Series: Lee Steps Up – Part 1 of 4
Title: Colonial Day
Part Two
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Cloud Nine did not lack in comfort or luxury or hotel rooms. And Lee was currently eternally grateful of that fact.
As he led Kara to one of the many hotels, she slanted him an awkward glance, but didn't say anything. She also didn't pull away, so he took that as encouragement and kept going. Once they reached the door, he fished in his pocket for the key and opened it.
"After you," he said with a grin, taking her hand from his arm and kissing it swiftly, before releasing it.
She again eyed him suspiciously, but entered all the same and Lee followed her, watching as she took in her surroundings.
The room was beautiful; there was no doubt of that. It was designed in the tradition of one of Caprica's most elegant hotels: a large queen bed with a satin headboard dominating the space, plush carpeting underfoot. He hurriedly kicked off his shoes and took off his socks, allowing his feet to dig into the soft floor. It was heaven after weeks of nothing but cold, metal decking.
Glancing up, he caught sight of Kara, still staring at the room, taking everything in as she did a slow circle. Finally, her eyes came to rest on Lee and judging by her expression, the lust she'd felt for him ten minutes ago had faded—leaving a cold knot in the pit of his stomach.
"Is something wrong?" he asked quietly, shifting uncertainly under her scrutiny.
Crossing her arms over her chest, she cocked her head to the side and then asked, "What the hell is this?"
Lee looked about and shrugged. "A hotel room."
"Don't get cute with me, Lee Adama," she demanded crossing the space between them and poking a hard finger into his chest. "What exactly did you have planned for tonight?
"Judging by the way you were groping me in the hall, I figured it was pretty obvious." Why was she mad? Didn't she understand the beauty of fate?
"You kissed me," she shot back, taking a step back and almost collapsing as her knee gave out.
Lee was to her side in a second, strong arms around her waist, holding her close. "That knee's really bothering you, huh?"
"It's nothing," she muttered, trying to shrug out of his hold, but he kept his grip firm, guiding her to the end of the bed.
Once she was seated, he knelt before her and straightened out the offending leg, taking in the knee and the still visible bruising. He felt Kara shudder a bit at his touch, but she didn't push him off, so he gently worked the area around the knee with his fingers, doing his best to massage it without causing more pain. When she sighed with what he thought was content, he felt a bit of his tension lessen.
Removing his hands, he met her gaze and offered a small smile. "It looks like it's swelling a bit. I'll get you some ice."
She nodded and Lee hurried to the bathroom, grabbing a towel and wetting it slightly before going to the small refrigeration unit and pulling out some cubes. He wrapped them up and then returned to her, pressing the cold bundle against the most swollen skin.
She sighed once more and this time Lee knew it was a sound of contentment. "Thanks," she murmured, placing her hand over the one he had against the ice pack.
The warmth of her touch caused the passion he'd felt for her in the hallway to return in spades. Gods, he wanted nothing more than to kiss her back into those pillows and lavish all the attention she'd allow over every inch of her body. But suspicion still colored her gaze and the stiff way she sat on the bed spoke of even more discomfort.
With a sigh, Lee rose and sat beside her, making sure to keep a few inches of distance between their thighs. He released his hold on the ice pack and Kara readjusted it, looking intently at the white towel so as not to look at him.
Lee studied her profile for a second, noting the way her hair, now curled, fanned against her cheek, noting the slight blush to her cheeks, the way the makeup she'd applied highlighted her unbelievable eyes. Without forethought, he lifted a hand and gently pushed a bit of hair behind her ear. She turned quickly at his touch, eyes wide and still cautious and he had to know what was going on.
"What's wrong?" he asked, keeping his hand against her forearm. "I thought you'd—"
"What? Be glad you think I'm such an easy lay you had already procured a hotel room for the night?" she snapped in a torrent, her cheeks flushing even brighter. As soon as the words were out, she clenched her jaw tight, the muscle in her cheek pulsing faintly under her skin as it always did when she was seething and trying to hide it.
Lee blinked, once, twice, trying to comprehend her words. Slowly, it dawned on him and he could have kicked himself for not explaining. Good move, Adama.
"Kara." She was still staring at the ice pack held against her knee and didn't turn to face him even as he called her name again. With a sigh, he finally said, "Kara, look at me. Please?"
She took a deep breath and stared straight ahead for a moment, obviously steeling herself, before she did bring those huge hazel eyes to his face. Offering her a smile, Lee placed his hand to her cheek and said carefully, "I did not rent this room because I assumed we were going to have sex."
Her brows knitted together and Lee could guess the million different explanations running through her mind. He knew they were all wrong.
"My father gave me a twenty-four leave and I was intending to enjoy it. I figured staying the night on Cloud Nine would be a nice respite. A little bit of an escape before I had to go back to Galactica."
He was embarrassed he even needed the break, but truthfully the pressure of being CAG and the Commander's son, as well as the President's advisor and the number two pilot in the Fleet was all a little much. When his father had mentioned the leave, Lee had jumped at it, not really caring whether it was conduct becoming an officer.
"Oh."
Her small exclamation pulled him from his thoughts and Lee turned his attention to her, trying to gauge her reaction. His hand was still resting against her cheek, but she had again turned her eyes from him, glancing at her knee, the floor, the bedspread, anything but him.
The silence stretched uncomfortably between them. "Kara, I really wish you'd say something."
She started a bit at the sound of his voice and he wondered where her mind had been. Shifting positions so he was again kneeling before her, he sought out her eyes and found them clouded by something he might have pegged as disappointment—if he didn't know her so well.
Clearing her throat, her eyes flitted to his and away again, before she removed the ice from her knee and handed him the soggy towel. "I should go then. If you want a break."
She attempted to stand, but Lee wouldn't allow it. Instead, he rose before her, dipping his face so it was right in front of hers, their lips no more than inch apart. "Uh-uh. I want to finish what we started in that hallway," he breathed, before moving his lips to her cheek and kissing a trail to just below her ear.
He felt her tense up for a moment and then heard the soft sound of the ice pack hitting the carpet. Grinning against her skin, he leaned back slightly and met her eyes once more. This time, they were shining with what he wanted to believe was lust—and maybe something more.
"Do you still want to go?" he asked softly, his fingers tracing a slow circular pattern on the bare skin of her shoulder.
She shuddered slightly under his touch and her eyes closed. "Uh-uh," she murmured, shaking her head slightly.
His smiling widening, Lee leaned down and traced the path his finger had made with his lips. She tasted sweet, like vanilla or honey and he couldn't believe how soft her skin was. As his lips traveled to her neck, he felt her hand twine itself in his hair, holding his head to the spot he found. He gladly obliged her and continued to work the sensitive skin with his tongue and teeth.
"Lee," she breathed against his cheek, before she turned her lips to his temple and grazed kisses there, her hands suddenly strong as they gripped his biceps.
And once again, Lee was lost.
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Kara really couldn't believe this was happening. Sure, in the hallway she'd been a little tipsy from the shots of ambrosia and the suddenness of Lee's kiss, but it wasn't like that now.
Now it was slow and sweet and tender and Kara felt her heart swell and break at the thought. Lee was kissing her, touching her, caressing her like she was the most precious thing in his world and she just couldn't quite get a grasp on that. Too many years of her mother beating any feeling out of her, too many years of denying what she really wanted had left Kara with the inability to recognize real love when she saw it.
Or felt it. She could feel Lee, his breath, his lips, his hands touching her and she wanted more. If they were going to do this, she wanted all of it—all of him. Gripping his biceps tightly, she pulled back slightly and found his mouth, pressing her lips against his and kissing him for all she was worth.
She traced the seam of his lips with her tongue and he opened easily, his tongue meeting hers, the dance warm and wet and determined as they both fought for dominance. Slowly, Kara's hands drifted to the front of Lee's uniform and she blindly tried to work the collar open. Dress grays were decidedly easier to get out of then blues and she was suddenly thankful he'd worn them.
Lee covered her hands with his and undid the button, pulling the sash quickly over his head before he kissed her again. This time his mouth devoured hers and Kara gave into it, sinking back onto the bed as Lee leaned over her, one knee on either side of her body. The softness of the mattress beneath her contrasted sharply to the muscular firmness of the man above her and Kara sighed into his mouth.
He shrugged out of his jacket awkwardly, apparently unwilling to release her mouth to complete the task. As he finally made it to just pants and tanks, Kara ran her hands down his bare arms, loving the feel of the warm muscle beneath her fingers. Gods, how many times had she fantasized about these arms? Too many for any self-respecting Viper pilot, she figured, but maybe just enough for any woman with a healthy sex drive.
"Kara," he whispered into her skin, as one hand drifted up her thigh and under her dress, caressing the smooth skin she was suddenly glad she'd shaved. "You're wearing too many clothes."
She giggled softly, unable to believe the sound actually came from her mouth. Apparently so was Lee. He leaned back abruptly, a smile on his face that reached his eyes and he asked teasingly, "Did you just giggle?"
She felt her face burn bright red, and she bit her lower lip, shaking her head. "No."
"You did." Lee sat back, pulling his tanks over his head, before he reached for her hand and began a slow line of torturous kisses from her wrist to her elbow to her shoulder. Each drag of his lips against her skin sent a shiver through her and she closed her eyes against the amazing sensation. When his lips finally met her neck, he breathed, "I made hard-as-nails Starbuck giggle."
Kara inhaled sharply at the words and Lee pulled back, tension in his face. As she met his concerned blue eyes, Kara allowed herself to show Lee some of the tenderness he was showing her. She reached a slightly shaky hand to his cheek and caressed the skin there, her breath hitching once more as he turned his lips into her palm and kissed it.
"Kara and Lee," she murmured, searching his blue eyes for understanding. She didn't want him thinking about rank or call signs or even flying. She didn't want him thinking about duty or frat regs or what his father would say. She wanted them to have this, she wanted to have him and she didn't want him to expect her to be Starbuck. Because in this moment, with him loving her so completely, she just couldn't muster that gruff persona.
And, for the first time in a very long time, she didn't want to.
He seemed to get it, because he leaned forward, elbows resting on either side of her head and kept his eyes firmly locked on hers. His entire body was enveloping her now and she felt unbelievably safe, surrounded by his warmth, his scent, him.
"Kara and Lee," he answered back, his eyes still searching hers and then pressed a kiss to her mouth. It was a soft kiss, chaste almost and Kara returned it eagerly, before sighing against him, her arms wrapping around his neck and pulling him tighter.
She was just Kara and he was just Lee.
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Lee knew there was a form of surrender happening and he would have stopped to be concerned about the implications if he could have managed to form a thought. But as soon as Kara pulled him close, bringing his body back into intimate contact with her own, all coherent thought fled his brain.
Which he supposed, was how it should be.
Her hands ran over his shoulders and down his back, short nails digging in as she arched her back and pressed herself against him, trying to consume him with her mouth and her body. She lifted her knees and cradled his hips and Lee let out another sigh as his aroused length pushed against her clothed mid-section.
Pulling back reluctantly, he smiled to her once more, grateful when she returned his mischievous grin. "You're still wearing way too many clothes," he explained, sitting up on his knees and reaching for her wrist.
Carefully, slowly, he undid the first tie of blue silk, dropping a kiss to Kara's exposed wrist as soon as it fell away. He treated the other wrist the same and noted the way her eyes fluttered closed as his lips again brushed her skin.
He took a moment to study her, to see her in this moment, unguarded and beautiful, not Starbuck, but Kara. He loved them both; he hoped she knew that, he supposed he should tell her, but at this moment, Lee was hesitant to offer any declarations. They would have this and then they would talk about what it might mean. If they stopped to talk about it now, he knew they'd overanalyze it and he didn't want that.
He just wanted her.
Her eyes opened slowly, and a small frown creased her forehead. "Lee?"
Her hand against his cheek brought him back to her and he leaned forward quickly and kissed her, before scooting off the end of the bed. Reaching for her hands, she gave them to him, and he pulled her up, resting all of her weight against him as her knee was still a little shaky.
Her head fit perfectly in the crook of his neck and shoulder and he felt her turn her face into his skin, pressing a lingering kiss there. "Mmm, this is nice," she murmured, hands on his back, his arms tight about her waist.
Lee smiled and then found the zipper at the back of the dress. He slowly pulled it down with one hand, while his other hand traced the same path over her now bare skin. As he made it to the small of her back, she shivered and arched against him and Lee's arousal grew almost painfully hard.
She leaned back and dropped her arms, allowing the dress to fall into a pile of blue-green silk at their feet. Her eyes alighted on his tented pants and she smirked at him. "Want some help with that?"
Before he could answer, her nimble fingers made quick work of his belt and pants and she had shucked them and his underwear to the floor. His skin felt hot under her gaze as she dragged her eyes slowly from his feet to his erection and then up his chest to his face.
Lee's own eyes couldn't stop staring at the smooth white skin he was confronted with. The only clothing between them now was a small scrap of white satin underwear. Unable to help himself, Lee reached out and covered her breast with his hand, kneading the warm, pliable flesh in his fingers. Kara sighed, her eyes fluttering closed as his fingers found her already taut nipple and worked it to the point of pain mixed with pleasure.
She reached out a steadying hand to his chest, and he felt each point of contact at her fingers, thumb, palm. "Lee," she breathed softly and the sound of her voice brought his mouth back to hers.
As he kissed her, he switched his attention to her other breast, before dragging his lips down the slender column of her neck to her collarbones and finally to her breast, sucking one erect nipple into his mouth.
Her head dropped back with a moan as he worked it with his teeth and tongue and then moved to the other. He felt her hands back in his hair and smiled against her skin. He wanted to know everything that made Kara feel, every point of pleasure on her body so he could make love to her like no one else.
"Lee, Lee." His name sounded like a litany and Lee continued his ministrations, moving his lips lower and meeting her belly button. As he went to his knees before her, he hooked his thumbs in the corner of her panties and pulled them down, immediately overwhelmed with her damp scent that screamed of sex and want and passion.
He gently lifted her feet so she could step out of the underwear and then he began another slow path of kisses from her calf up to her knee. He stopped as his lips grazed over her injury, his eyes closing as he remembered that fateful day and that damn red planet with its shitty atmosphere and how they—he—had almost lost her. He couldn't—
"Lee."
He looked up quickly and saw an unreadable expression on her face. He thought maybe it was compassion mixed with love, but he just couldn't be certain.
Her fingers played with his hair, before her hand drifted to his cheek. "I'm okay," she reminded him, seemingly having read his mind.
He nodded and then smiled wickedly, watching her cheeks flush before he continued to assault her skin with his lips. As he moved up her thigh, slowly working his way toward her center, he felt her shudder and he smiled again.
As soon as his lips covered her, his tongue delving into her delicious heat, his teeth nipping at that sensitive bundle of nerves, he felt her whole body shake. He kept working her, his tongue and teeth establishing a rhythm that had her clutching at his head. Her hips rocked against his face, and Lee held them gently, doing his best to pleasure her to the point of ecstasy.
He felt her orgasm a second before it ripped through her and he kept licking inside of her, tasting her and knowing he'd never get enough. No matter how many times he was with Kara, made love to Kara, it would never be enough.
Her whole body was still shaking, by the time Lee rose and he realized she was really favoring that knee. Picking her up easily, although his erection, about to burst, jumped slightly at the feel of her bare skin against his, he carried her around to the edge of the bed and laid her out in the middle of it.
She looked like the wanton goddess of every sexual fantasy he'd ever had—cheeks flushed from arousal, blonde hair fanned out on silk pillows, nipples tight on breasts begging for attention.
Joining her quickly, Lee leaned over her, his mouth back on hers, kissing her softly, gently, coaxing her back from the blissful place he had taken her to.
Opening her eyes slowly, she kissed him back just as tenderly and he felt his heart break just a little. He hoped this could mean something. Please, Lords of Kobol, let this mean something. Don't make me give her up.
Without a word, he kept kissing her, rolling on top of her, his weight supported by his elbows, as he again explored the beauty of her mouth.
Her hands drifted across his shoulders and down his arms and he felt one go lower, seeking his arousal. As her hand closed around his shaft and pulled, gently, slowly, he broke off the kiss, breath hitching in his chest. "Kara," he murmured, eyes closing as she fingered the tip, spreading some of the first beads of liquid and then starting the motion all over again. "Gods, I want you."
"I want you too," she whispered hotly in his ear, her teeth biting gently, but insistently on the lobe, and causing him to thrust into her hand. "So, get in me. Right. The frak. Now."
He really didn't need any other encouragement. Lifting his head and meeting her gaze, he found the hand she'd wrapped around him and entwined their fingers, drawing the hand up and over her head. Pinning in to the bed, he kept his eyes on hers and slowly, beautifully, slid inside her.
She arched against him immediately, breasts pressing into his chest, nipples grazing his skin and causing him to cry out. She joined him, a breathless moan filling the air between them.
Lee had never felt anything this exquisite. She was tight and hot and Gods, he just wanted to fill every inch of her. Determined to make this last as long as possible, Lee rocked into her slowly, and Kara breathed out a "yes," before rocking her hips against his, changing the angle of his thrusts and bringing him even closer to her center.
He had expected the pace to be frantic, truthfully, had expected Kara to demand it, but she seemed just as content to take things slowly and Lee reveled in it. She was so pliable beneath him, and he kept taking note of every touch, every movement that brought her pleasure.
"Lee," she breathed, pulling her hands from his and clutching at his shoulders. Her nails dug into his skin and he didn't care. She could mark him, scar him and he'd be the happiest man in the Fleet. Because it would mean she was his and no one would question it.
He kept thrusting, feeling her inner walls flutter once more. Determined to bring her with him, Lee kissed her again, hard, demanding and she met the kiss, her knees pulling up to his hips and cradling him there.
Pulling his lips from hers, he gazed at her face and then stilled. "Kara, look at me."
It took an inordinate amount of will power, but he held still as her eyes fluttered opened. Those amazing hazel depths shone, luminous and bright and Lee kept their gazes locked as he leaned down again and kissed her softly. Bringing his lips back to her ear, he whispered, "I want you to come with me, Kara. Come with me."
He began moving once more and Kara met his thrusts and in less than a minute they were both crying out, Kara's body gripping him tight, while he pulsed hotly into her.
Spent, sated and deliriously happy, Lee collapsed against her, panting, his face buried in her hair. He felt the odd tightness of tears behind his eyes and wondered what kind of frakwit he was that he would cry after sex. That had never happened before.
Blinking them back quickly, he inhaled her scent once more, before moving to roll off of her—he didn't want to crush her. But with startling strength and speed, she held him fast, one hand against the back of his head, the other wrapped under his arm and onto his shoulder.
"Kara?" he murmured against her skin, pressing kisses there before lifting his head to meet her gaze. But he could no longer see her face as she had buried it into his neck and refused to move.
Stroking her sweat-dampened hair back from her forehead, he pressed another kiss to her temple and then murmured, "Are you okay? Did I hurt you?" He tried to glance down to her knee, but her hold was fast and sure and there was no way he was moving. Not that he was really complaining; he would gladly stay entwined with Kara for the rest of his days.
After another minute, she reluctantly let go, her hands quickly moving to her face, as she turned to look at the opposite wall while Lee extricated his limbs from hers. He heard her give a small sigh that could have been a sob when he pulled out from her and now he really was worried he'd hurt her.
"Kara?" He placed his finger under her chin and turned her to face him, more than shocked to see the evidence of tears on her cheeks. "Hey, did I hurt you? Gods, I didn't—"
She covered his mouth with her hand and shook her head. He watched a few more tears fall from the corner of her eyes running into her hair, and he felt his heart break once more. Gods, did she already regret this?
She smiled weakly and then shifted to lie on her side, facing him. She kept her body close and he took at that as a good sign. He rested one hand to her hip and propped his head up on the other. "Sorry," she said softly, one hand tracing the contours of his face, slowly, carefully, as if she needed to memorize them. "I don't usually get weepy."
Lee watched her for a moment and saw a million things flash through those beautiful eyes. He was pretty sure he spotted fear and pain and longing and guilt, but he was mostly sure he saw something akin to love and his heart beat traitorously at the thought.
Removing her hand from his face, he kissed her fingertips and then leaned forward to capture her lips. She returned the kiss with fervor and Lee again felt a bit of relief. But he had no idea what to do next.
They parted for air and Kara's gaze again grew distant. Tracing a line along her forehead, he tapped the middle of it gently with his finger and teased, "Penny for your thoughts."
"I doubt they're worth a penny," she told him, rolling onto her back and staring at the ceiling.
She didn't speak for several moments and Lee took the time to allow his eyes to drift over her. She was even more beautiful now than before, and he felt his body again growing hot with the thought of having her. He wondered if the desire would ever diminish.
He doubted not.
Kara turned back to him and offered him another weak smile that left him breathless. "What do we do now?" she whispered, as if afraid the words might break the spell.
Lee's breath caught and he fought the urge to just wrap her in his arms and refuse to let go. He suspected she wouldn't take too kindly to that. "What do you want to do?" Gods, he was taking the coward's way out.
She frowned at him again and then shook her head. "Nope, not that easy, Adama. I asked you first."
He rolled his eyes, but knew she was right. Reaching for her, he pulled her tight to his body again, resisting the urge to kiss her until all conscious thought left them. They'd already done that, now they needed to settle this. Holding her close, his eyes on hers, Lee spoke as clearly and plainly as possible. If she rejected him, at least he'd know it wasn't from a misunderstanding or not trying his hardest. "I want to be with you, Kara. All the time."
She inhaled sharply, trapping her lower lip between her teeth. Her eyes again searched his; he suspected she was looking for the con, the tease, but he wasn't worried. She wouldn't find any reason to doubt him because he had spoken the absolute truth.
"But, what about … I mean, your father and the frat regs and Zak …"
Lee cut her off with a kiss and when he pulled away, he pressed his forehead against hers. "Kara, right now, it's just you and me and that's what I want. It's what I've wanted for a long time."
She cupped his cheek and sighed. "But Lee, we're going to have to leave this room eventually and all those things will still be there."
He shook his head. Pulling back slightly, he played the last card he held and hoped it was enough—he'd always been really crappy at Triad. "It doesn't matter, because I love you."
Her tears were back in an instant and Lee caught the first one on the back of his finger as it fell down her cheek. "You do?" she breathed.
Lee smiled and kissed her. "I do."
She dropped her chin to her chest quickly, and Lee felt her shoulders shake slightly. Pulling her closer to him, he stroked her back gently, his fear at her reaction warring with the intrinsic need to hold her, protect her, love her. She gripped his arms and buried her face against his chest.
"Kara, shh. Please. Please don't cry." He felt helpless, seeing her in pain, unable to do anything. "Don't you love me?"
She inhaled a soggy breath and then lifted her head. She nodded and then managed a hoarse, "I do. Gods, I do love you, Lee. I tried not to, but I—"
The rest of the statement was cut off by Lee's mouth as it once again descended on hers. This was far from the chaste kiss of before; it was more desperate, more urgent. He wanted to erase any doubt, any uncertainty from her mind, from her heart.
He wanted Kara to know that Lee Adama was one hundred percent, truly and completely hers. If she'd have him.
When they parted, she clutched him tightly, and Lee held her back, but even their body heat could not stave off the chill in the room. As he watched goose bumps pebble on her perfect skin, he pulled back slightly and said, "Come on. Under the covers."
She let go reluctantly, giving Lee just enough space to pull the covers down and they both climbed under them, Lee hitting the light beside the bed and plunging the room into darkness, the dim light of a fake street lamp gave the room a soft hazy glow through the window.
Kara snuggled into him closely, her arm wrapped around him, her cheek resting against his chest. They didn't speak for untold minutes and even as sleep pulled at Lee's body, he knew there was more to this; knew he needed to do or say something else to ease Kara's mind.
"Lee? What about tomorrow? When we're back with the Fleet. When you're the CAG and I'm a pilot and …"
Lee was more than aware of the frat regs—he'd been doing some extra reading in the past few days. He pressed a kiss to her hair. "Kara, things have changed since those regs were written. And if you honestly think some outdated rule could keep me from you, then you obviously have no idea how much I love you."
He felt her cheek shift against his skin and guessed that she was smiling. Lifting her head, she rested her chin on his chest and her smile deepened. "You sure about that? 'Cause I can be quite a handful."
Lee grinned, reaching down and dropping a kiss to the end of her nose, watching as she wrinkled it in that adorable way she had. "Trust me, I know. But I love you. End of story."
Kara reached up a hand and ran her fingers through his short hair, smoothing it back. Lee's eyes fluttered closed a few times, but he struggled against the impulse, wanting to be sure they were okay—she was okay.
As he lost his final fight with sleep, he felt Kara's lips press softly to his and then heard her whisper, "Actually, Lee, I think it's a beginning."
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