CHAPTER X

TWENTY-TWO YEARS AGO

"Mama, is daddy going to come back?", Louella asked quietly.

Her mother stared at the car that was driving away slowly, taking its time, teasing her. Her eyes narrowed and her expression hardened. This was the best thing, wasn't it? Her daughter needed a father. Not just some guy who hung around her and bought her expensive Knick knacks and then disappeared for a week or a month, maybe even two. No, that wasn't what her daughter needed.

She looked down at her baby, just four years old at the time and always smiling. She smiled too and squared her shoulders. She loved the man, but hey; if he wasn't ready to drop a few activities and be a proper dad, she would have to be the dad, and the mom too.

"No baby, daddy isn't coming back", she said, picking up the child, who was still looking at her a little confused.

"Are we going to meet him?"

"No, its just you and mama now", her mother said

"Okay mama. Nap?"

"Yes, nap time"

And with that, the mother carried Louella inside. Trying not to feel too guilty about it.

THREE YEARS AFTER THE TWENTY-TWO YEARS AGO

"Mama! I did it, I won!"

It was still Louella, she ran into the house, looking a lot older. Her hair was longer than it had been and her cheeks full and turned up in a smile. Her mom smiled and quietly congratulated herself on raising such a beautiful, well rounded little girl.

Louella was laughing and waving a paper around, so her mom took it and read it carefully. The brilliant little genius had won a full-time scholarship, lasting her till the end of her primary education.

"That's wonderful baby, I'm so proud of you. Come on, get changed, let's go get you some ice cream"

"Can you show this to daddy? Will he come see me now?", she asked, smiling excitedly.

The mother shook her head sadly. She knew, though she didn't speak about it, that her child thought her father left because of her. She had spoken to a doctor about it and had decided to let it play out. As long as the child doesn't overdo, herself, let her work hard. Especially if she thinks it's for her dad.

"No honey, daddy isn't coming. I'm sure he will send you something when he sees how well you did", she said

Louella smiled and rushed up the stairs. Coming down half a minute later all changed from her school things. The two headed out for that ice cream.

NINE YEARS AFTER THE THREE YEARS AFTER THE TWENTY-TWO YEARS AGO

"Mama! Guess what?", Louella yelled running into her mother's room. She looked even more mature now. She had grown taller; her body was very well developed and her hair was about her waist length. She had a smart phone in her hand and was grinning broadly. She didn't have on any makeup. Her mom smiled.

"What is it, dear?"

"My friend- Tessie, the one on the awards committee in school- she just called and said I'm going to be valedictorian tomorrow! Isn't that amazing?!", she squealed, running to her mother's side.

Her mother smiled and hugged her back. The girl deserved it. She worked hard thirty-six hours a day, eight days a week and barely got time to do the things she loved. It was horrid watching her child suffer like that. It paid off though. For that she was grateful.

"I'm so proud of you dear. Come on, we are going out for pizza and a movie, that's an order young lady", her mom said, grabbing her keys of the table.

They smiled at each other as Louella said.

"Did dad. Um- err, did he send anything recently?", she asked tentatively.

"No dear. I'm so sorry. You know it isn't you fault, okay? You do so much already. If he doesn't want to acknowledge you, that's his problem", her mom said, gripping her face fiercely.

Louella smiled and nodded, "I understand, I guess after you guys divorced, I thought it had something to do with me"

More like fake divorce and work! But her mom didn't say that out loud.

"It had absolutely nothing to do with you, okay? He is a waste of space father, in fact! Both of us need full body spa's, let's go. No more talking about him"

Louella laughed and followed her mom out the door.

That was the last time they spoke about him.

FIVE YEARS, AFTER THE NINE YEARS, AFTER THE THREE YEARS, AFTER THE TWENTY-TWO YEARS AGO

"David. Just send her something. anything, she won't care at this point. She's twenty-one David and just got a huge promotion at the firm she works with. She hasn't heard from you in seventeen years! She's growing girl, David. A card and a gadget each year isn't enough", her mom hissed into a phone.

"I would love to send her something Madeline. But I can't for the same reason I faked the divorce- we faked a divorce. I love you and I love her! But if anyone finds out I have a kid and a wife, they will use it against me- to probably kill you both!", he explained in a rasping voice.

"I- I understand. I'll, I'll tell her you love her"

"Be safe"

And then the line went dead. Plastering a fake smile on her face, she went to find her daughter, to tell her the same thing she has been telling her for the past seventeen years. The same excuses.

TWO YEARS, AFTER THE FIVE YEARS, AFTER THE NINE YYEARS, AFTER THE THREE YEARS, AFTER THE TWENTY-TWO YEARS

"Louella? Sweetheart, answer your phone. Louella?"

"Child, please. You're scaring me. Your phone has been turned off for about two months now. Louella?"

XxX

"Louella? Oh gosh! She's awake. Finally, it's been two days!"

"Reduce your voice. She probably has a headache"

"Is Bella waking up yet?"

"She's been stirring in her sleep. She'll wake up soon. I'm sure of it"

"Oh, thank God, Lou! We were so worried!"

It was Rita and Jane. Rita was holding a cool wet sponge to her forehead and Jane was holding her hand with tears in her eyes. She was confused for a minute until she looked down at her arms and legs and her whole body in general.

"The fire. Where is Bella? And Marco? And carl? Did they make it out? Where is Poppy?"

"Calm down Lou. Bella is right here. Carl is probably with Marco in the house and Poppy woke up about twenty hours ago. She didn't get hit as bad as you"

Louella sighed and rested her head on the pillow. Jeez, everyone was safe. Everyone, including herself, was safe.

As Rita and Jane left the ward, she settled into her pillows, thinking hard. How had she never noticed her father was in the mafia. How had she never made the connection? It was her job to find out whether people where lying. Her job to extract the truth from a person no matter how difficult, yet; she never even realized her mother was lying to her.

The signs. What where the signs. She thought back to when she was four, and had watched her father's car leave the house she grew up in, never to be seen again. She never saw him again, but at this point in time she was sure that her mother had seen him, at least spoken to him at a point.

She thought of each year, on her birthday, march first, when a tightly sealed package gad arrived at the door step at exactly nine AM with a letter containing a single phrase. The phrase was the same thing in a different language each year, 'I love you'. Signed the same way, 'from dad'. The only thing that changed was the age on the card. It was tradition. Why hadn't she seen it before?

The cards stopped when she was in the last year of college. She was twenty at the time and just got accepted to intern at the firm she became who she was in. around the same time, mafia activity became more serious and more obvious in the country.

Again, why hadn't she noticed before? That should have been proof enough. Proof that her father was involved in something illegal.

She had always wondered. The things he sent her, the stuff he bought her when he was around, they were always so expensive. The cloths her mother got her; they too were also unusually expensive. Yet, come to think of it, she had never seen her mother work, nor talk about work. She just… accepted that she had money.

Everything made so much sense.

Was it that her parents thought she was too young to understand all of it? That she was too young to be involved in it? She thought about the way a mafia worked and shook her head. No, if her parents actually did love her; then they did it to protect her. The mafia was wicked enough- brutal enough- to use a man's family, his weakness, against him. A thought hit her, was her mother involved in the mafia? She considered this for a minute and a half before discarding it.

If her mother was, had been, or is in the mafia, she would have made an excuse at some point in time. Or had to sneak out at night. And since she had never seen her mom do any of those, she couldn't be.

But the woman had definitely been using the funds from her dad to train her. Probably just took the cash without asking any questions. That she was certain of. Absolutely certain.

So, she knew her dad had been in the mafia since she was born, probably meet her mom when he was in the mafia. Had abandoned them because he didn't want them to be used against him. But had been responsible enough to send her mother child care. She couldn't exactly say he wasn't a reasonable man for doing that.

She tried to imagine what he looked like before the started hunting him down. Maybe a little healthier? Slightly less hunched? Happier? She came up with nothing. So, she reverted her mind back to the mental image of him she had. The most recent one.

Definitely her eyes. Same hair color as well, though he had some grays and she had none. She hadn't seen him smiling and doesn't remember it either, so she couldn't compare that. She had gotten her body from her mother's side as far as she could remember as well. Heck, she didn't know if her father even had any siblings. The man was good at hiding.

She wondered… was it in her genes? Maybe that's the reason she had decided to stay. Her father was in the mafia, maybe his parents where in the mafia, and his siblings, and then his parents, parents. Anything- at this point anyways was possible.

She sighed. Putting her arm to her head that still felt on fire and turned slightly to look at her best friend. Bella, who never even had a family, she found herself, feeling extremely grateful for the family she had then, and the one she has now. Even if someone, someone evil is trying to do away with both of them.

That person had to have a reason. If there was one thing she had learned in the mafia, it's that people don't do stuff out of only hatred. Business comes first, save feelings for later. Yup, the person had to have a reason to hate the Moonlight Murderer, a good reason.

She made a silent decision not to let them get that particular job done, she smiled at her commitment and settled into sleep. Hmmm, she wanted to at least sleep some more. Had she really been in coma for more than a day? Wow, seems like a really long time.

She heard coughing, so she looked to her left and smiled broadly.

"Bella! Your awake! Oh, my goodness, I'm so glad you're okay!", she said tears filling her eyes.

"Jeez, are you crying? I wasn't out that long, was I?"

"Well, I wouldn't know. I woke about half an hour ago"

"Oh… the fire?"

"Horrible I guess."

"Have you seen the den? I can still smell smoke"

"No, I haven't seen it. I can smell it too"

"Is… is everyone else, okay?", she asked tentatively as if afraid of bad news.

"Yes, Jane and Rita said everyone else got out scratch free. Just us and Poppy got hurt"

Bella sighed and relaxed, "That's good. At least no one else had to suffer. I'm so sorry you got caught up in this."

"It's completely fine Bella. No one forced me to do this, I agreed"

Bella nodded, before she went into deep thought, "The traitor probably heard us say to- wait, what day is it? Doesn't matter. They probably heard us say we were having a girl's night, waited, got the timing, and attacked. Probably meant to kill us as the guys were coming home. Smart, but wasn't fool proof, we survived"

Louella was impressed with Bella's tactical rundown of the whole event. Must be all the experience.

"This person seriously has it in for the murderer. And wants to be the one to end him"

Bella nodded, "Right. The only reason we are looking for him is to pay back the money he stole when he started fleeing. By stealing, he betrayed the mafia. Dad doesn't want him around"

Louella nodded in understanding. So that was what happened. The murderer probably did something to offend these people- the traitor's people- and when he wanted to run, he didn't have funds, so he stole from his mafia and got them after him too. Now the traitor is targeting the mafia because either they want to finish the murderer themselves, or the murderer knows something they want no one else to know. Interesting take on things.

They were still talking, when the door opened slowly, and they both paused.

"…yes, I know. I'm just going to check up on them really quickly", carl said and turned around. His eyes widened, "Girls! Your awake. Thank gosh, we were so worried"

"Why were you guys worried though, we would have been fine," Bella said dismissively

"Your vitals didn't think so. For the first day both of you were on such shaky ground that Marco was driven half mad"

"What do you mean, half mad?", Louella asked

"He was prepared to literally go and commit suicide by tracking down the murderer the old-fashioned way", Carl said shaking his head slowly

Bella looked livid, "But I told him! I told him not to and he was still going to go?!"

Carl nodded, "it was only after I convinced him not to kill himself that he told me what you said. Thanks, by the way, you gave me enough time to get here and talk sense into him"

Louella took a shacky breath, "So- so is he still…?"

Carl shook his head, "For now, no. I think he's resting"

Both of them let out a deep sigh of relief.

"What exactly was his plan?", Louella asked.

Carl scrunched up his eye brows, thinking, "He didn't exactly put it into words. But I know he was definitely ready to go after the murderer and the traitor if you both didn't wake up. I know he planned to go alone, and I know he didn't even plan on telling me. I just got this really intense feeling of deep rage mixed with grief. You know?"

They nodded. They knew alright. Louella had a warm feeling in her chest. So, Marco liked her enough to want to basically lay his death bed? Or was she being shielded by his undying love for his sister? She wanted to believe the former… but her mind was leaning towards the later. She sighed and tried to push it out of her mind.

"Why didn't he think we would wake up?", she asked

"Yea, we are strong women, he should have known that", Bella added folding her arms.

Carl shook his head, his expression bewildered, "You weren't the ones reading your vitals. They were honestly frigging terrifying. For a moment, I thought you wouldn't wake up", he said looking at Bella with a look in his eyes as intense as the words he spoke. She blushed and looked away at Louella who just smirked and turned her head.

"Thank goodness you were there to stop him, Carl", Bella said quietly

He nodded, "I managed to plant the idea that if he goes and you wake up while he is gone, you would never forgive yourselves"

"Damned right we wouldn't", Bella muttered

Louella silently agreed as well, wincing as thought of how guilty she would feel if the first guy she was interested in went to kill himself all because he thought she was dead? The guilt will eat her alive until she did something about it. And she knew it. She sighed and looked at Carl.

"You say he is resting?"

"Last I checked, why?" Carl asked her.

But Louella was already swinging her feet of the bed, wincing slightly as she did.

"Whoa, Lou?! Hold up, you just woke up a few hours ago. Where are you going?", Carl asked

"I am going to see Marco", she said, standing up and wobbling. She griped the headboard on her bed and waited for the floor to stop spinning.

"I should probably try to talk you out of it, but maybe seeing one of you will be enough to make him start thinking rationally again", Carl said smirking and nodding his head towards the door.

Louella smiled and thought about shaking her head… nah, it will probably make her dizzy. Okay, and now we go see Marco.

XxX

"Young man, are you stealing?"

Marco looked up at the man talking to him. He hated him instantly, "None of your business!"

"Oh, but it is my business. I can't let a handsome young man like you be roaming the streets"

"Leave me alone old man!", Marco complained

"Why are you stealing", the man insists on asking

Marco glared at him, "I need the money to buy food for my little sister"

"I see… and what of your parents?"

"I don't know"

"You don't know?"

"Yea. My mom is dead"

"I see"

"What's it to you anyways?" he asked slowly eyeing the old man from head to toe.

The man only smiled and said, "So you don't have a father and you don't have a mother?"

"I already told you that old man"

"What if I decide to take you to child care right now and adopt you and your sister?"

The young man narrowed his eyes. He knew from experience, that child care, social services and all the other organizations that claimed to help kids… well, they never meant well for anyone. He shook his head.

"No thanks old man" he said and was already walking away when the man grabbed him by the color of the old shirt he wore and pulled him back.

"Take me to where you live"

The boy didn't want to. He looked into the eyes of the man nicely commanding him and decided it would be in his best interest to do as he said. He didn't look dangerous, he looked rather ordinary. But his eyes. Those bright blue eyes. Those where the first thing he noticed about the man, and by far the most striking. He gulped and began to lead the way, not once did anyone ask the small boy of only about six years old, what he was doing with a man of that age- a man that was clearly not his father. Either they didn't actually notice the two, or they were simply too unconcerned to ask. The poor boy decided on the later.

He led the man to a small caved in alley. It was between two abandoned and obviously condemned buildings. From between the alley, they could hear the voice of a small child crying out. The boys' eyes widened and he rushed forward to the child and picked up a dirty bundle. It was only after he had calmed the baby down that he realized the man was still there. He turned around and glared at him.

"What's the matter? You don't like where I live?", the little boy asked defensively, the baby started crying again.

The man didn't bother to answer the question, "That child- your sister. She is sick. You should take her to a hospital"

"Even if she is sick, I don't have money to take her anywhere! Why don't you do it then?", he shot bac k at the man, still defensively.

"Certainly. I would if I thought you would let me"

The man watched, slightly satisfied as the boy considered. His plan was simple. He needed heirs, to take over his business. Well, here where two! Ready-made, he was going to do his very best to get them alright. He had already considered just getting married and having children. But after a few years he realized that either love wasn't coming to him or he just wasn't interested in the whole marriage process. He decided on the later. He smiled again at the boy.

"Let me care for you as well as your sister"

"Why should I?", the boy asked immediately.

"I can give you a better life than this… you and your sister. I won't abandon you like your mother and father did. On one condition though"

"What's that?"

"You will do as I say, when I say it, how I say it. Is that clear?"

"Yes"

"You won't get many kind words out of me"

"I know"

"It's good we understand ourselves. What's your name?"

"It's Marco"

"And your sister's name?"

"Bella"

"From now on both of you will be called Marco and Bella Rodriguez"

"Alright"

"Now, take your sister"

"Where are we going?"

"To the hospital. Don't you want her to get better?", he asked him, frowning slightly.

The small boy nodded once and turned to pick up the baby's things. He didn't speak as he did so, but the man got the distinct impression he was happy at being offered a home, regardless of the conditions.

.

..

…

"Son"

Marco turned around and stood straight looking into the face of the man who had the piercing blue eyes, "Sir?"

"Get me your sister. Both of you should meet me in the board room in ten minutes. Go"

Marco turned around and hurried away. He was thinking hard. The man rarely asked to see his two children together. The only times they consciously stayed in the same room were during meals. If he wanted to see any of them, he went to find them, he didn't order them to the board room. Marco sighed. He thought of one of the lessons the man had taught him while he went to get his sister; hope for the best but prepare for the worst.

He found his sister and within moments they were both standing in the board room waiting for their father. As he entered, he couldn't resist a glance at his sister, silently praying he never had to see her suffer again.

"I have something to tell you"

He waited, as if for one of them to say something. when they didn't, he continued.

"You're both aware, that the nature of my business is confidential. You don't know anything about my business, and that is as it should be. However, I feel it is time for you to be enlightened"

"Wait, dad. You want to tell us?", Bella interrupted.

He nodded, "I hope, that one day, both of you will take over from me. But you might not want to, the nature of my business is not always legal", he said this while looking at Marco.

He was thinking fast. Of course, he didn't want to be involved in anything illegal! That would be crazy., the law would catch up to you eventually, wouldn't it? But at the same time, he wanted to please the man he called dad and continue giving his siter the best life possible.

He nodded, "What is this business?", he asked

"I'm the head, of a mafia. A mafia known as the Black Cross", he said slowly.

"Whoa", Marco said

"Cool!", Bella countered.

"If you're willing then… you will begin training now. Marco that is. Bella, once you get to fifteen then you can start", he said

Marco and Bella nodded. He sighed in relief, that wasn't what he was expecting. So, his father was a mafia over lord. Wow, will he become one?

XxX

Louella has already left the ward and is searching for Marco. 'He should be resting', the words ring in her ears and she goes as quickly as her limp body would let her to his bedroom.

As soon as she gets to the den, she realizes that he most definitely can not be there. The whole building is blackened and damped with bits of the roof caved in and other bits lying in ashes on the ground around. She looks at the blackened building and has already decided he can not be there. Unless, Marco likes the smell of wet ashes mixed with the afternoon air. Hm, could he? Nah. She turned away from the den and began to walk towards the fortress. Gulping as she eyed the tall intimidating building.

"Hello. I'm looking for Ma- err, Alpha", she said drawing the attention of a random subordinate passing her.

He looked at her slowly before answering, "He should be in the board room miss. I don't think there is any meeting happening there though,"

"Thanks a lot", Louella said and hurried up to a board room that she never even knew existed.

Turns out, all the doors in a scary white fortress thingy are all appropriately labeled. Louella passed doors labeled, restroom, staff room, torture chamber, cell class 1, cell class 2, as well as a bunch of other names and functions you only ever see once in your life. Finally, at the end of one long hallway, she saw a door tagged 'board room'. Smiling, she hurried towards the door.

She opened the door and peeped in, glancing around. He was there alright. Leaning back in an arm chair with his eyes closed and wearing the saddest expression she had ever seen on him. Sighing sadly, she closed the door gently and walked in. she was by his side and placing a hand on his back before he opened his eyes.

"Are you alright?", she whispered slowly, hoping her voice betrayed a little of the emotion she felt.

He didn't speak, just turned slightly in his chair and gaped at her for half a heartbeat before he engulfed her in the tightest and sweetest hug she had ever felt.

"I- I was so worried", he whispered. She hugged him back and smiled.

"Why where you worried?"

"You… I didn't know if you would wake up". He said, and she could hear the thick emotions in his voice. He released her and stood up slowly, not taking his eyes of her.

"Bella… is she…?"

Louella smiled and looked up at him, "She's fine. She woke up a few minutes after me. Carl I s with her", she said

Marco's face grew slightly stern and he shook her shoulders lightly, "Are you okay, Lou? Don't ever do that to me again! You here me?", he said

She smiled, "As long as you don't think of attempting suicide on our behalf. What were you thinking Marco?", she whispered, the sadness pouring into her eyes.

"I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking. At all", he mumbled.

This time it was Lou who grabbed him in a hug, "Don't do that again. I couldn't ever stand it if you did", she said looking up at him pleadingly.

He smiled and hugged her back, "I promise Lou. And I'm so sorry you had to get hurt", he said placing his palm lightly on her cheek.

"I'm fine now. Completely, you guys don't have to keep telling me sorry", she said rolling her eyes and laughing softly.

"Seriously Lou. Don't scare me like that again. I was so worried, I cried", he said making it sound as if he just realized it himself.

She couldn't help but laugh, "You cried?", she said teasing

He nodded, with a bemused grin, "Yes, I did. You don't get it… I was- grieved. That's the only word for it. I thought I had just lost the two most important things in my life", he said looking her in the eyes again.

She smiled feeling the words touch her heart. Is this guy sweet or what? But she didn't feel he needed to feel guilty, or anyone else for that matter. She hadn't begged or been begged to join them, neither had she been forced. She joined them of her own free will and fought with them of her own free will. She told him exactly like that. He just smiled and shook his head, like she didn't understand something important.

"I have something g to tell you"

"What's that?", she asked

"Well, its more like a promise to make"

"Oh really? About what?"

"You… and me of course"

"Package deal", she said teasing, expecting him to deny

He laughed, "Yea. I'm being serious though"

"Okay"

"I want to promise that I won't leave you on your own again… and Bella of course", he added

She nodded grimly, "of course"

"Yea. I really do promise"

"You don't have too though"

"But I want to"

"But you don't have to"

"I want to"

Jeez, your persistent"

"I know. Girls love it"

They both smiled, and that was the end of that. Louella was thinking of what to say when they feel silent, she finally came up with the perfect ice breaker.

"Oh right. I think Bella might want to see you"

"I really should go and see her"

"I think she wants to chew you out though. So be prepared"

He laughed, "Thanks for the warning. I deserve it though"

She chose not to answer as both of them left the board room, walking slowly, side by side all the way to the IC unit. They passed the den again, but it was as if they had a mutual understanding- no one said a word about it, they simply paused for about a minute and kept on walking.

Finally, they got to the unit and Louella opened the door.

"Hey, I found him", she said going to her bed and laying back down. Resting her head and sighing contently.

"Took you long enough. What were you two busy doing?", Bella demanded.

Louella opened her eyes and shot her a warning look, not answering. She closed her eyes back and pulled the sheets over herself. Marco went to sit by her bed, looking at his sister with a worried frown.

"Bella. Are you alright?", he asked

"I'm perfectly fine. The question is are you sane?", she nearly yelled. Carl did nothing to stop her he just watched with an amused grin on his face.

"I am now. I'm really sorry Bella. I shouldn't have even considered that crazy plan", he said

"Yes. You shouldn't have considered the plan at all. Not only am in to yet ready to become an amazing Alpha, I also am not ready to lose you, you big fool", she said fuming

"Awn, Bella. That is the sweetest thing you have ever said to me", Marco said grinning

"Don't you, 'awn' me you… you… you… mister. You were going to go commit suicide. You were ready to go looking for a guy that doesn't want to be found, and is being looked for by someone dangerous enough to literally blow up our home. What do you have to say for yourself?", she demanded looking ready to pop.

He bowed his head, "I'm sorry, Bella. And I'm sorry, Lou. I wont ever think of going after the murderer by myself ever again. I promise", he said looking up so they could see the mirth shinning in his eyes as he spoke.

They grinned and decided to start discussing the plans they had to get their own back at the murderer. They only had one option as far as they could see, and that plan was simple. It was to track and kill him, no matter what it took from them.

They decided that when Louella was better and renovations where complete they would gather all the intel they could and leave the tracking to her. About a month, in their estimations. By then, they would be completely prepared to fight till the death… and by prepared to fight to the death they meant be prepared in such a way that they didn't need to fight till the death.

Marco felt safe to tell the three with him. He had made arrangements- that is, after carl had talked him out of his crazy plan- to have background checks done on each of the others and as many of their subordinates as possible. Those subordinates that have even limited access to them. That way, they would be able to eliminate or question anyone they thought to be shady… anyone incompetent as the case may be.

Around evening, the guys called din the doctors to find out if the two ladies would be allowed to leave the unit and sleep with everyone else. After a thorough check of their vitals. The doctor decided that it wouldn't be best and prescribed at least one more night. Provided none of them had a relapse.

The guys said their good byes and left the ladies to have a good night's rest. The next month was going to be packed full of activities and hopefully, all of their effort will pay off in the end.