A/N: This story contains miscellaneous outtakes from my "Determinant" alternate third book and from its sequel "Prior Rings." Both of those are posted under my Windchimed account, so please see those stories before reading this one.
General Notes: 1) This story is rated M, though I don't expect it to be extremely M or MA. Most of the chapters were just a bit over the line from T, so I didn't include them in my other stories. Some will be here simply because they didn't fit into those stories' plot lines. 2) I will not necessarily be posting chapters in chronological order; if I post out of order, I'll keep the chapter at the end for a week or so to make it easier to find and will then move it to the right location.
Disclaimer: I do not own "Divergent" or "Insurgent" or "Allegiant" or the characters, dialogue, plot lines, etc. in those books. All of that belongs to Veronica Roth. Also, this story is only consistent with some of VR's writing ("Divergent," "Insurgent," "Free Four: Tobias Tells the Divergent Knife-Throwing Scene," and "Four: The Transfer: A Divergent Story").
Chapter 28 of "Prior Rings" retold by Tobias – A Dauntless Date
We call it a dummy, but it's really more of a person-shaped punching bag, hanging from a chain and filled with heavy sand. It's only one component of the equipment we have in our faction's exercise room, but it's the one I use the most, both for staying in shape and for practicing martial arts.
It's always a bit tricky to use it this early in the morning, while everyone else is still asleep. Typically, though, as long as I don't yell with my blows, I can get away with it.
So, I work out as quietly as I can, kicking and striking, pulling the bag to a stop between blows to reduce the noise the chain makes as it swings.
My dreams were disturbing again last night, filled with images of losing Tris in a variety of ways. I don't quite know why, since I finally have her back in my life, and we're in far less danger than we were the first time around.
I let my thoughts gel as I strike again, this time with the side of my hand to the dummy's neck. Whatever is troubling me, it's affecting me during the day, too. Tris seems fine with taking things slowly, but I know that on my side, there's an underlying reason we haven't had sex since we got back together. It's certainly not that I don't feel the desire – but something is holding me back.
Turning to the right, I deliver a side-kick into the dummy's knee with my left leg. It's the lowest point on the bag, and it swings wildly in response before I drag it to a stop.
It's entirely possible that I don't trust myself, at least not with losing that much control. Or maybe I'm afraid that I'll find out Tris was with someone else while we were apart. She would have had every right to do that, of course, but it's definitely not a thought I like. I already struggle with possessiveness and jealousy too much as it is.
My next punch drives directly into the dummy's solar plexus, and I stare at the spot for a moment before stilling the bag again. Maybe I'm afraid there will be scars from where I broke her ribs – some permanent reminder of the damage I did the last time I lost control.
Grabbing the dummy's shoulders, I ram my knee into its groin, feeling a strange satisfaction from the action. Perhaps I've developed the same fear Tris had, and I'm now scared of intimacy.
The thought draws a low chuckle out of me. Given the good dreams I've had lately, the ones that are interspersed with the nightmares, that seems more than a little unlikely. Parts of me absolutely want that closeness.
Of course, part of me wanted it last time around, too, even if I was terrified of starting a relationship then. At the time, I had no idea how to be close to anyone, and I worried constantly about turning into my father. Yet somehow I found the courage to open up to Tris.
I pull the next blow at the last second, just to make sure I can, smiling as I stop a quarter of an inch from the dummy's chin.
We went through my fear landscape then. In a way, it was our first date, unless you count climbing the Ferris wheel together. In both cases, I faced my fears with her.
Maybe I should do that again….
I go with a roundhouse kick this time, causing the bag to fly backwards before spinning crazily. After all, we've faced a lot of fears together, and they always brought us closer. Especially when we conquered Tris' "extra" one, taking her down to a total of six.
We haven't had a Dauntless date yet, so I have a good opportunity to tackle something like that if I want. But exactly what would I do? We already navigated my fear landscape once, even if half of it has changed since then. And we rode the Ferris wheel a few weeks ago, now that the amusement park has reopened.
My elbow drives into the dummy's floating rib as I think through the other activities that my second faction loves. The answer comes as my hands draw the bag to a stop again.
Zip-lining. It's the one Dauntless challenge I never dared to face.
Even the thought sends a chill through me. I've tackled heights more than once for Tris, but leaping off a hundred-story building – in real life – is way beyond that.
Still, there's an odd appeal to it. It might be enough to help me finally conquer that fear, not just deal with it temporarily. And that seems like a fitting thing to do with Tris…before we face other old fears together.
A smile works its way onto my face as I punch the bag one last time before heading back to my apartment to shower. I'll talk to Zeke today about setting everything up. With any luck, in a couple of weeks, my sleep won't be so disturbed anymore.
It's sunny and clear on the afternoon of our Dauntless date. I've timed it so we'll be zip-lining during the warmest part of the day, but that means it's still cold when I lead Tris to the tracks, pulling her into a run and leaping easily onto the train. She joins me effortlessly, and I can't help but smile at her strength. I will never get tired of seeing her like this.
Realistically, we don't need to take the train at all, since we live within walking distance of the Hancock building, but this will make it harder for Tris to guess where we're going – and will give me time to build up my courage. So, we ride through the city as she watches it pass by, trying to figure out what I have planned.
Eventually, she begins to fidget, and I realize that she wants to sit but isn't sure if she has time. Smiling a bit, I slide down the wall and make myself as comfortable as I can on the hard, cold floor. Tris arches a curious eyebrow at me.
"Just giving you a seat," I tell her, patting my lap. It makes her grin.
I don't quite expect what she does next. Holding my eyes challengingly, she slowly drops down onto her knees, facing me, until she's straddling my hips. My breath catches from the intensity of her presence – and the way she's rubbing right against certain parts of me – and I lose all thought as I sit up straight, my hands automatically finding their way to her back, beneath her coat.
"Where are we going, anyway?" she asks in an innocent voice, as if she's not aware of what she's doing to me.
"Really?" I manage to say. "That's what you're thinking when you're in this position?" Leaning forward, I press my lips to her cheek before letting them move slowly along her jaw. She smells incredibly good. "My mind is definitely on other things right now."
Her body is warm against me, and mine presses back hard in response, and I can't help but remember other times when we were together even closer than this. The memory is only accentuated when she moans in pleasure.
"That's better," I murmur as I suck the side of her neck, letting my fingers trail up her spine underneath her coat. I love being able to affect her this way – the same way she affects me.
Another moan emerges from deep in her throat, and it's all I can do to breathe, "Much better."
Our lips find each other's, and we kiss with an intensity that erases the rest of the world completely. Time is a meaningless concept in moments like this, so it shouldn't really surprise me when I catch a glimpse outside the train and realize that I almost missed our stop.
"Tris," I murmur, forcing myself to pull away. "It's time to jump."
"I thought your mind wasn't on where we're going," she responds, amused, but she begins climbing to her feet anyway.
"Trust me," I rasp, unable to take my eyes off her, "I'm tempted to loop around the city again." Rising somewhat stiffly, given how rigid certain muscles have become, I lean close to her. "But maybe we can pick this up again later?"
Her breath hitches before she whispers, "Okay."
Grinning, I launch myself from the train, and Tris follows me immediately, landing on her feet as easily as I do. As expected, the cold has eased somewhat now, with the sun high overhead, so we remove our gloves and lace our fingers together while we walk.
She doesn't ask where we're going. Either she's figured it out, or she's decided to wait and be surprised. If it's the latter, she must begin to suspect the closer we get to the Hancock building.
My reaction undoubtedly helps her guess, too, given the way my pulse is quickening and my palms are beginning to sweat. By the time we reach the entrance to the building, my heart is hammering so loudly she can probably hear it. Still, I don't slow down or let my steps falter. This is a Dauntless date, and the faction of the brave does not allow terror to get the upper hand.
The elevator looms in front of us, reminding me that I'll have to face my claustrophobia today in addition to the height, but I ignore both of those fears as I lead Tris into the tight space and press the button for the hundredth floor.
"This building is kind of an experiment," I tell her, doing my best to keep my voice steady. "Multiple factions have been rebuilding sections of it and using it for their own purposes, since it's too big for anyone to use the whole thing at this point."
"That sounds intriguing," she comments, and I can tell that she now thinks we're doing one of those other activities today. She confirms that when she adds, "What are we going to do here?"
My nerves peak at the question, knowing that this is the moment of truth. Scratching the back of my neck, I stare at the floor as I answer. "Well, it's Dauntless day. So, zip-lining."
She hesitates, and her voice is soft when she responds. "Tobias, you don't have to do that."
"I know." I drag my eyes up to meet hers. "But you conquered one of your fears for me. I want to try to do the same."
The sides of her mouth tug upwards. "I didn't conquer it just for you, you know," she murmurs. "It was for both of us."
There's no way to suppress the grin that spreads across my face in response. Stepping closer, I wrap my arms around her and drop my face into her hair, breathing her amazing scent. "They have a double-harness they use for two people to go together," I murmur. "I figure that as long as I can hold you and smell you the whole time, I'll be okay."
I can feel her smile, but before she answers, the elevator doors open. Swallowing my nervousness, I take her hand again and lead her onto the hundredth floor.
Tris stops a few steps in, staring around uncertainly. It's not until she speaks that I understand why. "So much happened here," she says softly.
She's right, of course. This is where Anna first spoke to us about NUSA, and recruited us for the mission. And it's where I learned that Amar was still alive. It feels like an eternity ago.
"It did," I answer seriously.
Tris' expression is thoughtful, and I give her time to process the memories. To consider everything that started in this room, and the long path from there to our coming full circle, standing here again today. I don't particularly want to think about parts of that journey, but they're there whether I like them or not – they're part of who we are.
Eventually, she crosses the room to the ladder that leads to the roof, and I go with her wordlessly. It's easier to climb when she goes first, so I have no objection when she starts up, clearly drawn to the height.
The cold wind hits me as soon as I pull myself onto the roof, and I wrap an arm around Tris, drawing her close as much for body heat as because it helps me face the reality of being up here. Huddled together, we zip our coats and put our gloves back on while I try to pretend that we're at ground level.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" she asks.
In this moment, it's very tempting to back down, but instead I look deeply into Tris' eyes, drawing strength from her as I always have. I can get through anything with her by my side.
"Yes," I say firmly, nodding to emphasize the answer.
It takes me a second to recognize the expression that she forms in response, since it's not something I've seen often in my life. She's proud of me. The thought sends a fire through my insides that helps to burn away the fear.
Taking her hand, I lead her over to Zeke with my shoulders square and my steps certain. He grins at us, holding up the double-harness I asked him to bring as he waggles his eyebrows at Tris.
"So," he calls over the wailing of the wind, "I hear someone would like a scenic tour of the city."
"Absolutely," Tris answers. Her tone is more quizzical when she adds, "Do you normally do this on weekends?"
"Not often, no. But I couldn't miss Four's first time zip-lining." He gives her a conspiratorial wink. "Besides, you don't really think he'd trust anyone else with your life, do you?" He's right about that.
"Well, strap us in, then," Tris tells him, looking amused, but also pleased. She meets my gaze as she asks, "Head first?" I nod. It will be equally hard for me no matter what, so she may as well pick her favorite position.
Zeke straps me into the harness first, adjusting the straps carefully and tugging at them to ensure they're solid. The entire time, I expect him to comment on how stiff I am, or to tease me about this being my "first time," but he never does. Sometimes, he's a better friend than I give him credit for being.
I watch far more closely as he connects Tris. Objectively, I know that he's better at this than I am, but I can't help double-checking every knot and seam anyway. I won't let anything happen to her.
"There are people waiting to catch you at the end," Zeke says as he gives everything a final tug before nodding in satisfaction. Moving his hand to a release that's above our heads, he adds, "This will separate Tris from the line so she can get off."
Tris reaches for it, probably instinctively, but it's too high for her, and Zeke smiles at the attempt. "Yeah, Four's going to have to do that." Turning to me, he continues in a firm voice. "Just to be clear, you're going to be in charge of a few things on this ride, Four, so pay attention or Tris could end up getting hurt."
The words immediately focus me, and I straighten as I meet my friend's gaze. "I'm listening."
Zeke nods, his expression unusually serious as he explains how to work the release switches and when to use them. I file the information carefully in my brain, repeating it to myself to make sure I won't lose it no matter how panicked the ride makes me. Honestly, I'm glad of the distraction when he leads us to the edge of the roof. It's almost impossible to keep my hammering heart from taking over the closer we get.
"Four, you're taller," Zeke shouts over the sound of the wind, "so you'll need to be the one who jumps. Don't go too high, but make sure you're both clear in one motion. Tris, just keep your feet out of his way. Once you're off the roof, gravity will do the rest."
My neck doesn't want to bend enough to nod, so I force my voice to work instead. "Got it."
Grinning, Zeke calls, "Okay, now this is the most important part…. Have fun!"
That's far from realistic for me, but Tris laughs in response as Zeke backs away to give us room.
This is it. It's up to me now. But for an eternity of frozen time, all I can do is stare at the buildings around us, trying to ignore my frantic heartbeat as I view this reverse image of the city – with the skyscrapers going down instead of up. I do not want to do this. More than that, I can't do this.
Before the panic can seize control, Tris grabs my hand, drawing my attention to her again. Somehow, her warmth reaches me even through our gloves, and I focus on that. Just that. Just her.
Leaning down, I press my cheek to hers. "I love you, Tris."
She turns her head enough to meet my lips, kissing me lightly before answering, "I love you, too." A smile ghosts across her face as she adds, "On three, okay?" The suggestion reminds me of when I took her into my fear landscape, and I nod as I did then. "One, two, three."
On the last count, she raises her feet clear of the roof, her weight pulling me forward, and my body responds automatically. I follow Zeke's instructions, jumping high enough for us to clear the roof, but staying low enough to avoid problems with the harness.
For a second, we're suspended over the city as we balance between the roof and the drop of the zip-line. And then we plunge.
My insides plummet, and my head swirls, and my heart is racing faster than I think it ever has, and panic makes my entire form go rigid as I squeeze my eyes shut as tightly as possible. All I want to do is scream at the top of my lungs to stop stop STOP. But we don't.
Above me, the metal clasp screeches against the line, and the wind is driving into me so hard I can't even feel the temperature anymore, and I'm pretty sure that the air is passing too fast to breathe – even if my lungs could remember how to function.
Beneath me, Tris spreads her arms as if she's a bird in flight, and abruptly I remember that she's there. Releasing her hand, I instead wrap both of my arms as tightly around her waist as they can go, holding her to me like a lifeline.
She crows in delight.
The sound is so foreign to how I'm feeling that I can't begin to process it, but it holds my attention, and I try to let it, burying my face into her hair and ignoring the rest of the world. Her scent fills me there, and I'm finally able to breathe again, even if it is in rapid, panicked pants.
Tris draws her arms in, her hands squeezing mine before she pulls my grip a bit looser. It takes my adrenaline-addled brain a second to realize why – I'm crushing her.
"Sorry," I manage to grunt, but she just laughs in response, clearly not hurt. And suddenly I'm reminded of the first time we climbed to a frightening height together, somehow escaping injury even when it seemed most certain. The Ferris wheel.
The memory lightens the weight of my fear, and I turn my head enough to kiss her cheek, calling, "You are definitely not human."
She immediately proves the point by shouting, "Hey! You down there! Look at us fly!" I shake my head, a chuckle somehow finding its way through me. It's not enough for her to enjoy looking down from here – she has to get people to look up, too.
"I love you, Tobias Eaton!" she screams next, even louder, and it pulls a deeper laugh from me. I'm not entirely sure how she's doing it, but she's calming me down. She's making this bearable.
So, this time, when she extends her arms like wings, I hesitantly do the same, reaching my arms out along the top of hers and clasping her hands tightly. I still keep my face pressed into her hair, with my eyes squeezed shut, but in this moment, I can almost feel as if we're flying together instead of falling to our deaths.
Another crow of joy tears from her throat, and the part of me that's focused purely on her manages to respond. It's not exactly a happy sound, but at least it's not a scream of terror.
Eventually, we begin to slow down, and I know we're near the end. Relief starts to work its way through me, and I open my eyes just enough to see the world through Tris' hair. It's probably just as well that I can't see the ground.
Painstakingly slowly, we come to a stop, hanging in the air twenty feet high. I finally dare to look down, seeing the group of Dauntless waiting below us, their arms pumping as they cheer for their former faction-mates.
A swirl of incredible relief and stunned disbelief swoops through me. Tris puts words to it, turning her head to look at me as she says, "We did it. We got through it."
It's another reminder of my fear landscape, and I can't help smiling as I answer the same way I did that day. "You got me through it."
And it's true – I never could have done this without her.
"Hey, drop already!" Henry shouts from below us, and I chuckle at the typical Dauntless impatience. He can't give me two minutes to savor this accomplishment….
But that's okay. Tris and I will have time to celebrate afterwards, and I'd far rather do that alone with her than here and now.
"You ready?" I ask her.
"Of course."
My hands are barely shaking anymore as I tug on the release that Zeke showed me earlier, letting Tris drop into the waiting arms of the group below us. I don't watch, not quite wanting to see her in free-fall, even for that relatively short distance. But I know she landed safely when I hear her laugh.
"Your turn!" Henry calls, and I take a deep breath as I pull my own release cord. And for the very first time, I complete the ritual that so many Dauntless have before me, falling into the net of interlaced arms and trusting them with my life. I doubt I could have done it if Tris weren't among them.
My gaze finds her the moment my feet touch the ground, and a rush of exhilaration goes through me at the realization that she was right. We did it. Together, we conquered one of my greatest fears. Just like we did with one of hers.
Her eyes are blazing with the same passion and wild energy that are filling me, and she suddenly grabs the front of my coat, pulling us together as she presses her lips to mine. My arms don't hesitate to wrap around her, lifting her off the ground and deepening the kiss even more, completely ignoring the fact that we're surrounded by other people.
But they're Dauntless, so they cheer for us instead of being offended. And when we finally pull far enough apart, we shout back – the sounds of our exuberance and thanks joining with their catcalls and whoops. I've never felt more like a part of my second faction than right now, when I'm no longer a member of it.
Henry claps me on the back, grinning as he mouths something about Tris, and my mind and gaze both return to her with irresistible force. And suddenly I'm thinking about what I postponed until after today…about what I now feel like I can allow myself to do. With the thought comes every emotion and desire I've pushed back for the last few weeks, and I'm struck sharply by just how much I want her. In every possible way. Now.
Judging by the expression on her face, she feels the same.
Grabbing her hand, I pull her toward home, both of us racing as fast as our legs can move. The adrenaline and want are like flames pulsing through my body, making every single part of me hyper-aware of Tris' presence beside me as we run.
We should be breathless by the time we crash into my apartment, but there seem to be no bounds to our energy. Our lips press together more and more urgently as we tug at each other's coats and gloves, kicking our shoes off and leaving a pile of discarded clothing behind us.
Tris' hands find their way under my shirt, feeling unbelievably good on my bare skin, and I practically growl in response. Grabbing the underside of her thighs, I lift her up and press her back against the wall, grinning as her legs wrap around my waist, just where I want them most.
It's a struggle not to rip off our remaining clothing right there, but something in me pushes back, telling the rest of me that I need to slow down. This will be our first time in over a year, and I need to make sure that every part of this works for Tris. More importantly, I need to make very sure that she knows it's an act of love, not lust.
So, I force myself to go slowly, lowering my mouth to her neck and sucking and kissing my way across it with all the passion that's coursing through me. I'm rewarded by the moan that emerges from deep in her throat.
Working my way gradually lower, I kiss her ravens carefully, each in turn, nudging her shirt down with my mouth to reach the third. My eyes stop when I see the ink below that – a fourth raven along the line toward her heart.
"That one is for Anna," she murmurs, and I nod in understanding before kissing it, too. I suppose it should feel a little strange to think about her grandmother at a time like this, but I'm too lost in everything Tris to care.
Instead, I pull back so I can meet my girlfriend's gaze, silently confirming that she wants to continue. Given our position, there's no way she can miss how much I'd like to keep going, but this has to be her decision, too.
I'm relieved to see the desire – and trust – in her expression as she smiles, nodding just enough to make her answer clear. My response is simple – I move my chest back to give her room, unable to avoid staring as she pulls her shirt over her head, tossing it to the floor beside us. She hesitates for just a fraction of a second before doing the same with her bra.
For a very long moment, I forget how to breathe as my eyes take in every part of her. She looks so good.
My entire body freezes when I see the ink right over her heart. A fifth raven.
"That one is for you, Tobias," she whispers, and my gaze shoots up to hers again. "You're my family, too."
The words reach all the way through me, pulling memories and hopes and horrors together in a fierce combination of pain and healing that pierces my own heart. I promised to be her family, so long ago when she thought she had none left. I meant it then, more than I could possibly have conveyed, but despite that, I broke the promise only a few weeks later. Completely and irrevocably…leaving it behind with her broken body.
I never expected to have a second chance at that promise. But staring into her eyes now, I know she is giving me exactly that.
My entire body reacts, lifting her higher as my lips find the raven, and I kiss it with all the love that's overflowing from me in this moment. Her name escapes from me in some type of moan.
"Always," I pant against her skin. "Tris, I will always be your family."
And suddenly, I can't wait any longer. My arms pull her to me as I swing away from the wall, crossing the room in two quick strides and dropping onto one knee on the mattress that still rests on the floor. The mattress where we first made love.
"Always," I tell her again before my lips return to hers, my arms wrapping around her slender body as I press her into the blankets.
"Always is good," she gasps, her hands moving up my back, pulling my shirt with them in a clear attempt to remove it. I sit up just far enough to yank it off, throwing it across the room before I return to Tris' embrace. We're pressing together skin against skin now, and it feels incredible.
"I like always," she adds, her voice a whimper of pleasure.
The statement draws another groan from me, and my fingers move to her jeans as hers reach to undo my belt. It takes far too long to get our remaining clothing off with our trembling hands, but when everything is finally out of the way, I find myself staring at her again.
"Beautiful," I whisper, unable to express the depth of how much I mean that. So, I try to show it with my actions instead, putting everything that I'm feeling into my lips as I slowly and sweetly kiss my way across her skin, savoring her taste and scent and softness as the ache inside me grows stronger and stronger.
By the time I move below her waist, I'm the hardest I've ever been, and my breathing is coming in ragged pants. In the excitement, I almost forget the condom, remembering at the last second to reach for the package that I picked up in Erudite a few weeks ago. Just in case.
It probably would have been better if I'd opened it in advance, since I'm much too eager and distracted to do it well now. My fingers fumble at the packaging for entirely too long before I finally manage to yank the plastic wrap off, tearing one of the individual packages loose and ripping the end of it off in a wild motion.
The momentum sends the contents flying through the air, curving elegantly up in a mesmerizing arc before falling back down – and landing directly on Tris' nose.
For a long moment, we're both completely still as the desire to laugh wars with the far more primal urges that are driving us forward. "I know it's been a while," Tris eventually says, dead-pan, "but isn't that supposed to go on you?"
My grin is barely suppressed as I reach over, plucking the condom off her nose. "Man, try something new and all you get are complaints."
She's giggling now, and I can't help chuckling in response as I run my free hand down her back, pulling her to me. Our foreheads rest together, the length of our bodies touching, as I kiss her again.
"Maybe you should put it on me," I whisper.
She hesitates for only a second. "Okay." There's a smirk on her face as she takes it from me, evaluating it before unrolling it carefully where it actually belongs. My entire body arches in reaction, some type of hiss coming out of me at her touch. It makes her smile, whether in anticipation or because she enjoys eliciting that type of response, I don't know.
Either way, it's impossible to wait any longer, and I roll on top of her, holding her gaze intently as I push into her. "I love you, Tris." My voice is deep with emotion, and more than a little want, as my body moves in time to my words. "Truly. Deeply. Always."
"I love you, too, Tobias." The words are barely more than gasps as she responds to my motion. It's the last coherent thing that either of us utters for quite a while.
I'm not sure how long it takes us to begin breathing normally again. We lie together, our limbs tangled and our skin slick with sweat, as Tris lightly traces the Kaizen faction symbol tattooed over my heart.
"That's a raven, isn't it?" she finally asks, her voice still deep with the after-effects of our activities.
The corners of my mouth lift into an easy smile. "It does look suspiciously like yours, doesn't it?" My index finger moves lightly over her fifth raven. "Like mine," I clarify, feeling the same leap of joy at the idea of that one representing me.
I shift a little so I can meet her eyes. "But yes, it is." My hand runs over her lower back, where she has a larger version of the same tattoo. "I don't think anyone else really got it, but this faction has always been about you, Tris."
She smiles, a slow, sweet smile. "Well, I'm glad I joined it, then."
"Yeah…." I let my body flop back onto the bed, my satiated muscles sinking deep into the mattress. "It would have been embarrassing if you'd gone somewhere else…."
A/N: Please take a moment to let me know what you thought of this chapter! Also, please check out my other stories, both under this account and under my Windchimed account. Thanks! And thank you to my wonderful beta reader, Rosalie!
