Chapter Playlist: Lean on Me - Bill Withers; Everything's Coming Up Roses - Rosemary Clooney. Forgive the short chapter. Lots of set-up and it gets squishy at the end. But it's necessary squish. One more after this one...

Everything's Coming Up Roses

"So. The shadows want Arden, but Arden is sealed up in his mole hole tighter than a gnat's ass." Shelley was smoking and thinking. A dangerous pastime for her. "How do we get him to the shadows without the shadows taking us out?"

Victoriana was gone. The group had opted for the clothes that made them feel strongest, most comfortable, Jude standing out in a red flare dress. They'd converted the common room into a war room. The card table was their battle center. In the background, the jukebox lowly serenaded them with Bill Withers' Lean on Me. "We have to get him out. Let Eunice lure him somehow," Jude answered. "It's the only way that makes sense."

"But will he come out at all?" Timothy asked. "I encountered the shadows on the basement stairs. Obviously they know he is inside, and he knows they are outside."

"I say we let the little sistah here blow his door open with her Wonder Woman powers," Frank offered. "Then we rush in there Semper Fi. Get shit done."

Jude shook her head. "Not in his territory. He'll be strongest in the basement. That's his fortress. He's strong like we are, but darker. He'll fight hard. I know he will."

"Then why the fuck are we talking about dangling Mary Eunice out in front of him like a piece of tasty salted jerky?" Shelley demanded. "What if his devil powers snuff out her light powers? What if the shadows get her too while they're trying to get him?"

"That is why protecting Mary Eunice is pivotal to our success." Timothy firmly tapped the tabletop. "This is non-negotiable."

Jude agreed, nodding. "We can fight off the shadows, giving Mary Eunice time to pull Arden from his grotto."

"If he comes out." Timothy fretted again.

"He'll come." Eunice was decisive. "I just need to figure how to call him. He's connected to me." She was fingering a pink rose, plucking its petals and piling them on the table.

Jude reached over and took a few of the petals, intrigued. "What do you mean, Eunice?"

"He died with me." She explained softly. "In the crematorium. When he put me in, he went in with me."

"You were cremated?" Jude shouted, eyes cutting to Timothy, who looked away guiltily.

Eunice touched her hand. "I was unholy, Sister. Imbued with the devil."

"That's bullshit!" Jude's eyes watered. "Ya cremated her? Timothy..."

"I didn't want to." He was pained. "But she's right, Jude. We could take no chances."

"Oh, Eunice..." Jude stroked the young nun's face. "I'm so sorry."

"I was cremated, as well." Timothy offered, not looking at anyone. "And yet here we all are. Together despite our methods of internment. Obviously, the church has some misconstrued ideologies regarding the soul."

"Amen, Father." Shelley preached.

When Timothy caught Jude's eyes, they watered for him, too. He brought the conversation back to topic. "I feel a direct approach would be best." Absently, he sniffed Mary Eunice's rose. "Lovely," he commented. And then the thought hit him so suddenly, so perfectly it nearly made his head ache. "Sister." His hand reached for Eunice's.

"Yes, Father?"

"How many of these roses do you suppose you could create? At once, I mean."

Eunice's eyes lit at the thought of a million roses littering the floors and walls of Briarcliff. She felt that if she closed her eyes, it would happen so very easily. "How many would you like?"

He stood, paced around the table, fingers stroking the back of Jude's neck when he passed her. "I had a conversation once with Dr. Arden. After...after your passing, Eunice." He stopped with his hands on her shoulders. "About saints. And the smell of roses lingering when they died."

Jude's eyes widened, caught Eunices. "Eunice. We need so many roses that Briarcliff reeks of 'em. That'll get the bastard's attention."

"Exactly." Timothy sat again, leaned forward on the table.

Eunice pursed her lips, thinking. She closed her eyes... The jukebox flared to life first, Rosemary Clooney clear as a bell.

Things look swell, things look great

Gotta have the whole world on a plate

Starting here, starting now

Honey, everything's coming up roses

They startled at the cracking sound, the mild rumble that seemed to shiver Briarcliff's foundations. Rose from their table when the vines - thick, gnarled, woody twisting vines - slithered up through the floor. The tendrils curled along the common room walls, anything they could grip; window bars, the clock, shelves, empty equipment hooks, light fixtures. Ropy arms of green reached to one another, clutched and sprouted, spread dangling buds that burst open in bright flashes of pink, golden centers puffing - maybe hundreds of thousands - of pure, blushing blossoms. They were overwhelming - beautiful to behold.

Clear the decks, clear the tracks

We got nothing to do but relax

Blow a kiss, take a bow

Honey, everything's coming up roses

Shelley threw victorious arms around Eunice. "Sister, this is amazing!" And already the smell of roses permeated the common room. Cool and sweet. Petals rained and the group looked up to see pink roses blooming fat and beautiful even on the ceiling, an upside down carpet of green and gold and flower.

Now it's your inning

Stand the world on it's ear

Said it's spinning

That'll be just the beginning

Curtain up, light the lights

We got nothing to hit, but the heights

We'll be swell, we'll be great

I can tell, just you wait

The lucky star I talk about is due

Honey, everything's coming up roses

For me and for you

Eunice smiled hugely in Shelley's arms, sparkling eyes turning to Jude and Timothy, who stood tight together, taking in the new floral ceiling. A rumble turned to rustle and finally to whisper. Roses settled. Petals still softly drifting. "Is this what you had in mind?"

"Eunice..." Tears spilled down Jude's face. She couldn't control the outpouring of emotion; the beauty of the young nun's power, the purity and love, was overwhelming. "This is God's work." She took Eunice's hands and tugged, cupped her face. "I've never been so proud of ya."

Beaming, Eunice turned to see Frank standing quietly to the side, the most quietous expression on his face that any of them had ever seen. "Frank?" She went to him. "Are you alright?"

"Aw, little sistah..." He shrugged. Swallowed hard. "I tell ya this is the prettiest damn thing I've seen since my Claire on her wedding day. She woulda loved this."

Eunice took his face in her hands. "I can't wait for you to be with her again, Frank. Soon now." He nodded.

Shelley was twirling in the fallen petals, her long skirt picking them up and stirring them. "So...we do this to the rest of Briarcliff? Best thing that ever happened to this hellhole."

Eunice looked back to Jude. "Shall I, sister? Now?"

"I say we wait until night." Jude considered. "We know that's when the shadows are most active. We bring them with us, so when Arden comes out, they're ready for him."

"Question." Frank dusted pink petals off the couch and sat. "The shadows. All together, I get we're a righteous team. But. How do we protect ourselves and each other from them? I mean, Jude's a tough cookie, too, and they managed to do a numbah on her. And on the Monsignor ova there." He nodded. "Even togetha, if they want one of us, what's the plan?"

"I've thought about that." Timothy spoke. He plucked a petal from Jude's hair and dropped it into the V of her dress. She tisked, retrieving it. "Something happened the night I...took Jude from them."

She turned to him. "What happened? What do you mean?"

He sat on the couch beside Frank, recalling. "I heard something that night. In the hallway. Scratching and then struggling. When I opened the door, I could barely see you for their forms engulfing you. I felt this incredible sense of power come over me. I couldn't explain it at the time. After feeling so weak and defeated for so long, I thought I was a wasted soul. But..." He tugged at the hem of Jude's dress and she stepped closer to him. "I didn't think. I simply stepped toward them and they seemed to...dissipate. As if they turned to ash and then evaporated. And Jude simply fell into my arms."

Eunice stared at them, approaching intensely. "What did you feel then, father? When you held Jude?"

Both women stared down at him, wondering, expectant. In fact, Shelley leaned over the back of the couch, too, waiting. Even Frank's brow quivered anticipation. "No pressure," Shelley whispered.

He looked up at Jude. "I felt...whole."

"Whole." Eunice murmured. She folded her hands to her lips as if in prayer. "You sought to protect Jude in that moment. To save her."

He nodded. "Yes, I suppose."

"Perhaps those intentions are what strengthened you." Jude offered. "If our intentions are to protect each other..." She threw up her hands. "I don't know."

"Timothy." It was the first time Eunice had ever called him anything other than Father, so she immediately had everyone's attention. "Be honest in your heart in this moment and honest before God and all of us."

His forehead creased. "Of course, Sister."

"Did you love Jude...before now? Despite all that was in your mortal heart and mind and soul. Did you love Jude when she was Sister Jude?" The question was so bold, so bald and filled with meaning. And again, every eye rested on Timothy Howard.

He closed his eyes and bowed his head. He answered slowly, earnestly, but only to one person. "Jude. Do you recall when we first met?"

"Of course I do." She whispered.

"We were at St. Mary's. Your convent. Mother Superior had told me she had the right sister for me. We met in the orchards behind the rectory. I could see you walking with her. The leaves had changed for autumn. Amongst the apples there were Japanese maples. They looked as if they were on fire. I recall thinking you were quite tall. Striking in your bearing. You looked at me with such directness, and those fiery maples made your brown eyes incredibly warm. Like your hands. When you shook mine, you took it in both of yours." Jude's eyes watered. She looked away from him, away from all of them. She felt vulnerable in his voice. "I thought...this nun is an exception. And you were. You know...I nearly refused you. I nearly called the Mother Superior and told her to keep you. To send another. Because I was deathly afraid of what a temptation you could present. Your lips were shaped for kissing, not praying." Jude flushed. Shelley melted into the back of the couch. Eunice took hold of Jude's elbow, eyes searching her sister's face as Timothy continued. "Although you did pray. You prayed and you smiled and you cooked and you supported me and you nurtured... But you terrified me, Jude. So while you built me into what could have been a great man, I built a wall and somehow, like the ice in winter, you slipped into the cracks and swelled them, just constantly chipping away until I..." He shook his head. "I made you into a receptacle for my pride. Proud that I could resist what you represented. Proud that I could wear the worship in your eyes while I undressed you with my own. I blamed you, Jude, for making me weak while the weakness was in myself alone." He paused to breathe. To think. To absorb the fact he'd just bared his soul when all he was now was bare soul.

"Timothy." Jude shook. She rubbed at her arms, clutching herself. Eunice stroked her back.

"Does that answer your question, Sister?" He wanted to know. "Yes, I loved Jude. But I mistook it for something...impure." He'd just realized there were tears on his face. He didn't wipe them away. "If I had known then what I know now..."

"We'd be in Rome now?" Jude asked, a small smile trying to convey to him that she wasn't broken open by his words even though she was. Completely.

But he shook his head. "No. I would have left the church. Left this place." He stood. Jude took a step back from his intensity, but Eunice stopped her. "I should have. I should have taken you with me. Christ, Jude. What did I do to us?"

"Nothing we can't fix." Her voice shook. At Eunice's gentle nudge, she stepped into his arms, wrapped him in hers.

"I'm so sorry," he murmured in her hair.

"Will you evah stop apologizing?" She kissed him. Before God and everyone, she kissed him.

An unexpected sob pulled them apart. They all looked to the couch. To Shelley. "I'm sorry," she sniffed, wiping her face on a bell sleeve. "You were a human, after all, Tim...I think I just forgave you."

Frank rubbed Shelley's head affectionately. "Atta girl," he winked.

"Oh my god," she breathed. "I've never been in love! Does it always suck like that?"

Timothy sat again, reached for her hand. Hesitantly, she gave it to him. "Not if you let it in."

Shelley combated the heaviness of his words with her brevity, as usual. Gave him a playful slap to the face. "Dumb fucker. You coulda been so happy." She winked at Jude. "I'm totally falling in love in Paris. At least fifty times."

Jude smiled, bittersweet. "I have no doubt you will, Shelley." She worried still. "We need a solid plan. For how to approach this situation. Tonight?"

"The sooner the bettah." Frank supplied. "I've got an idea."

Jude pulled a chair from the game table, straddled it. Mary Eunice stood beside her, a soldier for the calling. "Let's hear it, Frank."

"Picture this." Frank spread his hands. "Little Sistah calls up the magic roses. Let's say...9 pm. Nice and dark. Shadows'll be out and about fer sure. We all head to the basement stairs, ready to fight off the baddies. Arm in arm like. We wait for the flower power to lure out the bastard and...I dunno after that. Can't predict what'll happen. And that's what bothers me."

"But I think that plan is solid." Timothy supplied. "And gives us time to rest. To gather our strength. We'll be at our best."

"Eunice." Jude turned to her. "You'll stay behind us. Close. I don't want Arden to get his hands on you."

"So if Eunice is at the back, which lucky son of a bitch gets the front?" Frank asked. "I volunteer."

"No." Jude was firm. "I'll lead us down. I want him to see my face before any of yars. I want him to know who's coming far him."

"Jude..." Timothy vacillated. She gave him a no-argument glare and he nodded reluctantly. "As you wish."

"So..." Shelley piped up. "Shit. What happens after? Say after we kick the Nazi's ass - which we will - what happens after that?"

A silence descended. The group considered. Jude, seeing no answer forthcoming, spoke decisively. "Doesn't mattah. We've done our work. The dirty work. I guess then we...wait for further orders?" Truthfully, she wondered as well. After all, there had been no clear instruction. Not really. Even for herself.

Shelley had her own ideas to share. "I'll tell ya this. After Arden gets his ass handed to him? I'm outta here. It's been nice getting to know all of you. Judy...I'll be honest. You've been a fucking revelation to me. And Eunice. I admire you. You are truly some kinda avenging angel." She softly stroked Frank's shoulder. "Frank. You've been the dad I never had. Treated me with respect. Cared for me. And that - that's once in a lifetime." Frank put his hand atop Shelley's, nodding sagely. She sighed, almost as if she dreaded her next statement. "Tim. You fucking piece of shit...thanks for coming out as the dark horse in this race. You taught me something real important. To grab love by the horns. I'm gonna keep you in mind every pretty boy I fuck in Paris. Well...in the back of my mind, maybe. And I'm gonna try to fall in love."

Timothy looked alternately flattered and troubled by this statement. "Thank you? Shelley."

"What Shelley says is very important." Eunice said quietly. "We have all worked hard to forgive one another. To value each other in our own ways. It's how we've come to be the team we are now. What comes after is...secondary, I suppose."

Jude rested her chin on the back of her chair, staring at nothing. "I suppose after we each achieve our peace...there's no reason left for us to be here."

The reality set in heavily. Harshly. Frank answered it with politic politeness. "I'll just be proud ta say...I did something good. With folks I care about." He nodded with finality.

Jude reached for his hand, clasped it hard. "Me, too, Frank. Me too."

Eunice took a deep breath. "I think...I feel...that we should rest. Pray. Come into our greatest strengths. And tonight? Dinner together. As it should be." She touched Jude's shoulder. "If you'll cook for us, sister? Bless us with your gift?"

"I'd love to, little sister." Jude grasped the hand. "Any requests?"

"Coq-au-vin." Timothy caught her eyes with his own. "I never felt stronger, personally."

She grinned at him. "If you'll help me this time."

"We will all help." Eunice answered. "Tonight? We cook together. We eat together. We are strong together."

"Sounds like a plan." Frank said. He stretched. "Meanwhile, I could take a fuckin' nap like a right bastard. Shelley? You wanna have a snoring contest?"

Shelley laughed richly. "You mean like every night we've spent together, old man? Yeah. Yeah, I'd like that."

"Dinner, then." Jude nodded. "At six. All of us together. Maybe far the last time."

Small smiles. Maybe regretful. Maybe hopeful. "Yes, Sister." Eunice tucked a pink rose behind Jude's ear. "Maybe for the last time."

Frank and Shelley left the common room, Shelley leaning on her father figure's shoulder. Jude watched them go, eyes moist. She looked to Eunice. "And you, little sister? You gonna rest up?"

Eunice's eyes were closed. She sighed. "I'm...already rested, I think. I need to pray. Jude?"

"Yes?"

"I love you." Such simple words.

Jude stood. She felt no embarrassment in her tears. "Eunice. Little sistah." The two fit together like puzzle pieces. "I love you, too."

"Go." Eunice murmured into her shoulder. "You two. Your greatest strength is in each other. Find it."

Timothy stood. Took their hands. "Sister. Jude. Pray with me now. For Eunice's strength. For our own." They clasped naturally, versed in the ways of the church.

"Shhh." Eunice whispered. "Pray in your own ways." She pushed their hands together, a pile of fingers interwoven. Their heads bowed, touching. But Jude found not a saint's prayer appropriate. No Our Fathers. No Hail Marys. She could only pray from her heart. Could only feel love in her heart. The heat from Eunice's and Timothy's hands bleeding up her arms, filling her chest. And she felt just barely Eunice's hands sliding from her own. When she raised her eyes curiously, Eunice was gone.

"Jude."

She met Timothy's glistening eyes. "Since the first day we met?" She asked, voice cracking.

He touched her face. "Since then. Yes."

She tugged the hand from her face. "Come on." Tugged him with her from the common room. They climbed the stairs together wordlessly, his hands already encompassing her waist. His rooms were closest. Unspoken, they entered. Unspoken, they undressed each other. Unspoken, they climbed into his bed

They'd long surpassed lust. And they didn't speak until they were making love. Moving with and inside one another, their tongues loosened. "Jude. What will happen to us? After we defeat Arden?"

"I don't know." Her voice strained, pleasure threading it. She clutched him tightly.

"I can't lose you."

"You won't."

"Promise me." He held her head steady in both hands, forcing her half-closed eyes to meet his. "Promise me." Slowed his thrusts.

"Mmmm." Her pelvis encouraged his to resume his speed. "I can't promise..."

"Promise."

"Timothy!" She arched her neck. "Please!"

"Promise me. And I'll give you what you want." He nuzzled her neck, her ear, keeping just enough distance between their joined bodies to torture.

"Oh, Hell! I promise! I promise!" He groaned, fucking her in earnest. They came in tandem, her nails gouging his shoulders. The pain spurred his pleasure, his spill. Her legs wrapped him like prayers. Calming, catching breath, she touched his face and noticed a streak of blood. "I'm sorry," she murmured. "I scratched ya." Without thinking, she licked the little blood from her fingertips.

Timothy's brows rose. He kissed the licked fingertips. "I didn't notice."

"You know I can't promise you anything, Timothy." There was sadness in her eyes.

"You always kept your word, Jude. Unlike me." He thumbed a drop of sweat from her hairline. "You'll keep it this time."

She sighed, wriggling away from him. Wrapped a sheet around her shoulders and made for the bathroom. In the doorway, she turned to smile at him. "I'll try."

She closed the door behind her, needed a moment. Tears threatened. She turned on the bathtub, letting it fill loudly to cover her sobs. She crouched beside the clawfoot, hand tight over her mouth lest he should hear her. Her body curled, ribs caving in on the emotion.

"Now, why are you crying?"

She looked up, gasping, wiping her face with the back of her hand. "Pepper!"

The pinhead perched on the edge of the tub, forehead creased. "What's wrong? You're nearly there now. There should be no doubts, Jude."

She grasped Pepper's hands. "What happens?" She choked. "After it's done, what happens?"

"You know what happens." Pepper shrugged. "Back to your peace. What you wanted."

"What happens to them?" She asked desperately. "To Eunice and Frank and Shelley and..." Her voice failed and she crumbled again. "To him."

"They've made their choices already. All they have to do is let go. And they will. They're ready."

"But what if...what if I can't let go?"

Pepper smiled. "Let go of what exactly?"

"Fuck you, Pepper." Jude stood, whisking sheet around her, hissing anger. "You told me to this and I did. And now..."

"Now?"

"Now I'm..." A frustrated hand through tousled hair. "Now I'm done far. In love." She moved around the bath. "Goddamit. Always was. He made me promise -"

"You were under duress."

Jude blushed hotly. "I don't wanna lose him." Sat on the tub rim facing Pepper. "What if -"

"Follow your heart, Jude." Pepper placed a kind hand on her cheek, caressed it. "And he'll follow his."

"Pepper."

"What?"

"Will we be all right?"

"You're already dead. What's the worst that can happen?" Pepper slid from the tub. "Your bath is ready." She flapped the hot water, inviting. Jude stared at her. "Come ooonnn. Don't be shy. Let's see that rockin' body."

Jude rolled her eyes. But she dropped the sheet and stepped into the hot water. After she settled, she felt Pepper's hands on her head. "You've done so well, Jude. You all have. The end of your journey is near, and you'll all be rewarded accordingly. Trust me. Just remember one thing."

It was an important thing. Jude could feel it in Pepper's touch. "What?"

"Don't be afraid."

But the words alone struck a cold fear and Jude reached for Pepper's hands. Only to find them gone. She turned, sloshing bath water. She was alone in the bathroom. "Dammit!"

The door opened and Timothy entered, wearing just his trousers. "What's wrong?"

"Fargot the soap."

He reached the tray above her head, handed her the soap and a flannel. "Have you been crying?"

"No! Water's just hot is all."

"Jude -"

"Get in and wash my back." He didn't argue. His touch felt like heaven and held her tears at bay. She put tonight, and whatever came after, into God's hands.