A/N: Hi! Well, I guess you could say this is a warning to the wise: the story is going to get a bit crazy, mainly because I made a mistake early on, and I need to do something about it! Y'see, Rosette and Chrono really weren't supposed to be this close when it was only October...so, since I'm off schedule, I'll have to do the next best this...go with the flow, even if that's only for dead fish, thus, the story might become a little...strange. Still, I hope you enjoy it! Oh! And to my dear reviewers who have fanfiction stories that I love to read, and to anyone else whom writes cc fanfiction and posts it. Because I'm now spending most of my time reading other people's fanfics and not writing my own, I have put myself on a fanfic diet; this means that I can only read fanfiction when I post a chapter...sob! Sniffle wiffle...Must. Finish. Chapter...in any case, because of this, you'll have to excuse my tardiness in reviewing. If you post more than once during the time it takes me to write a chapter, don't worry. I will review all missed chapters. If you ever dare to think about deleting, contact me first and I'll tell you why you shouldn't, okee dokee? Sorry for the inconvenience, and for the cruel wait to writers, because I do understand the need for reviews, but I'm waaaaaay behind. Like I said, this was going to be finished in August...Ha. Ha. Ha. sweat drop Since I'm aiming for a chapter a week, I'll read all the postings for that week that day...maybe I'll get a review while I read! Anyway, this author's note is getting long so...

Gray studied the youth. As he knew it would be, the boy's soul was floundering in its body, dangerously close to leaving. He might last, or he might not. It was hard to tell for he was wavering. Gray bit his lip. What should he do? Did he follow Superior's wishes...or did he free Golden of her burden? He didn't know!

"Hey! Chrono! Rosette! Guess what!" Azmaria squealed, bursting into the kitchen.

"Yow!" Rosette struck Chrono over the head as she cut her finger on the cheese grater.

"What was that for?" He snapped, rubbing the bump as Rosette bounded around, sucking on her finger.

"She distracted me and I cut it!" Rosette waved her mortally wounded finger in front of her friend's face. "See! You didn't warn me, so it's your fault!"

"What do you want me to do? Kiss it better?" Before she fully realized what he'd said, Chrono grabbed her hand and brushed his lips across the tiny cut, sending tingles up her arm, even as he let her hand go and met her eyes, looking totally innocent. "Better?"

"You pervert!" Rosette shrieked as Chrono dove beneath the counter for cover against her assault. "You- you-" She swallowed, giving Chrono a half hearted whack over the head before turning to Azmaria. "You were saying." she grunted, trying to keep the very determined shocked squeal out of her voice.

"Well!" Azmaria gushed, the words rushing out so fast Rosette didn't really hear them...but then, she was busy staring at her finger, where the tiny cut was quietly ceasing its trickle of blood. It didn't really hurt, the cut.

But he'd kissed her! He'd kissed her hand, teasing her! Chrono didn't tease! When he teased, he was like a guy her age, or an older brother, or worse yet, an older brother's best friend, the kind of guy girls fell madly in love with, but never got because they were too young, or were simply over looked, or the big brother wouldn't allow it.

Either way, the girl didn't get the guy!

"Arg!" Rosette hit Chrono again, shaking her own head as she tried to clear it. No! She didn't need to worry about losing Chrono; she didn't have him! Anyways, even if she could, she didn't want a stuffy (ok, responsible), quirky (very cute quirks of character), brotherly (protective, in a sweet way), purple haired (very nice purple hair too) guy. It would just be too much work.

"So, will you come?" Rosette blinked, realizing the question was for her. Azmaria pouted. "Rose-ette! Honestly!" The girl put her hands on her hips and Rosette rolled her eyes. Az was getting more over dramatic by the week; Brad's doing, no doubt. "We have tomorrow off from school, so Jake suggested that I invite everyone from the boarding house over to his out of town house for a party/sleep over. We'd go back tomorrow afternoon, but you could leave earlier, if you wanted, but then," she grinned in a way that made Rosette wonder it Brad had brain washed her. "if you do go home early, than you have to pay for the whole trip. What d'ya say? The Satella's, Viede, Joshua, Fi and Jake are all in. How about you two? I'm going too, of course."

"No school tomorrow?" Rosette paused. She'd forgotten about the in-service...SCORE!

"Yeah, of course we're going!" Rosette cheered, grabbing Chrono's arm. This was perfect! A party was just what they needed!

"Whoa there, Rosette." The violet haired teen calmly shrugged her hands off, escaping back to the counter and scraping the cheese into a baggie while the other danced cheerfully with Azmaria. "You might be going, but I'm not."

"Aw, why not!" Rosette stuck out her lip and made her eyes watery, smirking as he turned away. Got him.

"Yeah Chrono!" Az pleaded, slipping over and touching his shoulder. "Is...is it because you don't like us?" The pale haired girl widened her eyes then looked downcast. Rosette had to admit that while she wanted to chew off the small hand that rested loosely on their land lord's shoulder, the kid was doing a good job. Chrono pulled the plug in the sink, jabbing at the clogged drain with a knife until the water went through.

"You know that's not true." He answered patiently, folding dish towels from the dryer. "However, I have work tomorrow, the kids have school, I've missed a week of work-"

"So you've been ill! You need recovery time!" Rosette latched onto his other arm. How much pleading was it going to take?

"I'm not ill now Rosette." Chrono snapped, his face turning pink. "I don't think it's a good idea, and I have the kids to get to school tomorrow."

"Uncle Ewan could take us!"

"Or Aunt Shader!"

"Or Aunty Kate!"

"What about Uncle Austy?"

"That's the same as Aunt Shader, Kino! Don't be stupid!"

"Am not! Anyways, they're different people! Ow! Marie!"

"Yeah dumb-dumb, but they're married! They live in the same house!"

"Hey! How about Uncle Benji? Wheeeooo!"

"Yeah, or I could look after us all. Hey! What's with that look?"

"I'm the top kid here, Kye!"

"I'm older and more responsible than you!"

"AND you're ALL supposed to be doing your homework!" the six augmenters froze, gazing up at their uncle with surprise as he pointed to the basement door. "Get!" The kids skulked away, sending him murderous looks.

"Don't worry! We'll convince him!" Rosette mouthed to Tawny. She grinned, passing the word along to the others.

"I'm afraid you'll have to change your plans on that one." Chrono muttered; putting away the dishes and the food he'd lain out for supper. "And shouldn't you be getting ready to go?"

"Not until you agree to come with us." Rosette grinned as he groaned. Ooh, it was fun teasing him! "Besides, maybe you could learn something." Quickly, she dodged over and blocked the basement door, signalling Az to take the kitchen one, trapping him. "Aw c'mon Chrono! Loosen up for once!" Chrono crossed his arms and glared at her.

"I don't have time to loosen up, Rosette."

"The whole reason you passed out was that you haven't been getting enough rest."

"I'm getting used to a new schedule, and besides-"

"Yeah, but the whole problem, was that you work, work, work and don't play." She was pushing it, she knew. And she was running out of arguments, not that his were any better. All she had to do was out last them.

"I play with-"

"The kids," Rosette cut in, clamping a hand over his mouth. "are part of your work. Maybe you find that enjoyable, maybe you don't, but its still work. Like I said, you have to relax-"

"I don't think that's a good idea." She gleefully noted the cornered look on his face.

"Besides, what if something, I dunno, was to happen? Or people stayed up all night? Or there was an accident? We'd need someone who was..."

"Responsible!" Az threw in and Rosette gave her a smile.

"Calm."

"Good at talking to people."

"Intelligent. Come on Chrono! Please! We'd need you there in case anything went wrong!" Rosette widened her eyes until she thought they would fall out, but he still shook his head.

"No." She wanted to slap her forehead. Since when was he so stubborn...ok, when he dug his heels in, he was stubborn. Extraordinarily stubborn.

"Chroooonoooo!" Azmaria hid her face as Rosette pounced on him, shaking him and giving him a bop on the head. "You. Are. Going. To. Come. With. Us. Or. I. Will. Never. Forgive. You!" the blonde shrieked in his ear.

"No."

"Eraug!" Rosette screeched, picking him up by the collar, noticing in some corner of her enraged mind that he'd smiled slightly as she bellowed at him.

"Nope." he said cheerily when she'd stopped screaming. "I'm not going."

"Aren't you?" Rosette growled. He was going to die. She would kill him; there were many ways she could. Maybe she'd practice on Aion first, then go on to Chrono. Hmm. Which way worked best? Poison? Blunt object? Sharp object?

"I can't believe I'm doing this." He muttered, squished between Rosette and the window of Shader's station wagon, which she'd kindly lent them after agreeing to look after the kids for the night and get them to school the next day.

This was a bad idea. For one thing, he hated loud noisy parties, even with people he lived with, because generally, he wasn't very good at the things most people did at parties. He steadfastly refused to drink, he didn't smoke, he wouldn' dance.

He didn't even want to go! He'd only called Shader because Rosette threatened to strangle him, and he'd been dragged out to the car and pretty much thrown in. He didn't even know what was in the bag that Rosette had so 'kindly' packed for him.

The stupid thing was, none if it was necessary. He would've called Shader, even knowing this was a bad idea, he would've packed his own bag and even gotten in the car, simply because... why?

Most likely because, as Rosette had pointed out, things happened at parties. What if there was an accident? Or Rosette got hurt? He cast the exuberant girl a quick look. No, he didn't like parties, but he didn't think he could stand the worry that Rosette had so kindly ingrained in him. Wonderful. Just fantastic. Fatherly Chrono, at it again. She'd probably be calling him a stuffy, boring twit by the end of the evening anyway. Chrono perked up. Of course! That was the perfect way to salvage his plan! After all, he was failing miserably so far.

He'd hoped that by cutting his hair, the one part about his looks that Rosette seemed to like, that she wouldn't hang so close. It might even have worked...if he'd cut it shorter, like how guys normally wore their hair! Unfortunately, there was a major roadblock between him, cutting his hair so Rosette wouldn't like him (If she did. He didn't know) and him pushing her away. One little problem.

He didn't want to. He couldn't even blame it on a stressful situation that time!

"Sassafras," Chrono sighed, resting his head on the door. He liked her. He liked Rosette a lot. That was the only reason he'd come, because he didn't think he could live with himself if he hadn't been there when she was hurt. If she was hurt. He was a bad, bad demon souled person. He couldn't even stop himself from liking a girl he had no business liking! Nor could he bring himself to push her away. He'd never wanted to tease Mary, never wanted to make her mad, just as she never tried to make him mad. They just were, softly, quietly there. Rosette was completely different, and frighteningly enough, he didn't mind! Just as the tingle he'd felt kissing her finger...enough! He couldn't think of that. He had to remember that Rosette deserved someone who could spend all his time with her, someone who would be with her all her life, not some one who was supposed to die before next July. Yet... maybe, just maybe, if he asked nicely enough...no. He touched his aching head. How many times had she hit him that evening? "Rosette?"

"Uhhuh?"

"Hit me over the head, will you?"

"There's not enough room. Besides, I don't have a reason."

"Since when do you need one?" he sniffed.

Whack.

For someone who didn't have enough room, she hit pretty hard.

"Hey Jake! Is it much further?" Rosette yelled, setting his headache off again.

"About half an hour. You guys alright back there?"

"Yup, fine." Rosette called before settling back.

"Speak for yourself." Chrono muttered, clenching his teeth as he earned himself another whack. Ooh, he was doing well on that front this evening. He was doomed for when she got tired and grumpy.

"Hey Chrono?" Cringing, he twisted so he could see her better.

"Yes?" Satella swerved around another corner, sending them all lurching into each other.

Thump. Chrono felt his face pink as Rosette sprawled across his lap. "Are you alright?" She grinned.

"Yes stupid, I'm fine. I had a nice cushion." she gave him a poke in the side. "Anyways; Chrono?" she caught his fingers and held them up as if studying them. Her hands were so small!

"Yes?" he squeaked, trying to concentrate on her voice. Rosette sighed, dropping his hand onto her stomach so he was holding her steady as they rounded a second large turn.

"I'm glad you're coming." The girl looked away, fiddling with her hair. "It wouldn't be fun unless you were there."

"Don't say that yet!" he grinned. "I'm not one for parties!"

"I don't know." she smirked. "I've seen you cut loose singing before, why not again?" His stomach tightened, bringing a sandpaper-y sensation to his eyes. Licking his suddenly dry lips, he watched as they passed by a large building that looked like a Nanaimo bar, then a store, then two funny triangle shaped buildings. Singing... sassafras. Why did that always come into it?

"You're doing it again." He yelped as Rosette reached up, grabbed his already-sore cheeks and tugged. He was never going to survive this! Abruptly, she let go, dropping her hands on top of the one he still had on her stomach. "I'm sorry."

To his horror, she actually DID look sorry as she studied his hands again. Why was she so interested in them? Maybe, like him, she couldn't bear the thought of meeting eyes. The thought sure scared him, but he hated seeing her so sad. And why?

Because of him.

"Aw sass! Don't be sorry. It's not your fault. I'm just the kinda guy who gives up. I made the choice, I'll deal with it." Rosette raised an eyebrow, looking both sceptical and giving him a nice flash of bright blue eyes as they passed under a street light.

"You mean that 'take and deal' thing from before? It's just an excuse and you know it."

"Yup." he forced the cheer into his voice.

She'd dragged him out to this so he would have a good time, and even if he couldn't let himself do that, he refused to think of bogging her down. All he had to do was hide in a back room somewhere, keeping an eye on her but not being too fatherly...

Whack.

"OW! What was THAT one-" Rosette scowled.

"I know what you're thinking you violet haired twit! You're planning to-" The group squealed as the car shuddered to a stop, grabbing onto the nearest thing to stop from falling all over one another. Before either of them realized what he was doing, Chrono found himself with an armful of Rosette.

"S-sorry!" he let go quickly, tensing in case she decided to hit him.

"Hey guys!" Jake grinned, turning around. "We're here!" Slowly, shakily, they all tottered out of the steaming car and stared at the huge house.

"What a cute spot Jacob!" Fi said, smiling. Ms. Harvenhiet stepped into the garden, looking around at the dark plants.

"Yes...yes, quaint, but very nice." For the umpteenth time since they'd left, Chrono turned pink, thankful that it was dark enough to hide the fact. Quaint? The place was huge! At least four stories, and at least three rooms deep by... ten across?

"Good grief." he moaned. Was this what they were used to? And bigger? No wonder Rosette had thought the place a dump when she arrived!

"Something wrong Chrono?" He blinked, realizing the others were all on the front porch. Sassafras! Blushing an even darker shade of pink, he hurried to join them.

The next morning couldn't come fast enough.

A/N: Well, that's another chapter, and it wasn't too crazy...but what will the next chapter hold as we near the forty mark? Who knows! I just hope you like it! That's all from this chapter of New Time, New Place, but while I'm on the diet, who knows when I'll see you all again...ARG! I'll go insane! How will I last...I'll just have to force myself to write more! Gosh, how awful! Thanks to all my reviewers and to all my readers, but especially my reviewers! See you soon!