A/N: Sorry for the delay...major happenings going on here lately...Okay, okay...I'll tell you...my nephew's getting married at the end of the month and we've been busting ass trying to get everything ready...

Just a heads up, this chapter is naomily lite, but don't you worry, my little buttercups! We're tying up loose ends and setting up for the final scene...

All the usual disclaimers apply: no, I don't own Skins...no, I don't own Skins characters...yes, all mistakes are mine...

Chapter 27: Plans and Preparations

It had been getting harder and harder to keep Emily and Katie away from the house for long periods of time so that the final arrangements for the ball could be made, but Naomi and Effy certainly were up to the challenge, taking the girls out and keeping them occupied.

It had been a few days before the ball, Tuesday to be exact, and Naomi had come up with a brilliant plan to help with that.

Katie had once told her about a place the Fitches had gone to in the Lake District, a couple of times when they were younger. And even though it was a tourist trap, Emily loved it there because it was the home of Beatrix Potter. And for Emily's inner bibliophile, who grew up with Peter Rabbit and Mrs Tittlemouse, it was like a church.

Naomi booked a cottage just outside of Hawkshead and arranged a coach to take them to Hill Top. The plan was for all of them, Jenna, Rob and Jamie included, to go and spend Thursday touring the home of Beatrix Potter and then they would go over to The World Of Beatrix Potter in Bowness-on-Windermere and then on Friday they would wander around the towns, while Thelma finished the preparations for the ball.

Wednesday morning, Emily shuffled sleepily from room to room getting ready to go, as she mumbled to herself about Naomi planning last minutes trips and having to wake up at the butt crack of dawn to leave.

"C'mon, Emsy," Jenna placated her as she watched her younger daughter stuffing her clothes into a bag, "it'll be fun!"

"How do I know that?" Emily scoffed before zipping her bag. "I don't even bloody know where we're going, do I!"

"Aww, did someone wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?"

Naomi's voice floated into Emily room, and Jenna laughed at the blush that formed on Emily's face. "Shut it, you!"

"I don't know, Ems...," Naomi paused as she cocked her head and looked at her girlfriend, "you look awfully grumpy this morning."

"Your keen sense of observation is astounding, Naoms." Emily replied, almost playfully, but without food and coffee or the newest "wake me up" weapon in Emily's arsenal, also known as morning sex with Naomi, she wasn't awake enough for playful.

"She's got a point, Emsy." Jenna stated as she watched the two girls very carefully.

Emily groaned as she threw her hands up in the air in frustration. "I'm never gonna win against the two of you, am I?"

Naomi and Jenna giggled together like besties, as Emily stalked into the loo to grab her things.

"Babes, if you come over here and give me a kiss and stop being so pouty, I'll tell you where we're going." Naomi told her and then smiled as Emily's head popped back out of the en-suite, her interest clearly peaked.

"Oh really?" She asked as she came out and sauntered toward Naomi, who had taken a seat next to Jenna on the sofa.

Jenna could see where this was going, taking in the predatory look in her daughter's eyes, coughed loudly and started making her excuses to leave. "Oh wow! Would you look at the time?" She stood up quickly, and Emily jumped in her vacated spot. "I'd best go make sure Jamie's ready to go...," Jenna called out loudly, "you know he's worse than Emily in the morning...,"

Emily was totally focused on Naomi by this point and everything her mum said went over top of her head, as she straddled Naomi's lap. Her mum was forgotten, the early morning wake up was forgotten, the fact that they were due to leave in about twenty minutes was forgotten because now she had Naomi's lips on hers and Emily could relax.

Jenna took a moment to observe the two girls. She knew without a doubt that Naomi was in love with Emily, you couldn't be around the girl without seeing it. No, Naomi being in love with Emily wasn't a question, the question was how did Emily feel?

Watching the two girls laughing and talking about what Naomi had planned for them, Jenna realised that she couldn't tell how her daughter felt and that unnerved her a bit as thoughts of the curse ran through her mind. With a small smile, she shut door behind her leaving them alone, as her thoughts turned to her other daughter and Effy, wondering if she could get the truth of their relationship out of either of them.

"Jessica? Is that you, dear?" Helena had heard the side door open from where she was in the back of the shop on Thursday morning.

"Yes, Helena." Mandy called back, rolling her eyes. The woman was driving her insane, but she knew she just had play along for a few more days.

Mandy threw her bag into the cubby that had been labeled "Jessica" and grabbed her apron. She sighed quietly as she thought about her old life. The one before Emily Fitch and Naomi Campbell. The life where she didn't have to look over her shoulder all the time, making sure that nobody was following her. The life where she had friends that hung onto every word she said and did as they were told.

Just the thought of everything she had lost because of those two bitches was enough to make her grind her teeth in frustration. She hated them and she was going to enjoy everything that she planned to do to Emily and Naomi.

"Jessie, love...," Helena called to her again, "hurry up dear. We've a meeting with Thelma Potts in about an hour."

"Coming, Helena." Mandy replied, wondering who the fuck Thelma Potts was, as she made her way to the kitchen of the café.

'Another glorious fucking day!' Mandy thought to herself bitterly, as she walked in to help the older woman. 'I cannot wait to make those bitches pay for this!'

***From the personal journal of Melvin Reid***

January 14

I met the most wonderful young lady today. Her name is Maureen McEvoy and she's a student at Trinity. I was coming out of the guv's office and bumped right into her, nearly knocking her over.

I apologised for my oafishness, but she smiled at me and brushed it away, her smile halting any further apologies. The force of it was magnificent and I was utterly speechless.

She told me that she would be walking this way again tomorrow and cheekily wondered if she had to watch her step around here. I told her we could avoid a concussion if she agreed to a date with me. She said yes!

January 28

Seamus Callaghan was up this way and stopped to visit me. I've missed him almost as much as my siblings. He caught me up on what was happening at home and we reminisced about the old days, when we were younger, before everything happened with Mum and Da. It seems he fancies my baby sister Meryl and wants my permission to court her. He gave me a lot to think about, that's for sure, but I asked him for a few days to think about it and would get back to him. He said that was fine, that he'd be back in a week on business and would stop in then.

We spent the rest of the weekend, going from pub to pub, reliving our youth as best we could.

May 5

She's wonderful!

Maureen McEvoy is possibly one of the most beguiling creatures on Earth. She's intelligent, well read, which is a feat in itself, funny...I could probably fill up a hundred journals listing her amiable qualities, but I won't. The embarrassment if she ever discovered such tomes to her I'd never be able to live down.

We seem to be moving at a slow and steady pace, set to a cadence that is governed by a pulsing sensation whenever I'm with her. It's hard to explain...

Oh! I must go...I'm ringing round to pick up Maureen for another date.

May 28

I couldn't believe it when Maureen told me she was from my home town. The memories of home, of my Mum and Da and my brother and sisters, hit me hard. I asked her if she missed her friends, wondering if she'd known the girls, and she told me that she did miss a couple of her friends, Meryl and Millie O'Dowd.

I dropped my silverware, right there in the restaurant, feeling like a right plonker. I figured it was possible that she would know my sisters, but to hear her say it was something else altogether.

Maureen asked if I was alright, to which I replied that I was fine. I didn't feel comfortable just yet telling her the truth.

I walked her back to her home before her curfew, she lived with an aunt and uncle of hers whilst she studied at Trinity, and she thanked me for a wonderful evening and kissed me on the cheek.

She was such a delight to be around, so I asked her for another date, to which she said yes. It wasn't until later that I realised those pleasant pulses that I had felt during dinner, and every other time we've spent time together, had disappeared after leaving her and I had a feeling that it had something to do with my family.

But whether or not that was a bad thing, I couldn't be sure.

June 15

So back at the turn of the year, Seamus came to me, asking for permission to court my sister Meryl and I told him that as long as he treated her right, that he would have no quarrels with me.

The best thing about that is that Seamus was like another brother to me. When we were younger, we did everything together, apart from the Craft, but he knew about that. His mum and my mum were the best of friends, so he was knowledgeable about our family gift.

He also knows the reason I left and when I landed here, he was the only person I told about where I was. I knew that I needed that link back to my family, to make sure no harm came to them, and he gladly stepped up to provide it.

He came to see me again this past Tuesday, to let me know that he's already spoken with my Da and he's going to ask Meryl to be his wife. I've never been happier for my friend or my sister. We drank a hundred toasts that night, or at least it seemed that way, and when he left the following morning, he wished for me to be there at the wedding. Before I could even make my excuses, he added that he knew I wouldn't be, but wished I could be. Just like brothers, he could tell where my mind was.

I was sad as I bid him farewell, and it wasn't until Maureen and her aunt arrived for the weekly shopping trip that I started joining them on, did I cheer up. But then again, Maureen never fails to cheer me up.

July 28

Electric pulses coursed throughout my body as Maureen kissed me tonight. And if I hadn't of pulled away, we would have gone farther than inappropriate.

She brings out something in me that I didn't know was there...the urge to be proper flies into the wind whenever she's near me. It's intoxicating and refreshing...

April 4th

Seamus and Meryl have said their vows and made it official. Maureen's invitation came a couple months before I received my invitation last week. Although I didn't mention to her that I got one also. She still doesn't know the truth yet and it's getting harder to keep that from her. She was a little put out when I refused to attend the wedding with her. It was our first argument, but in the end I cited work as the reason for it and she took her aunt.

I was sad throughout the weekend, and though I knew that I'd not be attending, couldn't attend, it didn't stop me from raising a pint or two in salute to Seamus and Meryl.

June 13th

I'm sure of it now! I'm sure that Maureen had a spell put on her by someone in my family, but what the spell was, I don't know if I'll ever know. But the pulses cannot be a coincidence. It's almost like a love spell, but more intense...darker, even.

Maureen finally told me about them, how she felt them when she was near me. That's how she found me apparently, she says. She told me how she was walking the high street, and she felt them the first time, but they had been faint...barely there, she said, until she saw me stepping out of the guv's office. I asked her what happened then and she explained how the electric tingles shot throughout her body...she followed them...and they led her to me.

Maybe I'll send word to Seamus, have him ask around about Maureen and my sisters. I know I can trust him with this. My brother-in-law knows how to get answers like that.

July 22nd

Maureen told me she's in love with me!

I didn't think it would happen honestly, as I'm so much older than her, but she told me tonight after I walked her home. She explained that she had never met anyone like me before and I made her feel safe and cherished...I knew I was blushing, but I couldn't help it.

And I know she as looking for a confirmation from me, and if it had been anyone else, I may have just said the words without meaning them, but she's different...not just because I think she's had a spell put on her and I feel responsible for that somehow...but because there's something about her that makes me feel alive.

August 9th

I heard from Seamus. He came up to visit and brought me the news. My suspicions have been confirmed. He spoke with Murphy, Meryl and Millie about Maureen and apparently Millicent placed the curse. And a curse is definitely what this is.

Millie and Murphy told Seamus that Millicent had used Dark Magic on Maureen out of jealousy. Seamus said it was bad, this curse. I guess my mum punished Millicent harshly for casting it, because she used it for personal gain, giving Maureen what's known as an unobtainable goal and Millicent left her to blindly search!

Maureen has to find a Child of Gemini, Da's stupid name for us, and then that person has to fall in love with her...but poor Maureen doesn't know this. Millicent cast the curse on an unsuspecting person! Mother should bind her powers for this.

So now I wonder, does Maureen really love me or does she only think she does because of the curse?

November 9th

I've truly dropped myself in it this time. The pulses are more intense now and I feel them all the time, even when we're not together.

I've gone and fallen in love with Maureen, I know I have and I felt it only right to finally tell her the truth about myself. At first she thought I was completely bonkers, looked at me as if I'd suddenly sprouted another head...but after a

day or two, she calmed down enough to come and see me. Giving me a chance to explain fully and tell her what I knew of her curse. I told her why I left home and that was the hardest part, believe you me!

Maybe I should write it down here...the reason I left home and my family...Maybe someday before I forget why...

I didn't tell her that I was in love with her though...to be honest, the thought scares me.

December 23rd

Jesus, Mary and Joseph! I did it!

I told my sweet Maureen that I loved her. That she was the only one for me and I asked her to marry me. I told her and expected happiness, but what I got was a burst of shocks so strong that it knocked me on my arse. Maureen as well.

Stupid me, I figured once I admitted to myself that I loved Maureen, that would be it, the curse would be broken. But I was wrong. Those pulses that I figured we'd always feel became unbearable when I said those three words.

I should've known, should've remembered, but sadly not having practiced the Craft for years had made me rusty. I should've prepared Maureen for what would happen, but I didn't know. It honestly felt like we were dying and I think we both passed out for a while, but the pain before that happened was beyond anything either one of us had experienced before.

Maureen asked me about it once we came round what that was, so I told her that the curse Millicent cast was a true love spell that she had twisted using Dark Magic. She asked what it all really meant, so I told her what I knew about the True Love spell.

It's the words, you see. Feeling emotions ain't enough, with a spell like that, it's about the words. You have to say them and really mean them for the magic to work, and I guess it's the same for Dark Magic as well, just more intense.

January 16th

Today starts our new life.

Maureen and I married yesterday at the local registrar's office, having both of us decided we didn't need nor want anything fancy, with her aunt and uncle present as well as a couple of friends of mine.

We are now Scotland bound, as I've procured work there. Maureen was saddened at first, leaving her family, but I've explained that this move was always in my plans. One more step further from my past and closer to a future that doesn't bend to the will of magic.

You see, even though I can no longer practice the Craft, it still calls to me...and whilst I barely paid attention to that call, after what happened with Maureen, it's more insistent, it's almost as if it's been awakened.

December 13th

I was fifteen when I first came into contact with Dark Magic. It was mesmerising and enchanting and addictive...and deadly.

I feel the need to write down what happened. I suppose it may have something to do with the birth of our lovely little Hannah, but here it is.

My mother's uncle, who was part of the family coven, introduced me to Dark Magic. Like I said, it was mesmerising...it was seductive. Once you used it, you wanted to keep using it.

He showed me ways to hide what we were doing, so we wouldn't get caught as he taught me small spells, nothing to extreme.

Dark Magic is forbidden, treaties in place between the magical covens throughout the world, but Uncle Pádraig didn't care, too addicted to the power that came with it.

I watched him kill a man over money using the Dark arts and that woke me up. I went to Mother with what I had seen and done, I confessed it all. I didn't hold anything back as I told her where we had practiced, things we had done, all leading up to the dead man.

I told my mother that I was afraid, because Pádraig told me he'd hurt me if I ever told anyone. She said not to worry about him, that she would bring it to the rest of the coven.

The thing is, it called to me...The Dark Arts are very powerful, and as I've said seductive, and they don't like to let go very easily. I stopped practicing magic altogether, because it was just easier that way.

But Mother never went to the coven, she kept putting it off. I suspected it was because Uncle Pádraig was the second most powerful in our family. When I questioned her about it, she brushed my concerns aside. I became angry, and started to act out. Staying out with my friends, drinking and fighting...and I stopped going home for days at a time.

I refused to teach my younger siblings any magic, only for the fact that I could feel myself drawn back to black magic...

I started fighting with my parents, until I begged my mother to bind my powers. She was appalled at the request and became angry, but she didn't understand what I was going through. She wouldn't understand what I was going through, so she refused to bind my powers, insisting that I was to be head of the family coven in time.

I didn't want it. Any of it. Not anymore.

So I took myself up to Islandmagee and spoke with Agatha Connelly. She is the head of her coven and the Irish representative at the World Covens Treaties Conclave. She was the supreme power in Ireland and I went to her, explaining everything. And then I asked her to bind my powers, telling her that my mother would not do it.

Once that was done, I thanked her and she promised she would take care of Uncle Pádraig. I went home and Mother knew instantly what I had done, but I didn't have the will to fight about it and she was so angry that I knew she'd never listen to my reasons, so with a heavy heart, I left. I left my parents, my siblings and everything I knew. I walked away without a glance.

But that didn't mean that I didn't think about my family. I thought about them every day, but after time had passed, it hurt less when I did.

But now, Maureen and I have a beautiful baby girl, Hannah and she's so precious. And someday, I want her know about her family, about her aunts and uncles, about who her grandparents were...I want her to know that even though I walked away from them all, I loved them deeply and family means the world to me.

Someday...

Millie closed the journal and brushed away the tears that had been falling for some time.

When Alicia brought her the journals of her brother and Maureen, she was filled with a mixture of dread and gratitude, but she put on the kettle and waited for it to brew and once that was done, she fixed herself a cup of tea then sat down and prepared to get to know her brother all over again.

What she found was heartbreaking, breathtaking and sometimes funny. Melvin had written throughout the years of his life, his work, meeting Maureen and their life together...and finally understanding what had caused him to leave. Something none of them knew when he left and her parents would never speak of it.

She had just finished reading when she heard the backdoor slide open.

"Hey, Aunt Millie." Alicia stopped at the stove and reaching into the cupboard pulling out a mug, made herself a cuppa. "You still reading?"

Millie took a sip of her tea and smiled sadly. "Just finished, actually."

Alicia was curious and sat across from her at the table. "Well? You've been cooped up for two days with those journals...is there anything?"

Millie glanced up, smirking at her niece. "There's a lot in here to be honest. I found out that your Uncle Seamus knew where Melvin had gone to," Alicia gasped in shock at that, "and Maureen had invited Melvin to your Aunt Meryl's wedding, which caused their first fight, I read their love story and saw it in my mind as I read the words...,"

"What about the curse, Aunt Millie?" Alicia interrupted softly. "What about why he left?"

Millie sighed deeply, standing to get another cup of tea, just to give herself a distraction, all while Alicia watched her closely noticing that she looked older than she normally did.

"Melvin practiced Dark Magic. That's why he left, because he knew it was dangerous and my mother wouldn't bind his powers, so when he met Maureen, he suspected almost immediately." Millie said as she turned back to her niece. "About the curse, he had a feeling about it and when that feeling got stronger, he had Seamus find out, secretly of course...I remember that conversation, as a matter of fact." She drifted off to the past, replaying it in her mind after all these years, trying to discern if Seamus gave away the real reason he had asked, but came up with nothing. "She has to say the words, say them and mean it."

Alicia felt their once chance slip away. "But she's already done that, Aunt Millie! She told us already that she said those words months ago!"

Millie chuckled at Alicia. "Not Naomi, dear...Emily!"

Alicia felt like an acolyte, making a rookie mistake like that. "Oh. Sorry."

"It's alright dear. We're just as tense about this as Naomi is...but the problem we have now is, according to Jenna, no one knows how young Emily feels about Naomi." Millie sat back down and pondered what needed to be done next. "I want to meet them."

Alicia knew this was coming, knew how Aunt Millie felt about her family. "Alright...," she trailed off, realising now that she shouldn't have kept Jenna invitation to herself.

"What?" Millie narrowed her gaze as she saw Alicia hesitate.

"Jenna invited us to the ball that Naomi is throwing for the girls' birthday."

"And why am I just now finding out about this?" Millie was agitated, but not angry.

"I wanted to see how well you did with the journals, Aunt Millie." Alicia told her. "What if reading them had been too hard? I didn't want to put you through that if it became too much."

"While I appreciate that, my dear...," Millie smirked again, raising an eyebrow, "I think I'll be able to handle it. Now, we're doing the binding ritual at dawn, so that'll give us the rest of the day to get ready for a ball, yes?"

"Yes, Aunt Millie." Alicia replied with a smile, seeing that sadness that had settled in Millie's eyes disappear at last. "I'd best let the family know."

Since finding out about their connection to the Fitches, Millie felt happier somehow, lighter even, and hopefully after meeting Emily, she'd be able to get to the heart of the curse that Sophia had placed.

After everyone got back to the house after Naomi's planned tour on Thursday afternoon, Katie watched as Effy walked ahead of her and for the life of her, she couldn't hold back the smile that was on her face. Effy was wanted to spend some time with her alone, so the two of them decided to sneak off and take a walk along the lake.

It still amazed Katie that she could have all these feelings for a girl, but she did and nothing could change the way she felt right now, at this very moment. Not even her mum's knowing looks could stop the way Effy made her feel.

Effy stopped on a hill overlooking the lake and turned to the older twin. "Is this alright?" She asked, an uncharacteristically shy smile on her face.

Katie didn't answer because she was still in deep thought, when she suddenly looked to Effy. "What is this?" She asked hesitantly, almost afraid to voice what she had been thinking.

Effy smirked and looked around them, gesturing with her hands. "It's the great outdoors, Katie."

Katie blinked rapidly, then blushed. "I know that Elisabeth," she replied, trying to fight the smile that threatened to break through, "...what I meant is...what are we? Are we a couple? Are we throwing labels on this or is this just...I mean...if you only want sex, I d-don't...I'm just k-kinda wondering what this is and I think my mum suspects something, but I'm afraid to say anything to her because of the shit she gave Emily about being gay and-,"

Effy could see that Katie was working herself up so she threw her arms around the tiny girl and kissed her. After a minute Katie wrapped her arms around Effy and started kissing her back, passionately. When they broke away to gulp in much needed air, Effy smirked again.

"First of all, yes your mum had an issue with Emily, but she's well over that now, yes?" Effy stated, raising an eyebrow in question.

"Yes." Katie replied still in a daze from the kiss.

It was said so automatic that Effy chuckled. "And second...and this is very important, okay?" Effy waited until Katie nodded before continuing. "I want this," Effy gestured back and forth between her and Katie, to be something and I've never wanted that before."

"So...are you saying?" Katie's insecurity about their situation was something new for her. She had always known were she stood before, but Effy had a way of keeping her off balance and stable all at the same time.

Effy's smirk changed into a full fledged smile. "Katie, will you be my girlfriend?"

Katie's heart melted right on the spot as she jumped into Effy's arms, crashing her lips against Effy's, effectiv

ely knocking them both over, resulting in Katie topping Effy.

When they broke apart for the second time, Effy laughed. "So I take it, that's a yes?" Katie's smile made Effy's heart flutter.

"That's a definite yes." Katie responded. "I think I wanna tell my mum about us."

Effy reached up to cup Katie's cheek gently. "We'll tell her together."

The rest of the afternoon and into the early evening, they made out like teenagers and laughed as they talked about everything and nothing at the same time, until it was time to head back for dinner.

"So you'll set up in here," Thelma was finishing the tour of the ballroom and kitchen, showing Helena where everything was, "where you'll have everything you need for the ball, yes?"

Helena, followed by Mandy, took in the huge stainless steel appliances and work tables. Both of them in awe, but for totally different reasons.

"Yes." Helena stated nervously, knowing that this was the biggest event of her career. "This will not be a problem at all, will it Jessica?"

Mandy was nervous for another reason, as she had taken in the layout of the house that she had seen so far. 'This is almost too easy.' She thought to herself with a sick glee that went beyond madness, as they went from the ballroom to the kitchen.

"So we'll be back and forth today and tomorrow, bringing in what we've already prepared...," Helena informed Thelma, causing Mandy's brain kick into overdrive, "...that way everything will be here and taken care of. And then the morning of the ball, we'll be here early to finish and set up."

Thelma nodded along with Helena, and Mandy watched the exchange. The older woman had informed her and Helena when they first arrived, that the family and guests were out and wouldn't return until just before the ball.

"Is there a place to put our things?" Mandy asked, earning a questioning look for both women. "Our uniforms? Bags? I'm sure the girls you hired to serve will need a place to change?" Mandy inquired, thinking how stupid both women were.

"Right. Of course, right through here." Thelma gestured to a door in the back of the kitchen. "It'll give you the privacy you need."

Mandy nodded, as the gears were turning in her head, and Helena and Thelma finished talking.

"Jessica?"

'I can grab my bag and stash it tomorrow...this is going to be great!' Mandy's thoughts kept going round and round. 'I'll have to stay in the kitchen and out of sight, but when the perfect moment hits...'

"Jessica! Are you listening girl?" Helena sounded exasperated, as Mandy finally looked at her.

"Sorry, Helena...," Mandy mumbled.

"We've got to go, lass...you and Dutch are going to start setting things up today." The older woman told her as Thelma looked on, eyeing Mandy up.

Mandy knew she was being measured and she knew that if she didn't watch herself, the old lady would figure out who she was, so she did her best to look embarrassed.

"Sorry, it's just a huge event, yeah? I've never worked one this big...,"

Thelma gave another glance before she smiled at Mandy. "You'll be fine, love. There's only one rule during the party, and this will go for all of your staff," Thelma said and looked back to Helena, "there is to be no staring at the younger Campbell. Staff is to remain professional at all times, or they'll be asked to leave the premises immediately. Is that understood?" Helena assured Thelma that everyone in her employ would be professional and discreet and Mandy agreed, even if she was confused about the strange request.

The rest of the day and the next passed for Mandy in a flurry of trips back and forth between the café and the Campbells' place and she had to fight hard to keep her excitement in check as she looked for a place to hide her bag, the one she bought in London, the perfect spot that she was sure to be out of the way so no one would find it.

'Finally!' She thought to herself with glee, when she found a spot just before she left with Dutch for the last time on Friday, thinking about how she'd be able to go home soon.

So we're coming into the final stretch of our tale...one...maybe two more chapters left:)

thank you all so much for sticking with this story and me, for that matter, you don't know how much it's appreciated:)