"Green, wake up!"

Rose's eyes snapped open to see Matron standing over her.

"Come and get dressed, your carriage is waiting," she said.

Rose sat up and asked groggily. "Why? What for?"

"You're going to Highgate to be with your mother," said Matron.

Rose was in shock. W-what?

"I-I don't believe you," she stuttered as Harriet sat up behind her.

"Oh, believe what you like," Matron shrugged. "I'm sure there are plenty of other girls who'd be happy to take up the position."

"Rose..." Harriet's voice made her turn round and she saw the look of happiness and awe on her face.

She looked back at Matron. "This isn't a trick?"

"Do you think I have time to play silly games?"

A smile spread onto Rose's face. "I'm going to be with Ida?"

"Well, not if you continue to dawdle, come on!"

Rose got up immediately and got dressed excitedly. She didn't even- what was happening?

As she finished her small amount of packing, she went to Harriet. Both girls were crying as they hugged.

"Friends forever?"

"Friends forever."

As they pulled apart, Sheila called from the bottom of the dorm. "Well, go on! Don't keep Ida waiting!"

Rose said one last thing to Harriet, though. "Tell Will I love him, will you? And that I will find him again."

Harriet nodded, wiping her tears. "Bye, Rose Green."

Rose nodded. "Bye, Harriet Summers."

As she walked down the aisle in the dorm, Winterson smiled. "Say goodbye to Rose Green, girls."

"Bye, Rose!"

There was a load more hugs as Matron called from the door. "Come on, Rose!"

"Stay safe," Winterson told her as she got in with her own hug.

Rose couldn't quite believe this would be her last time in the dorm as she looked around it, not catching anyone's eye contact deliberately.

This was it.

She was leaving the foundling hospital.

The last thing she saw as she left was Harriet's smiling face, waving at her as she waved back.

"Anyone would think you wouldn't want to be with your mother! Come on!" Matron commented as they walked along the corridor.

"I do, I just-" Rose began. "I left my bonnet in the dorm."

Matron sighed. "Go and get it, quickly, and come straight back."

But Rose had her bonnet in her back pocket.

The real reason she was going back to the dorm was to tell someone something.

Something she had to tell someone before leaving forever.

𑁍𑁍𑁍

"Where's Harriet?"

Sheila was the only one in the dorm when Rose entered.

"She's in the laundry room, why?"

Rose sighed, getting her bonnet from her pocket and putting it on. "Because, I need to tell her something."

Sheila frowned. "What is it?"

Well, Rose did need to tell someone.

"It's Matron," she sighed. "She has a ticket to America, and all this money."

"So? The ticket's probably for Harriet," shrugged Sheila.

"That doesn't explain the money!" Rose exclaimed.

"Rose Green! We haven't got all day!"

Rose sighed at Macclesfield's shouts and said urgently to Sheila. "You have to do something."

"Go and be with Ida," Sheila stepped forward. "Matron's not your concern anymore."

But it certainly did not feel that way, as she left the dorm.

Left the dorm forever.

𑁍𑁍𑁍

"Come along!" Matron called as she led her to the linen cupboard. "You need a new dress if you wish to impress the lady of the house!"

She ushered Rose into the cupboard, where the girl looked through a couple of dresses, frowned. "I don't under..."

But then she turned to see Matron. Who was stood there with her hands on her hips, her lip curled.

Oh, she knew it had been too good to be true-

And she had been so stupid-

"All you had to do was abide by my rules," Matron shrugged. "But you couldn't resist having a little snoop, could you?"

"So that ticket to America?" Rose shook her head.

"That is my chance for a new life," Matron retorted. "Where ambition is celebrated, not thwarted."

Rose faced her. "You stole that money, didn't you?"

"I took what is rightfully mine," Matron said, voice low and threatening.

"So what's going to happen to me?" Rose asked.

"Oh, uh, my good friend Mr Brunsden will escort you to his mill-"

"No-"

"-where you will live out the rest of your miserable existence where you will learn what a trivial little person you are," Matron sighed. "You may have won a few battles, Green. But you never stood a chance in the war."

"Please, Matron," Rose couldn't breathe. "I won't say anything, I swear-"

"Life could've been so much easier for you, Green," Matron shook her head despairingly.  "But you continue to defy me. Now, if you don't mind, I've got some packing to finish."

But, as she tried to leave, Rose ran at her, trying to get out.

Matron threw her off aggressively, her fingers pinching her arm-

"Get off of me-"

She was shoved to the floor, landing hard as Matron towered above her, face menacing, eyes wild.

"You started this war, Green, and now I am finishing it!"

She left quickly, slamming the door and locking it before Rose could even think, let alone get up to escape.

She lay on the floor, tears coming easily.

She had been so stupid, so naive to think she was getting out to live with Ida.

She just wanted a mother.

And she was getting a mill.

𑁍𑁍𑁍

Deep down, she knew kicking and screaming was futile.

But she wasn't giving up as she slammed and knocked and kicked at the door.

"PLEASE! CAN ANYONE HEAR ME? PLEASE! LET ME OUT!"

The sound of horses made her look round, going and climbing up to the small round window at the top of the room. It was just above ground level, but out it she could see Harriet, looking around, crying slightly, holding a bag.

No-

She's going-

"HARRIET!" She yelled, knocking at the window. "HARRIET, PLEASE!"

Her best friend didn't notice her, but instead got into the carriage.

"HARRIET!" Rose begged harder. "HARRIET, PLEASE!"

The horses neighed as the carriage rode away, and Rose wiped her tears, giving up knocking at the window.

She slid down the shelves and sat against them, miserable.

That could've well been the last time she saw Harriet.

𑁍𑁍𑁍

Rose was sat, slowly sobbing in the locked cupboard, as the world went on around her. She knew that soon, this Mr Brunsden would come and take her away and she would never see Harriet or Ned or Will again-

Wait.

Will.

Feeling in her pocket, Rose felt a flood of relief when she felt it was still there, in one piece.

His letter.

Well, he said it was for when she missed him.

And right now, she could really do with reading something written by him. Touching something touched by him.

So she pulled it out, and unfolded it.

Dearest Rose,

I know you're probably wondering why I'm writing this. And to be honest, I don't even really know myself, but I guess it's just another way of telling you how much I love you.

Now listen, Rose, because I need you to remember all this, and I'll not always be around to remind you.

Keep writing. I love reading your stories, and you have a real gift. It doesn't matter if you're just doing it as a pass time, I need to know you're still doing it.

Keep being you. Keep being sarcastic, and brave, and keep standing up to people and keep telling someone if they don't treat you right. Keep helping out people who need it.

I still love you. I know I'll love you your whole life, I promise. But if you ever do decide it's time to move on, just promise me one thing. Don't destroy or lose this letter. Keep it. You don't have to look at it again, but just please, keep it.

If you do still want to be with me by the time I'm back, then I promise you, I'll be waiting. I'll never think of anyone but you my whole time serving and I'll come back for you one day.

I'll never forget the day I told you I loved you, though the tench door. You sounded so helpless before I admitted it. And then, when I told you... it was like the world lit up for you and me both. I can still remember every single detail of it, I just hope you can, too.

I'll never forget the day I met you, either, when you climbed down from the records office and stole my letter, taunting me with it. I don't know if I've told you this before, but as soon as I saw you, I thought you were the most beautiful thing in the world, with your enchanting green eyes alight and your brown hair framing your face. And you've grown up to be even more beautiful. I'll be picturing your face everyday, in the army, I will be. I'm never going to forget you, Rose.

Well, my hand is aching, and all the boys are gathered behind me, waiting to read this, but I'm just going to say it one more time, one last time, well, in this letter, at least.

I love you, Rose Green.

And I know you love me. You don't need to say it. I know. But I just want you to remember that. And hold onto it.

Yours,

Will

Rose sobbed as she finished reading, touching the point where his name was signed on the paper and then holding the letter close to her chest, which was aching.

Something in her was breaking.

Will still loved her.

But would he still love her when she had had a good few years at a mill, her soul was broken and she didn't have any of her old, rebellious spirit?

𑁍𑁍𑁍

"Rose, are you in there?"

Sheila's voice roused Rose and she snapped up, wiping her tears as the girl fought with the door.

"Hurry, please!" She shouted from inside.

"It won't open-" Sheila snarled, as she tried to move the door with force.

"Just keep trying!"

"Stop whining and let me concentrate!"

Rose stood back from the door, wiping the tears that had replaced the old ones on her face and tying to be impatiently patient.

"Come on, Sheila! Keep trying the handle, come on!"

But soon, the sound of a key slotting into a lock filled the air as Sheila turned it and wrenched open the door, coming face to face with Rose, who hugged her tightly.

"You'll never guess what happened," she said as she pulled back.

"When have I ever liked your stories, Green? Hurry up!" Sheila grabbed her hand and pulled her out the cupboard, running up the corridor. "Someone's here for you!"

As they ran back up the stairs, Rose couldn't help feeling an immense gratitude towards Sheila.

She never thought she'd feel that way towards that girl.

She couldn't believe it.

𑁍𑁍𑁍

S

tep two was crash the chapel farewell service, and tell everyone Matron's true intentions.

"Does this mean we're friends now?" Rose asked Sheila as they walked towards the chapel.

"You're still an annoying pest," shrugged Sheila, smirking.

Rose smiled as they paused outside the chapel doors, holding out a hand.

"Enemies forever?"

Sheila chuckled slightly, shaking it.

"Enemies forever."

"Right," Rose grinned. "Let's do this."

They each got ahold of a chapel door-

And pushed them open.

"STOP!"

Rose and Sheila crashed the doors open and sprinted into the chapel, the organ music and hymn singing stopping abruptly as they got in.

"What on earth is going on?" Colonel Brigwell asked, looking at them unsurely.

"Matron's running away to America!" Rose yelled. "That's what all this fundraising's been for!"

"That is slander!" Matron snapped

"Have you any evidence to back up these claims?" Brigwell asked.

"I've seen the ticket myself!" Rose yelled.

"Uh, the ticket was meant for Harriet," corrected Matron.

"No it's not!" Sheila spoke up for the first time. "Her ticket was being kept at the shipyard!"

"Ask her where the money is!" Rose added.

Brigwell turned to Matron who then said. "In my office safe, ready to be banked first thing. Must I be interrogated by two children?"

"Matron, please deal with your girls," said Brigwell.

"With pleasure, Colonel," Matron advanced towards Rose and Sheila.

"She was going to send me to a mill!" Rose snapped.

As Matron took hold of her and Sheila, she hissed. "Mr Brunsden's mill will seem like a holiday compared to what I have in store for you, and as for you, Sheila Ormsby, you can forget about that job with the Calendar's-"

"I've seen her trunk!"

Judd's yell stopped everything as Matron froze, dropping Rose and Sheila. "I think we've heard enough!"

"Uh, this trunk? Where is it now?" Cranbourne advanced forwards.

"It's in the yard," said Judd.

"Then I suggest we go and find it," said Cranbourne. "And put an end to these allegations once and for all."

Matron scoffed. "I have nothing to hide, Mr Cranbourne."

"In that case, you won't mind Colonel Brigwell joining us, then?"

Matron visibly faltered at this.

"Look!"

Ned's voice made Rose's head snap up, seeing the cracks in the chapel roof. Rapidly spreading.

"Er- everybody move out of the way!" Cranbourne shouted urgently. "Please, out of the way!"

Brigwell soon spoke up. "I'm sure there's absolutely nothing to worry about-"

CRASH!

In a flash, that whole section of roof fell in, showering the chapel with dust and rubble.

No one noticed Matron slip away during the crisis.

After stone had stopped falling, Cranbourne spoke up. "Everybody, stay... calm."

"Sheila, Matron!" Rose nudged her - enemy? friend? She didn't know - in the side and pulled her after the woman.

They had to stop Matron.

Once and for all.

𑁍𑁍𑁍

The carriage was leaving when Rose and Sheila ran out into the yard, so Rose knew there was only one way to stop it.

"Out of the way!" Matron yelled from inside the carriage. "What are you doing?"

Rose and Sheila stopped right at the horse's front as the carriage drew to a stop, hands held out and faces clenched.

"What are you doing? You stupid girls!" Matron yelled.

"We're not going anywhere!" Rose snapped at her.

"If I get trampled, I'll never forgive you for this," Sheila murmured to her.

Matron, meanwhile, had climbed out the carriage, her bag clutched firmly to her side as she marched toward Sheila and Rose.

"Matron! I think you owe us an explanation!"

Colonel Brigwell, Mr Cranbourne and Nurse Winterson were walking towards the woman, faces hard and set.

"Colonel..." Matron started. "My sister Anni has been taken ill suddenly, I must get to her-"

"Check her bag!" Rose yelled.

Matron shook her head, gesturing to Rose. "Can you not see that this girl is a compulsive liar?"

"There's only one liar here, Matron," Winterson spoke up.

"Mr Cranbourne," Brigwell said. "Would you be so kind?"

Matron put up a fight, but Cranbourne seized her bag easily, the money spilling out of it. He took it in his hands and gasped.

"I was merely keeping hold of it, until I could pay it into the bank," explained Matron.

"Wait!" Macclesfield was running round the carriage. "She's been planning this for months! I was supposed to be going to New York with her-!"

"That is a lie!" Matron said quickly.

"I- have been a fool, trusting you!" Macclesfield yelled vilely at Matron.

"Nurse Winterson, could you please call the constable?" Brigwell turned to Winterson, who nodded. "It seems we have a thief among us."

"I'm sorry Matron, but you leave me with no choice," said Cranbourne, siezing her.

"How dare you-? Get your hands off me!" Matron protested, fighting him. "Rose Green, you really are a vindictive, spiteful little brat!"

"But all I did was tell the truth!" Rose retorted back at her.

"A quality it seems Matron lacks!" Cranbourne put in.

"Lock her in her office until the constable gets here!" Colonel Brigwell said sharply.

"Don't worry, Colonel," assured Cranbourne. "I shall ensure that order is restored."

"I never stood a chance with you people, did I?" Matron spat as she was taken hold of. "All my years of devotion... and for what?!"

Brigwell looked at her for a second, before hissing. "Take her away!"

"Be on your guard, Rose Green!" Matron yelled, turning round as Cranbourne led her away. "I will come looking for you!"

Winterson skipped an arm around Rose once she was gone.

"It's alright," she said. "It's over now."

But was it?

𑁍𑁍𑁍

"Rose!" Will, Mathias and Ned ran across the yard to her.

"You okay?" Will reached her first, putting an arm round her waist.

"Yeah," Rose said. She was still in the yard beside Matron's abandoned bag and carriage, but everyone was gone except her.

And she had the book. She had picked it up from the bag.

"You all set?" Rose asked, looking from Ned to Will to Mathias, trying not to crack.

Will and Ned nodded. Mathias shook his head. "I'm not going with the others."

"What?" Rose asked.

"I'm going to get a job," Mathias shrugged. "Save up for a ticket to New York."

Rose smiled slightly, bending down to the bag and collecting the New York ticket from it. "Maybe you don't have to."

Mathias looked at her with a smile, taking the ticket.

Will squeezed her waist. "What are you doing?"

Rose shook her head. "I... I don't know."

And it was true.

She really didn't.

𑁍𑁍𑁍

Outside, Rose said goodbye to Ned, hugging him tightly. They were just about to see Sheila and Gideon off to the Calendars, but just before that, it was time for the other boys' goodbye.

"You'll always be my borrowed brother," Rose cried into Ned's shoulder, drawing back.

"And you'll always be my borrowed sister," smiled Ned. "You're brave, I'm smart, right?"

Rose sobbed a bit more as Ned moved back and Will moved in.

"I-I read the letter," Rose admitted, looking up at him with big, teary eyes. "When I thought I wasn't gonna ever see you again..."

Will's face turned visibly red and Rose giggled tearily. "I just want you to know... that I won't ever stop loving you. And I'll... I'll never move on from you, either. I'll be- I'll be right here, waiting..."

Will nodded, taking her face gently in his hands and kissing her softly, her lips moving against his as she kissed back.

As they pulled apart, tears appeared in Will's eyes as he said. "Read that letter whenever you feel like you're missing me, okay? And I'll look at your number."

Rose nodded as he put a soft hand on her face, wiping her tears. "I love you," she told him.

Will nodded. "I love you too."

He held both her hands in his and pressed a soft, teary kiss onto her cheek and kept pressure there for a second before pulling back, smiling slightly.

"It's not goodbye," he told her. "It's just... see you soon, Rose Green."

Rose chuckled. "See you soon, Will Burton."

They jumped away from each other slightly as Mrs Calendar came out of the door, followed by Gideon and Sheila.

As Ned and Will said bye to Gideon, Mrs Calendar asked Rose. "What happened to Matron?"

"The constable's here to arrest her," said Rose.

"All thanks to Rose!" Will said seriously to Mrs Calendar.

She gave Rose a small nod of thanks before leading Gideon and Sheila to the carriage.

Rose hugged Gideon. "Look after yourself for me, okay?"

Gideon smiled. "I will, Rose."

She smiled at him, standing next to Will and Ned, her eyes welling up again, tears pooling  in them.

And then suddenly, a strange force was propelling her forward.

"I can peel potatoes, and if I work really hard, I can make porridge without lumps in it," Rose cried. "I risked everything to make sure Matron paid for what she did. It's gotta be worth something, hasn't it?"

Mrs Calendar looked between her and Gideon and Sheila and behind her, at Will and Ned.

And then she said. "It just so happens my husband is a fan of lumpy porridge."

Rose gasped. No- this- this couldn't be real.

"You've got to be kidding me!" Sheila exclaimed.

But Rose was already smiling. "You won't regret it."

She ran at Will, hugging him tightly and placing a kiss on his cheek.

"Now you know where to find me," she giggled, still crying, at the boy.

Will nodded. "Yeah, I guess I do."

Rose also hugged Ned tightly, crying into her brother's shoulder before running back into the hospital to get her things.

As she ran back out, Will took her hand, whispering in her ear. "I love you."

Rose looked back at him, and then up at the hospital.

At the place she'd spent most of her life.

At the place she'd vowed to get out of.

At the place she was now leaving.

"Well come on, if you're coming!" Sheila shouted from the carriage.

Rose looked back at Will, and smiled. "I love you too."

He squeezed her hand, letting it go so she could run into the carriage, squeezing in beside Gideon and Sheila.

As the carriage drew away, the last view of the foundling hospital she got was Will, blowing her a kiss.

But she didn't blow one back.

Instead, she mouthed something.

Something she would think everyday.

I'll love you forever, Will.