A/N – Hello, friends! It's been a while :)

Captain Marvel really had me thinking about Marvel femslash and the lack of it. So… I opened up my dusty Sekhmet files and went to work.

That I've also gotten several amazing, really uplifting PMs from readers lately has been a huge encouragement. Thank you!

First off, I know I made a big deal about changing AoU's plot. I really expected that movie to be some apocalyptic shit. When it wasn't, and we got this half-assed shit with a villain who could have been rated-R terrifying, I was pretty pissed. As Sekhmet progressed, my ideas for Ultron kept changing. Now that I've seen Infinity War and Captain Marvel, I'm okay with AoU not being so devastating. I'm still angry they slapped such bullshit on film tho. Anyway… All that indecision was mostly why I stopped updating this fic.

I was also originally going to go with jealous Emily. The whole Nat/Bruce subplot thing, but my version of Nat would've been going for a platonic fellow monster friend, and Emily totally misreading it because of her insecurities. Honestly, I'm really glad the story has evolved differently.

Long story short, I'm no longer planning any big changes. This way Sekhmet keeps moving forward. I doubt that I'll continue once I complete my original goal, but there's a possibility. Who knows. Emily would love to meet Okoye. And I think it'd be hilarious for Shuri to call Tony a colonizer in front of Emily. She'd laugh her ass off. He'd be embarrassed af. Everyone would be happy.


Chapter 51

Party

The excuse that they ended up using was that Emily was home. Two months safe. Sam happened to call and when Steve explained about the party, war vets were suggested. For Patriot's Day, aka 9/11. Invite some of the leaders of local vets associations. Steve hopped right on that. Probably as an excuse to avoid everyone heckling him about the date he'd been set up on. In a week. Mandy had previous commitments the night of the party.

The guest list was a lot longer than Emily liked. Tony's bestie Colonel Rhodes and Sam were givens. New York's mayor, some of his friends, and a couple of the better behaved reporters. Dr. Cho. Bucky's lead lawyer. Lizzie, Kyle, and Bram. Emily's brothers. Jane Foster.

Thor was severely bummed when his girlfriend chose to remain in another country, studying the stars and what might attack Earth from them instead of coming to a party just to see Thor. Emily chose not to mention her thoughts that Jane was probably not interested in continuing the tryst that had started several years ago, yet left to cool when Thor vanished off the face of the Earth. Literally. Jerk move, dude-bro. Not godly at all. Well, okay, sure if you're an ass for a god like Zeus. Be a better god.

The list only got more exhausting as people were added who would be insulted by being left out of celebrating Sekhmet's safe return. More politicians, military types, and all-around strangers. Then there was Maria Hill, who apparently worked in the tower. How had Emily never known this?

"Just because I work here doesn't mean I'm always here when you are, Fortune. Or that I feel the need to socialize." Hill stated indifferently. "I also spend a good deal of time assisting Ms. Potts w-"

"Mrs. Stark!" Tony shot in from a huddle of other guests. Eavesdropper.

Hill rolled her eyes. "With managing her corporate spies."

"Pepper has spies?" Emily blurted out.

Hill stared at her for half a second before shifting her disdain to Natasha. "This is the one you picked?"

An arm slipped around Emily's waist and lips pressed to her cheek. "She is."

Both Emily and Hill were a little stunned by Natasha's simple response. Satisfaction smiled at them both.

"I suppose she does have some worthwhile traits to make up for her obliviousness." Hill grunted around her champagne glass.

Emily lifted her chin and with as much hauteur as she could muster, "I'm adorable."

Champagne spewed from Hill's nose. "Dammit, Fortune!" Hill cursed as she cupped hand under her nose and went in blind search of napkins.

Laughter, happy, raucous laughter bellowed out of Emily, drawing the attention of half the party. More than a few faces stared in shock. Silly happiness hadn't happened on Emily since she'd come back from Russia. At the memory and the overwhelming amount of people looking at her, she withdrew, tucking herself into Natasha's side as much as possible.

Natasha rubbed her arm. "Need some air?"

"Please."

There was a gaggle of wrinkly war vets blocking the elevator with their war stories. One in a uniform that sagged on his bony frame noticed Emily coming and swatted his friends aside. The men stood at attention as she walked by. She met the eyes of one, and he gave a friendly, understanding wink.

Air seemed to rush into Emily's lungs the moment they were on the quiet roof. Her body sagged against Natasha, then the chair she was steered to. "I'm sick of feeling like this." She muttered to the sunset.

"I know," was Nat's soft reply. She hovered, not taking the nearby chair, her eyes darting to the broad cushion that Emily only took up half of. Tony believed in huge, enormously comfy chairs. They littered the part of the roof that wasn't taken up by landing pads for the Iron Man or the quinjet or the helicopter. Or the extensive bar.

Emily shifted to one side of the chair, pat the empty space. "Sit with me," barely got out before Natasha was slipping into place. Worry tightened the skin around her eyes. Exhaustion threatened below them. Emily found a hand to tangle hers with and scanned Nat. "Need a nap, mommy Natalia?"

Curls drifted over her shoulder as Natasha rested her head. She let out a yawn. The last of the sunset's light flashed off the ruby necklace at her throat.

Emily hadn't been tired, but she found herself yawning and closing her eyes. "Jarvis, give us an hour alarm?" She asked. The party might be a little quieter by then.

"Of course, Ms. Fortune."

A quiet hum came from Natasha. Her hand tightened in Emily's. "I love you."

"And I love you, little fox."
"Moya Emilishka," was little more than a sleepy whisper.

"Petit renard," puffed out. The sun gave up its sleepy battle. Emily's eyelids quickly followed suit.


Their alarm came in the form of a happily married couple squealing over how cute the two of them were. Emily blinked awake to Kyle making cooing noises like he would for a baby. Lizzie laughed at whatever face Emily made.

Natasha gave no sign of having been surprised. She simply opened her eyes with a bored expression. "Yes?"

"How the shit do you do that?" Lizzie demanded.

"Maybe she's an android." Kyle supplied. "From the far future."
"We've seen aliens and you're worried about Skynet and Terminators?" Lizzie slapped his arm.

He shrugged. "Hey, if aliens are real, then AIs with a grudge against humanity could be a thing too."

"Ass."

"I've seen Nat's insides. She's all squishy human." Emily returned. "If there's Terminators out there, I'm not the John Connor they're looking for."
Kyle sniggered. Lizzie rolled her eyes.

Natasha kissed her. "You okay for a sec?"

Emily nodded as she sensed Nat's need for the bathroom. "I'm good." The image of a hugely pregnant Nat popped up, doing the potty dance because there was a baby sitting on her bladder and she needed to pee for the third time in an hour. She grinned.

Eyes narrowed at her grin for a breath. "No. I don't want to know." And Natasha glided off toward the bar where a little bathroom was stashed.

Hugs were in order. Emily popped up to grab first Kyle, then Lizzie. "I've missed you guys."
"You probably haven't had the energy to." Lizzie argued even as she pecked Emily's cheek. "But I appreciate the sentiment."

She wasn't wrong.

"Mom sent me with some of that chai tea you like. She had a cousin mail it to her. It's in one of those locked cabinets." Lizzie said.

"A locked one?" Emily asked.
"Yea. That Jarvis bot o-"
"I am an artificial intelligence, Mrs. Young." Jarvis entered the conversation, his voice coming from a speaker at the bar. "Not a robot."

Cruel amusement laughed at how Lizzie and Kyle jumped, their eyes going wide.

Lizzie glared at her.

"Apologize to Jarvis, Lizzie." Emily chided.

"Apologize?" blinked at her.

Emily nodded.

"Oh." The muscles of her mouth worked uselessly for a few breaths. A darted glance to the visible camera and Lizzie sighed. Her spine straightened. "Jarvis, I apologize for my ignorance, and I hope I didn't insult you."

There wasn't an immediate response, though Emily swore she heard the speaker crackle. Lizzie looked at her. Kyle shifted on feet.

"Thank you, Mrs. Young." Jarvis' tone was awed. Few people offered respectful behavior toward Jarvis, thinking that he was little more than a glorified Siri. Honestly, Emily hadn't thought much of it, until now, when she'd been insulted for her disembodied friend. "I appreciate the sentiment, though it was not necessary. I was not insulted."

A slow smile of understanding dawned on Lizzie. "No. I should have been more aware of what I said. Emily always speaks highly of you, and you've been a big help in her life. Even though I don't exactly understand what you are, you deserve to be treated with respect."

"You are a compassionate woman, Mrs. Young. Thank you."

"And you can call me Lizzie like everyone else, Jay." She blinked. "Is it okay if I call you that? I heard Mr. Stark use it earlier."

"I do not mind that nickname." A pause. "Lizzie."

"Cool. And thank you for your help with Em's tea. You'll tell her how to find it later, right?"

"Of course, Lizzie." There was definitely a smile in his voice.

Warmth was directed at his camera.

Nat chose that moment to reappear. "What'd I miss?"
"An interesting discussion, Romanoff." Jarvis supplied. "I apologize, but there is a pressing matter that I must attend. Perhaps Ms. Fortune can update you."
"Sure, Jarvis." Emily waved at the door. "See you."

"Goodbye."

Lizzie's gaze jumped from Emily to the door to the speaker and camera. Her face twisted. Then she shrugged and brought up her mom, how she was now nagging about grandchildren. Then their families in general, mutual friends, that Kyle wanted a dog -another dog, they already had two goofy labs. The entire time, Emily could feel that they were winding up to tell her goodbye. They were tired and had to get up early for their redeye flight home. Both had responsibilities back home they'd only stepped away from for a day just to visit Emily.

Goodbyes were eventually announced, and Emily delayed them by grasping their hands and hopping in the elevator with them. Tears prickled at the corner of her eyes, made Lizzie tug her close. A small bag and Lizzie's purse were retrieved from the security desk. The trio hovered.

Those tears escaped, streaming over Emily's cheeks and when Lizzie threw them into a tight hug, they soaked into soft pink fabric.

"I miss you so much." Emily hissed into her shoulder. "I'm so tired of living in the spotlight."

"I know," whispered back.

"I wish I could rewind time and stop Pierce. Nat could've taken the time to keep our secrets safe when she exposed HYDRA."

Lizzie rubbed her back. "I'm glad you don't still blame her for it."

Reminded of how angry she'd been at Natasha, Emily tensed. A breath later, she sighed. "She did it to save a lot of lives. I would've done the same thing." Maybe hesitated a little longer, but eventually, she would've put the lives of millions over her own, even over the few hundred SHIELD agents who'd been left out to dry when their covers and ops were exposed. Luckily, Nat and Fury and Coulson had managed to protect a good many of them.

"Because you're an amazing woman who needs to help other people." Lizzie agreed. "Just like that fox of yours." She pulled back a little. "That loyal, loving, and ridiculously stubborn fox of yous."

"You say that like she moved mountains to hunt for me." Emily had a lopsided grin.

Lizzie glanced at the nearby security guards. Her expression went serious and her body rigid as she put her lips to Emily's ear. "My cousin told me that he did his best to make up for not being able to help when you went missing. It's out of HYDRA's hands now? That thing Loki used to control people? That's what this party is really for, right?"

Emily managed to nod. Ragged breaths panted over her neck for a minute. Fingers dug into her. Lizzie's body practically vibrated with emotion until she sucked in a long gulp, let it go slowly. The tension in her body evaporated, and she stepped back with a smile.

"Good."
"Yea," puffed out of Emily.

"Oh my god!" Lizzie squeaked, suddenly all giddy schoolgirl. "We met Thor, Kyle!"

Lizzie's fangirl high infected Emily, and she squealed with her. "I know!"

They went on for a few moments until Kyle coughed. He wore an apologetic smiled. "We really need to get going or we'll miss our flight."

Stupid separate lives. Emily sighed, gave tight hugs, and skipped to the elevator. She waggled her fingers in a final goodbye as the doors closed.

The elevator car was passing the labs when she felt something odd. "Jarvis, stop the elevator."

There wasn't a response. She frowned at the increasing numbers.

"Jarvis?"

Nothing.

She hit the stop button. "Jarvis?" At the continued lack of response, she considered getting Tony and thought better of it. Maybe the mic in the elevator was just buggy tonight. She tapped the number for where she'd felt the… oddness. At the top lab floor, she started to get out and stopped. She had the distinct feeling that something or someone was calling out to her. From farther down. Another floor felt the same. The next was where she knew Loki's scepter was.

She groaned. Was the scepter calling to her? That could not be good. She hesitated, debating on going back up for Tony, Natasha, and the others. Behind her, the elevator doors closed, and she squeaked in alarm.

"Fucking dammit," spit out of her. Heart in her throat, she rolled her eyes. "Jarvis?" She tried again. Still nothing. Now, she was worried. The automatic lights had come on in the little lobby, so she wasn't standing in the dark, but there was an eerie gloom beyond the foggy glass doors of the workshop. Hell, she didn't even know if she was authorized to traipse around Tony's playroom by herself.

She whirled and got back on the elevator. A couple politicians pinned her as soon as she stepped out on the party level. Her nerves already jangled, she was about to shove or kick or bite her way away from them when Kevin and Alan appeared. Alan smoothly interrupted while Kevin physically put himself between Emily and them. They steered the politicians into the elevator and sent them on their way. Several stumbling war vets, being helped along by Cap and Thor, made their way down as well. Emily blinked around. The party was basically over.

"You guys are leaving now too?" Emily whined at her brothers. They were supposed to stay for a couple days!

"I just got an emergency call." Kevin's soft tone was apologetic. "One of my patients, she's got suicidal tendencies and attempted tonight."

"Oh. Shit."

"Yea." He nodded. "I need to be there for her and her parents."

"I was just going to go to bed early." Alan yawned. "I've been keeping adult hours lately."

What time was it? Was it even eleven?

"How do you do it, Kev?" Alan complained. "Mornings are shit."

Kevin snorted. "Mornings are amazing. You used to rave about staying up to watch the sunrise."

"Yea well. Waking up to a sunrise is shit."

"But it's worth it, right?" Emily asked about his business, the one he was working so hard to grow, to do something he was proud of, passionate about.

A dorky smile washed over him. "Yea." The smile went stubborn. "Just wish mornings weren't involved."

Proud of him, Emily squeezed out the tightest hug she could, switched brothers and repeated. "All right, you two. Go do the adult things."

Faces beaming, chests puffed, backs straight, they bid her goodbye and vanished into the elevator. The two bartenders that had kept the party lubricated followed in their wake. Abruptly, the only people left were the Avengers and Dr. Cho, who was drunkenly smiling at Bruce, who was blushing at the floor. Aww.

Natasha appeared. "Kevin told me he was leaving early. Guess the tourist thing is just with Al tomorrow."

"Yea." Be better if Laura was still around, guilt trip Clint into sharing his family with hers. Oh man, that'd be fun. Holidays at the farm with both their families.

"Want to come sit now that the party's quieted?" Natasha gestured at a huddle of couches near the bar. Several pairs of eyes darted toward them. Bright smiles encouraged Emily.

Tony obviously wasn't concerned about whatever was happening in his lab or with Jarvis, so she nodded and threaded her and Natasha's hands together. "Okay." She found a plush, empty chair and plopped into it, dragged Nat into her lap. Damn it felt good.

Smiling, Natasha leaned back and kissed her softly.

"Romanoff, have you had your one drink for the night?" Tony asked from behind the bar. He handed the drink he'd just finished pouring to Hill.

"Yes, Tony." Natasha answered.

"Spoilsport. What're you having tonight, Fortune?"

She wasn't really feeling alcohol right now, but she could go for something sweet. "How about a milkshake?"

Tony eyed her. "There isn't any ice cream up here." He glanced at Clint. "Unless bird-boy stashed some that I don't know about."

"Nope!" chirped out. Clint half-rose. "I could get some."

"No," puffed out though she was smiling at his offer. "Fruit smoothie?"

"One or two?"

"I'll help Em with hers." Natasha replied.

"Since when do you only have one drink at parties, Romanoff?" Hill demanded a little sloppily. Her cheeks were bright pink, and her eyes slightly unfocused.

"How drunk are you, Hill?" Natasha returned.

Dark eyes narrowed. "Not nearly as drunk as you should be."

Tony's mouth opened and closed. Aw. Emily cooed silently. Tony was being good and keeping the little bean a secret.

"Romanoff is with child!" Thor boomed happily.

The drink that Hill had raised to her mouth abruptly spewed everywhere. Drunks jumped and squirmed, trying to get out of the way, but at least a few drops got on everyone.

"Thor." Natasha said calmly. "It's supposed to be a secret."

"Oh. Well." He coughed. "My apologies."

"Congrats, ladies!" Rhodes chirped into the silence. "A toast," his glass jumped into the air, splashing a little off the side.

"They don't have a drink yet, Rhodie." Tony called from the bar. He dropped blueberries into the blender and turned it on. Its loud whizzing and crunching drowned whatever Rhodes mumbled as he sat back down.

Frustration bubbled through Natasha, and Emily kissed a shoulder blade. "It'll be okay." Emily whispered.

"One virgin drink for the two and a half of you." Tony came around the bar to hand it to them.

"Thanks." Emily sucked down an icy mouthful. "Yum."

"You aren't joking." Hill stared at them.

"Hm?" Natasha questioned.

Hill took a moment to glance around before settling on Natasha. "You're pregnant."

Natasha shrugged. "Yes."

"But," Hill frowned between them. "How?"

"Didn't your mom ever give you the birds and bees?" Natasha drawled.

"Don't give me that shit." Hill growled. "You were sterile."

Despite the heavy tension that had grown with the former Deputy Director of SHIELD's odd interrogation, Emily burst into laughter. "Someone forgot why Fury hired me."

Hill's well-defined jaw struggled, the muscles and tendons popping in an odd dance.

"Really not that hard to forget that Fortune's a walking miracle." Tony chuckled. "Speaking of miracles, what's this about no one being able to lift the hammer except you, Thor?"

Conversation successfully diverted, Natasha allowed the tension to drain from her.

"Mjolnir can only be lifted by the worthy, Stark. Go ahead. Try if you like." Lounging without a care in the world, Thor gestured at his hammer. It rested on the glass table top. Couldn't be that heavy, said her brain. Except that all the lore said that only Thor could wield his hammer.

Try Tony did. Then Rhodes. Then both of them, with jet-powered gloves. Nothing. Didn't budge an inch. Dr. Cho gave it a whirl. Clint grinned and rolled his shoulders and strained until he was purple. Bruce, of course, waved off Thor's challenge.

"What the hell." Hill snorted, tried her damnedest, and failed. She went to make herself another drink.

Bucky laughed and failed spectacularly.

Rolling up his sleeves, grin sheepish, Steve stepped up to the plate. It felt like the entire room held its breath, leaned forward to watch. If anyone was worthy of Thor's hammer, it would be Steve, right? He was everything that Viking legend glorified. Strength, honor, selflessness, warrior's spirit. His vast chest and shoulders strained without success. He shrugged good-naturedly and went back to his spot.

Natasha gracefully declined trying. Emily squealed and jumped for her chance, basically shoving Nat off her, earning herself a slap on the arm.

"Someone's excited." Clint quipped.

She stuck her tongue out. Quickly, though, she found a case of nerves and glanced at Natasha for support. Nat smiled.

Okay. Emily wrapped both hands around the hilt, was surprised by how warm it was despite the air conditioning. Maybe it was from all the hands grabbing at it tonight. There was also, something else, something almost like what she'd felt down in the labs earlier. She really should ask about it. "Tony," she turned to him.

An ear-splitting shriek cut through the air. It slammed her jaw shut, made her cover her ears and tremble. Even as the pain assaulted her, she decided the shriek was more like an out of control dial-up internet connection. Disturbingly digital. What the fuck could be making this noise? Was her nose or ears bleeding? Her brain felt like it was melting!

It stopped so suddenly that she was left swaying. She vaguely registered Natasha was standing in front of her. As she blinked away the tears, she noted the team shifting to battle stances and facing the same way. Heavy metal clanking echoed through the room. Something unnatural lumbered into view. What? Was that Iron Man? No. It was one of Tony's Iron Legion, the robots he came up with to help keep collateral damage at a minimum. Emily wasn't sure they were actually effective. Public opinion was neutral on them too.

Her current opinion was terror. The legionnaire in front of them was trailing wires and tubes and fluid. It looked like a bleeding skeleton.

"Woooorthy?" It asked in an unnervingly digital tone, like someone using shitty internet on a vid call. Emily's fine hairs stood up on end. Chills chased each other along her nerves.

"If by worthy, you mean blood-thirsty murderers, then yea. Okay sure. You're worthy."

"Stark?" Steve demanded. What was he playing at? Was this some bad party prank?

"Jarvis?" Tony prompted.

As before, there was no response. Emily's stomach dropped. She glanced around for the nearest locked cabinet. There were several that contained various weaponry for just this, well, maybe not exactly this scenario, but whatever. There were guns. She felt Natasha angle slightly and followed the direction of her shoulder to barely-visible seams in the wall.

"Sorry. I was asleep," the not-man, not-robot creation sounded confused. "Or I was a dream." Its arm went up defensively. "There was a terrible noise, and I was tangled and... Hnn." Mangled robot feet stumbled a circle as though he was searching for words or whatever ailed it. Not an it. Him. His voice had settled into an organic timbre, definitely masculine. He seemed to focus on his dangling wires. "Strings. I was tangled and had to kill the other guy. He was a good guy."

Who was dead?

"You killed someone?" Steve asked for them again.

"Wouldn't have been my first call, but..." He kept going, yet Emily had stopped listening to the words. The robot sounded like Tony. Not the timbre or West Coast accent, but the nuances, the constant undertone of rude-joke. The scary fucking robot sounded like Tony. Why did it sound like Tony? Her too easily roused anger flared. She wanted to scream and slap him silly.

"Who sent you?" Thor this time.

The robot canted its head, and what sounded like a tape rewinding preceded Tony's distinct voice. "I see a suit of armor around the world."

Tony's expression went from worried and confused to guilty and afraid.

"Ultron." Sudden awareness from Bruce.

Bruce too? Natasha's body bumped into hers, forcing both of them back toward the cabinet. A small handgun had appeared in Hill's hands. Mjolnir was in Thor's. Cho, like Emily, was being pushed off to the side as everyone else was eyeing their routes toward weapons.

"I'm on a mission." Ultron stated.

"What mission?"

"Peace in our time."

The expected fight exploded into the room, and Emily dove behind a couch with Natasha, who slapped her palm to the wall. Illusion of innocent wall vanished, was replaced with a security scanner that buzzed Nat's palm for a few ugly seconds before giving a green authorized message. Two shotguns were pulled out. A box of shells. Nat shoved two shells in and was firing at… holy shit, when did more legionnaires show up? The bar exploded, glass and alcohol spraying everywhere.

"Emily. Focus." Natasha barked.

Right. She started shoving shells into the shotgun. When it was grabbed away and an empty replaced it, she didn't argue, didn't look around. She reloaded so Natasha could protect them.

Maybe five minutes later, the fight was over, the place littered with broken glass and furniture. About the only thing not wrecked was the piano. Natasha looked frazzled, but not injured. No one seemed to be bleeding.

"That was dramatic." The robot skeleton -Ultron- rubbed his metal head. "I'm sorry. I know you mean well. You just didn't think it through." Think what through? Emily shoved the last shell into the shotgun."You want to protect the world, but you don't want it to change. How is humanity saved if it's not allowed to evolve?" He bent, picked up the remains of a legionnaire. "With these?" He sneered. "These puppets?" It was tossed aside as though it was a broken toy, and he a spoiled child. "There's only one path to peace. The Avengers extinction."

At that final threat, Mjolnir crashed into Ultron's chest. Its parts bounced like tires from a car accident, but it didn't stop talking. Its voice lost some of its organic quality, garbled in digital death. "I had strings, but now I'm freeeee..." Was that, Emily stopped breathing, was that a song? Was that fucking Pinocchio's theme song? How many times had Alan watched that as a kid? A few thousand?

"Tony!" Like she had yelled at her little brothers, like Laura sometimes barked at her kids when they were being naughty, "Why does one of your legionnaires want to be a real boy?"

Sitting on the stairs, he reacted like Alan would have. Guilty, yet righteous in his own mind. "This wasn't what we had planned."

"What is she talking about? Explain yourself, Stark." Thor roared, his princely rage outmatching Tony's petulance.

"Was that all of the legionnaires?" Natasha was asking.

Eyes flew around the thrashed room, counting broken shells. The team compared numbers, and Tony confirmed it. All of them. He stood, his gaze on Banner. "We weren't even done building his program."

"But y-" Thor cut off at the sound of engines. They glanced out the window in to see an Iron Suit taking off. Thor growled and swung his hammer. He shot through the windows, hot on the suit's trail.

"This isn't my fault." Tony was whispering.

Emily took the time to suck in air, to calm her heart and unclench her fists. "Tony."

"We weren't even finished." He pouted.

"Explain. Now."


A/N - Please review! And good luck at Endgame!