Time After Time

Extra: Rose's name

I loved writing this story so much, I couldn't bare to see it end. Then I came up with this idea and loved it so much, so I decided to make an extra. I hope you like it!
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{ROSE'S POV}
*morning after they found out she's a magician*
I yawn and get out of bed, stretching with my arms above my head. Wait, why am I in a room at an inn? Are Mom, Dad and I on a mission and I just forgot? No, Reiki's here.

It's too early for this. I trudge to the bathroom, but I trip over something in the doorway.

"Ouch!" I look back and see a very young Mom curled in the fetal position on the ground, her face one of absolute misery.

The events of the previous day come back to me now. I groan and shake my head to clear it, wishing all of this was just a nightmare.

I get up and walk into the bathroom. Dad offers me an unused toothbrush, which I accept. As we brush our teeth side by side, I gesture to Mom.

"What's wrong with Erza-san?"

Dad looks over at her. "Don't worry, she's been like that since we woke up. It didn't dawn on her last night but she saw the remains this morning and had a panic attack."

"What..." I follow his gaze. "Oh." Mom's half of the strawberry cake, indeed forgotten when I revealed my magic, is still on the floor.

Now it's like a scene from a horror movie, with the cake splattered everywhere, the frosting melted and runny from sitting out all night, and the strawberries leaving their bloodlike juice all over the crime scene.

Now there's something I wish I ever had to see in my life. No wonder Mom's traumatized.

Slowly, she sits up, and staggers to her feet. Avoiding eye contact with the brutal scene, she joins us in the bathroom, and Dad also hands her a toothbrush.

The three of us brush our teeth together in silence. After a moment, Mom says, "I've decided."

Dad and I pause to stare at her. A shadow covers her eyes, then she looks up, and there's fire in them. Mom faces us, a determined aura surrounding her. "In honor of this fallen piece of strawberry cake, if I ever have children, I'm going to name them Strawberry and Cake!"

I must admit, what happens next is not my proudest moment. My eyes widen and just about fly out of my head. I jam the toothbrush a little too deep in my mouth, and choke on my toothpaste.

Gagging and coughing, I lurch forward and spit in the sink. Dad quickly hands me a glass of water, which I gratefully accept.

As soon as I'm longer dying of toothbrush inhalation, I spin towards Mom in a panic. "You can't do that!"

She's taken aback. "Why not?"

I sputter over that one. I can't exactly tell her that she has to name her first child Rose and second one Reiki. That would raise questions. But I refuse to be named Strawberry or Cake!

Mom taps her chin. "I don't see why not?"

"It... just doesn't feel right, don't you think?" I point to the tragic half cake. "Do you really think your strawberry cake would want you to be miserable thinking about it your entire life?"

"I don't deserve to be loved after killing my own strawberry cake."

"You'll always be loved, no matter what." Dad states matter-of-factly, then starts to blush and stutter. "B-Because I'll—"

"Mommy! Daddy!" Reiki cries from the other room, cutting off what I think was the start of a love confession by Dad.

I immediately run over and feel his forehead. He might be about to lose control! I hug him close to me and rock him back and forth, but he shoves me away. "Nooo! No no noooooo! Daddy! Mommy!"

His skin beginning to glow a bit. Mom and Dad run over. Dad places his hand on Reiki's forehead. Reiki leans into the touch, desperate for comfort.

Dad seems concerned. He brushes Reiki's hair out of his face. His fingers trace over Reiki's tattoo. "Is he okay? How did he get this?"

The glow has subsided. "He's fine now. As for those red markings, he was born with them."

"Huh." Dad says.

Reiki blinks groggily. "Sis?"

"Right here." I cuddle him.

"Now that everyone's awake, let's go to the guild." Mom says. We walk out of the hotel room, Dad holding Reiki.

As we're heading to the guild, Mom suddenly says, "You're right Rose. About my children's names."

Oh Mavis. In all the excitement, I'd totally forgotten about that! I grin. "Really?"

"I don't see why you're so against Strawberry and Cake, but they just don't feel right anymore." Mom sighs. I nod approvingly. Totally not right.

"So, what would you name them?" I press. Best to shoot down all the strange ones now.

"I dunno." We're walking past the park. "Something to do with nature, maybe? Tree and Bush?" Mom suggests. I shudder in horror.

"Definitely not." Dad and I speak and shake our heads in perfect synchronization.

"How about something flowery?" Dad asks. Both of us look at him.

"I like that!" Mom smiles, seeming to think about it. "Flowers are pretty and sweet. How'd you come up with it?"

Dad looks away. Barely audibly, he mutters, "If they're your children, they're bound to be beautiful like a flower."

Mom clearly heard him, because she blushes bright scarlet. Awkward silence descends.

Or it would have, if Reiki had got the memo. Instead, he pulls at Dad's cheeks, still turned so we can't see them. "You sick? Why you cheeks red?"

I clear my throat, and pick up my pace a little. Once I'm in front of them, I turn around so I'm walking backwards while facing my parents.

"So, flower names! I can totally see this for a daughter but not a son. What are some good female flower names?"

Mom and Dad are both happy to get back to the topic at hand.

"Hmm. What about..." Mom holds up a finger each time she lists one. "Lavender? Belladonna? Hyacinth? Daffodil?"

"Let's think shorter. Simpler." I suggest. I swear, if you name me Daffodil Fernandes, I will never forgive you. "How about a red flower, like your pretty red hair?"

"A red flower?" Mom crosses her arms, deep in thought. "Amaryllis?"

"Even simpler." I press.

"How about—"

"Rose!" It's Lexi, bounding towards us, waving her hands in the air. "Hiii!" Behind her are Nova and Aunt Mira, both looking rather tired, like they stayed up late.

Mom and Dad are looking at each other like lightbulbs just went off in their heads.

We decide to walk the rest of the way to the guild hall together. Along the way, I lean over to Lexi. "Thank you."

"Huh? Why?"

I grin at her. "I think you just named me."