Xander

Emily had very specific tastes, and what if she didn't like Jade? It wasn't like he'd be able to go back and return it. He thought back to the night they met. He was finishing his PhD at the time, and his lab had closed early because of Easter. He'd stuffed his papers into his briefcase and shuffled through the rain to the 116th Street station.

Emily had very specific tastes, and what if she didn't like Jade? It wasn't like he'd be able to go back and return it. He thought back to the night they met. He was finishing his PhD at the time, and his lab had closed early because of Easter. He'd stuffed his papers into his briefcase and shuffled through the rain to the 116th Street station.

It was 4.05am and the platform was deserted, except for Emily. It had been several days since Xander's last conversation with a human, and when she started to speak to him, he felt the stirrings of a panic attack. But Emily's friendly smile managed somehow to put him at ease. She was awfully cheerful, given her circumstances. Her MetroCard had expired, she said, and the machines were broken.

It was 4.05am and the platform was deserted, except for Emily. It had been several days since Xander's last conversation with a human, and when she started to speak to him, he felt the stirrings of a panic attack. But Emily's friendly smile managed somehow to put him at ease. She was awfully cheerful, given her circumstances. Her MetroCard had expired, she said, and the machines were broken.

She'd been stranded for over 20 minutes. Would he be willing to sell her a ride? Zanda nodded and watched as she rooted around in her purse for some cash to pay him back. It was a moment or two before it occurred to him that she had given him the chance to be gallant. You don't have to reimburse me, he said. I'll swipe you in for free.

She'd been stranded for over 20 minutes. Would he be willing to sell her a ride? Zanda nodded and watched as she rooted around in her purse for some cash to pay him back. It was a moment or two before it occurred to him that she had given him the chance to be gallant. You don't have to reimburse me, he said. I'll swipe you in for free.

She thanked him enthusiastically and then, shockingly, wrapped her arms around his torso. Zanda wasn't used to physical contact, and although the hug was brief, it caused his entire body to tingle from head to toe. It was a startling sensation, like walking through an electrically charged field. He still felt that way whenever she touched him.

She thanked him enthusiastically and then, shockingly, wrapped her arms around his torso. Zanda wasn't used to physical contact, and although the hug was brief, it caused his entire body to tingle from head to toe. It was a startling sensation, like walking through an electrically charged field. He still felt that way whenever she touched him.

Xander was an atheist and believed fiercely in random causality. But by the end of their shared subway ride, he was sure he'd experienced a miracle. This wonderful person had shown up out of nowhere and given him a chance at love. And in return, he'd given her three years of misery. He thought about all of his Saturday nights at the lab, ignoring her calls, making excuses.

Xander was an atheist and believed fiercely in random causality. But by the end of their shared subway ride, he was sure he'd experienced a miracle. This wonderful person had shown up out of nowhere and given him a chance at love. And in return, he'd given her three years of misery. He thought about all of his Saturday nights at the lab, ignoring her calls, making excuses.

He thought about the way she cried when he handed her the tulips. How could he make up for three years of romantic ineptitude with a single birthday present? He closed his eyes and concentrated. There had to be a right answer. Cleopatra's crown. Joan of Arc's sword. A baby dinosaur. What was the greatest thing he could give her? The very best present in the world.

He thought about the way she cried when he handed her the tulips. How could he make up for three years of romantic ineptitude with a single birthday present? He closed his eyes and concentrated. There had to be a right answer. Cleopatra's crown. Joan of Arc's sword. A baby dinosaur. What was the greatest thing he could give her? The very best present in the world.

It was the hardest problem he'd ever attempted to solve. But then, as always, the solution came to him. Xander parked his time machine by the 116th Street station and dashed into the subway. It was 3.45am, a little over three years in the past. Emily was standing by the turnstile, swiping and re-swiping her expired MetroCard. He took a deep breath and approached her. Let me guess, he said.

It was the hardest problem he'd ever attempted to solve. But then, as always, the solution came to him. Xander parked his time machine by the 116th Street station and dashed into the subway. It was 3.45am, a little over three years in the past. Emily was standing by the turnstile, swiping and re-swiping her expired MetroCard. He took a deep breath and approached her. Let me guess, he said.

Expired MetroCard. She chuckled. How do you know? I had a hunch. Come on, I'll swipe you through. Oh, that's okay, she said. I'll just go to the machine upstairs or... The machines are all broken, he said. You better catch this one, he said. The next one won't come for another twenty minutes. Before she could protest, he took out his MetroCard and swiped her through the turnstile.

Expired MetroCard. She chuckled. How do you know? I had a hunch. Come on, I'll swipe you through. Oh, that's okay, she said. I'll just go to the machine upstairs or... The machines are all broken, he said. You better catch this one, he said. The next one won't come for another twenty minutes. Before she could protest, he took out his MetroCard and swiped her through the turnstile.

She smiled back at him with confusion. Aren't you coming? she asked as the train pulled into the station. Xander averted his eyes. He worried that if he looked at her, he would start to cry. I need to take a different train, he said. Well, at least let me pay you for that. That's all right, he said, his voice breaking. It's a present.

She smiled back at him with confusion. Aren't you coming? she asked as the train pulled into the station. Xander averted his eyes. He worried that if he looked at her, he would start to cry. I need to take a different train, he said. Well, at least let me pay you for that. That's all right, he said, his voice breaking. It's a present.

He was about to turn away when she leaned over the turnstile and hugged him. It was exactly as he remembered it, her long brown hair brushing softly against his neck, his entire body tingling with warmth. Thanks, she said. He tried to say you're welcome, but the words got caught in his throat. He waved goodbye as she boarded the train. Then he marched out of the station alone.

He was about to turn away when she leaned over the turnstile and hugged him. It was exactly as he remembered it, her long brown hair brushing softly against his neck, his entire body tingling with warmth. Thanks, she said. He tried to say you're welcome, but the words got caught in his throat. He waved goodbye as she boarded the train. Then he marched out of the station alone.