Against Destiny
By: pnaixrose

Disclaimer: I don't own Phil of the Future.

Chapter 7: Home At Last

Pounding...ringing...jackhammering...chirping birds...all at the same time.

God, did her head hurt.

She groaned and lifted the covers over her head to block the annoying sunlight coming in from her window.

It was then, while shuffling around under the sheets, that she realized that she wasn't alone in her bed.

Keely gasped in surprise, seeing the mop of short brown hair next to her. "Ph-Phil!"

Upon the noise, he gave a slight moan, pulling her body to his even closer than before. "You're loud in the morning..." he grumbled.

Realizing their position, she burned a bright red and her head started pounding even more. "Wh-What are you-"

It seemed that Phil realized their position, too, because his eyes shot open in a jiffy. "K-Keely! You're awake!" He quickly pulled away and slid out of the bed clumsily, landing on the carpeted floor on his behind. "I was just...it was..."

Keely sat up, greatly confused, and held her aching head with a hand. "Why does my head feel like it cracked open?" she moaned. Then she eyed him carefully. "And what are you doing here in my house...in my room..." she paused and looked around, "...in my bed?"

Phil looked at her with a wistful smile. So she hadn't remembered what happened last night and all the things she had said. Maybe it was for the best. It's better that she didn't create any new memories with him anyway, considering that this was his last day in this century.

The long pause made Keely uncomfortable and suddenly a shocking thought crossed her mind. "D-Did we-?"

Her friend's eyes widened and Phil quickly shook his head vigorously. "N-No! No, we didn't do anything! I swear!"

It was at that moment that Keely's head really started whirling. Phil immediately sat next to her on the bed, concerned as she held her head and groaned.

"Keel, you okay?" he whispered as to not make the headache any worse.

"Yeah, yeah," she grumbled grumpily. "What the heck happened last night?"

With a dejected sigh, Phil started retelling last night's evens - excluding the intimate parts that had happened between them, of course.

Keely took a long gulp of water after taking the pill Phil had fetched from downstairs. She felt a whole lot better now after hearing the whole story. She was relieved. She had almost done something extremely stupid, but Phil saved her.

Her savior...as always.

It was midday now and she was glad that they didn't have to arrive at the graduation ceremony until later that afternoon. Thank goodness. Thinking about graduation made her realize that her best friend was leaving today. Her heart wrenched as she turned to him.

"Phil..." she whispered to the guy looking out the window across the room.

He didn't turn to look at her. "Hm?"

"We have to talk. Don't you think?"

Phil sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Keely, there's nothing to talk about," he stated simply.

From her bed, Keely frowned. "What are you talking about, Phil? There's plenty to talk about! Phil today you're...you're..." her anger faded as soon as it came.

"Keely, I don't belong here in the first place. You out of all people should know that."

"But...Phil...I..."

"Everything here was just a cover up. I knew from the start that I would have to walk away from everything - or everyone - that I hold dear in this century," he said quietly. "Surely, you know that, too Keely. I don't belong here...never have, never will." Secretly, he added to himself, "I don't belong with you either...never have, never will..."

Keely knew that. She knew all of that, but she didn't want him to leave. She almost wanted to beg him not to go. She would do anything; give everything for him to not leave her. But she knew it was selfish of her to think that. The Diffy family had wanted to go home for God knows how long now. And Phil? She knew more than anyone else that he wanted to be himself, that he didn't want to hide anymore. He didn't want to keep living this lie.

But the thought of him leaving for good made her...miserable.

"So that's it then...?" Keely said shakily. "By tonight you'll be gone. I'll be graduating high school while you'll be getting in a time machine to leave forever. I won't even be able to say goodbye?"

For a long time Phil didn't answer. All he did was stare out the window in silence. He didn't even acknowledge whether or not he had heard the question or not. Keely was starting to think that maybe she hadn't said that to him out loud after all.

Then with a final gulp of determination, he turned to her in all seriousness. "Goodbye, Keely." Then he slowly walked out the door and shut it quietly.

It took all her strength to not call out to him as he walked out. She broke down and sobbed quietly, knowing that it was the last time she would ever see him again.

Smiles. Excitement. Hugs.

That was all Keely saw in their big football field. It was prepped and decorated for the event with a huge stage in front of the stands. Seniors flocked all over, some crying, some laughing. Parents, relatives, and friends crowded the stands to watch.

"Keely!"

She turned towards the voice and spotted Via and Owen among the crowd of students, clad in their graduation robes, and headed towards them, forcing a smile upon her lips. "Hey, guys!" she called upon reaching them.

Via gave her a huge bear hug. "Oh my goodness, Keely! I was terrified when I heard about Phil and that guy! You left so suddenly! You scared me half to death last night!" Via pulled away and looked at her. "I called about a million times!"

The blonde shrugged. "Sorry, Vi. I've been too busy getting ready for graduation this morning to answer the phone." It was a lie. She had been curled up in a ball on her bed while the phone had rung endlessly.

Her two friends didn't seem like they believed her, but they left her alone.

Owen sighed. "Half an hour left until we graduate, girls. We'll officially be college students. Excited?"

"Heck yeah," Via said. "Think about it. A whole new life, new friends…"

"But we still have time," the guy of the group said. "Any last minute things you want to do before high school ends?"

"There's a lot actually." Via confessed. "I regret a lot of things that I haven't done during high school." She turned to the silent Keely who had simply been listening in on their conversation. "How about you, Keel. Anything you regret not doing?"

Via glanced at Owen knowingly as Keely fidgeted under their gazes. He smirked back at her.

Something she regretted not doing? Keely's whole body seemed to sadden. Phil...She never told him. She never got to tell him just how much she loved him. She didn't get to tell him even after all these years...

"Well, anyway," Owen started, "time is running out. Kinda saddening ain't it? Things that we always wanted to do - or say - may never be done or said."

Via rolled her eyes. "Oh please, Owen. This whole graduation thing is turning you into a bit sap. Besides, there's still time left." She turned towards Keely. "Right, Keely?"

Suddenly something snapped in Keely. Via was right.

There was still time.

Suddenly she didn't care if Phil was from another century, if they were never meant to be together. Even though their whole destinies were against them, she still loved him. That was all. That was enough reason to at least tell him her feelings.

Instead of bickering with him and being depressed, she should have been spending precious time with him. After all, the memories she spent with him were cherished pieces of her life. Even though he was leaving, her memories of him would always linger.

She had to tell him even though everything was against her, even though he might not even feel the same about her.

She just had to tell him.

There was still time...there was still time...

"Keely?" Owen asked, waving a hand in front of her dazed expression.

"U-Um...sorry guys. I got to go...um...do something," Keely said, distractedly. She ran off the football field, throwing her graduation cap on the grass. "Sorry!" she called back after her friends.

Via and Owen watched Keely run off into the parking lot, still clad in her graduation gown. Both had a smile on their faces. Their scripted dialogue seemed to do the trick.

"Hope she tells him soon," Via said softly. "Even though I have no idea what's going on, something tells me that she needed to tell him desperately." She looked up at him with a big smile. "Guess we were right, huh?"

Owen nodded and returned the smile. "You know, talking about how high school was ending made me realize that...well, that high school was ending." Owen smirked, hearing Via laugh. "And like Keely, I too regret not doing certain things."

She looked up at him in confusion. What the heck was he talking about? "Like what?"

"Like this."

Without warning, he wrapped his arms around her and planted a long kiss on her lips.

Pim lounged about in the backyard as Phil sat dejectedly at the picnic table nearby. Their parents were inside, shrinking their last minute luggage while Curtis was in the garage cleaning out the "cave" he was about to leave.

A slightly chilly breeze made Phil shift in his seat. He stared at the wooden table in a daze, ignoring the annoying whoops and hums of his annoying, little sister.

…So this was it. In a few hours he'll be back where he belonged and the past few years would all be a memory that would soon die with time. It was almost like he was living a dream the past couple of years. An amazing dream where he was able to meet and befriend an amazing girl named Keely Teslow.

He shook his head slightly, desperately trying to push his feelings away. But then the memory of last night and how they kissed filled his mind.

Phil snarled in annoyance and lay his head down on the cold wood in defeat.

It was a shame. He loved her…and last night he had learned that she loved him back. Dammit. It was all so unfair how destiny unfolded sometimes. When he thought of how they could have possibly become a couple, how they could have confessed their love without holding back…

So unfair.

When she had been asking him about the situation earlier that day at her house, it must have been the most painful thing he had to endure. It was the last time he would ever see her which was heart wrenching enough. But when he looked up at her and saw those desperate, lonely eyes…

He sighed. It was over. He should forget about it.

A sudden rumble caught his attention and he looked up, trying to maintain his balance at the same time. A bright blue light blinded him and before he knew it, the time machine that had been there a couple of days ago was in his backyard again. Officer Truman was back.

Pim looked up at the machine that had arrived on their lawn with sudden reluctance as their parents showed up from inside the house. Curtis also came out to meet the time machine.

Once again, the time machine's door opened slowly, smoking slightly. Officer Truman, clad in his police officer uniform, stepped out to greet the stranded Diffys.

"Hello once again," he said, breaking the ice. He cleared his throat as he looked over the family members, feeling a bit uncomfortable that everyone was silent, even Pim. "Now then, are we all ready?" he asked.

An awkward silence ensued and Phil felt his family eye him. Sighing and knowing that this was inevitable, he got up and slowly walked toward the officer. "We're ready, Officer."

Officer Truman nodded and motioned towards the machine. "All right then, folks. We'll be on our way then."

But no one moved. Not even Pim, the girl who had wanted to get out of this "stinking century" all this time and who had been rejoicing that they were leaving only a few seconds before. Phil's parents hesitantly looked at each other while Curtis stood there dumbly, staring at the man from the future, clad in metallic silver.

Phil started getting annoyed. "What are you guys waiting for? Let's go home already! We've wanted this for how long now?"

"Phil, honey," his mom said quietly, "are you positive?"

His dad continued. "What about Keely?"

Phil looked at the grass, avoiding their gazes. "I-It's fine," his voice cracked. "We…don't belong together anyway. It wouldn't work out. I've accepted it."

"But Phil," Pim started, uncharacteristically, "Blondie and you are like…soul mates."

An awkward moment passed between them and Phil sighed. "It that were true," he mumbled almost too quietly for them to hear, "then I would have been born in this century."

Puzzled and feeling very out of place, the officer shuffled his feet, unsure about the family's hesitation. "Are we alright, folks?" he asked a little impatiently. "Look, I don't mean to nag but I'm not exactly sure how long the portal will stay open so we gotta hurry soon, if you don't mind."

The Diffys glanced at each other and one by one, starting with Pim, started filing into the craft, taking one last look at the place they have called home for the past couple of years. Phil stood there staring at the house the longest, even when everyone else had entered the time machine already.

A wave of sadness went through him as he thought about all the mayhem and fun he and his family had gone through. Half the time, they were worried about getting caught, while the other half they were highly fascinated with how people lived in this historic (well, historic for them) century. Coming here had been an experience they would never be able to forget.

Amazing how an accident like getting stuck here would cause them to go through so much. They've experienced how tough it was to live without the comfort of having advanced technology. And some of them even found something – or someone – to live for.

Phil sighed as a breeze swept past. It was ironic. He was about to go home, the place where he belonged in...

Why did he feel so homesick?

Keely almost cursed graduation day as she ran, out of breath, toward the Diffy household. Due to the immense traffic in the parking lot, she had been forced to abandon all thoughts of using her car. Time was wasting. She had to get to him as quickly as possible and this billowy gown of hers wasn't helping.

Please don't leave. Please, Phil.

After what seemed like hours of hearing nothing but cars racing past and her shoes slapping across the sidewalk, she finally rounded the corner of the his street. Just a few more seconds.

Ignoring the cramping in her legs and side, she suddenly sped up, seeing the house that was soon to be unoccupied if she didn't hurry –or if she wasn't too late already.

The blonde pushed the negative thoughts away. Even if they had left already, she just had to try. She had to tell him!

Panting, she ran across the Diffy's front lawn and into the back yard. "Wait! Phil, wait!"

Turning, Phil was just about to enter the vehicle, his head down in defeat. One foot was already inside the craft when he thought he heard someone yelling.

"Wait! Phil, wait!"

That voice. It couldn't be her.

Eyes wide, he stared at her, standing from across the yard. She looked flushed and tired and was still clad in her white graduation gown.

He couldn't believe it. What was she doing here? She was missing her own graduation! But secretly, he couldn't deny that flutter of emotions that sprang up within him when he saw her.

"K-Keely!"

Keely tried to regain her bearings. She had made it. She really had made it. Almost crying with joy, she sprinted across the yard and hugged him fiercely. Her heart was beating so fast, she was almost certain that he could feel it. She was sure that it wasn't even because of the run that had made her heart beat so fast either. Just seeing him again, just hugging him tightly was making her heart flutter.

Still in a state of shock, Phil held her tightly, almost not believing that she was here in his arms. "Keely…what are you–?" He saw her look up at him with tears in her eyes. He felt his throat clog up. She was crying…

"Phil," she started, "I don't care anymore."

"What are you talking about?"

She gave him a slight smile. "Throughout this whole time, I knew we were never meant to be together. I knew that we belonged to two very different worlds. And it hurt to think that because…" She looked deep into his brown, very confused eyes. "…because I love you so much."

His eyes widened. Had she just said what he thought she said? Did she just confess her love for him?

"But I don't care anymore, Phil. I don't care if we don't belong together. All I know is that I love you." She looked down as the tears finally started flowing down her cheeks. "And I will continue to love you. Even if you leave. Even if we never see each other again. Even if you don't feel the same for me–"

She stopped talking abruptly as Phil suddenly swooped down to capture her lips. He just couldn't take it anymore. Everything she was saying, all the emotions swelling up inside him…he had to kiss her.

And kiss her he did. The familiar tingles Keely felt from his first kiss a few days ago returned with a vengeance. She was melting…sweetly melting into his strong arms. How could it be that he could kiss so gently yet with so much passion at the same time?

They pulled away slowly, out of breath.

"I…I've got to stop doing that," Phil said with a slight smile, his voice raspy.

Keely giggled softly and gingerly caressed the side of his face with her hand.

He looked at her longingly, a sadness filling up inside of him. "Keely…I love you, too."

And she knew it was true. She could see it in his eyes that his feelings were true and sincere. She had never been so happy before. He loved her. He really did.

But she felt her whole world come crashing down on her. Keely saw the desolate look in Phil's eyes.

They had finally told each other how they felt…only to be separated forever.

"Keely, I don't want to go...I want to stay…me with you…" Phil rambled, desperation filling his face. "But–"

He looked back and Keely noticed his family standing behind him in the weird vehicle along with a man clad in what looked like aluminum foil.

A sad smile appeared on her lips and her arms fell to her sides as she slowly stepped backwards. "I-I understand, Phil," she said, having to pull every ounce of strength in her body. "You…You have to go home."

Phil shook his head. "But I…" He looked around in confusion, trying to figure out what to do. He was trapped. Trapped between his real home and the home where his heart belonged.

Silence enveloped them all until Keely decided to end it all. Tears sprung to her eyes once more. "Good-bye, Phil."

The finality in her tone shook him and Phil realized that this was the end. The end of the happiest days of his life. He nodded numbly and turned, stumbling, a blank expression on his face.

This was it. He would never see her again. The end of all his hopes and dreams of being with her.

Suddenly his parents blocked his way from entering the time machine. Baffled, Phil looked up at their stern faces.

"C'mon, son," Lloyd said. "It's time to go home."

And suddenly Pim was pushing him from the vehicle as his parents and Curtis followed behind her, filing out of the time machine. Officer Truman was left inside, left alone and confused.

"Mr. and Mrs. Diffy, we really should get going now. The portal will close at any time. There's no room for delay. It's time for everyone to go home," he said in desperation.

"Yes, it is time for everyone to go home," Barb answered.

When the officer raised an eyebrow, Pim shrugged as smirked as her big brother too looked confused. "Don't you get it, bub?" she said confidently. "We are home."

Keely and Phil both looked at each other in surprise, their eyes widening. Phil looked over to his parents, hope filling his body. "You mean…?"

Lloyd smiled. "We couldn't keep you two away from each other." He looked towards the rest of the family. "Besides, I think all of us have made this place our new home. Isn't that right, Diffys?"

Barb nodded, Curtis smiled dumbly, and Pim rolled her eyes. "I guess it isn't half bad. I could get used to it. Besides, its so much easier to take over the world in this century." Mrs. Diffy gently elbowed Pim with a stern look on her face as Pim smiled. "Just kidding, jeez."

"Well, if you people are positive, I'll be going now," Officer Truman said with a shrug. What a weird turn out of events. He just couldn't understand why they wanted to stay in this dingy century. "I'll tell them I wasn't able to get into contact with you. But I hope you know, you won't ever be able to go home again."

"Dummy," Curtis said. "Home here."

The officer shrugged yet again and entered the time machine. Within minutes, another rumble filled the yard and with a flash of light, the vehicle was gone from their backyard.

"Well kids, we'll be inside unpacking," Barb said with a wink, "Won't we, Lloyd?"

He looked at his son and Keely and sighed. "Yeah, yeah…just…no grandkids just yet, okay?"

Barb shook her head and dragged her husband into the house as he protested.

Phil and Keely were now alone…except for an intruding Pim and Curtis who were rudely staring.

Phil raised his eyebrow at Pim and motioned towards the house. "Don't you two have some unpacking to do?"

She smiled innocently. "Nope."

Curtis sighed and pushed Pim towards the house. "Phil alone with girl. Want us gone, Pim."

Pim rolled her eyes. "Fine fine! You don't have to push!"

When the backdoor finally closed, Phil and Keely looked at each other with a smile.

Keely couldn't believe it. They were given the chance in a lifetime. They could be with each other…forever it seemed. It was her dream come true. She held back a sob as she ran into his comforting arms.

Phil smiled as she silently cried into his shirt. He looked up at the blue sky, now realizing something he should have realized ages ago. It didn't matter if he couldn't truly be himself in this century. It didn't matter that he would have to live a lie for the rest of his life. After all, the people he cared about the most knew his secret and knew who he really was. As long as his family and Keely were by his side, he would be able to live happily, even while concealing this secret of his.

He closed his eyes and held Keely tighter. This was where he belonged. Now and forever.

"Keely, I'm home."

THE END