Chapter 31 – Full Moon

-All I want is here and now

But it's already been and gone

Our intentions always last that bit too long


That smell.

The sickly-sweet smell clung to every nonliving thing in the castle – which was just about everything - was the first thing that penetrated his brain. It made him thankful the heaviness in his chest prevented him from breathing too deeply.

Disoriented, Dominic forced his eyes open. He was lying on the floor, and the reason for the chest heaviness was immediately apparent: an unconscious Gianna lay draped across him. He placed his hand on her back, assessing her breathing. "Oh, thank God," he sighed with relief feeling the gentle rhythm of her back rising and falling.

Moving his head from side to side, he inspected the surroundings. Even in the faint light, he recognized his cell. There was no need to call out to Bella though; the smell of vampire was relatively diluted indicating she was not in the next cell. An image of her upturned lips as her cloak settled on her shoulders made him doubt she would ever return to her cell.

"Gianna?" He sat up with a groan as his muscles protested every move. Gently, Dominic turned her over so he could cradle her in his lap. "G?" He ran the back of his hand gently over her pale cheek until she began to stir.

Her brow furrowed and she squeezed her eyes shut even tighter. "Tell me it has all been a bad dream, Dominic. Tell me we are in your apartment."

"I wish I could, G."

"I can't take much more of this." She tried to swallow, her throat parched. "I don't remember anything after Isabella seemed to make the pain stop."

"From what I was able to see, it's like Bella and Jane were having a battle of supernatural minds. Not sure who won…I think I was hit by a wall. Then woke up here. With you."

Gianna's eyes popped opened with a look of apprehension. "None of them has the power to knock someone unconscious. So, Bella must be the source." Gianna pushed herself up into a sitting position. "She must have attacked us, Dominic. I told you she would change. Obviously you don't need to 'save' her. She's quite capable of saving herself if she wants to. Don't waste your energy on her anymore."

Dominic hung his head and stared at the filth on the floor. "I know you have more experience with ... their kind, but I can't believe she's changed that much. Maybe she's playing along with them? Aren't there any 'good' vampires? Bella loved that Edward guy. He must have been different than the vampires here. Maybe she is too?"

"You still believe in her after what just happened? I've told you before, and now you have seen it for yourself. They have no compassion. We are a food source and their servants, nothing more! Between losing her human memories and drinking human blood, the Volturi will have her under their command. Power corrupts everything here."

He hadn't registered a word since she said the word "blood." "She drinks human blood?" Dominic winced in disgust and disbelief.

"Oh, she has done more than that," a mocking voice answered Dominic's question. The couple looked to the door to see Alonzo's smirk through the bars. "Yes, she has killed. Repeatedly."

"Alonzo!" Gianna gasped. She scrambled to her feet and raced to the door to plead face-to-face with the human weasel. "Please, Alonzo. Let us out and we'll take you with us. You know damn well they are stringing you along. You'll never get immortality!"

Shoving his face between the bars, Alonzo laughed. "You won't get immortality. In fact, your fate has been decided. I heard Caius gets the honor, and I get your job."

His smug laughter was cut short as Dominic shoved Gianna aside and his fist connected with Alonzo's face from between bars. A stunned Alonzo cursed as he stumbled back, cupping his nose as blood dripped to the floor despite his frantic efforts to stop it. Overhead, the clock tower bells began to chime. "Go pay a visit to your masters now, you bleeding bastard, and see how much they value your service." Dominic roared.

"You owe me, dog!" Alonzo hissed back, sending a spray of blood in Dominic's direction. "Gianna's blood is spoken for, but at least I convinced the guards to give you two a chance to say your goodbyes."

Gianna pushed against Dominic in an effort to say her peace. "You don't have a compassionate bone in your scrawny body, Alonzo, so don't even try to take credit for us being together."

"Okay. You're right. I was hoping to catch a glimpse of some doggy-style farewell sex." Alonzo howled with demented laughter as he swerved unsteadily down the dim corridor and out of sight.

"You're a poor excuse for a human being!" Gianna shouted at his disappearing form. "His ruthlessness has got to be the only reason he is still alive." Gianna turned from the door, walking further into the gloom of the cell. "Of course, I wasn't much better than him, was I?" Her tears began to flow as she realized she would so get what she deserved: death at the cold, unforgiving hands of the Volturi - just like all the other people she turned her back on as they faced a horrific death.

Dominic couldn't think of that side of her, quickly attributing her previous cruel behavior to an upbringing that had left her destroyed on the inside. Besides, now was not the time to be pointing fingers. He wrapped his warm arms around her. "I love you."

She wanted to shrug away from him, undeserving of the man she wanted so badly for herself, but knowing it could never be because of her actions. However, she didn't have the strength to make it happen. "I love you, too, Domenico, but I'm tired. My body, my mind – I just want it to be over. I want there to be nothingness," she cried into her hands at her words of surrender.

"Yes," Dominic said with a sigh.

Gianna sniffled wiping her tears and running nose with the back of her hand. She turned to look into Dominic's eyes. "You want it over too?" They would make a pact to die together...

"No. I'm answering your question. Yes, I still do believe in Bella. I'm not giving up hope." Dominic moved to the center of his cell. "Bella!" he yelled, "Bella, don't abandon us! Bella!"

Gianna snorted. She had abandoned hope a long time ago. Scouting out the darkest corner of the room, she sat on the floor, wrapping her arms around her knees and listening to Dominic's pathetic pleas to Bella. She didn't look up when he approached.

"Can I sit with you?" he asked quietly.

"Please."

He sat on the floor behind her. His mind warred over whether to convince her that a happy ending could still be in the cards or to join her in silent resignation.

His upbringing won the war.

"You know, my granddad gave me advice many years ago that really didn't mean much at the time …" He stopped still wondering if what he was about to say was the right thing or not, then decided what did he have to lose? "He told me shortly after my grandma passed that God does everything in His own time. It is not for humans to understand His plan, but to trust in it. Granddad said there were things he wanted his wife to know, but he always thought there was time to say it. Suddenly, it was too late. He told me to never wait to speak what is in my heart because you never know when God will decide it's your time."

Gianna listened, but didn't respond. She had discounted religion when her sexual abuse started. Why would a loving God allow such a horrible thing to happen to a child? But if there was a heaven – or hell for that matter – maybe any attempt at absolution would benefit her. "Okay. I do want your forgiveness, Dominic. It's selfish and undeserved, but I still want it."

He scooted on the floor to face her. She remained curled up, so he extended his legs around her. His hands wiped her tears from her cheeks. "I forgive you."

She forced a smile for him. Unexpectedly, he started to chuckle.

"What's so funny?" Her question was a mix of incredulous and curiosity.

"Remember when we first met – at the airport?"

"Yes. You almost hit the floor coming off the escalator. What a first impression." She shook her head but smiled at the silly twinkle in his eyes.

"Do you know why I wasn't paying attention to my feet?"

Gianna gave him a quizzical look.

"I was thinking about your legs. About them wrapped around me." He was thankful the low light and his overgrown facial hair hid the flush he felt snaking up his face.

"Do you really think this was what your granddad had in mind when he said to speak your heart?"

"If I remember correctly, you weren't all that composed either! I remember someone having a bit too much vino and needing an escort home after dinner." He smirked at her and gave her a slight shove on the shoulder.

"You were such a perfect gentleman, too. You could have taken advantage of me, but you didn't."

"Don't think it didn't cross my mind," he admitted, wagging his eyebrows.

They gazed at each other in the silence until their smiles faded.

"I wish I had my guitar. You know, it's the best gift anyone has ever gotten me," he said with sincerity.

"I'd even let you call me sweet cakes if I could hear you sing to me," Gianna sighed and Dominic laughed remembering their light-hearted disagreement about nicknames, the sound was low and rumbling in his chest. "Since we are following granddad's advice, can I ask you something personal?" she asked hesitantly.

"Considering the circumstances, why not?"

"What does it feel like – being a wolf?"

"Amazing. And scary."

She shook her head. "Explain."

"It feels natural somehow, when I'm in ... wolf form. Instinct takes away so much of the doubt that crowds the mind. And I feel strong, limitless in my abilities. But scary in that part of me would like to remain in that form - always."

"Do you know why you change?"

"I think it's somehow connected to my dad. He was obsessed with wolves, and when I was a kid, he told me stories about them. They creeped me out as a child, and I thought I had dismissed them from my memory, but I now realize he was telling me tales of our ancestry as wolves ... fighting vampires."

Dominic searched Gianna's face for any signs of her shrinking back from his ridiculous-sounding conclusions, but her expression hadn't changed. It encouraged him to continue, "I wasn't able to remember the stories until I changed, and then it seemed like I was more connected to my memories of my father. He also told me I'd 'understand someday' and to be 'proud of what I was.' Not who but what." Dominic shrugged. "Aro must have known my story before I did. He must know my lineage."

A new thought entered Dominic's mind: "There must be more out there who are like me!"

Gianna smiled and took his hand, giving it a slight squeeze. It was a sad smile though. She doubted he would ever get the answers he sought.

"Now can I ask you a question?" Dominic asked before he kissed the back of her hand.

She nodded.

"Do you really want to die?"

Gianna closed her eyes, a frown formed on her pale pink lips. "I don't see a way not to."

"If we did make it out of here … do you think … Would you…" He stalled. What he was about to ask was selfish.

"I think I'd be lucky to have a sexy wolf-man in my life. I see it in your eyes, but I'm not afraid or ashamed of you, Domenico. You are special." She pulled his hand to her lips and kissed it.

"There is nothing I wouldn't do for you, G. I was attracted to you from the first time I saw you. Being with you felt … right. But once I changed, I knew with all my being, you were everything. All I want is your happiness and safety." He had spoken his heart, and he knew hers, but he had to admit the shame he felt. "Unfortunately, I can't provide you with happiness or safety. I can't even promise you a tomorrow." Dominic hung his head and pulled at his collar. The heaviness of it weighed down his heart as well as wore his skin raw.

"Shh," Gianna whispered as she slid her thin fingers under the collar, lifting it off his skin and providing instant relief. "We'll bear the burden together."

Dominic pulled her close. They rocked back and forth in each other's arms – and Dominic sang softly to her.

( * ~ * )

Several stories above them, Bella was in pieces. Torn to shreds by so many truths and lies, wants and needs, and changes. Her past was colliding with what she saw as her new future in Volterra, something she had only recently come to accept.

Edward stood just feet before her, yet he was a world away. It seemed like a lifetime ago that they were together, playing house like they were a "normal" couple. Actually, it was a lifetime ago – her human lifetime.

Confused and overwhelmed, Bella tried to regain control over her shield, but to no avail. She didn't even know what she'd do with it anyway! Would she shield the brothers as instructed? Or protect Edward? The memory of him writing on the floor rushed her memory, immobilizing her with confusion as her distrust for both sides warred within. She was thankful for the anonymous protection of her hooded cloak so neither Edward nor Aro could look in her eyes and see the truth of her tumult.

Likewise, Edward's mind was filled to capacity. The assault of thoughts from the guards and the royal brothers overwhelmed his brain. He was frantically attempting to read them all, fishing out any clues to Bella's whereabouts as well as ascertain the circumstances of his captured family members. But their thoughts were chaotic, misleading, contradictory, and random. All of their minds were calling his name, clamoring for his attention.

Edward's eyes narrowed; they had prepared for his gift! Frustrated, he zeroed in on Aro's thoughts alone, forcing the other minds to become background, buzzing white noise.

"You plead innocent?" Caius repeated Edward's claim.

"You have something that belongs to me," Edward spoke with an underlying growl.

Mine. The word played over and over in Bella's mind bringing past life memories to a boil. Edward had always made it clear he saw her as a possession; she belonged to him. As an innocent young woman she had found it flattering that someone so perfect would fawn over her, a plain and clumsy no one. But she was no longer innocent and could now see it from another perspective - as Aro had suggested: Edward was an inexperienced vampire obsessed with possessing the blood that sang to him, confusing that drive for love. Control disguised as protection. Bloodlust interpreted as love.

But her blood did not pump through her vessels any longer. Her gut twisted with the realization that Edward didn't even sense her presence in the room. Had the spell been broken when she became a vampire? Had Aro been correct about all of it? Was she was dead to him?

And what of her feelings for him? Seeing them through the new eyes created in Volterra made her wonder if she had just been young and foolish, dazzled by his vampire spell. Or were they real? Either way - now what? Bella was overcome with the urge to flee, to hide and figure out the jumble of conflicting feelings that were causing her newborn emotions to undulate like a tumultuous ocean. Yet, at the same time, she was riveted to the scene before her. It promised more information...

In a manner uncharacteristic of a vampire, she shifted nervously on her feet.

Aro paid her unease no mind. Edward and Alice's appearance, though early, were not unexpected and he had no intention of losing this opportunity. He kept his mind focused. First order of business: test if Edward's presence had disarmed Bella's shield. If her shield was down, he planned to take full advantage of the covert conversation he could have with Edward. It could lead him right where Aro wanted him...

Edward, you know we don't offer second chances. A deal is a deal.

"I wish to amend the deal," Edward responded to Aro's thoughts, not knowing he had inadvertently confirmed what Aro had previously told Bella – that she had been given to the Volturi as part of an agreement to protect the Cullens.

Bella staggered slightly from the blow. Aro was pleased with his cleverness.

We hold all the cards – not to mention your accomplices. I'm sure Carlisle has taught you how to negotiate, yes? I think this might be a most pivotal time in your young life. Tread with the utmost care, son.

Edward's eyes narrowed. So, this was it. Some kind of showdown. Aro wished to match wits against his. At that moment it became painfully clear to Edward exactly why Carlisle had wanted to handle the situation. With his previous experience dealing with Aro, not to mention his three hundred plus years of life experience, Carlisle was definitely the better man for this circumstance.

"State your request." Aro coolly took the lead.

Breathing in deeply, Edward tried his best to think of what Carlisle would do. This is a marathon, Edward thought, not a sprint. Cunning was Aro's method of operation, slinking closer his prey as he skimmed the ground like a jungle cat. Edward was wary of getting caught in the carefully laid details, which on the surface would appear meaningless, but in the end, could be his downfall. Proceed with caution, he almost could hear Carlisle whispering in his ear.

"I have come to negotiate the release of my wife and mate, whom Alice has seen here in the castle."

"Well spoken," Aro commended. "But I am confused. It seems we have found you in the company of another female." With a nod from Aro, Felix turned and opened the doors. Everyone turned to observe Jane escorting a reluctant Tanya into the room.

"Edward!" Tanya called out in relief; she had not seen him since he disappeared over the wall encompassing the city. Obviously he had been apprehended prior to her, Alice, and Jasper's arrival at the clock tower.

"Tanya, so good to see you again," Aro greeted her with a sly grin knowing they had not laid eyes upon each other since Sasha's destruction. "You sound so concerned for Edward's welfare. How...close…you two must be."

Reflexively, Tanya curled slightly in upon herself as all eyes scrutinized her; Volturi attention was something vampires never sought out. She held her tongue, looking instead to Edward for guidance.

"Ah, I see. No comment. Isn't that...intriguing?"

"You know it's not like that, Aro!" Edward responded vehemently to the implication in Aro's statement.

Jane shifted forward to gain her master's attention. Surely Edward's insolence should be punished. Aro staved her off with a minute wave of his hand. "I have not read your memories for some time now. Things could have changed," Aro shrugged. "She is a lovely creature, even among our kind."

Edward held out his hand confidently.

Aro declined his offer. "Well, let's just assume for the moment that you are on a visit to Volterra to inquire about Isabella, and you just happen to bring this unmated beauty as your companion. What I really want you to share with these witnesses is why you have so mistreated the woman you claim to cherish?"

Edward poked into Aro's mind hoping for a clue as to where this line of questioning was going, but Aro's question just kept repeating over and over. "I have never mistreated Bella."

"Maybe not physically. Again, I'm sure Carlisle instilled respect into your moral fiber, but what about neglect, Edward? What about telling lies?"

Bella's eyes widened even as she shrunk further into her cloak. Was Aro defending her? Without conscious thought, Bella's shield bloomed around her mimicking her growing curiosity, but it did not venture far enough to envelop Edward, who stood several feet in front of the dais.

"Do humans belong in our world, Edward?"

Edward froze and blinked rapidly as Aro's thoughts abruptly and completely vanished! His eyes darted toward Marcus, Caius, and the two guards concealed in their cloaks. Their mental chatter was gone! What could...?

Panic showed in Edward's eyes, and his sudden change in demeanor alerted Aro he had been cut off from his gift. Edward was off-balance and unarmed. The time to pounce was now. "Answer!" Aro prompted.

"No," Edward responded hesitantly.

"And you had said those very words to Bella at one time, did you not? You left to protect her?"

"You know this to be true. Bella also understands why..."

"Does she? How do you know this? Can you read her thoughts?"

"I explained my reasoning. She forgave me." Edward's control over his emotions began to unravel as he was asked to relive the most difficult decision he had ever made, and its near tragic consequences. His face took on a subtle mask of tortured guilt, and his eyes jerked to the unknown figure next to Aro. It couldn't be...?

Aro pressed on. "She is so accepting of us, so forgiving, and you are so … dense. You owed her everything. Instead, you returned to her life, still without providing her a means to defend herself from beings with almost unlimited power. Why?"

Edward mentally scrambled to find balance between focusing on Aro's questions and regaining a read on the individuals before him. The loss of his ability was completely unsettling and disorienting. "We…we were no good apart."

"Yes, I forgot. An addict and his drug..." Aro let the words stolen from Edward's mind hang in the air.

"I love her. I don't expect you to understand!" Edward fired back, his anger and frustration clouding his logic, and making him lash out heedless of the repercussions.

Jane shot a hopeful look in Aro's direction. Again, he waved her off and continued his interrogation. "How many times did she ask to be changed? And don't fib." Aro waved an admonishing finger at Edward. "You know I can find out very easily."

"Eighteen."

The guards hissed. Marcus shook his head.

"If you loved her as you say, why would you not change her? Why would you leave her vulnerable in a world that destroys humans so quickly and efficiently?"

Aro stood, and Edward had to raise his head to look into the leader's eyes. His questions now came faster, his accusatory tone growing in intensity. "How many times does it take for you to learn? James, Laurent, Victoria, those unpredictable, volatile wolves, and at one point, even myself – any one of us could have ended her life in an instant. And all you gave her was false hope!" Aro paused for dramatic effect. "But you never had any intentions of changing her, did you? You feared she wouldn't attract you anymore without that delicious scent pumping though her veins!"

Aro shot from his chair materializing just inches from Edward, purposely leaving the confines of Bella's shield. He had Edward just where he wanted him, he only had to slip one more line to Edward – this time mentally - You were a coward! Aro's thoughts slammed into Edward. Admit it!

"You're right. I made a mistake! I was a coward!" Edward cried out in aggravation and regret.

A dazzling smug smile slid across Aro's face. It alarmed Edward immediately. Somehow he had crossed the line Aro had been unrelenting in manipulating him toward. Edward's postured stiffened. Aro had caused him to lose control ... there certainly would be consequences.

While Edward attempted to rewind and examine the conversation in his mind, Aro silently turned and glided back to his seat.

Under her cloak, Bella had begun to tremble from the impact of Edward's spoken words.

Without the benefit of hearing Aro's thoughts, the audible portion of the conversation before her had a very different connotation. She had heard Aro accuse Edward of solely desiring her for her singing blood. In Edward's confusion, he instead had answered Aro's unheard claim that he was a coward for not changing her. When he confessed to Aro's mental claim, it had appeared to the witnesses Edward had agreed he only wanted Bella as long as she was his singer – something she could never be again.

"In the light of your mistake, I believe Isabella would prefer to remain here." Aro sat relaxing his hands into his lap. A satisfied grin crawled across Caius's pale pink lips.

"She doesn't belong here," Edward pleaded.

With an unsteady hand, Bella removed her hood. Her movement caught Edward's eyes immediately. The hypothesis his heart had dismissed as ludicrous, that Bella could be the unknown figure shielding the Volturi's thoughts, was instantly and alarmingly confirmed as he saw her flawless face. The hollow, stricken expression in her piercing red eyes destroyed him. This was the Bella from Alice's vision which had sent him hurling to the castle moments ago.

"It's obvious I do belong here." Her voice rang out with the tonal perfection all vampires possessed; however, the ice-cold inflection of her delivery was more than he could bear.

Edward dropped to his knees in anguish that had nothing to do with Jane's ability to punish. "Bella? Bella, what have they done to you?"

"What you should have done. That is, if you truly loved me for me. But you don't. I understand that now. And now it's too late, Edward. I'm not human anymore, but you are free. There is no blood within me to sing to you, for you to protect or covet. I have no value to you anymore." Panic welled up inside of her at the meaning of her words, and she knew she would be hyperventilating had she still been human. "What a fool I am. I had been asking for the very thing that would separate us. Why did I have to learn the truth from Aro? Because now it's too late! I can't go back. I've lost everything."

She pulled her gaze away from Edward's agonized golden eyes to find every eye trained on her. He would not make her show weakness again! No. No. No!

"I am done here," Bella pronounced in a tone that was strong yet forced before she shot from the room. No one attempted to intervene in her escape – except Edward. He sprung to his feet to give chase; however, Felix and Santiago hurled their bodies at Edward. The resulting collision halted all three of them. The guards wrestled Edward's hands behind his back and yanked him to a stand.

"Nice catch." Caius smirked, pleased with his guards' responsiveness.

"You bastards!" Edward hissed through clenched teeth as he struggled against his captors. "What did you do to her?"

"Granted her wish," Aro responded matter-of-factly. "Being a vampire suits her very well. As you can tell, she is quite gifted, too." And she's mine now, Edward.

"You've turned her against me."

"No. I'd say you did that quite successfully on your own, my boy."

"Then do your worse to me, but I'm not leaving without her."

"Even though it would be the easiest solution for you, you know we would never destroy someone as gifted as yourself. Waste not, after all. So, I believe that leaves you with only one choice if you wish to remain with your beloved, who obviously wishes to remain here..."

"That's it, isn't it? You want me."

"Oh, not just you," Aro said with a gleam in his eyes.

"Alice," Edward groaned.

"Consequences, Edward."

"Maybe it is time for a family reunion?" Caius suggested with barely concealed enthusiasm.

"Yes. Fetch Alice and her mate, would you, Heidi?" Aro said.

Within a minute, Heidi returned with Alec, Afton, Alice, and Jasper. The Cullens were escorted to where Edward stood before the Volturi.

Edward, are you alright? Did you see Bella? Alice's thoughts pushed into his mind.

Edward nodded.

Are we leaving here?

Edward's eyes dropped to the floor; he shook his head. Aro's mind was clear. Edward, Alice and Jasper were to be detained in Volterra - indefinitely.

"Alice?" Jasper's voice was tense.

Edward's eyes snapped up to see the telltale signs Alice was caught in a vision. She knew his decision.

Once her vision played out, Alice found her voice, though it shook with apprehension. "If you keep the three of us here, Edward will starve himself. He will be of no use to you."

Aro frowned. "Come here, seer," he commanded.

Jane accompanied Alice to the dais where Aro approached and took her hand. He glared into her eyes as he read her. The look of displeasure on his face was clear.

"Do you wish to negotiate?" Edward asked with a quirk of his eyebrow.

Aro crossed his arms over his chest, his lips contorting into a sneer. Having Edward was pointless if he lingered half dead! "Alice remains, Jasper can depart with Carlisle, Tanya, and Eleazar," Aro countered.

"It won't work, Aro," Marcus spoke up. "Chelsea cannot overpower a mating bond. She would never be loyal."

Frustrated with the mangling of his perfect plan, Aro again took Alice's hand. The vision of Edward remained unchanged. Releasing her hand, he paced on the dais. Marcus and Caius followed his agitated movements with their eyes. Edward had succeeded in one thing – playing on Aro's greatest vulnerability. Control. Yes, Aro wanted Alice's gift, but in this moment, with all eyes upon him, he wanted Edward's subjugation even more.

Grinding his teeth, Aro stopped, pointing emphatically at Edward. "You will renounce your coven and remain here. The rest can leave. If they return, heads will roll. My final offer."

Edward, no! Alice pleaded in his mind, already aware of his decision.

Edward nodded slightly. "Agreed."


A/N: Well? Did you foresee this happening? Probably... Hoped you enjoyed it. I know one thing for sure, I want Aro as my lawyer!

Sorry for the extended time needed for this chapter. I had a lovely time with my Twi-besties in NJ (thanks for the well-wishes). Nothing like riding with the pack out to the Jersey Shore : / My rented Ford Focus did amazingly well keeping up with the Cadillacs, BMWs, and Lexus'! But I am glad for the extra time cuz ch. 32 is kicking my brain. Maybe a few ideas and/or encouragement from readers will help!

I won't say much about the Robsten drama, only that it does make me sad. Strong emotions make me what to express them in writing, but what do you do when your "subjects" of inspiration are the cause of your grief? Blah.

Thanks to Ashling92 for her awesome dedication, RowanMoon for her quick turnaround, and RosaBella75 for sneaking in under the wire!