A/N: I don't own either universe.
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"You're not taking them?" Ginny gawked at Hermione as the brunette perused formal robes in vain.
"Of course not." Hermione responded bluntly. "They have had limited magical exposure and I would be grossly flaunting my exemption to the statute when we aren't married—or even engaged!"
Ginny waved her hand dismissively. Ginny, already in her second trimester, could not be convinced to attend the ministry ball but had no problems attempting to locate appropriate attire with Hermione. Hermione pulled out a light blue robe but Ginny's scowl promptly dissuaded Hermione's opinion.
"That robe is so fourth year." Ginny complained, shuffling through the robes with irritation. "You should be looking for something sleek—something sexy. We should be looking at muggle dresses instead of these rags!" Ginny emphasized with a slap to the clothing rack. A nearby shop lady huffed disagreeably.
"I'm attending because I need to start networking as Kingsley says. I am certainly not aiming for sexy! Look for competent and professional, Gin." Hermione chastised. Ginny rolled her eyes before passing her a subtle amber-toned robe.
"I'd like to think you'd at least aim for stunning if your boys were there." Ginny muttered, seated on a plush stool as Hermione went into the dressing room.
"Well they aren't going, so it doesn't matter." Hermione said from behind the curtain.
Ginny scoffed. "You could figure out a way to get them into the party. I even asked Kingsley to give you two plus ones." Ginny admitted, sounding quite put out.
"Ginny!" Hermione yelled, peeking her head around the curtain.
"I didn't say why!" Ginny clarified as Hermione's brow furrowed.
"I just assumed everyone got two…now Kingsley's going to inquire about who I'm bringing!" Hermione glared as Ginny shrugged half-heartedly.
"Kingsley isn't going to berate you for your choice in partners, Hermione. He's your friend!" Ginny reasoned unapologetically.
"He's the Minister!" Hermione rebutted. Softer she added, "and if I say to whom the invites were intended, I have no doubt he'd badger me about them attending."
"Well at least you'd have some support if you did bring them. Honestly, I don't want you all alone there. As far as I know, Bill and Fleur are the only confirmed attendees in our circle going and the rest will be stuffy bureaucrats, I'm sure." Ginny admitted with a frown.
"Well, I suppose it's a good thing it's a work event and not a social call, isn't it?" Hermione muttered tartly as she emerged from the behind the curtains. "What do you think?" Hermione asked, lifting her arms slightly as she spun around.
"Very classy, my dear." The enchanted mirror offered, earning a baleful glance from Ginny.
"It's boring and conservative." Ginny said. "But if you want your outfit to say 'I came to work, not to party' then you have succeeded." Ginny's face pinched in to a moue.
Hermione, who had been admiring herself in the mirror thought it was indeed conservative and classy and—in her opinion—beyond reproach. "I'll take it." Hermione said, sending an amused look at Ginny when she groaned. "It's perfect for meeting stuffy bureaucrats." Hermione teased.
"The first yule ball you're attending in ages and you are wasting it—wasting it!" Ginny whinged again as she hugged Hermione goodbye, pulling back to grip her friend's elbows. "What if you-know-who is there?" Ginny asked softly, eyes crinkled in concern.
Hermione leaned back in mock surprise. "Voldemort? At the Yule ball? I dare say I'll have other problems than my attire!"
"Merlin! Your jokes are starting to sound like Harry's!" Ginny groaned slapping Hermione's shoulder as she snickered. "Obviously, I meant Malfoy." Ginny whispered under her breath—his name sobering Hermione quickly.
"I have nothing to prove to Draco." Hermione proclaimed with narrowed eyes. "And I'm certainly not going to dress up for him in the event he attends."
Ginny raised her hands in supplication. "He is likely to attend, though—probably with Greengrass." Ginny continued with a soft frown. Hermione felt a ripple of nervousness tinge within the pit of her stomach. "It's why I'd rather you have Steve and Bucky there… I know it's been some time since you've seen Draco." Ginny admitted.
Hermione took a measured and careful breath, exhaling slowly to center herself. "Just having them in my life will be enough to keep my calm." Hermione determined. "And when I go home, I'll have them there as support."
Ginny gave Hermione a measuring look before it turned more mischievous. "You'll havethem? Or you'll have them? Please, Hermione, tell me more!" Ginny leered.
Hermione's mouth tweaked in suppressed amusement. "I can't push you because you're pregnant but I will get you and your lecherous mind back, I'm sure." Hermione promised, leaving Ginny cackling in good humor as Hermione turned and entered the Ministry of Magic.
Once inside the atrium, Hermione dropped her charm for hiding and sighed when the effects were instantaneous. As she submitted her wand for inspection, people began to loiter and gawk. The room was filled with simultaneous silence and the low chatter Hermione had come to expect when visiting magical Britain. The young attendant who handed her back her wand thanked her for her service and Hermione gave him a polite, if not tight, smile.
"Ms. Granger!" Kinglsey's voice boomed through his office in greeting. Hermione shut the door behind her and felt the privacy magic slip into place. "Hermione!" Kingsley greeted more familiarly, grabbing her by the shoulder and looking her over once. "How have you been?" He asked kindly with his beaming smile. He was an intimidating man with a definitive presence.
Hermione sighed, turning away. "I already know Ginny told you to give me two plus ones; what are your questions?" She asked grimly.
Kingsley's booming laugh reverberated through her bones as he released her and offered her a seat beside his desk. "President Quahog and I were just speculating on whether they were supposed to be work colleagues or personal guests—or both!"
"Did you place your bets?" Hermione asked somewhat crossly. Kingsley, however, looked annoyingly amused.
"I had speculated work, but judging from your demeanor, I would lose that bet." Kingsley gave her a winning smile.
Hermione huffed, blowing a lock of hair out of her face. "It hardly matters because I'm not taking anyone."
Kingsley did not feel like the benevolent-but crazy-grandfather that Dumbledore had projected—Hermione thought he never would. But Kingsley did affect the nature of what she assumed a stern but loving uncle would feel like. So, when his smile began to turn to a frown, she felt her face flush.
"I was looking forward to meeting them." Kingsley admitted, disappointment lacing his voice.
Hermione mirrored his frown. "They're muggles…they've never been to the magical world…" If Hermione was expecting Kingsley to react to the plurality of her partners or the fact they were muggles, she would have been disappointed; Kingsley face did not change.
"It's the holidays, Hermione; you should bring them with you and enjoy it! Enjoy dressing up, dancing with your partners, eating too much food, and so on." Kingsley advised.
"It's a work event I am participating in so my proposals can move with less resistance." Hermione disputed.
"Networking is about more than just work topics, Hermione. The people you need to convince to support you need to have a vested interest in you or your projects or they won't listen." Kingsley countered and Hermione scoffed.
"I'll make them listen!" Hermione declared loudly, causing Kingsley to regard her with a raised eyebrow. Hermione immediately simmered down. "What I mean, is that I'm going to wear a sensible dress and sensible shoes and hopefully talk enough sense that the people at that ball begin to leak it from their ears."
Kingsley chuckled. "You are ambitious, Hermione, but you cannot force logic and sense to change the world. That is the unfortunate reality of all time." Kingsley explained patiently. "Appeal to them as friends and colleagues before you try to change their world beyond their imagination." Kingsley had shifted to the edge of the desk, leaning against it as he inspected her. "You should bring your partners with you."
Hermione glanced up at him. "You want me to take them to the wizarding world without any prep or exposure." Hermione asked disbelieving. "It's this weekend!"
"It will be good for people to realize in retrospect that they're muggles." Kingsley reasoned.
"It won't be retrospect—they're famous muggles!" Hermione explained and was taken aback by Kingsley's pleased smile.
"No one will know it." Kingsley determined.
Hermione shook her head. "There are far more halfbloods and muggleborns attending...even Charlie recognized my boyfriend after he stormed a fortress in Romania!" Hermione said, gesticulating wildly.
"Okay." Kingsley said looking unfazed. " Don't you have a spell for that?" He inquired.
"For what?" Hermione asked.
"For disguising them without disguising them? Isn't that the spell you taught Harry and Ron? The one they've been using when they wanted to avoid being found by the public?" Kingsley smirked.
Hermione felt her cheeks warm. "Yes, something like that…but it isn't a failsafe. When people ask them magical questions, they won't be able to answer and people will be suspicious." Hermione explained.
Kingsley shrugged. "Make up an excuse?" Hermione pinched the bridge of her nose as Kingsley continued. "Say they're bodyguards—they won't have to answer to anyone they don't want to speak with and you have enough clout that people would find it believable."
Hermione evaluated Kingsley with a look. There was an appeal to attending with the backup of Bucky and Steve but there were so many additional factors that she had not even begun to analyze. Hermione let out a long and dramatic sigh before giving a noncommittal, "We'll see." Kingsley inclined his head indulgently before they finally delved into her work research—the Yule ball topic shelved.
It took Bucky exactly three seconds to notice Hermione had something weighing on her mind. He had finished showering after he had run around the block a few times when he realized she was staring off into nothing. Bucky towel dried his hair a little more vigorously as he approached her. When she did not acknowledge his presence, Bucky sat behind her on the sofa and brought his lips softly to her neck. He gave her a soft, open mouth kiss, darting his tongue to taste her skin as he kissed up her neck. When he heard her breathy sigh, he pulled back to inspect her again.
"You have that look." Bucky teased.
"What look?" Hermione asked as she turned around to face him. Bucky was pleased to note the slight glaze in her eye—his distraction he had created.
"You have the look that says you are thinking too hard about something." Bucky described.
Hermione blinked in surprise before laughing. "You're a clever sort." Hermione complimented.
"That and—well, you've been petting the blanket like it was Crookshanks for a while now." Bucky identified, lifting up the blanket that Hermione had been unknowingly stroking.
Hermione burst in to peals of laughter that caused Bucky to grin wildly. "I can believe it! I must be indeed distracted if I've mistaken this blanket for my poor Crooksie!" Hermione confirmed.
Bucky nodded in agreement. Scooting down the couch, he gently guided her to lie down and rest her head on his lap. "So, my sweet, what is tripping you up in your pretty, pretty mind?"
Hermione scrunched her nose up cutely. "Politics." Hermione summarized succinctly. Bucky gave her a bemused smile when a noise sounded from the garage.
"I'm home!" Steve called as he found them in the atrium.
"How was work?" Hermione asked as she sat up to greet Steve. Steve took a seat beside her and lounged on the sofa, throwing his head back to look up at the ceiling.
"I hate hidden enemies." Steve determined. "I just want to attack head-to-head out in the open."
"So, I take it you're still having trouble with leads." Bucky commented idly.
Steve nodded. "We find one den but then learn there are ten more." Steve complained, leaning forward to grip his head in his hands. Steve turned to look at Hermione and Bucky nodded sympathetically. "What were you guys talking about?" Steve asked as he straightened up to look at them properly.
Bucky shrugged. "Something about politics?" He looked at Hermione who was nibbling on her lip. Steve cast her a questioning look but Hermione did not offer anything, instead switching positions so she could plop her head into Steve's lap. Bucky took her toes and tucked them underneath his legs to keep them warm while gently stroking the lines of her legs.
"Ugh." Hermione said, flopping her arm over her face in irritation. Steve glanced at Bucky, eyebrow raised, but Bucky could only shrug.
"What are our Holiday plans? You know Tony invited us all over to have a Christmas Eve party?" Steve said conversationally. "He's been bugging me to see you guys again—well mostly Hermione—but we have just Christmas day at your parents?" Steve asked, his voice ending in a questioning tilt.
"That's fine." Hermione mumbled from under her arm. "Christmas eve with your friends, Christmas with my parents, and boxing day I'll be in England." Steve looked at Bucky again, apparently sensing Hermione's mood.
"Does the time difference affect you much?" Bucky asked. He imagined that stepping from one time zone to the either made for a disorienting day.
Hermione let out an exaggerated sign. "Yes." She confirmed.
"Should we let you nap?" Steve offered.
Hermione shook her head negative, muttering something they could not quite make out.
"What?" Bucky asked, prodding Hermione's feet with his fingers to get her to confess whatever was really on her mind. He saw her lip tugged between her teeth and felt himself frown. He prodded her foot again.
"Did you want to go to the Yule Ball with me?" Hermione asked suddenly, eyes popping wide as she sat up and covered her mouth in surprise.
Bucky shared a look with Steve, not quite registering what she said. "The Yule ball in Magical London?" Bucky said. Hermione nodded, eyes still wide, and hand on her lips as if to prevent her rambling.
"I thought we weren't allowed." Steve asked cautiously, glancing between Bucky and Hermione.
Hermione's face was contorted with worry and unease. "I talked with Kinsley and he has…strong opinions about your attendance…particularly that he wants you to attend." She admitted.
"Of course we'll go to support you." Steve confirmed even as Bucky felt his chest clench.
"Will they recognize us? As muggles? As…boyfriends? As...Hydra?" Bucky questioned. Hermione's eyes had softened even as she gnawed at her lip. She had pulled her legs up and was seemingly attempting to merge into the back of the couch.
Her silence spoke volumes. "Just take Steve," Bucky recommended sadly. "If people recognize me..." Bucky shrugged helplessly. "We're lucky your parents didn't recognize me and scream when they opened the door." Hermione perked up suddenly.
"They did, actually." Hermione said.
"What?" Bucky asked.
"My mother—she knew who you are." Hermione admitted.
"Who we are?" Steve reiterated with surprise.
"Who you both are." Hermione said, looking directly at Bucky.
"As in…" Bucky followed along slowly.
"As in the Winter soldier and Captain America." Hermione revealed, eyeing them both up and down.
"Since…since when?" Bucky asked, his mouth feeling a bit dry.
"Since she opened the door." Hermione confirmed.
"Since she opened the door? And…and she didn't care?" Bucky asked again. Hermione seemed to have relaxed slightly, but also seemed somewhat energized.
"Apparently not! In fact, she is firmly okay with me dating both of you and nearly demanded it before I confessed!" Hermione continued. Bucky and Steve sat back, minds reeling.
"I couldn't even tell." Steve admitted.
"But if she could identify us, then so could others." Bucky said grimly. "We can't exactly wear ball caps to your event."
Hermione was avoiding their gaze. "I can modify the spell—something lighter that makes your features blurred. Kingsley…Kingsley recommended that I introduce you as my bodyguards so you don't need to answer anything sensitive or magic related."
"You're Prime Minister supports this?" Bucky questioned suspiciously. Hermione nodded, looking wary.
"Kingsley and the MACUSA President both feel like introducing you slowly might work in our favor should anything come up in the future." Hermione explained quietly. "They think it's better to be…friendly with the people I mean to influence with my research and regulatory changes." Steve nodded along with her.
"I felt like a monkey in a suit selling those war bonds, but I did a lot of service to my country. If you need support now—well, Hydra hasn't exactly been apparently active." Steve said. Hermione and Steve looked at Bucky expectantly.
Bucky was wary of venturing so far form his comfort zone but he recognized the importance of the event for Hermione. Leaning forward, he kissed the top of Hermione's head. "Wherever you need me, Hermione, I'll be there."
The smile she gave him was brilliant in response. "You're both wonderful, really!" Hermione exclaimed, mood uplifting as she peppered them both with kisses. As they settled down for the time being she flashed them both a bemused look. "Well Bucky, we've met Steve's Avengers, we've met my parents—do you have any relatives we should be meeting?" Hermione joked.
Bucky scoffed. "I'd take you to meet Hydra, but that might not be the smartest move." Steve and Hermione both chuckled at his joke.
"Actually, please do!" Steve's laugh turned into a groan. "Seriously-they're like bed bugs and I can't get rid of them!"
"All the more reason I'll leave them to you." Bucky replied as he leaned forward to rest his head on Hermione's shoulder, humming contentedly. Not too long ago, these jokes would have been impossible for him to make.
"What do we wear?" Bucky asked suddenly. "Those long wizarding robes?"
"Hmmm. Suits, I suppose." Hermione guessed. "There's no reason for you to be any more uncomfortable. But I suppose we should procure them rather quickly—the event is this weekend. Now if I could just find a good haberdashery..."
The answer to their apparel question came to Steve as he was leaving Avenger tower. Steve was taking home some reports on the Hydra artifacts they had found—hoping to get Hermione's perspective—when Natasha stopped him.
"Mind if I catch a ride, Cap?" Natasha asked.
"Where are you headed?" Steve inquired back.
"I've got an appointment with the good witch." Natasha answered.
Steve glanced around anxiously for eavesdroppers but Steve knew that Natasha would not have risked Hermione's safety. "Hop in." Steve offered, pulling open the door for Hermione's car that he borrowed on days he couldn't ride his bike.
The ride was easy-going as they talked about various topics when it suddenly occurred to Steve that Natasha might have a recommendation as to where they should buy tuxedos or suits.
"Tuxedos?" Natasha asked. "What for?"
"Hermione's having a special event for her work—some government gala." Steve explained. "It's this weekend so we need something to wear quickly."
"You could always use Tony's tailor—I still have his number and if you see him today, I'm sure he could have a quick turn around." Natasha suggested.
Steve glanced at her in surprise. "How do you know Tony's tailor, let alone know if he's willing to help us out?"
Natasha flashed him a pleased smirk. "Being Tony's former personal assistant has its privileges."
When the weekend came, Natasha not only hand-delivered the suits but offered to stay and help everyone get ready. Steve and Bucky both grabbed their suit but there was one more garment bag left.
"What's that for?" Steve asked in surprise, wondering if Natasha would somehow end up going.
"It's mine!" Hermione nearly squeaked, rushing up from her lab and grabbing both Natasha's arm and what Steve assumed was her dress. They ran off towards Hermione's room.
Steve was just finishing shaving his face clean when Natasha returned.
"What do we owe you, Nat?" Steve asked as Bucky came around the corner to join the meeting.
Natasha leaned against the door frame inspect her nails. "I put it on Tony's dime—so nothing." Natasha said with a pleased smirk.
"You didn't have to make Tony pay for it!" Steve complained.
Natasha shrugged. "Consider it as a minor payback for him being annoying." She said disaffected. "But if you want to pay me back...let me cut Barnes hair." Natasha finished, eyeing Bucky seriously.
Steve glanced at Bucky warily. But Bucky gave her a solemn nod. They moved to the kitchen where Bucky sat on a stool. Natasha had already laid out her equipment and even had a barber cape that she wrapped around Bucky's shoulders.
"Is there anything you can't do?" Steve asked sarcastically.
Natasha met his eyes blankly. "No." She turned her attention to Bucky. "Your hair is nice, Barnes—but there is no need to keep it long. There's no need to hide anymore and your bone structure is too handsome to not be emphasized.
Steve laughed at the light blush that streaked across Bucky's face. Bucky shot him a cross look before shooting out a foot that caught Steve in the shin.
"I will kick you out, Rogers." Natasha reprimanded as she continued to brush Bucky's hair. Steve committed to keep quiet and was permitted to remain as he watched Nat lob off lengths of brown hair. Glancing at Bucky, Steve couldn't determine if the haircut left Bucky feeling cathartic or remorseful. When Natasha removed the barber cape with a flourish, Bucky looked both familiar and unfamiliar in his look.
"You left the beard?" Steve commented as Bucky inspected himself in a mirror.
"It's modern times, Rogers. He looks good with a little shadow. Besides, I trimmed and shaped it." Natasha defended.
"A clean-shaven face is the mark of a gentleman." Steve responded with a frown.
"The good-looking gentleman likes it." Bucky added, turning to look at them both it. "Besides, we don't exactly have time to keep changing my look."
"Speaking of time." Natasha said with a glance at her watch. "I'm going back to Hermione while you two get dressed."
Steve watched her disappear as he finished getting dressed, glancing over at Bucky who was staring at himself in the mirror.
"Been a while since you've had short hair." Steve commented lightly.
"About a good five or six decades." Bucky responded equally light. He met Steve's eyes in the mirror, offering a smirk that made Steve feel Bucky was really doing well. "I got to hand it to Natasha...the Navy-blue suits make our eyes pop." Bucky stepped back to admire his form in the mirror.
Steve stood next to him in the mirror, adjusting a burgundy tie. Nat and Hermione had proposed a more casual attire, shying away from a full-blown tuxedo because it wouldn't matter in the Wizarding World and they were posing as bodyguard anyway.
They waited for Hermione in the atrium, only turning around when Natasha cleared her throat pointedly.
"Presenting Hermione Granger—goddess." Natasha introduced with a knowing smirk. Steve and Bucky both stood at the announcement out of habit but soon Steve was standing dumbfounded for another reason.
Hermione Granger was stunning. It shouldn't have been a surprise—Steve had seen Hermione in many different types of apparel—but the burgundy dress that matched their ties provided a whole new level of admiration and Steve completely disregarded Bucky who was cursing softly at his side.
The dress had a modest neckline that hugged her form and hid her collarbone. Light gauzy material descended from her shoulders to the floor like open-caped sleeves. Her hair was styled up, hair tucked away in curls and braids to reveal her long neck. Her lips were neutral but her eyes were bold as she preened before them. She turned around slowly, the gauzy sleeves floating around her as Steve noticed another feature to her dress—a deep open back revealing white, smooth skin. Steve swallowed thickly.
"Is she a goddess? Or is she a goddess? "Natasha commented, eyeing the two men with a pleased expression.
"Damn." Bucky cursed. "Damn. This is where we try to pry you away from your commitment to going tonight and you managed to thwart us, right?" Bucky managed to wince like he was actually suffering, causing Hermione to giggle lightly.
"Oh don't tempt me I don't think I could manage resist." Hermione responded, eying them both with frank appreciation. Steve swallowed thickly again at the intensity of her gaze. However, Hermione's eyes quickly slid to Bucky again. "Bucky...your hair." Hermione said slowly, stepping forward to inspect him closer.
"Do you like it?" Bucky asked with a boyish bashfulness that Steve had not seen in a long, long time.
"I-yes—it's quite fetching." Hermione spoke in breathy tone, her eyes half-hooded with desire. Steve laughed.
"What am I—chopped liver?" Steve shameless fished for a compliment, enjoying the blush that spread across Hermione's cheeks.
"You're stunning." Hermione said with a degree of reverence that thrummed within Steve. He took a step closer.
"Nat was right—you do look like a goddess." Steve said lowly, eyes locked as he admired how her pupils expanded. "Bucky's right, too. You look like a damn good temptation to me, too." Steve revealed in a near whisper.
"Down, boy, down!" Natasha said suddenly, rolling her eyes with amusement. "We need to take pictures." Natasha had pulled out two cameras—one magical and one muggle—and had already started taking pictures. Like most things Natasha did, there was a high degree of professionalism and aptitude as she posed the trio in multiple poses and combinations. Only when Natasha was posing them with their arms awkwardly stretching around Hermione's front did Steve finally complain.
"What is with this pose, Nat? You can't tell me that's a flattering pose." Steve grouched. Natasha was reviewing the shot and snickering.
"You're right, Cap...but none of you had a prom so we have to make up for lost times!" Natasha revealed with a grin. Steve, Hermione, and Bucky flinched in sync at the expression.
Hermione placed a hand to her head. "I don't even want to know." Hermione sighed. "In any case, it's about time to leave. But first-" Hermione pulled out her wand, waving it at Steve and Bucky and muttering under her breath.
Immediately Steve noticed this difference as Nat's eyes slid past them. Steve could see her trying to find them through the haze. Steve called her name and her eyes snapped to him, her face impressed.
"What's it like?" Steve asked.
"I only have an impression of you. I know that you're there, I know that you're attractive—but I can't define your features." Natasha marveled. "Infiltration would have been a hell of a lot easier with magic." Natasha complained.
Hermione snorted. "All magic has weakness—for this spell, the more familiar you are with someone, the easier it is for them to break through the spell with time and determination. Luckily for me, you two will not have interacted with many people in the wizarding world to see through the spell or even notice it in place." Hermione said as she inspected them. "I'll see Nat out, but after that—we should go." Steve and Bucky nodded in compliance as Hermione left the atrium.
Bucky leaned against the back of couch, covering his face with a hand. "She's so fucking beautiful." Bucky said after a moment, dragging his hand down so he could peer at Steve. Steve recognized the look in his eyes—a look he could see in the mirror if he checked. "I want more of her—I want all of her." Bucky let out a pained sigh.
"Me, too." Steve said succinctly. "I want everything. But if I've learned anything—it's we can't rush her and we have to go her own pace."
"I know." Bucky's voice was near petulant. "But it doesn't make me want her any less."
When Hermione returned to them, Steve wondered if she could feel the heat from their gaze. When he saw the lust reflected back at them, Steve clenched and unclenched his hand—willing himself to not tempt her further into missing her special event.
"So," Steve interrupted the atmosphere out of desperation. "What's the plan of attack?"
A/N: Are you people crazy? I haven't updated in ages! I got hooked on translating Chinese webnovels and found a new manga site and before I knew it—time has passed! This chapter is short because frankly I just need to push myself to get stuff out. Otherwise, I'd be dwelling on what would be effectively 30 pages of a chapter. If there are any errors—like I said, I just banged this out. To all you crazy people reviewing, you have effectively revived me. Thank you for your love, support, and encouragement. We're so close to the end that I will get there...hopefully sooner than later.