Saving Her: Interlude


Summary: Carter knows this is a good idea. She really does, because she's going to be saving Rosie, and anything after that just doesn't register. CarterxRosie

Author's Note: Okay, so this is just an Interlude, not a chapter, and I have to say sorry because I WAS going to fulfill my promise of fluff until I had this idea…well actually I had this nightmare (with different people, of course) and it scared the shit out of me so I thought "HEY—this would be so great in my fic…" And here it is.

Disclaimer: I do not own Princess Rosalinda/Rosie Gonzalez, Carter Mason, or Princess Protection Program and all affiliated characters and environments. They are the property of Disney in conjunction with Annie DeYoung :]


"Rosie…Rosie…"

The princesses' eyes fluttered in time with her heart as that sing-song voice wafted into her dreamscape. A soft laugh fell from somewhere above her and tingled through her entire body. She stopped breathing as gentle fingers ran over her forehead, and the voice called to her again.

"Rosie, wake up…"

Something about that voice was familiar. So familiar. But she couldn't let herself hope…No, it was just her mind playing tricks again. It couldn't be—

"Rose, c'mon!"

No, she wasn't going to allow herself to believe. Nope, she was just going to lay here until her mind stopped playing cruel tricks on her and that beautiful voice faded back into her dreams.

"Alright princess—get up already!"

And then the covers were ripped from her body, and the early morning chill she felt could not be imagined. Her eyes flew open, and there she was.

Rosie sat up so fast her head spun. There she was. Carter stood in front of her, in short plaid shorts and a tank top, quilt clutched to her chest as she grinned at the dumbstruck princess.

"Jeez, you sleep like a rock."

Rosie couldn't speak, couldn't think, couldn't breathe—Carter was here? Carter was here. She was safe. She was right here. Then was it all a dream?

The grin on her best friends' face fell slightly as she caught sight of the tears welling in Rosie's eyes.

"Hey…what's the matter?" Carter's hands softly touched her cheeks, and that was when Rosie lost it.

"CARTER!"

Rosie dove at the other girl, wrapping her arms tightly around her neck as Carter stumbled backwards, catching her around the waist.

"Rosie?! What's wrong?" Carter's hands wandered over her friend's back soothingly, her worry increasing as she felt the princess's tears drip over her shoulder.

"Oh Carter it was awful…I dreamt—he had taken you, and I could not—and there was no way—I had not—"

"Rose!" Carter held her at arms length, holding her gaze imploringly. "Relax, okay? It was just a nightmare. Look—" She stepped back from her friend, arms out. "See? I'm here, and totally fine."

Rosie's smile was brilliant as she pressed herself back into her friend, sighing. "I love you Carter Mason." She couldn't control herself as she pressed a small kiss to the delicate skin of Carter's neck. "So very much."

"Why?"

Rosie froze, confused as that was not what she had been expecting her best friend to say. And then there was something warm and wet seeping into her hair. Slowly, she touched a hand to the top of her head, and when she brought her fingers down to see what the it was, her heart stopped in her chest.

Red. It was red.

Blood.

Rosie gasped, jumping backward as her gaze found Carter's face. She let out a shriek, stumbling backward onto the bed as the thick red liquid dropped down Carter's rounded cheeks.

"Why Rosie?"

"Carter—" Rosie gasped. "—what—"

"Why did you let him take me?" Carter stumbled forward, red lines shimmering on her skin. "You let him hurt me."

"I did not!" Rosie scrambled backward as more blood poured from Carter's eyes, beginning to seep down her nose and dribble from the corner of her rosy lips. "I did not, Carter, please—"

"But you did, Rosie. You did this to me." Carter's legs were pressed against the bed frame now as Rosie was bunched into the wall, trembling.

"No, Carter! Carter! CARTER!"

Rosie's eyes snapped open, Carter's name dieing on her lips as she sat up, her heart pounding. Her chest heaved with unsteady breath as her eyes adjusted to the darkness of the room. Alone. She was alone. Rosie buried her face in her hands, heaving sobs dripping from the cracks in her fingers.

'A dream…a terrible nightmare.'

The fact did nothing to quell the princess's anguish. Flashes of Carter's blood-covered face pierced her soul, and a sob tore form her throat.

"Sorry…Carter…so sorry…"


Author's Note: Talk about a teaser. Lols Sorry guys, I can't have sunshine and rainbows just yet…this might be my crazy stress levels talking but I just need the dramatic build up. Good news is that after the drama explodes you'll get pretty much nothing but tooth-ache-inducing fluff. I spit out 10 pages of nothing but mushy Carter/Rosie moments so you have that to look forward to. Lols Don't worry, only a few more chapters of drama! :p I might do another Interlude later, from Carter's POV. If I can think of something…Anyhoo! See y'all next week :]