I imagine my readers are going WTF?! at my last chapter, so I thought I should update quickly. You're lucky I'm an insomniac!
"Pips, come on," Rose urged. "Please. Just come with me for five minutes..."
"No, no," he kept saying. She yanked him up. She didn't look at Damian, didn't want to see the warning on his face. She didn't care. She only cared about her brother in this moment.
"Get your ass over here now," she commanded. Stunned, he allowed her to lead him away from the others.
"I can fix this," Rose told him. She had seen Crysta's pointed look at her just before telling Pips it would be all right. Rose knew that Crysta knew it all.
"How," Pips asked hoarsely. "How can you do that, Rose?"
"I just can. Trust me."
"You can't bring her back, Rose. You can't. We both know that," Pips told her angrily.
"Oh yea?" she asked, crossing her arms. He stared at her.
"What are you saying?" he finally asked.
"Remember I had something to tell you? Before this all happened? Right, well, listen up," Rose instructed. "I saved Damian from dying."
"No, you didn't," Pips interrupted. "I know you didn't."
"Yes, I did. Now let me finish," she held her hand up as he opened his mouth to argue. "Our mother taught me how to do this. It's not exactly right or allowed, but it can be done."
"What are you talking about?"
"Would you just shut up for a second?!" Rose shrieked. Pips clenched his jaw shut. "I can go back in time, Pips. That's how I saved Damian." Pips was stunned.
"W-what...how?"
"It's tricky, but it can be done. I can save her, Pips. I can. But there's something else."
"What?"
"I erased her memory, Pips, not Julian."
"WHAT?!" he roared. He stepped toward her angrily. She backed up.
"It wasn't supposed to do anything but make her forget she saw me save Damian. I swear it! I had no idea it would erase you from her memory," Rose said quickly.
"I can't believe you. My own sister. How could you do that?!" Pips shouted.
"I had done it before! I was certain it wouldn't affect anything else. I was wrong, okay? I'm sorry!" she yelled. They stood squared off, Pips' fists clenched.
"I can fix this," she said again.
"I'm coming with you," he replied.
"No, absolutely not," she shook her head. He grabbed her arm tightly.
"I'm coming with you whether you want me to or not," he growled. "You owe me this." She stared at him hard.
"Fine, but you do NOT tell anyone. Understand?"
"Let's do this before her family finds out," Pips said through clenched teeth. "Now." Rose grabbed his hand tightly.
"How far back do you want to go?" she asked.
"Just far enough to save her. Nothing else," he warned. He realized how much this went against the rules. He didn't want to risk anything else.
"Okay. Hold on," she said. Then they disappeared.
1 hour earlier...
"What are we doing? This isn't anywhere near where she gets killed," Pips hissed. Rose shot him a look. They watched herself leave her home in search of him.
"I need my bow, jackass," she said. "How else am I supposed to save her?" She motioned for him to stay put while she snuck back in for her weapon. Damian caught her.
"Back so soon?" he asked.
"Just a feeling," she winked, grabbing her bow. He gave her a questioning look, but she fled before he could ask her anything else. She met Pips and they carried on towards where it happened.
"I'm curious," Pips said after a while. "How did Damian not remember you saved him?"
"I erased that part of his memory," Rose said. "I fed him a story about a twin brother to tell me when he found me again. I made sure he wouldn't remember anything else. I played my part-acting confused and surprised to see him."
"You really think he doesn't know?" Pips asked. "Crysta was getting her memories back."
"You could be right," Rose said, thinking of when Damian confronted her. Maybe he did know. He knew she was capable of doing it. She also knew that he gave her that warning look because he darn well knew she was going to do it. She felt Pips' fury towards her emanating off of him. She hoped one day he could forgive her.
"I really didn't mean to..."
"I know," he cut her off. "I don't want to talk about it." They walked in silence.
"You understand you can't allow your past self see us," she warned. "It will cause chaos like you wouldn't believe."
"But wouldn't your self know you can do it?" he asked, confused.
"Yes, so I would look the other way, but you, you don't know about this yet. You don't need you killing yourself right?"
"I don't think I'd do that..." he said, pausing to think.
"Maybe not on purpose, but you can't be too careful," she replied. "Just stay out of sight and let me handle the rest."
"All right." They kept going. Then out of the corner of his eye, he saw her.
"Don't," Rose said, grabbing his arm when she saw him make a move to go to her.
"Why not? I can stop her from even being there!" He was angry.
"You can't be in two places at once. She can hear you over there, so when she sees you here, it will muddle things up very quickly."
"Then you go. You convince her to go home."
"Sure. Okay. And how often does she listen to you? You're supposed to be her partner. I'm nothing to her," Rose scoffed.
"You have to do something now!" he insisted. Rose growled in frustration.
"Fine," she hissed. "I'll gain us a few moments then." She disappeared behind them. Pips saw something strike Crysta, making her stop in her tracks, looking around nervously.
"Okay," Rose said, scaring Pips at her sudden appearance. "Let's go. Trust me, I will stop this from happening." They crept around the area where everyone was standing.
"This is beyond weird," Pips muttered, watching himself.
"Shh," Rose hissed. "I need to concentrate." She steadied herself, pulling her bow taut and aiming at Rai. She watched as he tussled with Zak. Saw him take the gun. Heard his little speech. Then, as he moved to aim at Pips, Rose shot him in the arm. Shaking, she lowered her bow, turning to Pips as everyone stood frozen below them.
"What happens now?" Pips asked. "The future has been changed. What happens to us?"
"We disappear and mold back into our present selves," she explained. "I don't know how else to put it."
"Does it hurt?"
"Goodness no. It feels a bit strange, but it won't kill you." She turned to him suddenly, holding out her hand.
"Do not erase my memory," he warned her, swatting her hand down. "I mean it."
"I really should though," she said. "You can't know this."
"Don't. Rose, you've done enough trouble wiping people's minds. Leave mine alone. I won't say anything."
"It's too late now anyway," she said, her shape disappearing. Pips felt a strange tingling sensation all over his body. Then it got really tight feeling, like he was going to burst out of his skin. Suddenly, he was standing beside Wil. Rai had disappeared in the commotion.
"I knew you were going to find him!" Crysta's voice came from behind him. Instant relief washed over him as he turned to see her hurt face. He wasn't even mad that she had followed him here. He ignored her accusing tone and facial expression and swept her up into his arms, holding her tight.
"Pips," she gasped. "Pips, I can't breathe."
"I don't care," he laughed. He set her down and grasped her shoulders.
"What's wrong?" she asked nervously. "You look like you're seeing a ghost." Pips caught Rose's warning look from across the way.
"I'm just so happy to see you," he replied. He kissed her hard to prove his point.
"Gee get a room, mate," Wil chuckled. "It's over anyhow. Zak, get that thing out of here pronto. I don't like it."
"Will do," Zak obliged. He was only too happy to get rid of it. Carrie was clutching his leg.
"Where is daddy?" she asked. Everyone finally noticed he was missing. Zak and Wil offered to take her home to Mother and alert Father to Rai's disappearance...again. They also still had to confront Carrie's mother about her actions. When they left, Pips grabbed Crysta again.
"Pips, seriously, you're acting like I was dead or something," Crysta laughed, fending off his affections.
"Yea, Pips," Rose said, her tone echoing a warning. "Knock it off already. You're making me want to hurl."
"So glad you enjoy it, Rose," Pips said cheerfully, grabbing her into a hug. "Thank you," he said quietly in her ear.
"I'm not sure what you're talking about," Rose replied. He just went with it. Damian suddenly appeared, and he didn't look happy.
"You did it again," he accused her. "I knew you did it. Why did you lie to me?!"
"Damian, not here," Rose said. "Come on..."
"No, Rose, I will not 'come on'! This has got to stop before things get really out of hand."
"What is he talking about?" Crysta asked, but she felt she already knew.
"Let's just leave them to their argument," Pips said, tugging on her hand. He didn't want this to get out.
"Damian, it had to be done..." Rose started.
"No, it didn't. Life is what it is, Rose. Things happen. People die. Accept that," Damian told her roughly. "You can't go changing the future just because you don't like how things turned out."
"So you're saying you'd rather be dead then?" she demanded. "Cos I can arrange that!"
"Stop it! Just stop it, Rose!" Damian shouted. "Promise me you won't do this again. Promise!"
"Okay," Rose said. "I promise."
"Pips...?" Crysta was looking at him now. He saw she had the look of another memory hitting her.
"What's wrong, Crys?" he asked.
"I..." She felt herself sinking to her knees.
Roman had reached for the knife when Rose leaped in and killed him. Damian looked at her puzzled.
"Where did you come from?" he asked. "I thought you were..."
"Not important," Rose said dismissively. "Just go away from here."
"Rose, did you...did you come from the future?" Damian asked, angry.
"Of course not," Rose said, gesturing towards Crysta in the tree. "That is ridiculous."
"Rose, you know you can't do this. It's beyond wrong. Was I about to die? Is that why you're here?"
Rose didn't give an answer. She simply waved her hand at him, and he looked blankly back at her.
"Go away from here. When you find me in the future, tell me about a twin brother named Kristian. Prove to me you're Damian. Forget this ever happened."
Damian obliged. Rose knew she had to hide before Pips got there. She untied Crysta since that was how Pips found her.
"What did you just do?" Crysta asked.
"Nothing," Rose said. "He was confused." Crysta looked like she didn't believe her. Rose left, leaving Crysta staring at Roman. She started when hands grabbed her.
"Crys!" Pips sobbed in relief.
"Crysta?" Pips asked, helping her to sit. "What are you seeing?" Rose was worried.
They were on a cliff by the ocean. Crysta had looked up to see Rose throwing Julian off the edge. She saw Rose throw up after. She stood up to join her, but Rose had a different thing in mind.
"You will not remember anything about me or him," Rose commanded. "You have no idea what I did or that Damian is alive. Understand?" Crysta felt a strange sensation in her body. She struggled to remember who this girl was. She felt her legs give out and she collapsed again. She awoke to a face she didn't recognize and felt scared.
Crysta looked up finally. Rose was watching her warily.
"It was you," Crysta said quietly. "You made me forget everything."
"I was only trying to protect what I had done," Rose said. "I honestly didn't mean 'him' to be Pips. That was an accident."
"I've been through so much in seven months," Crysta said. "And you knew it was because of you this whole time."
"Can't say I enjoyed it," Rose said. "If I could have taken it back, I would have, but I don't know how else I would have saved Damian without you seeing it."
"It's all right, Crys," Pips said. "You remember me now, right?"
"Not everything," she replied. Then he realized his mistake. She had only remembered everything while she had been dying. She was looking at him curiously.
"It's all right," Pips said. "I don't need you to remember all the times I picked on you anyway."
"What's going on?" Crysta asked both of them. "You're hiding something from me."
"Nothing," Pips said quickly. "We're not hiding anything. Crys, let's go home. Come on." She caught the look on Rose's face. She knew she would have to drill Pips later for the truth. He wasn't about to share it in front of his sister.
Crysta's home...
Mother was so thankful to see everyone home in one piece. She hugged them all tightly. Carrie was shy at first, but then she couldn't stop chattering away. Rose left as usual. Father did too. He went to help search for Rai. The elusiveness of this man was getting to him. He was ready to take him out. Pips couldn't understand why his sister wouldn't stay around long enough to become close to anyone. He knew she was upset about Damian, who had left angry.
"Pips?" He turned at her voice.
"Mmm?"
"Bobby?" she reminded him.
"Right. Wil and I will handle it. Wil, come on," Pips called, making his way to the door. It burst open before he even got there.
"Carrie!" Tamsyn shrieked. Carrie cowered behind Mother's legs. "Carrie, come here right this instant!"
"Tamsyn," Mother warned. "You need to leave."
"Mother!" Bobby called, coming in behind her. "Leave her alone!"
"Bobby, stay out of this!" Tamsyn yelled at him. He stood his ground.
"I won't watch you do this to us anymore," he told her. "We did nothing to deserve this!"
"Bobby, shut up!" Tamsyn shrieked. She reached for Carrie, who dodged her and ran to Crysta. Pips grabbed a hold of Bobby before he could charge.
"Come on, bud," he said, wrestling him out the door. "Let's go." He looked at Crysta, who got his hint. She picked up Carrie and followed. Their mother tried to stop them, but Wil and Mother blocked her.
"Where are you taking them?!" Tamsyn shouted.
"Away from you," Crysta said coldly.
"No!"
Carrie covered her eyes and buried her face into Crysta's shoulder. Pips brought them to his home.
"She knows where you live..." Crysta started.
"I think your mother will handle her for tonight," Pips said. "Come on, guys. You're staying with us tonight."
"Really?" Carrie looked up at this. She grinned. "Cool!"
"It is not cool," Bobby rolled his eyes. He caught Pips' glance. "But it is safe. Thank you." At almost nine, he was beginning to discover who he was and how to be a man. Watching his father all those years showed him the wrong way to be a man. He admired Pips. He admired Wil and Sandy too. He strove to be like them when he was old enough. He would make sure no one ever laid a hand on his little sister again. Crysta got them settled for the night before joining Pips. He made space for her beside him. She wasn't going to ask or say anything, but she had to know.
"Pips?"
"Yea?"
"What happened today?" She watched his face carefully. He was debating about something, she could tell.
"Obviously I know what Rose can do," Crysta pointed out. "I saw it and remembered it just today. Did something happen to me?" He chewed on the inside of his cheek. She propped herself up beside him. "Just tell me. Please."
"You died, Crysta," he said finally. She felt strange suddenly.
"I...what?"
"Rai killed you. You jumped in front of me to save me, and you died," he said slowly.
"But I..." she searched her memory hard.
"You won't remember it," he explained. "Cos in your life, it never happened." She felt her heart rate picking up. Felt panicky.
"But...you..."
"Rose came to me and told me she could save you. I took that chance. Thus, here we are," he said. He reached out and touched her.
"This is so weird," she muttered.
"I know. The thing is, before you died, you said you finally remembered me," he told her.
"I did? I had?" Crysta felt envious of this version of herself. She had achieved the very thing she'd been struggling to find for months.
"If you did then, I have faith you will again," he promised. She lowered herself onto her back slowly. This was all too much for her. He took her hand in his.
"Are you mad that I did this?"
"What? No! No, of course not. I would have done the same thing," she said, pulling him into her. "You know I would have." He kissed her tenderly. She felt herself responding.
"We can't," she said after a moment. "The kids..."
"Right." He had forgotten about them. However, he continued to tease her.
"Pips, come on..." she groaned. She made half an attempt to protest.
"Can I stay here with you?" Carrie's little voice scared the both of them.
"Carrie!" Pips yelped. He desperately hoped she hadn't seen where his hands had just been.
"Sorry," she whimpered. She felt bad for interrupting what looked like wrestling. She wondered why his face was so red.
"It's okay. Come here, come here," Crysta took her little hand and helped her up. "You just startled us. That's all." Carrie took no time at all wedging herself in between them. She was asleep within minutes. Crysta took one look at Pips' face and tried so hard not to laugh out loud.
"Is this what it'll be like?" he whispered with a look of horror. "Are you sure you want this?"
"I'm very sure," she whispered back, covering her face with her hand to stifle her snickering.
"Why don't we just keep these two and forget about anything else," he suggested, half joking. He caught the serious look on her face. "No, Crys, I don't think we can..."
"Why not? She doesn't love them. That was made pretty clear," Crysta pointed out. He sighed.
"I think it would have to go through the Elders."
"Well, until then, they're ours. I knew I loved you for a reason." He shook his head at her as she rested her head back down, closing her eyes. The whole thing was crazy, but looking down at Carrie holding his fingers made him feel something he'd never felt before. His desire to protect her was very prominent. He didn't want her to experience anymore pain and suffering, so if he had to keep her, he damn well would.
Seven more chapters, mates. Almost to the end!