into the cage. She grabbed Joanna’s hand.

“Don’t worry! I’ll help you! I’ll get you out!” However, she saw no way to open the cage.

Phineas and Vinchenzo heard the screams and dropped their dishes, racing outside the manor. They saw the wagon rumbling down the road toward the coast.

“Quick! Get the horses! It’s the peddler, he has my sister!”

The boys ran to the barn and jumped on the first two horses in the stable, unconcerned about saddles and comforts. They began galloping the steeds in the direction of the wagon.

“Phineas! Look!” Vinchenzo yelled.

Kayla stuck her head out of the wagon and saw them. “Help us! Phineas! Help us! I can’t get her out!”

Gavin finally realized all the commotion behind him, but he couldn’t stop the wagon. He whipped at his horses and they ran faster, he passed another horse and rider on the road. Jeremiah Bogg reared his horse and turned at the sound of his daughter’s cries for help.

“Damn you Gavin!”

Phineas and Vinchenzo soon caught up to their father’s horse. Jeremiah pulled closer to the driver’s seat of the wagon and threw himself on top of Gavin. The surprised peddler didn’t have a chance to struggle and they both fell off into a damp knoll. Vinchenzo pulled in closer at Phineas' signal and jumped onto the seat, trying to control the horses. Phineas jumped onto the back of the wagon and threw himself inside. He landed on top of an astonished Kayla and kissed her hastily.

“I missed you!”

“Me too, but forget that! Get your sister!”

Joanna reached out to her brother and he clasped her hand, and then stroked the tears from her red cheeks. He drew a large ‘J’ over his heart.

“I love you Joanna!”

-O-

John Henry and Regina appeared on a rocky cliff, with not a moment to waste. They looked ahead and saw Dwight Roache waiting on the bend of the road, holding a stick of dynamite.

“Headquarters put us right on the mark! So that’s how the varmint did it! C’mon babe! Hurry!”

The voyagers ran swiftly off the rocks toward him. Dwight looked at his watch, any second now. He heard the pounding hooves and raised his match to light the stick.

John Henry flew into Dwight and they tumbled to the ground. The dynamite was lit and Regina began to stamp on the fuse in the moist grass until it fizzled out. Dwight was enraged.

“No! You fools! You’re going to ruin everything! No!”

“Shut up man! We’re not going to let you or Lorna ruin anything ever again!”

The wagon turned the bend and Vinchenzo reared the horses. Inside, Joanna gave her brother a hairpin and he jimmied the lock until it was sprung open. She fell into his arms. The wagon slowed down very near to the edge of the cliff. Phineas jumped out and helped his sister and Kayla down. He knelt down to his sister and hugged her, as he never had before. He kissed her head and cried with her. She held his face in her hands.

“Thank…you…Phinn..Phine..Phineas!” She finally managed to say his name as exact as her voice would allow. Phineas looked at her heartfelt, cherubic face and cried even more.

“Please forgive me! Forgive me! I’m sorry I hurt you! I love you!”

Dwight fought hard against John Henry, but he was no match for the large cowboy. John Henry gave him a solid punch in the jaw and he was out cold. Holding him slumped over his shoulder, John Henry stood near his wife and they watched the scene contemplatively from a distance with lumps in their throats. Regina grabbed his hand and they all disappeared unnoticed when she hit the omni.

Kayla pulled out her omni; a queer feeling enveloped her body. She opened it and the omni started to work again. Phineas stood up and faced her ecstatically when he heard the sound of the bell from her brass device. He glanced at it.

“A green light! Kayla what does it all mean?”

Kayla looked at him with wide, loving eyes and smiled reflectively.

“It means, everything is okay and we’ll see each other again! I promise you Phineas!”

“Phineas! Your father needs help!” Vinchenzo shouted. Phineas turned to his friend and Joanna ran towards him and her father.

Kayla kissed his cheek, but when Phineas looked back to return it, she had completely vanished.

-O-

Voyager Headquarters remanded Dwight and Lorna immediately and without a trial. As soon as the council convened next, they were going to be banished forever. Voyager Drake disappeared from his holding cell, and Voyager Olivia Dunne reappeared to find Headquarters in a chaotic state.

“I don’t get it Joe, one minute I’m eating lunch with you in the picnic area and the next minute I’m here…”

“Don’t worry Liv, c’mon, I’m starving, we’ll talk all about it.”

“Starving? Didn’t you like the roast beef sandwich I made you?”

Joseph Howell held his head and laughed at her confusion, leading her to the cafeteria. As soon as things calmed down here, he was going to call an emergency meeting of Pioneer. His expression darkened. Even though Lorna and Drake were gone, there were other Paradox crew members out there and they would no doubt regroup to cause more havoc. He forced a bright smile for Olivia before she realized something was wrong. "Let's just take it one victory at a time." He thought, and piled up his tray with a big meal.

-O-

John Henry and Regina ran to the OCC to find Bobby and his crew picking up the remains of the Omnitron. The center was slowly being restored. The two voyagers couldn't contain their excitement. He pointed out the substitute Omnitron.

“We did it! Look at that, green lights across the board! Phineas Bogg and Jeffrey Jones are back in action!” John Henry grabbed the communicator and pushed a few buttons. “This is Voyager 18…Aww hell! How ya doin’ Saunders?”

Young Jeremy Saunders gentle voice crackled over the communicator.

“Hey John! Mice ta hear rom ya! Sorry…I’m eafing…eating!” They heard a deep swallow. “Nice to hear from you! What’s up?”

Everyone in the OCC smiled. “Aww, nothing, just checking in…so, how’s married life been treating you?”

“Aww man, swell, just swell! Kirstie is a doll, she’s decided to use her knack for fashion and design clothing. I tell ya, lately I’ve been looking pretty sharp. Hey, tell Joseph and Phineas when you see him that I got the coding issue licked! The rest of you guys can all have the code locks on your omnis by next week, but you have to come down and let me install it here, okay? So, is Kayla back from Quintana Roo with Phineas and Jeff yet? Did I miss anything vital? For a minute there my mini Omnitron just kinda fizzed out, but it’s back like new.”

John Henry looked at his wife and Bobby and they sighed. “When Kayla comes back we’ll all have dinner and tell you everything, otherwise, things are just peachy.”

“Great! Oh, I gotta go, I can’t miss Lucy!”

“Okay man, talk to ya soon.”

John Henry clicked off with tears forming in his eyes and Regina rubbed his back in understanding. He finally felt like he had done something right, he finally felt like a true Voyager again. Bobby came up to him with a stack of marble notebooks.

“These were left behind by Jeffrey, remember, VHQ is a safe haven. He even added more notes about Professor Saunders, his aunt and uncle and what happened here. He said to give them to the other Jeff as a souvenir, and then he was gone...just like that.”

John Henry grasped the books tightly. “Don't you worry, he'll be back and I’ll make sure he gets these.”

-O-

“Hey guys! I think I found the entrance! You were right Bogg! There’s a hidden lever behind some vines and shrubs, come look!”

Phineas was absorbed in looking at the ocean waves crashing along the rocks. He perked his head up.

“Alright Jeff! I knew you could find it! Let’s go see, hon!”

He clasped Kayla’s hand and his fingers brushed over the teardrop diamond engagement ring he gave her right before the vacation. Upon becoming a Voyager, Phineas did not remember when Kayla was there when they were both teens. However, when his memories of his past came back to him on his voyage to save Jeffrey, so did his memories of Kayla. He vividly remembered her stay at the manor and the love that had grown between them. Phineas kept it all to himself, because Kayla had no such recollections. However, it was quite a challenge to explain to his family and Kayla when they went to Vinchenzo’s wedding. After he and his father talked, Phineas decided that Kayla was his one and only. He truly loved her. There was a bond between them that survived throughout all time.

“Phineas, are you okay? You seemed a little spaced out before, I almost thought you were going to jump off the cliff.” Kayla told him, slightly alarmed.

Phineas kissed her hand. “No…I mean...whatever it was passed. I’m fine, but I won’t be if we don’t get to Jeffrey.”

Kayla laughed and kissed his lips. “I love you Phineas Bogg. I always have, I always will.”

Phineas smiled as he recalled she said the exact words to him at nineteen.

“I know you do Kayla, and I love you. That is one thing that will never change, no matter what.”

-O-

“Bogg, are you sure that’s the right one?”

Phineas gently touched the dark, curly hair and ran his fingers over the smooth porcelain. He put the doll back into the box with a satisfied smile. The shopkeeper tied it up with a green, velvet ribbon.

“I’m positive kid, I could never forget Rebecca. She was my first wife you know? At every tea-party Joanna ever held, I would show up arm in arm with her.”

Jeffrey laughed as they exited the toyshop and found a private area to make their disappearance.

“I cannot imagine you at a little girl’s tea party…ever!”

“Hey, don’t sell me so short. I did a lot for my sister. C’mon, let’s get back to seventeen-fifteen.”

“Too bad you can’t go back to seventeen-o-nine and give it to her right after you broke it.”

“Are you kidding, I’d be tempted to punch my own face, that brat!” Phineas said with angry regret.

“Hey, don’t sell yourself short remember? You were all confused and hurt that day. She forgave you and you apologized.”

Phineas tousled Jeffrey’s hair. “Yeah, but not right away, and I could have lost…” Phineas held back a sudden urge to cry for his beloved sister. “Ahhhh, c’mon kid. After this visit home Kayla told me to come right back to the OCC. She said there was a lot of big news to discuss. She sounded kinda…I don’t know…shocked about it all, but she wouldn’t tell me anything over the communicator.”

Jeffrey grabbed his arm. “You think it’s anything serious?”

“Nahhh...After the last voyages we all went through meeting her?" He counted a list on his fingers and rolled his eyes in supreme confidence. "Aunt Jemima, The French Revolution, you met my family, The Pioneer group, The Brooklyn Bridge..." Phineas gave a big shrug and grin. "What could have possibly went wrong now?”

The End!