TIME TRAVELER: E204. THE MEETING

That same morning, at the Beaker's house...

"Well, here we are," Dylan announced.

"Yeah, well, I hope this is all over soon. Juliette should be home by now and I need to call her."

"What for?"

"To make sure she and Rowie are okay."

"I don't think that's necessary, I'm sure they're fine."

"I need to make sure as well that Robin has returned to his house. I want him as far away from Jul as possible while all this clears up."

"That's also unnecessary, but if you plan to call her anyway, remember not to mention to her anything we've discovered."

"I know that. You don't have to tell me."

"Oh, by the way, Gundrun must not know about our meeting with Sopeha."

"What? Why not?"

"It's long to explain, but in a nutshell, we don't want this to go public, so I'll appreciate your discretion."

Karen was about to say something else, but at that moment Bjorn's footsteps were heard from the hall.

"Bjorn is coming, we'll discuss this later. Now come on," Dylan said.

Before Karen could protest, Bjorn opened the door and invited them in.

"Hi Dyl, welcome," he exclaimed.

"Hi Bjorn, thank you, I hope it's not too late."

"Oh no, you're just in time", Bjorn smiled.

"Karen, I'm glad you decided to come." He added.

"Yeah, well, someone has to watch out for the sanity in this family."

"Karen", Dylan objected.

"It's fine, I don't blame her for being suspicious," Bjorn said. "I know this all sounds a little confusing, but I'm sure once she meets Sophie, she'll change her mind."

"Sophie?" Karen asked.

"I call her that out of affection."

"Yeah? And what does Gund think of that affection, huh?"

"Karen, honey, stop it, okay?", Dylan pleaded.

"Ah, let her, we've known each other since we were kids, I know how sincere she is when she talks, just like Gund, that's why they are friends; and that's why you and I are friends too, we're partners in sorrow, hehe", Bjorn joked; Karen was not amused.

Dylan had to contain from laughing himself, as he shot an intense look at his friend.

"Okay, anyway," Bjorn continued. "Sophie won't be long now, so how about we wait for her in my studio?"

"Sure, the sooner we get this over with the better", Dylan replied.

They had hardly stepped into the studio, when the doorbell rang.

"Oh, that must be her," Bjorn exclaimed.

"Really, an alien knocking on the door? I thought she'd arrive in her flying saucer," Karen scoffed.

"Mm, I asked her to hide it in the garage, we don't want the kids to find out about this, do we?"

"Not for now," Dylan corroborated.

"Exactly, so if you'll excuse me, I'm going to answer the door," Bjorn said. leaving the studio.

Dylan and Karen stood waiting for him, both lost in their reflections.

"I can't believe this is happening," Karen thought.

"I can't believe I'm finally going to meet Sopeha," Dylan thought in turn.

Just a few minutes later, Bjorn returned to the studio in good company. At that moment Karen and Dylan were with their backs turned, talking to each other quietly. Bjorn stopped at the door to announce:

"Dyl, Karen, I introduce you to Sopeha, my dear friend and collaborator."