As soon as Rose saw her brother, she knew what she had to do. It pained her greatly to see them all hurting so much. Hell, she felt like she could barely breathe herself. How she managed to sneak away without Damian following was surprising to her. He was just as shocked and numb as the rest of them. All Rose knew was she had to do it and do it now before Crysta caught her. Fortunately, she had overheard Treena talking about where she had grown up, so she already knew where to go to fix that disaster too. She looked around her, taking in the surroundings. She hoped she would be back someday. She placed a hand on her baby. That was the only thing making this whole trip that much harder, but she knew it would happen again one day. She had always known Damian and her would be together.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, "but you'd do it too. I know you would." She wasn't sure who she was talking to. She gave one last glance, and she was gone.

Crysta's home...

"She's gone," Crysta said to Damian once she couldn't find Rose. "And I know exactly what she's doing."

"I know too," he answered. It was too late to stop her. He only hoped she knew what she was doing. Crysta felt empty. She couldn't even look at Pips lying there lifeless. She wished she had told him about their child sooner, but she was afraid it would have distracted him when he needed to be his full self to finish this battle with Rai. She couldn't stand seeing her family so upset either. She just wanted to be alone.

"If it all works out, you'll be happy again," Damian told her. Then he walked away, head down. He wished she had said goodbye at least. Crysta stood there staring at nothing. She didn't think she could ever believe in happiness again.

18 years earlier...

Rose stopped to throw up after time warping that far back. Her head was pulsing, and she felt lightheaded. She sat and gathered her thoughts before setting off to find her first destination. A woman was standing outside when she arrived.

"Excuse me," Rose said. "Is this the Ferngully orphanage?"

"Yes," the woman beamed. "How can I help?"

"I'm looking for a boy," Rose started. "His name is Roman..." The woman's face turned a dark shade for a mere second. Rose wondered why.

"He's here," she said. "Are you looking to adopt?"

"Oh," Rose said, not having thought that through. "No, I'm so sorry, but I can't right now. Any other time I would have said yes."

"Hmm," the woman replied. "All right. Let me go get him." Rose felt nervous. She wasn't sure why. Here she was about to talk to one of the most villainous beings she had ever encountered, and he was only...well, she wasn't sure how old he was to be honest. The woman returned with a boy who looked to be about eight years old. Five years older than her brother, Rose mused.

"This lady would like to speak with you," the woman said. "Please be nice." Rose wondered how bad he could be. Roman stared at her with a touch of defiance. The woman left them alone.

"Hi," Rose said nervously.

"What do you want?" Roman asked. Right to the point. This must not have been his first rejection, Rose thought.

"I need to talk to you," she said. Roman crossed his arms.

"I'm listening," he muttered.

"Look, I'll be frank with you," Rose said. "You are here because your mother has hidden you from one of the most evil fairies in the universe." Roman's tough face faltered a little. He seemed intrigued. "Your father is a horrible person," she went on. "If you were still with him, he'd be abusing you every day. I know you're angry and full of rage at being abandoned like this, but don't let it destroy you."

"How do you know all of this?" Roman demanded.

"That's not important," Rose dismissed him. "What's important is you have to let go of your anger."

"I can't," Roman cut her off. "Do you have any idea what it's like to be abandoned?"

"I do," Rose said softly. Roman was surprised by this.

"You too?" he asked. She could see the eight year old coming out of him now. The insecure frightened young boy with no family.

"Yes," she said. "I do get it. I had to let go of the anger. I had to move on. Trust me, you can't live this angry. It's not good for you."

"I know," Roman hung his head. "I try so hard, but it's like it just takes over and then I'm not even me anymore."

"Can you make me a promise?" she asked.

"I can try," Roman answered.

"Don't leave your brother," she said. "If you leave him, he'll become just as angry as you are right now. Do you want him to feel this way too?"

"No," Roman said miserably. "He's seven though. What would he even know?"

"Okay. I can promise you that I will put in a good word for you for a new home if you promise me to stay with your brother and work on losing your anger. It's not your mother's fault for leaving you like this. She did it because she loves you. Try to understand that." Roman was thinking hard.

"I promise," he said finally. "You can really get us into a good home?"

"I will do my hardest," Rose promised. "I know some good people."

"Roman!" a girl's voice was shouting. "Come play with us!" Roman turned to the voice and then turned back to her, unsure.

"You can go play," Rose smiled. "I'm finished." He took off quickly without another word. She watched him greet another boy who looked identical to him and two girls. Rose wondered if her words would have any effect on him at all. Only time would tell. True to her word, she approached a couple she had known to be struggling to have children, a couple she had met 18 years later during her travels as a healer. She had felt sorry for them then, a middle aged couple with no children to love. They were excited when she told them about Roman and Rai, how they needed to be loved and that they would be good kids. Feeling good about this, she made her way home.

Daintree rainforest...

When she reached her home she felt uneasy again. She had already done this once, but she knew it would have to happen again in order for everything to work. She didn't go see her parents. She went straight to the root of the entire problem. She found Julian sleeping. She hesitated for a moment. She really was changing everything, but then she hardened herself. It was for the best. This way, so many unnecessary deaths would be avoided. Julian's death was quick and effortless. She felt no guilt or regret. She remembered everything he had done. She knew she had to hurry. She wouldn't have long before history changed and she would disappear. When she reached her home, her ten year old self answered.

"Who are you?" the girl version of herself asked.

"A friend," Rose replied vaguely. "Can I speak to your parents?" Ten year old Rose looked at her suspiciously before turning to call for them. When they stood before her, she almost cried.

"Yes?" her father asked. Her mother just stood there quietly.

"I came to tell you that your brother has been killed," Rose said. "He was discovered to be plotting murders, and he was taken out. I'm sorry to tell you this." Her father flinched only a little. Her mother was looking at her curiously now.

"I see," he said. "Well, thank you for telling me this." They said goodbyes and closed the door. Rose knew it'd be soon.

"Wait!" her own voice called after her. "Do I know you?"

"No," Rose said, "you don't."

"Oh. You just look familiar," ten year old Rose said. Rose winked at her.

"I do have some advice for you," she said. The young girl looked at her questioningly. "Don't be so afraid to let people in," Rose said softly. "A lot of people care about you, and by keeping it all locked in tight, it's hard to make friends or love someone." Her younger self had no answer to this. Rose felt herself disappearing. Then the tightness and squeezing feeling happened. She felt bliss. She had saved everyone.

Now...

Rose was standing there in disbelief when the lady disappeared before her eyes. She wondered who she had been and what happened. Shaking it off, she ran back inside.

"Pipsy!" she called, searching for her younger brother. He came running into her arms. She loved her little brother. At three, he was still exploring and learning, but she was showing him everything too.

"Oh, Rose," her mother said. "If you carry him so much, he won't want to walk."

"He walks fine," Rose whined. "Soon I won't be able to pick him up at all." Her mother just shook her head, laughing. Rose smiled at Pips, who grinned back.

"We're gonna be just fine, aren't we?" she asked him. Yes, things were going to be just fine indeed.

Coming Soon to Fanfiction near you: The Way We Were...where you will find out whether or not Pips and Crysta cross paths in their new lives. Thanks for reading!