"Cedes I think we should have read the entire script before agreeing to do this movie. It has jumped the shark. Who wrote this, Tina?"
"Sam, it could be worse they could have us singing and dancing like From Justin to Kelly that horrible movie Kelly Clarkson had to act in after winning American Idol."
"Well, your character wasn't engaged to a psycho drug addicted stalker and said and did stupid things pretty much the entire movie."
"Sam, I can't help it that Lauren made them do several rewrites for me, but April thought you deserved no rewrites because of the hell you put her through after winning ANS. Still my character is a little too forgiving in my eyes reminds me of the Porsha girl on the show High School Chorus. You know the one played by Amber Riley. People actually say I sorta look like a skinnier version of her."
"She is hot, but she ain't you Sexy Cedes."
"Come on lover boy let's go do the blocking for these final scenes before we shoot them tomorrow. I promise to make it worth your while later Mr. Evans."
"Alright Mrs. Evans, I will go and try to make these final scenes believable. I thought people shot movies out of order, but I guess when you are working with touring musical artists getting a movie done in a month makes more sense to shoot it from beginning to end."
"And we get to sing in this part, so just think about that love."
"Remind me if we ever have to do another movie it is not some romantic drama. I think we would do better in a comedy."
"Whatever you say love."
The final act: Scenes of Sam with his lawyer and Charlie. Scenes of Jane mending and out of the hospital watching Sam, Sheila, and Mercy paint the walls, and Sam buying and having delivered new furniture for Mercy's townhouse. Scenes of Sam and Mercy at the mall shopping for her charity, and Sam buying Mercy a new wardrobe. Final scene shows Cedes is singing singing "All I Want For Christmas Is You" as they decorate the tree in the children's hospital.
Chapter Five
Their first Christmas Eve together was a huge success. Mercy beamed as she sipped wine from her glass and surveyed the scene in the lounge of the children's hospital. Sam had kept his word and joined her and her sisters there after their dinner. A massive Christmas tree stood in one corner, bright fairy lights twinkling on it. Colorful orbs hung down from various delicate branches and a snowy angel stood right on top.
"You've done an amazing job," said Sam as he came to stand beside her. "Everything looks beautiful. And I just tasted Sheila's cookies for the kids and Santa. They were almost as sweet as you.."
"She's a fabulous cook," said Mercy. "Unfortunately for her, all the cooking talent in the family seems to have gone to her. Jane and I are both terrible in the kitchen."
"You have other talents you can be proud of." He put an arm around her waist. "Everyone I've talked to loves you and gushes about how awesome you are. They can't say enough good things about you, and I think…most of them think that I'm not good enough for you."
Mercy was touched by the love every one of the hospital staff and children showered on her. She glanced at Sam out of the corner of her eye. "I'm not so sure of that myself."
He drew her against his side. "Too late now. I've got you and I'm not letting go."
The determined note in his voice sent a shiver of anticipation down her spine. Sure, they had their share of misunderstandings, but everything was great. Although Sam wanted to go to the police regarding Charlie, Mercy begged him not to do it and presented have him with a lawyer present her with the option of rehab or jail. Charlie broke down and agreed to go to rehab and signed and agreed to never contacting Sam or Mercedes again or risk being sent to jail on her admission of guilt of breaking, entering, and stealing from Sam on several occasions.
Surprisingly, Mercy couldn't bring herself to hate the woman, even though it was obvious that Charlie detested her. If it wasn't for her foolishness, Sam and Mercy would have never met. Sam insisted on her having Ring cameras, a doorman, and Brinks maximum security system installed just in case Charlie lied and tried to harm his Mercy again. Similarly, he changed his locks with a biometric one, removed Charlie's name from his list, and installed cameras outside his own place.
"It was kind of you to come and stay. Many of the hospital staff and the patients' parents were especially delighted. They've read all your books."
"It was a pleasure to meet them, but meeting the children was the most special thing that I experienced here."
"I think that some of them liked you more than me because you brought over review copies of your new graphic novel that isn't out as the perfect Christmas gift that the adults needed. They work so hard." He told them he would appreciate their honest opinions. Seeing that look of gratitude in their eyes was enough to bring tears to Mercy's eyes. She had always brought presents for the children, never thinking of the hospital staff and the children's loved ones. "Thank you." She put a hand on his chest as she gazed into his eyes.
"It was nothing."
"It mattered to them."
He claimed her lips in response. His touch was so soft, so sweet, that she forgot herself and lost herself in the moment. "Ahem!" It was her sister's not so discreet cough that brought her back to reality.
Mercy glared at Jane. "What?"
"It's time to sing the Christmas carols," Jane reminded her. She turned to Sam. "Are you any good?"
"I may not be able to give you any competition because I've heard that you sing like an angel, but I can hold my own." He put an arm around Jane's shoulder in a friendly manner. "Bring it on!"
After hearing her sister sing "O Holy Night" Sam had to admit to Jane that she did indeed sing like an angel, and Mercy didn't miss that look of delight on her face when Sam told her sister this. She was just happy that this was the first time that neither of her sisters objected to her choice of a boyfriend. Usually, they took satisfaction in shredding the men she dated to pieces, but with Sam, they were firmly entrenched in his corner.
If that wasn't enough to make her wish she could keep Sam forever, she didn't know what was. Mercy was fast falling in love with Sam, but he didn't say anything yet, and neither did she. Was she ready to tell him? She didn't know. Their relationship was fast-paced and exciting. It was also comforting and loving. In fact, come to think of it, he was almost near perfect for her. Maybe the time had come to fully disclose her feelings, but some part of her wanted to take it slow.
Joyously, they sang the carols while everyone joined them. Everyone at the children's hospital whom Sam had met seemed to like and admire him. He was just that kind of a person. People gravitated towards him like magnets, and that was because he was willing to offer more than he received.
Once they gave a lively rendition of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and the children were off to take their medication for the night, Mercy, Sheila, and Jane began to clean, along with the rest of the staff. Sam joined in. Together, they finished the task quite quickly.
"I'll drop you ladies home," said Sam as they stepped outside.
"We're not going home," said Jane in a breezy voice. "Sheila and I are going away for a weekend to this lovely cabin in the mountains."
Sam turned to Mercy. "Are you going too?"
She rubbed her hands on her arms to keep warm. "If I was, I would have told you, so, boo."
"She's ditching us for you." Jane rolled her eyes. "There's our cab. We will see you guys later."
"Have a great weekend. I love you both. Be safe. Merry Christmas!" Mercy hugged both her sisters and saw them off. "Call me when you reach the cabin."
After they disappeared, Sam and Mercy walked towards his car. "Did you really not go because of me?"
"Since it's our first Christmas together, I thought it would be good for us to spend it with each other. We could have breakfast together…or whatever." She'd made the plans without consulting him, but now, she felt a little self-conscious. What if he had his own plans? Maybe she should have discussed this with him before she finalized everything.
He opened the car door for her. "I don't like the idea of you being alone."
"The locks have been changed, and they are cameras everywhere," she reminded him. "And we have better security now."
He joined her in the car and switched on the heater. "Why don't you come and stay with me until your sisters come back?"
After putting on the seat belt, Mercy put a hand on his arm. "I'll be fine."
"Okay, then. I'll come and stay with you."
She couldn't help but laugh at his determination. "Are you actually worried about me or do you just want to spend the night with me?"
"Both," he admitted without hesitation.
She couldn't tear her gaze away from him. An expression she never saw before glowed in his eyes. It wasn't desire, or lust, but rather love. She could feel his need, yet he didn't say anything. "My place is still not ready for a guest." A heartbeat passed in utter silence. "Why don't I go back to your place?"
The smile that lifted his lips melted her heart. "That's a great idea."
Together, they went upstairs to collect her stuff. Although she felt a little bashful now that they were both acutely aware of what the other was saying without uttering the words, she tried her best to look as if she didn't have a care in the world. Even though it was a while since she'd seen a man naked, she didn't want to appear like a nervous born again virgin that Jane once accurately accused her of being. As they sat in his car and rode to his apartment, her heartbeat accelerated at the thought of making love to him. She could imagine spearing her fingers through his hair when his lips crushed against hers, their bare bodies entwined, and his hands sliding all over her limbs. Desperately aroused, she tried to present a calm demeanor as they entered his apartment.
He'd put up a festive Christmas tree in one corner of his living room. "Would you like a hot bath instead of a shower?" he asked as he put her luggage in his room. "I've got a Jacuzzi."
"Sure." She grabbed the chance to avoid the inevitable moment. What was wrong with her? She wasn't a naïve child who didn't know the score. Neither was this her first time. But she still felt as nervous as she did when she lost her virginity.
"I'll open a bottle of wine. We can drink it in the Jacuzzi."
Her heart thumped in her chest. "We?"
"I thought I might join you. Why don't you run us a bath while I bring the wine." His voice was nonchalant, but she detected an edge to it as he strode out of the room without waiting for a reply.
Was it possible that he was just as nervous as she was?
The thought eased her a little. Perhaps, this wouldn't be as awkward as she imagined. Going inside his massive bathroom that boasted a shiny, milk-white Jacuzzi, she opened the taps. As the water swirled and whirled in the ceramic tub, she opened a bottle of Dr. Teal's Foaming Bath and poured some of it inside of the tub. She saw all the candles enough to light up a cathedral around the tub, so she used the lighter to light each and ever one. Deciding that it might be a good idea to slip inside while he wasn't around, she quickly took off her clothes and slid into the warm water. Immediately, she could feel her muscles relaxing as she hid under the bubbles; only her head was visible above the water.
Much better.
Somewhere in the house, Sam switched on the music and the notes of "Mistletoe," threaded through the speaker that was installed in the bathroom. Who would have thought a Christmas song could be so sensual, so enticing? The stage was set for seduction. Knowing that Sam did it not only to set the mood but also because he was the kind of guy who liked to woo a woman, she relaxed a little. The realization that he was going to all this trouble, when they could have easily fallen into bed as soon as they entered, eased her mind and washed away her inhibitions.
When Sam walked in, carrying two glasses of wine, his eyebrows rose at the sight of her in candlelight surrounded by bubbles. "You look like a mermaid who's just about to surface from the water."
Umm Cut you two we are not filming a porno, Cedes could hear the director say when Sam started to look at his bride with lust in his eyes and when Sam demanded that they break for lunch. Cedes knew without a shadow of a doubt that she and her husband were going to be known as freaks. Luckily for them most of the cast and crew were gone and the lovemaking scene was to be filmed with just the cameraman, intimacy coordinator, and director. Who were all leaving for a four o'clock lunch break to give the Newlyweds some time alone...They picked back up on the cheesy script:
"And perhaps grant you a Christmas wish?" Her voice was playful, but she could hear the quiver in it. He put the glasses on the corner of the Jacuzzi and slipped out of his clothes. Oh man! He was all hard muscles and smooth skin; his stripping was a treat for her eyes. Take it off White Chocolate. Her gaze traveled from his wide chest to his lean waist and down to where his arousal was evident. When she saw his penis stand at attention, her own reaction was instantaneous. She felt the heat build in her velvety center as he dipped his foot in the water and then lowered his whole body into the tub.
"Like what you saw?"
She met his gaze. Her tongue licked her bottom lip. "Oh, most definitely, yes."
The wine lay forgotten as they both kissed. The need and hunger that was slowly building towards this point developed into a full-blown volcano that erupted in her stomach. She could feel every nerve and vein quiver as his hand slipped down her arm and cupped her breast. The gentle motion of the water against her skin, the cool sensations, and the desire that pulsated in her heart accumulated to form a craving that hungered to be sated. She wanted to touch every inch of his body and savor every lick and caress.
As his lips roamed over hers, long coils of desire curled in her gut. Lust, simple and furious, lanced through her stomach. She wanted this man, and she wanted him now. His tongue dove inside to taste her mouth, hot and demanding, and she welcomed the intrusion, taking delight as he tasted every nook and cranny as if it were a dessert he wished to savor till the last bite.
Her arms lifted to encircle his neck and her body plastered against his. She relished his hard angles while her soft curves pressed into his muscled body. She could feel his hard arousal as his penis dug into her hip. It throbbed with need. She kissed the pulse that beat at the base of his throat and then threw back her head as he trailed a line of gentle nips and kisses down her shoulder. With a sudden heave, he lifted her up and made her sit on his hips.
A few moments ago, she might have felt self-conscious when his gaze fixed on her breasts, but now the need that twisted inside her was enough to make her demand that he hurry. He swept some water from the tap and allowed it to cascade over her torso, cleaning the bubbles that clung to her skin. Bending his head, he caught her nipple in between his lips.
The sensations that careened through her veins were wild and fiery. Her fingers gripped his hair as he caressed and sucked on her engorged bud. Desire was like a molten fire that lanced through her veins. Her body arched back, giving him greater access as he moved from one breast to another. The scent of the soapy bubble bath and the musky smell of arousal and need filled her. Her fingers dug into his muscles, to knead and stroke, while her nails scraped over his skin as she shuddered through the stormy assault that threatened to drive her to the edge of insanity.
He wasn't doing much better. She could feel the ragged quality of his breath and the slight tremor in his muscles as he buried his face between her breasts. He inhaled deeply as if he wanted to absorb her scent into his own body. His hands fisted over her waist as she lifted her hips, and then she came down on his penis in one smooth movement. He slipped inside her and she took a deep breath to steady herself.
"I can't wait anymore, baby!"
Neither could she. Need was a storm that crashed through her senses. Her breath was caught in her throat as she moved up and down, stroking in and out. The water lapped against her skin while her hands gripped his shoulders. She flicked her tongue across his cheek; she bent down as she moved. While she was overwhelmed with the urgent need that coursed through her body, it appeased her to see the same glazed look in his eyes.
In and out, she stroked with ferocity and speed. She rode him hard and good, her pelvis thrusting against his as she pushed down deep with each movement. Her lips parted as the orgasm swept through her, reducing her to a pile of quivering, shuddering jelly. Underneath her, she felt his body tighten. She could feel the vibrations in every pore of his body as he trembled with the force of the climax.
It was a beautiful, fulfilling moment.
Mercy rested her head on his forehead as she took deep breaths. Man! It was the most amazing sex she'd ever had. She couldn't remember the last time she was so taken aback by her own emotions and the depth of her feelings when she made love. This was unprecedented, and yet it felt right
In a way, it was like coming home.
She was finally where she belonged. Love was a big emotion for Mercy, and she was now surer than ever that she was completely, irrevocably falling in love with Sam. But did he feel the same way? Or perhaps it wasn't as earth-shattering for him as it was for her.
Whatever it was, she was stuck in a quagmire of emotions that she'd never experienced in her life, and if she didn't want a way out, she might find herself in greater trouble than she ever was.
Okay back to the movie...The director, cameraman, and the rest of the crew are back. The director is yelling Action as they have finished blocking and rehearsing and are shooting the final scenes of the movie (the movie from hell)
Sam was awakened in the morning by a sound that didn't seem natural. For a few seconds, he was disoriented. Something strange and delightful teased at his subconscious and then he became aware that his arm was numb. He turned his head and was greeted by the most beautiful sight he'd seen in a long time. Mercy was sleeping peacefully, her long lashes curled over her eyes.
Something tugged at his heart.
And then he realized that it was Christmas morning and this was the first time he woke up beside the woman he loved.
Loved?
Yes. I'm damn sure of it.
Sunlight streaked in through a chink in the curtains and lit her beautiful face. He longed to wake her up and make sweet love to her, but she was sleeping so serenely, he didn't have the heart to do so. Suddenly, she winced and turned her head to the side. The light that was filtering in disturbed her. He got out of the bed to close the curtains. As he pulled them closer, his ear picked out a sound.
He froze. What was that sound? It sounded oddly familiar but he couldn't place it. He listened hard again, but nothing stirred in the apartment. Had he imagined it? Or was there someone in the apartment? No! It couldn't be.
He walked back to the bed and then halted. Mercy stirred and sat up. "Good morning, Sam."
"Hi, beautiful!" He bent to kiss her. "Merry Christmas."
She stretched. The sheet that covered her body fell, exposing her nightie. His reaction was instantaneous. "Merry Christmas."
"You could sleep in for a while if you want."
"I'm awake."
"So am I." Sam chuckled when her gaze traveled to his boxers. His groin tightened when he saw the sweet, sexy smile that hovered on her lips and the glaze of desire in her eyes.
"Hmm…I can see that."
"In that case…" He bent closer and nuzzled at her ear. The sound and a sweet aroma hit his nostrils and aroused him even further. He wanted to make love to her now.
"I need to go to the bathroom."
He straightened. "Another hot bath?"
She laughed, picked up his shirt, and put it on. "Maybe…we'll see."
As she got off the bed and padded off, Sam found himself smiling. He could get used to her presence pretty quickly. It was good to wake up next to a woman he loved and admired. And she was a delight.
Lost as he was in his daydreams, her piercing scream brought him out of his reverie, and he ran full speed towards the bathroom. She wasn't there. Another scream sounded. He lunged towards the kitchen and was horrified when he saw his ex-fiancée holding a knife that was directed towards Mercy. A coldness hit him at his core.
He simply couldn't let anything happen to Mercy. Sam walked slowly, purposefully. "Charlie! You don't want to do this."
"This bitch took my place."
"You left me," he reminded her. Sam could hear his heart pounding as he made his way towards the two women. The knife was short and blunt, but if driven into a body with enough force, it could do a lot of damage. The idea of Mercy getting hurt filled him with fear. But he willed himself to remain calm.
"Let's talk," he told his ex-fiancée. How could he have planned to spend his life with someone who was so unstable? But this wasn't the time to wonder about his past mistakes. He would do anything to make sure Mercy didn't get hurt. "Come on. We'll talk. Just the two of us. Put that down."
Much to his relief, Charlie took a step back from Mercy. Her hand trembled as she put the knife down on the table. "I didn't mean anything." Her lower lip quivered and tears sprouted from her eyes. They were her favorite weapon. She could turn on the tap at the drop of a hat. Crocodile tears! Why hadn't he realized that before?
He strode over and stood in front of Charlie. "Let's go in the living room."
"Once upon a time, all you wanted to do was take me in the bedroom." She sniffed. "And now you've got this bitch installed in there. She ruined our wedding so that she can take my place."
Was she suffering from amnesia? How could she say something like that? She left him at the altar. He didn't see her for months after that and yet, here she was, acting as if she was the injured party. He considered calling the police. He would have to do so at some point. This had gone on for too long. He could forget the intrusion in his house and the pain she'd caused him, but he couldn't risk her threatening Mercy. And this was the second time she'd done so. She hadn't admitted it yet, but her presence here today and what she'd done to Mercy confirmed that she was the one who vandalized Mercy's home. And that was nothing short of an attack.
"I'll go inside," said Mercy. Clearly, she didn't lose her mind in a crisis. Their best hope was to calm Charlie down and send her out. Later, they could complain to the police. He and Mercy would have to get a restraining order against her.
Sam picked up the knife and put it inside a cabinet. He touched Charlie's arm. "Let's go in the living room."
Without warning, she lunged at Mercy and began to claw at her with her fingernails. Her fingers speared through her hair and pulled. Mercy screamed. She grabbed Charlie around her waist and hurled her off. Mercy was about to kill Charlie, so Sam stood between the two women. Enough was enough! He could see blood streaming down a shallow cut on Mercy's arm where she got scratched.
"Get out of my house now!" he ordered. If Charlie wasn't a woman, he would have beaten her black and blue for touching Mercy. Rage coursed through his veins. "Or else I'll call the police."
"Fine," she huffed. "I'm going."
And then picking up a saucepan, she hurled it towards his head. Sam moved his arm but he was too slow. The pan hit his head. A cloak of darkness seemed to shroud him for a few seconds. And then he felt it. The pain. He swayed on his feet. Even then, he made sure that he remained between the two women. Mercy moved to hold him while Charlie ran for the door. She opened it, sprinted out, and slammed the door behind her.
Sam leaned against the counter. At least, Mercy was safe.
"Oh, my God! You're bleeding," her voice quivered as she touched his head in a gentle manner. "Let me call an ambulance."
"I'm fine." He grabbed her arm before she could get up. "Really, I…" Whatever he was about to say was cut off when he passed out.
When Sam opened his eyes, he could see a whitewash wall. It took him a few seconds to realize that it wasn't a wall but rather the ceiling of an ambulance that was speeding along the streets.
He turned his head slightly and a fresh wave of pain hit him. The wound was apparently graver than he realized. Mercy sat by his side. She held his hand in a firm grip. Tears pooled in her dark eyes when he locked his gaze on her.
"Oh, God! You're—I can't believe.…" Her finger caressed his cheek. "Can you hear me?"
"Yes," he whispered.
"I love you," she said as her lips trembled. "I love you…and I thought I was going to lose you…and…"
"Shh!" he answered. "I love you too."
They smiled at each other. Before he could say anything else, the ambulance came to a stop and he was wheeled out. For a few minutes, he lost her in the hustle and bustle of the hospital and then everything went blank.
He didn't know how long he was out, but when he opened his eyes, Mercy was by his bedside.
"Hi, you handsome man." She kissed him lightly on the mouth. "How are you feeling?"
How could anyone not feel good when he was with the woman he intended to spend the rest of his life with? "Never felt better!" Her laughter filled his ears. It was the most delightful sound he'd heard in a long time.
"I'm glad to hear that because you've been out for over three hours. You've got a concussion."
"Damn!"
"But the doctors said that you'd be fine once you woke up. Any pain?"
"It's bearable, nothing like before."
She rested her hand on his forehead. "I guess this Christmas Day is ruined, too. And I didn't even get a chance to give you your gift."
"You've already given it. Didn't you tell me that you loved me?" His heart rate quickened. What if it was a hallucination? "Or did I imagine it?"
A smile bloomed across her face. "No, you didn't. I love you."
"That's the best Christmas gift I've ever gotten in my life. I love you too."
"Now, rest."
"What about…?"
She put her finger on his lips before he could finish asking his question. "Don't worry about her. I've made a complaint. The police caught her, and she's in their custody, even as we speak," she assured him.
"So why that look on your face?"
Mercy grimaced. "I should have listened to you when you said we needed to go to the police, but…I…"
Sam put his finger against her lips, echoing her earlier action. "Let's not worry about her anymore, okay?"
Mercy nodded. Her slow smile melted his heart.
Sam didn't feel any pity for his ex-fiancée. She earned what was coming to her because of her behavior. And now at least, he wouldn't have to worry about another attack on Mercy. "I've had the worst luck with women," he told her. "But now it seems that things have turned out brilliantly because I've got you…and your Christmas kisses are the best thing to have happened to me in a long time."
And with that, everything fell into place. Together, they could face any storm and ride their way through any obstacle. And to think it all began with a Christmas kiss.
"Hell to the no Sam. I agree with you that entire ending has to be rewritten. I just can't put something this awful out there to our fans."
"Okay, Cedes, how about we only agree to do rewritten parts of the scenes that we just rehearsed and went through the blocking for."
"Everything up to and after the bubble bath scene has to be reworked. How about we kiss and we are seen going in to the bedroom and let the audience use their imagination on what happens when the bedroom door closes. Then the next day, you seemingly wake up before I do in the bed which we have already blocked for. And you are dreaming the whole crazy Charlie scenario, and I wake you up."
"Yes that should satisfied those crazy writers of this shitty script Cedes to include that psycho scene of you beating the shit out of that crazy loon."
"Then you wake up and you tell me your dream, and tell me that you love me Samuel."
"Okay and you tell me that you love me too, and then I remember what woke me up it was the sound of sleigh bells ringing."
"We sing our song Sleigh Bells and the final shot of the movie is us spending next Christmas with both of our families."
"Yes that will do. Cedes love. Let's pitch our ideas and refuse to film anything else. Who knows what the edited version of this hot mess will look like any way. It won't save the movie, but at least we won't have jumped the shark completely. They wanted a hot mess but we will give them something to salvage this and be okay for our friends and family to watch without them cringing too much."
"See I knew I married a brilliant and creative man."
"Only because I was brilliant enough to marry you Cedes Evans. You bring out the best in me."
Final A/N Thanks for hanging into the end of this craziness. I don't even know if it makes sense. Part of it was inspiration from WhoknowsTV review mentioning the Kelly Clarkson movie and part of it was a way that I could justify sharing this hot mess of a Christmas story with you without having to do a major rewrite at the end which I was going to do...I was cutting the whole Charlie going psycho on Sam out and putting in the part about hearing Sleigh Bells then the two of them kissing as you hear their song Sleigh Bells playing in the background but oh well, I am too tired and lazy to do this so, I just let it go and embraced the chaos, and decided to fully incorporate it into the Make My Wish Come True universe. Thanks so much for the authors, long term supporters, guests, and every person who took the time to join me as I reimagined these stories this month and today. I really appreciate you all. I am half asleep and probably made a million mistakes, so please forgive them. And a big thanks to all you superstars who continue to make this community thrive go on the site and see all the updates we got from TWrites, Rontora, Keshbeast, Dak'Hari, Nicolez722, Arwenforlife, Akasha83, Melaninmami, and Kela-Mae this month. My cup overfloweth and it made it difficult for me to update this with these goodies there to be read. I really mean it when I say you all are the BEST.