What If - Kyle knew the truth - Love and Life.. **CONTENT WITHIN**

Posted on Wed Nov 9th, 2022 @ 3:50pm by Kyle Cragen [Reece] & Consul Josephine Carlyle-Cragen

Mission: WHAT IF?
Location: Hever Castle
Timeline: 1663
5491 words - 11 OF Standard Post Measure

Hever Castle

Christmas had passed and Josephine had organised for James to be incapacitated. A simple sleeping draught in his wine and he was out. She had then secured him in their shuttle beneath the castle, in the small medical bay's cryo chamber. He was in perfect hibernation. And Josephine was now in charge of the family estate and her brother was 'off on a diplomatic trip'.

After Christmas was also when she was expecting Sir Kyle to visit. He was arriving that day.

Kyle had been anticipating his visit to Castle Hever, and Lady Josephine, for days now, ever since they discussed it, before Christmas, and the palace. Now that they knew the truth about each other, he was hopeful that they could actually start a relationship together, for he was finding her extremely appealing and someone that he could certainly grow to love quiet deeply.

As he crested the nearby hill, his eyes finally landed on his destination, and a huge grin filled his features. Spurring on his horse to move faster, he found that he couldn't wait any longer to see Lady Josephine's beautiful face.

The wide portico held a lone figure. It was Lady Josephine. She spotted the horse coming down the drive. She stepped off the portico to greet him.

Kyle's heart skipped a beat when he saw her. In moments, he was pulling on the reins, bringing his horse to a stop. "Easy, Mercury, good boy," he said quietly. He then smiled brightly as he addressed his host. "My Lady! You are looking very agreeable on this crisp December morning!" He dismounted his horse, then handed the reins to a stable boy that had scurried over. "I have a gift for you," he said with a grin, as he reached into his saddlebag and pulled out a small cloth sack.

"Sir Kyle, welcome to Hever Castle, you have ridden a long way," she snapped her fingers and a stable lad came round to take his horse. "Please come in out of the cold. George will make sure your belongings are taken to your suite." She said smiling as she stepped towards him.

Kyle bowed and grinned. "You are just as stunning as ever, My Lady. Thank you again for welcoming me into your home." He stepped closer and offered her his left elbow.

Smiling she took it. "I will have a footman show you to your rooms and if you are hungry, we can call for luncheon early." She said as they entered the large foyer.

As they walked, Kyle nodded his thanks. "That would sound splendid. I would prefer to not smell like a horse when we dine."

Josephine smiled and when a footman appeared she gave him directions and the footman with deference led Kyle up to what had been named the Blue suite.

A short while later, freshly scrubbed and dressed, Kyle was led to where Lady Josephine was currently located.

She was in a large room at the back of the house, the conservatory. She was also alone as she watered the plants there. When she heard his footsteps she turned and smiled.

As soon as Kyle was shown inside, the Paige turned and left them alone.

Kyle smiled warmly at the vision he saw in front of him. "My Lady," he bowed respectfully.

She wanted to roll her eyes. She curtseyed as expected. "Are the rooms to your liking?" She asked.

As he stood back up, he smirked at her. "Gotcha!" He winked at her. "Wanted to make sure we weren't being watched, Josephine."

"My Servants are well paid and do not spy on me. They believe my brother is away." She added as she turned towards a small ornamental orange tree.

Stepping up next to her, Kyle asked softly, "And where is he actually?"

"I will show you tonight, after the staff are asleep." She said softly. "Alive though"

Kyle reached out and gently laid it upon hers, giving it a soft squeeze. "So long as your past is safe, that is what l am most concerned with."

She nodded. "It is..." she agreed and gave him a small smile. "I am pleased you were able to visit Sir Kyle."

Looking over at her, he smiled softly. "While I have earned my title and knighthood through my deeds here, while we are alone, I wish for you to just call me Kyle."

She nodded. "My family and friends call me Josie." She said softly..

Turning to face her, Kyle lifted his left hand up and gently cupped her right cheek. "You are a very beautiful and highly intelligent woman...Josie. I am honored to know the real you." As he spoke, his eyes seemed to increase in intensity as they locked upon hers.

She nodded. Her gaze she could not pull from his. She just let herself sink for a moment. "Kyle... In my time... this is very outdated... the dance people do in this time around relationships."

He could feel the pull of her very presence, holding him close to her. Suddenly feeling like a young boy who was about to earn his first real kiss, he swallowed and asked, "W-what do...um...what do you do in your time?"

"Depends, but most young people go out to... parties, bars, places to dance and drink without chaperones or their parents. They have intimate relations with people they want to have them with. We have medicine to stop unwanted pregnancies and illness." She smiled. "And our clothes are a lot less... confining. No Wigs for starters."

Kyle was astounded to hear what Josie told him. Of course, his parents had showed him images of their homeworld and the way his countrymen and countrywomen had lived. However, he had only lived as the humans lived.

Until now.

In a display of courage to go against all he had been taught, he reached up and slowly pulled the wig off of his head, revealing a slightly balding, yet very manly scalp.

She smiled. "Its part of life Kyle" she whispered. "I never wear a wig unless at court so my hair is my own. But we do have tech that can regrow hair."

Kyle grinned and chuckled. "Oh, I'm not vain about my baldness. It just feels weird to expose my head to someone, especially someone as beautiful as you."

She smiled. "If I may ask, how old are you?"

He thought about it, then replied. "I'll be 242 years old in March," he replied matter-of-factly.

"I am 28." She replied "Which is why I avoid the marriage mart in London. I am on the shelf."

"Oh, I don't think so," Kyle said softly. "The other young women pale in comparison to you, my dear."

"After Lunch I have something to show you. I think it will impress you." She said softly.

He arched his right eyebrow. "I am filled with curiosity, Josie. Let us eat quickly so that you may show me sooner."

She laughed. "Come, this way" she led him deeper into the Conservatory and to where a small table was set up with their lunch.

"Is it considered good manners to pull the chair out for a lady when she sits down at a table?" He asked as he moved to the closest chair.

"Old fashioned but good Manners. My father does still do that for my Mother" She allowed him to help her sit.

Kyle carefully pushed Josie back to the small table. He then moved to sit across from her at the small square table. He then served some of the food that had been set out for them.

She helped and soon they were eating their lunch. "Is the King aware of James's... adventure?"

Wiping his mouth, Kyle replied. "Yes. I informed His Majesty that James was leading an expedition to the East, and that he would not be returning for at least year."

"Accidents happen I guess" She smiled faintly "Illness, attacks from pirates."

He nodded. "My thoughts exactly. By this time next year, the King won't even remember James."

Josephine nodded. She knew that if she spent her life here, in this time, she would need to make sure James never woke up. Or at least not until 2397. "I hope his name will be lost to the annals of history."

"It will. He was but a flash in the pan of interest. The Court is very fickle in that way. Only the King holds constant interest of the Court." He reached over and gently took hold of her hand, enjoying the softness and warmth of her skin against his.

"I didn't want to go to court" Josie admitted. "But then I would not have met you."

"And I would have continued to live an empty life, always unable to tell anyone who I truly am." He smiled softly and gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

When they finished eating, Josie summoned the staff and led Kyle out of the Conservatory and down a hall before they came to a walled up door.

She glanced around and pulled the door open. "Staff do not come down here." She said. Behind the door was a massive pile of rocks and wooden beams. There was no way through.

Kyle looked around the space. "I can see why. There's nothing here."

Smiling, Josie took his hand and walked straight to the mess of rocks and beams and she did so at pace she passed right through them, pulling him behind her.

Kyle gasped at first, then realized what had happened. "Holograms! I remember reading about that technology during my school work. Where is the power source?"

"This way" She said as she led him into a very dark stairwell. She paused and lit the torch and held it high as she led the way down.

Kyle stayed right behind Josie, taking in everything around him as they continued deeper underground.

Eventually they came to a heavy iron door which Josie pushed open.

It opened into a cavern and inside was a sleek shuttle. It was clearly damaged but other than the damage to its side and to the two sleek beams that he didn't know the term for, it was intact.

Kyle stared at the sleek craft. He slowly moved around it, taking in every part of its hull. "She's beautiful!" He said in awe.

"She doesn't fly very well. Can no longer break atmosphere unfortunately. " Josie said softly. "But she has enough power to maintain that hologram and other systems."

"Can she be repaired?" He asked softly as he reached out and ran his left hand over her smooth hull. "I remember that my people have a technology of matter replication. Do yours possess something similar in the future?"

"Yes but we are unble to repair it at this time." Josie replied. She moved and opened the hatch. "If the court knew... we would all die"

He nodded, knowing all too well how the humans of this era would react if they knew the truth about the three of them. "You were smart to hide your ship in this abandoned castle. What happened to cause you to become trapped here?"

Leading him inside she said "We were mapping a region of space and we hit a temporal eddie as best we can guess." She paused by the slim hibernation chamber. "James is here asleep."

Kyle looked over the system, careful not to touch anything. "You truly are an amazing woman," he said in a complimentary tone. "To get him into this cylinder by yourself speaks to your ingenuity."

"Technology is useful. He will sleep until I awaken him or until time catches up to him."

Kyle nodded again. He was certainly impressed. A sudden idea occured to him. "Are you able to show me what your home looks like? Your real home, I mean."

She nodded and moved to the front of the shuttle and using the console brough up images of Earth in 2396.

Kyle looked on in awe. It's so peaceful! It almost looks like images of my parent's homeworld." He looked over at her, hope in his eyes. "Do you have any images of El Auria from your time?"

Josie shook her head. "No, unfortunately not. El-Auria does not ... it was attacked by another race, decimating the populace and scattering survivors. " she said gently. "Not humans, but a race of cybernetic beings."

The color faded from his face. "You mean...it's gone and...and my people...my people are nearly extinct?"

"Its still there but it is not in any form you would recognise. And your people are scattered and they keep to themselves so the exact numbers are hard to tell."

Kyle slumped down into a nearby seat. He looked like he had lost a family member suddenly. He looked back up at her. "Do you know when...no!" He stood up, suddenly seeming to ve very agitated. "Don't tell me any more! If you do, I might try to send a warning out....somehow. And I know that cannot be allowed to happen. To do so would cause even greater damage to the space time continuum than if James tried to alter things here." He looked up at her, tears threatening to form in his eyes. "Please forgive my weakness, Josie."

She touched his face gently. "Believe me, I know how you feel. In the centuries to come, Earth will undergo great changes, world wide spanning wars, plagues, and more. I know how it feels to want to warn people."

Kyle closed his eyes and leaned slightly into her touch. When he heard what would happen to Earth in the future, he opened his eyes and looked up at her. In that moment, she had never looked more beautiful to him.

Slowly, he stood back up, his eyes locked on hers. He could feel the fires of desire burning deep in his soul. Here. In Josephine's presence, for the first time in his life, he felt whole.

Slowly swallowing thr knit that was forming in his throat, Kyle took a step closer to Josie, slowly raised his hands up to gently cradle both sides of her face, then leaned in and kissed her, gently at first, but the rising desire for her soon added more passion and heat to that perfect kiss.

Josie kissed him back just as deeply and shifted on the chair so she was closer. She cursed the dress she wore as it hindered a lot.

As if hearing her thoughts, Kyle pulled back from the kiss and looked questioningly at her, as his hands moved down to the first of many knots and bows holding her gown on her body.

She nodded and set about helping him. "You would like the fashion of my time" she said lightly. "Short skirts, skin tight dresses. Very easy to remove."

He arched his right eyebrow. "I would certainly like to see that." He continued to untie and unbutton layer after layer of Josie's fashion armor of the day.

Soon enough she was standing there in a slip which went from her chest to her knees. "Better?" She asked.

His eyes, which were used to seeing women only fully dressed, were suddenly wide and feasting on what now stood before him. "Beautiful...." he whispered.

Then, as if in a trance, hypnotized by her very being, he started to discover as well, until he was just in his own slip shirt, which needed to be untied at the neck, over his chest, before he could remove it.

She smiled at him. "Come" she took his hand and led him to a small compartment. Inside was a bed, big enough for them both. "My cabin" she said softly.

It was clearly apparent that, while he was nervous, he also truly want this. He wanted her. "It looks very cozy."

"Yes, suitable for my military rank." Without shyness she let her slip drop to the floor and naked walked to his side and began to undo his laces.

His jaw dropped open when he saw the curves of her body. He quickly recovered and put his hands on her hips as she started to open his shirt, exposing his well-built chest. "You are beyond beautiful, my love. You are a goddess!"

"You are biased Kyle. There are many more beautiful women out there than me. And if we were in my time you would not even see me."

Placing his hands on her bare hips, he looked directly into her eyes and spoke softly in his native tongue. "Tre'collo gre matona, Josephine."

She raised an eyebrow "What does that mean?" she asked softly.

"Roughly translated to English," he replied softly as he leaned in a d started to gently kiss the left side of her neck, his breath playing out over her smooth skin, "Your beauty...rivals the stars...in the heavens.."

She blushed. "thank you" she said as she finished helping him off with his clothes.

When there was nothing more in between them, Kyle slid his arms around Josephine and moved his kisses up to her mouth.

She slid her arms around him and slid her left leg up his leg to his hip. She was not like the girls of this era. She knew about sex, had, had it and knew how to please a man. Her right hand skimmed down his torso as they kissed and soon it was stroking his manhood.

A hungry growl rumbled deep inside Kyle's chest as soon as he felt Josephine take hold of him.her gentle touch brought him to full arousal instantly. He moved them back to her bed and laid her down upon it. He then lowered himself down atop of her and, his eyes locked on hers, entered her.

Josie's eyes were locked on his as he took her and her lips curved as she moaned his name softly. She slid her legs around him and moved with him as the pleasure of having him inside her flowed through her body.

They started slowly, as their bodies started to conform to one another. Then. As they continued, Kyle picked up the pace and power of his thrusts. Though it had been nearly a hundred years since last he slept with a woman, he didn't rush things. He knew exactly how to and when to curl Josephine's toes.

It had been a few years for Josie since her last encounter with a male, but she reveled in it now. She pressed kisses to his neck, chest, jawline and lips as she moved with him, keeping pace.

Kyle kept his movements constant as he continued to drive into Josephine. He gasped and moaned when he felt her lips on his skin. Each one sent sparks down his spine.

she kissed her way up to his ear and whispered "If you roll over I will ride you" and flicked her tongue across his earlobe.

He moaned softly when she did that, but paused in his move.e ts to allow the change of positions. Once he was comfortable, he nodded to her, offering her his hands if she needed them.

Josie smiled and straddled him, taking him into her body and then balancing on her knees began to move. Slowly at first, drawing it out.

Kyle looked up at Josephine with wonder in his eyes. Reaching up, he gently took hold of her breasts and squeezed them both.

Josie gasped and shifted her hips drawing him deeper even as she continued to move, riding him towards a mutual peak.

A short time later, they were laying together, cuddled up under the sheet and blanket, a thin sheen of sweat still visible on Kyle's well defined and slightly hairy chest. "That was amazing!"

Josie, her head resting on his shoulder smiled. "We should not linger too long, the staff will be expecting us for dinner." She reminded him.

He chuckled. "If only we were in your time, we could stay here all day long."

"Hmm maybe but we are not." She sat up pushing blond hair from her face. "We can get cleaned up down here too."

"Too bad we can't put the bathing tech in the castle. To enjoy a bath where the water stays hot must be incredible!"

Josie smiled. "Come with me, and learn" She took his hand and led him into a small room off of her cabin. Inside was a small stall. "Stand in there." She said "Unfortunately no water down here. So its a Sonic shower"

He looked at her quizzically. "Sonic shower?"

She smiled. "Hop in and see. It won't hurt you Kyle"

He smiled as he stepped inside. "I trust you that it won't hurt. I just don't understand the words you are using."

She pressed a button and there was a humming noise and then soft soothing lumination that rolled in waves over his body..

"Oh!" He gasped, startled by the strange sensations. However, he trusted Josephine, so he stayed in the shower.

She smiled and joined him in the small cubicle. "We do have something called a Shower, which does give hot and cold running water, but this shuttle is too small for such a device. So the sonic is what we have."

Kyle smiled and shifted, to give Josephine a little more room in the cramped confines. "I don't know, I think I like how the Sonic feels on my skin. Though, seeing a beautiful woman soaking wet is a sight that is very difficult beat." He moved his hands over her body as he watched the sonics moved over her skin. He could see her skin actually getting cleaner as they stood there.

"Well, maybe later, we can test your theory" she brushed a kiss over his lips. "It is fairly quick though." the system beeped as it finished its cycle.

Kyle chuckled softly. "Hopefully the water showers don't end so quickly?" He then returned her kiss with one just as tender and loving.

Kissing him back she smiled. "Depends on where you are really" She stepped out and sighed as she looked at the dress she would have to get back into. "Clothing these days." she sighed and started to get dressed.

Kyle helped her as best he could, following her instructions on how to properly tie everything together. He then started to dress himself. As he did so, he asked, "Do you have a way to get back to your time?"

She shook her head. "No. Not with the shuttle the way it is, and we are lightyears away from the area we were scanning."

He nodded as he finished dressing. "Well, if you are stranded here, the least I can do is protect you from the other bachelor's out there." He paused a few beats before asking, "While I know We have only known each a few short months...I can't think of anyone I would rather spend my life with more than you. Would you do me the honor of becoming my bride?"

She turned and faced him. She knew the process from her time at court. And marriages were brought about a lot quicker than in her time. She also knew it gave each of them protection ... they knew the truth about each other. She studied his face carefully and then nodded "But I won't live as long as you are going to. One day, your life will catch up to my timeline."

With sad eyes, he nodded. "I know. Just like I know, as much as I would want to find you in your time, before you came back here, I can't. It would cause too much damage to creation." He reached up and gently caressed her right cheek. "However, I would gladly take the few decades we could have together, than not have you in my life at all."

She nodded "Very well, yes Kyle I would love to marry you." she said honestly.

He smiled a bright, happy smile. "Then, I can give you your gift now." He reached into one of his belt pouches and pulled out another small bundle. Carefully unwrapping it, he revealed an elegant silver necklace which held an intricately cut and shaped emerald, cut into a heart shape. The stone itself was as large as his thumb.

"It is El Aurian custom for a prospective groom to offer the one he wishes to wed with a necklace containing a stone that he himself has worked into shape."

Josie stared at it. "You did this yourself?" She asked.

Kyle smiled softly and nodded. "After our first dinner together. I knew there was something special about you the first day I saw you in Court." He opened the clasp and lifted it, to allow Josie to step under and turn.

She did so and felt him settle it against her skin. "It's beautiful, Kyle," she said softly.

After closing the clasp, Kyle leaned in and softly kissed the back of her neck. "Not as beautiful as you are," he replied honestly.

She shivered. "Stop that, we need to get upstairs and split up so the staff do not start rumours."

Kyle sighed softly, then nodded. "You're right, of course. However, I will make the appropriate wedding proposal in front of the staff, then give you the ring that is more traditional."

She smiled. "Tonight, after they have retired, if you wish we can continue our conversations."

He smiled and nodded. "I would very much like that, my lady." He then followed her back out the way they came, walking through the holographic image of a rock face.

Once outside the door, she glanced around. "The library is that way" she pointed. "And I will go to the gardens"

Kyle nodded , then headed the way Josephine had instructed, a soft grin plastered to his face.

Josephine headed in the opposite direction.

Late that night, Josephine retired to her suite of rooms and once her maid had helped her from her dress, she had dismissed her and pulled out a nightslip from her time. A skimpy purple slip that barely covered everything. She then stood in her sitting room and waited for Kyle to arrive.

A few moments later, there was a knocking on her door. The raps were the earlier agreed upon code to signify that it was him at her door.

"Its unlocked" she called out softly, as she knew he would be able to hear her.

The door opened quietly and Kyle quickly stepped inside, not seeing Josephine yet, as he quietly closed the door again. Once it was closed, he turned back and stopped dead in his place, his eyes locked on the vision of beauty standing in front of him. "Is...is that...em...a typical sleep garment from the future?"

"yes" She replied "Did you lock the door?" she asked curiously as she stepped forward. Her hair was down and nearly touching her behind, and she wore the necklace he had given her.

He swallowed as he watched her move with unblinking eyes. He then nodded. "Yes, I did. You...you look...words pale in comparison to your beauty."

"hmm you seem over dressed" she was right in front of him And she reached out to touch his face.

As if entranced by her beauty and her touch, Kyle started to peel off the many layers of his clothing.

Josie began to help him remove his clothes. "When we came here, I chose these rooms, because they were private and away from the 'Lords' chambers. Its a three room suite, I have my own library here."

Finally, Kyle had been freed of all of his clothing, and he stood there, his powerfully-built body completely nude and aching to feel Josephine's body up against his.

she reached for the hem of her slip and pulled it off her form easily. "My bed is through that door" she said casually as she took his hand. "Unless you are fine here," in a room of low couches, thick rugs and a blazing fire.

He grinned a hungry grin at her as he replied. "I am good anywhere you are, Josie." He then pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply.

She shifted against him as she kissed him back, unlike ladies of the time, she was not concerned about being naked in his arms, in fact she reveled in it. Running her hands up and down his naked back and torso.

A hungry growl rumbled in his chest. As they continued to kiss, Kyle moved her backwards, towards the fire, and laid her down onto the thick rug that was there.

Josie smiled up at him as the heat from the fire washed over them. "You don't mind that I am not what you would get in this time?" she asked softly.

As he braced his weight on his arms and knees, Kyle looked down into Josephine's face and shook his head as he replied honestly. "There has never been anyone or anything I have wanted more, than you."

She slid her arms around his neck and nuzzled his chin. "Good, because I want you, badly, and since this afternoon, it's gotten worse."

He grinned down at her as he replied, "Well then, my good lady, I am at your service." He then began making love to her, spending the next several hours, taking her to her highest highs again and again.

Late at night the fire had died down and they lay curled together on the rug before the fire. Josie was drifting slowly off to sleep.

"Come, let us go to bed, before we get too cold down here."

"Hmmm.. yes, I forget that this time does not have such things like heating control." She sat up sleepily. "Good thing I have a big bed right?"

He chuckled as he got up. Then, bending down, he scooped her up into his arms as if she weighed nothing. "It's a very good thing, my love." He then carried her to her bed. "Pull back the covers," he said while still holding her.

She reached out and pulled back the covers as best she could while being held in his arms.

Once the covers were pulled back, Kyle laid Josedoen into her bed, then climbed in next to her. He lifted his left arm to allow her to snuggle in, if she wanted to.

Josie curled into his side easily, she pressed her lips to his chin as she did so.

Kyle purred softly at the kiss. He then spoke softly to her. "How much do you know about my people, in regards to relationships?"

She shook her head. "Not much, as I said the El-Aurians are very quiet in my time. And rightfully so."

He nodded slowly, then continued. "Well, as you know, my people are extremely old. We are one of the oldest races in this galaxy, next to the Originators and Organians. When it comes to relationships, we believe that each of us is born with half a soul. It isn't until we find that other person that we find ourselves drawn to, that we start to feel a peace settle over us. Now, millennia ago, those other halves would only be found in fellow El Aurians. However, by the time my parents arrived on this world, it was already being g discovered that other species started to contain that other half."

"When an El Aurian bonds with another, there is no where in the cosmos that they can be separated to, that they won't find each other." He took a deep breath and slowly let it out, looking deep into Josephine's beautiful eyes. "I feel that connection with you, Josie. You are the holder of the other half of our joined soul." He smiled happily as he said the words.

She smiled. But she wondered how that could be. "But I am human Kyle. Fully human and you are El Aurian, how can i be that?"

That question caused him to pause. He considered its implications carefully, then shrugged and said, "I don't know. All I know is this...over the last two hundred years, I have never felt this way about anyone else, ever. I can't explain it. I just know that I feel very strongly in the fact that I want to spend every moment I can with you, no matter what we are doing, where we are, or even when."

She nodded and snuggled down. "We should sleep, dawn comes too soon."

He nodded and, smiling softly, held her close to him as he felt her drift off to sleep. He watched her for a little while as if he was memorizing ever single feature of her face. He later closed his eyes and went to sleep as well.

~OFF~


***TRANSLATIONS***

•Tre'collo gre matona, Josephine
-Your beauty rivals the stars in the heavens, Josephine