Author's Note:
K, yeah I know this chapter has a huge time gap in it since the 4th chapter, but that was all background leading up to the good stuff. Here is when the actual plan starts to go into motion. (Oh, and I know I said Sarah was going to find out about Mara in this chapter. . . but I lied. This chapter was getting long and I was getting tired of typing and wanted to send this off to my beta readers to read. . . so I'M SORRY! DON'T KILL ME!!!! *tear* Ahh well.
DISCLAIMER: I in no way own the Labyrinth. I wasn't old enough to direct it and what not when it came out, so I couldn't possibly have had anything to do with it.
The Incentive
Chapter Five
by Fou Fou
The next two months were hell, at least for Mara. Garith did come to the college as 'the new transfer student from England' and proceeded to charm his way into everyone's good graces, and into at least a dozen girls' pants.
Well, I guess I shouldn't be surprised, thought Mara with an sardonic grin as she pondered over these pasts months on her way back to the dorm, snow blowing everywhere in a fairy's dance. Vampires always had the reputation in the Underground to be very sex-orientated beings, along with the whole blood-sucking thing. Stars, from the way Garith acts, you'd think his whole world revolved around sex.
But even though the whole campus knew he was often sleeping with many of the other students, he still managed to have a flock of sex-crazed females following him wherever he went. And judging by the red marks on many of their necks, Mara was quite certain where he was getting his daily intake of blood, her long-healed ear stinging painfully for a moment with remembrance of when he bit her at the Halloween Party. True, he only took a drop, but the fact that she had found herself frozen, unable to stop him did not help matters in her view.
But to make matters worse, Garith had taken it upon himself to be ever attendant to "his first two friends, who went out of their way to make him feel welcome in a new and strange school." Namely, Sarah and Mara.
Talk about willful self-delusion. Me, want to be friends with him? When he is purposely hounding me, making sure it is impossible for me to get the privacy to contact Jareth, let alone try to strength that bond between the two of them? Hell, at the rate things are going, I can already hear the wedding bells ringing, sealing me to my doom. It doesn't help that Sarah actually likes that sex-craved stalker. Thinks he's sweet and funny, despite his bed habits. Oh, the two of them are just the best of friends. 'He's a good person under his habits,' she says. Hell, you just don't mind that someone cute like him is hanging around all the time. It has gotten to that I can't even step outside the dorm without him showing up, "to hang out and have fun," he says. Mmm, if that's true, then I'll chop of my pointy ears and live as a hermit in the Bog of Eternal Stench.
And then Sarah is always bothering me to find out why I dislike him. "Why are you always so rude to Garith, Mara?" she says. "He always tries to be nice to you." Huh. Yeah, Sarah, you see, the reason why I don't like him is because he is a vampire who has been sent by the Underground Council to stop me from getting you together with one of the few friends I've ever had that accepts me, who just incidentally to be the person you hate, Jareth, the Goblin King. Oh, I'm sure that would go over well. Add the fact that I'm an Elvin Princess and she would think that I'm either delusional, or be so pissed off at me that she would kill me.
Well, at least it was obvious last Halloween that the lifebond between Jareth and Sarah is there. Heavens, she didn't even see his face, and she was obviously attracted to him, and she's brought him up several times, asking if she'll ever get to meet him again. If I could only figure out how to do that, without Mr. Blood Sucker breathing down my neck, his little followers causing mass chaos in his wake.
Well, at least asshole and company are off somewhere else right now; mostly likely with Sarah. And the followers are going home for Christmas break, thank the stars.
But Garith isn't. Ah hell, I'm going to go crazy! Stuck here at campus alone with him! I mean it was bad enough when Sarah went home for Thanksgiving; and that was only 4 days! At least he could still get mobbed by the remaining Horde of Barbarian Whores, not to mention I had Tom and Andrew to goof off with; some of the few people here who actually dislike him for the same reason why everyone loves him. I never realized how fun mortals could be to hang out with. Speaking of which . . .
She walked over to the snow-covered fountain where both Tom and Andrew were standing, surrounded by a small crowd of people who all seemed to begging them for something. Noticing her, Andrew cried, "Mara! Just the person we were looking for!" as he came over and pulled her off towards the fountain. "Now we can start!"
"Start what?" asked Mara, feeling slightly apprehensive.
"Elmo the Penguin," mouthed Tom, smiling.
Mara bit back a groan. 'Elmo the Penguin' was a prime example of how the song 'Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer' could go totally wrong, complete with back-up singing and a dance number in the middle. This particular mutation had occurred over the course of their Voice and Movement classes that the three of them had together.
"Here? Now? In front of everyone?" asked Mara.
Tom nodded. "Yes, apparently they heard people talking about it, and insisted on seeing it live (this comment was backed up by the murmur of affirmation from the others). And we simply can't disappoint an audience."
Mara sighed theatrically, nodding sadly. "That we cannot do. Alright, I'm in." With that she jumped onto the fountain, a little behind and to the right of Tom, with Andrew on Tom's left. Andrew produced a small tuner, and played Tom's first note for him. When Tom confirmed that he had it, Andrew replaced the tuner and as he snapped his fingers, he said, "A one, a two, a one two three!"
"Elmo, the Polka Dotted Penguin!" sang Tom, his beautiful tenor voice resounding through the air to the tune of 'Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer.'
"He was a penguin. Ohh! He was a penguin!" sang Mara and Andrew together, backing their friend up.
"Had a bunch of colored dots!"
The crazy song continued as it told the story of the poor penguin, Elmo, who was inflicted with multicolored polka dots all over him, and how the shallow, prejudice society of the other penguins shunned him (because the government taught them to not accept others who where not like them). They would call him names, beat up on him, ring his doorbell and run, or just ignore him. Finally, discouraged by this unjust treatment and determined to have revenge, went to the Evil Queen from Snow White (after a dance number including all three performers that acted out his journey to the Evil Personage, all set to 'We Three Kings,' that was 'oohed' by the singers, who were now being surrounded by even more intrigued students). The Evil Step Mother made him a bunch of poison apples to be used to kill the other penguins. Unfortunately, since poison is a evil coward's weapon, and the other penguins were cowards (for they could not face individuality, having it all crushed out of them at a young age by the government) and most definitely evil, it did not work like it did on the innocent, loving ditz of a princess, Snow White (who could not appreciate the seriousness of the matter of being in the only woman in a house of 7 men, thus throwing herself into the dangers of being raped or forever being forced to be the helpless sex-toy). Elmo, disheartened, finally felt that if he could not defeat them, he might as well join them, so he dyed himself normal colors and began to act like the other penguins (this act representing the suppression of his individuality). So while the other penguins ended up accepting him, the government won because it was able to successfully make another mindless drone of a taxpayer.
By the time the song was over with, the small crowed had become a large one, with everyone laughing, ending with huge applause at the end of the song. Mara laughed as the three of them held hands and bowed, but as she stood straight again, she caught sight of two familiar faces in the crowd, one friendly, who was laughing, amused by the antics of her roommate, and one not-so-friendly, who was grinning mockingly at her with a raised eyebrow, his usual train of followers surrounding them.
Well, that explains where he's been, thought Mara.
"Oh my goodness, Mara!" cried Sarah, running to her friend, and hugging her. "I never knew you could sing! That was hilarious!"
"Didn't know I could either, until I took Voice," said Mara, feeling herself blush with pleasure.
"I must say, Elf" said Garith, calling her by her his pet name for her, (which, coincidently enough, was what the goblins often called her back in the Labyrinth) as he sauntered over, "I never would expect seeing you do something like that, openly goofing off, in front of everyone. It was an entertaining experience."
Mara stiffened slightly, just enough that Andrew, who was still holding her hand, noticed. Angrily, he let go of Mara's hand and stepped between the two of them, "You make it sound like goofing off and having fun is a bad thing, Garith."
Garith laughed. "Oh, by no means, no. I support having all sorts of fun," (this word he stressed, leading to different interpretations) "It's just that Elf here didn't come across to me as the type who felt that having fun is singing parody Christmas songs. I thought she was the kind to pull pranks on others for fun and laugh at not getting caught. Though I must admit, I find many of your stunts highly entertaining." Everyone laughed, well aware that Mara loved to pull harmless pranks on the teachers, like rearranging the stuff on their desk, just to confuse them. But when Mara looked at Garith, his dark eyes showed that he was thinking of the other pranks she played back in the Underground, and to mortals. Cruel jokes, all in the name of fun and revenge. Of course, no one got hurt seriously, but still . . .
Mara sighed dramatically, willing herself not to pay attention to the twist in her gut she felt for a moment. "Ah, yes, I do love to pull pranks. What better way to show the absurdity of the world, or get back at a particular tiresome . . . individual? But, I also do love making a fool of myself. For if I show the absurdity in others, I must also show it in myself, or it just wouldn't be fair."
"And who better to know what fair is," said Garith mockingly.
"It's more like I have an idea of what fair should be, not what it is. 'Cuz we both know, Garith, that life ain't fair," said Mara, examining a manicured fingernail. Then, looking up at him slyly she added, "And we both know that you can't win unless you stop playing fair."
Garith laughed, while everyone looked at each other in confusion. "That you're right, Elf. And I already have, I'm just waiting for you to make your move."
"Hey, Tom, do you still have my books? Because I kinda would like them back before you leave," said Sarah suddenly, noticing how the two of them started getting tense, worried about just what Garith was suggesting about their friend.
"Shit, you're right," he said, looking at his watch. "Andrew and I have to catch the bus back home in 2 hours, and knowing Andrew, he hasn't finished packing yet. Come on over to the dorm with us, and I'll go get your books."
"See ya after vacation then," said Mara, giving both a hug. "I'll miss ya while I sit in my dorm reading all Christmas."
Sarah looked at her friend with surprise, but said nothing. She just turned and started walking off with Tom and Andrew, leaving Mara alone with Garith and the followers. Mara sighed, then saying curtly, "Good day, Garith," she turned and walked off towards the dorm.
Just when she was beginning to hope that Garith was not going to follow her, she was disappointed as she felt an arm slide around he waist, pinning her to him. Glancing around, she saw that the Horde were missing, not that she was disappointed there, but that meant that Garith wasn't going to be as gentlemanly anymore.
"So, Elf," he murmured in her ear. "It's been a while since the two of us have been alone to talk. I keep on getting the weirdest feeling that you avoid me. And you always of those two guys with you . . . what's their names . . Tom and Andrew? What are they, you're new bodyguards or something? Cuz they seem awfully quick to defend you about the slightest little thing."
"First of all, I don't know where the hell you got the idea that I would want to avoid you, it's simply preposterous," said Mara sarcastically. "Second, I'm engaged, so keep your hands to yourself," she added trying to pull out of his grip, which happened to be very strong, another common trait of a vampire. One that Mara was beginning to take a strong dislike to.
"But I thought you were against the marriage," he said, laughing quietly, pulling her closer. "I seem to remember hearing people back home say that you declared that nothing short of a 'true love' would event tempt you into marriage. Surely you don't feel that for the Goblin King?"
"I don't, but if I can use the legal ramifications of getting marriage to keep you away from me, then I will gladly use it," she replied.
Garith sighed sadly. "Ah, Elf, what shall we do with you," he whispered again, this time against her cheek.
"And that counts as sexual harassment, which is a crime worthy of punishment even in the Underground, and double if it is towards a royal personage," she snapped, finally pulling herself away, and started walking very fast towards the dorm. Calling over her shoulder she added, "If you want to go harass someone, your little following of lap dogs would just love to get all kinky with you. And I'm sure most of them already have, Vamp."
Garith raised an eyebrow at her with amusement as he followed behind. "My, aren't we touchy today, Your Highness."
"I'm touchy all the time when you're around, Vamp," she snapped, turning towards down to a pathway between two buildings, and stopped short to find him not two inches in front of her.
How the hell did he do that?
"Then prove that you're a touchy individual," he replied, using the other meaning of the word as he wrapped his arms around her, putting his hands up under her jacket and shirt, and began tracing invisible patterns on her skin with his cold fingers. He leaned his head closer to hers, and when she tried to back away, she found herself up against the side of a building.
Why does this stuff always happen to me? Hell, you'd think that being a princess would at least gain me a little respect, despite my history. What with Jareth abusing me verbally, and now asshole here getting . . . That's it, his fingers are COLD! Normally I wouldn't mind a guy doing this to me, but only if I liked him! Not if he was just some incredibly freaky vampire the Council set out to keep me in line. Stars . . . I bet there watching this now in their crystal balls . . . all having a good laugh at my expense. Well, I suppose I kinda deserve it . . . but this goes too far . . .
Mara pulled her hands up to push him away, but just as she was about to, his hands moved up to catch hers, which he then pulled around his waist, thus pulling her closer around him. Mara could swear she heard her heart thumping as she began to remember again why most sentiment beings were afraid of his kind, as his lips curled into a cruel smile, exposing those two sharp pointy teeth. Mara froze, staring at him like a deer caught in a headlight, while somewhere n the back of her mind she was wondering if vampires had a fear spell that kinda just radiated from them at will, like elves normally had a peace one, because if he did, it certainly working.
"My, my, my," he said, chuckling. "Is Miss Fearless Princess afraid?"
"I'm not afraid," came her quiet reply that wasn't quite as strong as she had wished.
"Then why are you shaking so hard, and your heart thumping so loud? Believe me, with the help of my species' senses, I can quiet easily detect the rapid increase of your heart and breathing. So I repeat myself, are you afraid?
"Of what?" scoffed Mara quietly, looking down, trying to pull her hands out of his, which she could feel were shaking. It probably was a fear spell, affecting her. That would definitely explain her unMara-like behavior.
"Oh, I think we both know what," he murmured, leaning down and kissing her softly on the cheek, but as he smiled, she could feel the sharp points of his teeth tease her skin, threatening to penetrate. Stepping back, he let go of her hands. "I'll walk you to your dorm."
Since Mara knew it was hopeless trying to argue with him, she followed him as the two headed off in the direction of her dorm in silence. When the reached the door he added with a smile, "Oh, I'll be staying here for the holiday's as well, so we'll have plenty of time to hang out."
"I think I'll prefer solitude locked up in my dorm, without you," she said, feeling the weight of despair hang on her shoulders. Three weeks with Garith as the only company. Oh wasn't that just going to be fun? As she went through the door and headed towards the stairs to the fifth floor, she could hear him chuckling with amusement out in the snow.
* * *
"I swear, I am going to hang the person who decided to built this dorm without an elevator," grumbled Sarah, marching tiredly into the room. And a whole lot of other forms of torture. It is NOT fun hauling myself up those stairs wearing my winter jacket and carrying my books that Tom borrowed. Death by sharp pointy objects sounds good . . .
Mara looked up from her book, and smiled. "I thought you said that the stairs were good for you. Kept you in shape!"
Sarah rolled her eyes and moaned as she tore off her coat and hung it up on the coat rack the two of them had bought and painted about a month ago in anticipation of the winter season. "Don't remind me what I said then, it was a long time ago."
"It was only four months ago," said Mara. "Hardly a long time."
Sarah glared at Mara before saying, "So, is it true that you're not going home for Christmas break?"
Mara shrugged. "Yeah," she said carefully.
"Why? Excuse me for prying, but why aren't you going to go visit your home?"
Mara sighed. "Let's just say that I really don't get along with my family."
"Why?"
"Well, my family is a group of people have a very high opinion of themselves. Only marry to other's of the same social status and whatnot. Not to mention, for the longest time, the major traits of my family have been black-haired and brown eyes, when I came along, let's just say it came as quite a stir in my family."
"Because you looked different?" asked Sarah, genuinely interested in this peek into Mara's past life, which she normally didn't hear much of, just vague details.
"Yeah, they were all convinced Mother had been cheating on my father, but since I had a twin sister who looked perfectly normal, there wasn't really anything they could really prove."
"You have a twin sister?" asked Sarah. "I didn't know you had a twin."
Sarah watched as Mara seemed to stiffen slightly, before saying, "Yeah, I do. She's married. And she actually married someone who was not black-haired, brown-eyed. Parents didn't care though, he came from a prominent family, not to mention she loved him." This last comment came out somewhat strained, and Sarah thought it was best not to pursue the subject of Mara's sister's fiancé. But her sister though . . .
"Kinda young, isn't that? She's what, twenty?"
Mara sighed. "Yeah, well, my family likes getting the daughters off and married at a young age. When I was at home, they always use to shove guys at me, them, and all their other high-nosed friends, in hopes that I would settle down. I'm afraid I was very troublesome when I was younger." With a smile, she added, "And some people now think I still am. My parents were quite shocked to discover I wanted to go to an acting college. Demanded to know if I was out of my mind. Almost disowned me, but they didn't, unfortunately."
What a horrid family life! With everyone against you, just because you looked different? Not caring what your interests might be, but the expectations of the family? Striking upon an inspiration, Sarah said, "Well, how about you come home with me this year?"
Mara looked up with surprise at Sarah. "W...what?" she stammered.
"You heard me. Come home with me for Christmas. I'm sure my family would love to meet you. And it's better then hanging out in this dorm all vacation."
"You're sure?" asked Mara timidly, looking up at Sarah with a sort of wonder.
"Absolutely! Under one condition," she said.
"What?" asked Mara, apprehensively.
"That you help drive, because I certainly don't want to do it by myself."
Mara laughed, glad that she had made sure that she had her driver's license before coming to college. "Deal."
"Well, then start packing!" urged Sarah, as she began to get out her own suitcase. "We leave tomorrow morning!"
After a few minutes of packing in silence, Mara ventured, "Sarah?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks."
* * *
"Well, here it is!" said Sarah as they pulled up next to her house. "We're home!"
"You're sure your parents won't mind me?" asked Mara.
Sarah waved her hand. "Nah, I called them up last night, and they said it was perfectly alright."
"Well, I hope they like me."
Sarah laughed. "They've all been begging to see you. Always ask me to bring you home sometimes so they can all meet my roommate. This way, they're happy, because they get to meet you, I'm happy, because I will have someone my own age to hang out with, and finally, you will be happy because you won't be spending the holidays alone in your dorm." Slyly she added, "Though I suppose you could have hung out with Garith, I think he was staying."
Mara shuddered. "No thank you. I can barely stand him as it is. Spending three weeks with him would drive me crazy. I might just kill him." If I would just stop freezing up when he is near, I would now.
Sarah shook her head with mock sorrow as they got out of the car. "I don't know why you don't like him. The two of you act a lot a like. And he has often voiced to me that he would really like to be friends with you, but you keep pushing him away. Look, I know he has the whole bed half the campus thing going on, but other then that, he really is a nice guy once you give him a chance."
Mara snorted. "I don't know how you can always insist that there is good in everyone, Sarah. You're everyone's friend. Garith is a rude, conceited bastard through and through; and I don't understand what everyone sees in him."
Sarah sighed as she opened the door to the house. "Karen? Dad? Toby? Anyone here?"
"SARAH!" cried a little boy who Mara assumed was Toby, latching himself onto Sarah. "You're back! You're back!" He cried excitedly.
Wow, Toby certainly has grown up. Of course, last time I saw him was when Jareth gave me the job of babysitting him when he was off harassing Sarah. Didn't trust the goblins with watching him. Can't say I blame him.
"Hey, Toby!" said Sarah, hugging her half brother back. "Toby, this is my friend Mara," she added, gesturing to Mara.
Toby backed up from Sarah and gazed intently at Mara. A glimpse of recognition flickered in his eyes, causing Mara to freeze. Could he have remembered? Goodness knows if he remembered it would cause problems. "Elf!" he cried, latching himself onto her.
Sarah and Mara stared at each other with surprise. Sarah wondering how he knew that nickname that Garith and many of his friends started calling Mara since Halloween, and Mara worried that Toby did remember her, since Elf was the nickname the goblins often called her. Kneeling down in front of Toby, she asked, "Why do you call me Elf?"
Toby shrugged. "You remind me of an elf," was his reply before running off down the hallway crying "MOM! DAD! Sarah and Mara are here!"
"That was interesting," murmured Mara to Sarah. "You didn't happen to tell your family that was my nickname at school."
Sarah shrugged worriedly. "I don't know. I didn't think I did, but I might've."
"Sarah, your home!" said Karen, coming into he hallway and hugging her stepdaughter. "And you must be Mara!" she said, hugging Mara. "You're welcome here for the holidays. I hope you make yourself at home."
"Thank you Mrs. Williams," said Mara.
"Oh, just call me Karen. Sarah does, and since your a friend, I don't see why you can't," replied Karen with a wave of her hand.
"Thank you . . . Karen," answered Mara, smiling hesitantly. The friendliness in this house was getting to be infectious.
"Hey, Sarah," said the last member of the family, Robert, with Merlin the dog following him into the room, barking excitedly. "We've missed you." Hugging his daughter he turned to Mara and said, "Welcome to our home. We've got a room all ready for you upstairs where you can put your stuff."
"Thank you, sir," she replied, but he waved his hand and told her to call him Robert.
A little while later, Sarah and Mara were upstairs in Mara's room unpacking, when Sarah asked, "So what do you think of my family?"
"Oh my God, they're wonderful!" gushed Mara truthfully. These people were nothing like her father and the rest of her family. "They are so friendly and open. I love them!"
Sarah laughed. "Just you wait. Tonight is game night, so you better be prepared to play a long game of Gestures."
Mara smiled, "I can't wait!" This was looking to be a good vacation after all!
* * *
"Why ever did they decided to build this building without an elevator is beyond me," he grumbled angrily as he reached the fifth floor of Mara and Sarah's dormitory. Turning down the hallway he went to room 509. Knocking on it, he called, "Hey, Elf, ya in there?"
Silence.
"Mara?"
More Silence.
"You know I'll break down the door if you don't open it. I haven't seen you all day and I am pining away from loneliness because you are not around. You haven't even left to eat, and you must be starving. Now open up, Your Highness."
Yet again, he was answered by even more silence.
"Elf, this is very childish, hiding behind closed doors. You're going to be with me for the rest of the holiday, so you might as well accept it and come out. And no funny business."
Infuriated that Mara was refusing to answer, Garith held his hand in front of the doorknob and it came unlocked. Opening the door, he stepped into the room, which was empty of living beings. Worriedly, he went to Mara's dresser, which proved to be quite empty. Franticly, he began to search the room, but was only able to find clues of the inhabitants' departure.
"Damn!" he swore, sitting down on a bed. Beneath him, something crinkled. Curious, he stood up and picked up a piece of paper with writing on it. Fascinated, he began to read:
Jareth, I know that despite my warnings you are still flying around in owl form spying on your fair love because you are an egotistical bastard who feels he doesn't need to listen to other's good advice. She has invited me so we've both gone to her house for the holidays. Garith is staying here at the campus, so we might be able to pull something off and prove that damn lifebond between you two still exists. I'll contact you if that enchanted mirror still works in her bedroom, and if not, I'll find some other way. Until then, Mara.
After reading the contents twice over, Garith slumped onto the bed again. So that explains what Mara has been up to. She was trying to use the Lifebond Clause to get out of the marriage, which explains why Jareth was at the party two months ago. She must have discovered it existed somehow, and was now trying to strengthen it enough to prove that it existed. Garith shook his head with amazement as Mara and Jareth's plan became clear to him. And if Garith knew Mara, she probably was the one to recognize the lifebond because of her twin. She probably had studied them, to prove that it was a lifebond. No wonder she refuses to get married, if something like that happened again, and when she was married, it would be living hell.
Ah, well. It's not my problem. I've been sent here to stop Mara's plans and that's what I intend on doing . . . not to mention have a hell of a time doing it. Who would have thought that Little Miss Elvin Princess could become so defenseless when corned? Seriously, I don't know why the Council hasn't been able to do anything about her until now. Still, I should go warn them. If Jareth crosses into this world to spend time with Sarah, then the whole contract could go up in smoke. And if it did, Mara would undoubtedly use her new freedom to make life a living hell for the councilors. You know, maybe if they had just left her alone instead of nagging her all the time and trying to find her a husband, she might have not turned out the way she did, being such a troublemaker. Ah well, I kinda like her better the way she is now. More . . . alluring. It's a pity that she's getting married.
Garith shrugged and stood up. Time to make a little call to the Underground Council . . .
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DUN DUN DUH! K . . . um yeah. I have no idea where Elmo and Polka-Doted Penguin came from. I really don't. It just kinda wrote itself onto the paper. Um . . . yeah . . what is Garith going to do? How will he stop Mara's latest plan? (And what is her latest plan?)
Thank you Megs and Becca for beta reading this! I LOVE YOU GUYS! I think the world of you! You are goddesses! You are wonderful! You are the best! . . . I should probably stop now. I'll thank you guys in person by falling onto my knees and bowing with thanks. (I need a life. . . I really do!) *sigh*
But I hope you guys liked that section regardless. And please REVIEW! (it makes me feel special . . . ^_^)
Thank you to:
BelloViolaRose: Thank you for the review, even though it was all in French. (Of course, I can do French WITHOUT a translation site .. see JE PARLE FRANCAIS!! . . can't remember anymore right now . .)
Porcelain Teacup: I hope this was a fast enough update, and I hope you like this one as much as the last!