"Rose?" Everett entered the throne room. He searched the room. It was an absolute mess from their previous days of combat training. Dummies and targets lay across the stone. He stepped over them with aching joints. He had never worked so hard in his life He was sure that Lorelai was feeling the same way. She needed her strength for tomorrow. Magical and physical. "Rose?"

"I'm here," Rose said from behind him. He whirled around, shocked by her sudden appearance. She looked tired, as usual.

"I've come for the rose," he cut to the point. "I assume I'll need it to get back?"

"That would be logical," Rose nodded. With a wave of her hand, petals began to fly into the room. They collected themselves into a floating pile. A wilting bud came to Rose's outstretched hand. "I'm afraid this is all that is left of it."

"I expected as much." He opened his pack, and the rose petals filed in. Rose crossed to him, placing the stem carefully inside. "If I do break the spell, wouldn't you be sent back too?"

She hesitated but shook her head. "No. It shouldn't."

"Then, what will happen?" The question had been festering within him since Rose rejected Lorelai's invitation again. If Rose stayed in this world, would anything change? Would everything change?

"I get to keep living in my paradise," Rose shrugged. "And you get to go home."

"But what about...everyone else?"

"They weren't part of my world. When I created it, I went back to a time I felt safe. I didn't specifically make the characters that roam this reality. You did, when you came here."

"But I don't have magic."

"It doesn't matter," Rose looked back into his pack. "That rose has been waiting for you, all of this time. Otherwise, you would've never stumbled upon it again. Just because someone doesn't have magic doesn't mean magic doesn't affect them. Fate is the strongest type of magic."

"Fate? I would say this is more like a big mess."

"Oh come on," Rose clicked her tongue. "You and I both know that's not true. You were meant to be here, just as I am to remain here." Everett didn't know what to say.

"She can't come with me, can she?" Everett asked. They both knew who he was talking about.

"No. Reality rules would not allow it," Rose bit her lip. His heart dropped. Lorelai would be left here when he beat the curse. Sure, he would be back at his home, but what of her? She would be alone with only a faint memory of him. "She's not real."

"She is," Everett insisted. "She's waiting for me. I was just an idiot not to realize it in our own reality."

"At least this time you can be wiser about it." She smirked, but it quickly faded. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay," Everett tried to ignore the tears threatening to surface. "I'll just have to tell her everything."

"I'm sure she'll have no objection."

"No," Everett smiled. "If I can get her to talk to me again."

"After this? You'll be able to do anything." It was a true sentiment. He saved his father, his sister, his mother, and his best friend. Perhaps tomorrow, he'll save the kingdom and himself, but what of Rose?

"So can you." It was a desperate move, but he had to beg, for an alternate reality Lorelai's sake. Rose's expression instantly went blank. "You can change the past."

"You don't understan—"

"No, you don't understand!" Everett snapped. He was sick of hearing the same excuse over and over again. He knew Lorelai would feel the same way. "I saw those memories, Rose. You have a life worth saving."

"Things have changed since those memories," Rose didn't meet his eye.

"And they can change again. I of all people know that." he persisted. "You've been doing this dance for much too long for your own good. Do you know where Simon is today?"

"I would rather not," she walked past him, heading towards the throne.

"He's a reporter," he called after her. She stopped walking. "He's covering Lorelai's party. Alone."

Rose peered over his shoulder. "He hates the media."

"Then he's in pain like everyone else in this reality," Everett stated. "I know you are too, you're just used to it." Rose didn't answer him. Instead, she stared at the floor, keeping her lips sealed. He knew he had pressed his luck. "I better go. Thank you, for everything. I wish I could've returned the favor." He gazed at her one last time before he left the palace.

"Yes, those should go over there," Mal pointed for the servants to place a table. Lorelai watched her mother conduct with grace from the grand staircase in the ballroom. All day, her mother hadn't skipped a beat. The blue and purple curtains were hung with the lanterns she had seen the other night. They would be lit blue tomorrow night. It would be magical.

Her brother and father were missing today. It wasn't unusual for Max to be missing. He never liked social events, so even decorating would send him for the hills. The king's investigations into the possessions have kept him away from the party planning he normally took part in. They would all stop soon. Lorelai wished she could put Ben's mind at ease, but she couldn't without letting him know the truth. Never the matter, all would be well soon enough. Or at least she hoped it would.

Lorelai couldn't help but wonder what was to become of her once the spell was broken. It was true, Everett would go back home, but Rose would stay, keeping this alternate world alive. Would the rest of the kingdom go on after the disappearance of the De Vil boy? Would they forget him entirely? Or would a lookalike replace him? Would he be Conroy once again?

Her mind cleared when her phone buzzed in her pocket. She smiled, standing and running back up the stairs out of the doors and into the garden. She heard the roar of his bike. Lorelai reached the cobblestone path, where she found Everett parking his bike. Scales beat her there. The cat was already at his feet, brushing his ankles with her tail. She grinned at the sight of him as he took off his helmet, securing it to the handle. He played with the straps of his pack. Taking it off slowly. The rose must be in there, otherwise, he wouldn't have been so careful.

"Long time, no see," she crossed her arms as she approached. Everett was startled by the sight of her. "Are you alright?"

"We need to talk," Everett held out his hand. She raised a brow but took his palm anyway. They began to walk, Scales sticking with the backpack. The silence was awful. Worry began to consume her. She knew she should've gone with him today, but he insisted she stay at the castle to rest.

"Everett," she finally broke the tension. He glanced at her once. "What happened? You look pale."

"I'm worried," he finally said.

"Yeah, it's the calm before the storm," Lorelai shrugged. "We've been preparing. There's nothing else we can do but fight."

"I'm not worried about the fight," Everett stopped walking. They were face to face, but Lorelai couldn't read him. "I'm worried about what will happen after."

"Rose will remain here. She won't be convinced otherwise."

"I know." He sounded frustrated, so she held her tongue. "I'm worried about you."

That was the last thing she expected him to say. "Me?"

He frowned. "I can't take you with me."

"I'll be in the other reality," she shrugged. "You said it yourself that I'm the same Lori."

"Yes but..." he squeezed her hand. "She's not you."

She could've laughed at that. She did laugh. He stared at her with disbelief. "You really are oblivious sometimes," she smiled. His expression remained unchanged. She thought for a moment, wondering if the real Lorelai would forgive Everett when he came back. The answer, however, was simple. Of course, she would. Everett was the boy she had been pining after ever since their true meeting. She saw it in the memory of the rose petals it was all there. "She'll forgive you, Everett."

He bit his lip. "But she won't understand everything I've...We've gone through." Her heart skipped a beat.

"Then show her," she shrugged. "You'll have the rose. You can show her the memories." He was about to retort when she silenced him. "She'll listen to you. I know so."

"But what about you?" he asked. "Are you going to be okay here? All alone?"

"I'll have to be," Lorelai shrugged. Her selfish desires screamed in the back of her mind, but she knew there was no use in asking him to stay. So many times she wanted him to stay, but he wasn't hers to keep. The real version of herself was waiting for her out there, and she knew exactly how she was feeling. Everett stared down at their hands. "I'll take care of Charlotte. And Carlos and Evie. Even Rose."

His chin rose at that. "You will?"

"Of course I will," Lorelai pledged. She didn't know what else she would do. "I'll continue to have the magic lessons with her at least once a week."

"Maybe one day she'll be able to leave," Everett sounded hopeful. "Then this world will be no more and..."

Lorelai didn't know when she started crying, but a heavy tear ran down her cheek to her chin. She would miss him terribly, she realized. Part of her never thought this day would ever come, but here they were, the day before her fifteenth birthday, worrying about if the mission succeeds. He wiped the second tear with the pad of his thumb. She wasn't making this any easier for them. She knew that.

"Lorelai..." he whispered. She couldn't look at his face any longer, so she pulled him into her arms, and buried her face in the crook of his neck. He smelled like the forest. She did her best to remember the scent.

"Thank you," she told him. "For everything."

"I should be thanking you," he said, his breath shallow.

"How about we just enjoy the silence," she muttered, and Everett only pulled her closer.

Charlotte observed her brother as they ate dinner. Evie and Carlos were chatting through the meal, smiling and giggling more than before. Charlotte had never seen her father smile so much. He looked like Conroy when he was around Princess Lorelai, or in general. Except for tonight, Conroy was not happy. Instead, he looked rather miserable. His hazel eyes were blank as they stared at his untouched plate.

"Conroy," Charlotte had enough of his silence. He blinked, taking in the scene around him. Evie and Carlos were unphased by her voice. "Have you ever noticed your eyes are hazel?"

"What?" he uttered, raising a dark brow.

"They're lighter than mine." She had actually made this observation about a week ago but never brought it up. "And dad's." Carlos looked to his children at this remark.

"My what?" he asked.

"Conroy's eyes are different from yours," she briefed him.

"Well, mom doesn't have hazel. She had blue." Everyone shifted at the mention of Jane. Even Charlotte got slight chills.

"Fairy Godmother does," Conroy pointed out.

"No," Charlotte shook her head. "Hers are flat and rather dull brown."

"Don't speak about your grandmother that way," Carlos scolded. "She's a very kind woman."

"I'm not saying she is dull," Charlotte pointed out. "I quite like the cookies she sends."

"Anyway," Evie brought them back to the subject. "What is it about Conroy's eyes?"

Charlotte examined Evie's face carefully, raising her brows in shock. "They actually...look like yours, Evie." Her view flickered from her brother to Evie multiple times. There was no difference that could be mistaken. Conroy's face paled as they all looked at him.

"I guess I didn't notice it before, but you do have strange eyes, Conroy," Carlos said after the inspection.

"A strange coincidence," Conroy shrugged, he then proceeded to eat, avoiding any more glances. Dinner continued on without another word from him. Carlos and Evie went back to their meals, but Charlotte wasn't convinced.

Something was definitely wrong with her brother, but he wouldn't admit it. Even later that night, he closed himself tightly behind his bedroom door. She knocked, and he answered by poking his head out. "Did you need something, Charlotte?"

"I just wanted to say goodnight," she eyed the crack in the door. "Is there something glowing in there?" She reached for the door, but he stepped forward, closing it behind him.

"It's just my phone," Conroy lied. He was terrible at it, at least in her eyes.

"Right," she folded her arms. "Is it Lorelai?"

"No," he shook his head. "She should already be in bed. Just like you should be."

"You're not dad," she stuck out her tongue.

"Well, he'll be up here in no time," Conroy stepped back as he opened the door. "So you better get going. Tomorrow's a big day." Now was the time. She dove between his legs getting through the crack of the door. The door swung open as she rolled in. Conroy tried to grab her, but it was too late.

On the bed, lay a circle of pink glowing rose petals. In the center, a thorned stem of a wilting bud hovered. Her eyes widened at the sight. This wasn't what she was expecting of all things. To be fair, she didn't know what to expect at all, but this certainly wasn't it. "Charlotte," Conroy held the door open. "You need to leave." She didn't pay any attention to him as she got up on her feet.

"An enchanted rose," Charlotte muttered, causing Conroy to shut the door behind them. The room was dark, but the pink glow provided enough light. "Where did you get an enchanted rose?" She held out her hand, ready to touch it.

"Charlotte don't!" her brother grabbed her, but it was too late. She grabbed the stem.

Everett yanked his sister away from the flower, forcing her to release the magical flower. The stem fell to the floor, still glowing. He hoped he could still save the secret, but he knew it was too late. He was in too much of a shock to stop her in the first place. His curious sister had wedged herself through the door so fast, he was simply flabbergasted at the feat. She had never tried things like this. At least not in this reality.

Charlotte was breathing heavily in his arms. Her jaw had dropped. "Conroy..."

"What did you see?" Everett asked.

"When did you have blue hair?" she asked. His heart dropped. She had seen enough. "And Lorelai...she...had purple locks that were faded. Her eyes they...glowed."

"What else did you see?" he persisted. She rolled away from him.

"You...you were in a forest," Charlotte scooted away from him. "It was raining, hard. You and Lorelai grabbed this... rose."

"What?" he whispered. There was no memory he had been shown. What did it mean? "What happened next?"

"There was a flash and a...roar?" she hugged her knees to her chest. "Why do you have that?" she was eyeing the rose on the floor.

There was no use in hiding it. He couldn't stand to see her scared like that. He only had twenty-four hours left anyway. "Listen to me. This is going to sound crazy...but it's all true."

"Conroy—"

"My name's not Conroy," he started off. "It's Everett. Everett Conroy De Vil. I'm your brother...from a different reality." Charlotte widened her eyes but remained silent. "This world is a spell, made by who you know as the Rose Beast."

"You mean the legend is true?" she gasped.

"Yes and no," Everett had to think of a way to make her understand. "She's Ben's secret sister. She created this alternate world to escape."

"How am I supposed to believe you...whoever you are?"

"You know the picture you stole from my room? The one of me and Lorelai?" She nodded. "You took that picture."

"No, I didn't," Charlotte shook her head. Everett crawled to his nightstand to fetch it. He showed it to her.

"If you look closely, you can see the purple in Lorelai's hair and the blue in mine," he pointed out.

"Then why do you have dark hair now?"

"Because...our mother isn't Jane in my world. At dinner, you said my eyes look like Evie's." She nodded again, unable to speak. "It's because I have her eyes. She's our real and true mother." He took a deep breath. "I had made a terrible mistake, and it caused everything to change. I didn't understand it at first either. Everything you have suffered is because of me and...I'm sorry, but I'm going to fix it. Lorelai and—"

"Lorelai's in on this?" Charlotte asked. He confirmed. "That's why you've been sneaking out with her so much."

"Yes," he nodded. "But she's not from my world. She's just like you, suffering from my mistake."

"How are you going to fix it?" she asked, generally curious.

"Over the last month, I've been fixing the problems I have caused. Jane, Lorelai, Evie, Dad, you and—"

"Me? What's wrong with me?"

"Nothing," he reassured. "I just had to get you back on track. You were suppressing your dreams of tinkering, so I encouraged you."

"That's why you brought me down to Dad's secret workshop."

"Exactly," he was glad she was picking up on this hard topic. "Everything that's happened in the last month has been leading up to tomorrow. That's where all of this will end."

"End? Where? When?"

Tomorrow, at the ball I think," he wasn't sure about the time. It seemed pretty storybook to have this at a ball, so it seemed right to predict Uma's attack. "I'm going to face Uma and break the curse. I will return to my reality, where I can fix all the problems I caused there."

"You like to cause trouble, Con—Everett," she corrected herself.

"I don't like it, believe me," he shook his head. "I never wanted any of this to happen. If I could, I would take back every bruise and scar Jane ever gave you. But I also know that if I was never sent here, I would never realize how important our family is. How lucky I am to have been given the life that I had. Sure, it was hard, but I would face a thousand bullies all of my life over having a mother torture you for even one second."

Her eyes quickly glazed over with forming tears, "Is Evie a good mother?"

"The best," Everett confirmed. "And I was too thick-headed to see it before."

"You are rather oblivious," Charlotte chuckled.

"I'm aware," he rolled his eyes with a small grin. "But tomorrow, Uma is going to attack the palace. I am sure of it. When the time comes, I want you to stay close to Evie and Dad. I don't want you to get mixed up in all this."

"But what if I can help," his sister offered.

"I don't know what's going to happen," Everett shook his head. "You can protect Evie and Carlos as soon as there's any whiff of a threat. Promise me that you'll keep yourself safe."

"I promise," Charlotte agreed. There was a long silence between them. "Hey, in your world do I have my own workshop?"

"Oh yeah," Everett confirmed. "You have the treehouse, except you built tunnels all through the branches. You invented a terrible door opener though. It kills almost anyone who enters."

Charlotte crossed her arms. "What do you suggest then?"

"Make it open inwards, not out," he gave her a wink.

"Got it," she returned the wink. "I'll have to make that adjustment after the party. Wait. What happens when you go back home?"

He was hoping to avoid that part. She was too nosey for her own good. "I'm not sure. If the spell breaks you may disappear like a dream. If it doesn't you may live a full life here."

"But you won't be here."

"No," he bit his lip. "I won't, but Lorelai said she will be there for you. Don't be afraid of her, alright?"

"I'm not afraid of her. I've gotten to know her well when I used to go over to the castle."

"Have you seen Max lately?"

"No," she looked down at her lap. "I saw him the other week, but it was a brief visit before he lost control. He still hasn't adjusted to the new powers."

"I see," he understood. "Well, he'll surely be there tomorrow."

"I hope so," she smiled again. "He's my best friend."

"I know."

"Everett?"

"Yeah."

"I'm going to miss this version of you."

"This version?"

"Before, you always acted so above everyone and everything. You never even spent more than dinner time with me. I've had more of a big brother in the last month than I have in the last ten years."

"I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault. You weren't...you."

"I know." Everett stood up, holding out a hand for his sister. She took it and rose to her feet. He was going to miss her too. "It's time for you to go to bed." She didn't fight him as he opened the door for her to leave. "Goodnight, Char."

"Goodnight, Conroy," she gave a little fun bow as she giggled. Everett watched as she disappeared into her own room.

The rose she had offered was truly an enchanted rose

Rose was awake once again that night. Instead of staring at the ceiling, she was pacing the room, throwing things around with her magic. Why did this have to be so hard? She knew what was at risk. She knew Lorelai could handle Uma. But why did she have this awful pain in her stomach? She felt as if she was going to wilt away if she stayed still. Why? She knew what she wanted, right? Why was this such a big and constant debate?

But she had seen that there was no love in his heart

Wasn't this the reason she had left in the first place? She wanted to avoid this conflict, but now she was pushed right back into the middle of it. There was no escape no matter where she went the memory of Ben and Simon would follow her. If she were to remain in this realm, she would see Lorelai every day for magic lessons. She was a living reminder of Rose's lost life. Then there would be Everett.

For who could ever love a beast?

It was a long shot, but she hoped that the spell would work. It was a curse meant for her. She knew that, but he influenced it. She had her doubts about the state of the rose. Would it let just one piece of the puzzle slip through? Or would he be trapped here as long as she was unable to fulfill what was required to go back. She of all people should know since she created the spell, but it was so long ago. The magic had been festering in the flower for the last six years. It had grown and adapted all on its own, causing Rose to feel another pain.

Face the reality in time for the last petal to fall, then the spell would be broken

She never knew Everett in her real life, but she wondered what might've been different if she did. Perhaps she wouldn't grow closer to her niece as she did in this reality. Maybe it wouldn't have been so easy for her to have left in the first place. She would've had the same desire to settle down and have a family with Simon. Seeing those great kids would've eased her mind and enabled her to take the leap. But she never knew him. Or she never took her time to know him.

If the beast could learn to love another and earn their love in return

As much as Everett had reminded her of herself there was one thing he had figured out. Rose had always been looking ahead of where she might go next in her travels and she had forgotten what she had left behind. As much as he wanted to leave, he wanted to make sure what he left behind would be able to survive, including her. He had become attached to the place she had created, to the puffs of magic that created characters in this reality. The worst part was...she had grown attached to him too.

When the final petal falls, I shall return to the ones I love

The boy wanted to go home. He deserved to go home.