p data-p-id="1905834a6d948b81360d1a9feab5741f"We all heard the mumblings backstage. People were pissed about what we'd done at emIn Your House/em. Everyone was shooting us dirty looks as we passed. Not like they didn't before, but still. It wasn't a good feeling./p
p data-p-id="4dd85f2ca713073651c4ea0fb3e6dfe3"Paul was called down to Dad's office. We bade him goodluck. Shawn and I were supposed to go to our locker room, but I told him I had to use the bathroom and instead sat outside Dad's office door./p
p data-p-id="7003cccab85eddd5ea762f2717f857f9""I know I initially gave you the go ahead with what happened, but know it's out there and if I just let it go by without saying something, it'd be chaos. There has to be a punishment," I heard Dad say. I could just imagine him leaning against his desk, not wanting to do what he had to./p
p data-p-id="dc2013a6c76f093f429a5efc7062a615""I understand, sir," Paul answered./p
p data-p-id="954b50a016f6fa3cc590bc405f859f2f""You're going to being eating a lot of shit for a long time."/p
p data-p-id="6a3f7a7bbf5b9903f4a452ec4a3882c7"I didn't want to stay there at the door for multiple reasons. For one, Shawn would be worried about me. I'd been gone a little too long. For another, I couldn't stand the pain of hearing Paul have to take on all the punishment by himself. But there wasn't any way around it. Kev and Scott were gone, Kid wasn't there, Shawn was champion, and me... well, I was me. Dad wasn't going to punish me. But he might if he discovered me lurking outside his door, which was my last reason to scurry back to the locker room./p
p data-p-id="dd397ef9fdfa34216992874b62b9f404"Shawn motioned for me to come sit with him. I guess my emotions were showing on my face too much, because he asked what was wrong./p
p data-p-id="331df8ab401db9424fff5850097e809b""I just feel so bad for Paul." My gut twisted. "He's getting all the heat while we just sit here in perfect happiness."/p
p data-p-id="fa7a799d0495d82ba8b1243dae6e8e40""Perfect happiness?"/p
p data-p-id="bbde3b51b7626859e4dff421b0c1b6ae""Well, yeah," I admitted. "We're here together. We have no pressure on us." I paused. "I'm happy. Beneath all my sympathy. Aren't you?"/p
p data-p-id="46461c74077f25e0331bffd44a5703c2"He looked at me as if the idea of being asked if he was happy was a whole new world. He seemed taken back that I'd thought to ask. "...of course I'm happy." He didn't seem all that sure./p
p data-p-id="7cf7b390adebbd35f37ac88c472decd1"I gave him a look./p
p data-p-id="2ac1a5a891c3f56600ac10f53df1bbeb""I am. Look," he gestured around, "I've got my job, my best friend, and I've got my emkitten/em." He kissed my forehead, making me melt./p
p data-p-id="8bddffd23a93db72793c3d01b0d0eb23""Kitten, huh?"/p
p data-p-id="69de7fb664a3606602805bb9f899e2f6"He did that little smirk that gave me chills. "Well, Kat's too formal, in my opinion."/p
p data-p-id="ee0de8148aa1e3b274b30b39cbb1b863""Oh really?"/p
p data-p-id="7067a99a4676554a1edc1ede013de8be"We dissolved into kisses. Which dissolved into a make out session. I couldn't help it. Shawn's hands were on my waist, my back, in my hair. I was straddling him at that point, too head over heels to care./p
p data-p-id="8d4eb8b047e16264d4c390ec586e32c4"Paul opening the door startled us both. I leapt off Shawn immediately, embarassed. I don't know why I was so ashamed. I just didn't like being with Shawn like that in front of other people. It made me uneasy. I tried straightening my hair and clothes, but it was no use. I tried to rush over to ask Paul what happened, but Shawn pulled me back down, locking his arms around my waist. I was uncomfortable, but I just let it be./p
p data-p-id="fab3b66e105d8e8022567569773f3ff1""Paul, I'm so sorry you're taking all of this. Trust me, if I thought there was any way of making my dad see reason, I'd be there right now. What did he say?" I rambled, trying to shake off the blush I was sure was growing across my cheeks./p
p data-p-id="d6141f9d776c87c493485401b8a10456"Paul either didn't notice what we'd been doing, or he didn't care. He sat down in a folding chair across from us sighed deeply. "They're aborting my entire push."/p
p data-p-id="c202b0187c600a0a3d68d65df812e2ed"I gasped, the same time Shawn exclaimed, "Shittt."/p
p data-p-id="dd065a5ccf17d3eb8840f23334f42cd2""I know." Paul ran a hand through his hair. "I'm going to be eating shit for a long time, so I might as well learn to like it."/p
p data-p-id="3cf2d99c2dc021d07804e2d8a51f2dc6""Are you sure there's nothing I can do?" I piped up. "I could go talk to Dad, maybe he'd actually listen to me."/p
p data-p-id="56c498b279341280f2e4013dd2c85f7d"Paul shook his head. "Have you seen everyone? They're flipping shit. Someone's gotta pay for it, or the whole ship's going down. I'm fine, really. I can take it, Kat."/p
p data-p-id="a264576c2c5ff36ed6456b6430f9d4aa""I never meant to imply that you couldn't," I told him solemnly. "I just don't think it's fair that you have to take all of the load. Maybe I could go get myself punished."/p
p data-p-id="8a03bec112bf827803da958f43fd0c9f"He shook his head again. "Don't. I don't want you to be involved. And don't feel so bad for me, alright?"/p
p data-p-id="a780e1a8994ae272e6fe4f89d8e0f386""I'm so sorry, man," Shawn commented. I could tell he genuinely was./p
p data-p-id="def2d52ce2b9ab1e28ad7694322683b4"Paul waved it off again, taking a drink of water. "It's okay."/p
p data-p-id="1c148a4f93d175d9c065099a9e5656fc""Did he tell you what plans they had for you?" Shawn asked./p
p data-p-id="3bb8c8bf4051788649814d780ba29aac""Yeah. A bunch of stuff. Like 'push of the century'. emKing of the Ring/em, all that shit," Paul admitted./p
p data-p-id="70ce40390c1970342a032f728d3786bf"Shawn whistled. "Damn."/p
p data-p-id="7f1d9d01030cadbf26bc4c6585bfed7e""I feel so awful! The whole thing was my idea in the first place! I should be punished; you should have your moment at emKing of the Ring/em!" I confessed. Maybe if I had just kept my mouth shut, it wouldn't have even happened. We wouldn't be in the mess we were./p
p data-p-id="ecb67fbfcc0164a33ea5d2070424b89d""Don't be hard on yourself, Kat. We all went along with it. I did the crime, now I'm going to have to do the time. That's all there is about it," Paul told me./p
p data-p-id="914bf1bfb598935788197d8379e6ac4f"I smiled sadly at him and set a hand on his comfortingly. "You're a good man, Paul. Noble."/p
p data-p-id="2a1465491fed381574d130be26a7c21e"Shawn snickered and I sent an elbow into his rib./p
p data-p-id="7d07b77b6ada6a120ed136beaa4d743d""I mean it," I told them./p
p data-p-id="9be6c93bd18c6cc68843817d2d5caa46"Paul thanked me, and I could tell it really meant something to him./p
p data-p-id="63ba8045b4da37b9e3187821a7aaff10"There was a knock on the door, so he told them to come in. When I saw my dad poke his head into the room, I nearly had a heart attack. I jumped out of Shawn's arms, successfully that time./p
p data-p-id="1e3d0d77a0dfb8987f5dfc871a3bedee""Dad!" I exclaimed. "Uh... what do you need?" I could feel my face get hot again./p
p data-p-id="4cff79d451e03b588bac20f155b35dbf""Sar-ahem, Katherine, may I speak to you in my office?" he asked./p
p data-p-id="cac8bcf7e2b1f5cde1fcc3eda9920d96""Uh, yeah, of course."/p
p data-p-id="7827d3c0dd9e943df58a39b06b23badc"Shawn stood, like he was going to come with us. I barely went anywhere without him these days./p
p data-p-id="a64e58743601004fb9f7c3dd995d0c00""emAlone/em," Dad specified, making Shawn sit down once again. But not before kissing me passionately, rubbing it in and being the arrogant prick that he could be./p
p data-p-id="d4c949e084caafe66ea16881ab4343de"I hid my face as I followed my father into his office. I sat in the chair across from his desk as he stared me down with a fire behind his eyes that was probably from Shawn's little act./p
p data-p-id="695866ac0904be7d1a686567cc9959ae""Dad, I-"/p
p data-p-id="da96ebba34c80f9af67c69c00f5d0e81""That's not what I wanted to talk to you about today, Katherine." His locked shoulders and fiery stare hinted otherwise, but I didn't have the guts to tell him that. Not while he was looking at me like that./p
p data-p-id="adde8ad395209e1c715dd2125528cb6d""Then what did you want to talk about?" I questioned./p
p data-p-id="9a64beca0210111ea2802a09bf155577""I wanted to talk about what happened at In Your House. I've already talked with Paul, and he swore up and down that you had nothing to do with it, but you're my daughter. I know you and your creative mind. It was your idea, wasn't it?"/p
p data-p-id="aa97f43800f4b8782ec51b85e8fb9a02""It was. I'm the one that should be punished, not Paul. He-"/p
p data-p-id="1a212ee8c92100540a85fe1f28b14acc""I'm not angry, Katherine." The expression on his face was almost... proud. "On the contrary, I'm impressed. You really do have the inspirational mind of a McMahon." He definitely looked proud when he said that. "A lot of other people are, as I assume you've seen, not in the same opinion I am. Do you understand the importance of what you've done?"/p
p data-p-id="81f4376952a68fb681ac348b0599762d"I gulped. Maybe he thought I was brilliant, but I was not so sure. I had no idea what the importance of it was. It was just a group of friends saying goodbye./p
p data-p-id="6b77b21742f3b517ef74279690461673""Katherine, you've pulled back the curtain, so to speak. You threw kayfabe out the window. It's a completely new sight the audience has never seen before. You've given them the tiniest bit of behind the scenes. This could be huge," he explained, almost excitedly. "You've single-handedly demolished everything we've worked for since your grandfather's time."/p
p data-p-id="b191e046b7828eadfa61eb005278c7c9""I'm... sorry?" I wasn't sure what he wanted me to say or feel./p
p data-p-id="c87e7f596710b6f833812caa2e58d827""Don't be. You may have just changed everything. Change is good. Change is growing. This could be recolutionary. I just wanted to let you know that, before you get out there and they all try to take this away from you."/p
p data-p-id="29235805a1512e5d9b237695ed3958c4""Thank you," I whispered, taking in the weight of all he'd said. The guilt I'd found was gone, my entire mood uplifted./p
p data-p-id="8712d5b3c205e7d1809d795280c9dd72"Change is good. Change is growing./p
p style="text-align: center;" data-p-id="59111005a99ff8c6fad2ddba3ce391e2"em-/embr /emShawn's POV /embr /em-/em/p
p data-p-id="42ad8036bd3ee9856fce38b877bba802"As Kat and Vince left, I settled back into my seat with a sigh./p
p data-p-id="fe39dd77decf77f8d3bed950779e6aed"Paul looked at me with a brow raised. "What was that?"/p
p data-p-id="c54d755635952b4c624639c2751384d6"I shrugged. "I just wanted to piss him off a little. Since he's going to be such an ass about us going out."/p
p data-p-id="fe837a27a9d772390f71b9a2ec8037d1""He's her dad. He's supposed to be an ass about it," Paul argued./p
p data-p-id="0d0dae2d0707c92f05850c9eac9fe1e0"I rolled my eyes. "Whatever. He's still being an ass."/p
p data-p-id="0bac5a1ac59aceefd05eacd97e785de1""Maybe it's because he can hear you two making out from a mile away."/p
p data-p-id="2d378cef449cac6e41823c0cf2f0d6e2"I smirked at him. "You noticed that, huh?"/p
p data-p-id="dd7d49124191b9ab895afa4ee4162951""Before I even walked in."/p
p data-p-id="9e2549bc9bb5630ee6d1e913e9de2d03"I laughed, but as I started thinking about it, I became serious again. "Have you noticed how quick she is to get up? It's like she's embarassed to be with me."/p
p data-p-id="ab9451d86c601609946599f243673d09""She's young, Shawn. And she's, y'know, emKat/em. She's embarassed every time she takes a step. She'll warm up to you," Paul told me./p
p data-p-id="e73d8d35a5413ae4a4cd78fca96dc6b8""Yeah..." I muttered./p
p data-p-id="1f3aac28dabf86f2ff49f13d40b17882"He was right, but that didn't soften the blow any. It still hurt me deep down. I knew it shouldn't, but dammit, when did I ever listen to the smarter side of me?/p
p data-p-id="4dd85f2ca713073651c4ea0fb3e6dfe3"Paul was called down to Dad's office. We bade him goodluck. Shawn and I were supposed to go to our locker room, but I told him I had to use the bathroom and instead sat outside Dad's office door./p
p data-p-id="7003cccab85eddd5ea762f2717f857f9""I know I initially gave you the go ahead with what happened, but know it's out there and if I just let it go by without saying something, it'd be chaos. There has to be a punishment," I heard Dad say. I could just imagine him leaning against his desk, not wanting to do what he had to./p
p data-p-id="dc2013a6c76f093f429a5efc7062a615""I understand, sir," Paul answered./p
p data-p-id="954b50a016f6fa3cc590bc405f859f2f""You're going to being eating a lot of shit for a long time."/p
p data-p-id="6a3f7a7bbf5b9903f4a452ec4a3882c7"I didn't want to stay there at the door for multiple reasons. For one, Shawn would be worried about me. I'd been gone a little too long. For another, I couldn't stand the pain of hearing Paul have to take on all the punishment by himself. But there wasn't any way around it. Kev and Scott were gone, Kid wasn't there, Shawn was champion, and me... well, I was me. Dad wasn't going to punish me. But he might if he discovered me lurking outside his door, which was my last reason to scurry back to the locker room./p
p data-p-id="dd397ef9fdfa34216992874b62b9f404"Shawn motioned for me to come sit with him. I guess my emotions were showing on my face too much, because he asked what was wrong./p
p data-p-id="331df8ab401db9424fff5850097e809b""I just feel so bad for Paul." My gut twisted. "He's getting all the heat while we just sit here in perfect happiness."/p
p data-p-id="fa7a799d0495d82ba8b1243dae6e8e40""Perfect happiness?"/p
p data-p-id="bbde3b51b7626859e4dff421b0c1b6ae""Well, yeah," I admitted. "We're here together. We have no pressure on us." I paused. "I'm happy. Beneath all my sympathy. Aren't you?"/p
p data-p-id="46461c74077f25e0331bffd44a5703c2"He looked at me as if the idea of being asked if he was happy was a whole new world. He seemed taken back that I'd thought to ask. "...of course I'm happy." He didn't seem all that sure./p
p data-p-id="7cf7b390adebbd35f37ac88c472decd1"I gave him a look./p
p data-p-id="2ac1a5a891c3f56600ac10f53df1bbeb""I am. Look," he gestured around, "I've got my job, my best friend, and I've got my emkitten/em." He kissed my forehead, making me melt./p
p data-p-id="8bddffd23a93db72793c3d01b0d0eb23""Kitten, huh?"/p
p data-p-id="69de7fb664a3606602805bb9f899e2f6"He did that little smirk that gave me chills. "Well, Kat's too formal, in my opinion."/p
p data-p-id="ee0de8148aa1e3b274b30b39cbb1b863""Oh really?"/p
p data-p-id="7067a99a4676554a1edc1ede013de8be"We dissolved into kisses. Which dissolved into a make out session. I couldn't help it. Shawn's hands were on my waist, my back, in my hair. I was straddling him at that point, too head over heels to care./p
p data-p-id="8d4eb8b047e16264d4c390ec586e32c4"Paul opening the door startled us both. I leapt off Shawn immediately, embarassed. I don't know why I was so ashamed. I just didn't like being with Shawn like that in front of other people. It made me uneasy. I tried straightening my hair and clothes, but it was no use. I tried to rush over to ask Paul what happened, but Shawn pulled me back down, locking his arms around my waist. I was uncomfortable, but I just let it be./p
p data-p-id="fab3b66e105d8e8022567569773f3ff1""Paul, I'm so sorry you're taking all of this. Trust me, if I thought there was any way of making my dad see reason, I'd be there right now. What did he say?" I rambled, trying to shake off the blush I was sure was growing across my cheeks./p
p data-p-id="d6141f9d776c87c493485401b8a10456"Paul either didn't notice what we'd been doing, or he didn't care. He sat down in a folding chair across from us sighed deeply. "They're aborting my entire push."/p
p data-p-id="c202b0187c600a0a3d68d65df812e2ed"I gasped, the same time Shawn exclaimed, "Shittt."/p
p data-p-id="dd065a5ccf17d3eb8840f23334f42cd2""I know." Paul ran a hand through his hair. "I'm going to be eating shit for a long time, so I might as well learn to like it."/p
p data-p-id="3cf2d99c2dc021d07804e2d8a51f2dc6""Are you sure there's nothing I can do?" I piped up. "I could go talk to Dad, maybe he'd actually listen to me."/p
p data-p-id="56c498b279341280f2e4013dd2c85f7d"Paul shook his head. "Have you seen everyone? They're flipping shit. Someone's gotta pay for it, or the whole ship's going down. I'm fine, really. I can take it, Kat."/p
p data-p-id="a264576c2c5ff36ed6456b6430f9d4aa""I never meant to imply that you couldn't," I told him solemnly. "I just don't think it's fair that you have to take all of the load. Maybe I could go get myself punished."/p
p data-p-id="8a03bec112bf827803da958f43fd0c9f"He shook his head again. "Don't. I don't want you to be involved. And don't feel so bad for me, alright?"/p
p data-p-id="a780e1a8994ae272e6fe4f89d8e0f386""I'm so sorry, man," Shawn commented. I could tell he genuinely was./p
p data-p-id="def2d52ce2b9ab1e28ad7694322683b4"Paul waved it off again, taking a drink of water. "It's okay."/p
p data-p-id="1c148a4f93d175d9c065099a9e5656fc""Did he tell you what plans they had for you?" Shawn asked./p
p data-p-id="3bb8c8bf4051788649814d780ba29aac""Yeah. A bunch of stuff. Like 'push of the century'. emKing of the Ring/em, all that shit," Paul admitted./p
p data-p-id="70ce40390c1970342a032f728d3786bf"Shawn whistled. "Damn."/p
p data-p-id="7f1d9d01030cadbf26bc4c6585bfed7e""I feel so awful! The whole thing was my idea in the first place! I should be punished; you should have your moment at emKing of the Ring/em!" I confessed. Maybe if I had just kept my mouth shut, it wouldn't have even happened. We wouldn't be in the mess we were./p
p data-p-id="ecb67fbfcc0164a33ea5d2070424b89d""Don't be hard on yourself, Kat. We all went along with it. I did the crime, now I'm going to have to do the time. That's all there is about it," Paul told me./p
p data-p-id="914bf1bfb598935788197d8379e6ac4f"I smiled sadly at him and set a hand on his comfortingly. "You're a good man, Paul. Noble."/p
p data-p-id="2a1465491fed381574d130be26a7c21e"Shawn snickered and I sent an elbow into his rib./p
p data-p-id="7d07b77b6ada6a120ed136beaa4d743d""I mean it," I told them./p
p data-p-id="9be6c93bd18c6cc68843817d2d5caa46"Paul thanked me, and I could tell it really meant something to him./p
p data-p-id="63ba8045b4da37b9e3187821a7aaff10"There was a knock on the door, so he told them to come in. When I saw my dad poke his head into the room, I nearly had a heart attack. I jumped out of Shawn's arms, successfully that time./p
p data-p-id="1e3d0d77a0dfb8987f5dfc871a3bedee""Dad!" I exclaimed. "Uh... what do you need?" I could feel my face get hot again./p
p data-p-id="4cff79d451e03b588bac20f155b35dbf""Sar-ahem, Katherine, may I speak to you in my office?" he asked./p
p data-p-id="cac8bcf7e2b1f5cde1fcc3eda9920d96""Uh, yeah, of course."/p
p data-p-id="7827d3c0dd9e943df58a39b06b23badc"Shawn stood, like he was going to come with us. I barely went anywhere without him these days./p
p data-p-id="a64e58743601004fb9f7c3dd995d0c00""emAlone/em," Dad specified, making Shawn sit down once again. But not before kissing me passionately, rubbing it in and being the arrogant prick that he could be./p
p data-p-id="d4c949e084caafe66ea16881ab4343de"I hid my face as I followed my father into his office. I sat in the chair across from his desk as he stared me down with a fire behind his eyes that was probably from Shawn's little act./p
p data-p-id="695866ac0904be7d1a686567cc9959ae""Dad, I-"/p
p data-p-id="da96ebba34c80f9af67c69c00f5d0e81""That's not what I wanted to talk to you about today, Katherine." His locked shoulders and fiery stare hinted otherwise, but I didn't have the guts to tell him that. Not while he was looking at me like that./p
p data-p-id="adde8ad395209e1c715dd2125528cb6d""Then what did you want to talk about?" I questioned./p
p data-p-id="9a64beca0210111ea2802a09bf155577""I wanted to talk about what happened at In Your House. I've already talked with Paul, and he swore up and down that you had nothing to do with it, but you're my daughter. I know you and your creative mind. It was your idea, wasn't it?"/p
p data-p-id="aa97f43800f4b8782ec51b85e8fb9a02""It was. I'm the one that should be punished, not Paul. He-"/p
p data-p-id="1a212ee8c92100540a85fe1f28b14acc""I'm not angry, Katherine." The expression on his face was almost... proud. "On the contrary, I'm impressed. You really do have the inspirational mind of a McMahon." He definitely looked proud when he said that. "A lot of other people are, as I assume you've seen, not in the same opinion I am. Do you understand the importance of what you've done?"/p
p data-p-id="81f4376952a68fb681ac348b0599762d"I gulped. Maybe he thought I was brilliant, but I was not so sure. I had no idea what the importance of it was. It was just a group of friends saying goodbye./p
p data-p-id="6b77b21742f3b517ef74279690461673""Katherine, you've pulled back the curtain, so to speak. You threw kayfabe out the window. It's a completely new sight the audience has never seen before. You've given them the tiniest bit of behind the scenes. This could be huge," he explained, almost excitedly. "You've single-handedly demolished everything we've worked for since your grandfather's time."/p
p data-p-id="b191e046b7828eadfa61eb005278c7c9""I'm... sorry?" I wasn't sure what he wanted me to say or feel./p
p data-p-id="c87e7f596710b6f833812caa2e58d827""Don't be. You may have just changed everything. Change is good. Change is growing. This could be recolutionary. I just wanted to let you know that, before you get out there and they all try to take this away from you."/p
p data-p-id="29235805a1512e5d9b237695ed3958c4""Thank you," I whispered, taking in the weight of all he'd said. The guilt I'd found was gone, my entire mood uplifted./p
p data-p-id="8712d5b3c205e7d1809d795280c9dd72"Change is good. Change is growing./p
p style="text-align: center;" data-p-id="59111005a99ff8c6fad2ddba3ce391e2"em-/embr /emShawn's POV /embr /em-/em/p
p data-p-id="42ad8036bd3ee9856fce38b877bba802"As Kat and Vince left, I settled back into my seat with a sigh./p
p data-p-id="fe39dd77decf77f8d3bed950779e6aed"Paul looked at me with a brow raised. "What was that?"/p
p data-p-id="c54d755635952b4c624639c2751384d6"I shrugged. "I just wanted to piss him off a little. Since he's going to be such an ass about us going out."/p
p data-p-id="fe837a27a9d772390f71b9a2ec8037d1""He's her dad. He's supposed to be an ass about it," Paul argued./p
p data-p-id="0d0dae2d0707c92f05850c9eac9fe1e0"I rolled my eyes. "Whatever. He's still being an ass."/p
p data-p-id="0bac5a1ac59aceefd05eacd97e785de1""Maybe it's because he can hear you two making out from a mile away."/p
p data-p-id="2d378cef449cac6e41823c0cf2f0d6e2"I smirked at him. "You noticed that, huh?"/p
p data-p-id="dd7d49124191b9ab895afa4ee4162951""Before I even walked in."/p
p data-p-id="9e2549bc9bb5630ee6d1e913e9de2d03"I laughed, but as I started thinking about it, I became serious again. "Have you noticed how quick she is to get up? It's like she's embarassed to be with me."/p
p data-p-id="ab9451d86c601609946599f243673d09""She's young, Shawn. And she's, y'know, emKat/em. She's embarassed every time she takes a step. She'll warm up to you," Paul told me./p
p data-p-id="e73d8d35a5413ae4a4cd78fca96dc6b8""Yeah..." I muttered./p
p data-p-id="1f3aac28dabf86f2ff49f13d40b17882"He was right, but that didn't soften the blow any. It still hurt me deep down. I knew it shouldn't, but dammit, when did I ever listen to the smarter side of me?/p