Disclaimer: I don't own any of Ubisoft's characters, just my own. As a warning, this is starting into some of the darker chapters of this tale, so consider yourselves warned!
Amira paused as a small hand tugged at her robe and glanced down in surprise. A young girl, scarcely older than ten, looked up at her imploringly; her deep brown eyes shining hopefully in her dirt smeared face. Amira felt a sad smile twist on her lips as she studied the child and dropped down into a crouch as she fished coins out of her purse. She took the girl's small hand in her own and carefully closed it around the coins she placed there, one hand gently touching her tangled hair before she drew back.
"Best strong, sweetie. I would help you more if I could, but this is the best I can do for right now, okay?" She said softly, and the girl's dark eyes locked with hers. She saw fear mixed with gratitude there and sighed quietly. Her hand brushed over the tangled, dark strands once more and she gave her a small smile before rising back to her feet. Before she could react, the girl threw herself against her thigh and hugged her before darting down the alleyway.
Altair watched the exchange with curiosity and glanced at his partner as she fell into step with him once more. "You can't help them all, you know." He said quietly and saw her glance at him, a rueful smile twisting on her lips.
"You're right. But for that girl, I could. It's enough to keep food in her stomach for another night at least."
A fond smile curled at his lips as he watched her and he reached out and gently squeezed her hand before releasing her and continuing on silently.
The day passed by in relative peace for once, with Altair and Amira each working on gathering as much information as they could before the masses of people retreated back to their homes for the night. Finally, when they felt they had learned all that they could, they joined the crowds and made their way back to the bureau to report to Mailk, who awaited their return with thinly veiled impatience.
"Your gathering took you longer than I anticipated it would." The dark haired man commented and Altair gave a wordless grunt.
Amira laughed as she listened to the exchange and hopped up to perch on the counter that Altair leaned against. "To be honest, I wanted to see a bit more of the city to help with my mental map, so I may have forced us to detour more than Altair might have liked." She admitted with a half grin and Altair's exasperated golden gaze flickered to hers.
"Is that what we're calling your aimless wanderings? Detours?" he remarked sarcastically, easily shifting his weight away from her playful punch.
"I learn best when I'm lost." She retorted, earning an amused smile from the black robed Rafiq.
"Either way, I'm glad to see you both safely returned. You can tell me what you've learned while you held with dinner preparations." Malik said, turning back towards where the small kitchen was, and Amira obediently followed after him. She was always happy to have time to chat with her friend and enjoyed their conversations and the new tidbits of information that she gleaned from them occasionally.
Altair's eyes narrowed in slight irritation as he watched his partner disappear behind his old friend into the kitchen. He paused as he listened to Amira's animated voice telling of what they had done throughout the day and forced himself to shake off the edge of jealousy that stole through him. Turning on his heel, he made his way into the bath and started the task of cleaning the grime from the day off of his clothes and body, and finished by removing the faint stubble that he had neglected during their journey to the city. When he emerged, clean and somewhat less annoyed than he had been previously, he was greeted by Amira and Malik chatting in the garden as they waiting for him to join them for dinner.
His previous annoyance flared once more as he settled between the pair abruptly and Malik raised a bemused eyebrow at his grumpy friend. Altair chose to ignore his friend and silently began to eat the meal before him, and the other two slowly followed suit. Amira seemed almost unfazed by her partner's stormy expression and continued her conversation with Malik, occasionally asking Altair something, and rolled her eyes when she was given nothing more than a grunt or one word answer in return.
Malik studied the brusque assassin throughout the night, inwardly amused and annoyed by the man's actions. He was painfully obvious in his jealousy and Malik found himself wondering if Altair was even aware of his own behavior after a while. A glance at Amira showed that she had noticed her partner's attitude as well and was quickly becoming exasperated by it, if her annoyed expression was any judge of it. Mercifully, Altair chose to be in charge of the clean up and he quickly gathered the dishes into his hands before he vanished into the back, leaving the pair alone for a moment.
Malik paused before he glanced at Amira, but when he did, she couldn't keep a straight face for longer than a few seconds before she started giggling. She clapped her hand over her mouth as she tried to stifle the sound, and Malik couldn't help but grin in return. "He is painfully obvious in his displeasure, isn't he?" Malik commented and Amira nodded as she finally recovered from her laughter.
"Well, before he gets any more annoyed with us, I'm going to excuse myself for a little while. Is that alright?" Amira asked, glancing upwards at the grate above their heads. Malik followed her gaze and nodded after a long moment.
"Patrols have been a little more frequent lately, so be careful. Don't be gone too long." He cautioned and she nodded in understanding. Malik rose and caught the latch with the catchpole and Amira grinned at him for a brief second before she sprang forward, landing lightly with one foot on Malik's bent knee and launching herself upwards. Malik watched as she disappeared through the opening and gave her a half smile as her long hair trailed back through as her face reappeared above him.
"I'll be back shortly. He needs some alone time to cool off, I think."
Malik nodded slightly, a faint smile still present on his lips as his dark eyes studied her expression. The night air rustled through her long locks and in the rising moonlight, her eyes took on an undercurrent of wildness. Her body was taunt with the restrained energy of a predator preparing to strike and she laughed lowly as she turned away.
"Be safe." Malik called out softly, knowing she was already gone, but hoping she would hear him regardless.
Amira ran across the rooftops, a dark shadow in the cloud covered night. The gentle winds occasionally chased the clouds from the moon's path and helped to guide her way, but mostly, she relied on her memory of the buildings as she ran. She reveled in the feel of her feet striking down, the bunching of muscle as she leapt and the brief moment of weightlessness as she hung over a gap between buildings.
The night was silent as she ran and she barely took notice of where she was heading towards, knowing only that she wanted to enjoy the brief moment of freedom before the mission the next day. Without pausing, she launched herself up the side of a tall tower and pulled herself up the side easily. Her fingers sought the small handholds and her feet pushed her upwards surely as she climbed. She paused to rest on the narrow perch at the top of the tower, her bright gaze combing over the city below as she stood there. Then, backing up a few steps, she launched herself forward with a laugh and the night air rushed around her.
With a soft thump, she landed in a pile of musty hay and she lay there for a moment, quietly laughing to herself as she reveled in the adrenaline rush. Rising, she made her way back up to the rooftops, brushing away the itchy hay when she paused and she set out at a run once more. Rough stone twisted beneath her hands as she swung herself down to a lower rooftop and she grinned to herself as she landed silently on the roof below before she took off again. Torches glimmered occasionally as guards patrolled around her, but none seemed to notice the dark shadow that roamed amongst them, or if they did, they were wise enough not to give chase to the dark shapes that thrived in the darkness.
A soft cry caught her attention and she pulled up short. Her breath puffed the cool night air and she listened to see where the sound had originated from. Then, the soft cry came again; a quiet whimper and then the sound of a man's voice. Silently, Amira stalked towards the sound and peered over the edge of a nearby building.
A man dressed in the guard uniform towered over a small figure, and she felt her lips pull in distaste as she listened for a moment.
"That coin didn't come for free, child. I expect repayment for my generosity…" as he made a grab for the figure, they darted backwards and away from his grasping hands. They were no match for his speed though, and he held a thin wrist in his clutches as he closed the distance between.
Amira's eyes hardened and she dropped down behind the man silently and slipped forward. All the energy that had propelled her forward until this point came to a head and her movements were intent and contained no small amount of fury. Clearing her throat quietly, she tapped his shoulder and met his annoyed gaze with a cold glare. Before he could even voice the words balanced on the tip of his lips, her fist crashed into his nose. The knife hilt she held in her grasp added force behind the blow and she felt the man's nose break even as her own knuckles protested the misuse.
"You ought to be ashamed…" she seethed quietly, glaring down at the man who was now writhing on the ground as he clutched his nose. He struggled upright, recovering quickly and drew his blade. Calmly, Amira squared off with him, keeping an eye on the huddled figure behind him as she drew her own weapon.
"I gave her coin, and I expect something in return!" he snarled and Amira felt a cold chill settle over her.
"What exactly were you hoping to gain from this child?" she asked, her voice cutting through his anger like a knife.
"Her company, what else? It isn't as though she'll live long enough on the street to value her maidenhead, now is it?" he sneered.
He charged her and she easily sidestepped, opening a thin slice across the side of his ribs as he passed by and heard him roar in anger and pain. Her opponent's blade swung in a bright arc down towards her head and she barely managed to dodge it before it clattered against the dirt pathway. The man shouted something that she perceived to be an insult based on his tone, but was unable to understand his words as he spat the blood from his nose out of his mouth. Fury wrapped around her core tightly and she ceased caring if the man had any loved ones or family that might miss him once he was dead.
She drove her blade home and felt it cut through his stomach easily, and he fell forward against her shoulder as she jerked the blade upwards. Without bothering to listen to his gasped moan, she pulled her blade free and stepped back, allowing him to fall to the dusty ground, his blood quickly soaking in around him. Wiping her sword on his tunic, she silently re-sheathed her weapon and stood.
She glanced at the huddled figure and held her hands up carefully. "I'm not going to hurt you. Are you alright?"
She knelt in front of the small shadow, her eyes widening in surprise as the slender person flung themselves against her. Thin arms wrapped around Amira's neck and silent sobs shook her as she clung to her.
"Shhhh…. You're all right now. He won't bother you again, I promise."
Amira's suspicions were confirmed as the clouds cleared away from the moon once more. The same beggar girl who she had given coins to earlier that day now clung to her. Tears made tracks down her dirty cheeks and Amira could see blood trickling down her chin from where the man had stuck her and split her lip. She buried her face against Amira's neck and Amira sighed softly before gently hugging the young girl.
"I can't promise you that I'll be around all the time, but I will promise your safety if you come with me." She whispered, "I won't let men like him hurt you again. I'll see that you are cared for and that you are free from this." She paused, gently stroking the girl's tangled hair as the child clung to her. "Will you come with me?"
After a moment, the girl's sobs and tears slowed and Amira felt her nod slightly as her grip tightened around the assassin's neck. Amira gently detangled herself from her and turned around, "Hop on. It'll be easier for me to run this way."
Once more, small arms wrapped around her shoulders and Amira lifted her onto her back and made her way up to the rooftops before setting off at a gentle jog. She ignored the deathgrip that the girl had around her throat and made her way back to the bureau. She knelt by the rooftop access and the child quickly released her. Amira turned and looked at her with a small smile.
"Can you be brave again?"
A quick nod answered her and Amira couldn't help but smile once more.
"I'm going to go in first and then I want you to follow. It's a bit of a drop, but I promise I'll catch you, okay?"
Again, the girl answered her with a silent nod, her dark eyes darting to the opening and then back to the assassin. Amira gently smiled at her and gestured her closer to the opening before she dropped down into the dimly lit room.
Altair glanced up from the text he had been browsing, his brow furrowing slightly when Amira looked back up at the opening that she had just come through. "Did you forget something out there?" he rose to his feet as he asked. Surprise flooded his features as a second, much smaller person dropped through the opening and Amira caught them deftly in her arms.
"Amira, what is the meaning of this?" he demanded and she turned to face him after a moment. She met his confused expression with a determined glance and left him staring after her as she made her way into the main building.
Amira deposited the child on a cushion and held up a finger in a staying gesture and saw the girl nod in understanding. Malik entered the kitchen as she was gathering supplies and a plate of food, a confused and wary expression on his face.
"Amira, why is there a…" he trailed off at the icy, silencing glare she threw at him, his brows rising in surprise as he held up his hand soothingly.
She brushed past him and past Altair, ignoring both as she sat in front of the girl. Silently, she handed her the small plate of food and a faint smile touched her lips as the child instantly dove for the food offered. As she watched her eat, Amira spoke.
"One of the guardsmen had cornered her and was about to force himself on her." Her voice was hard as she spoke and both men glanced at one another, mirrored expressions on their faces. "I'll take responsibility for her, but I won't let her go back out there to live and die on the streets like that."
Malik was the first to speak as he moved forward to crouch beside Amira, his eyes tracing over the girl's features before he glanced at Amira. "I'll heat water for a bath then and find you some soap for her…" he turned his gaze back to the child and a faint frown twisted at his lips, "What is your name, child?"
The girl's dark eyes darted up from her meal and she swallowed hurriedly. Her eyes widened and her mouth moved silently, an anxious look crossing her face before tears welled up once more. Amira sighed and gently stroked the girl's hair, "Shh…It's all right…" she soothed and glanced over at Malik. "She's never said a word to me. I don't know if she's afraid to speak or if she can't, but that doesn't change my decision."
Malik gave her a small smile, "Understood. She'll be safe here while you two finish your mission and if you wish her to stay here instead of returning with you to Masyaf."
At his words, the girl froze, her eyes locking on Malik for a moment before she flung herself into Amira's chest. Silence fell over the room and Amira gave a low laugh after a moment.
"I think that means she wants to stay with me."
Both men were silent for a moment and then Malik laughed quietly, "So it would seem. She seems quite attached to you already…" he mused before rising. "I'll get water ready for her then."
He gave Altair a silencing look, shaking his head slightly to quiet any questions his friend might have asked her and Altair sighed after a moment. As Malik vanished into the back rooms, Altair knelt beside the pair and picked up the now emptied plate and glanced at Amira.
"Should I get her more?" he asked softly, a small smile twisting on his lips as he watched her gently stroke the girl's tangled and dirty hair as she murmured to her. His earlier irritation had vanished from his features and Amira glanced up and shook her head, "Not just yet. I doubt she's had much to eat recently and I don't want to shock her system."
Altair settled back into the corner and watched his partner. A small smile curled on his lips as he studied the pair's interaction with one another. Even though the child didn't seem to be able or willing to speak, her expressive eyes and features vocalized the words she was unable to. After half an hour or so, Malik came back and let her know that he had finished heating water for a bath and the girl followed after her quietly. Altair and Malik watched the pair disappear before glancing at one another.
Altair was the first to speak and he laughed softly. "Looks like she's found someone to mother over besides me finally."
Malik chuckled at his friend's words and grinned with a rueful shake of his head. "So it would seem. They may do a world of good for each other though, and I think Amira needed something to make her feel tied to this time. Something more than you've been able to provide."
The last bit was said with a sly glance and Altair flushed at the implication. "You gossip worse than a woman, Malik." He retorted sharply and Malik's laughter rang through the room.
"She's an unwed, childless woman, Altair. Other than friendships, she has nothing here that binds her. Unless you've managed to allow her through that thick skull of yours, that is?"
Altair glared at his friend, the red flush darkening slightly. "Are you saying I should marry her and have her be with child just so she remains here?"
"I'm not saying you should go quite that extreme," Malik said with no small amount of amusement, "but some declaration of affection or promise of a future here might help. Unless you care so little if she remains here?"
"Of course I care! I would do whatever it takes to have her stay here with me and be happy." Altair snapped and Malik grinned openly.
"Good. I was wondering if you were ever going to admit that you've fallen hard for her."
Altair's mouth worked silently for a moment when he realized that Malik had trapped him, the red flush darkening even more before he glared at his friend. "I don't appreciate being backed into a corner like this, Malik." He growled and Malik shrugged easily.
"You shouldn't be so apparent then. Your jealousy from earlier couldn't have been more obvious had you painted a sign over your head."
"I was no such thing!"
Malik laughed, "Of course you weren't. How foolish of me to have mistaken your jealousy for jealousy."
Altair grabbed the small plate once more and vanished with an annoyed huff into the kitchen once more, but not before Malik caught sight of the embarrassment that showed in his friend's gaze. Malik shook his head in amusement and began making up a bed where the young girl could sleep and pulled out the smallest pair of tunic and pants that he had in stock for any apprentices or informants who needed them and set them aside for her.
After a few minutes, Altair reappeared, visibly less red and far less flustered in appearance. The two spoke at length as they waited for Amira and the child to reappear, both dancing around the conversation that had just transpired.
Amira carefully poured water over the girl's hair and began to work soap through the tangled and dirty strands. Slowly but surely, the dirt and grime that covered the child was washed and scrubbed away and gradually, the young girl's true appearance was revealed. Amira combed through the clean, dark strands that hung past the child's shoulders and combed through the snarls and knots that were still present until everything hung in neatly combed sections.
"Hmmm…" Amira mused as she studied the now clean and clothed girl in front of her, "What would you think about a hair trimming?" Her fingers combed lightly through the damp strands, twirling the ends slightly as she waited for a response.
The young girl frowned slightly, studying the hair that Amira was idly toying with, an uncertain look on her face. She glanced up at the female assassin with large, dark eyes and then nodded slowly. At Amira's grin, she smiled back shyly and Amira took her by the hand after she had gathered supplies and the pair made their way back out into the main room.
At the two females reappearance, both men halted their discussion. After a moment, Amira laughed softly and glanced down at the hand that clutched her pants. The girl peered around from behind her leg and then hid once again, earning a smile from all present. Dropping into a half crouch, Amira smiled at her young ward and held her hands gently in her own.
"Now, now. There's no reason to be shy…These two will protect you, just as I will, won't you?" She directed the last question over her shoulder and saw both men nod in response. Turning her attention back to the girl, Amira continued on. "The one in the black robe with the dark hair and pretty blue eyes is named Malik and the one in white robes with the grumpy face is Altair. Can you give them a smile or say hi?" she coaxed and the girl peeked over her shoulder cautiously.
Her eyes landed on Malik first and she studied him for a moment before making her way over to him. With a gentle smile, he knelt down in front of her and she paused for a moment before touching his hand lightly. The girl smiled shyly in return and Amira couldn't help but give a small grin at the way the corner of Malik's eyes crinkled as he gently patted the top of her head.
"You'll be safe here with us. No one will harm you, I promise." He told her softly and chuckled as she touched his hair tentatively.
She glanced back at Amira, still holding a small chunk of Malik's hair and tilted her head with a curious expression. Seeing that Amira wasn't making the connection, she motioned to her own hair and then the scissors that Amira held before glancing back at Malik's surprised face.
"You think I need my hair cut?" Malik asked curiously and Altair laughed quietly at the child's enthusiastic nod.
Amira repressed the urge to laugh and gave a small shrug, her grey eyes dancing with amusement as she twirled the scissors in her hand. "Well, it's your choice, Malik."
Malik paused uncertainly, evaluating Amira for a long moment before he gave an indifferent shrug. "I wouldn't mind, I suppose, but I would rather see you finish up with her first."
"Of course." Amira said smoothly, a grin touching her lips as she watched the pair.
The girl released Malik's hair and glanced over at Altair with a wary look. He studied her for a moment before relaxing, deciding either she would come closer or not, but that he wasn't going to be involved if she wasn't going to make the first step. With slow steps, she approached him and halted as she came in front of him. Without warning, she tugged back his hood and gave him a small smile, uncertainty creeping in at the surprise that had filled his features. Malik laughed and grinned at Amira, "It would seem she doesn't like the hood on him either, does she?"
Amira gave a bemused shake of her head, the scene teasing a smile from her as she watched. She watched as the girl gently touched the top part of the scar that bisected her partner's lips, a frown touching her childlike features as she glanced at the man. Her dark eyes watched him for an answer, but didn't demand one from him as she quickly moved on to study the rest of his face. He couldn't help but give a low chuckle at the way her quick hands darted across his face, brushing over his forehead, nose, and eyebrows; a gentle smile spreading across his lips as he allowed her to finish studying him.
Just as quickly as she had begun, she stepped back and darted back to Amira's side, peering out at the two men once more as she clutched the female assassin's leg lightly. Amira gave a relieved sigh at the soft smile that lingered on Altair's lips. Of the pair, she had worried most about his reaction to the child. The prickly assassin hadn't exactly ever given off the impression that he had experience dealing with children, or even that he had any desire to interact with them. Seeing the more gentle side of him brought a smile to her face as she glanced down at the girl who was watching her expectantly.
"Well then. Introductions done, what say you we give you a quick trim?" Amira asked and the girl gave her a bright smile, her dark eyes searching as she glanced between the scissors and Amira's face.
With a laugh, Amira sat her on a stool and proceeded to trim her hair, carefully cutting it back to where the healthy growth was and trimming off all of the dead and split ends. The child sat patiently through it all and watched the snippets of dark hair falling to the ground below her with idle curiosity. When she had finished, Amira turned to the two men who had been watching in between holding the own quiet conversation, and gestured at the girl.
"Well?"
Malik and Altair both nodded in approval and the young girl beamed up at Amira with a happy smile. With a quiet groan, Malik stretched and rose to his feet. "I'm going to turn in for the night. Rest well and be ready for your assignment tomorrow." As he passed by the two females, he gently patted the girl's hair, "Rest well, child."
The girl smiled shyly up at him and nodded silently before ducking behind Amira's leg once more. Malik laughed quietly and then continued on his way towards his room. Altair studied the pair with a slight smile, noting the fond expression that had already etched itself on Amira's features as she interacted with the child. Amira handed the young girl the clothes that Malik had left out and shooed her into the bath to change. She heaved a small sigh once the girl was out of earshot and her shoulders slumped, earning a frown from Altair.
"What's wrong?" he asked baldly and she sighed once more before looking up at him.
"I have no idea what to do with her."
Altair chuckled quietly as he wrapped his arms around her, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead as he did so. "We protect her and give her a safe home to grow up in."
Amira's gray eyes flickered up to meet his golden ones in surprise. "Yeah?"
"Yeah." The word sounded strange coming from him, as did so many of hers, but with that one word, he felt her relax against his chest.
"Thank you, Altair." She murmured in relief. For a moment, she had been afraid he would reject her plan of taking care of the girl, but a glance up at his handsome face told her otherwise.
"I would kill any man who dared to lay a hand on either of you. If you wish to have her become your ward, then I will protect her alongside you." His golden eyes were serious as he spoke and Amira's breath caught for a moment as she stared up at him. The sound of the door clicking open made her jerk away from him abruptly, a bright flush stealing across her cheeks as she did so.
"You look much better now that you're all cleaned up." Amira said hurriedly, trying to cover her embarrassment. The girl smiled at her and then yawned broadly before shyly glancing at the pair before her. "I think she's ready to go to sleep for a bit." Altair commented with a faint smile and Amira nodded in agreement.
The girl settled down on the bed that Malik had made up for her and Amira gently kissed her on the top of her head as she said goodnight. "I promise I'll be nearby if you need me, okay?" she said quietly and the girl nodded tiredly, her dark eyes slipping shut wearily as sleep claimed her.
When Amira slipped out of the room, she gave a soft yelp of surprise as she found herself being lifted up suddenly. A smile twisted on Altair's curved lips as he looked down at the surprised woman he held in his arms and he turned and made his way back into the main room, ignoring her protests as he did so.
"Put me down, Altair!" Amira objected and Altair laughed quietly.
"Why?"
"Because…because I don't know why you're carrying me!" she finally retorted, her voice a soft hiss in the silence of the bureau.
"I felt like it. Malik made me realize some important facts that I've been trying to ignore."
"Such as?" Amira questioned, but Altair merely shook his head with a grin and deposited her on their usual cushions.
"You can't say something like that and then leave me hanging!" Amira protested, earning a laugh from the other assassin. He pressed a sudden kiss to her forehead as he settled down beside her, closing his eyes with a sigh and she thumped him with her pillow in annoyance. "You are an infinitely frustrating man, you know that?" she groused and he grinned in response, his eyes still closed.
Amira debated hitting him again with the pillow just for good measure, but after a moment, settled back down on the cushions with a sigh. "You're impossible." Again, that frustratingly amused grin crossed his lips and she snorted in feigned annoyance before she curled against him with a heavy sigh.
"Altair?" she asked after a moment and heard his acknowledging rumble from behind her. "Where do we go from here? I'm not a parent, I don't know what to do with a child. I'm just an idiot who acts before she thinks."
The uncertainty that had crept into her voice brought him back to full wakefulness and he pulled her gently against his chest. "You're not an idiot." He said quietly, "You saw a child in need and acted. The fact that you did what few in this city would have done only makes me…" he trailed off hesitantly, "You're not alone in this. I'll be standing right next to you, no matter what. And as for where we go, I don't know. But I know that whatever we choose, we will choose what is best."
His words calmed her and he felt her tensed muscles relax. The gentle puff of his breath against the back of her neck made her shiver and he snaked an arm around her waist as he pulled her against him and she nestled against his warm bulk. Her last thoughts before darkness overtook her were focused on what he had stopped himself from saying.
A/N: Soooo…It's been a while, hasn't it? This one took forever to get right and I'm still not 100% happy with it, but at this point, I think if I rework it any more, I'll end up deleting the whole chapter and then we'll never get anywhere! Hopefully it wasn't too terrible and at least a few of you out there liked it. I wanted to give them a bit of happiness before it all starts to really hit the fan here in the next few chapters. I'm still working on this, I promise! To those of you who are just not joining this adventure of mine, welcome! To those of you who have been around for a while, thank you so, so much for being patient with me. I truly am appreciative of those of you who have stuck around and those of you who are just now finding this and liking it. I promise to try and do at least a chapter a month (depending on work and overtime) to try and get my act together. Thanks for reading!
