Los Angeles, California
A familiar site to be sure, the loft where Jamie Dean called home, and perhaps at this point in time, one that could perhaps be somewhat unexpected. For you see, Jamie was currently one-half of the reigning World Tag Team Champions of Sin City Wrestling, the home promotion where he was signed and based out of. But that's where a recent complication had set in; You see, Jamie's close friend and tag team partner, "the Cockney King" Ben Jordan, had entered the promotion's annual "Blast From the Past" memorial tournament, paired in mixed tag team competition with their mutual friend, Samantha Marlowe. The tournament's drawings were done so at random, and it was a mere stroke of luck that Ben found himself teamed with someone both familiar and comfortable, not to mention successful in her own right. 'Sam' herself was a former two-time World Champion of the Bombshell division, which made her a coveted partner to be had in such an event. And much to Jamie's delight and exceedingly high expectations, Ben and Sam had not only made it past the opening round, they had advanced all the way to the championship finals!
Jamie had always felt that Ben had not allowed himself the opportunities in SCW that he had when signed to his former stomping grounds, the ACW where he had been a Triple Crown Champion. In SCW, Ben had been relegated somewhat to midcard status, and seldom basked in the spotlight that was the weekly Main Event. Which, if you ask Mister Dean, was bullshit. Even if Ben himself believed that was where he belonged in SCW, Jamie would not here it. He firmly believed, and those closest to Ben and himself, that Ben belonged in a spot where he would be competing for either the World Heavyweight Championship, or to a lesser degree, the Internet title. And that was where Jamie felt an overwhelming sense of guilt;
Jamie wanted bigger and better things for Ben, but here Ben was. Stuck teaming with him as the Tag Champions, with nowhere really to go. Ben knew that teaming with him meant something to Jamie, and good ol' "Saint Ben" always did what others wanted of him, as opposed to for him. And even though the tag belt was yet wrapped around Ben's (hot!) waist, his friend had a chance to win the whole tournament and move on to a guaranteed World Championship opportunity. And it was time, Jamie felt, that Ben did something for himself as opposed to doing what someone else asked of him. The road would be a bumpy one to reach, though, as Ben and Sammy were opposing mutual friend Evie Baang, and a man that Ben had recently taken under his wing to be more friendly and sociable; reigning Internet Champion Lord Raab.
Which left Jamie himself. He himself was in the same spot as a female peer, Odette Stevens. Odette was one-half of the Bombshell Tag Champions, but as her partner Evie was in the finals, Odette was left without a championship defense for the SCW's upcoming SuperCard, Into the Void VI. And, so was Jamie. Oh don't get him wrong! From the start of the tournament, right up until the current time, Jamie had been rooting for Ben (and Samantha) to take the whole shebang! But where did that leave him, and more importantly, the tag team titles? Well, like the Bombshells, the championships would not be defended for the first time at a SuperCard in recent memory, but the bosses still contacted Jamie and asked if he'd be interested in competing anyway.
And of course Jamie readily agreed! He was a competitor, and more importantly, a showman! After all, he couldn't let Ben, Sam and Amy have all the fun! So he put his name down on the dotted line and asked who his opponent would be, and was promptly informed -- Dmitri.
Oh. Shit!
Dmitri, the number one contender to the SCW Internet Championship! Jamie's track record in singles competition was less than stellar, and to be put in the ring in singles competition with the man that took J2H to the absolute limit on three consecutive occasions? This was going to be probably his biggest test since his feud against Sean Jackson during his first foray in Sin City Wrestling almost a full three years ago! It was exciting to contemplate, indeed, but it was also an admittedly daunting task. Jamie had been so focused on tag team competition since his return, his attempts at the random singles match had seen mostly losses on his part as a result. Now, with the tag team titles once again around his and Ben's waists, and all of his friends in active competition, that just meant that Jamie was going to have to fight even harder in order to find a way to best a vampire!
But, as much as he would love to be in New York City right now, hanging out with Amy, Ben and Sam (and playing referee between Ben and Evie), there were other responsibilities to take care of that had absolutely nothing to do with the world of professional wrestling. And that was why we found ourselves here and now, at Oasis.
Yes, it's been quite awhile since we've been able to pay the joint venture of Jamie Dean and Ben Jordan a visit, hasn't it? A large building that served a twofold purpose; on the lower floor below street level, was a nightclub for teenagers. A place to serve as a hangout for kids to keep them off the streets in a safe and fun environment. But the real story was above on the top floor, and if you've kept a close watch lately, you'd know that this was an example of the hearts of the reigning Tag Team Champions of the World. Jamie and Ben had used all their resources to open a safe house, a shelter to put up homeless LGTB kids who had no other place to call home. It was a cause dear to Jamie's heart, and that was all Ben had to know before he jumped in feet first and got involved. Ben loved people, and he loved kids, and the concept of families kicking their own children out of their homes for the sole reason of whom they chose to love? It was as alien to "Saint Ben" as mustard on French fries.
Now Jamie sat in the office of Oasis on the top floor, just outside of the large open space that served as the kids' living space. Normally his friend Sandra might be found here, but Jamie knew she couldn't be solely responsible for watching after the kids, and besides, he had a few unpleasant chores that needed to be taken care of that she just was not able.
Namely, the bills.
Jamie sat in the chair, the ink pen tapping at his bottom lip as he looked over a list of the past month's expenses and could not help but feel a warmth inside of him at how easily the finances of his dream had been handled. Donations were key, and thanks in part to his and Ben's ties to pro wrestling, a number of celebrities and sponsors came forward to help fund the well being of the kids Ben and Jamie were now responsible for. Chief among them, Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors" charity for gay homeless kids. Plus there was the income that the nightclub below brought in, paying a small salary to their kids who wanted to earn a few dollars to call their own, ensuring paid security and a handful of other necessities, Jamie was confident that this was only the...
"HEYJAMIE!!!"
"SHIT!!!" Jamie yelped and almost fell out of his chair at the loud outburst, and that only caused Ben Jordan to fall back against the open door frame of the office, laughing himself hoarse! Jamie' eyes wide open as his heart made the attempt to settle back to where it belonged, righted his chair back on its four legs and almost fell to a seated spot on the edge of the desk as Ben was yet still in a fit of the titters.
"Sonofa..." Jamie drew in deep breath after deep breath. "What the fu-"
"Oy! Watch it!" Ben reprimanded, but the smile on his face and merry glow to his face was evidence enough he was still teasing. "There are about twenty five kids less than ten feet away."
Jamie watched as Ben pulled his now vacant chair over and spun it around so he could straddle the seat and sit down with his arms resting over the back. "Well what the hell were you thinking?" Jamie asked, exasperated, and then he frowned as an obvious thought drifted into his mind. "And what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be off in New York, getting ready to win big?"
"Well first of all," Ben `splained. "A scare like that is good for you. Helps you know your heart is still beatin'. An' its good for me too. For a laugh that is." Jamie's upper lip curled into a playful sneer, but Ben's face spoke that he was ready to be serious -- at least for the given moment. He continued, "And besides, can't depend on you to do all the work here. Took a couple of days off to fly out and see how things were going."
Jamie nodded and Ben asked, "How are the kids?"
"Great!" Jamie answered. "A couple were found homes by the local CPS, good homes." Ben nodded, pleased with the news. Jamie then went on, "Didn't take long to get their spots filled here either. That right there?" Jamie pointed at a small stack of papers sitting front and center on the desk. He said, "Applications from the local agencies we've been dealing with. More kids asking to stay here."
"Christ..." Ben murmured as he leafed through the papers, looking at the names, and more importantly, the ages, of the homeless gay youth who were seeking a place to stay that was warm and safe. Oasis had already been making a name for itself and now Ben and Jamie were starting to realize just how important of a thing it was that they had started.
Ben glanced up at his friend and asked, "Have we got any free beds?"
"Sadly, no." Jamie sighed. "I don't know how to tell these kids we don't have a place for them."
"We don't." Ben answered. "Said at the start if more kids came, we'd just get another building to use if we had to. Well, looks like we have to so let's start putting some thought into it. We'll get them taken care of."
Jamie smiled, proud over the fact that Ben was taking this charity as seriously as Jamie himself. And knowing Ben, he was perhaps taking it as seriously as he was BECAUSE of how it meant to Jamie himself. Well, it was either that or just because Ben Jordan was just that great of a human being.
Jamie said, "I'll start looking for some properties, or rather, I'll ask Veda to." Veda being the friend of Jamie's who was heavily into real estate.
"How're they handling going back to school?" Ben asked.
Jamie answered, "Not as bad as they thought they might. Though they admittedly only got in a few months before summer vacations started. But I arranged for them to go to summer school in a program to help them catch up to where they need to be."
Ben snorted back a laugh, "Can't imagine they were too pleased about that. Hell, half of them weren't happy about our mandates that they had to go to school period!"
Jamie chuckled, "While that's true, a number of them still knew why we were wanting that for them. Most of them were okay by it and were eager to go back." His eyes glanced off to nowhere in particular as he said softly, "I think they realize they have to make an effort of they want to make something of themselves and get off the streets."
"Course they do." Ben said as he tossed the stack of charitable applications back on the desk and leaned back in his chair, mindful not to allow it to tip over. He then said, "And they been trying hard? Getting good grades?"
"They have." Jamie nodded. "Some better than others, but that much is a given. but they're trying their hardest. I think that means as much as anything."
Ben said, "I agree. And ... I think that deserves a little reward."
"Oh?" Jamie's eyebrows rose up inquisitively. "What did you have in mind?"
"Are you SERIOUS!?" One of the boys that was a resident of Oasis practically cried, as he and the twenty four other kids stood in the nightclub, which was mercifully closed, staring at the mountain of pizza boxes that were being delivered from Papi's Pizzeria, one of Los Angeles's best pizza experiences! Three delivery men total were carrying in the pizza and stacking them off on the table and bar counter, allowing Ben to separate them while Jamie paid the driver's and tipped them generously for such a task.
"Why wouldn't we be?" Ben smiled, although the expressions on both the kids' faces and in their eyes gave him a twisted knot in the stomach, as it did Jamie. Since they came under their collective roof, the two grapplers had agreed that they wanted the kids to eat as healthy as possible, considering where they may have had to go to get anything to put in their bellies when they were on the streets. Best case, a food kitchen ran by one of the local charities. Not so great case, garbage cans which were usually seen as a last resort. Worst possible case; they simply did without and fell asleep with stomachs so empty that it hurt -- literally.
And the healthy eating worked wonders for them, whether they realized it or not. They got back their youthful and healthy complexions, their hair regained its luster, and most importantly, they once again had their health. Which, when on the streets, it simply was not a guarantee.
But what kid didn't love pizza? And it made Jamie and Ben both wonder just how long it had been since any of their kids had tasted pizza last. Months? Years? As successful adults, they had taken such things for granted without realizing it. Now seeing the desire evident on the faces of the fourteen boys and eleven girls, staring at those pizza boxes like they were gifts sent from Heaven, they understood.
"Well? What are you waiting for?" Jamie smiled as he slapped a stack of napkins on the bar counter and an even bigger stack of paper plates. "Dig in!"
And the kids didn't have to be asked twice! It was practically a stampede as the twenty five teens raced forward and started pulling pizza boxes open, revealing the bounties inside as the scents practically made their mouths water despite no longer going hungry. Eager hands grabbed at slices of every kind, as Jamie and Ben stood behind the bar and started pouring sodas into the offered glasses and passing them over to the eager hands. Pizza and now soda too?
"Jamie here an' I didn't know what kind any of you liked, so we ordered a bit of everything!" Ben called out as he grabbed one empty box and tossed it aside and pushed out more before yanking his hand away. "Bloody hell!" Ben laughed. "I think I almost lost me a finger!"
Jamie laughed audibly as watching this brought about a feeling of both satisfaction, but remorse as well that something so simple as a pizza feast could mean so much to these kids who had gone without before coming under their personal care. Papi's was known for it's delicacies, and they ensured these kids had for themselves a true feast! Pesto chicken! Butcher block meat lovers! Classic Margherita! And a big variety otherwise!
Jamie and Ben each nabbed a few slices for themselves, but only AFTER they made sure the kids had as much as they could eat, or at least carry. They watched as plates were piled high and the kids went to the tables and booths, sat with each other and ate merrily. Not a single kid was left to his own, as under this roof they had come to the understanding that they were all they had -- for now, and would watch out for one another. Ben's eyes drifted to one kid in particular, one that he had met and spoken to on that very first night. A sixteen year old that had captured the heart of the "Cockney King" for his malnourishment, poor physique and even sadder tale.
Shaun Bauser was thirteen years old when he had been thrown out and disowned by his family, and somehow managed to survive on the streets without aid for three years. When he came to Ben and Jamie that first night, he couldn't have weighed more than a hundred and ten pounds soaking wet, and that was a generous estimation. He was still skinny, but at least now not sickly so, and was starting to fill out somewhat with the help of regular meals and a bit of work to exercise his body. But it wasn't just his body that had been healed. His soul had as well, as Ben and Jamie watched as the lad sat at a booth with his newfound family and was laughing merrily as they ate and talked.
"How's he doing?" Ben whispered to Jamie, just loud enough to be heard by his friend but not so much as to overcome the music from the stereo and alert the kids that they were a topic of discussion.
"Better." Jamie assured him. "He was slower to recover physically than the others, but that was a given considering his condition."
Ben nodded silently as he listened.
"But you should see his school work." Jamie smiled. "The counselors told Sandra it was uncanny for a kid that's been on the streets for three years. Top marks across the cards for him."
"Good for him." Ben smiled as he watched Shaun for a moment longer, then hurriedly shifted his gaze as Shaun glanced over their way. He turned to Jamie and said in a hushed voice, "I know it ain't right to have a favorite but..."
"I know." Jamie smiled as he nodded in both agreement and understanding. "Kid has a way of melting his way into your heart, don't he?"
Ben just smiled as he took a bite of pizza and Jamie mused, "He reminds me of someone..."
"E-excuse me?" The teenager's almost timid voice called over the counter, drawing the attention of the baristas of the independent coffee house, Brew Ha-Ha. Yes, you read correctly. Brew Ha-Ha. You remember that place, right? You should, as it has been used often enough as a setting when we are on another adventure in the world of Jamie Dean. But for the time being, we are dating back about two years, when a then-seventeen year old had found a spot of courage and opened a door that would soon change his life.
"Yes, sweety?" Kathy Greene, the owner of this establishment, turned around from where she had been standing, lending a hand to her employees for the evening. That was one thing about her that made her not just a much admired boss, but an adored one as well; she wasn't afraid to get behind the counter and get her hands dirty. Yet no sooner did she turn around to address the "customer," than she did a double take and saw what was standing in front of her.
Poor thing could only be sixteen, maybe seventeen years of age and dressed in clothes that would have to be filthy if they were going to get any cleaner. There was an odor emanating from him, one of which he was painfully aware of and a few eyes cast glances in his direction, along with a wrinkled nose or two. The smell was obviously coming from his filthy clothes, and it looked as if it had been some time since his hair or skin had been clean. His arms were huddled around him, hoping to help stave off the chilly November air. And his eyes ... he had such pretty eyes and even pretty eyelashes. But he was squinting in an obvious manner, almost screaming the fact that he was in desperate need of glasses.
He finally found his voice and asked in as confident a voice as he could, "Is ... is there a manager I can talk to?"
"No." Kathy smiled. "But there is an owner. Me." Never minding his tense form or the smell wafting from his clothes, Kathy leaned forward on the counter, propping herself on her forearms and smiled at the boy. "What can I help you with?"
The boy blinked, a little caught off guard by finding himself speaking with an owner of this place as opposed to a manager of perhaps an employee that might show him a bit of kindness. "I ... I was going to ask... you know what?" He shook his head and started to turn around to leave. "Never mind."
But as he started to walk, Kathy reached forward and put her hand on his shoulder. "Now hold on hon, what did you...?" But the boy spun around and practically threw her hand from his shoulder, growing, "Don't TOUCH me!"
"Okay, okay." Kathy held her hands up. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to invade, but you clearly wanted to ask something. I didn't want you to leave without having your say."
He frowned and looked away from her, shaking his head. "I just wanted..." He huffed and looked her in the eyes as best he could with his bad vision and all. "I wanted to know if you had any work I could do for you tonight? I'm..."
"Hungry?" Kathy finished his thought for him, and he nodded with reluctance, still holding on to the barest amount of pride that he had left. She looked around and saw that one of the last customers had just taken their leave, then checked her watch. "Well, it's almost closing time..."
"Oh..." The kid almost deflated, literally, thinking his question had been answered in a negative way, but he did not yet know this woman as she held a hand up.
"Hold on," She practically commanded, and it was all the boy could do not to wilt and answer with a 'Yes ma'am.' "Don't jump to conclusions. What I was going to say..." She turned around and grabbed a dish towel and a spray bottle of sanitizer. She passed them to the boy's hands as he looked at them with a look of confusion, before looking to her and she smiled. "Go wipe off my tables, then stack the chairs on them and I'll see what I can do for you."
The boy looked at the bottle and rag, then at her and she gifted him with a wink before he slowly turned around and moved towards the nearest table. And less than an hour later, he was sitting at a vacant table with two ham and cheese croissant sandwiches on a plate in front of him, a large blueberry muffin and a bottled juice. Seated across from him was Kathy, as she had her chin on her clasped knuckles, and two of her friends who had come to pick her up; her wife Sandra King and their mutual friend, Jamie Dean. They chatted between them, never minding the time as they gave the boy all the time in the world to eat and open up.
His name was Chad Campbell.
"I wondered how you met the kid." Ben turned from Jamie to watch the kids continue their feast. "I mean, you said how he met you lot and hinted it was bad..."
Jamie sighed, "I just didn't think at the time it was really my story to tell. But given the kid is pretty fond of you..." Jamie turned to Ben and smirked. "Big surprise there."
Ben could only smile in return at the remark as Jamie went on, "But given what we're doing here, and Chad's been trying to help outside of his own schooling, I really didn't see the harm in sharing a few details." Jamie shook his head. "Poor kid was in pretty bad shape. His glasses were broken by some punks who had been harassing him at a shelter. That's why he left. Barely ate and was lucky to find a place to sleep that wasn't freezing. When Sandra and I walked into Kathy's, kid almost bolted."
Ben frowned at this until Jamie explained, "He thought we might be counselors or something like that who would haul him in for something or other. Took all three of us to calm him down and convince him we were just people. Friends, if he'd let us be. Kathy being 'Ma' asked him if he'd like to have a hot shower. Took some convincing but we got him to let us give him a ride to Kathy and Sandra's. Kept his hand on the door handle the entire ride, just in case we were pulling a fast one. But we got him in the apartment and into a hot shower, cleaned him up. Kathy's nephew had left some clothes and they got them on him. Second hand but clean." Jamie smiled as the memory was still fresh. "That was when they steered him to the guest room and told him it was his for as long as he wanted it."
Jamie looked to Ben and said, "Chad almost cried buckets for the kindness those two were showing him."
Ben knew the two well through Jamie, and he could not deny the simple truth. He said, "They are lovely ladies." He picked up his glass of Coke and added, "When that one ain't trying to jump me bones."
Jamie laughed for a moment before he calmed himself and then continued, "I don't think the boy slept as well as he had that night for months. He told them the next day that he felt safe. About broke the two's hearts and they offered the room for him to live in, and after some coaxing, he agreed. They even helped him get his GED and Kathy and I got him started in college, as you know. Morning after we met him, I showed up, wanting to do a bit of my own. First I took him for an eye exam and got him a couple pairs of glasses, then took him shopping."
"Shopping?"
"For clothes." Jamie smiled. "The clothes Kathy's nephew left were clean, but as big as a bed sheet on the poor thing. Got him a few things, and I swear to God it was like seeing an entirely new boy as opposed to the one that walked into that shop."
Ben watched Jamie for a moment, and privately thought to himself that his buddy here had a pretty good heart inside of him as well. He played as much a role in Chad's upbringing and safety off the streets as the two ladies, and now here he, and Ben, were doing so again. Ben glanced back at the kids and asked idly, "Where have their clothes been coming from?"
Jamie answered, "Mostly second hand, admittedly. Mutual friends of Kathy, Sandra's and mine take collections to help. Some donations and profit from the club, we've taken them to the second hand store to get some things, that sort of thing."
Ben nodded, and after a moment's pause, asked, "Think I can crash at your pad tonight?"
Jamie looked at him and frowned. "I'm almost insulted that you felt the need to even ask."
Ben grinned, showing those pearly whites as he answered, "Thanks. Got a little something in mind I want to do in the morning."
"Oh?" Jamie looked to him. "What's that?"
And that answer came the very next morning in the city's extravagant retail and entertainment complex known as the Grove. It was a shopper's paradise for tourist and citizen alike, and Ben Jordan, accompanied by Jamie, was escorting their twenty five young ones into the fashion boutiques so Ben could purchase for each one, a brand new outfit to call his or her own.
Jamie sat at a table at one of the Grove's outdoor cafes, watching as Ben Jordan was all smiles as he took some personal time of his own, to help each and every one of their kids a new outfit, not something used. Jamie had offered multiple times to help, but Ben wanted to do this, and Jamie could see the light practically shining from his friend as he spent this precious time with all of those kids. He even got for them an accessory or two, and caught sight of Shaun eyeing a stuffed panda, and Ben coyly picked it up from the shop and passed it to the boy.
Jamie said, "So long as Benjamin is busying himself doing what he does best, being a marvel of a human being, I suppose I could take this bit of time to address an issue that's coming up for me soon in New York City, namely a certain vampire that's called Dmitri. I was surprised when I was told that this would be who I was facing, as I half expected him to be in a championship match of some sort, but given Lord Raab will be facing ben there, well we couldn't let Raab's number one challenger go without, now could we?"
"I can appreciate the fact that the powers that be wanted us to face each other, because they knew from past experience that they would get a good show between us. After all, it's not the first time that Dmitri and I have been inside of the same ring, yet on opposite sides. He and his partner James Tuscini were the first to actually best Ben and myself in tag team competition, and all I could say at the time was thankfully it was a non-title match. That was then, and if he and James are looking for another match, this time with the gold on the line, I'd dare say that the Unholy Alliance more than any other have earned the shot. But that'll be for another time, because we're once again facing in a match, again with no title on the line, and this time no partners in our corners, ready to lend a hand. This time, it's just Dmitri and myself, and just between us?"
Jamie frowned and raised a forefinger to the air to emphasize his words.
"This time I intend to right that action all those months ago. I won't call it a wrong, because they earned the win over Team BJ, but now it's time to even things up between us, and it starts with this little one on one between us, Dmitri. I imagine Dmitri believes that he has an edge over me, given he's all but set to challenge Lord Raab for the Internet Championship at SOME point in time, but if that's the case then he is looking WAY past the fact that only one of the two of us is currently holding championship gold around his waist, and it is not him. Unlike you, Dmitri, I don't need to surround myself with a security blanket and call it a stable. I don't sit back and allow some Vampirella wannabe verbally and physically abuse me at the expense of my own manhood."
He turned and winked into the camera.
"I save that for Samuel when he's in town."
Jamie nodded as he took a sip of his mocha mint frappucino from the Starbucks courtyard he was seated at, watching as Ben led the children into pitching some coins into the water fountain, encouraging them to make their heartfelt wishes.
Jamie continued, "And yes, Dmitri, the belt around my waist is the tag team title and a championship I proudly share with Ben Jordan, but here in SCW?" He shook his head. "Being able to walk away with any form of championship gold is an accomplishment in itself and a testimony of your abilities inside of the ring. You are one tough hombre, Dmitri, but I've faced a number of bad asses myself in my own time when I was on my own. Names such as Sean Jackson come immediately to mind, and hell! I even found myself across the ring from Ben Jordan there a time or two! Granted, I didn't win each and every match. I never claimed to be unbeatable and any man who does is just fooling himself. I am just a man who wants to prove himself in every walk of life that he endeavors in. I'm a man that wants to make others proud of me, and show that the fans out there who just might share the same lifestyle as my own... I want them to know that they don't have to hold back and be afraid to make a go of it in the ring if that's what their heart's desire just so happens to be."
"All those young boys who just so happen to also be gay? When they watch me in the ring with you, just the two of us? I want them to watch me put your shoulders down for the count and they think to themselves, "hey! I can do that too! I want them to know that gay, straight, bi, trans... this is an entirely new time. Fans are more understanding, and so are the men and women who would be their peers behind the curtains and outside of the ring. Everyone backstage? They know me, and they know I am DAMN proud of being who I am! And the best part? Not a damn one cares that I just so happen to like sleeping with men. All they care about, all my friends in the sport care about, is what I am able to accomplish inside of the ring. That is what they look to, and that is what I want those LGBT fans to see and know that their dreams are not just dreams; they can be realities. They can be... and thanks to the example you and I will be setting once that bell rings?"
Jamie looked into the camera and winked.
"Those dreams will be realized."
