Here's hoping she's got knee pads on under there! Photo: Annie Leibovitz for Vogue

There are approximately three things the media seems to never tire reporting on in the realm of pop culture: Celebrity maybe-baby bumps, Kate Middleton’s wardrobe, and the Rihanna/Chris Brown assault scandal that shocked and appalled the world nearly four–yep, four–years ago. Vogue is banking on that last one for its November cover feature on the trendsetting popstar, which sees Rihanna yet again answering questions about her relationship with Brown, as well as the factors leading to their controversial “Birthday Cake” duet.

So, World, for the absolute last time (kidding!), here’s what Rih-Rih has to say regarding the situation. Listen up!

On why the public is still interested in what went down:
“To the world, I feel like there’s no closure. There’s some obsession that’s continued even throughout when we weren’t friends or couldn’t be friends at all. Hated each other. The world hasn’t let go. They haven’t seen any progress in our friendship, because they don’t see anything, really, besides the song.”

People are fascinated by the sitch because they’re on the outside looking in:
“So now it’s a bit of a fascination, I guess. I don’t know if people will stop soon, but I feel like as soon as they have closure to it, they will.” She doesn’t expect she will win everyone’s understanding. “But they’re not on the inside. They can’t see what I see, unless they’re sitting in my point of view. I guess I’ll learn to accept that.”

On why she asked Brown to sing on the “Birthday Cake” Rih-mix:
“I didn’t think it could be anything detrimental to my career. I was on a tour bus ride between two cities, listening to my album, thinking, Oooh, maybe I should make this into a duet. And I started coming up with a bunch of people, and his name crossed my mind. I thought, We haven’t made a song in so long together … it could be a little shocking.”

In other happier Rihanna-in-Vogue news, she looks totally beyond stunning in the just-released Annie Leibovitz-lensed shoot accompanying her feature. There’s nothing a little well-styled, professionally photographed roll in the hay can’t fix after yet another interview about your ex.

Click through for a taste of the spread–then head to Vogue.com for the rest!