Ah, at long last, we've (sadly) come to the third-to-last chapter. I'm sorry, guys! (cries) This is the longest chapter yet, though, so I hope you all enjoy it greatly! Happy New Year! ;.;

WARNING: See chapter 1.

WARNING 2: There's some angst in here. Okay, a lot of angst. And a lot of tears. Don't like, don't read, though I guarantee you'll want to if you wanna find out the ending of the 'past' part ofthe fic.

Disclaimer: See chapter 1, chapter 5, or chapter 16.

Return to Times of Yore
By GundamWingFanatic90
Submitted: 12:15 AM 1 January 2006

Past, Eden, Rosette

I stretched languidly, raising my arms above my head and breathing deeply of the cool, fresh air of the mountainous area that Eden was currently flying over. My blue and tan Militia uniform fluttered around me, my habit engulfing my shoulders and waist. Aidan and Adrian leaned up against my sides, taking a short catnap. Their horns poked out of their hair on either side of their heads- so much like Chrono's that it almost hurt to think of it- and their small, pointed ears twitched lightly in the breeze. They would have looked human save for the horns and ears, their small wings concealed by half-mastered human guises that they had instinctively formed when they were born. I smiled gently, lifting my hands to lightly brush their bangs away from their faces. Struck by a sudden thought, I chuckled a bit.

'Before I came here, I'd probably be on a mission right now, or giving Sister Kate a stomach cramp or headache, or I'd be screaming or shouting at Chrono and Anna and Mary and Claire, or something like that…' I sighed slightly.

"Those were the old days…" I said out loud. "I had so much energy back then…" I grinned in a cat-like manner. "I'll have to work on getting back to that state…" A glance at my children to either side, however, made my grin soften, and I settled down again. "But I'll wait until these two are awake, first…"

"Who're you talking to, Rosette?" asked a deep tenor voice from behind me. I grinned, and turned around to greet Chrono.

"Hey, Chrono, what's up?" He shrugged with a small smile.

"Nothing much." He sat down next to Aidan with a small plop, and we were silent for a second, watching our children sleep.

"You know… if demons can't go to Heaven… I think I'd rather stay right here." he murmured after a while, causing my grin to widen a bit before shrinking.

"Ne, Chrono?" I asked, my fingers brushing over Aidan and Adrian's foreheads simultaneously. He looked at me with a blink of his eyes. "In the Magdalan Order… we're taught that only believers will be saved. …Do you believe in God?" He smiled gently, and reached up, running his fingertips over my cheek before pushing my own blonde fringe back behind my ear- my hair had grown out quite a bit over the past 7 months- and then he lowered his hand to rest it in the crook of my neck.

"Yeah. Yeah, I do." he replied after a while. "He brought you here… He gave us Aidan and Adrian… He's done so much that I once thought would be impossible, I can't help but believe in Him." As I looked into his crimson eyes, I could see truth, and a true, rock-solid belief growing in him. I smiled. We were silent once more in the warm air.

For a while, nothing moved. The breeze blew past us, ruffling clothes and hair, setting our hearts aflame, the point where his hand met my neck burning and freezing at the same time. I felt my breath begin to get short, pure ecstasy coursing through me, but I shook my head after a little and pulled away from his hand. He withdrew it, looking slightly hurt, but I winked at him, shooting him a mockingly scolding look.

"Chrono, not in front of the kids!" I hissed teasingly. He rolled his eyes.

"Whatever." we said in unison, and then burst out into quiet laughter. We silenced ourselves in a little, and turned back to watching the clouds roll by, until a bright flash of light lit the area from behind us. Chrono was on his feet in an instant, body transforming into that of his true form, and I woke the twins before rising and drawing my gun, as well. The light coalesced into a single point, growing larger and larger as I heard Aion, Genai, Rizelle, Viede, Shader, and Mary running towards us from my left.

The white portal glowed brightly behind his small form silhouetting his figure as a dark, blurry shape. As I watched, the portal shrank rapidly, until it was only a pinprick of light against the darker blue of the sky. I gasped at the sight of a familiar, long-missed face, and I took a couple of hesitant steps forward as the other Sinners and Mary looked on in confusion.

"C… Chrono…?" I breathed. His eyes falling upon me, his face split into a broad grin, just as the portal behind him widened once again and another figure stepped through, one that I knew well- the one that had haunted my dreams and nightmares for 4 years. The gate diminished again, and I dashed forth, pulling them both into a tight embrace. I felt tears well up and spill forth from my eyes because I was so happy to see them after so long.

"Joshua… Chrono…" I whispered in their ears, my head between theirs as they returned my hug.

"Hey, Sis. Long time, no see!" Joshua said with a laugh.

"I'm glad you're alright, Rosette." Chrono added. I could hear his grin, and I pulled away, suddenly remembering our audience, taking my brother and Contractor's hands and dragging them back over to the Sinners, Mary, and Aidan and Adrian, who were hiding behind Chrono's legs, their heads peeking out around them. My lover had one clawed hand on each twin's shoulder, his guard still up.

"Daddy?" I heard Aidan ask, before Adrian continued with, "Who'we dey?" Chrono shook his head in bewilderment, and the Chrono from my time flashed me a smile.

"Maybe they'd recognize me better in my other form?" he suggested to me, and I blinked. Did he…? Before my eyes, my partner's 12-year-old body began to change with a feral cry, his ears elongating, his horns sprouting out of his hair, the three gems appearing on his forehead and one eye turning golden. In a matter of seconds, next to me stood a nearly exact replica of my lover from this time. However, a gasp escaped everyone's lips when we saw the differences.

His left eye was a bright yellow the whole way through, scar tissue covering a good deal of that half of his face, and his right arm, though strong, was hard, spiked at the shoulder, evidence of a hard, costly battle. So, his legion still had not been able to fully heal those wounds…

"Is this somewhat better?" His deep voice snapped me out of my thoughts, and I nodded before taking a couple steps forward, placing myself between my brother and partner, and my friends, children, and lover. With a small, sad, yet proud smile, I gestured to the two from my rightful time.

"Guys, this is my brother, Joshua, and my partner and Contractor, Chrono, 'The Sinner', 'the Broken Horn', 'the One they Cast Down', etc." I said, and then I gestured to the ones from this time. "Chrono, Joshua, these are Aion, Genai, Viede, Rizelle, Shader, Mary, and Chrono the Sinner… from this time." I walked over to my lover, and bent next to him, lifting Aidan and Adrian onto each hip as I straightened. I gave this Chrono a long, sad look in the eyes before I turned back to the two newcomers.

"Aidan, Adrian, meet your Uncle Joshua… and…" I cast a glance between the Chronos, who were studying each other closely. "And… your daddy. From my time." My son and daughter looked up at me in confusion.

"But momma, daddy's-" Adrian started.

"-wight hewe." Aidan finished. They were both pointing at the Chrono from this time. I sighed in resignation, not quite ready to explain everything at the moment. Instead, I set them down in front of me and knelt down until my gaze was even with theirs.

"Aidan, Adrian…" I began, pausing to gather my thoughts before pushing on. "You and mommy are going to have to leave Eden. We… have to go away for a long time, okay?" Their faces took on even deeper expressions of confusion.

"Bu' wha' 'bou' Unk Ai?" Aidan started.

"And daddy, an' Auntie Wizewwe, an' Auntie Mawy, and Auntie S'adew?" Adrian continued.

"An' Unka Denai an' Unka Vid?" they both finished in unison. "Awuh dey gonna come, too?" I sniffed a little, blinking away tears, and shook my head slowly.

"No, babies… no, they aren't going to come." I replied. "They'll be waiting for us when we get there." They sniffled slightly, but nodded. "Alright… go grab your blankies real quick." They solemnly nodded and walked off towards my room nearby, and I watched them go while swallowing a lump in my throat before turning to the friends I had made in this time- my family. Softly I sniffed, drying my wet cheeks on my glove, and offered them a small, sad smile.

"I… guess this is goodbye, then…" I said to them, trying to hold back my tears. Shader's ears were drooping, as were her shoulders; Aion stood, tall and proud, but I could see a hint of tears in his violet eyes; Genai had his arms around Rizelle's shoulders, both of them grim-faced; Viede was stone-like as ever, but I read the disappointment in his gaze; Mary had tears coursing down her cheeks though she bore a smile on her face. With some slight hesitance, I stepped forward, enveloping Shader in a hug, which she returned tightly.

"Don't forget, and don't ever stop believing. Thank you for everything, my sister." I whispered into her ear. I felt her nod before we let go, and then I moved on to Genai and Rizelle. I wrapped my arms around them, they doing the same to me, and I told them quietly,

"Stay the course, no matter what happens. Rizelle, you've been like a mother to me, helping me through times when I needed it the most. You helped me give birth, helped me care for Aidan and Adrian, and for all that, I must thank you. Thank you for everything you've done for me." To Genai, "Genai, you filled the space of an older brother when my own was not there. You've been a great uncle to my children, a good friend, someone to argue with, a kindred spirit. Don't ever lose that attitude or temper of yours." To both of them, "Don't forget all that has happened- keep the memories alive in your hearts forever. And don't forsake each other, either." When I stepped away from them a minute later, they both had tears in their eyes, and I patted their shoulders with a reassuring smile before walking over to Mary. She embraced me tightly- one that I returned- and we were silent for a moment.

"Rosette… thank you for teaching me… how to live… and how to have hope." she whispered into my ear. I nodded with a smile, which I fought to keep on.

"And thank you, Mary, for showing me what it is like to have a sister. You've helped me to keep going in these past couple of months, you've let me confide in you. You're one of the best friends I've ever had. I'll never forget you, Mary." She nodded, too.

"And I won't forget you, either. Never, ever." I pulled back to look her in the eye, and put a hand on her cheek.

"Remember to keep your horizons broad, and never lose that hope. One day, we'll meet again. I'm sure of it." We shared a smile, weak laugh, and another hug, and then I moved on to Aion. The tall demon's white bangs were sticking to the sides of his face due to his tears, and we stood in front of each other for a moment before I hesitantly came up to him and slipped my arms around his middle. He pulled me to him, arms around my shoulders, and I leaned up so that I could tell him,

"Aion, thank you for understanding everything. You're wise beyond your years, and you've got so much responsibility on your shoulders, but you still managed to make room in your heart, mind, and soul to fit me and the twins in, next to the others. You're my big brother, Aion, and I'll never forget you. Just don't forget me, and always keep the memories of these past 7 months close to your heart, even if you bury them very, very deeply. Remember me and Aidan and Adrian. Even through the hardest times, keep the light of hope strong, and don't stray from the course." I pulled back from the hug, and looked him in the eyes, my gaze hardening to a stern, urgent tone. "Whatever you do, remember that there is always more than one way to go about doing things. Don't keep your mind and heart closed to other courses of action." As my warning ceased, he nodded, and we parted. Aidan and Adrian were returning, carrying their favorite blanket between them. I knelt down in front of them and put a hand on each of their heads before taking the blanket from them.

"Go say goodbye, now." I told them, tears blurring my vision. They nodded without a sound, and went to each Sinner and Mary in turn, giving each a heartfelt embrace and muttering their own goodbyes. In a few moments, they were back at my side, taking the blanket from me, as Chrono the Sinner, from this time, walked over to stand near us. His golden gaze met those of our children for a few moments, and then they ran forward and embraced him tightly as he knelt down. They were sobbing. He gently shushed them, rubbing their backs until they had quieted, and then he pulled away, setting one hand on each twin's cheek and looking into the indigo gazes of each in turn.

"Aidan… Adrian…" he murmured, just before he drew them to his chest again, burying his face in the tops of their heads. "Please… don't forget me or your aunts and uncles, okay? And always remember that I love you, my children." I swallowed hard around the lump in my throat, blinking back tears of my own as he softly placed a kiss on the top of each of their heads, closing his eyes briefly before parting with them and standing up. He quietly sent them over to stand with Joshua and my partner, and we watched them for a couple of minutes, unable to meet each others' gazes. After a long while, however, we tore our eyes away from our children, the products of our love, and we found that we couldn't look away from each other as gold and sapphire- light and water- mixed and clashed, sparkling with sunbeams that radiated out from the white portal that was growing behind us. A thousand and one emotions and thoughts passed between us, and slowly, very slowly, we stepped towards each other. In a flash, I was surrounded by his strong arms, not aware of crossing the distance between us, and one of his hands was resting on my head in a comforting gesture as he held me tightly to him.

"Rosette… It looks like you're going to have to leave after all…" he whispered in my ear. His face was right down next to mine, his chin nearly resting on my shoulder. My heart pounded- this was really it, I was really going to have to leave him, the Sinners, Mary… my family. Blinking back tears, I nodded.

"Yes, Chrono…" I breathed through a suddenly constricted throat. "Please… Don't stray from what you think is the right path. Do what you think is right in your heart." I pulled away from him a little, and looked into his eyes pleadingly. "Remember me… and Aidan and Adrian… okay?" He nodded, golden eyes searching mine. "Wait for me, and I will find you, no matter what."

"I'll wait forever if I have to." he proclaimed determinedly. I managed a slight smile.

"I'll see you later, then…" I couldn't tear my eyes away from his, though. Am I doing the right thing…? In my mind, I nodded. Yes. I have to go back to my time, now. If I don't, then all of this might never happen. Chrono, I'm so sorry… I love you. He smiled a little bit as he heard my thoughts through his horns.

-I love you, too, Rosette.- he replied telepathically. I leaned up one last time as he leaned down, and, as the light from the portal grew too intense to properly see, our lips met, silhouetting us in black against a backdrop of bright white. We stayed like that for a long time, letting our last kiss linger so that neither of us would ever forget it, and when we finally released each other, I gazed up into his face, tears shining in my eyes, before we let each other go and I paced towards where I could see Chrono of the Broken Horn, Joshua, Aidan, and Adrian waiting for us at the entrance to the portal. As I took my children's hands in my own, I called back to the others one last verse from the Bible, Matthew 5:1-12, to be exact.

"Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up on the mountain, and when He sat down, His disciples came to Him. And He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (I thought about Rizelle)

'Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. (I thought about Viede)

'Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. (Shader)

'Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. (Aion)

'Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. (Genai)

'Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (Mary)

'Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. (Mary, again)

'Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Chrono)

'Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on My account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Again, Chrono)'" Then I stepped through the portal back to my time, my home, my future, hand in hand with two of the most precious people in my life.

Okay, more than a little misty-eyed, here. ;.; (cries) And if anyone didn't figure it out, the names in parantheses ( ) after the Bible verses at the end were who she was directing the verses at at the time. Hope you liked. KK, then, I'm done. I wrote the darn thing, after all. I hope you enjoyed it a lot! And please, because there are still two more chapters left, please, please, pretty please, review? …Please…?

-Fanatic