*Author's Note*
Wow! Sorry about poofing like that! I actually had this chapter done back on, like, January 24th or something. Except, at that point, I was so fixated on "Have to get the rest of this story done before February" that I didn't take the time to publish any of the chapters I had written.
Aaaaaand it still kept me an extra week into February to finish this story anyway. Whoops! To make up for it, I am publishing the remaining 5 chapters in succession today! Hope you enjoy the remainder of this story, and thank you for sticking with it.
(Also, fair warning, the chapters in the back half of this story are all about double what they have been thus far. Boy, did this story get away from me! 0_o)
**DISCLAIMER: This is an uncollaborated, unofficial, POV-swap, companion story to Twelve Days of Chatmas by Taurus Pixie. This story contains major spoilers for Pixie's story. If you have not read her story yet, stop what you're doing, and go read that first (it's published on this very site). I promise you, it will be worth it for the hurt/comfort, and this story will still be here when you come back.**
Chapter 8
Marinette was not looking forward to going to school. Normally it would be the highlight of her day: being able to stare at Adrien for nearly eight hours. After helping him pick up those rings, however? She knew she was going to spend the whole day wondering who he bought them for, and if she loved him back.
Of course she does. Who wouldn't be in love with Adrien Agreste? Instantly Marinette thought of a handful of women: Alya, Mylène, Rose, Juleka, and probably Alix, given how much she teased Marinette about her crush. They didn't count though. Alya had Nino. Mylène had Ivan. Rose and Juleka had each other. Alix- well, Marinette wasn't entirely sure Alix felt that way about anyone. Marinette also crossed off Lila. Adrien knew how much of a liar she was, and how she liked to hurt people with those lies. There was no way he could ever be in love with her. She then prayed that she could cross Chloé off that list as well. Everyone else though? They were on her radar as potential gift recipients.
"Is it someone he models with? I don't remember seeing him posing with anyone our age." Marinette hurriedly flipped through her collection of Adrien photos, forgetting her pigtails with only the left side of her hair pulled back.
"Are you still fixated on those rings?" Tikki hovered in front of Marinette's face, hoping to block her manic search. "Marinette, I'm sure they are nothing to worry about. Please let it go. You can't do anything anyway. Marinette doesn't know about them. Remember?"
"But, Tikki-"
"You only have a couple more days before winter break. Why not enjoy the time you have with Adrien while you can? Forget about the rings. There's more important things to think about anyway."
"More important than who Adrien is in love with?"
"Have you figured out what you're getting for Chat Noir yet?"
That stopped Marinette cold. Tikki was right. There was nothing she could do about Adrien and the rings; nothing except wallow, that is. Chat Noir had been hurting for a long time though, and she needed to find a way to make it right.
"There's a Christmas market being set up tonight. Maybe I can find something for him there."
"Good. Focus on that today." Tikki held up Marinette's hair tie. She accepted it and finished getting ready for school. She could handle this.
~o~o~o~o~o~
She totally could not handle this! As hard as she tried, she couldn't get Adrien and his mystery woman out of her mind. She watched him any time he passed someone in the hall, trying to see if she saw a spark between them. She flipped through her phone for any modeling photos Adrien might have posed for with someone else their age; Lila was the only one she could find. She scribbled a list of potentials down the margin of her notebook. Kagami kept popping up at the top.
"Nino! How have I not seen this until now?" Alya screeched beside Marinette as they settled in after lunch. Marinette lazily rolled her head towards her best friend to see what the fuss was about.
Alya held Nino's phone and flipped through a series of photos far too quick for Marinette to believe she actually saw any of them. "How did I not get alerts for this? No tags? How does someone post pics and not add any tags? Are they a barbarian?" Alya then turned the phone to Marinette. "Can you believe this? Ladybug and Chat Noir climbing out of a park lake yesterday afternoon after apparently losing the boat they rented! I have to get the scoop on this!"
Marinette took Nino's phone from Alya and scrolled through the photos. Someone managed to take them while the two swam to shore, then as they climbed out of the water, and embarrassingly explaining the boat mishap to the rental shop. There were even a couple pictures of the superhero duo going back to retrieve the rowboat. While Chat Noir seemed in high enough spirits in the photos, Marinette noticed his smile subtly falling the further into the day they went. Thinking back to it, Chat Noir's smile was soft but small by the time the two of them said goodnight.
Marinette didn't bother to look up as she handed Nino back his phone. Tikki was right. Her focus should have been on Chat Noir this whole time, and she was still obsessing over Adrien. She wrote a timetable in her head. Class, homework, dinner, and some chores. If her parents didn't ask her to help in the bakery, she could probably make it out by seven.
~o~o~o~o~o~
Ladybug flew through the air as she swung her way towards the Christmas market. She knew she should have stayed as Marinette to make the trek to the pop-up open-air market, but she needed as much time as she could get to try and find something for Chat Noir. Thankfully, she had been able to sneak off a lot easier lately with her parents busy in the bakery, but she wasn't sure how long even her luck would last. She figured she had, at most, until her parents went to bed and would want to come and say goodnight to her. That wasn't much time; only about two hours. So Ladybug it was.
A little more than a block away from the fairgrounds, Ladybug dropped into an alley to detransform. As soon as she landed, her yo-yo began to beep. Sliding it open to video chat, she was greeted by a nervous Chat Noir giving a two-finger salute.
"Hey, L.B. Surprised to catch you again."
"Same. What are you doing powered up?"
"I could ask you the same thing."
Ladybug bit the inside of her lip. "I'm- uh- out on patrol. You know how the holidays can affect people; just trying to cut down on akumatizations." She forced a laugh and hoped it was believable. She also kicked herself for using that excuse out of all the options she could have gone with. Of course Chat Noir would know the holidays could be depressing. That was the exact thing she was trying to avoid, and yet there she was rubbing salt on the wound.
"Well, I'm glad you're so vigilant." Chat Noir didn't seem troubled by her word choice, but he did sound unsure. "I was actually wondering if you could help me out with something."
"Anything, Kitty. What do you need?"
"Well, there's this Christmas market that just opened up."
"Yeah?" Ladybug feigned ignorance as she stole quick glances out of the alleyway and towards the exact market Chat Noir mentioned.
"I figured it would actually be a big help if you came with me to it. I can't decide what to get for- uh- someone really important in my life, and I could really use your opinion."
"Wait. You want to shop together? As Chat Noir and Ladybug? I- I don't know how much of a good idea that is. Shouldn't you be shopping in your civilian identity anyway?" That was her plan, at least. It was bad enough that someone posted those pictures of her and Chat Noir at the park the day before. She really hoped to not draw any further attention that night. Besides, how would they manage to shop for anything as superheroes? She was sure citizens would be constantly stopping them for selfies or autographs or something. Either that, or they'd see the superheroes and panic that there was an akuma nearby. What if Hawk Moth found out where they were and attacked a mobbed location? It was bad enough trying to clear out the Champs-Élysées a few days ago when Grooge attacked. Ladybug couldn't chance-
"Please, Ladybug. I really need your help with this. You're the only one I trust with a decision this important." He tilted his head down slightly, pouted, and looked up at the camera with large baby-doll eyes. Ladybug turned her head, trying to ignore those big, pleading eyes as they yanked at her heart.
Then Chat Noir actually whimpered the word "please?"
How was she supposed to say no to that?
"Alright, alright!" She waved him off, squinting through one eye while the other was clenched shut; hoping to avoid looking directly into those massive green eyes. "I'm actually right in the area. I'll meet you there in five minutes. Okay?" Baby-doll eyes. Does it every time. She just can't say no to those big, wide, pleading eyes.
It could actually work out perfectly. She'd watch Chat Noir to see what he likes and could then buy it for him. Maybe the fact that she paid that close attention to him while he was out shopping for someone else would be the perfect way to show her appreciation. It could showcase how much she valued him, and listened to what he said, as well as how well she learned his tells.
This might be the answer I was looking for. Nodding to herself in renewed focus and determination, she swung back up onto a nearby roof, and leapt a few streets away from the market. That way, if Chat Noir spotted her, it would look like she was just getting to the fair, instead of waiting outside of it already.
The plan seemed to have worked. Chat Noir waved his arms in a large arch above his head to get her attention just outside the market entrance. He then smiled widely as he deeply bowed and gestured towards the large arch lined with red and green lights. "Thanks for the save, My Lady. I hope you know you're my hero too."
Ladybug pursed her lips as she crossed her arms across her chest and gave him a little bump with her hip to throw him off-balance. "Alright, let's go pick out your gift-" Her eyes widened slightly as she realized her poor word choice again. "-that you need me to help pick out for your important person, I mean!" She marched forward, hoping Chat Noir wouldn't notice the blush warming her cheeks or catch her flub-up. Nice save, she chastised herself with thick sarcasm.
Chat Noir quickly jogged up beside her, his arm brushing against hers as they wove through the thick crowd. With everyone bustling around them, Chat Noir stayed pressed against Ladybug to give the civilians enough space to zip past. Ladybug glanced up at him before focusing ahead.
How am I supposed to observe him if he's too close for me to even see him without it being obvious? Ladybug's plans quickly unraveled in her mind, and her eyes just as quickly noticed all the shoppers with their phones out.
"Are you sure it's a good idea for us to be here?" Ladybug spoke as softly as she could with the murmur of the crowd muffling her. "I know you want to go shopping with me, and I'm happy to join you, but what if people become distracted by us?"
Not caring for Ladybug's attempts to stay discrete, Chat Noir threw his head back in a guffaw. "It's only a few days until Christmas. I think people will be more concerned with buying last-minute presents than they will be by us."
Ladybug watched the crowd all hurrying from stall to stall; children dragging their parents to the attractions; couples laughing with each other as they played some of the games and enjoyed their Christmas-themed date. Everyone who had their phones in their hands were taking pictures of each other or frantically texting or scrolling through shopping lists. Not a one was looking at them. Nor was a camera fixed in their direction.
"Maybe you're right." She relaxed a bit, and was mildly grateful for so many last-minute panic shoppers.
"Come along then, Bugaboo." Chat Noir held out his elbow and waved forward.
Ladybug giggled and shook her head. "How many times do I have to tell you to not call me that?"
Chat Noir gave his "suave" smirk that Ladybug found charmingly goofy. "I'd say at least a hundred more, my lady."
Ladybug gave an exaggerated eye roll before accepting Chat Noir's elbow and motioning forward.
The market was absolutely gorgeous. Everything was red, green, white, or icy blue. The stalls each had a strand of Christmas lights lining the counter and awning. Archways of white fairy lights stretched from one side of the street to the other, creating a sparkling ceiling to the market. The promenade was also decorated heavily, but tastefully, with Santas, snowmen, the Nativity, snowflakes, wrapped presents, Jack Frost, Christmas ornaments, reindeer, and Christmas trees. The normal lights of Paris twinkled high above the street-level market, and left a distant glow, but the bright lights within the market were eye-level and welcoming. With all of the bodies of the shopping citizens crammed together, and the heaters in the stalls to keep the vendors warm, the winter chill was all but forgotten.
For the first few minutes, Ladybug just took it all in as she walked arm-in-arm with Chat Noir. It wasn't until they passed their fourth stall did she remember why she had agreed to come with him. Thankfully, he was just walking straight ahead as well. Clearly nothing in those first few stalls had caught his attention. She was focused now.
She couldn't watch him when she was against his side, though. Not without drawing attention to it. Clearing her throat, she let go of Chat Noir's arm. Oddly enough, he didn't look disappointed or embarrassed, like he normally did. He seemed almost, excited? Expecting? Was he waiting for her to do something?
"There were untagged pictures of us in the park yesterday," she quickly came up with an excuse to put a little distance between them. "No one is bothering us, but that doesn't mean they aren't watching. I don't want to give Nadja or Alya any wrong ideas, ya know, with us walking-" She motioned to their arms.
He gave a little nod. "Yeah. You're right, I guess. We should focus on gift shopping anyway."
"Yes. Exactly." She gestured for him to take the lead. He did the same. They laughed and walked forward in unison.
She wanted so desperately to ask him about his interests; his hobbies; how he spent his time outside the mask. She was afraid of learning too much about him, though. They couldn't chance figuring out who the other was. It was a delicate balance between knowing who Chat Noir was and knowing exactly who Chat Noir was.
She could pick her kitty out of a line-up; she proved that when battling against Copycat. She had complete trust in him. She knew his heart, his kindness, his determination, and she was, sadly, beginning to learn what could break him. She knew so much about this boy beside her, but she couldn't know his name, or his favorite color, or favorite food – although she was betting it was something from her parents' bakery – or what he plans on doing as an adult, or what his favorite memory is, whether or not he has any siblings; the list stretched on.
This plan has to work. Maybe I can figure out something about him without figuring out too much. Ladybug strategically wove around a shopper that passed between her and Chat Noir. When she met back up with him, she added another inch or two of space. They were still walking together, but she could now get a pretty decent view of his face in her peripheral.
He hadn't moved once towards a stall. Didn't seem to even look at any of them. They simply marched forward through the open-air market. Weren't they there to pick out a gift for someone important in Chat Noir's life? A parent, maybe? A cherished grandparent? A dear sibling? An influential teacher? A best friend? None of these stalls seemed to have what he was looking for though, both for this important person or himself.
What do I do?
They were nearing the end of the market section of the Christmas fair. The next few stalls were lit up with brighter lights and played loud music as the employees each shouted the aim of their game. The end of the promenade had a little set cottage covered with painted snow. Santa sat out front to greet the kids, and Mrs. Claus walked around inside the house, waving through one of the windows. Just past the mock North Pole were the carnival rides, all lit up so prettily and welcoming. Ladybug was beginning to understand the pull flames had on moths.
She had to give her head a good shake. They weren't there for games or rides. Chat Noir was there to pick out a gift. Ladybug was there to help him, and hopefully figure out a gift for him too. That plan was crumbling quickly. Why did Chat Noir ask her to come if he wasn't going to at least look at any of the stalls? Maybe he was too distracted walking around with her? Was he maybe picturing this as a sort of date? She had to get him to refocus on why they met up.
"So." Ladybug stopped by the last stall of the market. She would march them right back down the promenade if she needed to in order to get this sorted out. "What is it exactly you're looking for?"
"Oh! I..." Chat Noir fidgeted like he was caught going for treats before dinner.
Ladybug thought as much. The whole thing was probably some ploy just to spend the night with her. She had no clue how she was going to get him to walk the market a second time, specifically to look for something she could buy him, without him knowing that was exactly what she was doing. She needed a moment to think.
She looked around for ideas, and something fuzzy caught her eye. With a little squeal, she skipped over to a little fenced-in area just off the main market street of the fair. A few baby goats were penned into a petting zoo. She had never seen a goat before in person, and it was just as cute as she imagined. Crouching down, she stretched her hand through the bars and called out to the goats.
She knew she needed to prioritize Chat Noir, but she was a bit irritated that he would trick her into spending more time with him like that. She needed a beat to center herself and figure out how to salvage the night. Plus, it was baby goats and she had never seen them before and look at how unbearably adorable they were!
One of the goats ventured over to Ladybug's outstretched hand and started nuzzling into it. With another squeal of glee, Ladybug started cooing to it, and scratching its ears and head. Closing its eyes to fully appreciate the pets, the goat happily baaed back at her. It was simply enjoying that moment of affection from Ladybug so much. Maybe that was the solution.
She heard Chat Noir walk up beside her. With a glance, she saw that his cat ears were drooped, and his tail hung heavy behind him. He clearly didn't enjoy her running off on him like that, but too bad. That was his punishment for tricking her.
The night was supposed to be about him though. She was on a mission to get him a memorable gift, not to pout at his attempt to make himself feel better by spending time with her.
That was it! Spending time with her! That's what Chat Noir wanted, wasn't it? That's what he kept asking from her practically since the day they met. Ladybug's eyes drifted past Chat Noir to a sign behind him pointing to a large tent in the adjacent park. Alright. She'll make a night of it. Chat Noir can have his gift of having a recreational night with his partner. At least, until she had to hurry back home so her parents wouldn't notice she was gone.
"Awww, Chat Noir, look. They're having some sort of animal show." She hopped up and gave a little squeal to really try to sell it. She tugged on his hand and pointed towards the tent.
"Yeah, that's great, but-" Chat Noir glanced back towards the Christmas market.
Ladybug wasn't sure why he was still holding onto that ruse. She figured they'd have a much better time, and a far more memorable evening, if they went to the animal show. Parisians saw pigeons every day, and could see exotic animals in the zoo, but how often could they see baby goats, or horses, or other common livestock? She just hoped there were no geese on display.
Chat Noir turned towards the large red and white tent, then down at her. "You want to go in and watch then?" His voice was so unsure, and he sighed a little when he said it.
Maybe this wasn't a good idea. Chat Noir spent the week being chased down by animals. He probably had a reason to be nervous. If he wanted to spend his night still pretending to be shopping for someone, she guessed she could go with it. She would just have to drag him to every single stall to make sure he looked at everything. Then maybe she could find something that piqued his interest.
"No, that's okay. I said I would help you with your shopping." She started back towards the promenade, but Chat Noir wrapped his arm around her shoulders and redirected her towards the tent.
"It doesn't really matter that much. I can tell that you really want to watch it."
It wasn't a full admission that he fibbed about picking out a gift, but she'd take it. They waited off to the side for everyone else to file into the tent; trying not to draw too much attention. After the last civilian took their seat, and no one else was waiting outside, the duo slipped through the opening.
Boy, did it smell in there! It kept Ladybug a second to get used to the stench, but was then startled by what caused it: eight dairy cows in a circle in the center of the tent. Sitting on a stool beside each of the cows was a woman dressed in traditional provincial clothing. All eight women were milking the dairy cows while taking turns talking to the crowd about the history of dairy farming and how it had evolved throughout the centuries.
Despite the smell being overwhelming at first, Ladybug had already grown mildly accustomed to it, and was now entranced by how large cows actually were. They truly were gentle giants. The cows didn't seem to care about being on display. They chewed on their provided hay and lazily swooshed their tails, shifting weight on their hooves every now and again. One or two softly mooed, which got the crowd all worked up.
"Now then." The woman closest to the tent entrance stood and gestured towards the crowd. "Do we have any volunteers to learn how to milk Eva here?" Her and her fellow farmers scanned for raised hands, and one of the woman gasped as her eyes landed on the superheroes.
"Is that- Ladybug and Chat Noir!"
The whole tent turned to them and began excitedly murmuring to each other.
Chat Noir, always the showoff, instantly struck a heroic pose. Ladybug, on the other hand, cringed slightly that they ended up drawing attention anyway. Shrugging an apology to the farmers for taking the limelight (although, to be fair, they were the ones that shone it on the heroes), Ladybug gave a shy wave.
The woman standing by Eva the cow stepped to the side and gestured towards the stool. "Perhaps Paris' dear heroes would love to have a go?"
"Oh, no, that's okay-" Ladybug and Chat Noir protested in unison, only to be instantly interrupted by the cheering crowd.
"Uh-" Ladybug gave an apologetic look to Chat Noir. This wasn't what she intended when she insisted they check out the show. At the same time, though, it would be a memorable moment, and that was her intention. Plus, she knew how much Chat Noir loved to bask in the celebrity of being a superhero. He never abused that celebrity, but that didn't stop him from loving every minute of it.
"Shall we, my lady? Can't disappoint our fans now, can we?"
The two walked to the center of the tented arena, Chat Noir waving and blowing kisses to the crowd the whole walk.
Such a showoff, Ladybug mused as she fought back a smile. This could work out wonderfully. What a memory!
"Here you go, Ladybug." The standing woman greeted her by the fencing separating the cows from the audience, and handed her a pail. The woman then opened the gate and gestured towards her cow. "You can milk Eva."
"And, Chat Noir?" The woman at the cow in front of Eva stood up and waved Chat Noir over. "You can come over here and milk Louise."
Ladybug cautiously sat on the stool by Eva. The cow was much larger than she originally looked from the back of the tent. It wasn't even that low of a stool, and she could practically tuck under the cow's belly. Now every leg twitch had Ladybug on edge. Chat Noir still had his confidence dialed all the way up, and he gave her a little wink and double finger guns as he strutted past her and towards Louise the cow.
"Now," the woman that had flagged him over began to explain, "you need to be careful of-"
"Madame," Chat Noir chuckled, "I'm a superhero. I think I can handle a few cows." To prove his point, he gave Louise a little tap on her rump.
He must not have taken into consideration the claws on his gloves, because Louise began mooing loudly and kicking her legs to shoo him away from her. He jumped back in time to avoid a tail whip, and quickly pulled the woman away from one of Louise's kicks.
The cow then tossed her head and charged towards the center of the bovine circle; away from Chat Noir. This got the other cows riled up and they charged away from Louise: towards the crowd. Ladybug did a quick backflip off her stool to avoid being trampled by Eva.
The audience gasped and shifted back on the bleachers as the cows ran around inside the fenced off portion of the tent. The eight farmers tried to calm their cattle, but the beasts were too spooked, and started charging at the metal barriers; searching for an escape. Ladybug glanced over at Chat Noir, wondering what on earth had just happened. He sheepishly smiled and shrugged back in response.
A scream pulled Ladybug's attention to her left. One of the cows had bent the metal barrier enough that she was able to charge through. The rest of the small herd stampeded behind her. The Parisians shouted at each other as they scrambled out of the stands and rushed for the tent entrance.
"Chat Noir-" Before Ladybug could give direction, he was already in action.
His face hardened with determination to keep the citizens safe, Chat Noir leapt between the fleeing crowd and the stampeding cows. He extended his stick to try to become a new barrier. He lasted about as long as the metal ones the cows had already broken through. Barely slowing them down at all, the lead cow knocked him to the ground, and the other seven trampled over him in their sprint to freedom.
"Chat!" She knew she shouldn't laugh. This was a serious situation, and people could get hurt. Plus, poor Chat Noir was just trampled into the ground. However, it's not like this was the first time the poor boy got ran over by a stampede of animals. Oddly enough, it might not be the last time either. The look on his face though. That steadfast determination that he was going to fix the mess he somehow created, instantly brushed aside by a cow of all things? Ladybug couldn't help but snort a little laugh.
Besides, maybe that will teach him to not be so cocky, and listen to experts trying to teach him something.
Lassoing a crossbar by the tent entrance, Ladybug swung over to her partner as he struggled to push himself out of the catboy-shaped hole in the ground.
"Who knew you could cause so much damage without using your Cataclysm?" Ladybug teased before offering him a hand.
"Ha-ha," he grumbled, "So funny." He accepted her hand with a pout that quickly turned into a sincere frown. He was crestfallen yet again. He knew he had screwed up, and put people he was supposed to be protecting in danger. This truly wasn't his week, and her teasing and laughing was far from helping. Ladybug knew she could do better herself.
"Come on," Ladybug gave him an encouraging smile and nodded towards the Christmas market. "Let's go stop those rampaging cows." She hooked a lamp post and swung towards the screams. It kept a couple seconds, but Chat Noir was close behind.
Ladybug wasn't entirely sure it would work since it wasn't for an akuma attack, but she called on her Lucky Charm for help. After some quick strategizing and flawless execution, Ladybug and Chat Noir had the cows safely corralled.
"Miraculous Ladybug!" Ladybug prayed her powers would fix even non-Miraculous-related damage. Thankfully, no one got hurt during the stampeding, but the Christmas market was in a bit of a shambles. With her breath caught in her chest, Ladybug watched the Lucky Charm burst into its normal firework-explosion of magical ladybugs, and the swarm swept through the market restoring everything.
Smiling, she held up her fist for Chat Noir. "Pound it!"
Chat Noir had his back to her and was hugging himself. His ears and tail were again drooping.
"Chat Noir?"
"I caused this. Everyone's night was ruined because of me. People were put in danger because I screwed up. I- I can't." He leapt onto a nearby car, then up onto a small window balcony, then the building roof, and then he was gone.
"Chat Noir, wait!" She had failed him again. How did she keep letting him leave like that?
"Ladybug? Is he going to be okay?" The woman that had called them out in the tent cautiously walked up to her, Eva the cow calmly in tow.
"Don't worry. I'll make sure he is. Thank you."
"Well, let us know if there's anything we can do to help. We feel guilty about causing all of this by pulling you two up front like that."
"No! No, don't think like that. None of this is your fault, okay?"
The woman smiled back and gave a little nod. "Either way, we'll be here with the Christmas fair until the twenty-fourth, should you need us."
"Thank you." Ladybug gave a goodbye nod and then swung into the rooftops. Chat Noir was top priority now; no other distractions. Not even Adrien. She had to figure something out for partner. And she only had four days to do it.
~ Thank you for reading. Comments are always welcome. ~
*Closing Notes*
Sorry again about the wait on this (as well as the name reveal for the akuma in chapter 5. I couldn't think of anything better than combining "Grinch" and "Scrooge"). This was suuuuuch an involved chapter, it kept me about a week to write and edit. At that point, I was really feeling the crunch with getting the other chapters done. I appreciate the patience though, and I hope you enjoy your reward: the other 4 chapters of this story all published today as well! YAY!
