I've been asked why I'm ending the story here. So I will explain. Yes, this story could have a lot more to it, no denying that. If I actually thought about it, I could probably come up with something. Another thing to consider is this: Everyone has a different writing style. And some people write based off of their emotions. They have to let their feelings and emotions guide them in the way they write or their writing is total crap. I'm one of those. I was writing the previous chapter and I just got the feeling that where I am leaving it is where it's supposed to stop. So that's why this is the last chapter. I don't know why, or anything else. But this is how this story is meant to go. So that's how I am doing it.

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"Buh-bye Chrono!" Lillith called out as the train started to move, waving. "Expect a letter soon, okay?" Azmaria had braided her black hair that morning. A servant of their family had been in town, so he was escorting the kids home instead of Joshua. Joshua and Chrono had accompanied them to the train station to see them off. Rosette and Azmaria was still at Stella's house. Rosette was still sleeping and Azmaria was catching up with Stella, who had a lot to catch up on herself.

"See you two later," Chrono called back, waving too until the train was out of sight.

"Chrono, do you have some free time today?" Joshua asked.

"Sure, but why?" Chrono asked.

"Remember what I said on Pandemonium?" Joshua inquired. "It was chaotic during that time, but I told you we had to talk. Since we have free time, let's go grab something to eat at a diner and talk there. We can catch up over that."

"Alright," Chrono agreed. "Mr. Steiner, can we call you in a few hours for a ride?" Chrono sensed that Joshua had something on his mind.

"Of course," Steiner told them. He left the two alone and returned to the mansion in the car. So Joshua led the way to a small diner. As the two sat down at a booth, a waitress came up to take their order.

"Coffee for me, black," Joshua ordered. "Chrono?"

"Just some juice will be fine for now," Chrono told the waitress. The waitress left them alone to get their orders. "So, what did you want to talk to me about? Come to think of it, we've never had a chance to sit down and talk since I got back." He smiled sheepishly.

"First off, I'm glad that you're back," Joshua told him gratefully. "You saved my sister's life. For that, you have my gratitude. As you know, our parents are dead. And we have no other family that we know of, which is why we ended up at the orphanage. My worst nightmare is being in this world alone without any other family. That almost came to be. Almost. You gave me back my life."

"Rosette is my life as well. It was only the thoughts of her that gave me the strength to return. A world without Rosette.....I don't want to ponder that at all," Chrono confessed.

"I know. But please, never break her heart again," Joshua asked him severely. "After you left her behind, and we didn't know your fate, Rosette was at least hopeful. And then you appear in the church, so bloody and beaten. Even like that, at least she knew you were alive. But her health was not all that great. You nearly was lost forever in saving her. She prayed every day for awhile to see you again. And as she began to realize that you wanted more for her, she cut it down to once a week, but prayed longer during each session. She still cried at night though. She missed you."

"I didn't know that," Chrono murmured. "At the time I helped her, I was pretty weak. I was surprised to be able walk straight at all. But it was my fault that she had ended up that way to begin with. I had to right that mistake. I couldn't stand to see that happen again." Their orders arrived. Chrono took a sip of his juice. "But you have my word. I won't hurt her like that again. I wouldn't be able to stand it myself."

"I know, but I at least had to say something out loud," Joshua said, relieved. "Rosette was the one who always helped me when we were little and I constantly sick. She was a bit overbearing, but I could tell she was simply trying to be a good sister. She took care of a lot of the kids like that. Despite her clumsiness and roughness, she has a huge heart."

"It took one to convince me." Chrono had a far off look on his face. Joshua gave him a few minutes to compose himself. "I had already seen one woman I loved die, right in front of me. I couldn't do anything at all. It drove me insane. All I wanted to do was stay with her, so I kept near her. Eventually I fell asleep, until you guys woke me up. I did a double take of Rosette when I saw her. She looked so much like Mary."

"More than looked like," Joshua pointed out. He finished his coffee. "Let's go talk at a private spot at the pier." They went down to the dock part of town and sat down at the end of an empty pier.

"I never thought I would have a chance at happiness like this," Chrono stated. "After everything that's happened, I honestly don't know what to expect. We no longer have any enemies. Rosette has found her purpose. But despite all of this, I am still what I am."

"What do you mean?" Joshua asked curiously.

"Think about it," Chrono insisted, standing up and stretching. "Despite my appearance, you know how old I am. If only we could go by our appearance. As Rosette gets older, as you and Azmaria ages, as every human on earth shows their age, I'll still look this. Even as old I am, I'm still but a child. My kind is all but wiped out. I know for a fact that Shader is still out there somehow, with Florette. Somewhere. All the violent ones are gone, and we're fated to simply exist, almost unaffected by time while everyone else is. We're going to blend in perfectly in the end. Until we too die someday, we're going to simply drift."

"I've never thought about it that way," Joshua replied, thoughtful. "I honestly don't know what to say." For awhile they simply sat in silence, enjoying the warmth of the sun.

"What's going to happen once you guys die?" Chrono asked, somber. "My purpose will be gone. I'll have all the time in the world, and nothing to do. That's another prospect that I don't want to think about."

"Why suddenly so serious?" Joshua asked nervously. "This isn't like you at all. Rosette will think me a bad influence if I return you in a serious mood like this."

"But this will eventually come to be!" Chrono repeated. "There won't be another after Rosette. The only reason I grew to love her was her connection to the original Mary Magdalene. But she too was only human. Even if I hadn't stolen her time, even if Aion succeeded in killing her, she would have eventually died. I would have been left alone." Joshua sighed.

"You should cheer up," he advised. "This isn't like you. It bothers me to see you like this."

"Of course you are. We're friends," Chrono instantly agreed. His expression was troubled. "But this has been on my mind for awhile. These questions can't be ignored forever."

Joshua decided to take drastic measures. With one swift swipe of his arm. Chrono, unable to do anything about it since he was so distracted, was knocked into the water below. He came up sputtering and coughing. "Joshua!" Chrono demanded. Joshua grinned.

"You needed to get your head out of the clouds," Joshua told him teasingly. "Too serious for such a happy day. We're all finally back together. Once you cheer up, I'll help you out." Chrono crossed his arms, staying afloat with his legs.

"Fine, but I can't stay in these clothes. I'll get sick," Chrono complained. Joshua bent down and offered him a hand. Chrono was dragged back to the dock soaking wet. "There were easier ways to get me to cheer me up."

"But those weren't as fun," Joshua complained mockingly. "This way I got a laugh out of it."

"Joshua!" a familiar voice shouted out, accompanied by angry footsteps. Rosette approached them, wearing a bathing suit with a skirt over it. "What did you trip Chrono for?! Now he's completely soaked."

"Rosette....." Chrono said, a blush on his face. "Why are you wearing a bathing suit for?"

"We're going swimming," she explained. "We came here to get you to drive to the beach with us. Stella wants to get some fresh air. Only Joshua saw reason to throw you in the water already." She turned to her brother. "I still haven't heard you defend yourself. Why were you teasing Chrono?"

"Chrono needed the wake-up call," Joshua told her. "Worrying too much about the far off future."

"Chrono, we have towels in the car," Rosette told him, pulling him to his feet. "It sounds like you need the beach more than us. And Stella prepared a bathing suit for you. So let's go cheer up together. We have our whole future to decide upon those details. So cheer up!" Rosette dragged Chrono to the car. As Azmaria chatted nonstop about their plans for the day, Chrono couldn't help but cheer up.

Rosette was right. At the moment, they had plenty of time to worry about the future. For now, he would live for Rosette. And maybe he could have a happily ever after all.