I know I pretty much preface this with just about every chapter I post now...but I apologize for the long wait :P Busy life, yada, yada, yada xD But gosh, it felt good to get back to this story! I've missed Aira and company!

So Maori's back...and now you'll find out why :)

There is a small LotR reference in here somewhere...I'm sure it won't be hard to find xD

And brace for yourselves for a little surprise near the end ;)

Happy reading, my dears! :D

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There was no doubt that the company was surprised to find Maori Irondelver there in Laketown. They didn't expect to see any familiar faces there, much less hers. To their recollection, she was supposed to be back in Rivendell where they left her; where she lived. What on earth was she doing there?

"I suppose you are all wondering why I'm here and how I know Bard," Maori spoke for them.

"You took the words right out of our mouths," Bofur replied.

She smirked and nodded, already knowing that was their answer. She sighed and put her hands in her lap. "Well, first of all, I know Bard because he is a good family friend. My father was a trader; a merchant and his business sometimes brought him as far as Laketown. Bard met him because he was looking to get a new barge. His first one was smaller and couldn't fit all of the cargo onto it, causing him to make multiple trips and taking more time away from his family. My father knew someone who could help and he managed to acquire a new barge for Bard; the one he still uses to this day, free of charge. The two of them had been friends ever since until my father died. He brought me with him every so often on his travels and sometimes we would just come to visit and stay here a while. I got to know Bard well from all of that."

The company all either mumbled or nodded their heads in understanding.

Maori continued, "As to why I am here: not too long after all of you left Rivendell, I ran into Gandalf as he was readying to leave himself. I didn't know that he hadn't left with you, so I was surprised to still see him there. He told me he had things to take care of there before he left and he was going to catch up with you."

Aira and Thorin exchanged knowing glances. They knew the "things" Gandalf was "taking care of" was actually just distracting the White Council and keeping them occupied while they slipped out of Rivendell unnoticed.

They listened again to Maori say, "He then told me that I should come to Laketown."

"Why did he want you to come here?" asked Thorin curiously.

A small smile perked up on her face. "He thought it would be better if I was here so that, when your quest was complete, I would be closer to Erebor and could reunite with all of you quicker."

Now Aira stole a look over at Fili and was not surprised to see a pleased smile forming on his lips. She wondered if it was just him that Gandalf was concerned about her reuniting with again quicker or if it really was about the whole company.

Maori just grinned and gave a small shrug. "I knew that was something I could do. I told him I had friends in Laketown who would gladly give me a place to stay for a while."

"You didn't tell him about our quest, did you?" Dwalin asked, getting a little agitated now at the thought of Bard knowing their plans.

She quickly shook her head and replied, "Oh, gods, no! No, I know of the secrecy of your quest and would never tell a soul. Upon coming here, I just told Bard I wanted to get away from Rivendell for some time and experience a new place and he believed me."

That explanation seemed to sit well with the Dwarves as they each nodded in comprehension. They knew Maori and knew that she was honest, anyway.

"Well, thank Mahal that the wizard sent you here," said Aira, beaming. She was still so glad to have found her best friend there.

Maori beamed back at her. "Thank Mahal, indeed!" she replied. "I've missed you all terribly!" But then she looked at all of them with a perplexed expression. "Although you all left well before me...how did I get here before you did?"

That got the Dwarves thinking. How was that so?

"We did get held up in Goblin Town and in the Misty Mountains," said Kili.

"That and we were imprisoned in Mirkwood for a few days, as well," added Bilbo.

The Dwarves agreed with the Hobbit's remark. That was probably what did the trick.

"That makes sense, I suppose," Maori responded. "And you'll have to tell me all about that later!"

"Well, it matters not who got here first or how they did," said Balin, raising his hands. Then he grinned. "What matters is that we are all here together now. We are close to the mountain and hopefully soon, this will all be over."

"Ree!" then called the voice of Tilda from the kitchen.

"What is it, Tilda?" Maori called in reply.

"Do you chop or mince the greens for the soup?"

"Mince!"

"Then could you come help me? I don't know how to mince and Sigrid and Bain are busy with the other vegetables."

Maori chuckled and shook her head. "All right, dear, I'm coming!"

"The joys of children, right?" Gloin commented with a cheeky smirk.

She nodded. "Oh yes...!" she sighed with fake exasperation. "But I've known all of them since they were little ones and I love them dearly."

"What happened to their mother?" asked Ori.

Maori's face fell and turned sad. "She died when Tilda was born. The girl was born in the midst of a terrible winter. Her mother, Ellia, caught a dreadful illness from it that she just couldn't fight and she passed away shortly thereafter. Even Tilda was almost taken by the cold; she barely survived." Then her face lightened up. "But Bard has done a fine job in raising his children on his own. He had help at first from other women in the town when Tilda was still a newborn, but once she got bigger, he did well." She smiled as she then stood up. "You all are lucky that you came across him."

"Not all of us think so...," Dwalin mumbled, folding his arms.

She turned to the larger Dwarf. What was that supposed to mean? "What do you mean by that, Dwalin?" she asked him.

"He's too suspicious," he replied gruffly. "He was prying too much into our business; asking too many questions."

"You have to admit that a company of fourteen Dwarves and a Hobbit suddenly appearing in Laketown does actually seem a little suspicious," Maori pointed out.

Dwalin grumbled in his throat and then said back, "Still...I don't like him. I don't trust him."

It was then the half-Dwarf woman moved to stand in front of him. "You trust me, don't you?"

Dwalin wasn't sure what she was going to prove by asking that. He eyed her confusedly. "Yes...?" he responded, letting his voice trail off unsurely.

"Then trust me when I tell you this:" she stated firmly, inching towards his face, "Bard may come across as too forward or prying or he may have an attitude at times, but, above all else, he is an honest and noble man. I have known him for many years and I can vouch for his character with utter surety. He is a man of his word and a man of honor. He is very trustworthy and I will defend that quality with every part of my being as long as I live! I can already tell he smuggled you into the town—if he hadn't, there would be a commotion outside about the sight of Dwarves in Laketown—and he's keeping you safe from the Master, who would pry even more into your affairs if he had any knowledge of your presence here! Shouldn't Bard's actions have already proved enough and earned your trust?"

There was now a heavy, awkward silence hanging in the atmosphere of the room. Dwalin was staring at Maori wide-eyed with surprise. He hadn't expected such an outburst from her. Neither did the rest of the company, as they all were looking at her the same way. It was clear that Bard meant a great deal to Maori, judging from how quick she was to defend him. They had never seen this side of her.

Without breaking eye contact, Maori then said in a softer voice while still using a stern tone, "Bard is my dear friend; I trust him with my life...and I would suggest you do the same."

With one last hard look at Dwalin, Maori walked past him out of the room and towards the kitchen, even ignoring Fili trying to reach out for her.

It was still quiet as the company all looked at each other timidly or in shock.

"Well, that could've been worse," Bofur then stated to break the silence.

"Believe me, I've seen worse from her," Fili said back with a raise of his eyebrows, lifting a hand up to one of the braids on the side of his head. Back in Rivendell, in a sudden fit of rage because of a comment Fili had inadvertently made, Maori had drawn a sword on him and sliced the braid right off of his head. Aira had been able to secure it back to his hair using one of his extra clasps.

Thorin then turned to Aira and asked, "Airaním, did you know of her friendship with the bargeman?"

She shook her head. "Strangely, I did not," she answered. "She once told me she had friends back East, but that's the closest thing I ever heard about it."

As she was answering, the oldest Dwarf of the company was quietly sneaking out of the room and heading for the kitchen. He wanted to talk to Maori; he felt concerned for her. He had listened to her outburst and there seemed to be something in her voice and the quickness of her reaction that resembled something more than just defending a friend. There was more emotion behind it of some sort. There was something else on her mind and he felt he could help ease her burden, if she'd let him.

Balin entered the kitchen and found Maori standing alone by a counter mincing some greens. She had sent Bard's children into another room, saying she would take over preparing supper. He quietly approached her and she looked at him.

"Hello, Balin," she said quietly, looking back down at the greens.

He stayed silent briefly and then said to her, "You know...Dwalin meant no offense towards you with what he said."

She sighed. "I know...," she replied. She put down her knife and then turned back to Balin, her eyes looking at him sadly. "It's just...I'm very protective of Bard."

Hesitantly, she paused, wanting to go on by unsure of how to explain. There were traces of tears forming in her eyes. But Balin looked at her intently, showing he was willing to listen.

So she went on, her voice cracking here and there with emotion, "He is such a good man...and loyal to a fault. He would be one of the truest friends you would ever have the great fortune of having!" She paused again and took a deep breath. "But his reputation keeps getting slandered more and more; bit by bit here. He tries to help the poor people of this town...and a time or two, he has questioned the Master's decisions or actions...and then suddenly he's branded as a rebel that needs taken care of!"

Maori took a step closer to Balin and lowered her voice. "The Master has spies watching this house," she said. "They monitor Bard's every move and try to find some excuse to arrest him. He and his family don't deserve to be so closely watched like prey in the middle of a hunt. They have no privacy. Sigrid has told me that she feels trapped here. The children do not feel safe...they are afraid to even leave the house."

"Is it that dangerous for them?" asked Balin.

"Just about," Maori answered. "They are afraid that if they go out, the guards or the Master will take anything they say or do and twist it to suit their purposes and get Bard in trouble...or worse, they could go as far as kidnapping the children and using them against Bard for either his silence or to get him to go to jail in exchange for their release."

"You really think the Master would go that far?" Balin asked, concerned.

Maori nodded. "He feels that threatened by Bard," she replied in a low voice.

The old Dwarf was astounded to hear such things. The Master certainly had to be a coward. Maori was Balin's friend and he believed everything she said about Bard, and if the Master felt threatened by as good a man as Maori had described, then the Master had to be quite insecure.

Maori then added, "He fears that the people will see reason and rebel against him. He doesn't care for them, only his seat of power and his wealth. He's afraid to lose all of that if the people listen to Bard standing up to him for what's right and decide to riot."

That statement only confirmed Balin's suspicions. The Master was indeed a coward and it disturbed him to think that a man like that would go to such lengths for another man's arrest; a man who wasn't afraid to stand up for what's right. Balin could now clearly see why Maori was so adamant and emotional about Bard.

With a sigh, she went on, "Bard is my friend, I know him well and it just makes me angry that someone as goodhearted as him is treated so unjustly and unfairly, hence my actions towards Dwalin moments ago. He is watched and threatened at almost every turn and he doesn't deserve it." She looked back at Balin. "He helped all of you get here when he didn't have to. I would say that he should have earned your trust by now."

He nodded in reply. "Aye, I believe you may be right, lass," he said. "I am sorry for our behavior towards him. It would seem we have misjudged him. He is your friend and I promise we will be better."

"That's all I ask," Maori said back to him with a small smile.

Later on, both Dwalin and Maori apologized to each other for their actions from before and there was no contention between them. A good, hearty supper of soup was prepared and served to everyone that evening. In the middle of the meal, Bard returned home and informed the company that his contact regarding the weapons he promised would not have them available until the next day. They weren't entirely thrilled with that piece of news, but it wasn't a terribly long wait and they accepted it. It meant that they would have to stay in Bard's home for the night.

Aira, Fili and Kili, afterwards, were telling Maori of all the things that had happened on their journey after they had left Rivendell. They were doing it openly because Bard and his children had all gone to bed and it was safe for them to discuss it. The rest of the company were either preparing for their night's rest or were sitting around and talking and smoking.

As the young ones were talking, Aira noticed Thorin going out the back door onto the outer terrace. He looked lonely, which unfortunately, wasn't all that unusual. It still saddened her to see him so lonely even amongst numerous people; friends and family, no less. She wanted to change that so she decided to go out and talk to him, knowing he wouldn't turn her away. She excused herself from her friends and made for the door.

Quietly, she stepped outside and closed the door behind her. Thorin's back was to her, his hair lightly flowing in the night wind, and he was leaning against the railing of the terrace, looking towards the Lonely Mountain off in the distance.

She didn't quite know what to say so she simply said, "Hello, Father."

He turned around, a bit startled, but then grinned gladly upon seeing that it was her. "Hello, Aira," he replied almost in a whisper.

She deeply inhaled and then exhaled loudly, throwing her head back and looking up at the moon. "It's a lovely night, isn't it?" she asked.

He chuckled lightly. "I suppose it is."

Aira moved right next to Thorin, laced her hands around his arm, tilted her head down until it met his shoulder and lovingly nuzzled it. In return, Thorin placed his free hand over hers and planted a gentle kiss on her forehead. Then the two of them gazed back at the mountain.

"We're almost there," said Aira, her voice teeming with joy.

"Yes…," he whispered back. "We're almost home…."

Even though there was the sound of relief in his voice with that statement, Aira still sensed that something was troubling him and she only assumed it even more when a sad sigh then escaped his lips.

Bringing her head up and looking him in the eye, she decided to not beat around the bush and asked, almost pleadingly, "Father, what is wrong?"

Thorin was silent for a moment and hung his head, looking down at the lake water below them. "We are so close," he finally answered. "I can hear the stone of the mountain calling me; calling me home. I wish for nothing more than to be there right now, but…."

Aira then sighed. Her instincts told her exactly what was wrong. "You are still afraid of what you will find inside…," she said for him, "…and you do not mean the dragon."

Thorin nodded. "How can I not be?" he asked her, his fear and emotion beginning to seep through his deep voice. "After what happened to my grandfather…." He couldn't find the right words to continue.

"Father, why do you fear the past?" his daughter inquired. "You are Thror's heir, not Thror himself. You are not bound to his fate."

"The same blood flows in my veins…the same weakness," he replied shakily, looking back at her with distress written all over his face and in his eyes.

Aira knew of Thorin's deep fear and it made her sad to see him, the brave Dwarf King, so afraid. She then declared to reassure him, "Your time will come. Your time is near at hand where you will face the same evil…and you will defeat it."

Thorin tried to manage even a small grin, but his mind was still too clouded with doubt and he lowered his gaze again.

But she continued, "And if all else fails…if worse comes to worse…then you have something to help you that your grandfather did not."

He raised his head again with a curious look on his face. "What is that?"

"Me," she said with a smile, cupping his face.

Thorin's eyes then seemed to shimmer at her response.

"I don't know what I could have done for Thror, had I been alive then," she said, "but I know that I can help you. I know that I am meant to." Her thumb lightly traced his bearded cheek. "I will not let you fall, Father. And if, somehow, you do, then I will help you back up again."

Gently, she nudged his head forward until their foreheads tenderly touched and she told him in her softest voice, "You are not alone…and you never will be."

Thorin sighed, overwhelmed by her promises of comfort. Once again, he marveled at how fortunate he was to have her with him, his beautiful daughter with a heart of gold who would never let him feel sad or lonely or afraid for even a moment. Oh, how he loved her for it. He loved her so much and was proud to call her his kin; his own.

"You are the only one who understands me, Airaním," he said in reply. "The others can say they understand, but I know they do not fully understand like you do."

Aira leaned back and her eyes of brown met his eyes of blue. "That is why we are meant to be where we are," she said. "All my life, you have taken such good care of me. Now it's time for me to take care of you." Then she gave him a bright, confident smile. "You are a good Dwarf with a good heart. Whatever is to come…we will face it together."

It was then that Thorin could at last manage a glad smile, his eyes now brightening with hope.

"And not just you and me. Let others stand with you," Aira continued. Then she gestured to the door. "The company will stand with you and will help you. That is why they are here."

Now looking gladder than he had moments before, Thorin brought Aira into his embrace and held her close, cradling her head against his chest.

"What I ever did to deserve you, Aira, I will never know," he said softly into her auburn locks.

She snickered. "What you did was simply being yourself," she informed him, squeezing his waist a little tighter. And that was all she could ask for from him.

The father and daughter stayed there for a few moments, silently standing in each other's arms, listening to the quiet whistling of the wind. The entire town was still and silent. It was quite peaceful; a feeling that neither of them had felt for quite some time now.

But then Aira broke the silence by telling Thorin, "You should get some rest. It's been a long time since you've had a decent night's sleep and you really need it."

"As do you," he replied.

"I know, but you need it more than I do."

With a tiny grin, he gave her a slight ruffle of the hair and bade her goodnight. Then the two of them returned inside the warm house.

Fili's POV

Back inside, Fili was feeling like the happiest Dwarf in the room. Unexpectedly, he had been reunited with Maori, the love of his life, that day and here he was, sitting with his brother talking to her. Multiple times throughout the evening he was almost positive that none of it was real; that it was all a dream and soon he would wake up to find she was never there. But then every time their hands would touch or their eyes met, he knew that it wasn't a dream or an illusion or anything of the sort. She was really there before him, his beautiful half-Dwarf woman with the long, near-black hair and glittering amber eyes that he adored so very much. He had not expected to be reunited with her again so soon, but he was so glad that he was.

There was a parade of thoughts that were running through his mind as their conversation was going. What were they going to do now, having been reunited? Would she actually go with them this time or would she stay in Laketown and wait for him like her original intent? What did he actually want for her? Or for himself? Did he want her to join him or to stay where she was safe? He did not want to think of parting from her again, but at the same time, he knew it was pretty inevitable that he would have to. More than anything, he wanted her to be safe and if staying in Laketown was the best way to ensure that, then so be it.

As Fili continued to gaze at Maori while they talked, he still was amazed at how beautiful she was; how her smile brightened the room and how her laugh seemed to ring with more music than the alluring sound of a harp's song. What amazed him even more was how such a wondrous woman had chosen to give her heart to him. She had chosen him just as he had chosen her. Honestly, he could see himself spending many more years with her. He could see her in his future. These thoughts led his mind down a somewhat different path that led him to making a decision; one that was perhaps difficult, but nevertheless, it was one that felt right.

Just as he made this decision, Aira and Thorin came back into the room and Thorin bade all of them a good night, as did Aira. Seeing that she was going to retire for the night, Kili agreed that he would do the same and Aira helped him over to a nearby sofa where he could sleep. Now Fili and Maori were the only ones left where they had been sitting.

He needed to get Maori alone. There were things he wanted to say and discuss with her in private. So he leaned close to her and said quietly, "Would you care to go outside and get some fresh air?"

"I would love to, yes," Maori replied, smiling.

With that, Fili stood up and offered his hand out to her. Gladly, she took it and he helped her up to her feet. Once they were both up, they walked to the door that led to the terrace and stepped outside, their hands still clasped together.

Instead of staying on the balcony, Fili led Maori down the small set of stairs on the side of the house and over to the adjoining bridge. Once they stopped there, he turned back to her, taking both of her hands in his and kissed her tenderly on the lips, catching her off guard a little, but she gave in nonetheless.

When they drew apart, he smiled brightly. "Maori, I still cannot believe that you are really here," he told her. "I thought it would be a long time until I would see your face again."

She returned the smile and replied, "The feeling is mutual, Fili. I missed you very much."

"And I missed you." Then his expression turned a bit more serious. "I also wanted to thank you."

"For what?"

"For looking after Airaním when she was away from home." Maori looked slightly startled at that, to which Fili quickly explained, "Yes, she told all of us about her past; about what transpired in her thirty-year absence…and I know that you played a great part in those events. You were a true friend to her; you saved her life, you took care of her and helped restore her back to her normal self after several miserable years. If it weren't for you, she could be dead by now or worse."

He took a step closer to her. "You know that Aira is a sister to me and is very dear to my heart. It is because of you that she was able to return to us…and for that, I owe you my deepest and sincerest gratitude."

She smiled again and said, "You are most welcome. I did what I believed a true friend would do."

"Indeed, you did." He could not tear his eyes away from the beauty he saw in her smile, which was only enhanced by the moonlight. It was then he remembered the night in Bag-End when Kili had first told him he thought he was falling for Aira. His brother had described to him seeing Aira differently and how her beauty seemed to be brighter than ever in the moonlight. Now Fili understood completely what his brother had been talking about. Now he knew. As he stared at the woman he loved, he also knew that his decision had to be acted upon.

Now was the time.

"Look behind you," he told Maori.

She obeyed and turned to look at what was behind her. However, there was no movement or anything out of the ordinary.

Confused, she said as she turned back around, "I don't see anything."

Then she suddenly found Fili kneeling down on one knee in front of her, gazing lovingly up at her.

"Fili, what…?" was all she managed to say.

"Maori…," he spoke ever so gently, his voice full of love as he said her name and everything that followed, "…I told you in Rivendell that when we arrived there, I thought it was a beautiful place and that I never expected to find something more beautiful inside it. Do you remember?"

With her eyes starting to well with tears, she nodded and answered, "Yes, I remember."

"Well, now I find that I have seen something even more beautiful than that." Fili paused as his happy smile grew even more. Then he said, "A future with you."

Maori could not hold back the breathy gasp that escaped her throat and her hand flew up to her chest, suddenly realizing where he was possibly going with this.

He reached up and took her free hand with both of his. "Being here with you and seeing you again sooner than I expected has made me happier than I imagined I would be when I thought we would reunite later in time. And I realized I cannot hold back on what my heart and my soul truly desires. I held back when last we were together for both our sakes…but I know that I cannot now. Seeing as how you are closer to me here than you would have been in Rivendell, I do not feel as hesitant to do what I wished I could've done what feels like a lifetime ago."

"Fili…!" Maori gasped out, feeling a swell of elation rising inside her.

"I love you, Maori," Fili declared. "I love you with all of my heart. You are my One and I have known that since the moment I first laid eyes on you. I had been drawn to you from the start and that feeling has not faltered since. I have chosen you and it fills me with great joy to know that you have chosen me in return; to know that I am the victor of a prize with worth beyond measure…which is your heart."

Now Maori's eyes were overflowing with tears of joy and happiness. Fili's words touched her heart so greatly and she could not stop herself from letting the tears fall. She couldn't believe what was happening!

"You make me happy in ways I never thought were possible. You make me want to be a better Dwarf. You are beautiful, kind, compassionate and strong. I have never known any woman like you in all my life and I doubt I would ever find another like you. You are everything to me. Your worth in my eyes is far greater than all of the treasure in Erebor. To me, you are a Queen…and I would wish that, someday, that could become a reality."

Overwhelmed, Maori's free hand came up to her mouth and stifled a sob.

"What I'm trying to say is…I want to spend the rest of my life with you." Fili grasped her hand firmly, brought it up to his lips and kissed it with great reverence. Then his head lifted and his blue eyes, now glistening with his own happy tears, met her sparkling amber eyes. "I'm sorry I do not have a ring for you to help make this more proper, but I promise I will acquire one for you in time. But now I ask you…with all the love I have for you in my heart…Maori Irondelver; my angel, my Queen and my One…when this journey is over and Erebor is restored once again…will you marry me?"

There they were; the four words Maori had been anticipating and even when Fili finally said them, she still couldn't believe it. It all seemed so surreal, yet the intense and true joy she felt, she knew was real. She had only dreamed of this moment and now that it had happened, her deep bliss could not be contained.

She let out a happy sob and cried out, her voice trembling, "Oh, Fili…you are my Prince and my One…and I love you so much…and I will marry you!"

Unable to keep herself up any longer, Maori dropped down to her knees in front of Fili, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him as hard as she could. Overjoyed at her response, Fili immediately responded by bringing his arms around her and pulling her even closer to him as he returned the kiss with equal feeling.

"That's my brother!"

Suddenly startled, both Fili and Maori broke apart and found themselves being watched by two cheering figures up on the terrace of Bard's house.

It was Kili and Aira.

Originally, they both had been planning on retiring for the night, but upon seeing Fili and Maori walk outside together, Kili suggested listening in on them. He had been watching Fili all that evening and had noticed the way he had been gazing at Maori, which had been different than back in Rivendell. Something had told him that Fili was probably going to propose to her that night. He wasn't sure how he knew…he just did and he had shared that with Aira before they had gone outside. Sure enough, he had been right.

"Wha—I thought you two had gone to bed!" Fili exclaimed as both he and Maori stood back up.

"We were, but then we got curious as we saw the two of you come out here alone," Kili answered.

"Oh, Mahal…!" Fili groaned, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"Oh, come now, Fili, you shouldn't be embarrassed because we saw what happened!" said Aira reassuringly. "This is nothing to be ashamed of! You have just asked the woman you love to marry you and she accepted! We are sharing in your happiness! Rejoice for what you have now gained!"

Both Fili and Maori shared a loving glance, knowing that Aira was right.

"Welcome to the family, Maori, my dear!" Aira then said to her friend.

"Thank you, my dearest friend!" Maori replied gratefully.

"And just think, brother," Kili then said to Fili joyfully, "now what was once said as a joke about us will actually come true. You and I will both marry at the same time!"

"We will have a double wedding!" Fili cried back.

The four young Dwarves couldn't help but laugh gaily at the wonderful thought of all of them getting married together. It was perhaps the merriest thing any of them could think of. It was a thought that would remain on their minds even into the deep hours of the night and would help them slumber peacefully until the morning.

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*giddy giggling and clapping!* I have been waiting so long to make that happen and it turned out better than I had originally planned! :D

Soon, things will be moving on and things will be changing with the company. You will find out in upcoming chapters xD

Also, as I continue on, I'm going to include parts from the DOS Extended Edition that are coming up and i'm also planning on going back and changing a couple chapters to include the other new scenes. When that is done, I will be sure to let you all know so you can read the changes, if you'd like :)

For those of you who have waited patiently and have stuck with me and this story during the wait, thank you so much :) you all are the best!

Leave a review or PM with your thoughts or comments! :)