Her Fate

Disclaimer: I don't own anyone from ADJL; I only own those who I make up.

Rating: PG-13

Back To the NYC

"Ow…" Gracie moaned in pain as Rose flipped the poor woman over her shoulder; slamming her hard on her back. "Rosie, I just wanted to see if you wanted something to drink."

"I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed to the slightly older woman as she helped her up. "I just get so into my training sometimes."

Gracie laughed, "It's alright, girl, I knew the risk I was takin' when I came in here."

It had been seven years since Rose first came to Texas. Ever since she decided she was going to re-create the Protectors she took one of the empty barns and made herself a make-shift training room.

She looked at the twenty-one year old. Gracie didn't change much. Her hair was still kept short; she still wore blue jeans only and a red tank top. She always wore her cowgirl boots; which have seen better days, Rose got them for her on her on her eighteenth birthday and Gracie refused to get rid of the old boots.

Rose decided to go back inside with her cousin. She went into the bathroom and ran the cold water before splashing some on her face. She looked in the mirror.

The twenty year old stared at her reflection. Seven years had changed Rose quite a bit; her once shoulder-length hair had grown a little passed her mid back and nowadays she kept it in a high ponytail with a few strands falling in her face.

She wore blue jean shorts, which were cut off from jeans, a white sports bra and a pair of white tennis shoes.

She left to the kitchen where Cassie and Amelia were complaining. The two girls wore identical hairstyles, half up and half down. "I don't see why Gracie gets to go and we can't." Cassie whined.

"We have as much right as she does!" Amelia agreed. Even little eight-year-old Tyler was arguing too. "I wanna be a Protector too!"

Sabrina rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Gracie is an adult."

"Exactly, I can't keep an eye on all of you. Auntie will train you guys and when you guys are old enough, you'll come to New York. But for now, it's just Gracie and I." Rose told them.

"Yeah, so shut your pie holes." Gracie said. "Did you pack already?"

"Yup, and I packed up all your junk too."

"Thanks, Grace, but you didn't have to."

"Yes I did. If I let you pack we'd never get outta here!"

Rose smacked her, playfully, upside her head. Then she turned to the twins, "Now why don't you guys go figure out who gets our old room."

The two looked at each other before bolting out of the kitchen.

Sabrina and Damon smiled and shook their heads. "Are you sure you wouldn't rather wait a bit longer, Flowerbud?"

"Positive, Auntie… I already waited two years more than I planned."

"Yeah, don't worry 'bout us, Mama. I've done gone on the computer and found us a right nice place to live. It's big and the basement is perfect for Rosie's gym." Gracie told her.

"You see? There's nothing to worry about."

"We're just worried about you fighting the Huntsclan." Damon said, "Jonah is a tough one and the clan's supposed to be dangerous."

"Uncle Damon… I know it's dangerous but I know that I can stop them. I feel it. I'm meant to end the Huntsclan and have the Protectors resurface."

Sabrina hugged her niece and her step-daughter. She looked Rose in the eyes, "I know you'll be a great leader, Flowerbud."

"We best get goin' before we miss our flight." Gracie observed.

The two said their farewells, shed their tears and left. They got into the cab and left for the airport.

FLASH

"If you can't tell me why you keep runnin' out on me, we're so over." Gina told him. She huffed and stomped out when her boyfriend didn't answer her. He watched as the blonde left his grandfather's shop.

Yet another failed relationship attempt. Jake didn't feel bad. Gina was just one of his many, many ex's now.

Trixie and Spud stared at him. "Ain't you gonna go after her?" Trixie asked. "Nah, it was bound to happen anyway. Only a matter of time before my girls want more attention than I can give 'em."

"Harsh, dude." Spud commented.

Jake smiled at them and shrugged his shoulders, "Ain't no big. I had a fun run."

"Is that all your girlfriends are?" Trixie asked him. "Yeah, the M-Drag can't afford to have more. No girl likes secrets; I don't expect relationships to last long. I was surprised Gina lasted as long as she did."

"Yeah, normally you have girls runnin' out on you after like one month, she lasted two. That's gotta be, like, a world record or somethin'." Spud stated.

Jake laughed. Spud and Trixie were the exact same as they used to be, save for the fact they've been together for three years.

Jake finally got Spud to ask Trixie out and she reluctantly accepted. The date apparently went well because they've been together ever since. Spud still wore that same hat he always did and Trixie would kill before she gave up her trademark hairstyle.

Jake didn't change too much either, unless you count the growth spurt he went through when he turned fifteen.

Their taste in clothing hasn't changed. Trixie wore a baggy pair of blue hip-huggers, tennis shoes and a tight purple t-shirt. Spud had a pair of baggy, faded blue jeans, tennis shoes, and a baggy black shirt that he wore. And Jake wore baggy blue jeans, his tennis shoes and a large t-shirt with a snake like dragon printed on it.

"Well, soon as you beat Huntsgirl and the Huntsclan down the sooner you can have a normal relationship." Trixie said matter-of-factly. Jake shook his head, laughing, "Funny, Trix. Even without Huntsgirl, there'd be some big evil that'll take the Mack daddy from the ladies."

Just then the door swung open and Brad and his fiancé walked into the shop. Marissa smirked at Jake and his friends as she fingered the items on the shelf.

The woman left her once braided hair flow naturally. Hair that, in Jake's opinion, was too long to be attractive; it went passed her knees!

He groaned inwardly, knowing that soon she'd be Marissa Harrison. Everyone who had a brain knew she was only marrying Brad for his money.

Marissa walked over to her soon-to-be husband, "It's perfect."

"What's perfect?" Jake asked her. She smiled evilly, "For my new hair salon. Your poor, old grandpa can't afford to keep this piece of shit going so Bradley said I could have it torn down and put up a salon. Isn't it wonderful?"

"That's ain't gonna happen, Marissa." Jake said through gritted teeth, "Gramps is gonna get the money and you'll be out of a hair shop."

"Hair salon, loser. Remember that 'cause that's what's gonna be here when your gramps can't foot the bill. My Marissa always gets what she wants." Brad said. He and Marissa laughed as they left.

"Man, wouldn't it be great if Marissa was Huntsgirl?" Jake asked.

Spud and Trixie gave him confused looks and he laughed. "That way I could pound her and not feel bad 'bout it, later."

Trixie laughed, "Shoot, I'd pound her, no prob and I wouldn't feel bad a bit. I'd just worry 'bout the feds she'd sick on me."

"Dudes, what if she is Huntsgirl?" Spud asked; eyes wide. "Nah, Baby, Marissa's one of those 'Oh no, I broke a nail!' type of chick."

"'Sides, it'd be too obvious." Jake said, "The Huntsgirl would be someone we'd never expect." 'Like Rose…'

FLASH

"You can turn into a bird and you flip out in a plane." Rose quipped dryly as Gracie clung to arm when they got off the plane. "When I'm flyin' on my own I know I can trust me. Anything could've happened on that thing!"

Rose raised an eyebrow, "Your cutting off my circulation, Grace."

"Oh, sorry!" she apologized and immediately let go.

"It's alright." Rose told her as she picked up two of their suitcases and Gracie grabbed the other two.

"Our furniture is gonna be delivered 'round six; it's only noon. We have enough time to go out for lunch." Gracie informed her.

"Great!" Rose smiled.

She was so excited. Almost as excited as her cousin, who had never been to New York before. Rose couldn't wait to show her around and maybe see some of her old friends too.

She definitely wouldn't have minded seeing Jake again.

There's chappie number ten. I hope you like it! -- Please review.