Content warning: The end of this chapter contains some fairly heavy adult content. It is definitely not safe for work/school. Have fun!
Chapter Nine
"Ami," the voice in the dark spoke wispy, "Ami," the words slithered in the shell of her ear,, crawled down her ear canal, and finally down her back with a pleasant chill. She shivered as the voice spoke again, "Ami," this time soft lips nibbled her ear as a warm, moist tongue playfully traced along the outer margin of skin.
"AH!" Ami moaned.
"Ami," the voice became desperate with need as she squirmed under the pleasant teasing. "Ami," the voice solidified becoming familiar. "Ami, come and find me!" hot words burned along the surface of her ear and cheek. Ryo!
"Ami…. Ami…" the voice began softening, "… AMI!"
Ami's eyes bolted open, and she sucked in a deep breath, as she spasmed upright and coughed. She blinked as she heaved several deep breaths. "Where…"
"It's all right," a familiar, if altered voice spoke. Ami looked up to see Usagi standing over her. Her glorious golden hair was down to her knees, and she appeared taller and willowier than Ami remembered. "It's all right, Ami, take a few moments." Usagi said in a tone most motherly.
"Usagi, your dress… everything!" Usagi's dress was long and flowing with a massive bow that gave her the appearance of butterfly or angel wings.
"I guess it's time," she shrugged, "to put away the kid toys," Usagi held out the silver crystal, blossomed into the shape of a lotus. "We have a world to save."
Ami stared up from the ruins on the moon to what was the Earth. The planet was a milky grey with only the faintest blue outline. Without saying a word, she extracted her computer and summoned her visor. A few quick taps, and she scanned the starscape around them. Indeed, it was almost a thousand years from the day they had gone into hibernation. "I don't believe it," she said breathlessly.
"Believe it, Ami," Artemis said as he strolled up with Luna beside him.
"This is our second time jump; it never gets easier," Luna said. "Thankfully, this the last one."
"Come on, girl," Usagi extended a hand, "There is a whole world waiting for us to wake them up," Ami took the hand and rose to her feet. "And a handsome young man is waiting for you."
"Ryo," just saying his name made her heart thunder in both anticipation and fear. In a short while, she'd find out if he had survived. Based on that, she would either plan celebrations or a funeral. There is nothing else that can be done until we get back; so, let's go! She turned to Usagi, "Well, what are we waiting for!"
Usagi, now Neo Princess Serenity, stood among her friends and guardians. For over a decade, they'd placed their faith in her as Sailor Moon, but now, she was asking them to help her carry a weight heavier than they'd ever faced. She held up the Silver Crystal, marveling at how much its power had built up in the past thousand years. Even now, it was still gathering strength – strength from her love of her friends. I hope it is enough for the world we return to.
"I don't believe it Artemis," Luna said quietly, "She looks just like Queen Serenity!"
"A new Queen Serenity after waiting long," Artemis sighed, "I never thought I'd see the day."
"Well, I guess we should get the show on the road," Usagi winked. "MOON CRYSTAL POWER!" The light from the Crystal intensified like a second sun; although, Usagi was not blinded by it. Rather, the light made her feel alive. Time to share! Usagi stared at Earth. She would protect it as her mother protected the Moon. Here we go, ready or not!
Neo Princess Serenity lifted from the Moon and shot toward Earth faster than she knew possible. "Time to wake up!" The light of Silver Crystal rained down on the frozen planet, dispelling the hazy shades of grey as she circled the world she had called home. Oceans and seas frozen in white began turning blue, and the landmasses morphed from dull grey to vibrant shades of green, brown, amber, and more.
As she circled, dispelling the Doom Phantom's Eternal Sleep spell, Usagi sensed life – tiny specs that had been all but extinguished peppered among a heartbreaking number who would never awaken from slumber. Can't save everyone, but that doesn't mean we can't try! "SILVER CRYSTAL REVIVIFICATION!" The intense gathering of life spread outwards from her like a tsunami. Usagi bathed in the incredible euphoria of feeling life returning to a deadened planet.
Usagi began flying downward toward Tokyo, toward the temple. She hovered, and gently landed in the courtyard from which they'd left a millennium earlier. It felt like spring time; all the trees were in bloom. The gloom that hung in the air the final days of the past was dispelled as if it had been a bad dream giving way to sunlight.
Usagi turned to look behind her to see the others had arrived. Mamoru looked handsome as ever, but Usagi noticed a nervous rubbing of his fingers. Rei and Ami both stared tense into the distance, and Usagi turned toward the crystals encasing Shingo, Yuichiro, and Ryo.
She held out the Silver Crystal, sensing weak, but still viable lift signatures. Usagi pressed with the Crystal's power, and the first two crystals dissolved with ease. Yuichiro and Shingo began to stir from their long slumber. However, the crystal entombing Ryo remained stubbornly intact. Oh no…
Ami at first was over the Moon as the crystals encasing Shingo and Yuichiro dissolved. Euphoria quickly turned to panic as she realized Ryo's crystal wasn't doing the same. Oh my god! "Ryo!" she hollered as she ran toward the crystal still encasing him. She summoned her computer and her visor. As feared, Ryo's life signs were not registering. NO! Ami dropped her computer as a sickening wave of déjà vu swept over her.
Ami pounded with her fists on the crystal tomb, small cracks forming with each strike. "RYO!" she screamed as she pounded until her hands burned, and she pounded harder. A final strike and the crystal shattered like breaking glass before it dissolved. "RYO!" She sobbed as she felt his neck desperately for a pulse that wasn't there.
She placed her ear to his chest, scanning for anything even remotely resembling a heartbeat, greeted only by deafening silence. Dammit! Why didn't I make you stay! Why didn't I put you in crystal first! Ami cradled his limp form, not accepting the horrible hand fate had dealt her. "Ryo, don't do this!" she wailed.
Her eyes clamped closed, but tears and snot continued to run as she clutched his lifeless body. All the hopes and dreams for a future perfect – engagement, marriage, pregnancy – slipped away to a future imperfect. Ami didn't know how to go on, if she could go on. Her body tingled all over as the world swirled around her. "Ryo," she choked, but fought to say the words she needed to say, "I love you, please don't die!"
Ami's strength abandoned her as Ryo's dead weight dragged her down to the ground and Ami buried her face in his chest. Her body burned and tingled at the injustice of what had happened. Someone's hand rested between her shoulders in a vain effort to comfort her. If she'd had the strength, she would have smacked it away
"Only," a choked wheezed spoke, "because you asked so nicely…"
Ami froze. There was the sound of coughing and heaving as her head bounced off his chest. IT CAN'T BE A DREAM! Ami summoned all of her courage to open her eyes, and Ryo lay before her, breathing and staring with his brown eyes. "R-Ryo!"
"Ami…" he said weakly.
She wasted no time wrapping her arms around him again, "Ryo!"
"Ami!" his voice betrayed exhaustion, but it was becoming more solid.
Memories of the handsome knight that had guarded her retreat flashed before her, as did memories of saying good-bye at the train station. "Don't ever leave me again!" she cried, praying this was real.
"Never leaving you," he brought his arms around her, "never again!" He squeezed her close, tracing fingers through her hair.
"If you two are going to need a moment, I can come back," Usagi laughed. Ami turned to see her friend, her princess, focusing the power of the Silver Crystal toward Ryo.
"You… you…" Ami stammered.
"Girl, I wouldn't fight it," Usagi winked, "one of the perks of being the world's savior!"
"Big sister?!" Shingo walked up to Usagi, his mouth hanging open as he eyed the future queen.
"The one and only," she winked.
Shingo's eyes rolled back and he fainted. Thankfully, Mamoru had been nearby and ready to play catch, "He'll be all right!" the future king spoke.
"So," Ryo struggled to get up to a seated posture, "Did I miss anything?"
Ami steadied him, "Only about a thousand years!" she laughed, embracing him. Ami looked over her shoulder, seeing Rei and Yuichiro engaged in a kiss. Happy for you two, but I'm not about to be outdone! Ami guided Ryo's lips to her and lost herself in the heaven she'd been praying for in a thousand years of dreams.
Seconds stretched out, and the hunger for air demanded a separation. "You kids play nice," Usagi laughed, "I have to see if anyone else needs my help."
"So," Jupiter's voice came from behind, "tell me, what was this for?" Ami turned to see her friend brandishing the bottle of wine that she and Ryo had once shared, the expensive bottle gifted when Ami graduated and returned to Japan.
"I meant for all of us to have one last toast before we left," Ami shrugged, "Sorry, it's probably turned to vinegar several times over."
Makoto thoughtfully held the bottle overhead, eying the contents through the dark glass. She pulled the cork, eyed the cork thoughtfully, and sniffed the mouth of the bottle. "Oh Ami…" Jupiter grinned like a shark.
"No way…" Ami said.
"I'm guessing Usagi's regenerative powers had something to do with it…" Makoto froze for a moment, recorked the bottle, and hastily handed it to Ami, "… you two enjoy!" She took off running after Usagi, "Usagi! I have a whole wine cellar that needs blessing!"
Ami locked eyes with Ryo, and both started giggling to the degree of hysterics. When they finally composed themselves, Ryo finally asked, "Have it with dinner tonight?"
"I'd be delighted," Ami said, "but there is something we need to do first… something I need to do first."
"Do tell?" he asked.
Tokyo was a mess, but even the hour or so it took to walk to the hospital from Rei's shrine already gave Ami hope at the strong glimmers of life returning all around. The few radios and television services back online were all abuzz with talk of a savior walking the streets of Tokyo. More than a few people also stared and followed her and Ryo as they walked the streets of the city returning to life. You are Sailor Mercury. With everything that is changing, that is going to be you a lot more that Dr. Mizuno.
As they pushed through the entrance to the hospital, everyone froze. "Is… is Dr. Saeko Mizuno in?" she asked, bashful. Her transformation made recognition, even by those who knew her, near impossible.
"Check down the hall in her office, Sailor Mercury," one of the nursing staff finally spoke. No one questioned them further as she and Ryo walked down toward Mom's office.
"Dr. Mizuno," Ami knocked on the door.
"I… Sailor Mercury?!" Mom stood wide-eyed behind her desk in the scattered mess of her office. "This is some day!"
"You have no idea…" Ami held the words but eventually found the courage to speak, "Mom!"
"Mom?!"
"Dr. Mizuno, perhaps you should have a seat," Ryo spoke up, "I think we have a few things to talk about."
"A-Ami?!" Mom didn't take her eyes off her as she blindly reached for the chair. "It's… it's really you?"
"My transformation makes it difficult for people to recognize me, even those who know me," she explained. "I'm sorry, mother, for not telling you."
"Dr. Mizuno," Ryo added, "please believe me when I say your daughter has been instrumental in saving the world countless times," he laughed nervously. Mom was clearly in shock.
"T-that means… Ami… How long?" Mom muttered.
"Since I was fourteen," Ami explained, "That is why I didn't leave for university in Germany when I was in junior high like you wanted." Ami's eyes looked to the floor, "I couldn't leave, and I couldn't tell you why I –"
A vice-like embrace circled Ami, threatening her ability to breathe. Hot tears streamed from Mom's eyes, "Ami, I'm so sorry!"
"I am, too. I'm sorry I never told you, but I didn't think you would believe me if I told you!" Ami returned her mother's embrace.
"Ryo?" Mom pulled back from Ami, realization painting her face, "Ryo Urawa, is that you?"
"Hello, Dr. Mizuno," he said with a slight bow, "I'm flattered you recognized me."
"So," Mom stared at Ami, "I take it he was the handsome man you had the date with the other night?"
"Mom, about that, it wasn't the other night," Ami smirked.
"What do you mean?" Mom wrinkled her brow. "We talked only yesterday… before the snowstorm… before I…"
"Fell asleep," Ryo completed. "Everyone in the world did. Dr. Mizuno, that was actually for a real long time."
"How long? Mom stared at Ami. "How long were we all out, Ami?"
"A thousand years, Mom," she blurted out. "The world froze in that blizzard, and we were only able to recently revive the planet?"
"We?"
"The other Sailor Guardians, ma'am," Ryo explained.
"I don't suppose you're about to tell me that ditzy blonde you hang out with is actually Sailor Moon," Mom laughed nervously, pauses growing slowly longer as Ami stared back. "No way!"
"Yes, mother, Usagi is Sailor Moon," she shrugged, "Correction, was Sailor Moon."
"Was?"
"She is now Neo Princess Serenity," Ami explained. God, this must sound ridiculous! "Mom, there is a lot left to explain, but I think it has to wait for now."
"Ami, you and Ryo…"
"Yes, ma'am?" Ryo asked.
"Assuming I'm not about to wake up from another strange dream… do you two want to discuss all the strange things happening over dinner tomorrow night?"
Ryo and Ami stared at each other, "I'm game if you are," he said.
"I'll have to check with the others, but sure," Ami shrugged.
"Ami, Ryo, do you copy?" Rei's voice called over her communicator.
You've got to be kidding me! "Rei," Ami spoke back.
"We have a Youma reported near the hospital! Minako is on her way, and so am I!"
No rest for the weary! "Mom, Ryo, I have to go!" Ami took off from the room
"Dammit, I'm going with you!" she heard Ryo give chase.
Ryo wasn't exactly sure what possessed him to chase after Ami as she ran off to fight a monster. You have incomplete martial arts training. You have no secret powers. Hell, you've never really been in a fight before! Nevertheless, his legs carried him along in Ami's wake.
"Ryo, stay back!" she shouted as they burst from the doors. The creatures tearing up the intersection and smashing property stood on two feet, but were distinctly lizard-like in appearance. The youma looked to be chiseled out of solid, dirty black ice. Ami's attacks are mostly ice or water based; she won't stand a chance!
Ami surged forward, not caring about the danger. Ryo, too, pursued, but he slowed momentarily as additional weight manifested on him out of nowhere. Ryo looked down to see him encased in a harness of plate mail, silver with a deep blue surcoat with the symbol of Mercury. In his left hand, he held a long halberd polearm, and his belt held an arming sword and a short war hammer.
Not waiting for an explanation, Ryo lowered the visor of the helmet he wore. There were three of the youma and only two of them. Mars and Jupiter will be here, just hold them off! Ryo placed himself between Ami and the Youma moving to attack her from the rear. "Mercury Bubbles, BLAST!" The foamy fog of the attack obscured the other two.
The monster facing off against Ryo shot an icy tongue from its maw, and Ryo raised the polearm in defense. While the pole blocked the tongue from hitting its mark, the creature's tongue wrapped itself around the pole and yanked Ryo from his footing to the ice-lizard's waiting jaws lined with rows of teeth.
Adrenaline surged through his veins, and Ryo was pretty certain hot piss was spilling down his leg. In the momentary realization between life and death, he developed the good sense to aim the pointed head of the halberd toward the creature's throat, and the ice-lizard let out an unholy roar as it lost its grip on the halberd's pole.
Back in control of the weapon, Ryo wound up and swung with the axe head across the creature's face. The bladed head bit into what felt like solid ice, and a hard ache transmitted through Ryo's hands like he'd punched concrete. Ignore it! Hit it again or you're dead! Ryo yanked back the blade and ducked a swipe by the beast's icy claws, and he again struck the creature's head. This time, the icy body showed significant cracking.
"MERCURY AQUA RHAPSODY!" Sailor Mercury strummed a lyre made of water, shooting out attacks at all three creatures. The impacting water spouts caused some minor damage, at least stunning all three. Ryo eyed his target, temporarily down and out and drew the hammer from his belt. He brought the hammer's head down on the creature's head again and again, each time expanding or forming cracks until the head shattered like glass and the rest of the body went to pieces.
"Ahhh!" momentary triumph washed away as one of the remaining beasts batted Ami to the side. Ryo sprinted past towards Ami, dodging and rolling under a swipe of claws and a lashing of one of the creature's prehensile tongue.
"Mercury!" he threw himself over her expecting the next attack.
"MARS CELESTIAL FIRE SURROUND!"
"JUPITER SUPREME THUNDER!"
A loud CRACK and an intense wave of heat hit like a Tsunami. Ryo tightened his grip around Ami and clamped his eyes closed. When the wave passed, Ryo opened his eyes and he felt cold water seeping along his legs. Both creatures had melted. "Ami!" he tapped a gauntleted hand to her cheek. "Ami, are you okay!"
Her blue eyes opened and blinked, "You're so damn handsome in that outfit!" Her arms enfolded him, and he raised her upright. There was no need for words. Ryo lost himself in her lips.
"Jeez, get a room, you two!" Mars said laughing as she turned to walk away, "And don't forget to pick your stuff up from the shrine!"
"I'm happy for you two," Jupiter chuckled. "When's the wedding?" she winked.
"I think," Ryo heaved, finally letting Ami go, "that is a conversation for another day." He stared down at Ami, now blushing like a radish, "Right now, I'm just so damn thrilled to be alive!"
After hours of coordinating rescue and clearing other youma ice creatures, Ami finally dragged Ryo back to her apartment, both of them dead on their feet. Her building had thankfully survived without major incident. In fact, the place looked much as when they'd left, including the pile of unwashed clothes that resulted from the wild last few nights of the past.
Despite appearing the same, Ami could feel change in the air. Usagi, now the savior of Earth, had acquired an incredible following in a short span of hours. Word had already spread that the Imperial Household had not survived the catastrophe, and more than a few voices had already called for her to be elevated to Empress of Japan. And after that, we have to now reconnect the rest of the world, whatever is left of it!
A heavy stone landed on Ami's chest. Everything from here forward was something unknown. The world order prior to now had been imperfect, but at least it had been of known quality. Huge swaths of Eurasia, Africa, and the Americas were still dark; and the process of trying to build a new world from the ashes already made her worry about grey hair.
"Hey," a strong set of mailed arms enfolded her, "we made it," Ryo still sounded euphoric. "Tell me, was being a Sailor Scout always this intense?"
"I was never an adrenaline junkie," Ami leaned back into her handsome knight, "but it does feel good to be back!" She turned in his arms, "And I can't tell you what it means to have you with me this time!" Ami pulled herself up to his lips. His kiss was warm, reassuring in a world that was anything but certain.
Ryo attacked with more sweet, drugging kisses, and Ami found herself wanting more and more. A cold sensation on her ass made Ami jump and screech, only to realize it was Ryo's hand, still cased in metal plate. "Sorry!" he giggled.
"This would be a lot sexier," she placed a hand on the Mercury symbol on his tunic, "if you weren't heavily armored." Ami focused her energy, and the armor faded away, replaced with the same street clothing Ryo had been wearing. "Much better!" She wrapped her right leg around his body and planted his hand under her ass again, "Where were we?"
"Here," he massaged her rump, causing her to squirm. He kissed her again, sucking at her bottom lip and tracing it back and forth with his tongue. Ryo's other hand crawled down her side and under her skirt until his hands were both under her and her legs around him. "And…" he huffed breathless, "I think we were on our way over here!" He began stumbling his way toward the bedroom.
"I haven't made love in a thousand years!" she shivered as his paw gripped her rump, "I think we might need to practice!"
"How am I doing?" he panted as he set her on the edge of the bed. He began kissing gently along her knees and up her thighs.
"Ahhhh!" Ami screamed as his kisses moved up the ticklish stretch of her inner thighs. "Good!" her fingers clawed the mattress and sheets as she leaned back. His lips continued their naughty march upwards as his fingers hiked up the already short skirt and began kneading her hips and her butt again. "Damn good! R-Ryo…" her voice shook.
"Yes?" he stared up at her.
"One moment, I have to do this," she blushed as she tapped the heart pendant on her chest, and her transformation reverted her to her street clothes – blue jeans and a heavy sweatshirt. The outfit was far from sexy, and anxiety gathered in the back of her mind. Way to go, change out of the Sailor Guardian outfit into something more concealing…
Her recrimination was cut off at the sensation of his hands sliding over the material covering her inner thighs, "Ami," his hands slid up to her waist and unclasped her belt, "these," the tail of the belt slid out through the metal loop, and the button of her jeans released, "are going to have to come off!" Ami clamped her eyes closed as the whirr of the zipper releasing sent shivers down her spine. Why am I so nervous? We did this before!
Gentle pressure at her stomach forced her onto her back, legs hanging over the edge of the bed. Ami kept her eyes clamped shut as his hand slide up the material covering her navel. Gentle butterfly kisses teased Ami's tummy – a distraction as his hands began tugging down jeans and panties. As he peeled away clothing, Ryo's lips migrated down to her hips and along her inner thigh again, and his fingers dragged in feathery caresses as he carefully exposed her inch by inch.
As jeans and underwear fell past her knees, Ami wriggled to free herself. Ryo soon aided her in finishing the job, and his kisses began sneaking back up her thighs toward her womanhood. Oh god! His lips moved closer and closer, and she death-gripped the sheets. Ami knew of oral sex, but she'd never had he pleasure. His breath spread over her outer folds and goosebumps crawled throughout her body, and Ami bit down on her bottom lip. "This might feel a bit weird," he said with a shaky voice.
I'm not the only one who is nervous; just let it happen! "It's fine," she moaned, "If it's from you, I'm sure it will be great!"
"Very well," his tongue lightly traced up her outer folds, and Ami's head thrashed side to side at the sensation. He pressed apart the folds and said amused, "Itadakimasu!" Ryo probed gently, curious at first. He moved between small and playful swipes to long and smooth strokes.
Ami thrashed in pleasure, initially afraid that she might injure him as her hips bucked up and down. Ryo showed no such concern and he rooted his hands under her ass and pressed her firmly to him – lips continuing to suck at her folds and his tongue tracing playfully between her clitoris and her folds. Ami bit her right wrist to stifle as scream at the overwhelm sense of please between her legs.
One of Ryo's hands slithered from her rear end, and there was the gentle sensation of pressure at her entrance. Ami released her wrist, finally opened her eyes, and stared down at the sight of her boyfriend going down on her. The pressure at her entrance increased slightly, and one of his fingers glided into her effortlessly. Ami drove her head back into the mattress and closed her eyes, determined to enjoy ever last second as she felt the wave building. A second finger filled her channel, and he moved them back and forth and she moaned. So unfair, he knows where to go without even trying!
The wave hit, and Ami screamed with orgasmic bliss. So drunk of bliss, she hadn't even tried muffling her scream. Soon, another shock came, and Ami barely covered her mouth as she screamed into her hand. Ami's legs went limp as the orgasm passed. Her eyes opened, and she stared at the ceiling, paralyzed by bliss. The only sounds were her heart racing and the two of them panting.
"That," Ryo heaved, "was something!"
"Y-yeah!" was all Ami could manage.
"T-thank you!" he kissed her thigh, "Thank you, Ami!"
"F-for what?" she stammered.
"For letting me do this," his kisses migrated up her hips to her tummy, "for letting me love you." He pressed her shirt upwards, "For not letting me give up, ever!"
"You're wearing," she seized the collar of his shirt, "too much! Far, far too much," she tugged the material upward, "for someone speaking such honeyed words!"
Ryo let his shirt go over his head and arms, "Sorry," he chuckled, "I was never that comfortably being naked around others," he kissed up her side as he finished removing her shirt as well, "I think I may need some remedial training on the subject," he said as he kissed the top of her breast and moved up toward her shoulder.
"Yes," Ami clawed at his belt and fumbled clumsily with the fly of his pants until it released, "I think remedial training is desperately needed!" Ami gripped and tugged until his pants and boxers were sliding off his hips, and they both tugged and stumbled until he was freed from the offending bits of clothes.
"Ami," he kissed soft and teasing along her neck and collar bone as he straddled over her, "you have not idea how good it feels to be doing this with you!" He nibbled up her neck to her ear; Ami shivered as he took her ear between his lips.
"You have no idea," she replied, "how incredible it feels… to have someone…" she panted breathless as he sucked her ear, "… want you like this! To want them so badly your body burns!" She slid her legs apart, and her hands massaged up and down his arms.
"Ami," the words slid playful in her ear as she felt his hips close with hers, "I need the words."
If he wants to play games, let's play. "I want you so badly…" her voice tightened in her throat, "prove your loyalty, handsome knight!" She grinned as he pulled back, stunned. "And take me!"
Ryo stared with his stunned gaze for several moments and nodded slightly, "You wish is my command, princess!" Ryo gave himself to her, and she gave herself to him.
Amidst pants, moans, gentle caresses, firm thrusts, and sweet kisses; Ami drifted away in a sea of bliss. She had touched something profound, like finishing a work of art left missing a brush stroke for hundreds of years. The Silver Millenia ended without this; what better way to start the New Silver Millenia? "Say you love me!" her words spilled like fire from a dragon.
"I love you, Ami!" he said with the desperation of words unsaid in a thousand years.
"I love you, too, Ryo!" Ami gasped in climax, secure in knowing that the words would be said again and again as a the future dawned.
Author's notes: Hello everyone, and I hope you enjoyed. The next chapter will be the final chapter. Sadly, due to work and a the Thanksgiving holiday, that update probably won't be until December. Until then, thank you for taking this journey with me thus far. Stay healthy, stay safe, and I'll see you next chapter!