The chapter we've all been waiting for; The Gala (Part 1)!

*Chapter 9: Christmas Eve Gala Part 1*

Artie pushed his horses towards the Anderson estate in the chilling night air of December. It was always cold during the winter but on this particular night it was acceptable, not being too chilly to cause Artie nonstop shivering. Tonight was especially busy because of the Gala. No matter if a person had a carriage of their own it was deemed unacceptable to all the carriages in town were all bought out long before the Gala and those who waited would be forced to drive their own carriages. Artie tugged at the reigns, turning the horses into the elaborate entrance of the Anderson estate. He has been Master Blaine's carriage driver for events like these for several years and it was always enjoyable to work with him. He pulled back on the reigns, stopping the horses right before the entrance of Blaine's stately mansion. He did not have to wait long before the doors swung open and revealed a well dressed and large party of five persons. Artie mentally scolded himself for not hitching on the far larger carriage than the one he has for one of the persons will have to sit with him in the air. "H-Hello Master Blaine." Artie stuttered out, not from nervousness from the carriage size but from the cold.

"Why Artie, don't you have some blankets with you?" Blaine called up to him as he stood right beside the carriage while Wes helped Rachel and Mercedes in the carriage. Kurt stood in front of the horses stroking their muzzles and softly neighing to them.

"I do." Artie said, lifting up a corner of a very old blanket that was laid over his lap. To also help him in the cold he wore much heavier wool clothing and long underwear that really did wonders.

"Let me give you a new one friend." Blaine said. Artie was about to object but Blaine turned and walked back towards the manor to ask for a heavier, newer blanket for his good friend Artie Abrams.

Artie sighed, seeing no reason to continue on. Artie leaned to the side then to try to get a view of the man in front of his horses. "Excuse me sir? Please, would you mind telling me who you are? I-It seems that I haven't seen you around before."

Kurt stepped around the carriage and moved to the same spot Blaine was in moments ago. "Oh yes of course. I am Kurt Anderson, Blaine's cousin."

"A cousin huh?" Artie inquired. Kurt gave a slight nod of his head. "And work do you do Mr. Anderson?"

"I am a musician. And please, call me Kurt Mr.…?"

"Artie Abrams, but you may call me Artie cousin of Master Blaine." At that moment Blaine arrived and handed Artie a new, warm blanket. "Thank you Master Blaine. This will keep me warm alright."

"It's no trouble Artie." Blaine smiled at the man.

"Sir?" Wes called out. "We're all ready to go."

"Ah yes that reminds me." Artie said cutting off Blaine before he even spoke. "One of you will have to sit with me. I'm afraid there's no room in the carriage for all five of you."

Wes was about to volunteer himself when this time Kurt cut him off. "I will join you Artie." Kurt then climbed up and took the seat besides Artie. "Besides, I am a very social being and I would love to get to know more about you friend."

"Then it settles it then." Blaine said, not feeling quite happy with the fact that Kurt will be out in the cold and not beside him. "Are you sure you'll be all right cousin?"

"Of course." Kurt replied looking at Blaine. "I will just converse with Artie in the meantime."

Blaine nodded slowly, still not too happy about the whole situation but he kept his true feelings well masked. Blaine was then ushered into the carriage by Wes and once the door was shut Artie snapped the reigns and the horses pulled the heavier load towards Lima. Not long after the horses moved Artie turned his head to talk to Kurt, glad that for once that he had someone to talk too while on his drive. "So Kurt, where do you hail from?"

"From California."

"I see…" Artie drawled out as he focused his eyes on the path before him.

"Do I detect some displeasure?"

"Not towards you Kurt that I can assure you, I don't know you that well but I can tell you are a kind soul."

"What makes you angry my friend?"

"The way the Californians treat their Mystics. It's far worse than anywhere in the world… Except perhaps, maybe the Eastern coast."

Kurt nodded. "I agree. I never once accepted the way they treat them. It's far too cruel. Why, I don't even own a Mystic at all."

"Neither do I. I owe my life to a Mystic and that is where I lie."

"What happened might I inquire?"

Artie chuckled darkly to himself. "My legs…" Artie moved away some of the blanket to reveal his partially amputated legs.

Kurt looked at the legs and then back to Artie. "What happened?"

"Long story short I fell down a ravine in the Woods and hours later I was rescued by a unicorn, though he couldn't save my legs."

Kurt nodded. "Unicorns are the purest of all creatures. Nothing could ever change a unicorn to become evil. It isn't in their nature."

"You seem to know a lot about Mystics Kurt."

"Yes…" Kurt paused to think. "And you seem to be degrading yourself because of your legs Artie. Don't do that to yourself."

"I don't… I already have people to do that."

"Well don't let them either Artie. I can see you are a strong man to have survived that experience in the ravine and continue to live with half of both your legs. And you are kind too, I can tell. It just radiates of you my friend."

Artie smiled and turned the carriage onto the main road in Dalton before looking to Kurt. "Thank you my friend. No one has once said anything like that to me."

"And it's a shame." Kurt said nodding his head definitely. "You are a wondrous person, and an even stronger human being." Artie thanked him and the two chatted along the rest of the ride, laughing and quickly becoming good friends.

In the carriage Blaine heard their muffled conversations. He smiled to himself. He had taught Kurt well, they all have, and it is so hard to hear any Mystic in him at all. He then looked at the others. Wes and he sat across from the girls, Wes across Mercedes and Blaine across Rachel. The others were chatting amongst themselves, aware of both Blaine's and Kurt's feeling towards each other even when the two knew nothing about the others' feelings. Blaine went back to listening in the conversation that Kurt and Artie were having and what he was hearing shocked him as much as it seemed to have shocked Kurt.

"And I don't know what to do Kurt." Artie sighed out, shaking his head at himself. "I haven't even talked to her since and all I can think about is her."

"Yes, so you love her?"

"I… I don't know. I… I mean it's forbidden, we could get killed…"

"But if it wasn't forbidden?"

Artie sighed blissfully at the thought. "If it wasn't forbidden… God the world would be so nice. No more Mystic slaves or torment… If it wasn't forbidden Kurt… I think I would try to woo her."

Kurt smiled, feeling even closer to Artie since he too has his own battle with a forbidden love, but he was not about to talk about that now. "And what is her name? Do you know?"

"Brittany Pierce."

Kurt bit his tongue in his mouth to restrain the excitement that bubbled up. His bond sister is here in Lima? Kurt could barely contain himself. He thought that he would never see her again. "That's a nice name." Kurt said a few short moments later. Inside his excitement reigned but also some panic when he tasted the iron taste of blood from his tongue in his mouth, he had bitten down much too hard.

"Yes…" Artie then drifted off into his own dreamland yet professionally still focused on the destination at hand. Kurt turned and remained quiet and allowed Artie his moment of blissful daydreams.

Within the next few minutes Artie pulled up to Brookenshon Castle. Upon stopping the door opened and Kurt helped himself off the carriage seat while Blaine lowered himself out of the carriage. Kurt turned to face Artie and bowed his head in thanks. "Thank you Artie. We'll see you later tonight."

"Of course sir." Artie replied, mimicking Kurt's head bow. By this time everyone had exited the carriage and Rachel came over and clasped her arm to Kurt's while Mercedes did the same with Wes. The five were about to walk into the castle when Artie's voice stopped them. "Oh and Kurt… Good luck tonight with the bet." Artie winked and then set the horses forward. The five remained quiet before laughing hysterically. Nothing will ever get by Artie Abrams.

They walked to the doors and the women looked at each other and marveled once more at their dresses. Rachel wore a pecan colored dress with tan satin, gold lace and ribbons and white lace with bows going down the front center of her dress. It was a three-quarter sleeved dress with lace all around the hem and the bodice was a tightly tightened gold corset. Mercedes wore a purple flowered pattern dress, the flowers being shades of pink, blue and red. The dress was off the shoulder with ruffles on the shoulders and ruching around the bodice. In the front of the dress was a giant blue sash the hanged in front of the skirt and was tied to her hips. Blaine wore his typical jacket and stripped pants with a red vest and white shirt. Wes wore solid black pants with a purple vest and a black jacket with a white shirt. Kurt wore his outfit that they tried on him not that long ago.

Together they walked into the castle and Kurt nearly dropped dead at the beauty of the castle, as well as the women who have never been in the castle either. The walls were painted with what looked like to be liquid gold and it shined in the light of the many chandeliers and from one humongous one that hanged in the lobby of the castle. There were many arches and pillars made from marble, brown marble with specks of pure silver melted into it, white marble for accenting and black for the stands. The floor was polished and shined as bright at the light itself as intricate designs of black, gold, white and many other colors made up flowers, animals, people and scenes from old fairytales, both human and Mystic. Blaine led the way into the dance hall, correction, ball room. Once again Kurt lost his breath. The walls were painted white with plenty of gold accenting with bronze and golden nearly forty chandeliers, all identical, were spread evenly throughout the big ballroom. Kurt felt tears sting his eyes as he realized that this castle was the castle in the fairytale of his God of Light and his mate. This is where they lived and danced. Kurt rubbed his eyes of the tears and stared in awe at the painting on the ceiling that wrapped around every chandelier and was just one big continuous mural. It was depicting a man and a woman and their story. Two big paintings of the man and woman were on opposite sides of the room, hands out stretched, reaching for the other. The woman was darker skinned, a mocha color, with long red-black hair and purple eyes while the man was white, whiter than the whitest paper with white long hair. In between them they appeared countless times surrounded my animals and Mystics and even people. The story started with their births, the woman's on her side and the man's on his, and it moved towards the center. On both sides the painting was repeated when they finally met but in the center both stories became one and depicted the two, hands together and tied with red ribbon symbolizing their bond. Kurt refrained himself from bowing at the sight of his God of Light and his mate in holy bondage. Kurt tore his eyes away and realized that Blaine, Wes and Mercedes have left and Rachel was looking at him, questioning him silently.

"I'm fine Rachel." Kurt said nodding. "So… Shall we find Mr. Hudson and Miss Fabray or shall we wait till later?"

*Chronicle of the Mystics*

Meanwhile a very late Karofsky grumbled in anger as he paced in front of his home. His carriage driver had been remarkably late this evening and the worst part was that Santana was waiting for him at the Gala and she becomes truly intimidating when kept waiting. Karofsky groaned and tugged and his jacket. Tonight he wore a beige vest with beige pants, a black and red trimmed jacket and black pants with a red puff tie. Tired of waiting and quite bored with just pacing he walked the short distance to the barn and walked straight to Sam who lately he has been befriending him, without any reluctance though he does a perfectly good job in making it look like he has reluctance. He did not bother opening the door and he just placed his arms on the door and leaned in. Sam chuckled at him. "Look at you." Sam pushed himself closer to Karofsky and placed his hands on the glass to hold him steady, tail swishing gently behind him. "Don't you look nice...? Good job, good job." Sam chuckled again and Karofsky narrowed his eyes at him though mentally thanked the merman half-breed for the compliment.

"Listen here Mystic, I'm only here so you can entertain me."

"So entertain right?" Sam asked. Sam pushed himself away and raised a hand to his chin in thought. "I know!" Sam said after not even a second of thought. He pushed himself back towards the glass. "I can do impressions." Sam grinned stupidly. "Guess who this is." Sam cleared his throat and lowered his voice dramatically and made it very scratchy. "Damn all these Mystics… Horrid breed from hell. We should kill 'em all off."

The corners of Karofsky's lips curled up the slightest bit. "It's my head guard."

"Yes!" Sam said in his regular voice. "By the way… That man scared me. I always think that when I fall asleep he'll come in here, slit my throat, fry me up and see if I taste like fish… Or feed me to that horrid breed of a dog." He said, mimicking the head guard at the end. The guard's dog, a big mean vicious creature, always comes in here and snaps at anyone or anything, especially the Mystics for that dog hates Mystics just as much as his master.

"Nonsense. He knows that a death in any of my Mystics will result in punishment." Especially if that Mystic was Samuel Evans, the only Mystic Karofsky ever gained a relationship with.

"Yes…" Sam said softly as he pushed himself away once more. "Wouldn't want you to lose that bet you have with that other human… What was his name? Ackerson or something like that?"

"Anderson." Karofsky corrected. Sam merely shrugged. "Do another impression." Karofsky soon commanded.

Sam nodded and thought for a moment. He thought about doing Karofsky, but he did not want to risk angering him. Sam sighed and shook his head. "Sorry… I don't know any other good impressions. I could do my old friends from the woods… But you don't know them so you wouldn't get it. I could do my family, but then I would get sad and you don't know them either…" Sam sighed again. "I could do the head guard again."

"No." Karofsky said the air from the previous impression ruined from Sam mentioning his family. Not that it was a horrible thing to do, but it damped the mood. "Don't bother." Sam looked down, oddly disappointed in himself for not being more useful to Karofsky. "Tell me about your family." Karofsky said suddenly. Sam looked up and looked into the human's eyes.

"Um… Well father was one of the strongest river merpeople in the woods. He originally came from the sea but moved inland when his family disowned him. He killed someone."

"Did he do it intentionally?"

"He did it to protect his first wife. She was going to be raped by another merman. And even then she broke off the marriage and all together his family personally banished him."

"Then why—"

"Did he get disowned and banished?" Sam interrupted, finished Karofsky for him. "It's unlawful for Mystics to kill other Mystics. When we hunt we hunt animals, never another being and even when we hunt we pray over our kill to have their soul reborn again and to be safe from other hunters in its new life." Karofsky nodded his head and Sam talked more about his family. "He met my mother while he traveled into McKinley. He was very adventurous and loved to live life on the edge. She was only thirteen when she met him; he was nearly twenty-five, still it was love at first sight and eventually she ran away to live with him in the Woods where he finally gave up living life wildly and focused on his family."

"You, your brother and sister."

"And my mother too." Sam added nodding. "We all lived happily; the other Mystics welcomed my mother, or just lived with it depending on how that Mystics thinks about humans. Then of course we all got captured except mother who was able to get away before coming back…" Sam closed his eyes and sighed. "Why did she come back Karofsky?" Sam asked his voice small. "She could still be alive… I should I have died on stage, I should have died..."

"Sam—"

"Excuse me Master Karofsky?" A female servant called out from a few feet away. "The carriage has arrived and is ready to take you to the Gala."

"Finally." Karofsky growled and he sent her off with a wave of his hand. He looked back at Sam.

Sam had opened his eyes then and was looking at him, a small sad smile on his face. "Have fun at the Gala. Tell Anderson I said hello for me… Or not it's up to you." Karofsky blinked at the merman and turned and walked away without a word, before he did something he would soon regret.

*Chronicle of the Mystics*

Meanwhile back at the Gala, the ball room was springing to life with music and dance and chattering amongst its many patrons. Mostly everyone in the Royal State was in attendance except the women without partners, the servants and the Mystics obviously. There was a group of five made up of Finn Hudson, Quinn Fabray, Mike Chang, Tina Cohen-Chang and Noah Puckerman, were off to the side, laughing and talking amongst themselves. Mike wore something similar to his auctioneer's outfit wearing a dark blue vest, black jacket and grey pants. Finn wore a cutaway black jacket, black pinstripe pants, a grey putman vest and a blue puff tie. Puck wore his ensemble as a body guard which is made up off a black cutaway jacket, red dragon print vest, black puff tie and black pants. Tina wore a red and black dress. It stopped at her ankles and had a ruched short foot, two feet, train. The front of the dress had ruffles and the bodice was shaped much like a vest with black running down the front of it, the sleeves and back of the bodice was red and she wore a black tie on her neck. Her shoes were black heels and her black hair hang loose around her shoulders, some strands of her hair painted red. Quinn wore an elegant flowery dress. It was off the shoulders and was very busy with the skirt making up the entirely of the skirt. A huge sewn on flower sat on one of her shoulders and the train was wide a long, about three feet. Her blonde hair was put up into a bun with wavy strands coming out and framing the side of her face.

Finn laughed and lightly punched Mike in the arm. They were currently recalling the moment in which Mike asked Tina to join him to the Gala. "He was so scared of you Puck. He was sure you would fight him for even looking at these women."

Puck laughed darkly. "I would but they're not my girls. Except maybe Quinn."

"Not in your life Lima Loser." Quinn snapped as she clung closer to Finn.

Puck rolled his eyes in response. "Yes, yes Miss Fabray, whatever you say Miss Fabray." He said sarcastically.

Tina rolled her eyes as Quinn started to scold Puck and threaten to dock his pay, again. She looked at Mike and smiled warmly at him. "But Mike, why didn't you ask me before? I have always thought that you were attractive."

Mike blushed and rubbed at the back of his head embarrassingly. "I apologize. I just was just so nervous. Please forgive me."

"Forgive you? Why there's nothing to forgive Mike." Tina leaned into him and placed her other hand on his chest daintily. "I just think that it make you more humble."

"Why thank you Miss Cohan-Chang."

"Please, call me Tina Mike."

"And another thing—"Quinn continued as she pointed out, once again, all of Puck's insecurities and imperfections.

Puck sighed exasperatedly. "You know I see your mouth moving Miss Fabray but all I hear is la, la, la, la, la…"

Finn breathed out and softly pulled an angered Quinn away. "Yes, uh, please excuse us. I believe we need a drink."

As they walked away Puck turned to Mike and punched him, hard, in the arm. Mike hissed and started to rub the area. Puck chuckled at both him and what he is about to say. "That's the mother of my baby alright. Feisty till the very end. If Finn ever decides to marry her, God forbid, then he'll never have a dull moment."

Meanwhile Wes and Mercedes danced gracefully on the dance floor. The two talked and laughed softly with each other as they twirled and swayed together, enjoying this time together that would surely not be the last. "You know I thought that I would never get to go a Gala or a ball." Mercedes said as one song ended and another song started.

Wes stopped her and became serious all of a sudden. He held her hands in his and looked straight into her eyes. "Nonsense. Mercedes you are a beautiful young woman. Any man who doesn't see that is a fool."

Mercedes chuckled once softly. "And what about you? Were you even ever going to ask me to a dance without Kurt's meddling?"

"Eventually." Wes said. Mercedes, unconvinced raised a brow. Wes chuckled and quickly pulled Mercedes off the dance floor and away from the other dancing couples. "Believe me or don't Mercedes but I was going to ask you one day. I just… You've only been at the estate for two years and I didn't want to rush to fast into things and ruin our friendship."

"Aw…" Mercedes cooed. "That's sweet…"

Wes chuckled. "Yes well don't tell the others or they'll think I'm one big softy."

"And that would be horrible." Mercedes said, rolling her eyes with a huge grin upon her face.

"Thank you for understanding." Wes joked back. "Come. Let's go get something to drink."

Back at Finn and Quinn, they had just finished their drinks and were talking about the latest advancements in the city and in its appearance, a topic that Quinn was not at all interested in while Finn meant it as a way to pass time. Then the act began. Kurt with Rachel in tow came laughing towards the two and Rachel pretended to just notice the two. "Why hello you two. Mr. Hudson, Miss Fabray, how are you this evening?"

"Rachel?" Finn asked, surprised to see her here and with another man. "What are you doing here?"

Quinn groaned under her breath and answered Rachel as sweetly as she possibly could. This woman before her was the only thing that stood in her path of her dream to marry Finn, it was ruined once with that whole fiasco with Puck and she was not going to ruin it again. "Why hello Miss Berry. I am doing wonderful this evening." For emphasis she latched onto Finn's arm. "I take it you are well?"

"Oh yes." Rachel answered, trying her best to ignore the flame of jealously in her stomach. "Oh, this is Kurt Anderson, the cousin to my master."

"Nice to meet the both of you." Kurt said as he reached out and shook Finn's hand and gently kissed the back of Quinn's. "Especially you Miss Fabray, I am a big fan of you and your singing."

"Why thank you Mr. Anderson."

"Please, call me Kurt. I don't go by that Mr. Anderson business, it reminds me too much of my more successful cousin."

Finn, who finally had it all clicked in his head smiled at Kurt. "Do I detect jealously towards your cousin Kurt?"

Kurt chuckled and shook his head. "Not at all. I love my cousin to no end. He sometimes supplies me with instruments for, you see, I am a musician."

"Hm…" Quinn sounded. "I was thinking that you looked much like a musician. The Andersons must be all musically inclined."

"I would say so." Kurt answered, not knowing how to truly answer that. After a beat of silence Kurt spoke up again. "If you don't mind me asking Miss Fabray, I would love for you to share a dance or two with me."

"Well I don't—"

"Oh come on Quinn." Finn interrupted. "Go and dance with your fan. I'm sure Miss Berry won't mind if you steel her partner for a while."

"And I'm sure Mr. Hudson won't mind either Miss Fabray." Rachel smugly added.

"I am not—"

"Perfect." Kurt interrupted. He took Quinn's hand and pulled her gently towards the dance floor. "Come Miss Fabray. You and I can talk music while we dance. Perhaps we can work together in the future." And just like that Kurt did his duty and pulled away Quinn from Finn. All that was left to do was continue to be a distraction while Rachel and Finn enjoy their night.

Finn chuckled as he watched after Kurt and Quinn for a short moment before looking down at Rachel. "It's pure genius Rachel."

"It was Kurt's idea."

"He's passing off as a human quite nicely."

"Not so loud! You'll blow it!" She scolded. The two chuckled and then Rachel took his hand. "Come, into the garden." She led him out of the ball room and he then took the lead since he knew the castle more than she did. He led her out to the gardens in the back and they went to the very back of the garden where a gazebo covered in roses lay surrounded by a pond, a small bridge connecting the gazebo and the land together.

"You brought me out here Rachel…"

"Correction, you did."

"Now what?" Finn finished.

"Let's dance."

"There's no music."

"Then we'll just make our own." Finn smiled and pulled her in then and the two swayed gently side-to-side, dancing to the song of their love that played inside their minds.

Back in the ball room Blaine watched as Kurt talked with Quinn as he danced with her. It would seem that his plan was in motion and if anything was going accordingly, Rachel should be out in the gardens with Finn. Blaine nodded once in Kurt's direction, silently congratulating him on a plan well in motion when he finally spotted Karofsky and Santana, arguing presumably. He slowly walked over to them. The closer he got he noticed what the two were wearing. Karofsky the same as any man within the castle but Santana looked stunning, as she usually does. She wore a burlesque style white and black lace dress where her corset tied in the front. The front part of the dress came to her knees and was bunched all around the bottom to create some sort of bubble while the back of the dress fell to just above the ground, especially with her white heels. It was a strapless dress and around her neck she wore a black lace choker and her hair was extremely curly and the curls hugged her face and her neck and around her shoulders she wore a black satin scarf, the ends of which were wrapped around her arms once. "You are just despicable Karofsky." Santana finished just as Blaine came up. "Hello Anderson, goodbye Anderson." And she quickly turned on her heels and left.

"Well..." Blaine drawled out. "Do I want to know?" Blaine asked glancing at Karofsky.

"No." He simply replied as he took a sip of his ale.

"Did you just arrive?"

"Just."

Blaine raised a brow. "How is Samuel?"

"… Fine."

Blaine exhaled and truly became concerned for the man before him. "What is the matter with your Karofsky? Where are the remarks, the taunts, and the insults? What's with all the one word answers?"

Karofsky sighed. "If you must know Anderson, I am not in the mood right now and I would really love to get this night over with."

"Well…" Blaine repeated, taken aback by the change in Karofsky's personality. "I would love to leave you alone for the night but I, believe it or not, am actually concerned with you right now." Karofsky only rolled his eyes. "Is Santana refusing to date you to cover up the fact that yes, you are a homosexual?"

"No and for your information I'm not gay."

"There's a bit of the ol' Karofsky we all know and hate."

"Laugh all you want Anderson, just laugh and joke." Blaine opened his mouth to speak but he was interrupted by Karofsky. "By the way… You'll have the money for the bet by the end of the month." Blaine tried to speak again, once more interrupted. "It's obvious you have trained the shifter well and I'm not going to waste my time trying to prove that you haven't. So will you please just tell me how much it took so I can go out into the gardens until dinner?"

"It-It… It's 6350." It was in reality around 8000 because of the orchestra rentals and the clothing and the books Kurt is constantly reading but because of what he did for Samuel, Blaine was not about to allow the man to go broke. "Are you still going to reveal him?"

"Why the hell would I do that Anderson?" Karofsky asked angrily, annoyed with the continuance of this conversation. "That would take too much thinking and waste too much time on my behalf. Expect the money sometime before the New Year. Goodbye Anderson." Karofsky then turned and walked away leaving Blaine to replay the conversation once more in his head.

Finally Blaine shrugged. "All right then. This works for me. It only means that Kurt would be free to come to the city whenever he wants, and I'm sure he'll enjoy that." Blaine told himself.

Part one done. Next chapter the couples get more defined while Quinn becomes annoyed with Kurt and finally a Klaine scene at the Gala plus a drunk Karofsky makes a mistake and with it a possible new friend? And Kurt stumbles upon something that changes the course of his destiny.

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