Authors Note:
If you prefer not to read explicit material please stop reading when you get to the double line of stars...just use your imagination to conclude what happens.
Chapter 12
Small Heath
#6 Watery Lane
Evening
Aoife POV
After Tommy and she had joined the others for dinner, he and his brothers had gone out, citing there were things that needed to be taken care of. Aoife didn't mind, being in the vicinity of Tommy at the moment seemed to cause more problems than solve them. Her body reacting to the tension that only seemed to continue to grow between them. Not surprising seeing as how they hadn't been able to release any of the pent up frustration caused by it.
During dinner they'd explained to the Shelby's that Reilly had called and left a message with Harry late last night, well after Aoife had checked in. He'd told Harry to just give her the message in the morning.
He was going to come in and see about getting the details he needed in order to decide where the cargo would be stored in the hold and what the best loading process would be. Things like size, weight, optimal storage condition, if the load was balanced, etcetera it was usually always easier for him to decide such things if he visually saw it himself.
Since she was staying the night he'd bring her go bag so she'd have her overnight items. Clothes to change into and what not. She'd opted to meet Reilly at the tramline when he was expected to arrive. So she could guide him through Small Heath, seeing as how she'd had issues on her first visit with Joseph. She'd stopped into the public lavatories to change into her clean clothes.
They'd only just started down the corridor when they'd heard the explosion and seen the smoke start rolling into the sky. By the time they'd reached the lane heading to the pub, the coppers had already cordoned off the end and weren't letting anyone through. She'd been arguing with one of them when she'd heard John call her name.
When they were done explaining their morning, Tommy had told Reilly they'd go after dark and he could gather whatever information he needed about the cargo.
Reilly was currently on the line checking in with Eirnin. They planned on taking the late night tramline back to London. Apparently Aine was in Camden for the day and wasn't expected to be back till late as well, so the crew would be up late anyhow to allow for boarding.
He didn't mention anything about the place she'd been staying being bombed that morning. That was something that they'd discuss in person. It was always best to talk about things like that when the person who you worried over was standing in front of you, alive and healthy.
While Reilly set up the logistics of their expected arrival Aoife noted Finn was sitting on a stool in the sitting room staring into the burning fire of the wooden stove.
Finn's POV
He heard light footsteps coming up behind him but continued to stare into the dancing yellow, orange and red flames. Her voice was mellow and soothing which filled the quiet space he inhabited.
"Hey Finn, you haven't said much this afternoon. Are you all right?"
"I'm glad you weren't at the Garrison."
"So am I. What's bothering you Finn."
"Tommy didn't tell ya, maybe he just didn't think too. It was the Lee's. It was them that blew up the pub. They'd come in this morning and took all the cash boxes, tore the place up. I wasn't here but I heard when Tommy came he found wire cutters. He knew the Lee's had set a trap. They checked the house, the garage. Except they'd put at the pub. It was our fault you almost died Aoife, it was because of us."
"The Lee's...you mean the man that Tommy fought with at the fair?"
"Yeah, Erasmus, he's mad at Tommy for something, I don't know what started it. I heard Uncle Charlie say that they sent a bullet with Tommy's name carved in it. The scuffles they're getting worse, comin' at us at the fair... the man you fought was one of his brothers."
"Finn, whatever hostility is between the Shelby's and the Lee's, I can guarantee you that my taking down that one who grabbed me is what put a target on my back. Men who think so highly of themselves have a very hard time in accepting the idea of being put down by a woman. Someone smaller, weaker and whom they believe to be beneath them. It's my own fault for being placed on their radar as it were, not your families."
"You believe that?"
"I know it. I've dealt with people similar to them before Finn. I promise, had I not fought back last night, they wouldn't have given me a second thought. What happened this morning was about me. The fact that the Shelby's were involved as well...was nothing but a perk and an excuse to come after me."
Aoife's brother Reilly's voice came from the doorway, "I can vouch for that little Shelby. Aoife makes friends and foes wherever she goes. With the amount of trouble she gets herself in, our family says Aoife's like a cat, she's got nine lives. What have you spent so far Aoife, are you on life 4 or 5 after this morning?"
"Including this morning...I'd say I'm living number five now."
"See she's got four more left after this one goes."
Finn gave it some thought, nine lives like a cat...
"...So that means that you've gone through four already?"
"She sure has, woo. The things she's gotten into."
"Like what?"
He watched as Aoife and Reilly shared a look with each other. Aoife shrugged her shoulders and nodded at her brother.
"Well, let us see. I think life number one, that one was spent when the safety line broke during routine maintenance. We were what in India? I think I was twelve so that made you fifteen. Anyway Aoife here was tasked with repairing a portion of the hull after Eirnin sideswiped a rocky ridge. The clasp on her harness snapped, faulty equipment. She started plummeting but she has nerves of steel this one. Carrick threw a line over the opposite side so that it swung under the ship and Aoife managed to grab hold of it. All before she fell more than what...fifty feet."
Finn saw Ada standing in the doorway listening in. When Reilly finished she came in and sat down to listen to the rest with him.
"What was number two Aoife?"
"...Number two was Russia."
"Right...so life number two. That was three years ago. One of our clients buyers was supposed to be picking up his shipment. Paranoid bugger that one was, he had to a been on something, kept saying we weren't the crew. Even though we'd delivered to him before. Another ship was dropping cargo and one of their ropes slipped, cargo fell and caused a ruckus. The buyer pulled a gun. Aoife had been closest to him, he had it pointed at her head and he pulled the trigger before anyone could react. Backfired."
"Life number three was France...during the war...she's always been a crack shot, great aim. The government had her working as a dealer, no better line of sight than from an airship. We were giving long range aerial cover to troops on the ground. Aoife was sighting in as many targets as she could as quickly as she could. She ended up taking a shot right before the sharpshooter aiming at fired their weapon. Her shot hit first, jerked them during theirs. The bullet imbedded in the railing just below her. Lucky the interior had been reinforced with armor or it would have gone through."
"And of course number four was the bombing this morning."
Finn stared at Aoife, shaking his head, "I'm glad you're like a cat, it sounds like you need all nine lives."
Everyone in the room started laughing at that, but he was serious.
"If there's one thing I've learned being this one's little brother, it's not to worry...she always lands on her feet."
Reilly POV
He hadn't really had anytime alone with his sister since they'd been joined by John in the street. So he didn't have any answers to the questions that were plaguing him. He knew that this Shelby man was an associate of Alfie's, so that meant whatever this man was into, it wasn't legal. Though he already knew that because he knew what the man's shipment contained.
It had taken a bit of time for them to get used to the fact that Aine was seeing Alfie, knowing who he was and what he did. But with Alfie they'd known him, before they'd had to accept him into the fold as it were. This Tommy Shelby, he didn't know jack about and he planned on fixing that when he went to look over the shipment.
He thought that opportunity had slipped his grasp when a man had been sent to collect him and take him to it. He hadn't realized Shelby would be waiting there for him.
Tommy Shelby wasn't a very tall man, not short really just, Reilly himself was six even, the man stood perhaps three inches shorter than him. But even with being of shorter stature he had a presence to him. A peaked cap was pulled low over the man's eyes which he knew to be an eerily pale blue. He had a cig resting between his lips and smoke was puffing out of the man's mouth. He certainly struck a dastardly pose. Standing there in shadow the only light illuminating his face that of the cigarette when he pulled on it.
He supposed it would take a certain kind of man to capture and manage to hold on to his sister. Aoife was a lot of things, some of them hard to accept, some hard to see, and some hard to love. He wasn't sure a man like Tommy Shelby was what she needed but then again maybe the likes of him was exactly what she needed.
"Shelby."
"Reilly Deveroux. You wanted to see your cargo." Shelby gave a flick of his hand in the direction of the crate. "That one there."
Reilly nodded and walked over to it, making measurements in his mind and seeing it going on the ship and where he'd put it. He thought about everything it was stored close to, what elements it would be subject to and even calculated load time. He did all this in his head while walking around the container.
"All right, I'm done."
"That's it?"
"Yep."
He observed Shelby as the man eyed him up and down, he didn't know for sure but it seemed like he might have been slightly irritated. "...Right."
"I'm good with my head Mr. Shelby, not that I owe you any explanations."
Reilly watched as Shelby withdrew his cigarette after one last drag and snuffed it out. He flicked the butt out and into the water of the canal that ran passed the wharf they were on. "You got something to say, say it."
"What's going on between you and my sister?"
"...That's between the two of us."
Reilly couldn't help the scoff that came out loudly in the stillness that surrounded them. "If you are familiar with my sister, then I don't have to tell you what will happen if you hurt her. She'll fuckin deal with you herself. She'd be the first to tell you she doesn't need her brothers to take care of business. Doesn't mean that we wouldn't play a part in that. So if whatever is going on is serious, keep that in mind, yeah."
Shelby's eyes were squinted at him and he dipped his head, "You're right, your sister can take care of herself."
"...I'm gonna be frank with you. Aoife is strong, and smart, and independent. She's loyal and honest as long as she gets the same from you. She can be sweet when she wants to be, she can also be hard as granite when she wants. On occasion I've had people ask me to describe her. Have you ever been in the center of a hurricane, Mr. Shelby?"
"Can't say as I have."
"You see the center of any storm really, the eye if you will, is the calmest part of it. It's still, and quiet, charged with this indefinable energy. It is surrounded by the eyewall, a ring of towering thunderstorms where the most severe weather and highest winds occur. When people ask me about Aoife, that's how I describe her."
Reilly stared directly into Shelby's eyes, "I haven't met a single man yet, that can handle all of that catastrophic power. And no one has proved substantial enough to break through it and reach that serene center Mr. Shelby. So if you're not willing and able to survive the storm, don't bother getting wet."
"...Can't wait to meet the rest of your family."
Polly POV
Tommy and the boys were still out, Michael hadn't returned yet and Aoife's brother and left a short while ago to get the information he needed. Ada was upstairs checking on John's boys. Seemed like their fevers broke during the day, hopefully it wouldn't return. And Finn was in his room entertaining the girls. Which left Aoife and her sitting at the table drinking some tea.
"You're heading out tonight?"
"Yeah, last tramline out. We need to get back and finish getting the Adelisa ready to launch."
"Well at least you'll be out of the Lee's range. I don't know how long it'll take to sort this mess out, we'll have a full house till we manage it." Polly couldn't help but sigh, she hated having to worry about her loved safety.
"Are you all right Polly?"
"Yes, I'm fine. Keeping everyone safe and settling things at the same time can be trying."
Polly watched as Aoife nodded in understanding. A contemplative look came over her face before she spoke tentatively.
"Polly, it's just a thought, but...no never mind."
"What is it Aoife?"
"Mm, I'd have talk to the others first, but there's space on the Adelisa for some passengers. We'd be gone for three months though. Wouldn't be able to come back before then. It was just a thought, a way to have the space to deal with the issues you're facing without worrying about them being collateral."
Polly thought about it, it was an idea, a good one. There was no telling how long it would take to settle things, to make it safe again. She didn't even know how Tommy planned on handling it. If she could get Tommy to agree to let the boys, Finn, Ada and Michael go for a trip on the Adelisa. It would be ideal. Though it felt like it could be an imposition as well.
"I don't know that it's right of me to expect the Adelisa to take on five kids, with only two adults to look after 'em."
"Polly...the Adelisa has had five kids on it before, with two adults...plus thirty crewmen to keep watch. It wouldn't be anything that we haven't experienced before."
Polly nodded her head, "Talk to the others, if they're good with it, then I'll bring it up to Tommy and John."
"All right."
Aoife POV
After she and Polly finished their tea, Polly showed Aoife to Tommy's office and told her she could use the line in there to call her family before leaving her in privacy.
Tommy's office wasn't much better than his room, he had a nice wooden desk, covered in stacks of papers and books. There was a bar cart to the side and bookcases flanked the door. Two chairs for his family or business associates to sit in facing him. She did spy one personal item, a family portrait that included everyone she'd met except for Michael sitting on a low shelf on the wall behind the desk.
Aoife turned the light located on the desktop on before picking up the phone and asking the operator to patch her through to her desired number. Ollie's voice came down the line and she couldn't help but feel a bit of the tension she'd been holding inside release.
"Hey Ollie, how are things?"
"Aoife?! Ah...they're good. It's not Friday is it? Did I lose a day?"
"No, Ollie. It's not Friday I'm calling off schedule. I know my sister is down in Camden. Would you happen to know if she's available for a few moments."
"Um...let me check."
"Thanks Ollie, don't worry if she's not."
"All right, be right back."
Aoife cradled the handset between her neck and shoulder while she waited for Ollie or Aine. It wasn't long before she heard her own voice speaking to her.
"Aoife, what's up? Is everything all right?"
"Things are fine Aine. I wanted to talk to you first before I rang up the boys."
"Sure, what do we need to gang up on the boys for?"
Aoife couldn't help but laugh. It was always good to know that no matter what there was one person who would always be on the same side as her.
"Okay...so I'm in Birmingham with Reilly, we'll be taking the last tramline back tonight. The Shelby's are having a bit of an issue that they need some time to get settled."
"Oh, something wrong with the cargo, will we not be loading it up?"
"Nothing to do with the cargo. It would just be safer for some of the family to remove themselves from Birmingham for the time being. I may have put forth the suggestion that the Adelisa took on passengers from time to time."
"Hmm...all right, who are these passengers? Other than Shelby's of course."
"Um... well...the sister Ada, their cousin Michael, their little brother Finn and then John Shelby's four little children."
"How old are we talking?"
"I want to say the oldest of John's is six, the youngest three. Then Finn is ten or eleven. Ada and Michael are about our age though."
"And you already told them we'd take 'em?"
"No, I told Polly that I could bring it up to the others, she wanted to make sure it was viable before she speaks with Tommy about it."
"So it's Tommy now?"
"...Yes, Aine. His name is Tommy after all."
"Uh, huh. And why might you be all the way up there in Birmingham? Alfie told me you went to see a metal smith but surely you should have returned by now. You're awfully friendly with this family it seems."
"...I can be friendly Aine."
"Yes, you can...this is downright beyond though isn't it."
"So...what do you think about the prospect of taking on some passengers?"
"And redirection...please tell me you got laid Aoife. I want details, when, where, positions? Was he good, well he was obviously good you're talking about taking his family on. Was it just once or multiple? Do you plan on doing it again? Come on dish."
"AINE! Take a breather and calm down. I've not had sex with the man, so lay off."
"Hmm...you haven't...but you want to, don't you! Oh My God! You want to, HA!"
Aoife could just picture Aine bouncing up and down in Alfie's office doing a little happy dance, shouting as she was.
"Hush up Aine! The last thing I need is for Alfie to hear you, then have to discuss it with him the next time we talk. Besides like I said, no sex...bloody fucking barren, like the Sahara."
"Oh I wouldn't say barren like the Sahara, Aoife, I'm sure there must be some dampness soaking into that soil."
Aine's laugh was full and rolling, she was sure her sister was bent over holding her stomach because she was cramping from laughing so hard.
"So I'm going to take our conversation as your agreement to passengers then. Kay. Great. Love you, enjoy Alfie, see you later."
Aoife hung up the phone before she was subjected to anymore of Aine's quips. All they did was remind her of the fact that she did indeed want Tommy, and she hadn't gotten him yet.
Aoife picked the line back up and gave the operator the other number she needed. Eirnin's voice came over the line.
"Adelisa."
"Hey. What kind of a mood is Carrick in?"
"Well...Hello to you too little sister. Oh, me? I'm doing fine. Thank you for asking. How about yourself?"
"Okay, sorry...geez. What's got you up in arms?"
"Oh, I don't know...all three of my younger siblings saw fit to leave me with the fucking Hun while he's in rampage mode."
"That bad, huh. Well, so then...how would you feel about taking on some passengers along with the cargo in Birmingham?"
"Passengers? Passengers usually mean Carrick's on his best behavior...stays in his cabin or on the bridge. Well now you've peaked my interest. Entertain me with information on these passengers you're suggesting."
"Five...Two adults, four small kids and one medium kid."
"Hmm...and Aoife, darling... what might the name of these passengers be?"
"...Shelby..."
"Mm hmm. Fuck it, I'm in, how many votes you got so far?"
"You and Aine, so far. I'll talk to Rei when he gets back... I don't think he'll be hard, he's got a soft spot for the medium one, I do to."
"Good, then you can be the one to tell Carrick about his passengers when you arrive tonight, I'm sure it will be a delightful encounter."
"Eh, I can handle the Hun."
Eirnin's laugh came down the line as he signed off, "No doubt, see you later Luv, safe travels."
Tommy POV
He'd finally made it back home, it felt like a long fucking drive. The ride back in the motorcar with Aoife's brother had been tense given their conversation at the wharf. Neither one of them had anything left to say.
Ignoring Aoife's brother for the ride, he'd contemplated what the boy had said. He'd never heard anyone described as a storm before. He was however certain of one thing. If Aoife was a storm, he'd weather it.
He hadn't run into anyone since walking through the door, and figured he should take a few minutes to run over the paperwork from today. Even with everything else that'd happened he'd still fucking have paperwork. Aoife's brother could find something to entertain himself.
Passing through the private door into the den he noticed that the light in his office was on, as it was shining from beneath the door. Maybe Polly was working.
As he got closer he heard Aoife's voice speaking to someone...something about handling a hun. Then things went quiet and he decided to open the door.
Aoife was sitting in his chair behind his desk, her elbow on the surface and her hand rubbing the back of her neck. She looked up when he came in and smiled softly.
"Polly said I could make a call from here."
All he did was nod his head as he looked at her, she hadn't said or done anything really but he felt his heart start to race at the sight of her.
"Accomplish everything you wanted to?"
He nodded his head again while he grazed his eyes over her. Her gaze fell to the surface of his desk, before she looked back up at him from behind those long lashes of hers.
"Reilly and I will be heading back on the last tramline tonight."
That had him looking away from her. He didn't like the thought of her leaving, not yet. He looked back up at her admiring his view from behind his own lashes before licking his lips.
"How long till you're back?"
"After we load up here, we won't be back for three months, sometime in March."
Tommy surveyed his office, he knew they wouldn't be able to get any privacy in his room, not with the house overflowing with her brother and his family. He ran his tongue out over his lips again before focusing in on Aoife. She had her brow arched above one eye and there was a slight tilt to the corner of her lips. Her voice was mesmerizing as she spoke, he couldn't take his eyes off her.
"Do you want to wait three months Tommy?"
He turned his head and scoffed, his lips twitching, he looked around the room again and his gaze landed on the desk. Before he looked her in the eyes, "You don't mind? It's not exactly a bed."
He watched as her eyes started to get a twinkle of mirth in them, her lips stretched into a smirk as she answered him. "Hmm. I'm sure you're practiced in ways that will make it up to me."
He felt his own smirk spread across his lips as he leaned his body back and reached behind him to lock the door.
Aoife POV
The click of the lock sounded loud in the room. Like a cannon sounding off in the dead of night. A finality of something that couldn't be taken back. She stood from the chair she'd been sitting in as Tommy started across the room. A strong unhurried stride, mimicking the buildup of anticipation she felt.
She watched as his eyes took in her clothing. He hadn't really regarded her change in attire earlier, caught up in his own mind as he had been. The look in his eyes held approval, wonderment and delight, as he took in the snug fit of her trousers.
She took a step toward him when he rounded the desk, an eagerness filling her. His hands settled on her waist as he stepped against her. The warmth of his callused hand cupped her face and angled it up to his own. His lips descending without hesitation to mesh hotly with her own. The gentle nip of his teeth followed by the pleasant swipe of his tongue. An unending assault of indulgent bliss that blanked the mind and left room only for feeling.
Without even realizing it, she'd worked his jacket, collar and waistcoat off. His braces falling down to sway against his legs.
The cool cotton of her blouse glanced down her skin as Tommy placed it in a pile on the shelf behind them. His fingers tracking skillfully over her ribs as he brought them round to work the buttons on her trousers. Tommy's pale blue day shirt followed in the path of her own, the random thought of how well it highlighted his eyes, passing briefly through her mind.
Aoife ran her hands up under the hem of his undershirt, feeling the warmth of his heated skin that was still hidden from her view. She felt her trousers loosen as he started to herd her back towards the desk. She took the moment to raise his shirt upward, before he pulled it over his head and off his arms himself throwing the material behind him.
She surveyed the expanse of his torso. His burst tattoo standing out against the paleness of his trimly muscled, lightly freckled skin. Her fingers slipped into his waistband pulling him forward so she could press her lips to the fine form of his chest. Lips, tongue and hands passing firmly over the planes of his body, as his did the same to her.
His fingers dug into her hips, gripping the material still covering her and pulling it steadily down her legs. Her back pressed into the edge of the desk as he began dropping open mouthed kisses down her body, his tongue flicking out every so often, stoking that hot ball of liquid heat building inside her. Kneeling before her she sensed his fingers working at the buckles of her boots. He removed them quickly and her trousers followed suit.
Tommy POV
Tommy gripped the back of Aoife's thighs as he surged up from the floor, wrapping her around his waist as he lifted her onto his desk. She was all soft silky skin framed in yet another set of delicate barely there lace. The soft muted green showcased the areas of her body he most wanted to appreciate.
He leaned forward and kissed his way up her neck to that wonderful sweet spot he'd found earlier. Her moan was exquisite in his ear. All he wanted, was to see what other sounds she would make for him as he took her higher. He held her in place with one hand in her hair, the other grasping her hip as he pressed their bodies together where they both desired it most.
The feel of her legs encircling him, along with the straining arch of her back and the lovely little hum coming from her throat had him groaning himself. Her fingers digging into his shoulders and tracing the line of his spine caused him to arch into her once more. Her hands followed the line of his waistband to the closure of his trousers and she plucked them apart. The material loosening but trapped between the press of their two bodies.
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He ran the palms of his hands over her shoulders and pushed the straps of her brassiere down before pulling the material away from the pleasing curves of her breasts. He slowly leaned over and flattened her down so she was laid out below him. The sight of her beneath him was enchanting. This magnificent, ravishing creature, filled with a want of him, all of him. Brazen and demanding in her own right, willing to accept every facet of him. Wanting nothing from him but the same in return.
She gripped his neck and he felt her fingers scraping solidly along his scalp, noting the light pull of his strands between them. He mouthed the outside curve of one breast before pulling the budding nipple in between his lips. Offering both pain and pleasure as his nipped with his teeth, only to follow with a soothing lap. She tasted divine, sweet and ripe with want. Her body bending to be closer to him. He treated the other to the same and used his fingers to lightly pinch, pull and caress it's opposite.
What little rational thought he still possessed left him at her groan, the insistence for more, the soft cry of his name leaving her lips. He pulled away from her and began to work her knickers down the creamy satin of her legs. Any finesse that he'd possessed disappeared as he came back to find her waiting for him, hot and wet.
Aoife POV
It was only a moment before she felt Tommy grip her legs and pull her to the edge of the desktop. His hands skimming up their length to grasp her waist before leaning over her and claiming her lips with his. She wrapped her own arms up under his and around his back, holding him close and getting lost in the sweet taste his tongue was delivering to her, smoke, whiskey and him.
She felt him tense his muscles, wrapping her in his arms before he pierced her with his length. As he settled deep within her, ragged moans fell from both of them as their lips parted. Not an inch of their skin didn't touch as he began to move, a steady building rhythm. His fullness inside her making her pant and moan as her nails ran across his skin. He hissed, arching into her further and with more force.
His hand gripped her hip to keep her body from sliding away from his while the other tenderly protected her head from the hard wooden surface below them. His speed along with the power behind his thrusts increasing. She hooked her legs around his thighs and he slid in even further, sparking a groan that was only covered by him swallowing it down with his tongue.
She caressed the lines of his face, ran over the suppleness of his lips and traversed the expanse of his neck with the pads of her fingers. The hand at her waist moved to grasp her own, fingers interlacing as he took them to the wood above her head, firmly pressing down as their bodies collided. She felt his nose skim down her jaw, stopping to kiss her chin, before melding their lips together once more, tongue slipping past lips to delve deeply and sweep over her own.
Pulling back they gazed into each other's eyes, green into blue. Ragged breaths mingling, bodies sliding. Tommy's whispered words perfectly timed as he rotated his hips and changed the angle their bodies met at. Pushing the hot ball of throbbing need inside of her over the edge. She was lost in a sea of sensation.
The only thing other than indescribable pleasure coursing through her, being the knowledge that he was seizing her heart and soul, binding them together, so that they became whole. His words resounding in her head, "I found you...you're mine, all of you." She was fairly certain his name left her in a long drawn out moan but the sound she'd been focused on was the groan that seemed to be ripped from his depths. The world shattering around the both of them as they came together, two puzzle pieces fate made to fit perfectly.
Whew, well, I hope the story is continuing to live up to everyone's expectations.
I was a bit worried about doing justice to Aoife and Tommy's first time, I hope it worked for everyone.
Please leave feedback - comments - critiques, whatever you want. This one was hard chapter for me to write.
Big thanks to everyone who comments, really like seeing the names of my repeat commenters pop up. Thanks so much for being so supportive of this story and enjoying the characters.
