What Ifs
Many thanks to Countess of Cobert for helping me figure out how the cricket game would happen in 1919.
Cora attempted to focus on Robert's good points. Today he'd helped Andrews return to his farm now that he'd been rehabilitated, having lost his sight in the war. "He's happy to be home again, where he belongs," Robert said with a sigh as he took off his dressing gown that night. "I hate to see him in that condition, but I told him we'd worry about everything else next year."
Even in the dim light, Cora could see his worry for the tenant in his eyes and the manner that he walked. Robert had always believed he was responsible for all his tenants and servants. And it made her heart soar that he cared so much. She reached for his arm, pulling him toward her on the bed. "It's going to be all right," she said softly, trying to soothe his tense muscles as she massaged his arms and shoulders.
"I hope so," Robert said, in a way that said he wasn't certain. And he scowled at her despite the faint light.
"Robert," Cora said. She moved her head closer, and stoked his cheeks, trying to erase the unhappy expression. In return, he kissed her fingertips, making her tingle a bit. She stroked his cheek again, enjoying the feeling this time.
The air in the room changed as they both breathed deeply, staring at each other for several moments. Their faces moved closer together, as if they could already taste the inevitable kiss. But just before their lips could meet, Cora suddenly panicked again. What if… "No," she told him with a sigh, pushing her head back to her pillow. "I'm sorry, but I can't."
Robert sighed as well but laid down on his own pillow. "It's fine, Cora," he said in that deep voice she found so comforting. And once again, her heart soared that he was so understanding that she needed to wait.
OOOOOOOOOOOO
Still, Cora's lingering anger at Robert waited in her subconscious, ready to pounce on her when she least expected it.
"I thought we could have a house party soon," Robert carefully said one morning while Cora ate her breakfast. "We haven't had a good cricket game since before the war, and if we had a house party, there should be enough men for a game." He turned toward Cora's bedroom window and said wistfully. "Just think, the house versus the village, just like in the old days."
It was just like Robert to long to play cricket again, and to think of having a party to do it.
But suddenly, all Cora could think about was the parties she'd missed with Sybil in Ireland, just because of her husband. Before she could stop herself, images flashed of what could have been flashed through her mind. Hugging her youngest daughter on her wedding day and seeing her face light up as Cora said 'happy birthday' in person. Shaking her head, she swallowed a strawberry. "Why would that be a good idea?" she said in a snappish voice.
Robert's face immediately morphed into a scowl. "Because it would be nice to do something more enjoyable and normal, after living through the war, and I doubt I'm the only man who thinks this. Why don't you understand me anymore, Cora?"
Slamming the door behind him, he left the room, leaving Cora to stare at the door with mixed emotions. Irritation about what happened with Sybil still flowed through her veins, but Robert was also right. She had truly been trying to understand him better lately. Besides, being constantly angry wasn't in her nature. She hated it.
Sighing, she picked up a piece of toast and took a bite. She should finish her breakfast before anything else.
OOOOOOOOOOO
After breakfast, Cora thought about Robert's request. Through luncheon, she mulled over the idea some more before she finally approached her husband in the library, as he finished some correspondence.
"Robert, I've been thinking about your idea for a house party, and I believe you may be right, she said calmly. "It is time for a cricket game." After all, Cora had already decided two months ago that with the war over, she needed to make Robert and her family a priority again.
Robert's face broke into a huge smile that lit up his entire face and his eyes sparkled in delight. Cora could not remember the last time he looked so happy. Certainly, they'd both enjoyed dancing at Duneagle, and although it was difficult to remember, she believed he was happy when she'd opened her eyes after she was ill.
But still, Cora's heart soared at his joyous expression and ached that it had been too long since he'd been happy. "Thank you, Cora," he said, staring into her eyes, his blue orbs still sparkling.
Smiling, she said, "But I would appreciate if Sir Richard were one of the guests." Robert didn't struggle to accept Mary's fiancé as much as Sybil's new husband and lifestyle, but Cora knew he still resisted the idea. If she could help him accept Sir Richard as part of their family, then Cora would eventually be able to ease him into the idea of Branson and Ireland.
Robert's joyful face immediately morphed into a scowl. "Cora, we have been through this," he said, almost barking. "He's no gentleman and I loathe having him in my house."
Cora nodded, having thought the idea, and Robert's likely responses, already. "I know, and I appreciate that your struggle with him is greater than I first believed. But like it or not, he is still Mary's fiancé and will be our neighbor as well. Please try to tolerate him."
Robert marched out of the library without saying anything, but Cora predicted that would be his response. He often needed time to agree to things. Fortunately, her needlework was available, as Le'Morte d'Arthur was not an option today.
OOOOOOOOOO
But that evening as they waited for dinner, Robert approached Cora in the drawing room. "I suppose you may invite Carlisle to the house party," he said with a sigh. "He just may be worth having as a son – in – law if he is a good cricket player."
More of Cora's anger melted at his words and she smiled in return. "I will be certain to do so right away."
OOOOOOOOOOO
Robert spent the rest of the night discussing the upcoming house party and cricket game. "I think the Grey family would be a great addition. It's been too long since I've seen Dickie and both of his sons are still young," he said, his voice quickening a bit as he finished a bite of glazed chicken.
Cora sipped her wine and shook her head. "I agree that they would be a great addition, especially with their young sons." Larry Grey had always been keen on Sybil, but with her gone, Cora had hoped he might take an interest in Edith. "But they cannot right now, as they are still in mourning for Lady Merton, which I discovered when I planned that dinner party a couple of months ago."
Robert sighed. "That's too bad, truly." He was silent for several moments.
"I suppose Sir Richard will be invited," Mary said with false cheerfulness.
Cora shook her head at her oldest, hoping she would learn to appreciate her fiancé soon. "Yes, he will be," she said firmly.
Robert's blue eyes twinkled as he thought of another idea. "What about Sir John, Lady Danley, and their son, Timothy? We haven't seen them in ages, and they are our neighbors."
Cora nodded as she swallowed her chicken. "They certainly should have an invitation."
"And perhaps Lord and Lady Harrington," Robert said, sipping his wine. His voice quickened with eagerness again.
Cora smiled and nodded. Robert had always been rather serious and a very proper Englishman, so he didn't become excited easily, much less show it. It was rather endearing to see him eager for a house party just so he could play cricket.
OOOOOOOOOOOOO
For the next week Cora busied herself with plans for the house party. She quicky sent invitations to all their perspective guests and discussed menus with Mrs. Patmore. After receiving all the responses, she spoke of bedroom assignments with Mrs. Hughes.
Meanwhile, Robert's boyish enthusiasm for cricket continued. One evening before dinner, Cora even found him dressed in cricket whites. "I had Carson take them out today to see if they still fit," he told her when she saw him examining himself in his dressing room dressed in the sporting outfit.
Cora stood in the doorway between their two rooms, her eyes roaming her husband's body almost without thinking. "I think they fit rather well," she told him with a smile. "But you should dress for dinner soon, as the gong will ring."
OOOOOOOOOOO
Dinner of the first night of the house party was full of men discussing cricket strategy and the ladies speaking of society. "So, tell me more about your fiancé, Lady Mary," said Lady Danley as she took a bite of ham. She was a short woman with hair darker than Edith's but lighter than Mary and Cora's.
Mary nodded, showing none of her usual coldness toward her fiancé. "Sir Richard is rather wealthy and has been knighted by the king. He owns several newspapers." Cora's heart warmed as her daughter spoke well of her intended. Perhaps she was finally overcoming her stubbornness toward the man and would fall in love with him soon.
"So will you live in London after you marry then?" Lady Harrington said as she sipped her wine. Her dark hair was greying a bit.
Mary shook her head causally. "No, actually he has purchased the estate next door to Downton for us." Cora couldn't stop from beaming at that, still loving that her eldest daughter would be so close after she finally married.
Meanwhile, Cora felt Robert's mother's eyes on her. Living with and close to Mama for so many years gave Cora a keen sense of her watchful stare, although Cora's eyes were on Mary at the moment. Although Mama was well aware of the girl's youthful mistake, for some reason the older woman disapproved of the match almost as much as Robert.
There was a time when that may have bothered Cora, as she'd desperately tried to win her mother – in – law's approval for years. But today, Cora did her best to ignore Mama's disapproving stare. She had other, more important things to concern herself.
OOOOOOOOOOO
One such concern was Sybil in Ireland. And the ladies turned the conversation to just that in the drawing room while the men stayed in the dining room for cigars. "I heard your youngest daughter eloped with your chauffer," Lady Danley said, shaking her head sadly. "And could it possibly be true that they went to Ireland?"
Cora sighed, her heart aching for Sybil with fresh pain and anger at Robert for not allowing Cora to see her. "Yes, I'm afraid that is true."
"How horrid for you," Lady Harrington said, immediately joining the conversation. "I thought she had better prospects than that, but perhaps she didn't know where to look." Even though they were almost the same height, Lady Harrington seemed to look down at Cora as if she hadn't introduced Sybil to the right young men.
Sometimes it hurt that so many English ladies still believed Cora "too American" to understand their world, but there was nothing she could do about it. Instead, she looked directly at Lady Harrington and said, "Lady Sybil always had plenty of prospects, whether she looked for them or not. She chose the one she loved."
"I assisted in planning her ball," Mama said, switching her disproving stare to Lady Harrington, along with her coldest expression. Robert said that look could scare a soldier in battle. Cora had to admit, she was relieved it wasn't directed at her. "So, I assure you Lady Sybil had access to the right type of young men."
Lady Danley nodded. "Quite."
Fortunately, before the air in the drawing room became too tense, the men entered the room.
OOOOOOOOOO
The air smelled fresh the next day as Robert and the rest of the house team began the cricket game. The members included Carson, Thomas, and three young hall boys from their employ, Sir Richard, Lord Harrington and his valet, and Sir John and his son, Tim. Cora attempted to pay attention to the game, but it was rather difficult, even though Robert looked handsome in his cricket whites.
She sipped her tea as she watched Robert run.
"Wasn't there any way to keep Lady Sybil from leaving?" Lady Danley asked calmly, sipping her own tea as if there were nothing wrong with that question. The fresh air suddenly felt tense.
"I'm afraid not," Cora said, remembering how stubborn Sybil she had been as explained her plans, arguing with Robert on every word. Cora also recalled how excited she was to begin her new life. More than that, Sybil had always understood her own heart better than anyone in their family.
The wind blew, making the tense air feel fresh and comfortable, and Cora hoped they would drop this topic once and for all.
"I cannot imagine such a thing," Lady Danley said, ignoring the pleasant breeze for more tense conversation. "She cannot be part of your family anymore, but the ache will never go away." She took another sip of tea.
Cora struggled not to drop her own teacup at that comment.
It had been so long since she'd worried about losing Sybil completely, she'd almost forgotten about the possiblity. Her blood almost froze at what could have happened. "Actually, Lady Sybil went with our blessing and has written to me fairly regularly since she arrived in Ireland," Cora said, trying to sound just as causal, but her voice snapping a bit.
"Lady Edith and I even went to her wedding," Mary said causally, but her face betraying a typical protectiveness of her youngest sister.
"Yes, the rest of the family were too ill to attend the ceremony," Mama said just as causally, but her eyes daring anyone to contradict her.
"I see," said Lady Danley, her eyes looking from Cora to Mary, to Mama, and back to Cora again.
"It looks as if Timothy might catch the ball," Cora said suddenly, trying to take them away from this tense conversation.
Everyone immediately turned their attention back to the cricket game.
OOOOOOOOOO
Cora sighed as O'Brien brushed her hair that night, still feeling tense. Perhaps it should have occurred to her that the ladies would be interested in what happened with Sybil, as they all unfortunately enjoyed gossiping. But once again, Cora was naïve.
She tried not to wince as O'Brien pulled again, making her shoulder feel tighter. "I'm sorry, milady," her sweet maid said obediently.
"It's fine, O'Brien," Cora said, with another small wince.
Robert arrived after O'Brien left, showing mixed emotions. Cora knew he was happy to have played cricket again but disappointed the village team won. "I'm sorry you lost," she said softly, reaching for his hand, despite her tense muscles.
Sighing, he accepted her hand. "But I'm afraid it was too much for you," Robert said. "You did all the work for the house party just because I wished to play cricket again." He shook his head.
Cora shrugged, feeling her shoulders ache once again. "Usually I don't mind, but I suppose this party was rather stressful." And that was true. She normally enjoyed hosting parties, but she disliked all the discussion of Sybil. It reminded Cora of her continued irritation toward Robert because of Sybil. Yet the ladies also reminded her of the world he lived in, and how he'd reacted better than he could have to their daughter's unusual decisions.
It left her freshly conflicted between anger and gratefulness toward her husband. "At least it allowed you to spend a little time with Sir Richard," she said, trying to focus on the positive, although her shoulders were still tense.
"Cora, can we please not discuss that man?" Robert said, still showing his reluctance to include Mary's fiancé in their family. Cora sighed, wishing he wouldn't be so stubborn about their daughters' choices in husbands, and let go of his hand without thinking.
"I'm sorry I shouted," Robert sighed. "I don't deserve you, darling," he said, changing the mood of the room again. His hands slowly reached hers, and then up her arms, finally rubbing the knots in her shoulders. But he did it all without looking at her, as if he might be ashamed to do so.
Cora's heart swelled, wondering how he knew she was so sore. Were they truly able to read each other's body language again?
"Oh, Robert," she said softly as he continued to ease her pain. She wished to say she loved him, with how sweet he was being tonight. But the words wouldn't quite come now. Not with her lingering anger over Sybil's situation. Instead, she settled for saying, "Don't speak of yourself that way." Despite her continued anger, she had never tolerated Robert's habit of beating himself up mentally.
"But I never have," Robert said sadly, even as his warm hands moved over her shoulders. "And I deserve it even less now."
She'd like to think he meant his reaction to Sybil's wedding and birthday, but Cora had a feeling he was referring to his mistake with the maid. And she loved him for his guilt, but enough was enough. "Robert," Cora said firmly. "You deserve to be my husband. Truly."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
OOOOOOOO
Cora's words remained in Robert's head a week after the house party, although he didn't agree. He'd been a terrible husband to her in the past year. And then there was Bates, who was still unjustly locked in prison, because Robert was unable to release him. He couldn't seem to do anything right.
At least Mary was doing something to help Bates, as she'd taken Anna on another "shopping trip" in York today. But what could Robert do? He couldn't even spend the morning with Cora, as his wife had a charity meeting today.
Staring at his notes on his desk in the library, he wished he had an answer.
"Mr. Crawley," Carson's voice said, interrupting Robert's thoughts.
Robert couldn't help smiling as Mathew stood in the library. The tall, blond man had been missing from his life for the last few months. He shook the young man's hand. "Mathew, my boy! Good to see you."
"You, as well, Robert," Mathew said, responding with a firm handshake and a smile. Yet, Mathew's eyes also appeared to glance around the room, which confused Robert. Shouldn't the other man be used to the layout of the house? But Robert refused to mention Mathew's behavior.
"I hoped we might go for a walk," Mathew said, his eyes still moving around the room. Robert nodded. He'd already been out with Isis this morning but strolling around the estate with Mathew sounded better than staring at notes in the library.
Carson put Robert's coat and hat on his person and handed him his walking stick, and both men began the same stroll they used to do regularly before the war. Oh, how Robert missed those days…
"I wanted to tell you in person," Mathew said on the path, as the big house faded from their sight. "That I will be moving soon."
Robert almost stopped walking.
It wasn't enough that he'd lost Sybil, now he would be losing Mathew as well. The honorable man was the perfect heir and exactly what he wished to have in his own son. There were just too many changes in the last year. How dare Mathew expect him to accept another?
"You cannot mean that," he said, barking almost worse than Isis.
Mathew sighed; his face too serious for Robert's comfort. "I am afraid I do. I truly appreciate what wished to do by bringing me here and I cannot thank you enough for your guidance. But I need to lead my own life now that the war is done. I have found several job possibilities in London, Liverpool, and Manchester."
The words hit Robert square in the face. "I see," he said, barking again. How dare Mathew say such a thing? They walked in silence for a few moments, as a soothing image of the boy living out the rest of his appeared in Robert's head and the two of them would resume habitual walks around the estate. What if that could truly happen?
"Are you certain you are doing this for the right reasons?" Robert asked, searching desperately for a way for the boy to stay and for a method in which he could finally be useful to someone. "I know you were…struggling with Lavinia's unfortunate death… but…" He focused on a nearby tree rather than Mathew. Talking about death was uncomfortable for everyone.
"Lavinia," Mathew's voice sounded understandably sad. "Her death has been difficult; I'll not deny. But I'm afraid I had decided to leave before she…"
Robert sighed. "I hope you know….ah." He was never certain how to say such things. "I will always see you…well…as a part of my family." His eyes were still on the tree.
"You as well, Robert," Mathew's voice said, and although the words filled his heart, they lacked the comfort they would have once been.
"In that case, I would like you to come to dinner tonight," Robert said firmly, trying to pretend these plans were acceptable. "To say… farewell to the rest of our family."
Mathew didn't answer for several moments, and Robert wondered why he struggled to accept such an obvious courtesy. But finally, he said, "All right. I will." With that, the younger man turned and held out his hand.
Robert shook his hand firmly. "Thank you for accepting my decision," Mathew said.
OOOOOOOOOOO
So, a week after the house party that caused Cora a lot of stress, Cora quickly planned a farewell dinner for Mathew. She was amazing, and Robert didn't know how he'd ever deserve her.
That evening, Mathew stood in the drawing room, speaking to Edith, and Robert couldn't stop thinking how natural it felt to have the young blond man here. It was almost as if this were an ordinary evening, with Mathew coming for dinner just as he had for the last several years. Robert's heart ached that more of his family would soon be separated.
"You're accepting Mathew's decision well, darling," Cora's voice said softly, as Robert continued to stare at Mathew from across the room.
Robert's eyes immediately turned to her blue ones, wishing that were true. "Truly, I don't believe I am," he said just as softly. How could he explain the ache in his chest to her, especially as Cora had never been as attached to the boy as Robert?
But Cora shook her head slowly, so as not to jostle her tiara or rustle any of O'Brien's hairstyle. "You're not giving yourself enough credit." Her hand, dressed in a blue glove, reached over to squeeze his arm. "I know this is difficult for you, but you are still treating Mathew with respect and have invited him to our house for all of us to say goodbye."
Thinking for a moment, Robert wondered if she might be correct. Mathew's decision to leave was another big change, and an incredibly painful one for Robert. But unlike the changes in the past year that Robert had been forced to accept, Robert didn't lash out at the boy.
Still, if he were accepting Mathew's decision to leave at all, Robert knew it was thanks to one person. "Darling, that's all your influence," he said, staring into her beautiful blue eyes. It was wonderful to have her regular calming presence in his life again.
Not that made up for the way he betrayed her, the knowledge sneaking up on him, as it often did when he was with Cora. Guilt over his huge mistake and sadness that Mathew was leaving swirled around inside Robert, until he didn't know which emotion was more dominant.
Sighing, he turned toward the drawing room again, as Mathew and Edith chatted away, and Mary sat on the settee, trying to look indifferent that the boy paid no attention to her. But Robert knew his eldest daughter's pressed lips meant she was more cross than she was willing to admit.
Was she just resenting Edith, as his two oldest daughters could often be rather petty? Or was Mary unable to admit that she'd miss Mathew as much as Robert would? There was a time they'd almost been engaged, after all. Briefly an image of the wedding that could have been flashed through Robert's mind. What if…
Robert carefully sat on the settee next to Mary, as if he simply wished to sit down. After several moments, he said, "You know Mathew will always be part of our family, no matter what happens. I'm certain he will visit us. Perhaps even this Christmas."
Mary didn't answer, but Robert hoped she clung to that knowledge as fiercely as he did.
OOOOOOOOOOO
"So, you are truly going to leave us, Mathew?" Mary said causally as they began to eat their honey glazed chicken. Cora had seated Mathew next to Robert, which he thought was a wonderful gesture on her part, but it caused Robert to notice Mathew freeze as Mary spoke to him.
A moment later, Mathew nodded as if there were no problem. Perhaps there never was. "Yes, I am afraid so. I have been honored to be a part of your family, but I need to move on with my life." Then he immediately returned his attention to the chicken.
"But Papa has said you will be back to see us?" Mary said, pressing on as if the awkwardness did not matter.
Mathew nodded again. "Naturally, I will." There was dead silence in the dining room as the rest of the family struggled to understand what was going on between Mary and Mathew.
"And we will be pleased to have you," Cora said calmly, breaking the silence. "And on that note, Reverend Travis was pleased to hear he has our support for the cemetery fundraiser." Everyone smiled at that, feeling relieved that the dining room air no longer felt thick.
His Cora had always been good at breaking tension, and Robert met her sparkling blue eyes in thanks. Cora discussed the church fundraiser for the next several moments, and he sipped his wine and chewed on his chicken.
But then Mary said, "You will spend Christmas with us, certainly And New Year's?"
Mathew almost froze for a moment as she spoke to him again. But then he smiled. "Certainly, I will."
"So why move now, with it being only two months until the holidays? Would it not make more sense to relocate afterwards?" Mary's voice was causal, and her face always resembled Cora's, but something in her mannerisms reminded Robert of Mama. He felt sorry for Mathew, as Robert knew all to well how impossible it was to argue with Mama.
But the boy faced Mary with the bravery Robert always knew he had. "Mary, I've already stayed at Downton much longer than I've planned. It is time for me to go."
Mary shook her head carefully. "You haven't left because deep in your heart, you know you shouldn't leave." She paused to sip her wine, and Robert nodded in agreement. He'd tried to convince the boy the same thing earlier today, but he wouldn't listen. If Mary could, that was fine with Robert.
Mathew sighed and said, "I know you want me to be a part of Downton, and I am prepared to do so someday. But for now, it's not what is right for me." The same ache from this morning felt fresh in Robert's heart with those words, and he tried to quench it with several sips of wine.
"What is right is for you to finish this year with your whole family, especially after spending the last few years in the trenches," Mary said firmly.
The air at the dining room table had changed again. It was thick, but somehow, it seemed to have more energy than before. What if…could it be that Mary and Mathew were still quite attracted to each other?
Finally, Mathew stared at Mary and sighed. "I suppose I could stay at Downton a little longer. Just until New Year's, mind you."
There was a chorus, of "wonderful', "we are happy to have you," and "you have finally seen sense," around the table, and Robert's heart felt lighter than it had been all day. He'd have to thank Mary later tonight.
OOOOOOOOOO
Mary and Mathew chatted easily in the drawing room later that night, with none of their earlier awkwardness. And Mary lit up at her cousin's attention, her brown eyes sparkling, despite attempting to appear causal. What if Mary wed Mathew, instead of that jerk, Carlisle?
Robert couldn't help but hope as he watched them. "What do you think, Isis?" he said softly to his dog as he patted her. "Do Mary and Mathew belong together?
Isis's large, black eyes stared back at Robert in agreement. If everyone could see it, why was Mary still engaged to someone else?
Cora, who had been speaking to Edith since he'd entered the drawing room, sat down next to Robert on the settee all the sudden. "I thought, with Mathew's decision to stay for a couple of months, that you would be happier," she said gently. "You do realize it's because we are his family."
Robert smiled as he let that knowledge fill his entire heart again. "I am, Cora. Truly, I am. But I've just been thinking…" he took a deep breathe, almost afraid to say it. "What if we'd never married?" Despite his horrid motives for wedding Cora, and his terrible behavior this past year, he couldn't imagine anything worse than that.
Cora was silent for several moments, and Robert kept glancing at Mary and Mathew. "What brought this on, Robert?" she said, sounding confused.
"I just," he didn't wish to argue about Mary's engagement to Carlisle again. "I know this year has been a struggle for us, and I've behaved dishonorably, but..." he dared to look into her blue eyes, which were gazing at him with warmth that filled him from his head to his toes. "I still cannot think of anyone I'd rather have than you."
Cora's smile lit up her entire face, making her appear more gorgeous than usual. "I love you, Robert," she said softly, and then her face turned red that she'd said such a thing outside of their bedroom, especially in the drawing room with their family present. "I'm sorry; I shouldn't have – "
But Robert placed his finger at her lips to stop her. "Don't apologize for that," he said softly, but firmly. It may be unusual to say it in the drawing room, but he couldn't let her feel guilty about it. Especially when it was the first time, she'd said that this year.
Ordinarily he would kiss her in response. But even though Robert had cautioned her against feeling guilty, he couldn't bring himself to press his lips to hers with Mathew, Mary, and Edith all in the drawing room.
Instead, Robert pulled both of her hands to his and placed kisses all over her gloves.
Unfortunately for you, there will not be an update for this story in November. That being said, the next chapter will be the climax (the chapter set during the season 2 CS special).
In the meantime, if you would like more Cobert from me, I hope to update "Two Different Worlds" in November, so if you don't mind modern AUs (and Shakespeare), you could check that story out.
I will also be updating "Love and Freedom" in November, if any of you happen to be interested in that story...