Her Fate

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

Rating: PG-13

AN: It's all about Rose and Jake in this one. Also, I know I rushed a bit at the end but I was in a bit of a hurry. Mom wanted me off and I wanted to post it.

Catching Up

"Well, I guess it was only a matter of time before I saw you again… Though, I gotta say, this is not the way I envisioned it." Rose said with a slight laugh as Jake finally took her hand.

She pulled him up. "It's really you…" He said.

She nodded with a smile, "Yeah, I'm pretty sure we've got that established. Come on; since I knocked you down let me buy you some dinner."

"You didn't knock me down, that guy did."

"Well, I knocked him down so I'm the main cause now let's go." She told him as she took his hand and went to a sit down diner.

They sat down and told the waitress what they wanted. "I didn't think I'd ever see you again. You didn't even say goodbye." He told her.

She raised an eyebrow and smiled a humorless smile, "I'm surprised you even cared. You avoided me like the plague."

His eyes widened, "I… I was going through some things." He replied lamely.

"I bet. Anyway, it's not like I had this whole plan to leave. It was like an impulse, I suddenly felt like leaving so… I left." She shrugged.

"Why'd you go?"

"My uncle wanted me to join the family business and I wanted to be an actress." She flashed him a bright smile.

He smiled, "Really?"

She nodded, "Yup, you know the camera loves me." She said in a mock conceited voice.

He laughed slightly as their food arrived. Jake had a double cheeseburger with fries he drowned in ketchup and a coke while Rose had a strawberry smoothie and a chicken salad.

"So… where'd you go?" he asked.

"Hm?"

"When you left, where did you go? The cops couldn't find you." 'Neither could I.' he thought, thinking of when he flew around, trying to find her.

"Oh, I ran away to some family members in Texas."

He stared at her blankly as he spoke, "Texas."

She nodded as she took a bite of her salad. "Do you know a girl named Gracie?"

Rose looked at him, "Yeah. She's my cousin."

Jake stared at her, momentarily forgetting his food. He told that girl all about Rose and she didn't have the decency to tell him that she was related to her and living with her!

That woman even let him believe that he was delusional. He knew she knew something.

"How do you know her anyway?" Rose asked with a raised eyebrow.

"She works at my Grandpa's shop with me."

This time Rose stared blankly at him, "She works with you and she didn't tell me? She knows all about you! She should've told me!"

Jake forgot his anger for the moment as he smirked at her, "So you've been talkin' about me, huh?"

Rose blushed, "Well… Yeah, I mean you were the only decent guy I ever went out with… And then you started ignoring me for no reason. So, yes, you were talked about."

Jake took a bite out of his burger deciding not to comment further on the touchy subject. "So, what all did you do in Texas?"

"Well, I moved in with my Auntie Sabrina and my Uncle Damon. I went to school with Gracie, Uncle Damon hacked into some computers so I couldn't be traced and when I wasn't babysitting the twins and Tyler; I'd work out and play with the animals."

"Why didn't they send you back? Or at least tell your uncle where you were?"

"Personal reasons; my auntie and uncle don't really get along and I guess she wanted me away from him as much as I did."

Jake nodded in understanding, "So… any boyfriends?"

"Nope."

Jakes eyes widened, "No? Why not?"

Rose laughed at his shocked expression, "Hey, it's not like I hadn't been asked out or hit on. I just never had time for a boyfriend I was busy with… working out."

He raised a brow, "Working out takes up so much time?"

She shrugged and took a sip of her smoothie. "What can I say? I'm dedicated."

He shook his head and started eating his fries. He didn't get her… Well, he never really understood her in the first place but now… now she was just more complicated.

He thought about the woman in the park. Then he thought about Rose. It was too much of a coincidence and yet he still wasn't sure.

He ignored the coincidences years ago when Rose was Huntsgirl. Could he just be jumping to conclusions now?

Maybe Rose was the woman and maybe Rose was still part of the Huntsclan. He knew both were possible even though he wanted to believe she'd given up the latter.

Then again, wasn't her cousin a magical creature? Did Rose even know about Gracie being a changeling?

"So, what about you?" she spoke, bringing him out of his thoughts.

"What about me?"

"What have you been up to all these years?"

"Oh, yeah. Well, ya know. I've been mainly chillin' out with Trix and Spud. Nothing special."

"Oh, you three are still friends?"

"Oh, yeah, Trixie, Spud and me? We're still tight as ever. Only difference now is that Spud and Trixie are dating."

Rose smiled, "I saw that coming."

"Yeah, it was pretty obvious they were meant for each other. And they're great together."

"So, how about you? Any girlfriends?"

"Yeah, tons of 'em."

Rose smirked, "Still the ladies man, I see."

"What can I say, the ladies dig me." He wagged his eyebrows at her. She tried to suppress her laughter and failed miserably.

When they were finished eating, Jake suggested they take a walk. Rose nodded her head in agreement.

Jake watched the wind breeze through Rose's hair, making the ponytail and loose strands fly around.

She brushed a few strands behind her ear. "It's so windy." She laughed.

He just smiled at her, "Yeah, it is."

Her eyes widened, "Jake, do you know where we are?"

He took his eyes off of her to look around. He laughed, "I wasn't even paying attention to where we were going." He admitted.

It was the place they had their very first date. "Me neither." She said quietly. "I missed you a lot, Jake."

"I missed you too, Rose."

She smiled sweetly as she sat down on the grass and Jake followed suit. "So, Mr. Ladies Man, do you have a girl in your life now?"

Jake stared at her, "No. Not at the moment." He answered her question. She didn't reply though.

She leaned back until her back hit the ground and watched the clouds as Jake stayed sitting up; watching her.

He noticed the sun was setting. "I love the night." Rose spoke as she stared at the sunset.

"Yeah?"

"It's so mysterious and anything can happen. It's the time for sleep but it's still more active than day. And the sunsets are so pretty."

He turned to face the sunset. "I guess so. I always preferred the day though. It seems bad things mainly happen at night."

"They happen during the day too."

"Mostly at night though. Daytime's safer."

"That's true. But doesn't that add to the excitement of the night life?"

He smiled, "Yeah, I guess. But I still prefer the day."

She turned to look at him and smiled broadly. "It's been good catching up with you, Jake. I should get going though."

He stood up and helped her to her feet. "Maybe next time I see you, it'll be less painful." He joked.

"Let's hope."

"C'mon, I'll walk you home. You've already been mugged once… well, almost."

She smiled and grabbed his arm. "Ok, you can be my hero. Protect me from all the bad things that hide in the night."

He laughed, "You got it." He replied. 'Are you her?' he wondered as he walked her to her home.

Never in his life had he wanted to believe something so badly. It was still hard for him to believe she used to be bad. Could she have really quit the clan?

So many things pointed to yes. But he didn't know if it were true or if he just wanted it to be.

Gracie made it seem Rose had changed. But, then again, she could also be working with Rose despite her magical origin.

He hated being so suspicious. The Rose/Huntsgirl situation seemed to have made him constantly so.

He hated being confused. With Rose, he was always so.

Only one thing was clear. He spent the majority of the day with her. And as dangerous as it was, he was falling for her again. With Rose, he seemed to be a moth to her flame.

God, he hoped he wouldn't get burned again.

There's that. I hope you liked it. I thought it'd be over by the 15th chapter, I guess it's gonna be longer than what I thought. I can't think of anything else to write. Please review!