Chapter 17 - Mess

Warning: Zack being Zack kind of chapter. :D

Zack gave a small start and blinked awake at the sound of a knock on the room's door. He looked owlishly at the hanging clock, 0400 hours, oh c'mon, he deserved at least another hour of sleep. Glancing around at his roomates, he saw similar looks of why-am-I-awake-early. Zack gave a disgruntled huff and rolled out of bed, taking his blanket with him. He didn't bother to dislodge it, dragging it with a foot to the door and opening.

"Ello...?" he began before going straight, waking up fully at the sight of a very impatient Genesis. "Sir!"

Genesis took an unimpressed look at him. "Shower and change, now."

"Yes sir!"

He had never showered so fast in his life. He was back out into the main room, eyes briefly washing over a sleepy Kunsel trying to block out the room's light with a pillow over his head to go back to sleep. Aerith surprisingly seemed to be fully awake and sitting cross legged in the middle of her bed, staring silently at Genesis who was ignoring her, tapping his feet with impatience. Zack walked over and waited.

"You will be coming with me, and you will not ask questions, understood?" asked Genesis, tight lipped.

It took Zack a moment to really understand what he saw. It was in Genesis's eyes, the tiredness, shadows of dismay and grief. Something was wrong. "Yes Sir."

Genesis briefly turned to go before pausing. "Oh, and 3rd Class Gainsborough?"

"Yes sir?"

"Sephiroth wanted me to tell you that starting tomorrow you will be getting up at 0400 hours every day for the next month and helping the janitorial staff clean the SOLDIER floor as punishment for disrespecting a superior officer," he said.

Zack winced and shot Aerith a pitying glance. Owch, sounded like she brought it on herself though.

Rather than look dismayed or chagrined, she merely smiled. "I thought it was supposed to be the entire Shinra Tower."

Zack gaped at her and hissed. "Aerith!"

Genesis snorted. "Sephiroth is right, you DO run your mouth. Now it's two months of janitorial duties. Care to make it a third?"

That time Aerith's jaw snapped shut.

"Thought not, Fair lets go."

Genesis said nothing until they were in an elevator, and even then, he pressed stop and waved a hand at the elevator camera, a small bolt of electricity shorting it out. "You will listen, and you will listen carefully, understood?"

Zack nodded, growing a bit tense.

"Yesterday, Angeal went home on vacation, you know this correct?" said Genesis.

Zack nodded. "Yeah, went to confront his mother."

Genesis looked annoyed. "He told his pup but he lied to me about it being a standard vacation?"

He huffed. "Pah, probably figured we'd bring the town down if we both went together after our respective 'families' at the same time."

Genesis went serious again. "Sephiroth followed him, took a sick day," Zack snorted with amusement, Sephiroth never took those, even he knew that, "To offer support."

Genesis licked his lips, and the sorrow in his eyes deepened. "Angeal took a break to clear his head after his first round of questioning. When he and Sephiroth returned to the house, his mother had committed suicide."

Zack felt all the air go out of his lungs. "Suicide?!"

Genesis nodded. "Yes. With the Buster Sword too as I was told."

Zack leaned against the elevator wall, hyperventilating a little even though it wasn't his mother dead. "Oh man, oh jezz, oh 'Geal. He's probably a mess huh?"

Genesis pursed his lips. "We'll find out when he regains consciousness."

Zack blinked. "Regains...?"

"Angeal... lost it Fair," said Genesis slowly, carefully, "He attacked Sephiroth in his overwhelming grief and anger."

Zack's face paled. "He didn't! No, you wouldn't joke about something like that. He's not gonna get kicked out is he? I mean, his mother just killed herself, that's gotta give him some leeway! Surely Sephiroth understands that!"

"I imagine he will, possibly, when he wakes up again," said Genesis, "Sephiroth took the Buster through his chest. Lost a lot of blood. If it had been any other SOLDIER, even me, they'd be dead. He woke up briefly around midnight, and I got the full story and his standing orders out of him, before he went back to sleep. What he decides will be for later."

Zack stared at him, face paling further. "Geal almost killed Sephiroth? Oh man... he's never going to forgive himself for that."

Genesis rubbed his face tiredly. "I am bringing you into the aftermath of this because Angeal cares about you, has taken you under his wing. He will need everyone he can get to ground him. That is your duty, as his apprentice and as a SOLDIER, to help him."

Zack took a deep breath and slowly let it out. "It's way to early for this. Yeah, I'll help, no questions asked. Who else knows?"

"Myself, Sephiroth, Tseng, Director Verdot, Doctor Crescent, and now you," said Genesis, "All the medical staff who tended to him know is that a 'mission' went south, that's it. No one else is to be informed of anything. If word of this reaches the President, we all know what his current orders are for compromised SOLDIERs."

Zack nodded grimly.

"Though I'd like to see him try to order us to put Angeal down," snarled Genesis, "I'd burn the company down first."

Zack snickered. "And I'd get him out on the back of a motorcycle if that's what it came down to."

Genesis snorted. "A motorcycle?"

"Ya, ya know the one in the lobby? I'd take that, smash through the window onto the freeway, and just goooo," said Zack, masking a woosh sound.

Genesis snickered (ha! Got one of them besides Angeal to snicker! Score!). "One of us should do that, just for the hell of it at some point. Ride off into the sunset, middle finger raised over our shoulder."

"Hey! Don't be revealing my master plan!" said Zack with a grin.

Genesis slowly shook his shoulder. "There is no hate, only joy, for you are beloved by the goddess."

"Or at least Angeal," said Zack with a snicker.

Genesis rolled his eyes and restarted the elevator. "Don't butcher my quotes boy."

Zack wasn't quite sure if he couldn't keep himself from cracking up. "Yes sir."

The light atmosphere lasted right about until the elevator dinged into the Science Department. Then they went solemn and wandered into it's depths. They found Sephiroth and Angeal on beds separated by curtains in the heart of the department. Doctor Crescent, eyes tired in a way that said pulled-an-all-nighter, fluttered quietly around her son, checking his vitals and entering data in a laptop an assistant carried around for her (like he was a moving table). Angeal...

Zack's bulged and he hissed to Genesis. "Is that a WING?"

Genesis held up a finger to his lips for silence, and walked over, taking a chair next to Angeal and plopping down. Zack wandered over, staring down at the white feathery appendix propped up on a side-table with a pillow as an attempt for comfort. He looked at the pale face, stretched with tension and stress, even while asleep. He looked... well, like his mother had just died. That about fit it.

"Oh man," was all Zack could whisper, taking a seat on the opposite side of the bed.

He hesitated briefly before reaching out and grasping one of Angeal's hands, squeezing it tightly. "Here for you buddy."

"Buddy?" snorted Genesis, "Have a bit more class Zackery, honored teacher, comrade, or..."

"Genesis, some of us are trying to rest," came Sephiroth's tired voice.

Genesis grinned 'evilly' and sauntered over to Sephiroth's bed, plopping down on a chair and speaking in low, teasing tones. Zack slowly shook his head and closed his eyes, bowing his head and waiting patiently. He had never been one to sit still before, but... for this, for Angeal... he didn't move a muscle, and wouldn't, not until he was awake.

"Honestly Sephiroth, how in the world did he get you with that slab of a sword?"

Zack's eyes flickered to the curtain separating the beds, enhanced hearing picking up on their low tones.

"I started the fight with a handicap," Zack could practically hear Sephiroth scowling, "I wasn't expecting him to just punch me. Landed it squarely against my head and knocked me through the wall. Fighting with a concussion was... an interesting experience. I saw double of Angeal for the most of it."

"Ah, that would make trying to block rather difficult," said Genesis, just a tad smug, "So even the great and mighty Sephiroth can be brought low."

"It's not the first time."

"Pff, really? I've never seen you come close to losing a fight before this," scoffed Genesis.

"Not since I officially joined SOLDIER perhaps, but I lost many battles when I was a child in Hojo's care," said Sephiroth with derision, "He pitted me against every kind of monster under Gaia's skies, and then plenty he created himself."

There was a very uncomfortable silence then. Zack really wished he didn't have enhanced hearing at that point, waaaay to personal and deep for him to be hearing at the moment.

"He has that effect on people, speaking of such things casually," came a tired whisper.

Zack's head swerved to see Angeal's eyes tiredly on him. "Geal!"

"Not so loud Zack," muttered Angeal.

"Sorry."

Zack briefly caught Genesis peeking around the curtain before he was apparently dragged back by the arm of a Sephiroth shaped shadow. His lips twitched with amusement before refocusing. "You okay 'Geal?"

"I feel like Sephiroth kicked the shit out of me."

"Language 'Geal, you owe the swear jar a gil," said Zack, teasing, with a large smile growing across his face.

Angeal wasn't co-co crazy, so there was no reason not to after all.

Angeal gave him an unimpressed look. "That only applies to those underage."

"That's so not fair!" said Zack, wagging a finger at Angeal, "You're making that up!"

Angeal didn't even smile, just tiredly closed his eyes and sighed. Okay, Angeal might not be crazy, but he was not okay if that didn't get a hint of a grin.

Oh boy, how in the world was he supposed to do something about this, how did he even start? He weighed his usual cheer VS trying to be serious...

Ah who was he kidding? "So, heard you sucker punched Seph pretty good."

Angeal opened his eyes and gave him an incredulous look.

Zack just grinned, not even slightly abashed.

Angeal sighed, looked away, his eyes landing on his wing and then forcing himself to look back at Zack instead, just a tad bit of panic in his eyes at the sight of the appendix.

"What's it like having a wing?" asked Zack, "Can you feel it? Can you really fly with it? It's gotta give aerial a whole new meaning in a fight. It's got to be cool as hell."

"I... what? Cool?" asked Angeal, baffled.

"C'mon man, it's a fricken wing!" said Zack excitedly, "How long have you been holdin out on me? You coulda took me flying. Always wanted to touch a cloud."

Angeal had that pinched look on his face he got when Zack really went hyperactive, it was a bit early for that in Zack's opinion, but he'd let it slide. "I did not hold out on anyone. I thought..."

A tremor ran through Angeal's body. "I... thought it was a delusion or something... that..."

He took a shaky breath. "One moment I was with my mother's... body... the next, everything was red. I was so angry, it was all consuming, everywhere, a unending buzz in my ears and mind. I don't..."

"Easy 'Geal, easy," said Zack, scooting his chair closer and leaning to rest a hand on Angeal's non-wing shoulder, "Take it slow man. I was given you an out to be normal, we can get to the heavy stuff when we get to it."

There was a sharp laugh. "And you think pestering me about a wing is normal?"

"Well it's normal for me," said Zack defensively.

Angeal put a hand over his face and gave a shaky half-laugh/half-sob into it. "What am I going to do with you Zack?"

"Take me flying when you're better and out of here?" he suggested.

"I'm resisting the urge to turn and rip it out of me," admitted Angeal, "I don't... I don't like the feel of it. It's like an uncomfortable muscle stretching out of me in a way non of the other's do."

"Psst 'Geal," said Zack, leaning closer to whisper, "That's not the only muscle that stretches out and away from a guy."

Genesis barked with laughter behind the curtain, and Angeal merely sighed, sinking his head into his pillow. "Zack, you are forever going to be as mature as a twelve year old."

"Thanks."

"It wasn't a compliment."

"I'm choosing to take it as one."

"Genesis, Sephiroth, help," said Angeal.

"I cannot, as I am bedridden," said Sephiroth, just a touch of amusement in his voice, "And Genesis is keeping me company."

Zack wasn't the only one that heard Genesis snicker.

Angeal however had gone pale the moment 'bedridden' slipped by Sephiroth's lips, head turned frantically towards the curtain, adam's apple bobbing like crazy as he swallowed. "Sephiroth, I..."

Sephiroth reached out and yanked the curtain away, turning his head to look at Angeal. "You were not yourself, it is fine."

"You're bedridden," stressed Angeal.

"As are you," said Sephiroth, just a tad pointedly, "I gave as well as I received."

Angeal looked away, voice growing quiet, "I'm sorry..."

Sephiroth sighed. "It is nothing I will not recover from. It isn't the worst I've been injured, nor nearly the closest to death I have come."

Zack gave him an incredulous look. "You've had worse then being stabbed by the buster?"

"I took a King Behemoth's horn through my chest while fighting when I was... eleven I believe, as one of Hojo's tests for seeing my readiness for SOLDIER," said Sephiroth mater of factually, as if what he said wasn't a crime-against-humanity to put a fucking kid against a monster like that, any monster really, "Considering the horn was bigger than the buster, and I was much smaller then, the damage was far more severe."

Zack couldn't keep any kind of happy-like attitude on his face. "I know you all have first dibs, but, can I at least punch Hojo, like really really hard before you kill him?"

Sephiroth hummed to himself for a moment. "I'll consider it. I am first, the Ancient is second, Genesis and Angeal may share third, anyone else can have the... leftovers I believe it would be called, afterwards, if there are any left. I may allow you to go first in the later lot."

Zack blinked a few times. "Aerith? Why would she have a shot at him second?"

Sephiroth stared at him unblinking. "That, is not for me to disclose."

No, but Zack wasn't stupid. If Sephiroth would let her have second stab, then Hojo had really messed with her bad then. Question was, experimented at/before birth kind of bad, labs kind of bad, or both kind of bad? His eyes went distant for a moment, searching through his memory for anything that...

Nope, what was he doing?

He had Angeal to help right now.

If Aerith was Sephiroth-like-coping by treating it like it was an everyday occurrence and was nothing important, then he'd work her over the way he slowly planned on doing Sephiroth: By just being himself. He was great like that. If she was pretending it never ever happened kind of coping, that might be more difficult and explosive. But that was for later, he had his hands full as is with Mr. Mopey at the moment...

Aerith finished her meal off, if one could call what Shinra fed it's employees a meal that is, and sat alone at her table, forehead pinched in thought. She hadn't heard anything yet from Zack or the others and it was noon. Something had obviously happened, especially since she was stuck with cleaning SOLDIER toilets instead of the entire tower (she wasn't sure if Sephiroth had honestly been joking on that or not, probably not all things considered). But, considering the building wasn't burning down, whatever had happened was probably manageable.

Hopefully.

Then, as if right on cue, Zack walked into the cafeteria, and then did something abnormal. "Hey! Could I get everyone's attention please!"

Which of course made every soldier turn towards him as he held up a large card. Aerith had to squint to realize it was a bunch of cards tapped together. "I'd like you all to sign the card."

"Why in the world do you want us to sign a card?" asked the skeptical SOLDIER.

Zack hesitated, glancing around, "I'll probably get in trouble with Angeal for this, but... his mom just died, he was there when she passed away."

Aerith closed her eyes briefly at that. Did Angeal kill her and this was a cover up? Had there been an accident of some kind? She didn't know, she merely opened her eyes and watched. She was slightly astonished, as the demeanor of the entire SOLDIER cafeteria changed instantly from skeptical and offput to just... well...

"Shit."

"No fucking way."

"Is he okay?"

"No way he's okay dude, giant with a heart like his?"

"Gimi that damn card, I'll write an essay."

"I'm next!"

"No me!"

"Can you tell how how sorry we are for him?"

"We ought to get him something more than a fricken card."

"Hey hey hey don't rip it, everyone will get a turn."

Without fail, every single SOLDIER lined up to sign that card and put in a little note for Angeal. SOLDIERs that weren't present were called to either come and sign it, or asked if they wanted something written for them. The only ones that didn't were those either in Wutai, or that didn't pick up their phones for one reason or another. Aerith was... more than a little touched and amazed to see this collective action. Angeal was treasured by SOLDIER. How the entire SOLDIER roster hadn't just upped and left with him in the original way of things, Aerith didn't know.

Aerith remained at the tail end, waiting until everyone else had a turn. She studied the small space left on the card and wondered what to put. There was nothing that could really be said for such a loss, her own birth mother was still a ache in her chest even all these years later. She simply offered what she felt, and wrote 'I'm sorry'. She was sorry she couldn't have saved his mother. To be frank, she had barely remembered the event as it was from the Lifestream's memories. If she had known in advance, had time to prod and search through the garbled mess, she might have been able to offer something.

But she hadn't known, and that was unfortunately that.

"How's he doing?" she whispered quietly, walking next to Zack as he closed the card and left the cafeteria.

"Eh...," said Zack, "He's being kind of a downer at the moment."

"Zack!" she said, slapping his shoulder.

Zack flashed a not-really-apologetic grin before going serious. "He hurt Seph pretty bad, he's convinced he should try to leave SOLDIER-"

Bad vibes started rolling down her spine at this. That was how everything had begun before with Genesis...

"-convinced he's a monster, with that wing of his," continued Zack, irritated, "I tried to show him I didn't care about it, I'd love to spar against someone flying, I think it would be cool."

Oh, he grew his wing. That... probably had sprouted out of the stress or trauma of his mother passing. "What he'd say to that?"

Zack rolled his eyes, "The same crap I've been arguing with him in a circle for the last few hours. Says he's not safe to be around, that he's a monster, a freak, that would hurt everyone around him. That no one should care about a monster."

He flashed a sly grin and held up the card. "Thought I'd prove him wrong."

Aerith gave him a sweet smile. "That's so nice of you Zack."

"Well, someone's got to look out for him since Genesis and Sephiroth are terrible at it," said Zack, shaking his head, "Genesis keeps quoting LOVELESS at Angeal like its the answer to every problem, and Sephiroth trying to be all-logical-but-making-it-worse by saying it's not the worst thing that's happened to him and making the room way more heavy then it needs to be."

"To who? Sephiroth or Angeal?"

"Seph, did you know Hojo pitted him against a King Behemoth when he was eleven?" said Zack, just a touch of outrage in his eyes.

Aerith blinked a few times, slightly stunned and more than a little horrified. "No!"

They reached the elevator, and Zack threw his arms up into the air. "Yeah, he used that as an example of how what Angeal's did to him with the Buster wasn't so bad. Gave a few examples that I really wish I hadn't heard. I kinda want to just hug Seph to death, don't wanna tear the wound open though if it hasn't fully healed yet."

Aerith grew a little uneasy. "What... happened exactly?"

Zack opened his mouth, and then firmly shut it with a snap before shaking his head. "Eh... I shouldn't. Sorry Aerith, I've already said to much as it is."

She gave a brief, tight nod. He gave her an apologetic smile before walking into the elevator. "See ya later! And don't forget, you've got smelly toilet duty in the morning."

Aerith huffed and hit the close button, shutting him in the elevator and turning away. "Honestly, maybe if boys tried actually cleaning once in awhile they might not think it's the worst thing ever. Or maybe he just doesn't put on gloves or something, that's eww. Shouldn't clean a bathroom without them."

She shook her head and walked back towards her room, sitting on her bed while she waited for time to pass between lunch and her next lesson. She pursed her lips and leaned back against the wall, thumping her head softly. She wasn't going to go barrelling up there and demanding an answer, but... she did have another way to figure out what happened.

Planet?

CHILD.

She focused her thoughts on Angeal's mother. She didn't know what the woman looked like, but she could focus the thought of Angeal, and through that ask the question: Gillian Hewely? How did she die.

There was silence for a few minutes. Searching through the Lifestream for one person would be quite the task, especially for the Planet without the finesse of it's Avatar behind it. Time ticked away, and she was about to give up and just go before the Planet answered.

SHAME. GRIEF. SORROW. OVERBURDENED. CLAIMED OWN LIFE.

Aerith sighed softly and sent her thanks to the Planet. So Angeal's Mother had killed herself, while her son was there. How cruel and selfish could a mother be to do that? To leave Angeal all alone without answers, for him to find her corpse and no longer have the comfort of his mother in his life. She couldn't imagine it. But... how had that turned into Angeal and Sephiroth fighting? The pain of loss could make people do things, terrible things, it was true, but...

She shook her head. Zack was right, it wasn't any of her business in so much that it was being dealt with. She'd trust Zack to handle Angeal, and if he couldn't, well, she'd see where they all went from there. But Zack had a way with people, so she allowed herself to relax and simply head out for her lessons. She still had a few months to go before she hit fifteen and could start on missions (she had actually went and looked to figure out her actual age, she was fourteen, not thirteen thankfully). Soon enough, she'd be out there, proving herself to SOLDIER, and beginning to make a difference...

"Hey 'Geal!" said Zack cheerfully, walking in and seeing Mr. Mopey looking up at the ceiling, ignoring everyone else in the room. Angeal didn't reply to him, so still as depressed as he was earlier then. He was a work in progress.

Genesis was sitting on the edge of Sephiroth's bed reading LOVELESS while Sephiroth was laying down with his laptop on his chest, Zack raised en eyebrow "Seriously Sephiroth? Aren't you supposed to relax, not do work?"

Sephiroth didn't even look up. "I'd rather not have it stack up. Some of us take responsibilities seriously Zackery."

Zack rolled his eyes and moved to sit next to Angeal's bed. "Got you something I think you'll like."

Angeal sighed and looked down from the ceiling. "Zack, I'd like to just be alone for awhile."

"And I'll leave you alone, soon as you take your card," said Zack, holding it out.

Angeal scoffed. "You got me a card? Zack, really?"

Zack grinned. "Not just me, open it up."

Angeal took it out of his hands. "If it'll get me some peace and quiet-did you tape a bunch of cards together?"

"Yep!" exclaimed Zack, "The best get-well card is a big get-well card."

Genesis snorted in amusement. "I don't know what you see in him Angeal, I really don't."

"I think the effort should be seen as touching," mused Sephiroth, eyes still glued to his screen as he typed away.

"C'mon 'Geal, open it up," pleaded Zack.

"Fine," muttered Angeal, opening it and then just staring at it silently, eyes flickering through it, his voice going hoarse, "Z... zack..."

Zack reached forward and squeezed Angeal's shaking shoulders. "They all care about you Angeal, don't doubt that for a sec."

With that, he stood and walked away, giving Angeal his promised alone time. He did take a quick peek back just before he left though, watching Angeal read the card, his hands shaking. He'd give Angeal a few days, both to recover physically, and to get his head straight. If he didn't get his act together, well, Zack was going to have to drag him kicking and screaming down to the SOLDIER floor and getting everyone else to help with it.

Because there was no way in hell he was letting Angeal leave SOLDIER and struggle through it alone...

Author's Notes: Zack Fair, on duty!

As a note, we're going to be leaving Zack to help Angeal, and move onto Aerith. The next several chapters (or maybe one mega chapter, IDK) will be her therapy sessions over the next few months/year. Each line break will be a time-skip to the next session. As a warning, the chapters, at least the first part of them that covers her time in the labs, will be very dark. Hojo is a psycopath, needless to say. We've seen what he's done in cannon, and I've unfortunately read enough fanfiction to see what people have him become creative with. While we have little confirmed about Aerith's time in the labs between age 0-7, I'll be filling in the blanks.

Take that as your warning for the faint of heart, and know that I have no issues with hurting my characters to force them to grow.

Edit: Sorry, we've got one more chapter before we start on Aerith, I just realized I was about to pass over an important timeslot. Thanks to Mizu Hoseki for the reminder.

Because next chapter, we get to meet Shelke.

:D

Review Responses:

MisaxMisa: Mmm, IDK if it counts as a Sephiroth Redemption since this Sephiroth never actually went evil. I personally only count it as redemption if it's after-the-fact, either after Nibelhiem or after Meteorfall. There's many fics however that center around Zack or Cloud keeping Sephiroth sane however, on that I will agree with you. Glad you enjoy what's been written thus far. I'm not sure if I will call the next few chapter(s) 'Handling', but we will see.

V01dSw0rd: Mmm, ish. Wasn't really thinking about Aeons (that's for another fanfic I'm writing), but I did read this one fanfiction (Haunted House I think it was), where Summons were considered entities that walked around in the olden days. There was also To Be Human which Chaos refers to other higher powers. I like absorbing and alluding to other fanfics in what little subtle teasers.

Azure Shine: Mmm, probably not intensely lemony. There will be intimate moments, but I'm not writing smut. There's already plenty of that out there.

Patrick the Observer: I won't say Jenova was near per say, but egging Angeal into violence? Definitely.

Mizu Hoseki: Nah, there wasn't exactly any grinding in, and Aerith got a 2nd month of janitorial duty for running her mouth as it is. :D. I thought Gillian killed herself in cannon, I never saw Angeal as having lost it enough to murder his own family, he got Zack to kill him before he reached that point.

November 20th, 1999 was the date she came back in time to. Nothing major happened according to the FF wiki during the rest of 1999. Next year in December is when Cloud makes his promise to Tifa. Sometime between then and June of 2001, Cloud fails the exam. We are currently a few months after November, so early 2000. ACTUALLY, thank you for reminding me about timelines, as I'm reading the wiki-timeline-page I just realized ima have to do a chapter before we start on Aerith. Because Shelke was taken by Deepground during this time. Anyway, we have roughly a year, I'd say, before Cloud/Tifa enters the Cadet Program, give or take a few months. Aerith is only a year older than him, so I'll need to have her turn fifteen soon and start missions to have a chance to reach 2nd class, might edit in a few lines about that, tee hee. I suppose it wouldn't be a tragedy if she was still 3rd at that point.