And so she would dance Chapter 7, a percy jackson and the olympians fanfic

Once again, a huge thank you to all my reviewers, favouriters and followers - I can't believe how many I have after only 30k words. Every comment I read from you guys makes me so happy. To Amelia Brown and Shizzster, the two anons that left really long reviews, thank you both for what you said. And I'm afraid Shizzster that I don't have an updating schedule, I just update when I finish a chapter, which is embarrassingly infrequently.

To all of you who noticed a clue last chapter, bravo! There were lots that were found by none (that probably no-one but me would count as clues anyway). However, I should mention that just because you know who a certain someone is, doesn't mean you know what will happen in the story. If you don't know, enjoy how everything unfolds!

Disclaimer: I own nothing :)

Read, enjoy and review!

Annabeth spent the rest of the weekend recovering from their girls' night. They had long since stopped calling them sleepovers, not only because of how childish it sounded but because very little actual sleeping was done. She may have told OwenSawyer that was what facial packs were for and that was true, as they had indulged in some fruity deep skin cleansing the next morning, but nothing but a good night's sleep (or two) would get rid of her fatigue induced lethargy and grumpiness. In an attempt to preserve familial relations, she stayed in her room whenever possible so that she wouldn't take any of her irritability out on unsuspecting relatives.

Her good humour was once again restored by Sunday night - just in time to be ruined by the early morning awakening on Monday in order to get to college on time. She was once again unfailingly glad that she had 20 minutes every morning with Reyna, taking the time to ready herself for the oncoming day in relative peace - after a while, she had become so used to the background noise that she didn't notice it now, unless something particularly disturbing was going on.

However, the patience this had earned her only lasted her until break time before she felt she was about to snap. Even an innocuous, "How was maths, Annabeth?" felt as invasive and abrasive as someone swaggering into her personal space, asking if she was looking for a fight.

So, when Kieren decided to join in and have a little fun, she almost screamed.

"And how are you doing love?" he inquired patronisingly, as he slung an arm around her shoulders and rubbed her chin. She tried to shrug him off, gritting her teeth while doing so. "Oh? Are we not feeling very sociable today?" She was desperate to glare at him but couldn't, because if she tried their faces would end up right next to each other and he would probably try to kiss her, with her luck. "Aww. Look at her blushing. She's going all red. Well, my dear," he said with another pat to her face, "your stony silence might imply that you don't like me, but your blushes say otherwise. The truth always tells, doesn't it?" he appealed to the others in the vicinity.

Annabeth held back the urge to growl. She hated situations like this. She could never think of a way out of them without fuelling the fire and everyone else thought she was quick witted and capable so left her to it, found amusement in it. Even her friends didn't realise she wanted help.

"Enough, Kieren." The voice came from behind them, deep with undertones of authority that spoke of someone who had a high position in the social hierarchy and was secure in it. They all turned to face Percy. "You might be convinced of your Casanova ways, but we can all tell that they aren't working. Especially not here. Go try them on someone else." The dismissal was clear in his voice, compounded by Percy changing his gaze so it now lay on one of his friends who had walked over with him and was speaking in a low voice, making it seem as if Kieren's departure was a done deal. He slunk off without further comment to a chorus of nervous laughter. Annabeth was not sorry to see him go.

Turning back to Percy and his friend, she discovered that the other half of the duo was in fact Beckendorf, otherwise known as the Charlie that Silena had promised to introduce to the group. From over her shoulder she watched as her friend bounded up to the hulking man and hugged him, briefly but fiercely, before drawing back and greeting Percy. With that done, she latched onto her man's hand and dragged him over to where she had been sitting.

"Guys, meet Charlie. Charlie, meet the guys. You know all of their names don't you?"

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure I do. It's nice to meet you all properly. Although I'm not sure I had a choice. Silena here made it clear that I either I came over to meet you all or... well, let's just say the other choice wasn't an option," Beckendorf chickened out of finishing his sentence when he noticed one of Silena's eyebrow's was raised.

Percy chuckled, patting his mate on the back (although it was more of several resounding slaps). "Smooth, man. In case you all didn't know, I'm Percy, Beckendorf's friend. I'm here for the moral support because apparently you lot are scary, if you couldn't tell by him messing up the first thing he says to you. So I'm just going to sit here, nice and quietly. Don't mind me if I laugh occasionally - I don't have the greatest faith that Beck' here will be performing at his best." With that and a slight smirk, he perched on a table. When the group continued to watch him, he waved his hands in the air, "Go on then! Talk amongst yourselves."

They did. Everyone ended up in an odd conversation about the bath toys that they had as children that Beckendorf contributed to, to Annabeth's surprise because, despite his large physical presence, it was obvious that he has self-esteem issues.

Annabeth mostly stayed out of the conversation, choosing instead to watch those taking part. Silena was right; the two of them really did like each other and it was only a matter of time before they began officially dating. It was clear by the moony eyes they made at each other when the other wasn't looking and the difficulty they seemed to have in keeping their hands off each other, in the most innocent way. Just light shoulder touches or leaning against the table at a certain angle so her foot would brush his leg.

Thalia and Rachel were once again holding up the majority of the conversation, their loud voices carrying and frightening others in the group with slightly quieter voices. Katie and Grover, the two quieter ones in the group, often talked between themselves in a separate conversation in low tones. However, today Grover seemed determined to join; probably the effect of having another male in the group, seeing as, unless Nico decided to join them, Grover was one amongst many girls. Katie followed his lead and actually managed to get a word in edgewise occasionally.

True to his word, Percy didn't comment. In his corner, he sat, chuckling a few times at something amusing, but otherwise keeping mum. The first thing that Annabeth knew of his complimentary people watching skills was the heavy gaze she found resting on her when she turned to regard him.

She raised an eyebrow. He copied her. She raised the other one. He followed again. She attempted to do the weird Cadbury's-eyebrow-dancing-advert-thing. He made a face, then smiled slightly.

A few moments of watching one another impassively passed, before she recalled what he had done for her before. Thank you, she mouthed to him. He tilted his head, obviously confused, but her name was called by someone else and the interaction was momentarily forgotten.

"Annabeth, do you know why mould always grows on rubber ducks?" She sighed and complied, launching into spiel about ideal conditions for mould and just life in general, trying to be witty occasionally and failing. She scowled when she noticed Percy's chuckles calling her out on it.

...

OwenSawyer: So, how was your day? Were you miserable without me?

Annabeth was once again curled up on her bed, relishing the serenity of her room. Even the decoration was calming, with pale green walls and very little clutter. She was happy to talk to Owen now she was comfortable.

AnnabethChase: I've never had you next to me to be miserable without you in the first place.

AnnabethChase: It was good actually. I'm still very tired though.

OwenSawyer: I thought holidays were supposed to give you energy back, not sap what little you had left!

AnnabethChase: Yes, well, I think me and many others take it as a chance to stay up later because we don't have to get up early the next morning, always forgetting that holidays don't last forever and we'll have to deal with the consequences soon.

AnnabethChase: Of course, I'm assuming about the 'many others'. It might just be me.

OwenSawyer: I think it's just you, seeing as everyone else just does that normally, rather than waiting for the holidays. Anything exciting happen today?

AnnabethChase: I swear you literally just asked that.

OwenSawyer: Hey! It's a slightly different question. And we have to talk about something. If I was there in person, I could just stare into your eyes all day.

AnnabethChase: And then I'd tell you to 'push off stalker', I suspect.

He ignored her comment.

OwenSawyer: It doesn't work nearly as well over messages. It would just be radio silence. Well, unless...

OwenSawyer: 8) (8

AnnabethChase: What's that even supposed to be?

OwenSawyer: Us staring into each other's eyes, of course.

OwenSawyer: 8) (8

She rolled her eyes exasperatedly.

AnnabethChase: Enough! I'll answer your question! Just stop with the weird faces.

OwenSawyer: ... :)

AnnabethChase: Owen...

OwenSawyer: Sorry sweetheart. So tell me the most interesting things that happened to you today.

AnnabethChase: Well, Kieren totally got put in his place and slunk off to his evil lair all sulkily.

OwenSawyer: Kieren?

AnnabethChase: The guy I told you about who really gets on my nerves, to say the least.

OwenSawyer: Oh. What was the little creep doing this time?

AnnabethChase: Just flirting with me, trying to make me feel uncomfortable. But it's okay, one of my friends stepped in.

Percy counted as a friend, right? Right.

OwenSawyer: That's a first.

AnnabethChase: Look, I know you have a problem with some of my friends, because you think they're too pushy, or selfish, or don't help me enough but they're actually genuinely nice people.

OwenSawyer: Well, whoever finally stepped up to the mark, I'm very thankful. I wish I could punch him in the face myself but well... it's kind of difficult through a phone.

AnnabethChase: That's a bit extreme isn't it? Punching him in the face.

OwenSawyer: Not when it comes to you. Now, enough of my violent tendencies. Anything else worth reporting?

She thought a moment.

AnnabethChase: I met this guy called Beckendorf today, but that's it.

OwenSawyer: Beckendorf? Stupid name.

OwenSawyer: Who is he?

AnnabethChase: His real name is Charles, but everyone calls him Beckendorf. Well, everyone but Silena, who calls him Charlie. They're sickeningly sweet together.

OwenSawyer: What, so he and Silena are dating?

AnnabethChase: No, but almost. He likes her, she likes him. That's why I met him today - she wanted our seal of approval. We think he's just too nervous to make a move yet.

OwenSawyer: Like most guys. If he really likes her he would be nervous, he wouldn't want to mess it up. Take it from me, it's a good sign.

AnnabethChase: So, what about you? Anything of import to report?

OwenSawyer: Ha, that rhymed! And no, my life remains as boring as ever.

OwenSawyer: Unfortunately, my stomach is rumbling, so I must abandon you now to appease it. Until next time, my sweetest of hearts!

AnnabethChase: Bye! (And it's sweetheart or nothing at all. That was just... gah.)

She dropped her phone onto her bed covers and sighed, dropping her head against the wall for a moment with her eyes closed. Then she squeezed them tightly shut, smiled and sat up. Looking around for a moment, she then grabbed a book off the top of the pile by her bed - To Kill a Mockingbird - and began to read.

...

Thursday came around surprisingly quickly. As they say, time flies when you're having fun, and Annabeth was having fun. The workload was light - as was normal after a holiday - and she was enjoying the time she spent with friends. Beckendorf hung out with them a few more time, now confident enough to join them without the company of a friend.

However, when Annabeth sat on the bus on the way home that day, she was nervous. She hadn't forgotten Percy's promises of 'next time' and her stomach was filled with nervous butterflies and a few excited dragonflies. Leaning her head against the window, she listened to her music and watched the world flash by while she fidgeted with her hands. All too soon, her neighbourhood appeared.

With a deep breath she stood, winding up the cord of her earphones and shoving them in her bag. The bus drawing to a halt, she allowed its momentum to carry her forward until she reached the bus driver. Saying her thanks, she then waited on the pavement for her brothers.

They, of course, did not thank the bus driver, instead rowdily calling their goodbyes to their friends before making their way over and past her. "Hey, Annabeth, are we going to Gran's or are you waiting for something in particular?" Matthew called.

Someone, actually, she thought but did not say. "Just give me a moment." She heard them grumbling, but they had said that they wanted to meet Percy, so this was sort of for them. Sort of.

He had said that he got the same bus as her and that she should wait for him next time, so she would. If he was at the back of the bus then he might still be working his way down as the bus hadn't even been stopped for a minute yet. "Annabeth, seriously, what's the hold up?" Bobby whined.

"Boys, I'm older than you and if I say we're waiting then we're waiting. And that's who we're waiting for." She gestured towards the last guy climbing from the bus, dark hair hanging in your eyes. "You said you wanted to meet him." She watched their eyes suddenly become intent, studying the stranger heading towards them. "Percy! Hello! This is Matthew and Bobby," she indicated each brother in turn, "my brothers. They wanted to meet you. Matthew, Bobby, this is Percy Jackson. He's a guy from college."

Percy eyed them with a straight face before giving them a small smile. He extracted a hand from his pocket, leaving the other on the strap of his backpack, and shoved it out in front of him. "A pleasure to meet you."

Suspiciously, the two boys shook his hand. "And we hope it's a pleasure to meet you too," Matthew said meaningfully. It was funny to see the two boys position themselves between him and Annabeth, standing as tall as they could, but Percy managed to smother any laughter that he had.

"Favourite type of ice-cream?"

"Mint choc chip."

"Rugby or basketball?"

"To play or watch?"

"Both."

"Rugby to watch, basketball to play."

"Favourite pizza topping?"

"Pepperoni."

Bobby turned to Annabeth. "He's passed the first tests. We'll be keeping an eye out though." Matthew nodded his agreement. Annabeth blushed at what they would be keeping an eye on if things carried on with Percy the way they had so far.

Percy cleared his throat so they all turned to him, then looked each boy in the eye in turn very seriously. "Matthew, Bobby, I want to steal your sister away for a while if that's okay."

"Alone?"

"Yes, I would like to spend some time with your sister alone," he proclaimed, flicking his eyes up to make contact with hers, before returning to her siblings. She could see the mischief dancing in them under his unfairly long eyelashes.

"And why should we let you do that?" Their tone was accusing.

"Well, I remember last time you said you wanted to stay a while and play. This time you can and, as long as you stay within the park, I may have brought you a football to play with." He swung his tatty bag to the ground and unzipped it, reaching in to pull out a football. "So, what do you say?"

The boys nodded quickly, exclaiming, "Okay Annabeth, this guy is fully approved now."

With a quick reminder to them to stay within the park, he flicked his wrist so that the ball that was balancing on his hand flew over to the boys. Thanking him, the two of them ran off down the path, revelling in the freedom and time to play. Annabeth and Percy watched them go without speaking before heading off after them, much more slowly. He flashed her an enigmatic smile.

"So, why exactly did you want to spend some time alone with me?" Annabeth enquired after a moment.

"I want to show you something. You'll see in a minute." She regarded him suspiciously but let him gently entangle their hands and lead her off down a side path that led between the trees which shaded the lane they usually took. Preferring not to look like a reluctant puppy being taken for a walk by its master, she walked up alongside him. Percy took the opportunity to swing their hands.

"Did you have fun at the zoo the other day?" he suddenly asked. She frowned.

"How do you know that I went to the zoo the other day?"

"I was there myself and saw you, of course." She squinted at him in a way that suggested she didn't quite believe him. He held his hands up, chuckling. Of course, their hands were intertwined, so raising his hand raised hers too. "I'm not stalking you, I promise! I was just out at the zoo myself and saw you from afar. I didn't come over and say hi because it looked like you were having 'family time'." He did little air quotation marks around this, managing to squish the fingers of her hand that he held in the process. Seeing she still wasn't convinced, he added, "Honest guv, I'm innocent!" in his best cockney accent. This finally won a smile from her and she let him off the hook with a shake of the head and a smile.

"Alright, alright."

After a few moments where she still hadn't said anymore, he prompted, "So did you have fun there?"

"What? Oh, sorry. Yes. It's not my destination of choice really - apart from the penguins and the cute little monkeys and... basically anything cute - but the boys love it there. It's worth everything just to see them having fun and get to spend some time with them. A lot of the time they can be annoying but they're only going to be this age once and at least at this age they're innocently annoying."

"Unlike me, I suppose, who's - what? Evil and immorally annoying?" She threw him a look and he dropped it.

"I just want to spend some time while they're still enjoying their childhood, before it's all girls and sex and alcohol, you know?"

"There is more to guys than that, do you realise that?"

Annabeth huffed. "Of course, in theory, I've just never met anyone under the age of about 30 who proves that's true."

"Hey! I resent that! I'm under 30."

She threw him a playful glance. "I know." He screwed his face up in mock indignation and bumped his arm into her shoulder, knocking her off to the side. He then used their connected hands to pull her back before doing it again. This time when he tugged her back she resisted, not trusting him not to do the same. Percy gave her the most innocent smile he could muster and eventually she smiled back, moving to walk by his side again.

"So..."

"So?"

"You remembered to wait for me at the bus stop." Percy stated it quietly, not looking at Annabeth.

"I did," she replied just as quietly. He squeezed her hand until she looked up at him.

"Did you remember to bring your camera?" he asked, looking her in the eyes until her gaze dropped.

"I did, but only just. I was half way to the bus stop before I realised I had forgotten it. I sent the boys on and ran back. I only just made it and definitely got a few funny looks for breathing heavily as I got on."

"Oh? Not a sporty person, I take it?"

She laughed. "Hello? Resident nerd? It might be a stereo type, but it's pretty true in my case. I danced when I was little, but that's it."

"Well, you can't tell," Percy murmured as he stopped, a smile in his voice. Puzzled, Annabeth turned to see why he had stopped and found him looking her up and down, a smirk on his face. She made a noise of outrage in the back of her throat, slapping his shoulder and dragging him onwards, to which he just chuckled and followed.

"Are we ever going to reach this thing you want to show me?"

"Mhmm. Actually we just arrived," he declared as a gate came into view. Finally releasing her hand, he headed for the gate, unlatching it. While his back was turned, Annabeth quickly wiped her hand on her jeans, it being unavoidably sweaty after being clutched for the last 10 minutes by another warm hand. "Come on." Percy ushered her forward through the gate, shutting it behind her.

She found herself in a small clearing as they'd eventually emerged from the trees and their canopy of reddened leaves. Roughly circular, there was a largish pond at the centre of it, obviously natural. Weeds grew everywhere and wherever she stepped she had to check for nettles and thistles, half afraid that she would disturb a bee's nest or something at the same time. The water did not look like the kind you would be happy to swim in.

However, there was an exquisite beauty to the place, wild and free. Most of the grass stood tall, untrodden, as if the place had never been discovered. Reeds surrounded the pond, swaying in the gentle breeze, the air mostly still as the trees still sheltered them from the wind. Lily pads floated on the ponds surface, although their flowers were long gone and, as she watched, a dragonfly flew from one to another, sparkling blue and green in the sunlight. She imagined it would be the magical sort of place where fireflies would appear at night and dance against the dark sky, enchanting any solitary onlookers.

"Cool, huh?" Percy voice broke the silence and her reverie. "Let me show you something." Without waiting for a reply, he captured her wrist in one of his large hands and tugged her from her spot, moving swiftly anti-clockwise around the pond.

She hurried so as not to trip, but quickly learnt to step exactly where he had in order to avoid any stinging plants. Quickly they ended up on the opposite side of the pond and she discovered this area wasn't quite as wild as she had first assumed; the pond actually had a small stream leading into it and, assumedly, one leading out in someplace she hadn't noticed yet. This incoming stream was what Percy was leading her towards or, more notably, the bridge that spanned the stream.

It wasn't much really, simply a few boards, warped by moisture and age, and two uprights posts, a plank between them, forming a barrier between any people and the pond. Percy quickly checked his phone, dumping his bag, then pulled her over to the bridge. "The time's about right. Have a look at that," he pushed her against the barrier gently and pointed across the water, standing behind her.

It wasn't sunset yet, but the sun was starting to lower itself and she watched as it seemed to settle on a bank of clouds, half hidden, rays visibly streaking the sky with liquid yellow. There was a dip in the trees opposite them that framed it perfectly while the light seemed set the golden and reddened leaves alight. "It isn't late enough in the year yet, but at the end of the month it will be sunset at this sort of time and the lights just seeps through the branches here and there." He paused. "Do you like it?"

She smiled up at him. "Yes. Thank you, it's beautiful. And I'm glad we're here now as well, not just then. It might not be what you wanted me to see at first, but this way I can actually see it and all my pictures of it won't be silhouettes. I'll have to come back another time to get those," she said as she put walked back to solid ground, dumping her bag by his and digging her camera out before wandering back to where she had been.

Lifting it to her eye and taking a photo, she checked what it looked like, before lowering the camera to fiddle with the settings. Finally satisfied, she captured the sun carefully settling before it disappeared behind clouds, reflections on the water, a passing bug that landed on the barrier next to her. She squatted briefly to take a panoramic shot of the area.

Standing again, she examined the photos she had taken. Percy came to stand behind her left shoulder, pressed up against her. "Did you get some good ones?" Annabeth focused on her camera as she was supposed to be doing.

"Some, but I'll be surprised if the ones of the bug turn out. I'm using the wrong lens really." He moved her hair to her right hand side, presumably because it was blocking his view of the tiny screen on his camera. I'll see whether I can get a few more, then we'll have to go. Gran might be relaxed, but she does like us to come home so we can have dinner at a decent time."

Percy hummed in agreement and she lifted the camera again. Her shutter had just clicked when she felt something feather light brush across the skin of her neck. Thinking it was her imagination, or a bug, she set up another shot. It happened again.

And again, this time more definite.

It took her a moment that the warmth on her neck was in fact the rhythmic breathing of the boy behind her who had bent his head to her neck. Frozen, she felt his lips press gently to the same spot as before.

Slowly, she lowered her camera, not moving in any other way in case he stopped. Percy took this as encouragement, that she was aware and wasn't pushing him away. He slipped a hand to the curve of her waist, carefully keeping her in place facing away from him and leaning against the bar, while the other threaded through her hair to grasp the back of her head, tilting it slightly forward and to the right.

Annabeth followed his guidance, rewarded by a longer kiss, followed by another and another, climbing her neck, tracing the sensitive nape of her neck normally hidden by her hair. Occasionally his tongue would brush against her, making her shift. All was silent apart from the birds calling to one another about these two intruders, gently intertwined with their eyes closed to the world around them.

With more than a little passion, he mouthed where her jawbone met her neck and a whisper died in the back of Annabeth's throat, becoming a purr. She could feel the tip of each of his fingers, steady on her scalp, occasionally moving to comb her hair back out of the way.

He sensed her changing mind-set after a minute as she shifted and her head tried to move from where his hand held it. Kissing back down to where he started, he left one final gentle peck, before lifting his head an inch from her shoulder, breath still caressing her skin.

Finally he slid his hand from her hair, sweeping it down her collarbone before stepping away and removing his hands completely. Her head was still bowed, but eventually she inhaled deeply and lifted her head and her eyes fluttered open. Annabeth dropped her chin to rest on her left shoulder before turning to face him, standing as he was on the ground to her right.

"I hope you got some good pictures. I'm glad you like this place so much. As you said, we need to get back," he said as she opened her mouth to say something about... whatever that had been. He reached out to her. "Come on, it won't take long to get there." Obviously he didn't want to talk about it. Wordlessly, but with a smile, she took his hand. Percy passed her her bag, shouldering his own.

They swung their hands while they walked in silence down another small path she hadn't noticed before and before she knew it they emerged onto the field of the park. Nearby two boys played with a football. Percy spoke in his normal voice for the first time since the encounter - she hadn't noticed but he had spoken softly before, as if the moment was special - "Look, there are your brothers, still having fun."

"Yeah, well, you gave them a football. They could play for hours. Smart move, by the way, in order to win them over."

Percy grinned. "I'd like to think I know a few things about what interests guys. Anyway, it was only supposed to be a bribe to get some time alone with you today but if it wins their trust fully, then so be it."

"Well, if you want more time alone with me, all you have to do is bring that ball again," she joked, but was cut short by his look.

"I'll bear that in mind," he uttered, eyes fixed on hers. She wondered if he thought that was an invitation.

"Annabeth! Annabeth!" matching shouts called to her. Tearing her eyes away from Percy, she was met with her brothers racing towards her. "Annabeth, we're hungry," Matthew whined.

"I know, me too, we're going to Gran's now. Do you have Percy's ball with you?" They nodded and produced. "Give it back then, and what do you say?" Matthew mumbled while Bobby passed it back with enthusiastic thanks.

"That's alright boys. Thank you for lending me your sister for a while," Percy replied.

"You can have her any time," Matthew added, scowling. Annabeth gaped while Percy just chuckled.

"Good to know. Well, this is where we say our sad farewells I guess." They had reached the gate. "I'll see you next week. Or maybe before that. We'll see." Saluting, he started walking backwards. The boys responded in kind and for a moment as he let his hand drop, Percy's eyes clashed with Annabeth's, sparkling, conflicting with the rest of his face which was deadly serious.

She let herself consider what his eyes must have looked like as he had kissed her neck, eyelashes brushing his cheeks, iris' swirling under his eyelids. Perhaps opening lazily as he stepped away.

He broke eye contact as he whirled on his heel and headed off. He didn't look back.

Annabeth looked down at the two boys next to her - not that she would be able to look down at them for much longer. Another year and they would have grown far past her. "Oh, shit!" she exclaimed, dumping her bag and fetching her phone. She speedily sent a text to her Gran, explaining that they'd been there soon.

"Annabeth..." Bobby said. He looked at his brother and they shouted together, "You said a naughty word!"

Oh my goodness - I actually loved this chapter, which is a first for me because normally it takes me a while to like what I wrote. Anyway, sorry it took so long.

To all of you who have got results, or about to, I hope you get what you want. Or what you need. I didn't and it wasn't... fun. But it has and will work out for the best. I hope for the best for you all.