The Sea of Time
September 14th, 1984
Professor Harrison looked at the paper Teresa Buonaparte had turned in. The girl herself was seated across from him with apprehension in her eyes.
"So many mistakes. So, so many. At one point you list the overthrow of Colonel Ktumba in 1964 as the major source of strife for Kongo in the last half century. Assuming you meant Colonel Manoel Ktumba, he was executed by the Portuguese in 1943 for inciting rebellion. Kongo wasn't even independent until 1955. And this is ignoring the fact that your paper looks like it was written by commitee and has no paragraph breaks to speak of. Luckily for you, this is just a draft. Go make the changes, and you should squeak by with a C mark instead of a D."*
"Ah, Gracias, Profesor Harrison. Gracias."
Harrison leaned back as the girl left, contemplating the weird, intwined history of their two families.
***
February 22nd, 1802
Baltimore, Maryland, British North America
Girolamo Buonaparte stepped of the ship and looked at the city. His city. There was nothing left for him in France, and less in Corsica. Two of his brothers, Luciano and Napoleone, were dead because they chose the wrong side in the wrong war. Poor Luigi lost it and was confined to an asylum. Giuseppi decided he wanted nothing to do with politics and retook Papa's bank. As for his sisters - Elisa, trying to raise both her and Luciano's children with that disgraced soldier of a husband, Pauletta was stuck in Hispaniola with her husband, serving in de Beuharnais's "Empire of Ste. Domingue", and Caroline married that Murat fellow, who soon found himself permanetly stationed in Meridonie [Australia] when the Royals came back. So no, there was nothing left for him in France. Everything - fame, fortune, the future - was in America. Monsieur Burr was hiring any shipmen he could get to run his whaling business, and Girolamo had answered the call.
***
"And here is your room." The landlord gestured to Girolamo's new quarters. "I should warn you about your new roomate. He's a fine doctor, but his father was one of the bigwigs for the Continentals, and he's fallen in with those 'Spiritualists' who are running around. He's decided to call everyone by old-time names for some reason."
With that, the landlord moved back down the stairs, leaving Girolamo to face whatever waited in the room.
"Excuse me, monsieur?"
A thin, spectacled man rounded around.
"Ah, you must be Girolamo, my roommate. That name won't do, Heironymus is much more distinguished. My father called me William Henry, but I prefer Gulielmus Henricus Harrison, Doctor of the medical profession. Latin is a much more esteemed language than English, wouldn't you agree?"
Being Italian, Girolamo couldn't disagree, even if it meant he was now "Heironymus."
"So the landlord tells me you're a what was it, Spiritualiste?"
"Spiritualist. Yes, it's the new faith espoused by visionaries such as Emmanuel Swedenborg and Francis Mesmer. My wife Anna and I were awakened back in '97, when I was serving His Imperial Majesty..." and then the doctor went on a spiel that, as far as Girolamo could tell, meant Harrison thought he could speak to dead people.**
"Well, I'm here in Baltimore because Burr needs men with medical experience, and I have clearly have that, having practised the teachings of everyone from Hippocratus to Gulielmus Harvey."
***
March 5th, 1802
Baltimore
Bounoparte and Harrison couldn't feel happier. They had gotten a job on Burr's best ship, which would circle South America and hunt whales in the Pacific Ocean. The amn himself was congratulating them.
"My good men, William and Heironymus [Girolamo had decided to legally change his name to something less ... Italian], you will serve me well on this voyage. And now a toast - Theodosia, bring our guests some wine."
And then Heironymus saw the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on...
***
January 17th, 1803
The Galapagos Islands, Spanish America
"Fascinating, simply fascinating." Dr. Harrison had been like this every time a new creature had wandered into his vision. Heironymus, frankly, had become sick of it, but until the squall they were in let up, he was stuck listening to William go on and on about the wildlife, fantasize about Theodosia, and eat tortoises.
"These islands support several theories I had about the development of animals. When we get back, I will have to write a book about this when we get back"
***
August 7th, 1808
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, British North America
"Was it succesful?" Heironymus was wracked with stress. He wished William was here, but the doctor had completely forgotten about his book on the origin of species and moved with Anna to the Oregon Country, planning to spread the word of Spiritualism amongst the Red Men. The nursemaid calmed him down.
"It was, Mister Bounaparte. Theodosia carried a healthy baby boy. Do you have a name?"
"Yes. Louis Heironymus Bounaparte." Nothing could make this turn sour.
***
June 2nd, 1810
Hendersonville, Cumberland, British North America
Henry Clay banged the gavel several times.
"Order, Order! This meeting of the New Continental Congress shall come to order!"
The esteemed congressmen continued shouting at each other about the direction the second attempt at independence would take - then a pistol shot rang out, shutting everyone up. Andrew Jackson simply blew his pistol smoke away.
"Ah do believe Messer Clay called to ordah. Now, Ah suggest weeyal set down and lissen!"
* There is some debate about when the modern grading system came about OTL. The theory accepted for TTL's purposes is William Farish developing a prototype of the numerical system in 1792 in Cambridge.
**There is obviously more to Spiritualism than that.