Rosalie ran faster and faster down the empty streets, her breath growing more and more airy and dry. She stopped in a dark alleyway and leaned against the wall. Rosalie leaned down and brought her knees to her chest, sobbing into her hands. She quickly turned her head at a soft and warm voice "Rosalie?"
She turned and saw Dr. Dawson, standing in concern in his heavy grey coat and hat. In one hand he held a brown suitcase and in the other he held a black umbrella, Rosalie gasped "Dr. Dawson?"
"Are you quite alright my dear?" he asked kindly in his usual manner. He placed the suitcase down next to her. Rosalie looked up at him "What in the world are you doing here? Basil told me you were on leave?"
"Well." He chuckled "Just some urgent matter in Afghanistan. I was gone only for three months." He looked to her, and handed her his umbrella "Come, come… now dry your eyes." He took out his handkerchief, handing it to her "Why are you out here all alone? Where is your husband?" he saw her continue to cry "Now, Now! I'm sorry! Please don't cry…" he tenderly took her hand and patted it "Start at the beginning..."
"That's why I left, I was focusing on my needs more than his own... she's right." Rosalie said. "I made him wait... Why? I don't deserve any happiness." She sniffled again.
Dawson's eyes were wide with disbelief "B-But you love him! Rosalie-"
Rosalie wiped away the last dirt on her face, they still sat in the same spot, where the rain continued to fall beneath the awning they sat under "If I really love him..." she repeated "I'd let him go... he doesn't want someone selfless or hardheaded and secretive."
Dawson shook his head "Is that what you think of yourself?" the gold mouse sighed. Rosalie combed a hand through her short brown hair "Who cares… he has the perfect dream girl now..."
"Maybe you're right." He agreed, knowing the tactic. Rosalie looked up to him as he shrugged his shoulders "But just some words of wisdom… unlike any 'dream girl', is one of noble blood…" he saw her smile slightly "Someone kind and caring, completely selfless and warm." He picked up her chin gently "And right before my very eyes."
"I appreciate the words of encouragement Dawson... but it's kind of hopeless now..." she shrugged "What if he's forgotten all about me?" Rosalie looked to the dark clouds rolling in the sky. Dawson chuckled softly "Well, as Basil says when there is a will there is a way." He attempted to help her up off the cold floor "Now let's get you somewhere dry so we can figure a way-"
Rosalie stopped in her tracks "What did you say?"
"Somewhere dry? I'm sure there is a hostel more than happy to-"
"NO! No! Where there is a will-"she stopped again, slapping her forehead "The will!" she ran to Dawson, placing her hands on his shoulders "What day is it?!"
Dawson was shocked and answered "W-Why it is February twenty fourth! Whatever is the matter?" Rosalie was about to run off when she stopped "The will! The secret will! If it's not claimed by another spouse by tomorrow-"she sighed heavily and grabbed Dawson's arm "Dawson! Come on!" she stopped again, nearly having him fall to the floor "Wait! I'll go to Nellie's!" they were literally spinning in circles "Dawson, go get Basil and tell him to meet me at the mansion! Ratigan is in trouble! Hurry!" she ran down the opposite street. Dawson saw the girl leave and his eyes wandered quickly as he ran down the correct way to Baker Street.
Ratigan paced back and forth along the white gazebo's floor, feeling the wood creak as he made every nervous step. He checked his pocket watch in twenty second increments. His eyes were bright as he heard a voice behind him "You wanted to see me daddy?"
Ratigan turned quickly and saw Charlie, who nervously fiddled with the bow of her light blue dress. He smiled and gestured to her "Charlotte, I'm very sorry for the way I acted upon you yesterday, it was not fair of me to do so." Charlie's ears perked down sadly "I'm sorry too poppa." She ran to him and hugged him tightly. He returned the gesture, gently petting her on the head, stroking her long black hair. He sat her down and started to pace again "It's time to look to the future you know."
"I agree!" she quirked a brow quickly "Have you seen Mr. Pinchley anywhere?" she asked with urgency.
"I'm not sure… he seemed to have vanished…" he shook his head quickly "Enough with that for now… where was I?" he thought again "Ah yes! The future!" He knelt down to her, a little uneasy "Do you like Miss Vivian my dear?"
Charlie swallowed her words carefully "Sure… she's nice I guess?" she then sighed "Is she staying with us longer?" she asked a lingering agony in her voice. Ratigan was unsure how to take the remark, he simply chuckled "Well, yes..." he took her little paw in his "You know she cares about all of us, and you especially."
"Oh huh..." she said wearily. Confused she shook her head and crossed her arms "What are you trying to say father?"
He nervously retracted his hand back, and stood up. Once again pacing "What if… Miss Vivian was part of our family?"
Charlie felt her stomach turn, so she tried to play dumb to assume the worst "You mean adoption? Well she's going to be an OLDER sister, but you know me! It's never too late to adopt!" she jumped off her seat and attempted to escape "Is that it? I'm gonna go find Roscoe-"Ratigan grabbed her paw, a little firm this time. "I am not going to adopt Vivian." He chuckled softly and looked into her brown eyes, full of light and concern "I am going to marry her."
Charlie gasped "What?"
"It seems sudden my dear, but we are to be married tomorrow..." Charlie stood frozen "Won't it be wonderful? You'll have another mother again!-"
Charlie's face became pink "I already have a mother!" she paced back and forth "You're gonna MARRY HER?! I can't believe you! This is going to ruin everything! Ugh!" she ran off, back into the house. Ratigan huffed and stood up, biting his lip as the words echoed in his mind.
Charlie ran upstairs, her face growing red with rage. She started to speak in a loud whisper "Rosalie?! Where are you?!" her ears perked up at the sound of singing. She recognized Vivian's voice and stood outside the ivory door.
Vivian was dancing around her room, in a long white nightgown. She was spinning, making the dress twirl around her, she was laughing gladly:
"What a lovely little bride I'll make!
"My dear I'll look divine!"
She took her bobby pin out of her blonde hair, throwing it into the headboard of the mirror.
"Things are working out according to my ultimate design!"
She walked up to her mirror, standing and smashing a little ceramic box.
"Soon I'll have a handsome husband and that fortune will be mine!"
She fearfully backed up, gasping "I have to warm father!-"she bumped right into a tall figure. A large thug grabbed her and burst through the door "Miss… we got an eavesdropper…"
Vivian turned and jumped off the table "Oh no, Marcus let go of my step daughter!"
The man dropped her and she rose up off the floor, dusting herself off "How dare you stand where she once stood... how dare you! Taking advantage of my father! I'm gonna tell him everything!"
"You know you really shouldn't speak to your mother in such a manner."
Charlie narrowed her brows "You are not my mother."
"I will be your mother… and you will listen to me the very moment I say I do... and you cannot stop me. Who knows." She laughed hardheartedly "If you behave yourself I'll be sure to send all you brats to a suitable military school… one with bunk beds." She laughed harder as Rosalie burst through the door "Over my dead body."
Charlie ran to her side, hiding behind her "Momma!"
Vivian growled, a smile starting to appear on her face "Oh my dear I knew you'd be back! Oh something just told me you couldn't stay out of my way!" she laughed again. Rosalie's green eyes narrowed "I'm not afraid of you anymore... now give me the will."
"Why should I? You're dead remember?" Vivian grabbed the brown box off her desk "After tomorrow, everything is going to belong to me." She started to turn the lock "Once I get this blasted lock open!" she stubbornly messed with the lock as Rosalie turned to the guard blocking the door. She glanced over at the guard's small knife he kept on his holster. She looked up inside the room and noticed a large canopy above them. Vivian then turned to her prisoners "I feel sorry for you Rosalie... you really never know when to quit."
Rosalie quickly grabbed the knife and cut the rope of the canopy, piling on the guard and Vivian. Rosalie quickly grabbed the box off the floor and ran out of the room with Charlie behind her. Vivian pushed her way over the sheets and looked through the window at Charlie and Rosalie. She opened it up quickly, spotting a police man "Police! Thief! Thief! After her!" The police man nodded and was quickly joined by others in the chase. Rosalie and Charlie ran down the busy street, even Bill, Fidget and Nicolas looked on, after leaving a store. Fidget gasped "Oy! Isn't that?"
Bill finished "Roscoe and Charlie?!"
Rosalie and her hid behind an alleyway quickly. Rosalie handed the box to Charlie, "Go! Run the other way!" she kept up with her "I'm not leaving you mom!"
"No time to be noble! Listen to me!"
They slowed down, arguing over the box and who was the correct owner "Please Charlie-"the guards quickly caught up with them. Two guards grabbed Rosalie quickly, grabbing the box and handing it to another police man. "No please! This has been a big mistake! Really! I'm Rosalie Hampstead!"
One guard scoffed "Yeah! And I'm the queen! Keep moving buster!" they dragged her away as another police man shoved her into a carriage. Another man softly touched Charlie on the shoulder "Oy, little one... time to get you home..." Charlie stood dumbfounded as she followed the guard home. Another police man pushed the onlookers away "Look! Nothing to see here! Get moving! Just another nutcase getting what's coming to him!"
As Charlie was escorted away, Rosalie was locked in the carriage and ran to the window "Go get my husband Professor Ratigan! I'm his wife Rosalie! I'm Rosalie!" the carriage stormed off as Bill, Fidget and Nicolas stood in awe. Their mouths agape as Bill stuttered "Did Roscoe just say… is s-she?"
"R-Rosalie?" Fidget said.
The three boys looked at each other and suddenly started running "Basil!" Bill shouted. Nicolas waved his hands in the air "Go get Basil! BASIL WE NEED YOUR HELP!" they ran to Baker Street, hoping to catch him in time.
At the mansion, Charlie was gently pushed into the house. Vivian smiled gently at the man "Poor little one... she is quite disturbed." The police man handed her back the box "OH well, you know the little ones... always have an eye for adventure." He tipped his hat "You are quite a mother to be so concerned about your little ones, Good day madam!"
Vivian whispered "Oh yes… I will be." She closed the door softly.
Rosalie sat in the cell of Scotland Yard, her arms chained behind her. The sun was beginning to set as the entire cell was sitting in darkness. She teared up, a small tear hitting the puddle next to her:
"I've always dreamed
That my life could be
Like a fairy-tale
A perfect fantasy…
Every day a new adventure
On some undiscovered shore
Was it nothing more
Than a dream?
She flashed back to the moments that they first met, when they first danced... even when they first kissed. She remembered all the adventures that they had together and the times they lost each other but were ready to come back to each other no matter what.
"Then one magic night
With a single dance
I found more than just a storybook romance
And for once my life was perfect
As we glided 'cross the floor
And it was so much more than a dream
So much more than a dream
I could say it never happened
Just a dream from the start
But then
I'd live my life
With a broken heart."
She moved in her chains, being pulled back slightly from the old wall holding her captive.
"Cause in his loving arms
I've found a love I can't deny
If there's any chance to set things right
I've simply got to try
So I'll trust my heart
What else can I do?
I can't live in dreams
If my dreams are to come true
There's a better life that's waiting
Past the mountains I must climb
I will take a chance on love
To get my once upon a time!
She stopped rustling against the chains.. starting to pull herself up from her stupor. She was going to get out of this cell, and not give up.
Oh, I want so much more
So much more
Than a dream!"
Rosalie tried to move, but was held back by her chains. She began to struggle, as she heard steps beginning to approach her cell. The guard had a deep voice "Thieves get the axe." He said, making her shake nervously. She shook her head "Please… you're making a big mistake-"
He opened the small gate "Sorry boy, I don't make the rules... I enforce 'em." He helped her up, about to take her to the execution room when another masked guard entered the room. He cleared his throat "Excuse me, sir... I'll take this one… rules from the boss." The other man nodded his head and handed Rosalie to the other masked man "Alright...i'm always one to follow the rules." He walked out, his leather boots slowly disappearing in the dark hall. Rosalie was dragged to a small room, the room was completely dark and eerie, all except a candle, a wood block and an axe. Rosalie started to breathe heavily as the executioner pushed her down to the block, her arms still tied behind her by rope this time. She took a large breath to herself and whispered "I love you James."
The axe was lifted high up, shimmering in the light of the candle. The swipe came fast, as Rosalie opened one eye. She felt the rope around her wrists snap apart and rubbed her arms quickly. "What the-"
The executioner took off the mask to reveal Basil! He chuckled, the axe still in his hand "What? No thank you!" She ran to him and hugged him tightly. She slapped his shoulder "Did you really have to take me in here!?"
"I had to get the ropes off you somehow!" he chuckled again. Rosalie wiped her brow "You nearly gave me a heart attack! How did you even get in here! It's restricted!"
Basil smiled "One step ahead of you my dear!" he whistled and Bill, Fidget, Dawson, and Nicolas burst through the door. They all shouted "Rosalie!" Ratigan's boys ran to her and hugged her tightly as she returned the gesture "Oh I missed my boys!"
"We had no idea!" Bill laughed nervously "We're sorry how we treated you… please don't tell Ratigan..."
"Well, if we keep toddling around here, we won't have time to!" Basil said, gesturing to the door. Rosalie touched Fidget's face, gently stroking it making him smile "It doesn't matter… I just need warn James!" she rose up and dusted off her dark blue suit. She then moved outside the door as Nicolas asked "What are we gonna do? We don't have any plan!"
She turned, smiling at the boys with a mischievous smile "You guys want to go to a wedding?"
REVIEW AND FOLLOW
"SO MUCH MORE THAN A DREAM" CINDERELLA: A TWIST IN TIME