A New Land, A New World

A/N: This is my first trip into writing, I tried to cover all of the warnings I thought I may need to cover. It's going to be a slow burn (if I do it right), 

Part 1- New Land

Day 1 - Monday, June 10, 2002  

“I’m lost.”  This is what I mumble to myself. I’m not turned around or a street off – I’m LOST.  When I realized I wasn’t where I thought I was I started digging in my backpack for my map.  My map also seemed to be lost, but not lost with me.             

                “Shit! I’m lost.” I mumble again as I sink onto a street bench.

                I did something for myself. I scrimped and saved and bought myself a one week trip to England, just me, some good tennis shoes, a map and a camera.  Luckily my shoes and camera had not abandoned me.

                I sit and collect my thoughts. I’m logical; this will be an easy fix.  I had no plans for today, sightseeing of tourist areas was tomorrow.  Today, I WANDER!  I was wandering very well. So well I now don’t know where I am. I couldn’t remember my turns or even what I was thinking about that got me here, wherever here was.  Actually, here is a very quiet, very under populated side street.  I started walking back the way I came. An elderly man was coming towards me. He had a curved back and a shuffling gait. When I was close enough I smiled my warmest smile and said “Excuse me sir. I seem to have gotten myself lost.  I was wondering if you could help me get back to the Hotel Strand Continental? “

                “Piss off!” he grumbled as he shuffled by. My warmest smile froze in place for a moment more as I blinked in surprise.

                “Ok then, have a great day yourself.” I said to his retreating form. I wouldn’t be defeated! My shoes and camera were depending on me.

                I continued walking in the hopes of finding more, and hopefully helpful, people. As I’m walking two men turn the corner and are walking my way.  A small prickle of uncertainty washed over me. I chastised myself for being judgmental.  It’s just two guys. Spine straight, chin up and eyes forward. Look confident! As we drew closer to each other I asked if they could help me find the Hotel Strand Continental.  They stopped and looked at me. Shit, I should have listened to my prickles. The taller of the two, and only by about 2 inches, had 3 diagonal yet parallel puckered scars running from above his left eye, over his nose and lips and ending at his jaw line on the right.  He looked as if he’d been in a fight with a jaguar or Wolverine.   The other guy had thick muscled arms that were covered in large shiny burn scars.  I tried for my warmest smile again but faltered a little. My prickles were working overtime. 

                “Sure, we can help you get back.” the taller man said with a surprisingly kind smile.  The corners of his eyes crinkled when he smiled but the rest of his face did something odd. I tried not to stare as his facial muscles tried to work around his scars.  They started naming streets and shops and telling me to turn left there or turn right here. I was already lost again and I hadn’t moved!  As they were trying to give me directions I snuck a few more quick peeks at them. Both had red hair and freckles.  The taller one had his pulled back into a ponytail and some kind of tooth dangling from his ear.  Shark maybe? The shorter one, at about 6 foot, had shaggy hair and more freckles than you could possibly count. So many that he looked incredibly tan. 

                “That didn’t help, did it?” asked shaggy hair.

                “Um… no. Sorry. I lost my map and I don’t know any of the streets, but thanks anyway. I’ll follow as much of what you said as I can remember and then find more help.  Thank you so much.” 

                I smiled at the guys and walked past them.  My prickles had diminished but seriously, what in the world happened to those two?  I had almost reached the corner when I heard footsteps hurrying up behind me. Oh God, I thought. Please don’t hurt me.

                “Excuse me.  Would you like me to walk you back?”

                I stopped and turned.  It was Shaggy, I looked at him suspiciously.

                “Thanks, but I think I can figure it out. “ I said with a small smile as I turned back towards the corner.  He took a couple of quick steps and was soon beside me.

                “Well, it’s getting dark and you have no idea where you are. It isn’t safe for you to be walking around by yourself in this area. So I plan on walking you back.”

                “I appreciate the concern and the offer, but how do I know I’m safer with you than on my own? “ I said it lightly but I was starting to freak out a little but didn’t want to show it.

                “You don’t, but, I’m either going to walk with you or follow you to make sure you get back safely.”

                Am I flattered or scared?  It seemed really sweet in a Criminal Minds kind of way. I’d already given the name of my hotel so it’s not like I could lie. Lord, I’m an idiot.

                “If those are my options I guess you can walk with me, but seriously, I can figure this out.”

                “I’m sure you can, but my mother taught me to help those in need.” He said with a smile.

                “Funny, my mother taught me not to talk to strangers.” I replied and he laughed. His laugh was deep and rumbly. 

                “I understand you being nervous and there is nothing I can do to make you trust me, and you shouldn’t. You’re right, you don’t know me but I’m hoping that my charm will make you see that I’m harmless.”

                “Serial killers typically are charming.”

He laughed again. He stepped in front of me and started walking backwards so he could face me.  “So are princes.” He said with a wink and turned back around and fell into step beside me.

The prickling and tension started to diminish.  Don’t let your guard down! Kind eyes and a sexy laugh don’t mean a thing!

We walked side by side in silence for more blocks than I realized I had traveled.  The sky was darkening and street lights were popping on up and down the street. 

“So, what brings you to Jolly Old England?”

“Vacation. I’ve always wanted to come. The pictures I’ve seen of the country are beautiful. “

“You traveled all this way to look at grass?”

“Rolling hills.” I replied with a grin.  “I’d also like to see The London Eye, Big Ben, the changing of the guard.”

“I still don’t get it. You don’t have rolling hills, Ferris wheels, large clocks or guards in America?”

“I never said I was from America.” I said with a frown as I looked at him.

“Everything you’ve said lets me know you’re from America. It’s the accent, dead giveaway.”

“Whatever, and yes, we do have all of those things, but not like this. Our guards are military or police and don’t wear the cute fuzzy hats; the ferris wheels are in amusement parks and not as tall, and for that matter, neither are the clocks.”

“Going to Egypt makes sense to me. Who else has pyramids or a sphinx?  Or Greece.  But England isn’t that much different from America from what I can tell.”

“Maybe not, but it’s different enough. The food, some of the words and expressions, the accent. “ I looked at him out of the corner of my eye.

“What accent? I don’t have a bloody accent!” he said in deeply hurt, deeply playful voice. “Ok, so you’re here to look at fuzzy hats, rolling hills and a clock.  How come you’re on your own?  Did you get separated from your group?”

“No. I came on my own.  I wanted to be able to do what I wanted and see what I wanted to see without having to work it out with others.  I enjoy the solitude sometimes.  I just got here yesterday so I may decide I should have asked a friend, but right now I’m just excited.  I’m still not quite sure how I ended up so lost. I just started walking and looking at the buildings and in some of the smaller shops.  I wanted to work away from the main part of London so I could see more of what it was like other than just another city.  Oh! and I want to do the tour on the double decker bus!”

He laughed again and my sudden outburst.  “Doesn’t seem to take much to make you happy; a bus, a clock, a ferris wheel, and fuzzy hats.  You must be a very complex person.”  I shot a dirty look at him but ended up grinning.

“I’ll have you know, I’m VERY complex!”

We continued walking and things were starting to look familiar.  We were just getting to Charring Cross Road and I knew that was near my hotel.  “I think I can get there from here. Thank you for walking me.” I said as I stopped and looked at him.

“You’re welcome, but I’ll walk you to the door.”

“Seriously, you don’t need to do that. I can make it. Besides, you left your friend back there.  He may be wondering if you’ve been abducted.”

“My brother will be fine, he knows I can take care of myself.  I’ll walk you to the door.” He gave me a crooked grin that was incredibly adorable.  “Almost there, come along.” he said as he started off again.

I caught up to him and we walked in silence a little longer. As we walked I was thinking how nice it had been to walk with him.  I still didn’t know if he was a crazy person or that I wouldn’t end up tabloid news as a tourist who disappeared, but he was actually very easy to be with. The silence wasn’t uncomfortable and he made me laugh.

“Well here we are then.” He stopped in front of my hotel. 

Without thinking I blurted out “Can I buy you a drink. You know, to thank you for walking me back.”  What was I thinking?  I could feel the heat rise in my cheeks.  Now we know who the crazy person is.  I was just about to apologize when he spoke.

“See, my charm worked.  And I can’t have a drink with you…”

Why did my chest hurt at that? Of course he can’t have a drink with me. Why would he? But I still felt incredibly disappointed.

“… since I don’t even know your name.”

I looked up at him a little shocked. “Oh” I stuck my hand out. “I’m Gina.”

He shook my hand and held eye contact. With a little smile he said “It’s nice to meet you Gina.  I’m Charlie.”