By the time Rose came to find Helen to deliver the news of John's departure, it was early evening. Helen hadn't been sure of what to say, nodding at the news. She hadn't really expected John to hang around as long as he had but his inability to say good bye to her in person stung. Despite everything their past held, she still considered him a friend.

Rosie had been startlingly quiet, not interrupting Helen's train of thought on the matter. In fact, they'd both wallowed in silence for several long moments before Helen's computer beeped incessantly at them.

Rose rolled her eyes at the intrusion but lounged further back into her chair as she waited for Helen to answer the video call.

"Hey Doc," Henry said enthusiastically. "Is, uh, is Rosie with you?"

"Yes," Helen said warily, looking over at the now smirking young woman.

"Oh, O.K, well, uh we were wondering if you guys could, uh, come down to the sitting room in the east wing," he continued, his voice slightly distorted as it came from her speakers.

"Certainly Henry," she agreed, not letting her apprehension show. He grinned at her before terminating the link and Helen shook her head, looking to Rose.

"What did you do?"

"Hey! Don't blame me!" she cried with a grin. "Blame Kate. And Henry. And Will a little bit too but not me. I swear I didn't put the idea in their heads."

Helen shot her an uncertain look before standing up and making her way to the door, Rose skipping along merrily behind her. She'd changed from the baggy sweats she'd been wearing and, after what Helen would guess to be the longest shower in the history of showers, her friend looked far better than she had this morning. Her summer dress swirled around her calves as they hurried through the corridors and Helen grew even more curious at what her team had planned.

Rose chuckled happily, obviously having done some snooping but remained silent, giving Helen no clue as to what they were headed into.

It took them only a minute to make it to the room but, as Helen reached for the door knob, Rose stopped her.

"I'd suggest you get out your gun," she said with a startlingly straight face. Helen raised an eyebrow but Rose simply widened her eyes imploringly. Sighing, Helen shook her head and ignored the girl.

"I'll not be part of your games," she said tartly and Rose scoffed.

"Not my games," she advised with a grimace as Helen threw open the door to the most haphazard surprise party she'd ever seen.

Nikola stood in the corner, arms crossed as he scowled at the others who stood around in various states of shock. Will was holding a half inflated balloon as he stared at the door, Kate appeared to be more surprised than the new arrivals and Henry had a mouthful of food.

"I told you so," Nikola said smugly and Rose chuckled, sauntering forwards with a smile.

"Don't tease them," she chastised lightly. "It was a lovely gesture."

"I honestly don't understand they thought they'd be able to keep a surprise party a surprise with a telepath in the building," he said with a sigh.

"A party?" Helen asked from where she stood in the doorway.

"Well, 'cause Rose is leaving," Kate began uncertainly. "I mean, it's not really a party..."

"More just an excuse to stuff their faces and drink their way through your top shelf," Nikola finished with a grin at Helen.

"Oh yeah, 'cause what do you do every time you're here that's so different?" Henry asked Nikola indignantly.

"It's merely compensation for my valuable time and effort," Nikola replied haughtily and Rose scoffed.

"If they gave Henry twice the time they gave you, I'm fairly certain they'd get the same result with less of a headache," she teased, grabbing a chip from the nearest bowl. "Plus Henry bathes more often than you."

Nikola shot her a withering look before stalking to Helen's side.

"Darling," he drawled, settling an arm around her waist. "What's say we leave the children to their games and go make our own mess?"

"Step on his foot Helen, he hates it when you do that," Rose called cheerfully. "Or mess up his hair. He puts more effort into it than Will does."

"Now that's an idea," Helen said, turning as she stepped away from him.

"Traitor," he muttered at Rose who simply smiled serenely before turning to Kate.

"Music?" she asked with a smile and Kate nodded enthusiastically, grabbing Henry and dragging him over to the computer set up in the corner. They muttered to each other for a few minutes before music floated through the room.

"Ew," Rose complained, making a face. "Haven't any of you got any taste when it comes to music?"

"Gaga," Kate deadpanned and Henry snickered.

"Do you deny the impact that song had?" Rose asked belligerently but, just as Kate opened her mouth to respond, Helen jumped in.

"How about we get something to drink?" she suggested, grabbing Rose's shoulder. The younger girl laughed softly but followed Helen's lead, winking at Kate as they headed to the other side of the room.

"Do you really think I'd pick a fight with her?" Rosie asked, bemused.

"Undoubtedly. And you'd win. Which is why I'm worried," Helen answered as she grabbed them both a drink. "I really don't fancy having to clean up that kind of mess."

"Oh, I'm much too fond of that girl to treat her like that," Rose said with a grin. "She reminds me of me."

"And you have the ability to fight with yourself on a very regular basis," Helen continued as they leant against the wall, watching the others mingle. "Kate is no where near ready to handle your rather twisted sense of humour."

"Oh, I don't know," Rose said mysteriously as she chuckled darkly.

"You know, when you smile like that, you look frighting like Nikola," Helen said, eyeing her friend with a mix of apprehension and frustration in her eyes.

Oh I know, she said, chuckling once more. And I know how it drives you to distraction.

And with that, she pushed off the wall, turning to flash Helen a smile before holding out a small folded piece of paper.

"Later, when all of this is over," she said as Helen took the small note. "Find Nikola and give him this for me."

"You really are leaving then?" Helen asked, lowering her voice as she pocketed the note.

"Aw, don't do this," Rose whined, stepping closer to Helen as she too lowered her voice. "I thought after last time you promised we'd have no more sentimental good-byes."

"This isn't sentimental," Helen argued quietly. "I just..."

Rose sighed.

"I know. It's just, well, you know, it get's awkward and then I feel bad and then you start to feel bad and then it all falls apart," she muttered sheepishly, staring up at Helen with big, bashful eyes.

"Oh come here," Helen said after a beat, opening her arms as Rose flung her arms around Helen's neck.

"I really will miss you," Rose whispered, holding Helen tight. "And you mustn't hesitate to call. I'd love to hear from you again this decade."

"Same goes for you," Helen replied with a soft laugh as Rose released her. Clearing her throat, Rose straightened up, fixing her skirt as she tried not to grin at Helen.

"Well, now that's done," she teased before winking and turning away. "Oh, and don't forget the thing," she said, tapping the side of her nose before dancing away to where Henry and Will were standing by the table.

Sighing, Helen shook her head before taking a sip of the wine in her hand. It wasn't anything special (because only she, Nikola and the Big Guy knew how to get at the really good stuff) but she was glad for it. She knew Rose was going to have to leave, she always did but that didn't mean she wanted her to. Having Rose around was comforting, they knew each other well and while the woman was a walking headache, it was nice to have someone around who was able to understand why Helen was often so exhausted.

True, Nikola was her equal in many ways but Rosie somehow surpassed them both and she was more than willing to let them know it. But more than that, Rose was her friend and after all this time true friends were in short supply for her. It would be nice to have someone around who could just talk with her without the fear of 'Helen Magnus'.

Helen, she warned. Don't start now or I'll be forced to drag you upstairs, braid you hair, paint your toenails and spill to you all my life secrets.

Helen chuckled aloud at the thought and tried to content herself with the fact that Rose was finally back in her life after too many years apart. Looking up, she scanned the room only to find Rosie just seconds before her lips landed on Nikola's for what appeared to be a very bruising kiss.

Only when the smaller woman pulled away did Helen finally remember to avert her eyes, strolling over to Will quickly in the hopes of hiding her strange and unfamiliar thoughts. Damn Rose and her inability to keep things private. Out of the corner of her eye Helen noticed her and Nikola slip out of the room and, while the sight sent a bolt of something foreign straight to her gut, she chuckled.

Same bloody Rose.

Oooh, second to last chapter! Yay! (I think) Anyway, it's a bit rough despite having been reshuffled and rewritten. And I promise the next chapter is much more Teslen-y. In preparation, I want you all to go listen to the song this story is named for, sung by Vera Lynn. Should help with the visual :P

xx