"Buried Secrets 3"

Chapter 15

"Just breathe," Klaus advised as they headed into the house.

"Don't," Bella warned.

"He's upstairs," Elijah said as the hybrids approached him, "Niklaus I need to speak with you."

Bella sighed and slowly headed up the stairs.

The house was quiet and she could hear that everyone was asleep except for Elijah, Klaus, her and…Damon. She could hear him drumming his fingers on the stand next to where he sat. Knowing Damon he was staring at the door, waiting for her and he had a glass of whiskey next to him. Hopefully there would be one waiting for her too…she was going to need it.

She reached his bedroom door and took a deep breath before knocking.

"Come in," Damon said coolly.

Damn. Bella thought as she opened the door…that tone of voice was not a good sign. It was the same tone he used with her the first time they met.

She walked in and closed the door behind her. Bella avoided meeting Damon's eyes. Instead she focused on the chair that sat right in front of Damon. Next to the table by it was a glass of whiskey.

Thank you God, She thought.

"Hey," She greeted as she took off her jacket.

"Hey," Damon replied.

Bella sat down and took the glass of whiskey, downing it quickly. She reached for the bottle next to Damon but he caught her hand.

"Hey," Damon repeated, "That's all you have to say to me?"

"All went well," Bella added while still avoiding his eyes.

"You could at least look at me," Damon said, "I think I deserve at that much from you. I mean Klaus had the decency after each of the trillion times he's tried to kill me."

"I didn't mean to," Bella snapped her eyes up, going to his, "I was in pain Damon. I wasn't thinking. You yourself aren't so innocent, so don't you dare judge me."

Damon smirked, "There, I knew that would get you to look at me," He released her hand, took the whiskey and refilled her glass. "So how was the meeting?"

"Good," Bella said, "He bought it."

"Don't," Damon said, "Don't shy away from me."

"I'm not," Bella said.

"Your answers are short. You can't look me in the eye and if you do, it's brief." Damon listed. "There's something you are hiding. I agreed to let you compel me as long as we talked."

"And we are," Bella replied.

"Not about what I want to talk about." Damon said. "I see what you're doing. You're pulling away."

"It's what I'm good at," Bella argued. "When I get close, people get hurt and it's normally me that's hurting them."

"I can take a little pain," Damon chuckled, "I kind of like it even."

"Stop," Bella stood up angrily. "This is no joke Damon."

Damon stared at her, "I know it's not Bella. I am fully aware of the risk. I was aware of them the day you walked into my life."

"You should have run the moment you met me." Bella replied.

"That thought never crossed my mind," Damon said, "Now killing you; yeah that thought did, but not running. I don't run Bella. It's never been my thing."

"What do you want from me Damon?" Bella asked. "I warned you when this all started that I wasn't sticking around, that I wasn't good to be around."

"Have you met me?" Damon asked, "I mean really? I'm no good either Bella. Most people consider me a psychopath because instead of finding peaceful solutions I kill the problem and I like it. I'm no good either."

"Two wrongs don't make a right." Bella replied.

"In most cases they don't," Damon said, "But there are always exceptions to that rule." Damon leaned forward, "I get it. You know I do. You know I can understand you unlike anyone else, but you aren't pushing me away because you're afraid you'll hurt me. You're pushing because what's between us scares you. You keep people at arm's length because it's what you know. No strings means no real worries. Well Bella you screwed up your agenda the moment you walked into our lives and yes I mean ours…Stefan, Elena, me, all of us. You got close to us and now you wanna run because at least with running you know what will happen."

Bella looked away.

Damon sighed, "The fact that you don't look at me tells me that I'm on the right track. I meant what I said."

Bella shook her head, "We're toxic."

"You're right, we're toxic," Damon agreed, "We are so toxic that we aren't supposed to work…but we do." Damon got down in front of Bella and forced her to look at him, "We work…you push me and I push you. We fight, we throw a few punches you literally me with sarcasm." Damon said and Bella laughed, "But we work. I can't be myself with anyone else. I can't say what I want and do what I want with anyone except you. With you there are no judgments. You don't look at me as the bad guy. You accept me just like I do you. The moment I realized you were Klaus' daughter I didn't care. I didn't care Bella. It didn't change my opinion of you. You were still this wild and crazy and no-hold-bar-do-what-you-want-take-on-the-world girl that blew me away."

Bella started to cry. No one had ever talked to her or described her like this. Damon knew her better than anyone and he wasn't afraid of her. He was just afraid of losing her.

"You know we may not make it out alive." Bella told him as she looked at him, "Between the two of us, if there is a hell that's where we will end up."

"I wouldn't want to be there with anyone else but you," Damon said and then laughed, "Hell the moment we get there we'll probably kill the devil, take over and run the damn thing."

Bella laughed. "You are such a pain Salvatore. I want to push you away, but you make it hard to do it."

"Then don't," Damon cupped her face, bringing himself closer to her lips, "Stop pushing me away and just let go…like we did the first time."

Damon and Bella's lips met and the world fell away.

.*.*.*.*.*.

"So you think this will work?" Klaus asked as he and Elijah sat in the library.

"According to Mother's notes it will," Elijah said and looked up, "Seems like they've made up. Tell me brother, how do you feel about Damon being your son-in-law?"

"That's enough," Klaus huffed and stood up, "When this is over, we leave."

Elijah looked shocked and stood up, "You are an utter fool Niklaus."

Klaus' eyes widened, "What?"

"I said you are a fool." Elijah replied with more force, "You just want to leave once this is over…just abandon her?"

"It is for the best." Klaus said.

"You know nothing of what is best." Elijah stated with a shake of his head, "She is going to need you Niklaus. Charles is gone…whether she realizes it or not she needs you and you need her. She is working with you to stop Silas. This is your step, your open door, to attempting to make up for all the pain you caused her. To actually be a father to her and one that she deserves. If nothing else, you owe her to at least grovel for a few centuries."

"There is no making up for what I did Elijah," Klaus said angrily, "I ruined any chance of having a relationship with her the moment I took a whip and opened her back up."

"And yet here she is working with you Niklaus," Elijah said earnestly, "She is giving you the opportunity to show that you do not want to be the evil hateful man you used to be. This is your chance brother, do not waste it."

Elijah left the room and Klaus poured himself a drink. He sat back down and stared into the fire until he heard the door open. He saw it was Bella and stood up.

"Is everything alright?" Klaus asked.

"Couldn't sleep," Bella said and sat down, "You got another glass?"

Klaus nodded and poured Bella a drink.

"I take it you and Damon made up," Klaus said as he handed her the glass.

"Not completely," Bella said, "But maybe we're getting there." She took a sip from her glass, "What did Elijah want?"

"He found something in Mother's books." Klaus told her before handing her the book.

Bella read the marked passage and looked up to Klaus, "You think this will work?"

"Many witches have tried and failed, but none of them were like you," Klaus stated. "It could work. Do you know who you're going to bring back?"

Bella nodded, "The only problem is most of them died in Mystic Falls."

"I don't think geography matters when traveling into the land of the dead." Klaus said with a chuckle.

"I have a question," Bella said, "Something that's bugged me from the moment I got here."

"What is it?" Klaus asked.

"Why did you treat Marcel differently than me?" Bella asked.

Klaus tensed.

"Why?" Bella pressed.

"I don't want to talk about this," Klaus replied strained.

"I think I at least deserve that." Bella said.

Klaus sighed, "Marcel reminded me so much of myself…of being trapped. You…you were so free and headstrong. Marcel was compliant while you fought. With Marcel he wanted to be with me and you didn't. I had asked myself why couldn't you be like Marcel? You angered me, which is no excuse for what I did yet in that anger, I did the only thing I knew. I reverted to Mikael's tactics. I had always bended to his will and I had assumed that one time with the whip would bend you to be mine. But you didn't. You fought me and slowly I destroyed you." Klaus explained.

Bella nodded.

"Isabella I…" Klaus started.

"Don't," Bella stopped him and stood up, "I get it. I don't accept it, but I get it. I better get some rest and so should you." She held out the book, "We do this tomorrow."

Klaus nodded and watched Bella walk out. He angrily threw his glass into the fire and walked out. He headed up the stairs and fell into his bed.

.*.*.*.*.*.

"Niklaus," Esther said.

Klaus looked around and saw that he was in a field of his childhood.

"Hello Mother," Niklaus said stoically.

"How is she?" Esther asked.

"Conflicted," Klaus said.

"How are you?" Esther asked.

Klaus was silent.

"Conflicted as well," Esther said as she sat down, "Come sit with me…for old times."

Klaus obliged and sat with Esther.

She sighed, "You were such a happy child. So eager to please." Esther confessed softly.

"I do not wish to reminisce," Klaus huffed and stood up.

"I am sorry," Esther said and Klaus froze, "I am so sorry for all the pain I have caused you."

"Why apologize now?" Klaus asked. "You tried to kill me…to kill her."

"I was wrong." Esther said. "We have all made mistakes Niklaus…done things that we cannot take back. I wish I could change the past, but in the same sense I don't think I would."

"Why?" Klaus asked.

"Because you wouldn't have Isabella," Esther confessed, "She has brought back the little boy I remember."

"Unfortunately I cannot bring back the little girl she was." Klaus said, choking up a little bit.

"No you can't, just as I cannot change what I did to you. I should have allowed you to know your hybrid side. I should have let you choose for yourself, but I cannot change that." Esther said.

"You're helping us now." Klaus said as he sat back down.

"She smiles like you," Esther said, "when she does smile."

"Why did you call me here Mother?" Klaus asked.

"You don't like that she is like you." Esther noted.

"I don't want her to be like me." Klaus said.

"If she wasn't like you then she wouldn't have been able to survive this long." Esther pointed out. "She is strong like you Niklaus…you should be proud of her."

Klaus didn't respond.

"I never stopped loving you." Esther said. "I want you to know that."

"Why?" Klaus asked.

"There is something I did not tell Bella." Esther said, "She can bring people back, but it will come with a price."

"What?" Klaus asked worried.

"My soul," Esther said. "I am her only relative that has not moved on in the afterlife so my soul will be destroyed."

Klaus looked at his mother shocked, "There has to be another way."

Esther shook her head, "I accept it as penance for what I did to you and your brothers and sister." Esther took Klaus' hands, "I cannot undo the past, but I can at least give you all a chance at a good future. If my soul is the price for that then I readily relinquish it."

"But…" Klaus started.

"Shhh…" Esther said, "I took away your life long ago…now I can give it back to you. Do not argue and try to stop me Niklaus."

"I'm sorry," Klaus said, "For what I did to you."

"I do not blame you any longer Niklaus. I let go of all that the second time I died." Esther said while smiling, "My sweet, eager, loving boy," She said, "Do not stop trying Niklaus. Do not abandon her like I did you."

Klaus nodded.

"Time to go," Esther said before she stood up and wiped a few tears away. She wiped a tear from Klaus as well, "I love you my sweet boy."

"I love you as well Mother," Klaus said as he hugged her.

"Goodbye," Esther said.

.*.*.*.*.*.

Klaus sat up and looked around at the darkened room. He opened the dresser next to his bed and pulled out the necklace his mother had given him long ago and put it around his neck.

"Goodbye mother," Klaus said as a tear fell from his eye.

.*.*.*.*.*.

"Is this really a good idea?" Rebekah asked as they walked to the cemetery. "I mean the witches."

"Can suck it," Cami grounded out. "I for one don't think we should help them."

"Bella said she's going to be there right?" Davina asked nervously.

"She's meeting us there." Elijah replied.

The group made it to the cemetery and walked in to find Davina's coven waiting for them with Bella.

"I'm so glad you decided to give us the girl," Agnes said while smirking.

"I never said I was going to give you Davina," Bella said.

Agnes' smirk turned to a scowl, "But you said…"

"I said," Bella interrupted, "I was going to bring the girls back. I never said I was going to give you Davina."

"Then how do you suppose you are going to do that?" Agnes challenged.

"By going to the Other Side," Bella said.

Agnes laughed, "You can't do that."

Bella glared, "Watch me," she said. "I need you all here to help keep me cloaked." Bella stepped to Agnes, "But make no mistake, you touch Davina and I'll take you out."

"What about the Harvest?" Agnes asked.

"I'll get you your magic." Bella said, "Now are we ready to do this or do you want to keep stalling?"

The witches dispersed to different parts of the cemetery while Bella removed her jacket.

"Are you sure?" Klaus asked.

Bella nodded.

"We'll be here to pull you out if you need us to." Elijah said and handed her their mother's necklace. "Davina blessed this…it's your anchor between this world and the Other Side. Put it on."

"If things get too intense we will be able to bring you back," Klaus said, "By removing it."

Bella nodded and put the necklace on.

"I don't like this," Rebekah said.

"We're all clear," Kol said as he came to join them with Damon.

"The Hunters have been pulled from the Quarter." Damon added.

Bella took a deep breath, "Let's do this before I chicken out." She said.

Everyone backed out of the circle and Klaus nodded.

Bella took another deep breath and closed her eyes. Within her mind she began to focus and will herself to the Other Side. Within her mind she felt the real world fade away and she felt herself shift to the next. When she opened her eyes she was in Mystic Falls only she was alone and it was foggy.

"Well this isn't creepy at all now is it," Bella commented as she looked around. "Now if I was a bunch of dead people who hadn't moved on where would I go?"

Bella's eyes fell onto the Grill.

"That was a stupid question." Bella said before she headed inside.

"So I'm walking down and this guy just comes right up and decks me." Mason said while laughing, "And I'm like what the hell."

Bella looks on as Alaric, Jenna, Mason, Lexi, and Rose are at the bar drinking.

"Why did he deck you?" Lexi asked after downing her shot.

"Because the girl he had slept with the night before was actually married," Bella said.

Everyone jumped and turned around.

"He came running to my dorm seeking shelter and had me compel the guy to leave." Bella continued walking towards them.

"Bella," Rose said, "Oh my god you're dead."

Bella shook her head, "No I'm not that lucky."

"Then what the hell are you doing on this side?" Lexi asked.

"It's a really long and complicated story," Bella said. "I'll explain later but first we need to get out of here." Bella looked around, "Anyone know where the exit is?"

"How the hell are we supposed to get out?" Mason asked.

Bella held up her hand and thought back to what the book had said.

"Only way out is through the way in." Bella repeated and then kicked a chair, "I knew there was a catch." She ground out.

"What?" Lexi asked.

"Never mind," Bella said, "Okay who wants to go first?"

"Wait how do we know this will work or that we will be okay?" Mason asked.

"You're already dead," Bella said, "What more could happen?" Bella held out her hand. "Take it."

"What the hell," Lexi said.

The moment Lexi's hand touched Bella's, Bella felt Lexi's death and crumbled to the floor. Lexi was nowhere to be seen.

"Bella," Alaric called out, grabbing onto her and then he disappeared as Bella felt his death as well.

"What is going on?" Rose asked.

Bella panted trying to catch her breath, "I really need to read up on shit before I do it." She said and held out her hand, "Come on. We don't have all day."

.*.*.*.*.*.

"I really don't like this," Rebekah said as she and the others stood outside the circle, "She just disappeared."

"She went to the Other Side," Kol said, "She'll be fine."

"It shouldn't be taking this long," Klaus said as he paced.

Suddenly a ball of light formed and blinded everyone. When the light subsided Lexi stood in the middle of the cemetery.

"Whoa," Lexi said as she looked around, "That's probably one of the most psychedelic trips I've ever had…better than the one with Jimmy Hendrix." She commented as she looked around until she spotted Damon and pointed at him, "You."

She was interrupted when again the blinding light appeared and when it subsided, Alaric was now standing next to Lexi.

"Bella," Alaric said, looking around frantically.

"What's wrong?" Klaus asked worried.

"What is he doing out of the box?" Alaric asked.

"Long story," Damon said, "Where's Bella?"

"I don't know. She fell to the ground and when I touched her I came here." Alaric explained as he continued to look around him for Bella.

"Was she in pain?" Klaus asked.

"I think so," Alaric replied.

"I knew this was a bad idea." Rebekah said.

The light appeared again and dissipated showing Jenna standing with them, then Rose, and finally Mason before Bella appeared with them. She quickly collapsed to the ground, curling up in pain.

"Bella!" Damon called out as he blurred to her.

"I'm not done yet," Bella said as she tried to catch her breath, "I gotta get the Harvest girls."

"No," Klaus said, "Your nose."

Bella touched her nose and felt something wet. When she looked at her fingers she saw it was blood.

"That's enough for now." Rebekah said.

Bella shook her head.

"Bella," Damon said.

"No," Bella said and flung out her hand. Everyone was pushed away from her and a ring of fire appeared around her.

"Bella stop it!" Klaus yelled.

"A deal is a deal," Bella said before she disappeared.

"Damn girl." Klaus growled.

.*.*.*.*.*.

Bella looked up and saw she was in the cemetery only no one was around.

"Monique," Bella called.

"Bella," Monique replied before coming out from behind a tomb.

"Monique," Bella smiled, "Hey hun, where are the other girls?"

One by one the other Harvest girls came out.

"Bella are you dead?" Monique asked.

"No she's not," A blonde woman interrupted as she appeared, "What are you doing here?"

"I came here to take the girls back," Bella said tensely.

"The ritual has not been completed, they cannot leave." The woman said.

"They are coming with me." Bella replied.

"You think so?" the woman asked, "You, the hybrid's child, are going to go against centuries of magic?"

"I'll do what it takes," Bella replied, "Besides their coven needs them."

"Their coven should complete the sacrifice and Davina Claire should learn her place," The woman hissed.

"Silas," Bella said and the woman's eyes went wide with fear, "Silas has come to New Orleans and unless these girls come back with me he is going to take it and then they," Bella pointed to the girls, "And all the other witches will be here. Do you want that?"

"The ritual has to be completed." The woman repeated. "It must be released from Davina otherwise she will die."

Bella was quiet for a while and then spoke.

"What if it can be released without bloodshed?" Bella asked.

"How?" The woman asked.

"You let me worry about that." Bella said, "So are you gonna step aside and let me do my thing or are we gonna brawl in which you lose?"

"Go stop Silas…if you can." The woman said and walked away.

Bella held her hand out to Monique.

"You're up first kid." Bella said.

.*.*.*.*.*.

"We have to stop her," Elena said.

"What is going on?" Jane-Anne asked.

Suddenly the circle of fire shut down and the ball of light appeared again, leaving in its wake Monique.

"Mom," Monique yelled and ran to Jane-Anne.

"My sweet girl," Jane-Anne cried as she held her daughter in her arms.

Soon all the girls were back and were hugging their families.

"Where's Bella?" Damon asked.

On cue Bella returned and was on the ground, visibly in pain with blood now pouring out of her nose.

"Bells," Damon called out as she rushed to her side again.

"I'm fine," Bella said, "Just help me up."

Damon did and Bella wiped the blood away.

"There," Bella said while looking at the witches.

"What about the power?" Agnes asked, "It is still radiating from her."

"Fuck, can't a girl get a break?" Bella asked and pushed off of Damon.

She held out her hand to Davina, "Trust me," she said.

Davina took Bella's hand and Bella focused on drawing the magic that was built up in Davina out of her.

"Bella you have to rest." Rebekah said as she saw the blood beginning to come out of her nose again.

"Stop," Klaus said.

Bella pushed forward, forcing the power to flow out of Davina.

Davina fell back, being caught by Kol, and everyone watched as swirls of light formed between Bella's hands. It grew brighter and brighter and finally Bella slammed it into the ground causing it to shake.

"The power," Agnes said happily, "It's back."

"Bella," Rebekah yelled as Bella crumbled to the ground.

"She's out," Stefan said, after looking Bella over.

Klaus turned and looked over to Davina, "Are you alright?" he asked.

Davina nodded, "I feel a lot better."

"Come on," Elijah said, "Let's get Bella back to the house. We all need rest."

.*.*.*.*.*.

Bella woke up and saw Damon asleep in the bed next to her. She got out of bed, slipped on a sweater and walked down the stairs.

"Looking for something?" Marcel asked.

"More like someone…to eat," Bella said.

"What about lover boy upstairs?" Marcel asked.

Bella shook her head, "He hasn't fed enough and he's donated enough."

"Well then I guess you're in luck," Marcel said. "I just ate, come on."

"Marcel you don't have to." Bella said as she followed him into the study.

"I know," Marcel said, "To be honest I'm a bit curious about it. I mean I've never exchanged blood with anyone."

"Not even Rebekah?" Bella asked shocked.

Marcel shook his head, "So what do you want? Neck?"

"Wrist," Bella said.

She allowed her fangs to elongate and bit into Marcel's wrist. After a few minutes she pulled back.

"You can keep going if you need to," Marcel said.

"Not a wise idea if Silas decides to go back on his word," Bella said as she wiped her mouth.

"You heading back up?" Marcel asked.

Bella shook her head, "I think I've had enough sleep for a while."

"Every turn, it's like you keep getting hit," Marcel said and poured her a glass of whiskey, "But you always get back up."

"Yay me," Bella said while taking the glass.

"You're a fighter Bella." Marcel said, "That's a quality most admire."

"Yeah, but there comes a time when you're just tired of fighting." Bella replied.

"True, true," Marcel said, "You wanna throw in the towel?"

Bella let out a dry laugh, "I'm not that tired." Bella looked at Marcel, "Thank you."

"For what?" Marcel asked.

"For watching out for Davina." Bella clarified.

"She's a good kid," Marcel said.

"Yeah she is," Bella said, "She's had a tough go of it." Bella looked at Marcel, "Which is why I think you saved her."

"No denying it," Marcel said, "You're the same way though. I mean it's why you went in and protected Elena. We could be twins."

"Separated by centuries," Bella said.

"You alright?" Marcel asked.

"Physically, mentally or emotionally?" Bella said, "You might want to narrow it down."

"All the above," Marcel said with a laugh.

"Drained," Bella said, "Drained in all areas. I mean I know what's going to go down. We either win or we lose. If we lose, well we're all screwed."

"But we are going to win," Marcel said.

"But then what?" Bella asked. "My entire life since I was thirteen has been focused on getting rid of Klaus, of staying one step ahead of him."

"And now it's not anymore." Marcel sighed, "Now you're working with him and you don't know how to deal with that."

"I don't get it," Bella said, "I don't know who I am outside of that."

"Yes you do," Marcel said, "Look, Klaus had a hand in who we are, but he doesn't define us. Only we can do that." Marcel winked, "Take some advice from your big brother."

Bella shook her head, but smiled a little, "Are you ready for this? I mean no one really gave you and your guys a choice in this."

"Hey some guy is coming into my city and trying to take over. Of course I'm all over this fight." Marcel said, "I mean come on, it was getting a little boring around here anyways."

Bella grabbed the bottle and poured herself another glass.

"Marcel there's something I want to ask you and I want you to be completely honest with me." Bella said.

"Shoot," Marcel said.

"Klaus…he really was a good man? I mean he loved you?" Bella said.

Marcel tensed and furrowed his brows, "He saved me. He was coming back from a funeral and he killed the guy that was whipping me and took me from my master who was my dad. He raised me. He and Rebekah taught me to fence while Elijah taught me history and how to be a business man. Now Kol and I we didn't really get along, in fact he ended up back in that box one time because he was being an ass. But yeah…Klaus loved me like I was his own. He saw a lot of me in him." Marcel explained, "When Mikael came and he tried to kill me, I think Klaus shut down because he thought I was dead. I think he stayed shut down even with you because he was afraid."

"Afraid of what?" Bella asked.

"Klaus treated me like his own, but Bella you are his flesh and blood. That's a whole other feeling when the child is your own." Marcel said, "I think because Mikael was still out there, he was afraid if he cared then Mikael would use you against him and hurt you to hurt him." Marcel sighed, "I'm not saying what Klaus did was right, in fact it pisses me off, but you've been shut down before Bella. When we are like that, we lose all moral direction. I think Klaus started to come out of it when you joined him and then it fully hit that night he saw you gaunt and just lifeless. It scared him that you were dying and it scared him so much it shocked him into feeling again." Marcel stood up, "I'm not saying forgive the guy. You don't have to do that. You don't have to do anything you don't want to. All I'm saying is that maybe you need to think about it and look inside yourself." Marcel smiled, "I mean you got those freaky powers, take a poke around in his head. Before you can understand a man you have to understand his past."

"Thought our pasts don't define us?" Bella said as Marcel headed for the door.

"They don't," Marcel said, "But they leave marks Bella. You know that…I know that…Klaus knows that."

Marcel left Bella alone in the library as she stared into the fire. She thought about what Marcel said and as she thought about it, she grabbed the bottle, not bothering with a glass anymore.

A/N: Hey you guys I hope you enjoyed the chapter. We are starting to come to an end on this journey and I discovered that this has been going on for 4 years! That's shocking to me.

Thank you to my wonderful beta Dark~Supernatural~Angel for all her support not just in my writing, but in life as well. I am very lucky to call her a friend.

Thank you guys the readers for sticking with me through this journey and I hope you have enjoyed it. We have a little more to go, but we are closer to the end now.

Review please. I want to know your thoughts!