A/N: Thank you so much Andromeda Luna, thecoldforest, BubbleWrapAndCupcakes43, YukiHime7, Dorodorocatchan, Arkist and Crowsnight66 for your kind reviews! I also want to thank deeply all of the guest reviewers; your reviews make me really happy and I wish I could send you private messages somehow! Thanks also to all the new followers and everyone who favorited the story since last time. Finally, special thanks to Ahiku, because if we weren't talking about No.6 so much I probably would have stayed blocked in the middle of this chapter and never finished it XD so thank you so much for all the talking and motivating me^^

Here we are people, it's the last stage: "Acceptance", and this time both Shion and Nezumi appear in the chapter. It's not the last chapter though, since it started to be pretty long I decided to cut it in half. The next chapter will be the last… and it will probably contain some M-rated moment^^. But for the moment, here is the first part! I hope you will like it… somehow it has been so hard for me to write it even though I had all the ideas in my head. I guess I really want to do this story justice because it's so beautiful and it means a lot to me… but I don't know, I was never satisfied with what I was writing. I'll probably never be satisfied anyway; I'm not a writer so I don't have the skills to write something good enough for No.6. But I tried my best, and I hope it will meet your expectations. (And it's still January 31st in my timezone so I managed to update in January, yay!)

Again, please forgive me if my grammar/spelling is not perfect, I'm not a native English speaker. (Which makes me really frustrated sometimes because I'm sure that I could write better if I had a wider vocabulary XD Anyway, I'll stop babbling now^^)

Chapter 5 – Acceptance (Part 1)

It was already the end of the afternoon when Nezumi stepped onto the streets of the former area of Lost Town, where Karan's bakery had been the last time he was here. The buildings here hadn't changed much from his memories, and it was easy for him to find the place where he and Shion had woken up after defeating No.6. As he arrived in front of the bakery, Nezumi stopped and hesitated for a moment. Looking through the glass, he could see Karan serving a customer, but there was no sign of Shion.

He's probably at work though.

As he was pondering whether he should go in or not, he didn't notice that the customer was now walking out of the little shop. Nezumi stepped back just in time to avoid the opening door.

"Oh, sorry! Are you going in?"

Nezumi stared at the man holding the door for him as if he had just asked him to solve the greatest mystery of humanity. But Karan's voice made him snap out of his daze.

"Nezumi?"

The dark haired boy turned his head to look at Karan, who stood dumbfounded behind her counter. He gave her an uncomfortable smile while scratching the back of his neck, and took a few steps inside the shop as the other customer left. Karan had left the counter and was now walking towards Nezumi. She stopped in front of him and a warm smile illuminated her face.

"You've grown taller."

She pulled him into a tight hug which took Nezumi by surprise; although, to be honest, he had expected it. Awkwardly, he hugged her back and took a quick look around.

"This place hasn't changed."
"No, I always liked it this way. I've tried some new recipes though. Sit down, I'll bring you something."
"Thank you, but I don't want to impose on you…"
"Don't be silly, I'm so happy to see you. You remember where the kitchen is? I'll be right here."

There was no way Nezumi could say no to Karan, so he went to the kitchen while she was putting up the "closed" sign on the shop's door. A few minutes later, she joined him with a tray full of pastries.

"Here, eat some. I'll make you some coffee."
"Thank you."

She smiled at him and turned around to prepare the coffee. After pouring water in the machine, she stopped and looked at the wall in front of her.

"So… I figure that you came here looking for Shion?"
"I… well… yes, that was the idea."
"Do you know what you're going to tell him?"
"Well…"

She turned to face him. Nezumi was staring at the table. Despite his acting skills he was completely unable to lie to Karan. Besides, he had no idea what to say to Shion. He had already managed to admit that he wanted to see him again, talking to him was something else. How would Shion react upon seeing him anyway?

Once the coffee was ready, Karan poured it in a mug before handing it out to Nezumi. Her eyes met his and she sat down in front of him.

"Nezumi… I can't tell you how to live your life. It's for you to decide if you want to keep moving or stay here. But can I just ask you to make sure that you know what you want before you talk to him?"

Karan's eyes were concerned, but there was no resentment in her voice. Nezumi had no idea what to say, so he nodded and quickly breathed out the word "sure" before focusing on his coffee. Karan smiled at him and put her hand on his shoulder.

"Don't feel bad. I know you don't mean to hurt him, but… you know how he is..."
"I guess he hasn't changed…" Nezumi said with a soft smile.
"Probably not so much, but he's grown too, you'll see. Finish your food, I'll tell you where his office is."
"Shouldn't he finish work soon? It's almost dark outside."
"If only…" Karan sighed "I keep on telling him that he should rest, but he's way too stubborn. He shouldn't even be at work today since he was sick a few days ago…"
"I'm sorry…"
"Don't worry. It's not your fault."
"Somehow I'm afraid that it is…"
"I told you, don't feel bad. Now just relax and eat, I'm going to clean up the shop."

Karan left the room and Nezumi stayed alone with his thoughts. Four years ago, he had enjoyed the warmth of this very house, the hot meals shared together and the smiles of this family. Even if he hadn't stayed very long, it felt so familiar that it was almost like he had never left. And yet there was this heavy weight in his chest. The guilt, the fear, the uncertainty. Karan was right, what was he even going to tell Shion? Did he want to stay here from now on? Maybe all of this would become clearer once he saw him.

The sky was already dark when Nezumi left Karan's house. She explained him how to get to Shion's office, and walked him to the door.

"Thank you… for everything."

She smiled warmly and hugged him once again, though this time it was less awkward.

"You're always welcome here, Nezumi. Make sure to come and have dinner here with Shion soon, alright?"

Nezumi nodded and stepped out of the shop. As he walked to Shion's office, every minute felt like an eternity; and yet when he finally arrived, he still hadn't had the time to figure out what he wanted to say. Looking up, he saw that only one office had its lights on. It was only one floor above ground, so it would be easy to climb there… somehow Nezumi didn't feel like knocking on the door. His heart rate accelerated and he took a deep breath.

Here goes.

Swiftly, he climbed onto the office's balcony, trying not to make any sound. Crouching down, he noticed Tsukiyo staring at him from the balcony's floor. Hamlet and Cravat jumped off Nezumi's shoulder and the dark-haired boy gestured the three little mice to keep quiet. His heart was racing, and he closed his eyes for a few seconds before standing up.

From behind the window, Nezumi could see everything in Shion's office. His eyes suddenly stopped moving as they met a head of white hair. His heart sank. He swallowed hard and supported himself on the wall as the pounding in his chest became erratic. He could only see Shion's back, as he was leaning over some file cabinet; and he was glad he could take a few seconds to compose himself before entering the room. Staring at the white head on the other side of the office, he was only sure of one thing.

I want to see him.

Silently, he entered the office through the open window. Unable to take any other step, he just stood there, waiting for Shion to notice his presence.

Shion was still looking for a specific file when he felt shivers run up and down his spine. He stiffened. Did he just hear a sound? It was not unusual, it happened almost every night. The wind, a wandering animal… there was always a good reason for it. Yet even after four years of his hopes being crushed every time he turned to check what the noise was, he couldn't help but think "maybe tonight…"

Idiot. It's certainly nothing. It's always nothing.

Staring at the wall, he tried to fight the urge to turn around and be disappointed again. But something was off. He definitely felt a presence behind him. Or did he? He clenched his fists, mentally punching himself for being so stupid. He had to turn around. He had to make sure.

Shion swallowed hard and took a deep breath before turning his head towards the window. His eyes went wide and his heart stopped beating for a second.

Am I dreaming?

Shion's mind could not process if the man awkwardly smiling at him was real or not. He had dreamed about this so much. He had played this scene in his head so many times that he knew perfectly how every second was supposed to unfold.

And yet, he couldn't move a muscle. All he could do was stare back and try to remember to breathe. Nezumi definitely looked older, but his eyes were still the same. Grey, deep and calm, those eyes he had longed to see for so long were finally here in front of him. Again, he felt that they were able to capture his soul.

Maybe Shion had stood there frozen for only a second, but to Nezumi it felt like forever. He was starting to get really anxious, but then he saw Shion take a few steps forward. The white-haired boy's feet moved faster and faster and he was almost running towards Nezumi.

Then he punched him hard in the face.

The shock made Nezumi take a step back. Holding his cheek, he was about to say something when he realized that Shion had now buried his face in his shirt and was crying uncontrollably. Shion's left hand was clenching Nezumi's shirt and with his right hand he was softly punching the taller boy's chest.

Why do you cry? Just punch me again.
I don't deserve your tears. Please. Please don't cry.

Overwhelmed, Nezumi circled his arms around Shion's shaking body. Holding him tight, he buried his face into the white strands of Shion's hair and softly whispered "I'm sorry" again and again. Shion stopped hitting Nezumi's chest and just held on to his shirt, still crying. After a few minutes, Shion let out a strangled "idiot" between sobs and Nezumi smiled softly against his head. The taller boy moved one of his hands up to stroke Shion's hair, his face still buried in the white strands.

Shion didn't think it was possible to cry more than he already had tonight, but Nezumi's return was too much too handle. Even though he had dreamt of it many times, to actually experience the surge of emotions that had come upon him when he had seen his eyes again was something else. He had been unable to speak, unable to think, it was like his heart had exploded inside him. And now he was crying against Nezumi's chest, feeling the warmth of his body, the tightness of his arm around his waist and the calming feeling of the dark-haired boy's hand in his hair. It was real. Nezumi was really here.

Nezumi relaxed a little as he felt Shion calm down in his arms. He put his forehead against Shion's head and stroked his face gently.

"Shion, look up," he whispered, "look at me, Shion."

A few more sobs shook Shion's body before he was able to collect himself and open his eyes. Red watery eyes met with deep grey ones and Nezumi proceeded to wipe the tears from Shion's face. The smaller boy's breathing was still uneven from having cried so hard, and he still had to swallow sobs from time to time. Nezumi felt his chest tighten.

I'm sorry. I'm a selfish jerk. Please stop crying.

Their faces were close, eyes still staring into each other's. Nezumi's thumb was gently rubbing the scar on Shion's face. Then suddenly Nezumi acted on instinct, and closed the gap between them. Feeling Nezumi's soft lips against his own made Shion's heart sink and he felt his eyelids close slowly. The kiss was gentle, and lasted for only a few seconds before Nezumi backed away a little, still holding Shion in his arms. Shion's eyes were filled with a mix of surprise and fear.

"What… what was that for?"
"I just wanted to."

A look of relief washed over Shion's face. He smiled softly and blushed a little, still staring into Nezumi's eyes.

"Do you… want to do it again?"

Nezumi's eyes widened for a second and he looked back at Shion with an amused smile. He lowered his face until their foreheads met and answered in a whisper.

"If it pleases His Majesty…"

In a quick move, Nezumi captured Shion's lips again, this time with more passion. Shion let go of Nezumi's shirt and put his arms around the taller boy's body, desperately holding him close. Responding to the kiss, he pressed his lips harder against Nezumi's, whose hand had stopped rubbing Shion's cheek and moved to lose itself in the white strands of his hair. Shion tilted his head to the side and soon their tongues were gently exploring each other's mouths.

To Shion, the kiss felt both beautiful and painful at the same time. It was not about being happy to see Nezumi again… It was about how much he had missed him, how surreal it felt to be suddenly so close to him when a few minutes ago he had felt alone and heartbroken. Kissing Nezumi, holding him, feeling his warmth, the beating of his heart, it was all proof that Nezumi was alive, here, in this room and that it was not a dream. Shion felt like he was letting go of the weight that had been holding him down all this time. He felt light and dizzy, as if everything he had felt for the last four years – the disappointments, the pain – was being drawn out of his being by this single moment.

Eventually, they both needed to catch their breath and broke the kiss. Still in each other's arms, their eyes met but none of them could muster up the courage to say something. The moment had been too intense, lost in a tornado of emotions, but this moment had now passed. What do you say to someone you haven't seen for so long? Shion had too many things in his mind, from "welcome back" to "are you going to stay?"… He couldn't decide.

Nezumi wasn't different, never mind how skilled he was with words; he still struggled to find the proper thing to say. He had already said that he was sorry, and he would say it a thousand times if need be, but not now. Now, he also had to deal with what it had meant to see Shion again. Before he arrived, he was dealing with guilt, fear, and uncertainty. The guilt and the fear were still here, if anything they had even increased. The uncertainty though, was gone. It didn't matter how much it scared him to admit that he was actually having feelings; and it didn't matter that he still hadn't figured out what to do next... Here and now, looking into Shion's eyes, it just felt right.

They had been silently and awkwardly staring into each other's eyes for barely a minute, but it seemed that it had been too long for the three mice. From the floor next to them, they started chirping vehemently, as if to show that they shouldn't been left out of this reunion. Startled, both Nezumi and Shion looked at the mice, and then back at each other with a smile. Moving out of Nezumi's embrace, Shion kneeled on the floor and took the mice in his hands.

"Hamlet, Cravat, I'm glad to see you! And I'm sure Tsukiyo is happy too."

Tsukiyo tilted his head to the side and let out a happy chirp.

"It's pretty amazing that the three of them managed to live for so long…" Nezumi said pensively.
"Maybe they just have the same will to live as their master," Shion answered with a soft smile. "I'll get them some treats from my mother tomorrow."
"Ah, don't worry; she treated us pretty nicely today already."

Shion turned back to look at Nezumi again. He put the mice back on the floor and stood up.

"You went to my mother's?"
"Well, it's not like I knew where to find you. The bakery seemed like a valid choice."
"Sure…"
"By the way, she wouldn't be happy to know that you're still here at that time. Don't you need to get back to your place?"
"Ah yes, well… I was just… I'll just pack my stuff."

Shion went to his chair and picked up his bag from the floor. Nezumi followed him and started to look through some of the papers Shion had left on his desk.

"Building a new school?"
"Hm, now that the former West Block is part of the city, there's much more people who –", Shion stopped mid-sentence and froze; remembering that the letter he had written earlier was still on the desk. He turned around quickly to see Nezumi barely touching said letter. "Wait!"
"What is that? Did you write me a letter?" Nezumi asked, staring at Shion.
"No! Yes… Just… It's nothing, I'll throw it out!"

Shion tried to take the letter but Nezumi was faster. Shion's face became pale and he just stood there, not knowing what to do. Yes, he had written the letter to Nezumi, but he had done it in a moment of weakness to get some things off his chest… Somehow he never intended for him to read it. Especially now that he was here in front of him, Shion didn't want to let him know the kind of things he had been thinking these past few years... At least not before they had the time to talk about it.

Nezumi was leaning on the desk, not facing Shion. As soon as he had started reading, Nezumi had understood that it had been a bad idea. He already knew that he had hurt Shion, and talking with Inukashi and Karan had confirmed that… But he hadn't been prepared to see it through Shion's eyes. Not now, not so fast. It had been enough to see him cry… This letter was just another punch in the gut.

Sorry Shion. I'm an asshole.

Part of him wanted to run away right now. He never wanted to deal with that kind of emotional stuff. He never wanted any kind of attachment to anyone. He didn't want to be needed. And it was Shion. If Shion had to care for someone, why did it have to be Nezumi? Someone who made fun of him, rejected him, threatened him… How did it come to this?

Lowering his head, Nezumi grabbed the edge of the desk with his left hand, while his right hand was gripping the letter tight enough to crumple it. He was trying to hide the fact that he was shaking right now. Shion took a few hesitant steps towards Nezumi. He was really scared of how the taller boy would react.

"…Nezumi? I'm sorry… I –"

Before Shion could finish talking, Nezumi had grabbed his arm and pulled him close. Still shaking, Nezumi held the white-haired boy tight in his arms and buried his face in the crook of his neck. The letter fell down by their feet.

You're sorry? Idiot. That should be my line.
You don't deserve me, Shion.

He was unable to speak, so he just held on to Shion's body as tight as he could. Nezumi felt that if he let Shion go for a second, his legs would run away on their own. And as much as part of him was yelling at him to leave and not be burdened by emotions, he knew he needed to stay. The other person here wasn't just anyone. It was Shion. He didn't have the right to run away anymore.

Shion had not expected the sudden embrace, and his eyes had gone wide with surprise as Nezumi had pulled him in his arms. But Shion knew the dark-haired boy good enough to understand his action. Slowly, he had circled his arms around Nezumi's shaking body, hoping to help him calm down. Just like he had needed Nezumi's embrace earlier this evening, he knew that Nezumi needed him now. Feeling the taller boy tremble in his arms reminded him of the small child he had taken in during a stormy night so many years ago.

Everything was silent. After a few minutes, Shion felt a slight change in Nezumi's breathing, and realized that he was now feeling a slight wetness on the skin of his neck. He felt the urge to hold Nezumi even tighter but stopped himself. The taller boy would surely prefer the fact that he was crying never to be acknowledged or mentioned. So he stayed still, accepting Nezumi's silent apology with all his heart.

It took a few more minutes for Nezumi's breathing to become regular again, and a couple more before Shion dared to move or talk. He started by softly rubbing Nezumi's back, in order to check his reaction. The taller boy's body had stopped shaking by now, and he did not tense up when Shion moved his hand. The white haired-boy thought it should be ok to speak now.

"Let's go."

Shion intentionally didn't use the word "home". Sure, he hoped with all his heart that Nezumi would stay this time, but he also knew that he shouldn't pressure him in any way. Thankful that Shion had chosen to change the subject, Nezumi relaxed and straightened up, eyes closed. He took a deep breath, somehow a little deeper than he had intended to, and looked at Shion. Any trace of the emotion overload he had just experienced had disappeared from his eyes and a soft smile curved his lips.

"Alright. Lead the way."

Shion turned his apartment's lights on and gestured Nezumi to follow him inside. Just like Inukashi had said, Shion had kept most of the underground room's furniture. Nezumi was actually impressed to see how well Shion had them restored. Many bookshelves covered the walls of the living-room, and the dark-haired boy could recognize a lot of titles from back when they were living in the West Block. Some books must have been bought by Shion after he had left, as he didn't remember reading them.

Shion went to the kitchen, which was only separated from the living room by a bar, and spotted a package from his mother on the table. A single-line note was placed on it.

"In case one of you gets hungry. K."

Shion smiled at his mother's nice attention. She must have stopped by his place after Nezumi had left the bakery. He opened the package to find a few bread rolls, pieces of homemade quiche and cherry cake. He turned to Nezumi, who was still looking around the room.

"Are you hungry? My mother left us something; I just have to warm it up."
"She really is someone… Ok, I'll eat something with you."
"I'll be right there, make yourself comfortable," Shion said, pointing to the couch.

Nezumi settled himself on said couch and watched silently as Shion prepared everything. Soon, the white-haired boy joined him, laying two trays down on the coffee table. They ate quietly, each of them being a little uncertain about how to interact with each other. Swallowing his last bite of cherry cake Nezumi inhaled deeply and broke the silence, his eyes fixed on the table.

"Isn't there anything you want to ask me?"

Startled, Shion put his plate down and lay back on the couch, staring at the ceiling.

"Way too many, as a matter of fact. I want to know everything about your travels… the places you've been to, the things you've seen, the people you've met… Of course, I also want to know why you decided to come back here, but… But I know that you might not want to talk about any of this. So I'm not going to ask."

Nezumi turned his head to look at Shion, who held his gaze for a few seconds before speaking again.

"Anyway, since you just asked me that, you must already know that I have all these questions inside my head. If you want to talk about anything, I will always be here to listen. But I'm not going to pry… I know that –"

Shion stopped for a second. He had wanted to say "I know that it mustn't have been easy for you to come back", but that would have been talking about it. And just because he knew that, he knew that it was too early for this kind of talk, especially after the letter incident. Even though he wanted to know, he didn't need to. Nezumi was alive and well, this was already more than enough for now. He saw Nezumi looking at him quizzically and knew he had to finish his sentence somehow.

"I know that you don't answer questions if you don't want to, so there's no use in me asking. Besides, we haven't seen each other for a while; it's obvious that we're going to need some time to get used to each other again."
"Your mother was right, you did grow up," Nezumi said with a slight grin.
"Did she say that? I don't know… I still feel pretty much the same."
"Well, I'll observe you and let you know what my conclusion is in a few days."

Shion smiled at Nezumi's last words, wondering if this was an indirect way to let him know that he would stay at least for a few more days. The atmosphere felt a little less tensed than before, and both boys let their bodies relax against the cushions.

"By the way, I've walked through the West Block; it seems that you've done a really nice job."
"Ah thank you. It wasn't that easy, but I wanted the people there to be treated just like the former citizens of the city. I'll give you a proper tour tomorrow."
"Don't you have work to do?"
"Ah, yes…" Shion said, scratching the back of his head. "I guess I can take a few days off to show you around… I'll just stop by the office in the morning to get everything in order."
"Thanks," Nezumi answered softly.
"We'll stop by Inukashi's place and Rikiga's one too! They both have pretty important businesses in the city now…"
"Well, I've already met Inukashi yesterday... but she didn't tell me much about it."
"You met her? …So you arrived yesterday then…"

Shion had barely whispered this last part, but Nezumi heard it anyway.

"Yes, well… let's just say she was right about the bed thing… Anyway, one of her dogs followed me to the underground room and then she appeared."

A soft smile appeared on Shion's lips. His heart had tightened a little bit at the fact that Nezumi had already been there for one day without him knowing. It didn't surprise him though… He wouldn't have left the bed over there if he hadn't been expecting it.

"She seems to like the kid you forced on her…"
"Don't say it like that; she's been a great mother for him!"
"Well, let's just say I never imagined her having maternal instinct… especially since she introduced herself as a boy back then," Nezumi retorted.
"Yeah, it was quite surprising news…" Shion answered, laughing a little.
"By the way, when we see her um… can you not mention that you punched me?" Nezumi said, scratching the back of his head.

Shion laughed stronger but nodded and promised that he wouldn't talk about it. They kept talking like that for a while, about the changes in the city and the people they both knew. The atmosphere between them had lightened up and the sound of them laughing could sometimes be heard echoing around the living room. As the night went on, they both started to feel quite tired. Shion was the first to yawn.

"Tired?"
"Yes…" Shion answered. "I've been at work all day and I had a bad cold a few days ago, so I should be going to sleep. Do you need anything?"
"Right now, a place to sleep will be enough."
"Well… If it's ok, you can sleep with me. The bed is much larger than the one we used to sleep on anyway…" Shion said, a little nervous.

Somehow he had always imagined that Nezumi would sleep next to him when he came back… It had always been so natural before. Nezumi cocked an eyebrow and stared at Shion for a few seconds before giving him a gentle smile.

"Alright. After you, Your Majesty."

Shion showed Nezumi where he could freshen up and change; and he did the same afterwards. While waiting for Shion, Nezumi decided to take another walk around the apartment. Eventually, his feet led him back into the bedroom, in front of the window which had been left open. Looking out at the dark sky, he let out a sigh.

Now what?

Coming back had hit him harder than he had expected. But no matter how hard it had been to see Shion crying, how heart wrenching it had been to read that letter; somehow Nezumi had also felt more relaxed tonight. The inner fight that had been eating him up ever since he had left Shion had disappeared. He was still scared as hell about the meaning of all this, but he knew that he would have some time to figure things out now. Thanks to Shion, actually. Not asking any questions was Shion's way of letting Nezumi know that he could take all the time he needed. Burying his hands in his pockets, he let his head fall back and closed his eyes.

Let's not make any rash decisions. I'll see how the next days will unfold.

Shion stepped into his bedroom and smiled softly upon seeing that Hamlet, Cravat and Tsukiyo were comfortably huddled on his pillow. Then he noticed Nezumi standing by the window and froze.

"…Nezumi?" Shion asked, his voice trembling more than he wanted it to.

Nezumi turned his head to see Shion staring at him with wide worried eyes.

I missed those eyes.

"You're going to be sick again if you sleep with the window open" Nezumi said, closing the window nonchalantly. Shion's eyes grew even wider at the meaning behind this simple gesture. He opened his mouth slightly, but no sound came out. Nezumi stepped towards him and raised his right hand to Shion's face. Barely touching, Nezumi's thumb traced Shion's scar, while his fingers softly brushed the white hair.

I missed this hair.

"You kept the hair," Nezumi said softly.
"Yes," Shion whispered, not sure what else to say.

Nezumi studied Shion's face silently for a few seconds before speaking again.

"Shion…" Nezumi's voice was now barely louder than a whisper "About what you said earlier… Thank you."

Shion gave him an understanding smile and imperceptibly leaned into Nezumi's touch.

"You're welcome."

Lowering his face, Nezumi's lips gently brushed Shion's. He didn't step back immediately, and instead took a few seconds to stare into Shion's eyes while his fingers were sticking a few white strands behind his ear.

I missed him.

"Goodnight, Shion," Nezumi whispered.

Shion's smile became warmer, and his left hand moved to hold the hand that was still on his face. He squeezed it gently and gestured Nezumi to go to sleep.

"Goodnight."

TO BE CONTINUED

Thank you for reading! Only one more chapter to go… I will do my best to post it in February, let's just hope I won't end up blocked for several weeks again XD