Claire and Shane's Happily Ever After Chapter 9, a morganville vampires fanfic

AN: hello once again my dear readers. As always thank you for the reviews, adding me to your favourite and alert lists (author and story). Once again it's short cause I don't know what to say to you apart from thank you for the reviews and adding me to various lists so you I will now let you get on with the chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own Morganville vampires. Rachel Caine does.

Chapter 9

Shane's POV

It felt weird to be leaving Morganville this time around. I will admit that I don't really remember much about it as it was a few years ago but I do remember feeling a sharp pain in my head, sort of like a strong headache that can come on very quickly and hits you fall force.

It's nice to be able to leave Morganville even though only it will be for a little while. I do wish tough that the children could have come with us even though it's our honeymoon so that they could have some time away from Morganville and the vampires. Maybe when they are older we can ask to see it it's possible for us to have a family holiday for a week or two. Although in saying that there is a part of me that thinks that it might be asking for too much considering what Claire has managed to get changed with the rules for the safety and create more fairness for the humans.

For now though I'm just going to think about me and Claire. No vampires, no friends, no children. Just Claire and Shane. Husband and wife. The outside world will no longer exist (except when necessary).

For our little holiday I'd found this nice little villa that although would be too much space for us as there is only the two of us but that's what I wanted cause then we could have some privacy and make the outside world disappear until we want it to be there. For example if we should decide that we wanted to go out for the evening for a romantic night out the villa was also in a nice area that was near some decent shops and restaurants. It was also not that near other people so that we wouldn't have to worry about nosy neighbours spying on us. There was also a pool out the back so that we could go swimming if we wanted to and hopefully I would get to see Claire in a bikini. A dream come true.

"Wow Shane, this place is perfect." And this was from only looking at what you can see from entering through the front door.

"You have yet to see the best part yet." I carried her to what I considered the best part of this place. The bedroom.

"Why are you still carrying me?" Claire asked.

"Because it's my right as your husband to carry you over the threshold and then I didn't want to let you go."

Claire loved the bedroom as well. It was a nice room as well cause the furniture was dark in colour and then the best was pure white and completely stood out. It looked like a piece of heaven surrounded by hell.

I placed Claire on the bed and she looked as though that was where she belonged. She belonged in that piece of heaven that was surrounded by hell (Morganville being the hell that surrounds heaven)

"Didn't you mention that you had a surprise for me?" she looked so innocent sitting there

"It's probably not quite what you expect but I bet that it'll clear any thoughts that you have that either you or I will forget our children and our life back home." I then took my top off.

On my right arm was the name Abigail and then on my left was the name Ethan.

Claire looked speechless.

Even more so when she saw that I'd had her name tattooed on my chest right above where my heart would be.

"I placed our children's names on my arms cause that is where I always want to hold them so that I can protect them. I also placed you name right above my heart cause I've now given you my heart and so now it's yours to do with as you please."

"Oh Shane," Claire swooned at my words. "I didn't think that it was possible for me to fall anymore in love with you, but it is." She even had tears begin to form in her eyes.

We began to kiss and it then became very heated, very quickly.

Claire and I have had sex many times before (hence the children), but for some reason now that we were married it felt, well, a part of me thought different but it wasn't really, it was just more. Not different just more.

More fire. More passion. More spark.

Maybe it was due to the fact that we were now married as were as if one person.

Claire also never worried about how she looked to me and how I would see her body when it was no longer hidden beneath clothes.

Not even the next day when we woke up did she worry about how she looks to me. Maybe either all the times that I had told her that I loved her and would always stay with her (and not just cause of the kids) or the fact that we were now married proved to her that I would always be with her and that she's all I would ever need and want.

It was perfect cause it felt as though we were only ones who existed. That was until Claire found something to think about and then become worried over.

We were just wrapped up together in our own little bubble sharing the occasional kiss, no words needing to be said. Then the world appeared and our bubble burst when Claire's brain then started working and thoughts of our children came into her head.

"Shane, do you think that our children will be okay?"

"Of course they will be. They are with your parents who are very capable at taking care of children as they managed to take care of you alright. Also Eve and Michael are there as well and are capable of assisting should any help be needed, especially if there are any problems with the vampires."

"Do you think that they will have any problems with the vampires?"

"Claire, sweetheart calm down, okay. Everything will be alright. Nothing is going to happen. I do have my phone with me in case of emergencies."

"Are you not worried at all about our children?"

"Of course I do, it's hard for me not to be when I'm not with them but I know that they are with your parents who are capable of taking care of the children. If something happens to them in know that I have my phone with me so that should they need to call us about anything they can reach us and then if necessary we van then head straight home. But for these two weeks I just want it to be about you and me. No vampires, no Morganville, no family. The outside world doesn't exist. Just Claire and Shane. Husband and wife and not mother and father."

"I know and it's also what I want as well cause who knows how long it'll be until we can next leave Morganville. But I still can't help but worry about them, I guess it's just part of me being a mother; I can't help but worry about the children. I'll try and contain it for these two weeks."

"Good." I said and placed a kiss on her forehead.

We then still stayed in bed until we realised that we were hungry and we could no longer hold off of eating and no choice but to leave the bed.

I did try though to get Claire to stay in bed so that I could surprise her with some food that would not be chilli cause I could tell that that was what we would end up eating unless she was the one to do the cooking as she didn't know that before we went away, for a couple of weeks, I had been taking lessons in how to cook so that for these two weeks I could be the one to take care of the cooking (when we aren't having a romantic night out). Claire does pretty much all the cooing at home and so deserves a well deserved break from doing it.

I managed to stop her just before she entered the kitchen.

"What do you think you're doing?" I asked whilst grabbing her around the waist to stop her from moving forward.

"Into the kitchen so we can eat." She replied and sounded confused.

"Yes well there's going to be a change right there."

"You're going to cook?"

"No need to sound so surprised. I can cook."

"I know you can Shane, chilli."

"Well if that's what you think then you're in for a surprise." I whispered into her ear before seating her on a stool by the island that was sort of in the centre of the kitchen.

"Is there anything specific that you would like?"

"Why don't you just surprise me?" I had a feeling that she would say that.

I didn't really know what to do so I just made us both basic omelettes

Claire did actually seem impressed when I platted her omelette and placed it in front of her.

"I know that it's not that special but it's what first came into my head that I could make."

"Actually Shane it's really good. Why didn't you make things like that at home?"

"Cause I decided that for our honeymoon I would learn how to cook some things as another surprise for you so that you wouldn't have to do the cooking for the two of us. Actually for these two weeks I plan to make sure that you never lift a single finger."

"Is there ever going to be a limit as to how perfect you can be. Maybe I'll give you a little treat later on for this."

"I'll look forward to it." I whispered into her ear and they started kissing down her neck making Claire moan and start to melt in my arms.

You can probably guess what happened next. Hot sex in the kitchen.

That was pretty much how it passed for the next couple of days. Staying in bed until we couldn't any longer, me then cooking something followed by Claire trying to get away with doing the dishes as I had done the cooking.

It was fun the first time she tried to do the dishes.

It was the afternoon and we'd just had lunch and Claire had thought that seeing as I had done the cooking she should be the one doing the washing up. I saw what she was doing had then snuck up behind her.

"What are you doing?"

"Ahh!" She hadn't heard me coming and so I had made her jump and I then tried my hardest not to laugh at how I had made her jump cause I never had before. "Thank you for scarring me Shane" She tried to look daggers at me but she failed as she couldn't help but smile at me.

"Anyway back to my question, what are you doing?"

"The washing up." She replied as though confused that I would ask that.

"I know that. Why though, you're not meant to be lifting a finger."

"But that's not fair on you. You can't expect me to just be able to sit here and watch you do all the cooking and cleaning." She then started to pout as that will normally get me to agree to what she wants. But not this time.

"I can this time. You deserve to have a chance to be able to just sit there, relax and have nothing to worry about. So am I going to have to lock you out of the kitchen after eating so that you won't lift a finger or will be able to do what I want so that you actually have a break from what you normally do at home?"

"Hmm, can I think about it for a second?" And she did. "No. I'm not letting you do everything. You deserve as much time to relax as me."

"Okay then," I decided I wouldn't lock her out of the kitchen to stop her I could do something right now in an attempt to get her to listen to me. Decided that I would dump her in the pool ht we had yet to use but there is still time and this would be one of them. I lifted her over my shoulder and carried her outside. "I've changed my mind instead I'm just going to dump you into the pool right here." She just started laughing which I was glad for cause even though I was serious about her not lifting a finger I did want us have some fun and not argue with her.

When I went to hold her over the pool she just said "If you put me in the pool you are going to come with me. I will not surrender." She tightened her grip on me and when I then released her above the water she did then end up pulling me in with her as well. "Told you so."

I swam up to her making her then go right up to the edge making sure that she had no escape.

"I don't plan to surrender either." We then started to kiss again.

"You know that I'm going to have to get you back for dumping me in the pool right." She told me whilst I'd started to kiss down her neck.

"Wasn't pulling me into the pool as well punishment enough?"

She seemed to think about it for a minute before she answered me.

"No" was all she then said to me. "But who said it would be now. It could be now, it could be later, next week or even when we get back home" She told me with an evil glint to her eyes. It did kind of had me worried cause I would never know when she would strike.

"Anyway back to our discussion before this. I'm not letting you lift a single finger. You do enough of it at home. This could be our only holiday and I just want to spoil you and give you the chance to relax for the first time in a while." I then tried to do the puppy dog eyes in the hopes that it would help my case.

"Okay, you win but it will be really difficult for me to resist."

"Well then I'll just have to find ways to distract you. Maybe with my brilliant cooking skills."

"We'll see about that." We were actually still in the pool at this point and then started making out once again and for the first time in my life I had sex in a pool which felt weird cause of all the water that surrounded us.

In the evening I decided I would have a break from cooking for us and would take Claire out for a nice and romantic meal out cause she deserves the chance to get all dressed up and go out somewhere nice for the night for a change. Well when I say that, it's not as though I never tried to take Claire out for a romantic evening it's just that there aren't all that many places to go out to that are decent enough to be classified as a romantic and then the ones that are the best to go are the ones where they are lots of vampires and then there's also the fact of that if you want to go out during the night you are basically testing fate. Yes Claire managed to get the rule created where you can protect yourself against vampires and carry stakes but they are only to be used as a self defence and there is not many rules (if there are in fact any) that will make sure that you can go out for the evening and be assured that you will not be attacked by a vampire.

Anyway I'm digressing.

When Claire made it back down the stairs once dressed I was sorely tempted to just lock the door and then drag her back upstairs. Fuck the meal, Claire looked edible enough already but I thought that considering that as we had both already got dressed up and that I had also already made a reservation for us that we should go out. There would be plenty of time for sex once we got back.

"Shane, you might want to close your mouth and wipe away that bit of drool from the side of your mouth." I had no idea that my mouth was open and that I was starting to drool. I guess that just proves how edible she looked to me as she was making my mouth water.

When we got to the restaurant Claire was completely amazed at what she saw and that I had chosen this restaurant. I don't know if that was cause I was really spoiling her with this place or was due to that I had never really taken her to a place like this. Although I think it was more due to the fact that this place meant that I was really spoiling her as it was actually a quite expensive place but there are other places that are more expensive than this one but this is just what she deserves. Also it's our honeymoon and I'm meant to be spoiling her.

I was glad that at this place the hostess and also our waitress did not seem to stare at me and then try to flirt with me and ignore Claire as well. Either they just weren't interested or they actually valued their jobs here. Whatever the case might be I was glad cause I just find it annoying that they just seem interested in me and seem to be almost insulted when they see that Claire is with me. I do know that there are men out there who say that they hate getting the attention from other women but they actually like getting that attention. Me however I just hate and if Claire was the only one who found me attractive then I would still be really happy cause she all I will ever want/need. Anyway once again I'm digressing.

"Shane, when you booked this place did you know how expensive it was here?" She asked as soon as she looked at the menu and our waitress had left us to decide on our food and had taken our drink order which was the same wine that we had drank when I had proposed to Claire. I wonder if she'll notice that little fact. Yes I do remember what it was.

"I was aware of the prices and how expensive it is but then I also know that there are places more expensive than here and I know what you are like." I told her with a smile whilst taking her hands in mine.

"I just don't like you spending money of this amount on me."

"But I do cause I like soiling and being the one to take care of you for a change."

"Is that cause you're a man and therefore you then don't want to have a girl taking care of you?"

"If I needed it I wouldn't mind it but normally you are the one to be taking care of people and getting into trouble because of it somehow and then end up getting into fights and so you deserve the chance to for once forget about all that has happened to you and get spoiled and not worry that you have children to take care of, even though I help out with them, and also that you work for a psycho. Don't you think that you should have the chance to be pampered and be taken care of by me?"

"I guess I should let you do what you want."

"Claire I'm doing this cause I love you so much it sometimes hurts and I see how hard you work day in and day out and I think that you should just be able to for once have sometime for yourself. And as we're on our honeymoon I just saw this as an opportunity to show you how much I love you in ways that I normally can't when we're at home."

"I think we both need to work on talking more. Maybe when we get home I could take some days off from work when you're off as well and then take care of the kids and let you have a day to yourself, or go shopping with Eve and maybe even your mum."

"Or we could just hand them off to my parents and have some Claire and Shane time."

"I do like the sound of that as well." By know our food had arrived and we ate in peace, not needing to fill the silence with talking.

Walking back to our place was nice cause it was dark out and we didn't feel the need to be running and keeping an eye out for anything moving in the shadows and following us and if so wondering if/when they would try and attack us. But this time we just walked hand in hand until Claire got cold, then I gave her my jacket and kept my arm around her so that she would stay warm. I blame the dress. It looks great on but as there was no back to it made her feel very cold.

That was pretty much how it lasted for out two weeks away. It was great getting the chance to have some time to ourselves, to have the chance to just be a couple with no responsibilities.

Claire's POV

When we were leaving Morganville it felt strange to be leaving. I guess that I had just thought that I would never leave after living in Morganville for these past few years, but now Shane and I have been given the chance to leave or a two week honeymoon some place nice.

I hope that it is nice cause I allowed Shane to have free reign on where we go. I let him be the one to choose the place cause he didn't really have much to do with the wedding and it helped to keep him busy whilst I did the planning. (Yeah, I acted like a typical bride, where everything had to be just right)

I do wonder sometimes if, when the children are older, we would be allowed to have a family holiday so that we can show then that a different world exists than the one that they live in. Then again maybe that'll be bad cause Morganville is most likely all they will ever know.

Oh well this is all things to think about another day in the future, for now though I'm on my honeymoon. It's just me and Shane all alone for two weeks. The outside will not exist (hopefully).

The place that Shane had chosen was beautiful and wasn't crowded with people and buildings was made for great privacy. There was also a pool out the back and so who knows I might give Shane a treat by wearing a skimpy little bikini if we manage to fit in time for swimming.

When we reached the villa Shane pulled me right into his arms and carried me bridal style through the door.

"Wow Shane this place is perfect"

"You've got to see the best part yet." He then carried me towards the bedroom. Trust him to think that the best place would be the bedroom.

"Why are you still carrying me?" I thought he would just carry through the door and place me back on my feet so that I could walk but instead he just kept me in his arms.

"Because it's my right as your husband to carry you over the threshold and then I didn't want to let you go."

When we got to the bedroom I did have to agree that it was a really nice place as all the furniture was dark in colour and the bed was pure white in colour and so completely stood out and it did look really nice. I think that I could easily spend a lot (if not all) of my time in here especially if Shane is with me.

Shane placed me on the bed and seemed to just stare at me and it at first worried that I had something on my face or that he didn't like what he saw as I felt under heavy scrutiny so I tried to distract him from me in fear of what he was seeing in terms of me.

"Didn't you mention that you had a surprise for me?" I tried to look innocent whilst sitting there. I don't know why.

"It's probably not quite what you expect but I bet that it'll clear any thoughts that you have that either you or I will forget our children and our life back home." He then took his top off.

I will say that I didn't quite know what to expect and what he showed me made me speechless. On his right arm was the Abigail and on his left arm was the name Ethan. I was even more speechless when I saw that he had put my name on his chest right above where his heart would be.

"Oh Shane," I just swooned at his words. "I didn't think that it was possible for me to fall anymore in love with you, but it is." Hearing Shane tell me that he has given me his heart to do with as I please made tears begin to form in her eyes. It was so romantic.

Afterwards we began to kiss and it became very heated very quickly.

I'm not sure why, maybe it was due to the fact that we are now married and so as if one being, but now when we had sex it felt like there was more there. As in more passion, fire, spark. It could just be down to that we are now married after being engaged for over a year now and next time it'll have calmed down a bit. I didn't even worry about how I looked to Shane when I wasn't hidden beneath clothes. It isn't that I absolutely hate my body, it's just that it's not the same as it was when Shane first met me as I've since then had two wonderful children and I'm not quite the same shape (even though I've tried to lose some of the extra weight I've gained) as before. I guess him talking to me about how much he will always love me and then showing me that he that he always wants to hold our children in his arms so that he can protect them that it just made my heart melt and showed me that if he could love our children like that and then want to give me his heart and make it mine then he can easily accept the way I look.

The next day when we woke up those feelings were still there as I didn't want to hide my body and we were still wrapped up in our little bubble and just thought that there was nothing that could ruin this moment, as it did feel as though the outside would no longer existed. We were just happy sharing the occasional kiss and just touching

Then the children came into my mind.

"Shane, do you think that our children will be okay?"

"Do you think that they will have any problems with the vampires?"

"Claire, sweetheart calm down, okay. Everything will be alright. Nothing is going to happen. I do have my phone with me in case of emergencies." He did have a point.

"Are you not worried at all about our children?"

"Good." Was all Shane told me and placed a kiss on my forehead.

After that we stayed in bed for a while. I guess to get back into the mood. That was until we realised we were hungry and it had got to the stage where we could no longer ignore it leaving us with no choice but to leave the bed.

When we started to move Shane tried to stop me and get me to stay in bed for some reason and to be honest I did wonder what it was that he was up to as he wouldn't tell me what he wanted to do just that he wanted to surprise me. If I couldn't get into the kitchen then we won't be much we'll eat unless I can't cook.

I did manage to get out of the bed but was once again stopped as soon as I got to the kitchen door.

"What do you think you're doing?" he asked whilst grabbing me around the waist.

"Into the kitchen so we can eat." I told him confused as to why he would ask me that. Was it not obvious?

"Yes well there's going to be a change right there."

"You're going to cook?" I didn't for it to sound harsh but there's not much that he can cook.

"No need to sound so surprised. I can cook."

"I know you can Shane, chilli."

"Well if that's what you think then you're in for a surprise." He whispered into my ear before getting me to sit on a stool by the island that was sort of in the centre of the kitchen.

"Is there anything specific that you would like?"

"Why don't you just surprise me?" I told him.

It wasn't much but a basic omelette but for Shane to make one it was very good. I was surprised that he'd managed to make us one each especially as he mainly just makes chilli and can do some beacon for breakfast as they are both quick and simple.

"I know that it's not that special but it's what first came into my head that I could make."

"Actually Shane it's really good. Why didn't you make things like that at home?"

"Is there ever going to be a limit as to how perfect you can be. Maybe I'll give you a little treat later on for this."

"I'll look forward to it." Shane whispered into my ear and then started kissing down my neck making me start to moan and melt into his arms leading onto hot kitchen sex.

That was pretty much how it passed for the next couple of days for us, staying bed until we could no longer then Shane would make us something to eat and then I would try to see if I could get away with doing something to help and then Shane would always end up finding ways to try and stop me and once again remind me that I shouldn't be lifting a single finger for our two weeks away.

We did have some fun when I first tried to do the dishes.

It was in the afternoon and we'd just had lunch and so I then thought that since Shane had made the food I should do the dishes as he'd cooked for us. Shane saw what I was doing and had then snuck up behind me which then startled me.

"What are you doing?"

"Ahh!" I hadn't heard him coming and so he had made me jump and cause he's managed to do it I could see that he was then trying his hardest not to laugh at how he had made me jump cause I never had before. "Thank you for scarring me Shane" I tried to look daggers at him but it failed as I couldn't help but smile at him.

"Anyway back to my question, what are you doing?"

"The washing up." Once again confused as to why he would ask me that.

"I know that. Why though, you're not meant to be lifting a finger."

"But that's not fair on you. You can't expect me to just be able to sit here and watch you do all the cooking and cleaning." I then started to pout as that will normally get him to agree to what I want. But it didn't seem to work this time.

"Hmm, can I think about it for a second?" And I did. "No. I'm not letting you do everything. You deserve as much time to relax as me."

"Okay then," I thought I had won. Then he opened his mouth again. "I've changed my mind instead I'm just going to dump you into the pool right here." I just started laughing at him.

"If you put me in the pool you are going to come with me. I will not surrender." And I tightened my grip around his neck and then when he released me above the water I ended up pulling him in with me as well. "Told you so."

He then swam towards me and made me go right up to the edge of the pool and giving me no chance of escaping from him.

"I don't plan to surrender either." We then started to kiss again.

"You know that I'm going to have to get you back for dumping me in the pool right." I told him whilst he started to kiss down her neck.

"Wasn't pulling me into the pool as well punishment enough?"

I did think about it for a second.

"No" was all I then said to him. "But who said it would be now. It could be now, it could be later, next week or even when we get back home" I told him with an evil glint in my eyes.

"Anyway back to our discussion before this. I'm not letting you lift a single finger. You do enough of it at home. This could be our only holiday and I just want to spoil you and give you the chance to relax for the first time in a while." He then tried to do puppy dog eyes to help his case. It did, I can't say no to the puppy dog eyed look.

"Okay, you win but it will be really difficult for me to resist."

"Well then I'll just have to find ways to distract you. Maybe with my brilliant cooking skills."

"We'll see about that." As we were still in the pool at this point we started making out once again. You can probably guess what happened next. We had sex in the pool. It was hard and felt weird to me. The hard part was getting our clothes off cause they were wet and so were clinging to us and then it felt weird cause of all the water that was surrounding us.

When the evening came around we had a change in what we would have to eat that night. What we would be eating was unknown to me cause all Shane had told me is that he wants me to dress up nicely cause we would be going out somewhere.

The dress I had chosen I thought made me look really sexy. It was black and it made me look thin and it fell to just above my knees and was also backless. It was a great dress but I did struggle to find underwear that could be worn with it though.

When I got back downstairs I knew that I had made the right choice with this dress all because of how Shane immediately reacted to it.

"Shane, you might want to close your mouth and wipe away that bit of drool from the side of your mouth." I liked how he reacted but I think his mind had then wandered of somewhere cause when I told him that he should close and then wipe the side of his mouth he did look a bit embarrassed about something.

When we got to the restaurant Shane had chosen I was completely amazed by his choice. I did wonder if he was aware of how expensive it was here when he had made the reservation.

I did like one thing about this place cause the hostess and the waitress didn't try to flirt with Shane which is actually quite a common thing for Shane to be hit on by the waitresses when we would try to go out somewhere. It really pissed me off when it would happen cause it just made me think can I not be seen or something or do I look as though I'm someone Shane would never go out on a date with. Maybe it could also be due to the people here really lime their jobs here and so then won't be trying to flirt with the customers whereas back home they don't really care about their jobs.

"Shane, when you booked this place did you know how expensive it was here?" I asked when I opened my menu after the waitress had left with our drink order.

"I was aware of the prices and how expensive it is but then I also know that there are places more expensive than here and I know what you are like." He told me with a smile and whilst taking my hands in his.

"I just don't like you spending money of this amount on me."

"But I do cause I like soiling and being the one to take care of you for a change."

"Is that cause you're a man and therefore you then don't want to have a girl taking care of you?"

"I guess I should let you do what you want."

"I keep ruining the mood don't I and I'm sorry about that. You're right in that I should let you have the chance to spoil me but I guess it's just hard for me when we've gone from having a busy life to having two weeks for ourselves where there will just be me and you and no disturbances." It was hard for me to let Shane take care cause I'm so used to taking care of people even if they weren't aware of it and there's two children back home that I also have to take care of, I'm not used to being taken care of.

"Or we could just hand them off to my parents and have some Claire and Shane time."

"I do like the sound of that as well."

By now our food had arrived and we than ate in peace. I find it great how neither of us feels the need to fill the silence with talking about mindless things.

After we then left the restaurant it was nice to be able to have the chance to walk back to our place at a relaxed pace whilst it was also dark out. I mean you can do that in Morganville but it would only be best to do that if you have a death wish cause even with all the rules that I've managed to get changed and get Amelie to add the vampires will still attack you should you be found out late at night when it's dark out.

And that was how it had lasted for our two weeks of being away with just the two of us. There were still times when I would miss our children but then Shane would manage to distract me and it would be like nothing had happened.

AN: So what did you think of it? Let me know if you want to or you know not.

I should have the next chapter ready for some point next week but we'll just have to see cause I may have some problems occur once again but let's just hope not.

See you once again next week.