Sorry its been so long, babies slow things down a lot!

Don't own the demons or nuns.

Chap: answering

The nun in question was sitting in one of the smaller wooded courtyards around the abbey grounds. She rested in the cool shade, lying on her back to watch the sun's light dance in the tree branches.

Azmaria nearly ran past her in her haste to reach the sister. " Rosette! There you are! Everyone's been looking for you." She came closer, noting the pensive look on her friend's face. "Rosette, is something wrong? Rosette?"

The girl glanced up. "Hmm? Oh, hey, Azmaria! When did you get here?"

"A few minutes ago." The apostle looked at her with concern. "Is something wrong? You look upset." She gasped. Its not about he wedding is it? oh Rosette, you know he loves you more than anything"—

"No, no, nothing like that," Rosette waved her off, getting up from her spot. "Don't worry so much, Az, you'll get wrinkles." She made to walk off—

"Rosette."

The girl's tone made the nun flinch, coming to a stop. "Yeah?"

"Sit."

She went back over to the tree, both girls sitting down. She looked at the younger girl sheepishly. "Do I have to talk about it?"

"Yep," the girl nodded. "Now talk to me. Is it something about the wedding?"

"No. Yes, I mean---it's more to do with Chrono."

"Like what?"

"I mean---I've heard so much about him and Mary Magdalene, but I still don't know anything about them. Did he love her like he says he loves me? Does he still? And what about Aion and all the demons? Will they try to hurt him more because of this? Could I be a weakness to him?" She ducked her head, pulling her knees up and wrapping her arms around them. "And what about me?"

Az tilted her head curiously. "What about you?"

"I won't live as long as he will," she said. "He told me that we'll be together as long as we're alive. But I can't live as long as he can. What will happen to him when I die?"

"Have you tried asking him about this?"

"I'm scared to," the nun said softly. she shook her head. "Actually, I don't know if I'm scared of asking or of the answer he'll give me. I just don't know how to say it, I guess."

Azmaria tilted her head in thought. She sighed. "I wish I knew what to say, but I don't think I can imagine what its like to be in you situation. What do you think will happen to Chrono when you die? I mean, really?"

The nun didn't have to think long. "I'm afraid he'd try to follow after me."

"No," the apostle shook her head. "Not what you're afraid he'll do, what he will do."

Rosette thought some more. "He—he would want to follow me. He would be so unhappy and sad, and maybe even regret meeting me."

"I could never regret meeting you." Both girls whirled to face the demon. He looked at Rosette, an indescribable look on his face. He came forward, sitting on his heels beside her. "I would be sad, that's true, but I could never regret meeting you and everything we've been through together. How could you think that?"

"I—I just don't want you to be sad! You've been unhappy enough for the whole world! I don't want to be what causes you sadness!" She cried. "I'm sorry I can't stay with you longer, I'm sorry I can't live as long as you, but I'm going to hurt you so badly when I die and I can't stand it!" she took deep breathes to calm down, tears actually streaking down her cheeks.

Chrono pulled her into his arms, wrapping her up tight in his embrace. "I don't care," he said softly. "I'd rather have five minutes of paradise than eternity alone. And even when you die, I'll have all the memories we've made to keep me going."

Azmaria quietly made her exit, knowing that those two had much to talk about.

Rosette snuggled deeper into his embrace, loving the feel of his arms around her. "How much did you hear?"

"Almost all of it," he answered. "You mentioned something about Mary Magdalene?"

She blushed. "Yeah." She decided to be blunt, as usual. "What was she to you?"

He thought before answering. "She was a catalyst, I guess."

"A what?"

"A catalyst. She caused the change in me the most. Helped me to focus and find out what I really wanted in my life and how much I was willing to risk to get it. She was the first real friend I remember having. I guess you could say that she taught me more than any teacher I'd ever had, and left me more confused than I'd ever been."

"Sounds confusing."

"She was. But she was a good person." He looked away. "I think I helped kill her." He told her everything. From the idea of revolution in Pandemonium to the escape to the American west. From the completion of Eden to the tragedy of Mary being possessed by Pandemonia. He told her of the travels with the prophetess and the battle with Aion. And how Mary had died in his arms at the end. "I can't ever really forgive myself for that."

She turned his face to look at her. "Do you really think that she holds it against you?"

He thought about it, really asking himself that question. "No."

"She probably forgave you a long time ago," the girl said. "Now all you really need to do is try to forgive yourself."

He nodded. "I'll be thinking of that when you die," he said, sorrow threading through his voice.

He found a chuckle. "Who knows, you may even come back to me someday."

She lifted her head from his shoulder, a puzzled look on her face. "Come back?"

"Some people think that when you die and go back to the rivers of astral, you can come back and be reborn as another person," he explained. "Knowing you, you'd want to be back in the action so badly, you'd be reborn in seconds."

"You really think so? I could come back to you?"

"I'd have to fall in love all over again, but I think I could survive," he quipped.

She knuckled his head in retaliation. "Smart-alek!"

"Owww! You know, I really ought to stop you from doing that now."

She gave him a look of doom. "You think you can?"

He paled, recognizing that look. "Uh-oh."

)(&(

Next chap; the wedding! Please review!