Prologue
"It's hard being left alone."
Robert peered through the window to Booker's office. The window was foggy and dusty, but he could see Booker and Elizabeth -well, Anna- standing near the desk. His heart leaped with joy and he turned to Rosalind, there was a large smile on his face and though she tried to look annoyed, he could see the corners of her mouth twitching upwards.
"We did it." he said, "We finally did it."
"Was it us?" Rosalind turned away from him, "Or was it Booker?"
"It isn't important." Robert sighed, "They are together now." He took her hand, briefly noting how cold she was, and started for his house, "It will be different…"
"What will?" she asked.
"You staying with me. I don't have any of the luxuries you had." he ran his thumb over her hand thoughtfully, "Nor do I have the funding to continue any serious research."
"Robert, my world is gone." she said. He paused momentarily, turning his gaze to her.
"Excuse me?" he tilted his head slightly, "What do you mean?" She didn't answer, but he was able to put it together on his own. After Booker's drowning, Comstock had been wiped out. And in the process, Rosalind's world had been wiped away as well. It didn't mean anything, after all, she was still with him. But he would admit, he'd been worrying about it since they returned to a completely live state. "I'm sure it isn't a problem." He tried to offer a smile, but when he saw the blood dripping from her ears, he panicked.
He should have known that she would hemorrhage, he'd done so when he arrived in her world. It would be the same for her.
"I think-"
"Don't think." he interrupted, "Let's just get home." He mentally cursed the fact that he lived so far away. How long could she walk before she completely shut down as he had?
"But I don't live here… This isn't where I-" she stopped and tightened her grip on his hand, "let's go…" He nodded and started walking again. He tried to remember a shortcut to his own house, but he came up blank.
"We're almost there." They had another 20 minutes of walking at the most, but judging by her pained murmurs, they didn't have much time before she shut down.
He nervously chewed his lip and tried to speed up. She was getting cold and the bleeding had increased. "Just hold on." he told her anxiously. She didn't respond, and he didn't look at her, "Maybe we should go to a hospital?"
"No." she said, "It will pass."
"But you're bleeding." he reminded, "A lot."
"No."
He sighed and continued on, he could see the house now. He scooped her into his arms and rushed there, "We're here." he set her down on his couch and rushed to get a towel.
"Robert?" she called.
"I'm coming." he replied. He returned with the towel and placed it around her neck to catch the blood from her ears, "How do you feel?"
"Fine… It's only a little blood." she sighed, "And a massive headache."
"When I bled, what did you do?" he asked.
"Nothing. I put you to bed and it stopped on it's own." she replied. He nodded and picked her up again. She went limp in his arms and he panicked.
"Rosalind?" he shook her slightly, "Rosalind?" He rushed up to his room and layed her down on the bed. The bleeding in her ears had stopped, but her nose had started to bleed. "I'm getting a doctor." he said. He rushed out of the house again and panicked, where was the nearest hospital again?
"Robert!" he heard her scream. He turned back quickly and entered the house. Her screams hadn't stopped and when he entered the room, she was curled up on the floor.
"What is it?" he asked, "What's happening."
"It doesn't want me here… This isn't the same… Your world doesn't want me here." she strained.
"What?" he was confused.
"My world vanished, I should have as well." she swallowed, "And I think I'm going to…"
"No, it will pass!" he got down on his knees, "You said so yourself!"
"I did but… I was wrong." it was hard hearing her say that. Both of them had rarely admitted to being wrong, especially when arguing with each other. Usually he would rejoice, but considering the situation, it only scared him.
"You would have vanished when the Elizabeth's did." He lifted her up and back onto the bed and held her on his lap. She was still bleeding and the blood began to pool in his lap.
"I suppose the universe just wanted to give me a little time." she started shaking, "I'm trying to prolong it Robert but… It hurts too much."
"You can't give up, Rosalind. Stay here, I'll find someway to reverse it." he said, "I just need time..."
"Robert, there are other Rosalind's. Rebuild the machine and find another." she breathed.
"No." he held her close, "None of them are you. They share your face and name but, it's you I need."
"I… I don't want to leave." she whispered.
"And I want you to stay." he absently ran his fingers through her hair. Rosalind had fallen quiet, her erratic breathing was the only sign that she was still there. "Don't leave me." he remembered how he'd threatened to leave her before. The act seemed selfish now, she stayed by his side and helped him clear his heart and now that they were done, she was disappearing.
"Goodbye, brother." she whispered. He didn't reply, she disappeared before he could. His hands fell limp against his lap and he stared down at the spot she'd very recently occupied. The only thing that even proved she was real was the blood she'd left behind. But in time, even that began to disappear. She was gone… She was really gone… And he hadn't even said goodbye…