~Chapter Fifty-One~

Afterlife

Rose's eyes shot open.

She had no idea where she was or how she was still alive, but somehow, she was lying on her back and was staring up at a gray sky.

In this strange world, there wasn't a sound to be heard. No wind. No animals. Nothing.

The world around her was not what she remembered living in because there suddenly wasn't any color. The world was just as grey as the sky but even more unsettling; there wasn't pain and chaos, but neither was there peace or rest.

Blinking, she slowly sat up and still didn't feel right. She felt disconnected from all of her senses.

Looking down, she was shocked to see that her hands were completely healed from all burns, cuts, and injuries but were grey. Examining her body even further, she was completely unscathed of all wounds. She pumped them into fists a few times and realized that she couldn't feel anything.

Slowly getting to her feet, Rose was aware of her wings on her back and saw that she was still wearing her black body-suit of armor. Wishing she had something else to wear that was a bit more comfortable and to see color, Rose was suddenly shocked when the world around seemed to read her mind. Her armor was instantly replaced with a stretchy, long-sleeved, deep red, form-fitting dress with an open back that left her wings open and accessible, and her grey skin turned into her normal, light-tan color. Her long deep-red hair was suddenly down and curled.

Rose gasped, looked down at herself, and was shocked to be wearing something this extravagant. It felt out of place and too colorful, but then again, everything felt out of place.

Blinking in shock, she looked around the grey world and then down at the cracked, dehydrated ground, which looked like dried-up mud, and something felt strangely familiar. It was as if she'd been here before.

Looking up, she gasped and finally realized that she wasn't alone.

Nowhere close.

All around her, millions of grey people were wandering around the flat landscape as if they had no idea where they were. All were primarily humans, but some were Gargoyles, Asgardians, New Olympians, and Third Race beings in the mix.

"Rose?"

At hearing her voice, Rose whirled around, and her eyes widened at who it was.

"Akira!"

Running forward, she wrapped her arms tightly around Akira's small frame- or so she thought. Though they weren't transparent, they couldn't feel each other when they touched. Releasing her, Rose looked her over and was relieved to find her here.

"Are you alright?"

"I… I think so?" Akira said softly, looking down at her claws. "I'm not sure. I feel… strange. It feels like I'm no longer attached to anything." She paused, stared at her, then continued, "Rose, I think we are dead."

Rose nodded and swallowed thickly. "I think so too…"

Tears filled Akira's eyes as she nodded, swallowing down that hard truth when she blinked in shock and stared at her outfit. "How- how did you change clothes and your coloring?"

"I'm not sure," Rose answered, looking at Akira's grey coloring. "I kind of… thought about something more comfortable and then made it happen." She paused, then thought she'd try it on her. Thinking about how Akira used to look like, with her black hair, dark brown eyes, tan skin, and brown wings with her bright pink kimono dress, it suddenly happened.

Akira gasped and looked down at herself as she transformed into a colorful and more lively being. She then looked up at Rose with relief.

"Oh, thank you, Rose!"

Rose chuckled then shrugged. "Um, you're welcome. I… I still don't know how that was possible."

"It's like the world does what you think or wish," Akira whispered, and Rose blinked in shock, looking down at her hands.

"Maybe it does." She closed her hands into fists, then looked back up at her. "So… have you seen any of the others yet? Have you seen Brooklyn?"

Akira shook her head and looked worried. "No, I haven't seen anyone from our Clan. It's like… we are in a completely different world than them." Rose's heart sank into her stomach as Akira looked up at the grey sky and sighed. "I don't even know where we are."

Rose blinked then looked around. Focusing on why it felt familiar to her- then it hit her.

"I think I do."

Akira's eyes went wide. "You do?"

Rose nodded. "I've been here before, in Hela's memories." She turned around now and, sure enough, in the corner of the world, far into the distance, was a very tall and jagged-looking black castle. "We are in the Mortal Underworld."

Akira didn't say anything when suddenly another voice called out her name.

A very familiar voice.

"Rose?"

Rose gasped, turned around, and fell to her knees with a ragged cry. There, standing in his armor, fully healed, was-

"Brooklyn!"

Rose rushed forward and threw her arms around him, but like before with Akira; she couldn't feel him. His body and their soul-bond were empty and void of all feeling.

Rose shut her eyes, holding him tighter to her, longing to feel him again.

Tears fell down her face as she pulled away and was relieved that he was here with her. Brooklyn smiled sadly and cupped her face, despite them not feeling anything. He was grey in coloring, and within one thought, that changed, and his dark red skin returned, white hair and beautiful brown eyes were back to what she remembered them being.

Rose smiled sadly at him.

"Are you alright, my love?" He breathed, and though she still couldn't feel him, she held his wrists as he cupped her face. Tears continued to fall down her face, and she thought about his question.

Was she alright?

The answer came right away in a firm no.

She wasn't alright, for nothing seemed right about their situation and where they were.

"I…" she began, paused, not wanting to bum him out further, then finally settled with, "I am now." She smiled at him. "I am alright now that I know you are here with me."

"I love you," he whispered, and Rose naturally leaned into his claws, wishing she could feel the warmth of his skin again.

"I love you too."

Pulling away, she stared at him and thought about the last thing they remembered happening before coming to this strange world. The curse. The battle. Brooklyn held onto her and gave his every last ounce of strength to her before they both died. She thought about what he gave up for her to reverse the curse and was overwhelmed with awe… and then… grief.

Tears welled up in her eyes. "Brooklyn… I…"

"Shh," he placed a talon over her lips and seemed to be thinking the same thing she was, "my love, you don't need to say anything. It's-"

"Don't you dare say that it's alright," Rose whispered fiercely. "Nothing about what has happened is okay. Nothing about you dying for me is."

Brooklyn shook his head and pulled her into his chest. "Rose, I willingly made the sacrifice at the curse to come with you. I'm not too thrilled about dying, but if it was meant to happen, then I'm more than okay with it as long as we are together." He cupped her chin and forced her to look at him. "And now that we are, my love, we can finally be at peace."

"Peace?" Rose looked around at the millions of people, wandering around the grey world, lost, alone, and so empty. She shut her eyes and let her tears spill down her face. "My love, I could never find peace. Not like this."

Brooklyn sighed heavily. "Oh, Rose…"

"I never wanted this. I never wanted for anyone to die! I wanted to live our life together and raise our child, and to-" Rose naturally cupped her stomach and froze when she realized that nothing was there anymore. Then she remembered-

Their child's soul was sucked away in the Curse and would forever be lost.

More tears spilled down her face as a new onset of grief settled in when she remembered what all they had lost, and that they were no longer pregnant.

"I… oh, Brooklyn… Our child! My baby!"

Brooklyn's arms instantly wrapped around her, keeping her from seeing his face- but she knew that he was tormented and racked with grief and unspeakable sorrow. She could almost feel his pain in this world of nothingness but still couldn't physically feel him, and she needed to. She needed him to keep her from falling apart.

"I'm sorry!" Rose sobbed into his chest. "I'm so sorry for everything… for everyone who has suffered, to everyone who has died because of me!"

"It's not your fault," Akira whispered, stepped up, and placed her claw on her shoulder, despite nothing touching her shoulder. "You sacrificed your lives to stop the curse. You and Brooklyn have saved so many innocent lives… and… you risked everything to do it."

Brooklyn didn't say anything for a few seconds, but when he did, his voice was husky.

"Rose… babe, look at me." He cupped her face when she didn't, and his face was moist with tears. "Things may not have turned out how we wanted, and we have lost-" he stopped and shut his eyes tightly, then took a deep breath, "something very precious to us, but, at least we are together."

Rose's throat bobbed, needing to grieve out loud. "Brooklyn, we lost our baby." Her voice was barely more than a whisper, and a horrible wave of grief passed over his face. He shut his eyes tightly again, and his whole body was trembling now.

"I know."

Rose closed her eyes as well and rested her forehead against his, or so she thought, and together they took a moment to cry silently. Brooklyn rested his claws on her flat stomach, and together, they grieved over what they had lost.

"I wish things could have been different," Rose whispered.

"I know, my love. I wish I could have protected you both better. None of this would have happened if only I could have..."

"Stop that," Rose whispered, stroking his face. "There was nothing you could have done to prevent it. You know that, right? My fate was inevitable."

"I wish it wasn't."

Rose smiled sadly. "Me too." She sniffed and wiped tears away from her face. "Well, I hate to say this, but this nightmare isn't yet over."

He glanced down at her warily. "What do you mean?"

"Something feels… unfinished, like, there's something more I still have to do. It feels like I am tied to this place, as if it's a part of me, somehow, and every soul here is my responsibility."

Brooklyn looked confused. "Rose? What are you talking about?"

Rose looked up at him. "I've been to this place before, from Hela's memories, Brooklyn. We are in the Mortal Underworld, and right now, it's filled with innocent lives which have been unnaturally taken from life. These souls don't belong here, not yet, anyway. And because their deaths were unnatural, I feel like I am the one who has to fix it."

Akira and Brooklyn exchanged glances but then looked slightly downcast as they looked back at her.

"How?" Akira whispered. "We are dead."

Rose thought deeply. "I mean, we are in the Underworld, and I'm the Goddess of Death, and since that's the case, I think I still have power here." She whipped around again and faced them, her eyes wide. "Which makes sense how I was able to change yours and my appearance with a simple thought. This world seems to respond to my every thought."

Brooklyn, however, lowered his eyes and took a deep breath. "My love, I'm sorry to be the downer here, but... there's nothing more you or I could do to help us. That may be the case that you have power here, but there are no more chances left for any of us. We are dead."

Rose turned and stared at him. "I know, but I'm the Goddess of Death! There has to be something I can still do to fix everything."

Brooklyn looked unsure, but right as he opened his mouth, a bright green light appeared suddenly, as Anubis's deep and silky voice said, "there is."

Rose turned and instantly crossed over to Anubis, relieved to see him. She took his hand and was amazed that she could somewhat feel him. She blinked in shock and looked down at their enclasped hands.

"Anubis! I… I can feel you."

"Yes," Anubis said softly.

Rose blinked in confusion. "How? I wasn't able to feel Brooklyn or Akira."

"You and I are different, Rose, made from bits of the same magic," he explained softly. "That's why. Though your body has died, you are not fully gone. Nobody here is."

Rose narrowed her eyebrows questioningly, trying to understand what he was saying to her. "We are in a limbo effect?"

Anubis stared at her. "Not quite."

"Explain, then."

"The Death Curse wasn't a natural way of dying. So, with nowhere else to go, when all of these souls were taken away, they were brought here, to the only Underworld left."

Rose studied his face, still not quite catching on. "So… are you saying that they are dead… but not really dead?"

"Correct."

Rose blinked. This made no sense. Bringing her hands up to her forehead, she circled her fingers over her temples once.

"Okay, let me see if I understand you. You said that dying by this death curse is an unnatural way of dying and that all of us here are not fully gone."

"That's right."

She looked up at him. "Are you telling me that there is a way to fix this and bring everyone back?"

"Yes, but just the souls who were taken by the death curse. All other deaths, whether by sword, weapon, or Excalibur, are permanent."

Rose contemplated this and already knew that Hel's Creatures, including her mother and father, were all gone. Then, her mind went to Kevin, and suddenly, she needed to hear the truth from him.

"And... souls who had fallen into the River of Lost Souls?"

Anubis stared at her for a long moment, then said darkly, "Kevin no longer exists, in any form. His body and soul have forever been destroyed, as have the creatures from Hel and your father. Take comfort, however, in the fact that your mother's soul wasn't destroyed and has moved onto a more beautiful and restful place of peace."

Rose lowered her gaze and nodded. She didn't care about the creatures of Hel, Kevin's, or her father's fates, but her mother's death was a difficult thing to swallow and accept, and she was thankful for the comforting thought that her mother was in a place of rest with the love of her life, Adrian.

"I understand…" she whispered, then looked up into his glowing, red eyes. "So, what now for the rest of us here? The ones who were taken by the curse?"

"That depends on you," Anubis said softly. "There's a lot of souls that aren't meant to be in your Underworld. To completely fulfill your destiny, they either need to return to their bodies or move on and only you have the power to make that happen."

Her Underworld.

That didn't sound right to Rose. Looking around this desolate Underworld, there was no way that this all belonged to her. If so, she didn't want anything to do with it. This empty world seemed too cold, too dead and colorless.

She wished that it could be at least a world of beauty and peace so that the souls coming here would be comfortable before choosing to move on.

Just as she wished for the world beyond this life to be for her mother.

Suddenly, just as those wishes entered her mind, the empty and dead world began to grow vegetation, grass, flowers of all kinds and painted the ground with their vibrant and soft beauty. The grey clouds departed, color returned, and the sun departed through, offering them warmth and light, and in the distance, a beautiful glassy lake produced in a valley.

The once desolate desert had turned into an oasis.

Turning around, Rose expected Brooklyn and Akira to turn to stone, but for the first time, they didn't. Brooklyn smiled gently at her, remembering the last time he saw the sun during their honeymoon, and with a sigh of relief, she ran into his arms.

Akira gasped, turned, and placed her claw over her chest as she stared at the sunlight for the first time. Tears welled up in her eyes.

"Oh, Rose," she breathed. "the sun…." she shook her head in awe, "I never thought I'd see it before in my life." She stared at the colorful, lively world, then looked over at her and smiled through her tears. "You did this? Just with a mere thought?"

"I guess I did," Rose whispered, smiling and chuckling at herself. "I just wanted everyone who comes here to feel somewhat at peace."

"You've created life in a world of death, Rose," Akira said in awe, "and if you can do that, then I believe that you can find a way for all of us to leave this world."

"I believe she can too."

Rose whirled around at the new voice behind them and exhaled out in relief upon who it was.

"Titania!"

The beautiful Queen of Avalon grinned happily, opened her arms, and took Rose in when she ran over and hugged her tightly. Since she had changed her world, Titania's long red hair shone in the sunlight, and her green skin was light and flawless. Her bright green eyes twinkled with life.

"Oh, Rose," Titania whispered into her hair, rubbing her back, "you've been so brave!"

Rose hugged her for a few minutes, let go, and found herself crying. This was her mother's sister and the only part of her mother that she would have left. She held her a bit tighter.

"I'm so sorry for everything," Rose whispered in her ear, pulling away and looking into her beautiful face. "I did the best I could with what I was faced with."

"I know, my dear," Titania said tenderly, as a mother would her young, "but you have done more for us than we could have possibly imagined. You and your mate sacrificed a great deal for Avalon and the rest of the world."

Rose smiled slightly. "I kind of had no choice. I couldn't let the entire world die under my father's hand."

"And you did a marvelous job. Now, he is gone, as is the evil he was spreading across the world," Titania whispered, and Rose nodded.

"He, Kevin, and all of the Hel armies are gone."

'I know."

Rose looked down. "As… is my mother."

Titania nodded but looked solemn as she gently moved some of Rose's long hair from her face. "I know that too."

Tears welled up in Rose's eyes as she stared into Titania's face. "I miss her."

"Oh, Rose… come here, my darling," Titania wrapped her arms around her. "I miss her too, but it was for the best. Helena knew what she was doing when she sacrificed herself for you, to give you the title of Goddess of Death." She let her go, moved her long hair away from her face, and smiled at her. "My sister knew it was your turn to protect Avalon. And because of her love for you and your love for her, she has been saved. She can now finally rest with the love of her life, Adrian."

"Do you think they are together?" Rose asked quietly, and Titania smiled, took her hands in hers, and nodded her head.

"I do not doubt it. I mean, look at you and your mate." She gestured to Brooklyn and smiled at him. "You two have found each other past death, and no matter what you've done and been through, he loves you with eternal love. I don't doubt that Adrian was waiting for his Helena to come home to rest with him."

"Sounds about right," Brooklyn added, walking up and wrapping an arm around Rose's waist. "I would be waiting for Rose, no matter what."

"As Adrian would for my sister," Titania said. "And now, because of what you two have done for Avalon and the entire world, many lovers, families, and friends will finally be reunited."

Rose turned and faced Titania now. "How do I bring everyone back?"

"You are the Goddess of Death, Rose," Titania said softly, and Anubis walked over and stood next to her. "This is your domain, and you have the power over it all. I mean, look at what you've done to Hela's world. With one thought, you've made it into the world you wished to see when you passed on- what you wished others to see when they died. You wished it to be a paradise, a place to find peace and solace before finding their way onward. Hela was in the pits of despair when she was banished here, and the landscape reflected her thoughts and feelings. You cannot help certain things, but you have control over all of us in this instance. And since the curse was an unnatural cause of death, you have the power to send us all back home, back to our bodies. You must simply make it happen with your magic and your mind."

Rose blinked a few times, opened her mouth to speak, but stopped when she heard hers and Brooklyn's voices being spoken. Turning around, cries of relief and joy fell off their lips when she and Brooklyn saw Angela, Bronx, and Hudson standing next to Akira.

"What a beautiful world you've created, Rose," Angela said, smiling at her. "I'm glad we've found you guys!"

Running forward, both she and Brooklyn hugged Angela, Bronx, and Hudson, and even though they still couldn't feel each other, it was comforting to know that they were here. Rose hugged Hudson tightly, whispering how sorry she was when he pulled away and cupped her face.

"Lass, yeh have nothin' to apologize for. We are together again. That's all that matters."

"Not quite," another voice joined in, and Rose turned and cried out happily to see that it was Coco, who was walking towards them. "I hear yeh 'ave a way to bring us back home, Rosie? Is this true?"

"I think so." Rose paused, then looked over at Anubis. "But… what of the Humans?"

"What of them?"

"Will they remember what has happened?"

"No one will remember what has happened here unless you make it so," Anubis said. "Now, please allow me to make one friendly suggestion?"

Rose nodded.

"I would have everyone who was a part of this battle remember what happened, so that past mistakes don't get repeated. The Humans, who were simply taken from their homes, can forget. Frankly, it'll be less trouble for you if you do that."

Rose nodded again. "I agree… but what about Emily? What should I do about her?"

Speaking of her best friend, Rose scanned the horizon full of millions of Humans, but she didn't know where she was at.

"I will have to heal her of her Draugr wounds before I send her back to Oregon," Anubis answered softly, "and I will make sure that she has no memory about what happened. It'll be less painful for her to recall and try to heal from. As for her family, they will also return."

Rose blinked. "Including her children? Katie and Daniel?"

"Yes," Anubis said softly, nodding. "Including the children."

Numbing thoughts shot through Rose as she stared at him."But… I thought you said children couldn't dwell in the Mortal Underworld? That their souls are too pure for this world, and so they pass on?"

"They are," Anubis said smoothly, " but I also said that the Death Curse is unnatural. Every child, infant, and the likewise soul had to rest somewhere until the wrong was righted." When Rose didn't say anything, Anubis stepped forward and pointed a finger past her shoulder. "See? Look for yourself."

Rose did, and what she saw, among the souls that were realizing they were in a more beautiful and lively place, sounds of children's laughter filled the air.

Blinking back tears, she smiled at the beautiful sound when Brooklyn suddenly gasped and gripped her arm.

"What?" She turned to face him, but when Brooklyn didn't answer her and just stared at the horizon of souls, she touched his beak. "Sweetheart, what is it?"

"I think…" he began softly, stopped, then shook his head in disbelief. "I think our child is here, Rose."

Rose's eyes widened, and then she instantly began searching the horizon for what he was seeing. It couldn't be true… it just couldn't… But then, she saw what he was seeing and froze.

Across the fields, a young gargoyle child with tan skin, a beaked mouth, wildly white-blonde hair, and striking hazel-green eyes were running and playing with the other children, laughing happily. They were playing a tag game, and when one of the children touched him, he laughed out loud, then suddenly turned into a young human child in a flash of light. However, on his back, instead of being Brooklyn's pterodactyl-like wings, their son had golden, red, and tan feathered wings on his back, similarly built to hers.

"Is that...?" Rose gasped, placing her hand on her chest, feeling like she was going to pass out. She grabbed onto Brooklyn's arm and gripped it tightly. "Brooklyn, is that…?"

"Our son?" Brooklyn whispered; he looked down at her with tear-filled eyes and sobbed, "yes, I… I think it is."

Their son.

Light. Pure, powerful, and exquisite light entered her soul, just then- and love, similar to the pure love she felt for Brooklyn, but yet, was somehow so different and more profound, filled up her entire heart.

The sweet and heavenly-looking child across the way- was their child.

Their son.

The more Rose watched him run around and play; she knew it to be true. She couldn't explain it just yet, but every single fiber of her soul already knew the little boy. She knew his laugh, his smile, as well as his strong, kind, courageous, curious, and adventurous spirit. She also already knew that he would be capable of shape-shifting and a lover of harmless mischief.

"That's our son," Rose whispered, leaning into Brooklyn. "He's here! He wasn't lost! The curse didn't destroy him!"

Brooklyn took her face in his claws and held her to him. For a moment, she swore she could feel him.

"We have a son! Rose, a son! Oh, he's beautiful! He's everything I could have ever dreamed about!" Brooklyn looked deeply into her eyes, and she swore she could feel his love in this strange and detached world. "Rose Connelly, my love, my wife, you have given me everything!"

Rose smiled through her tears and rested her face against his, unable to stop herself from laughing in pure happiness.

"It's because I love you so much."

Brooklyn's smile was brighter than the sun, and his joy was contagious. For the first time, since being in this mess, Rose truly felt hope and that this joy was their future.

"And I love you," he whispered, bringing his lips inches from hers, "forever."

"Your son will be returned into your womb as if nothing happened," Anubis added softly, walking up behind them; they broke apart and faced him, "as will everyone else. You just have to guide all of the spirits back home, where they belong, and then the prophecy will be fulfilled."

Rose contemplated his words, the verses of the prophecy, and then it all made sense.

"Of course," she breathed.

"What is it, my love?" Brooklyn asked.

"The prophecy." She looked up at him. "I was the Goddess of Death it was referring to… but it wasn't just me that would give my all to save all. The prophecy referred to 'one being'..." She stopped and cupped his face. "Brooklyn, you and I… are one through our bond… that is why the Fates told me to hold onto my soul-bond to you, and if I did, then I would find what has been lost! Even when I thought you were dead! It's because you and I were meant to give ourselves to the curse, to save everyone else, and bring everyone back!"

"To reverse the Curse," Anubis added.

"What?" Rose asked blankly, looking over at him.

"Reverse it?" Brooklyn asked.

Anubis nodded. "When you sacrificed yourself to the Curse, you asked it to reverse all deaths. It agreed, and then it took you both, as well as your child, as payment. You are part of the dead who were taken unnaturally."

Rose stared at him, thinking upon his words, and the truth of his words sank deep into her soul.

"Are you saying that Brooklyn, myself, our child, as well as everyone else here, will return to our bodies and return to the living?"

"Yes," Anubis said, and she swore she heard a smile in his voice. "The problem now is that we are in the mortal Underworld, and only the Goddess of this realm can release everyone from this temporary state."

Comprehension dawned upon her, and when Rose turned to look at everyone, she suddenly knew what to do.

It all made sense now.

The prophecy, her life, her soul-bond, and the sacrifice she and Brooklyn were forced to make. It was to reverse all damages done by the curse, and because she was the Goddess of Death, she now had the power and ability to send everyone home.

Glancing over at Angela, Hudson, Akira, Bronx, and now Elisa and Ilana, who had found them, Rose smiled tearfully at them. They both were smiling so beautifully it brought true light to her heart. So many lives that she loved and lost were back.

Abigail, Kai, Yama, Sora, Turquesa, Talon, Claw, Staghart, and Jade were all there now and Third Race beings, Asgardians, and New Olympians.

All were staring at her, smiling.

Waiting to go home.

Rose looked at Brooklyn once, smiled at each other, and then turned to look at Titania. "Are we all ready to go home, then?"

"I think so," Titania whispered, grinning, "but that depends on you, my dear. You have the power to send us all back. Once you are ready, then we all will be."

"Si, amiga," Turquesa said, smiling at her. "But… I may be selfish in saying this, but we are ready."

Rose chuckled.

"Rose," Elisa suddenly said, and Rose turned to look at her. She smiled. "Let's go home."

Rose grinned at her, nodding. "Till we meet again then, my friends."

Knowing what to do, she then faced forward, shut her eyes, and focused on every single soul in her world, and when she did, what came next was so simple.

Every soul was within her sight and grasp. She could feel all men, women, children, infants; Humans, Gargoyles, the Third Race, and the New Olympians in her world, and every one of those souls were under her command.

She lifted her hand and snapped her fingers- willing them all home- willing everyone to leave the Underworld, and just like that, her beautiful world was emptied of all the souls.

But she stayed, as did Brooklyn and their child.

The last to die, the last to leave.

Rose exhaled out a breath of relief and joy as she stared at her empty and beautiful world.

"I did it!" She gasped. "I sent them back… and the curse has been reversed..."

Brooklyn wrapped an arm around her and kissed her lips. She longed to feel him, and for a brief time, she swore she could-

"Yes, you did," he whispered, kissing her again, "and I'm so proud of you, my love. For everything you've managed to do here, for the beautiful person you are." He smiled at her. "And now that we know it worked, and all are home, I think it's time for us to leave this place, as well."

"I think so too," Rose whispered, smiling at him. "I cannot wait to feel you in my arms, my soul, and my heart again. I want to kiss every inch of you and never stop, and I want you to kiss every inch of me. I want you to love me as you've never loved me before."

Brooklyn hummed in a low and sizzling tone and breathed against her lips, "oh yes, my darling. There will be many that, but I don't plan on simply kissing your luscious body. Not when there are so many other things I could be doing to you."

Rose stared dreamily into his eyes, longing for him, desiring him, and needing his touch to become a reality.

"I can't wait for you to show me what you have in mind."

Brooklyn smiled, then growled, "snap those fingers of yours, and I will."

Smiling seductively at him and shaking in anticipation, Rose brought her fingers to snap them out of the Underworld when she suddenly stopped-

Two beings were still in the Underworld and hadn't chosen to go back to life.

Looking around, she saw her little boy looking around for a friend, for anyone, but wasn't seeing anyone, and looked scared for the first time since he was alone. Rose's heart sank into her stomach and longed to comfort him, but before she could call out to him, Brooklyn beat her to it.

"Nashville! Over here, son!"

Nashville.

The name charged through Rose like lightning, and she remembered it was the name she and Brooklyn had talked about naming their son if they had one, clear back when they were engaged, but since becoming pregnant, they hadn't had the chance to discuss names again.

Rose looked over at him with wide, teary eyes, and Brooklyn winked. Rose slowly smiled and nodded. The name felt so right and perfectly matched their son's sweet little face and personality.

At Brooklyn's voice, their little boy turned and faced them for the first time. He blinked and slowly walked towards them, still looking afraid and unsure of them.

"Where… where are all my friends?" He asked in a beautiful and heavenly voice, and Rose could only stare at him in awe. The closer he got to them, the more in love she felt for her son. His golden, tan and red feathers on his wings glistened in the sunlight, and his lightly-tanned human skin was flawless.

"They have moved onto life," Brooklyn said, smiling at him. He knelt on his knee and then reached out and touched his shoulder. "Just as you must."

Nashville narrowed his eyes at Brooklyn nervously, then quietly asked, "but… who's going to take care of me? I've heard life can be scary."

With eyes full of tears, Rose knelt next to Brooklyn, smiled lovingly at her son, and held her arms out. She knew he didn't recognize them as his parents yet, but she hoped he would by the mere sound of her voice.

"We are," she whispered. "Come on, little one. Let's go home."

At the sound of her voice, Nashville's bright eyes widened, and comprehension dawned upon his face as he looked between them.

"Mom?" He asked slowly and in amazement. "Dad?"

Rose nodded, and tears streamed down her face, and Brooklyn chuckled through his tears.

"Yes, son, it's us."

With a happy squeal, Nashville sprinted into their arms, and together, Brooklyn and Rose held their beautiful son in their arms, both crying happily.

"I love you, Gnash," Rose whispered to him, kissing his head. "Oh my sweet boy, there's nothing I wouldn't do for you."

"Nor I," Brooklyn added, kissing his forehead. "Your mother and I love you with all of our hearts."

Nashville nodded and smiled up at them both. "Will you really be by my side as I grow up?"

Rose reached out and touched her beautiful angel's face, and like Anubis, she could feel him. He was a part of her and was warm, soft, and everything she'd dreamed he'd be.

"Yes," she breathed, smiling, "we'll always be there for you. We love you."

Nashville smiled brightly at her, then suddenly jumped on her and wrapped his arms around her neck. Rose closed her eyes, dug her face into his hair, and held her beautiful son in her arms.

"I love you too, mom. Thanks for everything."

Mom…

The name crashed through Rose like a dam. Breaking down every horror she's seen, every hurt she's experienced, and made it all worth it.

Looking up through her shedding tears, she stared at Brooklyn, whose face was the epitome of love. He knelt next to them, kissed her temple, then kissed Nashville's, and held them both in his arms.

Nashville then turned and hugged him tightly, and never before had Rose seen a more beautiful sight than that of a father and son embracing.

"I love you also, dad. I'll see you both soon!"

"See you soon, bud," Brooklyn said, wiping his tears away, and Nashville pulled away from his hug. He then tousled his bright white-blonde hair, making it even messier than before. "We love you, but do us a favor and cook for your mommy for a bit longer, okay?"

Nashville laughed and nodded. "Alright, whatever you say!" His body then shaped itself into a stream of bright white light and settled into Rose's womb.

When he was inside her again, Rose held her stomach and watched it grow into a small rounded ball, feeling his kicks inside of her. Both she and Brooklyn had their son in her womb, crying, before meeting their lips, kissing each other deeply and passionately again.

They still couldn't feel much of anything, but it was time to-

It was finally time for them to return to living their lives and to look forward to the day their son would be born.

When their lips detached, Rose cupped Brooklyn's face and breathed, "I love you, Brooklyn."

Brooklyn leaned down and kissed her lips, and for a brief moment, a shock was sent through them both. "I love you more, Rose, now, even more than ever before. You are the heart of everything in my world, and now, we've added the most amazing son into our family." He grinned tearfully, then teased, "I can already see he's going to be trouble…" Rose laughed and nodded as he continued, "but I cannot wait to welcome our son into this world."

She nodded as he wiped away her tears. "Me too. It's time to live our lives in peace and happiness." She kissed him deeply again, then whispered, "let's go home."

Brooklyn smiled at her. "After you, my love. I'm more than ready..."

Rose chuckled and nearly snapped them back into their bodies when something out of the corner stopped her-

One more being was still in the Underworld.

Looking around, a Third Race figure was kneeling with his head of white hair bowed deeply. Rose glanced up at Brooklyn once, and when he tipped his head to tell her to go, she did. The Third Race male didn't raise his head as she approached him, but she knew who it was.

"Lord Oberon."

At his name being spoken, Oberon slowly looked up at her. His vibrant blue eyes were sunken, his face thinned, and his body weaker than she'd ever seen it.

"What are you still doing here? I've sent everyone back into their bodies."

"By their choosing," Oberon whispered. "All chose to go back, but... I think I shall remain here."

Brooklyn stepped up next to Rose and rested his claws on her shoulders, looking down upon him with patience.

"Why?"

"You can ask me that," Oberon raised his eyes to look at him now, "after the way I have treated you, your mate, and everyone else?"

"Well, sure," Brooklyn said, shrugging. "I mean, yeah, you were a prideful, mad piece of work… but that's because you had let yourself get too close and personal to the war. That doesn't mean you deserve a life of eternal banishment."

"But, I do deserve it," Oberon moaned, bowing his head again. "I was the reason my Kingdom fell into my brother's grasp. I deserve to remain here for the rest of my days for how I treated everyone and for failing them as their Lord and Master." Oberon glanced up at Rose, his face the epitome of misery. "I deserve to remain here for how I treated you- my blood… my own family. I… I don't deserve your forgiveness, Rose, but I do humbly ask for it before you go. Also, if it's not too much to ask when you return to your bodies, would you please tell my Queen how much I love her and how sorry I am?"

Rose exchanged a look at Brooklyn, then back at him. "Why don't you tell her that yourself?"

"Because I'm not returning. I'm not worthy to return."

Rose stared at him for a few seconds, then shook her head at him. "You know, for the Lord of Avalon, you've been many things, but I'd say that self-pity is really unbecoming of you."

Oberon scoffed. "It does. I am not worthy of anyone's forgiveness."

Rose had to try not to roll her eyes. He was really laying this pity-party on thick- but every ounce of her longed for him to find his inner peace.

"Well, you must be because I have already forgiven you, Lord Oberon."

Oberon whipped his head up to stare at her, his eyes wide. "What? H-how can you? I was so terrible to you and your mate! I nearly took your child away!"

Rose smiled kindly at him. "But you didn't, and while you tried, I can forgive you for not understanding who I was. It's easy to immediately hate me for being the daughter of your two greatest enemies." When he didn't respond, she knelt in front of him, took his hand, and gently raised his face. "Oberon, I can see the souls of those whose eyes I look into, and I can see that you are a good person underneath your lust for vengeance and power, and I think you deserve another chance to make things right between Titania and your people. As long as you've learned your lesson, that you cannot treat your kind or humans the way you did, then I say you deserve another chance."

"Another chance?" Oberon's voice was breath-like and full of shock. "M-me? You'd give me another chance after the way I treated you?"

Rose didn't say anything but stood up and held her hand out to him. He stared at it as if it were a trick.

"Come on, Lord Oberon, it's time to return home," she said firmly but kindly. "We all must reevaluate our ways and come together to bring balance to this world again, but to do that, Avalon needs you as its rightful Lord and Master. Failure is life's greatest teacher, and you only truly fail to learn the lesson when you quit or give up."

Lord Oberon stared at her outstretched hand for a few seconds, then looked between her and Brooklyn and the emptied Underworld.

Then, he smiled at them.

"You... are extending mercy towards me, after what I've done to you and your mate, and are forgiving my mistakes and disgusting actions?"

"Yes. Everyone deserves a second chance if their intentions are good and pure." Rose then looked up at Brooklyn lovingly, then added, "Besides, where would I be without second, third, or even fourth chances?"

Oberon was stunned into silence for a few seconds, contemplating her words, then, with tears in his eyes, he took her hand, kissed it, and bowed his head to it.

"Rose Connelly, Goddess of Death, I owe you my life for everything you've done for me, my people, and Avalon. I do not know how I will ever repay you, but I swear that I will spend the rest of my existence trying to right all wrongs."

"Just don't go mad trying to do so," Rose teased sweetly. "Just simply try to learn from your mistakes and not repeat them, and we'll call it even. That means no more banishments of creatures unless they are truly evil and deserve it, no more holding grudges against species you don't value, and not allowing your power to get to your head. Then, hopefully, things will be alright, and everything else will come with time."

"Including being a proper family?"

Rose froze slightly and couldn't believe the words that came from his mouth. "Y-you mean… you'd accept me as a member of your family?"

"You are Helena's daughter, a member of the Third Race," Oberon said softly, "and my Queen's blood-niece, after all. What I did to your mother was…" he shut his eyes and took a deep breath, "was unspeakable and truly disgusting. I was a monster to her when she did nothing wrong, and I promise you that from now on, I will try to make things right with her by treating you, my niece, with kindness and acceptance. You, your mate, your child, and your Clan will be blessed by me, protected from my craft, and will continue to be the honored guards and protectors of Avalon."

Rose gasped in amazement, and Brooklyn reached a claw out and shook Oberon's hand. "That would mean the world to us, Lord Oberon, thank you."

Oberon stood and smiled at them both. "We are a family now, no matter how different we are or what species we come from. I will make the rest of what I've done right and will support the mortals and immortals from now on." He then took Rose's hand and squeezed it. "I promise."

Rose grinned. "I'm going to hold you to that."

Oberon smiled back. "Good, I wouldn't have it any other way. I apparently have been told I can be a pig-headed bastard."

When no one said a thing to deny it, they all laughed.

"Yeah, yeah, that sounds about right," Brooklyn chuckled.

"Sorry," Rose chuckled, "but that is very true."

"I know," Oberon said, holding her hand tightly, "but, I swear to you, under the Heavens and All-Father Aesir, Rose, that I will be true to my word in changing my ways and will treat you, the Clans, the Humans, and all my Children with fairness and mercy. No more will suffer under my hands."

"Good." Rose looked up at him and grinned. "Now, all you must do is back your words up and prove it."

Snapping her fingers, a bright white light encompassed them, and then they disappeared from the Underworld.

Note: I always wanted to pull Nashville (Gnash) from the comics into this story. Though he's different in my story, I wanted to still bring him in! Hope you enjoyed this! There are more chapters to come! :)