[ WP ] It 's your first date in 3 years , you picked out the restaurant , and she already agreed to split the bill , everything seems great , but after her second glass of wine , your date let 's slip that she 's actually you from an alternate universe where you were born a girl .

`` I'm sorry, say what?'' We had been matching each other's stories, compliments, forks-full of food, and yes even in wine consumption. 
 
 I had thought everything was going well. I glanced around the restaurant. From our vantage point in the middle of the wall farthest from the entrance, there were n't enough people nearby to overhear our conversation. There also were n't any obvious places in which cameras could be hidden. `` *Then again*...'' my brain decided to go with it and ask questions. 
 
 `` I'm you. From another universe. Except, well,'' and she hefted her hands demurely just below her bustline. Pink colored her cheeks, and I guessed it was because she could n't think of any better way to demonstrate her femininity. 
 
 My brain chewed on that re-revelation for a few breaths as I took another sip of my wine, matching her own motions. 
 
 I watched as she picked up the glass. She held it the way I did; thumb, forefinger tight to the bottom of the glass, middle finger towards the center of the stem, ring finger against the bottom of the stem near the foot. The only difference was her pinky, elevated and pointing, where mine was curved in towards my palm. 
 
 Milk chocolate orbs stared at me through the distortions of the glass, taking in my own motions. We both swallowed, set the glasses down *just so*, and adjusted our sitting positions. Slight raising of the body, a scooch back to stop from sliding off the seat. The soft exhalation of breath as blood flowed back into the buttocks. 
 
 `` I know I've said this before,'' I started slowly, `` but you're quite lovely.'' 
 
 She twisted her head in such a way that was a combination of `` to the side and forward'', which I know I've done before. `` Thanks.'' I noticed there was no return compliment, but a flicker of sadness washed across her features. 
 
 `` So... if you're me, and I'm you, how is it that you ended up female instead of male?'' 
 
 Confusion sparked in her eyes, coupled with what looked like relief. `` On my version of Earth, a genetic disease not unlike your HIV swept across the world about 39 years ago. It is called YNM, short for'Y-Chromosome No More'. Long story short, all men became unable to reproduce. Children are produced in another way, and due to that method, all children born since have been female.'' 
 
 I pondered this as I took another few bites of my chicken piccatta. `` Given the random nature of reproduction,'' I began, `` I would think it nearly impossible for our DNA to be such a close match.'' 
 
 `` Oh, you're right,'' she agreed, setting down her fork to pull apart another of the wonderful sourdough rolls. `` It was managed, though. The man who is our father, and the woman who is our mother, both contributed DNA, and the recombination process took effect at just the right time with the right gene sequence and'' her hands came up and, in a little `` explosion'' motion, indicated her smiling face. `` Here I am.'' 
 
 `` If that's the case then,'' still trying to figure out if she had an angle or an ulterior motive, `` how did you come to be here, and why are we having dinner at Applejack's Italian? Not that I mind the company, or the date really, as I'm sure you know it's been three years since my last, but... Why the coy disguises? Why not just be honest? You of all people in the... universes? I guess I could say, should understand that I'd appreciate that.'' 
 
 `` Well...'' she started, fiddling with her napkin, wiping off an idle drop of spiced oil, `` let me address your questions in reverse.'' She looked at me, questioning hope in her eyes. Maybe she thought she was going to get what ever it was for which she'd come? 
 
 For that matter, why was I even suspicious of all this? Perhaps it was just far too strange. 
 
 `` The subterfuge is because you're not the first of us that I've visited. There have been three hundred thirty one other encounters.'' My shock must have been evident in the clatter of my salad fork to the table but she held up a hand to forestall any questions or comments that started to percolate in my brain. `` At the time that begun searching using random dimensional insertions, we did n't know where we'd- I'd end up. So we wer- I was trained to go right to some sort of Internet-analogue, search for you, find you, and make contact. Some of those contacts... did n't go well.'' I noticed that she kept using plural-we, not royal-we. 
 
 `` I know you've read the alternate universe fiction. Seen the TV shows and movies. You said so on your website.'' She winked. `` Nice poems by the way.'' Clearing her throat behind a sip of the fresh water that had just been poured, she continued. `` Some of us did n't have the nearly identical genetic code... I'm getting ahead of myself just yet. Some of us were not nice people. There were a few psychopaths. Some of us had, I'm sorry to say, passed away at different times of our life. But the overarching thing that we'd found is that I was the only female. Something in our parents' genetic makeup absolutely ensures that, at the time of conception, if it occurred at just the right time, the first baby would be male.'' 
 
 `` But I have a sister,'' I interjected. 
 
 `` Yes, but you always would have had a sister. It may not have been exactly the same Cathy that you know - I've seen some where she ends up blonde, or with blue eyes instead of brown, or even as twins ( and Mom just LOVED that ) but again, because it occurred when it did, she always came out. YOU always came out first.'' 
 
 She was taking the last bites of her salad and fiddling with the remains of her grilled kangaroo. `` I'm skipping ahead a little but right now we do n't have time. I am here because, on my Earth, we discovered that there are a handful of, not necessarily pure, but definitely strong, genetic strains that run through different regions of the world. We hold one, even though we were born in America, from Italian and Polish ancestries. When we discovered that we could see into, and eventually travel to alternate universes to try to gather some individuals who might help us repair the damage done by the YNM virus. This is most easily accomplished by training and sending one of that bloodline. And we're here tonight in Applejack's because we do n't have them on my Earth. Australian-Italian just is n't a combination in our cuisine - actually on most Earths it is n't.'' 
 
 Grinning, she placed the last bite of grilled kangaroo in her mouth and chewed it slowly. Once she swallowed, she whispered lowly, `` And it's a damn good combination.'' 
 
 `` So three hundred thirty one trips, huh,'' I prompted. 
 
 Sipping her water, she nodded. `` It's taken me the better part of six years to find you.'' 
 
 `` And you're not using the royal `` we'', you actually sound like there's more of you?'' 
 
 `` No others of me searching for you, if that's what you mean. But there are a handful of other genetic travelers who are searching for their closest genetic relative. I'm one of the longest-traveled.'' Her eyes got a faraway look as sadness, horror, and revulsion flashed across them. After only a couple heartbeats though, she refocused on me. 
 
 `` Since dinner's almost done,'' I started as the check was dropped at our table, `` you should probably tell me what it is you plan to do with me, so long as it does n't involve killing me. Because I've enjoyed spending tonight with you.'' 
 
 Shock colored her response as she said, `` No no, nothing extreme like that. But we will need to stop back at my place for a bit...'' Her gaze searched mine as if she was expecting me to say something, `` as I need to get rid of this buzz, and so do you.'' 
 
 Nodding, I slid my thumb across the check scanner. Retrieving the napkin from my lap, I placed it next to my empty plate before standing at the end of the booth. Reaching out my hand to her, I helped her from her seat. `` Thank you!'' Were her cheeks pinkening from embarrassment or enjoyment? This has been such a weird date.
