To Find a Hidden Love

Title: To Find a Hidden Love: 11/11


Author: Daisey


Rating: R


Pairing: Atem/Katenen (Yami/Jou); mention of Yugi/Katenen (Yugi/Jou) and Atem/Seth (Yami/Seto)


Beta: Akuchan **hugs**


Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh or its characters, just a few keepsakes, cards, and daydreams that are precious to me... (Not to mention VHS tapes, DVD's, manga... ^__^)


Summary: A secret love affair is exposed upon the death of Atem's brother, leaving the god-king to deal with not only the burden of his own grief, but that of the lover's as well.


A/N: I have included some Egyptian/Arabic words in the text to add to the feel to the story; explanations/definitions will be listed at the end of the chapter.

A/N 2: Huge hugs and many thanks to my good friend CJ, who not only was an awesome sounding board and a great support at all hours of the morn, but who also provided me with some ~wonderful~ visual Atem/Jounouchi inspiration from her growing doujinshi collection.**wipes drool from chin and continues** =D

A/N 3: IMPORTANT! – If you have stopped reading the definitions at the end of the chapters, that’s fine- **grins** by now, I’m sure you no longer need to. But please, once you have finished this chapter, take the time to read the couple of paragraphs that immediately follow the end, as they do mention a couple of things that I feel are important to the story. Plus, I have added a final round of ‘thank you’s’ **smiles** Thanks!

***********************************************


“Khara!” Herihor chuckled as the familiar curse floated out of Katenen’s bedchamber. Despite the months that had passed since the blonde had shed his healer’s tunic for the finer robes of a courtier, he still managed to fumble with his preparations, especially when nervous, as he was now. Still grinning, the stocky brunette moved toward the door, knowing that it was only a matter of moments before… “Herihor, I need some…” The word ‘assistance’ died on his lips when Katenen looked up and saw his friend standing in the doorway, a knowing smile on his face. Rolling his eyes, but choosing to ignore the silent taunt, the blonde gestured to the guard. “Just come over here and help me with this, please?”

Sensing the trepidation in his master’s voice, Herihor did as was bidden, helping the blonde to fasten and adjust the light, linen cape around his slender shoulders. “I do not know why Atem insists on my wearing this ridiculous garment," Katenen grumbled as per his wont, whilst Herihor fidgeted with the cape, twitching it so that it flowed elegantly down the other’s back. "I swear he does it to torment me." Suddenly, he and Herihor paused, both of them recalling the first time that those words had been spoken, on the day of Yugi’s interment. For a moment, Katenen’s eyes darkened with sadness as he recalled his first love. And then, just as he had on ~that~ day, Herihor gently clasped the blonde’s shoulder.

“Do not be remorseful,” the brunette chided. “Today is a joyous day. No one is asking you to forget Yugi’s love, Katenen, even if you could. It is something to be cherished- to be held in your heart… but to strengthen it, not to wound it. And, other than you, there was no one on earth that Yugi loved more than Atem. I can only imagine his Ka’s joy at the thought of the two of you being together.”

Herihor’s words had their desired effect, and he sighed in relief as he saw the sorrow fade from Katenen’s eyes. “Thank you, my friend,” the blonde replied softly, echoing his response from those many months ago. “I do not know how I would ever survive without you.”

The earnestness of Katenen’s words caused a lump to rise in Herihor’s throat, and he swallowed harshly before speaking. “Well, lucky for you, you will not have to find out, since Atem has kept us in your service.” The guard’s voice was gruff, yet teasing. “Though Anhay swears that this is the last time she will move, even for her beloved Katenen.”

“’Beloved’… feh!” Both men swiveled their heads toward the door, where Anhay stood with Katenat-Ra in her arms. “Our lives have consisted of nothing but upheaval since Atem Nisu ‘blessed’ us with this man.”

The softness of Anhay’s eyes belied the sharpness of her tongue, and Katenen offered her a smile. “I love you too, Ima-Senet,” he said honestly, his respect and affection for the woman evident in his gaze. The moment was broken as Herihor began to once again fuss with the blonde’s cape. “Now if you could please get your Hi to leave me alone before I…”

“Feed him to the jackals… I know.” Smiling, Anhay stepped into the room and grabbed Herihor’s arm. “He looks fine, Merwet,” she insisted. Depositing Katenat-Ra into his father’s arms, she couldn’t help but tease, “And it’s not like the cape will be on him for very long anyways.”

Herihor chortled, and Katenen blushed, but neither denied the statement. “Which brings to mind my original question,” Katenen sighed. “Why do I have to wear ~this~? It is not like we are having a feast; we are just going to… “The blonde trailed off and his colour deepened as he left his statement unfinished.

“Trust your beloved and see what he has in mind," Anhay offered, smiling affectionately at the blonde’s discomfort. “I know that he wants this day to be special for both of you. Now go. You have kept the poor man waiting long enough with your indecisiveness,” she couldn’t help but tease. “If you ask ~me~, this should have been done weeks ago!”

Katenen chuckled and moved toward the door. “Well, we all cannot be as wise as you, oh daughter of Sekhmet,” he teased, stopping to embrace the woman on his way out. As she hugged him back, the memories of all that Anhay and Herihor had done for him flooded his mind, and Katenen felt his eyes fill with grateful tears. When he pulled away, he saw that there was moisture in Anhay’s eyes as well. “Go,” she said softly, before the blonde could comment. “Do not keep your Hi waiting any longer.”

Katenen dropped his arms from around her and nodded; flashing the family a brilliant, if tremulous, smile as he walked out the door. Slowly he moved down the hall, deliberately avoiding the temptation of cutting through the courtyard, due to not only the memories, but the desire to try and use the time to compose himself. However, the closer he drew to Atem’s quarters, the more futile the effort became, and soon he was once again nearing a run, just as he had been two nights ago. When he turned the final corner, Katenen saw Seth coming toward him and, blushing, slowed his pace back into a walk.

“Do not slow on my account,” the brunette said as he neared, smirking as Katenen’s colour deepened. “Atem is every bit as anxious as you are. As a matter of fact, he had just sent me to retrieve you. Go on; he is waiting for you in the small antechamber, across the hall from your quarters.” For a moment Katenen was confused; he had just come from his rooms, hadn’t he? But then, when Seth snickered, the realization sunk in and, pulling a wry grimace at the High Priest, he continued on his way.

Once outside the door he paused, suddenly wondering why Atem was not in his private rooms. The blonde dropped his hand from the door as a feeling of doubt washed over him. Had Atem changed his mind? Did he no longer want, or love, him? Closing his eyes against the thought, a vision flashed across Katenen’s mind: that of Atem’s eyes as they had been when he had left last night. Knowing that such love and desire could not possibly be affected, Katenen forced the doubt away and pushed open the door, his heart skipping a beat as he saw Atem’s handsome features light up upon seeing him.

Wasting no time, the god-king strode across the room and pulled his beloved into a searing kiss. “I thought you would never get here,” he teased petulantly, once they finally parted. “I just now sent Seth to retrieve you.”

“I know,” Katenen replied, his voice slightly breathless from the passionate greeting. “I passed him in the hall and he told me that you were in here, which surprised me because I had thought that we would be…” Atem chuckled when the blonde’s words trailed off as Katenen looked longingly across the hall.

“We will, Nedjem,” he purred, taking Katenen’s hand and leading him to a chair. “Believe me; I am as anxious for ~that~ as you are.” Sitting down, Atem pulled the blonde into his lap, both of them shuddering lightly at the intimate contact. Almost immediately Atem pushed Katenen back up and nodded him toward a second chair. “Not one of my more brilliant ideas,” he mocked himself wryly, wincing as he tried to surreptitiously adjust his robes. “At least, not when there are matters to discuss with you first.” Katenen’s head snapped up, and the doubts once again came unbidden into his mind. Something must have shown in his eyes, for, discomfort or no, Atem immediately pulled him back into his lap. “No, my Beloved,” the god-king murmured, following his reassuring words with fluttering kisses, “I have not changed my mind about you, my love. Your Ka and your heart are intertwined with my own, and I would as quickly die without you as without one of them.” Pulling back slightly, he held the blonde’s eyes with his own. “When Seth and I trothed I thought we were in love, and I was certain it would last us a lifetime. But the strain of hiding our love took its toll and, when Seth found his ~true~ soul mate in Kisara, I had no choice but to free him. I truly thought that my heart had died that day, but then you came along and freed me from that delusion. I realize now that I had confused affection and lust for love, and avarice and disappointment for devastation, for ~nothing~ I have ~ever~ felt compares to the joy in my heart when I am with you, nor the yearning ache that is there when we are apart. And I will not… I ~cannot~ keep that love hidden away.” Atem paused, swallowing against the anxiety that rose unbidden. “That is why we did not meet in our chambers. Katenen, I know that, traditionally, our people speak their vows in private, but I am asking you that we swear our troth with witnesses to our exchange.”

Katenen’s eyes filled with tears at the beauty of Atem’s gesture. That his beloved wanted to declare their love openly and confirm their bond in front of other people… that he desired to take something that was usually whispered behind closed doors, and aver it in front of witnesses, made the final vestiges of doubt vanish from his heart and mind. “Yugi and I never trothed,” he said huskily, “But I will not deny that he and I were in love. Yet, as true as the feelings we had for each other were, I know now that we were not 'soul mates'. When Yugi died, I was devastated, and I felt as if a part of my heart had died with him. My love, with you, it is ~all~ of that, and more. Were I to lose you, it would be like losing my soul; I cannot imagine facing my life without you.” Gently caressing Atem’s face, he brushed his lips with a kiss. “And I would be honoured to have witnesses to our exchange.” Katenen kissed his beloved again, willingly parting his lips for Atem’s questing tongue and allowing his lover to ravage his mouth before breathlessly pulling away. “But you had better retrieve them quickly,” he whispered libidinously, “For I cannot wait much longer.”

Atem growled lustily and slightly lifted his hips, pressing his hardness against Katenen’s ass, and capturing the blonde’s responding moan with his lips. “Neither can I, my love,” he purred, breaking the kiss and nuzzling into the golden tresses of his love. “But Seth should return with them soon. We will speak our pledge, they will leave, and then we will consummate our vows. After all,” he said solemnly, though his eyes sparkled with mischief. “Custom dictates that one directly follows the other, and not even the son of Ra- Almighty would dare to anger the gods by the breaking of ~two~ such time honoured traditions at once.”

“And we all know that that is your primary concern, after all,” an amusement laced voice drawled from the doorway. Seth watched as the two lovers turned to face him and the picture they made- the picture from his vision- stole the high priest’s breath away. Katenen reclined on Atem’s lap, his golden head resting on the god king’s shoulder. One slender arm was wrapped around his lover’s waist, whilst the other- the injured one- rested on Atem’s chest. Katenen’s wayward cape had slipped to one side, baring his shoulder and arm… the white of his robe and his flawless ivory skin a tantalizing contrast to the bronzed tones of Atem’s torso. The blonde’s lips were swollen and his cheeks were tinged with colour, evidence of his lover’s passionate advances. Atem himself was looking debauched as well; his own cheeks and lips a mirror of those of his lover’s. His head rested atop of Katenen’s, the circlet of gold that surrounded his royal locks blending in with his lover’s shimmering tresses. One arm was draped around the blonde’s waist, the king’s hand resting possessively on his lover’s hip, whilst the other lay languidly on the arm of the chair, the gold adorning his arm and his hand shining brilliantly against the deep red of his safflower dyed cloak. The colour of said cloak accented that of his eyes, which, after a brief flash of annoyance at Seth’s taunt, were once again filled with ardor and locked onto the blonde in his arms. Filled with reverence for his gods and joy for the lovers, Seth entered the room and knelt before the two, his attitude as humble now as it had been playful just moments ago.

“Atem Nisu and Katenen Re-Pat,” he intoned, using the title that the blonde would bear throughout the rest of his life, “As of this day, the threat to Egypt revealed in my vision is vanquished. The gods bless and approve the union of your hearts, and await your troth to be spoken. May you continue to serve both them and each other with the same love and devotion that shines on your faces today.” Rising to his feet, Seth gestured toward the door, his eyes full of respect and affection for the two men before him. “Come,” he said softly. “The time has come and your witnesses await; all that is needed is you.” The high priest turned to exit the room but much to his surprise, Katenen’s voice called him back. “What is it?” he asked curiously.

“The threat to Egypt,” the blonde said hesitantly. “How can it be lifted? I doubt not your words,” he added hastily. “And even if I did, the return of Atem’s voice bears testament to their truth. But you spoke of a power to be unlocked within me…” Katenen trailed off and dropped his gaze to the ground before continuing. “Yet, save for the love that I carry for Atem, I remain as I was on that day.”

Smiling warmly, Seth took a step forward and, placing a finger under the blonde’s chin, forced Katenen’s gaze to his. “Your love for Atem ~is~ that power, and his dying heart was the threat. With the shadow games increasing and our enemies testing our boarders, Egypt needs the power, the strength, and the knowledge that Atem Nisu possesses. However, without someone to fill the void in his heart and remind him of his worth, his bitterness and loneliness would have consumed him and, eventually, both Atem and Egypt would have fallen.” Seth paused and turned his eyes to hold his cousin’s gaze. “Yet, despite the gods selecting Katenen as that ‘someone’, only Atem was capable of truly ‘unlocking’ that ‘power’. Only by opening his heart and trusting again-both in himself and in another- was he able to nurture and encourage that love to grow.” Seth smiled and stepped back, once again pausing at the door. “So, for me, today is doubly blessed. Not only have my king and my country been saved, but two of the people most dear to my heart have finally found the happiness they deserve. Now come,” he said sternly, though his blue eyes danced with amusement. “Or the sun will set on this day of your union without your vows having been spoken.”

Silently Katenen and Atem followed Seth out of the antechamber and across the hall to their quarters. The large sitting room flickered with the light of dozens of candles and off to the side, Herihor stood with Anhay, the honour they felt at being privy to the event evident in both of their faces. Seth joined them at their side, and Katenen flashed the three a grateful smile before turning his attention back to the man beside him. Suddenly uncertain, he waited for Atem’s lead, allowing his beloved to take his hands and draw him into a kneeling position on a large woolen rug spread out in front of the balcony. Once situated, Katenen lifted his gaze to meet that of his intended, the love and devotion shining in Atem’s eyes causing his breath to catch and tears to rise in his own. Smiling tenderly, Atem caressed his face, slowly bringing his hand to rest over Katenen’s heart, and lifting his beloved’s hand to cover his own before beginning to speak.

“Death follows life, and afterlife death, in a never-ending journey. Day follows night, and night follows day in a never-ending circle. The guidance of both Osiris and Ra insure this continuity; without them all creation would fall into chaos- as was the state of my heart before I met you.” Atem’s own eyes filled and his voice grew husky; leaning forward, he rested his forehead on Katenen’s before continuing. “As I live, as I am the son of Ra, and praised by my father and all the gods of our peoples, I do on this day bind myself to you, to walk by your side down the road that is laid before us. I lay before you my ib and my Ka, forsaking all others to become yours alone, if you should accept my troth.”

Katenen smiled tremulously as a tear slipped down Atem’s face and, unable to help himself, he gently kissed it away, lost in the intensity and intimacy of the moment. The presence of the desired witnesses forgotten, he trailed kisses down to Atem’s mouth and whispered his acceptance against the trembling lips of his lover. Barely pulling away, he offered his troth in exchange, his body, heart and soul filled with longing for the man before him. “As I live, as a son of Egypt, humbled before all the gods of our peoples, I do on this day bind myself to you, to walk by your side down the road that is laid before us. I lay before you my ib and my Ka, forsaking all others to become yours alone, if you should accept my troth.”

Each word spoken caressed Atem’s lips with the heat and vibrations of his lover’s breath until, by the time Katenen had finished, the god-king was nearly overcome by his desire. His acceptance of the offered troth a harshly whispered ‘I do’, he captured Katenen’s lips in a passionate kiss as he lay him down on the rug, neither man hearing the closing of the door as the witnesses to their exchange slipped out of the room.

The need to breathe forcing him from his love’s mouth, Atem slowly and sensuously kissed his way down Katenen’s neck, the sweet taste of his lover’s creamy skin fueling his lust even further. Finding his trail blocked by Katenen’s cape, he kissed his way back up, teasingly tracing his tongue along the blonde’s jaw to his ear. “Clothing off ~now~,” he growled, emphasizing his command by a teasing nip to the lobe.

Breathlessly giving his Hi a sensual smile, Katenen rose to his knees and slowly unfastened his cape, allowing the linen to slide down the smooth skin of his back in an almost teasing manner. Atem licked his lips lecherously, eagerly anticipating the removal of the rest, only to pout in disappointment when his beloved stopped. Smirking lightly, Katenen reached out and divested Atem of his own cape, trailing his fingers over his lover’s shoulders to his back to unfasten the gold wesekh from around his neck. His mouth finding purchase on the exposed skin, he suckled greedily, nipping and laving at Atem’s pulse point as he moved his hands to his Hi’s wild tresses. Tenderly massaging his way over Atem’s scalp, he found the circlet of gold and removed it from his love’s hair, carelessly tossing it onto the discarded robe. Now free of obstruction, Katenen fisted his hands in his lover’s locks and pulled Atem’s head back further, teasingly tracing the well- defined cords with his tongue, and eliciting a groan of pleasure from his Hi. Pausing to lave the hollow of Atem’s throat, Katenen danced his fingers down his love’s arms, took hold of his hands, and placed them on his own waist belt. The skin beneath the blonde’s lips vibrated with his lover’s growl as Atem’s hands quickly went to work and, shuddering in pleasure, Katenen in turn busied himself with his lover’s kilt. Deftly undoing the fastenings and brazenly slipping his hand beneath his Hi’s loincloth, the blonde eagerly slid his palm down his lover’s cock and, wrapping his hand around the solid length, began to pump him in slow, languid strokes. Lifting his mouth from Atem’s neck, his tawny eyes burning with lust, Katenen stroked his lover’s cock one last time and then removed his hand, tossing his own unfastened kilt to the side and laying back on the rug. Locking gazes with his Hi, the blonde brought the hand that had been stroking Atem’s cock to his mouth and slowly dragged his tongue along the palm, moaning in pleasure at the lingering taste of his love.

Atem could take his lover’s teasing no longer. Crawling sensuously across the rug, lips curved in a feral smile, he moved between his Hi’s legs and rose to his knees. Eyes locked on Katenen’s, he unfastened the blonde’s loincloth, the rigid length pushing up from beneath causing the flaps of material to fall to the side as soon as the tie had been loosened. Growling lowly as the scent of his lover permeated his senses, Atem dropped his mouth to Katenen’s cock and gently suckled the head, smirking around the velvety flesh as he heard his lover’s cry. Lightly tracing his tongue around the sensitive ridge, Atem lowered his mouth and engulfed his lover’s length, pinning his Hi’s slender hips down with an arm. Hungrily working Katenen’s cock with his lips and tongue, he ran a hand up his Hi’s chest, pausing in his journey to his lover’s mouth to tweak at a pert, pink nipple, and tormenting the nub of flesh until Katenen cried out at the dual stimulations and began to writhe beneath him. Relenting, Atem moved the hand from Katenen’s chest to his mouth, tracing the blonde’s parted lips with his fingers, and moaning in pleasure when his lover took them in and began to suckle. After a moment, he removed his fingers and brought them to his Hi’s entrance, lightly tracing the puckered hole before gently pushing a finger inside his love’s heat. Slowly he worked it in and out, kissing and nipping along Katenen’s cock, and penetrating with a second finger when he felt his lover thrust against his hand. His own cock throbbing in need, Atem forced off his gag reflex and removed the restraining arm from his lover’s hips. As Katenen began to thrust, Atem scissored his fingers and then reached deep, massaging the blonde’s sweet spot, and swallowing greedily when his Hi cried out and came. Pulling back with a purr Atem licked his lips, his lust hazed eyes drinking in the site of his beautiful, panting lover. Quickly untying his loincloth and letting it fall to the ground, Atem stretched his lithe body on top of Katenen’s and claimed his mouth in an all-consuming kiss. “Gods, you are exquisite,” he murmured, working his mouth along his love’s jaw to his ear. “And I cannot wait one moment more to be in you.”


“Ra, Atem, please…” Katenen moaned, wantonly parting his legs as his erection renewed. “Stop teasing and take me now.”

“Katenen…” Atem purred, kissing his lover gently. Sliding back and positioning himself between his lover’s legs, he lifted his Hi’s hips and nudged the blonde’s hole with his cock head. Hearing Katenen’s gasp of pleasure he pressed forward, forcing himself to push slowly into the tight heat of his lover’s passage. Once he was buried to the hilt, Atem lifted the blonde’s legs onto his shoulders. Pressing his torso forward and resting his arms on either side of his lover’s, Atem claimed Katenen’s lips in a gentle kiss as he slowly arched his hips away and slid his cock out until just the tip remained. Almost immediately he thrust back in, already hopelessly addicted to the feel of his lover’s body surrounding his shaft. “Katenen…” he purred again, gently nuzzling the blonde’s neck as he began to thrust in earnest. “My beautiful love, my Nedjem, Ra, how I love you…”

Katenen moaned, rocking against his Hi, his slender hips eagerly accepting his love’s thrusting cock. Atem’s deep voice continued to rumble against his neck, the sweet, loving words searing his very soul. His own cock was receiving the most delicious friction, trapped as it was between their upper bodies, and, when his lover nipped at his throat as his length assaulted his prostate, Katenen was once again crying Atem’s name in release.

Growling carnally as he felt his lover’s passage tighten, Atem rose to his knees and drove forcefully into his Hi. Dropping his head back and roaring Katenen’s name, he emptied himself deep within the blonde’s body, physically sealing their troth and completing their union.

Trembling with emotion and the aftereffects of his orgasm, Atem carefully withdrew from Katenen and lay down beside him, pulling the leopard skin throw from his chaise and covering their cooling bodies. Gently drawing his Hi into a loving embrace, Atem placed a tender kiss on Katenen's forehead, watching with reverent fascination as the blonde slipped into sleep. Nestling against the warm, pliant form beside him, Atem relaxed to the sounds of his lover’s rhythmic breathing and, with a final prayer of thanks to Father Ra, followed the love of his life into a peaceful slumber.

*****

Three thousand years later, in a schoolyard in Domino, Japan, the uniformed body of a teenaged boy hits the pavement, knocked there by a blow to his gut from a television director’s knee. A second, smaller teen, already injured by the man’s cruel hoax, bears witness to the attack on the beautiful blonde, and cries out in anguish as his friend falls to the ground. The pyramid shaped pendant around the smaller teen’s neck flashes at the sound of its bearer’s cry and, after a moment, the boy looks up, a startling transformation having taken place. Innocence of youth gone, and round, violet eyes now crimson and narrowed in rage, Yami no Yugi turns to stalk after the attacker, bent on revenge for the hurt done not only to his Aibou, but to the boy that his young host seems to care so deeply about. Giving said boy a cursory glance to ensure that he is not too severely injured, the prowling spirit halts abruptly. Time, breathing, and heart ~all~ pause for a moment as he gazes in shocked disbelief at the teen sprawled out before him. Staggering to the boy’s side and dropping to his knees, Yami no Yugi draws the blonde to his chest, his thoughts of revenge momentarily forgotten. Eyes that had been filled with rage and hatred now fill with love and tears as they gaze longingly into the blonde’s face, one word falling from the spirit’s trembling lips… “Katenen…”

**Owari**


Notes:

First: As I researched Ancient Egyptian marriage customs, I found that, short of a contract and a formal ‘moving of possessions’, there was no wedding ceremony, and there were definitely no vows. At first, it frustrated me, but then, as I thought about it, I realized that it worked to my advantage- I could write it to where the troth was something traditionally spoken privately between the couple, and have Atem decide to want to aver his with witnesses, so that there was nothing ‘hidden’ about his love. **laughs** Needless to say, once I decided to do ~that~, I had to ‘create’ some sort of vow; hopefully what I came up with works…

Second: In case either I was too vague, or you are unfamiliar with the manga, the last paragraph is written in reference to the second ‘duel’ in volume one, which is when Yami no Yugi first ‘meets’ Jounouchi.


Definitions

Khara- Shit


Ka- Soul, life force


Ima- Senet- Gentle sister


Hi- Husband


Merwet- Love


Sekhmet- Goddess of healing


Nedjem- Sweet one


Nisu- King


Re-Pat- Prince


Ib- heart


Wesekh- collar

**Thank You’s**

KJ: Thank you so much for your regular reviews, and I’m glad you are continuing to enjoy the story. Yes, Atem was sweet in that particular scene, and I hope the last few chapters answer your other questions appropriately.

Sushi- **smiles** I’m glad you’re enjoying the story, and I hope that Atem and Kat’s union live up to your expectations. =D

Dawn- okay; **grins** how’s 5 days for the total wrap up sound?

Rroselavy- **glomps** as you know, your compliments mean a lot to me. I really struggled with the narration through this fic, so I’m glad to know that it worked. **hugs** thanks a lot for your review!