A/N: Hello, welcome back to New Time, New Place. Pleased to have you along. Whoa boy, that sounded weird. Sorry about the last chapter if it startled anybody. You might've guessed that Mary is not one of my um... favourite characters, although that's not really true- you'll have to read Letters From Hell to realize I'm not being picky. There should be a preview in of it soon in New Time, New Place. I don't know when. Again, I don't know when this will be put up, because I work some days a week, but I will put up new chapters as often as I can. Anyway, enough chitchat Sneko, it's time for Chapter six! And Pleaseeee review! My thanks to those who did--I love you, you rock! If I haven't responded, I will, so hang on and keep reading! Oh; when I get to writingLetters From Hell, please read it!

Chapter 6: Music in the Wings

How had she fallen so far? Rosette wondered as she scrubbed at the mountain of dirty dishes. She, Rosette Christov was washing dishes while her 'friends'/ fellow boarders were out having a walk in the nice, sunny evening.

"Uncle Chrono---!" Well, most of them. Rosette leaned out the window in time to see Chrono knocked back into the vegetable patch he was weeding by a very energetic little girl. Nina, he'd said her name was. Rosette shook her head and went back to the dishes. If washing dishes was bad, permanent babysitting and slogging in a muddy garden were hell. What an idiot Chrono was. He really did take on too much. "Will you play it? Oh please say you will! Play Raven's Wings for us!" Nina's voice was soft, but it still carried.

"Rosette!" Rosette let out a small scream as a train hit her. Actually, it was an excited Az followed by Satella, Fi, Joshua (sigh+heart here) and Viede. Az was jumping up and down. "Rosette, did you hear? They're having a music competition at Austy's tonight! We're all going, so get your stuff on!" the pale haired girl hurtled upstairs, most of the others on her heels.

"Where're they running off too?" Shader huffed from the doorway as she took off her shoes. "Hey Rosette!" The woman bounded over and hugged her. "Aw! You get cuter every time I see you! And you're helping out! Oo! Chrono, you lucked out with this one!"

"Yes, well, I don't know if she really wants to spend the rest of the evening washing dishes. The kids are downstairs Shader. They're pretty hyper, I should warn you." Chrono said, entering the kitchen. He'd washed up from the garden, still slightly damp and smelling of soap.

"That would be my cue to leave." Shader said with a sly grin. "Have a good time Rosette." She yelled, skipping downstairs.

"Oh that'll get them calmed down before bed." Chrono muttered, smiling weakly. "Oh well. Move over. I'll wash, you dry." He took the cloth from her and started washing. "Sorry you got stuck with these. It's supposed to be Satella's turn, but she took off with the others. I would've been up sooner, but this really is one of the few times I can spend with the kids outside." He chuckled, shaking wet hair from his eyes.

"You're working tonight, I assume." Rosette said quietly, adding another dish to the dry stack. Chrono shrugged.

"That's true about every night. S'what I do." He frowned at the clock, adjusting his glasses. "Sassafras and Peppercorns!" he yelped. "Not again!" he sped up, washing much faster than she could even try to keep up with. "Sorry!" he called over his shoulder. "I'm going to be late for work! Have a good evening!" he darted to the door.

"Chrono!" Before Rosette could stop herself, she called out. He froze by the door, turning around slowly.

"Yes..?" Rosette swallowed, wringing out the dishcloth, trying to think of what she had wanted to say.

"Just...Just don't push yourself on your plate... not everything is your responsibility, you know." He studied her, an odd look on his face.

"Are you feeling alright?" Before she could speak, he'd strode across the room and placed a cool palm on her forehead. Rosette flushed.

"Of course I am, Stupid!" she pushed away from him and stomped up the stairs. "Have a good day." she added quietly, but she wasn't sure if he heard as the door closed before she had said it. Still, she'd been compelled to say it, just as she had been for what she said firsts, although she hadn't intended to say anything like that. He didn't know she knew about Mary, and she didn't intend to bring it up. Someone banged on her door.

"Rosette?" It was Satella-curse her- "Are you ready to go? We're leaving!"

"Coming! I'm coming already." she yelled, opening the door. May as well get it over with.

Austy's was a downtown bar/club. It was very low key and easy going and was open everyday. They were generally closed to underage people, but they often had open age events and they didn't really care who went in so long as you didn't start a fight and you weren't drinking underage. Due to this looseness, the group had no trouble getting in. Once inside, they all spread out, Satella to flirt over at the bar, Azmaria and Viede to get a spot close to the makeshift stage.

"They host this sort of thing fairly often." Joshua explained. " Actually, the music here is really good. They have theme nights on most Fridays with local bands performing pieces within the theme. It's really cool."

"Do you guys always come down here?"

"Sometimes. It's a nice place, but it can get a little tough sometimes. Oh waiter!" They settled at a table, Joshua, Rosette and Fi. There were people running around like crazy, mostly getting sound equipment set up. Finally, a small man clambered up on stage.

"Hello?" he squeaked into the mike. "Ah yes. Thank you." he said to the teen who was fixing cables. "She's working now." he clapped his hands and the room quieted. "Hello everyone and welcome to Austy's Musical Friday. Tonight we have a great list of singers, all who are competing for the audiences applause. At the end, you can al vote for your favourite, and the winner gets a monetary prize." There was cheering from the crowd. "Anyone who feels inclined to dancing, there's room in front of the stage. And now, without further chatting, let's begin!" The first group, a rock styled band called Tiny Little Pond came up and started their number, quickly followed by Jakly Pals. Rosette lost count of the groups and the songs as group after group paraded onto the stage. She was aware eventually, that Joshua and Fi had gotten up and were dancing, as were Azmaria, Viede and Satella. It was very funny to watch, but she felt no desire to join in. The music was okay, some was her style, some wasn't, but none of them really got her attention. She sipped on the drink that'd been set on the table before her, grateful for the coke's fizz. It probably would do nothing for her growing headache, but hey. When thirsty, drink.

"Excuse me?" She caught the sleeve of a waiter as he darted by. "May I have another Pepsi please?" he nodded curtly than vanished.

"Here you are." The drink was put on the table and she looked up and gasped.

"Wow." The guy, what she could see of him in the dark room, was very cute. And very familiar... light from the door caught on his glasses.

"Something wrong Rosette?" Chrono tipped his head to the side and looked at her.

"Chro- Chrono? What are you doing here?" She sputtered. Chrono raised an eyebrow at her and gestured at his tray.

"I work here." He said over his shoulder as he vanished into the shadows.(Ooh. cleche)

"Thank you, well friends." The little man was up on the stage again. "It has been a wonderful show so far. Before we go on with our next act, I'd like to thank our sound manager, Crusander, who sets up all our shows. We would never be able to do it without him. Get over here Crusa!" he yelled over to the counter. Everyone clapped politely as the lanky teen came up to the stage. The man, who Rosette had been told was Austy, hauled the boy up on stage. Tall and thin, dressed in tight leather pants and a black sleeveless, the boy seemed uncomfortable with the attention, rubbing shyly at a large scar on his upper right arm. Austy clapped his shoulder cheerfully. "Now. Most of our regulars know Crusa as he's been working here for over a year, playing backup. But what few of us know is he's a singer too. I thank my wife for that tip. So, should we ask Mr. Crusander to sing?" the crowed cheered and the boy turned a brilliant red, shaking his head in a desperate, if futile NO! Joshua grinned.

"This should be good." Crusander was pushed up to the mike.

"I -well- I haven't done this sort of thing in ages." he nudged lightly at the stand then turned to the group of musicians. "I've been playing back up for so long, I can't really think of anything. Any one got a suggestion?" he looked around the audience, meeting Rosette's eyes. She felt a chill go through her, feeling suddenly she could name the colour of them though she couldn't see them.

"Raven's Wings." she called out, her voice silencing the crowd. Crusander looked at her, his face pale.

"Raven's Wings?" the crowd gasped. Everyone knew it was a difficult song. Crusander took a deep breath. "I'll need a guitar." Straitening his shoulders, he accepted the instrument from one of the finished groups and gave it an experimental strum. He frowned and tweaked the turning pegs for a moment than tried again. He seemed to like the sound and returned to the mike.

"Raven's Wings it is!" The decision of what song to sing seemed to have calmed him, as had the turning, because he held the guitar easily as he started to play. The chords floated out to the crowd who gulped it up hungrily, sensing something.

"Aiya, Aieya. Oo oh,

Why hello love, where've you been------

While you've been gone, you've missed all I've seen.

I must say, I haven't missed you

At least, that's what I've told myself.

But if you look within my eyes,

You'll find tears I cannot free.

Aiyah.

Have you forgotten, those cool nights down by the grass?

Have you forgotten, all that's in our past?

I haven't forgotten, and you know I never will...

You flew with the raven, over the black hill...

Fire comes, in my heart, burning me up, I can't see.

I lost my wings, years and years ago...

You can't come back, and I can't go where you are..

You are free--- oh

Something I will never be.

Have you forgotten, those cool nights down by the grass?

Have you forgotten, all that's in our past?

I haven't forgotten, and you know I never will...

You flew with the raven, over the black hill...

Time passes. I have tried to move on.

But I thought of you, when I wrote this song...

So it would seem, I'll not forget you soon.

Are you happy, over where you've gone?

I guess I'll never find out, but I'll ask you in this song.

Have you forgotten, those cool nights down by the grass?

Have you forgotten, all that's in our past?

I haven't forgotten, and you know I never will...

You flew with the raven, over the black hill...

Well, time runs on, I still chase you in my dreams...

Fortune-teller, can you explain things to me.

Such a 'blessing' is the third eye.

All it will show me, Is you in the sky...

Have you forgotten, those warm nights in the spring.…?

Do you remember what we used to dream…?

All of those things we used to do together.

You left them all behind...

With the passing raven's feather.

Why did you leave them all behind...

Love you left me behind

I'm running out of time...

Please don't leave me here behind...

We've moved on, I try to stay strong.

Even though you left me, I still have to go.

There's much to do, here with in my life.

I won't throw it away,

By the highway in the night.

I'll stay here and watch the stars as they play with a black feather

Dancing in their light..." Crusander finished the final verse and last chords in the silence of the room. He looked nervously at the impassive audience, inching away from the mike, his face even redder then before. His movement broke the spell he'd woven over the audience and everyone leapt to their feet, cheering and clapping. Rosette clapped as hard as she could, cheering as loud as the others or louder. Joshua tapped her shoulder.

"We're going now, ok. You coming, or do you want to wait?"

"I'll be home soon." she smiled. "Later." Carefully as she could, she pressed her way to the stage, hoping to see 'Crusander'.

"Miss Christov?" Austy came over. "Pleased to meet you." he smiled, shaking her hand. "An excellent choice of music. I've never heard it before, but it was wonderful."

"Crusander was the one who played it, sir." she smiled. "And he was the one who really deserves all the credit for it." Austy laughed.

"I'd feel bad about getting him up on stage if it weren't for the fact his shift was almost over. You better head out, we're closing." Rosette looked at her watch and was stunned to find that it was after twelve.

"Right. Bye!" she ran to the door and out into the surprisingly dark night. "Oh no." she looked up and down the street. "No what?"

"Rosette!" A motor sounded from the street beside her. Rosette turned to see a motorcycle parking beside her. "Need a ride?" Chrono pulled off his helmet. "The others left already and my shift's done." Rosette blushed.

"Well..."

"It's an hour's walk home. The buses aren't running." shyly, he held out a hand. "It's faster." Rosette avoided the hand and climbed on behind him. "Hold on tight." he warned. Her face reddening more, she wrapped her arms around his waist and they started.

'This isn't the way home!" she called as they turned up a winding road.

"I thought I'd show you the view from up here." they slowed to a stop in the parking lot at the top. "This is signal hill. In the day, early evening and early morning, it's swamped with people. However." he gestured around the empty lot. "We are alone." he grabbed her hand and pulled her over to a low stone wall. Rosette gasped.

'It's beautiful!" She leaned on the wall, staring out at the glowing city, spread like a quilt below them. "Amazing." Chrono laughed, sitting on the wall.

'It's great up here. I used to come here with..." he fell silent, staring out at the city. Startled by his sudden change of mood, Rosette touched his arm.

"Well, I like it up here. If it doesn't bother you, could we come up-atchoo!" Shet! What a bad time to sneeze! Chrono smiled.

"Sure we can come here again." He tugged off his sweater and handed it to her. "Put that on. Can't have you getting sick." They climbed back onto the bike and coasted down the hill. Rosette smiled into his back, snuggling into the sweater. It was warm, but his back was warmer. Even in early fall, St. John's was cool at night. She fingered his shirt. He must be freezing, she thought as they slipped into the driveway, wearing only that thin black top. Quietly, Chrono unlocked the door and they went in.

"Thanks for coming with me, up to the hill, I mean." He pushed his glasses back up. Rosette smiled.

"Thank you for taking me." she started up the stairs. "Oh. And Chrono?" he looked back at her. "You aren't a bad singer either." She went upstairs, his blushing face fresh in mind.

A/n: Well, what did you think? Tell me please! Little purple button... anyway, I'll take suggestions for chapters to, but I know some of what's going to happen now. Preview for Letters from Hell coming soon! R& R and thank you! Oh yeah! Thanks to my pal McB for the song! She wrote it!