A/N: Hi! Sorry this chapter took so long to get out. Maybe it wasn't so long, but it feels like it...I'm sooooo tired and I still have work today...heh. Whatever. I have a story to write. Um...blushes. I have another fanfic. I'd like to try writing, but if I do, that will mean more time between chapters. Is that ok? Should I do that, or just work on this one? Some advice would help. I guess it depends on if you like the story. I hope you do. Anyway, let's go, chapter 14. (Again, how in highers did it get this long?)

New Time, New Place, chapter 14

He's still stubborn. The golden angel smiled as the boy went into the basement. That was good. Stubborn was better than the obedience he'd felt before. He really did take on too much. She took a glance at Grey. Stupid, pessimistic old bird. Still. She would put up with him because it meant she could watch her little 'human'. Poor guy. No matter what form he was in, his soul...

Rosette charged down the stairs. Well, he would know she was coming, but then, that was better then catching him by surprise again. Heck, they'd been lucky. What if he'd walked in on her in the bathroom, or vice versa. That would've been bad. Stupid giving up person! She stopped, peeking into his room. Nope. Not there. Where could he be? There were only what? five rooms down here?

"I'm in the living room." Rosette bristled. He sounded frikin' amused. Stupid high brow...he was sitting on the floor, eating, flipping through a phonebook while checking classifieds in the paper.

"What are you doing?" she asked, putting her plate on the table and settling on the floor next to him, purposely putting herself closer than necessary.

"Looking for some jobs." he said, moving away from her. Well, she'd figured he would. Still, she grinned to herself. Maybe a little blackmail would get him to help her.

"You have two. Why do you need another? Paying for an addiction?" she sidled up to him as she said it and he stiffened noticeably, his eyes widening slightly.

"You might say that." he closed the phone book and handed her a piece of paper.

"What's this?" he stood, smiling mischievously.

"Your job search list." Chrono snagged his helmet off the hook, taking his coat and heading for the door as Rosette let out a squawk off shock.

"A JOB! Why do I need a job?" Chrono turned, hand on the door.

"Part of the project. You have to pay rent." she followed him out to his motorcycle. What the heck? She could just ask her parents- drat. Suddenly she remembered the rule sheet her parents had read with her before signing her up. They could help with money only in emergencies.

"Well then, I'll get a job at Austy's." she said resolutely. Chrono actually blanched. He caught her shoulders, giving them a small shake.

"The hours you'd be working are too late. You'll never be able to keep awake in class and it's not as bad as some but..."

"You're one to talk! You fell asleep!" he blushed.

"I don't normally. It's only because I've had less sleep then normal." he slid onto the bike, but Rosette noticed his hands were trembling. Oh. She'd hit something.

"And why's that?" she cooed. His cheeks turned an amazing pink. Odd. Whatever it was sure embarrassed him. Good. That gave her an advantage.

"It isn't any of your business! Go practice for your play!" with that he shot away, not even sparing her a glance, but the tone in his voice had changed. He'd squeaked! Laughing, she wandered back into the house. Oh yes. This would be good. Auditions started soon. She'd practice, but she was going to get Chrono to help her. Oh he would, or she would nag him day and night. If he didn't, she wouldn't let him forget it.

She wanted him to help her practice. Chrono hung his coat on his chair, winching as it brushed a new bruise. It was a good thing looks weren't something he prided himself on, he thought with a smile as he caught sight of himself in the hall mirror. Oh yes, he was in bad shape tonight. And tired. But he was used to that. He could handle tired. What he couldn't handle was the dreams. And why's that? Oh she'd been interested then. She knew she'd found something. He chuckled. She was like an open book for him, at least when it came to her plots. But then, her face was very expressive. Very pretty for that matter. He'd always though so.

He shouldn't think like that, like this. Rosette was someone beyond his reach. When he was younger, in the labs, he had liked her, even had a crush on her. Pity for him he still did. There was no time for that sort of thing. None. How long did he have left anyway? Ha glanced at the calendar. September 25. Not much. A few months, tops.

He had no right to feel this way, to put her in danger like this. Just being near him, not even liking him, he was still affecting her sensitivity to the other field. He couldn't allow that to happen. The people who cared for him ended up hurt, and he hated that. However. His picked up the script he'd slipped into his bag before she came down earlier that evening. He'd brought it with him, read it during the slow times. She wanted him to help her with the play. The one his brother was directing. Chrono blinked in surprise, realizing he was holding his guitar. Did he want to?

No. That was in his head. He wanted nothing to do with Aion. But yes was starting to override it. What if Aion made a move for her? Rosette was none of his concern, in that sense. He had no claim on her, except that she lived in his house, knew things he'd never told anyone -he didn't want to think about what things he'd told her. She didn't think it was much, but it was getting to the point he was beginning to feel naked around her, and he didn't like that one little bit- and he cared about her safety. She knew what Aion did, to some extent. Chrono just wasn't sure he'd be able to look after a child sired by Aion but mothered by Rosette- providing he was still alive then. Nine months…not sure there. He'd never be able too anyway. He had a feeling Aion knew that. That meant Rosette was in danger.

Chrono pursed his lips, fingers finding chords. He needed sleep.

He needed music more.

Chrono had discovered years ago that music was freeing. He'd discovered it could take his emotions and change them with an ease only Rosette could beat. No, music was something special to him. Rosette was right, he hadn't wanted to give it up. It hurt every time he looked at the contract. So much so, he'd hidden it from himself, along with his music, swearing never to play again. He played back up at Austy's as Crusander, just to keep the older self close. But it was still agony to see the contract again. He hadn't realized it was with the music he'd pulled the other day, hadn't known Rosette would find it.

For seeing the future, his gift was pretty useless when it came to what it showed him. He wished she didn't know, but what was done was done. He would help her practice because she wanted him too, she wanted to be in the play, wanted to do something.

Now all he had to do was practice control of how close they got.

Tuesday, 5:31 pm

"Chrono!" Rosette came into the house. She'd done it! She'd gone to one of the places on his list today after school and had gotten hired. Score one for blonde. She worked part time, because that's she had school, but she still would have time to practice and do homework. She would be working at the Roll Cafe, across the street from Prologue. Rosette grinned to herself. Oh yes. She'd always be nearby, close by, just to bug him. "Chrono!" she yelled, striding into the kitchen. There was a pot on the stove, which she sniffed, deciding it smelled alright before going downstairs. She stepped into the hallway, only to be hit by a freight train.

"Rosette!" Kino wrapped his arms around her legs, grinning up at her. "I lost a tooth!" he cheered, pointing to a gap in his teeth. "Benny hit me, and I lost a tooth! I wanted to show you right away, but we were over at Mr. Remington's! Where were you? Did you hear about my fight? You wanna hear? Uncle Chrono says it's bad, because people get hurt, and in some fighting people die, but I think he's being a coward! He wouldn't know how to fight, he's too scared. I think people try to fight him though, 'cuz he always comes home from work with bruises on his face. Did you know that? And-"

"Kino." Marie stood in the doorway of her room, arms crossed, cool eyed. "That's enough. Uncle Chrono wouldn't like it." she gave Rosette a dark glare, then went back into her room, ignoring Kino's stuck out tongue. What a little brat, Rosette decided. Marie was the most annoying child she'd ever met. How did Chrono look after these kids?

"Marie is jealous." Rosette turned to see Nina behind her, dislodging Kino as she did. Nina smiled weakly. "She's jealous because Uncle Chrono spends time with you too. She thinks he should spend more time with us." she touched Rosette's arm. "She'll understand eventually, but..." Nina looked sad. "But he needs a friend like you." Rosette gulped, meeting Nina's pleading gaze. "Uncle Chrono is stubborn. He has to be, to keep pushing like he does. But that won't last forever." the child's voice had dropped to a whisper. "He-" she glanced towards her uncle's room, drawing Rosette's gaze with her. "I'm afraid Aunt Rosette."

Aunt Rosette? The child had called her an aunt?

"Nina, I'm just one of Chrono's boarders. I'm not your-"

"You will be!" Nina said, sounding like a five year old again. Rosette was relieved. It scared her somewhat when she talked to Nina, because she felt the girl, eleven years younger, knew more about life then she did. "You like Uncle Chrono, and he likes you. I like you too, and so does Kino, and even Marie! You could be our Aunt and be like our mommy, just like Uncle Chrono is like our Daddy." Rosette looked at the little face that peered at her with imploring eyes. Nina wanted a mother. Badly. Rosette bit her lip, kneeling down.

"Nina, I can't be your Aunt, or your mother. Chrono and I-well-we aren't even that good friends yet."

"But you're getting better. And he likes you! He even talks about you in his sleep! He's only pushing you away to-"

"Nina." Chrono stepped out of his room and scooped up the child. "Nina, Nina, Nina." he bounced her a little, making her giggle. "What are you up to, scamp?" Nina stopped giggling and pouted.

"I wanted Rosette to be our Aunt and Mommy, just like you're our Uncle and Daddy!" Nina burst into tears, burying her face in Chrono's sweater. "Why can't I have a Mommy or Daddy?" Chrono looked stricken. He carried Nina into her room, and Rosette saw him sit down with her, talking to her. Why can't I have a Mommy or Daddy? Rosette slowly climbed the stairs.

"Wait." Marie came out of her room and scowled up the stairs at her. "You just going to leave? You got Nina worked up, you should go help get her calmed down.

"I don't know a thing about kids, Marie." Rosette said quietly, sitting on the step. "I would never be able to do this."

"You do what you have to do." Marie retorted, taking a step up. "That's what Uncle Chrono says."

"There aren't many people in the world like Chrono. I'm not one of them." She wasn't sure she even wanted to be. Marie set her jaw.

"You haven't tried. You haven't had a chance yet."

"You spend to much time listening to Chrono." Rosette grumbled. Marie smiled.

"He's mine to listen to. But, I think he would listen to you, if you said something. He might fight it, might do his best against it, but he would definitely listen, because Nina is right. He does like you." the girl jumped as a hand patted her head.

"It isn't nice to gossip or talk about someone behind their back." Chrono said, smiling. Rosette realized with a groan that the slight sparkle in his eyes meant he'd heard at least some of what they'd been saying. Great. Just great. She had three kids who wanted her to be their Aunt, who wanted her to be part of their lives. "I'm sorry." Chrono said quietly from the kitchen. She went in, leaning against the counter by the window. "They shouldn't have said anything like that. They're... Do you want to get your script? I can listen to you for a little bit, before I have work. Oh. Did your interviews go alright? I saw you around while I was at Prologue."

"Yes I got the job. And I have my script." she pulled it out, opening to the first page. "Chrono? Are you trying out?" Chrono shook his head, chopping up carrots.

"I don't plan on it. I can help you practice though. Read through the first page, Rosette's lines. I'll read the rest from my script. It's here on the counter." They went through the first scene, Rosette doing the lead and Chrono everything else, offering her advice about tone and projection. Finally, twenty runs later, Chrono nodded.

"I liked that one." he said, plating the food. As usual, the second a plate was on the table, the kitchen was full of people. Rosette frowned. Did they hide the rest of the time? Ms. Harvenhiet had once again latched herself onto Chrono, nearly strangling him. Rosette took the opportunity to bop the wretched woman over the head, much to the other Satella's amusement. (They'd been fighting all day)

"Wow Chrono! You're hopping today! Got a spare bite!" Shader bounced into the kitchen, squealing and hugging Azmaria, blathering about how cute the boarders were.

"Chrono! What's for dinner!" Joshua yelled on entrance, returning from soccer. "Oh! I brought a friend!" Rosette felt like falling down with spiral eyes. Why was it always insane here? Then she did fall down, when she caught sight of the guy that Joshua towed in.

A/N: Yes, I know, another lame chapter. However, I got much of my explaining/ hint dropping done, plus some practice for the auditions. Sorry tis part is taking so long. It's sooo hard. Anyway, here's a question: Why did Chrono let the kids sleep over at Mr. Remington's on a school night? Did it have something to do with what Chrono was talking to Mr. R. about on the porch? Ano...we'll have to see!