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Ser Graeme let Janna the healer through, not only to check and cleanse the wound Sam suffered, but perhaps because he realized that she would be able to reach him when others would not be able to do so. The service was simple and the village Chief spoke eloquently and from the heart. Sam lost his parents, but the village lost friends who were special in their own way to all that knew them.

Tragedy again, but this time born of hate. The missing bandit has taken the life of Sam's mother and father as payment for the death of his three comrades. But it sealed his own fate, falling at the hands of Sam, who killed him in a fury of anger and loss. Sam's first reaction was the need to put his parents to rest. Finding the right spot and working to get it ready. Now comes the hard part, saying goodbye.

Ser Graeme tested Sam, true, not in actual combate but enough to know that he has skill. Mr. Kent taught Sam well.

Sam doubts his ability, but his skills were not needed and Ser Graeme feared more for Sam's safety than he worried about the battle. Neither the Knight nor Sam asked for nor accepted any rewards. They did it for all the right reasons.

Sam learned quickly that the romance of knighthood pales next to the reality of it. Three bandits dead, and one escaped, but the girl has been found.

Tragedy strikes, and the Knight and Sam go off in response. Strikes me that the way the reeve acted that perhaps he did not want to catch the bandits.

I am guessing like others that the knight's face and visage is not pleasant to look upon, but was the scarring from battle or something else? Sam has many questions but wisely holds his tongue.

A young man wanting to leave his small village but held in place by duty and honor. Be careful what you wish for, the wider world is not always a friendly place.

Oh, this exhibit could be important for both Graham and Sacha both. The right exposure in the right gallery could do wonders for both of their work. Really glad that Matt is going to go with Graham and stay in the flat above, if nothing else, just to give Graham some moral support. Maybe help him relax some as well. Hope that Vince, Peter, Freddie can all come over for one day. Hortensia certainly seemed to get things organized. But before any of the attic is truly cleaned out, Vince and Graham have to go through it all. I am really hoping for something about the mystery aunt, maybe their father's diary? Wonderful addition to my Monday morning.

Just when you thought it could not get worse. I mean Billy and Marie-Louise as parents? I do not know how Elaine and Doug ever trust either of them again. George got embarrassed but that is something every boy in the world does or lies about.

Oh, I forgot, Jeremy will do a kick ass job on the beach house. His sense of style will be much more aligned with Travis than Stef will. Stef may not be happy, but he should be. He did such a fabulous job mentoring Jeremy in this that maybe he can past the torch when it comes to some of the younger generation getting their abodes designed.

Ugh, even from beyond the grave, Curtis Buck is a total douchebag. Hell, whatever they have on Big must be major. I mean he has always been sort of an ass, just what did he do? I never thought about it, but in a lot of ways, Will and Travis mirror the relationship between Jeremy and Kris. Now that I realize this, I may need therapy. Oh Lord, can't believe Jack is dumb enough to try and force John into therapy with him. What the hell has happened to Jack, is he dying, or just lost every bit of common sense and decency that he ever had. John and Ryan are going to have to find a way to get past some of their issues or the band will never survive long term. Will is right, Marie has moved on, maybe John needs to let it go. They don't have to be best friends, but he and Ryan need to be about to communicate in a way that allows them to get their groove on. LOL.

Elaine and Doug handled it about as well as could be expected. Mary-Louise as a mother, Lord what a disaster. Honestly, Billy is as much to blame as she was, going to let Todd out a bit because I don't think he would have done anything if Billy hadn't first. Depending on how far along, this might well have occurred before her arrival here in Tennessee.

Way to Go.... @impunity and @Thirdly

Gavin and Jason can only continue to be open and supportive of both Matthew and Rory. Glad that Matthew and Rory were able to deal with it all and come out of it on the up and up. Rory will have to decide how to deal with his parents, or if he even wants to. Nice look back at what Gavin and Jason and even Tina dealt with, nice to see a slice of life that pushed them forward into their own lives later.

Congrats not only to these stories but all of the ones submitted, some truly outstanding works.

Well, almost have to wonder what might be up there in the mix of all that furniture and whatnots. Wonder if there is anything about the mystery aunt that no one seems to know what happened to, or something deliciously valuable. Graham and Matt are doing a lovely dance, still not sure where it will end up. Can see it now, all of them marching into a gym together, going Help.... LOL

George, Larry, and Lionel were all excited to see Ryan. He sheltered and kept them safe after everything happened. Amy really disappointed me in this chapter, maybe I just misunderstood her attitude, but it bothered me. The boys handled the issue with Marie Louise better than I would have honestly. Billy and Todd are as guilty as Marie Louise, and actually more so legally as both produced child porn, not sure how this is going to play out, but I suspect it won't be good.

Thanks for the Dive, some really good stories, and some that I need to catch up on.

Adversity either builds strength or crushes you, all of the guys got stronger. Have to wonder what their families thought when they were declared lost or missing or whatever.

Oh, calling in the big guns now are we...

So Miller set the fire, then a day or so later was killed and decapitated. Did it have anything to do with why the fire was started or simply a coincidence? So Bane, or Sgt. Shadshaw, is a police officer and life partner to Detective Tang. He is sharing more with Frost than he would under normal circumstances. Of course, he has as much or more to lose than the rest of them. Frost has found something with Hansen that even after one encounter, he knows might mean something more. Did Miller even know that Frost was in the hotel, or did he simply think it was empty, Frost was the only guest. And why put the body in the hotel freezer after the fact? Was the hotel the target or was Frost? So many questions, and so many delicous leads. I am sure the card means something but what?

OMG, I actually got five of them right. Of course, missed on a whole lot more. LOL I am so glad to hear that he is doing better. A burst appendix is nothing to laugh about, a friend spent over a month in the hospital after it happened to them. Glad he seems to be on the road to recovery. Good vibrations headed both your ways.

Gavin and Jason were having a good time finding the balance in their relationship and seeing and being seen. They seem to be finding a balance that works for them. Let's hope it continues. Matthew got a little freaked by how casual some of the sex in the hotel was, but not enough to really matter. Rory got a little to excited by Matthew helping him out, and well freaked out a little more than expected. Gavin gave Rory a lot to think about, but mostly by sharing his story, gave him an idea of what he needed to decide. How was he going to live his life. Rory seems to have made a decision and is going to share with this group what it is, but what is his announcement? Tune in next time, same Bat Channel, Same Bat Time.

So sorry you are having to deal with computer issues, I can never make heads or tails when mine starts having issues. Six of the seven words this week, woo hoo. And as usual, I am sure all of my guesses are wrong on the secret authors contest, I just suck at guessing. LOL