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Chapter 21: Aboard the Pearl
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Watching Captain Sparrow's retreating back disappear into his cabin and slam the door, James heaved a sigh. He heard someone calling his name, and watched one of his soldiers, Mullroy, struggle with Charles Adler. James had all but forgotten the aristocrat after Gibbs had shoved him into the soldier's arms upon boarding the ship to search for his captain. "Aye?" he called to Mullroy, showing that he was paying attention.
"What do I do with 'im, sir?" Mullroy called out, his face showing his frustration with his captive.
Adler visibly bristled, opening his mouth to say pompously, "I am not just a 'him', I am Lord Charles Adler and I demand that I be released at once. It's preposterous, I say."
James rolled his eyes and made his way over to the pair. "Mister Mullroy, kindly take this man to the medic and get his shoulder bandaged, then lock him in my cabin clad in irons."
Mullroy led Adler r towards the gangway leading to the Dauntless. Adler began to mumble to himself, inaudible to the soldier, his eyes glinting in the darkness. "That bitch, gonna make her pay, gonna get my gold, gonna get her back-"
Mullroy showed Adler politely into the cabin, untying his hands carefully and locking on a pair of spare irons. He pocketed the key and turned jauntily to close the door before going to find the medic.
Adler looked around the impeccably neat cabin. He strode over to the desk, noticing an open drawer. He peeked in and saw a closed pocketknife nestled inside a collection of maps. Standing so his back was to the desk, he carefully and tediously reached inside and with his bound hands picked it up and slipped it into his back pocket.
The door swung open, and Adler straightened up. An older, stooped, grey- haired man wearing small spectacles on his nose and carrying a medical bad entered the room. "Doctor Jenkins?" Adler questioned suddenly, struck by recognition.
The medic met his eyes with a surprised smile, "Lord Adler. Always a pleasure to see you, sir."
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James Norrington sighed after the prisoner and the soldier. He tipped his head back against the night air and grasped the railing. He looked up at the tiny stars still twinkling and offered a prayer of thanks for the pirate woman's safe return. Of course she'd pull through; she was a strong woman after all, James reassured himself. He realized that he also had no perception of what time it was and frankly that it made no difference. James decided to see how his men aboard the Dauntless were faring, knowing he was of no use aboard this ship, but still he lingered a little longer.
"Amazin', ain't it?"
James swung around at the sound of a feminine voice and saw Eve standing beside him, equally enraptured with the stars. "I beg your pardon?"
"It's amazin'," she repeated, leaning on the railing beside him, "That there's so much up there and we're so small."
James regarded her thoughtfully, never really having thought about it himself. They were on earth to do a duty and if they did it right, God would be merciful in granting life. He had never considered life fragile or precious. . . until now. What they had done to rescue Anamaria and then people that had been harmed or killed in the process began to sink in. "Now that you mention it, yes, it is," he remarked.
"Terrifying, too," she added, shaking her head with a little ironic. She caught his eyes and they smiled shyly at each other.
"Thank you for your assistance tonight, miss," James finally said, the simple smile and look they had exchanged stirring something that confused him and he felt his military discipline kicking back into place.
"Please, Commodore, how many times must I tell ye that I'm no lady? Just Eve," Eve asked wryly.
"Too many," James replied, "But then I must insist that I be called James."
"Agreed," Eve smiled. She cocked her head as she heard the creaking of boards below them on the dock. She saw could see no person there as the ship below her obscured her view, but as she stared, she saw a dark-stained trail leading towards the ship.
She touched James' arm and motioned down there. He squinted at it, and then his eyes widened in surprise, "Eve, get yourself aboard the Dauntless. You'll be safe there. That's an order."
At the stubborn look she shot him, James softened, touching her shoulder gently. "Please, do this."
Eve sighed, seeing the concerned look in his eyes that was masked in steel. She would not win this one. She picked up her cumbersome skirts and boarded the Dauntless, searching for the only person she vaguely knew there, Elizabeth Swann.
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Jack carefully sank down on the edge of his bunk, currently containing the ship's most precious plunder, Anamaria Santagio. He relieved her of her boots and noticed with a flash of anger that the damn doctor had taken off her camisole as well. Vowing to exchange words later with the man, Jack opened messy dresser and pulled out an oversized shirt of his that had once served as a nightshirt, knowing it would likely reach her knees. He cautiously raised her shoulders up to slip it over her head and over her waist, and then unbuttoned and slid off her pants. There was nothing sexual about undressing her, despite that Jack knew she was a beautiful woman and the exposed skin did nothing to discourage those thoughts.
He removed his boots and shed his coat and weapons. He considered her for a long moment before throwing his caution to the sea breezes and lying down beside her, his sore limbs aching for rest and heart aching for solace. He laid his head a little below the pillow and slid his arm under the pillow so it was under her neck as well. He splayed his arm around her waist, positioning his face so he could watch her, faces inches apart.
Jack heaved a deep sigh and traced a little circle over her hip, "I'm not goin' anywhere, Ana," he drawled in a low whisper. Despite his desire to stay awake and watch her, he yawned sleepily and fell into a deep sleep.
Anamaria drifted back into consciousness, the warmth that had filled her in her jungle fading to take refuge in certain areas of her body. She was aware of a dim light and that she was on a cushioned surface with something soft beneath her head. Ana blinked, her eyes becoming accustomed to the light, and she felt something warm and solid resting against her side. Her eyes widened and she froze, trying desperately to remember what had happened before she lost consciousness. The thing beside her let out a little sigh and snorted and Ana relaxed, glancing to the side and knowing she'd come face to face with Jack Sparrow, fast asleep.
A small smile tugged at the corners of Anamaria's face, and she raised the arm that was not held captive by Jack and was disgusted to see that it was shaking. Ana touched it to her jaw and came away wincing, the rubbed portion stinging to the touch. She slid her hand down her side that felt stiff and painful, and her fingers came in contact with a large bandage along her ribs. She frowned.
Abandoning that pursuit, she rolled her head to the side and considered the man curled up beside her. Her experiences in the subconscious had softened her feelings and she was filled with a feeling of vulnerability, hating it. Ana suddenly wanted him awake and reached over to rub his arm. Jack jerked, muttered something unintelligible, and clutched her up against him, the arm under her neck that she hadn't known was there making a nice new pillow for her head. Ana found herself in the new position, her front to his front, and she rolled her eyes.
"Jack," she whispered, trying out her voice. It was scratchy and hoarse and her throat cried out for water.
Jack startled awake, his eyes opening to narrow fiercely against the intruder. He reached for his sword that wasn't there and sat straight up. He clutched his sore middle and winced, surveying the room at his eye level. A confused look crossed his face as he could see no one and figured he must have dreamt the voice. He dropped back onto the bed, closing his eyes again, realizing that his bed felt lumpier then it usual.
CRACK.
Jack rolled off the bed with a surprised thump as something came sharply in contact with his face. "Ow," he muttered, shaking his head to clear it. His brow creased in a frown and he peeked over the side of the bed to see what monster was up there.
An angry-looking Anamaria was glaring back at him
"Ana!" he exclaimed, scrambling to his feet. He swayed light-headedly as he reached them and he groaned, pressing his hand to his temple, "Did I deserve that, love?"
"Aye!" she told him fiercely, "Ye sat on me!"
"Aye. . . but only a little," Jack countered, perching himself on the edge of the narrow bed and quickly changing the subject. "Yer awake! How are ye feelin'?
"Like I've been sat on," Ana shot back grumpily. "And ye, don't get me started on ye," she warned as Jack relaxed his facial muscles into an innocent and pleading look, "I have half a mind to-to-- Ye almost got yerself killed ye daft fool!"
"As did ye," Jack pointed out the obvious.
Ana huffed and shrugged it off. She decided that she'd had enough with this invalid nonsense and began to haul herself into a sitting position, only to have Jack gently press her down again. "The stitches could come undone, love. Ye gotta rest," he said gruffly.
Ana groaned. This was going to become quite irritating. She squeezed her eyes closed and tried to count to five at least, but enjoying the feeling of Jack's hands still resting on her shoulders, restraining or not. "What about Evans?" she asked patiently. At his silence, she cracked her eyes open to study his face, fear invading her once more as she saw the hesitation in his eyes. "He's free?" she asked tremulously.
"That depends on yer meanin' of 'free', love. . ." Jack said, pressing his hands together in a mock bow, requesting mercy from her wrath.
Ana suppressed the urge to hit him again. Men: they couldn't do anything right. "Adler?" she asked tiredly.
"Got him," Jack said proudly, "'im and 'is warrior brutes. Not to worry, love."
Ana relaxed onto the pillow, her face containing a mixture of relief and barely suppressed fear. Jack reached over and snatched from a small table a flask of water and a cup. He poured a small amount into the cup and moved to let her drink from it. Ana drank gratefully, ignoring the fact that she was supposed to be stronger than this; a pirate didn't need anyone to baby them.
Jack rose and fetched some bread off a tray that the crew kept continuously bringing to his cabin in hopes of making him eat. He broke off a small piece and, eyes lighting up mischievously, tried to feed it to her with his fingers. Ana batted his hand away, squashing his fun, and took the chunk of bread and began to feed herself.
He pouted, sitting back to watch her devour the bread and offered her sips of water when she needed it. She finished it, and although still hungry, knew that she would become sick if she ate too much after not having anything for days.
"Ana," Jack said finally, stirring up his courage and reaching over to take her hand in his. "I was a blasted fool not to see it before, but I gotta tell ye that I-"
"Captain Sparrow, sir!"
Matthew's young voice rang out and the door swung open, hitting the wall with a loud bang. Jack sighed, reminding himself to tell the whelp to work on his timing. "Aye?" he replied, not bothering to rise.
Anamaria looked thunderstruck and she looked as if she would have jumped off the bed and throttled the petrified boy if Jack had not foreseen this and grabbed unhurt forearms. "Jack, lemme blasted go! Do ye know what he did? 'E-"
"Was a good lad and led us right to ye, love." Jack finished for her, his eyes willing her to trust him. Ana frowned, but stopped struggling against him, knowing Jack's judge of character to be sound. "Now," the captain turned to look at the boy, "What is it that ye want?"
"They've f-found blood stains, sir, an' a rope that they think Evans might have used to come aboard the Pearl, Captain Sparrow, sir."
Jack stroked his beard, his expression unchanging. "Is that so?" He stood up suddenly, waving his arms about madly as the idea struck him. "I'm off to catch me a bounty hunter."
Ana frowned at him, moving to rise also. "No, no," Jack turned back to her, hands gesturing for her to stay put. "Please, just stay here, Ana and don't do anything-that ye would normally do, savvy?"
Ana huffed, but sank back down on the bed, knowing she didn't have much of the strength required to do what she wanted to. Jack strapped on his pistol and sword with a flourish, bowed to the sulking pirate woman, and followed the little boy from the room, closing the door and making sure it locked behind them.
She bit her lip and lay turned to lie on her good side and closed her eyes, feeling the warmth still imprinted on the bed from Jack. Ana closed her eyes and tried to do as Jack had told her.
Suddenly, she heard a very faint and yet unmistakable scratching of metal on metal at the door. Ana froze, hoping to have imagined it. It was almost as if someone was trying to pick the lock-
Ana looked around frantically, spotting Jack's dagger lying three feet away on the floor. She leaned over the side of the bed, fingers reaching. Almost there-
There was the definitive click at the door and suddenly it creaked open. With a sudden rush of determination, Ana's fingers seized the small knife, concealing it in her palm. She heaved herself up on the bed, hearing the voice she never wanted to hear again. The voice of Charles Adler.
"Hello Maria."
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AN: Cliffie! *giggles* You know you love it. Next chapter: Charles and our wounded heroine face off, but to what consequence? And Evans, what happened to him? Is he aboard the Pearl? Will Jack and the gang find him before its too late? And how did Charles even get free? All this and more coming up.
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See that button, mes amis? It says review. Much appreciated if you do. Merci bien to all who have & especially J.L. Dexter (*giggles-I think I'll take some of your advice on this one. . . ) Missy Mouse, and Gooselives for reviewing the last chapter.
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Chapter 21: Aboard the Pearl
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Watching Captain Sparrow's retreating back disappear into his cabin and slam the door, James heaved a sigh. He heard someone calling his name, and watched one of his soldiers, Mullroy, struggle with Charles Adler. James had all but forgotten the aristocrat after Gibbs had shoved him into the soldier's arms upon boarding the ship to search for his captain. "Aye?" he called to Mullroy, showing that he was paying attention.
"What do I do with 'im, sir?" Mullroy called out, his face showing his frustration with his captive.
Adler visibly bristled, opening his mouth to say pompously, "I am not just a 'him', I am Lord Charles Adler and I demand that I be released at once. It's preposterous, I say."
James rolled his eyes and made his way over to the pair. "Mister Mullroy, kindly take this man to the medic and get his shoulder bandaged, then lock him in my cabin clad in irons."
Mullroy led Adler r towards the gangway leading to the Dauntless. Adler began to mumble to himself, inaudible to the soldier, his eyes glinting in the darkness. "That bitch, gonna make her pay, gonna get my gold, gonna get her back-"
Mullroy showed Adler politely into the cabin, untying his hands carefully and locking on a pair of spare irons. He pocketed the key and turned jauntily to close the door before going to find the medic.
Adler looked around the impeccably neat cabin. He strode over to the desk, noticing an open drawer. He peeked in and saw a closed pocketknife nestled inside a collection of maps. Standing so his back was to the desk, he carefully and tediously reached inside and with his bound hands picked it up and slipped it into his back pocket.
The door swung open, and Adler straightened up. An older, stooped, grey- haired man wearing small spectacles on his nose and carrying a medical bad entered the room. "Doctor Jenkins?" Adler questioned suddenly, struck by recognition.
The medic met his eyes with a surprised smile, "Lord Adler. Always a pleasure to see you, sir."
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James Norrington sighed after the prisoner and the soldier. He tipped his head back against the night air and grasped the railing. He looked up at the tiny stars still twinkling and offered a prayer of thanks for the pirate woman's safe return. Of course she'd pull through; she was a strong woman after all, James reassured himself. He realized that he also had no perception of what time it was and frankly that it made no difference. James decided to see how his men aboard the Dauntless were faring, knowing he was of no use aboard this ship, but still he lingered a little longer.
"Amazin', ain't it?"
James swung around at the sound of a feminine voice and saw Eve standing beside him, equally enraptured with the stars. "I beg your pardon?"
"It's amazin'," she repeated, leaning on the railing beside him, "That there's so much up there and we're so small."
James regarded her thoughtfully, never really having thought about it himself. They were on earth to do a duty and if they did it right, God would be merciful in granting life. He had never considered life fragile or precious. . . until now. What they had done to rescue Anamaria and then people that had been harmed or killed in the process began to sink in. "Now that you mention it, yes, it is," he remarked.
"Terrifying, too," she added, shaking her head with a little ironic. She caught his eyes and they smiled shyly at each other.
"Thank you for your assistance tonight, miss," James finally said, the simple smile and look they had exchanged stirring something that confused him and he felt his military discipline kicking back into place.
"Please, Commodore, how many times must I tell ye that I'm no lady? Just Eve," Eve asked wryly.
"Too many," James replied, "But then I must insist that I be called James."
"Agreed," Eve smiled. She cocked her head as she heard the creaking of boards below them on the dock. She saw could see no person there as the ship below her obscured her view, but as she stared, she saw a dark-stained trail leading towards the ship.
She touched James' arm and motioned down there. He squinted at it, and then his eyes widened in surprise, "Eve, get yourself aboard the Dauntless. You'll be safe there. That's an order."
At the stubborn look she shot him, James softened, touching her shoulder gently. "Please, do this."
Eve sighed, seeing the concerned look in his eyes that was masked in steel. She would not win this one. She picked up her cumbersome skirts and boarded the Dauntless, searching for the only person she vaguely knew there, Elizabeth Swann.
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Jack carefully sank down on the edge of his bunk, currently containing the ship's most precious plunder, Anamaria Santagio. He relieved her of her boots and noticed with a flash of anger that the damn doctor had taken off her camisole as well. Vowing to exchange words later with the man, Jack opened messy dresser and pulled out an oversized shirt of his that had once served as a nightshirt, knowing it would likely reach her knees. He cautiously raised her shoulders up to slip it over her head and over her waist, and then unbuttoned and slid off her pants. There was nothing sexual about undressing her, despite that Jack knew she was a beautiful woman and the exposed skin did nothing to discourage those thoughts.
He removed his boots and shed his coat and weapons. He considered her for a long moment before throwing his caution to the sea breezes and lying down beside her, his sore limbs aching for rest and heart aching for solace. He laid his head a little below the pillow and slid his arm under the pillow so it was under her neck as well. He splayed his arm around her waist, positioning his face so he could watch her, faces inches apart.
Jack heaved a deep sigh and traced a little circle over her hip, "I'm not goin' anywhere, Ana," he drawled in a low whisper. Despite his desire to stay awake and watch her, he yawned sleepily and fell into a deep sleep.
Anamaria drifted back into consciousness, the warmth that had filled her in her jungle fading to take refuge in certain areas of her body. She was aware of a dim light and that she was on a cushioned surface with something soft beneath her head. Ana blinked, her eyes becoming accustomed to the light, and she felt something warm and solid resting against her side. Her eyes widened and she froze, trying desperately to remember what had happened before she lost consciousness. The thing beside her let out a little sigh and snorted and Ana relaxed, glancing to the side and knowing she'd come face to face with Jack Sparrow, fast asleep.
A small smile tugged at the corners of Anamaria's face, and she raised the arm that was not held captive by Jack and was disgusted to see that it was shaking. Ana touched it to her jaw and came away wincing, the rubbed portion stinging to the touch. She slid her hand down her side that felt stiff and painful, and her fingers came in contact with a large bandage along her ribs. She frowned.
Abandoning that pursuit, she rolled her head to the side and considered the man curled up beside her. Her experiences in the subconscious had softened her feelings and she was filled with a feeling of vulnerability, hating it. Ana suddenly wanted him awake and reached over to rub his arm. Jack jerked, muttered something unintelligible, and clutched her up against him, the arm under her neck that she hadn't known was there making a nice new pillow for her head. Ana found herself in the new position, her front to his front, and she rolled her eyes.
"Jack," she whispered, trying out her voice. It was scratchy and hoarse and her throat cried out for water.
Jack startled awake, his eyes opening to narrow fiercely against the intruder. He reached for his sword that wasn't there and sat straight up. He clutched his sore middle and winced, surveying the room at his eye level. A confused look crossed his face as he could see no one and figured he must have dreamt the voice. He dropped back onto the bed, closing his eyes again, realizing that his bed felt lumpier then it usual.
CRACK.
Jack rolled off the bed with a surprised thump as something came sharply in contact with his face. "Ow," he muttered, shaking his head to clear it. His brow creased in a frown and he peeked over the side of the bed to see what monster was up there.
An angry-looking Anamaria was glaring back at him
"Ana!" he exclaimed, scrambling to his feet. He swayed light-headedly as he reached them and he groaned, pressing his hand to his temple, "Did I deserve that, love?"
"Aye!" she told him fiercely, "Ye sat on me!"
"Aye. . . but only a little," Jack countered, perching himself on the edge of the narrow bed and quickly changing the subject. "Yer awake! How are ye feelin'?
"Like I've been sat on," Ana shot back grumpily. "And ye, don't get me started on ye," she warned as Jack relaxed his facial muscles into an innocent and pleading look, "I have half a mind to-to-- Ye almost got yerself killed ye daft fool!"
"As did ye," Jack pointed out the obvious.
Ana huffed and shrugged it off. She decided that she'd had enough with this invalid nonsense and began to haul herself into a sitting position, only to have Jack gently press her down again. "The stitches could come undone, love. Ye gotta rest," he said gruffly.
Ana groaned. This was going to become quite irritating. She squeezed her eyes closed and tried to count to five at least, but enjoying the feeling of Jack's hands still resting on her shoulders, restraining or not. "What about Evans?" she asked patiently. At his silence, she cracked her eyes open to study his face, fear invading her once more as she saw the hesitation in his eyes. "He's free?" she asked tremulously.
"That depends on yer meanin' of 'free', love. . ." Jack said, pressing his hands together in a mock bow, requesting mercy from her wrath.
Ana suppressed the urge to hit him again. Men: they couldn't do anything right. "Adler?" she asked tiredly.
"Got him," Jack said proudly, "'im and 'is warrior brutes. Not to worry, love."
Ana relaxed onto the pillow, her face containing a mixture of relief and barely suppressed fear. Jack reached over and snatched from a small table a flask of water and a cup. He poured a small amount into the cup and moved to let her drink from it. Ana drank gratefully, ignoring the fact that she was supposed to be stronger than this; a pirate didn't need anyone to baby them.
Jack rose and fetched some bread off a tray that the crew kept continuously bringing to his cabin in hopes of making him eat. He broke off a small piece and, eyes lighting up mischievously, tried to feed it to her with his fingers. Ana batted his hand away, squashing his fun, and took the chunk of bread and began to feed herself.
He pouted, sitting back to watch her devour the bread and offered her sips of water when she needed it. She finished it, and although still hungry, knew that she would become sick if she ate too much after not having anything for days.
"Ana," Jack said finally, stirring up his courage and reaching over to take her hand in his. "I was a blasted fool not to see it before, but I gotta tell ye that I-"
"Captain Sparrow, sir!"
Matthew's young voice rang out and the door swung open, hitting the wall with a loud bang. Jack sighed, reminding himself to tell the whelp to work on his timing. "Aye?" he replied, not bothering to rise.
Anamaria looked thunderstruck and she looked as if she would have jumped off the bed and throttled the petrified boy if Jack had not foreseen this and grabbed unhurt forearms. "Jack, lemme blasted go! Do ye know what he did? 'E-"
"Was a good lad and led us right to ye, love." Jack finished for her, his eyes willing her to trust him. Ana frowned, but stopped struggling against him, knowing Jack's judge of character to be sound. "Now," the captain turned to look at the boy, "What is it that ye want?"
"They've f-found blood stains, sir, an' a rope that they think Evans might have used to come aboard the Pearl, Captain Sparrow, sir."
Jack stroked his beard, his expression unchanging. "Is that so?" He stood up suddenly, waving his arms about madly as the idea struck him. "I'm off to catch me a bounty hunter."
Ana frowned at him, moving to rise also. "No, no," Jack turned back to her, hands gesturing for her to stay put. "Please, just stay here, Ana and don't do anything-that ye would normally do, savvy?"
Ana huffed, but sank back down on the bed, knowing she didn't have much of the strength required to do what she wanted to. Jack strapped on his pistol and sword with a flourish, bowed to the sulking pirate woman, and followed the little boy from the room, closing the door and making sure it locked behind them.
She bit her lip and lay turned to lie on her good side and closed her eyes, feeling the warmth still imprinted on the bed from Jack. Ana closed her eyes and tried to do as Jack had told her.
Suddenly, she heard a very faint and yet unmistakable scratching of metal on metal at the door. Ana froze, hoping to have imagined it. It was almost as if someone was trying to pick the lock-
Ana looked around frantically, spotting Jack's dagger lying three feet away on the floor. She leaned over the side of the bed, fingers reaching. Almost there-
There was the definitive click at the door and suddenly it creaked open. With a sudden rush of determination, Ana's fingers seized the small knife, concealing it in her palm. She heaved herself up on the bed, hearing the voice she never wanted to hear again. The voice of Charles Adler.
"Hello Maria."
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AN: Cliffie! *giggles* You know you love it. Next chapter: Charles and our wounded heroine face off, but to what consequence? And Evans, what happened to him? Is he aboard the Pearl? Will Jack and the gang find him before its too late? And how did Charles even get free? All this and more coming up.
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See that button, mes amis? It says review. Much appreciated if you do. Merci bien to all who have & especially J.L. Dexter (*giggles-I think I'll take some of your advice on this one. . . ) Missy Mouse, and Gooselives for reviewing the last chapter.
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