The house was basically uninhabitable. It had been abandoned for many 
years and didn't appear to have been in good condition even when someone 
did live here. It didn't look as if anyone would be returning here 
anytime soon.

Chrono and Rosette turned to each other and with wide smiles, then said 
in unison: "It's perfect."

----------------------------

With the Blessing of God
A Chrono Crusade fanfic

Written by Andrew M. Petalik

----------------------------

Spoiler warning: This story takes place between episode 23 and episode 
24 (the final episode) of the anime Chrono Crusade.
I strongly recommend completing the main story before reading this.

Lime warning: This story contains strongly suggestive and romantic content.

----------------------------

The spent the first week making all sorts of minor repairs to the house. 
Neither of them had the skill to do more than nail up some boards over 
the exposed windows and do general cleaning and removal of debris. Not a 
big surprise considering that Rosette was a 16 year old professional 
exorcist from the order of Magdalene and Chrono was her demon 
contract... but all that was immaterial. They both knew that Rosette had 
very little time left, having sacrificed most of her remaining life to 
Chrono in the final encounter with Aion. They just needed to make it 
livable.

They worked at a sedate pace, enjoying the simple pleasure of domestic life.

"And on the seventh day, they rested." said Rosette as she and Chrono 
sat on the swing chair on the porch.
Chrono couldn't help but smile. "Rosette, how do you do that?" Chrono asked.

Rosette turned her head and looked at him with quizzically, "Wha?"

"You know, say something ridiculous, yet somehow make it sound so adorable."

Rosette raised her fist at Chrono and he scooted away in mock fear. Then 
they both laughed.

"Chrono?" Rosette said using her cute voice. "I'm so glad you're with me 
now. I'm so glad we met. You're the best thing that ever happened to me."
Chrono gave her a pained expression. "I've wondered about that. What if 
we had never met, maybe Aion wouldn't have come after Joshua."

Rosette shook her head. "You had nothing to do with that. Joshua was an 
apostle. Aion would've come for him either way."
She continued, "If it hadn't been for you, we would've never saved him."
Chrono relaxed a bit, "I suppose." He said in a pensive voice. "Still... 
I feel as if I'm somehow responsible. We never really got him back."
Rosette grabbed his cheeks and pulled on them, stretching his face a 
bit. "I have no regrets Chrono. I never did."

Rosette suddenly let go of Chrono and although she was still smiling, 
tears started roll down her cheeks.
Alarmed, Chrono reached over and took her hands, "Rosette, what's wrong?"

She took a couple of moments to compose herself... although she didn't 
wipe the tears away. "I was just thinking of all the things we did 
together. I got to shoot lots of guns." They both smirked at that. "I 
got to know an angel. I got to be Mary of Magdalene... and... " she 
sniffled loudly and finally wailed, "I'll never be able to tell any of 
these stories to my children."

She leaned into Chrono and wrapped her arms around him. He hugged her 
back as she cried. Tears ran down his face as well. He didn't want to 
lose her. Rosette had become the most important part of his existence. 
Dying didn't bother him. He had lived a long time... but now, living 
without Rosette would be unbearable. It was for this reason that he had 
synchronized his life-force with hers. When her time ran out, he would 
go with her. 'No regrets he thought to himself.'

"Rosette, do you remember when Lerajie was making fun of me for being 
God's lap dog and giving up so much to be there?"
She leaned back to look at his face. "Un hunh," she said and nodded. 
Tears still freely rolling down her cheeks.
"I told him that I had gained so much more." After a pause, "I meant 
you. I gave up everything for you... and it was all worth it."

Rosette sniffled for a moment, then choked up, "Oh Chrono." and leaned 
forward to hug him again.

They sat together that way on the swing for quite a while. A mixture of 
sadness and happiness as they cried together.

-----

That evening, with lit candles on the rickety table, they ate in 
silence. Chrono had been dreading this, but it had to be brought up.

"Rosette?" he said in the tone he used when he wanted to discuss 
something unpleasant. "We have to look." he continued.

Rosette reached down and put her hand over the clock, the mechanics of 
the contract that had robbed her of most of her life. "I don't want to." 
she said. "I don't want to know just how close I am to dying." she 
said... the words catching in her throat. "We'll be jake not knowing. 
Everyone else in the world doesn't know... why should we?"

Chrono was at a loss. "I... I..."
"I'm sorry Chrono... I'm so scared of this. Knowing how close it is will 
only make it worse."
Chrono hung his head. "I... thought it would be better to know so that 
we can be prepared... "
"For what Chrono? It's not like we have to have things taken care of 
after we go. No one knows where we are. I just want to enjoy what little 
time we have left."
"... I... you're right. I guess knowing won't make it any easier."

They finished eating and cleared the table. They each took a candle and 
went to the bedroom.

Rosette had always taken the bed as Chrono was fine sleeping on the 
floor next to her.
They quickly got changed, Chrono, with his back to Rosette to give her 
privacy.
Before Chrono settled in on the floor, Rosette turned to Chrono and 
said, "I want you to sleep with me tonight."

Chrono's face turned to stone... a HUGE blush showing on his cheeks.

"Not like that you nasty devil, " Rosette said with a wide grin, "I mean 
stay with me in the same bed while I sleep."

Chrono only nodded and gulped as he tried to imagine how on earth he 
would be able to get any sleep.

Rosette noticed his hesitation and gave him a sharp look. "What's wrong? 
Is there something wrong with me?" She said, starting to fume.

Chrono shook his head and held his hands up defensively. "It's... not 
that Rosette." His voice was nearly in a panic, which only made her angrier.

"Chrono... ", she said his name in that cute angry way she always used 
just before she pasted him one.

"I... I... can't imagine how I would get any sleep lying beside the most 
beautiful woman I've ever known." Chrono said, his face was flaming so 
red they almost didn't need the candles.

"You... think... I'm pretty... " she said in shock, her anger fled. 
"I... didn't think you would... you know... notice me in that way."
Chrono nodded... still blushing furiously.

She took his hand and pulled him to the bed. "I don't want to be alone 
anymore, so get used to it."
Chrono didn't resist as she pulled him into bed with her. "I never could 
turn you down", he said.

Chrono lay with his back to her, not knowing how he was going to survive 
the night, so Rosette scooted over and wrapped her arm around him.
He took her hand and squeezed it gently.

Rosette laughed, "What about that time at the casino?" she asked, the 
hint of a laugh in her voice.

Chrono groaned, "You nearly got your coin. Saying no to you that time 
was one of the hardest things I've ever done. I was having trouble 
breathing. Good thing you broke the handle off that slot machine or you 
would've had me begging at your feet."

Rosette's heart fluttered. "You're kidding?" She could tell he was 
blushing again. Knowing the effect she was having on him was intoxicating.
He responded with resolve, "No, I'm not. Shaking your back side at me 
like that was... uh... well... you know."

"Oh Chrono", she said with a breathy laugh, "what would I do without you?"
She leaned forward and gently kissed the back of his neck. "Don't ever 
change."

Suddenly, Rosette let out a huge yawn. "Good night Chrono. See you in 
the morning."
"Good night Rosette. Sleep well." he answered.

She nuzzled up to his back and promptly fell asleep.

Chrono was kind of confused. He was sure she would be mad about him 
being attracted to her... but she wasn't.
In fact, she seemed happy about it.

He pulled her hand up to face and kissed it gently. She let out a happy 
sign and rubbed her face into his back a little more. He thought to 
himself, 'even in your sleep, you're so adorable.'

Surprisingly, Chrono had far less trouble falling asleep than he expected.

--

In the morning, Rosette woke up slowly as the sun came up. As she 
surfaced to consciousness, she realized that she was lying on her back 
and that something warm was grabbing her bosom. In a panic, her eyes 
flew open. Chrono was sleeping on his side. His arm was lying on her 
belly with his hand firmly attached to her breast.

"CHRONO!" She shouted and blasted him out of bed.

Chrono awoke about halfway between the bed and the far wall. He smashed 
into it, upside down, then slid down and landed on his head.
Alarmed, he asked, "Rosette, what's wrong?"

She was sitting up, huffing angrily, her hands crossed over her chest. 
Chrono could almost see the hand print left behind on her night gown and 
turned bright, bright red. "Rosette, I'm sorry. I didn't mean... "

Rosette finally calmed down and said, "Never mind Chrono. You were 
asleep and I was the one who invited you to join me in the first place." 
Then with a sly smile, "I should've known a nasty devil like you 
wouldn't be able to keep his hands to himself."

Chrono rolled over and hung his head in shame. "I'm so sorry Rosette... 
" Blushing seemed to be a forming habit for Chrono.

She held up her hand. "Maybe, tomorrow morning, when you do it again, I 
won't throw you out of bed." There was a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

Chrono's heart stopped for nearly five seconds. Then Rosette laughed... 
and he joined her sheepishly.

"Come on Chrono. Let's make breakfast and do more stuff around the 
house. I really like being an ordinary couple."
Chrono liked being described as a couple. He smiled at her in a way that 
made her heart skip a beat.

The quickly got changed. Chrono, as always, had his back to her while 
she changed. Rosette, not suffering the same constraint, was looking 
Chrono over very carefully as they both changed. 'Chrono, ' she thought 
to herself, 'don't think you're getting away that easily.' A plan was 
forming in her mind.

--

The sky had turned cloudy overnight. They had originally intended to 
work in the garden... but decided against it. Besides, both Rosette and 
Chrono where preoccupied with the events of the night before and this 
morning... so they decided to sit on the swing outside and enjoy the 
slight breeze and each other's company.

After sitting together for a few minutes, Rosette turned to Chrono, 
which immediately got his attention, then reached down, and picked up 
the clock... then carefully looked at it.

Then she promptly started to cry. Chrono gently took the clock and 
looked as well. "Oh Rosette... only a week left."
She nodded, tears streaming down her face once again.
"It's so unfair." Chrono said, almost angrily.
Rosette nodded... but finally responded, "The candle that burns the 
brightest is the first to go out. And you have to admit, my candle has 
burned very brightly."
"That may be true... but you did it all for everyone else. It's so 
frustrating."

After a couple of minutes, she responded, "well, this time now, is just 
for us. No more sacrifices. We've earned our rest."
She cried for a bit more, then wiped her eyes. "Chrono?" she asked.
"Yes Rosette?" he responded.
"When we rescued Azmaria from the air ship, I told her that I had no 
regrets... and that I couldn't waste my time on regrets, knowing how 
little time I would have... ". She choked off... and blushed.
Chrono was looking at her with a strangely... not sure where this was going.
"Chrono... " her face got even redder, "I want you to make love to me."

Chrono's heart took a flying leap. He had never expected this Goddess of 
woman to want him in this way. He hesitated, at a complete loss, the 
situation having taken him completely by surprise.

"Chrono... are you interested?" The look in her eyes was a mixture of 
hope that he would accept and fear that he would turn her down. 
Rejection would be so crushingly embarrassing. Especially at this 
strange point in her life.

"Rosette... " he said shyly. "I... " not know what to say, he reached 
over and gently caressed her cheek.
She closed her eyes and rubbed her face into his hand. He finally 
answered, "I've always been interested."

"Really?" she asked, opening here eyes just enough to make sure he was 
serious.
"Really."

Chrono reached over and gently pulled Rosette into his lap. He ran his 
hand through her blond hair, teasing it. She closed her eyes again, 
enjoying the sensation of being caressed as his fingers moved to her 
ears and played with the lobe. He then leaned over and started gently 
kissing her cheek... then down to her neck.

Finally, she'd had enough waiting and grabbed his head and planted a 
serious kiss on his mouth. They stayed that way, kissing each other 
while he ran his finger through her hair, for quite a while.

They pulled away to stare into each other's eyes. Chrono put his hand to 
the top button of her blouse and unbuttoned it.
She made no objection... in fact, she reached over to unbutton his shirt 
when a break in the clouds occurred.

A single shaft of light lanced down from the opening and completely 
illuminated the clock.

"Chrono?" Rosette asked, startled. "What's happening."
Chrono looked down, then suddenly gasped in astonishment. "Rosette! 
Look! The clock is moving backwards!"
Rosette grabbed the clock and looked at it. "You're right!" she 
exclaimed. Then looked at him almost fearfully, "what does it mean?"

Chrono's face was a mask of confusion. "I don't know Rosette. It's not 
supposed to do that. I don't know of anything that can do that."

Suddenly, as one, the two of them looked to that sky. Chrono asked 
gravely, "do you approve?"

An enormous rainbow appeared. A light rain started to fall, gently 
landing at their feet. The angry looking stigmata marks on her ankles 
where just barely getting wet.

"Thank you," Rosette said as the ray of light winked out.
Looking down, the clock continued to move backwards.

Chrono put his hand back in her hair and played with it for a moment, 
before pulling her back for another kiss.

He then proceeded to undo three more buttons on her blouse, then looked 
up at her with a grin. "You're not going to hit me for this, are you?"

Rosette laughed out of sheer happiness. Chrono's heart beat even faster, 
then he put his arms under back and legs and stood up, lifting her.
She put her arms around his shoulders and snuggled into his chest as he 
carried her into the house and to the bedroom. The sweet sounds of their 
love making filling the house.

--

"Chrono?" Rosette asked.

They were both lying in bed together, under the sheets. She had just 
woken up.

Chrono's eyes fluttered open to look at her. "What is it?"
"The clock is moving forward again."
His eyes fell, "I'm sorry Rosette."

Suddenly, an idea hit her. She took a careful note of the time on the 
clock, then leaned over and started kissing Chrono passionately.
After a few minutes, she drew back, leaving him breathless and looked at 
the clock again.

Then let out a whoop of joy.

"It seems as if the clock runs backwards for us, now, when we're... 
well... " she started blushing. Talking about it was such an 
embarrassing thing.

A huge smile lit his face. "Rosette! This is great! We may get a few 
more months!" Suddenly, a bit more seriously, "Is that enough Rosette?"
She grinned a bit sadly, "it's not like we have any other choice."
Then, with suggestive look that made Chrono catch his breath, "I've 
never had regrets before... I'm not about to start now. Let's enjoy 
what's left of our lives as long as we can."

Chrono didn't need any urging. They two of them fell into each others 
arms and made time flow backwards once again.

--

Later that day, Rosette awoke and found herself alone in the bed. She 
dressed quickly and went looking for Chrono. He was in the main room 
with the rickety table, frantically writing on some paper they had 
brought with them. It was obvious that he hadn't heard her get up.

"What are you doing Chrono?" she said. "Don't you have something more 
important to do," she continued while leaning suggestively against the 
door frame. Her heart skipped a beat as he looked up at her. He was so 
handsome... and the way he looked at her really stroked her ego. The 
look of raw desire she could put in his eyes made her feel so wonderful.

"Uh... " Chrono said with a large gulp. She loved doing that to him.

Rosette flashed him a mischievous grin and walked over and sat in his 
lap. He immediately gave her a hug and a kiss, which she returned.

"So, what are you writing?" she asked.
"A diary."
"A diary? Why?"

He took a couple of moments to put his thoughts in order.
"When we first came here, I was pretty sure we had almost no time left. 
Wasting it like this was out of the question... but since we've been 
given a lease on life, we should let Azmaria know that we're jake. 
Especially considering who gave us more time. I can imagine that Father, 
I mean the angel Remington would really like to know too."

"Chrono? What is this?" she said having read most of what he had 
written. "Isn't this... " she was blushing heavily, "rather lurid? I'm 
not sure I like the idea of others reading about us in this way."
Chrono blushed as well... but answered: "I've never let myself think 
this way about you before. Now that I've started, I can't seem to stop. 
Maybe I should take it out..."

Rosette had just finished reading the last paragraph. "CHRONO!" she 
shouted. "I don't remember us doing that!?"
Chrono almost managed to keep a straight face and answered, "well... not 
yet."

Her face fell in disbelief, a large sweat drop down the side of her 
head. "You nasty devil... " she finally said in a breathy tone... then 
hugged him closely. "Don't ever change."

--

The next morning, Rosette awoke once again with the sensation of someone 
or something fondling her chest.
She opened her eyes and slid a sidelong glance at Chrono, who's arm was 
attached to the hand in question.

He looked up at her and said with a grin, "I now understand what the 
Elder's fascination with these is."

Rosette raised her fist in mock anger and bopped him on the head. The 
both flashed silly grins at each other.

"I hope their doing well?" Rosette finally said.
"Do you want to go back?" Chrono asked carefully.
Rosette shook her head. "No... this time is for us."

Suddenly, Chrono started to laugh. Rosette gave him a funny look. It 
took him a couple of moments to get his laughter under contro.

"I was just thinking of what Satella would say if she caught us like this."
Rosette let out a bark of laughter. "Probably something like: Vhat are 
you dooing with thees devil?"

They both laughed a bit more, then Chrono climbed out of bed. He handed 
Rosette her clothes then quickly got dressed, turning his back to her as 
usual.

As she got dressed, she asked, "Why do you still do that?" Then in her 
more sultry voice, "It's not like you haven't seen everything I have to 
offer."
Chrono glanced over his shoulder and winked at her with a sly grin and 
replied, "who said I'd be able to let you finish getting dressed?"
Rosette stopped, almost stunned, "you nasty nasty devil," she said 
breathlessly, then beamed him a smile that lit up the whole room.

After she was done, he took her hand and left the house for a leisurely 
walk. The gentle smiles they both wore was a testament to the happiness 
they both felt.

--

Living that way, they added almost six months to their time.
There were several passages in the diary that Chrono kept that either he 
or Rosette later crossed out. Still, by this point, the entire thing 
pretty large.

Chrono had just finished a passage in the diary when he put it down and 
walked out onto the porch.

Rosette was sitting on the swinging chair. Although the stigmata marks 
on her ankles were still clearly visible, they had started to heal over.

"Rosette?" Chrono asked. "You look tired, why not come in for some rest."
"No thanks Chrono. I want to sit here and enjoy the sunset."

He sat down beside her and she promptly took his hand. They sat like 
that for a bit, then she said, "Chrono, I'm so scared."
"I know Rosette. I am too."

The both started to cry and they hugged each other fiercely as the sun 
slowly went down. Rosette's clock counted down. When the seconds hand 
reached the top, all the energy that was Rosette and Chrono's faded 
away, leaving the clock blank, just a the sun slipped below the horizon.

--

The next morning, Azmaria and the three sisters finally found Rosette 
and Chrono. Azmaria could only look at them for a moment in stunned 
shock and loss, before she turned and aimlessly entered the house. The 
other three started to cry.

Azmaria looked around in disbelief. 'Could they have really lived here?'
Moments later, she found the diary sitting on table.

She began reading it and after a pause, looked up and could almost see 
her friends doing the chores that were described in the diary.

She started to cry... but kept reading. When she got to the part where 
they got the blessing of God, Azmaria's tears turned to tears of 
happiness. "I'm so happy for you both" she said to herself. She read a 
bit further, then simply headed outside and back to the car. 'I'll read 
the rest later.'

The other sisters were taking care of Rosette and Chrono, so she simply 
got back into the car and cried for her lost friends.

--

Azmaria walked up to a tree, under which was a tomb stone. She was in 
the uniform of an exorcist, having been accepted into the order.

Her friends had passed away nearly three years ago. Rosette's clock now 
hung around her neck. She had brought flowers and placed them at the grave.

"I've gotten stronger Rosette... just as I promissed you I would."

"I hope you are both doing well. I finally finished reading your 
diary... including the parts you tried to hide... " she paused blushing. 
"I hope I find love like that. I miss you both terribly."

She stood up and walked back to the car. Another mission awaited her.

--

1985.

"Grandma... what's this?" a girl in her teens asked as she walked into 
the room in which Azmaria, now around 70, was talking with a man who 
appeared to be in his late 20s. He looked slightly unkempt, but was 
obviously a handsom man with bright blond hair.

The two looked to the door where the teenager stood, holding a book 
bound by the chain that was attached to a strange clock.

"Maria? Where did you find that? I've been looking for it for years."
The girl handed it to her proudly. "It was in the storage cellar."

Azmaria took the book revernetly from her grandchild. "I wonder how it 
got down there?" she said to herself.
"It's Rosette and Chrono's diary, dear." she answered Maria.

The man sat up with interest. "Diary? I didn't know they had a diary?" 
he said with a distinctivly british accent.
The girl looked to the strange man, "You mean they were real? I thought 
grandma made them up for our bedtime stories."

The man laughed, "oh my no. Rosette and Chrono were very real. They were 
my friends too."

Azmaria shooed her grand daughter out of the room. "Remington... " she 
said. Even after all this time, she had never quite gotten used to 
calling him by his first name. "I've been wanting to give you this to 
read for a long time." she said as she handed him the package.

"Her clock looks just like I remember it." he said a bit sadly.
"Remington, read." she instructed. He carefully removed the chain that 
held the book closed and set it, and the clock aside.

Azmaria sat there and let him read. It took him nearly an hour to go 
through the whole thing.

At the end, he looked up and said wistfully, "maybe it's time a make his 
acquaintance again." he said as he carefully re-bound the book.

Azmaria smiled gently and replied. "Give my best to Rosette and Chrono 
when you do."
Remington smiled and handed her back the book and the clock. "I will."

Maria had been hiding on the other side of the entrance, watching around 
the corner. She was getting quite bored, but when Remington finally got 
up, she took interest.

He took off his beat up jacket and let his angelic wings unfurl. Maria's 
eyes opened wide at the divine site.
He turned to her and winked. "Don't worry Maria... we'll meet again."

He then turned back to his host. "It was so good to see you again 
Azmaria. Take care."
"Come back anytime. You are always welcome here."

Then, with a minor flash of light, he was gone.

Maria stumbled back into the room. "I... I... can't believe it. Was he 
really... an angel?"
Azmaria smiled gently. "Yes dear."
"And Chrono was really a devil?"
"Yes dear."

After a pause. "Tell me about Rosette and Chrono again grandma. I want 
to know everything about them."

Azmaria settle back to recount how she and Rosette first met... her 
grand daughter starring at her raptly.

The end.

----------------------------

Author's notes.

This is the first thing I've posted here in years. Although I've tried 
to pick up some of my other fics, they've never gotten off the ground. 
This one was different. I sat down and simply started typing. The story 
wrote itself.

The real ending to the anime was... unsatisfactory, to put it mildly.
In my opinion, it simply didn't do the characters justice.
I hope you enjoy this expanded ending to Chrono Crusade.

C&C is always welcome.

Although I doubt they will ever see this, I want to offer a special 
thanks to Hilary Haag and Greg Ayres, the voice actors who gave life to 
the characters Rosette and Chrono. I could almost hear their voices as I 
did the dialogue for this story... which made writing it so much more fun.

-- 
  ___________
 / Here lies:\  Ryougasai... the eternal lost hentai.
|   Andrew    |
|             |
|   I think   |          Andrew Petalik
| he's hungry | Opportunity knocks but rarely. Don't let it
|             | slip between your fingers when it does.



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