A/N: So here's what is supposed to be the last chapter of this story. However, reading back through it, I decided it was missing some things. Look for another update soon: the epilogue! Deals with the missing pieces, unanswered questions, and unresolved issues.

Oh, and thanks to everyone who posted such kind reviews on my story Mismanagement. You guys are really great, thanks!

Read and enjoy, and don't forget to review!

~Star

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Tom

I watched Rose come storming out of the fortune teller's tent, pushing past her friends without a word. I frowned, wondering what had upset her. Judging by the look of barely-concealed amusement on Indigo's face, I'd say he knew.

I raised my eyebrow in a silent query. Indy just shook his head, still grinning.

Rose's friend Molly stared after her, then turned back to the ticket collector. Handing him her ticket, she stepped inside the tent, and I settled down to wait.

Ten minutes later, Molly and Kiran had gone into the tent and come out looking surprised but satisfied. I had a sneaking suspicion of who the fortune teller was, especially once Indigo came out, looking flushed and happy.

"Hey," I stopped him with a hand on his shoulder and a sly look on my face. "That lipstick on your face?"

Over-casually, he reached up and wiped off his mouth, examining the resulting red streak. "Hm," he said noncommittally, unable to keep a small grin off his face.

I laughed outright. "And you have the gall to give me grief for hugging Rose."

He frowned at me. "That's different. She's my baby sister."

"Hate to break it to you, but she's not a baby anymore."

Indigo looked at me, rather solemnly. "She's not a baby, but she's still only sixteen. You're a whole five years older; just be careful, okay?"

I met his eyes, just as serious. "I know. I'd rather die than hurt Rose, you know that. I promise she'll be okay."

Indy looked away, apparently satisfied. "I always knew this would happen someday."

"What?"

"When I'd have to let someone else take care of Rose." He clapped my back. "Your turn, Tom."

I turned and handed my ticket to the collector, and ducked into the tent. I was hardly surprised when the dim light revealed the fortune teller to be Sarah, peering into a compact mirror and struggling to repair her smudged lipstick. She looked up, startled, when I entered, then broke into a sheepish smile.

"Hello, Madame Serendipity, I'm here for my fortune." I stuck my hands in my pockets.

"Well," Sarah said, smoothing down her hair. "Have a seat, and let's take a look. Want a palm reading or the crystal ball?"

"Crystal ball, I think. More… infinite."

She grinned. "Okay, mysterious it is. Hmm… well, I see you getting Rose a fantastic gift for her birthday."

I was intrigued. I'd been having trouble thinking of something perfect enough for her, something she'd really like. "Really? What?"

"An art kit, one from that shop in London. It has everything… pastels, pencils, chalk, paints, even a sketchbook. It's one she's been wanting for at least a year."

Oh, good. "Thank you, Sarah."

She frowned. "Madame Serendipity, please. Oh, and I see something else… several years down the road… you're kneeling down, holding her hand… Why, Tom, it looks as if you're proposing!" She mimed astonishment.

I blinked, not entirely surprised that Sarah would 'see' that. The Casson family was quite supportive of me and Rose as an eventuality. Rose, however, was not. I don't know why, but she never liked it when people acted like we were a couple. And then I was struck by a sudden understanding. "You said all that to Rose, didn't you?" That would explain why she came stamping out of the tent.

For a moment, Sarah looked a bit upset. "Yes, I did. I don't know why Rose…" she trailed off, before regaining her composure. "Now, you've had your turn, get out of here. People are waiting." She shooed me out of the tent.

Once outside, I looked around for Rose, and found her wearing a grim expression at the ring toss. I strolled over and stood behind her, watching her play the game. She missed every time.

"Awful," I remarked happily. "Terrible aim."

Rose spun around, surprised to find me standing there. Then she grimaced. "I know. I've just never been any good at the sports stuff."

"Here. Let me try." I picked up one of the rings and hefted it for a moment in my hand, getting a feel for it. Then I carefully flung it into the booth, smiling satisfactorily when it spun around and settled on the post.

Rose gaped at me. "How do you do that?" she demanded. "Teach me."

"Well, it's not something you can learn so quickly. Takes practice. You just have to know how its going to fly, how hard you have to throw it to make it land where you want it to, the angle…" I trailed off. It was obvious Rose didn't really get it. (She has never been very good at hand-eye coordination. Like when I got her those juggling balls for Christmas. That was a disaster. Buttercup can juggle better than Rose.) So I settled for offering, "Let me have a go at this, Rosy Pose?"

She nodded and relinquished her remaining rings. I threw them all in quick succession, landing them all directly on the post. The booth operator looked at me with raised eyebrows, so I took a bow, grinning at Rose's astonished expression. The operator got down the huge fluffy white bear, and I presented it to Rose with a flourish. "Your prize, my darling."

"But Tom, you won it," she protested, peering out from under one of the bear's arms. "You should have it."

"And what would I do with a gigantic, fluffy bear like that," I scoffed. "No, its better that you have it."

She grinned at me, thoroughly satisfied with this turn of events. We walked off together in search of the others. I watched her attempt to see around the long fur of the bear, unable to keep a grin off my face at the ridiculous image she presented. I sighed happily, fully confident in our future together.

After all, Sarah had said so.