OMGoodness!! O.o I'm so sorry!!! I didn't realize that I had left this fic this long. I've been toying with my website and other things so much recently that I totally forgot about it! Please, forgive me!! (bows deeply) Anyway, here's the next section. I'll try and keep up with this better. I know, you've heard it before, but it's the best I can offer at the moment. :8} Well, here you go……
They walked back in silence. The meeting with Gueni had not gone as well, but Obi-Wan was able to achieve the results desired. Qui-Gon was a little surprised that the man was capable of shouting with a breathing mask on. The man was obviously disturbed by the death of a child right in front of him. Oddly enough, the Jedi thought, considering they were all prepared for war when the incident occurred. But they were also able to learn that the Daan had been informed of re-armament of the other factions and quickly acted upon that rumor. Apparently, they obtained their weapons from the country outside the city. Which only led to more questions and no answers.
As they trekked through the lanes and avenues back to the Young's hideout, Qui-Gon couldn't help but ponder the youth beside him. His negotiation skills were admirable. And the confident air that clung to the slender form as well as his gentle mannerisms made people listen to him. He looked over at the young man who had recently been through so much and persevered. Somewhere, deep inside him he felt that all was not as it seemed. The boy's steps slowed as they drew nearer to the end of their journey. The Knight could sense weariness in the form, but he could discern little else through tightly erected shields. This alone was enough to concern the man, despite the accomplishments done.
Perhaps the boy was trying to conceal the pain of losing his Master or maybe that of the loss of his comrade Cerasi. But he couldn't help feeling there was more to it than that. What also unnerved him was the mere fact the boy's shields were so impenetrable. He had never met one so young that had shields that could rival most Knights. Again his thoughts led to a darker path. Had Garg Klp's influence been something that caused such barriers. He had no doubt that Obi-Wan's thin figure was in part due to Klp's teachings. What other damage had he caused the boy?
Sighing, he realized how wrong he was to claim that Klp had done anything to harm the Padawan intentionally. Garg was one with the Force now and no matter what he had done, he could no longer be held accountable for any of it. Instead of dwelling on his thoughts and the infinite possibilities, he decided to concentrate on the here and now. And from what he could tell, it was that Obi-Wan was exhausted. So exhausted in fact, it felt as if it drained his own strength just being near him. They were now in the tunnels beneath the city. Obi-Wan had stopped up ahead, his back to the Knight. Qui-Gon felt he should say something, encourage or advise the boy. Not exactly sure what he was going to say, Qui walked up and lifted a hand, ready to place it on a tense shoulder.
As the large hand slowly descended, he felt a surge in the Force. Fingertips lightly brushed worn material as the young man evaded the touch. Instantly, he was saying, "I'm fine, Master Jinn. I'm just tired. It's been a rather long day."
Qui-Gon regarded the youth sullenly. In that brief instant that the Force flared around them, he sensed a number of things as well as some things that he was not able to name. Among them were fear and pain, both of which he knew came from the boy. Then the shields returned - snapping back into place - and tramped down on those sensations and closing him inside.
Eyeing the boy carefully, Qui-Gon said, "Yes, I can imagine how tiring it has been after having suffered the loss of a friend. It must have been hard for you. Especially, so soon after your Master's passing." The Knight decided to probe the boy subtly. He knew how Garg worked and wanted to see how engrained the man's teachings were.
Obi-Wan did not look back at the large Jedi. He had sensed the man's approach just in time to avoid the touch. The movement alone was agonizing enough he didn't want to deal with anything worse. He was already tired, pushed beyond his limits, yet he had to press on. There was still so much that needed to be done. He couldn't give up now. He couldn't let his Master or Cerasi down. That alone would be enough to break him. He just needed to hold out for one more day - just one more day - and he could relax.
He had spoken of Cerasi's death all day and all the while, he was really trying to reassure himself that there was nothing more he could have done to save her. He felt he should have been just a little faster, been a little more observant, anything to spare her the pain. And now this man, Qui-Gon, who had walked along silently and allowed him to assume the lead in this situation, was poking at the torment he felt deep within his soul. It mingled with all the other agonies he had faced in his life, both mentally and physically. He had learned how to lock them away from his Master, as he knew the man's dislike for such weakness. It was not that his Master was overly harsh or demeaning, sometimes it seemed more to Obi-Wan that he just couldn't understand and deal with those emotions. And for the first time since his Master's death, he missed him. So much was happening he had not allowed himself time to grieve. And within a matter of days, he lost the one person he was beginning to share those feelings with. Since then he had been constantly moving - working toward a goal that meant everything to him, no matter the cost.
For a second, he glanced up at the Knight who stood back to allow him space. He didn't know how to feel right now, he knew what he must do but something inside him was starting to stir. Quickly, he suppressed the urge to release his hold on his splintering emotions. How this stranger could incite such a reaction by two sentences, he didn't know. Obi-Wan could not let himself submit yet. Steeling himself once again, he answered coolly, "My troubles are insignificant. As a Jedi I must complete my mission to the best of my abilities."
"But at what cost?"
"At any, Master." Obi-Wan strode purposefully away, reaching a doorway he led the Knight into the Young's stronghold. Many of the children were gathered in small groups, huddled and mumbling softly. The melancholy that surrounded them was eclipsed all other thoughts. It was obvious that they were all still mourning their leader's death. Obi-Wan continued to a room near the middle of the catacombs. Inside, a lone figure had their head down stretched out on the table he sat at and sniffles could be heard. Obi-Wan made his way over. "Nield," he whispered.
A face torn by the torment of loss, slowly lifted and peered up into the face of his friend. Tear-stained, the Young leader looked for hope. "We are close, Nield. Tomorrow morning we will meet at Glory Street and finally bring peace to your home." Gently, Obi-Wan laid a hand on Nield's back. The young Daan's gaze dropped and tears welled in reddened eyes. "I know it will be difficult. But I feel that it must be there." Ever so slowly, he nodded his acquiesce.
Obi-Wan glanced over at the tall Knight that stood in the doorway. Quietly, he added, "The Jedi have sent someone to retrieve me." Nield's head shot up, almost stricken with the thought of being all alone. Obi-Wan immediately, followed by saying, "But Master Jinn has agreed to let me stay until we have resolved this. Don't worry. I promise you, everything will work out. Go rest, tomorrow could still be very long." Nield just laid his head back down.
Obi-Wan patted his back for a moment before walking out. As soon as they exited, Qui-Gon felt he needed to say, "You should stay with him. He is hurting and it seems to me that he appreciates your company."
"He can take care of himself. I'll show you where you can sleep." Obi-Wan ignored the man as he walked through a number of rooms to a place where mats were strewn about the floor. Most of the places were sized for children, although a few were longer than the others. They stopped near one wall. "My Master was a little shorter than you, but you should be comfortable here." For the first time, Obi-Wan noticed a scowl on the man's face. Fortunately, he didn't understand why. "I'm sorry Master Jinn. There isn't a lot of room here. I'm sure the others here would move over if you need more room."
"The space is fine, Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon said quickly. He didn't want to explain how he was not happy about the fact he would be sleeping when Garg slept. But his moment of displeasure quickly faded as he remembered that his rival was no longer with them. "It was just a bit surprising to know that Master Klp slept here."
"He had to sleep somewhere." Obi-Wan replied flatly. Once again Qui-Gon looked pointedly at the youth. If it weren't for the mere fact he saw a completely different image, he would have believed Garg had been the one responding. The matter-of-factly attitude was one of the other grating parts of their relationship. "Now, if you'll excuse me. I am going to meditate before resting. If you need me, my mat is in the next room. Good night." Abruptly, he left, leaving Qui-Gon standing there.
Swiftly, Obi-Wan made his way to the small maintenance closet that had come to be his refuge. He abruptly closed the door behind him. In the quiet secluded room, he could let his façade crumble away. Learning his forehead against the door, he closed his eyes and fought the desire to release his stomach. Nausea was becoming his constant companion, along with the flush of fever and chilling shivers. Of course these physical problems compounded the agony inside him. He gathered what was causing his body's discomfort and promptly ignored it. But what was happening to him internally was another matter entirely. He wished his Master were here.
Allowing the appearance of perfection to slip away, Obi-Wan slid down to the ground. So many thoughts ran rabid in his mind making it hard for him to focus on one for longer than a moment. Hopes for tomorrow, sorrow of the past, confusion of the present all collided leaving him feeling even more exhausted than before. Taking deep, steady breaths, he wished he could talk with Master Garg once more. The man was a wealth of knowledge and always offered advice when needed. And Obi needed some now.
He had so many questions. Could he pull off his plans? What might he be forgetting? How can he close up the hole inside him now that his Master was gone? And so many others. But there was one question he had that he knew Garg would not be able to help him with. One that he would have to wait to talk with his confidant, Bant, about. How can he make the ache go away now that Cerasi was gone? As much as he admired his Master, he knew the man was incapable of helping through his emotions. Often, Obi would go to Bant after missions to reconcile the feelings he had through them. Of course over the past few years, he had been revealing less and less to her. Only touching on the larger, more pressing moments that he could not deftly stow away. It had been almost 6 months since the last time they had a heart to heart but he knew she would understand.
She was always there for him. And he could never thank her enough. She always dismissed his gratitude saying that that's what friends were for. But he felt he should say it. He wished she was there now, but he knew she was back at the Temple. Suddenly, he felt extremely alone. No Master. No friends. No one.
A hushed whisper in the back of his mind reminded him that there was someone else there now. But he didn't know Qui-Gon, heard the name on occasion but that's about it. He recalled a moment when his Master had spoken of the man, saying that the man twisted their beliefs and didn't take their roles seriously enough. Perhaps that was another reason, Obi-Wan had been so desperate to keep up the façade that he was capable of handling the situation himself. He didn't want the Knight to come in and take over when he had no clue what was going on. Obi-Wan knew he could take care of it, he just needed the opportunity to do so. Of course he was more surprised at the fact that the Knight didn't even attempt to assume the mission. Still, he didn't trust the man fully to confide in him.
Another swell of nausea crashed through him eliciting a moan. His body tensed in anticipation but he managed to stave off the attack. Stiffly, he laid back on the ground and hissed. Turning, he curled up on his side. He stayed that way for a while before finally succumbing to the call of sleep. A slumber plagued by fevered nightmares.
Qui-Gon stood where he was for a long time, considering his options. He wasn't sure if he should follow the Padawan or leave him be. A few minutes later, he figured it was too late to chase, so he made his way to the mat. Looking down, he wasn't exactly sure how he felt about this arrangement, but in the end it was the simple fact that he had little choice that won out. Afterwards he realized how childish his reaction was. He decided that young Obi-Wan had the right idea, meditation would be best at the moment to help clear the mind and focus.
Even though he was not fully briefed on the situation on Melida/Daan the afternoon spent in negotiations helped him grasp most of it. He was beginning to see the youth's strategy. As sad as the site may be, with everyone focused on the tragedy and not on their differences there was a greater chance of success. Of course, he wasn't sure how they were going to discover the people responsible for Cerasi's death, but he assumed he would find out the same as the others.
Meditation came easily and he enjoyed the peace it brought. When he re-emerged he felt somewhat refreshed, not as drained as before. Most of the children had crept into the room and found their places. The lights had been turned down for the night and he figured he might as well follow suit. Within moments (his earlier misgivings forgotten) Qui-Gon drifted off into the darkness.
They were heading back. Walking through an alleyway. A warning in the Force cried out an instant before the blaster fire erupted. Everything was moving so fast. Faces and movements blurred. Ambush.
Flashes. Shouts. Crackles in the air from bolts too close for comfort. Then suddenly pain. Running. Burning rain continued to fall. More shouts. Another burst of pain. Tired. Running. Safe. Fading. Too late. Quick, hushed words. Awkward moment. Darkness creeping. Peace.
(Barrage of images coming too fast to fully understand what they were - then darkness)
Slowly, emerging from the dark. Climbing up. A fountain. Hordes of people. Red hair. Shouts. Flash. Pain. Screams mingling. Shattered. Pieces falling. Hearts breaking.
Instantly, he was awake. He could feel the shallow breaths he was taking and the light sheen of sweat on his brow. Carefully, he lifted a hand to rub at his face. The dream was not like anything he expected. He couldn't tell for certain if he was somehow picking up on the emotions that filtered through the room and manifested the nightmares. And they were nightmares, at least that was what he classified them as. His reaction was to the underlying panic he felt when reliving the moments. Slowly, he sat up and looked around him. No one stirred at his movements, which he was grateful for.
It was deep into the night and no one stirred as he got to his feet. The rapidness of the dream as well as the content had left him feeling very anxious. He needed to move. Not that he knew where he was going, but at least he was moving. Stepping cautiously over the smaller occupants, he made his was out. Obi-Wan. A voice so soft carried the name in the air. It was so faint he couldn't discern who could have said it, but he knew he heard it. Without fully understanding why, he had an urge to see the boy.
He quickly made his way over to the entrance of the next room. Searching in the dull light he looked for the familiar figure. Near the center of the room, he noticed a mat with a grouping of wild flowers resting on the pillow. On either side of the mat were two other vacant places. Somehow he knew that one was Nield's and the other was Obi-Wan's. The fact that it was empty meant that Obi-Wan had not come here to meditate. The problem being now was that he didn't know where the boy was.
Taking a deep breath, he summoned the power that flowed through all living beings. He stretched out with his senses hoping to locate the young man, to no avail. Whereever the boy was, his shields were still tightly in place - impervious to his prodding. Slightly frustrated, he soon found himself wandering the lower levels of the city for most of the morning. Occasionally, he would seek out the younger Jedi only to come up empty handed. He tried not to allow his irritations get the better of him. But it would not be until the next morning that he would meet up with the apprentice again.
Gradually, the Young's head quarters became a flurry of morning activity. The mood was still somber considering the recent tragedies, but the anxiety of the coming meeting could also be felt. Qui-Gon was left alone while they moved about. Unfortunately, his time with the Young was so brief he didn't recognize any of them. He had checked the one room where Obi-Wan first brought him to see if their leader was there but found it empty. Annoyed, he lingered in the vicinity of the room.
Some time later, the tall Knight recognized a figure heading in his direction. Purposefully, he strode up to the young man. "I do not know if you recall our introduction last night, however, I was wondering if you know where Obi-Wan is?" The youthful leader regarded the man cautiously.
"No, I haven't seen him since last night."
"He mentioned that he was going to meditate. I have been unable to locate him from that point on."
"I don't know what to say, Master. I hope he shows up because I don't know what we'll do with out him. He's supposed to be the one negotiating this meeting. I'll have some of my people look for him." Nield's eyes revealed that he was worried about the coming meeting and the disappearance of its facilitator.
"Look for who?" A calm cultured voice said from behind them. Quickly, the pair turned to find the Padawan staring blankly at them.
Nield glared up at the Knight for a moment then allowed his relief to show. "We were going to look for you. We didn't know where you were."
"I couldn't sleep. I didn't mean to worry you." He looked at each in turn. He could see the question burning in the Master's gaze. Obi-Wan gathered the man did not fully believe him and he knew why. Even though, he had not lied, he knew he also wasn't telling the whole truth either. Suppressing a sigh, he knew it would be addressed at a later time but right now he had more important matters to attend to. "It is time for the meeting. Shall we go?"
"Yes, of course. The Young are ready."
As they approached the plaza, they were able to see that a group was already there waiting. When they were a little closer, Wehutti could be seen standing in the midst of the group. Obi-Wan and Nield exchanged glances quickly. Soon the two groups faced each other. Obi-Wan addressed them, "Wehutti, Thank you for coming. And that your people appear to be unarmed once more."
"They are not happy about that but they are beginning to see what must be done if our world is ever to change." His voice was gruff and his tone soft. Reddened eyes revealed that his mourning was far from over. Perhaps when peace was achieved he could truly mourn her loss. Only one factor was missing now. "What of the Daan?"
"Gueni said that he would be here."
"And we are." Turning the waiting groups noticed a pack of Daan coming around the corner of a building. Gueni came walking over with his hands stretched out at his sides, a display of empty hands for all to see. "And now that we have all gathered, it's time to finish this once and for all."
"Yes," Obi-Wan agreed and a sea of nods answered silently. The leaders crowded closer to Obi-Wan. Taking a deep breath, he readied himself for the task ahead. He had worked over this strategy for part of the morning after he woke and now was the time to set it into action. Slowly, he turned in place to lookat the mass of people around him, waiting for him to begin. The Padawan took a deep breath and called out so that he could be heard by all. "How many of you enjoy watching your loved ones fall? To see both young and seasoned cut down? Tell me, who enjoys this pain?"
A soft murmur answered his questions. Many looked down to avoid eye contact with anyone else. A couple of them felt tears well in their eyes at the horrid memories. But in all, no one directly answered him. His gaze swept over them again. "Then tell me why you fight? Tell me why – why – your loved ones died. Tell me why memorials are built for them in the Halls of Evidence."
Heads shot up and the angry glares flared in previously downcast eyes. Almost simultaneously people from both sides cried out: 'The Melida' 'The Daan' 'They wouldn't stop.' 'They destroyed my home – my family.' 'They wiped out entire villages.'
Obi-Wan raised his hands for silence. When they wouldn't quiet he shouted, "Stop! Stop this! Stop these petty bickerings. Listen to yourselves. Do you hear – see – that all the hate you hold for each other is not reserved for your enemy alone? You claim retaliation for wrongs done against you, but what right do you have. One attacks the other counters. All you are doing is perpetuating a cycle of violence. And for what?! For vengence? For power? For glory and honour?? What honour is there when you have fought and died and there is no cause?! The cause of this conflict died centuries ago, but you cannot seem to let old grudges die out with the past. Prejudice will always thrive if you are unwilling to change it. Yet you all seem content with this sting of death. The children of both Melida and Daan alike have found a way to live together in peace. They do not care for this age-old vendetta. They want to rebuild to live. That is the real challenge you face. Anyone can die, but it is much harder to live." He paused to let his words sink in.
Wehutti's eyes went wide as he heard his daughter's words spoken aloud. His vision blurred and he could already hear the hushed sobs rattling in his chest. Without realizing what he was doing, his strained voice managed, "That is what Cerasi said to me before she ran away. She told me that we needed to find peace and learn to live again. I never understood what she meant until recently. I loved my daughter but I couldn't see past the hate of my forefathers to give her what she asked. I took the easier path. And now – now….she's……….gone." Gasping cries wracked his body and his knees buckled, dropping him to the ground. Another bout of murmurs arose at the heart breaking sight.
"How could you bring us back here so soon?" Someone called out. "Can't you see how much this hurts him?"
"I know very well what being here means. The question is, do you?" Obi-Wan glared at the group again. "She was here to stop another war from breaking out and she was killed for that reason."
Shouts from all sides came again. 'The Melida did it!' 'Those foul Daan were the ones.'
"NO!" Obi-Wan shouted over them. "No! It was neither Melida nor Daan nor Young. I know who it was. I realized last night who fired. While we were on the ground, a sniper was placed on that roof…" he pointed, "to make sure that peace was not attained. I have my suspicions why, but I was hoping the person would step forward on their own."
"And why would they do that here? They know we would take them out for what they've done." A man called from the crowd. Obi-Wan looked at him and then continued to pass his eyes over them.
"Because, I don't believe that person meant to kill her. But I want to know. I want to hear their reasons for keeping the war going. To find out what was so enticing that they were willing to make sure those negotiations failed. If they reveal themselves now, I promise you that you will not be punished until you've had a fair trial." Many of the people there began looking around searching for this culprit. But none stepped forward.
"You're wasting your time." The same man as before shouted. Obi-Wan ignored him. Qui-Gon who had been standing back started to question the boy's plans. He didn't see why anyone would stand up and face the mob when he couldn't be sure that Obi-Wan really knew who it was. He was about to say something when Obi-Wan called out again.
"We had a truce. We were close to peace. And then somehow we all heard that our enemies had weapons again. I know where the Young got theirs from. And I know where Wehutti and the Melida found theirs. And I also know how Gueni and the Daan received theirs. The question is who started the rumour. The answer lies with the one who fired that shot. The shot that killed Cerasi right here!" He pointed to a spot where a couple of flowers had been laid. "Are you proud of what you've done? She sought a dream. A dream that others were finally starting to believe in. She'd dead! Is that what you wanted?!"
"No!" A voice cried out. "I loved her! She wasn't meant to die!" The heartache in the voice was clearly heard. The sea of bodies gasped at the outburst and parted to reveal the one who spoke.
Obi-Wan saw exactly who he thought he would see. He wanted to be angry with the boy, but he knew he couldn't be. Because for all the punishments that they could bestow on him none would be worse than living with the guilt of killing someone you loved. "Why? Why did you do it, Mawat?"
"She wasn't meant to die. It was supposed to be Nield." The Young leader's face went white at the news. "If we made it look like Nield was killed by the Melida the war would continue. I would take over the Young with Cerasi."
"We? Who is we?" Obi-Wan pressed the sobbing boy.
"He promised me power!" Anger overpowered the grief stricken voice. "But what good is power now?! Cerasi's dead!"
"He who?!"
"Timult!" Mawat shouted and pointed to a man who stood next to Gueni. The same man who scoffed Obi-Wan's efforts moments ago. His face feigning surprise at the accusation. But the Jedi could feel the spike of fear that rose at his name. Timult was one of Gueni's lieutenants and had been vital to many of the battle in Zehava. Timult rose through the ranks quickly after he arrived from the countryside. Obi-Wan remembered Mawat mention that he had come from the country with a small group intending to fight in the war but broke away when he met up with Cerasi. Obi-Wan started to realize the connection last night as he was lost in the ocean of darkness. The events of the past few days playing and replaying in his mind. He soon figured out who was behind it all. Glaring at the man, his gaze was soon combined with hundreds of others.
"The child must be mistaken. I've never seen him before." He said slowly backing away.
"Liar!! You made me kill Cerasi. You made me kill her so you could kill Gueni and take over the Dann. With both the Young and Daan working together we would wipe out the Melida once and for all. That was what you said to me. I would lead the Young and you would lead the Daan and we would rule together. But what good is all that power when I can't have Cerasi!"
Many of the people were shouting now. Voices mingling, drowning out what needed to be heard. Gueni was furious and was screaming at Timult. Wehutti was standing next to the Daan leader also voicing his anger. Timult soon realized he was not going to convince them of his innocence. His face turned from frightened confusion into the hardened look of desperation. Obi-Wan was trying to calm the crowd while he continued to press the man with his stare. He could see the change while it happened and felt the surge in the Force just before chaos broke out.
Qui-Gon was also trying to quiet the masses to no avail. His eyes locked on the figure of Obi-Wan. He knew that what the boy had just accomplished was far beyond the expectations placed on this meeting. Suddenly, he felt the pride swell inside him and the urge to protect the boy. His deductions could place him in danger and Qui-Gon began moving through the group to get to Obi-Wan's side. The surge in the Force told him it was already too late. He saw the accused's face form a nasty scowl as he pulled a blaster from behind him. Qui-Gon's hand shot out as the bolt sprung from the nozzle. The Force swirled and crested. He saw the bolt heading for Obi-Wan and then suddenly it's direction changed as if it bounced off of a shield. But before he could truly ponder what had just happened, the world went black.
Once again I would like to say how sorry I am for muffing up like that. Please, smack me around if I do it again. ;) Thanks for reading!! :D
Kynstar – I know you've already read most of it, and maybe soon my muses will return so I can finish off some of these outstanding fics. Keep those fingers crossed. ;)
K-rock – Thanks as always friend!! My muses are still on holiday, so maybe I can get back to writing again soon. ;8}
Kitkat – Well, I'm glad you liked it so far. And yes, I am hoping to bring out Obi's relationship a little more later but it may be a bit slower in coming than I originally intended. As for your other comment, yes, I can see how that would be a bit ooc. I believe that may be the most drastic ooc for the fic, at least I hope so. Remember sometimes things need to be done a sort of way as a vehicle for plot momentum, but hey, it could also just me messing things up too. Thanks for letting me know. ;)
Shan – Sweetie! I hope things are going good with you. Been busy recently, but worse, I've been incredibly bored!!! And boredom is my worst enemy, it leaves me uninspired!! I'm looking for anything that might give me something to start with but it's been so dry on the boards anymore I'm drifting. Well, maybe I'll touch on this more in an e-mail. (sigh) Thanks as always, and chat with you later!
YLJedi – Thanks, yes, another story. I know, I've already got a lot going on but I like to keep busy. I hope you like where this little venture goes. And hopefully it won't turn into another epic like FnB. ;) Thanks again! :D
Stranded Stargazer – Thanks. I'm sorry for the delay, hopefully I'll be able to update again really soon. :)
Toria – I'm sorry for the delay, I'll do my best to keep up with this more. Thanks for reading!
jedi keliam kenobi – Thanks. I enjoy twisting things up a bit. I hope you like what come up later. Thanks!!
Ave3eb – Um, Wow, (blush) thank you so very much!! I'm still a bit floored by your sweet and wonderful comments. I'm just happy to be sharing so that others may enjoy my fics too. It's no fun keeping good stories to yourself, no matter who you are. Thanks for letting me know!! :D
Criticgirl – me too!! You need to smack that author around a bit more to let them know they've been neglecting things!! Oh, uhhh, wait a sec. (thinks about what I just said and comes to a decision – nods) No, I'll stick with what I said. Sometimes things slip from the memory banks, and a good jolt is a helpful reminder. Hopefully some of your questions were answered in this section, if not they will be soon. ;) Thanks for reading and yelling at me, I needed that. :)
Amber – Thank you so much!! And please don't stop reminding me that I have been bad. My memory's not as good as it used to be. Thanks for the nudges. :D
Well, that's all folks. Hopefully catch you all again real soon! Later!! :D