Not So Straightforward.

For the first time in weeks, Arietta woke with a smile; Alistair was at her side, here with her and she finally didn't feel so hopeless. She snuggled into him, feeling the heat of his body pressed against hers; he moaned softly in answer, drawing her closer, and kissed the top of her head, inhaling her scent with a contented sigh.

"Morning," he said, drowsiness making his voice quiet and muffled.

"Morning," she said in reply, smiling brightly up at him.

He arched a brow, a goofy smile on his face. "You realise you're fighting darkspawn today, right? Why are you smiling?"

"Because I have you at my side."

"Does that mean I'm coming with you to the lair?" he asked hopefully.

She sighed. "I… don't know. Alistair, it could be dangerous – no, it will be dangerous."

"Staying here could be just as dangerous; you fear an attack, do you not?"

"I do. But I know there will be danger at the lair. It's a huge risk, love."

He pushed his lip out in a little pout that made her heart flutter. "We fight better together; I'll only worry if I'm not with you."

"And I will worry if you are with me; I'll be watching you and not the fight."

He rubbed his face, fingers scraping over the stubble on his jaw. "You really don't want me there?" he asked, unable to hide the hurt in his voice.

She bit her lip. "It isn't about wanting you there or not; we have to be smart. You will be safer here, at the Keep, than with me going into this Maker-forsaken lair. Anything could happen out there, and Ferelden cannot lose its king."

"Nor can it lose its queen," he said softly, fingers brushing her hair away from her face.

She cupped his hand with her own. "It won't, you won't. I'll have Neri watching my back."

"She is rather good at the whole killing darkspawn thing…" he admitted.

"And at protecting people," Arietta reassured him.

"Still, I don't like being side-lined; I came here to help."

"And you have, love. I won't be fighting the Mother to get rid of a threat; I will be fighting her so I can get back to you sooner. Trust me, that's much better motivation," she said before she kissed him softly.

He pulled her closer to him, deepening the kiss with a groan. "Then you better not leave me waiting long."

She smiled, shaking her head. "I won't. I promise."

Max took a deep breath as he pulled the last strap tight on Rafael's armour. Despite the brave face he was putting on, he was nervous, now more than ever. Rafael was going off to face Maker only knew what, while Max had to stay at the Keep. He was going to be a bag of nerves waiting around all day for them to return. He wished he could go with them, but Arietta needed two mages at the Keep, just in case. He let out the long drawn out sigh. He hoped the Keep wouldn't get attacked too, but the Commander seemed to think it was inevitable.

"Not so certain about our chances now, hm?" Rafael said with a smirk.

"I can be nervous and certain, you know."

Rafael turned to face him, a smile breaking across his face. "Try not to destroy your lip worrying about me," he said as he pulled Max's lip away from his teeth. Max hadn't even realised he was biting on it, and he let out a breathy laugh.

"I'll try." He sighed. "I hate it when we're apart."

"As do I. It won't be for long, though."

"It better not be. Go there. Kill the mother. Come home. No dawdling."

Rafael grinned. "Yes, Ser."

Max smirked. "And give me a goodbye kiss."

"I should let you take charge more often," Rafael husked before kissing him softly, pushing him back against the wall of their rooms. Max moaned, lost to the feel of those hot soft lips against his. It was a kiss of promises, of hope, of love. But it was over far too soon as Rafael pulled back, leaving Max wanting more. "We will resume that once I return."

Max groaned, resting his head against his lover. "This is going to be a really long day."

Rafael chuckled breathily. "I will make it up to you tonight."

"Oh, cheers. Now I'm gonna be nervous and hard all day."

Rafael grinned, kissed him on the nose and then headed for the door. "You coming to see me off, or what?"

"There's an innuendo there somewhere," Max laughed as he joined him at the door, taking his hand.

"Oh Sigrun, for shame," Neri said, holding back a snicker.

"Eh, I've had worse," the dwarf replied, smirking. "I could hear you and Anders even over Oghren's grunts."

Neri snorted. "Is that a good or a bad thing?"

"I think it made him try harder, actually. So mostly good."

Neri cackled as they walked down the corridor together.

"So does that mean you're going back for round two?" she asked the little dwarf.

"I… don't know. I guess we'll see if we survive the next few days first."

"You've got it easy; you get to kick back and relax here, while the rest of us traipse around a barren, probably boggy, wasteland trying to kill an ugly talking Broodmother. I know where I'd rather be."

"Yeah, but I'm stuck here with Oghren while he wanders around grinning and muttering 'I still got it, oh yeeeah.'"

Neri snorted. "I've always wondered what dwarves are like down there."

"Pretty much like you'd expect: short, stout, often smelly and bearded."

"Well, that sounds… kinda gross, actually."

Sigrun laughed. "Just as gross as you elves being all hairless, I should think."

"Not a fan of baby soft skin, Sig?"

The dwarf chuckled. "I prefer hard muscle, scars and a thick mane of hair."

"I won't invite you to bed with me and Anders any time soon then," Neri joked as she shoved the doors open to the outside yard and left Sigrun to seek out those waiting at the gate to leave.

Neri had never seen the yard so busy with people all rushing around and preparing for what looked like all-out-war. And of course, at the centre of it all was Arietta, shouting out last minute commands as she prepared to lead their small group out to the lair.

The Commander looked regal, her long chestnut hair tied in a braid that fell down over her shoulder, bound with a bright blue ribbon, her Commander of the Grey helm tucked under one arm, the plate of her armour glistening in the early morning sun. Alistair was close by, the gold of his massive plate armour shining brightly too; his expression was grim, but it softened as he caught sight of Neri approaching.

"G'morning Kingy," Neri greeted him with a grin.

"Morning Slayer," he retorted.

She groaned but then started to smirk again. "So, you joining us?"

His shoulders slumped a little and she gave him a sympathetic smile. "How is it you always seem to miss the big fights?" she asked. "I seem to recall you being trapped inside a vault in Arl Eamon's Denerim estate back when old Archie attacked the city… and now you're gonna slouch around here while we have all the fun with Flabby-Eight-Tits."

He pouted slightly. "Hey, I wasn't trapped in the vault; I fled in there when half the horde came after me."

"Half the horde, riiiight," she drawled, smirking.

He mock-glared at her. "And Arietta and I agreed it was best if I stay here."

"More like, she convinced you to stay and you gave in."

"That's not –

"Admit it, you kinda like being bossed about by Arietta," Neri cut him off, grinning.

"No. Well yes, maybe a little," he said, blushing, "but that's not what happened."

"Uh-huh."

He folded his arms. "Just… promise me you'll keep her safe."

"Always."

He nodded. "Thank you."

She knocked her shoulder into his, grinning. "Quit worrying so much; we're going to kill everything, and then we're all going to come back here and drink and fuck. It'll be great!"

His eyes widened at that.

She laughed. "I don't mean like some giant orgy – although…"

"Neri!" he cried, a blush creeping up his neck.

"Right. No. Not that." She frowned slightly, tapping her chin with a finger. "Are you sure? You're very welcome…" she said with a smirk as she gave Alistair a side-long glance.

"I'm sure!"

She sighed. "Fine, fine. Be like that. But we're still having that party. Might need a bath first though. Broodmothers are pretty slimy... but then sex and drink!" She grinned at his exasperated expression. "I expect it to be all set up by the time we're back… Oh, and don't let Oghren drink all the alcohol."

He shook his head, rubbing his temple. "You know, somehow Neri, I don't think planning a party will be my top priority today."

"I suppose keeping an eye out for darkspawn can be number one… but the party should definitely be second."

He rolled his eyes and she smirked.

"Really though, stay safe," she said sincerely. "Arietta's gut is telling her the Keep is going to be attacked, and her gut is rarely wrong."

"I know," he said, sounding worried, a frown forming between his brows. "We'll be ready for anything."

"Anything?"

His eyes narrowed slightly and his back straightened. "Yes."

A grin stretched across her face. "So, what would you do if a couple of giants started rutting against the front gate?"

"Neri…" He rubbed at his temple, probably trying to wish her and her games away.

"What? It could happen!"

He ran a hand through his hair. "I guess we'd try to chase them off."

"How?"

"I cannot believe you are asking me this right now; no actually, I can, because it's you."

"It's important, Alistair; do try to take it a bit more seriously," she deadpanned.

"Right, because giants rutting against our front door are a very real threat here in Amaranthine. You know we don't have giants this side of the Frostbacks, right?"

"Hey, they said dragons were extinct but look how many we've killed. What's stopping giants from coming to Ferelden? They not a fan of the smell of wet dog or something?"

He chuckled. "You'll have to ask if you ever meet one."

"Let's hope I don't." She grinned. "Right, back to the important questions… what would you do if-"

"Neri, are you pestering my husband, again?" Arietta said from behind her.

Neri turned with an impish smile on her face, batting her lashes innocently. "Pestering is such a strong word."

"Mmhmm," Arietta said, sounding most unimpressed. "I hope you're ready to leave."

"Course I am. I'm a force mage; I can pretty much just roll out of bed and be ready to throw stuff around."

Arietta sighed. "Well, at least you're not in your night gown today."

Neri groaned. "I forgot you wanted me in the yard! And even in my bed clothes I still won that training match."

"You had one job all week -one: to train the soldiers against magic, and you forgot."

Neri held back a snicker. "Anders is really distracting!"

Arietta shook her head, a smile tugging at her lips despite her exasperation. "Speaking of Anders, where is he?"

Neri scoffed. "I think he was leaving some more 'schleets' lying around to scare Oghren with. We've been doing it all week… I'm pretty sure Oghren hasn't been able to have a drink since we put one in the store room. Poor thing," she said with a smirk.

Arietta shook her head. "One of these days I am going to sit you both down and make you play nice."

"We are playing nice."

Arietta sighed. "Just, go stand by the gate."

Neri huffed but stomped over to the gate anyway.

Finally everyone was in the yard and ready to go. Arietta glanced at them all; at the people she was leaving behind and the Wardens she was bringing with her to this wasteland to face one of her worst nightmares. Max was chewing on his lip, obviously nervous as he fussed over Rafael, Oghren was pestering poor Sigrun; he either had a twitch or he kept winking at her, Arietta couldn't tell which - maybe it was both. Velanna looked annoyed, but that wasn't really anything new; Arietta knew the elf had wanted to come with them so she could look for her sister, but Arietta didn't trust her to simply run off mid-fight if she spotted her. Olivia and Lenny were standing side by side, looking ready for just about anything, and Coline was standing a ways away, arms folded as if this entire thing was boring her. There were others too, of course; her soldiers, all clad in silverite armour – the mine Neri and the others had been trapped in had at least been good for something - and Varel and Maverlies were standing to attention as well.

She had Neri and Alistair on either side of her, Barkspawn and Anders not far away standing with Justice and Nathaniel, all of them looking eager to be done with this whole Broodmother business.

Arietta took a deep breath and stepped forward. "Alright you lot, I'm not going to give some big speech, not today. We're going out to take care of business because that's what Wardens do, and hopefully we'll be back before nightfall."

"For the party," Neri interrupted.

Arietta shot her a glare but then sighed. "Stay alert and do yourselves proud. We will see you all soon."

Varel stepped forward and Arietta shook his hand. "Take care of my Keep, Seneschal," she said with a smile.

"As long as you promise to come back in one piece, Commander."

"Deal," she said with a grin and a nod.

Neri sighed heavily – walking was really boring, especially when nobody was really talking. She picked up a big stick and Barkspawn started wagging his stumpy tail in excitement. "Go on then, fetch!" she shouted as she lobbed the stick through the air; her hound charged through the grass and disappeared from sight.

She carried on walking, staring up at the cloudy sky, grateful it wasn't all hot and sunny anymore. She smiled up at Anders who returned it and threaded her arm through his.

"Do you remember the songs we used to sing in the evenings in the Tower?" she asked

"Yeah – there was that one about the Templar with the crooked sword. How did that go?"

Neri opened her mouth to start singing but every other Warden turned around and said 'Don't' at the exact same time, making Anders chuckle.

Neri folded her arms and pouted. "You lot are so boring!"

"We have a mission we must complete," Justice droned at her.

"No need to be such a grumpy-pants about it," she muttered back.

"I do not have grumpy pants."

She sighed. "I didn't mean – wait, do you actually wear pants, Justice?"

The Spirit groaned.

"And if you do, do you change them regularly? Do they go in the wash with all of our stuff? Aren't they covered in… rot?"

"Please desist," the spirit pleaded.

"Yes, please do," Rafael growled as he picked up his pace to walk at the front with Arietta.

Neri ignored them. "Or do you just never change out of that armour?"

"It is wise to be prepared for anything; Kristoff was not prepared for a trap and it cost him his life."

"Right, but isn't sleeping in that heavy armour uncomfortable?"

"I do not feel discomfort."

"Hmm," she said as she stared pensively at him.

Justice glanced back at her. "What are you-" He frowned. "Stop whatever it is you are contemplating at once."

Neri tilted her head slightly, watching the spirit curiously. "So… you don't feel discomfort? Do you feel anything at all?"

"I think it may be wise to refrain from answering that," Nathaniel suggested.

"Agreed," Arietta said with a weary smile.

"I do not feel as you feel, no," Justice answered cautiously.

"Well that's interesting!" Neri's said enthusiastically with an innocent smile. "That's all of my questions for now, Justice."

The spirit gave her a small nod and turned back around.

Anders gave her a questioning look but she just smirked back. A few moments later, Neri grabbed a stone and tossed it at the back of the spirit's head, and then quickly looked away, whistling.

Justice turned to face her, scowling. "You there, elf. What was the meaning of that?"

"Hmm?" she asked innocently.

"You tossed a stone at my head."

"Oh, so you felt that then?"

He sighed. "I told you, I can feel, just not as you do-"

Barkspawn took that moment to return and Neri stopped in her tracks to stare down at his stupid face. He dropped a soggy boot at her feet and she crinkled her nose. "What is that?"

He barked.

"I threw a stick."

He wagged his tail.

"This is a soggy boot."

He barked again.

She put a hand on her hip. "What use is a soggy boot to me?"

He whined at her, giving her those damned puppy dog eyes of his.

She groaned. "At least find me a matching pair!"

He let out a happy yap and then bounded off into the field again.

She caught back up with Anders, who gave her a lopsided smile as she threaded her arm back through his. The rest of their group were silent; Rafael had stormed on ahead, clearly determined and probably rather pissed off – he still wasn't a fan of Justice - and Arietta was now chatting quietly to Nathaniel with Justice trailing just behind them.

It was boring.

"We left all the fun people back at the Keep," she sighed.

"Not true. We're both here," Anders replied with a smirk.

"Sounds like you have something specific in mind."

He grinned.

They stopped near a tree, resting under its shade as they took a drink from their canteens, Neri and Anders were laughing, doubled over with tears streaming down their faces, and both Rafael and Nathaniel looked severely unimpressed by whatever it was the two mages were giggling at.

Arietta stared out over the horizon; as far as she could see, the ground was barren, dry, with dead trees and the rubble of old ruins marring the landscape. They were nearing the wastes and the lair. It made her stomach tighten a little; thinking of Broodmothers always made her feel sick, but they would all be a little safer with this Mother dead, so a little discomfort now was worth it for the feeling of relief after.

Arietta turned to look back at her Wardens, realising something was very wrong. Neri and Anders were no longer laughing; Neri had moved away and was glaring at something beyond the treeline with Anders looking very concerned and already drawing his staff. Barkspawn began to growl and all of her Wardens, including herself, drew their weapons.

"Neri?" she asked quietly, stepping forward to stand at the elf's side.

Neri didn't answer, a deep frown on her face, head slightly tilted, like she was listening.

And then Arietta felt it: darkspawn. Her Wardens moved into a line, standing side by side, ready for a fight, but Neri just shook her head. "Your friends have come to say hello," she muttered, folding her arms across her chest.

Arietta scowled at that, but then four darkspawn came into view and Arietta swallowed; it was the four talking darkspawn she had met on the road. They approached, grinning, hands up in a sign of peace.

Arietta sheathed her daggers and stepped forward. "Why are you here?" she snapped at them.

"We be here to warn you," Dular, the alpha said. "The Mother be attacking your Keep."

Despite expecting it, Arietta's stomach still dropped. "I see," was all she replied.

"Do you?" Herak growled out.

"You must be saving it! The Wardens cannot be being defeated," Dular explained.

"Because then you wouldn't be able to use our blood, right?" Rafael retorted bitterly, his dagger still in his hand.

The emissary, Tethar, laughed loudly. "No, then there be only you five Wardens in all of Ferelden. The dead thing not be counting. That not be good." Justice made a slight huffing sound at the slight but otherwise remained silent.

"And many will die," Shakil, the genlock, added sombrely.

"How many in this army?" Arietta asked.

"Thousands," Dular replied.

Arietta began to pace. She believed her Keep could hold against that, for a time, but knowing they were in danger and ignoring them? Could she do that knowing Alistair and so many others were at the Keep? If something did happen to any of them, knowing she could have sent people back to help… she wasn't sure she would handle that kind of guilt well.

"The Mother sends her forces underground," Herak added, trying to relay the urgency of the situation.

Arietta scowled, shaking her head. "We've secured the Deep Roads entrances in the surrounding area."

The darkspawn shook its head. "They be knowing another entrance and be at your Keep very soon."

She grit her teeth; for all her careful planning… She sighed and then glanced at Neri, needing to know what the quiet elf was thinking.

"Thoughts?"

"They're not lying," Neri carefully replied, watching the darkspawn with a weary look on her face. "The Architect is close to the lair; that is how he knows her plans." Her jaw twitched as she paused to think. "The Mother still has a lot of darkspawn ready to protect her… but less than we would have faced had she not split her army."

"Less for us to fight, but now more lives are in danger because of it," Arietta sighed, running a hand through her hair.

"The Keep will hold," Nathaniel pointed out. "The Mother should be our priority; crush her and we crush her darkspawn, send them running back to the Deep Roads."

"We can't ignore the army at our doorstep, though," Arietta said with a sigh. "That is a lot of darkspawn; many lives will be lost with them all roaming across the surface."

"And we don't know for sure that these darkspawn will go back to the Deep Roads once the Mother is killed," Rafael pointed out. "If some are sentient, they could lead the army elsewhere… They need to be destroyed."

They were all quiet a moment, but slowly one by one, Arietta realised people were looking to Neri. She seemed to realise it as well.

"Say the word," Neri said quietly. "And I'll go back."

Arietta glanced at her. "I told you I didn't want you using-"

"I won't. Not unless I have to. Even with just my force magic, I am still your best bet at hitting that army hard up the arse." There was a tiny smirk at her lips; if there was one thing Neri was good at, it was killing darkspawn. They all knew it, but Arietta still wasn't sure if it was the right, or the wise, thing to do.

"Neri, you can't take on an entire army alone!" Anders cried out.

"She won't be alone. I'll go back with her," Rafael said softly. "I can't fight the Mother knowing Max is in real danger," he added, explaining.

"You and your little dagger will help her fight an entire army? That's not going to end badly at all," Anders droned. Despite his sarcasm Arietta could tell he was terrified of losing Neri.

"I only meant I would watch her back," Rafael snapped. "Stop anything getting near her while she casts."

"I have faced an army several times before and survived, you know," Neri interrupted, eyebrow arched.

"That doesn't make this any less dangerous!"

"We be going too!" Tethar shouted joyfully, pointing at himself and Dular. The alpha stepped forward a big grin on its face as it nodded.

They all looked at the darkspawn completely dumbfounded.

"Shakil and I be accompanying you to the lair, Commander," Herak explained.

"We be helping!" Shakil agreed happily.

Arietta looked to Neri but the elf just shrugged, looking utterly confused. "Don't look at me; you're the one who befriended them."

"I didn't befriend them," Arietta hissed back as she pulled Neri further away from the darkspawn to talk to her.

Neri smiled. "Feed a stray and they'll keep coming back."

"I didn't feed them!"

"Just saying," Neri replied, as she casually leant back against the tree.

"Oh and you would have killed them, would you?" Arietta asked as she came to a stop in front of the elf.

"A sprained wrist doesn't stop me fighting, so maybe," Neri replied with a slight smirk.

"But do you trust them now?" Arietta asked quietly.

Neri dragged her boots along the dirt ground, drawing her lip between her teeth. "Trust might be a strong word… but they aren't planning to kill us and seems like we could use the help."

Arietta sighed and turned back to the darkspawn who were waiting patiently, grinning in that creepy way that they always did. If they were really doing this, splitting up, then Neri was right, they could use their assistance. "Fine, you can help." The darkspawn cheered in response, hitting their armour, making it clatter loudly.

Arietta then turned back to Neri, dragging her around the back of the tree to continue their private conversation. "If we're really doing this, going our separate ways here, then I need to know something."

Neri's eyes closed briefly as she lowered her head with a long drawn out breath. "You need my vote," she mumbled.

Arietta nodded. Neri still hadn't told Arietta where she fell in regards to the Architect and Arietta didn't want to face the emissary without knowing how her friend felt.

Neri glanced back up at her, brown eyes uncertain. "I still don't know, Ari."

"I need you to know."

"I trust you." Neri shrugged. "That's my vote. Whatever you think, I will agree with; your gut is rarely wrong."

Arietta's breath left her in an irritated rush. "I still don't know what my gut thinks." She looked out at the horizon, frustrated.

Neri moved to stand in front of her, long elvhen fingers coming to grip both of Arietta's arms. "You will," she said firmly up to her. "Maybe it'll be as we walk away from one another, maybe it'll be as you enter the lair or as you talk to him. But you will, and I will have your back either way."

"You really don't have an opinion other than that?"

Neri gave a slight shake of her head. "I don't trust the Architect. Just as I don't trust these talking darkspawn, but we're using them, working with them. Is he so different? The risk is bigger, but the benefits could be huge. But then I remember being dragged away, the fear of being turned into a Broodmother and I just want to rip him in two. So no, I don't know where I stand. Sorry."

Arietta nodded. "I need Anders to stay with me. I need a mage."

"I know."

"You're okay with that?"

"No. But you'll keep him safe and I'll go save Alistair's stupid ass from a darkspawn army, seems fair, yeah?"

Arietta smiled. "His ass isn't stupid."

"My apologies," Neri said with a grin.

"So this is it then," Arietta said looking at Neri with a nervous shake of her head. "The last time we split up like this was during the Blight. You to kill the Archdemon and me to rescue Alistair."

"Now you're ending this mini-Blight and I'm saving your husband."

"You're still fighting the bigger army though."

"Maybe." A smile curved her lips. "We'll have to compare kill counts when we meet back up."

Arietta smiled too. "How many darkspawn does a Broothmother equal?"

"Depends how many tits she has, be sure to count them all."

"Ugh, Neri."

She snickered in reply. "Be careful though. The Mother sent that army to the Keep as a direct result of us coming to kill her."

"In other words, she knows we're coming for her," Arietta finished.

"Yeah, and her army probably expects you to send people back to the Keep too. This could turn into a shitstorm real fast."

"We survived the Blight; we'll get through this."

Neri grinned. "I agree completely. And I'll have that party ready for when you get back."

Arietta rolled her eyes and then pulled Neri in for a hug. "You better." Neri squeezed her back, her breath hot against Arietta's neck.

They pulled back, smiling slightly before walking back over to the others. "Alright, we're splitting up. Everybody say their goodbyes."

Neri dragged Anders away, shoving him against the tree so that she could give him a proper goodbye. When they parted they were both breathless, his hands gripping her hips tightly and her hands clinging to his robes.

"I'll save you a seat at the table," she whispered with a smile.

"Please be careful," he said in a rush. "I only just got you back. I can't lose you again."

She frowned a little. "You never lost me."

"It was as good as. You left the Tower, went to fight an army of darkspawn, decided you were going to stop a Blight, kill an Archdemon. I thought for sure you would die but there was nothing I could do. And there's nothing I can do now, either, is there?"

She cupped his cheek. "You can survive; that's what I intend to do."

He nodded and kissed the top of her head. "We will more than survive. We'll live."

"Go anywhere and everywhere?" she asked quietly, her eyes bright and happy.

He nodded. "Yes."

She grinned and kissed him again. "You just need to kill the Mother and rush home and I just need to deal with all the pesky darkspawn and go pack our bags. Easy," she laughed.

"Easy," he agreed, smiling broadly.


A/N: Hey hey heeey. Thank you guys so much for the lovely reviews! We finally hit 150! - thank you!- but nobody said what they wanted as thanks... so I ask again. Want anything? Oh and, the smut did eventually get posted to AO3. I was just late with it but what else is knew, right?

So, the next few chapters are all battle based. Think there is 4 in total. Like, shit, who the fuck writes a four-chapter long battle? Me, apparently. Sigh. Giving a gore warning ahead of time. Expect things to be bloody, cause it's me. But hopefully it won't be too graphic. Then we hit the finale of Awakening. Got more after that, with so called 'bridge' chapters that will tie up shit and lead us into part 2 and DA2. This fic was supposed to be 100kish. Looks to be hitting 200k though. *groans* And I'm doing it again, that whole, not shutting up thing. Kthxbai. Oh and thank you Lys for betaing! I adore you babe.