Expansion
Chapter Nine: I'm Nice Like That
Three days later
Just outside Capitol City, beyond the edges of the volcanic crater that housed the small but very important settlement, the training ground for both the Fire Nation's domestic forces and the Fire Lord's personal guard, was groomed and ready for Toph's arrival. A group of ten soldiers, both men and women, stood at attention as the Fire Lord and the Fire Lady stepped onto the field, lush and green due to the plentiful rains of autumn just passed. Zuko and Mai both wore their formal robes and traditional topknots for the occasion. Toph, who walked alongside them, was dressed in a brand new training outfit, made for her by Zuko's tailors, and done in a rich green that matched the grass they moved across. Little splashes of black and gold on the trim set the outfit off. It had been Mai's idea. She wanted Toph to look as impressive as her earthbending was. The Fire Lady had also put her friend's hair into a snug ponytail that bounced up and down as the young woman walked.
Jee accompanied the trio, both in his capacity as bodyguard and interested spectator. He was a firebender and a soldier after all, trained in the old way years before. The wiry grey haired man, one of Zuko's oldest friends (though friend was not a term either would have used to describe their relationship during their years searching for the avatar), looked about curiously. The soldiers appeared calm and ready for some action. He knew through his old network, though, that some of the more tradition minded military people were uneasy with this new training. They never needed it before, why now?
Stepping away from the others, Zuko, with a slight uplift of his chin and the joining together of his hands, brought the group of ten to attention. They wore standard issue military clothing. Half were weapons specialists while the other five were benders. The Fire Lord stood silently for a moment, inspecting the small squad. When he was satisfied that their full attention was his, Zuko spoke.
"You, every single one of you, should consider yourselves very fortunate to have Toph Bei Fong, our good friend, sifu to the avatar and the world's greatest earthbender, training you. Be prepared for some of the hardest work of your life. She may be small,"
"Hey," Toph interjected. "No size remarks, Grumpy."
Zuko's lips twitched but he managed to contain his laugh and maintain his serious expression.
"She may be small….."
A slight shifting of the earth beneath Zuko's feet caused him to lose balance momentarily, but his reflexes being what they were, he quickly regained it.
"but her power is enormous and her skill unparalleled. She will prepare you for any possible situation that may arise while confronting earthbenders. I just hope that you never need to use those new skills. Toph, they're all yours."
Cracking her knuckles loudly and flashing that wide Toph grin, the earthbending master gave no warning as she heaved volley after volley of ball shaped hunks of earth at the stunned soldiers. They ducked, blocked a few with swords, burnt a few up but mainly got pelted with the hard projectiles. After a few intense minutes, Toph stopped.
"During a battle there's no warning. I never got a warning when firebenders threw fireballs at me. You probably think that your flashy fire with all its heat and no need for a source is pretty cool. And it is. But never underestimate earth. It's solid. It doesn't sputter out. I can shape it. I can make it move underneath you. I can create a landslide that will bury you. I can make a pillar of earth that would tower over all of you and then rain down death. I can move along the earth at high speeds, riding the swell that I create. And I can bend metal. So those swords of yours just might become useless."
The soldiers, some of them quite young and not battle hardened at all, gulped and kept sharp eyes on Toph, waiting for her to explode with power again. She didn't; Toph stood very still, listening with her entire body, gauging the small group's state of mind. When she figured they were settled down enough, the earthbender began barking orders.
"Groups of two now," she yelled. "One bender and one weapons specialist per group; now separate, I don't want you all huddled together like a bunch of frightened koalalambs."
They did as instructed, spreading out over the field, eyes darting as if in expectation of the earth sinking around them or tons of rock falling on their heads. Zuko, Mai and Jee, who now sat on rock chairs hastily made by Toph, watched with amusement.
Toph approached the group nearest her, two young females, probably about eighteen years each. She smirked and they flinched, but the attack never came.
"Say I'm coming at you," the master began, "and I knock you off balance, then bend this massive hunk of earth, I'm talking big enough to squash you both like melons, and make a move to drop it on you, what would you do?"
"Um, ah, I would roll out of the way," one young woman stuttered.
"And while you were rolling I would open up the ground beneath you and bury you up to your neck. Then what would you do?"
"I don't know, sir?"
"Look, a firebender has got to use fire to his advantage, right? I mean, that's pretty obvious. Walls of fire can burn up some fairly large boulders, right? Extreme heat will force opponents back. You can set stuff on fire, create smoke so your opponents have trouble seeing. They can't hit you if they can't see you. I'm an exception, of course. With me, you need to knock me off my stance somehow or distract me. You with all the weapons….they won't do much good against a rock wall or flying boulders. A sword will deflect some but the rocks will be flying fast and furious. Again, you need to distract or wound the earthbender, pin him like the Fire Lady would. Try!"
Toph pelted the women with chunks of earth, some large and some small. The weapons specialist tried valiantly to wrap a chain around Toph's legs and trip her up. The earthbender was just too good, however, sensing the woman's every movement and counteracting each of them. The fire bender sent a ball of flame hurtling toward Toph's head, hoping that its heat would temporarily distract her. To help, her partner shot two arrows in quick succession, aiming for the bands of dark green cloth around Toph's ankles and hoping to pin her. They came close but not close enough.
"I give you points for sort of having a plan. Good try and on an ordinary earthbender, it could work. Anyone after me will be easy. Well, the Dai Li are impressive too especially working in a group. But, that's neither here nor there."
The young women looked pleased with the praise. They patted their uniforms, clouds of dust rising from the red fabric, and moved aside for the next pairing.
The morning continued along, Toph using different strategies on each duo and then beginning again. The soldiers were exhausted by the session's end while Toph barely broke a sweat.
"Expect to work even harder tomorrow," she said with an almost menacing smile. "I took it easy on you today."
They knew better than to moan or complain, though it was obvious from their facial expressions that they wanted to. Toph dismissed them all and they headed off to the barracks for a well deserved meal and rest.
Relieved to finally stand up and stretch her muscles, Mai rose from the makeshift chair and walked toward her friend.
"So, took it easy on them, huh?" she drawled.
"Yeah, well, I'm nice like that."
Zuko and Jee joined them, the Fire Lord's bodyguard complimenting the earthbender on her fine work.
"I'm glad you're doing this, Toph. Thanks," Zuko added.
"The money is thanks enough," she replied with a grin.
"Same thing tomorrow?" Zuko asked, shaking his head at Toph's blunt remark.
"Yep, until they improve," Toph replied.
"If nothing else, they'll never forget you," Mai said while placing a hand on her belly.
"You okay?" Zuko whispered to his wife.
"Yeah, I'm just hungry and I think the baby is too. Let's get going."
Zuko took Mai's arm and led her away from the field and to the path that led to the city.
"It's a good thing I'm still in shape," she declared as the group trudged along.
"Yeah, I'm just not sure what shape," Toph joked.
"Ha, that's very amusing," Mai retorted. "Did you get that from Sokka?"
"No, his jokes are much worse than that."
"So Toph, what do you really think of the soldiers?" Zuko asked as they neared the palace.
Toph and Jee walked on either side of Mai and Zuko, ready to defend the couple should one of the many people milling around outside the palace prove dangerous.
"Hey, they're alright, but they could be a lot better. And that's where I come in."
Zuko nodded. Jee and Toph relaxed once inside the palace gates, the bodyguard going his way while the rest headed for the dining room with a stop at the nursery along the way. Once the nursery door was open, Miyako and Ryuhito bolted toward their mom and dad, enveloping them both in tight hugs.
"Quite a greeting," Mai observed.
"They missed you this morning," Midori explained. "I couldn't get them to settle down and play. I think they're having an off day."
"Munchkins," Toph declared, ruffling their hair and then plopping herself down on the couch. "We're going to eat. Are you coming?"
"We ate already," Ryuhito stated.
"Eat more," Miyako suggested.
"Sokka in the making," Toph laughed. "That's his life's philosophy."
"Come on then," Zuko suggested. "Thank you, Midori. We'll see you tomorrow."
"Yes, my lord," she replied with a slight bow. "Goodbye children."
"Bye, Dori," they called as she left.
"I'm staaarving," Mai moaned. "Come on."
The kitchen staff had an excellent lunch ready and the group was served immediately. Mai ate until she felt ready to burst while the kids picked away at very tiny portions, holding out for a second dessert.
"Where's Ursa?" Toph inquired as if just noticing the woman's absence.
"She's at the university with Koga," Mai replied, studying Zuko's face for a reaction.
There was a slight tightening around his mouth but he put on a brave smile.
"Ooooh," Toph said. "Another date; they really seem to like each other."
"I just hope she takes it nice and easy," Zuko added. "She doesn't need any more hurt."
"Zuko," Mai said in a voice that instantly drew his eyes to hers. "They're not getting married. They're just getting to know each other. And your mother is having fun. She needs it."
Sighing, Zuko nodded in agreement and wondered what, exactly, his mother was doing.
Ursa, her long brown hair pulled back softly with a deep red ribbon, her face carefully made up to look as though it were completely natural, and wearing new sleek robes of red and gold, walked beside Hideo. He was a good head taller than she, and Ursa had to look up when she spoke to him.
His brown eyes were sparkling and full of life as he talked about Capitol City University and his projects there. The pair sauntered along smooth stone pathways, swept twice daily by the university's caretaking staff. Students, some with their noses buried in scrolls and others walking in laughing groups, moved around Ursa and Hideo, or passed, walking in the opposite direction.
The Fire Lord's mother and her new friend were headed to the planetarium. The stars were not part of Hideo's studies and he knew next to nothing about them, but Ursa expressed an interest in visiting the large domed building.
"I've always loved looking at the night sky," she said softly, remembering nights of her youth spent lying on the cool, damp grass and looking upward, silently mouthing the names of clusters and groupings of the mysterious bright white points in the heavens.
"Well, then, we'll have to come back here one evening when there isn't a class. I'm sure I can get permission to open the dome."
"That would be wonderful," Ursa exclaimed as they began their walk up the steep hill upon which the planetarium sat.
"If you like, perhaps one day you could sit in on a lesson about the skies."
"Me, in school; wouldn't I look silly?"
"You could never look silly," Hideo answered and then blushed. "I mean, I suppose you could, but not to me. And it's never too late to learn something new. I study all the time."
"I suppose," Ursa breathed slowly. "It might be interesting."
They continued to climb, Ursa almost regretting her interest. Another ten minutes brought them to the top of the incline. Koga led the way, pushing open the creaking metal doors and allowing her to enter first. It was empty, except for one woman who diligently dusted all the seats and swept up the floor.
"See," Hideo began, "this is the lever you pull to open up the roof. You'll need to dress warmly the night that we come."
"Mmm," she agreed, staring upwards and imagining. "Zuko and Mai might like this too."
"Of course, they're welcome to join us," Hideo stuttered.
"Oh, no, they can come another time. I would like it to be just us."
Shocked at her own forwardness, Ursa quickly changed the subject.
"So, how long have you been here, at the university? I know you told me once, but I've forgotten."
"More than thirty years, between my times as a beginning student and now."
"That's a long time," Ursa declared. "I'll bet you're glad that you can move freely around the world now, learning all sorts of things."
"Yes, it's inspiring to see ancient places and learn of both old and new customs, old and new laws. I never get tired of it," Hideo affirmed.
"Well, the only school I attended was an academy for girls just outside Capitol City. My parents weren't quite noble enough for the Royal Fire Academy for Girls."
"How did you end up married to a prince of the Fire Nation?" Hideo asked without thinking.
Ursa flinched and looked downward. Reminders of her marriage to Ozai were painful.
"One day, perhaps I'll tell you," she sighed.
"I'm so sorry, Ursa," Hideo apologized. "I did not mean to bring up that, um, him."
"It's fine, really. I just don't want to talk about all that now. It's not really the place for it anyway."
"Of course; shall we continue," he said, indicating the way with an outspread arm.
They walked around the entire planetarium and then back down the large hill and onto the campus proper. Hideo took her to his spacious office next, filled with artifacts from all over the world and the Fire Nation itself.
"They must like you here," she teased. "This office is huge."
"I do alright. Remember, I've got a little seniority too. The longer you are anywhere the more privileges you receive."
"You've got a lovely view," the middle aged woman said, moving to the wide window and looking out over well tended gardens. "The gardens are beautiful."
"We'll go see them then, perhaps on the way to lunch," he said hopefully.
"Lunch sounds good," Ursa replied and Hideo smiled with both joy and relief.
"Excellent; I have a sort of favorite restaurant. Is it okay if we go there?"
"I'm really not fussy," Ursa replied. "I'm sure your restaurant is perfect."
"Well, shall we go then? You're hungry, aren't you?"
"Hideo," Ursa said, placing a hand on the man's arm, "you don't need to worry so much. I'm enjoying myself and I like your company. Let's take the day as it comes."
"I'm not good at hiding things, it seems," the scholar joked.
"Your face is pretty much an open book, much like my son's."
"I suppose that I am a bit nervous. Despite my age, I haven't really had much to do with women. I mean to say that I know women but…."
Ursa shook her head and laughed. "I know what you mean. And I haven't had much to do with men. So we're on equal footing. Can we see the gardens now?"
"Yes, yes," Hideo stated eagerly as he led the way out of his office and down a short hallway that led to an exit.
The gardens were indeed spectacular, full of an amazing variety of trees, shrubs and flowers, all maintained by students of horticulture. Huge splashes of reds and oranges looked warm and inviting while the patches of blues and violets mixed with whites were cool and soothing to the eye. Ursa wandered through them all, bending down to inspect a flower here and there that caught her eye or a bush she had never seen before. Hideo walked along beside her, not saying much, just letting Ursa absorb all she could.
"My garden is pitiful in comparison," she remarked. "This one is amazing. I could spend days here."
"Please, come back whenever you like. I don't see why you can't get cuttings of plants you fancy. You could put them in your garden."
"Really?" Ursa asked with gold eyes wide as a child's at her birthday party.
"Really," Hideo insisted.
"I will come back," Ursa said emphatically.
"Good," Hideo declared.
They left the gardens arm in arm and headed back to the city. It was nighttime before Ursa returned to the palace.
Zuko paced the halls nervously; back and forth, back and forth. It was evening, dark had fallen and there was no sign of his mother.
"You look ridiculous," Mai remarked as she poked her head out of the nursery door.
"What's Daddy doin?" Ryuhito asked from behind her.
"Overreacting," Mai answered as she shut the door again.
The little boy looked confused.
"What's Daddy doin?" he asked again, this time more forcefully.
"Watch that tone of voice," Mai reprimanded. "You know how to ask politely."
"Sowwy," he lisped immediately, bottom lip pushed outward and tears threatening to fall.
He hated when anyone got even mildly irritated with him. Mai looked at his face and her heart wrenched. She kneeled down and looked him right in the eyes.
"I know you are, sweetie. Daddy's worried about Grandma. Sometimes he worries too much."
"Can I walk with him?" the boy asked hopefully.
Mai held out her hand and Ryuhito took it.
"You have company now," Mai called as Ryuhito took off down the hall after his father.
Zuko gave the boy a smile and continued walking. Ryuhito's short legs struggled to keep up.
"Let's go to the main gate," Zuko suggested. "Are you tired? Do you want to go back with Mommy?"
"No, I come," he said with determination.
They walked, Zuko slowing his pace a bit for the boy's sake. He began to stumble a bit and his head drooped, ponytail hanging down in front of his face, as they neared the palace's main gate. Zuko scooped him up and sat him on his shoulders. Ryuhito wrapped chubby arms around his neck and giggled. He felt like a giant, like he could see to the ends of the world.
The gate opened as the pair approached the guards who stood at attention on the inside of the massive stone barrier. Ursa walked through, a dreamy expression on her face and almost stumbled over her son's feet.
"Zuko!" she exclaimed. "Were you waiting for me?"
"Um, no, Ryu and I were just out for a walk."
She cleared her throat loudly and looked at him with disbelief.
"You can't lie, remember," she smirked.
"Right," Zuko replied. "I was worried about you. I thought you would be home in the afternoon."
"Hi, Grandma," Ryuhito waved from up high.
"Hello, dear; look at you up there," she replied with a wave. Looking at Zuko once again, she continued. "Hideo and I decided to make a day of it. We were having such a good time."
"I hope he walked you to the gate," Zuko stated.
"I won't even answer that," Ursa said testily. "I know how to look after myself, Zuko. And last time I checked, I don't have a curfew. Your concern is appreciated but ease up a bit."
"Well now I just feel stupid," the Fire Lord whined.
"Oh, stop it. You should get back to Mai and Miyako. They're probably wondering where you are."
Ursa told Zuko about her day as they walked back toward the palace. He could see the happiness in her face and hear it in her voice and it made him glad.
"He's falling asleep," Ursa said, pointing up to her grandson.
Zuko gently moved Ryuhito around so that he cradled him against his chest instead. Sure enough, the little prince breathed slowly and steadily and his eyes were shut tight.
"So, he really is a good guy," Zuko stated.
"I believe so," Ursa replied. "But I have no intention of rushing anything. I just want some fun. I spent years alone and I want to make up for them."
"I understand," Zuko said softly. "I really do."
"That's settled then. No more looking for me and worrying. Hideo and I are having dinner together again in a few days."
"Okay, okay, I'll try not to worry."
The middle-aged woman bid her son goodnight as they approached the nursery.
"Let's have lunch together tomorrow," she suggested. "Will you have time?"
"I'll make time," Zuko smiled.
Mai sat on the couch and looked through one of her many books. She wasn't really reading, just mindlessly scanning the pages as she waited for Zuko to return. Miyako slept soundly in her bed. The covers were pulled up past her chin and Mai could only see a splash of black against her pillow. The door opened slowly and quietly.
"Finally," the Fire Lady declared. "I thought you two were lost. Your mom is home, I take it."
"She's back."
"And?"
"And she had a great time all day."
"Good for her," Mai asserted.
Zuko placed Ryuhito on his bed and took off his shoes then began work on his heavy tunic. Eventually, the little boy was in his sleepwear, never waking up once during Zuko's ministrations.
"Wow, he's out cold," Mai observed as she hauled herself up and off the sofa.
She moved to his bed and placed a kiss on the boy's cheek then tugged his dark hair out of its topknot. Once he was comfortably tucked in, and after Zuko gave their daughter a goodnight kiss, the couple retired to their own room.
"Would you like a cup of tea?" Zuko asked. "I can go make some."
"Yeah," Mai replied, "some chamomile."
"Be back in a few minutes," Zuko said.
Mai slowly disrobed and slipped into loose, comfortable sleep pants and a matching long sleeved tunic. She went into the bathroom and washed her face in the marble basin, enjoying the feel of cool water on her skin. Lastly, she pulled her hair out of its top knot and gave it a quick brushing.
Zuko was back by the time she finished and he poured her a cup of steaming tea. Mai sipped carefully and leaned back against the arm of the couch, laying her legs across Zuko's lap.
"Tell me about Ursa's date," she demanded.
Her husband poured his own tea first. He held the cup in one hand and stroked her legs with his other. Mai sighed. His warm touch always felt so good.
"Hideo took her to the university. Mom wanted to see the planetarium. Apparently, they're going to go back one night and view the stars. She loved the university's gardens and wants to go back and see them again too. He took her to a restaurant he likes and then they walked around town and decided to have dinner together too."
"Nice," Mai stated succinctly. "I'll bet she looked happy."
Zuko nodded.
"Was she angry at you for checking up on her?"
"Maybe a little irritated," the Fire Lord admitted.
Mai smirked. "Could I have some more?" she asked, holding her cup out.
Zuko poured her a second cup and she sipped away contently as Zuko, finished with his own tea, rubbed her feet.
"Agni, that feels great."
"Glad to be of service, my lady," Zuko said with a wink and an inclination of his head.
Lifting her legs, he got up from under her and knelt on the carpet so that his eyes were level with hers. He placed a kiss on her forehead, then her cheeks and finally her lips.
"What's that for?"
"For putting up with me, for being so beautiful, for being a great mother, for loving me," he finished.
Mai rolled her eyes but couldn't stop the flush that tinged her cheeks a pretty pink.
"You really are a romantic at heart," she stated.
"Maybe," he mused. "How's our baby?"
"She's fine," Mai replied. "Just over three months left. Oh, I've been thinking about the rooms and what we're going to do. And that made me think about Tom because he helped me with the nursery before the twins were born. I can't believe he won't be around. It makes me so angry. I'll miss him so much."
"Short of assassinating your parents or blowing up the school, I don't know what we can do to stop it."
"Nothing," Mai stated sadly, "nothing at all."
"So tell me what you want to do with the rooms."
"I think the baby should have the nursery. It's decorated for a baby, after all. And the twins can have their own rooms."
"I don't think they'll like being separated," Zuko stated.
"Adjoining rooms," Mai suggested. "We can have a door put in."
"Yeah, that'll work, I suppose."
"There are two empty rooms at the end of the hall, near your mother's. I'm going to start working on that tomorrow."
"Not on your own, I hope," Zuko replied.
"No, idiot, I'll direct while the servants lift. We just need to put the twins' stuff in their new rooms, and get the baby stuff out again for the nursery. And I'll need to see about better curtains for them and some other furniture. But as long as they have their beds and their toys, they'll be happy enough."
"And you'll need someone to cut a hole in the wall and put a door in," Zuko added.
"Oh, yeah; I'll bet Toph can make the hole though," Mai mused.
Zuko laughed. "That would be like breathing to her."
"Mmmm, yeah, it would be. She could do it in her sleep." Mai paused for a moment, thinking. "I wonder what it will be like with the twins and a newborn. Do you think they'll be jealous?"
"Probably a little bit. I think it's normal."
"I suppose. I resented Tom so much when he was born."
"Well, from what you told me, they were pretty excited at having a boy whereas you were just the ornament."
"It wasn't his fault, though," Mai said regretfully.
"No, it wasn't. But look at the two of you now. He loves you so much, Mai."
"I wish he could stay here with us."
"Your parents love him too. In their own weird way, they're trying to do what's best for him, even though it makes no sense and the poor kid hates the idea."
"My mother, she's so damn controlling. Why can't she just leave Tom be? He was happy with things the way they were."
Zuko shook his head and looked defeated. Standing up, he put out a hand to Mai and helped the young woman to her feet.
"What?" she asked.
"Do you want to go see the twins' new rooms?"
"Sure," she smiled.
"Here's your robe," Zuko said, handing her the pretty red and gold garment.
Mai slipped it on and tied the sash loosely. She put her feet in some slippers and the two padded off down the hallway, nodding at Shinji. Zuko threw open the first door and with an imperceptible flick of his wrist, lit a few wall sconces. The room was large with plenty of space for a big bed, desk, and wardrobe and with lots of leftover room for playing. The window looked out onto a quiet courtyard and the scent of jasmine drifted in on the breeze.* A small stone fountain made a gentle trickling noise.
"I think Miyako will appreciate this space when she's a bit older," Mai decided. "White curtains definitely and some lighter colored linens. I love red as much as the next Fire Nation native, but sometimes a change is good."
"Are you ready for the next room?" Zuko asked.
Mai nodded and moved toward the door as Zuko extinguished the flames he'd made moments earlier. The next room was much the same, but its window looked out onto a garden, lush with flowering vines and small trees.
"I like it," Mai declared and then grunted with surprise.
"What is it?" Zuko asked, his eyes wide with panic.
"I'm sorry….the baby just have me a really hard kick. Oh, she's doing it again."
Reaching out with his hand, Zuko touched Mai's belly and felt the force of tiny feet against his hand.
"Strong!" he exclaimed.
"You should try it from my perspective," Mai winced as another volley of kicks ensued.
The Fire Lady breathed deeply in and out and placed two hands on her abdomen.
"I think she's calmed down now. I'm kind of tired, Zuko. Let's go back to our room, okay?"
"Yeah, of course," he replied.
Wrapping an arm around her, the pair walked back down the hallway to their own bedroom, the impending birth of their baby somehow more real to them now. As they passed Shinji, he held out a scroll.
"This letter was just delivered, sir."
"Oh, thanks, Shinji," Zuko replied.
Once inside their room, he sat at the desk, broke the seal and unrolled the thick pale yellow paper.
"Who is it from?" Mai asked as she climbed into bed and adjusted the covers. "Why are you smiling?"
"It's from Aang and Katara," he grinned. "They've got some interesting news."
*jasmine flowers open in the evening
A/N: It's amazing how a brief tale can expand and then expand some more. I've got so many ideas running through my brain; this story plans on being around for awhile yet.
Well, Toph is certainly enjoying herself. She's in her element (sorry, couldn't resist).
Aang and Katara will finally make an appearance of some kind.
Tomiko will appear in the next chapter while the twins get to know Aang, Katara, Momo and Appa a little better.
Ursa and Hideo will continue to see each other.
I apologize if the opening part of the chapter describing earthbending is inaccurate (for something from a fantasy tale) or bad or just plain makes no sense. I did my best but describing battles and bending is not really my forte.
Thanks once again to those who are sticking with the story and thanks for the reviews and the faves as well.
Alabaster