A Wedding Song 19: That's what Friends Are For...
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"You guys...." Darien exclaimed quietly as he gazed around at the subtle decorating Eberts and Claire had done. "what's goin on?"
"Lemme guess. No emergency, right?" Bobby added, a smile slowly developing on his face. It grew faster as he watched his daughter's joyful reaction on seeing her god parents.
"No. No emergency." Claire confirmed. "It's a long overdue celebration."
"A dual purpose celebration, actually. Claire's safe homecoming and your engagement both deserved a bit of restrained revelry. Belated congratulations, gentlemen. I'm deeply sorry it took this long to get around to saying it but... things have been a bit hectic of late. Well? Come in, come in. Let's get the party underway and my co-hostess off her feet."
"Oh... oh yeah. Right." Bobby responded, quickly moving into the house and shutting the door. Setting the carrier down, he released Bobbi and lifted her out and up to his chest. "Hey, this is really great Ebes, but... you didn't have to. I mean... like you said, it's been a while. It ain't big news anymore."
"I suppose you're right. We'll just send your presents back then..." Claire mused as she dropped to the couch.
"Presents?" Darien repeated excitedly. "You got me... us presents? C'mon, Hobbes. We never did anything special after I proposed an' with all that's happened since... Let's party, huh?"
"Proposed?" Eberts echoed, surprise and delight in his voice as it drifted out of the dining room. "Darien was the one who proposed? Why have I never heard about this?"
"Maybe 'cause Claire did a happy freak out an' turned into a girly tornado when I told her. I didn't wanna see what that would look like on you." Bobby explained.
"Have no fear, Robert. I do not... freak out. I won't promise not to tear up if it gets romantic, but there will be no sudden erratic displays of joy from me, I can assure you. Let me go retrieve the Peking duck from the oven. You and Darien can tell the story while we eat."
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AN HOUR OR SO LATER
"How beautiful. How absolutely beautiful. What you two have found is a rarity and a true miracle. I only pray that if the opportunity for such a great love presents itself to me that I'll have the presence of mind not to allow it to slip away."
Eberts cut his eyes briefly in Claire's direction then returned his gaze to his empty dessert bowl. The minute he looked away, Claire made the same move. Intent on finishing every last scrap of his portion of bread pudding, Darien missed the exchange, but Bobby didn't. Realizing, however, that he and Darien would never have become so close if anyone had interfered in the gradual growth process of their relationship, Hobbes kept his mouth shut, on that subject at least.
"Didn't I hear somebody mention presents sometime tonight? About time, ain't it?"
The magic word finally pulled Darien's attention away from his dish.
"Presents?"
"Absolutely. Claire?"
"Oh. no. It should be your honor. You bought the gift."
"But the design... we'll do it together. Alright?"
"Agreed."
Just as Eberts was reaching into his pocket for the rings, Bobby's cell chimed mutedly from his own pocket. He reached to silence it, but Eberts spoke up, halting him.
"Go ahead, Robert. It could be about Stark. You need to take it."
Bobby produced a chagrined smile and rose to his feet.
"Okay. Hang on. I won't be long."
Bobby was only gone a few minutes, but when he returned to the table, his partner knew it had not been work on the phone.
"Again? What'd she want this time?"
"Same as before. I don't wanna talk about it. Let's... get on with presentin' the presents."
"Bobby..."
"No. Not now. She's got no right to a place here an' I'm not givin' her one. Eberts. You were about to..."
"Of course." he acceded, setting aside his confusion for the moment. Grandly, he produced the small box from his pocket. This time, it had a tiny bow secured to the top. Darien glanced at Eberts, confused now himself, then back at the box in the center of the table.
"What... why..."
"It isn't what you think, Darien. Trust me and open the box. Please."
Trembling slightly, the young man reached out and gently flipped up the lid. His breath stilled for a moment when he saw what was inside. "What better gift for an engagement party than engagement rings. Yours is inscribed with Robert's name, Darien, and..."
"....an' mine has his...." Bobby responded softly, finally managing speech. "Damn. We can't let... these musta cost you a mint, Ebes." he protested, running the tip of one finger over the cool metal.
"They didn't and you certainly can. This is the very least you both deserve for all you've survived."
Retrieving the box, Eberts tugged Bobby's ring out of it's velvet nest and then handed the box to Claire. "Left hand please, Robert."
"But.. ain't me an' Darien supposed to..."
"At the wedding, yes. Tonight is about more than just the two of you. It's about the four of us... about our connection to each other." Claire explained as she reached out for Darien's hand. "No matter what's happened or what we've had to endure, none of us has had to do it alone. That needs to be recognized somehow. Please... I know it's a bit sappy, but..."
"No. It... it's right. You're right. Go ahead." Darien said, giving her his hand. His heart stuttered when he felt the ring slide past his knuckle and settle into place. He glanced at Bobby and felt relief wash over him when he found the same stunned expression on his fiancée's face. The surprises didn't end there, however. Eberts pulled a second box out of his pocket and Claire joined the ranks of the astonished.
"I wasn't at all sure about this, Claire. I had nearly made up my mind to keep this second purchase a secret.... until I heard you speak just now. While selecting the engagement rings for Robert and Darien, I saw these and.... well, I did mention I've been having trouble resisting sudden impulses, didn't I?"
Cracking open the second box, Eberts revealed the two identical gold Claddah rings inside. "You must understand, I would never try to... I realize that we're only... They represent...."
"... friendship, yes I know. Oh, Albert... they're lovely...."
For a terrifying moment, Eberts was certain she was about to refuse his gesture. His heart hovered, fluttering on the edge of being utterly crushed.
"Yes?"
"Would you put mine on?"
"Would... oh, yes! Certainly!" he replied, now trying frantically to slow the beat of a heart that had been ready to give up the ghost a minute before.
Abruptly, Bobbi crowed, burbled and slapped the tray of her high chair with both hands. Claire laughed brightly.
"And that means?"
Darien faced away from the group for a moment, listening intently to his daughter, then turned back, grinning.
"She's happy for everybody. Oh, an' she wants more bread pudding."
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THE APARTMENT: LATER THAT NIGHT
"Go on. I know it's buggin' you. Go ahead an' ask."
"We'll talk after. I need to get her midnight snack warmed up." Darien responded as he pulled a bottle from the fridge.
Laying secure in her mother's arms, Bobbi smiled up at Darien and sent him a message that her hunger was not yet at the critical stage and she could, indeed, wait until after he and his fiancée had talked.
"What'd she say?" Hobbes asked, by now well versed in recognizing Darien's 'Bobbi's communicating' expression.
"That she can wait a little while."
"So? Let's get this outta the way so we can go to bed."
"You'll be straight with me?"
"Deal."
A few minutes later, the three were sitting in the living room. In spite of their agreement, Darien was having a hard time opening Bobby up.
"C'mon, Hobbes. You said..."
"I know, I know. It's just.... when I get mad words don't come so easy an'... she makes me wanna put my fist through a wall sometimes."
"She's not worth the plaster and paint to fix the hole. Just tell me."
"She wants to come here.... to talk she says. It's a damn lie. She thinks she'll waltz in here, open her arms an' I'll go runnin' back to her. She better think again, that's all I gotta say...."
"If you're that sure, why do her calls make you so damned upset?"
"I don't know.... bad memories. I think she likes makin' me mad. Knowin' she *knows* she ticked me off makes me even madder.... it just goes round an' round."
"We haven't talked much about the wedding. Who's gettin' invited an all? Claire, Eberts an' Cheryl are the obvious ones, but...."
"Hey! About time you started talkin' sense! I'm the one who said you shoulda called 'em back when you were still pregnant...."
"Not my family. That's not what I'm sayin'."
"Then wh.... crap. Here I was thinkin' you'd changed the subject."
"Did I say she should give you away? No, but in spite of every cruel, stupid, hurtful thing Viv's done to you, Hobbes, you need to tell her. She deserves to know an' you deserve to be done with her once and for all."
"Claire tried to talk me into makin' that call weeks ago. I'll tell you the same thing I told her. No."
"Bobby, just listen..."
"No! You made me believe that leavin' the past in the past was the best thing to do an' you were right on the money. Viv is behind me, now. I'm happy. I found real love with somebody who wants me for me an' won't walk the minute the tiniest thing goes wrong. You're what I need now, not her...."
"Bobby... c'mere." Darien petitioned, gesturing to the arm of the chair he was sitting in. Slowly, grudgingly Bobby acquiesced, knowing he was about to be won over by Darien's most powerful and persuasive weapons: indisputable logic and his dark eyes. "If you can't think of any other reason to call Viv, do it for the pure pleasure of telling her exactly what you just told me."
"It'll kill her."
"Damn right. Callin' her isn't about draggin' up the past again, Hobbes. It's about finally lettin' it go. Put Viv in the ground, do your grieving... an' say goodbye."
For a few minutes, Bobby was silent, pondering Darien's words and eventually his thoughts drifted back to what Claire had to say on the subject.
"You got no room to talk, bud." Bobby responded quietly, knowing his words would have impact enough. "You ain't been to the cemetery in a year. Not since that day you ran there an' we tracked you down. You blew up at Kev.... an' the universe in general, I guess. Don't think you got much settled though."
"If I remember right, you wouldn't let me. You even said I..."
"Don't stop. Finish the sentence."
"No."
"I'll do it then. I said you needed to let it go, that we'd work it all out later. I didn't keep that promise an' I'm really sorry."
"It wasn't your responsibility, Bobby. You only said that 'cause you were worried about the baby...."
"Come again? You actually think I sat there on wet grass, in the middle of a cemetery an' put my arms around you.... *just* for the baby? I did it 'cause I can't stand to see you hurtin', you numbskull!"
"Not exactly a Shakespeare sonnet, but it'll do...."
"Can we get back to the point? Do we have a deal or not?"
"Deal? What deal?"
"You help me after I call Viv an' tell her what's goin' on, I'll be with you when you take Bobbi to see Kev."
"It's not the same thing. Kev was my brother. His death.... it's not like I can just stuff all the crud that comes with that into a little.... mental box and shove it in a corner. If I go there, I'll have to talk.... an' I don't know what to say anymore."
"Then we'll help each other with that too. Hey, I'm not so sure even you standin' right beside me would be enough to get me through this call. I know how she'll react... what she'll say. It's not gonna be pretty, that's for sure..."
"She's hurt you so much an' so often.... I understand she's got a part of you that I can't touch, but.... maybe if you can stand up to her just once it'll break this hold she has on your heart."
"What? No, Fawkes. God, no.... I love *you*. I only ever loved you. I finally know that. I didn't marry Viv for love. It was outta loneliness. I've never been real good at bein' alone. Too much time with just me an' I get squirrelly an' grouchy.... an' depressed. At the time, she was there.... an' I didn't wanna be alone anymore. That's a lousy reason to do anything. This time I do it right. This time I do it for love."
"Damn... okay. If you swear you'll go with me... maybe I'm ready to go back an' see him again. Maybe it's time he heard the truth.... time I told it. You've got a deal."
"Good. It'll be okay, you'll see. She ready for that snack yet?"
"Yeah. Here. Go to Daddy, sweetness."
Carefully, Darien lifted Bobbi and handed her up to her father. Hobbes gently draped her over his shoulder then gazed down and studied Bobbi's drooping head. "She's half asleep already. Don't know if we even need the bottle."
"She says don't even think about it. Bottle an' make it fast ." Darien chuckled, smiling softly at Bobby.
"Gotta love her. My attitude an' your stomach. Hey... what're you grinnin' at?"
"You. Every time I hear that word come outta your mouth it makes my heart jump.... an' I have to smile. I can't hear it often enough."
"An that word would be...."
Darien rose to his feet, leaned down and gave Bobby a quick kiss on the lips.
"Love, numbskull. Love. I'll go get Bobbi's crib ready."
"Be right there soon as the bottle's warm."
"Take your time. I gotta find places to put her million an' one stuffed animals."
"Yeah. Ya know, I don't mind Claire and Eberts buyin' her somethin' new every month, but we gotta have a talk with 'em about bein' more creative."
"Hey, she loves every single one."
"Except the gorilla. Every time I put it back in her crib or her playpen, she pitches it back out."
Darien paused on his way to the bedroom, then abruptly burst out laughing.
"What?"
"She says you like monkeys so much, the gorilla's yours."
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TBC.......
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"You guys...." Darien exclaimed quietly as he gazed around at the subtle decorating Eberts and Claire had done. "what's goin on?"
"Lemme guess. No emergency, right?" Bobby added, a smile slowly developing on his face. It grew faster as he watched his daughter's joyful reaction on seeing her god parents.
"No. No emergency." Claire confirmed. "It's a long overdue celebration."
"A dual purpose celebration, actually. Claire's safe homecoming and your engagement both deserved a bit of restrained revelry. Belated congratulations, gentlemen. I'm deeply sorry it took this long to get around to saying it but... things have been a bit hectic of late. Well? Come in, come in. Let's get the party underway and my co-hostess off her feet."
"Oh... oh yeah. Right." Bobby responded, quickly moving into the house and shutting the door. Setting the carrier down, he released Bobbi and lifted her out and up to his chest. "Hey, this is really great Ebes, but... you didn't have to. I mean... like you said, it's been a while. It ain't big news anymore."
"I suppose you're right. We'll just send your presents back then..." Claire mused as she dropped to the couch.
"Presents?" Darien repeated excitedly. "You got me... us presents? C'mon, Hobbes. We never did anything special after I proposed an' with all that's happened since... Let's party, huh?"
"Proposed?" Eberts echoed, surprise and delight in his voice as it drifted out of the dining room. "Darien was the one who proposed? Why have I never heard about this?"
"Maybe 'cause Claire did a happy freak out an' turned into a girly tornado when I told her. I didn't wanna see what that would look like on you." Bobby explained.
"Have no fear, Robert. I do not... freak out. I won't promise not to tear up if it gets romantic, but there will be no sudden erratic displays of joy from me, I can assure you. Let me go retrieve the Peking duck from the oven. You and Darien can tell the story while we eat."
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AN HOUR OR SO LATER
"How beautiful. How absolutely beautiful. What you two have found is a rarity and a true miracle. I only pray that if the opportunity for such a great love presents itself to me that I'll have the presence of mind not to allow it to slip away."
Eberts cut his eyes briefly in Claire's direction then returned his gaze to his empty dessert bowl. The minute he looked away, Claire made the same move. Intent on finishing every last scrap of his portion of bread pudding, Darien missed the exchange, but Bobby didn't. Realizing, however, that he and Darien would never have become so close if anyone had interfered in the gradual growth process of their relationship, Hobbes kept his mouth shut, on that subject at least.
"Didn't I hear somebody mention presents sometime tonight? About time, ain't it?"
The magic word finally pulled Darien's attention away from his dish.
"Presents?"
"Absolutely. Claire?"
"Oh. no. It should be your honor. You bought the gift."
"But the design... we'll do it together. Alright?"
"Agreed."
Just as Eberts was reaching into his pocket for the rings, Bobby's cell chimed mutedly from his own pocket. He reached to silence it, but Eberts spoke up, halting him.
"Go ahead, Robert. It could be about Stark. You need to take it."
Bobby produced a chagrined smile and rose to his feet.
"Okay. Hang on. I won't be long."
Bobby was only gone a few minutes, but when he returned to the table, his partner knew it had not been work on the phone.
"Again? What'd she want this time?"
"Same as before. I don't wanna talk about it. Let's... get on with presentin' the presents."
"Bobby..."
"No. Not now. She's got no right to a place here an' I'm not givin' her one. Eberts. You were about to..."
"Of course." he acceded, setting aside his confusion for the moment. Grandly, he produced the small box from his pocket. This time, it had a tiny bow secured to the top. Darien glanced at Eberts, confused now himself, then back at the box in the center of the table.
"What... why..."
"It isn't what you think, Darien. Trust me and open the box. Please."
Trembling slightly, the young man reached out and gently flipped up the lid. His breath stilled for a moment when he saw what was inside. "What better gift for an engagement party than engagement rings. Yours is inscribed with Robert's name, Darien, and..."
"....an' mine has his...." Bobby responded softly, finally managing speech. "Damn. We can't let... these musta cost you a mint, Ebes." he protested, running the tip of one finger over the cool metal.
"They didn't and you certainly can. This is the very least you both deserve for all you've survived."
Retrieving the box, Eberts tugged Bobby's ring out of it's velvet nest and then handed the box to Claire. "Left hand please, Robert."
"But.. ain't me an' Darien supposed to..."
"At the wedding, yes. Tonight is about more than just the two of you. It's about the four of us... about our connection to each other." Claire explained as she reached out for Darien's hand. "No matter what's happened or what we've had to endure, none of us has had to do it alone. That needs to be recognized somehow. Please... I know it's a bit sappy, but..."
"No. It... it's right. You're right. Go ahead." Darien said, giving her his hand. His heart stuttered when he felt the ring slide past his knuckle and settle into place. He glanced at Bobby and felt relief wash over him when he found the same stunned expression on his fiancée's face. The surprises didn't end there, however. Eberts pulled a second box out of his pocket and Claire joined the ranks of the astonished.
"I wasn't at all sure about this, Claire. I had nearly made up my mind to keep this second purchase a secret.... until I heard you speak just now. While selecting the engagement rings for Robert and Darien, I saw these and.... well, I did mention I've been having trouble resisting sudden impulses, didn't I?"
Cracking open the second box, Eberts revealed the two identical gold Claddah rings inside. "You must understand, I would never try to... I realize that we're only... They represent...."
"... friendship, yes I know. Oh, Albert... they're lovely...."
For a terrifying moment, Eberts was certain she was about to refuse his gesture. His heart hovered, fluttering on the edge of being utterly crushed.
"Yes?"
"Would you put mine on?"
"Would... oh, yes! Certainly!" he replied, now trying frantically to slow the beat of a heart that had been ready to give up the ghost a minute before.
Abruptly, Bobbi crowed, burbled and slapped the tray of her high chair with both hands. Claire laughed brightly.
"And that means?"
Darien faced away from the group for a moment, listening intently to his daughter, then turned back, grinning.
"She's happy for everybody. Oh, an' she wants more bread pudding."
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THE APARTMENT: LATER THAT NIGHT
"Go on. I know it's buggin' you. Go ahead an' ask."
"We'll talk after. I need to get her midnight snack warmed up." Darien responded as he pulled a bottle from the fridge.
Laying secure in her mother's arms, Bobbi smiled up at Darien and sent him a message that her hunger was not yet at the critical stage and she could, indeed, wait until after he and his fiancée had talked.
"What'd she say?" Hobbes asked, by now well versed in recognizing Darien's 'Bobbi's communicating' expression.
"That she can wait a little while."
"So? Let's get this outta the way so we can go to bed."
"You'll be straight with me?"
"Deal."
A few minutes later, the three were sitting in the living room. In spite of their agreement, Darien was having a hard time opening Bobby up.
"C'mon, Hobbes. You said..."
"I know, I know. It's just.... when I get mad words don't come so easy an'... she makes me wanna put my fist through a wall sometimes."
"She's not worth the plaster and paint to fix the hole. Just tell me."
"She wants to come here.... to talk she says. It's a damn lie. She thinks she'll waltz in here, open her arms an' I'll go runnin' back to her. She better think again, that's all I gotta say...."
"If you're that sure, why do her calls make you so damned upset?"
"I don't know.... bad memories. I think she likes makin' me mad. Knowin' she *knows* she ticked me off makes me even madder.... it just goes round an' round."
"We haven't talked much about the wedding. Who's gettin' invited an all? Claire, Eberts an' Cheryl are the obvious ones, but...."
"Hey! About time you started talkin' sense! I'm the one who said you shoulda called 'em back when you were still pregnant...."
"Not my family. That's not what I'm sayin'."
"Then wh.... crap. Here I was thinkin' you'd changed the subject."
"Did I say she should give you away? No, but in spite of every cruel, stupid, hurtful thing Viv's done to you, Hobbes, you need to tell her. She deserves to know an' you deserve to be done with her once and for all."
"Claire tried to talk me into makin' that call weeks ago. I'll tell you the same thing I told her. No."
"Bobby, just listen..."
"No! You made me believe that leavin' the past in the past was the best thing to do an' you were right on the money. Viv is behind me, now. I'm happy. I found real love with somebody who wants me for me an' won't walk the minute the tiniest thing goes wrong. You're what I need now, not her...."
"Bobby... c'mere." Darien petitioned, gesturing to the arm of the chair he was sitting in. Slowly, grudgingly Bobby acquiesced, knowing he was about to be won over by Darien's most powerful and persuasive weapons: indisputable logic and his dark eyes. "If you can't think of any other reason to call Viv, do it for the pure pleasure of telling her exactly what you just told me."
"It'll kill her."
"Damn right. Callin' her isn't about draggin' up the past again, Hobbes. It's about finally lettin' it go. Put Viv in the ground, do your grieving... an' say goodbye."
For a few minutes, Bobby was silent, pondering Darien's words and eventually his thoughts drifted back to what Claire had to say on the subject.
"You got no room to talk, bud." Bobby responded quietly, knowing his words would have impact enough. "You ain't been to the cemetery in a year. Not since that day you ran there an' we tracked you down. You blew up at Kev.... an' the universe in general, I guess. Don't think you got much settled though."
"If I remember right, you wouldn't let me. You even said I..."
"Don't stop. Finish the sentence."
"No."
"I'll do it then. I said you needed to let it go, that we'd work it all out later. I didn't keep that promise an' I'm really sorry."
"It wasn't your responsibility, Bobby. You only said that 'cause you were worried about the baby...."
"Come again? You actually think I sat there on wet grass, in the middle of a cemetery an' put my arms around you.... *just* for the baby? I did it 'cause I can't stand to see you hurtin', you numbskull!"
"Not exactly a Shakespeare sonnet, but it'll do...."
"Can we get back to the point? Do we have a deal or not?"
"Deal? What deal?"
"You help me after I call Viv an' tell her what's goin' on, I'll be with you when you take Bobbi to see Kev."
"It's not the same thing. Kev was my brother. His death.... it's not like I can just stuff all the crud that comes with that into a little.... mental box and shove it in a corner. If I go there, I'll have to talk.... an' I don't know what to say anymore."
"Then we'll help each other with that too. Hey, I'm not so sure even you standin' right beside me would be enough to get me through this call. I know how she'll react... what she'll say. It's not gonna be pretty, that's for sure..."
"She's hurt you so much an' so often.... I understand she's got a part of you that I can't touch, but.... maybe if you can stand up to her just once it'll break this hold she has on your heart."
"What? No, Fawkes. God, no.... I love *you*. I only ever loved you. I finally know that. I didn't marry Viv for love. It was outta loneliness. I've never been real good at bein' alone. Too much time with just me an' I get squirrelly an' grouchy.... an' depressed. At the time, she was there.... an' I didn't wanna be alone anymore. That's a lousy reason to do anything. This time I do it right. This time I do it for love."
"Damn... okay. If you swear you'll go with me... maybe I'm ready to go back an' see him again. Maybe it's time he heard the truth.... time I told it. You've got a deal."
"Good. It'll be okay, you'll see. She ready for that snack yet?"
"Yeah. Here. Go to Daddy, sweetness."
Carefully, Darien lifted Bobbi and handed her up to her father. Hobbes gently draped her over his shoulder then gazed down and studied Bobbi's drooping head. "She's half asleep already. Don't know if we even need the bottle."
"She says don't even think about it. Bottle an' make it fast ." Darien chuckled, smiling softly at Bobby.
"Gotta love her. My attitude an' your stomach. Hey... what're you grinnin' at?"
"You. Every time I hear that word come outta your mouth it makes my heart jump.... an' I have to smile. I can't hear it often enough."
"An that word would be...."
Darien rose to his feet, leaned down and gave Bobby a quick kiss on the lips.
"Love, numbskull. Love. I'll go get Bobbi's crib ready."
"Be right there soon as the bottle's warm."
"Take your time. I gotta find places to put her million an' one stuffed animals."
"Yeah. Ya know, I don't mind Claire and Eberts buyin' her somethin' new every month, but we gotta have a talk with 'em about bein' more creative."
"Hey, she loves every single one."
"Except the gorilla. Every time I put it back in her crib or her playpen, she pitches it back out."
Darien paused on his way to the bedroom, then abruptly burst out laughing.
"What?"
"She says you like monkeys so much, the gorilla's yours."
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TBC.......