Runaway Bride

Eric opened his eyes. It was a beautiful summer day. He recognized the botanical gardens. He looked over and saw Stephanie sitting on a bench nearby.

She was completely naked. He was wearing a tuxedo. "What's going on Stephanie? Why are you naked?" He asked.

In response she patted the bench beside her. Eric went and sat down. "Well originally I promised Alexandra I wouldn't wear any clothes until after the challenge. Before coming here I decided not to use my transformation anymore and just give up and get dressed, but it turns out my wardrobe was actually empty. So here I am, not like I mind being naked anyway, but that's not why we are here."

"Then why are we here?" Eric asked.

"Do you remember who you dated before me?" Stephanie asked, ignoring the question.

"Uh, ya I guess. It was Dina, we went kn a few dates before calling it off."

"And before her?"

"I don't know. Jamie, or Cassandra maybe. I really didn't have any long term girlfriends in my 20s, just a bunch of tinder dates and short term relationships. Before you, I'd have to go back to undergrad to find a lasting relationship."

"Ya, I remember. When we first got together I thought the other girls missed out on you because they couldn't handle your dedication to work. I loved you for you, but I was happier with you working overtime than most girls. But now, when I really think about it, about how I've seen you interact with the other girls I realized I was wrong.

Really I have been wrong about so much. I know I can't really ever make it up to you, but I thought I'd use our time to show you that you could still be happy.

I used the machine to go back to your past, and I nudged a woman towards you. That was in 2015. I didn't do much, I was naked then too after all, but I managed to get you and her to cross paths.

We are in 2019 now, and you, and her, are both here. If you are ready, I want to show you."

Eric looked at her for a moment, then nodded. "Ok. Show me." She stood up and walked along the path.

He followed her as they walked through the garden. Eventually he could hear the sounds of a large group of people talking. Stephanie motioned for him to hide behind some bushes and look on.

Following her he saw rows and rows of white chairs set up on the lawn, with a big arch at one end. It was a wedding he realized.

Guests were filling in now, some seated, some standing around talking. Looking closely he realized he recognized many of these people. "Who's wedding is this?" He asked Stephanie.

She smiled back at him, "Yours of course."

Stephanie had experienced a lot in the last four hours. She'd been using the machine to follow the couple through time, watching from afar as their love for each other grew.

She hadn't been sure her plan would work. It wasn't like you could just **** two people to fall in love. She didn't even introduce them to each other. All she did was arrange for her to move into his building.

They bumped into each other in the hallway, the laundry room. They saw each other across the street buying coffee. They crossed paths at the grocery store. More and more they'd seen each other.

With Stephanie, Eric had been too shy to ask her out. Instead he waited until she took matters into her own hands. This time Stephanie got to watch as Eric made the first move.

It was like he was a totally different person now. With Stephanie they'd had amazing sex and fun together, but she'd never known the depths of Eric's soul the way his new partner did.

Stephanie didn't get to see into their bedroom, but she saw as they held hands and went on walks in the rain. She saw him crying into her shoulder at his grandfather's funeral. She saw him quit the firm to take a job at a non-profit.

This was Eric truly happy. She had always been wrong for him. She'd only ever been out for herself. Eric never deserved how she'd treated him. This was her chance to show him the life he could have without her, if he just went for it.

She got back in the time machine a final time, and jumped to go see her Eric.

Eric was still watching the wedding. His wedding. To whom? Stephanie wouldn't say. Finally he saw himself, or 2019 Eric, take his place at the front. Soon the music changed and the bride came down the aisle, escorted by Eric's own father.

2019 Eric had a tear in his eye seeing his beautiful bride. Eric couldn't see her face under her veil and had no idea who it was. Reaching the officiant the woman pulled back her veil to reveal herself to both Erics.

Eric's breath caught in his chest. It was Trinity. Her skin was different, pale but no longer chalky white, but there was no mistaking her face. "What? How?" Eric asked.

"It turns out Trinity has magic. Not as much as Isla, but enough. I asked her if she wanted to see what life could be for you two, without all the bullshit of Harem Hotel.

Trinity used her magic to make herself look human, and then forget everything about the show, about you, about me.

The Trinity standing there met you for the first time years ago when she moved into your building. You asked her out one day and then last year you asked her to marry you.

This may or may not be real, but it isn't fake. Trinity didn't know you at all. She was here for years, she could have ended up with anyone else. Millions of people in the city and you two hit it off. Don't you see, I could never make you happy, but she can.

This Eric isn't a partner in a law firm. He doesn't even make a lot of money. You took a job at a non-profit so he could do something good but also spend more time with her.

She makes you happy, really happy. I only had four hours worth of time to check in on you two, but I can honestly say you were never that happy in all the time I knew you.

Look, Trinity gave me one more thing before she zonked herself. Take this," she handed him a button. "It will make you look different, and everyone will assume you belong here. Go, talk to them. I'm going to walk the Gardens alone. I'll come get you before time runs out." Stephanie got up and left.

Eric stared down at the button. He pushed it and walked over to the wedding. The ceremony was over and people were heading over to the reception to congratulate the couple.

Eric took a moment to examine them. Trinity looked stunning in her dress. He looked like a whole new man. They both looked so happy.

He saw the other Eric turn to talk to a guest and decided to approach Trinity. He offered her congratulations and shook her hand but as soon as he touched her she froze, like a glitch, completely still.

"Trinity? Trinity, are you ok?" He asked.

She started to move again. She gave him a huge smile. "Yes. Sorry. It was just a lot of information to process. It is good to see you Eric. Don't worry the button still works, just not for me.

When I took away my memories I set the condition that they would come back if I touched you, the real you. I remember everything now, not just the life I made here, but my life before on the boat."

"Wow, Trinity, this is a lot to take in, we're married?"

"Yes. And no. The man I married isn't you, not entirely. But I took this opportunity to discover who I really am, who I could be. Most importantly who we could be to each other.

It was Stephanie's idea actually. Isla offered her a hint in exchange for sabotaging someone else. Together we swapped Beatriz' real money for fake money. We hoped she would be able to tell it was fake and still find a way to have a fun date.

Once she knew about this challenge she came to me with her idea. She knew I was afraid that my feelings for you weren't real. That I couldn't really trust them.

This was all a test. I wiped my memory and Stephanie set me up in a new life here in Toronto. Somehow we met, and fell in love, and got married. Can you believe it? My life here has been so amazing. I am so happy, so much happier than I could ever be on the boat.

Honestly, part of me wants to just stay here. Live in this fantasy forever. But that's all it is, a fantasy. I am ready to go back to the real world, or as real as Harem Hotel is. Now I know that we could have a future together. It is possible."

"Trinity…." Eric didn't know what to say. It was a lot to take in. He really liked Trinity, he had hoped for more with her, but now she'd jumped ahead of him, married another version of him. Where do they go from here?

"It's ok Eric. I know it's a lot to take in. We will figure out the future later. Right now I want to enjoy my wedding. I want to say goodbye to all my new friends, goodbye to my husband. Real or not, these relationships meant a lot to me. Come." She grabbed his hand and brought him over to the reception area.

She introduced him to her friends, nobody seemed to bat an eye that he was identical to her husband and had the same name. He learned that she'd taken up computer programming. She was a genius at it apparently. No formal education but she'd made millions developing advanced AI.

Despite her newfound wealth, she and Eric lived modestly in a small condo downtown. She was in half a dozen different clubs and sports leagues. She volunteered at a soup kitchen and ran an after school sports program for kids.

The more he learnt about her life the more in awe he became. She was a **** of nature, she had done more in 4 years than he'd done his whole life.

And the other Eric? He was happier, in better shape, he loved his new job, he had more friends. He was still Eric but had a totally different outlook on life.

He was busy talking to Trinity's maid of honour when Stephanie ran into the wedding naked. "Where's Trinity, we have to go?" Eric pointed and Stephanie ran for her. The two of them started to run away and Eric chased after.

"What's going on?" He called.

"She needs the time machine to get back or she'll be stuck. We only have 5 minutes left." The three ran, chased by groom Eric and several others.

Eric saw Trinity crying as the other Eric called for her to stop.

Stephanie and Trinity reached the machine and Trinity entered and the machine disappeared.

"Stephanie…I don't know what to say." Eric said.

"Just tell me she was happy. If it made her happy then what happens next is going to be worth it."

"She was. Really happy. Wait. What happens next?"

Before she could answer they both faded away and disappeared.