Guest reviewers, especially those making story requests, please remember to check my profile page for replies. Most of the time I will reply and will always reply when you make a request. I may also have questions when you make a request so please remember to check the profile page.

The first 40 pictures for the 200 stories gallery are up on the DeGrassi Saviors website and the next 10 will be up Saturday.

Ch. 11 Learn to Hold Your Life Inside

(CAMBELL)

"It's nice out here," I comment setting the food down on the bench between Maya and me. We're eating in the garden on a lunch date. "You're not too cold are you? We can eat inside."

"No, I'm fine and it's beautiful out," Maya replies and I smile.

"Have you heard from Clare?"

"No but she's safe at Fitz's."

"And what about your house?" I ask Maya and her face changes, she looks down and seems to make herself smaller.

"I'd rather not talk about that," she replies.

"Okay but I'm here if you do want to talk," I remind her and she smiles now. "What about your job at the music store?"

"It's going great," she grins.

Maya talks a lot about the music store, working there, the people that come in, and the couple that owns the store. I'm listening to her talk but mostly I'm just watching her face and her eyes while she talks. Music brings her such delight that even to talk about it her eyes light up and she has so much joy on her face. She looks so beautiful she's truly beaming and I know I'm wearing a beaming smile just by watching her. We stay in the garden all through lunch. After we eat I toss our trash and sit back on the bench. I start talking about hockey and Maya takes my hand. Her fingers are cold because it's cold outside, I put my other hand on top of hers to warm her fingers. When the bell rings we go inside, I walk Maya to the gym because her next class is healthy active living which is in the gym.

"Lunch was nice thanks," Maya smiles kissing my cheek.

"I have practice after school but if you're not going to Fitz's place to be with Clare then maybe I can walk you home?"

"Actually, I think I'm sleeping at Tristan's tonight but maybe you can come over and do homework for a little bit after practice? I'm sure you could stay for dinner at Owen's," Maya says.

"Cool I'll call my mom before next period and check with Owen to be sure. I should probably go get my books and get to class," I comment.

My instinct is to kiss her but when I begin to lean forward she leans away so I settle for a smile and tell her that I'll see her after school. I get to my locker and grab my books and rush to art class. I like art because Miss Dawes pretty much likes everything we do and encourages us to be as creative as we can, it's a class you can only fail if you don't show up. After art I call Mom while walking to my history class. Mom says I can do homework at Owen's but I need to call Mick if I need a ride home. When school gets out I rush to Maya's fourth period geography class to get her. Tris is in the class with her and they both walk out together.

"Hey Cam Maya's going to spend the night at our place," Tris tells me.

"She told me, I'm going to come over after practice to do homework if it's okay with your parents."

"I'm sure it will be fine, you can come home with Owen after practice," Tris grins.

"I should get out to the bus but I'll see you both later," I smile and wave before going out to the Ice Hounds bus. Dallas is at the bus checking us off as we get on. I go in and sit down waiting for Owen, as usual Owen is one of the last ones on the bus but I sat in back where he generally sits so I'm sitting close to him. "Hey Owen I'm coming to your place to do homework with Maya after practice."

"Cool," Owen shrugs before he goes back to talking with Tony.

We arrive at the rink and go into the locker room to change into our gear. I change pretty quickly and I'm one of the first ones on the ice, Dallas is the next one on the ice and he skates right over to me.

"How was Maya today?" Dallas asks.

"I really just saw her at lunch, she was pretty quiet until I got her talking about music and she was happy. I'm going to Owen's to do homework there after practice, she's sleeping there."

"Good I'm going to Fitz's place after practice, Owen gave me his address. If Clare can't sleep there I'll bring her back to my place," Dallas tells me.

"Good. I was thinking I should tell Mick and Justin what's going on. Justin is in all of Maya's classes and he's probably going to be dating Tristan soon. Mick is only in one class with Clare but when she wouldn't sit down today he noticed and I think he's already figured out something is going on. Besides I think he'll be in Adam's band and he's Clare's best friend."

"Yeah good idea, the more people watching them the better," Dallas nods.

Coach blows the whistle and has us start warming up. As soon as practice is over I race back to the locker room to change so I can get to Owen's house and see Maya. Of course, we still have to wait for the others and take the bus back to school. Once we're at school I follow Owen to his car and we go back to his house.

"Mom saved you guys dinner it's in the oven," Tris tells us when we get there.

"Good I'm starving," Owen replies.

"Dinner was really good," Maya says moving from the sofa to the table to sit with us.

"You heard from Clare?" Owen asks her.

"No but Fitz called when he got home. He said Meghan had been there most of the day with Clare but all she was doing was lying on the sofa and watching TV they couldn't even get her to eat. She's really hurt and I'm worried," Maya admits looking at her hands and I put my arm around her.

"How was Clare hurt?" Owen questions but Maya just shakes her head and won't speak anymore.

I spend almost three hours at Owen's doing homework and in all that time Maya barely says anything or even looks up from her homework. Whatever she's thinking about it won't leave her mind now and she's somber the whole time.

"I'd better call Mick to come get me," I comment when I'm done with my homework.

"You could hang out for bit and watch TV," Owen offers.

"Cool, I'll still call Mick and tell him to pick me up at ten?" I question and Owen nods.

"You need to be picked up?" Mick asks when he answers his cell phone.

"Not yet I'm going to hang out and watch some TV can you pick me up at ten?"

"Yeah sure, see you at ten."

"And Mick bring Justin I need to talk to you both."

"Okay sure," Mick says before hanging up.

We sit on the sofa, Maya next to me, and we watch TV until Mick comes to get me. Maya doesn't quite lose her somberness in that time but she does brighten a little.

"I'll see you tomorrow Maya," I say and she gives me as much of a smile as I'm sure she can manage just now. "See you two tomorrow," I wave to Owen and Tris.

"Later Cam."

"Bye."

I grab my stuff and go out to Mick's car getting in the back. Mick starts driving and Justin looks back at me.

"So what did you want to tell us?" Justin questions.

"It's about Maya and Clare. We know they're getting abused at home, Clare admitted to Dallas that her sister's boyfriend has physically hurt her. Maya's never admitted to anything and we've only seen a couple of bruises on her but she's been sad, skittish and never talks about home. This is important you can't tell Mom and Dad and you can't confront them. We already know that Clare tried to call the cops and it only made things worse. All of us; me Owen, Tris, Dallas, Drew, Adam, Bianca, Fitz, Meghan and now you two, are keeping an eye on them. Observe any bruises or odd behavior and write it down. Let them know they can come to our house and talk to you if they're willing to, mostly just watch them."

"Is that why Clare wouldn't sit down this morning?" Mick asks.

"Yeah, I mean we don't know what happened to her but we know she was hurt."

"We'll help," Justin says and Mick nods.

"Thanks. When we have enough evidence compiled to get them out of the house for good then we'll go to the cops. Until then we'll gently try to encourage them to leave the house on their own and press charges. And keep them safe, that's important we need to keep them safe."

(DALLAS)

"Hey Dallas," Fitz greets me as he lets me into his apartment. Clare's on the sofa, lying on her side curled almost into a fetal position, she does look up at me and manage a smile when I come in. Meghan is sitting on the sofa at Clare's feet but she gets up when I come in and I smile at her for giving me the spot next to Clare. Meghan sits in Fitz's lap when he sits in the armchair and I sit at Clare's feet.

"Hi Gorgeous, how you feeling?"

"I'm fine," she replies quietly.

"Have you eaten?"

"I tried to get her to eat but she said she wasn't hungry. She hasn't moved in the four hours I've been here," Meghan tells me.

"Have you guys eaten? I'll order us pizza," I offer.

"Pizza sounds good Mark and I were just discussing what to make that Clare might eat," Meghan says.

"I'm going to order pizza you need to try and eat something," I insist to Clare. I order a couple pizzas using my phone and look at Clare because she begins to move.

"I have to use the washroom," Clare says and then winces when she tries to sit up. It's not just that she moves slowly because she's been lying on her side all day but she can't even seem to sit up. When anything touches her rear end she winces in pain. It hurts me to watch and I pick her up setting her gently on her feet. "Thanks," she smiles.

She goes into Fitz's room and I assume the washroom is through his bedroom. When she comes out she lies on her side on the sofa but she puts her head on my lap and I smile. It's a simple gesture but it means that she feels safe with me and takes comfort in my touch. It's an incredible feeling to know this, it feels better than the first time I scored a goal in hockey, better than winning my first game or getting recruited by the Ice Hounds. I smile and begin slowly stroking her hair until the pizza comes, I already paid for it so Fitz answers the door.

"You need to eat Clare, at least one piece but you need some food," I assert to her.

She sits up and winces in pain when she does, so she stands immediately. She does take a plate and a slice of pizza before going into the kitchen and eating at the counter. I eat standing in the kitchen with her, Fitz turns on the TV but we can see it from here. We eat silence watching TV but I watch Clare as much as I watch TV. When she's done eating she returns to lying on the sofa and I go with her sitting back on the sofa at her head. She puts her head back in my lap even though I'm still eating.

"I should get home," Meghan says after we eat.

"I'll walk you down to your car, be back in a few minutes. Dallas if you'd like to stay here with Clare tonight you're welcome to. I know Maya is sleeping at Owen's tonight so I told Clare she could sleep here."

"Thanks," I nod to him.

"Feel better Clare," Meghan says and Clare gives her a small smile before she leaves.

"Would you like me to stay here tonight? I'll tell Audra I'm sleeping at Owen's," I tell Clare gently combing my fingers through her hair.

"Yes please stay with me tonight."

"Happily. I'm going to call Audra, not that you've made many sounds tonight but don't make any now," I say and she nods against my leg. I call the house phone and Omar answers. "I'm staying the night at Owen's we're working on a project."

"Alright Dallas thanks for calling be home after practice tomorrow," Omar says before hanging up.

"Okay I can sleep over," I tell Clare she doesn't really reply but she does begin fingering my jeans on the knee. "I'm sleeping here tonight," I tell Fitz when he returns.

"Cool. Clare you can take my bed if you want."

"No the sofa is fine thanks and I'll be sleeping on my side. Will you be okay on the floor?" Clare asks looking up at me.

"The floor will be just fine," I assure her.

"I have a small air mattress, Bianca's spent a few nights over here when she needed to get away from her aunt or a guy that her aunt brought home. It's more comfortable than the floor. Clare you've moved more in the last hour than you did all day, do you want more ice?" Fitz asks her.

"Yes please," she nods.

Fitz gets some ice and wraps it in a towel. Clare takes the ice and puts it on her butt, well through her jeans.

"Clare you should go to the hospital or at least let us look. If we get a picture then w…"

"No," she shakes her head and begins to tremble slightly.

"Clare you're obviously in incredible pain, you can barely move at least let me see."

"No," she says again getting up and very suddenly running into Fitz's room. Before we can even react we hear the washroom door slam. Fitz and I run in and try the door but she has it locked. It's an easily picked lock but I'm not about to just pick the lock and come in that's not going to help her trust me.

"Clare we know you're hurt please let us help," I plead through the door.

"I don't want to show you, either of you, you're both boys, and I don't want a picture."

"We only want a picture so we can show it to the cops when we have enough evidence to get you and Maya out of the house," I tell her and there's silence on the side of the door for a few moments.

"I'm not showing you and I don't want a picture it's too embarrassing."

"If she really is hurt on her buttocks then I understand why she won't show us," Fitz says to me in a low voice and I nod.

"Clare please come out, you don't have to show us we won't take a picture just please come out. We'll sit on the sofa again, you can use the ice and we'll watch TV until you're ready to go to bed," I tell her and we finally hear the door unlock.

She slowly opens the door and comes out timidly. She looks at us and bites her lip and looks down.

"Fitz can I have a blanket please, and could you both give me a couple of moments before you come out to the living room please?"

"Yeah of course I'll grab you a blanket from the hallway closet," he tells her.

"The softest one you have please," she requests and Fitz nods.

He grabs her a soft quilt and she whispers thank you before she takes the blanket and goes to the living room. I close the bedroom door and we wait for her to call to us that we can come out.

"What could they have done to her buttocks to keep her from sitting down?" I question while we wait.

"Considering how you feel about her I'm pretty sure you don't want to know," Fitz replies.

"You don't think he anally raped her? Or paddled her? Or…"

"Dallas," Fitz cuts me off, "seriously don't think about it you're just going to drive yourself crazy and make yourself angry. She's safe here with us tonight, you're with her and you care about her deeply, right now that's all that matters."

"Yeah you're right, I just need to concentrate on her and not what she's been through, not tonight."

"Okay you can come back now," Clare calls and we go out to the living room.

I can see that she took of all her clothes besides her shirt because she has the clothes folded and stacked on the coffee table. Presumably she has the ice on where she's hurt but I can't tell as she's covered by the blanket. She's lying on her side but she left a space near her head.

"Is that where I sit?" I ask her and she nods.

Fitz sits back in the chair he's been sitting in all night and turns on the TV. I sit down and she puts her head in my lap. The only time she moves is to take the ice out and set it on the coffee table, Fitz puts it back in the freezer. We continue watching TV in silence but after a couple of hours Clare falls asleep. Fitz looks over as I get up carefully and put her head gently on the sofa.

"The air mattress is in my room, we can blow it up in there," Fitz whispers to me and I follow him carefully into his room. "I've been thinking," Fitz says as he pulls the air mattress from his closet, "a lot of what she's subjected to is going to be hard for her to talk to anyone about but it might be a little easier for her to talk to a girl. You should talk to Bianca in the morning she might be able to get Clare to open up more than we would. Most of her friends and the people looking out for her are guys. There's Meghan but Clare and Meghan aren't that close yet I doubt Clare would be willing to open up to her like that or she would have done it today when they were alone."

"Yeah good thinking I'll talk to Bianca in the morning," I nod.

We get the air mattress blown up and quietly go out to the living room. Fitz gets down another couple of blankets and gives me one of the pillows from his bed.

"One of you can use this and one of you can use the pillows on the sofa. These should be enough blankets I'll keep the heater going tonight. The controls are out by the door you can keep it comfortable for the two of you."

"Thanks Fitz, I can set up the bed."

I say goodnight to Fitz and go out to the living room. I move the table back so I can put the air mattress right by the sofa. I give Clare the pillow from Fitz's bed and gently lift her head to place the pillow under. I take the throw pillow from where I was sitting and fold one of the blankets over like a sleeping bag putting it on the air mattress. I strip down to my boxers and get in. I should be doing homework but that just doesn't seem important right now. I'm not really tired but the TV is still on and I watch it sort of absentmindedly. Against Fitz's advice I begin thinking about what Clare was put through to cause her injury and what both she and Maya might be subjected to. Fitz was right though it soon has me seething and I don't know if any of what I'm thinking about has actually happened. So, I stop thinking about that and start thinking about getting Clare and Maya out of that life and being able to date Clare and truly be with her. I picture going on dates with her, taking her to Guelph to meet Rocky and my parents, kissing her in the moonlight, and with these happy thoughts I fall asleep with the TV still on. I'm not sure how long I'm asleep but I wake up to the sounds of Clare whimpering. I sit up and look at her with the light of the TV. She's still asleep and must be dreaming, I get up and softly kiss her cheek and her eyes shoot open.

"It's okay it was just a dream you're safe now," I tell her.

"I'm sorry I woke you," she apologizes meekly.

"It's fine, do you need anything?"

"Will you hold me?" She asks quietly.

"I would love to hold you. What's going to be the most comfortable for you with your uh injury?"

"Umm if you could just sit up on the sofa and hold me for a bit I think I can get back to sleep."

I smile and get up, at first Clare smiles when she sees me in just boxers but then she bites her lip and looks away. It occurs to me that it might make her uncomfortable that I'm in nothing but boxers.

"I can get dressed again," I offer.

"No it's okay I think I'd like to feel your skin and if you're holding me, if I'm feeling your skin and I know it's you then I'll be okay."

I sit on the sofa and she scoots up a little putting my arm around her while her head rests on my chest. I would happily stay like this for hours, holding her in my arms, her skin against mine, her gentle breath ghosting over my flesh, I love this feeling it's as close to heaven as I've ever been.

"Mike," Clare says softly.

"Yeah?"

"Thank you. I feel much better being with you."

"I'm here for you Clare whenever you need me."

(CLARE)

I wake to the sounds of Mike's phone alarm; I lift my head up and realize Mike fell asleep sitting on the sofa holding me. He's not even really covered by a blanket other than me and the blanket I'm using. Mike stirs and I sit up, staying on my side, so he can get up and turn off his alarm.

"Sorry," I apologize looking down at the blanket.

Mike walks over cupping my chin and gently tilting it up until our eyes meet, "What are you apologizing for?"

"You fell asleep holding me that couldn't have been comfortable."

"It was wonderful," he grins kissing my forehead tenderly and I smile. "I don't want to wake Fitz but we need to get ready for school and the washroom is through his room," Mike comments looking at Fitz's bedroom door.

"I'm up you guys go ahead," Fitz yawns walking out in jeans and going to the kitchen.

"Mind if I use the washroom first?" I ask Mike.

"Not at all, do you want us to leave the room so you can get dressed?" Mike asks.

"No I'll just wrap the blanket around me and take my clothes into the washroom," I reply.

I stand up making sure the blanket is securely around me and Mike hands me my clothes. I walk into Fitz's room leaving the bedroom door open but close and lock the washroom door when I'm inside. I set my clothes on the counter and slowly bring the blanket down. There's a few bruises on my chest and arms but they're mostly old and fading, when I turn around and get a look at my backside in the mirror however I become horrified. My butt, upper thighs just below my butt cheeks and my lower back just above them are swollen, red, blue and black with bruises. That would be sickening enough on its own but large red welts are everywhere along with scratches and cuts, now scabbed over, from the buckle. It's a hideous sight and as soon as I see it I break down, crumpling to the floor in tears, my legs tucked behind me and I lean against the washroom door.

"Clare let me in," Mike pleads after some time although I'm not sure how long I was crying before he came back.

"I'll be out in a minute," I reply wiping my tears and forcing myself to move.

"Clare you're crying please let me in," he says practically begging.

"I'm okay, I'll be out in a second," I assert.

"Clare…" Mike starts again but I cut him off.

"I'll open the door in a second please Mike," I tell him half begging and half ordering.

I hear him sigh but he doesn't say anything else. I take off my bra to get my shirt on and then get my panties on, hissing in pain as I pull them on but it's getting my jeans on that's really painful. I can't help but shriek a little and I hear Mike on the other side of the door. When I finally have all my clothes on except for socks I open the door and Mike looks at me with concern.

"You should stay here again today," he insists.

"No I…"

"No you don't have a choice. You can come with Fitz to The Dot when it's time for your shift. I'll come by with Bianca and maybe Adam on lunch with homework and a change of clothes for you and anything else you need but you can't even get dressed without whimpering you'll never get through school. You need to rest and heal from whatever they did to you, I'm sure Fitz agrees with me," Mike contends.

"Yes I do," Fitz says and we realize he's standing in the bedroom.

"Okay," I give in. No use arguing with them and I really could use the rest to heal a bit more.

"If you want something more comfortable to wear until we leave you can borrow a shirt and some silk boxers. That is if Dallas doesn't mind you wearing my boxers," Fitz comments and it makes me smile a little.

"As long as she's comfortable," Mike smiles.

"Why don't you get ready for school since she's staying here and I'll get Clare something more comfortable to wear," Fitz suggests.

Mike kisses my forehead before letting me go, he closes and locks the washroom door once I'm out. Fitz looks through his clothes a minute before giving some silk boxers and a very soft cotton shirt. When Mike leaves the washroom I go in to change, once I have my panties and jeans off the rest is easy ad I do feel much better.

"If we can't come at lunch I'll have Bianca come last period on her spare with a change of clothes. We'll pick something up for you, tell Bianca what you want to wear and your size," Mike tells me after I've left the washroom and made my way back to the sofa.

"Okay thanks my wallet is…" I begin and Mike cuts me off.

"Don't worry about it I'll buy the clothes do you need anything else?"

"Deodorant, girl's deodorant please and a hairbrush," I request.

"I'll pick those up from the drugstore near school at lunch," Mike smiles and gives me a soft kiss before looking at Fitz. "Take care of her."

"I will," Fitz smiles then Mike leaves. "I'll make us some breakfast, you lie on the sofa and relax," Fitz tells me after he's locked the front door and I give him an appreciative smile.

He hands me the TV remote and I look form something to watch while he makes breakfast. I have to prop up on my side to eat but I do eat some. Fitz and I spend the morning just watching TV, he does make us lunch and I hardly move from the sofa but I did make sure to text Bianca that I'd like a dress if possible and send her my size, I also ask for some silk or satin panties, something very soft. A dress won't be great to work in but pants will be hard to wear especially moving around the café.

"You know you don't have to come in today I can mark you down as sick," Fitz tells me as we're eating lunch.

"I know but I want to go in, it's painful but I can't just lie in bed all day or on your sofa I need to move. I'll be careful," I reply.

"I'll make sure you take it easy, maybe keep you on register," Fitz comments just as there's a knock on the door and he gets up to answer the door.

Mike comes in wearing a smile and holding a bag, he comes over and tenderly kisses my cheek before sitting on the coffee table.

"Here's a hairbrush, toothbrush and rose scented deodorant I hope that's okay?"

"That's perfect thank you," I grin. I begin to get up and Mike helps me up.

"I'd love to stay but I have to get back to school and eat lunch. Bianca will pick you up some new clothes on her spare and she can either bring them here for you or The Dot. She'll be in touch with you and you can tell her what will be better for you."

"Thanks Mike, and thanks for bringing this stuff," I smile standing on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek.

"I'll come to The Dot after practice but you should keep resting until you have to get to work," Mike tells me.

He says goodbye and I go into the washroom to brush my teeth and hair and put on the deodorant. Then I return to the sofa and watch TV again. Bianca texts me a couple of hours later saying she has what I wanted and asking if I want her to come to Fitz's place or meet us at The Dot. Fitz and I both start work at four and we have more than an hour before we need to leave so I ask her to come to the apartment. About twenty minutes later there's another knock on the door and Fitz lets Bianca in.

"We're borrowing your bedroom Fitz," Bianca announces before we go back to his room. "I hope these fit and are okay, without driving to the mall there were only so many options in Riverdale," she tells me pulling some black satin panties from the bag and a sapphire blue dress with cap sleeves and V-neck. The dress buttons all the way up and goes to about mid-thigh, it's actually quite pretty and something I will definitely wear again, I was a little worried she'd bring me something more her style.

"Those are great thank you so much it would have been hard to wear jeans and I didn't want to go home and change."

"No problem Dallas said it was pretty bad even though he didn't know how you were hurt," Bianca comments and I bite my lip. "You don't have to tell me but if it's not something you can talk to the guys about you can always talk to me."

"Thanks Bianca," I smile.

"I'll let you change, I'm going to go talk to Fitz," Bianca says.

I change into the panties and dress then brush my hair again. Bianca is talking quietly to Fitz but when I go out to the living room they stop and look at me.

"Ready to go?" Fitz asks.

"Yeah. I folded your clothes and put them on the washroom counter, I wasn't sure where your hamper was."

"That's fine, I need to clean up a bit Bianca would you mind taking her to The Dot? Meghan's already on shift she can get you started," Fitz tells me.

"Sure, come on Clare," Bianca says.

"I'll see you soon," Fitz waves as I gather my stuff and follow Bianca out.

We go down to her car and she unlocks the door for me before going around to the other side. While she gets in and sits down I carefully get in, biting back a whimper as I buckle the seatbelt. Once I'm buckled I put my hands on the seat and perch so that my butt is not touching the seat. Bianca gives me a look as she begins driving she doesn't ask though. She drops me at The Dot and comes in with me.

"Oh, I almost forgot I have your homework from yesterday and this morning. Adam said he'd bring you the rest after school," Bianca tells me.

"Thanks," I reply as she gets it out from her backpack and hands it to me. I tell Meghan I'll be out in a moment and I go back to the employee lounge. I put my backpack in my locker and all the homework Bianca just gave me. I'm not going to wear a Dot t-shirt with this dress but I can wear an apron, that should be sufficient for today, after all Fitz saw my dress earlier and he didn't say anything about it not being good for work. Of course, I think everyone is going easy on me today because I'm hurt.

"Fitz will be here soon you should stay on register I'm going to take out the trash," Meghan says.

"I can take out the trash, I've barely moved for two days," I comment quietly so that the few people in the café at this hour don't hear me. School just let out so the café will be full very shortly.

"Okay," Meghan nods.

I gather the trash from under the counter and the employee lounge, the kitchen and bathroom trash is emptied at the end of the night unless it needs to be emptied before that. I go out to the back alley and toss the bags in the dumpster, moving still hurts but I should move and if I'm not sitting it's not so bad. After tossing the trash in the dumpster I turn and go back inside, I take a couple of steps expecting to hear the door closing behind me. However, I don't hear it close and then a hand grabs my arm and spins me around.

"Hello Clare."

I know I know bad me for the awful cliffhanger. Update soon picking up from exactly here and including, at least, the Ice Hounds game.