Author's note: Final adjustments finished in the end. Here is the T-rated version of the 4th chapter. If you want the spiced version you know where you can get it.

Enjoy a little bit of fluff ;-)

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Sportif (III) - ch. 4 - Exercises

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Barbara woke up alone. She sensed it immediately, even with still closed eyes, that the warm body that had spent the night next to her, the man that had spent the night with her had been gone for quite some time when she opened her eyes a little later than the days before. Her alarm had buzzed softly at its usual time but she had put it on snooze two times. She had not wanted to face the world so soon. Apart from that she was quite tired. And she was entirely devastated that Tommy had left her before she had woken. She should get up by now and have a shower but at the moment she prefered to stay in bed. Maybe she would call in sick today. The duvet was warm and she still could sense a hint of Tommy's aftershave on it.

Tommy... Thinking of him Barbara sighed. Probably she would never call him by his given name again. Trying to forget that tonight she had repeatedly called him Tommy she remembered when that had happened for the first time yesterday. It had been on their boat trip when he playfully had shaken the boat just to tease her and she almost had fallen into the river. Oh, this boat trip had been so wonderfully romantic and still jolly after a day that had started with her giving him a qigong lesson. The case they were busy with at the moment seemed to be solved during the day by DI Lewis and DS Hathaway and Tommy had asked her out for dinner in the evening. It had been a real romantic date and afterwards they had been holding hands on their way to the boat hire for a few moments and on the river the tension between them still had increased. She even had invited him openly, yes, she even almost had told him to kiss her, but at that point he probably had not yet been sure if it was the right thing.

Or he was sure that it had been the wrong thing. she bitterly thought.

Later in the doorframe to her room he had given her a sweet good night kiss and then everything had seemed to fall in its place.

"Am I the lucky man who is allowed to sneak into your dreams tonight?" he had asked and suddenly all her fears had been gone. His eyes had shone dark and loving and with a genuine desire. She had not wanted to only dream of him.

"Yes." She had given him a shy smile when she had opened the door to let him pass. "Yes, you are."

...

Despite her obvious invitation Tommy kept standing where he was, leaned against the doorframe, holding her hand, caressing her neck, smiling, and he earned an uncertain quizzical look from Barbara.

"You'll lead the way, Barbara." But first his hand at her neck caressed its way into her nape and he softly led her face close to his again. It was just a slight pressure that slowly brought their lips into contact once more. Barbara could have retreated if she had wanted to and Tommy even had stopped in front of her face but in fact she had been the one who closed the last inch to his lips.

This time their kiss was all but a sweet goodnight kiss. Barbara felt Tommy's lips gently nibbling at her mouth, she felt him wet her lips with his tongue so she parted them slightly to give him access. When his tongue cautiously entered her open mouth she exhaled into his. This man stirred the glow of her desire and she involuntarily pressed her body against his. Her hand that was not entwined with his went to his waist and she tugged impatiently at his belt. Tommy hugged her closer into his chest while their tongues twisted.

Both were heavily breathing when they eventually parted.

"Barbara." Tommy mumbled.

"We really should go in." Barbara almost moaned onto his lips. "Tommy."

But they shared yet another desirous kiss in the doorframe before they managed to twist their embraced bodies into her room and closed her door by falling against it on the inside in a passionate kiss. Once safe from being disturbed by anyone inadvertently coming down the corridor their encounter turned rather impatient. All the tension that had built up during the day finally broke loose and later they could not have said how they ended in her bed. Never stopping that kiss on the way there they somehow helped each other out of their clothes until both got rid of every annoying piece of cloth between them. Before the last thing fell he told her that he loved her and they fell onto the mattress together.

After this long day of pent-up tension they still were able to share a gently eruptive love. They both moved in an impulsive harmony led by Tommy in the most tentative way Barbara ever had experienced. It only had one really slightly awkward interruption when Tommy had to admit that he was not prepared.

"What is it?" Barbara had asked with a fearful voice when Tommy suddenly had stopped everything he had done and retreated. "Did I do something wrong?"

Have I been too wanton?

"No, Barbara! Gods, no!" Tommy had given her a reassuring kiss. "It's just... I'd never have expected this. I never would have dared to think you'd feel the same way like me. I've never allowed myself to think that you'd let me-"

"Tommy..." Barbara had stopped his rantings and placed her warm hand on his cheek. Now was not the time for long speeches, she had decided.

"I'm not prepared." he had admitted contritely and Barbara had slumped back into the pillow. If that is the only problem...

"The hotel is." she had smiled with closed eyes. She herself had lost every rational thought but fortunately he had been thinking of safety. "I've put them into the top drawer. Next to the bible. Not that I thought I really would need-" blushing she stopped her explanation. She did not know why on earth she had taken them from the bathroom to her bedroom. Not that she knew why the hotel provided them in the bathroom anyway.

With a grin Tommy quickly had found the condoms and had made sure this only would be a short awkward interruption.

It was short and very much later two sweaty wet bodies collapsed on top of the duvet. After regaining some breath Tommy started to caress her again. Softly he whispered sweet nothings into her ear to the end that he washed away every little bit of embarrassment that seemed to overcome her in the aftermath of their fulfilment. He reassured her again and again that he loved her until she whispered a soft and shy "...love you too." onto the corner of his mouth. His heart happily bursted into pieces.

Hugging for a little while longer they fell asleep soon.

In the middle of the night Tommy woke and pulled the blanket over their bodies which made Barbara wake up too. Still a bit sleepy she pulled him close again and he could not resist her sweetness. They were fully awake and agile in quite a short time.

Fortunately the hotel would be prepared for a few more of those situations.

Afterwards, in the few minutes before they found peace in sleep once more they softly kissed and caressed each other again, both with a very contented smile on their faces and deep affection in their eyes.

This feels like more than just sex. Barbara thought while she savoured the feeling of his nose in her hair and his lips on her neck.

Tommy felt her breath on his shoulder and her soft fingertips on his chest. This is deeper than anything else I ever experienced.

With a softly sighed "I really love you!" he let his head rest on her pillow and his body finally relax in her arms. She held him until both were fast asleep.

...

There had been only this single one of an erotically charged situation in the middle of the night and they had slept the rest of it. Now, alone in her bed, Barbara pressed her face into the pillow. It smelled of a mixture of her, Tommy and their nightly actions. It only reminded her of being a fool. His oaths of love were said only in the heat of the action. It obviously was not heartfelt. Not like hers.

"Such a bloody stupid fool you are, Barbara!" she grunted into the soft material.

In fact, though she felt nauseous reflecting about her stupidity to think this night's incidents could ever be something more than just sex, she could not really call in sick today. This only would lead to questions she would not want to answer so with a deep sigh she heaved her cumbersome body out of the bed and trudged across the soft carpet into the bathroom. She decided to skip her qigong today and instead take a long shower. She wanted to wash away the night and besides her muscles were in deep need of some relaxation. The hot water was a very welcomed refreshing blessing.

Since she would not exercise today - a bitter laugh escaped her at that thought - she had much time to take things slowly this morning. Clad only in the soft cream-white bathrobe with the hotel's insignia she slumped down on the chair in front of the dressing table and made herself a cup of coffee. She was not able to look in her own eye so after she had caught a glimpse of her sadness in the mirror she diverted her eyes to the soothing green meadow outside in front of her window. But that only reminded her of the sizzling morning with yesterday's qigong exercises. The sun was just about to rise and Barbara feared the coming day. She closed her eyes trying to shut down all memories.

She and her DI had made love two times this night, they had shared wonderfully exhausting activities in her bed, they even had said the three little words to each other and the memories still moved her entire body. But he was gone before the day had started. He had not waken her to explain and he had left no note and no sign other than his scent on her pillow and the wobbly feeling in her legs. And the satisfied sensation between her legs. Barbara could not even cry. She only felt numb and used and-

She startled when there was a firm knock at her door. No, she was not in the mood to open it.

"Not now!" she whispered. Whoever that was could wait until she would be down in the breakfast room. Her Ladyship is feeling unwell. she thought with a bitter smile.

Another knock almost made her angry. Barbara was about to give a nasty retort but the person on the other side of the door was faster.

"Room service, Ma'am." a high voice tweeted outside. She had not ordered anything and supposed that her bloody DI would have ordered something for her as some kind of redemption but actually Barbara was thankful that she would be able to eat her breakfast alone in her room so she got up and trudged to the door hoping it really would be breakfast.

It was.

Brightly smiling Tommy stood there with a serving trolley full of food. Barbara instantly spotted the vase with a single rose and swallowed. Did she go wrong with her assumptions?

"Good morning, Barbara." he tenderly mumbled. "I hope you've slept well?!" His face expressed a softness she had not expected but Barbara just stared blankly.

"Can I come in?" Tommy asked becoming a bit nervously uncertain. His mind raced around the question if he had done something wrong.

Without a word Barbara stepped aside and elaborately closed the door after Tommy had passed. While he was busy with arranging the breakfast she had to compose herself.

"I thought..." She swallowed. Tommy looked up. His loving smile encouraged her to go on. "I thought you've... left." Her voice though still faltered at the end.

With one long stride Tommy stood close to her. He wanted to pull her into a hug but her eyes stayed glued on the second top button of his shirt so after circling her waist with his arm he lifted her chin with a crooked finger and gave her a reassuring tender smile.

"How could I ever?" he whispered. "Now. Now that I've found you. Now that I've detected that I'm not the only one with those feelings." And finally Barbara felt relief wash over her when their lips met again in a tentative kiss. His arms still held her close to him when they broke apart and he explained that he just had woken early and decided to let her sleep a little while longer and then surprise her with the breakfast but first he had wanted a quick shower, shave and change into a fresh set of clothes.

"What about I get out of it again? I feel a bit overdressed here." he cheekily asked and Barbara blushed. Nonetheless she was glad that there would be something like a morning after. There could be hope that this dream would last longer than just this period in Oxford, maybe even longer than a few days or weeks after they would have returned to London. Maybe there was hope that this might last as long as she still joined the Met, that this might last until she would leave to Midsomer. Another cheeky question from Tommy, mumbled onto her neck, brought her out of her still dark thoughts.

"Isn't this now the time for your exercises?" he muttered with his lips leaving wet spots on her skin. "I really could do with more practice, Barbara!"

Tommy's last exercises were not as long ago as his momentary eagerness might indicate. In fact it had worn him out quite severely in the middle of the night when he had woken and blanketed their naked bodies which in return woke Barbara who had had something entirely different in her mind than go on sleeping.

Eventually though they finally did and they had slept deeply, but very early in the morning, before her alarm clock had gone off, Tommy had woken in her arms.

...

For a few seconds he was slightly confused where he was but the warmth of the woman next to him made Tommy remember every second of the night before. He had made love with her twice this night and should be still asleep by now otherwise he would have his difficulties staying awake during the day. The weight of Barbara's thigh though kept his mind alert in a very alluring way. She had it placed on his, her foot on the mattress behind him.

He swallowed and watching her he directed his thoughts on something else. No way! It only worked for a few seconds. Barbara laid on her left side with her head in the crook of his arm, her right hand loosely gripping his biceps. Her breath wavered warm and even across his chest. Since the blanket had slid away and only covered them from their hips downwards he had full access of view and touch on her upper body. At first his hand laid on her hip but then he let it glide across her waist and into her back and then he could not resist anymore and gave her right breast a kiss.

Not really awake Barbara stirred and rolled onto her back, away from him. But the loss of contact was compensated for by the sight of her lying naked before his eyes, her right arm spread somewhere next to her head, her throat slightly stretched because she had no pillow - it was somewhere on the floor, Tommy supposed with a grin - her eyes still were closed and then she began a soft snoring. That was the reason why Tommy decided to get up and leave her to some more sleep. He would shower, dress and prepare a breakfast they could share in her room before they had to face the day at the office.

It was not easy to leave this innocently looking temptress lying there but Tommy intended not to let this night be a singulary one.

Quickly he took on yesterday's clothes that were spread across the room and with a last soft kiss on her belly he left her, hoping to return soon and wake her properly. Outside her door he cursed himself for forgetting the keys.

Well, he would knock when he would have returned.

That's what he did.

...

Though he had prepared a nice French-English breakfast on his own in the still sleeping kitchen with permission granted by the night porter, eating was the last thing on their minds now. Tommy quickly discarded his clothes with Barbara's tender but impatient help. Her bathrobe was a much easier task. Embracing and kissing he lifted her off the floor and carried her across the room where they hit the mattress of her still rumpled bed and made love once more in the light of the rising sun.

They had dozed off after they had brought each other to exhaustion again. No alarm had been set so they slept until Barbara woke up with a start. She groaned when she realised they had slept in. Tommy stirred when she wriggled herself free from his limbs and soothed her that they just would excuse themselves by saying that it had been a long evening.

"Which it was." he smiled. "So we're not blurting it out but we're not lying either, are we?"

Barbara shook her head. Then she saw the two empty foil packs on her night stand. Two! Not three. He would think I tried to bind him. And what if I... One shot, one hit. I do know my luck... Anxiety and insecurity surfaced once more making her frown a bit so Tommy came closer.

"What's it?" he was concerned but on the wrong path. "Would you prefer to make an official announcement?"

"No, it's just... We didn't..." She bit her bottom lip and tried again. "We haven't..."

Following her quick uncertain glance to the side he knew what she was trying to say. He had not thought about it either. "Oh..." he said. "Oh, I... I'm sorry I forgot to..."

"We both should have thought about..."

The awkwardness that suddenly started to fill the room was cut by Tommy's smile. With his lips at her earlobe he whispered that he actually had not thought much at that moment. "You kind of kept me distracted."

"Let's only hope I haven't-"

"I've planned to make you my legal wife anyway so I wouldn't mind at all."

"Is that already set or have you planned to ask about my opinion?" Barbara almost snorted her retort. He could not actually have meant it serious. And she did not want to be played with.

"I had planned... I had dreamed of asking you properly. With a rose, on my knees, romantically in the garden of Howenstow. And I've dreamed that you'd say yes." He was smiling like a school boy. He had not planned to ask her now, nor had he once thought he would ever ask her but it was true that he had dreamed about it. And this partnership was due to take the next step so why should I wait with the third and - maybe - also the fourth. "So?"

"Bollocks." Briskly Barbara got up from the bed. How could he ask something like that? Though she would have wanted to shout a yes, she also thought that he should overthink it. She could not become his countess, could she? She was not prepared for that. She was not one of his lot, she really could not... Or maybe he has gone mad at last. Or he is simply mocking me. That's it. It's just a rude joke. "I'm going to take a shower."

Usually he had learned to love her harsh reactions overplaying her irritation. Not now. He had been serious.

Tommy slumped back into the pillow and groaned in frustration. He had been too soon with this question, of that he was sure now. But he also was sure of his feelings for his prickly redheaded Sergeant and believed she loved him too. Otherwise this night - and this morning - would not have happened this way. Or at all that is. So his question actually was not too soon. Thinking about how he could repair what he seemed to have damaged his eyes leisurely wandered around the room. They fell onto the trolley with the now cold breakfast.

"Yah, that's it!" he mumbled and peeled himself from the sheets.

She had not locked the bathroom door so a few moments later it went open and Tommy came in. Barbara had heard it and turned.

"Hiya!" he said. Without asking for permission he simply stepped into the huge shower cubicle and without further words knelt down. He had the rose from the trolley in his hands. Her eyes widened. She simply forgot to feel awkward beeing seen by him totally naked and displayed in the bright lights of the bathroom. He's not going to-

"Barbara Havers." he began, blinking a bit with the spray stinging his eyes while he had to look up to her.

Yes, indeed - he was going to.

"After too many years that I had not recognised what a piece of jewellery is working under my nose I finally have opened my eyes. There's no way I could go on living when it's a life without you."

She had not wanted it but she could not hold it back either. Barbara sobbed and it was not the shampoo in her eyes that made the tears roll down her cheeks.

Tommy took her hand and placed a soft kiss on its back. He still tried to avoid the spray hitting his eyes.

"I know that we both are more than different and that a future with you is not going to be easy in so many ways. But here I am before you, a naked man, like nature has made me - no clothes, no fripperies, no medals, no badges, no credit card and no crest - asking you to share a life with me. I know we both will have to adjust our crazy lifes but I truly believe that we have the strength to work it out together... that you have the strength to endure me and be patient with me like you have for so many years now..." His voice trailed off when he saw that amused smirk in the corners of Barbara's mouth.

She looked down to him. He had such a serious expression on his face but he also looked incredibly sweet and unintendedly amusing in his attempt to blink the spray away from his eyes and keep his look romantically love-stricken. This was so cute that Barbara almost forgot what it actually was that he was doing down there on his knees. A chuckle formed in the back of her throat.

He got up from his knees. "You're not going to laugh, my lady!"

Roughly Tommy pressed her into the tiled wall and fervently kissed her. The rose fell to the floor uncared for. Then his own lips widened into a grin and he had to stop in order to finally ask her the question that had been planned to be asked a little bit more romantic.

"Barbara Havers, will you marry me?"

"You're not serious, Sir." Of course I will!

"I've never been more serious than I am now, Barbara."

"Mmmh... a-ha...?" she hesitantly answered and waited for more. Her unbelieving eyes flickered across his face.

"Please say yes!" Love, hope, fear, happiness, faith and anticipation, strength and a loving softness - all at once it spread across his expression. Barbara gathered courage. Everything is possible when you love.

"Yes." she breathed and his lips crushed on hers again burying her mouth under his until Barbara insisted on stopping now and finishing that shower or they would indeed have to make an official announcement when they would show up at the office only late in the evening.

"But I want to... I really need to have a little more time to adjust to all this... Tommy..." she closed her eyes and let her head slump back against the wall. "It still feels as if it's a freaky dream..."

"No, Barbara." he kissed the tip of her nose. "This is bloody gorgeous reality."

Tommy was sure they would be able to deal with everything that might follow.

After their shared shower they dressed and at the same time ate some of their breakfast in a bit of a hurry. In another still slightly awkward moment they agreed again to keep the latest developments in their private relationship hidden for a while. They both would not want to quit their partnership at work and of course would not want to risk recieving an official reprimand for working as a team though privately related so soon.

"We can discuss the details later." Tommy suggested. "Maybe at dinner?"

Barbara nodded.

"So we have another date." Smugly grinning Tommy pulled her close and shared a last kiss with Barbara.

"See ya later, Sir!" she tenderly whispered before she tore away from him. She was happy in that moment that she was not wearing any make-up because he surely would have smudged it with his kiss. She was happy anyway.

Hand in hand they left her room but before they had reached the stairs they already had disentangled their fingers.

Shortly before noon they entered Lewis' office. The DI was at the phone but Hathaway looked up from his paperwork with an open smirk and a 'You're late, you little naughty ones, you!' clearly written on his forehead. Barbara blushed deeply at that so his educated guess was confirmed.

Lewis ended his call and welcomed them. "You're right in time to have lunch with us. Laura's waiting at the bistro."

"She's waiting for quite some time now." Hathaway murmured and Tommy was glad that the Sergeant's attention was diverted away from them.

"Huh?" Lewis asked with a quizzical expression on his face. "No, no, she's only just arrived."

Hathaway groaned in frustration and rolled his eyes before he sarcastically remarked "Of course, Sir."

The four went straight to lunch at the bistro where they met Laura again.

"This time without a PM." she said. "I just wanted to say hi before you leave."

The pathologist immediately recognised the shift in the relationship of the two Londoners. They acted quite different today. There was more love and more open affection in their eyes and today they really exchanged those looks unlike yesterday when they had avoided being caught by the other. It could not be hidden anymore that something had happened between them tonight - their behaviour among themselves had distinctly changed.

Tommy set the chair in place for Barbara like he always had but they shared a contented smile when their hands brushed. During lunch Barbara even had caressed his knuckle with her index finger when the occasion had been offered and she had felt unobserved. Though it was a very quick gesture Laura had recognised it anyway. Laura also recognised the blush that crept over Barbara's face when Tommy stretched back in his chair after the meal. The hint of a cheeky grin on his face and the death glare Barbara shot at him told her that he probably was touching her leg with his or played footsie under the table.

The way they constantly hid their yawning they obviously had spent the night together and Laura was sure they had not brooded over paperwork. She was happy that those two probably had found their way to each other. She shot a sad look at DI Lewis. Well, this would be a still long way to go. She sighed.

Later that day during the wrap up of the case in Lewis' office even Jean Innocent saw those little signs of affection and hidden caresses that told her of a considerable shift in their private relation, a huge step forward on their shared road. Of course she knew they had been in late today and she could very well imagine why. She decided that she would let them get away with this. When they return to London they would face enough problems, she guessed.

At least those two seem to have come to their senses... She sighed before she picked up the phone. Back in her office she also had made the decision to let them know what she thought. She called Lewis' phone to order the two Metropolitains into her office for some final words about this co-operation.

After the exchange of some polite words how well all this went along and how quick and smooth they worked out this case Super Intendent Innocent expressed regrets that this was going to end soon.

"We all have learned from each other." she said. "And we will have a few changes soon. I suppose, you both face that too."

Tommy exchanged a brief look with Barbara before he answered. "Yes, I guess so, Ma'am. I agree that we've learned a lot during our stay here. The change of location will sometimes bring out a change of views."

Innocent's eyes almost bored into his soul. He offered nothing but when she diverted her eyes to Barbara she saw everything. The DS did not even dare to look at her and fidgeted with her hands in her lap. Obviously she feared the worst.

"I suppose your partnership is affected by the visit here in Oxford too." Innocent went on and if it was not by now with that statement it was clear for the two on the other side of the desk that she was not talking about work anymore. She knew what happened between them. "I can assure you I won't mention your... umm... today's delay in the report, but if Sir Hillier asked me I won't lie, you understand that I suppose."

They nodded in unison like two pupils in front of the head master. Of course she did not mean their tardiness. Tommy offered understanding. "He can be nit-picking sometimes, but I guess that's unavoidable in some positions."

"You bet!" Innocent gave a short laugh but her face instantly went serious again. She should speak clearer, she thought. "Here everything might be a bit easier for you both but I'd like to advise you to be attentive when you're back at the Met."

"I'm going to Causton CID soon anyway, Ma'am." Barbara said and shyly looked at Tommy. She knew the office grapevine had been talkative and though she had not yet told him personally she knew that he knew of her plans. But undoubtedly the world looked a bit different after tonight. And especially after this morning.

"I'm going to resign soon anyway, Ma'am." Tommy said turning his eyes on Barbara. Of course he had known of her plans and wondered when she would tell him. This way had not been one of the possible scenarios. This way he had no chance to tell her straight away what he thought about it. But there will be time for it later, maybe at dinner.

Both stared at each other without a word for a few seconds. Innocent was partly forgotten. He tried to convince Barbara through his eyes that he would resign if she left the Met. She tried to convince Tommy that they would be separated anyway if she stayed and he should not give up his job only because she would move away. Then his proposal under the shower came to her mind. Bloody, we really have to talk, Sir!

Innocent viewed the spectacle of their silent conversation for a while and eventually shook her head. She had heard and witnessed this communication between them before. They're quite a strange couple. she thought.

"I think the last words weren't spoken in those matters." she said with a friendly smile. "But that's your business. You should work that out soon. Good luck."

With a nod she dismissed the blushing couple. They almost had left her office when she witnessed how DI Lynley gently stroked DS Havers' back under the pretense of guiding her through the door and admittedly a bit amused she rolled her eyes.

Young love! she thought.

Super Intendent Jean Innocent did not witness the brief kiss the young couple secretly shared in her deserted outer office after the door had closed.

"Well, that was some sort of unspoken warning." Tommy smiled.

"You won't resign, Sir." Barbara whispered. "I do not allow that you leave the service."

"And you won't go to Causton CID, Havers." He caressed her cheek. "I do not allow that you leave me... Now that I've found you..."

"I-" She stopped herself and after an intense look in his eyes she went on murmuring. "I'd never, Tommy. But we couldn't go on working as a team anyway."

"Oh, bollocks, Barbara. We'd be separated no matter what so you can just as well become DI at the Met." Then Tommy closed his arms around her. "Recently I was asked to become Detective Chief Inspector so somehow we still would work as a team. Besides I have asked you to marry me and as far as I can remember there was a 'yes' coming from your lips."

He smiled affectionately seeing that she got the picture. Midsomer was not very close to London and if she would have married Tommy of course she would move in with him. Maybe even before they would be married. And no, she would not want to live in a 5:2 relationship.

"What would Hillier say?" Barbara reasoned. "I mean... with you and me being a... team..."

"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." Tommy grinned and was about to give her another kiss.

Right in that moment the door slammed open with Julie Matthews coming in and they dashed apart. In fact they still did give a damn if they were caught in such a moment of unprofessionality.

.

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Author's note: Thank you for reading, thank you for reviewing.

Tess