Chapter 9: A slip of the emotion

Authors note: Thank you for all your pleasant reviews! I really do appreciate them! Now we must sadly bid farewell to Ham and Shakespeare now and focus back on Rosie and Tybalt! YAY! Anyway enjoy!

As the sun rose in the sky the next morning everyone was still asleep. Rosie and Tybalt still lay next to each other even though they were now separated. They both lay front to front and Tybalt had his hand extremely close to Rosie's hand, and even though he was unaware of it, he occasionally touched it in his sleep. As Rosie rolled over she had no idea she was next to Tybalt and rolled right into his arms. They were still both asleep and suddenly Tybalt raised his arms and curled them both around Rosie and held her close as if she was some kind of plush toy in the hands of a small child.

They lay in each others arms for another half an hour before a loud chirping noise from above slowly stirred Rosie but not Shakespeare or Tybalt. Rosie was actually surprised to see two big arms wrapped around her waist and she looked up to see who the persons arms belonged to. She would have told any other person to release their arms from her immediately or else they would find a fist in their face, but Tybalt was no longer 'any other person'. He was her secret love, and even though he had no idea about her feelings towards him, Rosie really did care for the poor gnome. Rosie found herself blushing as she tried to wriggle herself free from Tybalt's grasp. She slowly but gently wriggled freely but when Rosie wasn't looking she felt Tybalt's grasp on her waist suddenly go tight. Tybalt was now awake and he when he realized what he was doing he suddenly let go. And he was just as shocked and embarrassed as Rosie.

"Oh fish paste! I am so sorry Rosie!" Tybalt immediately let go of her and blushed deeply. Rosie also blushed but stood up and re gained her posture.

"No, it's ok Tybalt. No harm done. It's lucky that no one saw that!" Rosie looked around making sure no one had seen them. She then glanced back at Tybalt who now looked down at his feet shyly. "Well, just think… in a few days we will no longer be together," Rosie said dully.

"Yeah…" Tybalt began "You know, life won't be the same without you."

"Oh really?" Rosie was actually taken back by this. Even Tybalt was surprised by what he just said, but deep down, he knew it was the truth.

"Yeah, I mean being stuck with you has taught me a lot of lessons! I guess we both got to know each other better than before we were at each others throats," Tybalt explained and Rosie nodded with what he was saying.

"Yeah, I totally regret all those nasty things I said about you when we first met! Like when I said you were the worst gnome I ever met! That was totally out of line, I am sorry!" Rosie smiled.

"Same here! And also like the time I called you a stubborn cow! I too am deeply sorry!" Tybalt replied.

"Can you two kindly stop apologising and be quiet down there! I was in fact trying to sleep!" Shakespeare muttered rubbing his eyes. Rosie and Tybalt looked up at the tired statue and smiled.

"Good morning Shakespeare!" Rosie called up to him.

"Good morrow to you too Rosie and Tybalt, or should I say Beatrice and Benedick!" Shakespeare said yet again as Rosie and Tybalt looked down.

"So where is Ham?" Rosie inquired.

"Right here!" A voice said behind them and they all turned to face Ham who smiled. "So are you all packed and ready to go?"

"Not quite, we have to say our goodbyes first! And as for the packing, well we won't need anything for the return journey!" Rosie explained.

"Well, we wish you a safe journey back to your garden and we wish you all the best! And please feel free to visit us any time soon!" Shakespeare told them.

"Well thank you, and thanks for all of your help and hospitality! We are most grateful for all that you have done for us!" Rosie smiled and hugged Ham. Ham noticed Tybalt's glare towards him as he did this so he decided to back away quickly before another argument brewed up. When Ham face Tybalt he held out his hand and Tybalt took a few seconds to respond before shaking it.

"Thanks!" Tybalt said plainly but Ham knew he was grateful. Turning to leave Rosie said her last goodbyes before heading out across the garden to exit it. Tybalt also turned to leave but was suddenly stopped by Ham's hand.

"Listen Tybalt," Ham began "I know we got off to a rocky start and I know you haven't felt very comfortable around me. But I would like to say something to you which involves you and Rosie. Now I know how you feel about her as I am sure you already know. But what I am trying to say is, she is a good gnome. And she is a keeper! I just want you to reconsider your feelings. Don't pretend to be the old you again, let love change you! Don't give her up! You may regret it later on! Tybalt… you deserve to be happy, and I am pretty sure Rosie also does too!" Ham explained and Tybalt listened closely. If he would have said this a few weeks ago, well Tybalt would have caused a ruckus about it. But now Tybalt knew what he was implying, and that wasn't such a bad thing! "So Tybalt, just think about it! You may come to thank me later on!"

Rosie was half way across the large garden when she noticed Tybalt wasn't following her. She turned around to see him and Ham discussing something quietly and it looked as if it sounded important judging by the looks on their faces. Tybalt looked down and nodded and Rosie was now curious to know what was going on "Tybalt? You coming or what?"

Ham then patted Tybalt on the back and smiled "Just remember what I said Tybalt! And goodbye!" Ham smiled and Tybalt nodded.

"Thanks Ham!" Tybalt smiled at him for the first time in history before he caught up with Rosie. Both Shakespeare and Ham smiled and waved as the two gnomes departed the garden from the way they came in only a few days before.

Once they reached outside Rosie suddenly stopped and turned to Tybalt who also stopped in his tracks unexpectedly. "Tybalt? What was that all about back there?"

"Uh… nothing," Tybalt replied making it sound as if it was nothing. Rosie on the other hand was not convinced one bit.

"Oh come on Tybalt! I have been stuck with you for over a week now and this blob of dried up glue on my arm proves that I know more about you than Ham does! Now tell me what is wrong!" Rosie said seriously whilst pointing to the big blob of glue that was plastered on her arm. The bit that Ham had missed with the glue remover.

"Nothing! We just talked as all!" Tybalt explained trying to walk ahead but was held back by Rosie.

"About what?" Rosie pressed on and Tybalt sighed.

"Why do you care so much?" Tybalt replied feeling agitated.

"Because…" Rosie thought a moment before snapping back "Because I just do ok?"

"Why?"

"What do you mean why?"

"I don't know! And I really don't want to argue Rosie so can we please just drop it now?" Tybalt then decided to break it up before it turned into another one of their petty arguments like the ones they had when they 'supposedly' hated each other.

Both gnomes walked in silence for a while as Rosie took the lead. It was as if she knew where she was going, but in truth she had no idea. But instead of telling Tybalt and getting him all worked up about it, Rosie decided to just let him assume she knew where she was going. After a while Rosie decided she would have to find out where she was, instead of asking anyone (who was there to ask anyway?) Rosie decided to choose the more extreme method. She suddenly stopped in front of a tree and smirked. Tybalt stood next to her and observed her face for several moments before speaking.

"Well…?" Tybalt began "What are we going to do now?"

"You are going to stay put while I find out where we are," Rosie signalled as she rubbed her hands with a dangerous smirk plastered on her face. Tybalt's eyes suddenly widened in fear. She wasn't…. was she?

"What are you doing Rosie?" Tybalt asked a hint of panic in his voice.

"Climbing the tree if you must know. Now make yourself useful and keep watch whilst I go find out where the heck we are!" Rosie rubbed her hands before climbing the first branch. Tybalt couldn't remain calm. The last thing he wanted was for Rosie to get smashed! One, he would have no idea where he was going to go home and two, if Rosie was smashed, so would his heart!

"Rosie there is no need for this! We can go ask for directions from someone! Oh please don't do this Rosie! You will end up getting smashed! Come down Rosie!" Tybalt was practically having a panic attack whilst Rosie climbed another few branches. Rosie rolled her eyes and looked down at the anxious gnome.

"Tybalt! I am perfectly fine! Please just keep cool and breathe will you? I won't do anything silly and smash myself! Now just take a chill pill and keep watch will you God dam it?" Rosie exclaimed still climbing the tree. The higher she got up, the more fearful Tybalt became. But Tybalt tried to remain calm, for her sake if his.

"Ok," Tybalt then scouted the area checking for intruders. He shot an occasional glance up at Rosie as she reached the top of the tree. If it wasn't for his fear of her getting smashed, he would have admired her more. But his slip of the brain caused him to mutter a most inappropriate thing at the worst time "God she beautiful!" Tybalt was actually surprised by what he had just blurted aloud. His fears came true as a small voice replied back at his comment.

"What was that?" Rosie shouted down mishearing what he had just said. Tybalt thanked everything that Rosie hadn't heard that, because if she did, well… he had no idea what he would do!

"Nothing Rosie! Have you reached the top yet?" Tybalt replied changing the subject immediately.

"Now I have yes!" Rosie exclaimed.

"What can you see?" Tybalt asked shouting up to Rosie who was now admiring the view she saw.

"I can see loads of houses, and a park with another Shakespeare statue on top!" Rosie replied and then she paused before speaking "Hold on… Tybalt I can see the red and blue garden!" Rosie exclaimed once again happier than before.

"How far is it?" Tybalt asked secretly hoping it was quite far. Only so he could spend some more time with Rosie.

"Quite far, I can only make out the house and the tall fence! It should take us about another day to get there I think! Two days at the most!" Rosie explained.

"Yes!" Tybalt grinned and whispered to himself, knowing that he could spend one or two more days with Rosie. He then turned back up to face Rosie with a more concerned look on his features. "So you know where we're going now. Now you know that, come down!"

"Alright, alright, Mr. Overprotective! I am coming down now!" Rosie replied rolling her eyes as she began to make her way down the tree.

Tybalt's tension began to fall a little as he watched Rosie make her way down the tree. Each step onto a different branch made Tybalt get a little relieved! But then the mood changed dramatically when Rosie lost her footing and began to loose her balance. Suddenly Rosie fell out of the tree and crashed into a large pile of leaves nearby. Tybalt practically screamed as he rushed over to where she fell.

"ROSIE! Rosie are you alright? Where are you? What have I done?" Tybalt rummaged through the leaves and then began to cry. He then stopped searching through the leaves and then sat down in tears. Something he hadn't done since he was a young gnome. He felt completely ashamed, upset, traumatized and any other word in the English dictionary that described the word sad, hurt or pain. Tybalt sat there for a few minutes before a sudden burst through the leaves startled him.

"WOOOO! You gotta try that Tybalt it's amazing and—are you crying?" Rosie began and then noticed Tybalt's traumatized face. Her features dropped immediately when she saw Tybalt sitting there with his eyes full of tears. It broke her heart.

"Rosie?" Tybalt said in disbelief whilst trying to rub the tears from his eyes.

"You ARE crying!" Rosie then rushed over and grabbed Tybalt into a bear hug. "I'm not smashed! I'm perfectly alright! Why are you crying?"

"Because I thought you were dead! And I don't know what I'd do without you!" Tybalt was still crying from all the shock that had just happened. Rosie herself was shocked by all of this. This was NOT the normal Tybalt who usually glared or had a nasty mood swing if people showed any emotion towards him. This was the Tybalt who was practically distraught by Rosie almost getting smashed herself. What on earth was wrong with his emotions? Or was it that he really did care for her after all?

"Oh Tybalt!" Rosie then tightened her grip on Tybalt's waist as she held him close. She soon felt a few tears escape her eyes as she continued to hold Tybalt. As Tybalt's emotions slowly came back to normal Rosie still comforted him. She was speechless by what he said to her! No one had ever spoken to her like that before. And she liked it.

"No, no, this isn't right!" Tybalt said eventually releasing his grip on Rosie. He looked like his normal self again, and sounded as if nothing had happened.

"It's alright Tybalt, let your emotions out! Cry," Rosie urged, secretly wanting another warm embrace.

"Crying is a weakness!" Tybalt replied sounding his arrogant self again.

"What is it with you? Crying is NO weakness! We all cry at times! It shows that we have feelings and that we care about something! Why do you cover that up?" Rosie asked crossing her arms expecting an appropriate answer.

"Because I am Tybalt! I have no emotions! I am meant to be the toughest gnome in the garden and I shouldn't care for anything! My mother told me that emotions would not get me anywhere in life! And up till now, I agreed with her!" Tybalt replied looking away and Rosie blinked her eyes in disbelief.

"Your mother sounds as if she cared for nothing like herself! You're not like that Tybalt! You have a heart, and for some time I thought you were begging to show it!" Rosie sighed.

"Well you thought different of me didn't you?" Tybalt said arrogantly as if he was back to his old ways. Rosie then looked down sadly with a hint of hurt on her features. She actually thought he did care, about life! But she had been wrong about so many things. She now realized that she was once again wrong, and to think that she thought Tybalt could be changed! Once again she was wrong. Or was she?

"Yes… I guess I did," Rosie continued to look at the ground as she walked past Tybalt. He then realized what he had been saying and instantly regretted every word of it. He had now upset poor Rosie, and he now felt guilty.

"Wait! Rosie I-" Tybalt began calling out to Rosie, she then turned around trying to hold back the tears now forming in her eyes.

"Tybalt, there is no need for you to explain," Rosie turned away from Tybalt and continued to walk away. Tybalt then ran up to Rosie and grabbed her shoulder and turned her body to face him. He had a stern look in his expression and he didn't look as if he was going to back down now!

"Yes Rosie! There is a need for me to explain! I have been confused recently and I have no idea what to think anymore! Please accept my apology, I didn't mean to offend you!" Tybalt said and Rosie's features softened a little.

"You didn't offend me Tybalt; I just thought you were different to them other gnomes. I guess I was wrong about that too eh?" Rosie's tone of voice was low and quiet.

"Listen Rosie, let's turn back time and act as if this conversation never happened! I didn't mean a word of it, now please can we?" Tybalt said and Rosie nodded.

"Ok," Rosie replied still in a quiet tone. She then smiled and looked up at Tybalt, "I guess we're still even."

"I guess we are!" Tybalt smiled and held out his hand to Rosie and she gladly accepted it. "You know I didn't mean any of that right?"

"Yeah you were angry and upset about my so called 'incident' so I hardly blame you!" Rosie laughed sounding a lot more cheerful than she did before.

"Good because for a second there I actually thought I offended you!" Tybalt exclaimed and Rosie nervously chuckled.

'But he did offend you! It was as if he didn't care about you! Or that he no longer loved you!' Rosie's conscience screamed at her but Rosie chose to ignore it. But her conscience was right! He did hurt her feelings back there. To think he was saying he didn't care about her was like a horrible pain that could burn for hours. But Rosie knew he had a heart. He had proved it back there when he hugged her and let his emotions slip away. He wasn't just crying because of her, he was crying because he would have probably not cried at other times! And that made her happy. He was beginning to care for others!

"Well… let's head off shall we?" Rosie punched Tybalt lightly on his shoulder as they both laughed and walked in the direction that Rosie pointed. The direction of Tybalt's garden.

Authors note: Well this chapter seems quite short and I am sorry about that! But with being on holiday I won't have much time to write stories! But I will still find time to do them! Just not as constant! Anyway what do you think? Please review! And I will update as soon as I can!