Happy Sunday! This was meant to be up earlier but I got very little writing done this week and nowhere near enough to warrant an early updates. Two chapters after this and I can tell you that there are elements of the one coming you won't like. No knicker-knotting, alright? I think this chapter might be a little confusing but it's almost meant to be that way. Let me know if you have questions :)

xx

It was late afternoon and everyone had wandered off to their separate corners of the Sanctuary, each processing the events of the previous week. Helen had locked herself in the lab, determined to unlock the secrets of her shared DNA with Rose and even John knew better than to disturb her. She'd been after a vial of the girl's blood for the better part of a century and now she had it plus many more reasons to study the substance. This was not a project into which anyone except Rose would be allowed to interfere.

So, instead of seeking out Helen to make the goodbye he knew he had to give, John went in search of the one person he knew would deliver the message correctly. Unfortunately the girl in question was harder to find than normal. No amount of mental calls had prompted her to appear before him in that way that was almost always startling. He contemplated asking Nikola if he knew where she was but he wasn't entirely sure that Nikola would even know. Despite the fact that they'd made up, there was still a tension in their relationship that made John question the depth of apology that had been given.

Then, as he caught a glimpse of the setting sun, John knew where to go.

"I was wondering when you'd find me," Rosie said, not turning from her seat on the edge of the tower. She was sitting cross-legged on the old stone wall surrounding the turret like structure, eyes closed, hands neatly folded in her lap. The light breeze ruffled her hair softly and made the floaty sleeves of her dress shudder slightly. "Though I'll admit you took less time than I expected."

"You are rather predictable," John replied softly, taking a seat next to her, swinging his long legs over the low wall. The sun was setting, casting a fiery glow over New City as it sprawled out before them. The river meandered by slowly, its dull surface still managing to reflect some of the amber glow. For a moment they sat silently, John taking in the sight before him.

"Why are you here John?" she asked eventually, not a hint of annoyance in her tone. She was curious.

"You keep the beast at bay," he replied quietly. His eyes remained on the sunset but he could tell Rose was looking at him now. "Why is that?" he asked quietly, turning to meet her gaze, surprised to see the usual fire in her eyes was dimmed now. The hatred she usually held for him seemed to be held back in much the same way as his blood lust was.

"It's afraid of me, much as you used to be," she said with a small smirk and he had to smile at that.

"I still am," he said, looking back over the city.

"As I am of you," she quipped softly, returning her own gaze to the view.

"Why?" John asked.

"Because I know what you will do." Ah, he thought, that ever present vision. He let out a low breath and mentally cursed whatever hideous act his future self would commit.

"You must fight the darkness John," Rosie said suddenly her head whipping around to stare at him, "because the second you stop, the second you give in and let that beast have free reign… I will not be the only one to die." The passion was back in her eyes now and he could hear the plea in her voice. She wanted him to fight because she didn't want to die at his hand.

"That's what you saw? All those years ago back in Oxford?" he asked, returning her intense gaze.

"That's what I see every time we touch," she said sadly. She smiled tentatively at him but it did not reach her eyes which had widened significantly.

"Why haven't you killed me then? Surely that would prevent your death," he asked desperately. Another murder to his name was not something he wanted. Oh the beast wanted it but he did not. Especially not someone for whom Helen cared so deeply.

"I cannot kill you anymore than I could kill Helen, John. It's not your fault that you are a monster. You are not a monster. You will one day redeem yourself and though I shall not live much past that moment, I do look forward to the day."

A silence fell over them, John unable to comprehend what she was saying. He knew she could hear the questions in his mind but, while he desperately wanted answers, he was almost glad that she left him in peace.

Some minutes later, as the sun sunk lower, Rose began to shuffle around, unfolding her legs as she dug into the pocket of her dress. Letting her legs swing over the edge, she sighed softly and slowly unfolded her hand.

"I bought this for Ashley some time ago," she said softly, holding her hand out to him. It was a tiny silver locket on a long chain. With tentative fingers, John picked it up, turning over the antique jewellery slowly. It was well polished with a small star on the front, a seed pearl embedded in the middle. It was delicate and subtle, a child's necklace.

"I'm not sure she would have worn it," he said, flicking open the catch. It seemed too delicate for the Ashley he had met on too few occasions.

"Of course she wouldn't have. But it's a perfect replica of the one Helen has," Rose said, looking over at him with a smile. The setting sun cast an odd glow over and John was struck by how peaceful the normally violent girl seemed. Something about the memory of Ashley seemed to make her melancholy but there was still a smile in her eyes.

"You loved her." It was a statement, not a question.

"She was like a sister to me."

He'd always know that Ashley had been loved and had known love but hearing it from someone so unexpected helped to… well, not ease his guilt at his absence but it certainly made it less painful.

"Thank you for being there for her," he said sincerely, turning to face Rose. It was strange to think that he owed his life to someone who had loved his daughter yet hated him with such passion that, at times, he wondered how he'd managed to live as long as he had.

"It was my pleasure. I only wish you'd been able to too," Rose said with a small smile. Then she grinned. "I think you'd have been able to reign her in better than either Helen or I ever could."

"You're just saying that to be kind."

Rose chuckled.

"Maybe," she conceded with a smile.

"Why though? Why try and comfort me?" he asked suddenly, the need to know overweighing the fear at the possible answer.

"Because you are not at fault. You are not a monster, John. You fight the dark thoughts while the monster feeds on them. You have a monster within you and there is a difference, even I can see that." Her words were bitter, almost as though she wanted to be able to hold it against him. But, if the future really was as dire as she foretold, why did she pain herself to admit it?

"But if I'm to kill you, what's the point?" he asked, turning to look at her.

"I am not afraid of death. I have sought it for far too long to hold a grudge," she answered, not looking at him. Then she smirked. "Well, maybe just a little one. You're a good man John. Evil, but a good man too. Sometimes I forget that."

"Are you scared of what I will do to you?" he asked after a moment.

"Not anymore," she said confidently. "I've had a very long time to come to terms with my death and while I doubt that it will be as peaceful as I'd like, I have to have faith that there is a reason for it all."

John looked at her curiously, wondering what it would be like to know that kind of peace. He'd spent so long running from death, prolonging his life through the most illicit of means that the idea that death was not something to be feared was strange. He knew one day he would die but, until he had no choice but to stop, he'd use Helen's blood to prolong his life, simply so that he shouldn't die before her.

"I intend to greet death like an old friend," she said softly. There was a pause.

"Where's that from?"

"Am I not allowed to be profound?" she said haughtily but John wisely, did not take the bait, instead waiting for the answer he knew would come eventually.

"Harry Potter," she groused and John laughed freely.

"Well it's better than Twilight," she replied with a smirk.

"I'm sure."

For the first time in his memory, a comfortable silence fell over them and John felt the human half of him begin to relax. Of course, the monster within him was still on edge, wondering how long it would take her to give in to the urge to push him over the edge. Perhaps it was because Helen was down stairs and would get angry at her for such an action. Ah, but there was an interesting train of thought. Would she care?

"I can't promise you the future John, not the one you want," she burst out suddenly, breaking into his stream of thought. "I can't promise you Helen anymore than I can make that same promise to myself. But I can promise she cares, I can promise that she doesn't want you to die by my hand. I can't promise she'll come back to you anymore than I can promise to not try and kill you next time we meet… I wish I could, more than anything but I can't make that promise to either of us."

"It would be so easy," he mused quietly and she hummed in agreement.

"Almost too easy," she added softly and he could hear the warning in her voice. "I couldn't hurt them like that."

"You love him," he said softly and, for some reason, it felt like a revelation.

"I love both of them," she answered carefully. "More than anything." Her tone softened and John knew it was true.

"You have to go," she said cautiously after a few more minutes of unnatural peace. "Both of us do," she added at his raised eyebrow. "And it's alright, I'll tell Helen," she said kindly, understanding the pain he was going to suffer away from her.

Unsure of what to say next, John rose from his seat, casting one last glance out over the blood red sunset as he prayed for her to be wrong. It was pointless, he knew but as he disappeared in a flash of red he couldn't stop himself from hoping.

"Stay safe John," Rose whispered, closing her eyes as a single tear rolled down her cheek. "Stay sane."