Identity Lost

Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and its characters, I do not own.

Twenty – Looking Forward

"He, who cannot forgive a trespass of malice to his enemy, has never yet tasted the most sublime enjoyment of love." - Johann Kaspar Lavater

Heero clenched his fingers so tightly around the steering wheel that he thought he might rip the thing right out of the car. He vaguely recalled passing intersections but he wasn't sure whether the lights were red or green. Luckily it was two in the morning and the motorists were so sparse that Heero didn't need to worry about sharing the road.

"Uh, Heero, maybe try slowing down a bit?" Duo gripped the edge of his seat as he glanced at the odometer shooting 30 kilometers over the speed limit.

He only stepped on the gas pedal harder and said, "Start talking."

Duo finally relented and began, "I don't know all that much either. A thirty-eight year old gentleman was too drunk to drive home and decided to walk. He nearly peed his pants when someone jumped out of the shadows screaming she needed help. When he took a good look at the state she was in, and I mean she was bruised and dirtied and everything, he called the cops."

"Relena…" Heero whispered, almost in physical pain. As he made a sharp right down the next intersection, he looked at Duo briefly and asked, "What happened to her?"

"Dunno yet. I believe the police had just interviewed the guy who found her… or rather, she found him."

Heero turned into the visitor parking lot of St. Mary's Hospital and switched off the ignition. Duo was already out the door and waiting by the car when he noticed that Heero hadn't moved a muscle since turning off the engine.

He leaned down to see what was keeping him, "Heero, you alright?"

The former Perfect Soldier who never shied away from the battlefield was terrified to confront Relena. Despite the burning need to see her, to touch her, he couldn't meet her eye to eye after all the hurt and pain he had caused. How could he face her? How?

"Heero?" Duo sat back in his seat and waited. He could only imagine how difficult this must be for him and he had all the time in the world to wait.

"I… I can't do this." Heero said quietly. "Why don't you go in and see how she's doing? I'm going to talk to the police who are dealing with the case and see if I can piece everything together."

"Heero, come on!" Duo scoffed. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Out of all the men working round the clock to find her, they all knew how important this was to Heero.

"Duo, just go." Heero turned the ignition on and stared through the windshield, avoiding his partner's eyes. After all the years they have been working, fighting, and arguing together, Duo Maxwell probably knew the Japanese pilot better than anyone and he knew from those three simple words that he was dealing with a dead issue.

With a final sigh, Duo pulled his door open and walked to the hospital entrance.

It didn't faze Duo when the nurse at the admitting desk informed him that visiting hours were over. It was past three in the morning after all. He sighed and pulled out his Preventers ID. With one quick glance at the famous Preventers Crest the nurse fumbled over the flip chart to quickly locate which room Mima Kanzaki was in.

"Room 203, sir."

"Thank you. That wasn't so hard now, was it?" Duo replied with a quick wink.

When he reached the room all he could think about was how Heero should've been the one who was here. He was the one who never gave up hope on Relena when they had long since thrown in the towel. Somehow it didn't feel right for him to be present in this sensitive reunion of sorts. The room was dimply lit and it was obvious that the young woman lying on the bed was fast asleep. From the little that he could see, Relena was bandaged up on her arms and had a shoulder brace for her right shoulder. She looked much thinner than the last time he saw her and she was visibly peppered with dark bruises on her face and arms.

He whispered, "Relena, what happened to you?"


Heero didn't have much difficulty in getting a hold of the case that involved Relena. With the police report in hand, he was satisfied with his progress. He just concluded interviewing the two officers on duty who were the first on the scene and the ones who spoke with the witness. He knew he would also have to sit down with the man who called 911 for Relena but it didn't hurt to get the officers' perspective as well. It still boiled his blood to realize what Relena's been through; first the abduction from her apartment, then being held captive by the man who had yet to be apprehended. Heero needed to work as an individual completely removed from the situation or risk losing his head.

The case file #09-227484 had Mima Kanzaki as the complainant, Roger Liebman as the witness, and the offender was unknown. It was followed by a brief overview of Relena's account of what happened. She recalled packing to leave and opening her door when she was surprised by her attacker. Mima remembered struggling but she lost consciousness. The next thing she knew was being brought to the unknown location where she was held for several days. Everything minute detail she recollected about her capture and the way she escaped was recorded. The report concluded with two statements given by Relena herself and Roger Liebman.

The witness statement by Liebman was short, concise, and to the point. He was slightly intoxicated when he decided to walk home. On the way back to his neighborhood, he was surprised to see someone running to him, clearly agitated. She cried for help, that she was held against her will in her assailant's basement. When Liebman had a chance to clear his mind, he knew this was serious and pulled her away from the street. As they walked further down, he pulled his cell phone out to call the police and informed the authorities that they were headed to the nearby 24-hour convenience store and they can locate them there. He recalled the young woman kept saying, "please remember where you found me. Please remember where you found me," while they walked and he never understood why. By the time the police arrived on-scene, they asked where exactly she was held captive and she looked directly at Liebman. He knew the place, alright, and he then realized why she was telling him to remember where she was found. She was understandably too frazzled and frightened to get her bearings or to know the location she was currently at and therefore, needed to rely on him for the address.

That's my girl, Relena. Heero thought. It shouldn't take long for the police to find the house and the culprit.

He forced himself to read Relena's statement and it took every ounce of strength not to crumble the paper. Historically known for his calm demeanor, he had never felt such anger and frustration and he didn't have the skills to contain the emotion. Her pain was his pain and he could almost sense the fear and the loneliness that she felt while experiencing the very words she wrote on the page.

He left his cell number with the police so that they could inform him as soon as they had apprehended the criminal. With the address that Liebman supplied, it was only a matter of time until they tracked the guy down. A warrant, that would normally take weeks, was already issued by the court to enter the residence to collect any evidence used to keep her restrained.

As he leafed through the police report for the thousandth time, his cell buzzed.

"Yuy."

"Sir, we've arrested a person of interest." Deputy Alex Broussard said, the lead investigator of the case. "He's held in Interrogation Room 3 at the station."

"Be right there." Heero replied.

If he knew they would apprehend a potential suspect in such a short amount of time, he would never have left the station to begin with. He raced back to where he originally met Deputy Broussard and his partner, Deputy Edward Cascaman.

Heero walked through the station entrance and was ushered back to the interrogation rooms. Deputy Broussard and Cascaman greeted Heero in the hall, right in front of the metal door with the label Interrogation 3.

Cascaman held the original police report in hand and began, "His name is Xander Kava. 40 year-old, Caucasian, with no prior convictions. He owns the house that the victim was held secluded."

"Relena."

"What?" Cascaman asked, confused.

"She's not the victim. Her name is Rel… Mima. Let's refrain from using any labels." Heero said curtly.

"Uh… sure." Cascaman flipped through the pages in the file folder to regroup. "Xander Kava hasn't said much. He refuses to answer any of the questions pertaining to the equipment that was found in the basement and the drug Vanillin in his kitchen. Vanillin is used for sedating farm animals. I mean this thing could knock out a full grown bull and Mima was drugged the entire time with this stuff."

"We're gonna have to do a toxin screen on Mima right away to see if the substance is still in her system." Broussard added, shaking his head forlornly.

Cascaman nodded. "It'll help to gather as much evidence as possible for the impending trial. We want to make sure we nail the bastard."

Heero absorbed the information that they divulged and reached for the file folder. "Let me have a chat with Xander Kava." He grabbed the door handle, more than prepared to face the suspect.

Kava looked disheveled and refused to look up at the newcomer. At first glance, the man with dark auburn hair was wearing dark khakis and a brown t-shirt, his hands loosely planted on the cold, sterile metal table.

"Good evening, Mr. Kava." Heero said, taking a seat directly across from him. "I'm assuming you know why you're here."

The man remained deathly mute and stone still. Heero was patient; he could sit here all night until Xander Kava cracked under the pressure and the silence. While he waited, he took the time to really get a good look at the man on the other side of the interview. He had a strange sense of déjà vu, as if he'd encountered this man before. It could have been in passing somewhere on the street or at a store but he couldn't pinpoint where. After years of rigorous training to become the solder that he was, he knew his instincts were dead on and he wouldn't discount the feeling. As he pondered further on that point, he casually opened the case file and browsed through the report. There were parts of the report that didn't sit well with him. The assailant knocked on her door and was ready to transport her away from the apartment complex. The crime was premeditated… but why her? Why not some other woman? The apartment wasn't easily accessible for those who didn't live there. Not only did they need a key card to swipe into the main entrance but they needed to punch in their code onto the keypad. He had to meticulously plan and work his way in.

"It wasn't a random kidnapping, was it?" Heero surmised. "You knew her. You targeted her." Kava looked up then and he knew his assumptions were correct.

"Maybe you saw her in a public place, like at the restaurant she works in and you liked what you saw."

Kava replied monotonously. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"A woman was trapped in your basement, drugged, tied to a post, now barely alive in the hospital, and you don't know what I'm talking about?" Heero tried not to elevate his voice.

"She's alive?" He whispered.

This was it. This was the opening that Heero needed. "You killed her? Is that what you're telling me?"

He slowly shook his head and replied, "No, no, you're wrong. She was already dead when I got to her. You're wrong!"

"How did she die, then?" Heero asked carefully.

He ignored the question, living in his own thoughts. "I never should've taken that job from that bitch, Jezzie." The man said, deflated.

Heero suddenly stood up from his seat and enunciated the next words out of his mouth as if he were speaking to a three year old. "What…did you… just say?"

"I want to call a lawyer."


It took five grueling hours for Heero to be satisfied with Xander Kava's narration of events by questioning and re-questioning every fabric of the story. Kava tried cleverly to make a deal by giving more information about his accomplice for a lesser punishment. Little did he know that Heero was already quite familiar with said accomplice. The more Kava divulged of Jezzie's plan to rob Relena's dove necklace, all the pieces of the proverbial puzzle slowly came together in one domino-like wave of information.

- She hires the thug to steal the necklace.

- He sees her with the necklace… assumes she's Relena.

- And that would explain why Mima was so upset with losing it. Even with amnesia, her connection to him still lived vicariously through that one single piece of jewelry.

- Jezzie capitalizes on the situation and somehow passes the DNA test. He would still need to figure that out but big picture first.

- In the mean time, Relena was nearly raped, managed to regain her memories but was abruptly turned away. Then with the force of ill-fortune, was kidnapped by the same sick loser that was originally hired by Jezzie in the first place.

The bigger question that he had now was how did Relena end up with someone like Jezzie? As warm and giving as Relena's heart was, he couldn't see her forming any sort of close relationship with someone as crass and unrefined as Jezzie. What was the connection? He would have to find his answers from the direct source.


Jezzie laid sprawling comfortably on top of her queen sized bed reading the latest fashion magazine when she heard a pounding on the door that was unlike what the housemaids usually do when they needed her.

Before she even had the chance to open the door, it was pushed inward with 5 uniformed officers in tow.

"What is the meaning of this?" She shouted. Right when she about to protest further, she noticed a familiar face near the back of the cavalry.

"Heero! Oh, Heero please help me! I have no idea why these men are in here."

He walked in front of her, containing his rage. "I would be very careful with my words if I were you. Take her away."

From the shocked expression on Jezzie's face, he took in the sheer pleasure that she knew her gig was up. She would pay… by god would she pay.


She was sore all over. Relena slowly woke to the throbbing pain on her right shoulder and she noticed that she was lying in a hospital room. A man stood at the end of her bed with unruly brown hair braided behind him and she smiled.

"Duo…"

He said, "Hey there, princess. Welcome back."

Her mind cleared and her smile faltered. He shouldn't be here. Nobody should know where she was. "How did you know to be here?"

"Relena…"

"No." She mumbled. "No, you've mistaken me for someone else."

He tried again, "Relena. We know. Everything will be alright now."

"No…no," She cried, filled with emotion. "I'm… Mima."

Duo went to her and hugged her tight to his chest. The poor girl… what she has been through. "Relena, please."

She cried harder.

Days passed and she began to heal physically, but not emotionally. Relena found that she jumped at the slightest unexpected noise. Duo kept constant guard by her side and when he wasn't there, he had Hilde come to keep her company. It seemed that they feared she would disappear again and they weren't planning on flirting with that possibility. She had frequent visitors by the all the former Gundam pilots save one.

The question was always on the tip of her tongue but she was afraid of what the answer would be. Every time a new face came into her room, she wanted to ask 'where's Heero' but the words never surfaced.

When Milliardo finally came to see her, they both sat motionless for what seemed like days. Tears pooled in his eyes but he maintained his composure without a single tear falling. It didn't help that she didn't know what to say to him either. She wondered if her reunion with Heero would be this tough or would it be even more difficult? These were the two most important men in her life and yet, neither of them believed her. The trust she had for her brother and the perfect soldier was easily shattered in that one tiny moment. Could it ever be regained? And if so, would it ever be the same?

"Relena..." He sat rigid in a visitor's chair next to her bed. "I... I know that I didn't do right by you. I didn't protect you when you needed me the most. I failed as your brother."

Her eyes started clouding over with unshed tears. "Milliardo... you can't blame yourself for what happened to me."

They spent the next couple of hours talking... really talking between brother and sister, trying to rebuild the kinship they had lost in the past decade. He reached for her hands, needing that physical link to assure himself that she was indeed real and safe. She retold all the events that she could remember from that unfortunate evening, explaining her circumstances with her new family and all that she had endured. He never moved a muscle and absorbed everything she said. Sometimes through the grittier parts of her tale, his grasp on her hands tightened and she knew it was difficult for him to hear her recollection of the pain that she had suffered.

"I'm so sorry, Relena. Nothing I do could ever prove to you how sorry I am." Zechs whispered with his head bowed.

Relena couldn't help the overwhelming flow of emotion and cried softly. "Milliardo... it's not your fault. I'm just glad to have my brother back."

He embraced her in a tight bear hug then and didn't want to let go.

At quarter past five, Zechs had to leave for a pertinent meeting and promised that he would be here to take her home the next day.

"Rest now, Relena." He leaned in to kiss her forehead and said, "we'll take it one day at a time."


It felt surreal coming back to the estate with her true identity intact. Her first step into the foyer truly felt like a homecoming and everyone greeted her with wholehearted enthusiasm. She was nostalgic for a few moments thinking of the one household member who was not here to welcome her, Pagan. I'm home, Pagan. Relena bowed her head for a moment of silence in memory of her beloved friend and promised that she would visit him very soon in his final resting place.

"Relena, do you want to get settled in your room and we'll have dinner later?" Zechs asked as he helped her carry the one luggage with some personal items. He couldn't believe how little she had on her person.

"Is it alright if I stayed in the guest bedroom? I… don't think I want to be in my room anymore." Relena said as she looked up the grand staircase.

Zechs must have caught her meaning and said, "Yes, of course that's fine." He couldn't blame her that she didn't want to stay in the same place in which the imposter had tarnished.

After a hearty meal, brother and sister sat comfortably in front of the big screen tv in his office, catching up on the latest news. Every channel had the same breaking news… the lawful arrest of the individuals who were responsible for Relena Darlian's disappearance over ten years ago.

"Over the last two weeks, evidence was collected and witnesses were tracked down to provide further insight as to what happened all those years ago." The beautiful blond news reporter explained in front of Preventer Headquarters. "Officials are still working round the clock to piece together everything that they gathered and the three suspects in custody are…."

Relena stared at the screen as the photos of Harry, Samantha, and Jezzie plastered the television set. She knew that the media wouldn't divulge everything from the case… in fact, she was sure that they weren't privy to such information. Preventers would be keeping a tight lip on everything concerning the missing politician. This was the biggest news to break the airwaves since her disappearance and the media would be milking it for all it was worth.

The reporter continued, "And Relena Darlian has been found and safely returned to her family. She has not personally appeared in public but the world is waiting for her return to the world stage…"

Relena reached for the remote and turned off the newscast, frustrated.

"Relena…"

"I don't want to hear anymore. I'm done." She responded, clearly agitated. "I just want to forget everything."

Zechs sighed and reached for her arm when she tried to stand up, retreating from the conversation. "They will be punished for what they have done or, I guess in this case, what they haven't done. They should've turned you in… taken you to the hospital."

She sat back down next to Zechs and released a breath that she didn't know she was holding. "I know but I'm just so tired of everything. And now they want me to walk back into the world as if nothing has happened. I don't think I could do that."

"We're not forcing you to do anything." He explained, "If you want to go back into politics, you know I'd help you in any way that I can and we all know how the Senate would welcome you back into their circle."

"Milliardo, I don't know what I want." She answered, a little afraid.

"You're not on a deadline. You don't need to make any decisions right away." They sat in silence, both occupied with their own thoughts. Then, Zechs had the perfect solution. "Why don't we have a homecoming party for you? Invite everyone you know, to help you catch up on everything that you missed." He smiled and said, "I'm sure everyone is dying to see you. You have no idea how much we've all missed you."

"I would be able to see everyone again?" Relena asked.

He nodded once and smiled. She leaned in and gave him a tight hug. "I would like that."


Relena didn't take long to get ready. She sat in front of the mirror in the washroom with her pearl satin gown that fitted her to every curve and line. The two loose ends easily tied around her neck as if it were a halter and the V neckline only enhanced the classic look that the designers were aiming for. This would be her first official appearance back in the public eye and they wanted nothing but the best for her. Relena didn't bother with jewelry as any of the pieces that were chosen for her seemed too excessive and unnecessary. Perhaps there was still a little bit of Mima inside her. She quickly brushed her hair and noticed that the hairdresser was able to re-dye her black hair back to the original color effortlessly. Soon her natural hair color would return and she could feel like herself again.

The days leading up to the homecoming party, Relena couldn't help but think about the three people who had kept her from her true self. It remained a constant itch in her mind that she couldn't scratch. Zechs was careful not to reveal too much of what was going on with the impending case to her. He didn't come right out to say it but she had a feeling that he was trying to protect her and sometimes ignorance was bliss. However, she did find out that Samantha and Harry were charged with kidnapping of the first degree and sentenced to fifteen years with no chance of parole. Her sister Jezzie wasn't so fortunate with her sentencing. She was charged with aiding and abetting an attempted robbery and fraud under the International Criminal Code. The media reported that she had little to no chance of ever stepping out into the world as a free woman ever again and Relena felt nothing… no sense of joy or retribution. It just was. And she sincerely hoped that Jezzie had indeed learned her lesson and would make the most of her life. Relena truly wanted this night to be a new beginning, to shed away her old life and not have the past contaminate her thoughts in the future. She promised herself that this would be the last time she would think about Jezzie and the past. They no longer had a hold on her and she felt lighter after this revelation.

A gentle knock then sounded on the door and she said, "come in."

Zechs let himself in and they assessed each other's attire. Dressed in an Armani black suit and with his long golden hair swept back, he looked every inch the lady-killer that she remembered him to be. Despite the few laugh lines on his face the last ten years had been good to him. And he couldn't believe how stunning and grown up his baby sister was. "You look beautiful."

"It's only a simple gown." She replied, modestly.

"It doesn't matter what you wear. You always put the other ladies to shame. Now, are you ready? All the guests have arrived and they're waiting in the ballroom." He offered his arm and she gladly took it.

Relena had a splendid evening. She was able to have a few words with all the guests and she absorbed every moment like a sponge. Duo, Trowa, Quatre, Wufei, and Hilde spoke enthusiastically of her return and she thanked them for their Herculean effort in bringing her back.

Quatre said, "well, you probably realize that Heero put in ungodly hours to make sure the case was handled properly."

"I believe he even had a hand in laying the convictions out by working closely with the attorneys during the trial." Trowa added. "It wouldn't have concluded as soon as it did through the legal system without his pushing everything forward.

"Heero…. Do you know where he is? I haven't seen him." Relena asked. In fact, she hadn't seen him at all since coming home.

An awkward silence dropped on the group. Hilde said, "why don't I grab some drinks for us?" She gently touched Duo's arm before walking away and the rest of the men only stared at each other, willing for the other to answer.

Sensing the sudden shift amongst the group, Relena asked. "What happened? Is he okay?"

Wufei took leadership and replied, "No, he's fine. But… he's just been busy with everything."

"Yeah, yeah you know how it is, Princess." Duo piped in. "He's been so occupied by trying to find justice for you that he's neglected common social manners."

The other men looked away, knowing a lie when they heard one.

"Oh, I see." She said softly. Relena tried to convince herself that it was fine but she couldn't hide her disappointment. She wondered if she would ever see him.

As the party drew to a close, the guests bade farewell to Relena and promised they would keep in touch. In the midst of people roaming around the room and leaving the estate, Duo used the time to sneak out into the balcony. A man dressed in black hid behind the doorway and Duo walked directly to him.

"Heero." Duo greeted.

"How did you know I was here?"

It didn't take a genius to sense someone watching over Relena and he knew Heero was close. It took him a bit longer trying to pinpoint where he was located. "I can smell you a mile away." He chuckled. "But seriously, I knew you couldn't keep away. Why are you hiding like a criminal?"

"It's better this way." He answered.

Duo shook his head, confused. "I don't get it. How is this better? I can see how much it is eating you inside by being away from her and everyone knows how much she wants to see you. You're not one for martyrdom, so what's going on with you?"

Heero breathed deeply and took one last glance into the ballroom. Without even acknowledging Duo's question, he wrapped the jacket collar closer to his neck and walked into the darkness.

"You've already lost more than ten years with her! Are you willing to lose more?" Duo shouted to the receding figure.


Duo was right and Heero hated the fact. He knew better, didn't he? Why did he think that he could save them from further heartache when the separation was killing him? Torture… it was utter torture keeping away from her when all he craved was to touch the very woman he lived and breathed for.

He reached in and brushed the necklace that had been burning a hole in his pocket ever since Relena gently placed it into his palm. Maybe it was time he returned it to its rightful owner.

As he turned around and made his way back to the estate grounds, he saw a slender woman coming down the steps toward the flower garden. She floated down the cobblestone steps like a siren in her bright gown that flowed to her ankles.

"Relena…" He whispered, never taking his eyes off her. His deep blue irises followed her down the rock path to the wooden bench. She sat comfortably and looked so at ease that he didn't want to disrupt her.

Another excuse to stay away, Yuy? He criticized himself. Heero didn't give another chance to back down and stepped forward.

Soft footsteps on the grass knocked Relena out of her reverie and she tensed immediately and stood up to improve her chances to run.

"Relena…" A familiar voice said. Seconds later, she saw him approach and she couldn't help but gasp. It was such a disconnection to see him right in front of her. Had it really been that long?

"Heero." She said, devoid of emotion.

"Hi." Did he really say hi? How sorely understated that one single word was.

Despite the fact that they were only a few feet from each other, the distance felt like a mile-long chasm. She realized that her initial reaction was still a residual effect from the kidnapping but now that she knew it was Heero, Relena took the time to settle her nerves.

Heero began while Relena spoke at the same time, "I'm sorry I haven't…"

"So, how have you…" She smiled slightly and sat back down on the bench. "You were missed at the party." Relena heard herself say but what she really wanted to divulge was that she missed him.

He was so close and he just wanted to go to her but he feared that once he touched her, he never wanted to stop.

"Yes, I know." He said softly. "I'm sorry. I owe you a thousand apologies for… everything." Heero looked in pain and tried to mask his uneasiness. "I'm sorry… I'm sorry. Relena, I wasn't there. I'm so sorry."

Suddenly all her emotions resurfaced and she remembered all the times when she felt alone… unwanted, undesired, and unable to control her future. Tears began pooling in her eyes and here she thought she was done crying. Embarrassed, she quickly touched her forehead to hide her eyes.

"Relena…" Unmindful of his earlier reservations, he went to her then and wrapped her tightly in his arms. "I didn't mean to upset you. I'm sorry…. Here I am again, apologizing to you."

"Heero, you have to stop apologizing…" She said, wiping her eyes. Relena couldn't stand his guilt and circled her arms around his waist for comfort. It felt so good to hold him again… it felt safe, like coming home.

"God, I missed you." Heero whispered into her ear.

"I missed you more." She whispered back. "I missed you when I didn't even remember you."

He chuckled softly and said, "OK, you win." Heero leaned back, already missing the contact, but reached into his pocket to retrieve the necklace.

"I believe this belongs to you." The clasp came open easily and he looped the platinum chain around her neck for the dove pendant to sit smoothly on her skin.

They sat closely together in comfortable silence until Heero said, "It's getting late. I should bring you back."

As they walked back hand in hand, they understood that there were still many things to sort out but the important thing was that Relena was back home and they weren't going to sweat the small stuff.

He walked her up to the glass door leading into the ballroom that had long since been emptied of guests. "Good night, Relena."

"Good night, Heero." She said, eyes twinkling with a renewed sense of hope.

"Welcome home."

END

Note: Sorry, didn't quite make the August deadline but close enough. Not too sure how the final chapter worked out and I apologize if there wasn't a satisfactory ending to all the small issues that came up.

I'd like to give a final thank you to all the readers who have been with me from the beginning. Thank you for your patience and your undying support. You kept me going and I thank you!!!! =)

Cheers,
JK