Title: The Light

By: mmouse15

Rating: M

Warnings: Snuggling mechs, suggestions of intimacy, mech sex

'Verse: TFAnimated

Characters: Barricade, Bluestreak, mentions of others.

Summary: Bluestreak grows up, and they start a relationship. War intrudes.

A/N: Consider this even more of a bonus. Bluestreak, once he starts talking, really doesn't want to be quiet. Could someone please take him off my hands?

"'Cade!" Bluestreak waved as soon as he saw his friend. Barricade waved in reply, working his way through the crowd to the fighter. The war that was in full swing had left its marks on the younger mech. His armour was thicker, scuffed up, the paint mismatched or completely gone. He looked like the strong competent fighter he was, and Barricade realized with shock that he was now smaller than Bluestreak.

"Wow! You look great, Blue. It's been too long."

"Over a solar cycle, 'Cade. Damn, you look like you went through the mill backwards."

"Got in a skirmish with Blackacrachnia. She's…damn, she's not pleasant to fight against."

"What the heck were you doing anywhere around her?" Bluestreak swung into the crowd with his friend. Barricade suddenly found the going much easier as mechs parted before the fighter.

"Well, you know, jack of all trades mech like me, I do whatever I need to earn credits. I was out on the Rim, helping a team scavenge supplies from a wrecked Autobot cruiser, the Autobots were supervising, when…bam! We're overrun by Decepticons looking to do exactly what we were doing! Only, of course, we're official. Didn't stop them, and the Autobots ran away rather than fight her. I got the team off planet and we did get some of the requested equipment, but…"

"Had to leave the rest."

"Yeah. Makes me mad. If the Autobots had just covered us for a few more cycles, we'd have been able to extract without all the problems, and we would have had a couple of critical items we were forced to leave behind."

Bluestreak hummed in agreement, swinging onto a side street.

"Let's go this way. It's not so crowded."

"Sure. So how are you?"

"I'm good. I'm really good, 'Cade. I feel…great! Actually, I just got promoted. I'm really interested in your experience, since I've just been put in charge of retrieval."

"Well, I'll be slagged."

Bluestreak laughed, sounding much younger than he looked. "Yes, you probably will! Spill, my mech, I want to hear it all!"

They continued, Barricade giving his opinion to his friend. He knew that Bluestreak would have access to the official reports, but nothing was better than eyes on the ground and detail from those eyes would go a long way to making sure that a retrieval team was not left alone again.

"So here we are. I'm staying here, but there are two berths so I thought you could save some credits and just bunk with me." Bluestreak swung open the door to a small recharge room, gesturing Barricade in. Barricade moved past him, noting that Bluestreak had taken the berth closest to the door. He swung his small personal kit onto the other berth, then faced his friend.

"Well, what shall we do with our time?"

Blue stepped into the room, shutting the door and sitting on his own berth. "Dunno. I just…I'm going to be way the heck out on the Rim, and I wanted to see you again before I left."

Barricade looked at him, then said, "It's alright, you know."

Blue looked at him. "Is it?"

"Yes, it is. You're allowed."

Bluestreak shrugged, his hands wringing against each other. Barricade reached out and laid his hands over Blue's. The motion abruptly stilled. "Blue. I won't go after you. I'm older, I've been your mentor, I am your friend. That doesn't mean…"

Blue looked up at him, then leaned forward, looking at Barricade all the way in to the kiss. Their first kiss was gentle, brief, and they touched nowhere except their lips and hands. Blue pulled back, looking carefully at Barricade for a long moment, then he freed his hands and pulled the smaller mech into his arms, kissing him fiercely. Barricade arched into him, deepening the kiss and furthering the contact at the same time. Bluestreak kissed him with the single-mindedness that had helped him on the path of healing, focusing all his attention on the textures of Barricade's mouth. 'Cade wriggled and freed his arms, his hands starting to roam over Bluestreak's frame. Moaning, Bluestreak pulled him closer, moving one hand to the back of Barricade's helm, the other wrapping around his frame, just above his aft, lost in the kisses they were exchanging. Finally, they broke the kiss, each gasping for air to cool their systems. Barricade gently freed himself from Blue's arms, stilling the other mech's instinctive reach, pushing Blue back on his berth and straddling him. Once Blue understood what Barricade was doing, he assisted the mech in positioning himself. When they were arranged, 'Cade bent down to Blue and kissed him, gradually deepening it. The new position allowed Bluestreak to wrap both arms around Barricade, his hands now finding sensitive spots on the neutral's frame. As he ran his hand over Barricade's aft, the older mech moaned and shifted closer, his open thighs sliding along the outside of the fighter's frame. Bluestreak bucked up into the touch, causing Barricade's legs to slide further along his own and causing their torsos to come into contact. Both moaned at the feel of the other, heat radiated from both frames. Blue wrapped his arms more tightly around Barricade, pulling him closer. Long moments of kissing and groping followed until Barricade broke the kiss and sat back on Bluestreak's legs, gasping for cooling air.

"Where do you want this to go, Bluestreak?"

The younger mech didn't seem to hear him, reaching again for him. Barricade put his hands on Blue's forearms, holding the younger mech off.

"Blue. I need to know."

"Why?" the young fighter was puzzled.

Barricade huffed air, leaning his forehead against Bluestreak's.

"Because, you silly mech, I want to know if I'm having a one-time bang with my friend, we go back to whatever we were before this, never talk about it. Or are we starting a relationship, can I love you, my warrior mech?"

Bluestreak looked up at him, dumbfounded. "I love you."

Barricade laughed gently, telling him, "I love you too."

Bluestreak didn't seem to know what to do, so Barricade moved further back, clasping Blue's hands between his own.

"Blue. I love you. I can continue to be just your friend, have a really good time here with you, let you go with no regrets on your side, off to do your new job. Or, honestly, I can love you the way I want to love you, the way you deserve to be loved, and always be there for you."

Blue finally seemed to be able to pull enough of his processor out of the haze to respond.

"I don't want a one time thing."

"Are you sure?"

"Barricade, I've loved you for a long time. I've waited until I felt I was mentally ready, as healed as I could ever be. I want you. If you only want friendship, I'm OK with that, but I'd like more."

'Cade gazed down at him, a smile flitting across his face. "I'd like more, too."

"Then, can we please get back to what we were doing?"

"No, I'd rather do more…"

"Oh, please demonstrate."

"Gladly."

There were no more words exchanged for a long time. Barricade found that he had far more experience than Bluestreak, although Bluestreak had the gift of youth and endurance and was a willing and eager pupil.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o00o

"You are going to wear me out."

"You could just lay back and enjoy it, you know."

Barricade lunged up and kissed Bluestreak hard. "No. I'm going to have plenty of time to recover after you're gone. I don't want to waste a moment with you."

"Just what I like to hear." Bluestreak delved his fingers into Barricade's already sensitive plating, causing the smaller mech to arch up, overload imminent. Lost in a sensual haze, Barricade found himself responding blindly to the caresses of his lover. Inexperienced he may have been, but Bluestreak was a very quick study and Barricade found himself on the receiving end of a very focused lover. His overload crashed through his systems, electricity crackling over his body and sending Bluestreak plunging over the edge after him. Barricade dropped into immediate recharge.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o00o

When he awoke, Bluestreak was sitting on the other berth watching him. Barricade reached for him, and Blue grasped his hand.

"I need to go, lover. I'm supposed to report in to command in just a few cycles."

Barricade forced the post-sexual recharge fog from his mind, sitting up and reaching for Bluestreak. The warrior pulled him into a hug, burying his face against Barricade's throat. Barricade stroked the helm of his lover for a few moments, then stepped back. Bluestreak stood too, composing himself before moving towards the door.

"Blue." The warrior stopped, his back still to Barricade. "I love you. Come back to me if you can."

Bluestreak looked at him then. "I will. I love you too."

After he'd left, Barricade collapsed as if he were a puppet whose strings had just been cut. The pain was spark deep, he couldn't help but hope that Bluestreak was handling the pain better than he was.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o00o

"Designation: Barricade."

"Ah, Barricade. Excellent. We've been told that you have experience working near Decepticon activity."

"Yes, sir."

"Excellent. We need a mech with your skills to help us with a retrieval in the Lambda sector of the Rim."

"I'm available immediately, sir."

"Here are the coordinates. I assume the usual payscale?"

"Hazardous duty, sir. If you're sending me where the 'Cons are, I want to be paid properly." Barricade didn't flinch at the disbelieving noise from the mech in front of him. "Of course, since I'm a free agent, I could simply suggest they send you in my place. Sir."

"That won't be necessary. Right, hazardous duty pay." The mech stamped some papers, Barricade looked them over carefully and initialed the stamps. He was handed a datachit and a paychit and dismissed.

He made his way to his ship, mentally reviewing his checklist as he walked. The war had escalated, and mechs were crammed in one on top of another in many of the depots and stations he frequented. This particular station was a waypoint on three routes and thus extremely crowded. His ship was very small in comparison to the massive Army transports, so he had been shoved in a dock extremely close to the station itself. Thus, he had no reason to transform to his alt-mode when was faster to merely walk back to his ship.

Arriving, he quickly prepared his ship and lifted off, heading to the coordinates given to him. The trip would be short, thankfully, because the datachit gave him access to the Autobot controlled space bridges. Arriving at the first space bridge, he transmitted the codes provided for him, moving forward when signaled and going through the bridge. The trip was short, and he moved into position at the huge Autobot cruiser, carefully docking his ship in the slip indicated. Protocols were exchanged and the lock was extended against his ship's door. Gathering his equipment, he strode out to meet the team he's spending the bit of time with. By now, this was all routine for him, or at least he thought it was until he reached the end of the lock to see…

"Bluestreak!"

"Barricade. It's good to see you again." Blue was barely containing himself, his frame fairly vibrating with the need to pounce on the neutral. Barricade helped by holding out his hand and being pulled into a quick one-armed hug.

"It'll be nice to work with an old friend." Barricade told him.

"Yes. Let me introduce you to the team, and then let's get started. Sooner started, sooner finished. This sector is a hotspot right now."

"So I've heard. How good is this team?"

Bluestreak moved quickly, Barricade trailing him. "They're good. I've personally picked the teams we use now. Anyone that wasn't committed 100% we've had reassigned. I've got some really great mechs here. Fighters, but they also think. They're doing a great job."

"Hey, boss bot you're just saying that slag to keep us on your good side!" A yellow mech called cheerfully.

"Shut it Sunny! Get your aft to the ready room!"

"I'm on it, boss, but Sides…"

"Tell your brother I'll kick his aft if he holds you up. Five cycles, Sunstreaker!"

"I'll be there!"

"Two of my best fighters, bar none." Bluestreak said in an aside to Barricade.

"Ready room, Blue?"

"You're the last mech we're waiting for. I hope you're ready to go."

"Frag, yes! I'm always waiting on the Autobots."

"Not any more. We figured out that the longer times we were waiting for retrieval were cutting into our ability to actually retrieve."

"You mean you figured it out."

"Team effort. It doesn't take much to convince fighters to fight, but having them go in hot and smart? It's working well."

"Good, let's do this." Barricade trailed in after Bluestreak. Fifteen cycles later, they were in the shuttle. They arrived at the wrecked ship, Barricade whistling in surprise at the devastation.

"What the Pit slagged this? I've never seen damage this bad!"

Bluestreak held out his hand and a small blue and red bot slapped something into the outstretched hand. Barricade raised a brow.

"I bet that you, who have the most experience with this, by the way, wouldn't know what it was."

"Nope. I've never seen this before. Whatever hit it was huge."

"Yeah. We think they've revived the combiner technology."

Barricade stopped for a couple of steps, then hustled to catch up. "That would be…"

"Yeah. So we do this fast and smart."

The team swung into action. Barricade was surprised at how quickly the ship was stripped of everything useable. In less than sixty cycles, they were finished.

"Incoming, boss!" Came the call.

"Move! Those with the equipment get it on the shuttle NOW!" Bluestreak roared, swerving back to his scout. Barricade and the rest of the team ran to the shuttle, quickly stowing the equipment. The pilot threw himself into the seat and started the checklist, soon helped by another mech. Barricade was surprised.

"We're all cross trained, sir. Bluestreak insisted. Any mech here can do any job, so we see a need and we fill it."

Barricade nodded, "Good, that's good. How do we get those bots into the shuttle?"

"We're going to take the shuttle to them, sir."

Barricade nodded and pulled out his gun, quickly preparing himself. The shuttle lifted off two cycles after they'd entered it, and 'Cade marveled at the speed. He'd never been on an Autobot shuttle that was ready to go in under ten cycles. Bluestreak had put together a powerful team. The shuttle moved into the air, taking a heading toward the scout's last position. The pilot swung the rear around, and Bluestreak threw Sideswipe in, then jumped up and caught the ramp. Two mechs already strapped to the walls ran down and grabbed the two, one pulling Sideswipe back and the other getting a firm grip on Bluestreak and pulling him over the lip of the ramp.

"He's in! Let's move!"

The pilot slapped the controls for the ramp but didn't wait for it to finish closing before he'd slammed the thrusters down. Barricade grabbed the crash webbing. He'd been the only one not prepared; everyone was already for the maneuver. Bluestreak quickly regained his footing and ran to the front of the shuttle.

"Get vids on it!"

The mech in the co-pilot seat said, "We are, sir. Damn, that's huge!"

"Slag it, if that thing hit the ship, no wonder there were no survivors!"

Barricade processed that information in shock. Usually on a ship that big, at least half the assigned crew would survive. To have no survivors was more damage than the Autobots could handle.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o00o

The flight back to the ship was quick, the landing rather rough, but their intel was too valuable to waste any time. Bluestreak was already running before the landing ramp finished lowering. He leapt out through the ever-widening opening, landing gracefully and running toward the figures coming to meet the shuttle.

"Sir?" One of the mechs from the team was indicating to Barricade that he had to leave. He tore his eyes away from Bluestreak and followed the other mech back to the ready room. As they were leaving, a team of engineering mechs was standing by to strip the shuttle of its cache of goods.

Barricade went with the team for their debrief. Once again, this was a routine that he was familiar with and he underwent it with good grace.

"Sir? Will you come with me?" Yet another mech caught Barricade's arm, pulling him in the opposite direction.

"Certainly." Barricade fell into step behind the mech, following him into officer's territory. The young mech knocked on a door, stepping aside and waving Barricade in at the muffled, 'enter'. Barricade touched the pad by the door and it slid open. He stepped through and was not surprised to be pulled into arms after the door closed. Bluestreak kissed him hard, his fingers already working at the seams of his armour.

"Blue, slow down!"

"Can't. I'm supposed to report to my commander in…fifteen cycles."

"Pit." Barricade threw caution to the wind, his fingers running feverishly over Blue's frame. They were quickly racing toward overload. Blue picked 'Cade up, pushing him against the wall. Barricade wrapped his legs around his lover's hips, pushing their frames together. He cracked his chestplates, exposing his spark energy. Blue groaned, opening his chestplate just a bit, allowing their energies to entwine. They didn't have time to merge sparks completely, but the little bit of energy merging would allow their overloads to be deeper than mere touching would allow. They raced toward their overloads, knowing this could be all there ever was. Barricade buried his fingers in Bluestreak's shoulders, rubbing the cables under the heavy plating. Bluestreak concentrated his attentions on Barricade's hips and aft. The electric lightening suddenly crackled over Barricade's armour as Bluestreak tweaked a particular wire just above his aft. His overload set off Bluestreak's, and the larger mech leaned against the smaller with a groan, the energies from their sparks meeting and knotting together briefly before reluctantly releasing and retreating into their chests.

Blue vented the hot air from his frame. Barricade removed his hands from Blue's shoulders and stroked his helm instead. After a cycle or two, Bluestreak lifted his head to grin at Barricade.

"Fancy meeting you here."

"I love you too." Barricade told him, unwinding his legs.

"I'm supposed to be in a meeting in five cycles."

"You mentioned. How can I help?"

"You already have."

Barricade chuckled, leaning against the wall while Blue quickly got ready to leave. Once he was ready, Bluestreak motioned him to follow. Barricade used the opportunity to run a hand over Blue's aft, grinning at the look he was given.

"Just wanted to remind you."

"Thanks. 'Cade?"

"Yeah."

"I'm glad you're in my life."

"Ditto."

Barricade left the Autobot cruiser reluctantly. He supposed this was downside of loving a warrior. He made his way to the space bridge and away from the battle that was brewing, his spark clenching with worry.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o00o

After the battle, Barricade got a tightly coded message with coordinates and a time. He was there early, waiting. A small sleek ship came out from behind a planet, transmitting a greeting. Warily, Barricade watched as the sleek runner swung around him. Bluestreak waved to him from the cockpit, and Barricade waved back. Locking the ship's controls down, Barricade ran down to the docking bay. A muffled clunk announced Bluestreak's hard dock, and the door cycled open. Blue strode in, a gleam in his eyes. He swept Barricade off his feet and against the wall, bending his head to kiss the neutral mech deeply. Barricade wrapped his legs around Bluestreak as the warrior adjusted his hold, stroking the seams of 'Cade's armour. Barricade groaned and opened his chest plates, already panting and hot. Bluestreak pulled back, looking down at the glowing orb in 'Cade's chest. He shifted a hand under Barricade's aft, leaving a hand free to reach and stroke the energy reaching out of the exposed spark. The spark sent out tendrils of energy, teasing through and around Blue's fingers. The warrior mech clenched his hand gently, and Barricade threw his head back with a howl. Bluestreak chuckled.

"Stop teasing! You're as hot for this as I am!" Barricade panted, his cooling systems working overtime.

"Mmm. But I love the sounds you make when I do something like that." Bluestreak told him, once again putting both hands under Barricade's aft. He opened his chest plates and the two sparks leapt at each other, crashing together with a crackle of energy. Bluestreak pushed Barricade higher on the wall, leaning into him and snugging their chassis together. Their sparks pulsed together, sending the overwhelming sensations into their CPUs. Neither of them lasted long, the intensity too great, and Barricade couldn't tell who had overloaded first, only that Bluestreak was sending to him, 'mine, mine, mine' through their sparks. The energy dissipated with a snap, and Blue slumped over Barricade, both of them sliding down the wall to the floor and landing in a tangle.

Many moments later, Barricade muttered to the ceiling, "I swear, we never get to do it slowly."

Blue muttered back, "I never have time, and I'm always too hungry for you."

The black mech raised his head and told him, "You've been sated, you have some time, wanna try?"

Blue laughed. "Sure, but I really don't have much time."

Barricade was serious. "How long?"

"About twenty megacycles."

"Well, then, let's see how we can fill our time, shall we?"

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o00o

He awoke to hands stroking along his sides, down his leg, then back up, stopping to explore the crevices of his armour. He muttered, and was quietly soothed by the voice of his lover. Hands coaxed him into rolling onto his side, then began long strokes over his back, rubbing the plates and dipping under them to stroke the cables of his shoulder, soothing kinks he hadn't known he had. After soothing his shoulder, the hands roamed down his back to his aft, a gentle squeeze to a particular wire causing a zing of electricity to go straight to his spark. The hands continued down his legs, again dipping under the plates and rubbing away tension. By now, however, he was far more interested in other activities to really enjoy the massage his lover was giving him. He wriggled back until his aft bumped into his lover's body. A long groan filled the room and he was rolled onto his back, Bluestreak coming down to meet him in a long kiss. The warrior fit himself between Barricade's legs, wrapping his hands around the Barricade's thighs and pulling them up to his waist. 'Cade took the hint and wrapped his legs around Bluestreak's body and began rumbling his engine, the vibrations pulling another groan from Blue. The grey mech leaned down, pushing his body against the smaller mech and getting his chest as close as possible to his lover's spark. Barricade let a little energy leak out, the tendrils reaching toward Bluestreak. The grey warrior grunted as the energy played over his chest plates.

"Stop that. You said I'm too fast, quit tempting me with your spark." Blue told him.

"Don't care, want you now!" 'Cade moaned.

"Shush, lover, let me take my time." Blue bent down and kissed him, playing with the edges of his helm. Barricade pulled his spark energy back but didn't close his plates, letting the radiant blue glow between them. He was rewarded with a fierce kiss, Blue pushing until he opened wider and rewarded with the sweep of Bluestreak's glossa mapping out the contours. At the same time, the warrior used one hand to run a long stroke from Barricade's shoulder down his side to his aft and over the back of his leg to his knee. He rubbed his thumb over a particular old scar that was incredibly sensitive and caused Barricade to tighten his legs. Blue pushed forward, rubbing his groin against Barricade's and setting off a shower of sensation to the sensitive wires and nodes below the plating. Barricade continued to rub against Bluestreak, the sensation unlike anything he'd ever felt before. A few moments of that movement had Bluestreak lowering himself against 'Cade, who adjusted his legs to twine along Bluestreak's. 'Cade's spark leapt up, this time met by the energy of Blue's spark. Their sparks met, tendrils knotting together and feedback loops established. Blue didn't stop touching Barricade's body, continuing to run his thumb over the edges of plates, sensitizing the nodes under the plating and causing Barricade's body to arch into his touch. Whenever he did so, the plates would slide apart and allow Blue to dip his fingers into the gap and tweak wires or nodes. All too soon, Barricade found himself on the edge of overload, waiting on the agonizing edge of ecstasy. His spark moved forward, extending more energy toward its counterpart and when the glowing orbs touched, began sending pulses of energy into the other spark. Bluestreak howled, his spark pushing down on Barricade's and merging them completely, all the while his body was rubbing against Barricade's. The dual sensations of spark energy and sensitive body parts finally pushed Barricade screaming over the edge and into a crackling powerful overload. His optics blinked off, the energy too much for their delicate construction. Bluestreak collapsed against him, his weight and heft feeling wonderful to 'Cade, with just the right pressure against him and a deep feeling of love and caring echoing through his internal and external systems.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o00o

When Barricade awoke from his forced recharge, Bluestreak was getting ready to leave. The neutral mech rolled to his pedes, standing and moving over to his lover, wrapping his arms around him. Bluestreak turned in his embrace, hugging him back.

"Don't want you to go." Barricade muttered at him.

"But I have to go."

"I know. I just…I want…never mind. Let me know when you can meet with me again." Barricade hugged him again, then moved back only to be caught by Blue's hands grasping his shoulders.

"'Cade? What's wrong?"

"Nothing." At the dubious look he was given, he became more adamant. "Really, Bluestreak, there is nothing wrong."

Blue let him go, turning back to finish storing supplies he'd brought to Barricade. He then moved out of the room, Barricade following him.

"So this sector is becoming quite the hot spot, and I'd prefer it if you would try to stay out of it. I don't want to comm you and then find out you'd been off-lined, if you don't mind."

Barricade nodded, but noted, "I can take care of myself, you know."

Blue finished, then turned to him. "I know you can, but I'm allowed to worry about my friend and lover, aren't I?"

"If I'm allowed to worry about you."

The warrior drew him into a final hug. "Of course you are."
"Besides, Blue, you're in a lot more danger than I am. Who would ever tell me if something happened to you?"

"Prowl would. He and Smokey both know, and Prowl's my next-of-kin notification."

Barricade looked at him, very serious now. "Thank you for that. I just wish that I could be notified directly."

Blue was also serious. "'Cade, they only do that for bonded partners."

"I know."

Silence for a few klicks, then, "Is that what you want?"

Barricade reached out and touched Blue's cheek with his fingertips, giving his lover a small smile. "Only if you do. Will you think about it?"

Bluestreak pulled him into a fierce kiss, then broke away. "Primus, why do you wait until I have to leave to spring these things on me?"

Barricade laughed. "I don't know. Maybe because you need more than twenty mega-cycles if we did bond?"

"Slagger. I'll see what I can do."

"Later, lover. Take care of yourself."

"You too, 'Cade."

"Blue?"

"Yeah?"

"Listen. That combiner mech? I've found out a few things about them. They all have a weak point that if you hit it, the team breaks into its individual parts."

Bluestreak was quiet for a klick. "How do you find these things out?"

"I work in strange places sometimes. Just…keep it in mind." Barricade couldn't express his worry any other way.

Bluestreak nodded and strode to his ship to initiate the detachment protocols. As his sleek craft moved away, Barricade raced to his controls and waved at the warrior waving at him. This new turn in their relationship was going to be interesting. He could hardly wait.

This is rather the point where Bluestreak finally ran out of steam. I have a fourth chapter started, but Blue stopped talking. Any suggestions you might have for where to go next would be deeply appreciated. You never know what strikes sparks and gets me writing on this story again. It's been stalled for a long time! Thank you for reading this far.