Miles watched Charlie practically stomp over to Aaron and Cynthia's fire. He growled and returned to Rachel.

Aaron and Cynthia couldn't help but notice the drama and wondered what was going on when Charlie strolled over to their fire. Aaron looked at her as she approached. "Hey, kiddo. What's all this? I saw Miles dragging Monroe into the barn. Looked like he was passed out or something."

"Would you have enough stew to share? I didn't have a chance to hunt today. I'll bring you a rabbit tomorrow."

"Charlie, you don't need to do that. Of course, we can share with you." Cynthia said as she grabbed a bowl and dished out some stew.

"Have a seat. Now, care to tell me what all the drama was about? I saw you bringing all your gear into the barn," Aaron said. "Noticed that Monroe's kid didn't come back. Is that why he got blitzed? No Father's Day card?"

"He's blitzed because I got him blitzed to help with the pain while I took care of the wounds on his back." Charlie went on to tell them what happened in Mexico.

"Jeez, even the devil himself doesn't deserve that," Aaron says while Cynthia looks concerned.

"Mom is having a fit because I helped him with his back. Of course, Miles backs her up."

"You know how she feels about him, and can you blame her? Charlie, I've seen the looks between you and Monroe. I'm sure your mother has seen them too. It's not good, Charlie."

"Aaron, the man deserves to be cared for," Cynthia adds. Cynthia sees the good in everyone.

"Aaron, with respect, you don't know him. I mean other than his reputation." Charlie says.

"I know that he's a crazy, evil, maniacal dictator who caused a boatload of hurt."

"Yeah, once, but not anymore. Bass has had more pain in his life than any one person should have to take."

Aaron raises an eyebrow, "It's Bass now? And that makes everything alright? We've all suffered."

"When Bass was in Afghanistan with Miles, he watched as half of his squad was decimated by a roadside bomb. Then he comes home at Thanksgiving for leave. His entire family, father, mother, and two younger sisters, were killed in a car accident. Drunk driver. He was about to kill himself rather than live alone without his family. Miles saved him. Told him that he would always be his family, that he wasn't alone.

"Wow, jeez, I didn't know," Aaron says, looking slightly uncomfortable.

"My God," Cynthia adds.

"He keeps it bottled up. We talked… a lot… on our way to Willoughby. It didn't end there. After the blackout, he and Miles formed a tent city to keep people safe, the start of the Republic. Bass met a woman, and they married. She died during childbirth along with his baby girl. She bled out in front of him. He lost it."

Cynthia covered her mouth with her hand, "Oh my God, that is so awful!"

"He told me that he went dead inside, that his light went out. And then, Miles turned on him after pushing him into forming the Republic. He woke up in his bed to find Miles standing there with a gun pointed at his head. The one person that he relied on. The person that said he would always be there for him. You wonder why he became paranoid?"

Charlie continues, "Now, Bass finds out just before he is to be executed that Miles hid his son from him and feels betrayed again. And still, he wants Miles to forgive him. Miles should be asking him for forgiveness.

So, yeah, I get why he went crazy. I agree; he did some despicable things. He knows this, and he is so very sorry. It tears him up regardless of what my mother says. He's trying to make amends, to be better."

"Charlie, I didn't know," Aaron says.

"Well, Miles did, and yet he can't find away from my mother's hate to forgive him. We blame him for Danny's death and for dad. The truth is, and you were there, Aaron; the truth is Danny killed Danny. I begged him to stay out of the fight, and then he goes and jumps out in front of a helicopter gunner. And he didn't kill dad; Neville did.

Now compare all of that to our losses. What's makes our pain more righteous than his?" Charlie stood up, "I'm going to go check on him. Thank you for supper."

"Before you go," Cynthia reached for Charlie's bowl and filled it with more stew. "In case he gets hungry."

"Thanks, Cynthia."

Aaron starred after her as she walked away.

When she woke in the morning, Bass was still asleep. Grabbing her cup, she went to join Aaron and Cynthia in search of coffee. Before leaving the barn, she left Bass a canteen of water by his side.

"Morn'n Charlie. How's Monroe?" Aaron asked.

"Still out."

"Ouch! He's gonna hurt," Aaron snickered.

They sat quietly, sipping their coffee.

The sun was intense, shining brightly through the barn's window, falling directly across Bass's face.

"Ugg," he moaned, grabbing his head as he sat up. He notices the canteen Charlie left for him, picks it up, and drinks greedily, silently thanking Charlie for looking after him again.

"Ow…" Bass can't decide what hurts more, his head or his back. Then he notices Charlie's bedroll and pack. He remembers their kiss.

(Shit…fuck, what was I thinking? What did I do? I'm no good for her… God…Charlie)

Bass hauls his ass up and stumbles from the barn to relieve himself. When he returns, Charlie is there.

"You're awake; I brought you coffee, had Aaron put a splash in it for you," leaning in, she gives him a quick kiss. He flinches. "Thanks," he grunts. You're too good to me."

"Bass…what's wrong?"

Bass sits on his bedroll and looks over at Charlie's bedroll and pack. "Charlie, what are you doing here?" nodding toward her things.

"I wanted to make sure that you were okay after I got you blitzed."

"You didn't have to do that…I'm fine. You should go back to the bunker with Miles and your mom."

"I can't stay there and listen to them anymore. You're much better company," she smiles.

"Not a good idea, Charlie. If you can't stay in the bunker, then you should stay with Staypuft if you don't want to be with Miles and your mother."

"Aaron, his name is Aaron. Why don't you want me here? It's not like we haven't slept close before."

Bass sits quietly, looking into his coffee. "Charlotte, we need to talk."

"Not sure I like the sound of that."

"I like you, I really do, more than I should. But this…It's a bad idea... I never should have kissed you. It was a mistake."

"Bass, I kissed you first."

"This," he waves his hand between them, "This isn't any good. Nothing good can come of it. Fact is that your mother is right. I'm no good, and you deserve better. I'm too old for you. You should be with someone younger, someone with a future. Someone without a price on their head. Let's face it, I'm on borrowed time."

"Bass, I don't care about age; it doesn't matter. My mother doesn't matter. You are what matters. We're all on borrowed time; we could die tomorrow. I don't want to wait for a future that may never be. My future is now."

"I'm sorry, Charlie. I never wanted you hurt. Family is important; you need to be with yours." With that, he got up and walked out of the barn leaving, Charlie stunned. Devastated, she sat on her bedroll and cried. (What just happened?) After a bit, she pulled herself together, grabbed her things, and brought them over to Aaron's fire. Then taking her bow, she prepares to leave.

"Charlie, what's going on?" Aaron asks. "I saw Monroe leave, and now you're here. You okay?"

"Yeah…no…I don't know. I'm going hunting. I guess I'll be crashing here tonight if that's okay."

"You know it is. Do you want to talk?"

"Not, now. I'll be back." Charlie headed for the meadow.

Miles and Rachel were fixated on watching Charlie and Bass and noticed that she looked upset when she left the barn. Miles watched as she brought her things over to Aaron's and then headed to the meadow. (If he hurt her, I'm gonna kill him!) He went over to talk to Aaron.

"Hey, Miles… coffee?"

"Ahh, no, thanks. Hey, is Charlie okay? She looked upset. Did anything happen?"

"I really don't know. She looked like she had been crying. She's moved out of the barn."

Miles' face got red. "That Son of a Bitch! I'm gonna kill him. Did you see where the asshole went?"

"Towards the river, I think."

"Thanks, Aaron."

On the bank of the river, Bass found a sandy spot to sit and think. The last thing that he ever wanted was to hurt Charlie… (Better to just rip the Band-Aid off now before things went any further. I've got too much baggage, I'm too old… she'll meet someone younger…it's for the best…) Already feeling the loss… (who the fuck am I kidding. I want her…I'm better when I'm with her… I almost feel whole again…I haven't felt like this since…Shelly) He wipes his eyes not even realizing that he had been crying.

"BASS!" Miles bellows as he storms towards him. "BASS!" After seeing him, Miles reaches him in three quick strides then slams his hand into his shoulder.

"OW! WHAT THE FUCK, MILES! MY BACK!"

"Fuck your back, you son of a bitch! What did you do to Charlie?"

"Nothing!"

Miles slams his shoulder again.

"OW! FUCK! Knock it off! You're going to rip the stitches!"

"I know you, dickhead. You did something. You touch her?"

"NO!"

"She took off like her ass was on fire; something happened."

"I didn't do anything. We talked. You know what, Miles? I'm sick of this fucking bullshit. You hate me so much that I'm not allowed a friend? Well, fuck you, Miles. Fuck you and Rachel and your God Damn Patriots. Soon as I'm able, I'm outta here. You can take your Patriot war and shove it!"

Bass turned and walked away, heading upriver.

"BASS!"

Bass kept walking and, without looking back, pegged Miles the finger.

As Charlie crossed the meadow, she was trying to get herself together. She realized for awhile now that she had developed feelings for Bass as they got to know each other while on their journey to Willoughby. She gradually lost her hate and moved on to friendship, then her feelings for him became something else. When he was to be executed, she knew for sure that her feelings were more than friendship. He gets her, respects that she's an adult. And now that he has pushed away from her, she realizes that there is something else… something closer to love. (Pull your shit together, Matheson…you're tougher than this.)

Charlie hunted for several hours, bringing five rabbits back to camp. She left two with Miles, her mom, and grandpa. Another two she left with Aaron, and she left one near Bass' things.

When Bass finally returned, it was late afternoon; he went straight to the barn, not looking at anyone, not wanting to talk to anyone. The first thing he noticed was a fresh rabbit and that Charlie's things were gone. He felt empty.

After arranging a small fire and then cleaning his rabbit, he set his rabbit to cook. Bass sat staring into the flames, sipping from his flask, miserable and alone. (I chased away the only good thing in my pathetic, sorry-ass life. What a fuck up I am.)

As Bass finished his rabbit, his eyes never left Charlie as she sat with Aaron and Cynthia. He knew that she wouldn't go back to Rachel and Miles. She was too stubborn. He couldn't let her sleep outside if it weren't necessary, so he went over to Aaron's fire to talk to her.

Aaron looked up as Bass approached. "Monroe."

Bass nodded. "Charlotte, you take the barn; I'll sleep outside."

"No, Bass, I'm fine. Not like it's the first time I've slept outside."

"Charlie…"

"I'm fine, Bass. I need to change your dressings before it gets too dark."

"I wasn't sure if…."

"What do you think? Of course, I'll still look after your back." Charlie stood and went to get the med-pack.

"Do you want to do it in the barn?"

"No, if it's okay with you, here's fine."

He pulled off his shirt and Charlie undid the wrap that was holding on the dressings. She used her canteen to wet the dressings and carefully peeled them from his back, dropping them into a bucket to be washed and boiled.

Bass leaned over as she checked over his wounds and stitches for any signs of infection; Cynthia came out of the tent and gasped when she saw his back bringing her hands to her face. "Oh, My God!" Aaron was speechless and a little sick to his stomach.

"Bass, everything looks good. I'm going to go over them with some of grandpa's moonshine, then I'll re-dress them."

Ten minutes later, Charlie was ready to re-apply the wrap over the dressings.

When she finished, Bass turned around. "Thanks. Really, I don't know what I would do without you."

"Huh, well, you'd get infected and die," Charlie said with a bit of attitude. "No, worries, they're looking better."

"I've got my own private Flo Nightingale."

"Who?"

"Sorry, she was like the first nurse."

While Bass was having his dressings changed, Cynthia disappeared into the tent and returned with a small pouch. Taking some hot water from the fire, she made tea with the contents of the pouch. When Charlie was finished, she handed Bass the cup.

"Willow bark tea. It will help with the pain," she said.

Bass smiled, "thank you, Cynthia," touched by the gesture.

Finishing the tea, he handed the cup back to Cynthia. "I think I feel better already."

"Good. Let me know if you would like some more. Don't be shy about it."

"Thanks. Charlotte may see you for a moment?" as he reached out his hand.

Charlie lets him lead her to the far side of the barn, where they will have some privacy.

Bass reached out and cupped her cheek, and Charlie reflexively leaned into it but then stepped back.

"Bass, what are you doing?"

"Hear me out, please. I told you that I wasn't any good for you, that you deserve someone better."

"Bass, please…I get it. I really don't want to hear this again," trying to step away.

He reached out and grabbed her arm. "Let me finish. Charlie, when it comes right down to it, I'm selfish. What I said might be true… is true, but I don't care. I'm going to do the stupid, selfish thing. I'm not sorry we kissed, and in fact, I want to do it again and again, if you'll let me. I'm sorry I hurt you."

Charlie forgot that she was angry as he leaned in, and he kissed her gently. Then her arms went around his neck, fingers into his curls.

"What does this mean, Bass? Please tell me you're not going to push me away again."

"It means that I care for you… a lot. I shouldn't, it's wrong on so many levels, but I do." Kissing her again, this time with more passion. They stood just holding each other and kissing some more.

"It means that Miles' going to kill me," he whispers while nuzzling her ear.

More kissing, "We had better get back," Bass says with regret. Bass walked her back to the Pitman's fire. "Charlotte, please take the barn. I promise if we get bad weather, I'll go inside."

"Alright, Bass."

He grinned, "I just need a minute; I'll meet you at Aaron's and help you with your things.

Charlie's moving back to the barn didn't go unnoticed, but Miles also noticed that Bass had brought his things out.

Since their kiss at the river and again behind the barn, Charlie and Bass had only a few stolen moments alone, and it was driving Charlie crazy. To keep the peace, they had been staying away from each other.

Sitting with Aaron by the fire, she can't take her eyes off him. His intense blue eyes reaching hers across the camp.

Aaron looks at her, "You know, you two aren't fooling anybody."

"Aaron, what are you talking about?"

"You and Monroe…"

"We're friends, that's all."

"Yeah, you keep saying that, but the way you two look at each other, I swear you're going to spontaneously combust. If I can see it, so can your mother. I don't want to be around for that explosion."

"We're friends…."

"Yeah, and I'm Santa Claus." Aaron gets up and goes into his tent.

Charlie gets up, grabs her crossbow, and announces that she's going hunting.

"Be careful, sweetheart," Rachel says to her when she walks by.

Taking her day pack, Charlie walks out of the camp. She follows the river downstream then cuts in towards a meadow she's discovered.

Bass is always aware of where she is and sees her leave. He waits until she's been gone for around fifteen minutes before entering the woods from the opposite side of the camp, then circling around to pick up her trail. After about two miles, he sees where she left the river to go inland. Another mile and her trail opened to a lush green meadow rife with wildflowers and Charlie sitting on a blanket waiting for him.

"You're here! I wasn't sure that you would come."

Bass laughed. "I know you wanted me to hear you announce that you were leaving. Would you have been disappointed if I didn't show?" He sat down next to her.

"Yes. I've missed you. The only time I get to be with you is when I'm changing your dressings, and that's coming to an end. Another few days, and you won't need them anymore."

"My favorite time of day," leaning over and kissing her soft and slow. Charlie clung to his neck, running her fingers through his curls. Before long, they were lying next to each other, kissing and caressing. Bass so wanted more, but he was waiting on her. She was in control. He wasn't going to push things no matter how much he wanted her.

Charlie was nuzzling his neck and wondering why he wasn't taking things further. (If I know him, he's afraid… maybe he needs a little nudge) Charlie started kissing him a little more aggressively, then she tugged on his shirt, getting him to take it off. That's all it took, and she couldn't help but laugh.

"What?" Bass asked, looking at her.

"Nothing… just really happy."

They stayed for around an hour then started to get dressed. "I hate all this sneaking around," Charlie says.

"I know; we need to figure something out." They started back to camp together, holding hands and kissing until they were about a mile out. They kissed goodbye and went back to camp from different directions. Bass went in first, then around thirty minutes later, Charlie returned, carrying several plump rabbits.

Ten days later:

"Bass, the stitches can come out, and the rest of the lashing are fairly closed. I'm going to start using the salve grandpa gave me. You don't need dressings anymore either."

"Amen. That wrap was bulky and uncomfortable, and it itched. Thank you, Charlotte."

"You know you don't have to thank me but, you're welcome," as she leaned forward and dropped a kiss on his shoulder.

They were in the barn while Charlie worked on his back, and she had just finished when Miles approached the door.

"Are you two idiots…uh…."

"Shut it, Miles," Bass retorts. "What do you want?" They hadn't spoken since the fight at the river. Charlie had gone back to having occasional meals with Miles, her mother and grandfather but hadn't moved back into the bunker.

"We need to talk," Miles called in.

"Well, get in here and talk."

Miles entered the barn. Charlie was sorting out the med-pack. Bass was still shirtless, letting the salve dry before putting a shirt on. It was the first time since Mexico that Miles had seen his back.

"Shit, Bass. They still hurt?"

"Yeah, a bit. They pull. What did you want?" Bass was still a bit peeved.

Miles and Rachel, of course, noticed that it appeared Bass and Charlie had made up from whatever had happened. Bass and Charlie both decided that they would keep anything between them strictly platonic while in camp to try and avoid any conflicts. Of course, out of sight was a very different story.

Miles started pacing.

"Alright, Miles, will you sit for God's sake. Now, what did you want?"

"Vacation's over. We need to start hitting the Patriots. I've been doing some scouting. There's a supply camp about five miles from here. I think we can take it," Miles says.

"What are the particulars?"

Charlie had sat down between the two men and listened.

Miles drew a rough diagram of the camp in the dust on the barn floor. Supplies go in and out every few days. If we hit it right, we can take out the inbound and the camp preventing the outbound. Maybe grab some supplies and ammo for ourselves."

"What do they have for security?"

"Kind of sloppy. Two circulating guards and another two at the gate."

Bass thought for a moment. "What do you think about Lancaster?"

"Nah, not sure about that. How about Akron?"

"Ahh, yeah, that could work. Do we have any ordinance?"

"We've got some sticks."

"Enough for a diversion?"

"We can make a big enough bang."

Charlie loved listening to the two of them when they weren't after each other but got together to strategize. She so wished that Miles would ease up on Bass and that they could be friends again, ideally, brothers.

"Well, how about we blow the east and west walls, and while they're scrambling, we waltz right in from the back," Bass suggests.

"You think we can pull this off with just the three of us?" Charlie asks.

"We should be able to. They look like fairly green recruits. Of course, can't tell if any of them are zombified." Miles responds.

"Charlie, we need to go in stealthy. You'll take the guards with your bow."

"Okay, when do we go?" Bass asks.

"Itching to kill something, Bass?"

Charlie huffed.

"Hey, dick, you came to me with this mission," Bass responds.

"Alright... The new supply run should be arriving the day after tomorrow. I say we go there, camp nearby, and watch for it."

Miles' mission didn't quite go as planned. Although they took out quite a few Patriots, they barely made it out of the camp without being caught. There were more of them than he first realized.

Back at their base camp, Bass and Miles were sitting near the fire. Charlie was sitting next to Bass, and Rachel sat across from them, glowering as usual. They were discussing what went wrong.

"Miles, let's face it. We aren't going to get anywhere with the khaki assholes if we don't get more fighters. It's just the three of us, man. The best we can hope for is to be an annoyance with hit and run raids."

"Thanks, captain obvious. What would you suggest? And where do you propose we get those extra bodies? Recruit the scattered militia?" Miles snorted.

Bass gets quiet, then, "New Vegas."

"New Vegas?" Charlie asks.

"I know someone in Vegas that could, maybe, help."

"That's over a two-month trip."

"Got any better ideas?"

Miles sat brooding for a moment and then sighed, resigned. "When can you leave?"

"We can leave tomorrow."

"We?"

"Yeah," Bass looks over at Charlie. "Charlie will be coming with."

"OH NO! Not gonna happen!" Rachel shrieks. "Miles! You can't possibly even consider letting her go with...with...that monster! I know they've been hanging together, and that's bad enough but six to seven weeks...Alone! NO! Miles, NO!" Then she goes over to Bass, "Charlie isn't going anywhere with you!" Rachel shoving a finger at him.

"Excuse me! Don't I have a say in this?" Charlie says.

"NO!" both Miles and Rachel say at the same time.

"Well, it's not up to either of you. I'm going." Charlie says forcefully. Bass loves watching her stand up for herself.

"Listen, Rachel, they don't need a road trip. They're gonna do what they're gonna do. Can't stop um."

"Hey! Stop talking like we're sixteen! Miles, seriously. A trip like this is risky enough without not having an extra person. Without another person to take watch, when am I supposed to sleep? Do you want to go?"

Miles just looked at him, brown eyes intense, and shook his head. "I can't go. I can't be away that long."

Charlie didn't want to seem too eager, but she would love to have all that alone time with Bass.

"Okay then. We gear up and leave in the morning."

"MILES! You can't be serious!"

"Rachel, I don't like it either, but there aren't any other options. We need more fighters, or we might as well move to Cali. We can't stop Charlie from being with him. And he'll look after her, Rachel. He'll take care of her."

"That's what I'm afraid of."

Rachel stood, glaring at Miles, then stormed off. Miles watched her go with a grim expression. He wasn't thrilled about throwing Bass and Charlie together. Still, he had no other options except to give up the fight against the Patriots.

The next morning, Bass and Charlie readied their horses with the needed supplies. They could hear Rachel going at Miles again.

"Miles! What are you thinking? I don't want my daughter alone with that man!"

"Rachel, be reasonable. They've been alone on the road before. She came all the way from New Vegas alone with him."

"She's not going! He can't be trusted. Don't you see the way he looks at her?"

Oops…Busted Bass thinks.

"Rachel, it's settled. Charlie is very capable of handling herself."

Bass mounted the gelding that Miles had gotten for him and waited for Charlie to say goodbye.

"Mom, I'm going; it's not up for discussion."

"Rachel, we need this, or we run and hide and let the Patriots take over. And you thought the Republic was bad? Just wait and see what they have in mind. Charlie will be fine with Bass. He won't let anything happen to her."

"It's him that I'm worried about. Who's going to protect her from him."

"I can take care of myself, Mom." Charlie gave Miles a hug and reached out to hug her mother, but Rachel turned her back and walked away. Charlie just sighed and mounted her dappled gray mare.

"Hey, keep your stupid to a minimum!" Miles says.

"Always do, Uncle Miles."

"I was talking to him!"

Bass and Charlie rode for about four hours, then stopped for some lunch and rest the horses. Then another five hours on the road. The sun was setting, and they found a secluded spot to stop for the night.

All day, all Charlie could think about was finally being alone with Bass.

They found a secluded grove that was well away from the road to set up camp. Charlie slid off Mazy and was about to start on her saddle when Bass came up from behind and wrapped his arms around her. He had been thinking about her all day. Just watching her in the saddle was driving him crazy.

He moved her hair away from her neck and shoulder and started nuzzling and nibbling at that delicious spot where her neck met her shoulder. Charlie turned and wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him to her for a kiss. He held her close, and Charlie could feel how much he wanted her. She wanted him just as much. Bass had been patient; they both had. Now, they were truly alone and could take their time.

Bass grabbed his bedroll and spread it on the ground. Then he scooped up Charlie and brought her over to it and set her down. Kissing her some more, he pulled her top over her head as she grabbed at his shirt that ended up somewhere near her tank top. And so, it went until they were gloriously naked. Charlie pulled him down to her while she drank him in.

Bass leaned on an elbow and caressed her cheek, then stroked down her side and over to her breasts. She reached for him wanting to bring him closer.

"Shhhh, Charlotte. We've waited a long time for this. I'm not going to rush it." He went back to worshiping every inch of her.

Later they lay wrapped in each other's arms. "You're mine now, Charlotte," and he kissed her.

"And you're mine," she answered.

In the morning, Charlie had put some water on the fire to heat for oatmeal. Before adding the oats, she took some of the hot water to make a special tea. She took out a pouch and a mortar and pestle that Cynthia had given her when she went over to say goodbye. As she made her tea, Charlie thought about what Cynthia had said….

"Charlie, do you have a moment? I have something for you," she held out a small pouch. "These are Queen Anne's Lace seeds. They will keep you from becoming pregnant before you want to. After being together, take a teaspoon of seeds, lightly grind them, and add them to a cup of hot water as a tea. You can add some honey; if you have any, the tea is bitter." Then she smiled knowingly.

"How'd you know about this?"

"After the blackout when medications started to become scarce, I found books on herbology and studied them. I was able to gather my collection of herbs before we had to leave."

"So that's why the willow bark for Bass."

"Yes… I think that you and Bass are good together. Don't be swayed by other people. Follow your heart. Happiness is fleeting in this world. The bible says that we are to forgive. I can see the good in him. He's trying to be a better person. Safe journey, Charlie."

Bass noticed that Charlie appeared to be grinding something, and he was curious. "What's that?"

"It's a little something that Cynthia gave to me before we left. It's to prevent pregnancy. The morning after… or whenever I need to, I drink this tea."

"Mrs. Staypuft…who knew?"

"Bass, her name is Cynthia."

He kissed her on the cheek, "I just wanted to pull your chain."