It was with the most underwhelming pop and squelch that No-No, Nicks and Sargas popped into July 1987. It did not take long for them to orient themselves - at least partially.

They were in a room in a small but clearly disheveled house. Nicks could feel shattered glass underfoot, smell a fading smoke, and hear bricks tumbling one over the other, like a war scene. He could see people and faces as his eye-sight began to focus. The clarity increased but then fell away just as quickly.

“Nicks. Is that you?”

“It is him,” No-Nonsense said, his tinny voice reaching out from the antiquated device in Nicks’ hand. “We adjusted for the fall this time Nivs. Sorry about that by the way.”

Nicks tripped over and landed awkwardly on his bottom. He found himself on top of Sargas, who was just as far from acclimating as he was.

…

When Nicks came around again, Nivs was sitting with him. It was another room than the one they were just in. He wanted to reach across and hug her, but he could not command his body to do what he needed it to.

“I’ve failed here Nicks,” Nivs said. “The boy’s sister and mother are already dead. I don’t think I can keep him safe and I’m not sure what I expected him to do anway.”

No-No was speaking. All Nicks could do was listen.

“It’s not your fault Nivs. And it doesn’t matter that she’s dead, not really. I suspect she always was. We got it wrong you and I. I mean we got it sort of right. Partially right…but we were distracted by the things that came after.”

“I don’t understand what you mean. It’s the N3T equation. He’s the one.”

“Yes and no. N3T is half the story. I need to speak to him. He’s playing a character.”

“You’re confusing me No-No, what’s changed?”

“It dawned on me - I had been calculating all the possibilities since you left and when Sargas there showed up at our office, it forced me to devote my resources to the single question.”

“What question?”

“The only one that matters. Why July 1987?”

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“It’s just how time works.”

“No…I think it’s his favourite day. It means something.”

“That makes no sense No-No.”

“He’s right,” Paul said walking in, his brother Ari following sheepishly behind, teary eyed.

“Tell me Paul. Why that day? Why 1987?” No-No asked.

“It’s the window. The rain, the movie…hearing my siblings squabble and my mum cook Ari’s favourite lunch.”

“So it was you?” Nivs asked. “You did this to us?”

Paul looked down ashamed.

“Is that why you are keeping us all alive. Because you can’t let go of that day?” No-No continued.

“Yes. I think I broke time because I didn’t want to leave her behind again. She lost everything when she lost dad, and then she died. You know how? It was before you guys ever showed up. It was so mundane. A stroke seven days after that day, while she was playing hide and seek with June.”

“And the rest of it, all happened, the whole Universe of errors and mistakes because you stopped there - on the perfect day in 1987.”

“Time was never meant to have a family. But that’s how it goes. I don’t even know how it happened. I was just there being your typical emergent property of space and matter; and a moment later I was born to a woman in Fairfield hospital. It’s an awesome-strange world.”

“And you’ve just watched her there,” Niv said, “For almost an eternity.”

“I would sit in that room until there was nothing left - until the universe fizzled away to keep her with me for as long as I could. I’d never been loved before. Not like that. Not unconditionally. But I was so caught up in her, I wasn’t watching the world. When you’re loved, nothing matters.”

“I’m sorry,” Nivs said.

“No I am. I didn’t realise what it meant. I don’t think I’d change it but I can certainly try to make it right.”

“What will you do?”

“I’m going to go and play hide and seek with my family and let her go.”

“Will you restart time then.”

“Yes. Time will start again - or at least the mind behind it will.”

“What will happen to us?” Nicks asked finally able to speak.

“You all get to end. Not here of course. You all get to live the life I denied you. I’m sorry. Really.”

Paul took a knee, and looked at his brother. “I promise you we will be okay, all of us.”

He clicked his fingers and it ended.

Just like that.

…

“Nieves, dinner’s ready,” Nick called from the other room.

“I’m coming babe,” she responded.

She walked in, looking her usual perfect self. She gave him a quick kiss on his cheek and smiled. The sun caught her from behind lighting up her perfect hair. Their son Nolan gurgled happily. Nick sighed at the beauty of the moment.

“I wish I could stay in this moment forever,” Nick said.

Nieves thought about this for a moment and shook her head, beaming.

“I don’t want forever. I want now. With you.”