Underneath the Oak Tree -- Chapter Nine
October 1st, 1964
Boston, Massachusetts
Jensen’s life felt surreal, like he was watching it on a movie screen instead of living it every day. Even now, Jensen wasn’t sure how everything had just seemed to… work out.
It had been well over a year since the night they’d been afraid that Jared had been killed and everything that Jensen had come to know in his life had been turned upside down. Jared stayed that night, wrapped in his arms, Jensen holding onto him as if his life depended on it, and then never went back home.
Slowly, Jared’s things started appearing in the house -- his work boots, a set or two of clothes, his books. Jensen was never sure what new thing he would find when it was time for them to sleep. He wasn’t sure when Jared even found the time to get the things he brought inside of the house without Jensen noticing, but he appreciated Jared not mentioning it.
Jensen, and the rest of their families, let it happen. It wasn’t something that they talked about, unless of course you were Jenna who liked to point out that she was happy her ‘Papa’ was now in the house all of the time where he should be. Not mentioning it was good because Jensen didn’t have to think about it, only accept it.
But today he was picking up Mackenzie from the train and he couldn’t ignore the fear that was choking him, snaking its thick, black tendrils up from the depths of his gut to claw at his throat. His grandparents had shocked him by accepting his relationship with Jared--Martha and Albert had accepted his increased presence within the house without question. But the rest of Jensen’s family?
He barely mentioned Jared when he talked to Josh, unless Josh asked about the Padaleckis and whenever he spoke to Mackenzie, they usually talked about her-her schooling, the boy she had feelings for, the newest dogma their father was obsessing over.
Jared had suggested making the trip with him, giving them a few hours away as just the two of them, and Jensen could still see the expression on Jared’s face when Jensen cut him off with a resounding ‘No way.’
Jared had slipped out of the house before Jensen had even finished showering, and he hadn’t gotten a chance to apologize for hurting his feelings or for explaining why he was so set against it. When he’d first told the families over dinner that Mackenzie was coming to stay with them for a while, there had had been a quiet exchange between his grandparents and he immediately knew what that look meant.
They were understanding, supportive at least, but that meant nothing for the rest of his immediate family members.
How was he supposed to hide his relationship with Jared from his younger sister while Jared was living in the same house? He had started to mention how they were going to have to hide their true relationship from Mackenzie, and Jared had quite suddenly gotten quiet, distant, and refused to talk about it any longer.
So now Jensen was sitting in the pick-up truck, his heart racing with more nerves than excitement about seeing his sister. He slipped out of the truck and stood near the front, waiting for Mackenzie to appear on the street. When he saw her blonde hair bobbing into view, he found himself smiling and opening his arms for her to bound into.
“Oh, Jensen!” She exclaimed as she wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed him tightly. “You look so good!”
“So do you! You’ve grown up!” He found himself laughing as he wrapped his arms around her waist, lifting her feet off the ground as he spun her around. “It’s been way too long.”
“I know, I missed you so much,” she replied, as she squeezed him once more before stepping back. “How’s my niece doing?”
“Good, really good. I can’t wait for you to see her.” Mackenzie smiled, eyes lighting up and something warmed inside of Jensen when he realized that Mackenzie could see her, hold her and play with her without the looming presence of their father. It hit him then that his sister hadn’t actually held Jenna before, not once had she been allowed to with their father in the house. “She is going to love you.”
“I really, really hope so,” Mackenzie whispered back and slid into the truck's passenger seat while Jensen loaded her two bags into the back. Jensen gave his sister another big smile, focusing on the excitement his daughter would feel at being able to meet her aunt for the first time, and not on the nerves that had returned to circulate through his stomach at introducing her to Jared.
“Are you sure you’re not too tired?” Jensen asked, worried as he glanced over at Jenna who had her little arms wrapped tightly around her aunt’s neck.
“I’m sure,” Mackenzie laughed, turning her head to look at Jenna. “We’re just going to hang out, right Jenna?” Jenna nodded happily and Mackenzie turned back to her brother with a raised eyebrow. “Our grandmother and Mrs. Padalecki are making dinner so I told them I wouldn’t mind playing with Jenna. If I wanted to rest, I would be doing so. Now go!”
Jensen sighed, shaking his head at his sister’s stubbornness. The moment they’d arrived back at the farm, their grandmother had had a lunch spread set up and Jenna had attached herself to Mackenzie’s side immediately. She'd had a million questions -- How did Mackenzie get her hair to be so curly, would her hair ever be that long, how long had it been since Mackenzie had seen her daddy, how many times had she come to the farm-and Mackenzie had answered every question with a laugh or a smile, barely touching her lunch because Jenna had kept her so busy talking.
When Jensen had tried to get Jenna away and distract her, Mackenzie had immediately shot him down and shooed him out of the dining room, just as she was doing now.
“I want to get to know my niece, Jensen! Don’t worry, she isn’t bothering me one bit.”
Jensen had given in and let Mackenzie balance her lunch and his daughter in whatever way she saw fit. Martha had just rolled her eyes at him, patted his cheek and told him that he worried way too much.
Four hours later, Jenna still hadn’t relinquished her hold on Mackenzie. The fifteen-year-old shrugged off
Jensen’s worried glances and disappeared with Jenna out into the farmyard so she could be shown where all the animals lived.
“Well, don’t hesitate to tell her to go and play elsewhere if you do want to lie down. You’ve just traveled for two days…” Jensen said in parting, getting an eye roll from his sister, before he kissed Jenna’s head and disappeared into the barn to do the nightly milking for the cows.
“Your daddy worries too much,” Mackenzie laughed when he’d disappeared and pulled Jenna up onto her lap. Jenna had a picture book clutched in her hand and once she was settled, started flipping through the pages. “Does he always worry so much?”
“Yes!” Jenna answered, nodding her head very seriously. “Papa tells him that all of the time, too.”
“Oh does he?” Mackenzie nodded thoughtfully. “Does Papa help your Daddy with the cows?”
Jenna screwed up her face and shook her head. “No… Papa is afraid of the cows.”
Mackenzie paused, cocking her head to look down at Jenna who had stopped on a picture of Beauty and the Beast.
“What do you mean? Papa can’t be afraid of the cows… He’s had the cows for a very long time you know. Built this farm when my daddy was even younger than you!”
Jenna turned around on Mackenzie’s lap, her small face screwed up in confusion. “Grampy Al owned the farm before my daddy did… not Papa. Daddy always makes fun of him for being afraid of cows ‘cause he lives on a cow farm.”
“Jenna…” Mackenzie asked slowly, “Who’s Papa?”
“My papa is Jared,” Jenna said, matter-of-factly, and in Mackenzie’s silence, she turned back to the picture book she had in her hands. “Can you read me this story? It’s my favorite but Daddy and Papa don’t do the voices right.”
“Oh, um,” Mackenzie stumbled for a moment, trying to wrap her head around the information Jenna had just given her, but quickly recovered. “Sure, I can do that…” She cleared her throat and leaned back with Jenna into the cushions of the couch and started to read.
“Alright, bed time!” Jensen clapped his hands together, looking over at Jenna who was wrapped up in a bathrobe Martha had made her, hair still damp from her bath.
“But Daddy!” Jenna whined, and Jensen was quick to give her an admonishing look.
“Nope, it’s already way past your bedtime. Aunt Mac will be here in the morning when you get up and you’ll have plenty of time to spend with her.”
With a small pout, Jenna nodded and slipped off of her aunt’s lap. She made her way across the room and reached for Jared’s hand, making Jensen freeze as he moved to push off the couch.
“Oh.” Jared’s voice was surprised, and he looked between Jenna and Jensen quickly. “Am I reading to you tonight?”
“Yes, please!” Jenna answered, and Jared responded by picking her up. Jensen felt his heart rate pick up and he watched the two of them leave the room, grateful he hadn’t heard Jenna call Jared ‘Papa’. When he looked back over at his sister, Mackenzie’s green eyes had followed Jared and Jenna’s retreat and were still fixed on the doorway they’d disappeared through.
Jensen’s heart skipped a beat.
“Mackenzie?” he asked softly, clearing his throat. She jumped slightly and turned to face him, a brilliant smile on her lips.
“Jenna is a darling,” she sighed happily and leaned back into the couch. “And I understand why you wanted to come back here all those years...” Her voice was suddenly soft, almost sad sounding, and Jensen reached across the couch for her hand.
“I’m really glad you decided to come... Even if the situation wasn’t the best...” They fell into silence then, both lost in their own thoughts. When Mackenzie had called at the end of the summer, scared and sobbing, Jensen did the only thing he could think of and cleared a room for her. They hadn’t talked about it in detail-Mackenzie only saying that their father’s drinking had gotten worse and unbearable for her-and Jensen only hoped that his imagination was worse than her reality had been.
“I am too,” Mackenzie whispered after a second, leaning towards Jensen to rest her head on his shoulder. “Did you tell Josh I was here?”
“Yeah, I think he’s planning on coming for Christmas with the family if he can get away from work.” Mackenzie nodded her head and Jensen leaned down to rest his cheek against her hair. He closed his eyes and smiled, glad to be able to be with his sister again.
“I really like Jared,” she broke the silence again, and Jensen felt himself stiffen. Mackenzie continued, his reaction seemingly unnoticed, “and he’s really good with Jenna. I’m glad she has him.”
“Yeah,” Jensen squeezed out, glad his voice sounded mostly normal. “He, ah... Everyone on the farm is really taken with her.”
“Well, I’m really glad she’s got such a great family.” Mackenzie lifted her head, giving him a small smile before pressing her lips against his cheek softly. “I am glad you’re happy too,” she whispered before pushing away from him. “I’m going to bed... see you in the morning.”
“Yeah, okay. Night Mac...” Jensen nodded after her and sat frozen on the couch until Jared returned to fetch him. Jared pulled him up from the couch and Jensen gave him a small smile, allowing himself to be lead up the stairs. When they reached the top, Jensen’s eyes flicked over to Mackenzie’s closed door, and he stared at it until they were safely behind their own bedroom door. He clicked the lock, something he never did, and turned towards their bed.
If Jared noticed, he didn’t say anything.
December 25th, 1964
Somerset, Vermont
Jensen exhaled slowly, watching his steamy breath as it puffed around him in the cold air. It had snowed again last night, a fine dusting covering the barn and the yard, the white crystals sparkling dully in the predawn light. Jensen smiled to himself as he let himself into the barn, rubbing his gloved hands together before he went to fetch the first cow.
Jared had gotten up with him, too. The two of them were determined to get most of the chores done early, before the rest of the two households woke up. Jared was tending to the rest of the animals, and once Jensen was finished with the milking, they would both be able to wake up Jenna and have her see what Saint Nick had brought her.
He smiled as he pictured the wooden toboggan that Jared had spent the past month making in the hay loft and knew that the fresh snow from last night made perfect sledding conditions. Jared came to find him after all his chores had been completed, though he stayed at the barn’s doorway, eyes trailing nervously over the cow Jensen was working on.
“Almost done.” He chuckled at the expression on Jared’s face and turned back to finish what he was doing. Jared made a soft noise, content to lean against the doorframe and wait for Jensen to finish, even with the chill hanging in the air.
Jensen put the cows back in their pen, checked their food and water levels, and returned to the main part of the barn to see Jared putting the last of the milk into the storage tank, except for the small metal container Jensen had set aside for Martha. Jensen smiled and closed the distance between them, pressing his lips against Jared’s and soaking in his warmth.
“Merry Christmas, Jensen,” Jared breathed against his lips before kissing him again. Jensen smiled and wrapped his arms around Jared, pulling him close. Both of them knew this might be the only moment they could have alone together until it was time to retire for bed that night.
“Love you,” Jensen whispered back, pulling back to kiss Jared’s cheek one last time before releasing him. “Let’s go wake Jenna up.”
“Alright,” Jared agreed and pushed open the barn door, leading them out into an onslaught of frigid wind. When they reached the house, Gerry, Sherri and Megan were already making their way over towards the main house where Martha had begun preparing breakfast.
Mackenzie met them at the stairs with an excited Jenna bouncing in her arms. Josh stood behind her with his wife Ella holding their two-year-old son Christopher in her arms. Jensen and Jared nodded good morning to them all, and Jenna nearly burst from excitement.
“Merry Christmas, Daddy!” Jenna exclaimed, reaching out her arms for Jensen’s neck the moment he was within reach. “Can I see what Santa brought me?”
“Merry Christmas, baby girl,” Jensen kissed her on the nose once before setting her down on the floor. “And yes! Let’s go have a look!” Jenna bounded out of the kitchen, the Ackles’ siblings hot on her heels. Ella, Martha and Sherri followed along behind with trays filled with mugs of hot coffee and all of the fixings.
Jared came in behind them with his father and Albert, and everyone took seats around the Christmas tree. Jared sat beside Megan on the floor, his sister leaning into him, and Jensen smiled when Mackenzie mimicked the move and rested her head against his shoulder. Jenna was sitting on his lap, bouncing with just barely contained anticipation as she looked over the gifts adorning the skirt at the bottom of the tree.
Albert and Gerry took turns passing out the presents and even though this was now his third Christmas at the farm, it never ceased to amaze Jensen how comfortable and relaxed it was. Christmas back in Texas had never been like this. Josh had been the one to pass out the presents, and Jensen couldn’t remember the last time his father had made it into the living room to participate in even the smallest way.
Jenna was glowing by the time they’d finished, smiling at all of her gifts spread out before her. She’d gotten a new doll, complete with enough dresses to rival her own wardrobe, and she had it positioned beside a stuffed dog at the front of her new sled.
She was happily munching on a candy cane, her mouth stained bright red, as Mackenzie finished opening up her new Polaroid camera from their grandparents.
“Alright, I want pictures!” Mackenzie called out, loading the film box into the camera and pushing to her feet. She first took a picture of the Padalecki family, then Albert and Martha, next Josh and his family, and then turned to Jensen and Jenna. Jensen climbed up onto the couch and Jared shifted to move out of the picture. “Jenna, why don’t you sit between your Daddy and your Papa?” Mackenzie said, and the whole room froze.
“Okay!” Jenna agreed, oblivious, and quickly reached for Jared, beaming as she sat with one half of her body on each of their legs. Mackenzie reminded them to smile before snapping the picture.
Jensen thought his heart was going to beat right out of his chest.
Martha cleared her throat and stood, kissing Mackenzie’s cheek before asking Sherri and Ella to help her get the rest of breakfast set on the table. Jensen felt Jared slowly move away and slip from the room with his father, leaving just the remaining Ackles family in the living room.
“Jenna?” Jensen asked after a moment, giving his daughter a smile. “Why don’t you see if you can help Grammy set out the nice silverware?”
“Okay, Daddy!” Jenna placed her doll carefully on the sled, leaning down to give her a kiss before leaving the room, humming along to the Christmas song playing in her head. The room was silent and Jensen could feel both of his siblings’ eyes on him.
“How?” he asked after a moment, kicking at a discarded piece of wrapping paper with his socked foot.
“Jensen,” Mackenzie sighed and threw herself onto the couch beside him, looping their arms together. “Jenna told me the first day I was here.”
Jensen turned to her then, eyes wide. All this time he’d been worried... worried he would give something away if he looked at Jared for too long, worried about Jenna relying too much on the younger man for things that only her parent should be doing and Mackenzie figuring it out. Worrying that Jared would soon get fed up with being put on the back burner and almost hidden the moment they walked out of their bedroom -making sure to go to bed later than Mackenzie and get up before her- and Mac had already known.
Josh however, had not. “Wait... What?” he asked from the floor, shooting looks between his siblings and then over his shoulder to where their grandfather sat quietly watching them all. “I don’t understand. You can’t possibly mean...”
Mackenzie rolled her eyes and raised an eyebrow as she looked at Josh. Jensen knew the look on her face, had spent enough years with Mackenzie to know her looks and quirks, while Josh had spent most of her childhood working or away. He stared right back at her until it dawned on him what she meant and his eyes widened.
“Josh...” Jensen said slowly, watching as an array of emotions played out over his brother’s face.
“How long?” Josh demanded and Jensen flinched visibly at the tone in his brother’s voice. Josh’s verdant eyes snapped up, pinning Jensen to the spot and he felt Mackenzie stiffen at his side.
“Josh... It’s Christmas...” she whispered, but Josh’s gaze was unwavering.
“I... does it matter?” Jensen answered, giving a small shrug. Josh blinked once, shaking his head slowly.
“I don’t... you have a child...” Josh trailed off, and a look of disgust crossed his face before he could hide it.
“And so do you, what does that have to do with anything?” Mackenzie fired at him and Jensen closed his eyes, not wanting to see the expression on Josh’s face as he turned to Mackenzie.
“I’m married and certainly not a fa-"
“Enough.” Albert’s voice was soft, but the tone was sharp and it silenced the room, save for the pounding of Jensen’s heart forcing blood through his veins. Josh tore his eyes away from Mackenzie and glared at their grandfather. “I will not have that horrible word used in my house,” he told Josh sternly, fixing him with just as hard of a stare. With a soft but commanding tone, Albert finished, “Who your brother chooses to love and who chooses to love him and that little girl does not affect anyone in this room, other than Jensen himself and his little one. Your brother is the same man he was this morning and you seemed just fine with him then.”
“I don’t have a problem,” Josh replied, shrugging his shoulders, but Jensen didn’t need to see his brother’s face to know he was lying. His heart squeezed and he kept silent, watching as Josh pushed up from the floor. “I’m going to see if Ella needs me to take Christopher.”
When he had left, Mackenzie reached for Jensen’s hand. “I’m sorry... I didn’t think. I just... wanted you to know that I knew and that I didn’t care...”
“It’s not your fault, Mac,” Jensen answered, hoping the smile he gave her was enough for her to drop it. She nodded once, leaning back against his shoulder and giving a small sigh.
“He’ll come around. Josh loves you,” she said, and Jensen couldn’t do anything except nod. He looked up and met Albert’s kind eyes and his fond, small smile. But deep in his heart Jensen knew that Mackenzie was wrong.
March 29th, 1965
Somerset, Vermont
Jensen paced the front porch, eyes trained towards the driveway.
“Jensen? Come on, come inside…” Jared sighed from the screen door, watching as Jensen turned around again.
“She said she would be home by ten. It’s almost ten thirty!” Jensen looked at his watch quickly and then shot Jared a look. The younger man was smirking at him, and Jensen scowled before turning away.
“Oh, I just can’t wait for Jenna to go out on a date,” Jared chuckled, and Jensen froze.
“You’re not even funny.” He shook his head, the look on his face only causing Jared to laugh harder. Jared slipped out of the door completely and moved behind Jensen, wrapping his arms around his waist and pulling him back against his chest.
“You’re over-reacting,” he whispered against Jensen’s ear before kissing it, smiling as a shiver went through Jensen’s body.
“I am not. It’s snowing out... they could get in an accident or-"
“They could be having fun...” Jared interjected, squeezing once before releasing him. “Jense, she’s been seeing this guy for over two months now.”
“And he never brings her home on time!” Jensen turned around, exasperated. “I mean, if the guy doesn’t even know how to tell time, then I really don’t know what she sees in him.”
“His bright blue eyes? The way he laughs? The leather jacket that is just-" Jared stopped mid-sentence and laughed when Jensen caught his eye. “Oh, come on, don’t give me that look.”
“You’re checking out my little sister’s boyfriend.” Jensen shook his head.
“He’s got nothing on you,” Jared whispered, pulling Jensen back in.
“Not going to cut it.” Jensen shook his head but let himself lean back into Jared’s arms. They stood, watching the snow slowly falling to the ground, until headlights appeared coming from down the road. Jensen straightened and pushed Jared back. “Come on!” He shoved past Jared and into the house, holding the door open for a laughing Jared.
“Mackenzie probably already knows that you’ve been waiting for her,” Jared laughed, trailing after Jensen into the living room. Jensen ignored him and reached for a book, opening it to the middle as he quickly curled up on the couch and pretended to read. Jared sank down beside him, propping his feet up onto the edge of the coffee table.
Jensen flipped the book open to the middle and stared at the unread page, waiting for the sound of Lee Seymour’s Mustang doors -because of course, the guy had a Mustang-signaling that Mackenzie would be on her way inside. Jared’s elbow to his side had Jensen looking up to see Mackenzie pulling her boyfriend along with her into the house.
Jensen put the book down, eyes flicking between the two of them, suddenly nervous. Although they’d met the young man a few times, Martha having insisted that Mackenzie invite him over for dinner a few times, he’d never before come inside after dropping Mackenzie off after one of their dates.
Instantly, Jensen remembered being dragged inside to the Sheppard house with Rosemary to announce their pregnancy to her parents and his heart stopped. He tensed and felt Jared shoot him a look, but he couldn’t tear his eyes away from his little sister who was shifting nervously in the doorway. Lee cleared his throat and Jensen slid his eyes over and up to his face.
“Jensen... Mr. Ackles, Sir...” Jensen heard Jared stifle a laugh at the name and he fought the urge to glare at him. Instead, he pushed off of the couch and crossed the room to stand before Lee and Mackenzie, his arms crossed, and what he hoped was an imposing look on his face.
“Jensen,” Mackenzie sighed, knowing exactly what her older brother was doing. He ignored her, eyes trained on Lee’s face-the sweat that was breaking out over the boy’s upper lip, the way his eyes kept darting nervously to Jensen’s.
“I... I want to ask you for Mackenzie’s hand... in marriage, I mean…” Jensen felt his eyes widen and heard the sharp intake of breath from Jared behind him. Lee pressed on quickly, barely giving Jensen a second to register his words. “Mackenzie and I haven’t been together long, I know that, but I have fallen madly in love with this girl. She’s stolen my heart.”
Jensen glanced over at Mackenzie who was smiling broadly, staring at Lee’s face while he talked.
“I’ve just joined the military,” the boy continued and Jensen’s eyes snapped back to his. “I’m now part of the 76th Infantry division in the Army Reserves. I’ll be starting my training soon and then I plan on going to law school. I want the same things Mackenzie does… a family to call my own, a wife and kids to provide for and love. And I can give her all that and more when I finish law school.
“You’re her older brother, sir... but Mackenzie has told me enough to know that your blessing and acceptance would mean the world to her, much more than it would coming from your father. You’re the most important man in her life. So, I am asking you for your blessing.”
Jensen stared at Lee, standing almost at attention as he stared back at Jensen, hopeful eyes nearly pleading, waiting in the awkward silence. Beside him Mackenzie was glaring. Jensen was at a loss for what words to say.
He glanced at Mackenzie and met her eyes. “I love him, Jen.”
What he wanted to ask her was, why? Why would she choose someone who willingly signs their life away to the Army? Someone who will get deployed and come back cold, calloused and uncaring … like their father. They were barely old enough to know what they wanted-Mackenzie had just turned sixteen, the boy beside her just out of high school and they’d already talked about children and marriage? Jensen swallowed the lump in his throat and felt Jared stir from behind him, fighting back the urge to lean into the warmth of his body.
Mackenzie looked so beautiful, hopeful as she waited for her brother’s response. Jensen knew that no matter what he said, even if he threw Lee out right now, it wouldn’t change the way Mackenzie felt about the man, only the way she would feel about Jensen. How could he explain to her the fear he had about Mackenzie ending up like their mother without having her scoff and roll her eyes? She was young, and in love, and nothing Jensen could say would change that. Life and its reality would be the one to change it.
Jensen promised himself right then and there that he would be the one to pick up the pieces-any of them-and make sure that Mackenzie always had a safe place to call home. Out loud he promised them something else. “I will give you my blessing, because I want Mackenzie happy more than anything. But, I will ensure that happiness, no matter what the cost.”
A moment of confusion passed over Lee’s face before he smiled and reached for Jensen’s hand, giving him a firm handshake before Mackenzie squealed and wrapped her arms around Jensen’s neck. Jensen gave her a hug back and then excused himself, taking the stairs two at a time to his room. Jared followed nearly fifteen minutes later, and the moment the door was closed, Jensen was on him.
“Jensen,” Jared started as Jensen worked at the buttons of his clothes, freeing him of them before shoving him back onto their bed. Jared bounced once against the mattress, gasping out loud, before Jensen was over him.
“Shut up,” Jensen whispered, claiming Jared’s mouth with his own. “I don’t want to talk about it.” Jared nodded once and Jensen reached for the light on the nightstand, plunging the room into darkness.
They moved together, touching and kissing in the dark. Jared’s hands pressed and pulled against him, rolling them over until he could slip down Jensen’s body, his mouth and teeth leaving a trail as he went. Jensen let his eyes fall closed, his hands knotting into Jared’s hair and he realized that he and Jared would never have that. Jensen would never be able to ask his father, or Gerry, for Jared’s hand in marriage-they were never going to be married.
As Jared slipped between his legs, filling him completely and his name on Jared’s lips, Jensen’s last thought, before he pushed everything else besides Jared away, was that at least hidden in the dark, they could have this, they could have each other. Mackenzie deserved to shine in the light.
Master Post || Chapter Eight || Chapter Ten