Vice ( pronounced vee-chay) means Change. Please review! I love them!

" "- Speaking

' '- Thoughts

": :"- French that's understood

*- go to translation

~ ~- singing

Pages Used: Approx. 12

XCXCXCXCXCXCXCXCXCXCX

Vice

Vi veri universum vivus vici

Why hadn't I thought of it before and why had it taken us such a long time to figure it out now? These were the questions plaguing my mind during the beginning of the trip while Fleur slept soundly. She was apparently okay with flying on a plane to Germany in order to find Severino (after a little convincing). I was just glad I had contacts there.

About a week ago we were still in the building and I was staring at her like an idiot as she slowly but surely caught her breath. She was just standing there, looking around for something it seemed. I turned away from her, yanking my neck in another direction.

"Fleur, go back to your room and get dressed. I'll schedule a flight to Germany." My order fell lightly on her and she hardly reacted at all.

"Nonstop? Straight to it... like the trip from France to here? I don't want to deal with that again...it's more trouble than it's worth." She sounded exhausted already even with her breathing back to ordinariness. My eyes found their way back to the scantily covered girl, moving from her feet, up her smooth legs, the fabric of her immaculate towel ensconcing her body and starting from her mid thigh to just above half of her upper torso. The piece of cloth may be covering her, but fit her like a second skin and I was grateful the Task Force members weren't here right now. Matsuda would have had a fatal nosebleed from just glancing at the suggestive image of her there... zoning out and away from reality again. Why was it she was only really able to focus when she was in the shower? Fleur had absolutely no idea the distraction she created in such flimsy attire. I shook my head.

"This is no time to escape the real world, Fleur." Standing in front of her as she targeted something behind me as I concentrated on her face. Then without another word she spun on her heel and walked out, the steady swaying of her hips brought itself to my attention until she walked out of my line of sight... later coming back in more appropriate wear.

"I don't want to leave yet... I want to wait until I can interrogate the ones we have under supervision first." Was what she tossed behind her.

So then I went with her several days later when she let me know she was ready to interrogate them her way...with me present and nearby. They would be almost fully restrained (not like Misa had been that time) and as Fleur told me 'more willing to talk'...though she later informed me what we were about to do might be in vain as they were paranoid and insane.

"They must stay the way they are at all times while we are in the same area as them... after they find out why they were caught and we know what they are doing, they will want to kill us. That part is natural, of course, but you understand my meaning." She mildly rambled as she absentmindedly paced.

Fleur was wide awake and alert when we finally rode to where the three men were waiting. I remember constantly glancing at her to see if she was okay or about to snap because I could never tell.

"I want you to be in the room behind the window. Severino is still out there and we don't know what they are capable of." She muttered. I raised a brow at her request but didn't reply. If it wasn't for her we wouldn't have gotten this much of the case done so quickly, so she was entitled to some...favors, I supposed.

"If you're sure you want to. I won't get in the way." I agreed and she frowned as she looked out the window.

"You've never gotten in the way, Deneuve." She took her iPod nano out of her pocket and tossed it to me.

"When you get the time, watch the videos on there..." After that, she was quiet until we reached where they were all being held.

Fleur had chosen to wear the most conservative thing I had even seen her in since she got here. A scoop-backed, semi-low, and a black halter corset that covered everything except a portion of her throat from just above her breast to her neck, where the band around her neck held her top to her body. Thin silver designs slithered around her top. The skirt was a full, wine red, ground length piece that flowed just above the ground she walked on, making it appear as though she were gliding. She had on hand made gloves that laced up the sides of her arms and ruffled at the bottom, encircling her hands in soft satiny waves, while florally patterned lace decorated her hands. I had spotted her shoes while she was situating herself in the vehicle. They appeared to be combats with platforms and my thoughts sounded true as I heard the heavy thud of them on the laminate flooring as we made our way to the room.

She had a grip on my hand I wasn't sure she was aware of. It wasn't painful but it was easy to tell that she was scared. Fleur was looking into the window at Vox or Lamont and her face was set, perfectly hiding her real facial expression from everyone else.

"If you need my help just let me know." I reminded before she entered the room, starting the first interrogation while I stepped into another room, Fleur and Vox coming into view.

Surrounding me where intercoms, camera screens, and all sorts of other technology making it impossible for us to miss a move either of them made.

Vox seemed shocked by the entry of a girl who appeared to have absolutely nothing to do with the police and her attire made her look more like a dressed up citizen more than anything else. She didn't begin a conversation with Vox and instead just sat there staring at him blankly.

": Since you aren't going to say anything I might as well...why do you look so familiar?:" The man asked, stirring slightly in his seat. There was a high chance he was somewhat uncomfortable, considering his hands, and feet were bound to his chair that was bolted to the floor.

": You must be remembering my mother.:" Fleur replied lazily, tossing a bored look at him. Vox/Grenier Lamont scrutinized her from where he sat and blinked surprise after recognition flashed evidently in his eyes.

": You.:" Lamont started before he smiled.": So, you're still alive. I was wondering if your old man had killed her too. You certainly have grown into a beautiful young woman. He would've been proud if he were still here.:"

": If he were still alive I wouldn't be and you'd be out there with him killing people.:" She emphasized darkly.

": I had to.:" Lamont whispered, and I remembered that schizophrenics were different from your average murderer.

": Oh really? Why?:"

": Because God said I needed to find his angels for him. He isn't alive and walking on Earth yet, you know. He requested my help. Me... as well as Carpus, Cato, and Severino.:" His eyes were wide with wonder and madness. Fleur regarded him coldly.

": You killed your wife and about a dozen other women.:" She commented.

": They were angels God wanted back so I sent them back to him.:" He reasoned.

": No, your 'angels' were human beings you slaughtered. You sinned trying to become immune to sin. What was the commandment? Thou shall not kill? Wouldn't someone so close to God be able to remember that before believing someone with a higher power was communing with them?:" Vox sat frozen in thought.

": God was talking to me.:" Lamont insisted.

": You're schizophrenic. That's why you went to that institution and that's why you're here now. You are not immune to sin and you are certainly not immune to the law. Now you're going to be locked up for the rest of your life and you recently killed the only person who loved you. You're going to be alone for the rest of your life. Maybe I'll visit someday to ask you how it feels.:"

": But I'm insane! They can't put me in jail for that!:" He bellowed hysterically as she stood up.

": You're right.:" She admitted simply.": But that doesn't mean you won't be institutionalized and forced to take medication that will make your God's voice go away. You won't have to kill innocent people anymore.:" As soon as she turned around, Lamont paled visibly and stared at her bare back.

": That mark...He chose you. God chose you to be-:"

": God didn't do shit, Lamont. My father did this to me... and now... your search is over and pretty soon... you'll forget why you tried killing these people.:" She spoke these frostbitten words without turning around and instead continued on to join me in the recording room. I noticed her waver as she closed the door behind her.

"How'd I do?" Her smile was forced and dry but she needed to know she was doing a good thing.

"I've never really spoken to a schizophrenic person before so this was... educational." As soon as I muttered those words with my index pressed against my lip she started laughing almost maniacally.

"You would say that in a situation like this." I watched her, wanting to smile a bit myself as she vented her stress, but stopped, noticing all the technology.

"This is incredible." She whispered in awe as she walked around, pausing when she spotted a man walk in with the next suspect.

"You don't have to do this, you know. Police found evidence in their houses clearly showing they're the ones responsible. You also forget they're people too...no matter their schizophrenia." Fleur's gaze was downcast.

"I have to do this. It won't hurt and I need to do this or else..." Her voice trailed off and she was shaking.

"Do you need anything?" I questioned and she shook her head, throwing her hair from side to side with her.

"Just let me get this over with quickly."

The remaining two interrogations went by almost as quickly as the first, but when the last one began with the one known as both Carpus and Didier Hilaire. His first words to her were ones I never thought I'd hear.

"Hello again, Jezebel darling." He spoke in English unlike the other two and his words washed over both Fleur and me.

Jezebel Shanton... daughter of Chloe and Artois Shanton. Artois being Aleron of the first case in Marseilles eleven years ago. Even Fleur's real name had a meaning...Jezebel was Hebrew for ' Unexalted' while Shanton was French for 'We sing'. Everything her father had done was calculated and predicted...set by him. He changed his last name to Shanton, named his daughter in a way that would form a phrase, and he waited for her to turn seven so he could 'choose her as the ultimate sacrifice'. There weren't any doubts in my mind he chose the year, month, and the day she was born.

Back to present...

A moan from my left brought me back in time to catch Fleur waking up. I didn't know if it was okay to call her Jezebel so I stuck with Fleur.

Lifting her head up, she looked around for something.

"Is it time to...oh, right... can you tell me again why you bought out the entire first class part of the plane?"

"Because I wanted room for all of the computers, monitors... well all the things I plan on using when we get there." I waited a few moments before adding.

"I also wanted to talk to you." Her head lulled in my direction and she looked up at me from the slightly diagonal angle of her head propped on her shoulder.

"This isn't about Carpus exposing my name, is it?"

"Do you not want to talk about it?" Fleur's gaze drifted to the floor of the plane for a moment before returning to meet mine and she stretched her arms as she pushed the seat in front of her forward and rested her feet on them, crossing one leg over the other. It was then I noticed her shoeless feet clad in a pair of striped thigh highs, one black, and white, the other black and purple. They elongated her legs and eventually led to her dark purple shorts with black cuffs and white stitching. Her shirt was loose and a few sizes too big, hanging off her right shoulder and showing off the black and purple strap of what could only be her bra. At first, I could hardly see her shorts because of the length of her shirt and the sleeves that were supposed to stop at her upper arm when the right sleeve stopped at her elbow, if not a little past it. Her eyes were set ahead of her, and something seemed to waver again.

"I've wanted to change my name entirely. Every time I think about that name or about..." She glared at the spot in front of her.

Then she fell apart in an emotional mess. Her eyes watered and her look turned forlorn and helpless; her walls down again. Discomfort washed over me as I wasn't used to seeing her this way and so I hastily thought about how to cheer her up. I had an idea moments later and turned back to her with a large piece of some of the cheesecake Watari made from scratch.

It seemed Fleur was partial to homemade cheesecake. She even once told me it was because it was always different.

Her eyes landed on it and she glanced from it to me and then back to it before laughing and accepting it.

"I don't know how you do that, Deneuve." She grinned as she stabbed the piece with a fork I handed to her.

"That other reason had something to do with your name... or names in general." Pausing with a sigh I looked at her.

"Don't say it." She ordered with a forkful of cheesecake in her mouth. This puzzled me.

"The things I told you were to help with the case. To help you understand what was going on and that sort of thing- and you found out what my name was by complete accident. Don't go telling me things about yourself unless you want to." She went looking for something as she started .

"By the way, do you know how long we've been on this plane?"

"Approximately three hours and twenty-three minutes." I murmured and I heard her sigh as she dug into her snack.

"Is it really that easy to figure out how I work? I mean, I get sad and you give me my favorite dessert...Watari made it, didn't he?"

"On the contrary, I have never had more trouble figuring someone out and I still don't know how you work exactly. Everything has purely been a guess...and yes, Watari did make it." She smiled at me while seeming to be thinking about something. Then she suddenly leaned towards me and kissed me on the cheek, the warmth spreading over my face.

"I destroy things and cause problems. I get lost and become irrational. I hold everything in when I can't break things and, later on, end up making a fool of myself by bawling my eyes out. I don't know how you can deal with me." Her cheerful murmur and smile caught me off guard.

"You're generally a very pleasant person to be around. I can accept your quirks about as easily as you seem to be able to accept mine." I stated bluntly and she seemed confused.

"I turned eighteen about a week ago." She informed out of the blue while taking a look out the window and another forkful of her cheesecake.

"Everything's a pattern... so many shapes. Squares, circles, and rectangles...plus triangles in different colors. People are so exact it is outrageous." Times like this I really didn't know whether to worry about her or not.

"Why did you tell me that you were eighteen?"

"Thought you might want to know the general week around my birthday. I've never liked remembering anything from my past. I also didn't want you to feel obligated to get me anything." I felt the corners of my lips tug downwards.

"Sometimes you sound like you have an inferiority complex... too bad I know you better than that. Unless you do feel inferior..." Realization washed over me. I only really second guessed myself when it came to her.

"No, not inferior...just not worth the attempt. We're solving this case together and that's the best gift I could ever have. The gifts I like are a bit less materialistic." She smiled as she muttered this to me and I made sure to note that...even though I should have already known it since she was that type of person. Not one I could put a specific name to, but still. It sounded as if she was just covering up something that was bothering her.

"Is it about Severino or just the time it'll take to get to Germany?" I questioned and caught her stiffen.

"Both." She huffed with a pout. "And stop doing that mind ready thingy you do. It makes my skin crawl when you say things so...on-the-dot like that."

XCXCXCXCXCXCXCXCX

Several hours later it looked like he fell asleep. If I looked closely the bags under his eyes were less there when he had his eyes closed. He looked less...panda like but at peace.

'But now I can't get up to get more food.' I pouted and twiddled my toes. As I thought about L, I was thankful he wasn't anyone else because any other guy would've made things boringly awkward. Okay, I didn't wonder about why I kissed him. I liked him and it was a normal thing to do in France. Kissing was just that to me and it wasn't like I was gonna tell him I liked him in the middle of a case. That was risky and just begging to scream trouble.

"What if Severino is waiting for us?" I whispered to myself.

"You can't live a healthy lifestyle thinking things like that." L's voice made me jump and curl up like an armadillo. I didn't know I had said it out loud as I thought it.

"Sorry," He muttered." I didn't mean to startle you."

"It's fine. I'm almost used to it." You know, now that I thought about... why wasn't he questioning it?

'Then again if he questioned everything I did. I'd have a lot of answering to do.'

"Are you hungry?" My stomach took the moment to growl traitorously. I almost felt like blaming it on L for saying something but I already knew he'd win that debacle so I kept my mouth shut.

"I guess so." The sleepy detective handed me a box of something labeled Pocky. Chocolate covered biscuit sticks? Prying it open with ease, I took one out with two fingers and examined it closely.

"Are they good?" I asked curiously.

"You've never had them?" Shaking my head, I looked at them with scrutiny.

"They're pretty good. I prefer the strawberry cream covered ones myself." With only one way to find out, I chomped onto part of the piece of pocky and munched, finding it to be quite delicious.

"There are other kinds?" I enjoyed talking like this with L whenever the opportunity came up. They diverted my thoughts from their usual morbid path.

"Oh, before I forget I do have a question for you." My slight smile showed on my lips as the chocolate made me feel all fuzzy inside. This question noticeably quirked his interest.

"Yes?"

"What are you afraid of?" Deneuve paused for a moment.

"If it makes you uncomfortable... you don't have to answer, but I got curious after you brought the question upon me." L was still a person and it meant I often had difficulties talking to him in fear I would say something that would let lead him to hate me.

"No, and I'm afraid of monsters." Jaw set and brow knitted, something didn't make sense to me.

Monsters.

"A particular type of monster, you see. One like me... one like Light Yagami. He almost beat me and would have if I had missed any more clues than what I already missed."

"You and I are... monsters?" I wanted clarity.

"We go on with our lives, doing basic human things when really it is just our way of surviving in this world. We hide in order to not be spotted by people destined and determined to expose us for what we really are." I was beginning to understand what he was trying to talk to me about.

"We seek out monsters who are worse than ourselves in order to make ourselves look better than them when really... the truth no one sees is in order for us to be able to kill these monsters before they kill us is to be... worse than them." My voice had gotten quiet as I ended my sentence and I trailed off.

"Fleur, please stay with me." He was incredibly close since he had turned to face me and his breath could be felt against my ear, making the skin on the back of my neck raise and my face heat up. It was bad enough his words could be taken the wrong way, but with him being so contiguous made what he said seem like it was more... intimate than what I knew he really meant. The flesh of my ear was pathetically sensitive and-god damn it! He just said it because he didn't want me to zone off again and look what I'm doing.

"U-um. Sorry about that. Did you want to tell me something?" My flustered state was obvious and I saw something that was either curiosity or mischief flash through his eyes.

"Yes... I was just wondering if you've ever had Tarte Tatin*. I hear it's very popular in France." Deneuve mentioned. It sounded more like he was trying to distract me from zoning out again by catching me off guard.

"Yes, it was my mother's favorite." My nose was suddenly tickled by the smell of the caramel and warmth filled me... just the thought of the delightful treat made me lick my lips hungrily. Then the thought of my mother made me somewhat depressed.

I missed her.

"I see. I apologize for bringing back memories that were unpleasant." He whispered sheepishly as he glanced out the window. Made me wonder...did he even care for flying?

"Eh, it was bound to happen sooner or later and it's not like it's anything less than necessary."

"Yes, but I feel it would've been better left for later on in the case... though any information on your past regarding your parents- particularly your father seems to be very helpful to the completion of this case. The thing that worries me the most is that we have no idea where he is in German, as there are many asylums he could go to."

"That's right." Pausing to stare at him for a moment, I contemplated asking him to move and decided to instead just go through the seat in front of me so not to bother him. He sent his eyes my way.

"I'm looking up Clovis Bern's father's personal information. He may be looking for the one his father went to if his father had ever been institutionalized. If not then we can just check for ones close to where he lived when he resided here." He nodded.

"How have your thoughts been since this case started? You seem to be reacting in a more stable way lately. I hope you aren't holding anything in."

"No, Deneuve, I'm fine. I haven't been holding anything in...just nullifying the effects by doing other things to keep my mind off of it. The sooner this case is over the better."

I felt the phone had gotten me for emergencies vibrate in my pocket.

"Hello, Bastien?"

"Hey, Fleur, just thought I'd let you know that Susie and I got plane tickets and are flying from a different plane to Germany. Susie prefers when people are all around her and things like that. I don't how to say it better than just telling you she's a kid."

"Thanks for telling me. Call and let me know when you arrive and I'll inform you of our whereabouts."

"I wouldn't have it any other way." He sounded like he was smiling fondly and it made me smile. Bastien was the first homosexual I had ever encountered and in that moment, I decided he was awesome.

Sliding the mini-machine closed I turned to L.

"I gave Bastien my number in a text and he called and informed me he and Susie just boarded a different plane and are heading to the same destination." I beamed and my mind reeled at the thought of actually finishing this case soon. What is Severino looking for in Germany if it isn't more recruits to manipulate? Is he really going to Germany or is it just an impulsive thought leading us astray? Would he go in search of people at his father's original asylum home? Plaguing inquiries like these bugged my mind like a fly pinging back and forth off a light bulb.

"He's been very helpful to you, hasn't he?" L mumbled and I pondered this. It was true that Bastien had helped me through quite a few of my troubles during this long journey of an issue.

"I guess you could say that." I noticed his look and smirked a little.

"Why do you ask?" He shrugged half-heartedly.

"Just wondering," L replied whilst keeping his gaze on me. It was only slightly unnerving.

"Jealous?"

"Maybe." This was something I wasn't expecting and I shot him an exasperated wide-eyed glance. Was he sulking? A feeling of... flattery flushed my pale cheeks as I returned to my researching.

"God dammit." Fell from my lips as I continued to comment on my findings. "I really hope he isn't looking for where his father went to be hospitalized."

"Why not?" Deneuve was behind me now, looking over my shoulder at the screen.

"Because it's not in Germany. It was the Broadmore Hospital for the Criminally Insane and it's in England. So, either I'm right in bringing us to Germany or I'm not."

"Do you have much luck in your guessing?" I had to think in order to answer this one.

"Sometimes." Was all I found.

"Then that's what we are working with." Well, that helped.

"Was that supposed to comfort me?"

"Not really, but isn't it better now that you know your chances?"

"Only a little. There's another part of my mind telling me that if we're wrong that it's my fault." I admitted. Glaring at his thoughtful look and finger pressed bottom lip, I cut him off before he could answer adding.

"Don't comment on that." Then he turned his small smiling eyes on me with slightly upturned lips. That wasn't fair.

XCXCXCXCXCXCXCXCXCXCXCX

There was a chance that she was wrong and I did put this into account before thinking over whether or not to schedule a flight to England from our stop right from the same airport. It would be better if we stayed in Germany for a while instead of jumping to conclusions. Plus she did also mention the asylums close to Bern's prior residence so she wasn't entirely wrong about some of the other options if she was incorrect about his current whereabouts.

Going back to this Bastien business, I was finding feelings of jealousy were there, but after her smirk I believed there was something she wasn't telling me.

"Where's Watari?" She wondered out loud, peering around the plane for him.

"Yes?" Said man asked, making Fleur jump slightly with large eyes as she gaped at him for a few seconds before gaining her composure.

"Right, ummm. Could you make me some coffee with caramel and chocolate chips mixed in? I'm really craving something like that right now."

"Of course. I will be right back." He smiled.

"Thanks, Watari." She smiled before he walked away and she turned back to her computer screen. Her reactions made me both curious and a little worried. The main reason why I hardly ever worked with people was because of what was too late to prevent by now.

There was over a sixty percent chance I had emotionally crossed the business barrier between Fleur and myself. Strangely enough, I had also been... predicting something like this would happen. She was always on my mind as her past and present revolved around this case but I didn't like the thought of her just turning to me for comfort because she was dealing with too much... as nice as it would be to know she trusted me enough to confide such usually omitted information to me.

"Are you sure you're alright?" I dug and the aura around her sharpened slightly. She seemed to have noticed I was catching on to her... out of character actions.

"Why do you ask?"

"Because you haven't had a single alcoholic drink of any sort since you woke up... not that I'm all that opposed to it. It's just not like you." The last part was said under my breath. It was sort of backward to be bothered when they didn't drink something known to obviously be bad for them in just about every way.

"Yeah, it's strange," She started." I've been forgetting things so much more often lately."

"Do you think it's..."

"The case? No. If it was I think it would've begun awhile ago. Don't you think?" Fleur pondered with a lopsided smile. She was grinning at the ceiling of the airplane.

"I just want inside their head. Find out what they're thinking and why they were all diagnosed with the same sort of schizophrenia."

"That isn't common?"

"No, actually. I've never heard of anything like it before even though they have communicated in the institution and more than likely... gained it the same way..." A light flashed on in her head and she smiled.

"Seems so fascinating." I lost her again and it made me sigh. As long as she always came back from these mental journeys of hers I didn't mind her wandering off every now and again.

XCXCXCXCXCXCXCXCXCXCXCX

After the remaining hours full of either painful silence or blissful small talk, we exited the plane with our supplies, and I almost immediately frowned. My surroundings were so cold and the ground was frostbitten with one giant cloud blocking out any trace of a sun. Digging into my bags, I pulled out a black trench coat I had gotten my restless paws on and sewn a strapless goldenrod corset with silvery gear designs all over it. On the back was a lace up adjuster with little gears at the ends of the laces. The only thing wrong with it was I had yet to lace up the adjuster and I had the trench coat zipped up already.

"Deneuve?" He looked over at me in acknowledgment of my approaching question.

"Could you tie the back? I forgot to do it before I put it on." While asking this question I realized how truly odd our relationship was. I was supposed to think of him as simply a partner or a friend and yet when I felt the tightening of lace strings by seemingly invisible hands... my heart rate quickened.

"That alright?" Nodding, I turned and smiled brightly at him.

"Yes, now I just need to change my shoes up." So I plucked out a pair from another bag. The heels weren't thin like stilettos because if they were I'd never be able to walk in them. Instead, they were an inch or so high from the ground and almost platform thick.

"Have I ever told you your constant change of style and dress never ceases to fascinate me? Why don't you do something with your material creativity and open up a shop?"

"Because then I wouldn't stick out and make other people feel as awkward as they make me." My answer was almost instantaneous.

"You enjoy sticking out but don't like people." L put together.

"Precisely, my friend. Please tell me there's a car nearby. Right now I don't care how spoiled I sound but it's freezing out here." I even hated how I was complaining. I heard L chuckle and shot him a look. How come he was warm? Probably too distracted with watching every move the people around him made and that sort of thing.

"There's a rental car right over there." He directed and I clapped almost giddily.

"Come on, Deneuve." Reaching out, I grabbed his arm and almost dragged him to it. It was mostly so I could steal whatever warmth I knew the male species naturally had... as unfair as it was to me and the rest of women everywhere. Even through my coat, I could sense his body heat radiating lightly off his clothes, and my hands felt like they were holding onto an electric blanket.

"It's a good thing you didn't drink anything." I knew what he meant. Alcohol may make you warm up for awhile but soon after it makes your body temperature drop like a corpse in a freezer.

"I guess, but as soon as we get to where we're staying. I'm curling up on the sofa with a mug of whiskey and if there's a fireplace, I'm starting a fire." Maybe if I ranted and kept my mind busy then I too could reach a state of temperature change immunity.

My body was practically bouncing as we got to the hotel.

"Ooooo, good taste."

"Penthouse suite and three floors below it are all ours." My eyes lit up. I felt more spoiled than I had in my entire life... at least since I'd started living with L.

"When we get everything set up we'll start searching for Bern." He added.

That's right... Bern. I had almost forgotten about him completely and now I had to remind myself nonstop this wasn't a vacation.

XCXCXCXCXCXCXCXC

Tarte Tatin= One of the most popular circular desserts in France which are pies. It is mostly made out of dough and caramelized apples upside down and served with a dollop of "crème fraiche".