Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time or any of the characters. I'm new to this particular fandom – CuriousArcher, MadArcher, whatever you want to call it. I mean, how hard was it to not love Robin and Alice? They're totally adorable! Thanks, OUaT! Any and all mistakes are mine.
Final Touches
"Oh, Alice!" Zelena gushed, a hand failing to cover the huge smile on her face. "Darling, you look absolutely radiant!"
Alice stared at herself in the three-way mirror inside the dress shop. She could see Zelena and the two faeries behind her, all three of them were beaming back at her. Focussing on her own reflection, the blonde's expression slowly began to match theirs.
The dress that she wore - the one that Zelena had gotten married in a little more than a year ago - now fit her as though it had been made for her. The bodice of it clung to the top of her body, fitted to her like a corset. What had once been an intricate decoration of silver had been transformed into the shape of a raindrop made of opals. Each stone reflected a subtle green/blue/purple shimmer in the right light. The dress bodice and skirt were pure white with an intricate pattern embroidered in platinum thread, the opals added depth and soothed Alice's need for colour in her clothing.
Because they were getting married in the summer, the sleeves of the dress had been carefully removed, leaving her arms and shoulders bare. With a little bit of magic, though, the material had been changed into a sort of half-cape that flowed down her back to blend in with the rest of the skirt. They had lengthened the dress so that it trailed behind her in the back a little bit but left her feet and her ankles clear in the front. Nova, who Alice had first thought was just a mousy sort of woman who was eager to please, turned out to be a great seamstress and had a knack for finding the perfect shoes. White strappy sandals adorned her feet, showing off her freshly painted blue and green toenails.
As Alice looked at herself, she let out a sigh of relief. This dress was perfect. Looking back over her shoulder at Zelena, she said, "Thank you so much, Zelena! I love it!"
"I'm glad, darling." She frowned then. "Something's missing, wouldn't you say, Nova?"
The Faerie tilted her head and contemplated the young woman standing before them. Then, she snapped her fingers. She waved the wand in her hand and Alice felt something come to rest on her head. She turned back to the mirrors and her eyes widened. Now adorning her head was a circlet woven of green stems and dressed in blooming flowers of light blue and purple. Astonished, she reached up to touch it, then hesitated, not wanting to damage it.
"It's alright, Alice," Nova told her, smiling.
So, the blond touched the pretty crown and wanted to cry. She looked like all the stories that she'd ever read about faery princesses. It reminded her of being back in the Forest with Robin, who loved to braid her hair and adorn it with wildflowers. Turning around, she said, "It's wonderful!"
Zelena pursed her lips in thought. "It is. But… Oh!" She raised a hand and there was a flash of green before Alice's vision was obscured by a piece of sheer white gauze. Looking in the mirror told her what she suspected - a veil now covered her face, attached to the ring of flowers. It wasn't a long veil, ending just below her chin, but it seemed to bring the whole outfit together.
Just then the front door of the shop opened, and detective Rogers entered. He had just started his guard shift. When he saw his daughter, he stopped, mouth forming an 'O'. He forgot how to breathe for a few moments.
"Starfish… Alice, love, you look spectacular!" He finally managed to say.
Under her veil, Alice blushed. "Thank you, Papa!" She said, giggling. Turning back to admire herself in the mirror, she let out a sigh of contentment. "Perfect."
Of course, it didn't end there. Nova used her wand to make more adjustments to the bodice so that it showed off a little more of Alice's natural 'assets'. The shoulder straps were narrowed some as well, and the back of the dress was changed from actual stays, to an easy to use zip. A simple spiralling arm cuff was added, and then dismissed. Alice had naturally toned arms and shoulders, and neither Zelena nor Nova could come up with just the right accessory to compliment them.
There was also the question of Alice's hair and make-up. Hair was easy. Since she'd lived in Storybrooke, Alice regularly made sure her hair was cut so she could do whatever she wanted, as long as it was out of her face. Zelena used strands of Alice's own blonde curls to pull it up and out of her eyes. It was simple, and it suited the young woman. Her make-up would be understated - accenting her natural beauty without using too much.
When everything was done, Alice stared into the mirrors again and could hardly believe her eyes. Robin had always said she was beautiful, and Alice had never doubted that her fiancée really believed that, however, she'd never seen anything extraordinary when she looked in a mirror. Now…
"Robin isn't going to know what hit her," Papa commented to Zelena, who was nodding and dabbing at her eyes.
In a sudden puff of purple smoke, Regina was suddenly there. She looked tired and stressed, but she smiled. "I'm so sorry I'm late! What have I missed?"
Zelena raised her chin and used it to indicate where her sister should look. When the Queen caught sight of Alice, her smile turned into a grin. "Well, I'll be damned. I didn't think anyone could look as good as you did in that dress, Sis, but Alice, you look wonderful."
Alice blushed again at her compliment. "Thank you, Regina." She replied, resisting the urge to curtsy in the presence of the Queen.
Zelena walked over to her sister and put an arm across her shoulders. "Not bad, eh, Gina?"
"Not at all. May I add one thing?" This was addressed to Alice and the Faeries. The Faeries shrugged, and Alice nodded slowly.
In a puff of purple smoke something appeared in Regina's palm. She came closer to Alice and she could see that it was a pendent of some kind. On further inspection it turned out to be a heart-shaped necklace. At the very centre was a light blue stone that Alice didn't recognise, bordered by silver. It was simple and rather elegant.
"Regina, that's beautiful!" Alice breathed.
"It was the first gift that my… that Daniel ever gave me. I've kept it all these years, but I've never been able to bear wearing it. I'd like you to have it. You have made Robin so happy, Alice, and I can't think of a better person to give it to. Sometimes, you even remind me of Daniel, a little."
Alice's eyes filled with tears and she blinked them back. She didn't want to ruin her make-up. She couldn't speak. Of course, she knew who Daniel was. Robin had told her that particular story. Instead, she turned around and lifted her hair. The delicate silver chain lowered over her head and she heard the clasp click closed.
Lowering her hair and raising her eyes to the mirrors once more, Alice stared at herself. If she didn't know better, she would have said that the image couldn't have been her, but she knew it was. The heart pendent rested nicely, just below her throat, as if it belonged there. It felt right, and it looked even better. Now, she was ready to marry her True Love. **********
**********
Upon hearing the door close, though, she stopped mid-form and waited to see her future wife walk into the room. She wasn't disappointed. The smile on Alice's face was one of purest joy. As soon as she saw Robin, it seemed to deepen. Her eyes crinkled at the edges and blue orbs sparkled.
"Hi." The archer greeted her fiancée. "Have a good time?"
Instead of answering, Alice simply wrapped her arms around Robin's neck and pulled her in for a long, slow, deeply satisfying kiss.
"I'll take that as a yes," the brunette quipped when she could breathe again. She pulled back and studied Alice. Her make-up was different. Less eye-shadow, more eye-liner. No lipstick because the blonde hated the stuff. There was some blush on her cheeks, but not a lot. The rest was Alice's own personal beauty. It was breath-taking.
"Hi." Alice replied, finally. "Yes. I had a wonderful time, thank you."
Robin leaned in and nuzzled her nose against the grinning woman's nose. "I'm glad. Is everything set with the dress?"
"Mmm-hmm. And no, I'm still not telling you what I'm wearing. It's perfect, though. You're going to love it." Alice leaned in and rested her cheek on Robin's shoulder. Her hold around the archer's neck loosened and she relaxed.
Robin stroked her hair with one hand, her other arm being occupied in holding Alice close to her. "As long as you like it, sweetheart, I'm sure I'll love it. I'm sure you are going to be beautiful."
She kissed Alice's hair and they stayed like that for several minutes. Finally, Alice pulled away and really looked at her fiancée and at the moved furniture. "What are you doing?"
Robin shrugged one shoulder. "I was restless. I went for a run and that didn't help. I tried Yoga, same results. So now I'm doing Tai Chi. It seems to be working."
"Oh! I love Tai Chi. Let me change and I'll join you."
Robin nodded. A few minutes later, both she and Alice were running through the forms again. They did that for about twenty more minutes, then Robin stopped.
"Okay, I'm good. Are you?"
"I'm great."
Alice helped Robin move the furniture back to where it had been, then they sat down on the sofa.
"How was your day?" Alice asked. Robin loved that about her. No matter what, she always asked the archer how her day had been.
"Hectic. I had to sub for the freshman English teacher, Ms. Thompson. It wasn't too hard, since today was the last day of school. Still, I think I'll stick to teaching gym and archery. At least when someone acts up, I can make them run laps." She shrugged. "I turned in all of my grades, did a walkthrough of the gym to make sure it's ready for the graduation ceremony on Sunday, and that was it. It doesn't seem like a lot, but it really was."
"Poor Robin. At least your fitting was done on Monday. And just think, by next week…" Alice's grin was back.
The archer found herself smiling, too. She was getting married. To Alice, her True Love. After next Saturday, she would be Robin Mills-Jones. It was really happening.
"I can hardly wait," she said, truthfully. "I'm sorry we didn't do this sooner."
"I'm not." Alice said. "It happened when it did because it was the right time. I don't know what I would have done if we had gotten married before the curse. To not know my own wife… Like Henry and Ella, in Hyperion Heights. I think that would have made it worse for me."
Robin thought about that. "You're probably right. As it was, Margot spent her whole time she was travelling looking for someone that she wasn't even sure existed. The night she met Tilly she was sort of feeling like a failure - coming back, tail between her legs. Seeing Tilly talking to that Troll and then rescuing her from the car, it was huge. When she saw Tilly again, that day outside the Rollin' Bayou, she started to think that maybe fate might be involved."
"Fate? Well, I don't know about fate, love, but I do know that Tilly couldn't stop thinking about Margot for days." Alice told her fiancée. They smiled at one another.
"Definitely fate. Even a curse couldn't keep us apart. Just like Henry and Ella." Robin reached over and took Alice's hand in her own, playing with the rainbow bracelet she always wore. It had been the first gift that Robin had ever given her, and Alice had vowed to never take it off. "Are you going to wear this with your dress."
The blonde shrugged. "Yeah. I said I'd never take it off and I meant it. Besides, it came from you." Robin leaned in and kissed Alice's cheek in response.
They sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes before Robin asked, "Are you ready for tomorrow?"
Alice hesitated before she replied. "I… don't know. What if he doesn't like me?" He was Gideon Gold, Rumplestiltskin's son. He was coming into town that evening and had planned to meet Alice the next day. She was looking forward to meeting him but was nervous.
"Alice, he's going to like you. What's not to like?" She picked up her fiancée's hands and held them. "You are smart and funny. You are brave and kind. And if Gideon doesn't like you, then he can go jump in a lake. Or maybe the ocean."
Alice giggled. "You're going to be there?"
"Of course. I'll be there and so will your father. We won't let you out of our sight." **********
**********
Gideon Gold hadn't been back to Storybrooke since his mother and father had taken him travelling as a child. He'd lived with them, learned from them, and then gone on to Elphame Academy to study to his heart's content. He knew that, someday, he'd have to leave, - unless they asked him to be a teacher - however, for now, he was happy with his life.
It was strange for him to step into Storybrooke after decades of being away. He felt as though he should remember things that had no meaning to him. The town had changed, after all, due to the last 'curse' cast upon it, so perhaps he shouldn't remember things? It wasn't until he'd come to an old building, dirty and seemingly abandoned, with a sign hanging above it that said, Mr. Gold PAWNBROKER and underneath that, in smaller letters, Antiquities Dealer, that he finally felt that he'd come home.
Using the key that his father had given him when he was old enough to travel realms on his own, Gideon unlocked the front door. It swung open easily, with no noise, not even a bell above the door. Why did he remember a bell? Inside, everything had been covered in heavy canvas painter's cloths. It was dark, but for the light from the street, but that didn't bother Gideon - he had done a spell years ago that had granted him perfect night vision. It was a little dusty, but not at all unclean, which surprised Gideon a little. He'd been told that when his mother and father had decided to close the shop and go travelling, Regina Mills, who was the Mayor at the time, had promised that his shop would still be there if or when he ever returned. It seemed that she had kept her promise.
Wandering from the front of the shop to the back - to the tiny apartment that his father had lived in for many years, Gideon felt overwhelmed at Regina's kindness. It appeared as though nothing had changed in all the years since 'Mr. Gold' had been the proprietor of this place. It made him feel a little bit closer to his father, something that he hadn't felt in years - not since the death of his mother.
Unsure of what he should do now that he was here, Gideon set his pack down on the little kitchen table and walked over to sit down on the small bed tucked into one corner of the room. Everything in this room had also been covered up, but he didn't care. He was honestly just tired, and he knew that the next day, he was going to meet the woman who had spent his father's last minutes with him. He wondered if he was going to like her as much in person as he did through the letters they had been exchanging. He hoped so.
Suddenly, there was a huge puff of purple smoke and when it cleared, a raven-haired woman of obviously regal bearing was standing in front of him, a frown on her expressive face. Her dark eyes were narrowed at him and she had hands on her hips. She was dressed a set of red satin pyjamas and looked as though she'd been unceremoniously roused from sleep. Was it really that late here? It was dark, certainly, but Gideon hadn't even glanced at the clock tower when he'd come to town, so he had no idea what time it was.
"Just what the hell do you -" She stopped in the middle of her sentence and her expression changed to one of relief. The annoyance was still there, but it had been banked by happier emotions. "Oh, Gideon, it's you."
"Hello, Regina. Or am I calling you Your Majesty?" He grinned up at her. She was such a petite woman to hold as much power as she did - both magically speaking as well as her own aura. He'd been learning about such things at the Academy and he could see and feel her power.
Her annoyance died completely, and a smile lit her face. "Hello to you, too. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. You set off the wards I put around this place to keep it safe from any would-be thieves or looters."
Gideon got to his feet and took two steps to embrace her. She was so tiny now! He could remember when she had seemed like a titan to him. Of course, he'd been a child then, but it still amazed him just how much taller he was than she.
When they parted, she said, "It's good to see you. You've gotten so tall. I'm so glad that you could come to Alice and Robin's wedding. Alice is certainly thrilled."
"Well, I was, I think, ten years old, the last time we saw one another?" Regina nodded. "I'm quite delighted to be here. From the letters we've been exchanging, she seems a fine young woman."
"That she is. You're meeting her tomorrow, aren't you?"
He nodded. "I admit that I'm nervous. What if… what if she doesn't like me? After all, she knew my father and was his friend, so what if she meets me and finds me… wanting?" He hadn't voiced this concern to anyone back at the Academy, not even Nikolai, whom he shared everything with.
Regina laughed. "You always were such a sweet boy. I'm sure that you and Alice will get along swimmingly. She's an… interesting person."
"Interesting how?" He inquired, trying not to sound desperate for information.
Regina shook her head. "Now that would be unfair. When the two of you meet tomorrow, it will be on even footing." She reached up and patted his cheek reassuringly. It was such a motherly gesture that Gideon came forward and hugged her again. He missed both of his parents dearly and as far as he knew, Regina was their oldest friend - his father's friend, at any rate. She never failed to treat him like family, sending him care packages at the Academy and keeping him up to date about the goings on of the place he'd been born. She had even managed to warn him about the curse before going silent for several years.
When he released her, she yawned. Apologising, she looked around the dark little room. "The electricity is still on - you'll have to switch on the breaker - and so is the hot water, if you want to clean up and get some rest. I did what I could to keep this place just like they left it."
"Thank you," he told her, sincerely. "It's good to know that, if I ever need it, I have a place to come to, away from Elphame Academy."
Regina nodded. "Even though you haven't been here in years, this was your first home, and you are always welcome back." She yawned again and looked embarrassed.
"I'm sorry for disturbing you," it was his turn to apologise. "I've clearly gotten you out of bed. I'll be just fine here tonight, and tomorrow night, I'll have dinner with you as we planned."
She smiled wryly and gave a small chuckle. "I look forward to it." Standing on her toes, she kissed his cheek. Then, in the same puff of purple, she disappeared. He smiled. He'd just been welcomed back to town by the Queen. It made him feel better. So, he unpacked his things and then settled onto the bed - he ankles hanging comically over the end until he fixed it with his own magic – a legacy from his father. When he was finally lying down again, he smiled to himself and hoped that Alice and he would get along as well as Regina seemed to think they would. **********
**********
Granny's Diner was the place in Storybrooke that nearly everyone went to. On any given Saturday, the restaurant would be bustling with people, enjoying a meal, lingering over a coffee, or just sitting and soaking up the ambiance. It was a family establishment where people knew that they would be safe bringing their children. It had also been designated as Neutral Ground.
When the U. R. was formed, Regina, Snow, and Emma had come up with the idea that there would be one place in each Realm that was a sort of 'safe zone'. Any meetings between parties that might turn hostile were hosted at such places. A spell had been laid into the foundation that made it impossible for dark magic to be cast, made physical violence impossible, and generally instilled a sense of peace for anyone who entered.
Alice and Robin stood at the entrance to the courtyard to Granny's and Alice fidgeted. She was still nervous, despite everything. Robin took both of her hands and squeezed them reassuringly. "Your dad is already there. I'll be there, too. Our guards are hidden in plain sight. If Gideon or anyone else tries to hurt you, we'll all be there to stop them."
Alice nodded and bit her bottom lip. "I know. I'm not really worried about that."
Robin smiled at her and leaned in to kiss her forehead. "Sweetheart, he will love you."
Alice sighed once, then took a deep breath. "Okay, let's go."
The sense of peace that came when Alice entered the restaurant was noticeable, however, she'd been there enough times to appreciate just how much it helped calm her nerves. Stopping just inside the door, she scanned the dining room, looking for someone who didn't belong. It didn't take long.
He was sitting in the booth closest to the door. He didn't look at all like she'd pictured him. She'd been thinking he'd be shorter, somehow, his face less angular. His eyes, though, and his chin looked like Rumple's. When their eyes met, he smiled at her and Alice remembered the picture she'd seen of Rumple's wife. Gideon Gold's smile was much the same as his mother's - warm and inviting.
He stood up as she approached. He really was tall, towering over her in a way Rumple never had. He held out his hand to her and she took it. His grasp was firm, but his hand was soft and warm.
"Hello," he said, and it amused her how awkward he sounded in that single word. "You must be Alice."
"I am. It's nice to finally meet you, Gideon." She replied, taking back her hand.
He gestured to the booth. "Please, have a seat."
She did and only after she was seated did he sit down. He had good manners, at least.
"Alice, thank you for coming to talk with me, today," he said, after a moment or two of heavy silence. "I know you must be busy, planning your wedding and all."
"Actually," Alice smiled at him, "as of yesterday, we are good. My fiancée's mother has been a blessing for helping us."
He chuckled. "So, you like your future in-laws, then?"
"Very much. They've been extraordinarily kind and generous to both Robin and I." Alice told him. Speaking of Robin, the archer opened the front door and passed by their booth, sparing neither a glance. She was, Alice had to admit, very good at this. Still, knowing that she was now inside and taking a spot at the counter made Alice relax. From where she now sat, she could also see her father, sitting in the last booth, appearing to read a book.
He laughed. "I've heard some spectacular horror stories from my friends at the Academy about parents-in-law. I think you're lucky."
Alice, who had also heard stories, couldn't help her own grin. "Yes, we are. It does help to have families who believe in True Love."
"Ah." He sat forward and steepled his fingers. "Robin is your True Love? You're certain? How do you know?" He sat back again and shook his head. "I'm sorry. That was rude. It's just that… When you come from people who were part of a True romance, it makes one wonder."
Alice studied him before she said, "Well, neither Robin and I are products of True Love. When I was a child, I was convinced that True Love only happened to princes and princesses - I certainly never expected it to happen to me." She thought about it some more. "If it weren't for your father, I wouldn't have gotten the chance to find out."
Gideon favoured her with another smile. "Will you tell me about it?"
Alice did, recounting how Rumplestiltskin had tricked her into proving herself to be the Guardian, but had, at the last moment, been unable to see her lose her freedom to the Dark One Dagger. "He told me that he wanted me to find love and grow old with someone. He didn't want me to suffer the same fate as he had." She finished.
Gideon's face hadn't left hers as she'd talked, drinking in her words as though they were something he never wanted to forget. When she was done, he said, "My mother. It broke his heart when she died. If it hadn't been for his search for a way to rid himself of that damn knife, I'm not sure what would have happened."
"I saw a picture of her, once," Alice told him, her voice soft. Without thinking, she reached across their table, to where his hands were folded in front of him and placed hers on top of them. "He smiled - really smiled - when he talked about her. She was beautiful."
He looked at her, his eyes shining with tears he was too manly to shed. "She was. Alice, will you tell me about my father? The way he was with you, I mean? Will you tell me how he died?" His hands opened and captured hers. "Please?"
"Of course, I will." She told him.
For a long time after that, she talked, only stopping when a waitress came and brought her a slice of chocolate cream pie. Gideon requested a piece as well, and she found that they shared a love for chocolate, no matter the form. After the pie was gone and Alice had run out of stories to tell him about her father, Gideon said, "Well, Regina was right."
"She usually is," Alice agreed, readily, "About what?"
"She told me that we would get along. Are you two close as well?"
"A little. She helped me to learn how to control my magic. Plus, she's Robin's aunt and they're close. She'll be performing our ceremony." Alice told him. She wished she had another piece of pie, but she'd learned the hard way what too much sugar could do to her.
He blinked in surprise at her. "Wait a moment. You say Regina is your fiancée's aunt?"
"Yes…"
"Oh, of course! Robin Mills. I thought the last name was merely a coincidence. Hold on," his brow furrowed in thought, "I thought Zelena had a girl?"
Alice blinked. It was her turn to be surprised. "She did. Robin."
He stared at her for a long moment, his dark eyes a mirror of his father's before the Dark One's madness overtook him. Then, he let out a small chuckle. "Robin. Named after her father. Of course. As Nikolai would say, I can be incredibly thick sometimes. Robin Mills."
Alice nodded. "We met in another realm. My father - you'll know him as Hook, even though he doesn't wear it, anymore - was working with Regina and some rebels there. Robin and her mother helped sometimes, and Robin is just as good with a bow as her father. We had an adventure together and we became friends. After that… things just sort of happened. Before I knew it, we were in love."
Gideon shook his head slowly. "You're the daughter of the man who vowed vengeance on my father?"
Alice nodded, but then shook her head. "Yes. No. In our realm, my father gave up his vengeance to raise me. They were friends, at the end, partners. It's why Rumple gave up his heart the way he did, at least partly."
"It seems I have a lot to learn about you, Alice." Gideon said, at last, still smiling at her.
"I'll tell you," Alice said, sincerely, "whatever you want to know. I was hoping we could be friends."
"At the very least," he agreed, amiably.
Suddenly, Alice got an idea. "Do you want to meet her? Robin, I mean?"
"I'd be delighted to."
Happily, the blonde grinned. Then, she put up her hand and made a V with her first two fingers. At the counter, Robin slipped from her stool and made her way over to their table. Her face was impassive, but not unfriendly. As she approached, Alice scooted over on the seat and reached out her hand, indicating that her fiancée should sit. The archer took the offered hand and sat in the place Alice had abandoned.
"Gideon, this is Robin Mills, my fiancée. Robin, I'd like you to meet Gideon Gold - Rumple's son."
Robin, who had been studying Gideon from her seat before, watching the way he laughed and smiled, and the way Alice reacted to him. She didn't believe that he was dangerous, so she held out her hand and shook his. "I'm pleased to meet you."
"Likewise."
"I was going to tell Gideon about how we met, but you always tell it better than me." Alice explained with a grin. Robin had to admire her fiancée's s people skills, sometimes. She smiled at Alice and squeezed her hand. So, Alice liked this man, this son of Rumplestiltskin, and she want Robin to get to know him as well. Okay, she could do that.
"Before you start," Gideon said, looking a little embarrassed, of all things. "There's something… I was wondering ...if I could… bring someone with me… to the wedding, I mean. I know the invitation was just for me… It's alright. If you don't have room, I understand. It's very last minute, but… see the thing is… I wasn't sure how I'd be received, and I remembered that my mother and father used to say that this realm was… less inclusive than some others." He sighed and dragged a hand over his face. "I'm sorry, I'm not usually this inarticulate."
Alice giggled. "Nikolai?" He blushed and nodded. Alice exchanged an amused and sympathetic glance with Robin.
"Sure. We don't mind." Robin told him. "We've had a couple of cancellations, so there's plenty of room. Besides, this isn't just Storybrooke, anymore. This is the United Realms, governed by the best queen of them all. It's a pretty inclusive place."
His answering grin was enough to make Robin think that Alice was probably right about him.
"Thank you." He said, sincerely. "He wanted to come, but I was afraid of how he'd be received. Thank you. Now," his tone changed to one of levity, "what was this about a story?"
Author's Note: Sorry it's been so long between chapters this time around. My muse sort of fled and it's been hell getting it back. We just moved offices for work, so that's been sort of hectic on that front. Also had some personal hub-bub, which doesn't help matters. Forgive me? Cheers!