A Hundred Storms

by arielx

Desperate for normality after the final battle, Hermione returns to Hogwarts to finish her education. As part of his probation for acts during the war, Draco must return as well. The war may be over, but the storm is only beginning. Confused and broken, they begin to heal where their story began.

38. Let it Go

A Hundred Storms

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Let it Go

It's funny how some distance makes everything seem small
And the fears that once controlled me can't get to me at all.
Up here in the cold thin air I finally can breathe.
I know I left a life behind but I'm too relieved to grieve.
Let it go, let it go
And I'll rise like the break of dawn
Let it go, let it go
That perfect girl is gone
Here I stand
In the light of day
Let the storm rage on,
The cold never bothered me anyway
-Idina Menzel / Demi Lovato, from Disney's Frozen

Hermione woke the next morning feeling a bit like Crookshanks after a long, satisfying catnap. She stretched, enjoying the sensation of just being. Being whole, being true to her heart, allowing herself to be happy. It wasn't something she let herself do very often, but she let herself bask now. Hermione couldn't remember the last time she let herself relax.

Draco's breathing was deep and even and Hermione was unsure if she should get up or continue to lay with him. In the end her bladder made the decision for her and she untangled herself from Draco to search for a bathroom.

Luckily for Hermione, one of the two doors she spotted in Draco's bedroom led to a well equipped bathroom with a sleek glass shower. She noticed that the house elves seemed to have anticipated her every need, right down to laying out her clothing on the vanity.

Half an hour later Hermione emerged from the bathroom refreshed and hungry. Draco was still sound asleep with his back to her and she wondered if he was normally a late sleeper or if he just felt as comfortable as she did. Hermione was always an early riser and the growl in her stomach wasn't going to take care of itself. She didn't feel right wandering about his home by herself, so she crawled back into the bed and snuggled up close to him, placing soft kisses down the back of his neck to his naked shoulder.

That did it. Draco stirred and rolled over, still somewhat disoriented from sleep. When he opened his eyes to see Hermione smiling down at him his mouth curved into a lazy smile of his own.

"Good morning," Hermione chuckled.

"Have you been awake long?" Draco asked, noticing her freshly showered state.

"An hour, maybe," Hermione shrugged. "I helped myself to your shower and toothpaste, the house elves seem to have brought my clothes and toiletries at some point."

Draco looked sheepish. "I asked them to, I hope that wasn't presumptuous."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I think we're beyond that," she said. "Now why don't you get dressed? I'm famished."

Draco sat up and stretched, the covers pooling around his waist. Draco winked when he caught Hermione's stare and she grinned. While he was showering Hermione settled back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling and feeling incredibly relieved the morning after felt as comfortable as the wine fueled night. It felt wonderful to just lay there, remembering what happiness felt like.

Draco emerged from the steamy bathroom fifteen minutes later with his hair still slightly damp from his shower. While he toweled his hair dry he asked Hermione what she was hungry for.

"Why don't you surprise me?" Hermione asked him with a smile.

"How do you feel about getting out of here?" Draco asked her. "I can show you around the village and we can get brunch there?"

"Sounds perfect," Hermione agreed and climbed out of bed once again. "Should I change?" She asked him of her jeans and sweater.

"No," Draco shook his head. "You'll just want to bring your coat and a hat if you brought one, we'll have to walk."

Ten minutes later they were taking the path down into the village. Hermione guessed it was a little before noon. Snow was falling softly, the air not being quite cold enough to stick to the ground yet. Christmas was descending on the little town and Hermione smiled at the decorations twinkling at her from the windows of the homes and shops.

Draco led the way into a small pub and Hermione's mouth immediately began to water when the smell of sausage and and freshly baked bread assaulted her nose. Draco laughed when her stomach gave a loud growl and she grinned back at him before they found themselves a seat.

Within a minute a middle aged women with unruly white hair came by with tea and menus. Hermione ordered a glass of orange juice to sip while she looked over the selection but Draco ordered cinnamon rolls for them right away.

"The best I've ever had," Draco said unapologetically. "Wait until you try it."

Hermione hummed a bit while she read over the simple menu of breakfast fare, finally settling on eggs with bacon and toast and a side of fruit. Draco ordered the same and they tucked in to the basket of warm cinnamon rolls.

"Well?" Draco asked expectantly while Hermione chewed.

Hermione dipped her head and hid her hand behind her mouth while she finished and swallowed. "Delicious," she agreed. "Absolutely delicious."

Draco smirked with satisfaction. "I thought you'd agree."

"How did you come by this place?" Hermione asked, thinking of the pub they ate at previously. "I didn't think you ventured into Muggle establishments on a regular basis."

"I don't," Draco replied. "But I don't avoid them entirely, especially when they smell so good from the outside. I was walking past one day and could not resist. I've been coming back whenever I was in the area and father wasn't."

Hermione enjoyed the ease in which Draco was finally talking to her. A month ago she practically had to Accio out of him what his favorite color was, and now he was chatting with her over pastries.

Their food arrived quickly and the conversation lapsed as they ate hungrily. The fruit was surprisingly fresh given the time of year and the eggs were cooked perfectly over easy. Hermione took the time to watch the Muggles around them, enjoying the relaxed atmosphere. This is what life was about, really. There was nothing extraordinary about the little pub or the people in it, but it was in that very feeling that Hermione found peace. Life didn't have to be a series of tragedies at every turn. Life could simply be brunch and lovely company.

"I can't believe it's almost Christmas," Hermione said conversationally as their food disappeared.

"I'm not really one for Christmas spirit," Draco said dismissively. "My parents often traveled or my mother would host a dinner party if my father was busy with work. The last few years Christmas was not mentioned at all."

"I understand, to a degree," Hermione sipped on the last of her orange juice. "I spent last Christmas in a graveyard with Harry. Hardly the atmosphere of holiday cheer. This year my parents...well, I don't think Christmas will be quite the same anymore. Perhaps Harry will have a Christmas dinner at his home, like we did when it was Order of the Phoenix headquarters."

Draco smiled stiffly but said nothing and Hermione continued on.

"Perhaps we could spend Christmas together, wherever that might be?" Hermione asked somewhat shyly. "Maybe start some new traditions?"

Draco's smile relaxed and he nodded agreeably. "I would enjoy that," he said. "Maybe we could even throw a party of our own."

"We?" Hermione asked with surprise. "Where?"

"What about at the manor here?" Draco suggested. "It's not as though it's being used, and it doesn't lack for adequate space for entertaining."

"It's your home, Draco," Hermione reminded him gently. "I can't throw a party with you, that would be very lady-of-the-manor like."

"Is that wrong?" Draco asked.

"It's a bit presumptuous of me, isn't it?" Hermione clarified.

"How is it presumptuous of you if it's my suggestion?" Draco countered.

Hermione smiled. "When you put it that way. Maybe. We can discuss it."

"Excellent," Draco said and waved down the server for the bill.

Hermione was amused when he pulled out a perfectly ordinary Muggle wallet at paid with Muggle money. She realized she shouldn't be, considering he already told her he had been to this place before, but it warmed her a bit to see Draco comfortable with Muggle currency.

"What would you like to do now?" Draco said after letting the woman know he didn't need any change.

"How about a bit of window shopping?" Hermione suggested. "And perhaps I can pick up a few things and cook us dinner?"

"You can cook?" Draco asked her with some surprise.

"Not all of us grow up with house elves," Hermione chided him lightly. "I'm not exceptional, but I know my way around a kitchen."

"That's servant's work, Granger," Draco said with confusion. "You don't have to do that."

"It's not servant's work if one find it enjoyable," Hermione said with a laugh. "Relax. Didn't you ever cook or bake with your mother?"

Draco let out a laugh. "Merlin, no! I don't even think I've ever seen my mother in our kitchens. She would let the house elves know what they were to prepare from the dining room over breakfast."

"Wow, you family really is old-fashioned," Hermione laughed. "Well as it so happens, I make a lovely Manacotti. You can be my little kitchen helper."

Draco looked horrified for another moment before joining in her laugh. "Alright," he said. "I'll buy the ingredients, you cook me something delicious."

Hermione thought her face would split in two, given how unaccustomed it was to all the smiling she had put it through in the past few hours. Realizing how much had transpired in just a few days, Hermione looked forward to something as mundane as cooking a dinner. No funerals, no memories to fight, no Maliceptor to worry about.

"Let's get out of here, shall we?" Draco stood and offered her his hand.

Hermione took it and he pulled her gently to her feet and muttered a spell under his breath.

"Warming charm?" Hermione asked with a grin.

Draco nodded. "While the weather isn't terribly frightful, it's not ideal for window shopping either."

Draco offered his arm to her and she took it with a quick dip of her head. Arm in arm they exited the small pub and faced the cold, comfortably protected by magic.

The village was quaint and reminded Hermione faintly of Hogsmeade. The difference was the quiet, old world eccentricity that always seemed to accompany wizard dwellings was missing, leaving only the old world charm Muggles would hold on to until the end of time. The streets were cobblestone and brick, obviously not built for cars. Hermione imagined most of the villagers kept to foot or horse.

"This reminds me of an old Disney movie," Hermione said more to herself with a happy sigh. "I'm just waiting for Belle to come out of a book shop and start singing about far off places, daring sword fights, magic spells, and a prince in disguise."

Draco looked at her with bewilderment. "What in Merlin's name are you talking about?"

"Haven't you ever seen a film?" Hermione asked curiously.

"Can't say I have," Draco admitted. "Mother enjoys the theater, but I've never been to a Muggle moving picture."

"Do you think electronics would work in your home?" Hermione asked doubtfully. "Or perhaps I could ask Mr. Weasley to tinker about with a television set to make it work on magic alone, I'm sure he would love the opportunity to try."

"Electronics on a Malfoy estate," Draco said with a smirk playing at his lips. "I can feel my father rolling about in his grave already."

Hermione smacked his arm. "That's terribly morbid!"

"Well, it's the truth," Draco said. "Besides, everything is mine now. If I want to have a bloody vision set...thing...in my own home I will."

"I don't want it to be about spiting your father, Malfoy," Hermione said quietly. "I was hoping you'd be interested in something I enjoy."

"I'm already interested in everything about you" Draco said with no trace of mockery in his voice. "The fact that I take pleasure in doing something I'm interested that he wouldn't approve of only adds to the satisfaction. It's win-win, really."

Hermione couldn't think of anything to say at first. "It's television set," she finally corrected, unable to help herself. "Do you mean it? You would actually want to see a film with me?"

Draco squeezed her arm that was still looped through his. "I told you, Granger. You're interesting, the things you're interested in interest me. Unless it's knitting hats for house elves I'm game for anything."

Hermione grinned. "You heard about that, hmm?"

"Whole castle knew about that," Draco said with a fond smile. "I won't lie, Granger, the Slytherins had quite a laugh at your expense."

"I could really care less," Hermione said with a roll of her eyes. "When have they not?"

Draco shrugged. "It was entertainment. I tried to explain house-elves to you."

"I still stand by my actions," Hermione insisted. "I'm open to new information, but I still think I was in the right."

"Your heart is always in the right place," Draco said warmly. "Took me awhile to accept it, but you're the most genuine person I know."

Hermione smiled to herself and looked around at the warm shops. There was an apothecary with an immaculate candle display in the window, a small grocery, two garment stores, and several other random shops.

One store in particular caught Hermione's eye almost immediately. Displayed in the window were the most recent novels and films on the local best-seller's list and she pulled Draco over to the display.

"I suppose I forgot to mention the two wizard blokes I told you about owned a book shop of sorts here," Draco said apologetically.

"I can't believe you left that part out!" Hermione said playfully. "But look what else! It's an entertainment store, they sell films as well!"

"Well, if they sell magical telly things then we're really be in luck," Draco said sarcastically.

"Even if I could find a few films for us to watch some other time, I would be happy," Hermione said evenly. "I don't have any, anymore."

Hermione's voice was matter of fact, but Draco thought he caught a sad undertone.

"You left all your films at your parent's house before you left, didn't you?" Draco didn't believe in beating around the bush.

"Tact isn't really your strong suit, is it?" Hermione asked.

"Tact is useless unless you want to get something out of someone without the other person knowing they're giving it up," Draco answered simply. "I don't want to trick you into telling me anything. That would defeat the purpose of building a relationship."

"You're quite brutally honest," Hermione said. "I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. Yes. I took what I thought would be useful on the run and I left everything else behind, including childhood treasures. I was very partial to Disney films as a child, but I can't say what happened to my collection. It makes me sad, sometimes."

"See?" Draco said, keeping the mood as light as he could without being indelicate. "Was that so hard? I share, you share, we learn things about one another."

"I enjoy that," Hermione admitted. "But I'd also like to go into the store, may we?"

"Lead the way," Draco bowed his head slightly and indicated she should lead.

Hermione opened the door to the entertainment store and stifled a giggle when a small bell jingled above their heads. Ahead of her she noticed the store was very neat and laid out more like a rental and library. It appeared there was an option to buy, but signs advertising a membership to the store's wares were posted haphazardly on the walls.

"You say two wizards run this store?" Hermione asked Draco quietly.

"Yes, there's one of them, now," Draco nodded towards the counter that ran along the left side of the room.

Hermione began taking in her surroundings with more awareness. As far as she could tell there was no trace of magic. The films were located in a section in the back of the store while the books were lined neatly by genre in the front. She began to venture deeper in the store when she was greeted by the shopkeeper.

"Hello," the man said with a friendly smile. "May I help you find anything?"

He looked to be about mid-thirties, laugh lines were scarce to be found but Hermione knew wizards aged differently from Muggles. She couldn't help stop somewhat abruptly and placed a hand along her thigh where her wand was concealed in a hidden pocket in her jeans.

"Hello," Hermione finally returned the greeting. "We're just looking, thank you."

The shopkeeper nodded his head and turned back to the newspaper that had been hidden to her before. It appeared to be a recent edition of the Prophet. Hermione turned back to look at Draco and didn't notice another man enter the store from a back room.

It was Draco who waved to him and Hermione whipped back around, her wand still secure but firmly places against her thigh.

"Greetings, Mr. Malfoy," the newcomer said to Draco.

"Good morning, Stephen," Draco said evenly.

"I don't believe you've patronized our shop before," Stephen said casually. "What brings you in on this cold morning?"

"I can't resist a bookstore," Hermione spoke up. "Draco has only just told me that this shop was run by wizards?" She trained off with a question.

Stephen and the currently unnamed wizard turned to Hermione and then fully registered her presence.

"Oh my Hippogriff," the nameless wizard murmured. "Stephen, that's-"

"Hermione Granger, Pat," Stephen said smoothly while walking around the barrier between the cash register and where people would line up to check out their purchases. "And what a true pleasure it is."

Hermione stiffened as the stranger walked towards her and Draco stepped deftly in front of her to shake Stephen's hand and diffuse whatever curse Hermione had playing on her lips.

But there wasn't a ready curse to be vocalized.

Hermione side stepped Draco and took hand Stephen's hand warmly.

"I'm sorry for my rudeness, I'm Hermione Granger," Hermione finally said.

The nameless wizard referred to as Pat took his hand back abruptly and made a stopping motion by waving his hands in front of him.

"Hermione Granger she says," he found his voice. "As though she needs to introduce herself. "Ms Granger, you truly need no introduction, you have been an inspiration to us, a true inspiration!"

"Pat..." The wizard Draco had greeted as Stephen said with a bit of amused warning.

"Excuse me. Hermione, you're a legend here," Pat said with deep admiration and obvious self control. "Please let us introduce ourselves. My name is Patrick McGinty, this is my husband and partner at this shop, Stephen Grey. Stephen and I did what we could, hiding those on the run, but you were the real hero."

"Hiding?" Hermione was taken aback and not sure she understood.

"Hiding," Pat affirmed. "Anyone, Muggle, Muggle-Born, Halfs, Squibs, Pure, we saw them all. We're rather secluded here, you see. The only other magical person in the village is Matilda, and she's widowed to a Muggle. She helped us care for the ones that were injured and opened her home when our shop was full. We live upstairs, you see, and our space is limited when we had to pretend to our Muggle customers that all was well."

"That's amazing," Hermione breathed. "Did you have any problems with Snatchers here?"

"Here and there," Stephen shuddered. "Nasty folk, but most were not very bright. Concealment charms in plain sight right here in the shop helped us keep our secret."

"And the two of you?" Hermione ventured carefully. "If you don't mind me asking. The Snatchers didn't bother with the two of you, personally?"

Stephen smiled. "I'm Muggle-Born, but Pat and Matilda can both trace their magical histories back several generations. I hid right along with the rest of them while Pat and Matilda pretended to be the shop owners. Lucky for us the Muggles were never the wiser, and there's no money in murdering them. The Snatchers were driven by greed, nothing more."

"You certainly are correct," Hermione said softly. "Nasty people."

"Opportunists," Stephen agreed. "War brings out the worst in everyone."

"Or the best," Draco added, looking at Hermione. "Don't forget the best."

Pat and Stephen looked at one another.

"May I offer you some tea?" Stephen finally asked.

"I'd love some," Hermione said with a smile.

Pat continued to seem a little star struck as he led Hermione and Draco into a back room that was fashioned as a small sitting area. Stephen busied himself in a corner and pulled out a greatly worn but cared for tea set. Hermione and Draco sat next to each other on a love seat and Hermione shifted a little while passing the time gazing around the room. To a Muggle's eye, this was a perfectly normal, non-magical dwelling. The only clue to the trained eye was the portrait in the corner, she sat composed in an old-fashioned gown and would scratch her nose from time to time when she thought no one was watching.

Draco caught Hermione's eye and gave her a bemused smirk. In a darker time of his life he would have seethed with jealousy at the attention the Muggle-Born witch was receiving from the other wizards. Draco hated sharing the spotlight, but today all he felt was pride at the progress Hermione had made in only a few short months. Draco was pleased, even enthusiastic, to bask in her shadow.

Stephen had pulled out his wand to speed up the boiling water and then pointed the wand to the front door of the shop in the other room and flicked it so that the sign in the window reflected that the shop was closed. He brought the tea tray to the other three sitting around a low coffee table and poured each one a cup. The four sat in companionable silence until Hermione asked the shop owners a question.

"What was it like, living out here?" Hermione asked. "Sometimes I forget that it was only a very few of us in the thick of things, as it was. Most wizards and witches live among Muggles, like you do."

Pat was thoughtfully chewing on a biscuit and swallowed before replying. "It was bewildering, at first," he answered carefully. "I was only 8 or 9 when the first war peaked, and Stephen here didn't even know this world existed yet, as his parents were both Muggles. I suppose you could say we felt it before we experienced it first hand. Even the Muggles could feel something in the air, something that wasn't right. Matilda is a bit older than us, she had just gotten married to her Muggle husband, who knew everything about her, of course. We discussed with her what we should do, if we should go into hiding with them coming after the Muggle-Borns and whatnot. She told us that we're off the beaten path, you might say, and with the Malfoy residence so close by she didn't feel that the petty criminals would want to get to close in fear that You-Know-Who might have taken up residence there. In a way, the Malfoy name protected us, we only ran into trouble a few times throughout the course of the war."

"Were the Dementors a problem?" Hermione's inquisitive nature was on a roll now.

"Not terribly," Stephen answered for them. "Personally I feel the village is too small to warrant much interest, they were drawn more towards larger towns and cities so that they could feed. It's hard to describe the feeling that hung in the air though, like we were waiting in the eye for a storm that never truly came. We were very lucky."

Hermione felt she could imagine the tone in the air and shivered slightly when she remembered how Hogsmeade had felt that fateful night.

Stephen seemed to pick up on Hermione's unease and steered the conversation a different direction, this time including Draco.

"What brings you to our little village?" He asked politely.

"We're on a short holiday following my father's death," Draco said smoothly. "It seemed a good of a time as any."

"Our condolences," Pat said stiffly. "We read about his passing in the Prophet the other day."

"There's no need," Draco said dismissively. "My father certainly doesn't deserve anyone sparing him a thought."

Hermione gave Draco a sharp look which he expertly ignored. "I just hope he's at peace, wherever he may be now," Hermione added softer words to Draco's harsh ones.

Draco gave an delicate snort but let the comment slide. "The Prophet is another reason for the holiday," he added as an afterthought. "They've been camping out in Hogsmeade waiting for a story."
Hermione rolled her eyes at this. "They would do anything for an interview. Honestly, we're not that interesting when all is said and done."

"I beg to differ," Pat interjected with a grin. "That's all anyone in our world is talking about these days: Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy, it's a story for the ages."

"I don't see how it's anyone's concern," Draco said stiffly. "That's the funny thing about a private life, one generally expects it to be private."

Hermione remained thoughtfully quiet but Pat leaned forward like he was hearing a riveting story.

"It's romantic," Pat sighed dramatically. "Of course people are interested. It's like a wizarding Romeo and Juliet."

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "I don't care much for that ending," she mused.

"Everyone always gets so hung up on the ending," Pat said dismissively. "It's not the ending that matters, it's the story. Everyone has to die eventually but not everyone gets real love. That feeling is all-consuming or not worth having at all. That's why everyone in our world is watching the two of you. You inspire hope."

Stephen cleared his through and lifted his shoulders apologetically. "My husband is a romantic," he said, looking at Pat with a mix of mild exasperation and complete adoration.

Pat looked back at him with much the same expression before turning a sheepish face back to their guests. "I get carried away," he explained. "It's just so...so...lovely." He looked back at Stephen. "My parents, like yours, Draco Malfoy, do not think Muggle-Borns belong in polite wizard society. When I told them Stephen and I were to be joined they made it very clear it was him or them. I haven't communicated with either of them since that day."

Draco shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "That's a shame...for them," he said slowly. "My father is obviously out of the picture but my mother has been surprisingly supportive. I don't think I'll have to make any tough decisions in that regard."

He didn't look to Hermione, who was contemplating her own parent's ultimatum. Was it really so different than what Patrick's parents did to him? Choose us or choose them? Choose the life we expected you to have over the life your heart wants? No. There truly was no difference. Hermione could feel her heart clench in her chest, but it was an ache separate from the white hot agony she felt the weeks she stayed with Harry. She could feel herself letting go of the pain her parents caused her. She had a life in the Muggle world before the war with her Muggle parents, but the war changed everything and everyone. For the first time in a long time she felt like she could finally breathe again.

Pat broke Hermione out of her thoughts.

"I'm sorry, I got carried away," he said, sheepish again. "It's just rather nice to run into two of the most famous teenagers alive right now and see them both so happy."

Draco cocked his head ever so slightly, like he wasn't entirely sure he heard Pat right.

Pat smiled kindly at Draco. "We've watched you grow up and grow dark, Mr. Malfoy. But today...the light in your eyes tells a new story, and I would venture a guess as to what changed." He beamed at Hermione, who felt her face flush unexpectedly.

Draco's expression was a comical mix of trying to glare and fighting a smile at the same time. It finally settled on a friendly smirk and Hermione could feel her heart swell. Suddenly the urge to get him back to the manor and all to herself was an intoxicating idea, and they still needed to pick up ingredients for tonight's dinner. It had been an illuminated afternoon, and while she was happy to have met these two wizards she wanted to return to their secluded getaway. She set her empty teacup and saucer on the table and thanked them for the hospitality.

"We still have some shopping to do," she said apologetically. "I would love to come back and browse your books and films. Do you know of any way one can bewitch a television set to work in a magical home?"

Pat grinned and stood with the others. "That happens to be a hobby of mine," he said proudly.

"Have you ever met Arthur Weasley?" Hermione couldn't help but ask.

"Not personally," Pat answered.

"You would get along famously. He once bewitched an automobile to fly," Hermione told him.

Pat's eyes lit up. "Did he now? I only know him my Ministry reputation. I will certainly owl him. I could have a set up for films ready for you at the end of the week, if you would like. I don't believe it would work in Hogwarts, if you were returning there but-" His eyes twinkled mischievously at Draco's direction. "A wizard home shouldn't be a problem."

Draco held out his hand to shake both Pat and Stephen's. "I'll gladly pay whatever you like. Apparently Hermione wants to educate me in Muggle entertainment."

Pat was still held Draco's hand in a firm grip when he frowned and shook his head. "Your money is no good here, either of you. Treat each other well and I'll see you at the end of the week, just stop by before you leave for Hogwarts again."

Hermione blushed again but reached out to hug the gentle man. "Thank you," she said when they broke apart. "You've been very kind, and thank you again for the tea."

Stephen and Patrick walked them out of the shop and stood together in the door waving them off as Draco and Hermione head towards the grocery.

"Amazing, isn't it?" Pat said to Stephen as they closed the door. "Who would have thought?"

"If only the rest of the world thought that way," Stephen murmured as he kissed Pat gently on the cheek. "It would be a better place for all of us."

(A/N) Hello! I hope people are still reading, life has been a mess, but it has also been great as well. Things are hard, but also livable. This story is NOT abandoned, but my mojo leaves the building pretty regularly. Please stick with me, and I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Everyone caught that Beauty and the Beast reference, right? Right?