Grant hugged his wife Nikki triumphantly, lifting her feet clean off the floor he swung her around in a wild embrace as they celebrated the exciting stage that their years of joint research and development had just reached.
“Hey put me down honey it’s only the first prototype, it’s yet to be proven how reliable it is”
Nikki always tried to retain a very rational head when working and she didn’t want to jump for joy until their invention was thoroughly trialed.
“But Nikki”
He put her down on her feet and beamed with the enthusiasm of the moment.
“This is what we have worked so hard to achieve, to finally be in the position to test the Genetical Former for real”
“I know darling I’m excited believe me but lets not loose our heads yet. We have to test the GF inside and out before we can announce it to the funding body or indeed to the world at large”
“Your right dear I’m just thrilled, shall we begin with some test alterations tomorrow?”
“Definitely”
Grant left Nikki in their lab updating her notes on a pc, she sat their and pondered in thought as she caught sight of her reflection in the glass cabinet beside the desk. Turning her face this way and that she pulled the skin around her eyes gently so the small tell tale lines of ageing disappeared momentarily, she frowned a little at the mature woman’s face staring back at her. In contrast there was the picture of her and Grant on their wedding day some 5 years ago and even in that little space of time she could see the change in herself even if it wasn’t so evident to others. In that picture she looked radiant and pretty and even though her make up had been done for her that special day she knew that she tended to wear that little bit more nowadays to conceal the effects of time or was it the stress of working so hard on this project and too many hours or those late nights? One thing that did show evidently was her waist line, today she had a little more baggage than when she fitted in that Ivory wedding gown but then being a size 12 was nothing to be ashamed of in fact that size 10 tailored dress was still a bit of squeeze back then she reassured herself. And there was her husband Grant in this image stood towering above her 5 foot 5 inch frame looking very handsome in his dark suit. Seeing this picture or indeed any image of them together as a couple always made her feel more uncomfortable about her own age compared to that of Grant. He was a decade younger than her and her “toyboy” as every body reminded when they first began to date being still in his prime. Grant was very good looking a real catch with a very toned and athletic body due to his regular exercise in their home gym and he was very intelligent which also appealed to her as she couldn’t stand for a man that couldn’t relate to her technical knowledge. They first met when she had just been awarded an initial research grant by a funding body and instantly sought some technical expertise and assistance for the current project which began some 7 years ago. Working together everyday in the private lab built within her home they fell in love and he injected a new zest into her life.

That night they both sat out on the balcony overlooking the large grounds of the house, they enjoyed a bottle of wine as they discussed the project.
“Are you sure you want to test the GF on your face and skin babe?”
He questioned as Nikki presented the case that she didn’t want a human test subject from the public until they had productised the invention and all of its commercial rights etc had been negotiated.
“I’m sure Grant, besides it’ll be kind of exciting to actually feel the benefits first hand for myself”
“Ill drink to that”
He raised his glass to hers and they watched the sun recede gracefully down into the earth.
Next morning Grant was busy setting up the control program on the host pc outside the GF immersion chamber. Nikki walked into the lab wearing just a dressing gown which diverted Grants attention. He looked at his wife with her short blonde hair and no make up on at all. She had never really let him see her without the war paint it seemed she religiously spent three quarters of an hour before her dresser mirror skillfully applying it every day just to please him regardless of if they were spending all day in the lab or going out she was conscious of her looks. He noticed the washed out look today of her skin and her obvious discomfort in not wearing any cosmetics and he set her at ease.
“Babe don’t look so apprehensive I love you as you are so even if it doesn’t work it’s not a problem”
“I know Grant but I am really starting to appreciate the age gap between us more and more each day now, if you knew how much grey was creeping into this blonde mop of mine you would be shocked. I spend a fortune now on those natural colouring agents and don’t tell me you haven’t noticed that middle aged spread has started early on me”
She struggled a smile through her perfect teeth.
“Hey you’re still the sexy woman I married and fell in love with”
He lent down kissing her gently and held her for a second.
“I didn’t just marry you for your looks you know I’m not that shallow”
Nikki looked up into his deep brown eyes and his model boyish looks and she melted as normal
“I know I’m so lucky to have you Grant , I just worry sometimes that you will run off with some leggy buxom twenty year old”
About half an hour later Nikki was naked and within the GF immersion chamber unit which resembled a glass tube like structure big enough for an adult to stand completely inside. At the top and bottom were small nozzles that would envelope the subject within a fine liquid mist for several seconds whilst the body absorbed its effects.
Grant initiated the program and the fine gas particles swirled around Nikki without any discomfort to her at all. The gas dispersed in seconds leaving no trace as the exhaust extractors kicked in automatically. Nikki stepped out feeling refreshed from the experience and with no visible side effects. She slipped her dressing gown back on and walked over to Grant who was busy verifying the results on the flat panel monitor.
“98% absorption levels Nikki, negligible loss! Now we just watch this space!”
Grant shouted enthusiastically pleased with the initial experiments start.
“Don’t you mean now watch this face!”
Nikki beamed and they both exited the lab.
About 2 days later Nikki woke up and as normal plodded wearily to the on suite bathroom leaving Grant asleep in bed. She showered and having dried herself off she went about the usual routine of drying her hair at her vanity unit before she would apply her make up. As she sat poised with her hairdryer in hand she caught sight of her reflection and then dropped the hairdryer as she was awe struck by what faced her. Her face and her skin looked rejuvenated, fresh and healthy and not a trace of the rigors of time. She smiled and used a mirror to study her face from every conceivable angle
and it was perfect. Her hands and neck two other areas that had displayed tell tale signs had the increased elasticity that only younger more supple skin could offer it was miraculous and what now looked odd was her grey hair amongst the blonde bob she sported although you would have to stare to notice.
“Grant!”
She shouted at the top of her voice startling her husband who sat up alarmed in the bed. Nikki ran over to him and jumped on the bed hugging him.
“Look at me honey, look at my face isn’t it incredible!”
Grants eyes tried to focus and as they did he was indeed impressed with the results of the GF experiment on Nikki. She looked so much younger and more vibrant in her skin and face. He brushed her cheek with his hand as if to test it was real but it was.
“Nikki you look so healthy so …..”
“So much younger”
She grinned pleased with herself.
“You can say it darling because its true and I feel younger in myself it must be psychological”
Later that day Grant and Nikki were in the lab and he noticed a new spring in her step and all day she was happy and like a new person.
“You know it’s gonna save me a fortune on make up”
Nikki piped up admiring her skin in her compact mirror.
“Its amazing, you look like you’ve taken years off I cant get over it”
“I have 19 to be precise”
Grant was a little shocked
“let me check that setting”
He looked up the configuration file on the pc relevant to the exposure that
Nikki underwent and sure enough the date she selected was 19 years ago he had expected her to try a decade but she had deliberately exceeded their agreed target.
“Darling you didn’t tell me, I thought we said 10 years”
Nikki walked over to him and grinned
“I’m sorry honey but it was too good an opportunity to miss I’m a forty year old woman with the complexion and skin of a 21 year old, even my Katrina would be surprised”
She referred to her 19 year old daughter from a previous marriage that currently lived with her father for practicality due to the proximity of the school and subsequently the University she now attended. “and talking of which she’s still on about coming to spend some time here this summer whilst she revises”
Grant smiled but secretly was a little uncomfortable, Katrina his step daughter had on occasion stayed with them before over the past 5 years since the marriage but the problem for him was that she always had a more than evident crush on him and made it very obvious with her secret flirting. She often referred to him as stallion man a nick name that stuck from a few years back when she inadvertently saw his full and well endowed form when he wore a kilt to his brothers wedding and accidentally fell over revealing all for a few awkward seconds. This one event saw the start of her preoccupation with trying to seduce him. Katrina was a very pretty girl and yes he had to admit she was a distraction but he was happily married and didn’t wish to succumb to any temptation from her so it suited him that she rarely visited due to the distance and so she hardly ever stayed.
“That’s great you two have a lot of catching up no doubt”
He offered a closing comment and went back to the computer screen and control interface.
“I’m ready for the next test now darling”
Nikki grinned
“How about I run this program”
Nikki selected the hair and body form on the GF target settings.
“Ok so what year?”
Grant asked looking at her hair. If he looked closely her intermingled grey hairs could be seen amongst the blonde of her bobbed style.
“Set my hair for 1985 when I was 20, I loved it then !”
Nikki ran her fingers through her hair drawing it across her eyes as if to study it close up.
“July as the month”
Grant selected the time zone
“And same for your body?”
“No, I remember going on holiday when I was 19 and in the best shape of my life just before I fell for Katrina and lost my figure, that’s October 84”
An hour later feeling invigorated again Nikki exited the GF and put on her robe.
“98.9% absorption levels higher than before. The integrity of this process energy loss is fantastic!”
Grant enthused and studied Nikki.
“I feel a bit woozy Grant please hold me”
She began to sway and held her head.
“Nikki!”
Grant dashed to catch her and managed to reach her before she collapsed passing out before him. He lifted her up in his arms and carried her out of the lab and to the sofa where he gently put her down.
“Nikki?”
He called to her concerned but she was totally out of it. Suddenly her whole body seemed to gently warm and vibrate before his eyes, with a deeply concerned look on his face he opened her robe and was astonished to see her body transforming before his very eyes. Her loose chubbier stomach became taught and firm as her rear and hips and even her legs all seemed to contract and tighten to her previous younger form but this wasn’t suppose to happen so rapidly!
“Oh my god!”
Grant knelt beside her and was trying to revive her back to consciousness.
He held the palm of his hand to her face gently tapping her but she wasn’t responding this process had commandeered the full energy of her body and she was only able to lie there and let it happen.
Grant witnessed her hair it suddenly flushed with a rich natural blonde colour as if some mystical hand had just painted every strand in seconds. Then her hair grew pulling out of its bob shape and flowing down her body straightening out until it stopped level with her elbows. Grant witnessed this transformation suddenly watching his wife become her past self in almost every conceivable external feature. Her eyes opened and Nikki groggily came around
“Grant , Grant what happened?”
She sat up
“Take it easy Nikki your body has been through a tremendous metamorphosis in seconds I saw it all”
He crouched holding her hands.
“My hair, Grant its long , its beautiful just like it used to be. It worked!”
“Your hair is gorgeous Nikki and so are you “
Nikki stood up and dropped her robe to her ankles patting her stomach and smoothing her hips and sides with her hands.
”My figure is back! No more stretch marks from child birth, no spare tyre, I’ve got the body of a teenager!”
Grant looked his wife over she was so different more beautiful. He hadn’t known her like this looking so young, he loved her before but now his wife looked like a younger woman ,younger looking than he was!