Oh my goodness! So MANY reviews! I appreciate it so much! Here's chapter seven! ! You guys are awesome!

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Inspiration song for this chapter – Attack Attack ; Smokahontus.

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I hope you all enjoy! :D


Badass With A Hint Of Beauty.

JэяяiэHigarashi. © 2O13.


"Hurry up!" Artemis screamed along with Glenn, shooting each walker that appeared in their vision. The boy's screamed sounded through her ears and she grit her teeth as the dead came closer to them, snarling loudly, shuffling closer and closer.

"Shit! Hershel, I don't mean to put any stress on you but you gotta hurry!" Artemis told him, looking down at her Desert Eagle and reloading it.

"Vixie! Watch out!" Glenn yelled out, making Artemis look up and luckily duck at the same time when a man was swinging his rifle at her.

She was on her knees, but at the same time she tackled the stranger, straddling him, trying to get the gun out of his hand.

"Rick!" Glenn yelled out, the walkers were getting closer and he was running out of ammo too. He saw Hershel giving up on his quick fix surgery and Rick was being cornered by the dead. They had no choice but the leave the screaming kid. He was attracting the walkers more and more to them and it was getting harder and harder to fight them off.

Rick growled, shooting another walker in the head and backing away.

"Rick! We have to go! Vixie is being attacked!" Glenn's voice rung into his ears and he knew it was time. Hershel left the boy to pull Rick away, apologizing. He knew they wouldn't make it back if they kept up like this.

Artemis on the other hand, had successfully pulled the rifle away from the intruder but he quickly pushed her off, rolling on top of her and punching her face.

"VIXIE!" Glenn's voice echoed in Artemis's ears and she knew he was going to save her. A gun shot was sounded by Glenn, startling the intruder and she caught him off guard, pushing him off, and grabbing her large buck knife, she aimed for his throat but in less than a second he stabbed her in her shoulder, making her cry out as he grabbed her by her hair, standing up and dragging her toward the walkers that were already surrounding them.

"ARGH!" Artemis cried out, she writhed and squirmed, hearing Rick and Hershel's voice, her eyes were closed and her right hand was clutching her wounded left arm.

"Let go of her you bastard!" Glenn's shouted, watching Rick as he finally left the boy, and in less than a minute, the stranger was down and Artemis writhed out of his grip, using all of her strength to stab the walkers that already grabbed for her.

"Let's go! Let's go!" Glenn pulled her away and to Hershel's truck, but then eased his grip when she screamed out. Artemis looked to see the screaming boy long gone as the walkers were feasting off him as lie dead on the dumpster.

Rick quickly hopped in the driver's seat as Hershel aided Glenn in helping the wounded Artemis in the back.

"Easy, easy Glenn. Nice and slow." Hershel winced as they quickly put Artemis inside, and hopped in themselves. Most of the walkers were easily distracted but some of them were still coming.

"Go! Go!" Hershel shouted as the engine roared to life and he stepped on the gas as Artemis groaned in pain as they sped through the various small crowds of the walkers and onto the road again.

"Vixie, stay still alright? This stab wound is very large, if you move any more, it'll open the wound up even more, you hear me?" Artemis groaned louder and nodded, her face was twisted in deep pain and blood was splattered on her now paling cheeks. Her face was bruising and red from the blows she took from the random stranger.

"W-who the hell was that, and why did he attack Vixie!?" Glenn, asked as he watched Hershel press part of his ripped shirt onto her heavily bleeding wound.

"Who knows…maybe a comrade coming to look for his members?" Rick muttered, pressing the gas down more, his heart pounding as he listened to Artemis still groaning softly.

"Rick step on it…I'm on my third torn shirt here…she's loosing blood quickly…I believe that asshole severed a few veins…" Hershel warned the leader as he pressed harder.

"Agh!" Artemis moaned and panted, the pain was too much for her, she was on the verge of passing out completely.

"I'm tryin' dammit!" Rick raised his voice, frustration clearly evident.

Glenn was nervous…he patted Artemis's cheek and turned her head to him.

"Hey…hey…stay awake alright? Stay with us at least until we get back home…you can do this!" He told her softly, watching her eyes flutter open and closed. After watching he stay conscious for a bit, he began to wonder why he was doing this…it was so easy to do this to Artemis…but Maggie? She told him she loved him and…he became a total puss.

"Come on Vix…stay awake alright? It won't be long now…" Hershel told her, switching out the already blood-filled shirt for a towel Glenn handed him from the back of the truck.

"Ah…Her…shel…my…arm…" Artemis mumbled, trying to stay awake for as long as she could, she could feel the pain throughout her upper body. Her chest constricted painfully as her left shoulder began to give her migraines. She knew she was overreacting but the pain was too much to bear.

"I know Vixie, I know… try to hang in there a little longer, Rick is going as fast as this old thing can take us you hear me?"

Artemis nodded her head and whimpered, looking out at the dark sky, the trees passing just as fast as her consciousness was escaping hers.


"She did what?!" Daryl asked T-Dog, as they were packing the back of the car with their weapons and such,

"Yeah, she went along with Glenn and Rick to get Hershel back. Said she felt like she owed him that much since he saved her life." T-Dog told the redneck as he checked his pistol for ammo.

"Stupid wench…" Daryl muttered under his breath and Shane scowled.

"Hey c'mon man. She was just doing what she felt was right. Can't blame her for doing something she wants to do." T-Dog nodded in agreement with Shane.

"Yeah, I agree with that one…she's a grown woman and she can do what she wants."

"Guys…" Andrea just finished arguing with Dale once again. She rolled her eyes and was heading to the car along with the three men. Sometimes she wished Dale would just bug off and let her handle what she wants to do instead of hovering around her like he was her father.

She handed Daryl a bag and then the sound of a engine made them all look up, it was Hershel's truck and it was speeding like a racehorse to the house.

"There they are right there…"

They all quickly ran towards the house, as Rick pulled up and the doors immediately flew open.

Carl was immediately outside, racing to embrace his father. Lori was pulling into a relieving hug by Rick but he then gently pushed them away, turning around to go and help Artemis.

"How she doing?" He asked, watching as Glenn slowly pulled her out with Hershel – he was still pressing hard on her wound.

"She's barely awake…she hasn't lost that much blood as I thought, but her wound needs to quickly be cleaned and then closed."

Glenn wrapped Artemis' good arm around him as she slowly walked her towards the house. Carl saw Artemis in her condition and he was worrying now.

"Dad? W-what happened to her? Is she gonna be okay?" He pulled at Rick's shirt frantically as he watched Glenn walking her in.

"I hope so son…but right now…I don't know…"

Daryl on the other hand was right beside Glenn, taking the place of Hershel so he could set up for surgery. He pressed against her wound and brought her inside, everyone following them.

Hershel signaled them to bring Artemis into the same room that Carl was in when he was shot and had to get immediate surgery.

"Agh! Not…not so hard…" Artemis muttered, turning her head to Daryl and frowning. He smirked and laid her on the bed, Glenn backing away.

"Heh, looks like you're feeling good enough to start scolding people." Artemis rolled her eyes and then closed them, groaning when Hershel took the towel off her wound and inspected it.

"Patricia, let's go ahead and give her dose of morphine, hopefully we should have one more vile left. Vixie? Can you hear me?"

Everyone was crowded around the door, just like the first night Rick and the others brought her in. Though everyone caught the name that came out of his mouth.

"What the hell happened to you guys anyway? And why did you call her Vixie? Is that her name?" T-Dog was the first to ask, everyone looked pretty good except Artemis, she was bloodied up and her clothes were somewhat torn and tattered.

"Guys…can we not do this now? Hershel needs the space to close this wound up. I'm sure he'll explain in a second." Patricia shooed everyone out and closed the door.

Daryl looked back at the tattered girl and watched as she finally gave out. She was out on the bed as Hershel hooked her up to the IV and examined the needle he had.

"So that's what happened?" Everyone was seated in Hershel's dining room discussing what happened to the group that went out to find Hershel in the first place.

"Yeah…Vixie put up one hell of a fight and even shot down one of the guys that came into the bar where Hershel was." Glenn told them, scratching the back of his head. "The guy that was the one begging to stay with us, said that it was just a nickname that they gave her. She refused to give them her real name as well."

Andrea scowled, rolling he eyes while she brushed her hair back. "I don't think that she can be trusted…why won't she give us her name? I think she's walked around long enough being 'Miss Anonymous'."

Lori nodded in agreement with the blonde. "She's right. She hasn't participated in anything the group does and how in the hell can she go this long without tell people her name? I mean what's so important about that?"

Dale shook his head. "You're wrong…how could you say something like that when she just left to save Hershel? She protected them and killed one of her former members…come on Andrea…Lori…both of you are better than this…"

"Yeah, she left a few hours after she woke up…I think she should stick around a bit…besides. We know her name for now…why should we argue about it when it's clear that she's doing her part even when she just got here." T-Dog leaned back into his chair, folding his arms as he really liked Artemis…

"Vixie deserves to stay. There's nothing wrong with her. Besides, she saved Daryl and saved Shane when her former teammate came to rat her out. She's fine where and who she is. End of story." Rick made the final decision just as Hershel, Patricia and Maggie came in.

"How are they?" Dale asked concerned, glancing to Daryl who was standing way in the corner, listening. Hershel sighed and leaned on the wall behind him while Patricia and Maggie took a seat.

"Vixie should be alright now…just plenty of fluids and rest. But she'll be in a lot of pain when she wakes up, we used the last of the morphine. But other than that, her wound is back together and cleaned. Beth on the other hand I'm gonna have to keep a good eye on until she wakes up."

Everyone nodded, listening to the quietness.

"We're gonna have to keep a close eye out as well. Vixie noted that her previous group is looking for her. And they won't stop if anyone gets in their way…Not so much on the farm because I'm sure that everyone can spot them a mile away…but still, we must keep our guard up."

Andrea sighed rubbing her temples. "See? This is exactly why I don't trust her, she's already bringing more the the table than we can even handle. How do we know that she's not leading them to us or something?"

"Andrea, how can you say that? She KILLED two of her members already! What does that even tell you? Come now…I won't believe that she's deliberately attracting her former team to us…hell, they're trying to kill her too." Dale told her and he actually meant it. The seriousness in his eyes was pretty legit. Andrea only rolled her eyes and pushed her chair back, leaving the room.

Lori agreed with her once again. She didn't want her son hanging around a complete stranger who was bringing trouble to the group already. But she decided to keep this to herself for now and just hope that her husband was making the right choice.

"It's getting late guys…maybe we should…just go ahead and take a breather. These past few days have been stressful for all of us." Rick stood up with Lori, wanting to take at least a few hours and get some peace and quiet. After he and his wife left, everyone scattered to do their own thing. Shane on the other hand was still sitting at the table, his face resting in his palm while his elbows rested on the table. It was a stressful day and after everything he's done to keep the camp safe, he gets no damn credit for it. It was definitely pissing him off. Rick did this. Rick did that. Rick saved this person today…

He was taking all the damn credit while he stood in the shadows, being made the bad guy… Hell, he took his time to care for Lori and Carl by himself…he never even said thanks for that…

He sighed and shook his head, deciding to let it slide today since everyone was here safe…

Daryl decided to check up on Artemis, she was in pretty bad shape and even though he yelled at her, he owed her this much to sit with her as she did him when he got hurt.

He opened the door to see Carl sitting next to her petting the puppy that was sitting in his lap, panting happily as he wagged his tail and hopped out of Carl's lap and scampered over to Daryl.

"Hey there bud…whatcha doin' in here all alone? Ain't ya afraid that your folks might be looking for ya?" Daryl kicked the door shut and scooped up the puppy and tossed him gently on the bed, sitting in the chair away from the bed that Artemis was sleeping on.

"Well, I was worried about her…I thought maybe if I sit in here while she slept, she might wake up…and then I could help her…" He looked down at his boots and sighed. He then looked up at the crossbow wielding redneck and tilted his head.

"Why are you here?"

This made Daryl freeze a bit and he sighed, rubbing his temple and he set his crossbow aside and leaned more into his chair. "Just doing a favor for her when I was busted up and had to lay out for a few days." Carl nodded and stared at Artemis again.

"Hey…maybe you should go ahead and head on outta here. Go find your folks, Let them know you're alright before they send a search team looking for ya." Daryl told Carl, sitting up and watching him with a serious face. Carl nodded and took another look at Artemis. She had dark bruises over her cheek and her head was wrapped up along with her left shoulder. He shuddered and kissed the top of the puppy's forehead and waved off Daryl, opening the door and closing it softly.

Daryl slowly made his way to the chair, sitting right next to Artemis and he sighed. His mind immediately flashed back to when she paid a short and sweet visit to him when he was recovering from his injuries from looking for Sophia.

"When is you ever gonna tell us yer damn name eh?"

Artemis leaned closer to him, their noses almost touching and she lightly grabbed his chin, pulling him closer so her lips were nearly brushing his ear. He felt her long and wild hair brush gently across his face as she spoke.

"I haven't decided yet. Keep trying to impress me and I just might tell you sooner rather than later."

Daryl blinked himself from the thought as it flustered him from her close contact. He lazily stroked the puppy that watched him attentively.

He watched her as she slept, her chest gently heaving up and down as her right out was hooked on an IV and away from her body so it wouldn't irritate her and wake her up. Her hair was more feral looking than usual as it was splayed over the pillow and part of it fell in wisps on her cheek.

He felt his arm reaching over and brushing the light wisps of hair out of her face. He tucked them behind her ear and then leaned back into his seat, wondering why in the hell he came to see her. She was a complete stranger and yet he felt obliged to come and see her…

Vixie…a complete stranger to him. It was definitely absurd to him indeed.

He sighed, rubbing his face until he heard the door gently opening. It was Dale. This time he didn't have his rifle strapped to his back like he usually did. He softly shut the door and for a few minutes the two men stared at each other until Daryl rolled his eyes and hopped out of his seat, grabbing his crossbow and he promptly left out, leaving Dale staring at the open door in awe.


The next morning, Artemis woke up and yawned, though seconds afterwards, she groaned and winced. She looked to see her right arm bandaged…she figured already that was where the IV was and she groaned louder, the pain of her left and the back of her head lancing through her body. She sat up slowly, swinging her legs across the bed, and she smiled when the puppy yawned and stretched out next to her, his little tongue flopping out of his mouth as he happily greeted her with licks.

She chuckled and lifted him slowly to kiss his head and she set him down as she began to walk, holding on to the solid objects so she wouldn't fall while she made her way to the window.

She opened up the blinds and lifted up the window, closing her eyes when a cool breeze hit her. It was cloudy outside, and still somewhat dark though she could tell the sun was trying to rise. The dark, dark blue sky and heavy clouding mesmerized her. The breeze was the only thing that set her off, she turned around to grab her puppy and she slowly climbed out of the window, heading out to the pasture with her puppy, scampering behind her happily.

Artemis looked down to see the same long and silk gown was put on her like the last time. She walked barefoot out in the tall grass and closed her eyes when the breeze pulled back her hair and kissed her warm cheeks.

She decided to work on her gymnastic skills since it's been a while – since the outbreak, when she went to the gymnast to practice her moves. Now she was on her own…without her trainer.

She glanced down and smiled lightly. The puppy was viciously ripping up a mouthful of grass and piling them in a stack as he played happily. She sighed and stared up at the sky that was getting lighter by the minute. She worked out her injured arm and stretched, exhaling slowly, trying to forget – even if it was just for a second – what her new life has come to now.

After a while of just breathing in the cool breeze that brushed her face yet again, she held up her right hand and held her breath, twisting backwards and catching herself on the hand she held firmly and flipped backwards, with enough force not to hurt her injured shoulder.

Though when she rose again she winced as the blood went back down to her body again, painfully circulating through her healing wound, she grit her teeth and slowly flipped again, making sure not to get her feet caught in the long gown. Once recovered, she worked out her tense body slowly, remembering what her mother told her about yoga and how it was a good stress reliever, especially early in the morning.

She held up her right hand again and twisted her body in a sloppy front flip, thus getting her feet caught in the gown and she fell flat on her face, adding painful force to her wound and she cried out.

"Argh! Shit!" She cursed, rolling onto her back, glaring directly at the sky. She huffed and closed her eyes and listened to her pup snarling softly. She looked to see him attacking the grass and pulling them from its roots.

Artemis was tired but she knew she couldn't even be comfortable like this for long. Her former comrades were out there and she had to hurry up and recover in order to avoid more bloodshed. But why? Out of all places the leader would target her it would be when she was around a group of random strangers. Why would he do that?

She sighed and slowly sat up, wincing as her bruised face ached and her head began throbbing in pain.

"Hey! Vixie – er…new girl! What the hell are you doing out there!" Artemis sat up quickly and then groaned when she moved her injured shoulder a little too quickly. It was Shane who was yelling at her out of the window that she left open.

She winced but only stayed where she was. "Just enjoying the nice early morning, why?" She yelled back, folding her legs and she yawned.

"Well hell! Everyone was looking for ya! Get your ass back in here!" She sighed and slowly pulled herself up, taking her time since she was starting to get dizzy.

Once she made it back inside her room, she was immediately confronted by a worried Dale.

"Hey! Are you alright? Where the hell have you been? How's your shoulder? Does it still hurt?" The old man gently grasped her shoulders and inspected her while he backed her to the bed so she could sit down. She smiled and gently shrugged his hands off her.

"Fine Dale. My shoulder just hurts a little and a slight headache. Don't have a heart attack." She yawned and watched as Daryl came inside as well, leaning on the wall and she smiled a little.

"Well if it isn't little Mr. Mercurial, came to check on me too?" Artemis teased and Daryl snorted, rolling his eyes.

"Yeah right. Just came to see if you were brought back dead or not."

"Aw. That's not a nice thing to say to a girl who got stabbed. You should be more sympathetic to me." She feigned a pout, batting her long and thick eyelashes innocently at him.

She saw a ghost of a smirk play upon his lips but it seemed it didn't quite get there yet. Daryl rolled his eyes and left out, his smirk finally emerging.

"Alright, alright. Enough chit chat. Vixie, you need to gone 'head and eat. We're going to be busy today…last night, Carl caught a walker out in th-"

"Hey!"

Shane was cut off by Carl rushing past him, grinning widely as he pulled Artemis into a tight hug, making her groan and whimper.

"Ah! Hey, hey, hey…how're ya?" Artemis managed to get out, and Dale gently pulled the boy away from her.

"Careful son, she's still injured pretty badly." Carl gasped and stepped away a little.

"I'm sorry!" He immediately apologized and Artemis held her arms out to him, pulling him into a softer hug.

"'s alright dear. I'll be fine…you don't worry kay?" She tilted his head up and Carl grinned, nodding. Shane rolled his eyes and turned around, intercepting T-Dog. He was carrying breakfast for Artemis.

"I'm so happy! I mean…I was so worried that you weren't going to be okay! It was hard for me to sleep! Daryl stayed with you for a while…did you see him?" This made Artemis blink and pull him away from her embrace gently.

"He did? Well, er no. I did not know that. But thank you for your concern…it really makes me feel good."

Carl nodded with a wide smile, hugging her again, and was about to say something else until his mother called him and he sighed. "I guess I gotta go…see ya around…" He quickly waved her off and skipped out of the room, wearing the widest of grins on his face.

He left her, Dale and T-Dog alone in the room. She yawned and looked over at her breakfast. It was powered eggs. She frowned as her stomach churned. She hated eggs…by themselves that is. She couldn't bear to eat eggs alone. It just left a revolting taste in her mouth that left her gagging. She looked away from the plate and sighed.

"You look…pretty good…" T-Dog stated with a smirk, leaning on the wall next to him with one arm. This made Artemis laugh and lay back on her bed.

"Thanks T…I guess I don't look half bad huh?"

"Hey…less talking and more eating. You haven't even touched your breakfast…" Dale scolded Artemis and she sighed. She knew Dale was looking after her and all but he didn't have to become her father and all that.

"Yeah well…I'm not a big fan of eggs…alone that is. I have to eat something with them. It's not my place to be picky but…eggs alone I can't eat…" She told him with a frown. Dale sighed, rubbing his forehead.

"Well I am sorry Vixie but it's the only thing we have right now. The fish you brought is already eaten and Daryl hasn't brought back any squirrels."

"I guess I'll have to go hunting then because eggs just won't do."

T-Dog stuck out his tongue at her. "You tryna say my eggs ain't good or something Vixie?" Artemis laughed and she shook her head.

"Of course not T. I bet you can cook your ass off…but I hate eggs. So I'm just going to suffer until we find more food."

"You can't! You're still recovering from just getting stabbed! How can you sit here and be-"

Dale was interrupted by Rick's frantic voice as he argued with Shane for the nth time. He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose together.

It was going to be a long day.


Over the next few days, everything went fairly smooth. Everyone was getting along pretty well…besides the usually heavy disagreement with Shane. Artemis was getting to know everyone and vise versa, but it seemed that Andrea still didn't trust her very much. Though Lori and her were beginning to become friends as well, only through Carl because he liked her so much.

Artemis' puppy was getting bigger faster and faster and was already barking and running. She still didn't know what to name him though and she refused to let anyone else name him except her.

It seemed the relationship between her and Daryl though was a roller coaster. One day he'd be with the group and speak with her and the next, he's out by himself hating the world.

She only shook her head and rolled her eyes. She couldn't keep up with his emotions so she decided to leave him be for now.

Though besides that, Artemis was beginning to feel herself get more and more comfortable with the new group that took her in. It seemed they were comfortable with her as well. Her shoulder was still healing but at a more quicker rate since she was up and moving around now.

Everything went smoothly until a walker popped up one night and attacked Dale. Artemis and the others were there to save him just in time something tragic happened but it made everyone tense from then on. They began strengthening up the fences and putting secure wood on the barn.

That same night after a day's hard work, Artemis decided to take a long walk since the moon was finally out and shined brightly. She gathered her weapons and placed her machete holster around her hips. She tucked her desert eagle in her pants and tucked her buck knife safely in her boot. She was ready.

After arguing with Dale for the tenth time, she finally set off with her unnamed pup, she passed up Daryl's little camp and he stopped her as well.

"Goin' somewhere Vix?"

She turned her head a little and shrugged. "Just for a walk. It's warm out tonight and the moons out. Why not take advantage of it?"

"You shouldn't do that. Who knows what's crawling out there right now." Daryl warned her lazily, making the latter snort a laugh.

"You know Daryl. You really should try and listen to your own advice. Besides, who was the one to come and save you when you were stuck down there by that water fall?" She asked him. Her hand on her hips as he snorted and turned around to his fire, watching the little sparks and the sound of the wood and other debris crackling.

"Fine bitch. Do what you fuckin' want. But don't come runnin' to me when you get attacked by a walker."

Artemis grinned, turning back around and strolled away. "So we're back to that huh? Calling me a female dog? Ah, I see how it is Mr. Dixon." Her soft voice ringing in his ears and they perked when she called him out by his last name. He sat up and was about to ask her how she knew his last name, but she was already gone.

He huffed and pulled out his buck knife and began to pick up a stray stick and began stripping it of its bark with his knife.

That girl was…something else.

"C'mon babe. Usually you're ahead of me…" Artemis told her pup as he yipped and bounded right alongside of her. She looked around at the woods and took in a cool breath of air. The leaves above her rustled softly against each other, creating its own little music. The dead leaves under her feet crunched rhythmically and the fast semi-crunches her puppy made as he trotted happily ahead of her. She looked at the dark sky as the moon shined with all its glory at her and the stars twinkled brightly…

She was jealous at those stars…They came out most nights to show off their beautiful lights…give her something to be interested in while she fought for her life against the undead and now the living on the ground. The stars only gave her something to stare at at night…nothing else.

While she mulled over her life she jumped when the sound of something being stepped on rung through her ears. She immediately took out her D.E and looked around for her puppy, he stopped as well, and his now pointed ears were erect as he listened. Artemis continued walking but she kept her eyes and ears open, listening for anything out of order.

There was another unfamiliar crunch and she felt her heart pounding. She quickly tucked her gun into her pocket and she scooped up her puppy and like a nimble feline, she gracefully hopped on one of the smaller limbs of the tree she was standing behind and she quietly made her way to the top, climbing each branch until she was high enough to see the intruder but the intruder couldn't see her.

She held her unnamed puppy to her chest and cocked the hammer on her desert eagle. The pup squirmed under her grip but nonetheless he was quiet, but the intruder was closing in fast.

She then came up with another idea and she put away her gun and waited like a cheetah stalking its prey. She set the pup on a lower branch and surprisingly he didn't move, but once the intruder did, Artemis snarled and lunged immediately.


. . . To be continued!

Bahahaha! Cliffhanger!

Anyways, thanks so much for reading guys! I really love how I'm pleasing all of you! Thanks a lot!

Until next time my lovely babes!

JerrieHigarashi. :D