Disclaimer – I own nothing.

Review answers:

Loneraven – Thank you, and yeah, it will be a heated argument. The meeting will happen in this chapter and I think you will understand a tiny detail that was in chapter three. My sweet kind, friend… that would be too good for Belladonna. I think that you will enjoy even more what I have in store for her. Anyways, enjoy.

Niffer01 – If you want to cry for them now, later on you will be cheering them on, on their evil plans. Read and enjoy.

Dark Anime Love – Thank you. I hope you enjoy this chapter and review. My reviewers are so kind. My dear, death is too good for such a person, I have something more painful and fun planed for her.

NaijaStrawberrie – I'm glad you liked it, and I hope you like this one too. I'm very relieved that you liked the dream. I was afraid people might think it was too violent. I have a room like that at my fathers and believe me, after a while you really start to grow tired of all the stairs. Enjoy the chapter and please do review.

Untouchable hexing witch – Hexy you reviewed Thank you very much. The X-ietro will only be on when they start their quest for revenge. Poor Pie... he will suffer a bit in her hands. So... what's new with you?

Scarlet-Child – Thank you so much. I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Author's note – I changed the story's name sense it was... well... lame. Hope you enjoy it.

Warning – This chapter contains material that may be considered offensive. You have been warned.

"Talking"

«Phone conversation»

Flashback

Book passages

Chapter 5 – Changes

John sat on the table in the planning room as Piotr disinfected his wounds. John was bleeding from his lip. He also had a cut right above his eyebrow. He had acquired some bruises on his arms, legs and chest. Remy paced back and fourth as John was treated. The three were all alone.

Flashback

"You made her go away! You made her suffer! This is all your fault!" Pietro exclaimed. He considered hurting him even more. Why he didn't, John didn't know. Maybe he had a problem with beating a man when he was down.

"I made her suffer!" John demanded, "You were the one that repeatedly used her."

John slowly stood and pulled up his sleeves. If it was a fight Pietro wanted, it was a fight that he would get. John had wanted to settle the score with him for a long time. He left his sister in a nut house and didn't move a muscle to help her.

"I used her! I wasn't the one that got into her pants and left! What you did can't even compare! And believe me you will pay for what ever you did to her!" Pietro roared as he stepped forward. He grabbed John by the collar of his shirt and slammed him agaist the closest wall. Pietro's knee proceeded to make constant contact with John's body at an incredible speed.

Magneto walked around the table and separated his son from his lackey. He glared at the both of them.

"Pietro I understand your frustration and anger, but it will be best if we don't kill him. We can use him to bring your sister home." Magneto uttered as he looked at his snowy haired son.

"Believe me when I say that what I have in store for John is a lot worst than death." Magneto added as he stared at the red haired teen.

When John heard Magneto's words, he stopped trying to punch Pietro. He saw his entire life flash before his eyes. He saw his own birth and both his parents smilling down at him. His mind flashed forward to when he was five, playing happily with his nanny in the huge front lawn by the fountain.

Then he saw memories of when he was fourteen. His parents told him that the school psychiatrist said he had a great gift for writing. Then a year later, to when his powers first manifested. He burned down the living room.

His parents were frightened at his mutation. They later sent him away to a boarding school in the states "To maximize his writing ability". However, it was no more than trying to send the menace away. He saw himself meeting the other acolytes and Magneto. Flashes of seeing Amara appeared next.

'That was the beginning of the end!' John thought with a frown

He smiled at the next set of images. He could say, without a doubt that they were the happiest moments of his life. The moments that he had spent with Wanda fluttered in his head. He seen all the times he had asked her out and she had turned him down. John smirked. He had gotten so frustrated that he had asked Remy for advice. Then there was their first date, it was perfect. He saw when he asked her to be his girlfriend, and the first time they made love..

'She was the best thing that I had going for me. She loved me for who I was. Those were the best days of my life. Not the ones I spent with my wealthy parents. Not the ones I spent with Amara.' John thought as the last set of memories ran through his head. It was the images of the previous day.

"I wasted my life!" John said aloud as a tear ran down his face.

End of flashback

John winced as Piotr pressed the cotton a bit more firmly against his face.

"What were you t'inkin', dating two girls at once? You couldn't ever pull it off John. Dey obviously would have found out about each ot'er sooner or later." Remy snapped as he stopped pacing and stood in front of John.

"Speaks th' man with a fiancée!" John shouted. At this point Piotr was standing in between the two men.

"Comrades, calm down!" he spoke angrily. Both acolytes stood quietly. They had known Piotr for a long while, and they had never seen him shout like that. Infact, he rarely spoke to them, or anyone.

"What you both did was disgusting!" The large Russian pointed out as he collected the first aid kit. He turned to Remy. "You should both be ashamed of yourselves. Women aren't toys and marriage is a serious thing."

"Remy likes y' mon ami, but y' shouldn't talk about t'ings dat you know not'in' about." Remy roared, his red eyes burning with fury. "Remy does not now nor has ever loved Belladonna. My fat'er an' her fat'er made de arrangements. Dat... woman filled chere's mind with lies and now she is gone!"

John rubbed the back of his neck, not knowing what else to do. As for Piotr, he just stood his ground. "Th' truth isn't th' easiest path but if yuh had at least told 'er, there would be a chance she would still be here, with yuh Mate." John said slowly. Piotr turned to John and shook his head. He walked towards the exit.

"If you have something to say... say it." John sneered. Piotr turned his head. Immense sadness filled his eyes.

"If she was my sister... you would be dead!" he uttered as he left the room. Remy looked at John and gave his friend a pat on the back. He then left the room.

At the X-Mansion

The X-men were sitting in the professor's office. All of them portrayed a sad expression; they all had gotten very attached to the lonely goth. They all expected to hear from Rogue, but the look on the professor's face let them know that the search with cerebro had been unsuccessful.

"Everyone, I'm afraid that I haven't found Rogue." The professor finally said after a moment of silence.

All of the students had a deep frown. Kitty looked around and bit her lip before speaking.

"Come on a guys... that is like... good news. It means that like Rogue isn't using her powers. She is safe."

Ororo stood up. A tear fell from her eye. At that exact moment, it started to thunderstorm outside.

"She should be safe here, with her family." Ororo pointed out as she walked towards the door. "It's too bad she feels like she has to leave to be alright." She added before leaving.

Logan sighed and followed her. Ororo was pretty shaken up by Rogue's departure and that confused him. He was aware that the kind woman loved all the students but what she appeared to be feeling now was hardly normal. It was as if Ororo had lost a family member. She spent most of her time weeping for the girl, yet Logan had hardly seen any special atention given to Rogue by Storm to justify all this grief.

The people that remained in the office simply looked down in sorrow thinking of all the things that were left unsaid.

"Zis is his entire fault! He hurt her. I vill hurt him even if it is ze last zing I will ever do." Kurt shouted. Jean sighed and stood. She wrapped her around and the fuzzy one and whispered softly.

"It's alright Kurt. We will help you find her. Everything will be ok." She spoke as she rocked him back and fourth until his sobbing stopped.

At the hallway

Ororo was leaning against the wall, her head low as she silently cried. She felt his presence behind her, she wasn't sure why, he didn't smell like cigars nor cologne. He just had this presence she supposed. She felt his hand touch her shoulder and then felt a slight squeeze.

"How are you?" Logan asked, his rough voice now soft.

"She's just like me. She's been used by some bad people so many times that she ended up losing faith in humanity. Then here come some people that she is supposed to be friends with and she isn't capable of fitting in even among people that share so many similarities with her." Ororo sobbed finally turning to face him.

"You are different from Rogue. There aren't two people alike and you are still here." Logan said placing his other hand on her other shoulder. "We will find her Ororo."

As he spoke, Ororo felt a warmth in her chest as if she was about to burst. She bit her lip as she gazed into his eyes. They both leaned in closer. Their lips met and they kissed.

At the secret base

X-23 and the Nasty boys were in the planning room waiting for the new recruits. Sinister was calmly sitting in his chair. The Nasty Boys had a great displeasure in their aura. They were not pleased about new team members. When the door opened, a short, skinny girl walked in and sat down.

"This is one of the powerful mutants that are here to help us? Oh, please, a mosquito could kill this girl." Strong man said between laughs. It wasn't long before everyone but Sinister, X-23 and Morph was laughing too.

Sinister frowned at the lack of discipline. He smirked as he noticed Rogue removing her gloves. She touched Strong Man's face, rendering him unconscious.

"Any of yah wahnt tah keep laughing'?" Rogue demanded as she picked up the table and held it above her head. She didn't look too pleased.

X-23 unleashed her claws. Her ears perked up when the door opened again. This time it revealed a slim, imposing figure, from which fear seam to emanate. The Nasty Boys got ready to attack. Wanda rolled her eyes as her hands started to glow with blue energy. Soon all of the men were bumping against the walls repeatedly.

X-23 ignored Rogue and decided to strike Wanda, unfortunately Rogue sent the table her way, she ducked and then slashed her way up in the middle of the object. Wanda dropped the Nasty boys and hexed X-23 unconsious. Rogue started to glare at Wanda, who glared right back. Soon the girls were walking in circles around each other. Wanda's hands were glowing blue and Rogue's hands were bare.

"Well... let's hope first impressions aren't all of what people say they are." Sinister spoke, massaging his temples. "I take it you know each other."

"Rogue..." Wanda muttered stopping in front of the other goth.

"Wanda..." Rogue sneered as she also stopped. It was then that the familiar sound of adamantium and a growl filled the room.

"Bitches!" X-23 grunted as she got up. She was ready to strike again.

"Enough! You will have to work together, so stop trying to kill each other." Sinister shouted as he left the room, mumbling to himself about teenagers and women. As soon as he left, a glaring contest started to occur within the three girls.

At the ancient room

Sinister walked in the room. He was carefully trying not to upset his master. He needed to know what to do next; he had been taunting X-23 for days till boiling point. He didn't understand why, after all the girls were to work together.

"What do you want, Nathaniel?" the master demanded, as his angry red eyes apeared.

"The three girls are about to kill each other. I don't think that by the end of the week there will be a single eyelash to prove their existence. What should I do?" Sinister inquired with a frown.

"Nathaniel... what do you do to keep dogs angry and blood thirsty! You rattle their cages." The voice said with smiling eyes. It seemed amazing to Sinister, how could someone be so manipulative. However, he knew he wasn't one to talk. "Make sure that the two girls get reports about the boys and their respective loved ones weekly... BUT... you show them to me first."

Sinister turned to leave. He paused and looked back at his master. "And should I keep on pushing X-23 to be enemies with the other two?" he questioned as the evil smile started to grow even bigger.

"Yes! And that is not all. Make sure they don't bond together. The best way to deal with problems is when they don't exist yet." He replied. Sinister perked an eyebrow.

"What do you mean? How can they forming a bond be a problem? Wouldn't it be good, since they will be working together?"

The happy eyes soon were replaced with the hard, cold ones, that ones Sinister was used to. For some reason he found himself more confortable that way.

"You have here... three powerful mutants... if they were to rebel... wouldn't you prefere if they were alone? To face them one by one? Possibly with help from the other two?" The voice shouted. "Now... Be gone. I have things to do."

Sinister kept walking until he reached the door. He paused and turned back. "What about the others? The ones they left behind? I don't think they will just forget about them!" he asked.

"Well... then I guess Vertigo and Morph will be... killing them!" he stated as Sinister's eyes widened in amazement and confusion. "I beg your pardon!" He exclaimed as he waited for his master's instructions.

At that moment at the planning room

The table was back in place and everyone had taken a seat.

'That scrawny girl is dangerous! If felt as if she could kill me with just one finger.' Strong man thought with a frown as he looked at Rogue.

'Ah wonder whaht happened t' cause Wanda to just join in with these guys... did she got her memories back and is now looking foah revenge! If so... why not just kill Magn... What are you looking at yah Wolverine wannabe...' Rogue snapped mentally as she glared at the short girl.

'Her power has quite a kick. And she knows Weapon X... I could see it in her expression when she saw my claws. She will tell me where he is or I will gut her.' X-23 thought as she glared at the girl with white bangs.

Something else captured X-23's attention. It was a soft humming. When she noticed where it came from she felt something that resembled fear... a lot. It was the scarlet dressed girl. X-23 was certain that she wasn't the only one that was hearing it. Everyone was looking at her. There was just something about her that was frightening.

She had just gotten into a fight with powerful mutants and she seemed to have forgotten about it. She was just sitting there, humming as she caressed her stomach. It was as if she was all alone in the world, and not surrounded by people that would probably try to kill her in her sleep.

'Now... Now... What was I thinking when I went to that place. I wouldn't kill you baby.' Wanda thought with a smirk. 'Not yet.'

Sinister soon walked in breaking everyone away from their thoughts. "Morph... Vertigo... I have an assiment for you. The rest can go to their rooms and rest. Tomorow, bright and early the training begins."

The three remaining Nasty boys got up and left, shooting daggers at the new members of the team. X-23 and Rogue traded glares among themselves, as Wanda smiled, continuing to be lost in her own thoughts.

In the following day

Strong man pulled on Rogue's sheets, making her fall straight on the floor. Rogue stood up and shot him through her open door with the optic blasts that she had absorbed from Scott. Rogue had just got to this place and already she had a moron picking on her.

She took a quick shower and hurried getting dressed. She didn't want to get kicked out of this place, after all she couldn't go back, not that she wanted to. She changed into her training clothes. Her clothing was nothing more than a black tank top and black leggings.

Rogue started to ask herself if she did the right thing, leaving all she knew behind. It was then that she looked at a black and purple scarf that she had left on the coffee table. It had been a gift from Remy, but not any ordinary gift, it was the first thing that he had ever bought for her.

She smilled at she remembered him giving it to her. His hands had been trembling. Something that she recalled him say, didn't happen often. Rogue then remembered the blonde kissing Remy and the fact that he was engaged. The pain that she felt when she found out about it, and how dirty she felt that she had let him touch her. How stupid she felt for trusting him with her heart. Suddenly all the thoughts vanished, replaced by a craving for his destruction. She then stomped her way to the training room.

At that moment at X-23's Room

X-23 had woken up early and showered. Getting ready both physically and mentally to beat the newbies at what she did best, fight. They wouldn't stand a chance. She was motivated and definitely better trained by the looks of it.

She quickly got dressed. She pulled on dark blue leggings and a dark blue tank top with BAD written on it in blood red letters.

'I don't care what stunts you pull. Today... I will teach you two to respect and fear me.' X-23 thought as she finished putting her top on. She then fixed her hair into a pony tail. She smirked at her reflection.

'This is how death looks like.' She mused. She then ran to the gym.

At that moment at Wanda's room

Wanda was sitting in bed in her scarlet night gown. She hadn't slept at all last night, so she decided to occupy herself.

She had gone through her purse during the night and pulled out John's novel. Even the title she found offensive, it was as if he wanted to rub in her face that she was nothing more than a piece of ass to him. It was A Devious Challenge. As she read the back cover of the book she felt like throwing up. It had a summary of the story, it was about a man torn between two women, a beautiful, powerful, independent sorceress and a sweet princess. It took place in the medievel times.

All that Wanda could think was 'What a piece of shit. So horribly clichéd. A total reanactement of his life in all of its pathetic states.'

She then proceeded to read. She had thought that the opening sentence was very good.

Some people believe that when you are born, your whole life is already planned. Your destiny is hanging around your neck and that the suffering that you will came across during life is nothing more than what you can handle.

The more Wanda read the more things she found that she could criticise, not only plot wise but in his writing. She smirked at the idea of her becoming a successful writer, even bigger than John. Before she knew it, it was morning and she was almost done with the book. She grinned at the ending.

The man ended up marrying the princess, but always ran to the sorceress when he needed anything at all. Everyone was happy but the man; he became addicted to the independent woman and could never end his relationship with her. She had decided then that John had ended the book very well. The only thing he knew how to do correctly was the first and last statements. Everything in between just seemed to happen. Wanda re-read the last sentence and through the book against the wall. The words were still repeating in her head.

How can you make a choice when all the available answers will lead to pain? I don't know. I considered telling her, expecialy during the long nights, I laid awake, but then during the day, I knew better. The tortured man thought as he looked at his bride.

At the gym

Rogue made her way through the gym's sliding, metal doors. The room was plain white with white floor. There was several work out equipment arranged around the room. She soon found out another human was there. She spotted her running fast enought to make Pietro's jaw hit the ground.

'They would make an interesting couple. She is moody and he is egocentric. Ah can imagine th' children.' Rogue thought with a smirk.

X-23 stopped and then turned back to face the newcomer. She was grinning as she walked towards the girl with the white bangs. She stopped walking only when she was a mere twenty centimetres away. Even though Rogue was taller than her, the shorter girl emanated an amazing confidence.

Rogue perked an eyebrow at the other girl's attempt of intimidation and moved to walk past her. However, as she took a step to the left, the other girl positioned herself directly in front of her. Rogue them took a step to the right and just like before, infront of her was the girl, always with a smuged look on her face.

"Do yah mahnd!" Rogue demanded as she straightened her back, making the diference in their height more evident.

As X-23 was about to answer, Strong man, Ruckus and Gorgeous George walked in. The three men's attention immediately fell on the two girls. It was as if the world had just stopped. However, the silence was broken when Morph and Vertigo walked in, shouting at each other. The two soon stopped as they realised that there was yet another glaring contest between the two girls. Sinister made his entrance as both girls stepped forward now able to feel each other's breath.

"Time to train." Sinister said breaking the contest as he lead the group of people to the far away corner were there was a cage with several ropes and bars. "Rogue offence... X-23 defence..."

Both girls made their way into the cage.

"This will be very interesting." Morph whispered to his peers. They nodded in unison.

Rogue got into a fighting stance and jump kicked X. She grabbed her foot and took a step back making Rogue yell as she felt her ligatures stretch. Rogue then jumped and kicked X in the chin making her let go. Rogue then picked up a near by rope and used it to help her kick X once more, only this time, straight in the chest. X-23 stumbled back. She unleashed her claws.

"No! Hand to hand combat only! Now X-23... engage." Sinister roared as he observed the girl retract her claws.

X-23 jumped and kicked Rogue straight in the face and then punched her repeatetly in the chest. Rogue had never suffered such a severe beating but she refused to go down without a fight. She drop kicked X-23 and kicked her in the face. X-23 jumped and then landed on her feet, ready to start the whole thing over. It was then that they heard the metal doors slide open. Wanda walked in, in her scarlet robe carrying a cup of hot coco.

"Hey... how come we have to train and little Looney bin material, get's to strut around the base in her slippers!" Strong man roared as everyone glared and frowned at the goth.

"Because I'm pregnant." Wanda stated simply, she then looked at Sinister "You said you wanted to see me."

"Yes... Rogue... X-23... measures have been taken so that your time with us became permanent." It was then that Sinister delievered a newspaper clipping to each of them.

Rogue's eyes widened as she read the letters in the headline of her clipping:

Local teenager drives car into a lake, a trip proven lethal.

A local teenager appears to have driven a stolen taxi into Bayville's lake, after destroing many parking meters and driving through a brick wall.

The girl was reported to have consumed a great deal of alcohol after having a heated argument with her boyfriend. The body was completely torched but identification was able to be made. It is Anne-Marie Adler. Fortunately no one else was hurt.

On the side there was a small picture of her.

X-23's jaw hit the ground as she read a huge clipping, it was practically a whole page.:

Mysterious metal found in Mary Jane.

A mysterious dead body appeared in the wreckages of one of the many abandoned warehouses in Bayville. This was the same warehouse that had spent the entire day burning. Inside was nothing but perfectly preserved metal skeleton. What type of metal could have survived such high temperatures is unknown. Sources believe that a mutant may have been the owner of this skeleton. That is yet to be cleared.

X-23 frowned 'Why did they did this!' she thought as she looked at Sinister.

Wanda laughed out loud as she read hers, making everyone stare at her.

Mental patient found deceased

Mental patient, Wanda Maximoff was made a victim of electrocution in one of the hot tubs in a local hotel. However, it was confirmed that the young woman was deceased moments before the electicity torched her body. Traces of cocaine and evidence of sexual intercourse was found in the victim's system. Could this be the work of a vicious killer? Or just a lesson for the young that like to party hard?

"How did you pull this off?" Wanda asked between her chuckles.

"Three dead bodies from near by morgues, good planning... and Morph." Sinister explained with a smirk. "Now... you know this can be both good and bad for you. Good because who ever you left behind will assume you dead and leave you alone. It is also bad because from now on... you are on your own. Let him down and you die."

A moment of silence followed.

"Everyone back to training." Sinister shouted "Wanda I will be stopping by later to talk to you alone."

Wanda nodded and left as the others went back to training.

Moments later in Wanda's room

Wanda and Sinister sat in her bedroom facing each other. It had been a few moments before either of them had spoken.

"Wanda I think is time for us to discuss what you are doing about the baby... I believe that you are aware of your options. Abortion isn't the only major." Sinister began as he sat back, looking at the young girl.

Wanda looked back at him. Her expression was impossible to read.

"I made my decision. And I stand by it." Wanda said as she rubbed her stomach. Sinister frowned. She wasn't acting like a woman that wanted to have an abortion.

"Then I will make the arrangements and tomorrow I will conduct the procedure." He announced.

"NO!" Wanda shouted "Not yet."

A brief silence followed until Sinister decided to talk once more.

"Wanda... the sooner the better. But rest assure that we will not send you away if you decide to carry on with the child. It's perfectily normal that a woman get attached to her baby. Besides, unlike X-23 your mutation isn't physical. You can fight from long distances." the strange man pointed out with unusual kindness.

"Oh please..." Wanda grunted as she rolled her eyes. She looked at him and caressed her stomach. "How is this child now? Does it feel? Can it hear? Understand?"

"Well... not yet... at the moment the child is only microscopic cells" The man spoke.

"What would a pregnant woman have to do for her child to be healthy and strong?" Wanda asked looking down at her changing body.

"Take the prenatal vitamins and eat plenty of fruit and drink milk." The man answered. He was intrigued about the girl's strange behaviour. "Why do you ask this if you are aborting?"

"I have my reasons." Wanda uttered with a grin.

Amara's room

Amara was lying in her bedroom with a frown on her pretty face. She had spent the whole day thinking about the incident between her, Wanda and John. She had yet to arrive to a conclusion.

'Why did she attack us?' Amara wondered. She smiled. 'She was probably jealous of me and John. After all, we are the perfect couple. My boyfriend is beautiful and talented. I'm not too bad myself and poor Wanda is all alone.'

At that moment the phone rang and on the other side of the line was the object of her thoughts.

«'Mara!» the voice came unsure.

«Hey Johnny. How are you doing today sweety?» Amara asked, her voice sweet like honey. It was too bad that some people don't like honey.

«Bad.» John stated, Amara's frown returned «What is it?» she questioned.

«I have something important to tell you.» John said; his voice only slightly above a whisper.

«Me too. I know why Wanda attacked us!» Amara announced in a sad voice. She pitied the girl.

«You do!» John demanded a little fast. «Mara... I'm sorry I deceived you, but you must understand at first it was strightly business but as I got to know her, I started to feel for her and... one thing led to another... I'm sorry.»

Amara's eyes widened. He had he just confessed to both cheating on her and falling for the other girl.

«You... and her...» she stuttered.

At the other end she could hear him kicking himself for being so insensitive «I'm sorry because I do love her and I'm sorry I'm dong this over the phone and... I'm just sorry!»

All that was left was a dead silence. He had hung up.

Amara still held the phone to her ear even though the conversation had ended. Tears started to cascade her face.

Five months later in the mysterious base

Wanda lay down on the couch, rubbing her stomach. She was talking to her baby. Doctor Essex had told her to do so. He said that it was good for the baby. She had made the test last week, and even though the test said she was pregnant with a girl, she knew it was a boy.

Wanda closed her eyes as she felt the child move. She smirked. She had done everything the doctor said; all the tests and recomandations. Along with the child's gender the test was also to see if all was well with the baby. The doctor's exact words were that it was the healthiest child he had ever seen.

Doctor Nathaniel had talked to her everyday about the abortion and he had also told her that he refused to do it now, since it was unsafe after the third month. However, Wanda wouldn't hear about it.

She looked at her watch, it was a quarter to midnight. She got up and walked to the closet. She took out her bridal dress and put it on. The scarlet corset no longer fit thanks to her stomach. Wanda looked at the cliff-hanger and smirked as she felt the child move a lot.

"I hope they didn't lie to me, that you really are healthy and that you can hear what I say, and be able to feel, because honey, you are going to die soon, very soon." Wanda said. She had spoken those words everyday for the past few months.

This was it. Please don't fret. I love Jonda a lot and you can trust that they will be together... eventually... maybe. As for this update, I haven't updated in a while so when I did I decided to do one of eleven pages lol Hope you enjoy it and please do feel free to give me a piece of your mind.

Next chapter: You will know for sure what happened to the baby. A lot of X-23 thoughts and... yeah... Hopefully I didn't lose too many reviewers in this chapter.