Disclaimer: Everything here (besides the few things you don't know) belongs to JK Rowling, creator of the worlds of Harry Potter.

A/N: Salazar is gone. Woe on us… ((sniffs)) It was such a difficult chapter to write - emotionally-wise - but I'm glad I went on with the plan despite that.

Now, the last couple of chapters deserve a special introduction. After the tear-soaked few chapters we had gone through, we are now taking a sharp turn from that line, into the tranquil waters of an ending. Before any of you scold me and say that the content of this chapter has absolutely nothing to do with the rest of the story, this is my explanation to you:

I needed to end this somehow. The best way to end it, from my point of view, is with a sort of a beginning. For, after all, every ending is the beginning of something new. So even though I have no intention of writing a sequel (because a) there's not enough stuff to write about, b) it would be rather redundant and c) I'm already working on the prequel that means so much more to me and I have little time as it is), I am leaving this story with an open ending of sorts for your imagination.

Short chapter, but the next one is much longer and will, sadly, conclude the story ('cept for the Eiplogue, naturally!). It was very fun to write an oblivious Godric and a somewhat slytherin-ish Ryan, I'll have you know;)

And so, I hope you will enjoy these last two chapters!

Chapter 29 – A Father's Difficulties

"After the destruction of the old form of government with the death of Ambrosius, the Founders did not involve themselves with the matters of rule anymore. They wished no connection to the rebuilding of the ruling establishment, having had enough of it. They wanted nothing more than to concentrate their efforts on the continuity of their school, choosing to separate themselves from those few people who had decided it was their job to renew the Council.

"While the Founders themselves did not engage in those matters anymore, those who had, in time, recreated the form of government in the British magic community, all came from Hogwarts. They were all educated there and had formed their opinions there. Therefore, it is no doubt that the body, which in years to come would transform into the modern Ministry of Magic, was in good hands…"

- Hogwarts, A History; Author unknown

Helga was silent throughout the journey back to the farm where they burrowed the horses from, a considerable distance away. Tears fell down her cheeks unchecked, but she made no noise. Her blond hair was limp and her skin pale and sallow, much as Salazar's face had been in those last moments. She rode close by Godric, not caring that he could see her at such a state.

Rowena rode ahead, and there was no way he could tell what she was thinking without looking deep into her eyes, or at least seeing her face. Her back was straight, her hair in its orderly tight bun, and her posture rigid. He knew all too well that until they would be alone in their quarters at Hogwarts she would show no other emotion.

As for himself, he was puzzled. He wanted to cry. Wanted to cry more than anything else. No matter how hurt he had been from that fight with Salazar, this was still his best of friends who had just died, and there he was - dry-eyed as a stone. Was his heart this cold? Why could he not cry? Why could he not shed one tear for the sake of a man that had meant so much to him throughout his life?

They did not stay for the burial. Maeve's expression when she had told them it would take place in a couple of days had told them they were not wanted there. Though she had been hospitable enough upon their arrival at her home, it became obvious that she wished nothing more to do with them. Godric supposed it was a combination of having them steal Salazar's last moments from her, and the fact that the woman whom Salazar had loved all through their years together, namely Helga, had been the one to hold his hand before he died, not her.

Knowing they would most likely be greeted with hostility by Maeve's relatives, Rowena had sadly said that they might as well leave and not participate. Her voice never wavered as she said it. It never did. Godric knew that she needed to cry, but how could he tell her that, when he himself could not shed a tear?

As they returned to the home of Sir Cedric, they did not dally. They gave their profound thanks to the man and to his family, politely refused their offer to stay for the night and then immediately Apparated back to Hogwarts.

It was late by the time they reached the Castle, and a steady drizzle had started, gradually soaking them to the bone as they trudged up the stairs and to the front doors. Strangely enough, none of them seemed to mind. None of them even attempted to use magic to shelter them from the rain. They did not care. Godric, his face wet with rain, felt that this was in some way a substitute to his own tears that refused to come. The world wept for Salazar Slytherin.

The Castle's corridors were empty when they entered it. Empty and echoing. No students were outside at this hour, even the most mischievous of them all opting to remain in the warmth of their commons during such a night. The Castle, their home for so many years, never seemed so bleak to Godric. Even the building itself mourned for its lost builder.

A whole crowd of children was in their quarters when he and Rowena entered the main chamber. Apparently Ryan and Ceri had taken their cousins under their wing for the night, sparing Ilar the trouble.

"Aunt Rowena!" Rhian called, being the first to see them enter. "Is Mother-"

"Your mother is back as well, yes. I suggest you go and greet her before she panic and start wondering what had happened to you. You don't want that to happen, now do you?" Godric was surprised that her voice did not even shake as she spoke. He was sure that his own voice would have come out shaky and distressed if he was the one to speak.

Helga's brood all squealed in excitement, bolting out of the room, stumbling over each other, only pausing to kiss their aunt and uncle briefly before running to see their mother. Ceri and Ryan, much statelier than their cousins, got up and stopped before their parents.

"Uncle Salazar?" Ryan asked softly, meeting Godric's eyes gravely.

"He… he died," Godric croaked, the tears that refused to fall choking his voice.

"But did you make peace between you before then?"

He was extremely surprised by his son's question. He had expected him to ask if they were all right. He expected him to offer his condolences or even to cry. He did not expect him to ask that. He did not even know that Ryan was aware of the entire situation.

"Y-yes. W-we d-did," the tears were more evident in his voice now than ever. He felt more than saw Rowena smiling slightly and then her hand took hold of his and squeezed it reassuringly.

"Why don't you go and rest, Godric?" she said gently. "We all had a very long day."

Doing as he was told, he kissed his children goodnight and left for the bedchamber to change out of his wet clothes and go to sleep. Long after he had extinguished the dim lights he could still hear Rowena and the children speaking in soft voices. He supposed that she was telling them of their beloved uncle's last moments, sharing her experience there with them. He felt the first tears coming, but did nothing to stop them.

Godric Gryffindor wept.

Finally he sank into an uneasy slumber, of which he woke abruptly when he heard the door to the bedchamber open and then close.

He did not know what time it was, only that it was rather late. He could hear Rowena moving in the dark, doing whatever it was she always did before going to bed. Then he felt her slip into bed and burrow into him, seeking to be as close to him as possible.

He knew it would happen long before he heard her first sob, but soon enough he could hear her. Soft, barely audible weeping, accompanied by cold tears that soaked into his nightshirt, penetrated the quiet of the night. Moving so that he could hold her tightly in his arms, he kept them in that position until her grief ran its course and she could finally fall asleep.

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After Salazar's death, things slowly settled back into their normal routine. There were classes to teach, a school to run, and a whole lot of children just wanting to get into trouble every other day to keep an eye on. Soon enough, to his great surprise and feeling of guilt, Godric noted that the memory of Salazar was pushed to the back of his mind, and that he only rarely thought about his lost friend.

There was nothing to do about that, however. Salazar was dead, never to return, but life went on without him, as it always did. Godric could not allow himself to shirk his duties again, as he did after Salazar had left Hogwarts three years or so before. He would not do that to Rowena again. And so he allowed Salazar to become only a vague memory that would come out at night before sleep when all that troubles a man creep up, returning to his cheerful old self during the day.

A month after they had returned from London, he agreed to go with Ilar to the village for the evening, to pay a visit to Calanthe and her tavern. It was the usual thing - meeting with all of Sir Rhys' sons and other friends from the village, talking, drinking and laughing until Calanthe firmly sent all of them home, most of them walking unsteadily, some falling asleep on her floor and dragged home by sympathetic and more sober friends.

Nothing had changed about those nights. This time, too, he had to half-carry his younger friend back to the Castle, Ilar loudly singing bawdy songs, and he attempting to keep him quiet. It always amused him to no end, that the normally reserved and quiet Ilar would become this vulgar after a few tankards of ale. He shook his head in amusement and dragged his friend all the way to the quarters he shared with Helga. Knocking politely on the door, it was almost immediately opened by a worried Helga.

Her worry soon dissipated, making place for the wry expression she displayed every time her husband came home from the tavern after an outing with Godric.

"Couldn't get him to drink less this time either, I presume?" she asked dryly, taking hold of the foolishly grinning Ilar.

"Couldn't and wouldn't, my dearest Helga," he said with a mock bow. "The man deserves a little bit of drunk-time. He will learn one day - I hope. I'm getting too old to carry him home every time."

She snorted at that and pulled her husband into their main chamber. "Goodnight, Godric," she said with a smile. "Thanks for bringing him home again."

"Always here to serve, old friend. Goodnight."

Whistling softly to himself, he made his way to his quarters, content of the night he had spent in pleasant company, and ready to go to bed. Rowena must be fast asleep by now, he thought to himself, for he had told her he planned on coming back late. It would be nice to wrap his arms around her as she slept soundly. Smiling, he almost missed the streak of colour in front of him.

The colour he had caught glimpse of was deep auburn, disappearing around the corner, and, since he knew Rowena would never run if there was chance anyone would see her, wondered what Ceri was up to at this time of night. He had lately noticed that she always had a rosy blush in her cheeks, and that she was often flushed and tousled when she returned to their quarters in the evening. When he had commented about it to Rowena, suggesting that their little girl may be ill, his wife almost choked on her tea, and then hurriedly assured him that there was nothing wrong with Ceri. It sounded a bit crooked to him, but he let it go. If Rowena was not worried, then he should not be either.

Then he heard the sound of laughter that he recognized without a doubt as Ceri, and then a mirthful shriek and the sound of running feet. Seconds later, he saw his daughter bolting from around the corner, closely followed not by Ryan as he had expected, but by none other than Aiden.

Before he had had the chance to make his presence known to the laughing pair, Ceri ran straight into him and would have fallen had he not caught her.

Looking up, her eyes as wide as two full moons, Ceri seemed to gulp, but then her usual smile reappeared, and she hugged him tightly, saying "Hello, Father. I trust you had a good time in the village?"

"That I did," he said at ease. "But the two of you should have long ago been in bed. It's past midnight, and I would not want to punish either of you for trespassing school rules."

The two looked thoroughly ashamed of themselves, and Aiden, his face pale for some reason said "I do apologize, Headmaster. We hadn't notice the time. Goodnight, Ceri. Goodnight, Headmaster." And with that, he hastily withdrew.

"Let us go, too, Ceri. Your mother could be out of her mind with worry. What were you thinking, staying out so late and doing whatever it was you were doing?" he stopped at that and gave his daughter a questioning glance. "What were you doing?"

"Um…" she mumbled. "Playing the chasing game. We're childish like that some times."

"Don't I know it," he laughed. "Come now, I'm sure your mother thinks you're safely in bed by now. If she's still awake then I will distract her and let you slip into bed, but mark it that I want this to be the last time."

She nodded, with a somewhat guilty expression on her face.

The two of them walked in comfortable silence the rest of the way to the family's quarters. He never grew tired of spending time with his children - even if it was without speaking. Their presence was enough. Every time he remembered how close he had been to losing them all those years ago, he appreciated the time he had spent with them even more.

Finally they reached the quarters, and Ceri slipped quickly into the room she shared with Ryan as Godric did as he had promised, and distracted Rowena, who was wide-awake and waiting for him to return despite having been told not to wait. He wondered how it was that their daughter managed to escape her mother's hawk-like watch, for by his wife's calm he surmised that she had not discovered Ceri was missing as yet.

Later, long after the couple had gone to bed, Godric remained awake, staring at the dark ceiling above him, listening to Rowena's quiet breaths as she slept. He was such a lucky man. He had two wonderful children who were - for the most part - obedient and loving. They were well-educated and were bound to have a great future in front of them - Ryan in particular with his inclination to protect everyone he held dear. Perhaps one day he would rise to be the true grandson of Gawain Gryffindor and Ryan Ravenclaw, giants of their time. And as for Ceri… she was bound to be as great a lady as her mother and grandmothers before her. He was not worried.

He also had Rowena, who was an outstanding woman, and even though they had had their disagreements - quite often, at that - he knew she would always be there for him, through thick and thin, through ice and fire. His life could not have been more perfect. With that comforting thought, he finally fell asleep.

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After that night, he had chance to find Ceri and Aiden together on more than one occasion, often with their head bowed together, whispering and laughing. The boy was a little too close for comfort to his daughter, spending a little too much time with her. Godric had always known that due to certain things, not least of them the fact that she had grown up almost bodily attached to her brother, Ceri had always preferred the company of friends of the male persuasion over any other. Her only female friend relatively close to her age was Helga's eldest, Rhian, and recently he had noticed that the two spent much less time together, as Ceri apparently opted for her age group's friends. And yet, she seemed particularly attached to the potter's boy, and he found it somewhat disconcerting.

Still, when he had asked Rowena for her opinion, she vaguely dissipated his suspicions, saying that friends would be friends and to let them be. So he did. After all, Ceri was his little girl, and he was very proud of her. She would never do anything bad or something that would embarrass her parents or earn their disapproval.

This belief, as sweet and trusting as it was, in the end brought him the worst shock of his life.

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Even if Godric was somewhat worried about Ceri's close relationship with Aiden, soon he had worse things to deal with.

It was a few weeks later that Ryan entered Godric's study without warning, practically floating, a wide grin plastered on his face. He was holding a roll of parchment in his hand, and was humming happily.

"In a good mood, are we?" Godric asked his son fondly.

"That we are, Father," Ryan said, his grin broadening even further. "I have great news, and I think you'll like them! I got this letter this morning, and I was rather surprised, because no one ever sends me letters - all the people I know live in the Castle or at the village at worst - so I was very curious to see who it was from. Can you guess who sent it to me?"

"Your future wife?" Godric asked, chuckling.

"Father!" Ryan seemed outraged. "Be serious, please! First of all, I would not even consider taking a wife before I get to know the girl properly, and second, that is not the person who had sent it to me. Can't you guess?"

Sighing and putting down his quill, Godric shook his head. "No, my dear boy. I cannot. Surprise me."

"Lord Billius, Father!" Ryan called excitedly, now bouncing in place. "Lord Billius himself had sent me a letter. He wants my help for something, I think. It's a great honour, isn't it?"

"What are you saying, Ryan?" Godric asked warily.

The youth was smiling so broadly now that his smile almost split his face in half. He dropped very ungracefully on the chair in front of his father and said in excitement "What I'm saying is that Billius wants to talk to me, Father! Lord Billius asked to arrange a meeting. He wants me to come to Stonehenge to meet him! I can only imagine what he wants me to do there, but it's great, isn't it?"

Godric felt only dread at this declaration. What could Lord Billius, one of the last remnants of the Council and one of the two men who had held the ruling body together against all objections ever since Ambrosius' death, want with his son? There were several options that immediately jumped into his mind, and none of them was very favourable. Still, he could not bear watching the delighted expression on Ryan's face evaporate, and so he forced out his words.

"Yes, it is wonderful. Are you going to go?"

"Of course I am!" Ryan's delight intensified. "I can Apparate, and so it shouldn't take long, should it? I'll be gone just the few days - less even. Will you tell Mother?"

At this, a warning signal flared in Godric's mind. If Ryan did not tell his mother about the letter he had received, then he was quite possibly afraid of her reaction. He scrutinized Ryan's hopeful face and crossed his arms in front of him. "Why don't you tell your mother?" he asked suspiciously.

Ryan's face fell and he stared at the desk separating the two of them as though it was the most fascinating thing in the world. "Because she wouldn't let me go," he said in a small voice.

"And why wouldn't she let you go?" Godric pleasantly asked, knowing how uncomfortable the boy was, and somehow enjoying that discomfort. Ryan was too independent for his liking.

"Because she wouldn't agree with it," the boy said in an even smaller voice. "She would say that I shouldn't involve myself with the government because they are all corrupt and evil at the base, even though Gaius and Billius had helped us during the war against Ambrosius."

"And do you understand the truth behind what she would say?"

In defeat, Ryan's shoulders slumped and he nodded. "I know they are not the most honest people alive, and I know that they are backstabbing bastards when it suits them, but…" Here Ryan's eyes flared with determination. "But that's why I want to be involved, Father. I know I can do better than them. I can rebuild the Council in a different way - in a way that won't allow those holding reign to have infinite power over everyone else. I can make a change, Father - I know I can. Billius and Gaius are relics of an old world, an old system of government. While they are at the top there is no chance to make that change that we so sorely need, but if I can be there… I know I'm very young, but I can influence them - I can outwit them. You know that. And-"

Here Godric smiled and unfolded his arms. He raised a hand in order to stop Ryan's speech. "My dear child," he said, still smiling. "It is the job of a parent to be overprotective of their children. And so I cannot help but worry that you might not be doing the right thing. However, your grandfather, my father, was younger than yourself when he had taken my grandfather's seat at the Council, and look how far he had gotten. I don't want to see you go, Ryan, but I am not about to stop you. If it is a mistake, then it is your mistake to make - I can't coddle you forever, and nor can your mother. I will tell her, boy. Just make sure to come back in one piece so she can dismantle you on her own when you are back."

The grin back on his face, Ryan profusely thanked his father, and then disappeared back into the main chamber. By nightfall he was gone, and Rowena was on the verge of Apparating to Stonehenge and dragging him back by the ears. Godric found that very amusing and was waiting for her reaction when their son would return.

He completely understood her worry. She did not have a very good experience with the Council. None of them did. But he also knew that Ryan was a man now, and that he could no longer hide behind his mother's skirts, no matter how much Rowena wished it otherwise. Ryan could not and would not stay a child for ever. And so, when he saw Rowena putting on her cloak and preparing to leave after her son, he took hold of her arm and made her sit down.

It was a long night, and included a very loud argument between the two. Godric did not remember having such a heated fight with her for a very long time. She was angry at him and at Ryan, but most of all she was worried, and that made her crankier than ever. She paced for a while and then sat down, tapping her foot impatiently as she argued her case, then got up and paced again, all the while talking and shouting and saying horrible things that little children should never hear. It had been a very long time since she had let loose that side of her vocabulary.

It was only a couple or so hours after midnight that they had finished their fight, and even that was only because a sleepy Ceri opened the door to her room and curtly asked the two to "kiss and make up and let me go back to my bloody sleep, because there's school tomorrow."

That had shut them both up, and so they had retired to bed. Even if he did not know how upset Rowena really was, the fact that she kept to her side of the bed that night would have made it obvious. It was not a very comfortable night.

It took Ryan three days to return, and by the time he did, Rowena's anger had simmered down enough for her to keep a tight lid on it. Godric, knowing her ominous silences only too well, did not envy his son. Rowena was furious.

He did not blame her, of course, for he himself was not very happy with the boy. Having time to think it over, he wondered what had possessed Ryan to become so involved with the matters of government. They had always made sure that they had nothing to do with it, and they were sure their children would do the same. How did things go so wrong? He was so worried that Ryan would do something foolish.

"It is only one of the troubles and difficulties of us, fathers," Sir Rhys told him on the night of Ryan's return, as the two sat in the older man's house over a cup of ale. "We must watch helpless as our children grow up and fly away from the nest. Ryan is no longer a child, Godric, and I can see it in your eyes that you are fully aware of that. It is time to let go - consciously as well as unconsciously."

"How do I do that?" Godric asked tiredly, swirling the remains of the ale at the bottom of his cup.

"It takes time, but you will manage it, sooner or later. It's not over yet, Godric. You still have Ceri, after all, and she is a good girl - and still is a child."

"You're right. I still have Ceri. She's not going anywhere for the time being," he agreed, smiling slightly. "She will always be my little girl, and no one is taking her from me just yet."

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When Godric returned from the village that evening, he found Rowena scolding Ryan. By the defeated expression on his son's face, he guessed she had been at it for quite a while. Seeing that he entered the room, she planted her hands on her hips and said "-And this is the last time you are doing such a thing without giving me fair warning first!"

"Yes, Mother," Ryan said in a monotone, but Godric thought he caught a sigh of relief somewhere in there. "Now may I tell you about what I did in Stonehenge?"

Surprisingly enough, she smiled and sat down. Then, straightening her skirts, said "You most certainly may."

Godric, slightly stunned by her reaction, settled next to her and listened to what Ryan had to say.

As it turned out, their mischievous son had gone there in order to achieve his own ends. "I only wanted to see what they were doing, and how they were doing it, Mother," he explained, grinning. "I followed Billius everywhere and noted how he and Gaius handled things. They only want me there for my name - because they couldn't get Father or Uncle Salazar in his time to sit there with them. I am only to be their puppet as far as they are concerned, but I saw the flaws in their system. It is mostly based on the old Council, and not many people are happy with that. They want something new.

"Billius and Gaius, though they had worked against the Council in their time, know nothing else but the way it used to work. They are too old and set in their ways to make major changes. But I can, and I will. I talked with a few junior clerks that have been helping them for a while. They have virtually no say in anything. Billius and Gaius handle everything with steely hands. Most of those people - my age or a little older, disagree with a lot of the decisions that go around there, but since they have no say, they can't do anything about it.

"If Billius and Gaius induct me into their circle, I can pretend to cooperate for a while and gather strength from those ranks that are smothered by those two, and when I have a strong enough base of support, they will have no option but allow me leeway. That way I can finally make a change and completely reform the system of government. What do you think?"

Godric and Rowena exchanged glances. Godric could see her fighting a proud grin. He did not even bother to hide his smile. He got up and clapped his son on the shoulder. "Ryan," he said. "I think that this is a plan worthy of your Uncle Salazar. He would have been very proud of you, and so are we. Just bear in mind -don't let that get into your head. It may be a fantastic success, or the worst failure. But even if you fail at first, don't give up. There is merit to your plan, and I am sure that you can make it work."

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After that, Ryan made frequent journeys to Stonehenge. Sometimes he would be gone for a whole week, sometimes for just a day. Every time he came back he had more news to tell - of new supporters he had managed to get, of something he managed to convince Gaius and Billius to do, or of any number of things that often would leave Godric in stitches, thinking of the expression on Billius' face were he to understand that his young protégé was undermining his authority.

But while his troubles with Ryan subsided, he once again became aware of Ceri's numerous disappearances. She would often come back late, or sneak out when she thought her parents did not notice. Rowena had said to let it go, that she was only having fun, her being a young girl, youthful and mischievous as her brother. She said that they should let her be, not keep a tight watch on her. Considering his wife's reaction to Ryan's decision only a little while before, he found that very strange. It was as though her mind and views were completely changed where Ceri was concerned.

She was just a little girl, their Ceri. His heart clenched whenever he thought of one day letting her go.

Godric had adored his little girl practically since the day she was born. How could he not? She was his little girl. She was a beautiful child with her mother's auburn hair and his blue eyes. She was stunning, and he had always known, somewhere in the back of his mind, that one day he would have to accept that she, like all children, has grown and is ready to start a life of her own. He was preparing himself for it for years. He just did not expect that time to come so soon.

She was so young.

Therefore, twinned with that belief that she would never do anything he disapproved of, what his daughter had in store for him that day when he was peacefully playing a match of Wizard's Chess against Ryan in the cheery main chamber of their quarters, took him completely by surprise.

"Say that again, dear?" he said absently, his mind on the match.

"I'm going to get married."

This time he did catch her words. He shot out of his chair like an arrow from a bow, his eyes wild and wide. "You're what!"

"Getting married, Father," she beamed, her lovely face brightening up as though lit from the inside. "Isn't that just absolutely wonderful?"

For a moment all Godric could do was to stare at his baby girl. She was wearing an exquisite green gown, a gift from her aunt which complimented her figure. For the first time, he finally realized that this was no girl in front of him, but a woman.

"And whom, may I ask, is the intended bridegroom?" he asked in a much chillier tone than he had planned. He stifled a wince, knowing that he could not back down. Not this time.

"Why, Aiden, of course!" she said, still smiling.

"Aiden?" he gritted. "Aiden the potter?"

"Y…yes," she mumbled, her smile faltering, her big blue eyes much less bright.

"I'm going to kill him," Ryan said behind him, getting up, his voice cold as Godric's own. "I am going to strangle him with my own bare hands."

"Ryan!" Ceri cried. "You will do no such thing! Father, really! I thought you'd be happy for me!"

"Happy?"

"Yes! Happy! I thought that my getting married would be a joyous thing for you!"

"You are wrong, Ceridwen."

"Wrong about what?"

"You are not getting married."

Ta-da! End of the last but one chapter! What did you think? Would Ryan kill Aiden? Would everything go well for the young lovers? Wasn't Godric completely oblivious? Tell me what you think!

Next chapter is on Tuesday in a week, as per usual. I would most likely post it earlier than usual, because it's already been written a long time ago and I've gone through it numerous times to see if something is missing.

Hope you enjoyed this week's update!

Hugs and kisses to all!

-Star of the North