A/N: This is months late and I profusely apologise to everyone still following this story. I would like to wish you all a Happy and safe New Years celebration and consider this (and part 2) a belated gift for my extreme slackness. Thank you to the wonderful reviewers and followers out there. Onwards!...
Chapter 43: The One With The Band (Sort of) Part I
"…So it was an impromptu thing? Seriously? He just rang all the department heads and said 'Knock off early today and let's have a party?'" Gwen cannot help sounding more than a little unconvinced at the thought.
Morgana laughs on the other end of the phone.
"Yep, well, that's the way these guys tell it. Of course, he waited a day and a half until the boys are all in town – since they have that 'top secret' thing they're doing with Merlin this weekend before the wedding anyways…Not that we don't already know what the 'top secret'' thing is..Please! Strippers are soooo 1990!"
Gwen cannot help laughing at that.
"Well…you know Gwaine...Even if the guest of honour doesn't want one, when he says 'I'll be organizing your stag night,' you can pretty much guarantee a stripper theme will pop up somewhere during the night".
"Ugh! Well at least I can count on you to not have one at mine right? You're gonna be back in two days yeah? Even if you're over there with that cute, hippie looking guy - with a super hot bod that you seem to be avoiding…" Morgana teases.
Gwen rolls her eyes, but seeing as she and the guy in question are sitting across from each other in a moving bus, she can hardly comment about it.
"Morgs stop. We're just friends. You know I'm just…figuring out how to move on and all that", she replies quietly.
"I know..I just want you to remember you're fun, happy, and able to survive without Mr. Me since-"
"Okay, let's change the subject. I will be back in two days and we are going to have an awesome time at your girls' day out – stripper or no stripper! So, you're all at the party now? Sounds like a lot of fun"…, she cannot help feeling a bit wistful. There is a part of her that would like to be there, but she's no longer an employee of PI anymore, or Arthur's girlfriend. So it would be out of the question on a few levels.
"Arthur said a few words. So did The Dragon and ooh ooh! He actually said thank you to all his staff (and I think he meant it this time)! Amazing what the prospect of losing everything you've worked for your entire life to a fake brother in law (who is also severely unhinged and a criminal mastermind by the way) will do to your whole outlook on life eh?" Morgana quips, before she pauses.
"But…Its not the same without you…It's a pity you're off on the fieldtrip this weekend because otherwise you could be checking the cake with me since – unlike my lovely hubby to me, you won't eat every bit of the sample but never mind…Oh and Merlin said I shouldn't really tell you this, 'cos no one wants you to feel hurt or upset but…well Mithian's here...Tonight I mean…We met her – he introduced us to her and…okay, I will say, she's Ohkaaay, but, can I just say one thing? Personally, I don't think Arthur is the slightest bit into her – well not in the 'I want to date/sleep with her' sense and-"
Gwen bites her lip and presses the phone to her forehead for a moment before cutting Morgana off.
"Why are you telling me this? It's okay Morgs. No one should feel like they have to sugarcoat stuff. It's over. Done. Finito. I'm not that fragile am I? Bloody hell", Gwen cannot hide her impatience now. What is Morgana trying to say here?
"I know you're not! But…I'm just…saying it because…Well, because…I don't think that things are finished finished between you two…It's just this feeli-"
"That's nice Morgs, but we may have to continue this riveting discussion later 'cos we're almost in the city now and I have to update the class on our schedule, so maybe we can talk later? Have fun tonight though and please give my love to everyone. I will text you when we get into the hostel".
Awkward silence.
"Gwennie? This is none of my business and…I'm really sorry I brought anything up and…I won't say another word on the matter. So…be safe. Take care of yourself and have fun. Call me when you're settled in okay?"
Morgana sounds extremely apologetic so Gwen lets it go.
"Okay. Will do. Love you Morgana", she responds warmly.
She shakes her head and puts her phone back into her jacket pocket, then she walks slowly to the front of the bus to check their arrival time with the driver before making an announcement to the students who are so excited to be in London and are now determined to use the last half an hour of the ride to all talk at once using the loudest volume they can.
Sitting back down in her seat, she is trying to decide between listening to music or reading her book when Jake stands up and reminds them all to use their 'inside the bus voices' then walks over and drops himself in the seat next to hers.
"Hiya", he greets her with a smile.
Gwen gives him a friendly nod.
Gwen's POV
What will you do if he brings up the avoidance thing? Not again. What, are you echoing Morgs now?! No need for the sarky comebacks, just saying is all. Why would you say I am avoiding him? I've been busy…Uh huh..Doing what? Helping my friends. Uh huh. And where do they work? At Pendragon Industries. Right..and who is their boss? Oh please! Look…All I'm saying is 'there's a reason why Sporty Spice is the only one of them without a fella". Why are you quoting 'Bend it like Beckham' lines? Because, like the pushy mother in that brilliant movie said; it's all about 'the signs'. What signs?! Ugh! Look, I did what we decided. Which was? I am moving on! Are you? Yes! Really? Well…it's a..work in progress! Okay so if he does ask why you've been avoi-er I mean, been too busy to even have coffee since last time when he was harping on about sustainable calamari while you just wanted to order a cider and chill out, what will you say? I will tell him… that he's a great person. That he's a fun guy with a great sense of humour and-Uh oh…What?! It sounds like you're dumping him. I am not! How can I dump him anyway?! We were never an item enough to warrant this being labeled dumped. Okay, but you're trying to not go out with him. No, that's not what I meant. I just…I don't want to date him. Or anyone. Not yet. Okay, well that's fine…Honesty does go a long way, and it's gotten you this far Gwen.
"Sooo, how've you been Gwen? I haven't seen much of you since, well since you took off for your mates the other week, apart from briefly in field trip meetings and in the hallways", Jake has a look of concern on his face and Gwen feels even more guilty.
She bites her lip then looks at him.
"I know…and I'm sorry. It's been pretty busy at work, my best friends are getting married next week, and…I've been spending quite a bit of time with my friends and my brother, just trying to help them out. To just…spend time with myself...Thank you for helping chaperone this trip though Jake, really", she finally replies.
Jake smiles and shrugs his shoulders good-naturedly.
He studies Gwen, taking note of the sad smile on her face before speaking again.
"I don't talk much about my personal life – and as a guidance counselor, most people are surprised when we have 'normal' issues like them, so we kind of operate like dams", he pauses as they both laugh.
"I was married once", he continues, "Up until four years ago".
Gwen looks up at him in surprise. She hadn't heard about that and he'd certainly never mentioned it before.
"Yeah…Lara and I were best friends and high school sweethearts. We did everything together. Our plan was to work and volunteer abroad – help people, see the world, learn and grow together. At the time many of our close friends, and even my mum at the time said nineteen was too young to get married, but we did it anyway. We had this tiny, grotty basement flat near our college, it was probably the size of a shoebox, but to me it was like nirvana. We were determined to show the world and all the naysayers that it could be done. That we could defy the odds…"
"So…what happened?" Gwen asks gently because she can see his mind is far away now.
"Well…The usual thing; people change. Dreams change…Priorities…In the end; she didn't want the traveling and free life anymore. She wanted steady, dependable, and nine to five. We started to disagree..Then fight…Then lose interest in each other. I asked for space, she didn't want to consider that option. I couldn't see another way to forge through so I eventually ended things and when a job to teach at a boys orphanage in Nepal came up, I left. Thought it was for the best at the time. She moved to Glasgow and eventually got a job as a healthcare worker, but she would email and write. I was doing what I wanted, living the dream, so I'm ashamed to admit, I wasn't that great at keeping in touch, or to her really. I still feel awful when I think about it now".
He stops talking for a moment.
"Wow…I'm sorry…Life is kind of like that; I mean, things happen and people move on to have the life they're supposed to have", Gwen murmurs.
Jake shrugs and looks at her again.
"Maybe…That's what I thought at the time. I was confused, angry (mostly at myself for being so selfish)..and depressed…I was finding a hard time coping with stress, working, and going through a divorce so yeah, it was hard..and in a way, it did lead me to change my major so I could study psychology and go into counseling, but…was it the way it was supposed to go? Maybe…"
"So did you ever try to meet up with her again?" Gwen asks him.
He grins sadly, "I did..but by then, I was too late. She had met someone else and last I heard, they have a family and live in Australia now so yeah…"
Silence.
"That's…kinda…depressing", Gwen says shortly.
Jake nods serenely, with a twinkle in his eye, "I know right?"
They both crack up.
"Still", he concedes, "there's a point to my personal heartbreak story".
Gwen nods her head in agreement.
"That despite how you felt at the time, you both moved on?" she asks.
Jake smiles kindly at her and shakes his head.
"Nope. It's that, I wouldn't be able to now feel like things are complete if I hadn't at least tried one last time, despite how I'd behaved and the choices I'd made", he replies.
Gwen looks out the window at the bright lights. They are already in the city.
"Should I be lying down on your brown sofa right now?" she quips, and then bites her lip, suddenly feeling that telltale lump in her throat forming.
Looking back out to the window again, she speaks quietly now.
"Even if things were different and he wanted to try again, I can't go back there now…It's too late..I don't want to…well..go through this again..", she wipes away a stray tear.
Jake touches her arm lightly, and she turns back to him.
"And you don't have to. You should just do what you're trying your best to do. Breathe. Put one foot in front of the other. Be positive, and things will work out – whether it involves him or not is up to you", he replies.
She gives him a tiny smile and he nods back.
"Listen Jake…I know we went out already and I said I could do…this…Well, whatever it is people do; date..interact…see people..but…", she shrugs helplessly.
Jake grins lightly.
"Gwen, I am not going to lie, I like you. You're an amazing, lovely person and, if things were different, and you weren't where you are right now, I would love a chance to spend time with you, figuring out what this is all about but…I get it…"
Gwen nods her head.
"No…I..I thought I was…but…I'm not and…I don't want to be dishonest here. You've been so understanding about everything and I'm really sorry".
He squeezes her hand lightly and smiles.
"I can live with just being friends with you. Some famous person eons ago already said it but; you can never can have too many friends" he jokes as Gwen's laughter joins in with his.
It breaks the ice and she leans back in her chair.
"You still owe me a night of dancing and decent grub though. Just 'cos you don't fancy me, doesn't mean you can get out of that one", Jake quips with a twinkle in his eye.
Gwen laughs and nods.
"Yes, I do. And I know just the place!"
She turns to face him.
"What are you doing next Saturday?" she asks him.
Back in Camelot city at the PI headquarters, the staff party is winding up. Morgana, Alice, Elyan, Sophie, Hunith, Leon, and Elena, as well as Elyan's two army mates AKA Mathieu's 'Hitmen' Richard and Paddy are standing at the bar watching Uther and Arthur interact with their staff. Even though the nine of them are not PI staff, Arthur and Uther had insisted they all come along this evening to join them.
"So, how is Gwen doing?" Alice asks Morgana as she notices the young woman has just gotten off the phone with her friend.
Morgana shrugs, fiddling with her drink straw," You know Gwen; she hates people making a fuss. I just…I just worry about her that's all", she says.
Hunith reaches out and pats her arm kindly.
"Our Gwen is a good girl with her head firmly on her shoulders. If she says she's fine then she's fine".
Elyan nods in agreement.
"Yeah, that's right. Gwen's okay. Dunno what to make of that one though", he joins in, pointing at Arthur who seems to be introducing Mithian to some other staff members.
Eventually he and the others wander back over to the group and they all stand around talking and catching up as Gaius and Merlin fill them in on the rest of the information.
"Here's to us – the band…minus our band manager of course who's not here but that's okay becau-" Gwaine is happily sauced up and ready to start toasting when Arthur, clearly not really 'with it' after hardly any rest or time off since everything started a few weeks ago interrupts.
"Sorry..Who's the band manager…?
A glare from Morgana and teeny tiny moment of silence allows the penny to drop.
"Ohhh! You mean..you mean Guinevere right?" he finishes sheepishly.
"Hey! What are we all standing around so quietly for? Is this a party of what?" Mithian's cheerful voice cuts through the uneasy calm.
Its enough to get things back on track and Leon finishes the toast and they all drink.
Someone plugs their IPod in and soon the whole conference room is an impromptu disco. Many of his friends drift off to the dance floor, with Percival asking Mithian to dance, and the older set, save Gaius and Uther, say their goodnights for the evening. Soon only Arthur and Morgana are left standing at the bar.
Morgana turns away for a minute as she sends Gwen a text. She still feels awful for making her feel sad on the phone earlier.
"So I uh…I want to thank you Morgana. For your help. And your support. I know you were helping Merlin and the others when things went south last week so, I wanted to express my heartfelt gratitude to you personally", Arthur speaks, moving to stand next to her.
She puts her phone away and nods slowly, taking another sip of her drink.
"You're welcome. Merlin is my partner and…you and those boys out there are his family. His friends. So it's fine. Really. Although…" she pauses.
He looks at her again.
"If you want to thank anyone, you should really say thank you to Gwen", she finishes abruptly, then expertly hiding a smirk whilst taking another sip, she waits for his reaction.
He frowns slightly.
"Guinevere?...Well yeah I guess..I mean, I know she came around that night I was fired and was with you guys so that's true. I mean her friends wor-"
"No! I mean you really should go to her and say 'thank you for figuring out what it was my crazy un uncle was up to and why'!" Morgana tosses her dark locks with impatience.
"I don't…What does that mean exactly?"
She is about to yell at him to not be thick then notices the genuinely confused glaze in his blue eyes, so she wills herself to calm down.
"She did some detective work of her own – because she had this hunch about Du Bois' motives and it turns out she was right. He was crazy…evil and obsessed with your mother. He did this purely to get revenge. Because he missed out on this fantasy life he had planned. Gwen was the one who told us and Merlin then told you. That's how you-"
"-That's how he found out? She…she did that? To help me? To help..my company?" Arthur sounds (and looks) like a clueless git right now, but Morgana doesn't care. She had enough of his arrogance and selfishness when it comes to her friend. Fortune 500 CEO title or not!
"Yes, she did. Because despite what happened and the way things ended between you two, she still cares. That's just who she is. And as much as Elyan, Ellie, and I never want to speak to or be in the same room as you again in the name of loyalty, she made us see reason. And she's right; you are like a brother to my future husband. I could not ask him to break that bond – even if you happen to be selfish, arrogant, and wishy washy", Morgana pauses to drain her glass.
Arthur lets out a deep breath, and then grins wryly, despite the insult.
"Wow", he says, "Don't hold back or anything now eh Morgana."
She shakes her head, and then shrugs nonchalantly.
"Looks, what's done is done. You're both grownups, and we're all friends. But I just thought you should know. And, despite how I may act, I do want you both at the wedding – 'cos it's not just my day, it's his too", she finishes, nodding in Merlin's direction where he's showing Gwaine the correct stance for Beyonce's 'Single Ladies' dance moves.
Arthur nods, and then extends his hand to her.
"I hear you. Loud and clear. Thank you", he says quietly.
She nods, and then, she shakes it.
Everyone's gone home. It's almost midnight and because he'd rather be here, then pretending to sleep home, Arthur is sitting in his office. He'd already sent his share of the 'wedding speech' over to Elyan via courier to merge with Gwen's. That was one thing he'd sort of managed to tune out. Seeing her again in just over a week at the wedding will be…Well, he'll just have to lump it wouldn't he?
No one's been in to clean it since he left so it's a bit messy, just the way he left it that day Agravaine's goons came to get him out. He remembers he has a couple of beers in his mini fridge so he opens it and grabs one. He is trying to find a spare pen to fill out some paperwork before he heads home so he opens the bottom drawer and as he reaches down for a pen, he comes across several yellow post-it notes. They are the messages he and Gwen would leave to each other every night she was cleaning his office all those months ago.
He takes them out and spreads them across his desk, reading the brief messages in her tidy scrawl. Some make him shake his head, some make him laugh. All of them make him smile. He sighs, and then sweeps them up, wanting to have the courage to bin them. But instead tidies them up on the desk, whilst he rummages around looking for an empty manila folder to keep them in.
A light tap on the door, then it opens and in walks Uther.
Arthur half rises from his chair.
"Father? Are you feeling alright? I thought you would've been long gone by now", he says, offering an easy chair for him to sit in.
Uther sinks into the chair and closes his eyes for a bit. Even if he looks tired, he seems more relaxed today.
"I'm fine…There were a few things I wanted to do in my office before I went home. When I asked your PA where you were, she said you were still here", he says.
Arthur nods and then gestures to the fridge.
"Would you like something? I have some bottled water if-"
Uther shakes his head and points at Arthur's beer and the younger man eyes him warily.
"Are you allowed to have that?" he asks.
Uther snorts and lets out a half laugh.
"Arthur…I highly doubt the cancer will suddenly return if I have one Heineken! A beer please".
Father and son clink their bottles and take a swig in companionable silence.
Uther studies his son. With his wife's fairness and eyes, and his colouring.
Settling his drink down, he clears his throat.
"You've come a long way Son", he says reflectively, studying him.
Arthur smiles and nods, waiting for him to go on.
"I remember the day we found out your mother was going to have a baby. I was…"
"Ecstatic?" Arthur asks, trying to mask his surprise that his father is even talking about his mother.
"Scared shitless actually…", Uther says, then looks at his son again.
They both laugh and his father leans back in his chair.
"I sat there in the doctor's waiting room afterwards, only half listening to him talk to your mother about her health and what to expect over the next nine months. Suddenly, everything else I had prepared myself for in life seemed so…inadequate. Just knowing that soon there would be this little person who would be totally dependent on the two of us for the rest of our lives was terrifying. I actually made some rubbish excuse about needing to make a phone call and left them to it halfway through the visit"…Uther's voice trails off and he shakes his head sadly.
"Then, your mother – who had been looking for me all over the clinic, found me sitting outside and told me to grow a pair and stop being such a sooky bubba! She sure told me off! And she was right. She pretty much always was…not that you tell the love of your life things like that all the time…No, you only think about those things later. When…when it's too late..When you're alone." he sighs and drinks his beer again.
Arthur listens in silence, scared to interrupt for fear he'll suddenly snap out of whatever has brought this change of mood, and never speak so openly again.
"She told me that, no matter what happened, our baby was a blessing and that one day, he or she would be the one taking care of us…As we sat there, outside in the car park, I knew I had to man up. Then, less than two years later…when she…died…I felt like…like I was lost. Sure, I had a son –I was grateful for that but, I felt like, without her, I wouldn't be able to do as good a job. And let's be honest; I haven't exactly been like that father from the Brady Bunch have I? I know I have pushed you. Fed you the family line about duty and honour. About your place as the future of this company and your status in society. Because…well, I thought all this time that this is what I was supposed to do.
It was hard, seeing you take on so much of your mother's character…Her goodwill and judgment in people. That's why I resisted talking about her to you. Not because I hated you, but I was ashamed that I could not be the parent you needed. I know it was wrong, and the fact you had to hear about her early life from your friends and their research and not from me isn't something I'm proud of. I thought, if you knew more about her, you may rebel. Leave and then what would've happened to our company with the heir gone? I am not trying to sit here making excuses, because too much time has gone by and so much as happened, but…I hope you can believe me when I say…I'm truly, very sorry Son. And I want you to know I am grateful. Eternally grateful. To Ygraine. For you. Because you did end up saving me. In more ways than I could ever imagine. And…I know that if you still want it, you will make the finest CEO Pendragon Industries has ever seen one day", he finishes his speech, and wiping away the tears in his eyes, Uther Pendragon drains the rest of his beer, putting his bottle on the table.
Arthur swallows away the lump in his throat and sits up straighter.
"Thank you Father…For saying that. And..for believing in me. It means…well it means the world to me really", he finally answers.
Uther nods and looks him square in the face.
"Well, I meant it. Every word. Truth is, I could already see your potential and talents as a leader even back when you had just started working. But I suppose, all this time, I was still trying to protect you. From this kind of life, but it seems in a roundabout way, you still ended up here, because of me. And that…It is my biggest regret Son. Truly," Uther smiles sadly.
Arthur shakes his head, "Well at least we are through the fire now Father. The only way left is forward".
Uther nods, then stands up.
Arthur also rises, and then half frowns.
"What..what kind of life do you mean?"
Uther shrugs.
"Arthur…Agravaine is like one of those septic tanks - full of shit, and he wasn't right about you having to be this person. This doesn't have to be your life. Not if you don't want it", he explains, moving towards the door.
Arthur frowns and follows him.
"This is…this is our company. I would never see it being sold off. We just barely survived Du Bois and you're saying I shouldn't-"
Uther shakes his head vehemently, and puts his hand on his son's shoulder as if to steady him.
"No! This is our company. And I would die a happy man knowing it was in safe hands with you, but, people and circumstances change. And I would not think less of you if you didn't want it. That's all I'm saying".
Arthur sighs in frustration and moves away from him.
"Father…I think you've had too much excitement for one day and you should get home now. Let me text Terry to bring the car around now".
Uther waves him away, and opens the door, turning back to him.
"Son, I made my choices. You have to make yours too. But they have to be the right ones for you".
Arthur stares blankly at him.
"Yes, and I've made it so there's not much else to say is there?"
Uther's eagle sharp eyes focus on the yellow post-it notes on Arthur's desk and his son follows his gaze to see what he's looking at. Groaning mentally because he should've hidden them before, he settles for an indifferent shrug.
Uther raises an eyebrow and says "I was wrong about a lot of things with you. About decisions you made at the company, about whom you wanted to be friends with…And whom you chose to love. And I truthfully regret that. But just because I have been a certain way, it doesn't have to fall on you to continue in the same vein. Think about it and thanks for the beer. Good night Son".
He walks away and Arthur is left there, watching him go.
Arthur's POV
Okay…so what just happened? Huh? Exactly. Sort of like one of them Fringe episodes in alternative universes where someone is one way and then…Okay okay! No seriously though…so like your father is..having heart to hearts with you now? Maybe…Did he just say..? 'Sorry'? Yes he did. And did he just admit you were pretty good at what you do? Yes, he did. And did he just kinda sorta mention Guinevere? Yes..Sort of. Sort of?! I think he just gave you a free pass! To do what? To do whatever you want to with your life! Like what?! Well…er…See, that's the part you've got to figure out. How? Well bloody hell, I don't know! I am still recovering from this once in a blue moon experience that just happened with the old man, so you'll have to work that one out yourself. Yeah..I guess I have to don't I? In the meantime, I have to try and do my best to keep Gwaine in line. Good luck. Well, Merlin said NO strippers. Riiight. Er…you've met Gwaine right? Speaking of which, I'd better go and suss out their wedding gift tomorrow. Don't forget your best man speech. Oh shit! Shit! Shit! What do I say? Well, whatever you do, don't offer them love advice 'cos you're sort of rubbish at it. Rude! But oh so true. Oh give it a rest!
The evening before the wedding…
Gwen tugs on her dress, secretly wishing she'd just worn the black one she and Morgs had picked out all those months ago.
Jake lets out a wolf whistle and twirls her around and she giggles in embarrassment.
"Wow, you don't look so bad there Gwen", he compliments her and she shakes her head.
"Thank you but..I think this dress is a bit too tight..well it didn't feel this tight…I know I shouldn't have let Ellie and Sophie convince me to buy it. You look great though. And thanks so much for coming with me…My friends can be a bit crazy but, they're all actually really cool people to hang out with", she says.
Jake does a mock bow and laughs.
"My pleasure. You owed me anyway, and I don't mind being your escort. It's actually worked out really well for me since a friend from college lives in the village so I will be seeing them tonight. You don't mind if I take off after the main part of the reception's over? I'll be back at 12 on Sunday to pick you up if that's cool?"
Gwen nods and smiles as he offers her his arm and taking a deep breath they enter the garden area where Morgana and Merlin have organized for all their in-house guests to gather for cocktails the night before the big day.
The late afternoon sun is still warm enough and Gwen and Jake move through the crowd as she introduces him to people that she knows, and leads him up to the drinks table. Morgana catches her eye and seems to be mouthing something furiously to her but she can't understand so she just waves, and turns to ask Jake what he'd like and accidentally pushes into a pretty, tall, slim, brunette lady also waiting for service.
"Oh excuse me! I didn't mean to bump into you, I thought you were someone else", she smiles up at her apologetically. The lady shrugs and grins back, her smile friendly.
"No harm done. It's sort of like a mad rush here. I've lost my date already and I suppose you're in the same predicament. I feel rather sorry for the bartender", she nods at the man who looks like he's about to drop from the stress of taking ten orders at once.
Gwen nods and laughs along with her.
The tall lady looks slightly familiar, but Gwen cannot place her.
"I'm Mitzy – Mithian, but no one under 50 calls me that", she says, extending her hand out to Gwen.
Gwen takes a moment before nodding and extending her own hand out with a smile.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Gw-"
"Guinevere…?" a familiar, albeit hesitant deep voice says from over her shoulder.
A/N: Done! Don't fret..its not really a real cliffhanger :) Thank you folks for the interest, for reading, and for sending me your thoughts. Second part up tres soon. Happy celebrations to all! x IslandGem
