(Links to this: Sublimation)

It had been little over six years since the last she stepped foot anywhere in Rhydin, much less the Red Dragon Inn. The official announcement had said that Rosalind Elizabeth O'Dell had passed away on June 10, 2007 at 8:30 am. There was mourning, and two monuments were erected in the little one's memory. In the six years that had passed since, much had changed. Some friends left, others remained. The city, especially the Marketplace, had changed. As she strolled from the Inn, she began to notice the little things. A new vendor in the open air market, a new sign over the doorway of a shop. There were mountains of rubble and new buildings, everywhere!

But, this is Rhydin, after all. The changes weren't nearly as strange as they could have been if she were in any other place. It was easy to rationalize the sudden (to her) growth of the area and the devastation. So when emerald eyes flit from one wonder to the next, it was with reason that she didn't ponder it's existence. Besides, she had a business to run and a schedule to keep! There were dishes to prepare for the Schneider bat mitzvah and dough to prepare for the next day's batch of award winning cinnamon rolls.

The brief visit with her adopted sister, Icer, had been pleasant. It was nice to see Icer, and the teasing about Brian's having little ones had her giggling all the way back to the deli. Her deli. The sign that hung from the building announced in big letters: O'Dell's Deli. It bore her name, but more than that, her heart's blood and sweat. Wrapped up in that warm, welcoming little restaurant were all of Rosie's hopes and dreams. Every time she stepped foot into the place, she relived the excitement of opening day. It wasn't that long ago, at least, not to Rosie.

She waltzed in, the bells on the door chiming her arrival. But her smile faltered and her steps slowed as she realized that the tables, booths and chairs seemed to look older. Not worn down or dirty by any means, just not as shiny and new as they had been prior to her visit to the inn, only an hour ago. She trailed her fingers along the back of one booth and then shook her head. That silly Nexus and it's tricks were to be contended with. It may wreak havoc on the rest of the town, but not her Deli!

With a shrug and a mental note to make a good scrubbing, she continued towards the counter. As usual, Dirk was behind the register, polishing silver ware or filling salt and pepper shakers. He'd stopped what he was doing when she came through the door. He stared, gap jawed. To this, Rosie laughed, and went on tip toe to kiss his cheek. "I told you I'd only be gone an hour or so. Don't look so surprised." Tapping his cheek with her tiny hand, she left him at the register. Traveling through the Deli to her office, she left behind a wake of dumb struck employees.

"Stop staring!" she muttered as she opened the door to her office. "I haven't been gone that long!" The door closed behind her and slowly the workers returned to their labor. The door hadn't been closed for a moment when Rosie noticed the portable crib set up in the corner. "What in the world" The Nexus is really in a mood to mess with me today, isn't it?" Shaking her head and chuckling, she sat down in her chair to go over some figures. The ledger before her wasn't in her hand and she frowned down at it. "OK, enough!" she called to the ceiling. "No more tom foolery with my Deli!"

But Sadie would have none of it, and muscled her way out of his grasp to stumble into the office. The room spun, but there was her daughter, all dark hair and Mat's blue eyes, staring up at her with a solemn expression. "Momma!" and little arms were lifted in the universally accepted gesture of a child who wants to be held and comforted.

Rosie's eyes were narrowed slightly and her brows creased in confusion as Sadie chewed her out and then started acting like a mother lion. Canting her head, she looked at Dirk who simply shrugged and was deep into his own contemplation of the confusing situation. To make matters even more perplexing, Dirk snapped his fingers, jumped up and ran out into the dining area, leaving Rosie alone where she sat.

"The heck is going on here" I'm right here, Sadie!" She turned and then stood, watching as Sadie was comforting the small child. The more she saw them together, the more she realized that the baby resembled Sadie a lot around her mouth and nose. Those creases between her eyebrows were going to become permanent because that look of utter and complete confusion was not going away. "Wait, you're her mother....and you named her....Rosie?" This last was spoken softly, as if the light bulb had just went on above her head. "You're a mother and you named your daughter Rosie!"

"Have you lost all of your marbles?" Sadie cradled Little Rosie's head to nuzzle her cheek and eyed the would be mid-wife warily. "You were here, hello' You held her before I did." She had to admit, the resemblance was uncanny, right down to the uniform. That gave her pause. "What are you doing in a Deli uniform' Did Dirk hire you?" She left the office in search of the wolf man. "Dirk!"

Rosie was now as dumbstruck as the rest of the crew. "But....but..." Sadie wouldn't let her get a word in edgewise! Rosie was right on Sadie's heels when she went into the dining room. There were a lot of questions that needed to be answered. Why Dirk would have those answers, Rosie couldn't say. But if Sadie was relying upon him to supply the answers, Rosie had no choice but to hear them out.

Dirk had found what he was looking for, and was about to return to the office when his name was yelled. He saw the two women coming at him, fast. "Now ladies," he held up his hands. In one hand he had a newspaper clipping and in the other, a current newspaper. "I think you should both sit down." He didn't use this tone very often, but when one was faced with sharing the news that a very dear friend was not only dead, but dead for six years and now back to life, the tone was a necessary one.

Sadie stopped abruptly when she saw Dirk's expression and heard that tone of voice. Biting her lip, she did as she was told and promptly sat in the first chair that available. Little Rosie was sat onto the ground to play at her mother's feet. It was safer there. Sadie didn't know why it was safer, but she had a feeling that Little Rosie was right where she should be.

Rosie nearly collided with Sadie, when she came to a skidded halt. "What is going on here" Dirk, explain yourself!" She stared at the man, then looked back at Sadie. "And who is Libby' I want some answers!" She stomped her foot in frustration and then flopped into the chair beside Sadie.

Dirk couldn't help but smirk at how fiery Rosie was. She'd always been bossy, and had a temper. In the years since her passing, he'd nearly forgotten. Sitting down, across the table from them, he placed the clipping in front of Rosie. It was her obituary. Tapping it with his finger, he spoke softly. "Notice the date, Rosie." He glanced at Sadie, and lifted his finger to stave off her objection of the woman being called by that name.