I have an important canon announcement. If you're a Grindeldore shipper, make sure you're sitting down.

David Heyman (in interview about Fantastic Beasts 2): Jo talks about how Dumbledore and Grindelwald had a sexual relationship and an emotional relationship, and she's more interested in the emotional relationship. It has more complexity and more depth, more room to explore. What do you need to see to satisfy those viewers? People tend to look at things in very broad strokes, such is the nature of the news cycle. They're either having sex or they're not. But actually David and Jo have shown a tender, intimate, emotional and ideologically complex, layered, rich relationship. That's much more interesting than seeing two people, heterosexual or homosexual, shagging.

Oh... Okay.

I mean... ****.

My notifications are going crazy right now. I've been taking my time in updating this because I want to thoroughly digest the story, analyze it, before I write. I've seen the movie three times now... will go back the day after tomorrow.

I always thought that Albus loved Gellert, and it wasn't two-sided, but IDK, I think I wrote Gellert as really in love with Albus here.

Thank you to my lovely reviewers, as well as everyone who added me/this story to your favorites/subscription list.

8-Wolke-8: Thank you! I remember you! I never would have guessed that, four years after starting this story on a whim, I would be still writing this. I have ideas bouncing around in my head, but I'm still reeling from the movie. You'll see more chapters after this soon.

anniepotter911: Thank you! Albus Dumbledore is my favorite character, and there's just not enough of him... although there certainly is more of him now! When I started writing this back in 2014, I thought we had all the Dumbledore content we would ever have. I am enjoying watching his evolution as a character.

Guest 1: I did see that interview. XD We had originally been told that the love was one-sided, but it definitely was not. This chapter is told through Gellert's eyes in order for me to address, what I believe to be, his real feelings for Albus.

sn0wymk21: Thank you! Hopefully the wait was not too long.

Guest 2: I saw that interview last night on Tumblr. I am floored still. I keep looking back over it. My brain stopped working at the words "sexual relationship." I could not believe it. I mean, we all kind of already knew it happened, but to see it confirmed was still a huge shock to me. I am so happy.

I have added a bit more on 11/22/18 - the Grindelwald/Queenie scene. Last edited the Queenie scene on 11/30/18 based on an interview with the actress who plays Queenie. A quote of said interview is below.

"The thing about Grindelwald is that he's a master manipulator. With Queenie, he very quickly understands that the way to get to her is through her giant heart… He also reacts to her gift (of reading minds). Queenie's never been told that (her power) is a gift. She's always been shushed and… it's been a frustration, an annoyance to people around her. And here you have this intriguing, misterious man, who sees her as a powerful woman. She's been rejected by Jacob; It's no wonder she gets swayed by Grindelwald."

- Allison Sudol (Queenie Goldstein)

May 1927

Gellert Grindelwald was already free, but no one in the world knew that except himself and Abernathy.

He had his eyes on Abernathy early on, when he was still impersonating Percival Graves. Abernathy was easily cowed by authority. He was uptight and a bit snobby, but Gellert could tell he was a man who was loyal to the people or causes he saw as worthy. He was also insecure - he wanted authority; he wanted power over others, he thought that by giving respect to others he would be granted that same respect back, but Gellert knew that Abernathy had none of that within the Magical Congress of the United States of America. Abernathy was more of an underling. He wasn't at the bottom, but for the most part, those who were truly at the top ignored him, as if he were a new hire with no experience. They did not trust him with much, and he was desperate to prove himself. It made his fragile ego bruise at the smallest slight. When Gellert had struggled to remember his name back in November, he had felt Abernathy bristle, even though he was able to produce his name after a pause. It gave Gellert the immediate impression that a lot of people forgot Abernathy's name, and Abernathy was bothered by that.

People with fragile egos were so easy to use. Just so long as he remembered their name, complimented them, and gave them "important" jobs to do, they were Gellert Grindelwald's.

I need you. You aren't like others. I trust only you with this. Only you can do this. You are so much more than what you have been. You were meant to serve a higher purpose. Your name will be written in glory when this is all over. People will remember your name. These statements were all used by him regularly on people who had fragile egos, who felt like they were so much better than the life they were living, who were dissatisfied with life as it was, who wanted more. People like Abernathy.

Gellert wasn't sure what Abernathy's first name was - he really didn't care. Abernathy wasn't someone to use first names, ever. It was a sign of disrespect to him.

The first two guards that had been appointed over him had been weak-minded, but too weak-minded. They had been caught before Gellert could secure his vial.

Abernathy was smart enough. He wasn't caught. The President had no idea. Gellert could pretend to be Abernathy easily. Yet because the first one was caught and the second one was caught even before he could even get near the vial, they had moved the vial to be even more securely kept, separate from his wand. Even Abernathy didn't know where it was when they had put it. And Abernathy's tongue had been taken away by magic. Nothing that magic could not restore.

His younger self would have been more paranoid about losing the Elder wand, but his forty-five-year-old self was much more worried about the vial.

His younger self also would have probably thought about taking the vial back by force, but his older self was wiser than that. It was not worth the risk. Picquery knew that vial meant a great deal to Grindelwald. He could not risk taking it back by force.

That vial contained the blood pact he had made with Albus Dumbledore. The Americans were too dim-witted to figure out exactly what that vial represented. They knew it was powerful and that it could not be destroyed, and they suspected it was a blood pact, but they did not know whose blood was mixed with whose. He had heard many wild theories on what the mystery pendant truly was. They did not know what the letters G and D, positioned as intertwining with one another at the top of the vial, stood for. Because they were idiots.

It was this vial that kept Gellert from leaving New York early. He kept up his act as Abernathy, the loyal Ministry worker with a fragile ego. In one week, Gellert Grindelwald was scheduled to be moved from New York to Europe (they wouldn't say where in Europe). He kept his head down and his mind on that vial. He wanted to feel the cool metal against his palm again.

He was not completely sure on how they were transporting him, but however it was, it would make a nice getaway tool for him.

He told himself what he wanted the most was the mode of transportation and not the vial.

"Abernathy. Let's go."

Abernathy's face said he was bored, but on the inside, Gellert was feeling elated. He was carrying his Elder wand and Abernathy's wand, the young Chupacabra was in the box where the Elder wand was supposed to be, and he had the vial with him again at last. He held the vial clenched in his gloved fist, as if he were expecting someone to yank it from him. He had missed it. Sometimes, at night, he liked to watch the glowing core containing their blood pulsating in the darkness. For the past six months, he had berated himself over how foolish he had been by carrying it on him when it could be safely locked away in Nurmengard Castle in Austria.

He resisted the urge to make a break for it as soon as he had the vial and the Elder wand back in his possession. He had to do this properly. He had been patient for six months. He could be patient for another fifteen minutes. He had to move this along. The real Abernathy wasn't strong enough magically to take on his appearance without the use of Polyjuice Potion. Gellert wanted to make sure he knew exactly when Abernathy had changed back to Abernathy, so he had taken the Polyjuice Potion at the exact same time. He would transform back into Gellert Grindelwald soon. Time was ticking. They only had a fifteen minute window before they changed back. No dawdling. No time to try to take the vial now.

As "Grindelwald" was taken up the staircase to be transported, the prisoners yelled, "GRINDELWALD" after him. Their voices echoed off the metal that encompassed them. It made the real Grindelwald's heart soar, even though most of the Americans pronounced his name wrong with that w sound rather than a v. He clutched the vial even closer.

Despite the fact that he needed things to move along quickly, Gellert found himself all too soon being asked to hand over the vial. It was raining. Perfect. They were taking him away by carriage. Eight European Aurors and eight Threstrals were taking him away.

He felt like someone had slapped him in the face when he registered that it was only eight Aurors who had been assigned. Two in the carriage, two driving the carriage, and four to trail behind the carriage on broomsticks. This was insulting. Did they really think he could not take on eight Aurors in the sky during a thunderstorm? There should have been at least twelve Aurors... minimum.

Doing his best to impersonate Abernathy, the virgin who lived to serve Madam Picquery, Percival Graves, and MACUSA at large, Gellert stepped up close to Spielman, the lead European Auror.

"Mr. Spielman," said Gellert confidently in a perfect American accent, "we found his wand hidden away." He handed over the black rectangular box that contained the young Chupacabra. He had to fight to keep a straight face as he wondered what would happen if Spielman opened the box and the Chupacabra jumped on his throat. He did not want that to happen as he was not in the optimal position to make his getaway, but it would have been hilarious if it happened anyway.

Picquery was quick in recognizing something was missing. "Abernathy?"

Bitterly, trying very hard not to scowl or show any more displeasure than what was usually on Abernathy's face, Gellert raised the vial. Spielman reached out and took the vial. Gellert held onto the chain a moment longer than he should have, but he released it in time to not rouse suspicion.

From the moment it left his hands, he wanted his damn vial back.

The real Abernathy, who was inside the carriage, was watching the exchange in a mirror. Gellert had given him very explicit directions that the vial be saved no matter what the cost.

Gellert stared at the vial until the door of the carriage closed. Padlocks locked themselves magically, and Gellert had a difficult time holding back a sneer. The magic behind those locks was mediocre at best, no matter how impressive they looked glowing in the dark rain. His reputation had really been damaged by his latest capture. But the world would know tomorrow that he had escaped.

As the carriage took off, Gellert arranged Abernathy's face to reflect one of admiration and wonder. If only Abernathy could be trusted with such a mission as transporting the most wanted wizard in the world across the Atlantic ocean. This was nothing out-of-character for Abernathy, because Picquery looked at him and then walked away, leaving him to his musings.

When he heard the last footsteps leave, Gellert reached for his Elder wand. Time to get that vial back. And, of course, the carriage. He stepped out into the rain. And then he Disapparated.

He did not truly feel successful until the vial was back in his hands. Abernathy had it hanging in his mouth. He had protected the vial with his life.

"You have joined a noble cause, my friend," said Gellert as he returned the pendant back into a front pocket, completely ignoring Spielman, one of the highest of Aurors, for the moment.

Gellert reached out and grabbed the Chupacabra off of Spielman's bloody neck. He spoke to it like it was his best friend. It even had a name: Antonio. Where that name came from, nobody knew, and nobody asked. He could feel everyone's eyes on him as the Chupacabra rubbed his face against Gellert affectionately like a small dog. Gellert held the creature out in front of him. It was hilarious to him that the Chupacabra was supposed to attack him, or anyone trying to assist him. It had been trained to guard and attack, but Gellert had re-trained it to do something else.

He had no use for it anymore.

"So needy," he muttered before flinging Antonio out the window to drown in the Hudson River. Spielman did not put up much of an effort when Gellert threw him overboard too.

After six months, he was back.

He could not wait to read the newspapers in the morning about his daring escape. A smile spread across his face as he climbed back out of the carriage into the driver's seat. The lights of New York were shimmering behind them, and ahead was the darkness of the Atlantic. The storm was lightening up a bit, but he did not mind the rain either way. The night air was more wonderful than he had ever remembered it, and going into blackness, into the unknown, felt like the greatest feeling of freedom than he had ever felt. Conscious of the weight of the reclaimed vial in his coat pocket, his mind wandered to Albus Dumbledore - what his face would look like in the morning when he read about his ex-lover's daring escape from New York.

He would make sure to put the pendant somewhere safe. He could not afford to keep carrying it with him. It wasn't worth the risk.

He would have liked to say that, upon immediately reaching land, he kept going. He needed to get to Paris to get to Credence as soon as possible - he knew this. But at the same time, he had been awake for close to twenty-four hours now, and he needed to sleep. So did Abernathy. It was difficult to sleep in a carriage being hurled across the Atlantic by Thestrals, so neither of them slept, and while Thestrals were considered a "fast" way to travel long distances, the ocean was wide.

Vinda Rosier came through for him. She always did. She had made sure he would have somewhere safe to go for twelve hours or so.

His closest group of followers, his acolytes, weren't afraid of him, unless they had reason to be. Abernathy was jumpy, at first, because they had never been on equal ground before. He had only dealt with Abernathy within MACUSA. Now, they were in a cottage by the ocean. And, of course, Gellert could destroy Abernathy in a minute if he wanted to. Instead, Gellert just told him to get some sleep and be ready to move again in nine hours. After walking the grounds and casting protective spells around the building, Gellert took the opposite end of the cottage, and Abernathy found himself being given the opportunity to be human. Change, bathe, eat, sleep - and Gellert did the same thing as far away as possible. Gellert knew that his new followers never expected him to be human, but he was, and he felt that when they saw he was, they trusted him more and felt more comfortable around him.

Though still uneasy and full of nervous energy, Abernathy eventually did fall into a light, but much needed, sleep.

Gellert went asleep almost immediately after lying down on a bed in what he assumed was once a child's bedroom. He had not slept on something soft in six months. With the vial putting a gentle pressure on his chest and the Elder wand beside his hand, he felt completely secure for the first time in a long time. He fell into a deep sleep that was filled with dreams. He slept for over seven hours.

Albus Dumbledore flitted in and out of Gellert's dreams.

It wasn't exactly rare for Albus to be in his dreams, but it wasn't a regular occurrence either. He had not dreamed of Albus once during his time imprisoned in New York.

In some of his dreams, Albus was the present-day Albus Dumbledore rather than the teenage Albus he had known. The older Albus was usually more difficult to read - Gellert could never tell what he was thinking. He did not know if Albus was a friend or a foe in these dreams. He didn't like dreaming about present day Albus as much, because at least when they both were seventeen, he knew that Albus was on his side.

As one dream faded into another, Gellert found himself facing seventeen-year-old Albus. The blood pact vial was hovering in the air between them. They both reached for the vial at the same time, their hands colliding again.

This dream was a memory.

"It was my idea," said seventeen-year-old Gellert with a mock firmness. But there was a softness on his face that made Albus pause.

Albus simply kept his hand on Gellert's for a long moment. Gellert kept the vial pressed against his palm. They both moved toward one another at the same time, and before Gellert could compute much of anything, he was pulling Albus against him, his back hitting the hay-covered floor. Albus' lips were soft against his, and Gellert wrapped his arms around him, one arm going up into Albus' auburn hair and the other going down his back. Gellert's heart was pounding, and he could feel Albus' was too. This wasn't exactly new to them; they had had sex before this, but it had never been quite this desperate before. Albus was trembling. The vial was left abandoned on the floor not far from them as they slowly, desperately moved against one another.

Gellert woke up from his dream with a start. A clap of thunder had awoken him. It took him some time before he got his bearings on where he was, or even what year it was. It was 1927, he was in that ocean-side cottage, Albus Dumbledore was his enemy, and there was a wetness somewhere it shouldn't be. Bitterly disappointed in himself, he had no choice but to acknowledge what he had done in his sleep and clean himself up. He had to go get Abernathy. He had slept longer than he thought he would, a little bit too long.

As he did his best to resist touching the vial in his pocket, Gellert exited the room, thinking to himself that he did not want Albus Dumbledore anymore. It was just a dream. He did his best to ignore the aching pain he felt within his chest.

September 1927

He kept putting off something, and that something was leaving the vial somewhere other than on his person. He told himself that he had just gotten settled in Paris. It wasn't like he had been there for a month. And he'd been busy, with first uncovering Credence's identity, then recovering the trail, editing what he wanted, and creating a new trail that would lead Credence straight to him.

He found it - helpful - that Queenie Goldstein was picked up by Vinda Rosier.

Vinda Rosier was so incredibly resourceful. The conversation between them was very quick because Rosier knew what Gellert most wanted to hear. She cut corners and got straight to the information he most sought.

Getting very close to him, Rosier whispered, "She's a talker. Nervous. Born Legilimens, so be careful. Her sister, Tina Goldstein, is an Auror for MACUSA. She's in love with someone she isn't supposed to love." Rosier smiled. "A common Muggle. She wants to marry him, yet... forbidden love." She was so close to Gellert that he felt her breath on the side of his face, near his ear. Then she stepped back and retreated, but not before giving him a small, almost imperceptible, wink.

Suddenly conscious of the weight of the vial against his chest once again, Gellert digested this. He knew something about this topic. And so did she. The reason why he did not ever have to worry about Rosier's proximity to him is because he knew full-well that she was attracted to women, not men.

He pitied Queenie Goldstein.

He knew the way to get her on his side will be to appeal to her heart. Yet, he had to do this naturally. He could not go into the room and say, "I heard you're a natural at Legilimency!" He had to play things slowly.

When he entered the room, Goldstein was predictably frightened. She raised her wand against him, but he spoke to her from his heart. Despite being told not to, he continued to walk toward her, never taking his eyes from hers.

"It is not your fault that your sister is an Auror. I wish you were working with me now, towards a world where we wizards are free to live openly... and to love freely..."

She was a natural-born Legilimens. Gellert was capable of blocking her from reading his thoughts as he was accomplished in Occlumency, but those who are born with that natural ability would never trust anyone who completely blocked off their thoughts and feelings. He let his defenses down just enough for her to understand.

He too had loved someone he was not supposed to love. Another man. And while many in the Wizarding world are only concerned with blood status and not sexuality, it was still very much frowned upon. He knew what it was like... to love someone others did not approve of him loving.

Her eyes flickered. The rims of her eyes were becoming reddened. He had her. No one would ever have guessed that Gellert Grindelwald knew something of love.

Gellert gently reached out his hand, touched the tip of her wand, and pointed it down toward the floor. She did not protest.

With a slight sad smile, he told her, "You are an innocent. So go now. Leave this place."

She did not leave. He knew she wouldn't.

He began to slowly retreat from the room just as cautiously and gently as he had entered, but before he could pass through the door frame, Goldstein quickly said, in a desperate, strangled fashion, "He's a No-Maj."

He turned back toward her, but remained close to the doorway. He feigned ignorance. His expression was like a question mark.

"You loved somebody you weren't supposed to," she said.

Gellert took a slight step away from the door, crossing his hands behind his back, a sign of being self-conscious and insecure. He remained silent for a long moment, looking thoughtful. At long last, he said, "Were you born a Legilimens, or did you learn it?"

Goldstein smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry. I was born with it; it isn't something I can turn off. I got some glimpses into your mind as you were talking. It wasn't - I was surprised -"

He swallowed and looked downward, letting his body language show that he was ashamed even though he was not.

"Oh no, it's okay," she said hurriedly, shaking her head. Her golden brown hair tousled a bit. She was smiling reassuringly at him. "See, I usually see a lot more shameful things in people's minds - most people are filled with bad, unkind thoughts, but that wasn't what I saw from you, and, well, I've heard stories about you, and I wasn't -" she was rambling, and he could see that Rosier was right in saying she was a talker.

Gellert shook his head slightly and raised his right hand reassuringly to show that he was not offended and that he understood. He came closer to her now, and gestured toward the sofa. "Please," he requested calmly, as if he was trying to gain some semblance of normalcy, "sit."

Goldstein obediently sat on the sofa as he pulled up a chair for him to sit opposite of her.

"You don't have to apologize for your gift, Queenie," said Gellert with a wave of his hand. "It just caught me unaware; I didn't know you were a Legilimens. Someone with a gift such as yourself should never apologize for it in order to make a lesser such as myself more comfortable. Never apologize for greatness."

She stared at him. Gellert didn't have to be a Legilimens to know that she was stunned by him calling her Legilimency a "gift."

"I wish I could do what you do," he went on. "I suppose I could learn it, if I truly dedicated my time to it, but I know I would never be able to compete with you. It is fascinating to see how magic manifests, blooms, in us all differently, but your gift is truly unique. Most have to study Legilimency for years before even operating on 10% of what you just did."

It was clear she did not know what to say. Gellert let the silence fall between them.

"But what about those who do not have magic? I've heard that you don't like No-Majs," she began tentatively.

"It's a misunderstanding," he said wearily, though not wearily at her. "That lie is told by my enemies to drive people away from me, make me a villain." He met her eyes again. "I don't believe that No-Majs are inferior to us. They are just different. Of different value and of a slightly different composition. I could argue that it is actually my opponents who hate the No-Majs. I would like to help them, while they would prefer to let them suffer as we keep our powers hidden from them. Think of what we could do for them if we did not have to keep our magic secret from them. I believe we have a duty to help them where they cannot help themselves."

She was looking at him slightly incredulously, her mouth slightly open. She sank back deeper into the sofa as she mulled his words over.

He did not break the silence.

She took a deep breath, and then she said, "What if... Well, what I mean to say is... would you be opposed to witches and wizards... marrying, loving, having children with No-Majs?"

She looked so worried and so afraid of his rejection. He bowed his head, closed his eyes for a moment, and then spoke to her knees.

'You know something about me no one else knows," he said in a voice that was little more than a whisper. "Knowing what you know, do you think I would be opposed to you loving a No-Maj?" He made eye-contact with her, and he let his defenses down again. He let her see and hear a teenage Gellert Grindelwald being scolded by the headmaster about him kissing another boy - how it was wrong and he couldn't do that and there was something deeply wrong with him.

"No," she breathed softly.

"Then you have your answer," he said in a slightly stronger voice, bringing his fingertips together, elbows resting on his knees. "Love is not something that should ever be hidden. You shouldn't have to justify or defend love from less accepting people if it is between two consenting adults."

"See, the reason I left New York is 'cause - because they will throw me in jail if they ever found out. Me and - and -"

"You do not have to reveal his name to me," he interrupted gently. "And you do not need to be afraid of me, Queenie. Your story is one out of many tragic stories I have heard that exist as a result of the Statute of Secrecy."

A tear rolled down her check. He reached out and brushed it away with his thumb.

"Love spares no one," he said softly as the tears began to flow in earnest. "Not me, not you, not anyone. Please don't be afraid. I will do whatever I can to help you and the man you love. Someday, this will all be over, and you... you will be with him. Your relationship can still be saved."

Her eyes flickered again. He let silence settle over them again. She looked at his inter-crossed hands, his forearms resting comfortably on his knees.

Finally, he cleared his throat. With a sense of decisiveness, he stood up suddenly. "You should speak with him, your No-Maj. Talk with him about this."

She nodded demurely.

"Are you feeling all right?" he asked.

"Yes. Just thinking."

"Take as long as you need," he said. "Goodbye for now, Queenie." He slowly made his way to the door and placed his hand on the handle subconsciously, despite the fact the door had been left open.

"What about you, though?" she asked in a very small voice.

He turned, his hand still on the door. "Me?"

"What I mean to say is... Well, I hope that someday... you'll get to be with him, the one that you love."

Gripping the handle tighter, Gellert said, "Perhaps," in barely more than a whisper. "Take care, Queenie."

She thought he was just attracted to men, so he did not have to worry about her misinterpreting his closeness to her. And she was already in love with someone. He was glad of that. Gellert wasn't exactly celibate; he took the opportunity when it came, but he didn't like mixing up his followers with sex because it complicated things. Many of his followers had fallen for him in the past, which was always extremely inconvenient. He did not want her, and he did not want her to want him either, so he was grateful that she would not want him. He liked no strings attached.

That unfortunately was not the case with Credence. He hadn't known that Credence was anything other than a Muggle. If he had known that he would want Credence to follow him, he wouldn't have put his hands all over him in that alleyway as Percival Graves. That was going to be a weird relationship.

Resisting the urge to laugh, Gellert ran into Rosier, gave her a knowing smile that said they had gained another supporter, and then went upstairs.

The first feeling he had felt was anger. Then he felt grief.

The vial was gone. He had gone onto the "stage" with it near his heart, and now, it wasn't in his pocket anymore. Somehow, it had been lost. Someone had to have taken it. But how could anyone have taken it? He did not understand how it could have gone missing. He wracked his brains trying to come up with a plausible explanation. It had been with him for so many years now. He had kept it on him, always, always in a shirt pocket, against his chest, always there. He did not even feel the absence of pressure.

Scamander had something to do with this. He did not know how, but he knew. His heart was bursting with jealousy at the thought of Scamander handing Albus the vial. He hoped that it would cause a strain in their relationship, Scamander knowing about the blood pact, whatever Albus' relationship with Scamander was.

That vial was his last link to Albus Dumbledore, and now it was gone. He would never see the letters G and D intertwining ever again.

He told himself he was upset that it was gone because he was upset the protection it offered him was now gone, as Albus would surely have it destroyed. Just like he told himself the real reason why he kept it on his person was because he was too busy to put it somewhere safe. He had always kept it in the pocket over his heart... because it was a convenient place for it; there was no significance behind its location.

He had to forget. The vial was only putting off the inevitable anyway. He had to stop thinking about Albus and start putting all of his energy into Credence.

He absolutely despised Paris.

What Gellert Grindelwald did not know was Albus did not immediately destroy the vial. Instead, Albus started carrying the vial on him at all times, unharmed.

A/N: Okay, so. Everything in here complies with the most up-to-date canon. Queenie *did* have an in-depth conversation with Grindelwald after he told her to leave, there are pictures of it, but the scene was cut. If there is anything you would like me to clarify... ask it in the reviews, and I will answer it next time I update.

There IS a possibility I will go back and edit this chapter some more tomorrow.

It is a beautiful time to be alive!