Work of Art
Chapter Twenty-Six: Rogue
Over Reacts
By DamageCtrl
All Standard Disclaimers Apply: I do not own the X-Men or anything associated with it.
Remy stared at Rogue with his mouth open. The woman ran her hand through her thick multicolored hair as she reached for a tissue. Her towel was on the floor, forgotten, and as she walked across the room, her black dress clung to her and moved like a second skin.
"Mon Dieu..." Remy gasped out, his hand tightening around the towel around his waist. "Rogue...are y' serious?"
Wrong thing to say. Rogue's eyes widened before they narrowed. "Of course Ah'm Serious!" she exploded. "Ah picked up yer phone and it was momma! Ah asked her how she knew that YAH found meh and-"
"Hold on one second, chere," Remy said with a frown as he held his free hand up to silence her. He looked at her with glowing red eyes and took a step forward. Unconsciously, Rogue took a step back. She let out a sharp gasp as she realized she was corned by the wardrobe. "Do y' seriously think dat after all of dis...dat I would only come here because y'r mere sent me?"
Rogue lifted her chin up proudly. "She was the one, wasn't she? Who told yah that Ah was here."
"Yes-"
"And she paid for yer ticket, didn't she?" Rogue accused. "Didn't she?"
"Yes!" Remy shouted. Rogue sucked in a sharp breath of air as her eyes watered. Remy's hand flew out and placed themselves firmly on her shoulders. "Yes, Rogue, y'r mere found me. Yes, she was de one who paid for my ticket. But I came here because I love y'! Not because y'r mother forced me to come. Rogue, if I didn't love y', I wouldn't be here right now. Dat's a fact."
Rogue turned her head away. "Would yah have come...even if momma didn't pay for yer flight?"
"I would've come the second Jean told me where y' where, chere," Remy assured her. "And I know dat Jean would've told me, too."
His hand slowly slid off her shoulders and Rogue took a deep breath. She lifted up her hand and wiped the corners of her eyes. She over reacted..."Ah feel stupid," she stated blandly. "Gawd, Remy...Ah'm sorry..."
"Y'r just scared, chere," he told her softly. "Y're falling hard and y' don't think it was meant t' be..." One warm hand caressed the side of her face and tilted her head up to meet his gaze. A small smile was on his face as his eyes looked into hers. "But it is, Rogue...it's hard t' believe, but it's meant t' be."
She felt his breath against her skin as his head lowered. Rogue's eyes slowly fluttered closed. "Ah don't believe in fairy tales..." she whispered as his lips came down upon hers. "Happily ever after doesn't happen in real life..."
His lips brushed hers softly. "Dis isn't a fairy tale, mon coeur," he whispered, listening to her whimper as his breath touched her. "Dis is real life."
Rogue let out a moan as his lips sealed over hers. Her hands rose and placed themselves on his bare chest. She smiled slightly as she remembered he was fresh from the shower. "Remy..." she sighed as she pushed him away slightly. "Yah're right...this is going too fast."
Remy pulled away and looked down at her angelic face. "It's a lot to take in, no?" he said softly before kissing the sides of her face gently.
Rogue felt her head nodding, but she was lost in his kisses. She finally felt him stop and pull away. Rogue opened her eyes. "We should slow down..." she said.
Remy nodded half heartedly. Rogue still kissed like the old Rogue and if he didn't know any better, he could've swore she remembered him. But as he looked down at the woman in front of him, who was blushing and shyly looking away, he realized she still didn't remember. Remy forced himself to distance himself from her before it grew too heated. "What do y' have in mind, chere?"
Rogue looked down reluctantly. She took a deep breath and lifted her head. "Today...and tonight...has been...well... magical."
He grinned and raised an eyebrow. "Magical, Rogue?"
"Don't laugh," Rogue pouted. "Ah'm serious."
"Oui, being magical always means being serious," Remy grinned. Rogue slapped his bare upper arm half heartedly. However, her slap ended up feeling up his toned bicep. Remy looked from her hand, which was slowly stroking his arm up and down, to her face, which bore a concentrated look as she stared at his body. "Y' like? Y' can touch any time y' want." He winked.
Rogue immediately snatched back her arm and blushed furiously. "Sorry..." she trailed off. She shook her head and took a few steps away from him. "Anyway...maybe we should take this slower?"
"How so?"
"Ah don't know..." Rogue trailed off as she sat down on the edge of the bed and played with her hands on her lap. "Maybe...spend a day or so away from each other?" She could sense his tension rise and kept her eyes downcast.
"A day?" Remy piped, his voice seemingly rose an octave. "Away from y' chere?"
"Yeah...it doesn't have to be the whole day," Rogue said quickly as she lifted her head to bravely meet his shocked face. "But Ah was thinking Ah could hang out with Joe at the Louvre tomorrow and then have dinner with yah?"
"With Joseph?" Remy asked, jealousy rising with every second. He frowned at the name. When was he so jealous of the males in Rogue's life? When they were together, he never cared. But then again, they weren't officially together yet...
"Nothing's going to happen," Rogue assured him. "Just thought we'd hang out...he's been a good friend to talk to while we've been here. And he's helped meh get places to stay..."
She trailed off, not sure what else to say. Remy stood in front of her and took a deep breath. "Okay," he said calmly. "Meet me here tomorrow night for dinner?"
Rogue's face lit up. "Yes! Of course!"
Remy smiled. "Den y' have fun wid Joe at de museum tomorrow. Dere are a few places I've been meaning to visit while I'm here. I guess I can swing by while I'm here..." Rogue stood up and nodded. She put her arms around Remy as he held his open wide for her to step into. "Den it's settled," he said as he kissed the top of her head lovingly. "But just in case y'r eyes start t' wander..."
Rogue raised an eyebrow as Remy stepped back and turned around. His towel fell to the ground and Rogue's entire body heated up with a blush. Her mouth dropped as nude flesh danced around in front of her as he grinned to himself. He knew she was watching him as he walked, slowly and purposefully, back to the bathroom.
"Oh, sugah..." Rogue said as her eyes ran up and down his fleeting body. "Ah don't think mah eyes will wander for a good long while..."
Joseph couldn't help but look somewhat disappointed as Rogue broke the news to him. "And...well...Ah'm giving him a chance," Rogue asserted as they stood in the queue for the famous museum. "Last night, he worked his magic."
"So...are you back together then?" Joseph asked, trying not to sound sad. Rogue didn't seem to notice as she shrugged.
"No...yes...maybe...Ah don't know," Rogue frowned and rubbed her chin with her hand thoughtfully. "We haven't talked about it, but we're definitely headed in that direction."
Joseph let out a heavy sigh and gave her as big a smile as he could manage. "Well...congratulations, Rogue," Joseph said. "I'm glad you've worked things out."
Rogue beamed a him a smile and Joseph's smile nearly faltered. "It's not completely figured out yet, but we're getting there, sugah," she told him. "Anyway...after last night, we decided we were moving too fast...it's funny, Joe. It's like Ah'm falling in love with him all over again."
"Love is a very strange thing..." Joseph heard himself saying. Strange and painful...
"The weirdest part is, Ah never thought that Ah'd fall this fast," Rogue continued on, completely oblivious to Joseph's feelings about her. "But Ah am...Maybe Ah'm starting to remember mah feelings for him?"
"It's quite possible." Joseph nodded.
The line began to move and they held out there day passes for the museum out as they went through the gate. The majority of the day was spent at the museum. Joseph had gotten himself lost in the lower levels and had circled the Egyptian wing twice before Rogue found him.
They then headed towards a restaurant down the street for lunch before returning to finish the other half of the museum.
"Ah got it, Joe," Rogue assured him as she put her card with the bill and signaled for the waiter to come and get it. "Anyway, I'm going to go straight to look for 'The Kiss' when we get back. What about you?"
"I wanted to go back to that Napoleon exhibit," Joseph replied. "I didn't get a good look at some of the displays the first time around."
"Where should we meet up then?" Rogue asked.
"At Winged Victory," Joseph said as he looked down at the map of the museum he held in front of him. "That's probably the easiest place to meet up."
"Sounds good," Rogue said. She looked out the window of the restaurant casually. "Don't forget to send me some pictures of the Mona Lisa."
Joseph was nodding as he mentally planned out his route through the museum, hoping to see as much before they had to leave. Rogue kept her eyes outside as she waited for the waiter to return with her credit card. As she looked down into the alley behind the restaurant, she saw a tall man walk out from the back of a building. "So what you and Remy are going to get something to eat for dinner?" Joseph was mumbling, his eyes still on the map. "Can you recommend anywhere here that might be good for dinner?"
Rogue narrowed her eyes. Remy...? She sat up straight as she watched Remy emerge. He turned around, as if someone called him. A teenage girl followed him, her hair bright pink against tanned skin. She smiled at him and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Rogue's mouth dropped as Remy smiled back and hugged the girl tightly. He said something, an intent smile on his face as he swept some of the girl's pink hair back and kissed her cheeks. Rogue's hands gripped the table. "Rogue?" Joseph's voice cut through her thoughts. "Rogue?"
"What?" Rogue whirled around and Joseph jerked his head back. He looked somewhat uncomfortable with her sudden hostility.
"Um...you and Remy are going out to dinner right?" Rogue's hands were turning white as she gripped the edge of the table. Joseph frowned. "Are you alright, Rogue?"
"On second thought," Rogue said as she gritted her teeth. "Ah just remembered something..."
"What?" Joseph asked.
"There's this week long carnival in Venice," Rogue said as calmly as she could. "And every time Ah'm here, Ah miss it...it starts tomorrow. Ah think Ah'm going to head down and check it out."
Joseph's eyes widened. "That sounds fun...can I meet you there? I wanted to spend a few more days here."
"Sure thing, sugah," Rogue said as the waiter came back with her credit card. She signed her name on the line and tipped him before she stood up. "Ah'm afraid Ah have to leave yah to the museum alone now. Ah have a train to catch."
Remy put the bouquet of white lilies on the base of the newly built apartment building. He stood in the alley behind it, where the back door once stood. He took a step back and closed his eyes.
Desole... he whispered into the air.
So many lives were taken that night. And even though Rogue had once tried to tell him that it wasn't his fault, even if the entire world didn't believe it was his fault, he still felt an insurmountable amount of guilt. He opened his eyes and looked at the stone facing of the new building.
It didn't have a back door any more. It was now just wall and windows. Unconsciously, Remy studied it's new facade, wondering what it would have been like if he never took the job. If he never came that night and fell into a trap.
His hand rose and he placed it on the building. He hadn't been able to save anyone...except for her. The girl was probably a teenager now. Remy had found her stumbling down the stair way, coughing at the smoke. She fell and would've passed out and perished in the fire if Remy hadn't gathered her beneath his coat and brought them outside.
He took a deep breath and stepped back. It was too late for everyone else now. They were all gone That child's family was all gone. Remy turned and began to head towards the main street, his heart heavy. "At least one..." he whispered to himself. "At least she survived..." He stepped out into the street.
"Monsieur LeBeau?" a voice cut through his thoughts and Remy whirled around. A girl was walking down the streets in an olive green pea coat. Her eyes went wide as bright pink hair stood out in all directions. As she recognized the man, she dropped the bag she was carrying. "Monsieur LeBeau!" she gasped as she began to run forward.
Remy's mouth dropped. "Sarah?"
Rogue shoved the still damp dress into her luggage as she stormed through her room. She walked over to the bed where she had tossed her night shirt in her haste to change and get to breakfast that morning. Tears in her eyes, Rogue snatched up the over sized shirt and threw it into her bag.
She zipped up the luggage that laid on the edge of her bed and looked around to survey her room once more. Her eyes landed on the discarded white towel that was hanging on the back of the chair.
"Damn it, Remy..." Rogue murmured as she turned her head sharply away.
She asked for one day, one single day, to be apart from him, just to slow down their 'falling in love'. And what did she find? She found him in some dark alley way with some pink haired harlot. Rogue grabbed her bag and left her room.
She checked out and called for a cab to take her to the train station. She'd just stepped out to the front of the building, when she ran into Joseph.
"Rogue?" Joseph gasped as he stumbled back. He frowned as he looked down at her puffy, cried out face. "Rogue, what happened?"
"Nothing happened," Rogue told him. She gripped her luggage tighter and stepped around the tall, white haired man. Joseph's hand shot out and grabbed her wrist. "Let meh go, Joe."
"Rogue," he said sternly. "What's wrong? You look like you've been crying."
"Ah have been crying!" Rogue shouted. Joseph's eyes widened with surprise as Rogue pulled her arm away from him. She turned her head away shamefully.
Joseph's eyes narrowed as his hands turned into fists at his sides. "It was Remy, wasn't it?" Joseph asked. "That's why you're running away."
"Ah'm not running away!" Rogue insisted as she shoved her luggage aside and swallowed. "Ah just wanted to get to Venice by tomorrow morning-"
"You're running away, Rogue," Joseph said with a frown. "What did he do?" Rogue looked away and took a deep breath, refusing to answer. "Rogue..." Joseph told her in a gentler voice. "Rogue, talk to me...I don't like the idea of you just heading off to Italy like this."
"Ah've gone to Italy before by mahself," Rogue said behind gritted teeth. "Ah'll be fine. Ah've already called mah favorite B&B in Venice and booked a room. Everything is FINE."
"What did he do to you, Rogue?" Joseph said.
Rogue closed her eyes tightly. "Ah saw him...kissing another woman," Joseph's temper flared as he cursed the Cajun a thousand times in his mind. Rogue's hand was gripping her bag so tight, they were white. "Ah don't think Ah can face him...not after what Ah saw..."
Joseph took a deep breath and nodded understandingly. "Then...at least allow me to escort you to the train station..."
Rogue nodded as her cab pulled up. Joseph loaded her bag into the trunk and then told the man to take them to the Bercy station. As they drove down the street, Rogue looked down at her hands beside Joseph. The man sighed tiredly and put a comforting arm around her.
Remy was walking up from the Metro station just as a yellow taxi drove past. He did a double take at the fleeting vehicle and frowned. "Dat's strange..." he mumbled as he shook his head and continued to head to the hotel. "I thought I saw Rogue wid Joseph..."
Joseph walked into the lobby of the hotel. He'd just seen Rogue off on an overnight train to Venice. She would arrive there in the mid morning. Outside, it was dark already. He had taken the Metro back to the hotel. He hadn't even stopped to get something to eat.
Rogue had bought him a sandwich when they got to the train station, to thank him for helping her. Joseph shook his head as he walked through he glass doors of the hotel. He barely took five steps towards the elevators when another man's voice cut through his thoughts.
Joseph looked up just as a hand reached out and grabbed the collar of his sweater. "What the-?" He was slammed against the wall of hotel, earning a yelp from the two women at the front desk.
"Where is she?" Remy demanded.
"Where is who?" Joseph asked, trying to play stupid. Remy frowned.
"Don't lie t' me, homme," Remy said with blared teeth. "Rogue! She hasn't been answering my calls t' her room! We were supposed to go get dinner, but she never showed!"
Joseph realized that Remy was still dressed in a finely pressed suit. A forgotten bouquet of red flowers was laying on the table in the waiting room of the lobby. The white haired man clenched his jaw as he remembered why exactly his friend had left.
Remy was shoved backwards as Joseph straightened up and rubbed his neck. "You have some nerve," Joseph frowned. "You still expect Rogue to go to dinner with you? Even after you've been with another woman!"
"Another women?" Remy gasped. His eyes widened with surprise. "What de hell are y' talking about!"
"Rogue, told me all about it when we were at the train station!" Joseph spat out.
"Train station?" Remy stuttered. The other man ignored him.
Joseph shoved Remy back while the man was still in shock. "She said she saw you kissing some pink haired girl in an alley-"
Remy's eyes widened as he let out a surprised gasp. "Sarah?"
Joseph glowered. "So she has a name-"
Remy shook his head and let out a groan. "Mon Dieu..." he grumbled. He ran his hand down his face before he turned to look at Joseph. "Sarah is a girl I saved several years ago from a fire, Joseph!" Remy exclaimed. "I went t' where de fire took place and ran into de fille dere! I kissed her on de head!"
"Well, it's too late to tell her that," Joseph snorted. "Rogue's already on her way to Venice."
"Venice?" Remy stressed, at a loss for words. His eyes darted around, unsure of what to think. "What de hell is in Venice? Dieu..." He ran his hand through his hair and closed his eyes.
"A carnival," Joseph frowned. Remy whirled around and headed for the door. "Where are you going?"
"Where do y' think?" Remy said as he pulled out a phone and began to dial a number. "Venice."
It was past midnight and Rogue laid on her bed, staring at the ceiling of her lone cabin. The train was rocking as they passed a village called Dijon.
Ah should've asked him... Rogue thought to herself as the train clinkered along. Ah should've asked him... Ah shouldn't have just picked up and left...Gawd, Rogue! What the hell were yah thinking?
Rogue ran a hand down her face, disgusted with herself. She'd done it again. Just picked up and left without a word. A word to Remy anyway. She gave Joseph her full reason. Yah're so stupid, girl... For all she knew, that girl that Remy kissed was a friend, maybe even a relative. No...instead, she over reacted, her jealousy getting the better of her.
She COULD'VE been an old lover...he does have a history with women... Rogue narrowed her eyes. "How did Ah know that...?" She sat up in the bunk and looked around her dark cabin. Her friends, her brother, and her mother never told her about Remy's reputation with women.
But she knew about it. Rogue's hands clenched the blankets around her as her heart began to race in her chest. She remembered something about Remy. Rogue groaned. Of all the things to remember about him...
"Ah should go back..." she murmured with a slamming realization. She looked around her cabin once more. She couldn't get out until they ended in Venice...and then from there, it would still take another day until a train left for Paris. "Ah'll call Remy when Ah get to Venice," she asserted as she gripped her blanket and laid back down. "No more running away, Anna Marie Darkholme..."
She would straighten everything out in the morning. Yes, once she got to Venice, she'd call Remy. With a sense of purpose, she drifted off to sleep, only to be awakened by the sun shining her eyes as the train pulled into the Italian country side.
Rogue got up and washed her face in the sink. As the train moved, she ran a comb through her hair and tried to fix it as best as possible. She looked at herself in the mirror and smiled. Rogue looked out the window again and moved to sit closer as the train moved over the elevated embankment. She could see the water all around them as the train headed into Venice.
Excitedly, she waited for the train to come to a stop before gathering her things and heading out of the train station. As soon as she did, she made a beeline to the nearest phone. She stuck her calling card in and dialed her mother's international cell phone number with anticipation.
"'Ello?" a drowsy voice asked on the third ring.
Rogue felt her heart leap up to her throat as his voice reached her. She swallowed nervously. "Remy?"
"Rogue?"
"Remy..." Rogue closed her eyes as she leaned back against the phone booth. She took a deep breath. "Remy, Ah'm sorry Ah took off-"
"De girl, Rogue...de fille was an old friend," Remy instantly launched into his explanation before Rogue had a chance to stop him. "She's just a fille, Rogue. Dat's all!"
The green eyed woman smiled to herself as she opened her eyes. "Remy...don't explain," she said softly. "Ah should've asked yah about it before Ah left..."
"I should've told y'..." Remy said.
"Ah never gave yah the chance to..." she mused. She could almost sense his fear that she would hang up on him through the phone. "Ah should've asked yah first, sugah...Ah shouldn't have left..." She trailed off.
Remy was silent for a few moments. "Rogue..." he said finally. "I was worried about y'."
Ah'm so sorry, Remy... "Remy, Ah'm in Venice." she said suddenly.
There was a brief pause. "I know," Remy answered. "I cornered Joseph at de hotel...he told me where y' were going."
Ah bet that wasn't pretty... Rogue thought to herself. She ran a hand down her face. "Remy, Ah'm sorry about running out on yah-"
"Y' were scared again, chere..." Remy said seriously. "Scared of being hurt..." He slumped down in the seat where he was sitting. "When can I see y' again?"
Her heart skipped a beat. "Yah'll are going to forgive me? Just like that?" Rogue asked, almost in disbelief. "After Ah got up and left without a word?"
"Who said I was forgiving y'?" Remy's voice had a slight smile to it. Rogue lifted her hand over her chest. "I just asked when can I see y' again."
"Remy..." she began.
"Wait for me," Remy said softly. "Stay dere...and wait for me."
"How are yah going to find meh?" Rogue asked. "Yah don't even know where Ah'm staying..."
"Y' won't be dat hard t' find, chere..." Remy chuckled. "Y're one in a million. I'll find y'. And I'll show y' we were meant t' be."
Rogue lifted her head and looked out the doors of the train station. Her eyes narrowed. There were already dozens of people walking around in masks for the start of the carnival. "Ah'll be in St. Mark's Square, sugah. Don't keep meh waiting."
"I'll find y'," Rogue heard him promise. "And den y' can make up running away." The line went dead and Rogue realized he hung up. She smiled as she placed the phone back on the hook.
"Ah look forward to it, swamp rat."
Rogue purchased a white mask with green accents from a shop near the square. All around her, music was playing as people in masks and costumes paraded around, mingling with tourist who came for the yearly event. It was like Mardi Gras in Venice.
The woman at the shop helped Rogue put her mask on and fixed her hair so it was hidden behind a series of veils and cloth that wound around Rogue's head. She was careful to make sure she could see well enough through the mask. Dark green and black plumes framed the front of the mask. It only framed from her nose up, so she could move her mouth freely.
Rogue stepped out of the shop and struggled to contain her smile as she wandered through the alleys towards the church. She was wearing a billowy series of green and black veils over her usual clothes as she looked around. Tourist were taking pictures of the more intricately dressed costumed people as vendors on the sides sold smaller display masks.
As she neared the shore line, gondolas were lining the edge, some with costumed gondoliers awaiting patrons. Rogue walked along the ocean's edge before heading in towards the square. It was still early and the sinking St. Mark's Square was still dry. But by evening, it would probably be flooded.
There were a few small stages set up on either side of the square where costumed actors acted out daily life of old Venice. Rogue had stopped and stood behind the crowd to watch. Unfortunately, she didn't know any Italian. None-the-less, that didn't stop her from laughing when the crowds laughed or when she thought they did something funny.
As she tossed her head back and laughed, she felt a hand rest on her shoulder. She nearly jumped as she whirled around, her green eyes opened wide from behind the mask.
Someone was standing behind her. A tall, built figure, hiding behind a gold mask in similar style to hers. Theirs was lined with red and black feathers and a black scarf went around his face, hiding his hair from her view. A pointed hat rested on his head. He was clothed in dark velvet, but an all too familiar smile gave him away immediately.
Rogue grinned. "Ah'm sorry," she said as she looked up into glowing red eyes. "But Ah'm waiting for someone."
The masked man pulled back and swept down into a low bow. He lifted his hand and gathered hers in his before placing a lingering kiss on the back of her hand. Without a word, he pulled her forward and lead her across the square. They cut through swaying crowds, dancing to the music of an instrumental band. He paused for a moment and gathered her in his arms, swaying her amongst them.
Rogue laughed as she pressed her body against the man's familiar one. "Yah dance real nice, sugah." she said as he lead her, still dancing, towards the edge of the square.
He merely bowed his head in gratitude. She caught a flicker of amusement in his red eyes. As soon as they reached the shore line, he lifted his hand and Rogue gasped as a gondolier took her free hand and helped her into his gondola. Rogue's eyes were wide as she was seated on the comfortable plush chair of the heavily decorated boat.
Beside her, the masked man took a seat and stretched out his long legs that ended in familiar black shoes. Within moments, they were pushed out towards the canal and Rogue felt an arm go around her shoulders. She rested her head against his shoulder, the scent of familiar after shave once again reaffirming who he was.
She closed her eyes as they drifted along. The gondolier was quiet, probably under instructions by her 'date' to give him some quiet time. She fell a warm hand gently caress the side of her face as they floated by old buildings in narrow water ways.
Rogue looked up at him, drawn into the twinkling red eyes. "Remy..." she whispered. He lifted his finger and pressed it gently against her lips. Rogue closed her eyes as the soft finger tip traced the curves of her mouth. She felt a warm breath against her skin just before a set of lips lowered and closed over hers.
"Y' see, chere? I told y' I'd find y'." his voice was deep and hot, making Rogue's face instantly flush. His hands gently pushed aside the cloth that circled her head as his mouth trailed down the newly exposed flesh.
Rogue smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Remind meh never to doubt yah again, Cajun..." She slipped her tongue between his lips for a moment before pulling back. "Ah do know one thing, only one man kisses like yah do, Remy..."
He smiled smugly. Remy's lips gently tugged on hers before he reluctantly pulled away. He pressed his head against hers and kissed her softly once more. "Chere, I think it's time I forgave y'."
A.N. - Every year, there is a carnival in Venice with the masks and stuff. It's pretty cool. I wanted to buy a mask...but I couldn't afford one. T.T Next time... Anyway, I got that thing cleared up pretty fast, didn't I? Hope you're enjoying so far. This will end soon...Not the next chapter, but soon.