Here's the next chapter. Sorry it took so long. And if you call this short, I wouldn't blame you. I wanted to update this soon, to let you guys know that I haven't just upped and walked away from this story. It's still going. Even if the authoress is very easily distracted, lol.

--

It was early in the morning when Chrono was up and moving around the next day. His clothes had been washed while he had been unconscious, so he had gotten dressed after Lisa had checked up on him and gotten directions to Rosette's office. Getting there was easier said than done. The hallways were filled with kids running around as they scrambled to get ready for school. Many of the kids recognized him as the person they had found in the woods. They waved at him as they passed by him on their way to wherever they were going. He waved back with a smile on his face.

"Good morning," one young girl said cheerfully, stopping to talk to him. "I'm glad to see you're feeling better. Are you going see Ms. Rosette?"

"Yes, I am. You look familiar. Have I seen you somewhere before?" Chrono asked. She giggled.

"We have. But you were kinda delirious at the time. I was part of the group that found you in the woods. I'm Marianne," she explained. She looked at a clock on the wall. "Ah, it's almost time for me to go. I'll see you around." She waved goodbye and took off, joining a group of kids who were leaving.

Chrono resumed his journey to the director's office, something that became easier as the seconds passed. The hallways were emptying by the second as the kids left, the front door repeatedly opening than slamming shut in the process. In a minute, the hallways were completely deserted, an eerie silence filling them. Now that at least a few dozen kids weren't running around him, Chrono made it Rosette's private office shortly. Azmaria was leaving the office as he came up.

"Chrono, does Lisa know you're up?" Azmaria asked quickly.

"Yep, I'm walking around with her permission," Chrono assured Azmaria. "Is Rosette in?"

"Eating breakfast in her office as usual," Azmaria replied cheerfully. "This is a big job, but she loves every minute."

"Wait a minute, how does Rosette keep herself organized?" Chrono asked. "When we were on our journey to find Joshua she could barely keep herself straight. How does she keep this whole place up and running without burning it down in the process?" Azmaria laughed as an annoyed growl came from the office. "At least Rosette hasn't changed much."

"I heard that Chrono!" Rosette shouted from her office. "Jeez, and I promised Joshua that I wouldn't let loose on him until after he was fully recovered. That's no fun." Rosette muttered this, but they could still hear it clearly. Chrono sweatdropped. He at least had some safe time left.

"I'm sure you'll be able handle her," Azmaria encouraged. "After all, you did in the past." She left him there.

"Rosette, is it safe for me to come in?" Chrono asked, poking his head in the room.

"Yeah, yeah." Rosette ushered him in and Chrono went in, catching something that Rosette tossed his way. It was a muffin. "Eat. Sister Lisa is leaving this afternoon and she told me to make sure you eat properly after she leaves." Chrono sat down in an empty chair and bit into the muffin.

"Rosette, we haven't had much of a chance to talk since I woke up," Chrono noted as he finished the muffin. "But I heard you're in charge now."

"Yeah, it was a good way to...."

"To what?" Chrono asked.

"To forget," Rosette admitted guiltily. "Forget the pain and anger I was feeling as you practically died in my arms. But you never actually died, did you?"

"Nope, was in the process of it, but never quite got to the end of it," Chrono supplied. "I was called back at the last minute." He grinned, clearly not put out at all about not rejoining the Astral Line so soon. "And is everything normal with you?"

"Of course it is," Rosette said quickly. "You insured that."

"Actually, it was only a fifty percent chance that it would work," Chrono informed her. "If it hadn't worked, I would have died instantly as soon as I crushed the locket." He looked down at the floor guiltily. Rosette dropped her pen and muffin to the floor in shock as she heard this. "But I really wanted to save you. I already had to watch Magdalene die that way, and she had physical injuries too. I wouldn't have been able to forgive myself if I stood by and watched it happen all over again."

"Chrono..." Rosette murmured. She walked over to him and pulled him to his feet. "Thank you then for saving me at your own risk. But if you ever put your own life in danger for the sake of me again, it'll take a lot longer for me to forgive you, is that understood?!" Rosette poked him in his chest with a single finger. "This is a more peaceful time. This is my life now as well. What you do from now on is up to you though. Just promise me you'll be careful."

"I'm staying here if I can," Chrono said quickly. "I did all of that just to return to you without the fear of you suddenly dying on me. Did you honestly think I would just go away? After all of that? Unless you don't want me here."

"Of course I want you here!" Rosette told him. "I was hoping you would stay. Or did those words you said to me before you went away mean nothing?"

"I still do love you, always will," Chrono swore. "I remember it very well. Even...even the goodbye kiss you sent me off with." Rosette smirked at his words. In the past, that smirk she was in a mischevious mood, especially when she had her gun out. Just because she no longer had a gun on her didn't mean she wasn't in one. "Anyway, have you heard from Stella lately? It's be nice to see her again."

Rosette's face fell. "Chrono, her sister used the time stop magic against her. She's still frozen from the fight with her sister at Pandemonium. We haven't been able to figure out how to reverse it. We can't counteract magic with our current level of technology."

"Then where is she?" Chrono asked. "I'm a demon, I know magic. I'll probably be able to reverse it if I can just see her in person."

"Mr. Steiner is taking care of her. We know where they are. I'm sure they won't mind us visiting, especially since you want to try reverse it. I'll give Mr. Steiner a call and see what can be arranged," Rosette promised. "Now go run off somewhere and entertain yourself. I have an orphanage to run." She playfully shooed him off. "And make sure you eat a proper meal sometimes today! Sister Lisa will give me nothing but grief if you don't."

--

Chrono ended up helping Azmaria for most of the day. As they sat down for their lunch break, Chrono told Azmaria that he may be able to help Stella. "Really?" Azmaria asked, paying attention to Chrono's every word. "That would be awesome if she could return to normal. So when are you going?"

"After Rosette arranges it with Mr. Steiner," Chrono gladly told her. "I'll certainly do my best. If that's good enough, Stella will be able to normal. I can't wait to see her again. After all, this won't be complete unless all the party members are here."